Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, our dearest ever well-wisher,
śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
vandoṅ mui sāvadhāna mate
yāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā yāi,
kṛṣṇa-prāpti haya yāhā haite
The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure
devotional service. I bow 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 Kṛṣṇa.
The Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 7.83) states:
kṛṣṇa-nāma-mahā-mantrera ei ta’ svabhāva
yei jape, tāra kṛṣṇe upajaye bhāva
It is the nature of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately
develops his loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa.
In your purport you write, “A neophyte disciple begins by hearing and chanting, associating with
devotees and practicing the regulative principles, and thus he vanquishes all of his unwanted bad
habits. In this way he develops attachment for Kṛṣṇa and cannot forget Kṛṣṇa even for a moment.
Bhāva is the almost successful stage of spiritual life.”
Its only by your boundless kindness, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that our small, diverse group here in
Brunei, a tiny, almost invisible speck on the world, finds the inspiration to take up the process of
chanting and hearing.
With your divine blessings and grace we started a second weekly Bhagavad-gītā study session on
Tuesdays for another group of expat colleagues from the oil industry and their families. We come
together to read the profound verses, translations, and nectarean purports by Your Divine Grace,
and to hear one another’s reflections. Now, we have two such Bhagavad-gītā study sessions each
week – on Saturdays and now Tuesdays – where new members, friends from the expat community,
join with eagerness and devotion.
And it’s only through your causeless mercy that we’ve also started small congregational Hare
Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra sixteen-round japa sessions on Ekādaśīs. It’s a humble attempt to encourage
our new members from the expat community to deepen their spiritual connection
Through your boundless grace a new endeavor has blossomed: interactive, fun, storytelling
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes designed for children ages 6–12. Every Friday evening, with the enthu-
siastic support of mothers from among the new members of the expat community, we gather to
share the wondrous tales of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in a fun and engaging way. These Friday evenings
are a delight, with both children and their mothers utterly captivated by hearing and discussing
the enchanting līlās of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, followed by the honoring of much-
awaited snack prasādam.
The auspicious month of Dāmodara continues to be the most joyful and busiest time of the
year. Last Kārttika, more than 200 ghee lamps were offered to Lord Dāmodara in various home
gatherings. These personal gatherings have stirred enthusiasm to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-
mantra, bringing a quiet but deep sense of connection among the new members in the expat
community.
Just as in years past, our Govardhana-pūjā celebration was filled with devotion, where we
offered our deepest respects to Lord Giridhārī, who, in the form of the Annakūṭa, cast His loving
gaze and mercy upon each member of our diverse expat family. This indoor gathering is some-
thing our new members look forward to each year.
Our Sunday evening gatherings continue to grow, especially among our Bangladeshi expat
community, who enthusiastically offer tulasī-ārati, Gaura-ārati, and Nṛsiṁha-ārati and hold soulful
kīrtana. Together, we chant a round of the mahā-mantra, share a brief reflection on the Bhagavad-
gītā, and partake in a delicious prasādam meal. It warms one’s heart to see some new attendees
feeling inspired to turn away from meat-eating, and others eagerly asking for japa beads, ready to
embark on their own personal journey of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in their homes.
And truly inspiring is the heartfelt devotion of some members among the Bangladeshi trades-
men community. Despite their long and arduous workdays, sometimes ending as late as 11 p.m.,
they gather in small groups of up to ten persons and sing harināma kīrtanas. Their sincerity, their
simple but deep faith, is truly humbling and inspiring.
With a deep-seated commitment, vibrant eagerness, and sincere enthusiasm, we dedicate our-
selves to the task of fulfilling your instructions, recognizing that even within the stringent rules
and regulations of the conservative Islamic country in which we live, our ability to partake in the
aforementioned, entirely indoor initiatives is solely by your grace. We sincerely offer our heartfelt
prayers for your benevolence to guide our steps in the way you have shown, as it is only through
your compassion that any progress is made in these unique circumstances.
On this sacred and auspicious day of your appearance, we humbly seek sanctuary at your feet,
which is the only true shelter and our sole source of strength and ability.
Your insignificant servants of the servants of your servants,
Cakradhārī Kānāi Dāsa and devotees of the Brunei yātrā

Translate »