Dearest 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 our most humble obeisances. Your ardent followers who are serving at New Goloka Dhāma humbly beg your mercy and thank you for your unlimited kindness by allowing us to take the saffron dust particles of your lotus feet through your glorious and ever-present vapuḥ.
We have understood that our great fortune on this material plane is to receive the sublime message of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu through you, His dear senāpati-bhakta. You have brought us this inestimable gem of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which includes the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare / Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare, and the science of self-realization. Had you not sacrificed so much to bring this transformative process of bhakti-yoga to the world, humankind would be lost in the pits of suffering and despair. We are saved! And we are eternally grateful that you have entrusted us with this most divine mission to help you reclaim the fallen conditioned souls. All glories to you, dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to you!
As you have so eloquently and constantly expressed, and something that resonates strongly with us today, the world is in dire straits for lack of knowledge and understanding of the Absolute Truth. The ancient scriptures that you carefully unpacked for anyone who chooses to read them so they can understand the truth are your greatest gift to the entire world. Unfortunately, you personally showed us that although the jīvas are searching for the truth, they are very slow or even unwilling to actually accept it. However, with the current adverse socioeconomic conditions and increasing harassment by various agents of the threefold miseries, eventually, more and more searching souls will arrive at the precipice of “Truth or Die,” as did those of us who have surrendered to you. Śrīla Prabhupāda, please continue to bless us so we may spread this message of the Absolute Truth to the sincere spiritual seekers, and help us understand true compassion to imbibe the same feeling of need and urgency so we may reach out to the suffering masses more insistently.
Our hearts are very heavy, Śrīla Prabhupāda, as over this last year so many disciples, pioneers, and warriors of yours have left our association; we are now helplessly drifting through the dreaded “decade of tears.” Although we rejoice for those stalwarts in achieving their long-cherished desire to again join you in your personal service, it is difficult to dampen the profound pain of the loss. They were our mentors, gurus, guides, exemplars, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters – so much to so many, inspiring us all to serve and remember you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. That precious service was their life and soul, their main sustenance, infusing every fiber of their being … and to live here without those powerful modern mahārathas of Lord Caitanya’s army leaves us reeling. We humbly beg you to empower us so that we as the torchbearers have the strength to assume greater responsibility in your ISKCON mission so we ensure it continues flourishing on the heels of their powerful pioneering contributions.
Great news, Śrīla Prabhupāda: the steady application of your expert prescription of book distribution plus harināma plus prasādam has enabled our community to grow and flourish over the past decade or so. To support this phenomenal growth and our continued outreach efforts, we are building up the home base – both literally and figuratively. While work is underway to construct a bright, gorgeous, and more expansive temple, our primary focus is to purify our hearts and minds to best imbibe your teachings and sweetly share our beloved practice of sādhana–bhakti. Our worshipable Deities Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Golokānanda are the center of our lives, infusing us with shelter, solace, and strength. Our focus on chanting, hearing, and serving Them with purpose is very strong. As you repeatedly stressed, our spiritual advancement is a direct result of how sincerely we execute one of the nine processes of devotional service. You have kindly shared the formula of how we can truly be happy, fulfilled, and absorbed in serving Their Lordships in this very life. We are so very blessed to continue to nourish and grow this bhakti community with your loving guidance.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have repeatedly stressed that humbly serving in a spirit of cooperation is the most pleasing to you. ISKCON is a house in which the whole world can live, a forever home-sweet-home for those who have become attached to your mood and mission. Deepening the quality and authenticity of our association with one another through loving exchanges is the foundation of the New Goloka community. We are fixed here, living under your shelter; indeed, we clearly understand that sādhu-saṅga is the most precious jewel we can possess. As our spiritual master, guiding authority, and founder-ācārya, your pure and loving understanding that every living being is part and parcel of the Lord gives us the impetus to become more compassionate and inclusive of everyone. As you always exemplified in your personal dealings with others, we must be patient, caring, and tolerant and gently encourage everyone to be friendly toward the service of the Lord. Therefore, we must be absolutely resolute in spreading the glories of the mahā-mantra and the process of bhakti-yoga far and wide, and we must be united in that effort. It is our primary duty as your emissaries. We are committed to that role within your mission and we will not fail.
While we are all nicely assembled here together – worshiping and chanting, reading and hearing, singing and dancing, praying and feasting, serving and caring – we realize bhakti-yoga isn’t easy. You told us that, and you also told us that the process of bhakti-yoga is simple and sublime. Both are obviously true, and given the overwhelming evidence to take up this completely transformative process, we are delighted and relieved to receive this opportunity to surrender to you. When you were lecturing on the Sixth Canto, chapter 1, text 50 of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Detroit on 3 August 1975, you famously stated:
So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very kind that without considering whether he is a siddha or viddha or anything else – “Let them take kṛṣṇa-prema.” Therefore, Rūpa Gosvāmī prayed to Caitanya Mahāprabhu (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 19.53):
namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ
He understood, “Here is Kṛṣṇa, but He has come now in the most liberal way. Everyone He is giving kṛṣṇa-prema.” How? “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance, and become a lover of Kṛṣṇa.” So nice. Simply by chanting and dancing, one is becoming … Practical it is. All these boys and girls, four or five years ago they did not know who is Kṛṣṇa. That is surprising to everyone. The whole world is praising this movement because they see practically that how these European-American boys and girls are so much absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s gift. Namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te, kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne. So very simple thing. Don’t think I have played something wonder. No, it is not my wonder. The process is wonderful, the process itself. You have to simply accept; then your life will be successful. It is not that “Bhaktivedanta Swami has brought this.” They say. They give me the credit. That is my good fortune also. But actually, I am just like a peon. I have brought, but I am delivering it without any adulteration. That may be my credit. And if you take it without any adulteration and practice it, then your life is successful. This is the secret of success. Chant, dance, take prasādam, live very happily, and look very brilliant, and next life go to home, back to Godhead. So kindly … I am very pleased that you are doing nicely. But don’t be proud. Always remain humble, meek, that “I am nothing. I cannot …” That will be nice. And if you think, “Now I have become liberated. I can chant and dance,” no, don’t think like that. Just like even Caitanya-caritāmṛta author, he says, purīṣera kīṭa haite muñi se laghiṣṭha: “I am lower than the worm in the stool.” Jagāi mādhāi haite muñi se pāpiṣṭha: “I am more sinner than Jagāi-Mādhāi.” In this way … That is not artificial. A Vaiṣṇava must think like that, that “I am rotten. I have no value.” Don’t be proud. Then the things will go on nicely. And as soon as you become proud, then māyā – “Yes, you are God. Come on. I will kick you on your face. Come on.” (laughter) These rascals become God, and then māyā kicks on the face, and they think that they have become God. Don’t become like that. Always remain humble servant and you will be happy. Thank you very much.
In that mood of simplicity and sincerity, humility and inclusivity, determination and compassion, and with an attitude of gratitude for a brilliant life steeped in devotion, your servants at New Goloka Dhāma aspire to continue pushing forward this divine saṅkīrtana mission. We beg you to continue showering your mercy and compassion upon our humble endeavors.
His Divine Loving Grace Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda kī jaya!
Your eternal servant,
Līlāśakti Devī Dāsī
On behalf of the devotees at New Gokula