Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
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
One time you said that to preach to people, there is an art, like karate. You knew how to push on the person’s weak point until they died. This was specifically in reference to atheists, material scientists, and Māyāvādīs.
Another time a devotee asked you if the spiritual master is present in the heart of the disciple, and you replied “Yes, if you let me enter.”
To get your mercy we must allow you to come fully into our hearts and to follow your instructions and example implicitly. We need to be humble and overcome our stubbornness, pride, and false ego. We must be willing to hear and learn from you every day of our lives. We should be active and not lazy.
In this regard you told a story about two men who applied for a job. One came in and left the door open. Then the second man came in and closed the door. The boss decided to give the second man the job, as even though he was not so expert, he felt he could learn well because he had closed the door. He felt that because the first man had left the door open, he was lazy.
There is so much to do in service to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Your disciples don’t have many years left in this life. I pray that in my last few years I can do something that is meaningful and worthwhile, although I am not very qualified to do so.
By your presence māyā was cast away
And our love for you grew every day
Never before had we met one so divine
Whose glories would be sung till the end of time
You traveled a lot in such a short while
Astounded us all with your courage and style
How could a person so advanced in age
Journey the world to bring a spiritual change
Like the Gaṅgā famous for her purifying effect
You gave everyone a chance to become perfect
One scholar said you were the greatest of gurus
What was the need to accept others to choose
A jagat-guru at whose feet all masters should sit
Those who were sincere came forward to commit
Why waste their life struggling with endless sorrow
They realized there was a much brighter tomorrow
We became devotees who chanted and danced
To the Lord’s holy names, we became entranced
Your instructions were to spread this everywhere
So, we took the transcendental sound into the air
Many joined in kirtan and you led the way
To show by example the best way to pray
For the Lord’s mercy is not easy to attain
Unless one follows a pure devotee to gain
The path to eternity that is a road which is high
While in this world one must endeavor and try
What was formerly foreign and seemed impossible
By Śrīla Prabhupāda’s grace it became probable
Perhaps in the future if more people took it up
Yamarāja would have less work and be wonderstruck
Lord Caitanya said take it to every town and village
By your grace we now have got this great privilege
Your insignificant servant,
Ramāi Swami