Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Placing my head at your lotus feet again and again, please accept these humble words of
gratitude.
The Touchstone
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that the ultimate confirmation of Śrī Caitanya Mahā-
prabhu’s divinity lies in the transcendental love that He exuded and was able to awaken in others.
The Lord, and those empowered by Him, have unfathomable transformative power. They turn
people’s lives downside-up, shift their paradigms by quantum leaps, and awaken qualities within
them they never knew they had. When asked what miracle you could show, you pointed at all
your disciples and beamed, “They are my miracle!”
Vaiṣṇavas are more valuable than gold. They are the touchstones that turn everything into gold.
Perhaps they are even more valuable; special touchstones that transform others into touchstones.
I was touched by you, touched by your example, touched by your vision, and I continue to be
touched by your glorious movement.
Your teachings have touched my life. Every day they bring a shy, introverted, and reserved per-
sonality to life. I never envisaged being a public speaker, but your teachings are so powerful that
even a quiet individual who lacks confidence finds the drive and desire to share this wisdom with
the world. I’m ready to go anywhere, enter any arena and speak to anyone. Nobody can argue
with these teachings, even when delivered by an imperfect instrument. Just too good.
Your mission has touched my life. I was heading for the monotonous, run-of-the-mill, hum-
drum existence, where fitting in and finding comfort is the gold standard of success. Who dares to
veer away from the prevailing narrative? When I heard of your sacrifice, your willingness to shed
gallons of blood for the upliftment of others, it awakened me to a life of transcendental adventure
and excitement. You activated me in this electrifying movement. It wakes me up every morning –
purpose is the best alarm clock in the world.
Your gift of book distribution has touched my life. Being on the street, up and down the coun-
try, every town and village, rain or shine, meeting people from practically every walk of life, deal-
ing with disappointment and rejection, and simultaneously seeing the miracles and magic before
our eyes, changed my life. This simple adventure – what I call the “school of life,” turned an
impractical person into someone who learned deep lessons about commitment, communication,
and kindness. Sometimes I close my eyes, think of mystical moments on book distribution, and
become emotional. This activity has softened my heart like none other.
Your followers have touched my life. I was so impressed when I saw them, working hard day
and night, ready to go the extra mile with no time to waste. These were individuals who believed
in something! Finally someone who really believes in what they do! They were bold but also
humble, smart but also simple, charismatic but also deep, transcendental but also completely
down-to-earth. These saintly individuals had been touched by you, and they touched me by their
dedication. They instilled within me a desire to touch the hearts of others. Bhakti awakens bhakti,
heart to heart.
Your kīrtana touched my life. I still remember that mystical, deep, resonant voice, magically
descending from another dimension of reality. This wasn’t music, but more like a cry of love. That
melody, the one everyone sings, emanating from underneath the tree at Tompkins Square Park,
continues to reverberate around the world, reaching the most remote places. The eternal vibration
echoes through your sincere followers, and their kīrtana makes me dance. That’s a miracle – I was
never one for dancing! The holy name touches our hearts and takes us beyond our mind.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you turn crows into swans. You’re a spiritual disruptor, a game-changer, and
a transcendental magician of the highest calibre. I’ll consider my life a success if I can touch many
people’s hearts, just as you have touched my heart. May I always be in touch with you, the tran-
scendental touchstone whose spiritual status is untouchable and incomparable.
Your servant,
S. B. Keshava Swami

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