Dear spiritual father,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace. All glories to your ISKCON society. All glories to your Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. And all glories to all the devotees who faithfully serve you throughout their lives.
It was my great fortune to receive spiritual initiation from Your Divine Grace. I was certainly unworthy, and I doubted if you would accept such an unqualified person as myself. I watched as the first candidate came forward and offered his obeisances, as you sat on the vyāsāsana, which we had only recently completed.
First, you told him to say your praṇāma-mantras out loud to show that he had memorized them. Then Your Divine Grace asked him what the four regulative principles are, and then you asked, “And how many rounds are you going to chant daily?” The young man answered with confidence, and Your Divine Grace smiled with satisfaction, then looked at him and said, “Your name is Mahā-Viṣṇu Dāsa.” You then handed him some japa beads.
I was relieved that the guru’s questions were not difficult and I could answer them without any trouble. I got ready to take the plunge into serious spiritual practice.
I was next on the roster of twelve young British men all waiting to get the most valuable link with the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas and my birth in spiritual life. I had no real appreciation of what was taking place, nor did I consider how much this was going to play a major role in my life. Deep within myself I could sense that this is something very special and rare, and I certainly did not want to miss the opportunity to be accepted as a disciple of an Indian Swami.
Over the years since my initiation, I have come to appreciate the causeless mercy of Your Divine Grace. Your determination, patience, tolerance, and so many other qualities that show your divine nature. I can never hope to display such features in my own self, but I continue to be inspired by your example and pray that one day, in the course of my many births, I will be a worthy child of Your Divine Grace and bring some credit to your mission.
Taking a straw between my teeth and falling at your feet, I am your most unworthy son,
now known as Tridaṇḍi Swami Bhakti Vighna Vināśana Narasiṁha