Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
You showed us that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not separate from life, but meant to be lived fully, through every stage, and in every moment of life. It is not confined to temples or limited to specific spiritual moments, but is meant to permeate our thoughts, shape our relationships, guide our responsibilities, and purify our intentions.
In The Nectar of Devotion, you explain that devotional service means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord. In this way, you taught us that spiritual life is not an escape from the world, but a transformation of how we live within it, where even ordinary activities, when performed for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure, become spiritualized.
At Govardhan Ecovillage, we are trying, in our small and humble way, to follow this instruction practically – under the compassionate guidance of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, who is sincerely striving to carry forward your desire. Over the past year, we have seen this effort gradually take tangible shape in several meaningful ways.
You have also given us a complete vision for a spiritually balanced society. In your purports to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.16.10 and other verses), you described how five categories of creatures – brāhmaṇas, cows, women, children, and the elderly – must be properly cared for and protected.
Inspired by this vision, a variṣṭha-vaiṣṇava-āśrama has recently been established for elderly devotees who have dedicated their lives to your service. Here, they are lovingly cared for in a devotional environment enriched with kirtan, sādhana, and sacred association. Their lives continue in the same spirit of service, now deepened by reflection and absorption. It reminds us that devotional life does not diminish with age but matures. As you taught us, “In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there is no retirement.”
At the same time, a new residential facility, Govardhana Kuñj, has been developed for devotees who wish to live within the Govardhan Ecovillage campus and participate more closely in its variety of services. For many devotees, especially Vaiṣṇavīs, this has become a meaningful support. Freed from long commutes and urban challenges, they are able to engage more naturally in temple services and community life. Gradually, what begins as a place of residence transforms into a place of belonging, where daily life revolves around sevā – in the temple, at the gośālā, and in other areas of service.
In alignment with your instructions, efforts are also expanding in the areas of cow protection and education. The gośālā is steadily growing, providing loving care for the cows. And, the Govardhan English Medium School (GEMS) is nurturing students in both academic learning and Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have also developed a children’s play area inspired by Kṛṣṇa’s bālya-līlās, providing a space where children can engage in joyful activity while being spiritually nourished. Through seasonal camps during the summer, monsoon, and winter, we further help in educating and inspiring young minds in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
In addition, the scope of spiritual education at GEV has been expanded in the form of the “Govardhan School of Education and Culture (GSEC),” which includes the Bhaktivedanta Vidyāpīṭha, and which continues to serve as a center for systematic scriptural education, offering course like Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava, and Bhakti-vedānta to help devotees become firmly grounded in philosophy and brahminical character. And several courses on traditional arts and sciences, such as music, dance, yajña, and Deity worship are also part of GSEC.
A Navadvīpa-ghāṭa is also being developed along the Vaitaraṇā river, a tributary of the Godāvarī. This simple yet sacred place offers devotees an opportunity for quiet remembrance and purification. A dip in these waters becomes more than a ritual – it becomes a pause for inner reflection and reconnection with Kṛṣṇa. As you repeatedly emphasized that remembrance of Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all spiritual practices, we are trying to facilitate such remembrance in natural and accessible ways.
Along with these developments, we are witnessing a steady increase in visitors. Many arrive without a specific intention – some out of curiosity, others seeking a brief respite from their routine lives. Yet something in the atmosphere touches their hearts. Through the darshan of the Deities, the sound of kirtan, the warmth of devotee interactions, and the simplicity of the surroundings, they experience a sense of peace and connection. Even if they cannot fully express it, they carry something meaningful back with them.
You taught us, “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and your life will be sublime.” Here, we see how even a brief exposure to kirtan or prasādam can plant a seed of devotion in the heart – a seed that may quietly grow over time.
Under your instructions, prasādam distribution continues extensively through the Govardhan Annakṣetra. Every day, large numbers of people are lovingly served sanctified food, both within the Ecovillage and in surrounding rural villages, where devotees personally go to serve. For many, this becomes their first genuine encounter with devotional life. What appears to be a simple meal often leaves a deep and lasting impression. As you beautifully explained, “If you simply take kṛṣṇa-prasādam, your spiritual life begins.” We see this truth unfolding again and again.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, through all these efforts, we are beginning to understand that your vision is reflected not only in visible projects but also in subtle transformations – hearts becoming softer, relationships growing more respectful, and lives gradually aligning toward devotion.
As we look ahead, the next phase of development, GEV Madhya, is emerging, with expanded facilities for education, healthcare, and community living. The purpose is not merely expansion, but integration: to create an environment where devotees can harmoniously balance their practical responsibilities and spiritual aspirations. You emphasized this ideal in your instruction, “Simple living and high thinking.” We are trying to create a setting where this principle can be experienced in daily life.
Ultimately, the success of these initiatives is not measured in structures or numbers, but in whether they help us become better sādhakas – with greater sincerity, humility, and steadiness in our practice. You taught us that the essence of spiritual life lies in attentive chanting, humble service, and genuine compassion – as you explain in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.14), where Kṛṣṇa says satataṁ kīrtayanto mām – always chant My glories. This consistency is what we aspire to cultivate.
You also instructed, “Do not try to see God, but act in such a way that God will see you.” This reminds us that our focus should not be on recognition but on sincerity.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are simply trying to assist in your mission in whatever small way we can. Whatever is happening here is only by your mercy and the blessings of the previous ācāryas. We have no qualification of our own.
We pray for your continued guidance and blessings that we may remain instruments in your service, that we may not lose sight of the true purpose behind all these efforts, and that we may develop the sincerity and steadiness required to serve your desire.
May we always remember that everything we do is meant for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure.
Your insignificant servants,
ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage