Writings » from disciples » Vyasa Puja Offerings 2008
Vyasa Puja Offerings 2008
(View Devamrita Swami's 2008 offering to Srila Prabhupada)
Acyuta Bhava devi dasi
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Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva you have saved my life. And you so expertly arrange dynamic preaching that saves the lives of so many. Through your preaching centers people are given an opportunity to (re)discover Krishna consciousness in an easy and organic way. In this way the most unfortunate Kali-yuga by products become supremely fortunate, because they come in contact with the Supreme Lord.
Thank you for allowing me to serve in your preaching mission. It is my sincere hope that I can be of some use to you in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada explains our situation in a purport in the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
"Foolish persons do not how risky life is here is one does not follow the instructions of Krsna. The Krsna consciousness movement, therefore, has been started so that by practicing Krsna consciousness one can avoid the risky life of this material existence. There is no question of accepting or not accepting Krsna consciousness. It is not optional; it is compulsory. If we do not take to Krsna consciousness, our life is very risky." SB 10.8.49
You are carrying on this work of Srila Prabhupada, pointing out the risky nature of material enjoyment, and giving practical instructions on how to live in a Krsna conscious way, which alone can save one from a futile material existence.
As you guide me through my first years in Krishna consciousness, I am overwhelmed by how much you give, how much you care and how much you put up with. I long for that day when I will have no other desire than to serve your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Acyuta Bhava devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva you have saved my life. And you so expertly arrange dynamic preaching that saves the lives of so many. Through your preaching centers people are given an opportunity to (re)discover Krishna consciousness in an easy and organic way. In this way the most unfortunate Kali-yuga by products become supremely fortunate, because they come in contact with the Supreme Lord.
Thank you for allowing me to serve in your preaching mission. It is my sincere hope that I can be of some use to you in your mission to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada explains our situation in a purport in the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
"Foolish persons do not how risky life is here is one does not follow the instructions of Krsna. The Krsna consciousness movement, therefore, has been started so that by practicing Krsna consciousness one can avoid the risky life of this material existence. There is no question of accepting or not accepting Krsna consciousness. It is not optional; it is compulsory. If we do not take to Krsna consciousness, our life is very risky." SB 10.8.49
You are carrying on this work of Srila Prabhupada, pointing out the risky nature of material enjoyment, and giving practical instructions on how to live in a Krsna conscious way, which alone can save one from a futile material existence.
As you guide me through my first years in Krishna consciousness, I am overwhelmed by how much you give, how much you care and how much you put up with. I long for that day when I will have no other desire than to serve your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Acyuta Bhava devi dasi
Adam C. (Wales)
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Dear Gurudeva,
Please except my humble obeisances and this little offering, for what little it is worth.
A Poem for his Divine Grace Devamrta Maharaja.
Your love Laughter
Helps me to gain
An idea of
What it might be like
To love,
To want to serve.
You have such intelligence to know
The minds of the conditioned
And how to bring them back
To his feet,
May I serve yours forever.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Adam C. (Wales)
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please except my humble obeisances and this little offering, for what little it is worth.
A Poem for his Divine Grace Devamrta Maharaja.
Your love Laughter
Helps me to gain
An idea of
What it might be like
To love,
To want to serve.
You have such intelligence to know
The minds of the conditioned
And how to bring them back
To his feet,
May I serve yours forever.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Adam C. (Wales)
Adina lila devi dasi
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Dearest Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotusfeet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your auspicious appearance.
For Millions and Billions of births I was wandering throughout different Planets in different forms and bodies. This time I have received the human form of life but still I am as foolish as an animal, merged deep into the darkness of ignorance. While I was trying to find happiness within the material world, I was fortunate to come across your disciples and you. You gave me the most precious gift in the three worlds. The Holy Name. I am behaving like the child with the Diamond in it`s hand, just not knowing it`s value.
You are the one, my eternal father, patiently helping me to grow up. Like the bumblebee is looking for the honey of the flowers, not the thorns, you only accept the good qualities of people and take them closer to Krishna.
Like Arjuna is fighting under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is my duty now to receive orders of you and follow them.
Therefore I would like to dedicate myself to Sadhana as an offering to you.
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Gurumaharaja because you are a great personality you can give me real knowledge.
Your eternally indebted servant
Adina lila devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotusfeet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your auspicious appearance.
For Millions and Billions of births I was wandering throughout different Planets in different forms and bodies. This time I have received the human form of life but still I am as foolish as an animal, merged deep into the darkness of ignorance. While I was trying to find happiness within the material world, I was fortunate to come across your disciples and you. You gave me the most precious gift in the three worlds. The Holy Name. I am behaving like the child with the Diamond in it`s hand, just not knowing it`s value.
You are the one, my eternal father, patiently helping me to grow up. Like the bumblebee is looking for the honey of the flowers, not the thorns, you only accept the good qualities of people and take them closer to Krishna.
Like Arjuna is fighting under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is my duty now to receive orders of you and follow them.
Therefore I would like to dedicate myself to Sadhana as an offering to you.
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
Gurumaharaja because you are a great personality you can give me real knowledge.
Your eternally indebted servant
Adina lila devi dasi
Ananta-Vrindavan das
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Dear Guru-Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.
"The Spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu."
(Sri Caitanya – caritamrita, Adi-Lila 1.47, Purport)
To be close to You means being dedicated follower of Srila Prabhupada's mission in uplifting the fallen souls. Your loyalty to Srila Prabhupada and His transcendental desires is deep and based on true love between Guru and disciple. And only because of You we are feeling Krishna's personal touch in our life.
You are always looking for any opportunities to engage your disciples in preaching mission. From Your transcendental position you are directing the army of you dedicated followers. And I can only wish to be considered as trying to be qualified servant of your enthusiastic spiritual soldier.
One must become fire to approach sun, so to approach you one must become like you. My deepest desire is to one day meet your expectations and to become useful instrument in Your hands.
I always remember when ones during our conversation you have told me that You want me to be back home back to Krishna in this lifetime. You are in my life as a true father and I am aspiring to become your true son in following your desires.
Aspiring to become your disciple
Ananta-Vrindavan das
(back to top)
Dear Guru-Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.
"The Spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu."
(Sri Caitanya – caritamrita, Adi-Lila 1.47, Purport)
To be close to You means being dedicated follower of Srila Prabhupada's mission in uplifting the fallen souls. Your loyalty to Srila Prabhupada and His transcendental desires is deep and based on true love between Guru and disciple. And only because of You we are feeling Krishna's personal touch in our life.
You are always looking for any opportunities to engage your disciples in preaching mission. From Your transcendental position you are directing the army of you dedicated followers. And I can only wish to be considered as trying to be qualified servant of your enthusiastic spiritual soldier.
One must become fire to approach sun, so to approach you one must become like you. My deepest desire is to one day meet your expectations and to become useful instrument in Your hands.
I always remember when ones during our conversation you have told me that You want me to be back home back to Krishna in this lifetime. You are in my life as a true father and I am aspiring to become your true son in following your desires.
Aspiring to become your disciple
Ananta-Vrindavan das
Ashlee Mackenzie
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Dear Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for bestowing your wisdom & mercy upon us. I am so grateful that by Krishna's grace I have contact with you.
A poignant moment came during one of the first times I met you. At Bhagavad Gita class you asked whether we knew what unconditional love was and whether we had experienced it. In my head I thought of course I have! So I answered with a nodding head. You asked me 'Who from?' to which I quickly answered 'my parents'.
By your causeless mercy you allowed me to see clearly and without illusion, the more you spoke the more I began to understand. I realised I have no idea what unconditional love is, nor have I experienced it.
The closest I have come to understanding this is when you gave the most beautiful loving smile I have ever received in my life, your smile melted my heart and opened my eyes.
Without your association I would not have enough determination to push ahead in Bhakti, and develop love of Krsna.
I have been so ignorant of my identity as servant of the servant.
Thank you for allowing me to see this.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhaktin Ashlee Mackenzie
(back to top)
Dear Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for bestowing your wisdom & mercy upon us. I am so grateful that by Krishna's grace I have contact with you.
A poignant moment came during one of the first times I met you. At Bhagavad Gita class you asked whether we knew what unconditional love was and whether we had experienced it. In my head I thought of course I have! So I answered with a nodding head. You asked me 'Who from?' to which I quickly answered 'my parents'.
By your causeless mercy you allowed me to see clearly and without illusion, the more you spoke the more I began to understand. I realised I have no idea what unconditional love is, nor have I experienced it.
The closest I have come to understanding this is when you gave the most beautiful loving smile I have ever received in my life, your smile melted my heart and opened my eyes.
Without your association I would not have enough determination to push ahead in Bhakti, and develop love of Krsna.
I have been so ignorant of my identity as servant of the servant.
Thank you for allowing me to see this.
Aspiring to be your servant,
Bhaktin Ashlee Mackenzie
Ateet
(back to top)
Hare Krsna Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On your most auspicious appearance day, Maharaj, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere heart-felt gratitude to you for giving me so much attention and guidance, personally as well as via emails, despite my complete disqualification and your busy schedule. A perfect example of Krsna's causeless mercy was exhibited when I got the opportunity to personally serve you during your stay in Toronto. Your kind and gentle behaviour towards me, despite my repeated failing in my foolish ignorant attempts to serve you, makes my heart cry. Maharaj, I am always praying to Krsna to give me the intelligence and the ability, by which, I can render some insignificant service in your preaching mission.
Your instruction to live a simple and bhakti-centric lifestyle has transpired from being a source of inspiration, a reason to change my job, to becoming the basis of my life. My wife and I are working to put Krsna at the centre. We have started chanting and reading Prabhupada books together. Your disciple Mangal arti mataji is constantly engaging us in outreach activities. We eagerly look forward to serving you again in Toronto.
Maharaj, I will try to follow your instructions sincerely in the coming year. I pray to your lotus feet for the strength to develop faith in Krsna's plans and make chanting & preaching the top priority of my life.
Maharaj, we all pray for your good health so that more and more people around the world can benefit and become Krsna Conscious by your association.
Your aspiring servant,
Ateet
(back to top)
Hare Krsna Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On your most auspicious appearance day, Maharaj, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere heart-felt gratitude to you for giving me so much attention and guidance, personally as well as via emails, despite my complete disqualification and your busy schedule. A perfect example of Krsna's causeless mercy was exhibited when I got the opportunity to personally serve you during your stay in Toronto. Your kind and gentle behaviour towards me, despite my repeated failing in my foolish ignorant attempts to serve you, makes my heart cry. Maharaj, I am always praying to Krsna to give me the intelligence and the ability, by which, I can render some insignificant service in your preaching mission.
Your instruction to live a simple and bhakti-centric lifestyle has transpired from being a source of inspiration, a reason to change my job, to becoming the basis of my life. My wife and I are working to put Krsna at the centre. We have started chanting and reading Prabhupada books together. Your disciple Mangal arti mataji is constantly engaging us in outreach activities. We eagerly look forward to serving you again in Toronto.
Maharaj, I will try to follow your instructions sincerely in the coming year. I pray to your lotus feet for the strength to develop faith in Krsna's plans and make chanting & preaching the top priority of my life.
Maharaj, we all pray for your good health so that more and more people around the world can benefit and become Krsna Conscious by your association.
Your aspiring servant,
Ateet
Bhakti-lata devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
So much you have given me, so little I can repay you.
So much you have tolerated, so little I can see.
So much you have served me, so little I can speak.
So much you have cared for me, so little I can reciprocate.
So much compassion, so little I can conceive of.
So much dedication, so little I can understand.
By giving me the opportunity to live at The Loft I have benefited from
such a conducive environment to grow in Krishna consciousness. I feel
very privileged and secure due to the solid training and guidance
given to me. Thank you I am very grateful for what you have done for
me. You teach us how important it is to equip ourselves with substantial
spiritual knowledge from sastra. Thank you for opening my eyes on the
reality of this material world. As you said the process of Krsna
consciousness is easy but this material world makes it complicated.
Indeed how bewildered and confused I would be without proper guidance!
Thank you for your support and expert guidance.
Truly acting as a transparent instrument of the Lord, by lovingly
serving Srila Prabhupada, you made it easy for me and so many other
fortunate souls to grow in Krsna consciousness. You are always
concerned with giving Krsna to others, knowing that it will be the
most pleasing service to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. I pray to somehow
be of some assistance to you.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakti-lata devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
So much you have given me, so little I can repay you.
So much you have tolerated, so little I can see.
So much you have served me, so little I can speak.
So much you have cared for me, so little I can reciprocate.
So much compassion, so little I can conceive of.
So much dedication, so little I can understand.
By giving me the opportunity to live at The Loft I have benefited from
such a conducive environment to grow in Krishna consciousness. I feel
very privileged and secure due to the solid training and guidance
given to me. Thank you I am very grateful for what you have done for
me. You teach us how important it is to equip ourselves with substantial
spiritual knowledge from sastra. Thank you for opening my eyes on the
reality of this material world. As you said the process of Krsna
consciousness is easy but this material world makes it complicated.
Indeed how bewildered and confused I would be without proper guidance!
Thank you for your support and expert guidance.
Truly acting as a transparent instrument of the Lord, by lovingly
serving Srila Prabhupada, you made it easy for me and so many other
fortunate souls to grow in Krsna consciousness. You are always
concerned with giving Krsna to others, knowing that it will be the
most pleasing service to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. I pray to somehow
be of some assistance to you.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakti-lata devi dasi
Bhakti Sara Dasa
(back to top)
nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This last year has been very important in my life. Two major spiritual events took place, namely, 1st initiation ceremony and moving to the brahmacari ashram. I feel unfit to follow the vows of both.
As stated in the Guru Pranama mantra:
om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurve namah
I was really ignorant about the goal of life and it's only because of your mercy and guidance that I feel enthusiastic to continue in Krsna Consciousness.
You have absorbed the essence of Srila Prabhupada's books and are very mercifully distributing the message. Please bless me so that I can also understand some part of it and practice it sincerely in my life.
Aspiring to be your humble servant,
Bhakti Sara Dasa
(back to top)
nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita swamin iti namine
pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This last year has been very important in my life. Two major spiritual events took place, namely, 1st initiation ceremony and moving to the brahmacari ashram. I feel unfit to follow the vows of both.
As stated in the Guru Pranama mantra:
om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurve namah
I was really ignorant about the goal of life and it's only because of your mercy and guidance that I feel enthusiastic to continue in Krsna Consciousness.
You have absorbed the essence of Srila Prabhupada's books and are very mercifully distributing the message. Please bless me so that I can also understand some part of it and practice it sincerely in my life.
Aspiring to be your humble servant,
Bhakti Sara Dasa
Bhava sandhi devi dasi
(back to top)
nama om visnu- padaya
krsna pesthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parapatatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudeva.
It took me a long time to get my first realization, as my heavy kali-yuga smashing had left me pretty covered over, but my first realization was on a Janmastami. Sitting on the floor with a plate full of sweets; sandesh, sweet rice, burfy... so many colours and textures. When I popped a gulab jamun into my mouth the sweet juice exploded into such a taste sensation. I looked at my plate, covered in sweets, "which to eat next, which to leave until last - the grand finale, the best one, so I can treasure the flavor..." Then it struck me; before I would wonder which kali yuga delight I should save till last, the beer or the cigarette? "Yuck" I thought, "that is really gross, I'm never going back to that again."
That was years ago now, of course, and I have changed in so many ways due to your mercy. Although, now I am more fearful than before. "Yuck, I'm never going back to that again..." Yes I am more fearful of maya now than before, now coming to understand just a glimpse of how deeply conditioned I actually am to material life. It is, of course, as you remind us - not just one time surrender and then we are ok, sorted; but every day we have to choose, every moment we have to choose the higher taste.
Thank you for offering the higher taste. As opposed to becoming absorbed in some drama or lamentation created by my own mind, you filled it with service. Instead of drug dance parties, I now dance for Lord Caitanya's pleasure. Instead of TV dinners in a broken home, I have such a loving caring community of support. Instead of exploiting and abusing others, you have given the taste of sankirtan. Instead of a meaningless self-destructive existence, you have given the means to the highest goal in life.
Please don't let me waste any of these priceless opportunities and return again to hellish life, but please always keep me engaged in devotional service, let the kirtan go on all night.
Your indebted servant,
Bhava sandhi devi dasi
(back to top)
nama om visnu- padaya
krsna pesthaya bhutale
srimate devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parapatatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Gurudeva.
It took me a long time to get my first realization, as my heavy kali-yuga smashing had left me pretty covered over, but my first realization was on a Janmastami. Sitting on the floor with a plate full of sweets; sandesh, sweet rice, burfy... so many colours and textures. When I popped a gulab jamun into my mouth the sweet juice exploded into such a taste sensation. I looked at my plate, covered in sweets, "which to eat next, which to leave until last - the grand finale, the best one, so I can treasure the flavor..." Then it struck me; before I would wonder which kali yuga delight I should save till last, the beer or the cigarette? "Yuck" I thought, "that is really gross, I'm never going back to that again."
That was years ago now, of course, and I have changed in so many ways due to your mercy. Although, now I am more fearful than before. "Yuck, I'm never going back to that again..." Yes I am more fearful of maya now than before, now coming to understand just a glimpse of how deeply conditioned I actually am to material life. It is, of course, as you remind us - not just one time surrender and then we are ok, sorted; but every day we have to choose, every moment we have to choose the higher taste.
Thank you for offering the higher taste. As opposed to becoming absorbed in some drama or lamentation created by my own mind, you filled it with service. Instead of drug dance parties, I now dance for Lord Caitanya's pleasure. Instead of TV dinners in a broken home, I have such a loving caring community of support. Instead of exploiting and abusing others, you have given the taste of sankirtan. Instead of a meaningless self-destructive existence, you have given the means to the highest goal in life.
Please don't let me waste any of these priceless opportunities and return again to hellish life, but please always keep me engaged in devotional service, let the kirtan go on all night.
Your indebted servant,
Bhava sandhi devi dasi
Bhumna Krsna Dasa
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It's hard to believe that the qualities you have are the ones i admirer the most ... chance ... i think not. the debt that is owed by the disciple is not repayable therefor unlimited therefor indescribably... the gurus qualities, potential, depth of under standing & compassion are also unlimited so by default indescribably. Brahma could not describe the qualities of his guru, what chance do we have.... yet it is the disciples duty to try anyway.
Bg 3.21 "Whatever action a great man preforms, common men follow.
And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
As they say "the proof is in the pudding" results are more than words. they are there for all to see. they are undeniable, We are all of us ripples produced by the exemplary acts of the guru. "lease we not forget"
Maharaja please accept this humble under-weighted offering
ys Bhumna Krsna Dasa
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It's hard to believe that the qualities you have are the ones i admirer the most ... chance ... i think not. the debt that is owed by the disciple is not repayable therefor unlimited therefor indescribably... the gurus qualities, potential, depth of under standing & compassion are also unlimited so by default indescribably. Brahma could not describe the qualities of his guru, what chance do we have.... yet it is the disciples duty to try anyway.
Bg 3.21 "Whatever action a great man preforms, common men follow.
And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
As they say "the proof is in the pudding" results are more than words. they are there for all to see. they are undeniable, We are all of us ripples produced by the exemplary acts of the guru. "lease we not forget"
Maharaja please accept this humble under-weighted offering
ys Bhumna Krsna Dasa
Brahma Kunda Dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
Gurudeva, to see your commitment and selfless attitude in serving Srila Prabbhupada is a great inspiration for all of us. You are showing by your own example how to dedicate our life in Krishna Consciousness and make steady progress back to Godhead. Sometimes after a retreat or an event we think it was too much hard work and now we can rest but then we see you, how enthusiastic and fresh you are for your next program. Even today on your Vyasa Puja day, you choose not to have any celebrations for yourself, but instead you are having a retreat and helping others. We can see that you have not only fully surrendered yourself to Srila Prabhupada but you have also successfully captured his mood. You are skilfully steering our life in the right direction, giving us the support, encouragement and confidence to reach the final destination.
It is amazing to see that even with such a hectic travelling schedule and other commitments, how concerned you are about our well being, how much personal care you are able to give us, advising us and guiding us in all aspects of life. I can speak for myself that although as a disciple I am suppose to serve you, but in reality I am the one who is being served.
Once you were meeting my parents in Delhi. Before you met them, you had gone to see His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja at the Delhi Temple. In your meeting you specifically asked HH Gopal Krishna Maharaja for some Maha Prasadam so that you can give it to my parents. This is the extent of care you give us. It is a great fortune to have a Spiritual father like you.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for helping me with everything in my life and in spite of my so many shortcomings you are able to expertly encourage and engage me in this glorious mission.
Hoping that one day I can become a genuine disciple and render service as you would like me to.
Trying to become a servant,
Brahma Kunda Dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
Gurudeva, to see your commitment and selfless attitude in serving Srila Prabbhupada is a great inspiration for all of us. You are showing by your own example how to dedicate our life in Krishna Consciousness and make steady progress back to Godhead. Sometimes after a retreat or an event we think it was too much hard work and now we can rest but then we see you, how enthusiastic and fresh you are for your next program. Even today on your Vyasa Puja day, you choose not to have any celebrations for yourself, but instead you are having a retreat and helping others. We can see that you have not only fully surrendered yourself to Srila Prabhupada but you have also successfully captured his mood. You are skilfully steering our life in the right direction, giving us the support, encouragement and confidence to reach the final destination.
It is amazing to see that even with such a hectic travelling schedule and other commitments, how concerned you are about our well being, how much personal care you are able to give us, advising us and guiding us in all aspects of life. I can speak for myself that although as a disciple I am suppose to serve you, but in reality I am the one who is being served.
Once you were meeting my parents in Delhi. Before you met them, you had gone to see His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja at the Delhi Temple. In your meeting you specifically asked HH Gopal Krishna Maharaja for some Maha Prasadam so that you can give it to my parents. This is the extent of care you give us. It is a great fortune to have a Spiritual father like you.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for helping me with everything in my life and in spite of my so many shortcomings you are able to expertly encourage and engage me in this glorious mission.
Hoping that one day I can become a genuine disciple and render service as you would like me to.
Trying to become a servant,
Brahma Kunda Dasa
Brendan
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please forgive me it is only a short offering and perhaps not thought through as well as it could be. I will be away from internet access for a while.
Thank you for everything you have done to bring me and others towards Krishna consciousness.
I am lucky that I met devotees at a young age through the Loft centers run by your disciples, if it had been later then my life might have taken different turns for the worse.
Thank you for now bringing Krishna consciousness to Hamilton, and other cities, and visiting so often to help us out.
Your aspiring servant,
Brendan
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please forgive me it is only a short offering and perhaps not thought through as well as it could be. I will be away from internet access for a while.
Thank you for everything you have done to bring me and others towards Krishna consciousness.
I am lucky that I met devotees at a young age through the Loft centers run by your disciples, if it had been later then my life might have taken different turns for the worse.
Thank you for now bringing Krishna consciousness to Hamilton, and other cities, and visiting so often to help us out.
Your aspiring servant,
Brendan
Buddhimanta Dasa
(back to top)
Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parapatatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
"Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaishnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."
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 on this the most auspicious and special day for us, I pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai for your very long and healthy life so you can carry on Lord Caitanya's Sankritan movement for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj you are an exemplary order carrier of your guru maharaj, Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Caitanya has predicted in every village and town His holy name will be chanted. Guru Maharaj you are not only making the Lord's mission statement sarthak, you are distributing Hari naam compassionately and vigorously by taking personal trouble to go beyond this; to every college and university. As you know that educational institutes are meant to produce the characters and hence the future of this world so you take extra interest in reaching out to the so called educationist who are missing the actual purpose of education. Guru Maharaj you mentioned in one of your lectures that we should try to stretch our limits in spiritual activities by rendering more and more devotional service. Guru Maharaj you always live up to your words and set high standards of being a perfect acarya by stretching yourself to exceed the limits of intense traveling for preaching even at the cost of your personal health.
Another divine quality of yours which is seen as rare and very special; Guru Maharaj you have a personal care plan for each of your disciple by not only listening to their problems which are affecting their spiritual life but also by offering them spiritual solutions. Guru Maharaj whatever concerns or problem I bring to you, you always go out of your way to help me out, you are not satisfied until you see me satisfied. My many lives are not enough to repay even a fragment of what I have got by your mercy.
Guru Maharaj you have what they call as "career path" in corporate language for individual devotee. Guru Maharaj you are very expert in designing the service of different devotees differently to capitalize on the individual strengths. You are a very successful captain of Srila Prabhupada's team who knows the best field placement by utilizing disciple's energy in a very productive way in Krishna's service.
Guru Maharaj what can I offer at your lotus feet on this day rather I will again beg at your lotus feet to bestow me with the sharp intelligence so that I can become at least a tiny instrument in your grand preaching marathon.
Guru Maharaj, when I see the quality of devotees you produce from any temple and then they go out and help other temples as well, I feel very small and insignificant who is only a liability at your shoulders. This is in deed your mercy towards the fallen souls like me to accept me as your spiritual son. I pray at your lotus feet on this auspicious day to shower me with even more compassion so that I can assist you some how may be at a squirrel level. You are so kind towards this fallen soul to always find some way to engage me in devotional service and that too in Sri Vrindavan dham. Guru Maharaj whatever little opportunity I get for service in this divine movement, this is only due to your causeless mercy and nothing else. Guru maharaj please make this servant pure so that I can render service with purity for your pleasure.
I wish you many blissful returns of the day .so that we can keep engaged in thinking, willing and doing some seva to celebrate this featival, vyasa puja day.
Hari bol Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant,
Buddhimanta Dasa
(back to top)
Nama om Vishnu padaya Krishna presthaia bhutale
Srimate Devamrita
swamin iti namine
pracare purva daksyam ca
bhaktacara pravinata
parapatatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
"Obeisances to you who have all the qualities of unique skill in preaching, competence in Vaishnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."
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 on this the most auspicious and special day for us, I pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai for your very long and healthy life so you can carry on Lord Caitanya's Sankritan movement for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj you are an exemplary order carrier of your guru maharaj, Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Caitanya has predicted in every village and town His holy name will be chanted. Guru Maharaj you are not only making the Lord's mission statement sarthak, you are distributing Hari naam compassionately and vigorously by taking personal trouble to go beyond this; to every college and university. As you know that educational institutes are meant to produce the characters and hence the future of this world so you take extra interest in reaching out to the so called educationist who are missing the actual purpose of education. Guru Maharaj you mentioned in one of your lectures that we should try to stretch our limits in spiritual activities by rendering more and more devotional service. Guru Maharaj you always live up to your words and set high standards of being a perfect acarya by stretching yourself to exceed the limits of intense traveling for preaching even at the cost of your personal health.
Another divine quality of yours which is seen as rare and very special; Guru Maharaj you have a personal care plan for each of your disciple by not only listening to their problems which are affecting their spiritual life but also by offering them spiritual solutions. Guru Maharaj whatever concerns or problem I bring to you, you always go out of your way to help me out, you are not satisfied until you see me satisfied. My many lives are not enough to repay even a fragment of what I have got by your mercy.
Guru Maharaj you have what they call as "career path" in corporate language for individual devotee. Guru Maharaj you are very expert in designing the service of different devotees differently to capitalize on the individual strengths. You are a very successful captain of Srila Prabhupada's team who knows the best field placement by utilizing disciple's energy in a very productive way in Krishna's service.
Guru Maharaj what can I offer at your lotus feet on this day rather I will again beg at your lotus feet to bestow me with the sharp intelligence so that I can become at least a tiny instrument in your grand preaching marathon.
Guru Maharaj, when I see the quality of devotees you produce from any temple and then they go out and help other temples as well, I feel very small and insignificant who is only a liability at your shoulders. This is in deed your mercy towards the fallen souls like me to accept me as your spiritual son. I pray at your lotus feet on this auspicious day to shower me with even more compassion so that I can assist you some how may be at a squirrel level. You are so kind towards this fallen soul to always find some way to engage me in devotional service and that too in Sri Vrindavan dham. Guru Maharaj whatever little opportunity I get for service in this divine movement, this is only due to your causeless mercy and nothing else. Guru maharaj please make this servant pure so that I can render service with purity for your pleasure.
I wish you many blissful returns of the day .so that we can keep engaged in thinking, willing and doing some seva to celebrate this featival, vyasa puja day.
Hari bol Guru Maharaj.
Your humble servant,
Buddhimanta Dasa
Campak Gaur devi dasi
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Deva your deep compassion i could never fully understand. But on your recent trip to Wellington i was able to see a little. I was overwelmd by the deep care and personalism you show to each disciple, devotee and interested guests coming to Gaura yoga. Your dedicated to giving any sincere seeker a fair chance and proper care one needs to grow happily and healthily in Krsna conciousness. Thankyou Guru Deva for giving me this chance. Thankyou for bringing me to my new phase in NZ and giving me the opportunity of cooking for you. i pray to be your prasadam maid...
By the grace of your association one can have the opportunity to perfect there life. i know that by staying under the protection of your mercy by following your instructions even such a undetermined person as i can oneday get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
By your deep compassion and kindness you have stolen my heart. Thankyou Guru Deva for helping me understand that the spiritual master cares for one more than one cares for oneself.
You are freely giving out the greatest gift and hightest activity in life- devotional service to Krsna. You have inspired so many to give up broken glass to take to this gem.
Thankyou Guru Deva for accepting me as your disciple, now i pray for the intelligence to give up broken glass and enjoy the real pleasure, the gem of selfless service to Krishna.
You have made me indebted to you, my eternal Father. When will i give up making plans for my own happiness (because thats when distress begins) and make your service my first and only duty of love.
Please always mercifully glance at your aspiring servant. i pray to have a drop of the care for others as you do, then i may be of some assistance to you.
Your aspiring servant asnd spiritual daughter
Campak Gaur devi dasi
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Deva your deep compassion i could never fully understand. But on your recent trip to Wellington i was able to see a little. I was overwelmd by the deep care and personalism you show to each disciple, devotee and interested guests coming to Gaura yoga. Your dedicated to giving any sincere seeker a fair chance and proper care one needs to grow happily and healthily in Krsna conciousness. Thankyou Guru Deva for giving me this chance. Thankyou for bringing me to my new phase in NZ and giving me the opportunity of cooking for you. i pray to be your prasadam maid...
By the grace of your association one can have the opportunity to perfect there life. i know that by staying under the protection of your mercy by following your instructions even such a undetermined person as i can oneday get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
By your deep compassion and kindness you have stolen my heart. Thankyou Guru Deva for helping me understand that the spiritual master cares for one more than one cares for oneself.
You are freely giving out the greatest gift and hightest activity in life- devotional service to Krsna. You have inspired so many to give up broken glass to take to this gem.
Thankyou Guru Deva for accepting me as your disciple, now i pray for the intelligence to give up broken glass and enjoy the real pleasure, the gem of selfless service to Krishna.
You have made me indebted to you, my eternal Father. When will i give up making plans for my own happiness (because thats when distress begins) and make your service my first and only duty of love.
Please always mercifully glance at your aspiring servant. i pray to have a drop of the care for others as you do, then i may be of some assistance to you.
Your aspiring servant asnd spiritual daughter
Campak Gaur devi dasi
Candidasa dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
By your visits sustained,
The degree finally obtained,
Though frequently suffering defeat,
Now the PhD is complete,
And I’m finally free,
Even hold a science degree!
“Doctor”, I’m called,
With varying degrees of respect,
To New Zealand recalled,
Material life, now happily neglect.
The PhD supervisor’s wrath
Somehow survived,
Progressing along Krishna’s path,
Your mercy imbibed,
In Wellington settled at last,
Manchester a dream of the past.
Towards marriage directed,
Recovered from moving,
Relieved and resurrected,
My health also improving.
The future, unknown,
In the new time zone,
Happy your servant to be,
Thanking you, with the utmost of glee.
Your servant,
Candidasa dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
By your visits sustained,
The degree finally obtained,
Though frequently suffering defeat,
Now the PhD is complete,
And I’m finally free,
Even hold a science degree!
“Doctor”, I’m called,
With varying degrees of respect,
To New Zealand recalled,
Material life, now happily neglect.
The PhD supervisor’s wrath
Somehow survived,
Progressing along Krishna’s path,
Your mercy imbibed,
In Wellington settled at last,
Manchester a dream of the past.
Towards marriage directed,
Recovered from moving,
Relieved and resurrected,
My health also improving.
The future, unknown,
In the new time zone,
Happy your servant to be,
Thanking you, with the utmost of glee.
Your servant,
Candidasa dasa
Caroline Stoop
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
By your mercy I've been able to spend the past year at Gaura-yoga. I've become amazed by the preaching that is going on here.
You care so much for everyone, for people that have just walked in the door for the first time, for new devotees and for those who have been practicing for a long time. You keep giving to everyone and sacrifice so much, just to save all of us from this miserable material existence. Especially when we go on harinama here on Friday night, you can see how hellish kali-yuga is. Intoxicated youth, completely lost. So much sinful activity is going on, and everyone is just suffering intensely. But "your" Gaura-yoga gives all those people an opportunity to get out of the misery and be happy in Krsna consciousness.
Once I asked you, 'why do you care about me?'. You said that because if you care for me, then in the future I will hopefully care for others and try to help them become Krsna conscious. You care so much for all your disciples and dependents. You give each and every individual so much time and energy so that they can grow in Krsna consciousness and help others become Krsna conscious.
Thank you so much for showing me what real care is. I will never be able to pay you back for everything you have done and are doing for me, but I hope that one day I will be able to please you by helping you in your mission to save the conditioned souls.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhaktin Caroline Stoop
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
By your mercy I've been able to spend the past year at Gaura-yoga. I've become amazed by the preaching that is going on here.
You care so much for everyone, for people that have just walked in the door for the first time, for new devotees and for those who have been practicing for a long time. You keep giving to everyone and sacrifice so much, just to save all of us from this miserable material existence. Especially when we go on harinama here on Friday night, you can see how hellish kali-yuga is. Intoxicated youth, completely lost. So much sinful activity is going on, and everyone is just suffering intensely. But "your" Gaura-yoga gives all those people an opportunity to get out of the misery and be happy in Krsna consciousness.
Once I asked you, 'why do you care about me?'. You said that because if you care for me, then in the future I will hopefully care for others and try to help them become Krsna conscious. You care so much for all your disciples and dependents. You give each and every individual so much time and energy so that they can grow in Krsna consciousness and help others become Krsna conscious.
Thank you so much for showing me what real care is. I will never be able to pay you back for everything you have done and are doing for me, but I hope that one day I will be able to please you by helping you in your mission to save the conditioned souls.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhaktin Caroline Stoop
Carumukhi devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble abeisenses at the dust of your lotus feet
All glories to Shrila Prabhupda
All glories to you
My dear Guru Maharaja , I am eternally thankful to have you as my protector and a saver. I am most thankful to Shrila Prabhupada for giving you to us. You are working very hard in order to let your disciples come close to Krishna.
You are always planning ways to deliver the conditioned soul from the clutches of maya.
Dear Guru Maharaja, You are so merciful to me as the moon never refuses to distribute its pleasing rays even to the home of chandala you are never refuse to act for every ones welfare.
I realized how much I dependent on your mercy for inspiration in my spiritual life.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I beg you for your blessing so I can continue my devotional life and attain unmotivated and unconditional love of Krishna. Please allow me to become your eternal servant at your lotus feet.
Thank you for inspiring me in devotional service.
Your aspiring servant,
Carumukhi devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble abeisenses at the dust of your lotus feet
All glories to Shrila Prabhupda
All glories to you
My dear Guru Maharaja , I am eternally thankful to have you as my protector and a saver. I am most thankful to Shrila Prabhupada for giving you to us. You are working very hard in order to let your disciples come close to Krishna.
You are always planning ways to deliver the conditioned soul from the clutches of maya.
Dear Guru Maharaja, You are so merciful to me as the moon never refuses to distribute its pleasing rays even to the home of chandala you are never refuse to act for every ones welfare.
I realized how much I dependent on your mercy for inspiration in my spiritual life.
Dear Guru Maharaja, I beg you for your blessing so I can continue my devotional life and attain unmotivated and unconditional love of Krishna. Please allow me to become your eternal servant at your lotus feet.
Thank you for inspiring me in devotional service.
Your aspiring servant,
Carumukhi devi dasi
Cecilia
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja,
Hare Krishna!
Nama Om Visnu Padaya Krishna -Prresthaya bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrta Swamin iti Namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinita paratatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept my humble obiesiences all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I wish you a most glories day on this day of your Vyasa Puja. My words are insufficent to describe your endless qualities but i will do my best to write from my heart a few of the many amazing qualities i have noticed in you. I find it very incredable how you seem to find time to speak with each and every devotee at some point during your short stays.
You have such a profound personal quality you have this lovely ability of making each and everyone of us feel like we would be your only disciple, your time and patience bewilders my small mind. Another quality i have noticed is the way you have systems in place to keep things running very smoothly even when you are not here, you even take time to hear from our mentors about our spiritual progress.
Its very lovely to see how dedicated and sincere you are to what Prabhupada wonted. Urban preaching and farms even little old NZ has two large beautiful temples. You have the seriousness of a teacher and the gentle, caring, lovingness of a father. Through your amazing example of steadiness in sadana we are also inspired to keep up our sadana. You have created here such a strong devotional environment for young girls which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Due to your great Mercy and compassion i am fortunate enough to be apart of your mission here at Gaura Yoga i sincerely hope i am able to live up to your ideals.
Several years ago i started meditating on being lead to the highest truth. I meditated on being guided by a spiritual master who would show me how to love and know God.
I knew nothing about Krishna consciousness, all i Knew is that i was not satisfied with what society was offering me.
Gurudeva i wont to thank you sincerely from my heart for your love, compassion and torch light of knowledge which you are constantly showering upon us fallen conditioned souls. The pull of Maya is very strong and it is only by your protection and love that we can fight against her.
I can clearly see the fruits of your dedication and sacrifice, i can only hope and pray that somehow through your mercy i can be of some use to you and your mission to Srila Prabhupada its inspiring and humbling to see so many young people coming to Krishna Consciousness. This is the direct result of your endless devotional service to Krishna and your Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, i humbly beg that i may never leave the shelter of your Lotus feet and guiding instructions. I am ever so grateful for your loving mercy I 'm an old beggar and a thief, taking from you but not giving in return, when will i give to you?, the devotees and to Radha Krishna Sri Sri Panca-tattva
Thank you for saving me from Mayas clutches. Please give more mercy on this fallen soul.
Your insignificant helpless servant
Cecilia
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja,
Hare Krishna!
Nama Om Visnu Padaya Krishna -Prresthaya bhu-tale
Srimate Devamrta Swamin iti Namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinita paratatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept my humble obiesiences all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I wish you a most glories day on this day of your Vyasa Puja. My words are insufficent to describe your endless qualities but i will do my best to write from my heart a few of the many amazing qualities i have noticed in you. I find it very incredable how you seem to find time to speak with each and every devotee at some point during your short stays.
You have such a profound personal quality you have this lovely ability of making each and everyone of us feel like we would be your only disciple, your time and patience bewilders my small mind. Another quality i have noticed is the way you have systems in place to keep things running very smoothly even when you are not here, you even take time to hear from our mentors about our spiritual progress.
Its very lovely to see how dedicated and sincere you are to what Prabhupada wonted. Urban preaching and farms even little old NZ has two large beautiful temples. You have the seriousness of a teacher and the gentle, caring, lovingness of a father. Through your amazing example of steadiness in sadana we are also inspired to keep up our sadana. You have created here such a strong devotional environment for young girls which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Due to your great Mercy and compassion i am fortunate enough to be apart of your mission here at Gaura Yoga i sincerely hope i am able to live up to your ideals.
Several years ago i started meditating on being lead to the highest truth. I meditated on being guided by a spiritual master who would show me how to love and know God.
I knew nothing about Krishna consciousness, all i Knew is that i was not satisfied with what society was offering me.
Gurudeva i wont to thank you sincerely from my heart for your love, compassion and torch light of knowledge which you are constantly showering upon us fallen conditioned souls. The pull of Maya is very strong and it is only by your protection and love that we can fight against her.
I can clearly see the fruits of your dedication and sacrifice, i can only hope and pray that somehow through your mercy i can be of some use to you and your mission to Srila Prabhupada its inspiring and humbling to see so many young people coming to Krishna Consciousness. This is the direct result of your endless devotional service to Krishna and your Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, i humbly beg that i may never leave the shelter of your Lotus feet and guiding instructions. I am ever so grateful for your loving mercy I 'm an old beggar and a thief, taking from you but not giving in return, when will i give to you?, the devotees and to Radha Krishna Sri Sri Panca-tattva
Thank you for saving me from Mayas clutches. Please give more mercy on this fallen soul.
Your insignificant helpless servant
Cecilia
Dandakaranya das
(back to top)
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.
Dear Gurumaharaja,
Recently I saw a documentary called 'Earthlings.' It was a film documenting the abuse and exploitation of animals by the human species. It seems that the supposed human beings in Kali Yuga ignorantly consider themselves as the superior species above all others with the right to inflict pain, abuse, torture and murder against other living entities at an alarmingly increasing rate. Of course this abuse is no longer directed towards just animals, but towards members of their own human species (something which most animals to not do). Maybe this is evidence to what Srila Prabhupada terms as "a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large" in his Preface to the Srimad Bhagavatam.
So many individuals and organizations constantly point out the social, economic, politic and environmental injustices that we are becoming accustomed to witness on a daily basis. Of course it is very simple to point out the defects of the modern Kali-Yuga culture as Kali Yuga is nothing more than an ocean of faults. So who can offer the solution to these problems? Scientists, with their speculative theories and multibillion dollar Large Hadron Colliders? Sentimental religionists, without a complete personal conception of the Absolute Truth? Politicians, who do not have a basic fundamental understanding of what the goal of life is? Philanthropists, who benevolently 'blow on the boil' of the problems?
Then there are the torchbearers of knowledge, like yourself, who shine a transcendentally effulgent light through the darkness to radiate the truth:
Naham vipro na ca nara-patir naipi vaisyo na sudro naham varni na ca grha-patir na vanastho yatir va. Kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher gopi bartu padakamalyor dasa dasa anudas.
"I am not a priest a king a merchant or a laborer; nor am I a student a householder, a retired householder, or a mendicant. I identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the Lord of the Gopis who is the personification of the fully expanded nectarean ocean that brims with the totality of Divine Ecstasy." (CC Madhya Lila 13.80).
This was one of Lord Caitanyas prayers to Lord Jagannath as he danced before the Lord during the Ratha Yatra. Ironically, in a moment of the Lords transcendental ecstasy He can reveal the essence of knowledge to dissipate the root cause of misery in this world. Great hearted sadhus, like yourself, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, are undoubtedly rendering the highest good for humanity by sharing His transcendental ecstasy to the unconscious souls. You traverse the globe reminding everyone that 'you are not the body and mind, but a part of Krsna meant for serving him'. Therefore there is no comparison between you and the greatest scientists, politicians and philanthropists because your mission is on a level beyond all mundane social, geographical and political boundaries. What greater or more magnanimous mission is there than to reawaken a spirit souls sanatana dharma, the eternal constitutional essence of who we are? Gurumaharaja you are part of the fundamental solution to the plight of today's human civilization.
On your appearance day it gives me a chance to reflect on your qualities of selflessness and compassion with the hope that I may one day be qualified to become a sincere servant to a true Vaisnava.
Your aspiring servant
Dandakaranya das
(back to top)
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.
Dear Gurumaharaja,
Recently I saw a documentary called 'Earthlings.' It was a film documenting the abuse and exploitation of animals by the human species. It seems that the supposed human beings in Kali Yuga ignorantly consider themselves as the superior species above all others with the right to inflict pain, abuse, torture and murder against other living entities at an alarmingly increasing rate. Of course this abuse is no longer directed towards just animals, but towards members of their own human species (something which most animals to not do). Maybe this is evidence to what Srila Prabhupada terms as "a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large" in his Preface to the Srimad Bhagavatam.
So many individuals and organizations constantly point out the social, economic, politic and environmental injustices that we are becoming accustomed to witness on a daily basis. Of course it is very simple to point out the defects of the modern Kali-Yuga culture as Kali Yuga is nothing more than an ocean of faults. So who can offer the solution to these problems? Scientists, with their speculative theories and multibillion dollar Large Hadron Colliders? Sentimental religionists, without a complete personal conception of the Absolute Truth? Politicians, who do not have a basic fundamental understanding of what the goal of life is? Philanthropists, who benevolently 'blow on the boil' of the problems?
Then there are the torchbearers of knowledge, like yourself, who shine a transcendentally effulgent light through the darkness to radiate the truth:
Naham vipro na ca nara-patir naipi vaisyo na sudro naham varni na ca grha-patir na vanastho yatir va. Kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher gopi bartu padakamalyor dasa dasa anudas.
"I am not a priest a king a merchant or a laborer; nor am I a student a householder, a retired householder, or a mendicant. I identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the Lord of the Gopis who is the personification of the fully expanded nectarean ocean that brims with the totality of Divine Ecstasy." (CC Madhya Lila 13.80).
This was one of Lord Caitanyas prayers to Lord Jagannath as he danced before the Lord during the Ratha Yatra. Ironically, in a moment of the Lords transcendental ecstasy He can reveal the essence of knowledge to dissipate the root cause of misery in this world. Great hearted sadhus, like yourself, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, are undoubtedly rendering the highest good for humanity by sharing His transcendental ecstasy to the unconscious souls. You traverse the globe reminding everyone that 'you are not the body and mind, but a part of Krsna meant for serving him'. Therefore there is no comparison between you and the greatest scientists, politicians and philanthropists because your mission is on a level beyond all mundane social, geographical and political boundaries. What greater or more magnanimous mission is there than to reawaken a spirit souls sanatana dharma, the eternal constitutional essence of who we are? Gurumaharaja you are part of the fundamental solution to the plight of today's human civilization.
On your appearance day it gives me a chance to reflect on your qualities of selflessness and compassion with the hope that I may one day be qualified to become a sincere servant to a true Vaisnava.
Your aspiring servant
Dandakaranya das
David Nola
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Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your appearance.
The first time we met I didn't conceive the depth of your glories and character, more than a year down the track I still don't understand the full significance of being able to serve and take guidance from you.
I can only now reflect on that precious moment and have some flickering realization as to what a life changing experience that was for me.
BG 3.21: Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Naturally I find that by attending your classes and associating with your disciples I am inspired to server and assist you in your zealous quest to adhere to Srila Prabhupada's wishes.
As one can judge a tree by the fruit it bears, similarly I can ponder the greatness of your personality by the qualities of your staunch and devout disciples. Really, I have to offer my gratitude to those disciples of yours who have taken the time and care to give me a footing in Krishna Consciousness.
Your are in truth a hero, one who puts the intrest of others before his own.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience how a real man lives, and more importantly how the soul lives.
Your servant
David Nola
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious day of your appearance.
The first time we met I didn't conceive the depth of your glories and character, more than a year down the track I still don't understand the full significance of being able to serve and take guidance from you.
I can only now reflect on that precious moment and have some flickering realization as to what a life changing experience that was for me.
BG 3.21: Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Naturally I find that by attending your classes and associating with your disciples I am inspired to server and assist you in your zealous quest to adhere to Srila Prabhupada's wishes.
As one can judge a tree by the fruit it bears, similarly I can ponder the greatness of your personality by the qualities of your staunch and devout disciples. Really, I have to offer my gratitude to those disciples of yours who have taken the time and care to give me a footing in Krishna Consciousness.
Your are in truth a hero, one who puts the intrest of others before his own.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience how a real man lives, and more importantly how the soul lives.
Your servant
David Nola
Dharmaraj das
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krishna prestaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita swami iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dearest and appreciated Gurudev.
Trying to remember some moments to see easily one of his trascedental qualities,Your Compassion, , for those devotee who fortunely received shleter to his lotus 's feet and our commitment to become his correct and good disciples
yasya saksad bhagavati
jnana dipa- prade gurau
martyasad-dhih srutam tasya
sarvam kunjara saucavat
" Spiritual master must be considered a direct manisfestation of the Lord, beacuse it transmits trascedental knowledge, that it takes to ilumination, consequently, that one that maintains the material concept that the spiritual master is a current human being. just only find the failure.His ilumination, His study of the Vedas, and his knowledg are as the bathjs of ana elephant"
SB 7.15.26
For alll these fights with the Krishna's devotees have to pass to give pleasure to the Spiritual master, You had to show us, (even always you tell in your classesand preaching),that for take shelter in teh holy name, we can see the goal, beyond the ad versities.
And now, that we recall of a special way the trascedental of his person, May i just try to describe to You Gurudev as pure devoteee of Krishna as you are but at the same time, about my capacity and mi intelligence let me understand. that try to be a reciprocal everything that you give to me. That would be the best, and an any moment try to satisface to you. AS it explains Srila Prabhhupada in the Bhagavad gita 4.34
"Satisface to spiritual master it is the secret of advance in the spiritual life"
Your compassion, and all the love and and intense desire to serve a Srila Prabhupada, and your disinteresed spiritual aid to others manifested an some situations and atmospheres, it does that by the natural way I accede to take an attitude and feeling of debt with you Gurudev.
Trying to be an aspirant to serve to the lotus feet,
Dharmaraj das
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krishna prestaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita swami iti namine
Pracare purva daksyam ca bhaktacara pravinata
pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Dearest and appreciated Gurudev.
Trying to remember some moments to see easily one of his trascedental qualities,Your Compassion, , for those devotee who fortunely received shleter to his lotus 's feet and our commitment to become his correct and good disciples
yasya saksad bhagavati
jnana dipa- prade gurau
martyasad-dhih srutam tasya
sarvam kunjara saucavat
" Spiritual master must be considered a direct manisfestation of the Lord, beacuse it transmits trascedental knowledge, that it takes to ilumination, consequently, that one that maintains the material concept that the spiritual master is a current human being. just only find the failure.His ilumination, His study of the Vedas, and his knowledg are as the bathjs of ana elephant"
SB 7.15.26
For alll these fights with the Krishna's devotees have to pass to give pleasure to the Spiritual master, You had to show us, (even always you tell in your classesand preaching),that for take shelter in teh holy name, we can see the goal, beyond the ad versities.
And now, that we recall of a special way the trascedental of his person, May i just try to describe to You Gurudev as pure devoteee of Krishna as you are but at the same time, about my capacity and mi intelligence let me understand. that try to be a reciprocal everything that you give to me. That would be the best, and an any moment try to satisface to you. AS it explains Srila Prabhhupada in the Bhagavad gita 4.34
"Satisface to spiritual master it is the secret of advance in the spiritual life"
Your compassion, and all the love and and intense desire to serve a Srila Prabhupada, and your disinteresed spiritual aid to others manifested an some situations and atmospheres, it does that by the natural way I accede to take an attitude and feeling of debt with you Gurudev.
Trying to be an aspirant to serve to the lotus feet,
Dharmaraj das
Dhruvamaharaja das
(back to top)
Dearest Maharaja
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All Glories to ISKCON Founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
We are somehow becoming increasingly blissful and fulfilled in Krsna consciousness, and this we understand to be solely due to your guidance, coaching, tolerance and mercy on us. You offer yourself so personally to us and we cannot but feel your pure love and desire to advance us in our devotion. We are therefore surrendered to your will and as we cannot repay you in any substantial way, all we can do is commit that we will take sincerely and seriously your instructions and serve you with complete dedication. We are praying to Gurumaharaj to give us the spiritual strength and deep aspiration to do this as he has so mercifully arranged for our care by such an exalted and pure personality as you.
Thank you for allowing us to serve in your extraordinary and exceptional mission to Srila Prabhupada and for your investment of love and energy in undeserving us.
Our hard heart is actually overwhelmed with gratitude as you extract from our icy heart: love, selflessness, and enthusiasm so we can participate on some level in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.
Your indebted and eternally grateful servants
Dhruvamaharaja das & Parijata devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Maharaja
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All Glories to ISKCON Founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
We are somehow becoming increasingly blissful and fulfilled in Krsna consciousness, and this we understand to be solely due to your guidance, coaching, tolerance and mercy on us. You offer yourself so personally to us and we cannot but feel your pure love and desire to advance us in our devotion. We are therefore surrendered to your will and as we cannot repay you in any substantial way, all we can do is commit that we will take sincerely and seriously your instructions and serve you with complete dedication. We are praying to Gurumaharaj to give us the spiritual strength and deep aspiration to do this as he has so mercifully arranged for our care by such an exalted and pure personality as you.
Thank you for allowing us to serve in your extraordinary and exceptional mission to Srila Prabhupada and for your investment of love and energy in undeserving us.
Our hard heart is actually overwhelmed with gratitude as you extract from our icy heart: love, selflessness, and enthusiasm so we can participate on some level in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.
Your indebted and eternally grateful servants
Dhruvamaharaja das & Parijata devi dasi
Dina Dayala devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
Thank you for consenting to the suggestion of one of your Godbrothers, to come in the midst of your disciples on your Vyasa Puja. You are our treasured spiritual master. Knowing our hearts, you always deal with us in such a way as to increase our attachment to you & draw us day by day closer to the spiritual world.
Who is the spiritual master? Recently during a small program at New Gupta Vraja, you were preaching magnificently against unauthorised spiritual groups who will not accept the principle of servitude to the Supreme Lord, Krishna. You vigorously tried to protect an innocent person from being cheated. At this time, you explained who is a real spiritual master in the simplest way. "I only say what Krishna says," you said, flatly.
As Srila Prabhupada also stresses in his Preface to Bhagavad-Gita As it Is, the real spiritual master has no personal ambition. "Our attempt, in presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is to present the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead".
"I only say what Krishna says", you repeated in a class at Gaura Yoga 2 days later. "If I say anything except what Krishna says, you can throw me out the window". What? We did a double take. Who could consider that? I was shocked for a moment with the emotional impact. It was not so absurd to you though. You reflected upon yourself for a moment & then insisted, "Please, DO!" It was obvious for all to see in this candid moment, that you have no other conception of yourself than as a representative of Lord Krishna.
Indeed, for over 35 years, you have simply served to carry His message. In book distribution, book publishing, book writing, presentations, consultations, & management, with every word, & action - at every step. In communist Europe you severely risked your life to smuggle Bhagavad-gitas inside because, you said, "I may live or die but Bhagavad-gita is eternal," You walk the talk.
A real spiritual master is the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna. He perfectly demonstrates the principle of servitude. Due to his perfect surrender, the Lord personally empowers him to act as guru. Today, you are surrounded by burgeoning numbers of disciples. Each one of us, you personally bring towards the light out of the depths of Kali Yuga. You are amazing.
Thank you for giving me the sublime shelter of your lotus feet. I have struggled many times, & you have always been with me, imploring me to ‘hold on tight’. You are so kind to give me the shelter of an infallible father. It is natural that I want to offer you something with my life. It is yours. You have a mission to present the message of Lord Krishna, let me become competent to assist you in this.
Your servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
Thank you for consenting to the suggestion of one of your Godbrothers, to come in the midst of your disciples on your Vyasa Puja. You are our treasured spiritual master. Knowing our hearts, you always deal with us in such a way as to increase our attachment to you & draw us day by day closer to the spiritual world.
Who is the spiritual master? Recently during a small program at New Gupta Vraja, you were preaching magnificently against unauthorised spiritual groups who will not accept the principle of servitude to the Supreme Lord, Krishna. You vigorously tried to protect an innocent person from being cheated. At this time, you explained who is a real spiritual master in the simplest way. "I only say what Krishna says," you said, flatly.
As Srila Prabhupada also stresses in his Preface to Bhagavad-Gita As it Is, the real spiritual master has no personal ambition. "Our attempt, in presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is to present the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead".
"I only say what Krishna says", you repeated in a class at Gaura Yoga 2 days later. "If I say anything except what Krishna says, you can throw me out the window". What? We did a double take. Who could consider that? I was shocked for a moment with the emotional impact. It was not so absurd to you though. You reflected upon yourself for a moment & then insisted, "Please, DO!" It was obvious for all to see in this candid moment, that you have no other conception of yourself than as a representative of Lord Krishna.
Indeed, for over 35 years, you have simply served to carry His message. In book distribution, book publishing, book writing, presentations, consultations, & management, with every word, & action - at every step. In communist Europe you severely risked your life to smuggle Bhagavad-gitas inside because, you said, "I may live or die but Bhagavad-gita is eternal," You walk the talk.
A real spiritual master is the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna. He perfectly demonstrates the principle of servitude. Due to his perfect surrender, the Lord personally empowers him to act as guru. Today, you are surrounded by burgeoning numbers of disciples. Each one of us, you personally bring towards the light out of the depths of Kali Yuga. You are amazing.
Thank you for giving me the sublime shelter of your lotus feet. I have struggled many times, & you have always been with me, imploring me to ‘hold on tight’. You are so kind to give me the shelter of an infallible father. It is natural that I want to offer you something with my life. It is yours. You have a mission to present the message of Lord Krishna, let me become competent to assist you in this.
Your servant,
Dina Dayala devi dasi
Divya Jnana dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The instruction of the spiritual master and the faithful execution by the disciple makes the entire devotional process perfect. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that one should be very careful to receive the message from the spiritual master and execute it faithfully, and this will make one's life perfect.
Srila Prabhupada always wanted his disciples to preach, and your unconditional, uninterrupted service to Srila Prabhupada is a shinning example of how to serve and follow the instructions of the guru in perfection. The fruit of which can be seen in your devotional activities, inspiring many people all over the world to take to the process of Krsna Consciousness. In one class I remember you said, " Srila Prabhupada sacrificed everything to give us Krsna, we want to sacrifice everything to help others become Krsna Conscious as well."
Another class you said, "The feeling of freedom is the feeling of the soul in relation to the Supreme soul. So that's what Krsna's representative wants you to feel. Devotional service and hearing about Krsna is the way to escape the oppression of material nature. Devotee means devotional service. You have to look at your life and see, where is my service, where is my hearing and chanting."
Your words and instruction are very important to me. I feel like a spiritual teenager going through some drastic changes and sometimes wanting to rebel against spiritual life, but your words, classes and association always grounds me and reinforces that I should be serious in spiritual life.
I would like to take this opportunity to beg for your mercy that I can remain ever faithful to your instructions, and increase my devotional activities.
Your servant
Divya Jnana dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The instruction of the spiritual master and the faithful execution by the disciple makes the entire devotional process perfect. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that one should be very careful to receive the message from the spiritual master and execute it faithfully, and this will make one's life perfect.
Srila Prabhupada always wanted his disciples to preach, and your unconditional, uninterrupted service to Srila Prabhupada is a shinning example of how to serve and follow the instructions of the guru in perfection. The fruit of which can be seen in your devotional activities, inspiring many people all over the world to take to the process of Krsna Consciousness. In one class I remember you said, " Srila Prabhupada sacrificed everything to give us Krsna, we want to sacrifice everything to help others become Krsna Conscious as well."
Another class you said, "The feeling of freedom is the feeling of the soul in relation to the Supreme soul. So that's what Krsna's representative wants you to feel. Devotional service and hearing about Krsna is the way to escape the oppression of material nature. Devotee means devotional service. You have to look at your life and see, where is my service, where is my hearing and chanting."
Your words and instruction are very important to me. I feel like a spiritual teenager going through some drastic changes and sometimes wanting to rebel against spiritual life, but your words, classes and association always grounds me and reinforces that I should be serious in spiritual life.
I would like to take this opportunity to beg for your mercy that I can remain ever faithful to your instructions, and increase my devotional activities.
Your servant
Divya Jnana dasa
Dvaraka Puri devi dasi
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Dearest Guru maharaja,
Happy Vyasa Puja!
Please accept my most humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
“Dedicated to spreading the Holy Name, the spiritual Master is never considered to be a common man – always acting in such a way that others may follow his example”.
From the moment I met you Gurudeva I knew my life was going to be changed –how, I wasn’t sure, but your presence left a mark that had me wanting to know more. More about the messages you were sharing and more about this vibrant, intelligent monk who had so many people in awe of him. I was not to be disappointed.
Who could have envisaged the impending metamorphosis that was about to occur – certainly not I! You took me as you found me – raw, self-centred, but open – and in your mercy you have salvaged and nurtured this soul. You have shown me how to live and love without compromise and allowed me to experience joy beyond any previous experiences.
You are my father, my brother, my son. Just as a parent becomes more enlivened when they see their child advancing, similarly, I have witnessed that in you. When you show pleasure with your devotees in their progress towards a loving relationship with Krishna – such a beautiful nectarian experience!
Any meaningful relationship takes time to develop – and what could be more meaningful than that which exists between a spiritual master and his devotee. Your compassion, patience and mercy never cease to amaze me. You take on the responsibility of guiding me and suffering for the sins and offences that I continue to create – please forgive my self-indulgent ways. Please help me to become unflinching in my faith in you so that I may come to know and love Krishna more and more.
Gurudeva – you inspire me with purpose of life, offering, not just theory, but a practical way of living through chanting, sadhu sanga, prasadum and the Word. You send me devotees who nurture, teach and drag me out of complacency with encouraging words and perfect examples of higher living. Please do not give up on me but continue to teach me the spiritual values and inspire me with a consciousness to live those spiritual values so that I may reciprocate the unconditional love you offer.
You are composed, awe-inspiring, gentle, loving and, when fatigue from simply living takes hold, you scoop me up with your ‘words’ – just like a loving father. You help me develop an inner strength and allow me to see that my ‘self’ lies beyond this tired and imperfect body.
The changes you have fostered in me have brought happiness and unity to our family. I can now more fully understand ’right’ and ‘wrong’ and have developed an intolerance of anything impure.
You are like a precious gem thrown into the pool of life – you effect, not just the souls you guide, but influence many lives beyond those. Thank you for scooping up this vagrant soul and training me in devotional service. Please continue to support me as I strive to slip free of the clutches of material nature to achieve the lotus feet of Krishna.
Your aspiring and devoted servant,
Dvaraka Puri devi dasi
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Dearest Guru maharaja,
Happy Vyasa Puja!
Please accept my most humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
“Dedicated to spreading the Holy Name, the spiritual Master is never considered to be a common man – always acting in such a way that others may follow his example”.
From the moment I met you Gurudeva I knew my life was going to be changed –how, I wasn’t sure, but your presence left a mark that had me wanting to know more. More about the messages you were sharing and more about this vibrant, intelligent monk who had so many people in awe of him. I was not to be disappointed.
Who could have envisaged the impending metamorphosis that was about to occur – certainly not I! You took me as you found me – raw, self-centred, but open – and in your mercy you have salvaged and nurtured this soul. You have shown me how to live and love without compromise and allowed me to experience joy beyond any previous experiences.
You are my father, my brother, my son. Just as a parent becomes more enlivened when they see their child advancing, similarly, I have witnessed that in you. When you show pleasure with your devotees in their progress towards a loving relationship with Krishna – such a beautiful nectarian experience!
Any meaningful relationship takes time to develop – and what could be more meaningful than that which exists between a spiritual master and his devotee. Your compassion, patience and mercy never cease to amaze me. You take on the responsibility of guiding me and suffering for the sins and offences that I continue to create – please forgive my self-indulgent ways. Please help me to become unflinching in my faith in you so that I may come to know and love Krishna more and more.
Gurudeva – you inspire me with purpose of life, offering, not just theory, but a practical way of living through chanting, sadhu sanga, prasadum and the Word. You send me devotees who nurture, teach and drag me out of complacency with encouraging words and perfect examples of higher living. Please do not give up on me but continue to teach me the spiritual values and inspire me with a consciousness to live those spiritual values so that I may reciprocate the unconditional love you offer.
You are composed, awe-inspiring, gentle, loving and, when fatigue from simply living takes hold, you scoop me up with your ‘words’ – just like a loving father. You help me develop an inner strength and allow me to see that my ‘self’ lies beyond this tired and imperfect body.
The changes you have fostered in me have brought happiness and unity to our family. I can now more fully understand ’right’ and ‘wrong’ and have developed an intolerance of anything impure.
You are like a precious gem thrown into the pool of life – you effect, not just the souls you guide, but influence many lives beyond those. Thank you for scooping up this vagrant soul and training me in devotional service. Please continue to support me as I strive to slip free of the clutches of material nature to achieve the lotus feet of Krishna.
Your aspiring and devoted servant,
Dvaraka Puri devi dasi
Dvaravati Dasi
(back to top)
My dear Gurudev, please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupad!
I'm very grateful to You that You accept me as Your desciple. If I am Without Your mercy I will vanish without a trace. As a present to Your on the Day of Your Appearance I offer to Your lotus feet increasing enthusiasm in my spiritual life, optimism, progressing desire to have a very strong attachment to Krishna. I understand that these come to me because of Your mercy, I want to be useful to You in your service to Srila Prabhupad, therefore in that beneficial day I'm asking You about blessings to have the same love attachment to Krishna as You has, to have the same compassion as You has, to have as great desire to preach satisfying You as You have satisfying Srila Prabhupad, to have the same all-absorbing taste for speaking about Krishna as You have. I am alive only because of Your mercy. Please accept me as Your servant.
Always Yours, trying to be useful,
Dvaravati Dasi
(back to top)
My dear Gurudev, please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupad!
I'm very grateful to You that You accept me as Your desciple. If I am Without Your mercy I will vanish without a trace. As a present to Your on the Day of Your Appearance I offer to Your lotus feet increasing enthusiasm in my spiritual life, optimism, progressing desire to have a very strong attachment to Krishna. I understand that these come to me because of Your mercy, I want to be useful to You in your service to Srila Prabhupad, therefore in that beneficial day I'm asking You about blessings to have the same love attachment to Krishna as You has, to have the same compassion as You has, to have as great desire to preach satisfying You as You have satisfying Srila Prabhupad, to have the same all-absorbing taste for speaking about Krishna as You have. I am alive only because of Your mercy. Please accept me as Your servant.
Always Yours, trying to be useful,
Dvaravati Dasi
Ekendra Dasa
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Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please save me from Maya.
Your ever-struggling servant,
Ekendra Dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please save me from Maya.
Your ever-struggling servant,
Ekendra Dasa
Ema Reid
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my attempts at humble obeisances. All Glories to you and your divine Krishna consciousness.
Words cannot adequately communicate my gratefulness that you and your devotees at Gaura Yoga have introduced bhakti yoga to my otherwise embarrassingly ignorant life. In your mood, I pray that I can start to repay this in action.
Serving devotees and introducing others to Krishna consciousness is the most sublime opportunity. Your life mission is a truly meaningful inspiration.
My conditioned words are not worthy for your ears. Instead I wish to offer you the words of a real devotee:
SB 4.24.33 Lord Siva addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead with the following prayer: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all glories unto You. You are the most exalted of all self-realized souls. Since you are always auspicious for the self-realized, I wish that You be auspicious for me. You are worshipable by virtue of the all-perfect instructions You give. You are the Supersoul; therefore I offer my obeisances unto You as the supreme living being.
SB 4.24.40 My dear Lord, by expanding Your transcendental vibrations, You reveal the actual meaning of everything. You are the all-pervading sky within and without, and You are the ultimate goal of pious activities executed both within this material world and beyond it. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances again and again unto You.
Your endeavoring servant,
Ema Reid
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my attempts at humble obeisances. All Glories to you and your divine Krishna consciousness.
Words cannot adequately communicate my gratefulness that you and your devotees at Gaura Yoga have introduced bhakti yoga to my otherwise embarrassingly ignorant life. In your mood, I pray that I can start to repay this in action.
Serving devotees and introducing others to Krishna consciousness is the most sublime opportunity. Your life mission is a truly meaningful inspiration.
My conditioned words are not worthy for your ears. Instead I wish to offer you the words of a real devotee:
SB 4.24.33 Lord Siva addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead with the following prayer: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all glories unto You. You are the most exalted of all self-realized souls. Since you are always auspicious for the self-realized, I wish that You be auspicious for me. You are worshipable by virtue of the all-perfect instructions You give. You are the Supersoul; therefore I offer my obeisances unto You as the supreme living being.
SB 4.24.40 My dear Lord, by expanding Your transcendental vibrations, You reveal the actual meaning of everything. You are the all-pervading sky within and without, and You are the ultimate goal of pious activities executed both within this material world and beyond it. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances again and again unto You.
Your endeavoring servant,
Ema Reid
Erinn
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you on this most auspicious day.
In CC Mad. 20.61 (verse from Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 13.2) it says, "'My dear Vaisnava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.'" Thank you for engaging my senses and being so merciful so that one that follows your instructions can become free from this disease of material entanglement.
Each morning we sing, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, āra nā kariha mane āsā. "Srila Narottama dāsa Thākura advises everyone to stick to the principle of carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. One should not desire anything else. If the regulative principles ordered by the spiritual master are followed rigidly, the mind will gradually be trained to desire nothing but the service of Krsna. Such training is the perfection of life." (SB 4.29.68 purport)
Srila Visvanātha Cakravarti Thākura also says "The best kind of intelligence I can have is intelligence used in the service of Krsna. Intelligence is defined as "fixed" when it is intent upon my spiritual master's instructions, such as chanting the name of Krsna, remembering - Hide quoted text - His activities, and performing service to His lotus feet. My spiritual master's instructions are my sādhana and my life, both in the beginning stages of bhakti as well as in bhakti's perfectional stage. I desire only to follow his instructions. I accept nothing else as my life's work, even in dreams. Whether I am happy or distressed, whether the material world remains or is destroyed, I do not care. There is no loss for me. I simply must carry out the orders of my spiritual master. Fixedness upon his orders is determined intelligence and devotional service, and only by being fixed on his orders can such determined intelligence prosper."
Today I am begging for your mercy so that I may become intent upon following your instructions and become a valuable instrument in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement. Below are the lyrics to one of the songs I have written for you – it probably would be hard to understand without the lyrics.
Without the grace of the spiritual master
One cannot make any advancement
Therefore I will always praise you
And always glorify and hopefully obey you
For thats the real purport of disciple
And though I'm not spiritually ripe yet
I know that by your mercy I can achieve all perfection
And without you I don't know how to
Chant Krishna nama without offense
And Krishna is nondifferent from His Name, Pastimes and potencies
If I wanna get out of this suffering
This ocean of repeated birth and death
Then I take shelter at your lotus feet
The greatest personality I've ever met
But do I really desire liberation?
I'd rather serve you eternally
But somethings wrong with my heart because
I can't say that with any sincerity
I wish to wear your words around my neck- else I'll forget
That this world without Krishna is a place of misery and death
But I'm somehow still hopeful so I'm begging for your mercy
Because my mind is pretty dirty, and my heart is still black
My spiritual master's instructions are my sadhana and my life
Wish I could say without consideration of my own wellness or strife
You're the captain of the ship that can lead us all to safety
But only if we let your words penetrate our hearts
Striving to be your humble servant
Gratefully graciously
Cause I can't see what you see
And I know you've seen the truth
Everything is there in your person
And to have that chance – what could be worse than
Throwing it away – what a waste of the human form
Cos I think I'm born but the soul is eternal
And at least in terms of the spiritual journey
Thank Krishna I met you although I'm such a rascal
I want to take your instruction as my life and soul
And base my life around chanting - the glories of the Supreme Whole
Only you have the key to unlock these chains
Caused by the pains of trying to be the Supreme
Samsparsa ja bhoga – and somehow you dont say I told you so
And I'm not used to real love so how will I ever know?
Unless I become Krishna conscious but thats too far beyond my reach
My only hope is to grab hold of every word I hear you speak
om ajnana timirandasya
Jnananjana salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri guruve namah
Thank you for being as magnanimous as a cloud with the distribution of your mercy, giving fools like me a chance to come to the human platform and hopefully beyond. I don't want to imagine what my life would be like without your nectarian association through sound, form and literature. Your words enliven me to want to perform devotional service with full vigor. Thank you for inspiring not only me but the entire three worlds with your energy and enthusiasm for distributing Krishna consciousness in any way, shape or form to anyone, regardless of their worthiness.
Aspiring to have the humilty to be worthy of being the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servants' servants of the most munificent incarnation of Lord Krishna and His innumerable associates,
Bhaktin Erinn
Download Erinn's Song MP3 (5.4 MB)
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you on this most auspicious day.
In CC Mad. 20.61 (verse from Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 13.2) it says, "'My dear Vaisnava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.'" Thank you for engaging my senses and being so merciful so that one that follows your instructions can become free from this disease of material entanglement.
Each morning we sing, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, āra nā kariha mane āsā. "Srila Narottama dāsa Thākura advises everyone to stick to the principle of carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. One should not desire anything else. If the regulative principles ordered by the spiritual master are followed rigidly, the mind will gradually be trained to desire nothing but the service of Krsna. Such training is the perfection of life." (SB 4.29.68 purport)
Srila Visvanātha Cakravarti Thākura also says "The best kind of intelligence I can have is intelligence used in the service of Krsna. Intelligence is defined as "fixed" when it is intent upon my spiritual master's instructions, such as chanting the name of Krsna, remembering - Hide quoted text - His activities, and performing service to His lotus feet. My spiritual master's instructions are my sādhana and my life, both in the beginning stages of bhakti as well as in bhakti's perfectional stage. I desire only to follow his instructions. I accept nothing else as my life's work, even in dreams. Whether I am happy or distressed, whether the material world remains or is destroyed, I do not care. There is no loss for me. I simply must carry out the orders of my spiritual master. Fixedness upon his orders is determined intelligence and devotional service, and only by being fixed on his orders can such determined intelligence prosper."
Today I am begging for your mercy so that I may become intent upon following your instructions and become a valuable instrument in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement. Below are the lyrics to one of the songs I have written for you – it probably would be hard to understand without the lyrics.
Without the grace of the spiritual master
One cannot make any advancement
Therefore I will always praise you
And always glorify and hopefully obey you
For thats the real purport of disciple
And though I'm not spiritually ripe yet
I know that by your mercy I can achieve all perfection
And without you I don't know how to
Chant Krishna nama without offense
And Krishna is nondifferent from His Name, Pastimes and potencies
If I wanna get out of this suffering
This ocean of repeated birth and death
Then I take shelter at your lotus feet
The greatest personality I've ever met
But do I really desire liberation?
I'd rather serve you eternally
But somethings wrong with my heart because
I can't say that with any sincerity
I wish to wear your words around my neck- else I'll forget
That this world without Krishna is a place of misery and death
But I'm somehow still hopeful so I'm begging for your mercy
Because my mind is pretty dirty, and my heart is still black
My spiritual master's instructions are my sadhana and my life
Wish I could say without consideration of my own wellness or strife
You're the captain of the ship that can lead us all to safety
But only if we let your words penetrate our hearts
Striving to be your humble servant
Gratefully graciously
Cause I can't see what you see
And I know you've seen the truth
Everything is there in your person
And to have that chance – what could be worse than
Throwing it away – what a waste of the human form
Cos I think I'm born but the soul is eternal
And at least in terms of the spiritual journey
Thank Krishna I met you although I'm such a rascal
I want to take your instruction as my life and soul
And base my life around chanting - the glories of the Supreme Whole
Only you have the key to unlock these chains
Caused by the pains of trying to be the Supreme
Samsparsa ja bhoga – and somehow you dont say I told you so
And I'm not used to real love so how will I ever know?
Unless I become Krishna conscious but thats too far beyond my reach
My only hope is to grab hold of every word I hear you speak
om ajnana timirandasya
Jnananjana salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena
Tasmai sri guruve namah
Thank you for being as magnanimous as a cloud with the distribution of your mercy, giving fools like me a chance to come to the human platform and hopefully beyond. I don't want to imagine what my life would be like without your nectarian association through sound, form and literature. Your words enliven me to want to perform devotional service with full vigor. Thank you for inspiring not only me but the entire three worlds with your energy and enthusiasm for distributing Krishna consciousness in any way, shape or form to anyone, regardless of their worthiness.
Aspiring to have the humilty to be worthy of being the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servants' servants of the most munificent incarnation of Lord Krishna and His innumerable associates,
Bhaktin Erinn
Download Erinn's Song MP3 (5.4 MB)
Gaura Kishore das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Krsna states to Arjuna in BG 10:30 kalah kalayatam aham / among subduers I am time. Upon reflection I can see that as the time is passing I have yet to take spiritual life seriously. However when I see you then I realise that with every passing moment you are relishing more deeply the necar of Lord Krsna's pastimes. You have connected time to the Lord and I pray that on this day I can also have some of that understanding and in so doing subdue these wild senses including the mind.
It is often stated that the disciple can never repay the debt of gartitude shown to him by the spiritual master. As I hear your talks or read about your preaching activities this debt grows. Gurudeva you are an inspiration to many and continue to amaze all that meet you. All I can do is be an instrument in your preaching activites and in some way help you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. In this way then perhaps this debt of love you have shown me can be repaid with interest.
I would like to thank you for your kindness and patience in dealing with this rascal.
Your servant
Gaura Kishore das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Krsna states to Arjuna in BG 10:30 kalah kalayatam aham / among subduers I am time. Upon reflection I can see that as the time is passing I have yet to take spiritual life seriously. However when I see you then I realise that with every passing moment you are relishing more deeply the necar of Lord Krsna's pastimes. You have connected time to the Lord and I pray that on this day I can also have some of that understanding and in so doing subdue these wild senses including the mind.
It is often stated that the disciple can never repay the debt of gartitude shown to him by the spiritual master. As I hear your talks or read about your preaching activities this debt grows. Gurudeva you are an inspiration to many and continue to amaze all that meet you. All I can do is be an instrument in your preaching activites and in some way help you in your service to Srila Prabhupada. In this way then perhaps this debt of love you have shown me can be repaid with interest.
I would like to thank you for your kindness and patience in dealing with this rascal.
Your servant
Gaura Kishore das
Gitavali devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you, on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
As I'm writing this inadequate offering, I beg Krishna for the intelligence to be able to convey the feelings in my heart. I pray for sincerity to relay to you, dear Guru Maharaja, how grateful I feel to be your disciple.
As time is passing, as I'm slowly maturing in devotional service, I'm starting to see just how much of a rascal my mind really is. The mind is such an enemy, especially the woman's mind is full of crazy ideas and crazy thoughts that are just plainly uncontrollable. When will that day come when I'll be free from combat against the minds' nonsensical blabber and its unrealistic demands? How I wish I was just satisfied with Krsna and serving you faithfully, uninterrupted and without deviation.
This human form of life is so rare! How grateful I feel to have been born in this age of Kali, just after the departure of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, who paved for us the easiest process by which to realize our eternal position as servants of God. How grateful I feel to have grown up in a relatively peaceful environment, in a family that's supportive and loving, but mostly how grateful I feel to have been brought to your lotus feet. I cannot repay you enough for having given me the opportunity to become free from illusion and ignorance. Even though the whole world is bathing in an ocean of nescience, how fortunate are we to have received the shelter of your instructions and the shelter of the Holy names of Krishna. By following your instruction and by pleasing you, only then, can we get a glimpse of the Lord's mercy. I'm so foolish that I can't even catch a hold of your mercy. It slips away due to miserly weaknesses of the heart. I beg to become free from the mind's demands and become attached to your service and the service of Krishna's devotees.
Amidst the chaos of the age of Kali, I find myself, a tiny parcel unable to glorify you, as you deserve to be glorified. I have no idea how fortunate I am to have you as my ultimate guide, my spiritual father, the one who's opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge, who's helped me see that we are urgently needed to help spread the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world.
Thank you for opening my eyes on the real things I need to work on within myself. Thank you for dedicating your time, your energy and for your genius preaching work that you do all over the world. You are making an impact, by inspiring many young persons to take up this process of Krishna Consciousness. All glories to you, dear Guru Maharaja.
Your lowly servant,
Gitavali devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you, on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
As I'm writing this inadequate offering, I beg Krishna for the intelligence to be able to convey the feelings in my heart. I pray for sincerity to relay to you, dear Guru Maharaja, how grateful I feel to be your disciple.
As time is passing, as I'm slowly maturing in devotional service, I'm starting to see just how much of a rascal my mind really is. The mind is such an enemy, especially the woman's mind is full of crazy ideas and crazy thoughts that are just plainly uncontrollable. When will that day come when I'll be free from combat against the minds' nonsensical blabber and its unrealistic demands? How I wish I was just satisfied with Krsna and serving you faithfully, uninterrupted and without deviation.
This human form of life is so rare! How grateful I feel to have been born in this age of Kali, just after the departure of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, who paved for us the easiest process by which to realize our eternal position as servants of God. How grateful I feel to have grown up in a relatively peaceful environment, in a family that's supportive and loving, but mostly how grateful I feel to have been brought to your lotus feet. I cannot repay you enough for having given me the opportunity to become free from illusion and ignorance. Even though the whole world is bathing in an ocean of nescience, how fortunate are we to have received the shelter of your instructions and the shelter of the Holy names of Krishna. By following your instruction and by pleasing you, only then, can we get a glimpse of the Lord's mercy. I'm so foolish that I can't even catch a hold of your mercy. It slips away due to miserly weaknesses of the heart. I beg to become free from the mind's demands and become attached to your service and the service of Krishna's devotees.
Amidst the chaos of the age of Kali, I find myself, a tiny parcel unable to glorify you, as you deserve to be glorified. I have no idea how fortunate I am to have you as my ultimate guide, my spiritual father, the one who's opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge, who's helped me see that we are urgently needed to help spread the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world.
Thank you for opening my eyes on the real things I need to work on within myself. Thank you for dedicating your time, your energy and for your genius preaching work that you do all over the world. You are making an impact, by inspiring many young persons to take up this process of Krishna Consciousness. All glories to you, dear Guru Maharaja.
Your lowly servant,
Gitavali devi dasi
Gopala Guru dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisance's. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
I always remember the first time I met you at 'The Loft' in Wellington and the first time, on the same night, that you dismantled a sizeable portion of my false ego. It was a moment that changed my entire existence for all eternity.
From that moment on I eagerly awaited your visits, ready to relish and assimilate your devotional classes. Now you have guided me and established me in service to Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha and Their devotees. You taught me how to preach, by your own personal example, and have shown me true care and compassion - something I had never experienced before at such a deep level.
Thank you for everything you have given me Gurudeva. From day one in my devotional career you have been the major guide and inspiration in my service and the fact that I am assisting you in your service has helped me through many challenging moments. I owe everything to you. Although not qualified, I try my best to render you service as best as I can, please bless me so that I can continue doing this for the rest of my existence.
Your servant,
Gopala Guru dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisance's. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
I always remember the first time I met you at 'The Loft' in Wellington and the first time, on the same night, that you dismantled a sizeable portion of my false ego. It was a moment that changed my entire existence for all eternity.
From that moment on I eagerly awaited your visits, ready to relish and assimilate your devotional classes. Now you have guided me and established me in service to Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha and Their devotees. You taught me how to preach, by your own personal example, and have shown me true care and compassion - something I had never experienced before at such a deep level.
Thank you for everything you have given me Gurudeva. From day one in my devotional career you have been the major guide and inspiration in my service and the fact that I am assisting you in your service has helped me through many challenging moments. I owe everything to you. Although not qualified, I try my best to render you service as best as I can, please bless me so that I can continue doing this for the rest of my existence.
Your servant,
Gopala Guru dasa
Gopesvari devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances; all glories all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has pointed out that the original cause of offending the Lord and falling down from ones position is one's not learning how to properly worship a bona fide spiritual master. One who is trained to offer respectful obeisances and worship to the bona fide spiritual master automatically offers proper worship to the Supreme Lord.
Without the mercy of a bona fide spiritual master, even a so-called religious man will gradually become atheistic, offend the Lord by foolish speculation and fall into a hellish condition of life."
SB 11.5.3
Gurumaharaja, how do I do justice to glorifying you when I am still in the crawling stages of understanding the depth of my relationship with my spiritual master? Everyday I offer my obeisances to: “..bhakta-cara pravinata..” “you who have competence in Vaisnava dealings” and though falling short of Vaisnava classification myself, I find myself in the frustrating position of being unable to reciprocate with you adequately. One part of your competence in "Vaisnava dealings" that continually fascinates me is how you walk, so naturally, the 'razors edge' of friendliness and familiarity.
I regard with wonderment how you apply this so artfully in our relationship: your firm instructions and no-mess dealings cement you in the position of superiority, yet unlike mundane roles of master and servant you sweeten and personalize our associations with lashings of undeserved affection. Most intriguing is how you maneuver these dealings to walk that razors edge: – on one hand my tendency towards oversensitivity and distrust is comforted, while the ease with which I slip into prideful and lazy over-familiarity is kept in check.
This keen perception of yours reminds me of a very simple dream I had of you recently. I was looking for you, madly turning out cupboards and attics, wells and forests. In the dream I knew nothing of you, only I had to find you. You on the other hand, were smiling gently from afar, knowing exactly where I was, what I was doing and what I was thinking, at every moment.
Gurudeva, its quite embarrassing how much you see into my mind and heart, and there, despite my lack of spiritual growth – in fact its apparent slide backwards – you continue to give me shelter, time, instruction, affection. This is a day to praise your glories, not a day for me to again beg favors from you. But, there is one favor i cannot help but to beg. Please, Gurudeva, give me the strength to do something wonderful for you. Please give me your mercy to allow me to increase my service to you.
Following in the steps of Srila Prabhupada, you always end your classes, by thanking us... but, as one Vaisnava recently put it “what did we do for you? absolutely nothing compared to what you have done for us” It is we, Gurudeva, who must THANK YOU.
Your humble white servant
Gopesvari devi dasi (the Loft, Auckland)
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances; all glories all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has pointed out that the original cause of offending the Lord and falling down from ones position is one's not learning how to properly worship a bona fide spiritual master. One who is trained to offer respectful obeisances and worship to the bona fide spiritual master automatically offers proper worship to the Supreme Lord.
Without the mercy of a bona fide spiritual master, even a so-called religious man will gradually become atheistic, offend the Lord by foolish speculation and fall into a hellish condition of life."
SB 11.5.3
Gurumaharaja, how do I do justice to glorifying you when I am still in the crawling stages of understanding the depth of my relationship with my spiritual master? Everyday I offer my obeisances to: “..bhakta-cara pravinata..” “you who have competence in Vaisnava dealings” and though falling short of Vaisnava classification myself, I find myself in the frustrating position of being unable to reciprocate with you adequately. One part of your competence in "Vaisnava dealings" that continually fascinates me is how you walk, so naturally, the 'razors edge' of friendliness and familiarity.
I regard with wonderment how you apply this so artfully in our relationship: your firm instructions and no-mess dealings cement you in the position of superiority, yet unlike mundane roles of master and servant you sweeten and personalize our associations with lashings of undeserved affection. Most intriguing is how you maneuver these dealings to walk that razors edge: – on one hand my tendency towards oversensitivity and distrust is comforted, while the ease with which I slip into prideful and lazy over-familiarity is kept in check.
This keen perception of yours reminds me of a very simple dream I had of you recently. I was looking for you, madly turning out cupboards and attics, wells and forests. In the dream I knew nothing of you, only I had to find you. You on the other hand, were smiling gently from afar, knowing exactly where I was, what I was doing and what I was thinking, at every moment.
Gurudeva, its quite embarrassing how much you see into my mind and heart, and there, despite my lack of spiritual growth – in fact its apparent slide backwards – you continue to give me shelter, time, instruction, affection. This is a day to praise your glories, not a day for me to again beg favors from you. But, there is one favor i cannot help but to beg. Please, Gurudeva, give me the strength to do something wonderful for you. Please give me your mercy to allow me to increase my service to you.
Following in the steps of Srila Prabhupada, you always end your classes, by thanking us... but, as one Vaisnava recently put it “what did we do for you? absolutely nothing compared to what you have done for us” It is we, Gurudeva, who must THANK YOU.
Your humble white servant
Gopesvari devi dasi (the Loft, Auckland)
Gaura-arati dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Because you are always so happy to hear nectar stories from book distribution, for your pleasure on this divine day of your appearance I would like to share one with you.
There's a group of young people coming along for yoga on Mondays when I teach. All of them love Gaura Yoga and relish prasadam like they've been fasting for months.
One of the boys, Sam, is 17, he's just finishing his last year at Steiner school. One night he was the only one out of his group that came so I got to have a one on one conversation with him. He was very interested to hear about yoga and consciousness.
The next week, his friends were back, which made it difficult to bring the conversation to a deeper level. Over the next week I was thinking of how I could again have a meaningful conversation with him and get him to take a book. I decided I would present Perfect Escape as a project – he would read it and tell me all about it the following week. So when Monday came around I bee-lined for the seat next to him and as soon as I sat down he turned to me and said "Hey Gaura, did I tell you that I started doing yoga as part of a school project?" Slightly surprised I asked him about his project and thanked Krishna for this opportune moment to present the book. I suggested that he learn about the different aspects of yoga, of which bhakti is the topmost, and that the book would help him understand all that. He got it. As he became more enthused I invited him to the kirtan programme that had just started at Gaura Yoga, which he came to and enjoyed.
After two weeks I asked if he had finished the book and he said
"Oh yeah, I started reading it and um my dad got a hold of it..."
Uh oh, my heart dropped into my stomach as I thought of the common scenario....he continued
"and he's read the whole book, loves it and would like to buy it (he thought the $2 he had given the week before was a loaning fee) and is wondering which book you think he should read next. He's read the Bhagavad Gita though so he doesn't want that one."
Desiring to meet this obviously special person (a future candidate for the Srimad Bhagavatam set) and offer him more books I asked Sam to bring his dad to yoga the next week, which turned out to be Radhastami.
The new Bhagavad Gita's had just arrived and Krishnaloka had some at the door for distribution as she greeted the guests. Sam's dad, Stuart went straight for the beautiful hard-bound Gita, but said he had read it and he didn't buy it at that time. Unfortunately there were no seats left at his table for dinner but when he got up after dinner I saw him say to himself "Ahh the books". I took the opportunity to jump up and ask him 'if he enjoyed the yoga.' As we walked over to the bookshelf he told me that he had read Perfect Escape and he wanted the book that Perfect Escape referred to a lot. He had read the Gita, he didn't want another copy, it was another book he was after. He was excited when I said Srimad Bhagavatam and asked if we had it and if he could see it. We had a nice conversation and he told me how he had been interested in life beyond the body since he had a life changing accident. He had read all sorts of so-called spiritual nonsense and expressed one problem he had encountered in the writings he had read.
"The thought of losing individuality when one attains enlightenment just makes me feel so uncomfortable, but in Perfect Escape the author speaks of a reality beyond the body full of individuality and personality."
Reading your Perfect Escape made him eager to find out more about the bhakti process and read Prabhupada's books.
He left that night with his arms full of prasadam and a Bhagavad GIta as it is.
Your contemporary preaching is undoubtedly touching the lives of people all over the world. You so expertly address the issues on people's minds and show how bhakti yoga is the practical solution to all problems. We see time and time again when you come to Gaura Yoga, that by hearing you speak, people who are interested in Krishna consciousness become so grounded and serious about applying the process in their lives. Any sincere soul becomes captivated by your wondrous personality, your sharp intelligence, your heartfelt compassion and I must say it, your unique laugh. You're clearly no ordinary person.
"According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krishna. Lord Krishna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees." CC Adi 1.45
"The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realised the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters." SB 11.3.21
Needless to say you certainly fit the bill of a bona fide spiritual master. Every word you speak and every instruction you give, is replete with pure desire for Krishna's pleasure and therefore to hear you speak I believe is the most relishable thing in this world.
I'm confident that simply by following your instructions one can overcome all material conditionings and reach the desired goal of love for Krishna. The problem is, because of my deep-rooted attachment to material enjoyment it's not always so simple.
Why is it that you so lovingly offer the best and we so doggishly cling to the worst? I've experienced that desire for sense gratification is never satisfied, and by your grace I've even had a glimpse of the deep satisfaction that comes from sacrificing all of ones energies for Krishna's pleasure, yet I still am so prone to being bewildered by maya's alluring potency, and this causes me to forget my identity as your eternal servant.
You have given me everything I need to become immune to the horrible effects of forgetfulness of my real identity - association with your dear and dedicated disciples, personal guidance and training, and a life full of dynamic devotional service. I'm ashamed to say I am yet to fully embrace these gifts as my only treasure in life.
Last week you were explaining that for a materialist the time of death is full of regrets, and as devotees we don't want to have any regrets when it's our time to go. If I left my body today I know I would regret that I haven't yet wholeheartedly embraced your instructions as my life and soul.
I want to come closer to you, to act only in alignment with your instructions, to make you a proud father and to imbibe your mood and mission as my only objective in life. Oh to be a useful instrument through which you can preach the message of Mahaprabhu. This is my hearts desire. For this some intense purification surely needs to take place.
Gurudeva, on this auspicious day of your appearance I beg you to please push me forward in devotional service more than ever before. Please bring me closer to you. I'm needy of and dependent on your mercy. Please give me the intelligence to seize opportunities for purification so I may very soon serve you with a pure heart.
Aspiring to be your enthusiastic, determined, competent servant, saturated with humility, exclusively for your pleasure,
Gaura-arati dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Because you are always so happy to hear nectar stories from book distribution, for your pleasure on this divine day of your appearance I would like to share one with you.
There's a group of young people coming along for yoga on Mondays when I teach. All of them love Gaura Yoga and relish prasadam like they've been fasting for months.
One of the boys, Sam, is 17, he's just finishing his last year at Steiner school. One night he was the only one out of his group that came so I got to have a one on one conversation with him. He was very interested to hear about yoga and consciousness.
The next week, his friends were back, which made it difficult to bring the conversation to a deeper level. Over the next week I was thinking of how I could again have a meaningful conversation with him and get him to take a book. I decided I would present Perfect Escape as a project – he would read it and tell me all about it the following week. So when Monday came around I bee-lined for the seat next to him and as soon as I sat down he turned to me and said "Hey Gaura, did I tell you that I started doing yoga as part of a school project?" Slightly surprised I asked him about his project and thanked Krishna for this opportune moment to present the book. I suggested that he learn about the different aspects of yoga, of which bhakti is the topmost, and that the book would help him understand all that. He got it. As he became more enthused I invited him to the kirtan programme that had just started at Gaura Yoga, which he came to and enjoyed.
After two weeks I asked if he had finished the book and he said
"Oh yeah, I started reading it and um my dad got a hold of it..."
Uh oh, my heart dropped into my stomach as I thought of the common scenario....he continued
"and he's read the whole book, loves it and would like to buy it (he thought the $2 he had given the week before was a loaning fee) and is wondering which book you think he should read next. He's read the Bhagavad Gita though so he doesn't want that one."
Desiring to meet this obviously special person (a future candidate for the Srimad Bhagavatam set) and offer him more books I asked Sam to bring his dad to yoga the next week, which turned out to be Radhastami.
The new Bhagavad Gita's had just arrived and Krishnaloka had some at the door for distribution as she greeted the guests. Sam's dad, Stuart went straight for the beautiful hard-bound Gita, but said he had read it and he didn't buy it at that time. Unfortunately there were no seats left at his table for dinner but when he got up after dinner I saw him say to himself "Ahh the books". I took the opportunity to jump up and ask him 'if he enjoyed the yoga.' As we walked over to the bookshelf he told me that he had read Perfect Escape and he wanted the book that Perfect Escape referred to a lot. He had read the Gita, he didn't want another copy, it was another book he was after. He was excited when I said Srimad Bhagavatam and asked if we had it and if he could see it. We had a nice conversation and he told me how he had been interested in life beyond the body since he had a life changing accident. He had read all sorts of so-called spiritual nonsense and expressed one problem he had encountered in the writings he had read.
"The thought of losing individuality when one attains enlightenment just makes me feel so uncomfortable, but in Perfect Escape the author speaks of a reality beyond the body full of individuality and personality."
Reading your Perfect Escape made him eager to find out more about the bhakti process and read Prabhupada's books.
He left that night with his arms full of prasadam and a Bhagavad GIta as it is.
Your contemporary preaching is undoubtedly touching the lives of people all over the world. You so expertly address the issues on people's minds and show how bhakti yoga is the practical solution to all problems. We see time and time again when you come to Gaura Yoga, that by hearing you speak, people who are interested in Krishna consciousness become so grounded and serious about applying the process in their lives. Any sincere soul becomes captivated by your wondrous personality, your sharp intelligence, your heartfelt compassion and I must say it, your unique laugh. You're clearly no ordinary person.
"According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krishna. Lord Krishna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees." CC Adi 1.45
"The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realised the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters." SB 11.3.21
Needless to say you certainly fit the bill of a bona fide spiritual master. Every word you speak and every instruction you give, is replete with pure desire for Krishna's pleasure and therefore to hear you speak I believe is the most relishable thing in this world.
I'm confident that simply by following your instructions one can overcome all material conditionings and reach the desired goal of love for Krishna. The problem is, because of my deep-rooted attachment to material enjoyment it's not always so simple.
Why is it that you so lovingly offer the best and we so doggishly cling to the worst? I've experienced that desire for sense gratification is never satisfied, and by your grace I've even had a glimpse of the deep satisfaction that comes from sacrificing all of ones energies for Krishna's pleasure, yet I still am so prone to being bewildered by maya's alluring potency, and this causes me to forget my identity as your eternal servant.
You have given me everything I need to become immune to the horrible effects of forgetfulness of my real identity - association with your dear and dedicated disciples, personal guidance and training, and a life full of dynamic devotional service. I'm ashamed to say I am yet to fully embrace these gifts as my only treasure in life.
Last week you were explaining that for a materialist the time of death is full of regrets, and as devotees we don't want to have any regrets when it's our time to go. If I left my body today I know I would regret that I haven't yet wholeheartedly embraced your instructions as my life and soul.
I want to come closer to you, to act only in alignment with your instructions, to make you a proud father and to imbibe your mood and mission as my only objective in life. Oh to be a useful instrument through which you can preach the message of Mahaprabhu. This is my hearts desire. For this some intense purification surely needs to take place.
Gurudeva, on this auspicious day of your appearance I beg you to please push me forward in devotional service more than ever before. Please bring me closer to you. I'm needy of and dependent on your mercy. Please give me the intelligence to seize opportunities for purification so I may very soon serve you with a pure heart.
Aspiring to be your enthusiastic, determined, competent servant, saturated with humility, exclusively for your pleasure,
Gaura-arati dasi
Gokula Lila devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to your lotus feet.
In a Krsna Fest presentation recently you quoted a verse - SB 10.22.33 'Just see how these trees are maintaining every living entity! Their birth is successful. Their behavior is just like that of great personalities, for anyone who asks anything from a tree never goes away disappointed.'
You elaborated in your own words the proceeding verse, SB 10.22.34 'These trees fulfill one's desires with their leaves, flowers and fruits, their shade, roots, bark and wood, and also with their fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp and shoots.'
Your glories are like that of the banyan tree, we can never get to the end of them.
THE TREES SAP-
The sap from a maple tree produces the most nectar sweet topping for all kinds of sweet deliciouses.
Similarly anything that comes fromyour lotus mouth is like maple syrup, sweet nectar that fills our ears. Your classes take us on a unforgettable journey from the darkest regions of material life "People are going from one dream to another - they don't actually wake up in the morning."
revealing to us 'what is reality' with analogies, examples and old pop song lyrics, you have us in pain laughing and stunned in dismay. Your especially renowned for your expertise in wrecking all our fantasies of male and female relationships, by presenting actually how maya has us all acting dynamically under her tight clutches keeping the material world turning. From there you take us to th e spiritual world which is far beyond our sense perception and some of the time interest, you present to us in a way that we become mesmerized by Bhagavan Sri Krsna and His eternal abode. You give us the package deal, Krsna's name,fame,qualities and entourage straight from Prabhupada's books with your own spin to it. You give us all the tools we need to grow and develop in Krsna consciousness,all the while earnestly begging us to to stop abusing ourselves, distorting ourselves, selling our selves cheap...replace our material desires with Srila Prabhupada's desires.
In February 2005 you appealed to an audience of devotees
"Beg for Lord Caitanya's mercy to appear in our lives so we can be worthy instruments for accomplishing Srila Prabhupada's desires." When speaking to guests through your classes you have them reveal right there on the spot what there material desires are and what illusions they are captivated by, you have them asking questions ordinarily they wouldn't dare and you fearlessly boldly probe into peoples thoughts, speculations, desires and lives.
THE TREES WOOD-
The wood from the trees are essential for keeping a fire alight, one may try to energize a fire with paper but the most ideal method to maintain a fire is through wood.
Similarly in our neophyte stage of bhakti we can easily fall victim again to the all powerful illusory energy. How is it possible that the fire of desire for surrendering to Krsna is still alight in my heart? Through your all powerful association and instructions. Your words pull me out of ignorance and fuel a desire to distribute Krsna to others...
"Care for yourself then care for others." "The more you give the more I can give you" "I dream of sankirtan day and night" "Hearing sankirtan stories is my sense gratification, it brings me great joy." "hearing sankirtan stories is like a party." "Prabhupada loved sankirtan, I love sankirtan and I'm teaching you to do the same thing, this is our family business."
Everything about you emanates book distribution and outreach. Indeed you are fueling on the book distribution and outreach in New Zealand, so the saying goes 'you can judge the tree by its fruits' because you are constantly prodding the fire to keep alight Prabhupada's desires. Even the newest devotees to the Gaura Yoga community feels inspired to distribute Krsna in some way. This is your power.
THE TREES FLOWERS-
People like to decorate the house with fragrant flowers to freshen and enliven the atmosphere. Similarly your transcendental association is like having refreshing fragrant flowers on the table.
Your vapu cleanses out all unnecessary disease, and attachments which leaves the devotees minds peaceful and clean. You carefully make adjustments where necessary so devotees can increase their service and sacrifice, you increase the mood within the Gaura Yoga community of devotion, dedication, love and care. You are the driving force behind this thriving ecstatic preaching centre. Just as flowers bring life, colour and zest to a table; you bring life, colour and zest to our lives and community.
THE TREES SHADE-
In the scorching hot sun we seek shelter under the trees' branches and leaves. The tree is always ready to give shelter we never go away disappointed.
Similarly you're giving shelter to many conditioned souls burnt out by material existence. Especially you are appreciated for establishing a unique shelter for ladies in Krsna consciousness. Where we can give up our tendency to live selfish and lazy lives, absorbed in making the material body look attractive. You're giving us the greatest shelter-a caring father and unlimited opportunities to sacrifice in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement. Invaluable training of regulated life jam-packed with service and sadhana, more I 'm understanding this training to be a rare jewel.
You don't just instruct the ladies to simply make flower garlands and collect money to pay rent. You tell us to "be all we can be in Krsna consciousness, take responsibility, become a selfless servant." You say it not only in words but in your immaculate example.
Thank you for your mercy on this impious weed who somehow found shelter under this maha tree. What better shelter can life offer? Please forgive me for my offences.
Your aspiring grateful servant
Gokula Lila devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to your lotus feet.
In a Krsna Fest presentation recently you quoted a verse - SB 10.22.33 'Just see how these trees are maintaining every living entity! Their birth is successful. Their behavior is just like that of great personalities, for anyone who asks anything from a tree never goes away disappointed.'
You elaborated in your own words the proceeding verse, SB 10.22.34 'These trees fulfill one's desires with their leaves, flowers and fruits, their shade, roots, bark and wood, and also with their fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp and shoots.'
Your glories are like that of the banyan tree, we can never get to the end of them.
THE TREES SAP-
The sap from a maple tree produces the most nectar sweet topping for all kinds of sweet deliciouses.
Similarly anything that comes fromyour lotus mouth is like maple syrup, sweet nectar that fills our ears. Your classes take us on a unforgettable journey from the darkest regions of material life "People are going from one dream to another - they don't actually wake up in the morning."
revealing to us 'what is reality' with analogies, examples and old pop song lyrics, you have us in pain laughing and stunned in dismay. Your especially renowned for your expertise in wrecking all our fantasies of male and female relationships, by presenting actually how maya has us all acting dynamically under her tight clutches keeping the material world turning. From there you take us to th e spiritual world which is far beyond our sense perception and some of the time interest, you present to us in a way that we become mesmerized by Bhagavan Sri Krsna and His eternal abode. You give us the package deal, Krsna's name,fame,qualities and entourage straight from Prabhupada's books with your own spin to it. You give us all the tools we need to grow and develop in Krsna consciousness,all the while earnestly begging us to to stop abusing ourselves, distorting ourselves, selling our selves cheap...replace our material desires with Srila Prabhupada's desires.
In February 2005 you appealed to an audience of devotees
"Beg for Lord Caitanya's mercy to appear in our lives so we can be worthy instruments for accomplishing Srila Prabhupada's desires." When speaking to guests through your classes you have them reveal right there on the spot what there material desires are and what illusions they are captivated by, you have them asking questions ordinarily they wouldn't dare and you fearlessly boldly probe into peoples thoughts, speculations, desires and lives.
THE TREES WOOD-
The wood from the trees are essential for keeping a fire alight, one may try to energize a fire with paper but the most ideal method to maintain a fire is through wood.
Similarly in our neophyte stage of bhakti we can easily fall victim again to the all powerful illusory energy. How is it possible that the fire of desire for surrendering to Krsna is still alight in my heart? Through your all powerful association and instructions. Your words pull me out of ignorance and fuel a desire to distribute Krsna to others...
"Care for yourself then care for others." "The more you give the more I can give you" "I dream of sankirtan day and night" "Hearing sankirtan stories is my sense gratification, it brings me great joy." "hearing sankirtan stories is like a party." "Prabhupada loved sankirtan, I love sankirtan and I'm teaching you to do the same thing, this is our family business."
Everything about you emanates book distribution and outreach. Indeed you are fueling on the book distribution and outreach in New Zealand, so the saying goes 'you can judge the tree by its fruits' because you are constantly prodding the fire to keep alight Prabhupada's desires. Even the newest devotees to the Gaura Yoga community feels inspired to distribute Krsna in some way. This is your power.
THE TREES FLOWERS-
People like to decorate the house with fragrant flowers to freshen and enliven the atmosphere. Similarly your transcendental association is like having refreshing fragrant flowers on the table.
Your vapu cleanses out all unnecessary disease, and attachments which leaves the devotees minds peaceful and clean. You carefully make adjustments where necessary so devotees can increase their service and sacrifice, you increase the mood within the Gaura Yoga community of devotion, dedication, love and care. You are the driving force behind this thriving ecstatic preaching centre. Just as flowers bring life, colour and zest to a table; you bring life, colour and zest to our lives and community.
THE TREES SHADE-
In the scorching hot sun we seek shelter under the trees' branches and leaves. The tree is always ready to give shelter we never go away disappointed.
Similarly you're giving shelter to many conditioned souls burnt out by material existence. Especially you are appreciated for establishing a unique shelter for ladies in Krsna consciousness. Where we can give up our tendency to live selfish and lazy lives, absorbed in making the material body look attractive. You're giving us the greatest shelter-a caring father and unlimited opportunities to sacrifice in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement. Invaluable training of regulated life jam-packed with service and sadhana, more I 'm understanding this training to be a rare jewel.
You don't just instruct the ladies to simply make flower garlands and collect money to pay rent. You tell us to "be all we can be in Krsna consciousness, take responsibility, become a selfless servant." You say it not only in words but in your immaculate example.
Thank you for your mercy on this impious weed who somehow found shelter under this maha tree. What better shelter can life offer? Please forgive me for my offences.
Your aspiring grateful servant
Gokula Lila devi dasi
Gopi Patel
(back to top)
Dearest Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances and all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to offer your holiness my respects on the glorious day of your vyasa puja. Many times I have fell deep into the lap of the witch maya and in fact it feels as if it will take billions of lifetimes before she may completely take her grip off me, if it ever happens.
Only by seeking shelter at the lotus feet of a spiritual master can one cross over the ocean of material suffering which is considered like the water in the hoofprint of a calf for one who has taken such shelter of guru and gauranga.
I am so unfortunate that I cannot even take such shelter due to my vast sinful desires to remain independent of Lord Krishna to try and Lord it over this useless material nature. I am so unfortunate that instead of being forever indebted by your holiness's boundless mercy, I have turned away from such mercy due to my lack of general etiquette and devotion.
Even for your holiness to read this meagre offering is enough to console this ungrateful soul. Just the consolation of understanding that your holiness appreciates that I did not completely forget your causeless mercy upon me will be sufficient. Please save me once again for the sake of my desire to serve Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON, even though I have no qualifications to be of any service. I beg your holiness to impart upon me enough faith to say that surrendering unto your instructions to the best of my ability is my only qualification..
Aspiring to one day be faithful at you lotus feet
Gopi Patel
(back to top)
Dearest Devamrita Swami
Please accept my humble obeisances and all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I would like to offer your holiness my respects on the glorious day of your vyasa puja. Many times I have fell deep into the lap of the witch maya and in fact it feels as if it will take billions of lifetimes before she may completely take her grip off me, if it ever happens.
Only by seeking shelter at the lotus feet of a spiritual master can one cross over the ocean of material suffering which is considered like the water in the hoofprint of a calf for one who has taken such shelter of guru and gauranga.
I am so unfortunate that I cannot even take such shelter due to my vast sinful desires to remain independent of Lord Krishna to try and Lord it over this useless material nature. I am so unfortunate that instead of being forever indebted by your holiness's boundless mercy, I have turned away from such mercy due to my lack of general etiquette and devotion.
Even for your holiness to read this meagre offering is enough to console this ungrateful soul. Just the consolation of understanding that your holiness appreciates that I did not completely forget your causeless mercy upon me will be sufficient. Please save me once again for the sake of my desire to serve Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON, even though I have no qualifications to be of any service. I beg your holiness to impart upon me enough faith to say that surrendering unto your instructions to the best of my ability is my only qualification..
Aspiring to one day be faithful at you lotus feet
Gopi Patel
Gunja mala
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja, Devamrita Swami, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
On the day of your Vyasa-puja again and again with deep gratitude, devotion and love I bow down to your lotus feet.
Your mercy has no limits and you generously give it out to everyone, therefore it also came to me, Gunja mala. I always think of you, remember you and because of that my soul is filled up with light, joy and happiness. My first thought when I wake up is of you and when I fall asleep the last thought is also of you. During the whole day I feel your presence and it gives me inspiration, strenght and taste for spiritual life, service to Krishna, devotees and all my life is full of meaning. Thank you my dear master for allowing me to become your disciple. I promise to be your servant from birth to birth and not to stain my position.
your eternal servant,
Gunja mala
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja, Devamrita Swami, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
On the day of your Vyasa-puja again and again with deep gratitude, devotion and love I bow down to your lotus feet.
Your mercy has no limits and you generously give it out to everyone, therefore it also came to me, Gunja mala. I always think of you, remember you and because of that my soul is filled up with light, joy and happiness. My first thought when I wake up is of you and when I fall asleep the last thought is also of you. During the whole day I feel your presence and it gives me inspiration, strenght and taste for spiritual life, service to Krishna, devotees and all my life is full of meaning. Thank you my dear master for allowing me to become your disciple. I promise to be your servant from birth to birth and not to stain my position.
your eternal servant,
Gunja mala
Guru vani dd
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my bumbling obeisances.
All glories to your beloved Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada.
This year I thought to offer homage to you by recognising a few of the spectacular Vaisnava qualities you display to us. As mentioned in SB 5.8.12, Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava. Glancing over the 26 qualities, although you undoubted display many (if not all) of them, I'll mention just a few:
He works for everyone's benefit – what more needs to be said! For some the twilight years are a chance to step back and relax, knowing "I've done my bit for Srila Prabhupada" but you, you are lion-heartedly taking on more, more projects, more headaches! Tirelessly travelling the world to drag kali-yuga stragglers out of their self-induced turmoil. If you don't mind me quoting you from an email a wee while back your words were "I'd rather live in a cage surrounded by fire than give up life on the open road and in the blue skies. . ." Srila Prabhupada must be so pleased with your determined efforts to please him. He is expert – as I've always said, to convince a cynical, agnostic, head-strong (yet low-class) kiwi girl to approach the highest goal of life is certainly EXPERT! He is not influenced by the Lord's illusory energy – Guru Maharaja, you're 'on to it'! When a person is 'on to' someone they're not going to get sucked in to their scams. Guru Maharaja, you are 'on to' maha-maya. You've got her sussed! From every angle you've got her pinned. And you're constantly exposing her scams to us so that we too might see through them one day. Personally, I think this is one of your most spectacular qualities.
Finally, I apologise for not being able to offer you service with great gusto, like the old days. I ask you to not give up on me as I struggle to work out how to balance my material & spiritual sva-dharmas in a whole new territory of parenthood. My daily mission is to 'get back to basics' in the hope to successfully follow the most basic instructions you give all your disciples – to take shelter of the holy name of Krsna & relish Srila Prabhupadas books. No doubt to master such instructions is a lifetimes work but for now I humbly aspire to regulate my lifestyle so these things become a daily focus. Until I achieve this I hang my head, feeling unworthy of your mercy.
Your paltry servant
Guru vani dd
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my bumbling obeisances.
All glories to your beloved Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada.
This year I thought to offer homage to you by recognising a few of the spectacular Vaisnava qualities you display to us. As mentioned in SB 5.8.12, Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava. Glancing over the 26 qualities, although you undoubted display many (if not all) of them, I'll mention just a few:
He works for everyone's benefit – what more needs to be said! For some the twilight years are a chance to step back and relax, knowing "I've done my bit for Srila Prabhupada" but you, you are lion-heartedly taking on more, more projects, more headaches! Tirelessly travelling the world to drag kali-yuga stragglers out of their self-induced turmoil. If you don't mind me quoting you from an email a wee while back your words were "I'd rather live in a cage surrounded by fire than give up life on the open road and in the blue skies. . ." Srila Prabhupada must be so pleased with your determined efforts to please him. He is expert – as I've always said, to convince a cynical, agnostic, head-strong (yet low-class) kiwi girl to approach the highest goal of life is certainly EXPERT! He is not influenced by the Lord's illusory energy – Guru Maharaja, you're 'on to it'! When a person is 'on to' someone they're not going to get sucked in to their scams. Guru Maharaja, you are 'on to' maha-maya. You've got her sussed! From every angle you've got her pinned. And you're constantly exposing her scams to us so that we too might see through them one day. Personally, I think this is one of your most spectacular qualities.
Finally, I apologise for not being able to offer you service with great gusto, like the old days. I ask you to not give up on me as I struggle to work out how to balance my material & spiritual sva-dharmas in a whole new territory of parenthood. My daily mission is to 'get back to basics' in the hope to successfully follow the most basic instructions you give all your disciples – to take shelter of the holy name of Krsna & relish Srila Prabhupadas books. No doubt to master such instructions is a lifetimes work but for now I humbly aspire to regulate my lifestyle so these things become a daily focus. Until I achieve this I hang my head, feeling unworthy of your mercy.
Your paltry servant
Guru vani dd
Heidi Clark
(back to top)
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
The spiritual master is one who opens our darkened eyes and fills our heart with transcendental knowledge. You are a true acarya as you are a bone fide spiritual master who teaches and leads by example. You are also an expert preacher as you reach fallen souls like myself by truly understanding the time, place and circumstances of where your audience is at and share it AS IT IS.
"Life's real pleasure is giving and not getting" His Holiness Devamrita Swami, June 6, 2007, Talk on Spiritual Economics, University of Toronto, Canada.
Your preaching that day has forever changed my life and rescued me from maya. Your preaching and compassion is so potent that it is changing the world and has led to the picture that I have attached. I can think of no better way to glorify you than follow in your footsteps to freely share the knowledge of bhakti-yoga and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. I am now engaged in truly helping others thanks to your preaching.
"The highest perfectional project of philanthropic activities is to engage everyone in the act of preaching bhakti-yoga all over the world because that alone can save the people from the control of maya, or the material nature represented by kala, karma and guna, as described above. The Bhagavad-gita (14.26) confirms this definitely." [SB 1.13.46 Purport]
"The sufferings of humanity are due to forgetfulness of Krsna as the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor, and the supreme friend. Therefore, to act to revive this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work." [BG 5.25 Purport]
You easily and expertly embody this highest welfare work. Thank you.
Daily we sing to glorify our spiritual master and on this day I sing clinging to your lotus feet that I will be able to make it in Krsna consciousness.
"The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can obtain pure devotional service. I bow down to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna.
My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. " [Sri Guru-vandana]
Thank you for all of your mercy and opening my darkened eyes to the highest welfare work of bhakti-yoga. I hope to continue to honour you through my humble efforts in the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books.
Your humble servant of a servant of a servant,
Heidi Clark
(back to top)
Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
The spiritual master is one who opens our darkened eyes and fills our heart with transcendental knowledge. You are a true acarya as you are a bone fide spiritual master who teaches and leads by example. You are also an expert preacher as you reach fallen souls like myself by truly understanding the time, place and circumstances of where your audience is at and share it AS IT IS.
"Life's real pleasure is giving and not getting" His Holiness Devamrita Swami, June 6, 2007, Talk on Spiritual Economics, University of Toronto, Canada.
Your preaching that day has forever changed my life and rescued me from maya. Your preaching and compassion is so potent that it is changing the world and has led to the picture that I have attached. I can think of no better way to glorify you than follow in your footsteps to freely share the knowledge of bhakti-yoga and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. I am now engaged in truly helping others thanks to your preaching.
"The highest perfectional project of philanthropic activities is to engage everyone in the act of preaching bhakti-yoga all over the world because that alone can save the people from the control of maya, or the material nature represented by kala, karma and guna, as described above. The Bhagavad-gita (14.26) confirms this definitely." [SB 1.13.46 Purport]
"The sufferings of humanity are due to forgetfulness of Krsna as the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor, and the supreme friend. Therefore, to act to revive this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work." [BG 5.25 Purport]
You easily and expertly embody this highest welfare work. Thank you.
Daily we sing to glorify our spiritual master and on this day I sing clinging to your lotus feet that I will be able to make it in Krsna consciousness.
"The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can obtain pure devotional service. I bow down to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna.
My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. " [Sri Guru-vandana]
Thank you for all of your mercy and opening my darkened eyes to the highest welfare work of bhakti-yoga. I hope to continue to honour you through my humble efforts in the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books.
Your humble servant of a servant of a servant,
Heidi Clark
Hriman Krsna das
(back to top)
namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimati devamrita swami iti namine
pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Devamrita Swami who is very dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Obeisances unto you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."
mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande sri gururm dina taranam
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of all fallen souls, whose mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame man to cross mountains."
Dear Gurudeva the harder I try to contemplate an offering for you in this most holy day of your appearance, the more I can theoretically see that I do not actually have anything to offer, or at least of any significance.
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 7.4-5.
bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca ahankara itiyam me bhinna prakrtir astadha.
"Earth, water, air, fire, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego - all together these eight constitute My separated material energies."
This body comprising of gross and subtle elements is but the energy of the Lord.
apareyam itas tv anyam prakrtim viddhi me param jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat.
"Besides these, O mighty armed Arjuna there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature."
So this is my position, I was given everything in this material world by the Lord, therefore I have no claim to what I assume to have. If nothing belongs to me, what can I really offer? Everything is Krishna's energy. Even my ability in attempting to write this offering is Krishna!
Struggling in my sojourn through material existence due to weakness of the heart, I tried to overlord this world, consequently feeling empty and frustrated, and out of my emptiness I desperately cried out for a purpose to life, like a dying man amidst the heat in the desert of material existence. By the mercy of Krishna one has the opportunity to meet His bonafide representative, a compassionate sage and selfless servant of Srila Prabhupada, and by your mercy you have given me devotional service to Krishna. In the Caitanya Caritamrita it said: "By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Krishna one can achieve the platform of devotional service." In the Srimad Bhagavatam it is confirmed by Prahlada Maharaja that merely by personal efforts or by instructions of higher authorities one cannot attain to the stage of devotional service. One must be blessed by the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who is completely freed from the contamination of material desires. In the fifth canto, sixth chapter, 18th verse, Narada says to Yudisthira, "My dear king, it is Lord Krishna known as Mukunda, who is the eternal protector of the Pandavas and the Yadus. He is your spiritual master and instructor in every respect. He is the only worshipable God for you. He is very dear and affectionate, and He is the director of all your activities, both individual and familial. And whats more, He sometimes carries out your orders as if He were your messenger! My dear king how very fortunate you are, because for others all these favors given to you by the Supreme Lord would not even be dreamt of." Gurudeva, this most valuable treasure of devotional service is so great that by its pure execution the Lord Himself becomes purchased by the devotee, for this reason Krishna can easily give liberation, but not devotional service unto Him.
Therefore, I am simply made by the mercy of Guru and Gauranga. All the opportunities to serve Krishna over the years have been mercifully bestowed unto me. So this is my humble attempt to make use of what you generously gave; 'devotional service to Krishna.' In the seventh chapter of Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada says that the spiritual master is genuinely happy to see the disciple making spiritual advancement. So my real offering to you is that I follow your instructions as my life and soul-"guru-muka-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya"-this is where the nectar is. Chanting my rounds everyday with attention, strictly observing the regulative principles of bhakti, learning to associate with devotees, studying Srila Prabhuapdas books and of course distributing the books to those who are deprived of devotional service.
Gurudeva I may imagine that I am a very big, big, big devotee but when I go on book distribution even the tenth class men of Kali Yuga don't give me the time of day. How wonderful this is for my false ego. I can see that you are facilitating the purification of this poor conditioned soul simply by your instructions. Your are purifying my consciousness so that I can truly relish the happiness of devotional service. So this is my prayer to you; unless I can chant and hear HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, and be Krishna conscious I don't actually have any significant offering for you, but my unfortunate struggles to be a humble servant of the servant of Krishna.
Determined to be your obedient and selfless servant
Hriman Krsna das
(back to top)
namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimati devamrita swami iti namine
pracare-purva-daksyam-ca bhaktacara-pravinata
pararthatapi-karunyam yasya sarve ca te namah
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Devamrita Swami who is very dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Obeisances unto you who have all the qualities of unique skills in preaching, competence in Vaisnava dealings, selflessness and compassion."
mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande sri gururm dina taranam
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of all fallen souls, whose mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame man to cross mountains."
Dear Gurudeva the harder I try to contemplate an offering for you in this most holy day of your appearance, the more I can theoretically see that I do not actually have anything to offer, or at least of any significance.
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 7.4-5.
bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca ahankara itiyam me bhinna prakrtir astadha.
"Earth, water, air, fire, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego - all together these eight constitute My separated material energies."
This body comprising of gross and subtle elements is but the energy of the Lord.
apareyam itas tv anyam prakrtim viddhi me param jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat.
"Besides these, O mighty armed Arjuna there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature."
So this is my position, I was given everything in this material world by the Lord, therefore I have no claim to what I assume to have. If nothing belongs to me, what can I really offer? Everything is Krishna's energy. Even my ability in attempting to write this offering is Krishna!
Struggling in my sojourn through material existence due to weakness of the heart, I tried to overlord this world, consequently feeling empty and frustrated, and out of my emptiness I desperately cried out for a purpose to life, like a dying man amidst the heat in the desert of material existence. By the mercy of Krishna one has the opportunity to meet His bonafide representative, a compassionate sage and selfless servant of Srila Prabhupada, and by your mercy you have given me devotional service to Krishna. In the Caitanya Caritamrita it said: "By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Krishna one can achieve the platform of devotional service." In the Srimad Bhagavatam it is confirmed by Prahlada Maharaja that merely by personal efforts or by instructions of higher authorities one cannot attain to the stage of devotional service. One must be blessed by the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who is completely freed from the contamination of material desires. In the fifth canto, sixth chapter, 18th verse, Narada says to Yudisthira, "My dear king, it is Lord Krishna known as Mukunda, who is the eternal protector of the Pandavas and the Yadus. He is your spiritual master and instructor in every respect. He is the only worshipable God for you. He is very dear and affectionate, and He is the director of all your activities, both individual and familial. And whats more, He sometimes carries out your orders as if He were your messenger! My dear king how very fortunate you are, because for others all these favors given to you by the Supreme Lord would not even be dreamt of." Gurudeva, this most valuable treasure of devotional service is so great that by its pure execution the Lord Himself becomes purchased by the devotee, for this reason Krishna can easily give liberation, but not devotional service unto Him.
Therefore, I am simply made by the mercy of Guru and Gauranga. All the opportunities to serve Krishna over the years have been mercifully bestowed unto me. So this is my humble attempt to make use of what you generously gave; 'devotional service to Krishna.' In the seventh chapter of Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Prabhupada says that the spiritual master is genuinely happy to see the disciple making spiritual advancement. So my real offering to you is that I follow your instructions as my life and soul-"guru-muka-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya"-this is where the nectar is. Chanting my rounds everyday with attention, strictly observing the regulative principles of bhakti, learning to associate with devotees, studying Srila Prabhuapdas books and of course distributing the books to those who are deprived of devotional service.
Gurudeva I may imagine that I am a very big, big, big devotee but when I go on book distribution even the tenth class men of Kali Yuga don't give me the time of day. How wonderful this is for my false ego. I can see that you are facilitating the purification of this poor conditioned soul simply by your instructions. Your are purifying my consciousness so that I can truly relish the happiness of devotional service. So this is my prayer to you; unless I can chant and hear HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, and be Krishna conscious I don't actually have any significant offering for you, but my unfortunate struggles to be a humble servant of the servant of Krishna.
Determined to be your obedient and selfless servant
Hriman Krsna das
Indrakarma das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please, accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Another year has passed and once more I am trying to glorify the transcendental glory of your character. It is always enjoyable for me to see how Your Holiness manifest quality of sadhu in this modern, dynamic and impersonal environment. Nirvishesha shuniyavadi, like your spiritual father Srila Prabhupada, you are expertly using different spiritual technology to reach the harts of modern youth. You are showing us the example of broadminded and open way of preaching and the same time strong charisma of following Guru, Sadhu and Shastra. Quite often I amazed how my dear God brothers and sisters successfully using this methods in the preaching. Thank you very much Guru maharaja for giving me an opportunity to sender some service for you when you coming here. It is very important for my spiritual life.
Please forgive me my mistakes and offences and help me to understand the science of devotional service deeply.
Your servant,
Indrakarma das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please, accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Another year has passed and once more I am trying to glorify the transcendental glory of your character. It is always enjoyable for me to see how Your Holiness manifest quality of sadhu in this modern, dynamic and impersonal environment. Nirvishesha shuniyavadi, like your spiritual father Srila Prabhupada, you are expertly using different spiritual technology to reach the harts of modern youth. You are showing us the example of broadminded and open way of preaching and the same time strong charisma of following Guru, Sadhu and Shastra. Quite often I amazed how my dear God brothers and sisters successfully using this methods in the preaching. Thank you very much Guru maharaja for giving me an opportunity to sender some service for you when you coming here. It is very important for my spiritual life.
Please forgive me my mistakes and offences and help me to understand the science of devotional service deeply.
Your servant,
Indrakarma das
Indranila devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Time passes by so quickly that it feels like yesterday that I last wrote you the Vyasapuja homage and that of course in between I haven't had time to render any real devotional service as an offering.
You have given me so many instruccions and have given me so many examples just so that I engage apropriately in devotional service. But because I am so stubborn and ignorant I haven't always done your wish and I haven't followed your examples nicely. If I could follow your instructions seriously I'm sure that I would be a devotee much more enthusiastic and extatic, I would be a great help for all the devotees and non-devotees.
You are always demanding to your disciples simply because you want us to become happy so that we go back home, back to Godhead. Because you have so much love for Krsna and Srila Prabhupada you're always deeply concerned about our spiritual advancement.
Those of us who have had the chance to observe how you chant your rounds in the early morning hours in such a concentrated, yearning and pleading way, and those who have been able to keep those memories as something sacred in our hearts, are indeed very fortunate. It's completely my good fortune and mercy of Krsna that I've been permitted to translate the personal conversations between you and the devotees here in Southamerica. In each one of the conversations you don't miss the opportunity to instruct everybody in chanting the holy names attentively. Personally it's the most important instruccion I have received from you, not only every time I speak with you, but last time I had the opportunity to speak with you,your words were: "Please make the chanting of the maha mantra your life and soul". In the mornings when I chant my rounds I meditate on this a lot, to the extent that I feel some day I'll be obsessed with this and that it's an obsession you've transmitted to me, so I know it's ok. I've also come to realize thanks to you that, from chanting attentively everything that one wishes arises. Without chanting attentively spiritual advancement is very slow and one's meditation no longer rests in satisfying Krsna but rests only in ones personal sense gratification.
If I could understand the potency of your instruccions and could appreciate sincerly all the sacrifices you make in the service of Srila Prabhupada, I'm sure I would become very dear to you and Krsna.
Dear Gurumaharaja please show me or help me understand how illusory this material energy is, so that I quit being so attached to it, and so that I can become a practical instrument in your hands. Last time you visited Chile I asked you to be more strict with me in order for me to advance faster. I don't care if you chastise me in a strong way, or that you demand difficult tasks from me, I would feel such a relieve in my heart. Observing all your activities I'ts easy to understand that you are a very pure person (from childhood), simple, humble and very compassionate. So whatever you instruct me I know is the most intelligent and apropriate for me.
Dear Gurumaharaja, I know that here in Southamerica we're often more influenced by the modes of pasion and ignorance, and that we have a hard time following your instruccions, but I can assure you that those of us that have sincerly taken up wows in your presence, are very attached and have great love for you. I confirm it every time I speak with my godbrothers about you that they appreciate you more than anything. I beg you please to continue visiting us. Your presence is so important and inspiring and it's what gives us strenght to carry on. Your asociation is so special and potent that it always reawakens our spiritual conciousness.
All glories to your apperiance day.
Your servant,
Indranila devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Time passes by so quickly that it feels like yesterday that I last wrote you the Vyasapuja homage and that of course in between I haven't had time to render any real devotional service as an offering.
You have given me so many instruccions and have given me so many examples just so that I engage apropriately in devotional service. But because I am so stubborn and ignorant I haven't always done your wish and I haven't followed your examples nicely. If I could follow your instructions seriously I'm sure that I would be a devotee much more enthusiastic and extatic, I would be a great help for all the devotees and non-devotees.
You are always demanding to your disciples simply because you want us to become happy so that we go back home, back to Godhead. Because you have so much love for Krsna and Srila Prabhupada you're always deeply concerned about our spiritual advancement.
Those of us who have had the chance to observe how you chant your rounds in the early morning hours in such a concentrated, yearning and pleading way, and those who have been able to keep those memories as something sacred in our hearts, are indeed very fortunate. It's completely my good fortune and mercy of Krsna that I've been permitted to translate the personal conversations between you and the devotees here in Southamerica. In each one of the conversations you don't miss the opportunity to instruct everybody in chanting the holy names attentively. Personally it's the most important instruccion I have received from you, not only every time I speak with you, but last time I had the opportunity to speak with you,your words were: "Please make the chanting of the maha mantra your life and soul". In the mornings when I chant my rounds I meditate on this a lot, to the extent that I feel some day I'll be obsessed with this and that it's an obsession you've transmitted to me, so I know it's ok. I've also come to realize thanks to you that, from chanting attentively everything that one wishes arises. Without chanting attentively spiritual advancement is very slow and one's meditation no longer rests in satisfying Krsna but rests only in ones personal sense gratification.
If I could understand the potency of your instruccions and could appreciate sincerly all the sacrifices you make in the service of Srila Prabhupada, I'm sure I would become very dear to you and Krsna.
Dear Gurumaharaja please show me or help me understand how illusory this material energy is, so that I quit being so attached to it, and so that I can become a practical instrument in your hands. Last time you visited Chile I asked you to be more strict with me in order for me to advance faster. I don't care if you chastise me in a strong way, or that you demand difficult tasks from me, I would feel such a relieve in my heart. Observing all your activities I'ts easy to understand that you are a very pure person (from childhood), simple, humble and very compassionate. So whatever you instruct me I know is the most intelligent and apropriate for me.
Dear Gurumaharaja, I know that here in Southamerica we're often more influenced by the modes of pasion and ignorance, and that we have a hard time following your instruccions, but I can assure you that those of us that have sincerly taken up wows in your presence, are very attached and have great love for you. I confirm it every time I speak with my godbrothers about you that they appreciate you more than anything. I beg you please to continue visiting us. Your presence is so important and inspiring and it's what gives us strenght to carry on. Your asociation is so special and potent that it always reawakens our spiritual conciousness.
All glories to your apperiance day.
Your servant,
Indranila devi dasi
Jai Nitai dasa
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Maharaja
Please accept my most respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.
On this auspicious occassion of your appearance in this world I would like to offer my appreciation of your enthusiastic preaching spirit, enlivening association and kind, caring compassion for fallen souls such as myself.
I pray that I may always remain in your association and that I may somehow follow in your footsteps with innovative, connected and inspired preaching that is able to capture the hearts and minds of the conditioned souls, as you have done with so many.
May you continue to inspire many into the service of Krishna.
Thank you for listening to me so many times. Thank you for sharing your vision and ideas with me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the Holy Dham. And, Thank you for giving your life in teh service of Srila Prabhupada, it has made a difference to the lives of many - including me.
Thank you.
Your Servant,
Jai Nitai dasa
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Maharaja
Please accept my most respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.
On this auspicious occassion of your appearance in this world I would like to offer my appreciation of your enthusiastic preaching spirit, enlivening association and kind, caring compassion for fallen souls such as myself.
I pray that I may always remain in your association and that I may somehow follow in your footsteps with innovative, connected and inspired preaching that is able to capture the hearts and minds of the conditioned souls, as you have done with so many.
May you continue to inspire many into the service of Krishna.
Thank you for listening to me so many times. Thank you for sharing your vision and ideas with me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the Holy Dham. And, Thank you for giving your life in teh service of Srila Prabhupada, it has made a difference to the lives of many - including me.
Thank you.
Your Servant,
Jai Nitai dasa
Jitesh
(back to top)
Namo om visnu padaya
Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimati Devamrta
Svamin Iti namine
Prachare purvam daksyam cha
Bhakta achara pravinatha
Pararathatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your Lotus Feet!
Srila Gurudev, you are a very dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, you have inspired countless devotees around the world and reminded them about their lost treasure: Krsna Bhakti. As I read about you and listen to your lectures, I become more and more inspired to follow strictly, to put my heart into my rounds and reading. When I do that, I feel very blissful and happy. You have kindly reminded me that its all about how much quality we put into what we do. I remember you once said that 90% of our advancement will come from attentive rounds. You reminded me that chanting is all in all and everything we do around it is to come to the point of good, proper chanting.
Sri Guru comes to reclaim the lost souls back to their eternal home Goloka Vrindavan, you found this lost soul and somehow have attracted him to the path of Krsna Bhakti. I cannot express my gratitude for you compassion. I only hope that one day I can serve you as you selflessly continue to serve Srila Prabhupada.
The personal instructions you give me are actually the mercy I pray for. I have come to realize somewhat that through following those instructions the mercy is actually soaked in. Everyday, I think about those instructions and try to follow them to the best of my ability.
I try and categorize where my happiness lies, Srila Prabhupada once said that a person who seeks happiness outside is a materialist, a person who seeks happiness from within is a spiritualist. I have many desires that need management, and now that I have a guide, a mentor, a dear friend and a loving spiritual father, I know that I can manage these desires properly.
You have kindly given shelter to a fallen soul like me, this is truly beyond me. I wish to hold on to your lotus feet as tightly as I can for I am incapable of going back to Godhead by myself.
Your insignificant servant,
Jitesh
(back to top)
Namo om visnu padaya
Krsna presthaya bhutale
Srimati Devamrta
Svamin Iti namine
Prachare purvam daksyam cha
Bhakta achara pravinatha
Pararathatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your Lotus Feet!
Srila Gurudev, you are a very dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, you have inspired countless devotees around the world and reminded them about their lost treasure: Krsna Bhakti. As I read about you and listen to your lectures, I become more and more inspired to follow strictly, to put my heart into my rounds and reading. When I do that, I feel very blissful and happy. You have kindly reminded me that its all about how much quality we put into what we do. I remember you once said that 90% of our advancement will come from attentive rounds. You reminded me that chanting is all in all and everything we do around it is to come to the point of good, proper chanting.
Sri Guru comes to reclaim the lost souls back to their eternal home Goloka Vrindavan, you found this lost soul and somehow have attracted him to the path of Krsna Bhakti. I cannot express my gratitude for you compassion. I only hope that one day I can serve you as you selflessly continue to serve Srila Prabhupada.
The personal instructions you give me are actually the mercy I pray for. I have come to realize somewhat that through following those instructions the mercy is actually soaked in. Everyday, I think about those instructions and try to follow them to the best of my ability.
I try and categorize where my happiness lies, Srila Prabhupada once said that a person who seeks happiness outside is a materialist, a person who seeks happiness from within is a spiritualist. I have many desires that need management, and now that I have a guide, a mentor, a dear friend and a loving spiritual father, I know that I can manage these desires properly.
You have kindly given shelter to a fallen soul like me, this is truly beyond me. I wish to hold on to your lotus feet as tightly as I can for I am incapable of going back to Godhead by myself.
Your insignificant servant,
Jitesh
Jonathan Withey
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.
Thank you so much for bringing me into the association of your wonderful disciples and followers. These people are so merciful, desiring the actual well being of every individual jiva as well as society as a whole. Each person you have individually cultivated and nurtured is a reservoir of all-good qualities. Via the facility of your urban preaching centre in Wellington I have seen these good qualities rub off on others that have come along. These good qualities are attributed to good association with other devotees, Srila Prabhupada's books, and your personal instruction. And people are genuinely attracted by these qualities that your disciples possess. Actually these qualities are not something externally imposed on a person but are inherent in everyone, and your expert guidance has revived these once dormant qualities. This is continuing to show in others that come along. The more a person frequents the Gaura Yoga centre and takes shelter of the prasad, devotee association, the holy name and Krishna-katha available there, the more the covering of nescience due to millions of births in the material atmosphere, is cleared away.
"ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham".
Your disciples are certainly surrendered and as a result a revolution is taking place wherever you have instructed them to step. I cannot sufficiently chant your glories in my present condition but hope to one day gain just a shadow of the compassion and humility that is constantly radiating from these people that I am so fortunate to be having association with. And I cannot perceive the depth of purification I have received through being present in your midst at your apartment in Wellington and at the classes and kirtans you hold at GYC. Thank you.
I hope for the blessing that I will become serious about distributing the Krishna conscious knowledge that has been so kindly available to me and the blessing to realise the importance of having sweet exchanges with Krishna's devotees, and to be able to act on that realisation accordingly.
Aspiring to serve your servants,
Jonathan Withey
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance.
Thank you so much for bringing me into the association of your wonderful disciples and followers. These people are so merciful, desiring the actual well being of every individual jiva as well as society as a whole. Each person you have individually cultivated and nurtured is a reservoir of all-good qualities. Via the facility of your urban preaching centre in Wellington I have seen these good qualities rub off on others that have come along. These good qualities are attributed to good association with other devotees, Srila Prabhupada's books, and your personal instruction. And people are genuinely attracted by these qualities that your disciples possess. Actually these qualities are not something externally imposed on a person but are inherent in everyone, and your expert guidance has revived these once dormant qualities. This is continuing to show in others that come along. The more a person frequents the Gaura Yoga centre and takes shelter of the prasad, devotee association, the holy name and Krishna-katha available there, the more the covering of nescience due to millions of births in the material atmosphere, is cleared away.
"ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham".
Your disciples are certainly surrendered and as a result a revolution is taking place wherever you have instructed them to step. I cannot sufficiently chant your glories in my present condition but hope to one day gain just a shadow of the compassion and humility that is constantly radiating from these people that I am so fortunate to be having association with. And I cannot perceive the depth of purification I have received through being present in your midst at your apartment in Wellington and at the classes and kirtans you hold at GYC. Thank you.
I hope for the blessing that I will become serious about distributing the Krishna conscious knowledge that has been so kindly available to me and the blessing to realise the importance of having sweet exchanges with Krishna's devotees, and to be able to act on that realisation accordingly.
Aspiring to serve your servants,
Jonathan Withey
Kamran
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
On this special occasion I would like to thank you for giving me what you have and always showering me with your mercy. I am such an insignificant fool and have no idea about anything, but by to follow your instructions and being an obedient disciple I know I will reach perfection. Please bless me to become more and more serious in my spiritual life.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Kamran
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
On this special occasion I would like to thank you for giving me what you have and always showering me with your mercy. I am such an insignificant fool and have no idea about anything, but by to follow your instructions and being an obedient disciple I know I will reach perfection. Please bless me to become more and more serious in my spiritual life.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Kamran
Karuna-Purna devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, I feel that my dept to you is very deep
By your mercy you have saved me from selling myself cheap...
These days the whole world is drowning in sin
Mistaking happiness to be gratification of the skin...
Everyone is lost in illusion, going completely mad
Seeing all this suffering makes me very sad...
The only hope we have is the mercy of a great sage
Gurudeva! That's you, spreading Lord Caitanya's mission in this fallen age...
What you have done for Srila Prabhupada and the world is the most amazing story
It's a story of great struggle, sacrifice, selflessness and glory...
Whoever makes your transcendental instructions his life and soul
Will certainly attain Sri Krishna, the most sublime ultimate goal...
Your heart is pure like a touchstone and full of love and devotion
Just by glancing at me you fill my heart with ecstatic emotion...
I pray to Lord Caitanya that I may go on eternally serving your lotus feet
In whatever way you like, although I prefer distributing books on the street...
Your servant,
Karuna-Purna devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva, I feel that my dept to you is very deep
By your mercy you have saved me from selling myself cheap...
These days the whole world is drowning in sin
Mistaking happiness to be gratification of the skin...
Everyone is lost in illusion, going completely mad
Seeing all this suffering makes me very sad...
The only hope we have is the mercy of a great sage
Gurudeva! That's you, spreading Lord Caitanya's mission in this fallen age...
What you have done for Srila Prabhupada and the world is the most amazing story
It's a story of great struggle, sacrifice, selflessness and glory...
Whoever makes your transcendental instructions his life and soul
Will certainly attain Sri Krishna, the most sublime ultimate goal...
Your heart is pure like a touchstone and full of love and devotion
Just by glancing at me you fill my heart with ecstatic emotion...
I pray to Lord Caitanya that I may go on eternally serving your lotus feet
In whatever way you like, although I prefer distributing books on the street...
Your servant,
Karuna-Purna devi dasi
Kasinatha das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to srila prabhupada
nama om visnu padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate devamrita svamin itinamine
Hare krishna guru maharaja,
Thank you for your ever inspiring lectures, which i find a great source of inspiration, always unique in your approach and ,humor in what is a very grave subject matter, may krishna bless you with many more years of health sadhana and service,
your servant,
Kasinatha das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to srila prabhupada
nama om visnu padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate devamrita svamin itinamine
Hare krishna guru maharaja,
Thank you for your ever inspiring lectures, which i find a great source of inspiration, always unique in your approach and ,humor in what is a very grave subject matter, may krishna bless you with many more years of health sadhana and service,
your servant,
Kasinatha das
Kasinatha das, Kilimbika devi dasi, Gaura kisore das, Shital mataji, Kisore murti das, Madhurananda das, Bhaktin Bhavisha
(back to top)
Jai Srila Gurudev
Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada All Glories to Your Lotus Feet
On the auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, a special program was held at Soho Street temple in your honor.
By your mercy, more of your disciples were now in the London area and a program could now be held. It was an intimate evening where your disciples read their offerings and shared their pastimes with you
HG Kilimbika Mataji did the majority of the organizing and was off her feet the whole day from morning. Mataji organised the flowers, decorations, the arti and gave each of us a service to do. We pray that Mataji receives special mercy from you for her endeavor. Somehow, she even found time to bake an apple and berry crumble for the devotees that came. Shital Mataji also helped with the decorating, leading kirtan and organizing the arti
HG Kasinatha Prabhu spoke beautifully and inspired us all to be in the right mood. He also helped to organize the room for the program and instruments for kirtan
Bhaktin Bhavisha lead kirtan and played harmonium for us and read a sweet offering.
HG Gaura Kisore Prabhu and HG Kisore Murti Prabhu were unfortunately unavailable to attend. Gaura Kisore Prabhu did give us lots of advice on how to do the actual ceremony. We hope to have another program on the 16th of October so they can read their offerings.
My humble contribution was to organize photos of you and Srila Prabhupada for the program. i was also given the privilege of playing mridunga and leading kirtan
We pray that we have pleased you with our endeavours. We pray that we are able to hold more programs in your honour and that we become grateful for each others association
Your servants,
Kasinatha das
Kilimbika devi dasi
Gaura kisore das
Shital mataji
Kisore murti das
Madhurananda das
Bhaktin Bhavisha
(back to top)
Jai Srila Gurudev
Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada All Glories to Your Lotus Feet
On the auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, a special program was held at Soho Street temple in your honor.
By your mercy, more of your disciples were now in the London area and a program could now be held. It was an intimate evening where your disciples read their offerings and shared their pastimes with you
HG Kilimbika Mataji did the majority of the organizing and was off her feet the whole day from morning. Mataji organised the flowers, decorations, the arti and gave each of us a service to do. We pray that Mataji receives special mercy from you for her endeavor. Somehow, she even found time to bake an apple and berry crumble for the devotees that came. Shital Mataji also helped with the decorating, leading kirtan and organizing the arti
HG Kasinatha Prabhu spoke beautifully and inspired us all to be in the right mood. He also helped to organize the room for the program and instruments for kirtan
Bhaktin Bhavisha lead kirtan and played harmonium for us and read a sweet offering.
HG Gaura Kisore Prabhu and HG Kisore Murti Prabhu were unfortunately unavailable to attend. Gaura Kisore Prabhu did give us lots of advice on how to do the actual ceremony. We hope to have another program on the 16th of October so they can read their offerings.
My humble contribution was to organize photos of you and Srila Prabhupada for the program. i was also given the privilege of playing mridunga and leading kirtan
We pray that we have pleased you with our endeavours. We pray that we are able to hold more programs in your honour and that we become grateful for each others association
Your servants,
Kasinatha das
Kilimbika devi dasi
Gaura kisore das
Shital mataji
Kisore murti das
Madhurananda das
Bhaktin Bhavisha
Katie Blowman
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeicences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Srila Gurudeva, please accept this small offering
Thank you for accepting me as your daughter and for giving me a hint of what genuine love actually is. By accepting your merciful instructions I can now get serious about repairing myself, and becoming qualified to help others, with the aid of you expert guidance.
Your words and actions are so humbling that one can easily come to know their weaknesses. You told me that I didn't walk through doors properly and that material complexities were preventing me from using my talents to give Krsna pleasure.
After two years spent in training at one of your Kali-yuga re-habilitation centres, 'Gaura-Yoga,' so masterfully inspired by yourself and your devotees, it is no longer problematic to pass through a door way. The sanctified vegetables supplied here at Gaura-Yoga, by your grace, are helping to restore chronic memory loss and finally it has become clear that there is such a thing as real friends in this world.
I hope that with this knowledge, which you so selflessly give, I can in turn also sprinkle it around like lots of eatable mini-stars. Once the recipients get a sample then they can also become eager to enjoy, playing on sacred instruments, smiling faces, colourful dress, sweet food and joyful dance.
If one has the great fortune to practice at one of your centres, you are giving them such a wonderful facility to protect their precious gift of human life, especially if one is so lucky to enter Krsna Conciousness in their youth.
Your servant & daughter,
Katie Plowman
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeicences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Srila Gurudeva, please accept this small offering
Thank you for accepting me as your daughter and for giving me a hint of what genuine love actually is. By accepting your merciful instructions I can now get serious about repairing myself, and becoming qualified to help others, with the aid of you expert guidance.
Your words and actions are so humbling that one can easily come to know their weaknesses. You told me that I didn't walk through doors properly and that material complexities were preventing me from using my talents to give Krsna pleasure.
After two years spent in training at one of your Kali-yuga re-habilitation centres, 'Gaura-Yoga,' so masterfully inspired by yourself and your devotees, it is no longer problematic to pass through a door way. The sanctified vegetables supplied here at Gaura-Yoga, by your grace, are helping to restore chronic memory loss and finally it has become clear that there is such a thing as real friends in this world.
I hope that with this knowledge, which you so selflessly give, I can in turn also sprinkle it around like lots of eatable mini-stars. Once the recipients get a sample then they can also become eager to enjoy, playing on sacred instruments, smiling faces, colourful dress, sweet food and joyful dance.
If one has the great fortune to practice at one of your centres, you are giving them such a wonderful facility to protect their precious gift of human life, especially if one is so lucky to enter Krsna Conciousness in their youth.
Your servant & daughter,
Katie Plowman
Khadiravan devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this holy day of your appearance,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You recently told me to meditate on how much you have invested in me - and consequently to invest my heart and mind into assisting you. Earlier this year you were preaching to us that we should develop an attitude of gratitude for our service, for all that Krishna has given us. I heard you saying in a lecture also that in our early stages of bhakti yoga we can't see Krishna's reciprocation and care for us, but that without a doubt, it is there.
I would like to lay clear to all the list of things I can see that you have done for just me - what to speak of countless other conditioned souls throughout the world.
A minimal account of your compassion, selflessness and love.
Once I heard you say that your life is all about love - how to love the devotees more and more, the conditioned souls more and more...and that is such a clearly self-evident fact. You were preaching how the life of renunciation in Krishna consciousness is not cold and empty, emotionally bankrupt, as we conditioned souls perceive.
There is no doubt, when we examine your activities, that you are the greatest lover of all.
I was looking for a teacher before I met Srila Prabhupada in his books and yourself soon after. I realised that I couldn't work out what to do with my life - hollow and distressed I began to explore. My friend invited me to a yoga class at the Mahatma Gandhi centre in Auckland. We did the class, and the teacher, an old Indian man, gave me lots of attention throughout. Ever-gullible to attention as ladies are - I approached the teacher one day after a class - to ask for his help - thinking perhaps he sees my potential and can show me what I should be doing. I told him how I was unhappy and he presented his solution for me - he said 'you just need some "love-pumps" lovey" and he proceeded to wrap me in a tight embrace and "pump" with his arms - a relatively innocent experience in Kali yuga terms. Still I disentangled myself and left, then sat outside on the roadside and cried in disappointment - another exploitation and no solution.
What a contrast when I met you at a Gita Mysteries workshop at The Loft soon after. You kindly picked me out often in the discussion, amongst others. You talked with me personally after the workshop, encouraging me to read the Gita, and to chant at home. No doubt I could sense you honestly cared for me, and that you had the solution to my desperation, and that you had no intention of exploiting me in anyway....Finally! I found real shelter in you.
I remember in those early days, that you were there often when I went to the Loft for workshops. It might have only been over a week, but the impression was gigantic. A few moments of association with you carries so much depth. You spent so much time with me, nurturing my seedling of Krishna consciousness. You helped me sort out problems and encouraged the process of bhakti yoga I was embarking on. You visited me at work to make sure I would stick to my newfound life. Don't waste your life, use your brains you told me at my desk.
Over the years you rang us in the ashram to check how we were, talking to us all individually "just seeing how you are, although I know already". Your words, everything you say is like an unlimited reservoir of nourishment, profound teachings - offering a kaleidoscope of realisations to be released over time. You have advised, corrected, encouraged me in my services and practice - always facilitating our development - offering situations to increase and expand our service - always attentive to our progress.
You gave me the shelter of my elder Godsisters and then my husband, pushing me towards them as I started growing.
You've sorted me out so many times in crises and weakness. You've tolerated all my complexities and insecurities and provided the medicine to cure them. You have never-ending patience with us.
You've come to whereever I am at least three times a year for the last 11 years and given Bhagavatam classes that are perfection alone, personal darshans, and opportunities to attempt to serve you in your vapuh form. On top of that we get to experience and assist you in preaching programmes which I have to say is an exquisite taste. Never are we happier than at a Krishnafest with you speaking and meeting all the guests and us trying to assist.
You gave me your car to use in your service. I think about that alot.
Most recently you showed me how I speculate so much.
You always expect more and more of me and that is a great gift, the greatest love, because you are working on behalf of Krishna to pull out our best love for Him.
You introduce us gradually, as we are ready, to experiencing tastes of spiritual relationships, real life, and those tastes are so tantalising, driving us forward in our struggle to be free of maya's darkness.
There is so much more you have given, and you know that the best. I thank you so much and aspire to give to others one day the immense love that you give.
Gurudeva, in your association, the desire to explode beyond all the gunk that covers the heart and allow the soul's true heart expression to shine is mounting. Because you are a living example of that.
your aspiring servant,
Khadiravan devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this holy day of your appearance,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You recently told me to meditate on how much you have invested in me - and consequently to invest my heart and mind into assisting you. Earlier this year you were preaching to us that we should develop an attitude of gratitude for our service, for all that Krishna has given us. I heard you saying in a lecture also that in our early stages of bhakti yoga we can't see Krishna's reciprocation and care for us, but that without a doubt, it is there.
I would like to lay clear to all the list of things I can see that you have done for just me - what to speak of countless other conditioned souls throughout the world.
A minimal account of your compassion, selflessness and love.
Once I heard you say that your life is all about love - how to love the devotees more and more, the conditioned souls more and more...and that is such a clearly self-evident fact. You were preaching how the life of renunciation in Krishna consciousness is not cold and empty, emotionally bankrupt, as we conditioned souls perceive.
There is no doubt, when we examine your activities, that you are the greatest lover of all.
I was looking for a teacher before I met Srila Prabhupada in his books and yourself soon after. I realised that I couldn't work out what to do with my life - hollow and distressed I began to explore. My friend invited me to a yoga class at the Mahatma Gandhi centre in Auckland. We did the class, and the teacher, an old Indian man, gave me lots of attention throughout. Ever-gullible to attention as ladies are - I approached the teacher one day after a class - to ask for his help - thinking perhaps he sees my potential and can show me what I should be doing. I told him how I was unhappy and he presented his solution for me - he said 'you just need some "love-pumps" lovey" and he proceeded to wrap me in a tight embrace and "pump" with his arms - a relatively innocent experience in Kali yuga terms. Still I disentangled myself and left, then sat outside on the roadside and cried in disappointment - another exploitation and no solution.
What a contrast when I met you at a Gita Mysteries workshop at The Loft soon after. You kindly picked me out often in the discussion, amongst others. You talked with me personally after the workshop, encouraging me to read the Gita, and to chant at home. No doubt I could sense you honestly cared for me, and that you had the solution to my desperation, and that you had no intention of exploiting me in anyway....Finally! I found real shelter in you.
I remember in those early days, that you were there often when I went to the Loft for workshops. It might have only been over a week, but the impression was gigantic. A few moments of association with you carries so much depth. You spent so much time with me, nurturing my seedling of Krishna consciousness. You helped me sort out problems and encouraged the process of bhakti yoga I was embarking on. You visited me at work to make sure I would stick to my newfound life. Don't waste your life, use your brains you told me at my desk.
Over the years you rang us in the ashram to check how we were, talking to us all individually "just seeing how you are, although I know already". Your words, everything you say is like an unlimited reservoir of nourishment, profound teachings - offering a kaleidoscope of realisations to be released over time. You have advised, corrected, encouraged me in my services and practice - always facilitating our development - offering situations to increase and expand our service - always attentive to our progress.
You gave me the shelter of my elder Godsisters and then my husband, pushing me towards them as I started growing.
You've sorted me out so many times in crises and weakness. You've tolerated all my complexities and insecurities and provided the medicine to cure them. You have never-ending patience with us.
You've come to whereever I am at least three times a year for the last 11 years and given Bhagavatam classes that are perfection alone, personal darshans, and opportunities to attempt to serve you in your vapuh form. On top of that we get to experience and assist you in preaching programmes which I have to say is an exquisite taste. Never are we happier than at a Krishnafest with you speaking and meeting all the guests and us trying to assist.
You gave me your car to use in your service. I think about that alot.
Most recently you showed me how I speculate so much.
You always expect more and more of me and that is a great gift, the greatest love, because you are working on behalf of Krishna to pull out our best love for Him.
You introduce us gradually, as we are ready, to experiencing tastes of spiritual relationships, real life, and those tastes are so tantalising, driving us forward in our struggle to be free of maya's darkness.
There is so much more you have given, and you know that the best. I thank you so much and aspire to give to others one day the immense love that you give.
Gurudeva, in your association, the desire to explode beyond all the gunk that covers the heart and allow the soul's true heart expression to shine is mounting. Because you are a living example of that.
your aspiring servant,
Khadiravan devi dasi
Khela-tirtha dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble respectful obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance
Gurudev, this one day of the year we can glorify you. Of course mangal aratik is dedicated to doing that every day of the year. We look at your picture daily as a direction to place our worship and we sing Gurvastaka. Ideally we should know that you are present, especially in your instruction. So we, your disciples, being on time for Mangal aratik, clean, dressed nicely in devotional attire and bursting with enthusiasm to assist you in glorifying Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Panca tattva and Krsna, is just as real with your picture as if you were personally present. Living our lives as though you are there personally keeps us in line and chaste. Asking ourselves before we do anything "what would Gurudev think about this? would he sanction and approve this activity? what about this thought? "Of course you make yourself available for your fledging disciples to ask you directly. You are hands on to guide us in so many areas of our congregational and individual services.
Guru Maharaja, I am begging that you allow me to remember and apply your instructions and to live as though you are present with me although your vapu is on the other side of the world. Experiencing your prescence in ones service is your mercy upon them.
And unlimitedly merciful you are, Gurudev,
Saving a whole bunch of kali yuga Jagais and Madais like me.
The sleep you lose thinking how to fulfil Lord Caitanya's mission is in of itself an emblem of "tirelessly" preaching Krsna conciousness.
All glories to you Srila Gurudev on this day and every other day for eternity.
Your aspiring, foolish servant
Khela-tirtha dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble respectful obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance
Gurudev, this one day of the year we can glorify you. Of course mangal aratik is dedicated to doing that every day of the year. We look at your picture daily as a direction to place our worship and we sing Gurvastaka. Ideally we should know that you are present, especially in your instruction. So we, your disciples, being on time for Mangal aratik, clean, dressed nicely in devotional attire and bursting with enthusiasm to assist you in glorifying Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Panca tattva and Krsna, is just as real with your picture as if you were personally present. Living our lives as though you are there personally keeps us in line and chaste. Asking ourselves before we do anything "what would Gurudev think about this? would he sanction and approve this activity? what about this thought? "Of course you make yourself available for your fledging disciples to ask you directly. You are hands on to guide us in so many areas of our congregational and individual services.
Guru Maharaja, I am begging that you allow me to remember and apply your instructions and to live as though you are present with me although your vapu is on the other side of the world. Experiencing your prescence in ones service is your mercy upon them.
And unlimitedly merciful you are, Gurudev,
Saving a whole bunch of kali yuga Jagais and Madais like me.
The sleep you lose thinking how to fulfil Lord Caitanya's mission is in of itself an emblem of "tirelessly" preaching Krsna conciousness.
All glories to you Srila Gurudev on this day and every other day for eternity.
Your aspiring, foolish servant
Khela-tirtha dasa
Kirtidevi devi dasi
(back to top)
FELIZ VYASA PUJA GURU MAHARAJA
nama om visnu padaja krishna prestaja
bhutale srimate devamrita swami iti namine
pracare purvadaksianca bhakta cara pravinara paratata
pikarunja ya se sarve cate namaha
om ajñana timirandhasya
jñanañjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri gurave namaha
yo nací en la mas oscura ignorancia, y mi guru, mi maestro espiritual,abrió
mis ojos con la antorcha del conocimiento .
A el le ofrezco mis respetuosas reverencias
ofrezco mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias a la sombra de sus dignos pies de loto
Mi querido gurudeva usted es muy querido por la suprema personalidad de Dios
En este día de su aparición , agradezco a srila prabhupada y a krishna por la misericordia que me dio al ponerlo en mi camino
oh Gurudeva nos enseña a cada momento de su vida la forma correcta de servir al señor con amor y devoción
usted es la persona que conquisto sus sentidos
se encuentra por entero al servicio devocional del señor
esta rendido completamente a los pies de loto del señor Govinda.
es usted la persona mas misericordiosa , que a cada momento me esta asiendo recordar a krishna su forma,fama y los pasatiempos ilimitados del señor, y que el srimad Bhagavatam es la ciencia de la personalidad de dios
oh! guredev tan solo acercándome a usted puedo ver la verdad absoluta ya que tan solo usted me puede quitar las venda que hay en mis ojos y entender que este mundo material se denomina muerte , que es oscuro y por lo tanto necesita la luz se la verdad absoluta
usted esta siempre absorto en la melosidad de devoción pura del señor . es El representante de krishna
si nos estragamos a usted , nos estamos entregando a krishna
ya que usted es el guru fidedigno y aparece en la sucecion discipular
FELIZ VYASA PUJA MI QUERIDO PADRE
su sirvienta
Kirtidevi devi dasi
(back to top)
FELIZ VYASA PUJA GURU MAHARAJA
nama om visnu padaja krishna prestaja
bhutale srimate devamrita swami iti namine
pracare purvadaksianca bhakta cara pravinara paratata
pikarunja ya se sarve cate namaha
om ajñana timirandhasya
jñanañjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri gurave namaha
yo nací en la mas oscura ignorancia, y mi guru, mi maestro espiritual,abrió
mis ojos con la antorcha del conocimiento .
A el le ofrezco mis respetuosas reverencias
ofrezco mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias a la sombra de sus dignos pies de loto
Mi querido gurudeva usted es muy querido por la suprema personalidad de Dios
En este día de su aparición , agradezco a srila prabhupada y a krishna por la misericordia que me dio al ponerlo en mi camino
oh Gurudeva nos enseña a cada momento de su vida la forma correcta de servir al señor con amor y devoción
usted es la persona que conquisto sus sentidos
se encuentra por entero al servicio devocional del señor
esta rendido completamente a los pies de loto del señor Govinda.
es usted la persona mas misericordiosa , que a cada momento me esta asiendo recordar a krishna su forma,fama y los pasatiempos ilimitados del señor, y que el srimad Bhagavatam es la ciencia de la personalidad de dios
oh! guredev tan solo acercándome a usted puedo ver la verdad absoluta ya que tan solo usted me puede quitar las venda que hay en mis ojos y entender que este mundo material se denomina muerte , que es oscuro y por lo tanto necesita la luz se la verdad absoluta
usted esta siempre absorto en la melosidad de devoción pura del señor . es El representante de krishna
si nos estragamos a usted , nos estamos entregando a krishna
ya que usted es el guru fidedigno y aparece en la sucecion discipular
FELIZ VYASA PUJA MI QUERIDO PADRE
su sirvienta
Kirtidevi devi dasi
Krsna Prasada das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As the years of this tiny duration of life so quickly pass me by, I am beginning to see how fortunate I really am.
How is it I have been given this most wonderful opportunity to try to break free from this limited world full of suffering?
There is no other way, other than by the mercy of Guru and Krsna.
Please let me realize I have no qualification of my own. That my only claim is the mercy coming from you, through Parampara from Krsna himself.
Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, are freely giving out love of God through the chanting of the holy names of Krsna, all we have to do is take it.
Srila Prabhupada was doing exactly the same. And following in their footsteps you are also showering your mercy on anyone who is willing to take it. Even those Jagai’s and Madhai’s who are not willing, still get this most merciful opportunity.
Thankyou Gurudeva for everything you have done for me.
Your toleration, perseverance, humility and your topmost example is so inspiring for anyone to see.
I wish I could realize how insignificant I really am on the broader scale, instead of this feeling of how important I may be. We are so tiny, and yet Krsna still accepts whatever service we do.
Taking your instruction and serving you with no hesitation should be a devotee’s life and soul. Please let me take on this mood of the humble servant and to my fullest capacity, try to serve you in your mission.
Aspiring to be a particle of dust at your lotus feet,
Krsna Prasada das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As the years of this tiny duration of life so quickly pass me by, I am beginning to see how fortunate I really am.
How is it I have been given this most wonderful opportunity to try to break free from this limited world full of suffering?
There is no other way, other than by the mercy of Guru and Krsna.
Please let me realize I have no qualification of my own. That my only claim is the mercy coming from you, through Parampara from Krsna himself.
Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, are freely giving out love of God through the chanting of the holy names of Krsna, all we have to do is take it.
Srila Prabhupada was doing exactly the same. And following in their footsteps you are also showering your mercy on anyone who is willing to take it. Even those Jagai’s and Madhai’s who are not willing, still get this most merciful opportunity.
Thankyou Gurudeva for everything you have done for me.
Your toleration, perseverance, humility and your topmost example is so inspiring for anyone to see.
I wish I could realize how insignificant I really am on the broader scale, instead of this feeling of how important I may be. We are so tiny, and yet Krsna still accepts whatever service we do.
Taking your instruction and serving you with no hesitation should be a devotee’s life and soul. Please let me take on this mood of the humble servant and to my fullest capacity, try to serve you in your mission.
Aspiring to be a particle of dust at your lotus feet,
Krsna Prasada das
Krishnagraja das
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine.
Pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namo namah.
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories unto you.
Droplets of nectar
Jagannatha Puri
At Bhaktisedanta saraswati's birth place
Out of a thousand I was one face
There you gave an extraordinary presentation
Where people came to hear from all over the nation
What was the lecture about?
Wonderful words came out of your mouth
Guru muka padma vakya chite te koriya aikya translation
It purifies ones consciousness and establishes devotion
Smashing the mayavad theory
Your words were like fury
Enlightening the truth to everyone
You could save anyone
People were laughing
People were thrilled
People were amused
People were no longer confused
Revealing everyone the art of Bhakti
You were able to restore their true dormant shakti
Thus making people scream out hari hari !!!
The Gaudhiya math sanyasi called you the Jolly Swami...
Your servant
Krishnagraja das
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine.
Pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namo namah.
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad and all glories unto you.
Droplets of nectar
Jagannatha Puri
At Bhaktisedanta saraswati's birth place
Out of a thousand I was one face
There you gave an extraordinary presentation
Where people came to hear from all over the nation
What was the lecture about?
Wonderful words came out of your mouth
Guru muka padma vakya chite te koriya aikya translation
It purifies ones consciousness and establishes devotion
Smashing the mayavad theory
Your words were like fury
Enlightening the truth to everyone
You could save anyone
People were laughing
People were thrilled
People were amused
People were no longer confused
Revealing everyone the art of Bhakti
You were able to restore their true dormant shakti
Thus making people scream out hari hari !!!
The Gaudhiya math sanyasi called you the Jolly Swami...
Your servant
Krishnagraja das
Krishna-mayi dd
(back to top)
My dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!
Today is your Vyasapuja and this is a poem I wrote for your pleasure to express my love to you for your mercy that is impossible to measure. Although it is not easy to glorify a great devotee, endeavor I must, so please kindly accept this offering I present at your lotus feet dust.
Today the sun woke me up with its shining and warm rays; the same way you have come to earth to shows us proper ways to break the chains of darkness and find a real light so we can have the strength to conquer the ignorance of night.
Without your mercy what could I do blinded by illusion, there is no way I could come to any right conclusion. You are like a star that guides me in different situations and helps me stay always focus on my final destination.
There is no words that can describe my gratitude to you, even if I would spend many lifetimes saying thank you. There is nothing more valuable than the treasure I got from you, therefore my heart's desire is to fully surrender unto you.
This fallen servant lowly bows at your divine, lotus feet, hoping that my lusty heart one day will be free from greed. but only by your causeless mercy I can accomplish this deed, therefore again I humbly bow at your divine, lotus feet.
Your worthless servant,
Krishna-mayi dd
(back to top)
My dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!
Today is your Vyasapuja and this is a poem I wrote for your pleasure to express my love to you for your mercy that is impossible to measure. Although it is not easy to glorify a great devotee, endeavor I must, so please kindly accept this offering I present at your lotus feet dust.
Today the sun woke me up with its shining and warm rays; the same way you have come to earth to shows us proper ways to break the chains of darkness and find a real light so we can have the strength to conquer the ignorance of night.
Without your mercy what could I do blinded by illusion, there is no way I could come to any right conclusion. You are like a star that guides me in different situations and helps me stay always focus on my final destination.
There is no words that can describe my gratitude to you, even if I would spend many lifetimes saying thank you. There is nothing more valuable than the treasure I got from you, therefore my heart's desire is to fully surrender unto you.
This fallen servant lowly bows at your divine, lotus feet, hoping that my lusty heart one day will be free from greed. but only by your causeless mercy I can accomplish this deed, therefore again I humbly bow at your divine, lotus feet.
Your worthless servant,
Krishna-mayi dd
Krsnamrta Das & Rasamrta devi dasi
(back to top)
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 our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance.
We first of all want to thank you for giving us the shelter of your lotus feet. We feel so fortunate to be among your countless disciples from all around the world. Being under your guidance, we feel stronger than ever before in our spiritual life. However, in this material life it is so easy to get distracted. We, insignificant souls, beg for your mercy so that we can stay strong, follow your instructions and serve you and all the devotees.
Gurudev it is so amazing to see you traveling constantly and propagating the Lord's Holy Name. You are so kind and compassionate that you are attracting more and more living entities. You are saving so many people from this ocean of suffering. How can we ever repay you for your causeless mercy? You are so merciful and compassionate to fallen people like us that we will eternally be indebted to you.
It is always a great pleasure to see you in Melbourne. It is even more pleasing to have personal darshan with you since you are always very encouraging. Even it might be for a very short period of time, it is such an honor to be with such a saintly person. We feel very inspired by associating with your wonderful disciples who are constantly focused on how to serve and please you. We hope that we can follow in their footsteps as well and that we can be of some service to you.
Please forgive us for all the offences that we have done knowingly or unknowingly. Please bless us so that we can serve you more sincerely and help you in your mission.
Your useless servants,
Krsnamrta Das & Rasamrta devi dasi
(back to top)
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 our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearance.
We first of all want to thank you for giving us the shelter of your lotus feet. We feel so fortunate to be among your countless disciples from all around the world. Being under your guidance, we feel stronger than ever before in our spiritual life. However, in this material life it is so easy to get distracted. We, insignificant souls, beg for your mercy so that we can stay strong, follow your instructions and serve you and all the devotees.
Gurudev it is so amazing to see you traveling constantly and propagating the Lord's Holy Name. You are so kind and compassionate that you are attracting more and more living entities. You are saving so many people from this ocean of suffering. How can we ever repay you for your causeless mercy? You are so merciful and compassionate to fallen people like us that we will eternally be indebted to you.
It is always a great pleasure to see you in Melbourne. It is even more pleasing to have personal darshan with you since you are always very encouraging. Even it might be for a very short period of time, it is such an honor to be with such a saintly person. We feel very inspired by associating with your wonderful disciples who are constantly focused on how to serve and please you. We hope that we can follow in their footsteps as well and that we can be of some service to you.
Please forgive us for all the offences that we have done knowingly or unknowingly. Please bless us so that we can serve you more sincerely and help you in your mission.
Your useless servants,
Krsnamrta Das & Rasamrta devi dasi
Krsna Murari dd
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
Desiring to glorify you appropriately on this most auspicious day, I look to the 26 transcendental qualities of a devotee, reading through the list indeed one can see that you are adorned with all 26 jewel-like qualities.
In the purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.18.12), Srila Prabhupada mentions that Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja, author of Caitanya-caritamrta, says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava. Thus I can state without any speculation that you are a genuine Vaisnava.
Please allow me to expand on but a few of these qualities:
You are expert; you are expert in all your services to Prabhupada and Krsna. You are an expert preacher according to time, place & circumstance; you always have your finger on the pulse of society at large and are expert in administering the medicine of Krsna consciousness to all the sick patients of Kali yuga.
You are compassionate; always reaching out and preaching, and teaching us to do the same.
You are completely attached to Krsna; not in a sentimental or whimsical way but in real, practical and genuine way.
Thank you for being Krsna conscious and for being a real example that it is possible to become a pure devotee of Lord Krsna in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
Prabhupada said that his only qualification was that he was simply trying to carry out the order of his spiritual master. One can see via your words and actions that similarly you are simply trying to carry out the order of Prabhupada and that is your qualification.
Begging to become qualified to be used in your service, please give me the spiritual strength and intelligence to carry to your instructions.
Aspiring to be your unconditional servant,
Krsna Murari dd
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.
Desiring to glorify you appropriately on this most auspicious day, I look to the 26 transcendental qualities of a devotee, reading through the list indeed one can see that you are adorned with all 26 jewel-like qualities.
In the purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.18.12), Srila Prabhupada mentions that Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja, author of Caitanya-caritamrta, says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava. Thus I can state without any speculation that you are a genuine Vaisnava.
Please allow me to expand on but a few of these qualities:
You are expert; you are expert in all your services to Prabhupada and Krsna. You are an expert preacher according to time, place & circumstance; you always have your finger on the pulse of society at large and are expert in administering the medicine of Krsna consciousness to all the sick patients of Kali yuga.
You are compassionate; always reaching out and preaching, and teaching us to do the same.
You are completely attached to Krsna; not in a sentimental or whimsical way but in real, practical and genuine way.
Thank you for being Krsna conscious and for being a real example that it is possible to become a pure devotee of Lord Krsna in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
Prabhupada said that his only qualification was that he was simply trying to carry out the order of his spiritual master. One can see via your words and actions that similarly you are simply trying to carry out the order of Prabhupada and that is your qualification.
Begging to become qualified to be used in your service, please give me the spiritual strength and intelligence to carry to your instructions.
Aspiring to be your unconditional servant,
Krsna Murari dd
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
On this glorious occasion, I offer my gratitude. Thank you for your continued guidance and support Gurudev. Thank you for all these wonderful opportunities to develop and grow as a devotee.
Last year at the Otaki retreat in December, you glorified Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja on His Divine Grace's appearance day. It struck me then how similar you are Srila Gurudeva. You are certainly also a "Lion Guru" - strong, fearless, bold. You are the personification of the word 'Guru' - your instructions carry a great deal of weight, your presence is unmistakable and you don't entertain anyone's whims. As such we find ourselves counting every word - and this is something I have always appreciated - how you force me to think, to consider, and not act or speak mindlessly. You are a storehouse of excellence - showing by your impeccable example what is to be done and how to do it. I am humbled in your presence. Your soft heart and your fatherly compassion melt the hearts of those in your care. You are our shelter and our only hope. Your tireless efforts to spread the Krsna Consciousness movement prove that your compassion does not end there, but reaches far and wide to include all the wayward parts and parcels of your beloved Lord and Master.
Srila Gurudev, all glories to you! All glories to your unlimited capacity to care for and direct the fallen souls! All glories to your relentless dedication to serve Srila Prabhupada!
You are our hero and we gratefully bow down at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant and siksa disciple,
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
On this glorious occasion, I offer my gratitude. Thank you for your continued guidance and support Gurudev. Thank you for all these wonderful opportunities to develop and grow as a devotee.
Last year at the Otaki retreat in December, you glorified Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja on His Divine Grace's appearance day. It struck me then how similar you are Srila Gurudeva. You are certainly also a "Lion Guru" - strong, fearless, bold. You are the personification of the word 'Guru' - your instructions carry a great deal of weight, your presence is unmistakable and you don't entertain anyone's whims. As such we find ourselves counting every word - and this is something I have always appreciated - how you force me to think, to consider, and not act or speak mindlessly. You are a storehouse of excellence - showing by your impeccable example what is to be done and how to do it. I am humbled in your presence. Your soft heart and your fatherly compassion melt the hearts of those in your care. You are our shelter and our only hope. Your tireless efforts to spread the Krsna Consciousness movement prove that your compassion does not end there, but reaches far and wide to include all the wayward parts and parcels of your beloved Lord and Master.
Srila Gurudev, all glories to you! All glories to your unlimited capacity to care for and direct the fallen souls! All glories to your relentless dedication to serve Srila Prabhupada!
You are our hero and we gratefully bow down at your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant and siksa disciple,
Lilamayi Subhadra devi dasi
Madhava Seva Das and Shandya
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please accept our humble homage on this occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
We hope to get continued guidance and inspiration from you through personal instructions for engagement in Krsna's service.
I hope this coming year is fruitful to you in the context of Krsna Consciousness and you continue to shine the torch of spiritual wisdom to more and more fallen souls throughout the world.
Wish you the best of health and an ecstatic Krsna Conscious year.
Your servants,
Madhava Seva Das and Shandya
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please accept our humble homage on this occasion of your Vyasa Puja.
We hope to get continued guidance and inspiration from you through personal instructions for engagement in Krsna's service.
I hope this coming year is fruitful to you in the context of Krsna Consciousness and you continue to shine the torch of spiritual wisdom to more and more fallen souls throughout the world.
Wish you the best of health and an ecstatic Krsna Conscious year.
Your servants,
Madhava Seva Das and Shandya
Madhupuri devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I can't know your inner thoughts and feelings Gurudeva
But I see your compassion in the efforts that you make
One time at the Loft when you were so much lacking rest
You had a cold towel on your head, just so you could talk to guests
You teach your disciples to become compassionate too
You said to me "Imagine that suffering person was you.
"It takes effort to care this much" and you do it constantly
Your example shows how qualified and caring one needs to be
For the benefit of others you are working tirelessly
Travelling, out of love helping countless people like me
You have never given up on this hopeless little girl
Sometimes I can feel your kindness from the other side of the world
By your patient encouragement, pushing me to proceed
You have helped me become happy, knowing exactly what I need
And you have also stated your desire loud and clear
And I must beg your mercy to become your instrument
In giving Krishna Consciousness to others; let them hear
Of Lord Caitanya's mercy. For this purpose you, Srila Gurudeva, have been sent.
From your servant,
Madhupuri devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I can't know your inner thoughts and feelings Gurudeva
But I see your compassion in the efforts that you make
One time at the Loft when you were so much lacking rest
You had a cold towel on your head, just so you could talk to guests
You teach your disciples to become compassionate too
You said to me "Imagine that suffering person was you.
"It takes effort to care this much" and you do it constantly
Your example shows how qualified and caring one needs to be
For the benefit of others you are working tirelessly
Travelling, out of love helping countless people like me
You have never given up on this hopeless little girl
Sometimes I can feel your kindness from the other side of the world
By your patient encouragement, pushing me to proceed
You have helped me become happy, knowing exactly what I need
And you have also stated your desire loud and clear
And I must beg your mercy to become your instrument
In giving Krishna Consciousness to others; let them hear
Of Lord Caitanya's mercy. For this purpose you, Srila Gurudeva, have been sent.
From your servant,
Madhupuri devi dasi
Madhurananda das
(back to top)
Jai Srila Gurudev
Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te nama
On this auspicious day of your transcendental Vyasa Puja, I am filled with great appreciation. It is impossible to describe the compassion you have so kindly given to this fallen soul. I cannot even begin to imagine or comprehend what I have done to deserve your divine shelter.
At the times I have been the worst; your kind words and inspiration have carried me over anxiety. Your incredible ability to cut straight to the problem and offer an effective solution is amazing. You skilfully take the complex and intricate nature of sastra and expertly deliver it to our fickle minds. You make Krishna Consciousness an exciting adventure.
This year, you kindly granted this fallen soul shelter at your Lotus Feet. You have given me a place in Srila Prabhupada's family, you have given me identity, you have given me purpose and you have given me life. I pray that in some small way, I can use this life to repay you, for what is the use of life if not used in Krishna's service?
I pray that I can faithfully and attentively follow your instructions and please you with my small endeavours.
Please keep me always at the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for not giving up on me.
Your servant,
Madhurananda das
(back to top)
Jai Srila Gurudev
Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale srimate Devamrita swamin iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinta pararthatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te nama
On this auspicious day of your transcendental Vyasa Puja, I am filled with great appreciation. It is impossible to describe the compassion you have so kindly given to this fallen soul. I cannot even begin to imagine or comprehend what I have done to deserve your divine shelter.
At the times I have been the worst; your kind words and inspiration have carried me over anxiety. Your incredible ability to cut straight to the problem and offer an effective solution is amazing. You skilfully take the complex and intricate nature of sastra and expertly deliver it to our fickle minds. You make Krishna Consciousness an exciting adventure.
This year, you kindly granted this fallen soul shelter at your Lotus Feet. You have given me a place in Srila Prabhupada's family, you have given me identity, you have given me purpose and you have given me life. I pray that in some small way, I can use this life to repay you, for what is the use of life if not used in Krishna's service?
I pray that I can faithfully and attentively follow your instructions and please you with my small endeavours.
Please keep me always at the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for not giving up on me.
Your servant,
Madhurananda das
Maha Hari das
(back to top)
Nama Om Vishnu padaya Krsna-presthaya Bhutale Srimate Devamrta Swami Iti namine
Yo ofrezco mis respetuosas reverencias a Srimate Devamrita Swami quien es muy querido por el señor Krishna en esta tierra por haber tomado refugio a sus pies de Loto.
Pracare purva-daksyam ca Bhaktacara-pravinata Pararthatapi karunyam Yasya sarve ca te namah
Reverencias a ti quien posees todas las cualidades de la destreza única en la predica, competencia en los tratos Vaisnavas, desinteresado de ti mismo y quien posees compasión.
Dear Gurudeva: Please accept my humble obeisances to you divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You in these most auspicios day of your Vyasa Puja!
According to Jaiva Dharma of Bhaktivinoda Thakur, there are three diferent kind of Vaisnavas. Those who are young in devotional service to the Lord and chant His Holy Name with interruption. Those who chant Lord Krishna´s Holy Name in a steady way following the rules and regulations of the sastras. And those who by the simple act of looking at them inspire in everyone heart the desire and devotion to chant the Holy Name of the Lord.
I feel in my heart the desire to serve Srila prabhupada and Lord Krishna because you always inspired me to chant the Holy Name of the Lord by only looking at your way of serving and preaching Srila Prabhupada´s mision.
I feel fortunate that you accepted me as your disciple and I will never be able to do enough service to the Vaisnavas and Lord Krishna to honor you in the way that a great Paramahamsa like you deserves to be honored.
I fall at your lotus feet looking for your always and ever lasting shelter that keep me free and protect me from the burning fire of the material existence.
Jay Gurudeva! Happy Vyasa Puja day!!!
Your son & fallen disciple
Maha Hari das
(back to top)
Nama Om Vishnu padaya Krsna-presthaya Bhutale Srimate Devamrta Swami Iti namine
Yo ofrezco mis respetuosas reverencias a Srimate Devamrita Swami quien es muy querido por el señor Krishna en esta tierra por haber tomado refugio a sus pies de Loto.
Pracare purva-daksyam ca Bhaktacara-pravinata Pararthatapi karunyam Yasya sarve ca te namah
Reverencias a ti quien posees todas las cualidades de la destreza única en la predica, competencia en los tratos Vaisnavas, desinteresado de ti mismo y quien posees compasión.
Dear Gurudeva: Please accept my humble obeisances to you divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You in these most auspicios day of your Vyasa Puja!
According to Jaiva Dharma of Bhaktivinoda Thakur, there are three diferent kind of Vaisnavas. Those who are young in devotional service to the Lord and chant His Holy Name with interruption. Those who chant Lord Krishna´s Holy Name in a steady way following the rules and regulations of the sastras. And those who by the simple act of looking at them inspire in everyone heart the desire and devotion to chant the Holy Name of the Lord.
I feel in my heart the desire to serve Srila prabhupada and Lord Krishna because you always inspired me to chant the Holy Name of the Lord by only looking at your way of serving and preaching Srila Prabhupada´s mision.
I feel fortunate that you accepted me as your disciple and I will never be able to do enough service to the Vaisnavas and Lord Krishna to honor you in the way that a great Paramahamsa like you deserves to be honored.
I fall at your lotus feet looking for your always and ever lasting shelter that keep me free and protect me from the burning fire of the material existence.
Jay Gurudeva! Happy Vyasa Puja day!!!
Your son & fallen disciple
Maha Hari das
Mahanila dasa
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
As I begin this humble attempt to express my gratitude I can't help but feel inadequately qualified to describe your glories. How can a conditioned soul truly understand the exalted position of a pure unalloyed devotee? All i see is a highly advanced sannyasi but the truth is your much more than that. You are beyond all varnasrama designations like "sannyasi" or "brahmana". The characteristics of pure unalloyed devotees are described in the sastra and you are the embodiment of such qualities.
It appears that compassion personified had taken residence in your heart, austerity has willingly appeared within your body, while selflessness has eagerly situated itself deep within your mind.
You are always absorbed in thoughts of delivering the nitya-bandhu's; and this touches my heart, for I am one. You care about me more than I do, you see the potential in me which is blinded from my vision. Who can apprehend the depths of your compassion?!.
The sastra states that the disciple see's the spiritual master their own worshipable Deity, so please allow me to decorate your body with words of gratitude, giving me the privilege of worshiping you through Guru-Seva.
I cannot express the gratitude I feel for what you have done for me, all I can do is offer you these simple, yet heartfelt words of appreciation and hope that you accept them.
Your servant
Mahanila dasa
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
As I begin this humble attempt to express my gratitude I can't help but feel inadequately qualified to describe your glories. How can a conditioned soul truly understand the exalted position of a pure unalloyed devotee? All i see is a highly advanced sannyasi but the truth is your much more than that. You are beyond all varnasrama designations like "sannyasi" or "brahmana". The characteristics of pure unalloyed devotees are described in the sastra and you are the embodiment of such qualities.
It appears that compassion personified had taken residence in your heart, austerity has willingly appeared within your body, while selflessness has eagerly situated itself deep within your mind.
You are always absorbed in thoughts of delivering the nitya-bandhu's; and this touches my heart, for I am one. You care about me more than I do, you see the potential in me which is blinded from my vision. Who can apprehend the depths of your compassion?!.
The sastra states that the disciple see's the spiritual master their own worshipable Deity, so please allow me to decorate your body with words of gratitude, giving me the privilege of worshiping you through Guru-Seva.
I cannot express the gratitude I feel for what you have done for me, all I can do is offer you these simple, yet heartfelt words of appreciation and hope that you accept them.
Your servant
Mahanila dasa
Mahavan das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to your merciful lotus feet.
In a recent lecture you explained that for a devotee to try to avoid anxiety in Krishna's service is impersonalism. You then went on to say "...and therefore, we should beg Krishna, 'please let me take on anxiety for Your service.'" At that time I had to seriously consider, "Why would anyone want to take on anxiety, especially someone else's? Aren't we all trying to become free from anxiety? Isn't that why we wanted to be Krishna conscious - because we understood that the material world is nothing but a place of anxiety and therefore we should try for Vaikuntha, the place where there is no anxiety? And isn't that what we're constantly trying to convince others of in our Krishna conscious outreach efforts?
On one level of course, the answer to these questions is a resounding "yes!" As the great 5 year old devotee Prahlada Maharaja explained to his father, whether they know it or not, everyone in this material world is constantly embarrassed by anxiety (dehināṁ sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt), and should therefore give up the blind well of bodily consciousness (hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ) and should indeed head for the place where there is no anxiety (vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta). And as he went on to explain to his class mates, anyone who does so, especially from a young age, is certainly the most intelligent person (prājñaḥ).
Yet at the same time, that is not the end of the story, as Prahlada himself revealed later in this famous prayers to Lord Nrisimhadeva (SB. 7.9.43-44). As you also do in such a selfless, dynamic and compassionate way, he explained and showed through his personal example, that there is also a higher level, a much higher level. That is the level of "Krishna anxiety."
Devotee (2): When we are distributing books, Srila Prabhupada, and we are not doing so good and we are in anxiety, that is also spiritual?
Prabhupada: That is... For selling books anxiety is Krsna anxiety. If you become very anxious how to sell more books, that is Krsna anxiety. That is not trade anxiety; that is Krsna anxiety.
Guru-krpa: So some people say that "When I go on sankirtana to sell books I become in too much anxiety if I'm not doing well, so I'd rather not do it."
Prabhupada: No, that is Krsna anxiety. He does not know. Let him know that that is Krsna anxiety. Yasoda, mother Yasoda, became mother of Krsna so that she would always remain in anxiety for Krsna, whether Krsna is safe. That is mother's anxiety. Therefore she became mother. How to become in Krishna anxiety? This philosophy nobody knows. Everyone takes Krsna as the father. Father means I'm anxiety-less: "Father, you supply my wants." And to become father of Krsna means to purchase anxiety for Krsna. This philosophy they do not know.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
As you explain, sooner or later in our spiritual development, we have to "deal with Krishna." Krishna is a person and people have desires and anxieties. "Dealing with Krishna" means putting our desires and anxieties on the back burner, and instead taking His desires and His anxieties seriously. Impersonalism however, means you ignore Krishna's desires and anxieties and simply focus on your own desire to become "anxiety-less."
Prabhupada: Zero, they are sunyavadi, zero, and nirvisesavadi. The same thing. But we are not sunyavadi. Whole is not zero. The anxiety.... You cannot become anxiety-less. That is artificial. If you artificially become anxiety-less, then artificially you can remain anxiety-less for some time.
Again you fall down. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah [SB 10.2.32]. Falls down. But the anxiety should be purified. That is wanted. Not anxiety-less. You are living being. You cannot be anxiety.... That means you are dead. A living being has no anxiety -- that means he is dead. That is not the ideal. The anxiety should be purified from material contamination, and it should be only for Krsna. Then it is perfect. Here the anxiety with some designation, "I am the father of this family," this is my anxiety, how to maintain them. "I am the leader of this nation." That is my anxiety. So all these anxieties are material, upadhi. I am neither father nor leader. I am servant of Krsna. I have created artificial anxieties. So therefore I have to become free from this artificial anxiety. And nitya-krsna-dasa. And when he is pure servant of Krsna, he's always anxious how to serve Krsna. This is the.... The anxiety is there, and now it is purified. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], completely fresh. And then with that senses, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktih. This is bhakti. Mad-bhaktim labhate.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
You explain that most of us in this age come to Krishna consciousness to get relief from anxiety – and that is commendable and intelligent - but if we actually want "become Krishna conscious," sooner or later we have to come to a higher level.
Pusta Krsna: They can't stop, na socati na kanksati. They have to go further.
Prabhupada: Yes. And this is negation. Just like one man is diseased. He is also eating, he is also sleeping, but that is not healthy eating, sleeping. He has to get relief from this eating, lying down on the bed and eating by some instrument. This nonsense eating, sleeping should be stopped. And when he's healthy, he eats also, sleeps also. That is different. That is different eating, sleeping, but they do not.... He is suffering from disease. He thinks, "Again eating? Make it zero. Make it zero." This is Mayavadi. He has no taste what is the other eating. He wants to make it zero because here the eating is so botheration, "Oh, let me commit suicide. Make it zero." So that is Buddha philosophy.
Guru-krpa: Sour grapes.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
For us, your disciples, "purchasing Krishna anxiety" means to try to take on some of the anxiety you have for spreading the mission of Srila Prabhupada (śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha), to feel anxiety that you are in anxiety about those who are suffering the burden of so many artificial and unnecessary anxieties (māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān) and to try our best to practically relieve you of that anxiety.
Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. You'll take a practical... My Guru Maharaja gave me hint that book publication is more pleasing to me than Matha-mandira. So I took it and I began to publish books and that has come successful. Karyam karma. I took it, "Oh, Guru Maharaja wants that books should be published. So let me concentrate on this instead of..." My creating so many centers, big, big temples, that is not my primary duty. My primary duty is to write books. Therefore I am going on still. These are coming automatically. Maybe this is the secret of my success.
Dr. Patel: Sannyasa-yoga-yuktatma vimukto mam upaisyasi.
Prabhupada: Ah, karyam, that one should take the order of the guru, because guru is the representative of Krsna. So when one takes... That is explained by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in connection with the verse:
vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo 'vyavasayinam
[Bg. 2.41]
So the vyavasayis, those who are fixed up in the words of guru, "So guru has ordered me to do it. Oh, that is my life. I do not know whether I will be promoted to heaven or hell. It doesn't matter. I shall execute..."
Dr. Patel: Execute the order of the guru.
Prabhupada: Guru. Yes. Very easy. That is the secret. Yasya deve para bhaktir tatha deve yatha gurau [SU 6.23]. Then he is sure to be successful. This is the secret.
Thus "dealing with Krishna" is so personal. Dealing with Krishna means "dealing with Krishna's devotee," with his desires and anxieties. On this, your holy vyasa puja day, we, your disciples and those aspiring, come together to glorify you, our spiritual master, to show you our heartfelt gratitude, and to beg for mercy at your lotus feet. Today more than ever, I am in special need of this opportunity. You are so glorious because you have accepted me as your disciple. You have taken the time and energy to "give me the best," even though I'm the worst, and tolerated all my bumbling, impersonal attempts at reciprocation.
Although your mercy is present in my life in so many inconceivable ways, as I continue on in my tiny efforts to serve your devotees here in Wellington, it is becoming more and more clear that your supreme benediction is present in so many opportunities to "purchase Krishna anxiety," and although on one level I am afraid of these opportunities, and generally try to run in the opposite direction when ever you kindly try to benedict me with them, my overwhelming desire is that by the end of this life you will be able to honestly say "although this man may have many short comings, but has done something to please me."
Therefore, may I humbly beg for more?
(Trying to be) your faithful and grateful son,
Mahavan das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to your merciful lotus feet.
In a recent lecture you explained that for a devotee to try to avoid anxiety in Krishna's service is impersonalism. You then went on to say "...and therefore, we should beg Krishna, 'please let me take on anxiety for Your service.'" At that time I had to seriously consider, "Why would anyone want to take on anxiety, especially someone else's? Aren't we all trying to become free from anxiety? Isn't that why we wanted to be Krishna conscious - because we understood that the material world is nothing but a place of anxiety and therefore we should try for Vaikuntha, the place where there is no anxiety? And isn't that what we're constantly trying to convince others of in our Krishna conscious outreach efforts?
On one level of course, the answer to these questions is a resounding "yes!" As the great 5 year old devotee Prahlada Maharaja explained to his father, whether they know it or not, everyone in this material world is constantly embarrassed by anxiety (dehināṁ sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt), and should therefore give up the blind well of bodily consciousness (hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ) and should indeed head for the place where there is no anxiety (vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta). And as he went on to explain to his class mates, anyone who does so, especially from a young age, is certainly the most intelligent person (prājñaḥ).
Yet at the same time, that is not the end of the story, as Prahlada himself revealed later in this famous prayers to Lord Nrisimhadeva (SB. 7.9.43-44). As you also do in such a selfless, dynamic and compassionate way, he explained and showed through his personal example, that there is also a higher level, a much higher level. That is the level of "Krishna anxiety."
Devotee (2): When we are distributing books, Srila Prabhupada, and we are not doing so good and we are in anxiety, that is also spiritual?
Prabhupada: That is... For selling books anxiety is Krsna anxiety. If you become very anxious how to sell more books, that is Krsna anxiety. That is not trade anxiety; that is Krsna anxiety.
Guru-krpa: So some people say that "When I go on sankirtana to sell books I become in too much anxiety if I'm not doing well, so I'd rather not do it."
Prabhupada: No, that is Krsna anxiety. He does not know. Let him know that that is Krsna anxiety. Yasoda, mother Yasoda, became mother of Krsna so that she would always remain in anxiety for Krsna, whether Krsna is safe. That is mother's anxiety. Therefore she became mother. How to become in Krishna anxiety? This philosophy nobody knows. Everyone takes Krsna as the father. Father means I'm anxiety-less: "Father, you supply my wants." And to become father of Krsna means to purchase anxiety for Krsna. This philosophy they do not know.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
As you explain, sooner or later in our spiritual development, we have to "deal with Krishna." Krishna is a person and people have desires and anxieties. "Dealing with Krishna" means putting our desires and anxieties on the back burner, and instead taking His desires and His anxieties seriously. Impersonalism however, means you ignore Krishna's desires and anxieties and simply focus on your own desire to become "anxiety-less."
Prabhupada: Zero, they are sunyavadi, zero, and nirvisesavadi. The same thing. But we are not sunyavadi. Whole is not zero. The anxiety.... You cannot become anxiety-less. That is artificial. If you artificially become anxiety-less, then artificially you can remain anxiety-less for some time.
Again you fall down. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah [SB 10.2.32]. Falls down. But the anxiety should be purified. That is wanted. Not anxiety-less. You are living being. You cannot be anxiety.... That means you are dead. A living being has no anxiety -- that means he is dead. That is not the ideal. The anxiety should be purified from material contamination, and it should be only for Krsna. Then it is perfect. Here the anxiety with some designation, "I am the father of this family," this is my anxiety, how to maintain them. "I am the leader of this nation." That is my anxiety. So all these anxieties are material, upadhi. I am neither father nor leader. I am servant of Krsna. I have created artificial anxieties. So therefore I have to become free from this artificial anxiety. And nitya-krsna-dasa. And when he is pure servant of Krsna, he's always anxious how to serve Krsna. This is the.... The anxiety is there, and now it is purified. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], completely fresh. And then with that senses, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktih. This is bhakti. Mad-bhaktim labhate.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
You explain that most of us in this age come to Krishna consciousness to get relief from anxiety – and that is commendable and intelligent - but if we actually want "become Krishna conscious," sooner or later we have to come to a higher level.
Pusta Krsna: They can't stop, na socati na kanksati. They have to go further.
Prabhupada: Yes. And this is negation. Just like one man is diseased. He is also eating, he is also sleeping, but that is not healthy eating, sleeping. He has to get relief from this eating, lying down on the bed and eating by some instrument. This nonsense eating, sleeping should be stopped. And when he's healthy, he eats also, sleeps also. That is different. That is different eating, sleeping, but they do not.... He is suffering from disease. He thinks, "Again eating? Make it zero. Make it zero." This is Mayavadi. He has no taste what is the other eating. He wants to make it zero because here the eating is so botheration, "Oh, let me commit suicide. Make it zero." So that is Buddha philosophy.
Guru-krpa: Sour grapes.
- Morning Walk -- April 26, 1976, Melbourne
For us, your disciples, "purchasing Krishna anxiety" means to try to take on some of the anxiety you have for spreading the mission of Srila Prabhupada (śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha), to feel anxiety that you are in anxiety about those who are suffering the burden of so many artificial and unnecessary anxieties (māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān) and to try our best to practically relieve you of that anxiety.
Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. You'll take a practical... My Guru Maharaja gave me hint that book publication is more pleasing to me than Matha-mandira. So I took it and I began to publish books and that has come successful. Karyam karma. I took it, "Oh, Guru Maharaja wants that books should be published. So let me concentrate on this instead of..." My creating so many centers, big, big temples, that is not my primary duty. My primary duty is to write books. Therefore I am going on still. These are coming automatically. Maybe this is the secret of my success.
Dr. Patel: Sannyasa-yoga-yuktatma vimukto mam upaisyasi.
Prabhupada: Ah, karyam, that one should take the order of the guru, because guru is the representative of Krsna. So when one takes... That is explained by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in connection with the verse:
vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo 'vyavasayinam
[Bg. 2.41]
So the vyavasayis, those who are fixed up in the words of guru, "So guru has ordered me to do it. Oh, that is my life. I do not know whether I will be promoted to heaven or hell. It doesn't matter. I shall execute..."
Dr. Patel: Execute the order of the guru.
Prabhupada: Guru. Yes. Very easy. That is the secret. Yasya deve para bhaktir tatha deve yatha gurau [SU 6.23]. Then he is sure to be successful. This is the secret.
Thus "dealing with Krishna" is so personal. Dealing with Krishna means "dealing with Krishna's devotee," with his desires and anxieties. On this, your holy vyasa puja day, we, your disciples and those aspiring, come together to glorify you, our spiritual master, to show you our heartfelt gratitude, and to beg for mercy at your lotus feet. Today more than ever, I am in special need of this opportunity. You are so glorious because you have accepted me as your disciple. You have taken the time and energy to "give me the best," even though I'm the worst, and tolerated all my bumbling, impersonal attempts at reciprocation.
Although your mercy is present in my life in so many inconceivable ways, as I continue on in my tiny efforts to serve your devotees here in Wellington, it is becoming more and more clear that your supreme benediction is present in so many opportunities to "purchase Krishna anxiety," and although on one level I am afraid of these opportunities, and generally try to run in the opposite direction when ever you kindly try to benedict me with them, my overwhelming desire is that by the end of this life you will be able to honestly say "although this man may have many short comings, but has done something to please me."
Therefore, may I humbly beg for more?
(Trying to be) your faithful and grateful son,
Mahavan das
Manada devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
How can I, who was not that long ago, lost and floating helplessly in an ignorant oblivion, attempt to glorify you in the way you truly deserve? In his purport to verse 36 in Chapter Four of Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada uses this very nice analogy, which portrays the effect you have had in so many lives –
"This material world is sometimes regarded as an ocean of nescience and sometimes as a blazing forest. In the ocean, however expert a swimmer one may be, the struggle for existence is very severe. If someone comes forward and lifts the struggling swimmer from the ocean, he is the greatest savior."
Thank you for picking me up and giving me shelter; for transforming my life and that of my family's. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond to your persistent begging of me to give up my foolish activities and to start taking to the chanting of Hare Krsna more seriously. I'm sorry for acting in slow motion, I just hope that I can develop the proper intelligence to begin to repay you and maybe then one day I can gain even a little of your begging attitude- that attitude and compassion that is necessary to truly transform the lives of people suffering in material existence.
I very much appreciate the mentor guidance system that you have developed for us. I don't know what I'd do without it. We are so fortunate to have available to us such expert guidance every step of the way back to Godhead. When the toxic storm of our past material existence has cleared, your mentor system is there to help pick up the pieces, to give practical guidance and to provide for us the wonderful opportunities for serving the devotees. I beg for the humility, courage and determination to be able to take full advantage of this mentorship system and to step up to the challenges that lie ahead.
Thank you for teaching the art of engaging everything in the service of the Lord. Because of so many inventive out-reach projects, Gaura Yoga is alive with the mercy of Lord Caitanya and so many people are becoming attracted and immediately engaged in the Lord's service. It is so wonderful to witness these people being transformed into devotees by your association and to see them become happy by chanting Hare Krsna.
All glories to you on this auspicious day, Gurudeva. I beg to remain always in the shelter of your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Manada devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
How can I, who was not that long ago, lost and floating helplessly in an ignorant oblivion, attempt to glorify you in the way you truly deserve? In his purport to verse 36 in Chapter Four of Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada uses this very nice analogy, which portrays the effect you have had in so many lives –
"This material world is sometimes regarded as an ocean of nescience and sometimes as a blazing forest. In the ocean, however expert a swimmer one may be, the struggle for existence is very severe. If someone comes forward and lifts the struggling swimmer from the ocean, he is the greatest savior."
Thank you for picking me up and giving me shelter; for transforming my life and that of my family's. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond to your persistent begging of me to give up my foolish activities and to start taking to the chanting of Hare Krsna more seriously. I'm sorry for acting in slow motion, I just hope that I can develop the proper intelligence to begin to repay you and maybe then one day I can gain even a little of your begging attitude- that attitude and compassion that is necessary to truly transform the lives of people suffering in material existence.
I very much appreciate the mentor guidance system that you have developed for us. I don't know what I'd do without it. We are so fortunate to have available to us such expert guidance every step of the way back to Godhead. When the toxic storm of our past material existence has cleared, your mentor system is there to help pick up the pieces, to give practical guidance and to provide for us the wonderful opportunities for serving the devotees. I beg for the humility, courage and determination to be able to take full advantage of this mentorship system and to step up to the challenges that lie ahead.
Thank you for teaching the art of engaging everything in the service of the Lord. Because of so many inventive out-reach projects, Gaura Yoga is alive with the mercy of Lord Caitanya and so many people are becoming attracted and immediately engaged in the Lord's service. It is so wonderful to witness these people being transformed into devotees by your association and to see them become happy by chanting Hare Krsna.
All glories to you on this auspicious day, Gurudeva. I beg to remain always in the shelter of your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Manada devi dasi
Manesha
(back to top)
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your Lotus Feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In this material world, maya is so strong that, without proper spiritual guidance, one may fall anytime, even due to our thoughts. By listening to Your lectures, in Your very original style, it feels like cream, like makhan to follow Krishna Consciousness. They are so practical. In my daily practice, I can feel Your mercy more and more, like a father blessing his child by placing his hand on his/her head. I am glad to be part of the family.
Thank You for giving me The chance, and please allow me to cling to and serve Your Lotus Feet. Thank You for praying for us all. I pray for Your wellbeing, for Your good health, so that You can fulfill Your mission without any hindrance.
Praying to be able to serve You in Your mission,
Your insignificant servant,
Manesha (Mauritius)
(back to top)
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your Lotus Feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In this material world, maya is so strong that, without proper spiritual guidance, one may fall anytime, even due to our thoughts. By listening to Your lectures, in Your very original style, it feels like cream, like makhan to follow Krishna Consciousness. They are so practical. In my daily practice, I can feel Your mercy more and more, like a father blessing his child by placing his hand on his/her head. I am glad to be part of the family.
Thank You for giving me The chance, and please allow me to cling to and serve Your Lotus Feet. Thank You for praying for us all. I pray for Your wellbeing, for Your good health, so that You can fulfill Your mission without any hindrance.
Praying to be able to serve You in Your mission,
Your insignificant servant,
Manesha (Mauritius)
Mangal-aarti devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Guru Maharaj earlier this year you blessed us with your presence here in Toronto, motivating and inspiring many of us to go out here to do what Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do...Preach. Inspite of your extremely busy schedule, every day, continuously for ten days, you drove with us to different venues, talking to completely different audience and delivering the same 'un-adulterated' message of Krishna consciousness as spoken by Srila Prabhupada to so many different people in so many different ways. I have been trying to listen once again to Gurudev's lectures here in Toronto and realize that Gurudev was speaking to under graduates, faith leaders, environmentalists, vegetarians, vegans, temple devotees, yoga teachers, students and many other different groups of people. The topics were so vastly different, yet Guru Maharaj picked examples that people from every group could relate to. Guru Maharaj, you will be happy to know that those people come back to us and ask about you and discuss how uniquely special your talks were for them. Before setting up these events I had read somewhere that one who knows Krishna knows everything. Now re-listening to your classes Guru Maharaj, I am coming to understand that statement.
Guru Maharaj with my narrow constrained view of the world when I was complaining about my insignificant challenges, you asked me to read Salted bread and understand in reality how my challenges were really insignificant. I did read that book Guru Maharaj. I also remembered how Guru Maharaj, you mentioned in one of your classes here in Toronto, that you spent 8 years behind the Iron curtain and finally had to leave and were at one point running from KGB. Guru Maharaj I do not have the intelligence or vision to understand such surrender in Bhakti that has been demonstrated by so many glorious devotees in this most wonderful movement of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. I only know that somehow or other by your inconceivable mercy I have got this most rare chance to be associated with this movement. Guru Maharaj as you often say in your lectures that devotees should realize the rarity of this chance and beg Krishna for ability to appreciate this chance to associate with his devotees and to be engaged in the topmost service. Please bless me with that ability to appreciate devotees and devotional service.
Guru Maharaj, when you first asked me to start increasing my rounds by 1 a day and then eventually go up to 16 rounds, I was convinced it was impossible. I just did not think I could ever even attempt to chant 16 rounds. At that time, one very nice devotee had explained to me that instructions from the Spiritual master come with the potency to fulfill themselves. One just has to have faith and follow the process as instructed...every thing else just happens by Krishna's mercy. She was right, even a person like me could chant the Holy name by your mercy. Ever since, I have been blessed to get the chance to see this phenomenon repeat itself every time Guru Maharaj gives an instruction. This year by Gurudev's mercy I am getting such a rare chance of traveling to New Zealand and associating with a family known to me only through my mental imagination.
Guru Maharaj, on your most auspicious appearance day I wanted to beg for your mercy to give me the eyes and a heart to appreciate the rare and limited chance of devotee association that I have and am about to receive. I am very hard hearted and do not know how to reciprocate. Please bless me Guru Maharaj so I can learn to serve devotees. Guru Maharaj please also give me the determination and sincerity to be able to follow your instructions. Last year Gurudev mentioned that there are no material impediments in Spiritual life. Please give me the ability to understand this instruction. Guru Maharaj I am very limited in my ability to serve you but I beg again that you please keep this fool engaged in your service. Please accept this prayer Gurudev and even though I am 100% unqualified, please keep me engaged in service to Srila Prabhupada.
Your humble servant
Mangal-aarti devi dasi
(back to top)
Dearest Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Guru Maharaj earlier this year you blessed us with your presence here in Toronto, motivating and inspiring many of us to go out here to do what Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do...Preach. Inspite of your extremely busy schedule, every day, continuously for ten days, you drove with us to different venues, talking to completely different audience and delivering the same 'un-adulterated' message of Krishna consciousness as spoken by Srila Prabhupada to so many different people in so many different ways. I have been trying to listen once again to Gurudev's lectures here in Toronto and realize that Gurudev was speaking to under graduates, faith leaders, environmentalists, vegetarians, vegans, temple devotees, yoga teachers, students and many other different groups of people. The topics were so vastly different, yet Guru Maharaj picked examples that people from every group could relate to. Guru Maharaj, you will be happy to know that those people come back to us and ask about you and discuss how uniquely special your talks were for them. Before setting up these events I had read somewhere that one who knows Krishna knows everything. Now re-listening to your classes Guru Maharaj, I am coming to understand that statement.
Guru Maharaj with my narrow constrained view of the world when I was complaining about my insignificant challenges, you asked me to read Salted bread and understand in reality how my challenges were really insignificant. I did read that book Guru Maharaj. I also remembered how Guru Maharaj, you mentioned in one of your classes here in Toronto, that you spent 8 years behind the Iron curtain and finally had to leave and were at one point running from KGB. Guru Maharaj I do not have the intelligence or vision to understand such surrender in Bhakti that has been demonstrated by so many glorious devotees in this most wonderful movement of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. I only know that somehow or other by your inconceivable mercy I have got this most rare chance to be associated with this movement. Guru Maharaj as you often say in your lectures that devotees should realize the rarity of this chance and beg Krishna for ability to appreciate this chance to associate with his devotees and to be engaged in the topmost service. Please bless me with that ability to appreciate devotees and devotional service.
Guru Maharaj, when you first asked me to start increasing my rounds by 1 a day and then eventually go up to 16 rounds, I was convinced it was impossible. I just did not think I could ever even attempt to chant 16 rounds. At that time, one very nice devotee had explained to me that instructions from the Spiritual master come with the potency to fulfill themselves. One just has to have faith and follow the process as instructed...every thing else just happens by Krishna's mercy. She was right, even a person like me could chant the Holy name by your mercy. Ever since, I have been blessed to get the chance to see this phenomenon repeat itself every time Guru Maharaj gives an instruction. This year by Gurudev's mercy I am getting such a rare chance of traveling to New Zealand and associating with a family known to me only through my mental imagination.
Guru Maharaj, on your most auspicious appearance day I wanted to beg for your mercy to give me the eyes and a heart to appreciate the rare and limited chance of devotee association that I have and am about to receive. I am very hard hearted and do not know how to reciprocate. Please bless me Guru Maharaj so I can learn to serve devotees. Guru Maharaj please also give me the determination and sincerity to be able to follow your instructions. Last year Gurudev mentioned that there are no material impediments in Spiritual life. Please give me the ability to understand this instruction. Guru Maharaj I am very limited in my ability to serve you but I beg again that you please keep this fool engaged in your service. Please accept this prayer Gurudev and even though I am 100% unqualified, please keep me engaged in service to Srila Prabhupada.
Your humble servant
Mangal-aarti devi dasi
Mantramala devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious occasion, your Vyasa Puja.
My Spiritual Father’s Vyasa Puja gives me the opportunity to tell you something which I always wanted to tell (but never did). Actually, quite some time ago I decided that “that something” would be the content of my Vyasa Puja offering to you. [Therefore the short notice I found today on the website that the Vyasa Puja homages are due, didn’t leave me totally unprepared... :)]
So, Gurudeva, please allow me to write briefly about your Q&A session (available on your website) held the day after the Festival Of Song And Dance in South Africa, in October last year.
I deeply recommend anyone to hear this session with rapt attention, over and over again. You’ll see why:
As per the introduction the audience was given “an opportunity to have a one-in-one session with one of the amazing devotees of the Hare Krishna movement”. And the lady continued: “This is one of the rear opportunities that one can get. Whatever questions you have, please ask Devamrita Swami them – intelligent questions”.
Then, Guru Maharaj, you spoke briefly and encouraged the audience very expertly to ask whatever they wanted to ask (by making sure at the same time that everyone can hear you well): “Let the questions fly. Whatever you like to ask about – money, romance, ha-ha-ha [your famous laugh], we have a Krishna conscious answer for everything, ha-ha-ha”.
This confidence of yours made me very proud of you and also anticipant that some people would challenge you. Well, I didn’t have to wait long: the very first person with a question started by calling you “Doctor, Professor, Maharaj” and asked whether “the gay and lesbian thing was prominent(?) in your culture”. He thought he had managed to place the most controversial and challenging question ever. But you, Gurudeva, turned it to the best starting point of any spiritual education ever, with the greatest ease, by replying that: “The Krishna conscious culture is about how to not identify with the body...” This, and the rest have made the audience very appreciative and satisfied. But then later the prolonged challenge came from a boy (I think he was in a boy’s body, not a girl). He spoke poncy English (to my ears at least) and always addressed you as “Sir”. It was funny to witness how his anger increased in the proportion he received your calm and informative answers. This exchange was the highlight of all and the most entertaining one, I think.
I’m bowing down in front of your wit, knowledge, compassion and charisma, Guru Maharaj.
These qualities of yours have captured me at that Sunday Feast lecture of yours in Sydney Temple end of 1995 and continue to do so, end 2008.
I thank you deeply for your prolonged efforts in spreading Krishna consciousness around the world and caring so much about our wellbeing. And I’d like to order everyone to listen to the session above on your website. One will get enormous faith in the Krishna conscious process and its teacher(s) just by doing so.
Since I’m also a keen reader of Indradyumna Swami Maharaj’s Diary of a Travelling Preacher, please allow me to close this offering by borrowing the title and the last paragraph of one of my most favourite diary entries there, which is Chapter 27 in Volume 5, “My Chest Swells Up With Pride”.
Yes, Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada’s chest swells up with pride seeing your activities. (Mine also.)
"These news are giving me new life ... In my horoscope just done, they have described although this is a critical period, if I pass through, I will live 100 years. Then I shall surely come to visit your farm ... The project is very nice. When I hear this report my chest swells up, being so proud of my disciples' achievements." [Srila Prabhupada commenting on Tulasi das's service, quoted by Srila Prabhupada's secretary, Tamal Krsna Goswami, in a letter to Ramesvara dasa, August 22, 1977)
Your aspiring servant,
Mantramala devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious occasion, your Vyasa Puja.
My Spiritual Father’s Vyasa Puja gives me the opportunity to tell you something which I always wanted to tell (but never did). Actually, quite some time ago I decided that “that something” would be the content of my Vyasa Puja offering to you. [Therefore the short notice I found today on the website that the Vyasa Puja homages are due, didn’t leave me totally unprepared... :)]
So, Gurudeva, please allow me to write briefly about your Q&A session (available on your website) held the day after the Festival Of Song And Dance in South Africa, in October last year.
I deeply recommend anyone to hear this session with rapt attention, over and over again. You’ll see why:
As per the introduction the audience was given “an opportunity to have a one-in-one session with one of the amazing devotees of the Hare Krishna movement”. And the lady continued: “This is one of the rear opportunities that one can get. Whatever questions you have, please ask Devamrita Swami them – intelligent questions”.
Then, Guru Maharaj, you spoke briefly and encouraged the audience very expertly to ask whatever they wanted to ask (by making sure at the same time that everyone can hear you well): “Let the questions fly. Whatever you like to ask about – money, romance, ha-ha-ha [your famous laugh], we have a Krishna conscious answer for everything, ha-ha-ha”.
This confidence of yours made me very proud of you and also anticipant that some people would challenge you. Well, I didn’t have to wait long: the very first person with a question started by calling you “Doctor, Professor, Maharaj” and asked whether “the gay and lesbian thing was prominent(?) in your culture”. He thought he had managed to place the most controversial and challenging question ever. But you, Gurudeva, turned it to the best starting point of any spiritual education ever, with the greatest ease, by replying that: “The Krishna conscious culture is about how to not identify with the body...” This, and the rest have made the audience very appreciative and satisfied. But then later the prolonged challenge came from a boy (I think he was in a boy’s body, not a girl). He spoke poncy English (to my ears at least) and always addressed you as “Sir”. It was funny to witness how his anger increased in the proportion he received your calm and informative answers. This exchange was the highlight of all and the most entertaining one, I think.
I’m bowing down in front of your wit, knowledge, compassion and charisma, Guru Maharaj.
These qualities of yours have captured me at that Sunday Feast lecture of yours in Sydney Temple end of 1995 and continue to do so, end 2008.
I thank you deeply for your prolonged efforts in spreading Krishna consciousness around the world and caring so much about our wellbeing. And I’d like to order everyone to listen to the session above on your website. One will get enormous faith in the Krishna conscious process and its teacher(s) just by doing so.
Since I’m also a keen reader of Indradyumna Swami Maharaj’s Diary of a Travelling Preacher, please allow me to close this offering by borrowing the title and the last paragraph of one of my most favourite diary entries there, which is Chapter 27 in Volume 5, “My Chest Swells Up With Pride”.
Yes, Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada’s chest swells up with pride seeing your activities. (Mine also.)
"These news are giving me new life ... In my horoscope just done, they have described although this is a critical period, if I pass through, I will live 100 years. Then I shall surely come to visit your farm ... The project is very nice. When I hear this report my chest swells up, being so proud of my disciples' achievements." [Srila Prabhupada commenting on Tulasi das's service, quoted by Srila Prabhupada's secretary, Tamal Krsna Goswami, in a letter to Ramesvara dasa, August 22, 1977)
Your aspiring servant,
Mantramala devi dasi
Michael Schenk
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you!
I have only just begun venturing into the bhakti jungle. Having just moved to the Ashram, I have had a lot to learn and think about. It has been perhaps the most stressful situation, and the most intense social experience I've had so far in this life. That being said, it is also the most purifying, enjoyable, and relishable experience, and of course education in Krishna consciousness is sublime, although I may not fully realize it now. Today I reflect on the mercy of Lord Krishna and his devotees in leading me to surrender at His lotus feet, which leads me to realizing your mercy upon myself and all of New Zealand by guiding and directing all the devotees, preaching, book distribution and Krishna conscious centres in the country, which I happily identify with as my closest and dearest friends, and as familiar as my own family.
When I had first come to Gaura Yoga, I had been speculating and searching for answers to the problems of life and the ultimate meaning, mostly through various New Age literatures and contemporary "magic" and psychic powers books. But actually, my search for God (Krishna), the Supreme Absolute Truth, began since I was a child. Having spent most of my childhood in an Islamic country, hearing prayers five times a day introduced me to the beautiful array of various world cultures and religions outside the Western Christendom I was meant to be born into. After leaving Saudi Arabia and coming to New Zealand, I was affronted again with the "Christ vs. eternal damnation" rhetoric which made me reject Christian youth groups from my most early childhood (before living in Riyadh). This pushed me to search after a solution to see how all the world's contemporary religions could fit, and I couldn't help but feel they were all speaking about the same Supreme Absolute goal, yet nobody seemed to have definite information on how to get there!
Then, after turning 18, I arrived in Wellington for my university studies, and I began to browse the New Age bookstores to whet my appetite for mental speculation about the Supreme Truth...when I met one of your dedicated sankirtan devotees. Unfortunately, maya would not let me go so easily, and it took almost a full year of sinful activities before I finally came to my senses and began chanting japa. Soon after receiving the Gita, I experienced my first Krishna Fest program at Gaura Yoga, which I have since discovered is under your discrete management, guidance and care, thereby making it entirely by your mercy that so many people in the city can come and taste prasad, chant Hare Krishna, and again by your mercy one may be able to become a devotee of the Supreme Lord. I eventually realized that Gaura Yoga was my favourite place to be, that reading the Gita was my favourite pastime, and the devotees were more reliable and better friends than I could ever have asked for.
Now, today, I had my first book distribution experience, seeing everything from the eyes of those that helped clear my vision and gave me the chance to learn to serve Krishna. Looking back over the past year I can see practically that Krishna consciousness is the most beneficial, sublime spiritual practice. This movement is so inspiring its actually scary!
The reason I am telling you this is that somehow I know it is all connected to your causeless mercy, and so I tell you this to express my immense gratitude for bestowing your mercy upon me and pulling me out of the ocean of ignorance. I do not understand the philosophy completely, but I know that it is only by the grace of Krishna, guru and sadhu that I now feel so satisified and complete. By your grace I now have a mission in life that is worth pursuing – the only goal that is really worthwhile. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto you again and again, and I thank you again and again for bestowing this mercy upon me. All glories to you!
I pray to Krishna and to Prabhupada that I may be able to serve you earnestly and with dedication, and I pray I may please you by trying to dovetail my university studies to Krishna consciousness, rigorously studying Prabhupada's books and getting my physical and mental health well again. I pray that by doing so all the blackness and doubts in my heart, which arise from my ignorance, pride and my false sense of prestige, will be cleansed and thus the service I might be able to render unto you will eventually become pure and unalloyed in devotion.
Please accept my humble obeisances and gratitude for your mercy. All glories to you on this most auspicious day! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna!
Your servant,
Bhakta Michael Schenk
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you!
I have only just begun venturing into the bhakti jungle. Having just moved to the Ashram, I have had a lot to learn and think about. It has been perhaps the most stressful situation, and the most intense social experience I've had so far in this life. That being said, it is also the most purifying, enjoyable, and relishable experience, and of course education in Krishna consciousness is sublime, although I may not fully realize it now. Today I reflect on the mercy of Lord Krishna and his devotees in leading me to surrender at His lotus feet, which leads me to realizing your mercy upon myself and all of New Zealand by guiding and directing all the devotees, preaching, book distribution and Krishna conscious centres in the country, which I happily identify with as my closest and dearest friends, and as familiar as my own family.
When I had first come to Gaura Yoga, I had been speculating and searching for answers to the problems of life and the ultimate meaning, mostly through various New Age literatures and contemporary "magic" and psychic powers books. But actually, my search for God (Krishna), the Supreme Absolute Truth, began since I was a child. Having spent most of my childhood in an Islamic country, hearing prayers five times a day introduced me to the beautiful array of various world cultures and religions outside the Western Christendom I was meant to be born into. After leaving Saudi Arabia and coming to New Zealand, I was affronted again with the "Christ vs. eternal damnation" rhetoric which made me reject Christian youth groups from my most early childhood (before living in Riyadh). This pushed me to search after a solution to see how all the world's contemporary religions could fit, and I couldn't help but feel they were all speaking about the same Supreme Absolute goal, yet nobody seemed to have definite information on how to get there!
Then, after turning 18, I arrived in Wellington for my university studies, and I began to browse the New Age bookstores to whet my appetite for mental speculation about the Supreme Truth...when I met one of your dedicated sankirtan devotees. Unfortunately, maya would not let me go so easily, and it took almost a full year of sinful activities before I finally came to my senses and began chanting japa. Soon after receiving the Gita, I experienced my first Krishna Fest program at Gaura Yoga, which I have since discovered is under your discrete management, guidance and care, thereby making it entirely by your mercy that so many people in the city can come and taste prasad, chant Hare Krishna, and again by your mercy one may be able to become a devotee of the Supreme Lord. I eventually realized that Gaura Yoga was my favourite place to be, that reading the Gita was my favourite pastime, and the devotees were more reliable and better friends than I could ever have asked for.
Now, today, I had my first book distribution experience, seeing everything from the eyes of those that helped clear my vision and gave me the chance to learn to serve Krishna. Looking back over the past year I can see practically that Krishna consciousness is the most beneficial, sublime spiritual practice. This movement is so inspiring its actually scary!
The reason I am telling you this is that somehow I know it is all connected to your causeless mercy, and so I tell you this to express my immense gratitude for bestowing your mercy upon me and pulling me out of the ocean of ignorance. I do not understand the philosophy completely, but I know that it is only by the grace of Krishna, guru and sadhu that I now feel so satisified and complete. By your grace I now have a mission in life that is worth pursuing – the only goal that is really worthwhile. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto you again and again, and I thank you again and again for bestowing this mercy upon me. All glories to you!
I pray to Krishna and to Prabhupada that I may be able to serve you earnestly and with dedication, and I pray I may please you by trying to dovetail my university studies to Krishna consciousness, rigorously studying Prabhupada's books and getting my physical and mental health well again. I pray that by doing so all the blackness and doubts in my heart, which arise from my ignorance, pride and my false sense of prestige, will be cleansed and thus the service I might be able to render unto you will eventually become pure and unalloyed in devotion.
Please accept my humble obeisances and gratitude for your mercy. All glories to you on this most auspicious day! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna!
Your servant,
Bhakta Michael Schenk
Michelle
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your lotus feet!
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you. It is because of you that I am now at long last back on the track of a successful life.
Earlier this year I was visiting with and old friend from childhood. When discussing Krsna Consciousness with her I couldn't resist but speak about you. After several minutes of revealing to her the Krsna conscious process of surrendering to a spiritual master, (in Parampara) I had become quite charged up and fearless. I remember distinctly the conversation paused and then with confidence and overwhelming joy I said the most seemingly outragous thing one could say to a full blow materialist. I said in reference to you Guru Maharaja, "He's perfect!"
She was compleatly taken back replying, "Come on Michelle no one is perfect."
As she tried to shake my conviction, I just smiled calmly and continued to share the knowledge i have gained because of your mercy. "Guru Maharaja, based on your pure and personal relationship with Krsna your desires are one and the same with Krsna's desires and this is the perfection of your life. You are no "ordinary person"."
Listening to myself that day It became clear to me that I have full faith in you as a transcendental, very knowledgeable and willing servant of Sri Krsna, God himself.
In my diseased condition Krsna has thankfully brought me to your lotus feet. Indeed you are a most qualified and enlivening Spiritual Teacher and I humbly seek to serve your mission.
There is something so fantastic about your relationship with Krsna. You serve Him with such precision, and yet spontaneity still illuminates all your transcendental activities.
It is plane to see that you are relying on Krsna at every moment. By example you make Krsna consciousness very attractive and this to me is your most powerful preaching. This spontaneous attraction for Krsna, that you have "seemingly" cultivated through thoughtful planning and years of steady sacrifice, is magnified when you are actively giving Krsna Consciousness to others.
I feel very fortunate to have your guidance and protection Guru Maharaja. I pray that you will give me the intelligence to understand Krsna's energies and to serve Krsna in a most pleasing way, for you, the devotees and ultimately Krsna. You are one of very few truly heroic personalities in this dark material world. Thank you for coming here to revive mine and others Krsna Consciousness. Hare Krsna!
Your aspiring servant,
Michelle
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your lotus feet!
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you. It is because of you that I am now at long last back on the track of a successful life.
Earlier this year I was visiting with and old friend from childhood. When discussing Krsna Consciousness with her I couldn't resist but speak about you. After several minutes of revealing to her the Krsna conscious process of surrendering to a spiritual master, (in Parampara) I had become quite charged up and fearless. I remember distinctly the conversation paused and then with confidence and overwhelming joy I said the most seemingly outragous thing one could say to a full blow materialist. I said in reference to you Guru Maharaja, "He's perfect!"
She was compleatly taken back replying, "Come on Michelle no one is perfect."
As she tried to shake my conviction, I just smiled calmly and continued to share the knowledge i have gained because of your mercy. "Guru Maharaja, based on your pure and personal relationship with Krsna your desires are one and the same with Krsna's desires and this is the perfection of your life. You are no "ordinary person"."
Listening to myself that day It became clear to me that I have full faith in you as a transcendental, very knowledgeable and willing servant of Sri Krsna, God himself.
In my diseased condition Krsna has thankfully brought me to your lotus feet. Indeed you are a most qualified and enlivening Spiritual Teacher and I humbly seek to serve your mission.
There is something so fantastic about your relationship with Krsna. You serve Him with such precision, and yet spontaneity still illuminates all your transcendental activities.
It is plane to see that you are relying on Krsna at every moment. By example you make Krsna consciousness very attractive and this to me is your most powerful preaching. This spontaneous attraction for Krsna, that you have "seemingly" cultivated through thoughtful planning and years of steady sacrifice, is magnified when you are actively giving Krsna Consciousness to others.
I feel very fortunate to have your guidance and protection Guru Maharaja. I pray that you will give me the intelligence to understand Krsna's energies and to serve Krsna in a most pleasing way, for you, the devotees and ultimately Krsna. You are one of very few truly heroic personalities in this dark material world. Thank you for coming here to revive mine and others Krsna Consciousness. Hare Krsna!
Your aspiring servant,
Michelle
Nanda Mandira dasa
(back to top)
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Srila Gurudeva
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
When I sit down to write the Vyasa Puja offering I realize how unqualified I am in describing your transcendental glories. Your appearance on this planet is very significant because you are spreading the rays of the benediction moon. If it was not for your mercy, I and many others would still be rotting in maya.
In your dealings you manifest all the ideal qualities of a Vaisnava. Your every thought, word and action is exactly according to the sastra. In spite of so many followers, comfortable conditions, receiving gifts etc, you always remain a humble & pure devotee.
Your relationship with your disciples is so intimate & sweet. I am amazed by the level of personal care & attention you give.
By your powerful preaching you destroy the atheistic propaganda and impersonal views. You present the message of the Vedic texts in a way that is most suitable & attractive for the conditioned souls.
You have opened “spiritual hospitals – lofts/ashrams” in many parts of the world where people of all races are taught how to read Srila Prabhupada’s books & become enlightened about the mission of the human form of life.
You do not let any obstacle obstruct your preaching activities. Despite of your age, facing accidents, illnesses you do not slow down your constant travelling.
In your classes, darsanas you make it clear that there is no alternative to devotional service. The only way to save ourselves from the wrath of Kali yuga is by meditating on Your divine instructions.
On this auspicious day I beg for your mercy so that I can execute your instructions faithfully, remain engaged in devotional service & develop a desire to assist you in your preaching mission. I am indebted for your wonderful association.
Your insignificant servant,
Nanda Mandira dasa
(back to top)
pracare purva-daksyam ca
bhaktacara-pravinta
pararthatapi karunyam
yasya sarve ca te namah
Dear Srila Gurudeva
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
When I sit down to write the Vyasa Puja offering I realize how unqualified I am in describing your transcendental glories. Your appearance on this planet is very significant because you are spreading the rays of the benediction moon. If it was not for your mercy, I and many others would still be rotting in maya.
In your dealings you manifest all the ideal qualities of a Vaisnava. Your every thought, word and action is exactly according to the sastra. In spite of so many followers, comfortable conditions, receiving gifts etc, you always remain a humble & pure devotee.
Your relationship with your disciples is so intimate & sweet. I am amazed by the level of personal care & attention you give.
By your powerful preaching you destroy the atheistic propaganda and impersonal views. You present the message of the Vedic texts in a way that is most suitable & attractive for the conditioned souls.
You have opened “spiritual hospitals – lofts/ashrams” in many parts of the world where people of all races are taught how to read Srila Prabhupada’s books & become enlightened about the mission of the human form of life.
You do not let any obstacle obstruct your preaching activities. Despite of your age, facing accidents, illnesses you do not slow down your constant travelling.
In your classes, darsanas you make it clear that there is no alternative to devotional service. The only way to save ourselves from the wrath of Kali yuga is by meditating on Your divine instructions.
On this auspicious day I beg for your mercy so that I can execute your instructions faithfully, remain engaged in devotional service & develop a desire to assist you in your preaching mission. I am indebted for your wonderful association.
Your insignificant servant,
Nanda Mandira dasa
Netrananda devi dasi
(back to top)
nama om visnu padaya krisna presthaya bhu-tale srimate devamrita svamin iti namine
pracare'purva daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinama parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca me namaha
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Srila Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisancies in the dust of your lotus feet.
I have no any qualities and I have no any qualification to glorify the pure devotee of the Lord, bit by the vercy of my beloved Dieties and vaishnava's blessings and falling at your lotus feet I will humbly try to express my unlimited gratitude to you.
Every morning we sing Sri Sri Gurvastaka prayers written by Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur where the qualities of the genuine spiritual master are glorified.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
In spite of hard conditions of constant traveling you always preach the glory of the Lord Krishna giving the true knowledge - the message of the Lord - to the unhappy conditioned souls suffering in the darkness of ignorance in the fire of the material existence to save them from troubles and adversities of the material life. You teach them to chant the holy name. And I am very grateful to you that this ocean of mercy and compassion you are pouring upon me giving the shelter of your lotus feet.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
By your endless and causeless mercy you endowed me with the blessing to worship my dear beloved Dirties of Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda and the opportunity to feel the wonderful emotions of happiness. These wonderful emotions of the spiritual happiness became stronger and overflowed my heart when this year by your endless mercy I visited Holy Dham for the first time.
O, Guru Maharaja! This miracle can't be described as can't be described the miracle of the deeds of the pure devotee of the Lord.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
I humbly fall down at your lotus feet on this happy day of your appearance and express my everlasting endless gratitude to you. I am humbly praying for your mercy always to be at your lotus feet. I am humbly praying for your mercy to endow me with necessary qualities and knowledge so that I will be able to become useful in the service of Srila Prabhupada's mission.
Your faithful servant,
Netrananda devi dasi (St. Petersburg)
(back to top)
nama om visnu padaya krisna presthaya bhu-tale srimate devamrita svamin iti namine
pracare'purva daksyam ca bhaktacara-pravinama parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca me namaha
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Dear Srila Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisancies in the dust of your lotus feet.
I have no any qualities and I have no any qualification to glorify the pure devotee of the Lord, bit by the vercy of my beloved Dieties and vaishnava's blessings and falling at your lotus feet I will humbly try to express my unlimited gratitude to you.
Every morning we sing Sri Sri Gurvastaka prayers written by Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur where the qualities of the genuine spiritual master are glorified.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
In spite of hard conditions of constant traveling you always preach the glory of the Lord Krishna giving the true knowledge - the message of the Lord - to the unhappy conditioned souls suffering in the darkness of ignorance in the fire of the material existence to save them from troubles and adversities of the material life. You teach them to chant the holy name. And I am very grateful to you that this ocean of mercy and compassion you are pouring upon me giving the shelter of your lotus feet.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
By your endless and causeless mercy you endowed me with the blessing to worship my dear beloved Dirties of Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda and the opportunity to feel the wonderful emotions of happiness. These wonderful emotions of the spiritual happiness became stronger and overflowed my heart when this year by your endless mercy I visited Holy Dham for the first time.
O, Guru Maharaja! This miracle can't be described as can't be described the miracle of the deeds of the pure devotee of the Lord.
Dear Srila Gurudeva!
I humbly fall down at your lotus feet on this happy day of your appearance and express my everlasting endless gratitude to you. I am humbly praying for your mercy always to be at your lotus feet. I am humbly praying for your mercy to endow me with necessary qualities and knowledge so that I will be able to become useful in the service of Srila Prabhupada's mission.
Your faithful servant,
Netrananda devi dasi (St. Petersburg)
Nidhi
(back to top)
Dear Maharaj
Please accept my humble Obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupad
On this auspicious day of your Vayas pooja I wanted to express my gratitude to you for giving me so much guidance and affection.Maharaj my brother is very dear to me and the way you ask about him and your concern for his sadhna that whether or not he is doing his chanting properly, touched me so deeply.
Maharaj I always compare myself with all the wonderful devotees around me in the temple and find myself no where in front of them .But when you mentioned in your last mail that why didn't I made my presence felt ,made me realize that no matter how insignificant I am, you noticed my absence.Maharaj I know just by your wish things can fall in place and I have seen that happening.I am so fortunate that I got an opportunity to know you ,hear your lectures and have association with the devotees. I have everything what a Bhakti lata beej needs,but my endeavour is still not 100%.I know I can do much better but do not know why I do not do things the best way.I try my best to serve the devotees,chant, hear and read but when I see all wonderful devotees, instead of feeling enthusiastic most of the times I feel depressed thinking that I can never be like them.I ask for your blessings so that I can also some day become like the devotees you like and I also want to do my best so that you are pleased with me.Maharaj hope I am not envious of devotees,if this is envy then I can never qualify to be your servant.
Mahraj I ask for your blessings so that I am always in devotee association and keep myself protected from the trap of maya as I can very easily fall in that.
Please forgive me for all my offences what I keep on committing.But still I feel so good when I write to you.I know I am not at all intelligent enough to write to someone as senior as you .But still thank you so much for reading my mails and responding to them so quickly,even my own father has never replied me back as quickly as you replied to me.I have no words to thank you Maharaj.
On your Vayas Pooja day Maharaj I promise you that I will do my chanting more attentively and try to put my best effort towards my spiritual life.But at the same time I ask for your causeless mercy,which is very much requiredfor me to keep up my promise.
Your Aspiring Servant
Nidhi
(back to top)
Dear Maharaj
Please accept my humble Obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupad
On this auspicious day of your Vayas pooja I wanted to express my gratitude to you for giving me so much guidance and affection.Maharaj my brother is very dear to me and the way you ask about him and your concern for his sadhna that whether or not he is doing his chanting properly, touched me so deeply.
Maharaj I always compare myself with all the wonderful devotees around me in the temple and find myself no where in front of them .But when you mentioned in your last mail that why didn't I made my presence felt ,made me realize that no matter how insignificant I am, you noticed my absence.Maharaj I know just by your wish things can fall in place and I have seen that happening.I am so fortunate that I got an opportunity to know you ,hear your lectures and have association with the devotees. I have everything what a Bhakti lata beej needs,but my endeavour is still not 100%.I know I can do much better but do not know why I do not do things the best way.I try my best to serve the devotees,chant, hear and read but when I see all wonderful devotees, instead of feeling enthusiastic most of the times I feel depressed thinking that I can never be like them.I ask for your blessings so that I can also some day become like the devotees you like and I also want to do my best so that you are pleased with me.Maharaj hope I am not envious of devotees,if this is envy then I can never qualify to be your servant.
Mahraj I ask for your blessings so that I am always in devotee association and keep myself protected from the trap of maya as I can very easily fall in that.
Please forgive me for all my offences what I keep on committing.But still I feel so good when I write to you.I know I am not at all intelligent enough to write to someone as senior as you .But still thank you so much for reading my mails and responding to them so quickly,even my own father has never replied me back as quickly as you replied to me.I have no words to thank you Maharaj.
On your Vayas Pooja day Maharaj I promise you that I will do my chanting more attentively and try to put my best effort towards my spiritual life.But at the same time I ask for your causeless mercy,which is very much requiredfor me to keep up my promise.
Your Aspiring Servant
Nidhi
Nitai-nam das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this auspicious day!
Jaya Gurudeva!
We have been so fortunate recently to have been plunged into the nectar of your association.
Your classes overflow with bhakti, destroying all misconceptions and doubt. Your words grip and shake me by the shoulders – WAKE UP!
Your gift to everyone is the sublime process of Krishna Consciousness. You remind us – Krishna Consciousness is easy. How is it that it seems so difficult to me?
By your golden example, you point out my selfishness. You give everything to bring the conditioned souls closer to Krishna. I was amazed by how much you sacrificed yourself for others during my travel with you. On the other hand, I remained self-centered and did not take full advantage of your association.
A year has passed, and only by your mercy, the foundation of my stubbornness is starting to show cracks. Now I feel some desire to reach out. Inspired by you, I feel it’s possible to break free of the chains that bind me. With your gracious push, I stumble forward in the right direction.
Thank you Gurudeva for everything you have given me. Please give me your blessings so that I may one day please you and Srila Prabhupada.
Aspiring to become an unconditional servant,
Nitai-nam das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you on this auspicious day!
Jaya Gurudeva!
We have been so fortunate recently to have been plunged into the nectar of your association.
Your classes overflow with bhakti, destroying all misconceptions and doubt. Your words grip and shake me by the shoulders – WAKE UP!
Your gift to everyone is the sublime process of Krishna Consciousness. You remind us – Krishna Consciousness is easy. How is it that it seems so difficult to me?
By your golden example, you point out my selfishness. You give everything to bring the conditioned souls closer to Krishna. I was amazed by how much you sacrificed yourself for others during my travel with you. On the other hand, I remained self-centered and did not take full advantage of your association.
A year has passed, and only by your mercy, the foundation of my stubbornness is starting to show cracks. Now I feel some desire to reach out. Inspired by you, I feel it’s possible to break free of the chains that bind me. With your gracious push, I stumble forward in the right direction.
Thank you Gurudeva for everything you have given me. Please give me your blessings so that I may one day please you and Srila Prabhupada.
Aspiring to become an unconditional servant,
Nitai-nam das
Nitya-Nutana devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada
Once again I am lost for words to describe what you have done for me & humanity at large.
You're just so amazing. I can not believe that I have been so blessed by Lord Caitanya's mercy as to have come in to contact with such a pure, strong devotee of Krsna & given the opportunity to surrender at your lotus feet, please help me to utilise this opportunity wisely.
Thank you for sticking by me through all my mentalness, answering all my morbid emails & soothing my crazy mind with sweet encouraging words.
I have been studying in the Prabhupada Lilamrita the mood of extreme devotion Prabhupada had for his Gurudeva Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja and his instructions. He took these instructions as his life & soul, never deviating from them in the slightest. It was because of this devotion Srila Prabhupada was so successful in his mission to fullfil the prophecy of the holy name being chanted in every town & village in the world.
Prabhupada expresses this understanding of his spiritual master's mood in a poem written on Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Maharaja's Vyasa-puja day, One which he read to all his god brothers in a hope to fire up the world wide preaching mission of the Gaudiya math once again.
He said "Our master said to preach! Let the neophytes remain inside the temples & simply ring the bells..."
I can see that you too have enbibed this mood of intense preaching & dedication to Srila Prabhupada's mission, marathon after marathon you push all your children into giving all they can to Krsna & to fight against the incessant flow of Maya's demands to think of one's own comforts before Krsna's.
Gurudeva I pray to you that you will grant me the sincerity to be as chaste to your instructions as Srila Prabhupada was to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Maharaja's, in this way my life will become successful & I will have the extreme pleasure of experiencing your Vani association.
I was on books in Palmerston North earlier this year during a marathon. I was having a blissful day with many people taking books, when I saw this very old man coming towards me with a walking frame, I instantly thought of Krsnaloka & her amazing ability to get anyone to take a book, especially old people. So with this in mind I thought "OK this guy's getting a book!" I stopped him and showed him a SB1.1 then he started to tell me his life story. He was 87yrs, had worked in the slaughter house around New Zealand all his life, never been married & his whole family had died and all his friends. So this lonely man who was about to die any day now and go to the hellish planets and undergo unimaginable punishment was suddenly handing me $20 & taking one of Prabhupada's books! Bang! He has started his journey back home to Godhead. It really hit me that day how the sankirtan movement is saving so many people from such intense reactions to their fruitive activities.
So my next request is that you make this service of giving Krsna to others very dear to me. I want to want this because you want it.
Please forgive me for my many offenses.
Your servant,
Nitya-Nutana devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada
Once again I am lost for words to describe what you have done for me & humanity at large.
You're just so amazing. I can not believe that I have been so blessed by Lord Caitanya's mercy as to have come in to contact with such a pure, strong devotee of Krsna & given the opportunity to surrender at your lotus feet, please help me to utilise this opportunity wisely.
Thank you for sticking by me through all my mentalness, answering all my morbid emails & soothing my crazy mind with sweet encouraging words.
I have been studying in the Prabhupada Lilamrita the mood of extreme devotion Prabhupada had for his Gurudeva Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja and his instructions. He took these instructions as his life & soul, never deviating from them in the slightest. It was because of this devotion Srila Prabhupada was so successful in his mission to fullfil the prophecy of the holy name being chanted in every town & village in the world.
Prabhupada expresses this understanding of his spiritual master's mood in a poem written on Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Maharaja's Vyasa-puja day, One which he read to all his god brothers in a hope to fire up the world wide preaching mission of the Gaudiya math once again.
He said "Our master said to preach! Let the neophytes remain inside the temples & simply ring the bells..."
I can see that you too have enbibed this mood of intense preaching & dedication to Srila Prabhupada's mission, marathon after marathon you push all your children into giving all they can to Krsna & to fight against the incessant flow of Maya's demands to think of one's own comforts before Krsna's.
Gurudeva I pray to you that you will grant me the sincerity to be as chaste to your instructions as Srila Prabhupada was to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Maharaja's, in this way my life will become successful & I will have the extreme pleasure of experiencing your Vani association.
I was on books in Palmerston North earlier this year during a marathon. I was having a blissful day with many people taking books, when I saw this very old man coming towards me with a walking frame, I instantly thought of Krsnaloka & her amazing ability to get anyone to take a book, especially old people. So with this in mind I thought "OK this guy's getting a book!" I stopped him and showed him a SB1.1 then he started to tell me his life story. He was 87yrs, had worked in the slaughter house around New Zealand all his life, never been married & his whole family had died and all his friends. So this lonely man who was about to die any day now and go to the hellish planets and undergo unimaginable punishment was suddenly handing me $20 & taking one of Prabhupada's books! Bang! He has started his journey back home to Godhead. It really hit me that day how the sankirtan movement is saving so many people from such intense reactions to their fruitive activities.
So my next request is that you make this service of giving Krsna to others very dear to me. I want to want this because you want it.
Please forgive me for my many offenses.
Your servant,
Nitya-Nutana devi dasi
NiYan
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this most glorious and auspicious day of your appearance.
First and foremost, thank you for your mercy upon me through your devotees. I am so grateful to be given the chance to come in contact with the entire movement. To actually find people who could extinguish my questions and actually walk the talk, my aimless search to put a stop to my mental misery has finally come to an end.
Thinking back on how I came to the devotee's association and now, I knew I was on the right path.
One devotee left his job and for some reason, I refused to let him out of my sight until he tell me about this yoga centre he frequents. I would have ignored him but something was pestering, insisting that I follow him. The first step into GauraYoga centre and immediately, my senses were utterly overwhelmed. The smell of incense and the aura, I felt as if someone was embracing my whole being. I felt like I actually came home.
And that night, it was the RoarSound festival. The story of Nrsimhadeva attracted me and that is when I first met you. I could barely remember the discussion as Nrsimhadeva's pastime is doing an endless rerun in my mind. Then, I've met Gaura-Arati during the dance, looking absolutely delighted, joy in its purest form. I also remembered being fearful of this 'religion', but still, a part of me persisted: it has something substantial(bait).
It has(hook). I came by everyday and became a vegetarian in no time. I took up BG as it is within the month, quit my job and started chanting in the next(line). Much later, you came by GY for a while before moving up to Auckland, giving the chance to taste the wonderful sounds of your bhajans. Janmastami festival came - I was told that the best offering to Krsna is 16 rounds of japa and I decided to give it a go. By the end of the day, I made it. And on Prabhupada's appearance day. And the next and the next. It felt as if the thick wool that was covering my eyes fell away and everything looked so different. I was back on my feet.
Then, you return to GY. When you passed by, my eyes started to quiver, filled with tears. My gross body started shaking and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I felt as if I am truly seeing your for the first time. When you gave a talk the next morn, the first hit of the kartals in your hands, the first words of your bhajan, I was crying uncontrollably.
I sunk. How could I possibly live this life in this age in such a manner, not knowing of Him? How merciful He is to grant me the chance to beg for your mercy upon your lotus feet?
I thank you so much for turning on the lights and making sure it stays that way through my mentor and devotees. Please bestow your causeless mercy upon me and guide me.
Learning to humbly serve,
NiYan
(back to top)
Dear Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this most glorious and auspicious day of your appearance.
First and foremost, thank you for your mercy upon me through your devotees. I am so grateful to be given the chance to come in contact with the entire movement. To actually find people who could extinguish my questions and actually walk the talk, my aimless search to put a stop to my mental misery has finally come to an end.
Thinking back on how I came to the devotee's association and now, I knew I was on the right path.
One devotee left his job and for some reason, I refused to let him out of my sight until he tell me about this yoga centre he frequents. I would have ignored him but something was pestering, insisting that I follow him. The first step into GauraYoga centre and immediately, my senses were utterly overwhelmed. The smell of incense and the aura, I felt as if someone was embracing my whole being. I felt like I actually came home.
And that night, it was the RoarSound festival. The story of Nrsimhadeva attracted me and that is when I first met you. I could barely remember the discussion as Nrsimhadeva's pastime is doing an endless rerun in my mind. Then, I've met Gaura-Arati during the dance, looking absolutely delighted, joy in its purest form. I also remembered being fearful of this 'religion', but still, a part of me persisted: it has something substantial(bait).
It has(hook). I came by everyday and became a vegetarian in no time. I took up BG as it is within the month, quit my job and started chanting in the next(line). Much later, you came by GY for a while before moving up to Auckland, giving the chance to taste the wonderful sounds of your bhajans. Janmastami festival came - I was told that the best offering to Krsna is 16 rounds of japa and I decided to give it a go. By the end of the day, I made it. And on Prabhupada's appearance day. And the next and the next. It felt as if the thick wool that was covering my eyes fell away and everything looked so different. I was back on my feet.
Then, you return to GY. When you passed by, my eyes started to quiver, filled with tears. My gross body started shaking and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I felt as if I am truly seeing your for the first time. When you gave a talk the next morn, the first hit of the kartals in your hands, the first words of your bhajan, I was crying uncontrollably.
I sunk. How could I possibly live this life in this age in such a manner, not knowing of Him? How merciful He is to grant me the chance to beg for your mercy upon your lotus feet?
I thank you so much for turning on the lights and making sure it stays that way through my mentor and devotees. Please bestow your causeless mercy upon me and guide me.
Learning to humbly serve,
NiYan
Pandava Bandhava das
(back to top)
Dear Guru-Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisancess at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In order to glorify the Spiritual Master or the Supreme Lord one requires a qualification. One of the Lord’s names is Uttamasloka which means the Lord Who is praised by selected prayers. The Spiritual Master, who is the servitor Personality of Godhead, should also be worshiped by chosen poetry.
Still, the Spiritual Master and the Lord are pleased even by simple words of praise offered with sincerity.
Since I am lacking both qualification and sincerity I can only pray that you accept this offering because saintly persons like you can find something valuable even in unqualified and crooked person like me.
I am always amazed when I think how seriously you took the mission of your Spiritual Master. It is really striking to reflect how you took the risk to preach in my country in 1978 when the communists were in the height of their regime and there was very little hope that anything will change. On one of the programs you did in Varna there was a young man who was attracted by your preaching and later became a devotee. This was Radha Valabha Prabhu, who trained the first preachers in Bulgaria and people like me who joined much later were much benefited by his efforts.
You did not simply preach in Bulgaria but you went all around the countries "behind the iron curtain". There were many instances were you had to hide or run from the police. You were arrested. You risked your life to satisfy Srila Prabhupada. This is so amazing especially nowadays when in our society we are more concerned about our own position, our own security, our own Krsna consciousness…It remains me about the story from the Krsna book when Krsna and Sudama undergo severe austerities in order to please their Guru, Sandipani Muni. Sanipani Muni was so satisfied that he gave them blessings:
"My dear boys, it is very wonderful that you have suffered so much trouble for me. Everyone likes to take care of his body as the first consideration, but you are so good and faithful to your guru that without caring for bodily comforts you have taken so much trouble for me. I am glad to see that bona fide students like you will undergo any kind of trouble for the satisfaction of the spiritual master. That is the way for a bona fide disciple to become free from his debt to the spiritual master. It is the duty of the disciple to dedicate his life to the service of the spiritual master. My dear best of the twice-born, I am greatly pleased by your acts, and I bless you: May all your desires and ambitions be fulfilled. May the understanding of the Vedas which you have learned from me always continue to remain within your memory, so that at every moment you can remember the teachings of the Vedas and quote their instructions without difficulty. Thus you will never be disappointed in this life or the next.'"
This is you exalted position, dear Guru-Maharaja. You are one of those rear personalities who are so selfless and ready to sacrifice that they attracted abundant mercy and blessings from their Spiritual Master. This makes you a perfect example for all your disciples and for all devotees.
Because you have such a strong faith in the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, therefore you are empowered to carry them. Because you received the special mercy of Srila Prabhupada you are so successful in your preaching. Your preaching is powerful because it follows strictly in the line of our disciplic succession, and at the same time it is modeled according to time, place and circumstances. Only exceptionally great personalities can make such a balance.
I can say that I have some small realizations on the topic of preaching. I also try to preach in my own humble scale I can see how difficult is to make even one devotee. Or if you have to work with junior devotees, how difficult sometimes is to find the proper way to encourage them in their devotional service.
But you Guru-Maharaja, you are really making devotees. And you are so expert in tendering the creeper of devotion in the heats of your dependants. I can feel this personally and I can see it when I observe how you take care of your disciples. You are so much concerned about our welfare that we feel obliged to reciprocate with you by becoming serious devotees.
Therefore I pray for your mercy so that one day I will learn the science and the art of preaching and caring for the devotees.
The worship of the Spiritual Master is not simply a dogma or superstition. The Spiritual Master is worshipable because he opens the eyes of the disciple with the torchlight of the transcendental knowledge. By your personal example and by your instructions you opened my eyes for so many aspects of the process of devotional service which I use to overlook. For example I learned from you that even after many years of devotional service when a devotee gains the recognition of other devotees and looks well situated he can still fall victim of his offensive chanting. To chant the Hare Krsna mantra with attention every day, trying to avoid the ten offences – this should be the main focus in our sadhana. As you once told me, we can have many remarkable achievements in our devotional career and we can become proud and complacent because of them; but we can never say that our chanting is good enough.
Dear Guru-Maharaja, another quality of yours I admire very much is that you are so incredibly advanced devotee and at the same time you are such a humble servant of you Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada himself showed the same example. This kind of behavior is unusual to see in the material world where everybody tries to overcome all others and to attain the position of indisputable control.
When I listen to your lectures I often have the feeling that you are speaking to me from the other shore, from the spiritual world. And this feeling is only natural because you have accomplished all these wonderful achievements that I can only dream for. You are always engaged in Krsna’s service and you have such a strong spiritual taste that you are not attracted by the illusory energy.
Dear Guru-Maharaja, I want to thank you that you exist because great devotees like you are so rare. Thank you for being such a saintly person.
Please forgive my many offences and mistakes and please bless me that one day I may develop at least a little bit of your exalted qualities and to become a better servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant:
Pandava Bandhava das
(back to top)
Dear Guru-Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisancess at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In order to glorify the Spiritual Master or the Supreme Lord one requires a qualification. One of the Lord’s names is Uttamasloka which means the Lord Who is praised by selected prayers. The Spiritual Master, who is the servitor Personality of Godhead, should also be worshiped by chosen poetry.
Still, the Spiritual Master and the Lord are pleased even by simple words of praise offered with sincerity.
Since I am lacking both qualification and sincerity I can only pray that you accept this offering because saintly persons like you can find something valuable even in unqualified and crooked person like me.
I am always amazed when I think how seriously you took the mission of your Spiritual Master. It is really striking to reflect how you took the risk to preach in my country in 1978 when the communists were in the height of their regime and there was very little hope that anything will change. On one of the programs you did in Varna there was a young man who was attracted by your preaching and later became a devotee. This was Radha Valabha Prabhu, who trained the first preachers in Bulgaria and people like me who joined much later were much benefited by his efforts.
You did not simply preach in Bulgaria but you went all around the countries "behind the iron curtain". There were many instances were you had to hide or run from the police. You were arrested. You risked your life to satisfy Srila Prabhupada. This is so amazing especially nowadays when in our society we are more concerned about our own position, our own security, our own Krsna consciousness…It remains me about the story from the Krsna book when Krsna and Sudama undergo severe austerities in order to please their Guru, Sandipani Muni. Sanipani Muni was so satisfied that he gave them blessings:
"My dear boys, it is very wonderful that you have suffered so much trouble for me. Everyone likes to take care of his body as the first consideration, but you are so good and faithful to your guru that without caring for bodily comforts you have taken so much trouble for me. I am glad to see that bona fide students like you will undergo any kind of trouble for the satisfaction of the spiritual master. That is the way for a bona fide disciple to become free from his debt to the spiritual master. It is the duty of the disciple to dedicate his life to the service of the spiritual master. My dear best of the twice-born, I am greatly pleased by your acts, and I bless you: May all your desires and ambitions be fulfilled. May the understanding of the Vedas which you have learned from me always continue to remain within your memory, so that at every moment you can remember the teachings of the Vedas and quote their instructions without difficulty. Thus you will never be disappointed in this life or the next.'"
This is you exalted position, dear Guru-Maharaja. You are one of those rear personalities who are so selfless and ready to sacrifice that they attracted abundant mercy and blessings from their Spiritual Master. This makes you a perfect example for all your disciples and for all devotees.
Because you have such a strong faith in the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, therefore you are empowered to carry them. Because you received the special mercy of Srila Prabhupada you are so successful in your preaching. Your preaching is powerful because it follows strictly in the line of our disciplic succession, and at the same time it is modeled according to time, place and circumstances. Only exceptionally great personalities can make such a balance.
I can say that I have some small realizations on the topic of preaching. I also try to preach in my own humble scale I can see how difficult is to make even one devotee. Or if you have to work with junior devotees, how difficult sometimes is to find the proper way to encourage them in their devotional service.
But you Guru-Maharaja, you are really making devotees. And you are so expert in tendering the creeper of devotion in the heats of your dependants. I can feel this personally and I can see it when I observe how you take care of your disciples. You are so much concerned about our welfare that we feel obliged to reciprocate with you by becoming serious devotees.
Therefore I pray for your mercy so that one day I will learn the science and the art of preaching and caring for the devotees.
The worship of the Spiritual Master is not simply a dogma or superstition. The Spiritual Master is worshipable because he opens the eyes of the disciple with the torchlight of the transcendental knowledge. By your personal example and by your instructions you opened my eyes for so many aspects of the process of devotional service which I use to overlook. For example I learned from you that even after many years of devotional service when a devotee gains the recognition of other devotees and looks well situated he can still fall victim of his offensive chanting. To chant the Hare Krsna mantra with attention every day, trying to avoid the ten offences – this should be the main focus in our sadhana. As you once told me, we can have many remarkable achievements in our devotional career and we can become proud and complacent because of them; but we can never say that our chanting is good enough.
Dear Guru-Maharaja, another quality of yours I admire very much is that you are so incredibly advanced devotee and at the same time you are such a humble servant of you Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada himself showed the same example. This kind of behavior is unusual to see in the material world where everybody tries to overcome all others and to attain the position of indisputable control.
When I listen to your lectures I often have the feeling that you are speaking to me from the other shore, from the spiritual world. And this feeling is only natural because you have accomplished all these wonderful achievements that I can only dream for. You are always engaged in Krsna’s service and you have such a strong spiritual taste that you are not attracted by the illusory energy.
Dear Guru-Maharaja, I want to thank you that you exist because great devotees like you are so rare. Thank you for being such a saintly person.
Please forgive my many offences and mistakes and please bless me that one day I may develop at least a little bit of your exalted qualities and to become a better servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant:
Pandava Bandhava das
Pankaj Sharma
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
After so many lifetimes, I may be aspiring for a spiritual master who could actually help me be eternally happy. You mean a lot to me.
Thank you for the angels at Gaura Yoga and The Loft. These merciful souls have cared for me unconditionally during the mundane and throughout the most distressful time of my life.
Thank you for such an arrangement where I can provide devotional service and be content and happy performing it.
You called me at your place when I just started chanting 16 rounds, whereas it wasn’t regular. You did not wait till I made it regular.
You came and sanctified the Ashram even before I came to stay. You did not wait till the Ashram was ready to appreciate you.
You showed interest in me and got updates on my advancement through devotees. You did not wait till I was dedicated in Krishna consciousness.
You did all this for me before I was even worth it. THANK YOU for looking after me all this while. It seems like it’s all your arrangement to help me and I would like to beg you so that it be this way.
I see devotees taking up bhakti yoga with enthusiasm, faith and it brings results, but I am so unfortunate not to have developed a dedicated effort towards it.
Please forgive me for my offences, overlook my shortcomings a little bit more and bring me closer to your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Pankaj Sharma
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet.
After so many lifetimes, I may be aspiring for a spiritual master who could actually help me be eternally happy. You mean a lot to me.
Thank you for the angels at Gaura Yoga and The Loft. These merciful souls have cared for me unconditionally during the mundane and throughout the most distressful time of my life.
Thank you for such an arrangement where I can provide devotional service and be content and happy performing it.
You called me at your place when I just started chanting 16 rounds, whereas it wasn’t regular. You did not wait till I made it regular.
You came and sanctified the Ashram even before I came to stay. You did not wait till the Ashram was ready to appreciate you.
You showed interest in me and got updates on my advancement through devotees. You did not wait till I was dedicated in Krishna consciousness.
You did all this for me before I was even worth it. THANK YOU for looking after me all this while. It seems like it’s all your arrangement to help me and I would like to beg you so that it be this way.
I see devotees taking up bhakti yoga with enthusiasm, faith and it brings results, but I am so unfortunate not to have developed a dedicated effort towards it.
Please forgive me for my offences, overlook my shortcomings a little bit more and bring me closer to your lotus feet.
Your aspiring servant,
Pankaj Sharma
Parth Grover
(back to top)
Respected Guru Maharaj,
Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj,
On the auspicious day of Your appearance, I would like to thank Krishna for sending You in our lives. Guru Maharaj, You are an ocean of mercy. Only through Your Lotus feet, we can attain Krishna. My prayer is that I become fixed in Your service, life after life.
Please have a very healthy and long life , Guru Maharaj.
Your servant
Parth Grover
(back to top)
Respected Guru Maharaj,
Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj,
On the auspicious day of Your appearance, I would like to thank Krishna for sending You in our lives. Guru Maharaj, You are an ocean of mercy. Only through Your Lotus feet, we can attain Krishna. My prayer is that I become fixed in Your service, life after life.
Please have a very healthy and long life , Guru Maharaj.
Your servant
Parth Grover
Paula
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeissances!
All glories to your service!
All glories to Srila Parabhupada!
To start, I would like sincerely, from the depth of my heart to thank you for the opportunity to at least try to serve you and your disciples, helping in Lord Caitanya’s mission. I known that I’m not qualified and probably will not be for a few life times, but still you are giving me the chance to be in contact with devotees and this wonderful knowledge. Even saying all this , still I don’t completely understand exactly what I’m saying , it seems that I’m only repeating what I heard from others, just see how foolish and covered my heart and mind are, completely immersed in passion and ignorance.
Even trying to become a vaishnavi for almost 2 years now, still I feel so lost and faithless. Why is so hard for me to surrender to Krishna? Why I feel so much fear? Why am I so hard hearted and selfish? Krishna is showing to me every single day how horrible is to live in this place and still I get so easily bewildered by maya, so entrapped thinking about my own suffering instead of others. Why still I want to enjoy this material place?
I wish that I could fully understand this knowledge and your importance one day. You are so selfless, humble, intelligent and faithful, a wonderful devotee. So expert in preaching, your classes are so amazing. Your presence is so purifying and inspiring. Thank you once more for being so caring and compassionate.
Please Maharaja, help me to overcome the unsteadiness in my faith and service. Please help me to understand that this is the most perfect and higher knowledge that anyone could have in this age of Kali. Please help me to become a selfless servant like you. Please help me to see how fortunate am I and make most of this opportunity that you had given me. Please help me to learn how to love Krishna sincerely and go back home. I beg for your causeless mercy maharaja!
Thank you for giving me this chance to try to glorify you.
All the glories for this holy day of your appearance!!!!
Aspiring to become your servant
Bhaktin Paula
(back to top)
Dear Devamrita Swami,
Please accept my humble obeissances!
All glories to your service!
All glories to Srila Parabhupada!
To start, I would like sincerely, from the depth of my heart to thank you for the opportunity to at least try to serve you and your disciples, helping in Lord Caitanya’s mission. I known that I’m not qualified and probably will not be for a few life times, but still you are giving me the chance to be in contact with devotees and this wonderful knowledge. Even saying all this , still I don’t completely understand exactly what I’m saying , it seems that I’m only repeating what I heard from others, just see how foolish and covered my heart and mind are, completely immersed in passion and ignorance.
Even trying to become a vaishnavi for almost 2 years now, still I feel so lost and faithless. Why is so hard for me to surrender to Krishna? Why I feel so much fear? Why am I so hard hearted and selfish? Krishna is showing to me every single day how horrible is to live in this place and still I get so easily bewildered by maya, so entrapped thinking about my own suffering instead of others. Why still I want to enjoy this material place?
I wish that I could fully understand this knowledge and your importance one day. You are so selfless, humble, intelligent and faithful, a wonderful devotee. So expert in preaching, your classes are so amazing. Your presence is so purifying and inspiring. Thank you once more for being so caring and compassionate.
Please Maharaja, help me to overcome the unsteadiness in my faith and service. Please help me to understand that this is the most perfect and higher knowledge that anyone could have in this age of Kali. Please help me to become a selfless servant like you. Please help me to see how fortunate am I and make most of this opportunity that you had given me. Please help me to learn how to love Krishna sincerely and go back home. I beg for your causeless mercy maharaja!
Thank you for giving me this chance to try to glorify you.
All the glories for this holy day of your appearance!!!!
Aspiring to become your servant
Bhaktin Paula
Prabhuram
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hope you remember me. I had the wonderful opportunity of associating with devotees in Melbourne Temple for about three years. The atmosphere in that temple was very conducive for spiritual development. But now i am currently in chennai, where my spiritual life has suffered very much. Sometimes i feel it is impossible to go back to god head in this life. But when i look at you, and your determination to carry forward in the midst of so many difficulties it gives me so much confidence. There are no words to describe your determination and faith in holy name and krishna. On this auspicious day of your appearance, kindly bless me so that i can take shelter from you and one day become qualified to be your servant.
Your aspiring servant,
Prabhuram
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeissances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hope you remember me. I had the wonderful opportunity of associating with devotees in Melbourne Temple for about three years. The atmosphere in that temple was very conducive for spiritual development. But now i am currently in chennai, where my spiritual life has suffered very much. Sometimes i feel it is impossible to go back to god head in this life. But when i look at you, and your determination to carry forward in the midst of so many difficulties it gives me so much confidence. There are no words to describe your determination and faith in holy name and krishna. On this auspicious day of your appearance, kindly bless me so that i can take shelter from you and one day become qualified to be your servant.
Your aspiring servant,
Prabhuram
Premikrishnadas dasa and Bhaktin Camila
(back to top)
Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept our respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
Dearest Father:
We wanted to thank you for taking care of us, and always want the best for us through your instructions, in spite of sometimes we don't understand you because of be neophytes and we want to make the things in our way, we know that always your instructions are the best for us.
Also, we are grateful that because of you we can keep us unto Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet. In any position that we are, we owe it to you for your infinite mercy
Thank you very much Gurumaharaja for give us day by day the strength for fight against this material world and want with more longing go back to Godhead
Always we remember and we have present the emphasis that you give about chanting the Holy Name and we will continue fighting for chanting day by day with more enthusiasm.
We remember you with so much love and the only thing that we want it's to please you, we're sorry for all our negligences and through you we want ask apologies to Lord Krishna if some day we offended His devotees, we're really sorry because of them we can keep us in Krishna Consciousness.
Thank you so much for all, especially for make us understand that Krishna Consciousness is the best thing that we have.
Hoping to have always your association through your instructions.
Aspiring to be your servants
Premikrishnadas dasa and Bhaktin Camila
(back to top)
Nama Om Vishnu padaya
Krsna-presthaya Bhutale
Srimate Devamrta Swami
Iti namine
Pracare purva-daksyam ca
Bhaktacara-pravinata
Pararthatapi karunyam
Yasya sarve ca te namah
Please accept our respectful obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you.
Dearest Father:
We wanted to thank you for taking care of us, and always want the best for us through your instructions, in spite of sometimes we don't understand you because of be neophytes and we want to make the things in our way, we know that always your instructions are the best for us.
Also, we are grateful that because of you we can keep us unto Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet. In any position that we are, we owe it to you for your infinite mercy
Thank you very much Gurumaharaja for give us day by day the strength for fight against this material world and want with more longing go back to Godhead
Always we remember and we have present the emphasis that you give about chanting the Holy Name and we will continue fighting for chanting day by day with more enthusiasm.
We remember you with so much love and the only thing that we want it's to please you, we're sorry for all our negligences and through you we want ask apologies to Lord Krishna if some day we offended His devotees, we're really sorry because of them we can keep us in Krishna Consciousness.
Thank you so much for all, especially for make us understand that Krishna Consciousness is the best thing that we have.
Hoping to have always your association through your instructions.
Aspiring to be your servants
Premikrishnadas dasa and Bhaktin Camila
Prema yogi das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day.
You are dear to Lord Krishna, and your life is glorious because it is dedicated to propagating the sankirtan mission of Lord Caitanya all over the world, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.
"Following the examples of the previous acaryas, all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement should try to benefit the conditioned souls by inducing them to become Krsna conscious and giving them all facilities to do so... By such activities, a preacher or anyone who endeavors to spread Krsna consciousness is recognised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad Gita:...'For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.'" Bhag. 6.4.44
Year after year you traverse the globe, utilising every moment to benefit others with the greatest gift, Krsna bhakti. I see that you are not only planting the seed, but with unwavering support and care you nurture the spiritual lives of so many devotees; devotees who, through your guidance and association, are the most inspired, devoted, enthusiastic, determined and effective preachers I have encountered.
By the intelligent application of your spiritual master's instructions, you have established preaching centres that simultaneously sustain your dedicated disciples and attract the confused Kali Yuga children to devotional life. It is a great privilege to be a part this dynamic Krsna conscious preaching, which is giving so much facility to the conditioned souls.
Please invest in me the understanding that this life is meant for the propagation of Krsna consciousness all over the world, which is so apparent in your sublime example. You are certainly dear to Lord Krishna, and to me as well.
Your aspiring servant
Prema yogi das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you on this auspicious day.
You are dear to Lord Krishna, and your life is glorious because it is dedicated to propagating the sankirtan mission of Lord Caitanya all over the world, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.
"Following the examples of the previous acaryas, all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement should try to benefit the conditioned souls by inducing them to become Krsna conscious and giving them all facilities to do so... By such activities, a preacher or anyone who endeavors to spread Krsna consciousness is recognised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad Gita:...'For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.'" Bhag. 6.4.44
Year after year you traverse the globe, utilising every moment to benefit others with the greatest gift, Krsna bhakti. I see that you are not only planting the seed, but with unwavering support and care you nurture the spiritual lives of so many devotees; devotees who, through your guidance and association, are the most inspired, devoted, enthusiastic, determined and effective preachers I have encountered.
By the intelligent application of your spiritual master's instructions, you have established preaching centres that simultaneously sustain your dedicated disciples and attract the confused Kali Yuga children to devotional life. It is a great privilege to be a part this dynamic Krsna conscious preaching, which is giving so much facility to the conditioned souls.
Please invest in me the understanding that this life is meant for the propagation of Krsna consciousness all over the world, which is so apparent in your sublime example. You are certainly dear to Lord Krishna, and to me as well.
Your aspiring servant
Prema yogi das
Prithvi Raj Grover
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
Pease accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Your Lotus Feet.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja
Guru Maharaj, On this auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja, I pray to Lord Krishna that He engages me in Your service so that I can become a good devotee of His. Dear Guru Maharaj, I am entering a realm of my life where I will be surrounded by material energy, Maya. Please help me and bless me so that I can continue to serve Krishna and go back home, Back to Godhead.
Your humble servant
Prithvi Raj Grover
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,
Pease accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Your Lotus Feet.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja
Guru Maharaj, On this auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja, I pray to Lord Krishna that He engages me in Your service so that I can become a good devotee of His. Dear Guru Maharaj, I am entering a realm of my life where I will be surrounded by material energy, Maya. Please help me and bless me so that I can continue to serve Krishna and go back home, Back to Godhead.
Your humble servant
Prithvi Raj Grover
Radha Prasada devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
How can I ever begin to repay my inconceivable debt that I will eternally owe to you Gurudeva?
More and more I am starting to understand, what a fortunate position we all have at being able to take shelter at your lotus feet...
As the years go by and economic development is at the forefront in people’s minds, this philosophy of “it’s all about me, pleasing my senses”, Kali Yuga is raising high, with anger, jealously and envy being what is prevailing.
Struggling within material existence concluding this rat race is the be all and end all. People have learned how to make a living but not how to live a life.
Sadly very few people actually know what is spiritual and how to live a spiritual life and this is where you come in Gurudeva. You have dedicated your whole life to bring people back to Krsna. Traveling all over the world for the last 35 years instructing, teaching and showing how we can all live a Krsna conscious life.
Your dedication to Srila Prabhupada and his mission truly amazes me. You have given us this wonderful facility at Gaura Yoga to revive our dormant Krsna consciousness. I pray that I can be of some use to you as an instrument in your service.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you with all my heart. Due to the lifestyle I was leading, I’d hate to think where I’d be without you.
Thank you for giving me service opportunity, it has changed my life! I pray that whatever may happen within this lifetime and beyond, please always allow me to engage in devotional service.
I hope that one day I can learn and understand how to be the servant of the servant, so I can start to repay my debt that I owe at your lotus feet.
Your trying servant and daughter,
Radha Prasada devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja.
How can I ever begin to repay my inconceivable debt that I will eternally owe to you Gurudeva?
More and more I am starting to understand, what a fortunate position we all have at being able to take shelter at your lotus feet...
As the years go by and economic development is at the forefront in people’s minds, this philosophy of “it’s all about me, pleasing my senses”, Kali Yuga is raising high, with anger, jealously and envy being what is prevailing.
Struggling within material existence concluding this rat race is the be all and end all. People have learned how to make a living but not how to live a life.
Sadly very few people actually know what is spiritual and how to live a spiritual life and this is where you come in Gurudeva. You have dedicated your whole life to bring people back to Krsna. Traveling all over the world for the last 35 years instructing, teaching and showing how we can all live a Krsna conscious life.
Your dedication to Srila Prabhupada and his mission truly amazes me. You have given us this wonderful facility at Gaura Yoga to revive our dormant Krsna consciousness. I pray that I can be of some use to you as an instrument in your service.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you with all my heart. Due to the lifestyle I was leading, I’d hate to think where I’d be without you.
Thank you for giving me service opportunity, it has changed my life! I pray that whatever may happen within this lifetime and beyond, please always allow me to engage in devotional service.
I hope that one day I can learn and understand how to be the servant of the servant, so I can start to repay my debt that I owe at your lotus feet.
Your trying servant and daughter,
Radha Prasada devi dasi
Radhikesa dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
It was very painful for me to hear the way the questions we’re put forth to you during a questions and answers session at a festival of song and dance in Johannesburg, South Africa. We’ve all had our dealings with the ‘born agains’ and never is it a pleasant exchange. In my dealings with the envious, I lose all composure to ‘fight’. When they start their attack, I usually walk away shaking my head. “Why can’t they hear?” I scream at myself. I feel somehow defeated.
Your expert preaching disarmed those South African students. Your backfire of questions in response to their attack of questions (nay, their minimisation of the bhakti tradition) stumbled them, frequently winning you a round of applause. You made them think – an activity they weren’t used to.
Instructing His mother about the glories of devotional service, Lord Kapila lists the qualities of a sadhu. In his purport, Srila Prabhupada expands:
“While engaged in preaching work he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore the sadhu, or devotee of the Lord, has to be very tolerant. Someone may ill-treat him because the condition souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. They do not like it; that is their disease. The sadhu has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service.”
Gurudeva, your concern is to simply enlighten people in devotional service to the Lord. Tirelessly travelling to all corners of the globe preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva, you perfectly fit Srila Prabhupada’s characterisation of a sadhu. All of your characteristics are sublime!!
Your servant,
Radhikesa dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
It was very painful for me to hear the way the questions we’re put forth to you during a questions and answers session at a festival of song and dance in Johannesburg, South Africa. We’ve all had our dealings with the ‘born agains’ and never is it a pleasant exchange. In my dealings with the envious, I lose all composure to ‘fight’. When they start their attack, I usually walk away shaking my head. “Why can’t they hear?” I scream at myself. I feel somehow defeated.
Your expert preaching disarmed those South African students. Your backfire of questions in response to their attack of questions (nay, their minimisation of the bhakti tradition) stumbled them, frequently winning you a round of applause. You made them think – an activity they weren’t used to.
Instructing His mother about the glories of devotional service, Lord Kapila lists the qualities of a sadhu. In his purport, Srila Prabhupada expands:
“While engaged in preaching work he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore the sadhu, or devotee of the Lord, has to be very tolerant. Someone may ill-treat him because the condition souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. They do not like it; that is their disease. The sadhu has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service.”
Gurudeva, your concern is to simply enlighten people in devotional service to the Lord. Tirelessly travelling to all corners of the globe preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva, you perfectly fit Srila Prabhupada’s characterisation of a sadhu. All of your characteristics are sublime!!
Your servant,
Radhikesa dasa
Ramadas das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada writes, in his Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, that if one saw Lord Caitanya's personal characteristics and activities, one would certainly be convinced that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one can ascertain this from following in the footsteps of the sastric injunctions.
He writes next "This sincere study and appreciation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also applicable to His authorized devotees."
So following this procedure, here are some results of my meager and confined study and appreciation of you, an authorized devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
An intriguing point I would find was the parallel between Lord Caitanya's and your preaching. Srila Prabhupada writes that Mayavadis, false logicians, the lowest of the student community were not interested in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement, so Lord Caitanya devised a trick to make them drown in love of God. Srila Prabhupada said this is an important point. The important point is an acarya must find the means and ways by which Krishna consciousness may be spread. Srila Prabhupada devised a way by training both the boys and the girls to become preachers, and equally engaging them in distributing love of Godhead. This he called his 'policy' intended to spread the Krishna consciousness movement, which he was criticized for. But what he did came out perfect because it was Lord Caitanya who originally proposed to devise a trick to capture all fallen souls.
We see that inventing a way to capture those who stray from Krishna consciousness, as originally proposed by Lord Caitanya, is a principle fully grasped by you, like an acorn in your hand. Of course, I'm sure that many devotees have already seen the wonderful effects of you latest policy to have vegan meals at your preaching centres. One boy named Tom, in Hamilton, never would have come along to our programs if the meals weren't vegan. He is a big activist type who definitely would have given us a miss completely had we not been following a vegan banquet. Unfortunately, he still feeds his dog chopped up lambs, confirming your point - "So we don't fanatically just single out the milk. What about that the whole world is exploitative--someone is always exploiting another? Moreover, all is produced by people who engage in sinful activity. Indeed sinful activity is everywhere these days, among Vegans too. We are not sentimental--that is our 'problem.'"
As Srila Prabhupada said, this is an important point; how to invent a way to capture those who have strayed from Krishna consciousness. I've only mentioned one of your tricks to capture those who avoid Krishna consciousness, but if one could study your preaching carefully one would find so many tactics, just as Lord Caitanya had so many ways of bringing people to Krishna consciousness.
The sentimental vegans, sustainability fanatics, the lowest amongst the yoga community and the fruitive ecologists were all expert at avoiding your Krishna conscious network, and therefore the Krishna conscious movement could not touch them. Seeing them fleeing, you have devised ways to drown them also.
You have induced all these people to chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and also distribute it to others (it's always seen that you have about 50 disciples doing the Prabhupada Marathon each year.)
Srila Prabhupada writes that this is not possible for anyone, only for someone who is especially empowered by Krishna. Then he quotes Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, "Only an empowered personality can enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. Such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered non-different from Krishna. That is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krishna's potency.
"Such a person," he continues, "is Krishna lingita vigraha, that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. He is a devotee on the topmost platform, only fit to be addressed as Paramahamsa or Thakura."
My dear Spiritual Master, incarnation of Krishna's potency, you are always kindly giving us everything we need.
Your aspiring servant,
Ramadas das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada writes, in his Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, that if one saw Lord Caitanya's personal characteristics and activities, one would certainly be convinced that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one can ascertain this from following in the footsteps of the sastric injunctions.
He writes next "This sincere study and appreciation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also applicable to His authorized devotees."
So following this procedure, here are some results of my meager and confined study and appreciation of you, an authorized devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
An intriguing point I would find was the parallel between Lord Caitanya's and your preaching. Srila Prabhupada writes that Mayavadis, false logicians, the lowest of the student community were not interested in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement, so Lord Caitanya devised a trick to make them drown in love of God. Srila Prabhupada said this is an important point. The important point is an acarya must find the means and ways by which Krishna consciousness may be spread. Srila Prabhupada devised a way by training both the boys and the girls to become preachers, and equally engaging them in distributing love of Godhead. This he called his 'policy' intended to spread the Krishna consciousness movement, which he was criticized for. But what he did came out perfect because it was Lord Caitanya who originally proposed to devise a trick to capture all fallen souls.
We see that inventing a way to capture those who stray from Krishna consciousness, as originally proposed by Lord Caitanya, is a principle fully grasped by you, like an acorn in your hand. Of course, I'm sure that many devotees have already seen the wonderful effects of you latest policy to have vegan meals at your preaching centres. One boy named Tom, in Hamilton, never would have come along to our programs if the meals weren't vegan. He is a big activist type who definitely would have given us a miss completely had we not been following a vegan banquet. Unfortunately, he still feeds his dog chopped up lambs, confirming your point - "So we don't fanatically just single out the milk. What about that the whole world is exploitative--someone is always exploiting another? Moreover, all is produced by people who engage in sinful activity. Indeed sinful activity is everywhere these days, among Vegans too. We are not sentimental--that is our 'problem.'"
As Srila Prabhupada said, this is an important point; how to invent a way to capture those who have strayed from Krishna consciousness. I've only mentioned one of your tricks to capture those who avoid Krishna consciousness, but if one could study your preaching carefully one would find so many tactics, just as Lord Caitanya had so many ways of bringing people to Krishna consciousness.
The sentimental vegans, sustainability fanatics, the lowest amongst the yoga community and the fruitive ecologists were all expert at avoiding your Krishna conscious network, and therefore the Krishna conscious movement could not touch them. Seeing them fleeing, you have devised ways to drown them also.
You have induced all these people to chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and also distribute it to others (it's always seen that you have about 50 disciples doing the Prabhupada Marathon each year.)
Srila Prabhupada writes that this is not possible for anyone, only for someone who is especially empowered by Krishna. Then he quotes Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, "Only an empowered personality can enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. Such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered non-different from Krishna. That is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krishna's potency.
"Such a person," he continues, "is Krishna lingita vigraha, that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. He is a devotee on the topmost platform, only fit to be addressed as Paramahamsa or Thakura."
My dear Spiritual Master, incarnation of Krishna's potency, you are always kindly giving us everything we need.
Your aspiring servant,
Ramadas das
Richard Szepvolgyi
(back to top)
Dear Devamrta Maharaja,
Please, accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You on Your appearance day!
It's a very auspicious day for me, I can hardly find words to glorify You.
Time after time I have the memory of my first personal meeting with You revived in my mind together with Your kind hospitality and Your inconditional caring. I was standing in front of You with empty hands, I don't have anything in this world. I have only this life, which is in fact not mine. This is all I can offer You.
yo mam dustara-geha-nirjala-maha-kupad apara-klamat
sadyah sandra-dayambudhih prakrititah svairikipa-rajjubhih
uddhrityatma-saroja-nindi-carana-prantam prapadya svayam
sri-damodara-sac-cakara tam aham caitanya-candram bhaje
"Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who, by His unreserved mercy, kindly saved me from household life, which is exactly like a blind well without water, and placed me into the ocean of transcendental joy under the care of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami." (Srila Ragunatha dasa Goswami : Vilapa-kusumanjali 5.)
You gave a lecture from CC in New Vraja-Dhama, when I asked You how we could see Lord Caitanya during sankirtana. You gave me a long and serious answer. Then You asked: "You remember the blind well?" I had to realize then how miserable I am, like a dust in the Universe. That was the point when a process got started inside me, I realized that I want to wake up and understand what reality is. You were so gracious to wake me up and You do it continuously when I'm in illusion. You wake me up with Your words, Your orders, Your lectures. You're always thankful even for my smallest efforts. Still I feel so ingrateful not to keep myself busy all the time with devotional service.
Please, give me Your mercy to be able to remember always the blind well as well as to be able to offer my entire life in the service of You and Lord Caitanya.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakta Richard Szepvolgyi
(back to top)
Dear Devamrta Maharaja,
Please, accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to You on Your appearance day!
It's a very auspicious day for me, I can hardly find words to glorify You.
Time after time I have the memory of my first personal meeting with You revived in my mind together with Your kind hospitality and Your inconditional caring. I was standing in front of You with empty hands, I don't have anything in this world. I have only this life, which is in fact not mine. This is all I can offer You.
yo mam dustara-geha-nirjala-maha-kupad apara-klamat
sadyah sandra-dayambudhih prakrititah svairikipa-rajjubhih
uddhrityatma-saroja-nindi-carana-prantam prapadya svayam
sri-damodara-sac-cakara tam aham caitanya-candram bhaje
"Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who, by His unreserved mercy, kindly saved me from household life, which is exactly like a blind well without water, and placed me into the ocean of transcendental joy under the care of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami." (Srila Ragunatha dasa Goswami : Vilapa-kusumanjali 5.)
You gave a lecture from CC in New Vraja-Dhama, when I asked You how we could see Lord Caitanya during sankirtana. You gave me a long and serious answer. Then You asked: "You remember the blind well?" I had to realize then how miserable I am, like a dust in the Universe. That was the point when a process got started inside me, I realized that I want to wake up and understand what reality is. You were so gracious to wake me up and You do it continuously when I'm in illusion. You wake me up with Your words, Your orders, Your lectures. You're always thankful even for my smallest efforts. Still I feel so ingrateful not to keep myself busy all the time with devotional service.
Please, give me Your mercy to be able to remember always the blind well as well as to be able to offer my entire life in the service of You and Lord Caitanya.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakta Richard Szepvolgyi
Rohininandan Das, Meera, Sachi Devi, Sita Devi
(back to top)
namah om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Dearest GuruMaharaj,
On this glorious day of your Vyasa Puja we offer our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you dearest Guru Maharaj.
We wish we had something really substantial to report on which would bring a smile to your lotus face, unfortunately we can only say that, at the moment, we are trying hard to merely stay a float juggling our sadhana and material duties.
By your mercy and blessings, we have relocated and are currently trying hard to change our lifestyle to a more Krsna Conscious one via your instructions. By your causeless mercy, you have given us instructions which are so apt for our present circumstance. There is no end to improving the quality of that service pertaining to your instructions, however what you have set down for us, is very attainable and hence enlivening to us. Thank you dearest GuruMaharaj.
Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatam. 18.57, "If one gets a bonafide spiritual master and acts according to his directions, then his perfection in life in Krsna Consciousness is guaranteed." In Caitanya Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada says, "The principle of rigidly carrying out the order of the spiritual master must be observed." We wish to keep this foremost in our minds even in the midst of constant bombardment from the threefold miseries, and in that way hold on very dearly to your instructions.
On this auspicious day, we beg at your lotus feet to give us the intelligence to become proper receptacles for your mercy. His Holiness Devamrta Swami Maharajki! Jai!
your fallen servants,
Rohininandan Das
Meera
Sachi Devi
Sita Devi
(back to top)
namah om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate devamrta swamin iti namine
Dearest GuruMaharaj,
On this glorious day of your Vyasa Puja we offer our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you dearest Guru Maharaj.
We wish we had something really substantial to report on which would bring a smile to your lotus face, unfortunately we can only say that, at the moment, we are trying hard to merely stay a float juggling our sadhana and material duties.
By your mercy and blessings, we have relocated and are currently trying hard to change our lifestyle to a more Krsna Conscious one via your instructions. By your causeless mercy, you have given us instructions which are so apt for our present circumstance. There is no end to improving the quality of that service pertaining to your instructions, however what you have set down for us, is very attainable and hence enlivening to us. Thank you dearest GuruMaharaj.
Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatam. 18.57, "If one gets a bonafide spiritual master and acts according to his directions, then his perfection in life in Krsna Consciousness is guaranteed." In Caitanya Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada says, "The principle of rigidly carrying out the order of the spiritual master must be observed." We wish to keep this foremost in our minds even in the midst of constant bombardment from the threefold miseries, and in that way hold on very dearly to your instructions.
On this auspicious day, we beg at your lotus feet to give us the intelligence to become proper receptacles for your mercy. His Holiness Devamrta Swami Maharajki! Jai!
your fallen servants,
Rohininandan Das
Meera
Sachi Devi
Sita Devi
Rori
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine.
Pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namo namah
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my obeisances unto your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
As I read the offerings written for your pleasure by many of your dear disciples I am, honestly, bewildered and awestruck. Seeing how sincere they are in Krishna consciousness and how much gratitude they have for your divine mercy, I am seriously contemplating my own situation, and how I can become a better servant of you in your mission to spread Krsna consciousness. Even the new bhaktas in the Wellington Mens Ashrama (where I was less than a year ago) seem to possess a level of sincerity and appreciation for your glories that I earnestly aspire towards.
Gurudeva, thank you so much for being such a caring master. Even though these early baby steps of mine are somewhat slow and retarded, you have shown so much patience and care, being sure that even such a contaminated rascal as myself can become a devotee of Lord Caitanya.
Please watch over me closely Srila Gurudeva. The weight of this lust monster is constantly trying to drag me down, and I seem to be attached to the intensity of that weight. By your mercy I hope to instead become attached to the intensity of devotional service to Krishna, the intensity of your instruction, and the intensity of the pure bhakti that emanates from your character.
Thank you so much Gurudeva for giving me the association of devotees. Please bless me so I may become a completely selfless servant of the Vaisnavas.
I cannot at all fathom the glories of a pure devotee like you. Yet you know more about me than I know myself. When I am in your presence I feel so safe and secure. Please allow me to become more fearful of maya, so I can constantly seek shelter in the words emanating from your lotus mouth.
Your useless mess of an aspiring servant,
Bhakta Rori
(back to top)
Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate devamrita swamin iti namine.
Pracare purva dakshyam ca bhaktacara pravinata parathatapi karunyam yasya sarve ca te namo namah
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my obeisances unto your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
As I read the offerings written for your pleasure by many of your dear disciples I am, honestly, bewildered and awestruck. Seeing how sincere they are in Krishna consciousness and how much gratitude they have for your divine mercy, I am seriously contemplating my own situation, and how I can become a better servant of you in your mission to spread Krsna consciousness. Even the new bhaktas in the Wellington Mens Ashrama (where I was less than a year ago) seem to possess a level of sincerity and appreciation for your glories that I earnestly aspire towards.
Gurudeva, thank you so much for being such a caring master. Even though these early baby steps of mine are somewhat slow and retarded, you have shown so much patience and care, being sure that even such a contaminated rascal as myself can become a devotee of Lord Caitanya.
Please watch over me closely Srila Gurudeva. The weight of this lust monster is constantly trying to drag me down, and I seem to be attached to the intensity of that weight. By your mercy I hope to instead become attached to the intensity of devotional service to Krishna, the intensity of your instruction, and the intensity of the pure bhakti that emanates from your character.
Thank you so much Gurudeva for giving me the association of devotees. Please bless me so I may become a completely selfless servant of the Vaisnavas.
I cannot at all fathom the glories of a pure devotee like you. Yet you know more about me than I know myself. When I am in your presence I feel so safe and secure. Please allow me to become more fearful of maya, so I can constantly seek shelter in the words emanating from your lotus mouth.
Your useless mess of an aspiring servant,
Bhakta Rori
Ryan Lowseck
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Please accept my humble obeisance All glories to Srila Prabupada
All glories to your appearance day Gurudeva I am very sorry to say I did not get an opportunity to wright you and offering as Bea gave birth 0n the 25 of september to Tulasi Radha, please give her your blessing to help Srila Prabupada mission in spreading Krishna Conciseness to the world. We have also moved out but not far from the temple.
We celebrated your glorious day on sunday and being there and sharing our offerings and heart felt feelings towards you I could feel just how merciful you are to us fallen soul, who struggle so hard to maintain suddener, preaching and daily maintenance together. But Because of you I have seen the light maybe just a small glimpse, but enough to help me push and keep going. Without you there would be no Atma Yoga and I would be lost completely in my own ignorance and pride Thank you for your kindness, your love and your patience. I pray you always keep me serving your lotus feet, without you I really have nothing but death in this world. All glories to you Devamrita Sawmi "my only true shelter "
Trying to serve your Lotus feet
Ryan Lowseck
(back to top)
Hare Krishna Please accept my humble obeisance All glories to Srila Prabupada
All glories to your appearance day Gurudeva I am very sorry to say I did not get an opportunity to wright you and offering as Bea gave birth 0n the 25 of september to Tulasi Radha, please give her your blessing to help Srila Prabupada mission in spreading Krishna Conciseness to the world. We have also moved out but not far from the temple.
We celebrated your glorious day on sunday and being there and sharing our offerings and heart felt feelings towards you I could feel just how merciful you are to us fallen soul, who struggle so hard to maintain suddener, preaching and daily maintenance together. But Because of you I have seen the light maybe just a small glimpse, but enough to help me push and keep going. Without you there would be no Atma Yoga and I would be lost completely in my own ignorance and pride Thank you for your kindness, your love and your patience. I pray you always keep me serving your lotus feet, without you I really have nothing but death in this world. All glories to you Devamrita Sawmi "my only true shelter "
Trying to serve your Lotus feet
Ryan Lowseck
Ryo Mishima
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
I was very very pleased to see you and stay with you on September. I received such a power from you and you gave me a great advice. I could not explain how fortune I am.
In your class, you explained about putting more effort in book distribution. This is the way to please our Guru Maharaj and this is the highest bhakti. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sends enlightened soul to us and they take some books. Both people received books and gave books receive great mercy from Krisna. Kindly you push us to take this highest taste of Bhakti, I will take this as personal vow. I will do my best to distribute this highest science and knowledge of Krisna consciousness.
āpane ācare keha, nā kare pracāra
pracāra karena keha, nā karena ācāra
"Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krisna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.
'ācāra', 'pracāra',——nāmera karaha 'dui' kāry
tumi——sarva-guru, tumi jagatera ārya
"You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behaviour and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world."
[CC Antya 4.102-103]
You explained as this is the proper devotee association. Both Haridas Thakura and Sanatana Gosvami always please each other.
"How great you are, Sanatana"
"You are both preaching and behaving, Haridas"
This is the highest love and pure love. We can spend endless time with doing so as you mercifully taught us how we behave, how we appreciate each other. Other Prabhus pleased you with great devotional services. I beg them to give me their drop of their sincerity as I am the most fallen and lowest one. I will learn and follow other devotees and follow my mentor’s instruction as your instruction.
In last 2 years, a lot of struggle in my life but because of your mercy and sincere instruction, because of my mentor’s kind help and instruction and because of other devotees’ great association and help I am here.
I will follow your every single word and take your instruction as my vow.
Again, thanks for your great instruction and enlightening this fallen soul. I will do my best to follow your instruction and please you.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakta Ryo Mishima
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
I was very very pleased to see you and stay with you on September. I received such a power from you and you gave me a great advice. I could not explain how fortune I am.
In your class, you explained about putting more effort in book distribution. This is the way to please our Guru Maharaj and this is the highest bhakti. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sends enlightened soul to us and they take some books. Both people received books and gave books receive great mercy from Krisna. Kindly you push us to take this highest taste of Bhakti, I will take this as personal vow. I will do my best to distribute this highest science and knowledge of Krisna consciousness.
āpane ācare keha, nā kare pracāra
pracāra karena keha, nā karena ācāra
"Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krisna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.
'ācāra', 'pracāra',——nāmera karaha 'dui' kāry
tumi——sarva-guru, tumi jagatera ārya
"You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behaviour and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world."
[CC Antya 4.102-103]
You explained as this is the proper devotee association. Both Haridas Thakura and Sanatana Gosvami always please each other.
"How great you are, Sanatana"
"You are both preaching and behaving, Haridas"
This is the highest love and pure love. We can spend endless time with doing so as you mercifully taught us how we behave, how we appreciate each other. Other Prabhus pleased you with great devotional services. I beg them to give me their drop of their sincerity as I am the most fallen and lowest one. I will learn and follow other devotees and follow my mentor’s instruction as your instruction.
In last 2 years, a lot of struggle in my life but because of your mercy and sincere instruction, because of my mentor’s kind help and instruction and because of other devotees’ great association and help I am here.
I will follow your every single word and take your instruction as my vow.
Again, thanks for your great instruction and enlightening this fallen soul. I will do my best to follow your instruction and please you.
Your insignificant servant,
Bhakta Ryo Mishima
Sachi Dulal das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day.
Before I met you I though I knew what love was. After meeting you, that conviction was soon dismantled. And quite embarrassingly so. Listening to your words, it soon dawned upon me that the reality was indeed entirely different. I had failed at "love" . Material nature had done her job well. Inevitably thwarted in my paltry attempts to "love" separate from Krishna, I was even willing to consider embracing the soporific non-distinction of the almighty White Light.
Under the barrage of your well-directed words, my façade of nonchalance came crashing down. You see, the potency of your words do penetrate my severely conditioned state of consciousness. At least when I allow them to. Allow me then, to present back to you, your own words, delivered in a lecture in August 2007 in Wellington. For this opportunity, I am indebted to the love-laden transcription efforts of your exalted disciple, Mahavan Prabhu.
"The overall themes we are discussing concern the power of pure love. That is the driving force in Krishna consciousness, but it’s something that we have to gradually become familiar with as we gradually become purified. Do not be afraid of an effort to become purified - don’t be afraid to push ahead. This world is a place of struggle. Whether you’re a spiritualist or a materialist you have to struggle..."
Why not struggle for something sublime, struggle to end the cycle of repeated birth and death, struggle to revive your dormant love of Krishna? But unless you keep your selves established in Krishna conscious knowledge, you’ll forget what your struggle is all about. And you’ll begin - once your spiritual intelligence becomes dull - you’ll begin to confuse the material struggle with the spiritual struggle. We must always keep ourselves refreshed with spiritual knowledge, so that the goal is clearly in front of our eyes.
You see, forgetfulness is a natural tendency of this world. You have to understand what you’re operating against – you are living within an atmosphere of forgetfulness – it’s not an atmosphere of remembrance, it’s not a neutral atmosphere. So there’s a constant pressure to cause you to forget, to cause you to become dull, to become unaware, to become un-Krishna conscious. You have to learn how to cope with that. Don’t expect a free ride from the material world. Expect constant pushing to forget, to become dull. That’s why we have our regulated hearing and chanting. So that you can counteract this tendency toward forgetfulness.
Just think of the slumber that you’re waking up from after countless births. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura says anādi’ karama-phale, podi’ bhavārnava-jale,
- you can’t trace out your implication in material existence. It’s been going on for so long that you take it as natural. "Oh, it’s normal to have a material body. It’s normal to have material goals and, yeh, you just gotta do the best you can, make your way through life." We’re so attuned to forgetfulness that we take it as normal to go to sleep at night and completely forget yourself. How many of you are afraid to go to sleep at night because you might forget who you are? Anyone? No. You’re very happy to go to sleep at night and forget all about who you are and where you are. Right?
No one has any fears going to sleep at night. Just see how trusting of forgetfulness you are, how you accept it as a normal thing. How many of you really make an effort before you go to sleep at night to make sure you don’t forget who you are? No you just trustingly doze off to sleep, and indeed for 6 hours or more you forget completely who you are. You don’t even mind getting lost in the dream world. This shows our (material) natural propensity for forgetfulness. From the spiritual point of view it’s not natural. Just see how we don’t mind forgetting. And indeed we may even think that forgetting means relief – a partial solution.
Krishna consciousness is about waking up. Remembering. To help us in the remembering process we have the regulated hearing and chanting. When the regulated hearing and chanting goes slack you can be sure the forgetfulness will set in. Never mind whether you’re a "nice devotee" or not, if your regulated hearing and chanting goes slack you can be sure, you can mark it right there, forgetfulness with creep in and it’s just a matter of time before the forgetfulness takes its toll. Srila Prabhupada would comment about this saying "What can I say I’ve said it again and again."
"We want to remember Krishna, and remember what is pure love. Yes, this is the society, this is the movement for remembering pure love."
"Remembering pure love"...and in the world of conditioned existence. Could anything be more incompatible than that? Yet, how strange it is, that my heart longs for those lofty realms of "pure love" . Even so, how willingly I allow myself to be wrapped by the coils of maya-induced complacency. How subtle is the scourge of envy. How uphill the struggle sometimes appears to be. Lifetimes of material conditioning have sure taken their toll.
Therefore, on this most holy occasion, I humbly beg that you will give me the strength to renew my commitment to purge myself in the purifying fire of "regulated hearing and chanting" . Perhaps then, I too, will some day be of assistance, in sharing the iridescent particles of prema that effortlessly emanate from your Vaikuntha heart with the rest of this mad, mad world.
Your aspiring servant,
Sachi Dulal das
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to you on this most auspicious day.
Before I met you I though I knew what love was. After meeting you, that conviction was soon dismantled. And quite embarrassingly so. Listening to your words, it soon dawned upon me that the reality was indeed entirely different. I had failed at "love" . Material nature had done her job well. Inevitably thwarted in my paltry attempts to "love" separate from Krishna, I was even willing to consider embracing the soporific non-distinction of the almighty White Light.
Under the barrage of your well-directed words, my façade of nonchalance came crashing down. You see, the potency of your words do penetrate my severely conditioned state of consciousness. At least when I allow them to. Allow me then, to present back to you, your own words, delivered in a lecture in August 2007 in Wellington. For this opportunity, I am indebted to the love-laden transcription efforts of your exalted disciple, Mahavan Prabhu.
"The overall themes we are discussing concern the power of pure love. That is the driving force in Krishna consciousness, but it’s something that we have to gradually become familiar with as we gradually become purified. Do not be afraid of an effort to become purified - don’t be afraid to push ahead. This world is a place of struggle. Whether you’re a spiritualist or a materialist you have to struggle..."
Why not struggle for something sublime, struggle to end the cycle of repeated birth and death, struggle to revive your dormant love of Krishna? But unless you keep your selves established in Krishna conscious knowledge, you’ll forget what your struggle is all about. And you’ll begin - once your spiritual intelligence becomes dull - you’ll begin to confuse the material struggle with the spiritual struggle. We must always keep ourselves refreshed with spiritual knowledge, so that the goal is clearly in front of our eyes.
You see, forgetfulness is a natural tendency of this world. You have to understand what you’re operating against – you are living within an atmosphere of forgetfulness – it’s not an atmosphere of remembrance, it’s not a neutral atmosphere. So there’s a constant pressure to cause you to forget, to cause you to become dull, to become unaware, to become un-Krishna conscious. You have to learn how to cope with that. Don’t expect a free ride from the material world. Expect constant pushing to forget, to become dull. That’s why we have our regulated hearing and chanting. So that you can counteract this tendency toward forgetfulness.
Just think of the slumber that you’re waking up from after countless births. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura says anādi’ karama-phale, podi’ bhavārnava-jale,
- you can’t trace out your implication in material existence. It’s been going on for so long that you take it as natural. "Oh, it’s normal to have a material body. It’s normal to have material goals and, yeh, you just gotta do the best you can, make your way through life." We’re so attuned to forgetfulness that we take it as normal to go to sleep at night and completely forget yourself. How many of you are afraid to go to sleep at night because you might forget who you are? Anyone? No. You’re very happy to go to sleep at night and forget all about who you are and where you are. Right?
No one has any fears going to sleep at night. Just see how trusting of forgetfulness you are, how you accept it as a normal thing. How many of you really make an effort before you go to sleep at night to make sure you don’t forget who you are? No you just trustingly doze off to sleep, and indeed for 6 hours or more you forget completely who you are. You don’t even mind getting lost in the dream world. This shows our (material) natural propensity for forgetfulness. From the spiritual point of view it’s not natural. Just see how we don’t mind forgetting. And indeed we may even think that forgetting means relief – a partial solution.
Krishna consciousness is about waking up. Remembering. To help us in the remembering process we have the regulated hearing and chanting. When the regulated hearing and chanting goes slack you can be sure the forgetfulness will set in. Never mind whether you’re a "nice devotee" or not, if your regulated hearing and chanting goes slack you can be sure, you can mark it right there, forgetfulness with creep in and it’s just a matter of time before the forgetfulness takes its toll. Srila Prabhupada would comment about this saying "What can I say I’ve said it again and again."
"We want to remember Krishna, and remember what is pure love. Yes, this is the society, this is the movement for remembering pure love."
"Remembering pure love"...and in the world of conditioned existence. Could anything be more incompatible than that? Yet, how strange it is, that my heart longs for those lofty realms of "pure love" . Even so, how willingly I allow myself to be wrapped by the coils of maya-induced complacency. How subtle is the scourge of envy. How uphill the struggle sometimes appears to be. Lifetimes of material conditioning have sure taken their toll.
Therefore, on this most holy occasion, I humbly beg that you will give me the strength to renew my commitment to purge myself in the purifying fire of "regulated hearing and chanting" . Perhaps then, I too, will some day be of assistance, in sharing the iridescent particles of prema that effortlessly emanate from your Vaikuntha heart with the rest of this mad, mad world.
Your aspiring servant,
Sachi Dulal das
Sadhu-marga das
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet All glories to Guru and Gauranga All glories to you at Your most auspicious appearence day
Guru Maharaj, thank you so much to entering into my life.
I have been dreaming that i will write so unique, so extra ordinary and special offering, to give You pleasure. But i dont know how to do that. After all even if i want to dream so ,im not anything special and i dont know about Vaisnavism. Please accept these few words i have. It is not diffucult to glorify You, Devotees of Lord Caitanyas glories are unlimited. But im so cover by envy, proud and ignorence that i cannot see Your miracle works.
H.H Kadamba Kanana Swami is blessing us this weekend here in Helsinki by His presence. Today he was initating disciples. In the class he said that being a disciple is a challange.
I was reflecting this point. One year have pass now when You so mercifully accept me as Your disciple. I dont understand it very profoundly , but i think that was best thing that ever happen to me. But diffuculty is that how to become a disciple. Time goes too fast. Im not as serious that i think im. Im not sincere that i think nor im not humble and pure-hearted, cool-headed and well-wishing that i dream i am.
Where is my determination, enthusiasm and patience? To become a disciple seems to be much more serious business that i could understand. To develop some affection or even sens of duty to ones Spritual Master is definitely not a cheap thing. Having dhoti, spritual name and japa and even having some devotional service is not enough. Where is my love to my Guru Maharaj? Why is my heart simply full of unwanted rubbish.
Where is my sensitivity and respecting? Where is my attachement to follow the Instruction given by my Guru Maharaj? Im simply following my mind here and. From dream to another. I cannot regulate my self to follow the injuction given in sastra. I expect worship from others and other times i criticize devotees, my only well wishers.I dont care about suffering of others and i do my service externaly just to get name and fame. I pass my days in sleeping, complaining and blameing others from my troubles. What kind of "devotion" is this? When i will take realy shelter of the holy name, when will give my heart my Guru Maharaj?
When will i try to pay back to unlimted mercy and welth that my Guru Maharaj has given to me?
When will i give up my false ego and stop dreaming to be citizen of this cruel and weird place called material world?
When will i become humble and surrender to lotus the feet of Guru Maharaj?
When will i want to give pleasure to my Guru Maharaj by helping others to become closer to Krsna?
When im qualified to associate whit my Guru Maharaj?
In nectar of devotion Srila Prabhupada so nicely explains the loving relationship between master and servent. Chapter forty, page 318:
"Pradyamnas attachment for Krishna was always exhibited by his action. Whenever he was orderd by his father to execute something , he would immediately execute the order, taking the task as necterean even though it may have been poison.Similarly, whenever he would find something to be disapproved of by his father, he would immediately reject it as poison, even though it may have been necterean. Pradyumnas attachement in anxiety for Krishna was expressed when he said to his wife Rati," The enemy,Sambara, is already killed. Now i am very anxious to see my father ,who is my spiritual master and who always carries the conchshell know as Pancajanya". Pradyumna felt great seperation from Krishnawhen He was absent from Dvarakaat the battlefield of Kuruksetra. He said " Since my father has left from Dwaraka, i do not take much pleasure in practicing fighting, nor i am interested in any kind of sporting pastimes.And want need is there to speak of these things? I do not even wish to stay at Dwaraka in the absence of my father."
This is the stantard. And i , this candala, i am light years away from this kind of attachement to the Lotus feet of my Guru Maharaj. Still the Holy Name of Sri Krishna ,when received from pure devotee, and strict following the orders given by Spritual master and sacrificing for the wellfare of other, meaning attemps to give Krishna to them, in form of Srila Prabhupadas books, Krsna prasadam , Holy name or other facilitates so that they can approach the blisfull path back home ,back to Godhead, will certainly uplift one from the ocean of ignorence.Purified ones heart from all the dirt and make one attach one to his Spritual master. If i have any faith to this it is simply Your mercy.
Guru Maharaj, my only hope is that , i will take seriously shelter from You. That is my only hope, Your divine lotus feet.
Your aspiring disciple
Sadhu-marga das
(back to top)
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet All glories to Guru and Gauranga All glories to you at Your most auspicious appearence day
Guru Maharaj, thank you so much to entering into my life.
I have been dreaming that i will write so unique, so extra ordinary and special offering, to give You pleasure. But i dont know how to do that. After all even if i want to dream so ,im not anything special and i dont know about Vaisnavism. Please accept these few words i have. It is not diffucult to glorify You, Devotees of Lord Caitanyas glories are unlimited. But im so cover by envy, proud and ignorence that i cannot see Your miracle works.
H.H Kadamba Kanana Swami is blessing us this weekend here in Helsinki by His presence. Today he was initating disciples. In the class he said that being a disciple is a challange.
I was reflecting this point. One year have pass now when You so mercifully accept me as Your disciple. I dont understand it very profoundly , but i think that was best thing that ever happen to me. But diffuculty is that how to become a disciple. Time goes too fast. Im not as serious that i think im. Im not sincere that i think nor im not humble and pure-hearted, cool-headed and well-wishing that i dream i am.
Where is my determination, enthusiasm and patience? To become a disciple seems to be much more serious business that i could understand. To develop some affection or even sens of duty to ones Spritual Master is definitely not a cheap thing. Having dhoti, spritual name and japa and even having some devotional service is not enough. Where is my love to my Guru Maharaj? Why is my heart simply full of unwanted rubbish.
Where is my sensitivity and respecting? Where is my attachement to follow the Instruction given by my Guru Maharaj? Im simply following my mind here and. From dream to another. I cannot regulate my self to follow the injuction given in sastra. I expect worship from others and other times i criticize devotees, my only well wishers.I dont care about suffering of others and i do my service externaly just to get name and fame. I pass my days in sleeping, complaining and blameing others from my troubles. What kind of "devotion" is this? When i will take realy shelter of the holy name, when will give my heart my Guru Maharaj?
When will i try to pay back to unlimted mercy and welth that my Guru Maharaj has given to me?
When will i give up my false ego and stop dreaming to be citizen of this cruel and weird place called material world?
When will i become humble and surrender to lotus the feet of Guru Maharaj?
When will i want to give pleasure to my Guru Maharaj by helping others to become closer to Krsna?
When im qualified to associate whit my Guru Maharaj?
In nectar of devotion Srila Prabhupada so nicely explains the loving relationship between master and servent. Chapter forty, page 318:
"Pradyamnas attachment for Krishna was always exhibited by his action. Whenever he was orderd by his father to execute something , he would immediately execute the order, taking the task as necterean even though it may have been poison.Similarly, whenever he would find something to be disapproved of by his father, he would immediately reject it as poison, even though it may have been necterean. Pradyumnas attachement in anxiety for Krishna was expressed when he said to his wife Rati," The enemy,Sambara, is already killed. Now i am very anxious to see my father ,who is my spiritual master and who always carries the conchshell know as Pancajanya". Pradyumna felt great seperation from Krishnawhen He was absent from Dvarakaat the battlefield of Kuruksetra. He said " Since my father has left from Dwaraka, i do not take much pleasure in practicing fighting, nor i am interested in any kind of sporting pastimes.And want need is there to speak of these things? I do not even wish to stay at Dwaraka in the absence of my father."
This is the stantard. And i , this candala, i am light years away from this kind of attachement to the Lotus feet of my Guru Maharaj. Still the Holy Name of Sri Krishna ,when received from pure devotee, and strict following the orders given by Spritual master and sacrificing for the wellfare of other, meaning attemps to give Krishna to them, in form of Srila Prabhupadas books, Krsna prasadam , Holy name or other facilitates so that they can approach the blisfull path back home ,back to Godhead, will certainly uplift one from the ocean of ignorence.Purified ones heart from all the dirt and make one attach one to his Spritual master. If i have any faith to this it is simply Your mercy.
Guru Maharaj, my only hope is that , i will take seriously shelter from You. That is my only hope, Your divine lotus feet.
Your aspiring disciple
Sadhu-marga das
Saktimanta dd
(back to top)
Dear Srila Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj,
I have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam(11.2.37) that-
Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
Isad apetasya viparyayo'smrtih
Tan mayayato budha abhajet tam
Bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
"Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering fearful condition is affected by the potency for illusion called maya. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul."
Such is the importance of the spiritual master that Sastra abounds in His glories, Acaryas incessantly sing His praise. Guru Maharaj, as I pass year after year in Krsna Consciousness, I question myself how much do I really understand my good fortune of having a gem of a spiritual master as Yourself. Guru Maharaj , Krsna has so mercifully given Yourself to me yet my greatest misfortune I that I fail every time to fully utilize my wealth. My own weakness of heart is to be blamed for that. You are showering Your mercy without considering my qualification.
Guru Maharaj, this time during Gaura Purnima, my husband visited Yourself in Mayapur while I couldn't, being stuck in my dark well of material existence. Yet You were so merciful that You called me from Mayapur and talked to me. Words are incapable of expressing the gratitude I felt. That the pure devotee of the Lord is talking to a nobody like me. You instructed me as a loving father, coaxing and hoping that His foolish child will come to her senses. Guru Maharaj, as You so wisely instructed, I have stopped worrying. You have placed so much faith in me by telling me what will please You. I am so afraid, what if I didn't come up to the mark. I am trying ,Guru Maharaj, to the best of my ability.
Guru Maharaj, You are a lion preacher forwarding the legacy of Your spiritual grandfather Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Prabhupada and Your spiritual father Srila Prabhupada. Indeed, You have done the Guru Parampara proud.
Guru Maharaj, what can I say in Your glorification. My words will fall short in every respect. It is Your mercy that I am Your disciple. I don't have the qualification to be so. I pray to Krsna Balaram to bestow upon my Guru Maharaj, very good health and a very long life so that You can continue to shower Your mercy on suffering living entities like me and take them back to Godhead.
May You have a very long and healthy life, my dear Guru Maharaj.
I pray that I may never leave the service of Your Lotus Feet , which I have obtained with such difficulty after numerous births.
Thank You for Your mercy Guru Maharaj.
Your servant
Saktimanta dd
(back to top)
Dear Srila Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet.
All glories to Your Vyasa Puja day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Guru Maharaj,
I have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam(11.2.37) that-
Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
Isad apetasya viparyayo'smrtih
Tan mayayato budha abhajet tam
Bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
"Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering fearful condition is affected by the potency for illusion called maya. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul."
Such is the importance of the spiritual master that Sastra abounds in His glories, Acaryas incessantly sing His praise. Guru Maharaj, as I pass year after year in Krsna Consciousness, I question myself how much do I really understand my good fortune of having a gem of a spiritual master as Yourself. Guru Maharaj , Krsna has so mercifully given Yourself to me yet my greatest misfortune I that I fail every time to fully utilize my wealth. My own weakness of heart is to be blamed for that. You are showering Your mercy without considering my qualification.
Guru Maharaj, this time during Gaura Purnima, my husband visited Yourself in Mayapur while I couldn't, being stuck in my dark well of material existence. Yet You were so merciful that You called me from Mayapur and talked to me. Words are incapable of expressing the gratitude I felt. That the pure devotee of the Lord is talking to a nobody like me. You instructed me as a loving father, coaxing and hoping that His foolish child will come to her senses. Guru Maharaj, as You so wisely instructed, I have stopped worrying. You have placed so much faith in me by telling me what will please You. I am so afraid, what if I didn't come up to the mark. I am trying ,Guru Maharaj, to the best of my ability.
Guru Maharaj, You are a lion preacher forwarding the legacy of Your spiritual grandfather Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Prabhupada and Your spiritual father Srila Prabhupada. Indeed, You have done the Guru Parampara proud.
Guru Maharaj, what can I say in Your glorification. My words will fall short in every respect. It is Your mercy that I am Your disciple. I don't have the qualification to be so. I pray to Krsna Balaram to bestow upon my Guru Maharaj, very good health and a very long life so that You can continue to shower Your mercy on suffering living entities like me and take them back to Godhead.
May You have a very long and healthy life, my dear Guru Maharaj.
I pray that I may never leave the service of Your Lotus Feet , which I have obtained with such difficulty after numerous births.
Thank You for Your mercy Guru Maharaj.
Your servant
Saktimanta dd
Sam
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All of the credit for my coming to Krishna consciousness - and any advancement that I have made since - must be attributed to your institution of contemporary Vedic Asrama system that operates in Wellington.
Within the contemporary Vedic Asrama, aspirants are introduced to both proper human culture and to sanatana-dharma at a pace that is personally tailored to suit their circumstances and psycho-physical make-up.
Throughout the last two and a half year, for instance, never was I outside of the care and concern of a more experienced disciple, and the obstacles that I faced were always the perfect challenges to encourage me further in Krishna consciousness. Therefore, when looking back, I have so many transcendental memories of various cooking and preaching yajnas, and when looking to the future, I see so much opportunity for more.
The real worth of the contemporary Vedic Asrama (and your disciples who staff it) is certainly that it instills within the devotee the aspiration and appreciation for selfless service. It is terrific to see that this system is constantly being adjusted and improved to be more effective at rescuing people from the degradation of Kali-Yuga.
Thanks to the operation of this system that you have established, devotees can feel confident about introducing others to Krishna consciousness, knowing that they will receive expert guidance and personal care.
I have always thought that the proper way to express one's gratitude is not just with words, but also with actions. Therefore, I hope that I will be able to live up to the expectations of one who has come through your system of the contemporary Vedic Asrama.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Sam
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All of the credit for my coming to Krishna consciousness - and any advancement that I have made since - must be attributed to your institution of contemporary Vedic Asrama system that operates in Wellington.
Within the contemporary Vedic Asrama, aspirants are introduced to both proper human culture and to sanatana-dharma at a pace that is personally tailored to suit their circumstances and psycho-physical make-up.
Throughout the last two and a half year, for instance, never was I outside of the care and concern of a more experienced disciple, and the obstacles that I faced were always the perfect challenges to encourage me further in Krishna consciousness. Therefore, when looking back, I have so many transcendental memories of various cooking and preaching yajnas, and when looking to the future, I see so much opportunity for more.
The real worth of the contemporary Vedic Asrama (and your disciples who staff it) is certainly that it instills within the devotee the aspiration and appreciation for selfless service. It is terrific to see that this system is constantly being adjusted and improved to be more effective at rescuing people from the degradation of Kali-Yuga.
Thanks to the operation of this system that you have established, devotees can feel confident about introducing others to Krishna consciousness, knowing that they will receive expert guidance and personal care.
I have always thought that the proper way to express one's gratitude is not just with words, but also with actions. Therefore, I hope that I will be able to live up to the expectations of one who has come through your system of the contemporary Vedic Asrama.
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Sam
Sasha and Olga Kotovs
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you so much for your endevors to drug the conditional souls especially your disciples from this horrible material world. You try to search out a tiny pearl in an ocean of our bad qualities in the way a traveller tries to find a small spark in a dead fire. And then very carefully you try to fan this spark up so that finaly we could get our own fire of bhakti burning. Doing this painstaking work you manifest wonderful tolerance and compassion.
This year in Arkhangelsk you gave us so so much love and care that even our hard hearts begun to melt in a furnace of your love of Krishna. We felt how great is your desire to drug us out of this sinkhole. But we continue to clasp for our petty attachements and this is pitiable. please do not leave us here. Without you we don't have chances for getting out.
Let Krishna give you health and strengh for your uneasy mission. Let your disciples keep you from suffering by strictly following their vows.
Let us always stay in the dust of your lotus feet and lear from you how to serve the lotus feet of devotees.Your humble servants
Sasha and Olga Kotovs'
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you so much for your endevors to drug the conditional souls especially your disciples from this horrible material world. You try to search out a tiny pearl in an ocean of our bad qualities in the way a traveller tries to find a small spark in a dead fire. And then very carefully you try to fan this spark up so that finaly we could get our own fire of bhakti burning. Doing this painstaking work you manifest wonderful tolerance and compassion.
This year in Arkhangelsk you gave us so so much love and care that even our hard hearts begun to melt in a furnace of your love of Krishna. We felt how great is your desire to drug us out of this sinkhole. But we continue to clasp for our petty attachements and this is pitiable. please do not leave us here. Without you we don't have chances for getting out.
Let Krishna give you health and strengh for your uneasy mission. Let your disciples keep you from suffering by strictly following their vows.
Let us always stay in the dust of your lotus feet and lear from you how to serve the lotus feet of devotees.Your humble servants
Sasha and Olga Kotovs'
Sandrananda devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
For your Vyasa puja offering this year I wanted to attempt to glorify you. You, who is so dear to many others and me.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam there is a list of all of the twenty-six qualities of a vaisnava. I have been examining them and spotting them within your person and have listed only a few of them due to space and time restriction.
A person who is unaffected by attachment and envy is said to possess equilibrium.
You have always preferred to live life as a renounciant ever since coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada's books. You certainly not attached. With a deep Krsna consciousness you hold a reverence for all life, as you act on the basis of a non-violent attitude to all living beings. Your motive is always to share Krsna consciousness with everyone who approaches you. Thank you for providing many others and me with your shelter.
A person who is very charitably disposed is called magnanimous.
You are always ready to instruct any interested person in how to attain the most valuable gift of love of Krsna. What you offer so charitably to others and me is unimaginably magnanimous.
A person who does not express his mind to everyone and whose plans are very difficult to understand is called grave.
You are always surprising devotees by your ever-fresh and new ways of pushing on the san kirtan movement. One example is how you surprise devotees by positioning them in different strategic parts the world; Wellington, Hamilton, Manchester, Auckland, Palmerston North, Otaki.
A person who can tolerate all kinds of offenses from the opposite party is known to be forgiving.
There are many envious people in the material world that you come in contact with when you preach, but you tolerate them and continue on with your service as their well-wisher.
A person who eats only as much as required.
I can recall a time when you were taking prasadam that Carana Renu dd had prepared for you and you turned away the temptation of taking a second helping with a line "This is so good, I could have more but that would be greedy. As the saying goes - save prasadam for another day!" You always lead others and me by your good example.
A devotee performs welfare work for everyone.
In praising the ideal devotee Sanatana Goswami, Lord Caitanya said "by the force of your devotional service you can purify the whole universe." You have demonstrated how to use the mind, intelligence and body fully in service to the Lord and as a result you have surcharged New Zealand's devotees and further a-field with the dynamic devotional mood of sacrifice so that others can come in contact with devotional service.
Gurudeva, may the power of your devotional qualities touch and turn others' and my heart to the desire of increased devotion and commitment to our devotional service. Today I beg for your mercy and I pray for constant shelter at your lotus feet.
Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Sandrananda devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
For your Vyasa puja offering this year I wanted to attempt to glorify you. You, who is so dear to many others and me.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam there is a list of all of the twenty-six qualities of a vaisnava. I have been examining them and spotting them within your person and have listed only a few of them due to space and time restriction.
A person who is unaffected by attachment and envy is said to possess equilibrium.
You have always preferred to live life as a renounciant ever since coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada's books. You certainly not attached. With a deep Krsna consciousness you hold a reverence for all life, as you act on the basis of a non-violent attitude to all living beings. Your motive is always to share Krsna consciousness with everyone who approaches you. Thank you for providing many others and me with your shelter.
A person who is very charitably disposed is called magnanimous.
You are always ready to instruct any interested person in how to attain the most valuable gift of love of Krsna. What you offer so charitably to others and me is unimaginably magnanimous.
A person who does not express his mind to everyone and whose plans are very difficult to understand is called grave.
You are always surprising devotees by your ever-fresh and new ways of pushing on the san kirtan movement. One example is how you surprise devotees by positioning them in different strategic parts the world; Wellington, Hamilton, Manchester, Auckland, Palmerston North, Otaki.
A person who can tolerate all kinds of offenses from the opposite party is known to be forgiving.
There are many envious people in the material world that you come in contact with when you preach, but you tolerate them and continue on with your service as their well-wisher.
A person who eats only as much as required.
I can recall a time when you were taking prasadam that Carana Renu dd had prepared for you and you turned away the temptation of taking a second helping with a line "This is so good, I could have more but that would be greedy. As the saying goes - save prasadam for another day!" You always lead others and me by your good example.
A devotee performs welfare work for everyone.
In praising the ideal devotee Sanatana Goswami, Lord Caitanya said "by the force of your devotional service you can purify the whole universe." You have demonstrated how to use the mind, intelligence and body fully in service to the Lord and as a result you have surcharged New Zealand's devotees and further a-field with the dynamic devotional mood of sacrifice so that others can come in contact with devotional service.
Gurudeva, may the power of your devotional qualities touch and turn others' and my heart to the desire of increased devotion and commitment to our devotional service. Today I beg for your mercy and I pray for constant shelter at your lotus feet.
Your servant and spiritual daughter,
Sandrananda devi dasi
Sergey Didenko
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Let me try to glorify your Divine Grace! It is a few years since when I got the fortune of meeting you by Krishna's mercy. You always inspire all of us to surrender to Krishna and endevor in devotional service. You show us the example of what a true Vaisnava and a disciple should be.
Always chanting, you are mercifully disclosing Their true glory and teaching us the proper understanding of the spiritual path.
Your seminars remove the cover of illusion from the surrounding world and insert the transcendental knowledge in our hearts!
Let your glory spread throughout all the three worlds!
your unworthy disciple,
Bhakta Sergey Didenko
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Let me try to glorify your Divine Grace! It is a few years since when I got the fortune of meeting you by Krishna's mercy. You always inspire all of us to surrender to Krishna and endevor in devotional service. You show us the example of what a true Vaisnava and a disciple should be.
Always chanting, you are mercifully disclosing Their true glory and teaching us the proper understanding of the spiritual path.
Your seminars remove the cover of illusion from the surrounding world and insert the transcendental knowledge in our hearts!
Let your glory spread throughout all the three worlds!
your unworthy disciple,
Bhakta Sergey Didenko
Sevamrita devi dasi
(back to top)
My dear spiritual father, Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Once a devotee read out to me a part out of Transcendental Adventure, compilation of Srila Prabhupada's pastime in New Zealand and Australia.
One disciple was driving Srila Prabhupada in the Auckland city. It was Srila Prabhupada's first visit to New Zealand, Srila Prabhupada asked the driver- disciple. " Do they eat dogs here?"
The disciple was asked the same question by Srila Prabhupada in Hong Kong. Back then, the answer was " yes". This time he could say, " No, Srila Prabhupada. People in New Zealand don't eat dogs". " Oh, very good", Srila Prabhupada replied."
The devotee reading this story laughed. "Isn't it so funny?" Instead of laughing, I felt my face turning blank and heart sank. 'Oh- uh What would have been Srila Prabhupada's reaction if he came to Korea?!' Although I was never brave enough to try out myself, Koreans DO eat dogs, as you know.
But here I am! Scooped out of such a low-graded culture, now I am plunged into the ocean of devotees association, the holy name, Srila Prabhupada's books. I feel these are available to me only by your compassion and mercy, who took up your Gurudeva's mission into your heart.
Recently, on sankirtana I stopped an Islander man aged late 20's. He was a butcher. " Have you heard of karma?" I asked him. " Uh, trying not to think about it aye". I showed him the picture in the Bhagavad-Gita where a man with cow's head is ready to kill a cow with a man's head. " To my surprise, tears were shooting out of his eyes. He mumbled, " Does that mean that if I kill 1000 animals I'll be killed by 1000 animals?" I nodded. "If I read this book, I'll feel horrible. Anyway, I don't kill the animals. I just cut them, right at the end of the process". I tried to pacified him that the book teaches how to get out of karma. Still the man wanted to go back to ignorance. I begged and forced him to give me a few coins. "Just a small book as a gift for you", I handed him your book, Perfect Escape. Within your books, you'll be leading him to Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, right under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada. So he has got the chance to escape the heavy material existence. Gurudeva, has the butcher now started his devotional service?
Gurudeva, how can I develop the sincere desire to go deeper into the never-ending ocean of Srila Prabhupada's mercy and swim vigorously so that the ocean water will splash upon others?
Please continue to work on transforming and purifying my heart and head to take the mission of publishing and distributing the sastra as my life and soul. You know well of my disqualification -- pride, ignorance and selfishness (and more). Please do not give up on me. Please continue to train me to let Srila Prabhupada's mission pump my heart and become the source of my life; as it is yours.
Gurudeva, thank you for being my father. I feel very fortunate to have your shelter, who is passing down the the best family business- preaching.
Trying to be your good daughter
Sevamrita devi dasi
(back to top)
My dear spiritual father, Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Once a devotee read out to me a part out of Transcendental Adventure, compilation of Srila Prabhupada's pastime in New Zealand and Australia.
One disciple was driving Srila Prabhupada in the Auckland city. It was Srila Prabhupada's first visit to New Zealand, Srila Prabhupada asked the driver- disciple. " Do they eat dogs here?"
The disciple was asked the same question by Srila Prabhupada in Hong Kong. Back then, the answer was " yes". This time he could say, " No, Srila Prabhupada. People in New Zealand don't eat dogs". " Oh, very good", Srila Prabhupada replied."
The devotee reading this story laughed. "Isn't it so funny?" Instead of laughing, I felt my face turning blank and heart sank. 'Oh- uh What would have been Srila Prabhupada's reaction if he came to Korea?!' Although I was never brave enough to try out myself, Koreans DO eat dogs, as you know.
But here I am! Scooped out of such a low-graded culture, now I am plunged into the ocean of devotees association, the holy name, Srila Prabhupada's books. I feel these are available to me only by your compassion and mercy, who took up your Gurudeva's mission into your heart.
Recently, on sankirtana I stopped an Islander man aged late 20's. He was a butcher. " Have you heard of karma?" I asked him. " Uh, trying not to think about it aye". I showed him the picture in the Bhagavad-Gita where a man with cow's head is ready to kill a cow with a man's head. " To my surprise, tears were shooting out of his eyes. He mumbled, " Does that mean that if I kill 1000 animals I'll be killed by 1000 animals?" I nodded. "If I read this book, I'll feel horrible. Anyway, I don't kill the animals. I just cut them, right at the end of the process". I tried to pacified him that the book teaches how to get out of karma. Still the man wanted to go back to ignorance. I begged and forced him to give me a few coins. "Just a small book as a gift for you", I handed him your book, Perfect Escape. Within your books, you'll be leading him to Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, right under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada. So he has got the chance to escape the heavy material existence. Gurudeva, has the butcher now started his devotional service?
Gurudeva, how can I develop the sincere desire to go deeper into the never-ending ocean of Srila Prabhupada's mercy and swim vigorously so that the ocean water will splash upon others?
Please continue to work on transforming and purifying my heart and head to take the mission of publishing and distributing the sastra as my life and soul. You know well of my disqualification -- pride, ignorance and selfishness (and more). Please do not give up on me. Please continue to train me to let Srila Prabhupada's mission pump my heart and become the source of my life; as it is yours.
Gurudeva, thank you for being my father. I feel very fortunate to have your shelter, who is passing down the the best family business- preaching.
Trying to be your good daughter
Sevamrita devi dasi
Shastra krit das
(back to top)
Dearmost Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this auspicious occasion of your divine appearance day i am begging Krishna to kindly keep you around for a long time in this planet . I'm begging Krishna to kindly give me the strenght to become a sincere disciple and bring new people to your lotus feet. Srila Gurudev please bless me so i will become a simple humble devotee with no separate agendas and ulterior motives and just spend all my energy in spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya and Krishna.
Your aspiring servant
Shastra krit das
(back to top)
Dearmost Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this auspicious occasion of your divine appearance day i am begging Krishna to kindly keep you around for a long time in this planet . I'm begging Krishna to kindly give me the strenght to become a sincere disciple and bring new people to your lotus feet. Srila Gurudev please bless me so i will become a simple humble devotee with no separate agendas and ulterior motives and just spend all my energy in spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya and Krishna.
Your aspiring servant
Shastra krit das
Sita-pati das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my sincere obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet!
Thank you for your persistence and focused determination in service to your spiritual master. By this, I can see the mission of Srila Prabhupada being passed on to a new generation.
As time marches on I get more first-hand realization about the psychological effects of the changes of life season. This is increasing the depth of my appreciation for your life work.
Each year I write my offering late. There are two reasons for this. One is that due to my passionate nature I'm always over committed time-wise. This year I assumed that the Vyasa puja and the offering were due on the weekend of the festival in New Zealand. That's one reason, but the other is that when it comes time to write this I suddenly discover that I am lacking qualification to do it. I wait for the other disciples to publish their offerings, then I read them, especially the offering of my senior god brother Mahavan das, to purify myself.
One of your god brothers said that in the presence of the spiritual master we should feel two things simultaneously: a sense of our own disqualification, and a sense of our highest potential.
At this time of the year, when it comes time to write an offering to you, I feel more strongly than ever my own disqualification. Is that a rare glimpse of reality, or just another manifestation of my self-centredness?
Probably both.
I have a good memory - I remember all the instructions that you have given me. However, my execution is lagging. I am currently struggling to implement instructions you gave me 10 years ago. I seize on to one thing - trying to follow your example of determination in the service of the spiritual master. It will take me lifetimes, but I am not going to give up. The instructions keep stacking up, my ability to implement them grows slowly, and to process them all will take me lifetimes. Repaying my debt to you will take at least as long.
O Gurudeva, how can I ask you to give me one more drop of your mercy? You have already given me so much.
In Caitanya Bhagavat, Srila Vrndavan das Thakur recounts that Advaita Prabhu would fast each day until he had written a commentary on a Bhagavad-gita verse. One day he encountered the verse 13.14:
"Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes, heads and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In this way He exists, pervading everything."
He struggled to find a personal interpretation for this verse, but could not think of one. It seemed to directly and unequivocally indicate the impersonal aspect of the Supreme Lord. However, he could not bring himself to write about anything except the direct personal manifestation of the Lord. He went on fasting beyond the time he would normal take his breakfast, but he could not think of anything to write to explain the verse. Suddenly, he had a flash of insight. Later, Lord Caitanya spoke with him and reminded him of this time, saying: "You remember that time? I know about that, because it was I, from within your heart, who gave you that insight."
Advaita Prabhu explained: "In this verse the devotees of the Lord are described. They are are everywhere, and they carry out the work of the Lord in this world. They are the limbs of the Supreme Lord, and their interest is non-different from His interest."
You are such a limb of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and through you He realizes one of His pastimes in this world: "The Loving Search for the Lost Servant".
I recall the words to this song, full of deep meaning:
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Your grace has set me free."
I remember the first time I heard you speak at the Loft in Newmarket, and immediately I thought: "I have found my guru!" Had I understood what was really happening I would have thought: "Now I have been found."
Now, however, I feel more lost than ever.
The news is filled with the vaporization of the financial institutions propping up the international economy. The people have been cheated and exploited by leaders who have the duty of their care. The chemistry of the oceans is changing due to bio-depletion. Environmental disaster looms overhead.
Prabhupada's purports are filled with instructions on the practical matters of this world, all in relation to the bigger picture of Krishna Consciousness and Self-Realization.
One devotee once said: "Everything is in Srila Prabhupada's books. Why are they going to a non-devotee to learn about leadership?"
I replied: "No, the question is: why are they not coming to us?"
You are expertly unpacking and implementing the practical advice that Srila Prabhupada has given, along with the instructions for accessing higher spiritual realities.
When will I become capable and worthy of assisting you?
This very fallen and useless servant simply weeps.
Your servant,
Sita-pati das
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my sincere obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet!
Thank you for your persistence and focused determination in service to your spiritual master. By this, I can see the mission of Srila Prabhupada being passed on to a new generation.
As time marches on I get more first-hand realization about the psychological effects of the changes of life season. This is increasing the depth of my appreciation for your life work.
Each year I write my offering late. There are two reasons for this. One is that due to my passionate nature I'm always over committed time-wise. This year I assumed that the Vyasa puja and the offering were due on the weekend of the festival in New Zealand. That's one reason, but the other is that when it comes time to write this I suddenly discover that I am lacking qualification to do it. I wait for the other disciples to publish their offerings, then I read them, especially the offering of my senior god brother Mahavan das, to purify myself.
One of your god brothers said that in the presence of the spiritual master we should feel two things simultaneously: a sense of our own disqualification, and a sense of our highest potential.
At this time of the year, when it comes time to write an offering to you, I feel more strongly than ever my own disqualification. Is that a rare glimpse of reality, or just another manifestation of my self-centredness?
Probably both.
I have a good memory - I remember all the instructions that you have given me. However, my execution is lagging. I am currently struggling to implement instructions you gave me 10 years ago. I seize on to one thing - trying to follow your example of determination in the service of the spiritual master. It will take me lifetimes, but I am not going to give up. The instructions keep stacking up, my ability to implement them grows slowly, and to process them all will take me lifetimes. Repaying my debt to you will take at least as long.
O Gurudeva, how can I ask you to give me one more drop of your mercy? You have already given me so much.
In Caitanya Bhagavat, Srila Vrndavan das Thakur recounts that Advaita Prabhu would fast each day until he had written a commentary on a Bhagavad-gita verse. One day he encountered the verse 13.14:
"Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes, heads and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In this way He exists, pervading everything."
He struggled to find a personal interpretation for this verse, but could not think of one. It seemed to directly and unequivocally indicate the impersonal aspect of the Supreme Lord. However, he could not bring himself to write about anything except the direct personal manifestation of the Lord. He went on fasting beyond the time he would normal take his breakfast, but he could not think of anything to write to explain the verse. Suddenly, he had a flash of insight. Later, Lord Caitanya spoke with him and reminded him of this time, saying: "You remember that time? I know about that, because it was I, from within your heart, who gave you that insight."
Advaita Prabhu explained: "In this verse the devotees of the Lord are described. They are are everywhere, and they carry out the work of the Lord in this world. They are the limbs of the Supreme Lord, and their interest is non-different from His interest."
You are such a limb of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and through you He realizes one of His pastimes in this world: "The Loving Search for the Lost Servant".
I recall the words to this song, full of deep meaning:
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Your grace has set me free."
I remember the first time I heard you speak at the Loft in Newmarket, and immediately I thought: "I have found my guru!" Had I understood what was really happening I would have thought: "Now I have been found."
Now, however, I feel more lost than ever.
The news is filled with the vaporization of the financial institutions propping up the international economy. The people have been cheated and exploited by leaders who have the duty of their care. The chemistry of the oceans is changing due to bio-depletion. Environmental disaster looms overhead.
Prabhupada's purports are filled with instructions on the practical matters of this world, all in relation to the bigger picture of Krishna Consciousness and Self-Realization.
One devotee once said: "Everything is in Srila Prabhupada's books. Why are they going to a non-devotee to learn about leadership?"
I replied: "No, the question is: why are they not coming to us?"
You are expertly unpacking and implementing the practical advice that Srila Prabhupada has given, along with the instructions for accessing higher spiritual realities.
When will I become capable and worthy of assisting you?
This very fallen and useless servant simply weeps.
Your servant,
Sita-pati das
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
(back to top)
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
You are the guiding star in so many of our lives; it is a very rare person who is qualified to lead people out of the darkest regions of ignorance. Without your appearance on this planet and without your selfless attempts to serve your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, where would I be right now? I dread to think.
Guru Maharaja, when I first met the devotees and your divine self, I was studying at university. As you well know, being a selfish artist at heart, I was acting according to my whims and my moods and as a result I did not work very hard for my degree.
I still have dreams of getting to the end of my course and suddenly realising "Oh no, I've done hardly any work, how am I going to pass? I've left it way too late!"
As I was sitting contemplating my spiritual life one day, it suddenly struck me, this tendency of not taking things seriously until the last minute is also affecting my Krishna Consciousness. However I may try to kid myself that I am an all-weather devotee, the stark reality is that that I am a fair weather wannabe devotee. How far will this attitude take me in approaching your lotus feet?
Now I know that your attitude in serving your spiritual master was one of complete dedication, determination and steadfastness through thick and thin, otherwise how could you have sacrificed your whole life to bringing people to KC while simultaneously encouraging and enlivening everyone to preach and distribute books? How could a fair weather devotee act so selflessly? It's not possible. You are the emblem of an all weather devotee.
That goes to show that you have taken full shelter of Srila Prabhupadas instructions and as a reward you have been given so much spiritual strength and power which can be seen through your exemplary character, your dynamic preaching and your selfless outreach.
Your service to Srila Prabhupada is done with such bhakti that each and every person who takes shelter of you, receives such personal care from both you and your network of dedicated disciples.
My dear spiritual father, whilst I was at university, the most amazing thing happened; I met you. From that point, because of your encouragement and care, I started to produce projects at university that my teachers were very pleased with.
Under your guidance, I took up the process of KC and from that point, I have been coasting along, reading the books, distributing the books, in my usual freestyle way, always considering when I feel like it and when I don't. Never caring for all the time wasted, always caring for my mind and senses.
Seeing how I have been serving you is a complete embarrassment.
If I go on like this, in my usual style, true service to you will be a last minute thing.
If I go on like this, in my usual style, the real spreading of mercy will be the last song I'll sing.
I am a helpless child praying to you on this day, to please bless me with even a fraction of the love and surrender you have for Srila Prabhupada. Please give me the spiritual strength for life-long duty consciousness and the resolute determination needed to execute your instructions.
Crying for a glimpse of the dust from your lotus feet,
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
(back to top)
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance.
You are the guiding star in so many of our lives; it is a very rare person who is qualified to lead people out of the darkest regions of ignorance. Without your appearance on this planet and without your selfless attempts to serve your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, where would I be right now? I dread to think.
Guru Maharaja, when I first met the devotees and your divine self, I was studying at university. As you well know, being a selfish artist at heart, I was acting according to my whims and my moods and as a result I did not work very hard for my degree.
I still have dreams of getting to the end of my course and suddenly realising "Oh no, I've done hardly any work, how am I going to pass? I've left it way too late!"
As I was sitting contemplating my spiritual life one day, it suddenly struck me, this tendency of not taking things seriously until the last minute is also affecting my Krishna Consciousness. However I may try to kid myself that I am an all-weather devotee, the stark reality is that that I am a fair weather wannabe devotee. How far will this attitude take me in approaching your lotus feet?
Now I know that your attitude in serving your spiritual master was one of complete dedication, determination and steadfastness through thick and thin, otherwise how could you have sacrificed your whole life to bringing people to KC while simultaneously encouraging and enlivening everyone to preach and distribute books? How could a fair weather devotee act so selflessly? It's not possible. You are the emblem of an all weather devotee.
That goes to show that you have taken full shelter of Srila Prabhupadas instructions and as a reward you have been given so much spiritual strength and power which can be seen through your exemplary character, your dynamic preaching and your selfless outreach.
Your service to Srila Prabhupada is done with such bhakti that each and every person who takes shelter of you, receives such personal care from both you and your network of dedicated disciples.
My dear spiritual father, whilst I was at university, the most amazing thing happened; I met you. From that point, because of your encouragement and care, I started to produce projects at university that my teachers were very pleased with.
Under your guidance, I took up the process of KC and from that point, I have been coasting along, reading the books, distributing the books, in my usual freestyle way, always considering when I feel like it and when I don't. Never caring for all the time wasted, always caring for my mind and senses.
Seeing how I have been serving you is a complete embarrassment.
If I go on like this, in my usual style, true service to you will be a last minute thing.
If I go on like this, in my usual style, the real spreading of mercy will be the last song I'll sing.
I am a helpless child praying to you on this day, to please bless me with even a fraction of the love and surrender you have for Srila Prabhupada. Please give me the spiritual strength for life-long duty consciousness and the resolute determination needed to execute your instructions.
Crying for a glimpse of the dust from your lotus feet,
Sukanthi Radha devi dasi
Sukhi Krsna dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In many christian spiritualist Churches there is a practice called speaking in tongues in which the practitioner desires to offer the lord praise and appreciation but is unable to do so in his own language and so ultimately ends up uttering some unintelligible gibberish in an uneducated attempt to glorify the lord. I find myself identifying with this situation. I would like to offer you the suitable glorification and prayers that a devotee of your stature deserves but I just find myself incapable of producing anything of any value. fortunately the saying goes that "action speaks louder than words"
so This year I would like to make my offering to you one of a practical nature. from the 3rd of october I will be going out on book distribution as a regular part of my service. I am hopeful that I will be able to please you by this effort.
happy to be your disciple,
Sukhi Krsna dasa
(back to top)
Dear Gurudeva.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In many christian spiritualist Churches there is a practice called speaking in tongues in which the practitioner desires to offer the lord praise and appreciation but is unable to do so in his own language and so ultimately ends up uttering some unintelligible gibberish in an uneducated attempt to glorify the lord. I find myself identifying with this situation. I would like to offer you the suitable glorification and prayers that a devotee of your stature deserves but I just find myself incapable of producing anything of any value. fortunately the saying goes that "action speaks louder than words"
so This year I would like to make my offering to you one of a practical nature. from the 3rd of october I will be going out on book distribution as a regular part of my service. I am hopeful that I will be able to please you by this effort.
happy to be your disciple,
Sukhi Krsna dasa
Svetadvipa Das
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada
You are the one constant in a world of variables.
When most of the time I don't know if I'm coming or going, you know exactly where you are going. so let me shout it to the world, "Hey everybody, he knows where to go, lets follow him"!
You are the heat in a world that's so cold.
When I'm shivering in the darkness of life, you provide me heat. Then I feel contented again and ready to move on.
You are a sherpa on the everest of kali yuga.
When I'm traversing the cliff face of existance, you guide my step to where I can safely tread. And when I slip, you grab me and secure me back on the path.
You are the pastry chef of the sweetness of Bhakti. When Material life is serving up dry crackers, You cut me a big slice of the Bhakti cake and say "here, try this, I guarantee you'll like it". And I do !!!
You are the carpenter of the house of Gauranga. When I'm are left out to weather the storm, you built on the foundations that prabhupada layed a loft in which to get shelter. In this place I feel safe.
Guru Maharaja - Thank you, thank you, thakyou.
you are a magnanimous servant of Prabhupada and Param Para, and I only wish to express my appreciation and gratitude for your amazing activities and selfless endeavour for the benefit of everyone. Hare Krsna !
your servant
Svetadvipa Das
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada
You are the one constant in a world of variables.
When most of the time I don't know if I'm coming or going, you know exactly where you are going. so let me shout it to the world, "Hey everybody, he knows where to go, lets follow him"!
You are the heat in a world that's so cold.
When I'm shivering in the darkness of life, you provide me heat. Then I feel contented again and ready to move on.
You are a sherpa on the everest of kali yuga.
When I'm traversing the cliff face of existance, you guide my step to where I can safely tread. And when I slip, you grab me and secure me back on the path.
You are the pastry chef of the sweetness of Bhakti. When Material life is serving up dry crackers, You cut me a big slice of the Bhakti cake and say "here, try this, I guarantee you'll like it". And I do !!!
You are the carpenter of the house of Gauranga. When I'm are left out to weather the storm, you built on the foundations that prabhupada layed a loft in which to get shelter. In this place I feel safe.
Guru Maharaja - Thank you, thank you, thakyou.
you are a magnanimous servant of Prabhupada and Param Para, and I only wish to express my appreciation and gratitude for your amazing activities and selfless endeavour for the benefit of everyone. Hare Krsna !
your servant
Svetadvipa Das
Swarupa sakti devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please Accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you gurudeva on your vyasa puja day
The year has been wonderful filled with so much opportunity for service and purification.As i read your offering to Srila prabhupada this year on his vyasa puja, i was struck with how much deep realization and understanding you have for Srila Prabhupada, his ISKCON and mood.I could get a glimpse of your transcendental realizations and mood and mission for your beloved spiritual master.That is the duty of a disciple, to be in tune with the mood and mission of the spiritual master which the Srimad Bhagavatam has highly emphasized.Service to the Guru is the life and soul of a disciple.
To me, you come out as a top devotee of Srila Prabhupada.Risking everything in service to guru.Your vision and understanding of Lord Caitanya's mission is light years way ahead of struggling saddhakas, especially myself.Being a Prabhupada Bhakta, you do not only uligize him but you are like him.You preach effortlessly and inject enthusiasm and life to everyone you meet.Giving all of us an opportunity to make our way back home.
You have all the qualities of a maha devotee.Your conversation, activities and pastimes are purely for the pleasure of Radha Syamasundara.How you have come to this material world and not be affected by it is all part of your transcendental lila and as the years go by i see just how you are protected by Krsna and blessed by him.You are so sold out to Srila Prabhupada.Last year in Cape Town when we celebrated your vyasa puja, everything that came out of your mouth was glorifying your beloved guru maharaj.You took no credit for anything and explained how you were just trying to humbly represent the parampara.In such a state of consciousness how can one not surrendor unto you?Guru tattva is indeed extraordinary and at the same time so simple just as i am simply your student and disciple.
As i refelct upon this year, i have nothing to complain about and have evrything to be thankful for.The suffering that i experienced this year was unbearable but knowing that you were there in your divine instructions and through the devotees i survived.Actually this was the most exciting and testing in my devotional career thus far .I most enjoyed the great lessons because i could feel you around me.After months of intense devotional service or as i would put it, tough love i finally got a cool head and everything was better.You maintained me the past 6 months.Through chanting i was always with you.Your number 1 instructions, attentive chanting of the holy name, shealter of Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
My number one lesson of the year and what i am eternally indebted to you for is that you made me realize the potency of guru vani.I always wondered how it would be possible for me to survive when the time comes for you to go back to Radha Syamasundara.I have had this offensive mentality of thinking that the guru is only in geographic vicinity.Just as it is the guru who makes krsna appear in the heart similaarly it is only by your grace that i can relish this realization of the potency of guruvani.
Thank you for opening my eyes and heart.I have shed a lot of tears this year but i will continue to work hard just for your pleasure.I will do anything you say, go wherever and serve in whatever way.I am your eternal servant.Although i am not qualified, you have the shakti to transform my heart and consciousness.
Lastly maharaj, i pray that you may again give me the blessing of serving alongside dhruva prabhu and mother parijata by whose association i have always remembered your lotus feet.Thank you for giving me such caliber of devotees who inturn gave me association of our beloved Bhakti Tirtha Swami.I am eternally indebt to both of you, staunch sons of Srila Prabhupada.
My only desire is to offer my life in service to Guru, Gauranga and the Vaisnavas.It is beneficial for a disciple to ask for blessings on this day.I pray that i may be able to experience all the purification that i need to become a pure devotee of the lord.No matter how intense or painfull it may be.It is all worth Krsna prema.
There is certainly a lot of nectar in serving in seperation.Even if i do not see you , how can i ever complain.I know you will always be there.You have been extremely kind to such a fallen soul.That is one of your most dynamite qualities.You are so kind and tolerant.You have given me amazing association, sadhu sanga, transcendental literature and many more jewels of devotional service.You are always giving and know it is my turn to give to you.As you said, it is time to live a life of sacrifice for Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya's mission.
Praying to remain a beggar at your lotus feet eternally
your servant
Swarupa sakti devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please Accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you gurudeva on your vyasa puja day
The year has been wonderful filled with so much opportunity for service and purification.As i read your offering to Srila prabhupada this year on his vyasa puja, i was struck with how much deep realization and understanding you have for Srila Prabhupada, his ISKCON and mood.I could get a glimpse of your transcendental realizations and mood and mission for your beloved spiritual master.That is the duty of a disciple, to be in tune with the mood and mission of the spiritual master which the Srimad Bhagavatam has highly emphasized.Service to the Guru is the life and soul of a disciple.
To me, you come out as a top devotee of Srila Prabhupada.Risking everything in service to guru.Your vision and understanding of Lord Caitanya's mission is light years way ahead of struggling saddhakas, especially myself.Being a Prabhupada Bhakta, you do not only uligize him but you are like him.You preach effortlessly and inject enthusiasm and life to everyone you meet.Giving all of us an opportunity to make our way back home.
You have all the qualities of a maha devotee.Your conversation, activities and pastimes are purely for the pleasure of Radha Syamasundara.How you have come to this material world and not be affected by it is all part of your transcendental lila and as the years go by i see just how you are protected by Krsna and blessed by him.You are so sold out to Srila Prabhupada.Last year in Cape Town when we celebrated your vyasa puja, everything that came out of your mouth was glorifying your beloved guru maharaj.You took no credit for anything and explained how you were just trying to humbly represent the parampara.In such a state of consciousness how can one not surrendor unto you?Guru tattva is indeed extraordinary and at the same time so simple just as i am simply your student and disciple.
As i refelct upon this year, i have nothing to complain about and have evrything to be thankful for.The suffering that i experienced this year was unbearable but knowing that you were there in your divine instructions and through the devotees i survived.Actually this was the most exciting and testing in my devotional career thus far .I most enjoyed the great lessons because i could feel you around me.After months of intense devotional service or as i would put it, tough love i finally got a cool head and everything was better.You maintained me the past 6 months.Through chanting i was always with you.Your number 1 instructions, attentive chanting of the holy name, shealter of Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
My number one lesson of the year and what i am eternally indebted to you for is that you made me realize the potency of guru vani.I always wondered how it would be possible for me to survive when the time comes for you to go back to Radha Syamasundara.I have had this offensive mentality of thinking that the guru is only in geographic vicinity.Just as it is the guru who makes krsna appear in the heart similaarly it is only by your grace that i can relish this realization of the potency of guruvani.
Thank you for opening my eyes and heart.I have shed a lot of tears this year but i will continue to work hard just for your pleasure.I will do anything you say, go wherever and serve in whatever way.I am your eternal servant.Although i am not qualified, you have the shakti to transform my heart and consciousness.
Lastly maharaj, i pray that you may again give me the blessing of serving alongside dhruva prabhu and mother parijata by whose association i have always remembered your lotus feet.Thank you for giving me such caliber of devotees who inturn gave me association of our beloved Bhakti Tirtha Swami.I am eternally indebt to both of you, staunch sons of Srila Prabhupada.
My only desire is to offer my life in service to Guru, Gauranga and the Vaisnavas.It is beneficial for a disciple to ask for blessings on this day.I pray that i may be able to experience all the purification that i need to become a pure devotee of the lord.No matter how intense or painfull it may be.It is all worth Krsna prema.
There is certainly a lot of nectar in serving in seperation.Even if i do not see you , how can i ever complain.I know you will always be there.You have been extremely kind to such a fallen soul.That is one of your most dynamite qualities.You are so kind and tolerant.You have given me amazing association, sadhu sanga, transcendental literature and many more jewels of devotional service.You are always giving and know it is my turn to give to you.As you said, it is time to live a life of sacrifice for Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya's mission.
Praying to remain a beggar at your lotus feet eternally
your servant
Swarupa sakti devi dasi
Syama gauri devi dasi
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Dear Guru Maharaj.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It's early 2004, just outside a little house turned into a temple, almost 20 devotees are dancing, calling out the holy names in a kirtan, on a side street in Soweto, one of South Africa's rough ghettos. Why were the devotees so enlivened? The holy name of course and the inspiring, transformational and realized Krsna conscious words of Krsna's dear devotee, you, Guru Maharaj.
As you drove off to your next destination, I watched the car distancing away thinking, what an incredible person, has he always been like that? Years later, by your care, kindness, patience and selfless dealings, I am a small part of the happily growing and service thriving community at Gaura Yoga. It's beyond my understanding how you can give yourself to many of us under your care. Each devotee comes with their own personae, their own ways, and dynamic character, but you can tap into and past all these and transform that person, encourage and spiritually nurture them. We all feel like" Guru Maharaj said this to me"-but the instructions apply to everyone.
In ordinary life it's impossible to expand equal care further than a small family but because you are a first class devotee , a Krsna Conscious person you see potential and give opportunity to everyone willing. "A Krsna conscious person has full knowledge of this (the equality of the soul), and therefore he is truly learned and has equal vision" - purport from Bg. 5.18
Guru Maharaj I would like to serve you to my best ability, you have given me this wonderful management service and I am grateful for it's intensity, mental absorption and everyday learning curbs. It's really sweet to be dunked into intense service; I pray that I can sincerely follow your instructions and assist you in the long run. Sometimes you have instructed "Take strength from me, take it"-with that I would also like to beg for Krsna conscious intelligence to carry out your instructions and become reliable and usable to you.
Just as you were recently revealing in a class, Lord Caitanya's care and relationships with His devotees you always take time to do your best in caring for devotees physical and spiritual needs. With no doubt and with great relief I am happy to have found my master and father again after countless unknown births and deaths. You wanted more of us to step up and take responsibility, well please consider me as a currently unqualified applicant ready to assist you in devotional service. Aspiring to give to others what you are giving to me
Your servant
Syama gauri devi dasi
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaj.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It's early 2004, just outside a little house turned into a temple, almost 20 devotees are dancing, calling out the holy names in a kirtan, on a side street in Soweto, one of South Africa's rough ghettos. Why were the devotees so enlivened? The holy name of course and the inspiring, transformational and realized Krsna conscious words of Krsna's dear devotee, you, Guru Maharaj.
As you drove off to your next destination, I watched the car distancing away thinking, what an incredible person, has he always been like that? Years later, by your care, kindness, patience and selfless dealings, I am a small part of the happily growing and service thriving community at Gaura Yoga. It's beyond my understanding how you can give yourself to many of us under your care. Each devotee comes with their own personae, their own ways, and dynamic character, but you can tap into and past all these and transform that person, encourage and spiritually nurture them. We all feel like" Guru Maharaj said this to me"-but the instructions apply to everyone.
In ordinary life it's impossible to expand equal care further than a small family but because you are a first class devotee , a Krsna Conscious person you see potential and give opportunity to everyone willing. "A Krsna conscious person has full knowledge of this (the equality of the soul), and therefore he is truly learned and has equal vision" - purport from Bg. 5.18
Guru Maharaj I would like to serve you to my best ability, you have given me this wonderful management service and I am grateful for it's intensity, mental absorption and everyday learning curbs. It's really sweet to be dunked into intense service; I pray that I can sincerely follow your instructions and assist you in the long run. Sometimes you have instructed "Take strength from me, take it"-with that I would also like to beg for Krsna conscious intelligence to carry out your instructions and become reliable and usable to you.
Just as you were recently revealing in a class, Lord Caitanya's care and relationships with His devotees you always take time to do your best in caring for devotees physical and spiritual needs. With no doubt and with great relief I am happy to have found my master and father again after countless unknown births and deaths. You wanted more of us to step up and take responsibility, well please consider me as a currently unqualified applicant ready to assist you in devotional service. Aspiring to give to others what you are giving to me
Your servant
Syama gauri devi dasi
Thakur Saranga Das
(back to top)
"Namo Om vishnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Prachare purva dakshyam ca bhaktachare pravinata
parartha tapi karunyam yasya sarve tapi namah"
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva on this most auspicious occasion of your appearance day. I bow down to your lotus feet and offer dandavat pranam to you again and again and chant your pranam mantra again and again to my heart’s content. Having absolutely no qualification to glorify you, this is my only means to offer my homage.
In the assembly of your most qualified disciples glorifying you with appropriate prayers and homages, I feel very poor & wretched at heart, as I’ve no fragrant flowers of devotional service in my hand to offer to your lotus feet, My hands are empty and tired of serving "Krpana"and " Durjana".I can only fold these hands, and pray for your mercy to enable me to use these hands in serving your glorious servants who dedicate their entire life in devotional service and offer that service as their homage to you.
Being blessed by you, they constantly taste the nectar of Krishna consciousness and distribute to others. while living in this dense dark age of Kali ,they possess and display the divine qualities of the demigods. although,just a fraction of your oppulence, still so bright and beautiful, they inherit those qualities from you and display them most generously to represent you, having no such qualities how can I ever glorify you?
Out of your unlimited compassion you’ve created such a wonderful network of devotees all over the world,especially in new zealand, rescuing us one by one from clutches of Maya and planting the life saving seed of bhakti in our heart and then constantly caring, providing nourishment and protecting from further suffering.
In His "Guruvandana" , Srila Sanatana Goswami writes,
" Jivera nistar lagi nanda-suta Hari
Bhuvane prokash hon Guru rupa dhori"
" To deliver the conditioned souls from the suffering, Hari, the son of Nanda appears in this material world in the form of Guru"
In their beautiful bengali songs and prayers Vaishnava acharyas emphasis this fundamental truth again and again. Although bengali happens to be my mother toungue, I still don’t realize this simple fact. Its so obvious and bright like blazing sun still I remain blindfolded in the darkness of ignorance.
So I bow down to your lotus feet gain and again and offer dandavat pranam Gurudeva and cry for your mercy to realize who you are ? and how can I use my so far useless life in serving you, unconditionally?
Aspiring to be the servant of your servant,
Thakur Saranga Das
(back to top)
"Namo Om vishnu padaya Krishna presthaya bhu tale
Srimate Devamrita Swami iti namine
Prachare purva dakshyam ca bhaktachare pravinata
parartha tapi karunyam yasya sarve tapi namah"
Dear Gurumaharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gurudeva on this most auspicious occasion of your appearance day. I bow down to your lotus feet and offer dandavat pranam to you again and again and chant your pranam mantra again and again to my heart’s content. Having absolutely no qualification to glorify you, this is my only means to offer my homage.
In the assembly of your most qualified disciples glorifying you with appropriate prayers and homages, I feel very poor & wretched at heart, as I’ve no fragrant flowers of devotional service in my hand to offer to your lotus feet, My hands are empty and tired of serving "Krpana"and " Durjana".I can only fold these hands, and pray for your mercy to enable me to use these hands in serving your glorious servants who dedicate their entire life in devotional service and offer that service as their homage to you.
Being blessed by you, they constantly taste the nectar of Krishna consciousness and distribute to others. while living in this dense dark age of Kali ,they possess and display the divine qualities of the demigods. although,just a fraction of your oppulence, still so bright and beautiful, they inherit those qualities from you and display them most generously to represent you, having no such qualities how can I ever glorify you?
Out of your unlimited compassion you’ve created such a wonderful network of devotees all over the world,especially in new zealand, rescuing us one by one from clutches of Maya and planting the life saving seed of bhakti in our heart and then constantly caring, providing nourishment and protecting from further suffering.
In His "Guruvandana" , Srila Sanatana Goswami writes,
" Jivera nistar lagi nanda-suta Hari
Bhuvane prokash hon Guru rupa dhori"
" To deliver the conditioned souls from the suffering, Hari, the son of Nanda appears in this material world in the form of Guru"
In their beautiful bengali songs and prayers Vaishnava acharyas emphasis this fundamental truth again and again. Although bengali happens to be my mother toungue, I still don’t realize this simple fact. Its so obvious and bright like blazing sun still I remain blindfolded in the darkness of ignorance.
So I bow down to your lotus feet gain and again and offer dandavat pranam Gurudeva and cry for your mercy to realize who you are ? and how can I use my so far useless life in serving you, unconditionally?
Aspiring to be the servant of your servant,
Thakur Saranga Das
Uddhava dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your service.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
TRI KALA GYA
The first time I saw you
Like the sun had risen
Didn't know at the time
But I'd made my decision.
You're my teacher my guide
Whom there's nothing I can hide
& when you think I'm ready
You'll remove all my pride.
Past Present Future
you got tha vision
when I make my moves
you're my supervision.
When my doubts & fears
Arise from my condition
I put on a disguise
& try to keep'em hidden.
But your Tri Kala Gya!
You got tha vision
You remove them with your scalpel
Like a surgeon with precision
So how can I thank you
For your cauless mercy
You've given me a drop
& its betta then Burfi!
I'll do everything for Krsna
If you show me how
Krsna with his flute
& Balaram with tha plough
I'll try my best to follow
The path you will pave
& some day I'l give you everything
Cause you're my Gurudeva
Please forgive me for my offences
Your aspiring servant,
Uddhava dasa
(back to top)
Dear Guru Maharaja,
please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your service.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
TRI KALA GYA
The first time I saw you
Like the sun had risen
Didn't know at the time
But I'd made my decision.
You're my teacher my guide
Whom there's nothing I can hide
& when you think I'm ready
You'll remove all my pride.
Past Present Future
you got tha vision
when I make my moves
you're my supervision.
When my doubts & fears
Arise from my condition
I put on a disguise
& try to keep'em hidden.
But your Tri Kala Gya!
You got tha vision
You remove them with your scalpel
Like a surgeon with precision
So how can I thank you
For your cauless mercy
You've given me a drop
& its betta then Burfi!
I'll do everything for Krsna
If you show me how
Krsna with his flute
& Balaram with tha plough
I'll try my best to follow
The path you will pave
& some day I'l give you everything
Cause you're my Gurudeva
Please forgive me for my offences
Your aspiring servant,
Uddhava dasa
