Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
I offer my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.24.12, Lord Brahmā tells Kardama Muni: “My dear son, since you
have completely accepted my instructions without duplicity, showing them proper respect, you
have worshiped me properly. Whatever instructions you took from me you have carried out, and
thereby you have honored me.”
You emphasize in the purport that honoring the spiritual master means executing his instruc-
tions fully and without deviation. Your fulfilling of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Mahārāja’s
order is the cause of our mercy today and for generations to come. “Empowerment comes from
faithfully executing the order of the spiritual master. The order of the spiritual master is the active
principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately
becomes useless.” (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 12. 8–10)
In the purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.12 you explain that one who cooperates with the
Lord’s will, follows the guidance of bona fide brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, and adheres to religious
principles need not fear any difficulties. Bhīṣmadeva assured Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira that he would
always be protected by brāhmaṇas, God, and religion, even in times of tribulation. Similarly, by
strictly following your instructions, we remain protected.
Your Divine Grace set the example, as you stated in a January 19, 1974 letter to His Holiness
Hridayananda Goswami: “So far as my Guru Mahārāja is concerned, I have never at any time
deviated from His order. I was only concerned with carrying out His order to the best of my abil-
ity, even in the face of so many difficulties.”
You recalled your Guru Mahārāja’s final instruction: “Whatever you have learned, try to
expand it – preach in English.” (Māyāpur, March 1974) In your Vyāsa-pūjā address in 1969, you
declared: “Personally, I have no credit for this. But I have full faith in my Guru Mahārāja. I
simply tried to execute his order without deviation, and that is my only qualification. And he has
given me all success.” (Vyāsa-pūjā address, Hamburg, September 5, 1969)
On Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s appearance day in 1961, in Vrindavan, you
lamented:
Even now, my Godbrothers, you return here on the order of our master and together
engage in this pūjā. But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute wor-
ship. The one who serves the message of the guru really worships him.
Oh, shame! My dear brothers, aren’t you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen,
you increase your disciples. Our master said to preach! Let the neophytes remain inside
the temples and simply ring the bells …
But just take a good look at the terrible situation that has arisen. Everyone has become a
sense enjoyer and has given up preaching …
From the seas, across the earth, penetrate the universal shell; come together and preach
this Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Then our master’s service will be in proper order. Make your promise today. Give up all
your politics and diplomacy. (quoted in Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, vol. 1, p. 249)
ISKCON remains dedicated to worldwide missionary activities under its collective leadership, yet
faces many challenges in continuing your Guru Mahārāja’s mission. Just as Brahmā prayed for
protection and empowerment (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.9.22–27), today I pray to Your Divine Grace.
I pray to engage in your service and that of your dedicated followers, and that we may not be
affected by the material energy nor misled by false prestige as leaders and give up all unnecessary
politics and diplomacy. May we never deviate from your instructions. ISKCON is your instru-
ment in delivering Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the world.
When my spiritual master, His Holiness Bhakti Cāru Swami Mahārāja, asked me at Bhakti-
vedanta Manor to address his aspiring disciples, I hesitated. A disciple does not usually speak in
front of his guru, but as he insisted, I asked for his blessings. He pointed to your mūrti and said:
“This is where all blessings come from.”
On this auspicious day of your appearance, I pray that we may never forget this truth and eter-
nally take shelter at your lotus feet.
Your servant,
Bhakti Prabhāva Swami