Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to you on the occasion of your divine appearance.
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
On this wonderful day, the entire ISKCON community around the world remembers you with gratitude and love, for it is thanks to you that we have received a new life – one that is about true reality. Through your person and teachings, so many people awaken from a confused nightmare – the materialistic life woven with ignorance.
In our age, the entire human society has fallen victim to this diseased condition. Moreover, the suffering masses are further misled by many cheating teachers and pseudospiritualists. As you write in your purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.26.6, “Currently, in this Kali-yuga, the entire human society has become a society of cheaters and cheated.”
The Lord advises Arjuna to approach a bona fide spiritual master who has seen the truth if one wishes to be freed from the confusion born of ignorance. The position of the spiritual master is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27):
ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyāsūyeta sarva-devamayo guruḥ
“One should understand the spiritual master to be as good as Myself,” said the blessed Lord. “No one should be envious of the spiritual master or consider him an ordinary man, for he represents all the demigods.”
You, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, are in this position, yet you consider yourself only the humble servant of your beloved spiritual master, and you see all your achievements as the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.
Unfortunately, I could not meet you personally, but your disciples, books, and teachings all testify to your presence – that is, you are still giving your blessings. You are the founder-ācārya, not just one teacher among many. You carry the special empowerment of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī.
With their message in your heart, you set out to help the fallen souls of this dark age. What you accomplished is truly a miracle, was it not? As a perfect instrument, the Lord was able to use you in His divine plan, and He is all-powerful.
Thank you for this inconceivable mercy, and I pray for your causeless blessings so that I too may become a suitable instrument in your hands and in the hands of your devotees.
Your insignificant servant,
Mahāprabhu Swami