Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. On this most auspicious day of your divine appearance, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to write to you and humbly offer our reflections on how you have cleared our vision, allowing us to see Kṛṣṇa’s hand in every aspect of our lives – past, present, and future.
In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 1.45), it is stated:
guru kṛṣṇa-rūpa hana śāstrera pramāṇe
guru-rūpe kṛṣṇa kṛpā karena bhakta-gaṇe
According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you embody the essence of divine mercy. While Kṛṣṇa may seem distant to our obscured senses, you appeared as the transparent via medium to bring Him into our immediate view. We recognize and acknowledge that every bit of clarity we possess is not our own achievement, but a gift of your unalloyed and unwavering compassion.
Looking Back: Gratitude for Protection
When we look back at our lives before we met your teachings, we see a landscape of confusion. Yet through your books, we now recognize that Kṛṣṇa was always there, protecting us even when we were unaware. You taught us that every hardship was a nudge toward Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. We thank Kṛṣṇa for the ultimate protection of sending you, His pure devotee, to rescue us from the ocean of birth and death.
Looking Ahead: Trust in the Lord’s Plan
When we look ahead at this uncertain world, we no longer feel fear. You’ve convinced us without a doubt that Kṛṣṇa’s got our backs and that He has the whole show on a string! Because of your instructions, we can trust that He has a plan for our purification. Our only desire is to remain tiny instruments in your mission, confident that under your guidance, the path home is secure.
Looking Around: Serving in All Circumstances
When we look around at the world today, we no longer see objects for our enjoyment or people to compete with. By your mercy, we see Kṛṣṇa’s energy everywhere. You taught us that the highest platform is to act as the “servant of the servant.” We pray for the strength to serve Kṛṣṇa in all circumstances – whether in joy or in sorrow – by sharing the message you so compassionately brought to us.
Looking Within: Finding Kṛṣṇa
Finally, when we look within, we are learning to find Kṛṣṇa residing as the Paramātmā in our hearts. Before your books touched us, our hearts were dark rooms filled with selfish desires. You lit the lamp of transcendental knowledge, revealing the presence of the Lord within. We are eternally grateful that you have reconnected us to the Witness within, guiding us back to our original, constitutional position.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the lens through which we see Kṛṣṇa. Without you, we would be blind to His protection, doubtful of His plan, selfish in our interactions, and disconnected from our own souls. Thank you for giving us these “eyes of devotion.” We pray to remain forever servants of your servants.
Here’s a small poem from us:
We look back and see how you gathered the stray,
The lost and the lonely you led to the way.
From a storefront in New York to a worldwide family,
You protected our hearts and you made us all free.
We thank Kṛṣṇa for sending a father so dear,
Who built us a home and who conquered our fear.
We look ahead now at the seeds we have sown,
Trusting Kṛṣṇa’s great plan for the seeds that have grown.
We trust in the future, for your books are the basis,
Leading us home from all desolate places.
Ensuring the next generations find grace,
As they look at the smile of your lotuslike face.
We look around at the congregation so wide,
With Devotee Care as our compass and guide.
To serve one another in each circumstance,
To give every soul a spiritual chance.
We are servants of servants, as you have designed,
With a heart for the weary and a hand for the blind.
We look within and we find the Lord there,
In the heart of the teacher, in the student’s deep prayer.
The Supersoul whispers the wisdom you taught,
Bringing us the peace that we once vainly sought.
You showed us that Kṛṣṇa is closer than breath,
The friend who delivers from life and from death.
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, our founder and friend,
May our efforts to care for all never end.
Through teaching and serving, we offer our life,
To build up your family and end all the strife.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we seek your strength and courage to navigate the challenges associated with disseminating the holy name. May we remain steadfast in our commitment to adhere to your guidance and consistently foster cooperation among one another. Your mercy and teachings serve as the cornerstone of our devotion, and we acknowledge that by following your directives, we not only pay homage to you but also advance the broader mission of promoting Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Stouffville and beyond.
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for being the “plus” that gives value to all the zeros of our lives.
We pray to remain forever servants of your servants,
Your loving children at ISKCON Stouffville