Dearest beloved eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda,
oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā. All glories to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, whose boundless compassion brought the light of Kṛṣṇa consciousness into the darkest corners of this world and into my own life.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, on this day I feel especially aware of my smallness and my dependence on your mercy. Whatever little service I am able to render in your mission is only by your causeless kindness. Yet alongside this gratitude, I also feel a deep sense of concern and responsibility for the condition of the institution you so carefully built for the upliftment of humanity.
You established ISKCON not merely as an organization, but as a spiritual family meant to exemplify unity in diversity, purity in practice, and integrity in leadership. However, at the present time, we are confronted with challenges that test these very foundations. We see strains in relationships among leaders and devotees, differences in vision and execution, concerns about consistency in standards, and the ever-present risk of institutional formalism overshadowing genuine spiritual substance.
As a member of the Governing Body Commission, I feel both the weight of these challenges and my own limitations in addressing them. Too often, the solutions appear external – policies, structures, and strategies – yet the root of the difficulties lies deeper: in our hearts, in our alignment with your instructions, and in our collective sincerity.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I humbly and earnestly pray for your blessings upon me, as a member of the GBC, to serve in a way that
- we may act not as controllers but as humble servants of your mission, guided by śāstra, sādhu, and your instructions.
- we may develop genuine unity, free from politics, ego, and factionalism, and centered solely on pleasing you.
- we may have the courage to confront difficult truths within the institution while maintaining compassion and respect for all devotees.
- we may protect the purity of your teachings and practices, ensuring that ISKCON remains a faithful representation of your vision.
- we may become instruments of reconciliation, fostering trust and cooperation across all levels of the society.
In my service within the Ministry of Education, I especially seek your blessings that we may strengthen the philosophical and spiritual foundation of ISKCON. Without deep understanding and realization of your teachings, no institutional reform can be lasting. Please empower us to nurture thoughtful, well-trained, and spiritually grounded devotees who can carry your mission forward with conviction and clarity.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please help me personally to rise above my own shortcomings – my tendency to rush toward immediate solutions, my limited vision, and my lack of full surrender. Let me not become distracted by the external complexities of management, but remain always anchored in the simple and profound process you have given: chanting the holy name and serving with sincerity.
Please bless the entire ISKCON society so that we may navigate this period of challenge with increased humility, cooperation, and dependence on Kṛṣṇa. Let these difficulties become an impetus for purification rather than division.
On this auspicious day, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for everything you gave us – your books, your instructions, your society, and your example. I pray that one day I may serve in a way that truly pleases you.
Begging for a particle of your mercy, your insignificant servant,
Tapan Mishra Dāsa