Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
Whenever I meditate on your pastimes, I am deeply moved by your unwavering obedience to and faith in your spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, as well as the profound surrender and love for Kṛṣṇa that resided within your heart.
Shortly after your first meeting, your spiritual master instructed you: “Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge.” You unconditionally accepted this instruction as your life and soul, crossing the ocean in 1965 at the age of nearly 70 to disseminate Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the West. When others deemed your mission impossible, you humbly and humorously replied: “Since the mission of others to preach in London failed, let me go and fail in another place! Let me go to New York and fail there.”
Because of your absolute adherence to your spiritual master, even when encountering severe obstacles, challenges, and physical ailments, you persisted in spreading the message of Kṛṣṇa consciousness without fear. The humility and the relentless, compassionate spirit you demonstrated are not only awe-inspiring but also serve as a beacon for us, illuminating by example that all glory belongs to the mercy of the Lord and the instructions of the spiritual master.
Among your pastimes, what touches me most deeply is the Bengali poem you wrote while residing in Vrindavan, titled “Vṛndāvane Bhajan.” It reflects the purity of your detachment and your singular dependence on Kṛṣṇa:
Part One
(1) I am sitting alone in Vṛndāvana-dhāma and in the midst of my thoughts, I am receiving some realizations.
(2) My wife, sons, daughters, grandsons are all there, but because I have no money, they consider that my true wealth is useless.
(3) Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You have revealed to me the naked form of material nature, and today, by the power of Your mercy, I have become freed from all desires.
(4) “He whom I favor, I gradually take away his wealth” – how can I understand such mercy from the most merciful One?
Part Two
(1) Seeing that I am bereft of wealth, everyone has abandoned me – family, relatives and friends who were like brothers to me.
(2) Although it is miserable, I am amused and I sit alone and smile. Who are my dear one’s in this material world of māyā?
(3) Where have my mother and father, who were so full of affection, gone? Where have my elders and close relatives gone?
(4) Tell me, who will bring me news of them? All that remains of that family are their names only.
You dedicated your entire life to sharing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, guiding us by example how to obey the instructions of the spiritual master and how to cultivate devotion through the scriptures to become a humble servant of the Lord. There is no other path to pure devotional service except by serving your lotus feet. It is only because of your causeless mercy that I am able to traverse this ocean of material suffering. I cannot repay your kindness; I can only strive to follow in your footsteps, cultivating deeper Kṛṣṇa consciousness to offer better service to the spiritual master, to you, and to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
I know that I am unqualified to ask for your blessings, yet I beg for your mercy. Please allow me to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa, your mission, and the devotees with a more humble and tolerant heart. This is the only way I may hope to repay your kindness. Thank you for your selfless sacrifice. Your life remains our eternal example.
Your eternal servant,
Champaka Latikā Devī Dāsī
On behalf of the devotees of Taipei, Taiwan