Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
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 this humble attempt to glorify and please you, along with a few words of gratitude from your eternal and hopelessly indebted servants. As you have repeatedly pointed out, true glorification and expression of gratitude to the spiritual teacher lies not only in speaking refined words and expressing deep emotions during Vyāsa-pūjā ceremonies and similar events, but first and foremost in the daily sincere efforts to follow his instructions and example, no matter how difficult or inconvenient it may be.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have given us everything – your invaluable books, numerous temples, beautiful Deities, an extraordinary example of a selfless and sacrificial life, and many practical and wise instructions for all aspects of life. One could go on listing endlessly. But especially, I would like to thank you for your two most important and wonderful gifts. About twenty years ago, I heard words from His Holiness Radhanath Swami that became engraved on my heart, hopefully forever: “Śrīla Prabhupāda said that we can do without temples – we can do without everything. We don’t need money. If we can get it, we will use it. We don’t need property. If we get it, we will use it. We don’t need vehicles. If we get them, we will use them. We don’t need good public relations. If we get it, we will use it. But one thing we always need, at all times, for our spiritual survival, and that is the association of the devotees and the regular chanting of the holy names. If we lose either of these two, which are actually one in essence, then we lose our connection to Kṛṣṇa.
In this small country of Georgia, we are trying as best we can to serve the holy name and the Vaiṣṇavas. And you are reciprocating by sending more and more sincere souls and by sustaining the inspiration of those who are already practicing Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs. Just a few years ago the situation was not so simple or optimistic. But now devotees hold harināmas each week on the streets of Tbilisi and Batumi, distribute your books, and with each passing year, the December marathon becomes more and more successful and inspiring. Educational programs for interested people and new devotees are constantly being held, and the beautiful Deities of Gaurāṅga and Nityānanda are worshiped with great love. This has become possible largely due to your steadfast and faithful follower, His Holiness Dayānanda Swami, as well as other senior Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs who selflessly dedicate themselves to serving your mission. This is undoubtedly your special gift to our yātrā.
Please allow us to continue serving you more and more and better and better by spreading the harināma-saṅkīrtana of Lord Caitanya both externally and internally. In particular, we beg for your mercy so that your instructions and life example do not remain merely a magnificent monument that we admire from afar, but become the true essence of our lives, merging with our consciousness: guru-mukha-padma-vākya cittete koriyā aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā.
We will try to make our community a truly united and loving family, where everyone cares for and worries about others more than themselves. But only by your mercy will we be able to obtain the necessary purity and strength for this. And finally, please bless us so that more and more local young people come to Kṛṣṇa and that we may care for them and help them become serious devotees so that Kṛṣṇa consciousness may take deep roots in this land and bear the desired fruits. Please engage us without obstruction in your eternal service to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.
The devotees at ISKCON Georgia