Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
“It is not possible to actually understand the debt of gratitude we owe you, but with each new sup-
posed calamity, we have the opportunity to understand a little better that this material world is
not our home.”
This was the opening line of one of your granddisciples’ offerings to you last year, as you may
remember. She had just lost her home and all her family’s belongings in a dreadful forest fire that
consumed much of our Vaiṣṇava community.
She went on to say, “With what you have given us, we can see Kṛṣṇa’s blessings in devastation,
we can accept our karma, we can feel wrapped up in Kṛṣṇa’s lotus hands, see His expertise in ful-
filling all our desires, and can accept that we are, beyond a shadow of a doubt, not in control. There
is such relief in accepting this and accepting our position of dāsānudāsānudāsa.”
Later that day, I asked a friend of hers, who was visiting from another place, if she and her
husband still wanted to relocate to our community after seeing all the damage done by the recent
forest fire. Much of our 1,800-acre property looked ghostly, charred, and depressing. She replied
that if by living at Śaraṇāgati she could make the spiritual advancement that her godsister had
just experienced after losing everything, “I want to move here more than ever!”
And there is more! The local government agencies employed some citizens to come to our com-
munity to offer both emotional support and helping hands. Before they came, they were given a
two-week training on how to deal with those whose lives and property have gone through devas-
tating calamity. Often, victims of calamities can be harsh and full of blame. The lady sent to help
my friend reported that she was so moved by her gratitude and attitude that it changed her own
life forever!
This is the power of your teachings, the association of your followers, and the effects of chant-
ing the holy name. Such gifts you have given us, Śrīla Prabhupāda!
This material world is no place for an honorable person, as you have stated. I long to become
more absorbed in meditation on the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in His holy dhāma and to follow in the
footsteps of His eternal associates as described in our Vaiṣṇava literature. I pray for your blessings,
pray to offer sevā to your followers, and pray to live my life in such a way that you will notice me
and take me to wherever you are so that I may serve you life after life.
Your eternal servant,
Uttama Devī Dāsī
on behalf of the devotees of Śaraṇāgati Dhāma

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