Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Please accept our most humble and most respectful obeisances at your most revered lotus feet. All
glories to you!
We consider ourselves very fortunate to write a few lines to glorify you. You are a mahātmā
and a paramahaṁsa who came into this material world to give us kṛṣṇa-bhakti. We are extremely
fortunate to offer our humble homage to you and be able to submit a few thoughts at your
most revered lotus feet on the occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā. You are the special messenger of the
Supreme Lord who came to this mundane world at the Lord’s bidding to give us Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness and deliver us from our miserable lives.
Although you went back to Lord Kṛṣṇa, you live forever through your precious books. You
have gone through all the scriptures, including the Vedas and the Upaniṣads, and then quoted them
in your wonderful purports. Your books are treasure troves of deep knowledge about Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Despite being at an advanced age, in 1965 you undertook a monumental journey to the West,
with limited resources and without any guarantee of success. Your vision to create a global spiri-
tual movement inspired millions all over the world. By establishing ISKCON, you provided a
platform for people from all walks of life to connect with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The global ISKCON movement, founded by you, provides a sense of belonging and spiritual
community to millions. Temples, festivals, and online platforms offer spaces for people to come
together, share their faith, and support one another.
Your life was characterized by your steadfast devotion to spreading the teachings of Lord
Kṛṣṇa. From an early age, you embraced a life centered on spirituality and adhering to the teach-
ings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This unwavering dedication fueled your mission
to make Vedic knowledge accessible to people across the globe through your precious books.
You had an exceptional ability to explain complex spiritual concepts in a way that resonated
with people of different cultural and intellectual backgrounds. Your lectures, books, and conver-
sations bridged the gap between ancient Vedic knowledge and the modern world. Your transla-
tions and commentaries on sacred books, such as you created in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, continue to
enlighten and guide seekers worldwide.
Your emphasis on studying sacred books like the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam helps
modern seekers connect with ancient wisdom in a relevant and accessible way. Your commentaries
provide practical guidance for applying timeless spiritual principles to contemporary challenges.
Your teachings emphasized the universality of spiritual practices. You believed that the path to
self-realization and devotion was open to all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, color, or social
status. Your efforts to establish temples, farm communities, and educational institutions were
motivated by your deep compassion for humanity. Many farm communities are thriving today by
your mercy and your guidance.
Your inclusive approach to spirituality transcends religious boundaries, emphasizing that
anyone can practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness regardless of their background. This universality makes
your teachings appealing to people from diverse cultures and faiths.
You embodied the principle of selfless service. You viewed yourself as a humble servant of your
spiritual master and Lord Kṛṣṇa, dedicating your life to serving others like a true exalted Vaiṣṇava.
Your humility and genuine concern for others endeared you to many followers and set an example
of true leadership.
Inspired by your example, today we engage in various charitable initiatives, such as food dis-
tribution programs (like ISKCON’s Food for Life), educational projects, and outreach activities.
We are distributing prasādam to less fortunate people every week from our temple. These acts of
service embody your teaching that true fulfillment comes from helping others.
Your life and teachings continue to inspire millions around the world. Your special qualities –
dedication, vision, communication skills, compassion, resilience, and humility – are a reminder
of the transformative power of spirituality and service. Through your efforts, you not only spread
the timeless wisdom of Vedic culture but also fostered a global community united in devotion and
love for Kṛṣṇa. Your legacy is one of hope, faith, and the boundless possibilities of human poten-
tial when guided by higher principles.
You emphasized the transformative power of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra: Hare
Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
You taught that chanting purifies the heart and mind, helping individuals connect with the divine
and attain inner peace. Your “chant and be happy” transforms everyone and makes them nice
devotees. Thus you have fulfilled the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is a cornerstone of your teachings, and it has gained popular-
ity as a powerful mindfulness practice. Many individuals incorporate this mantra into their medi-
tation routines to experience inner peace and a sense of connection to the Divine.
A central teaching in your philosophy is the understanding that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. You explained that Kṛṣṇa is the source of all creation and the ultimate
object of love and devotion. You taught that true fulfillment comes through bhakti, or loving
devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. You encouraged your followers to offer their daily activities,
work, and relationships to Kṛṣṇa as acts of devotion.
You stressed the importance of studying sacred texts like the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam. You emphasized that these scriptures contain timeless wisdom that can guide indi-
viduals toward self-realization and Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
You advocated for a lifestyle centered on spiritual growth rather than material accumulation.
You encouraged simple living, sustainable practices, and prioritizing spiritual development over
material wealth. Your principle of “simple living and high thinking” resonates deeply in the
modern era, especially as people seek minimalistic lifestyles and sustainable living. ISKCON com-
munities and farm projects exemplify eco-friendly practices and self-sufficient living inspired by
your teachings.
Vegetarianism, as advocated by you, aligns with increasing awareness of ethical eating, animal
welfare, and environmental concerns. Your teachings inspire a compassionate approach to life,
emphasizing nonviolence (ahimsa) as a spiritual and moral responsibility.
In your purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.34 you explained that the conditioned souls are
agitated by six transformations: they become agitated when they are hungry, when they are
thirsty, when they are aggrieved, when they are illusioned, when they grow old, and when they
are on their deathbed. You further explained that although conditioned souls become very easily
illusioned by these conditions in the material world, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as
the Supersoul, Vāsudeva, is never agitated by these transformations. You also explained that the
individual soul, although within the illumination of the Supreme, sometimes falls down from that
illumination because of his tiny position, and when he falls, he enters into material, conditional
life. You further explained that the Lord is not subject to such conditioning; therefore He is
described as self-illuminated. Consequently, any conditioned soul within this material universe
can remain completely perfect when he is under the protection of Vāsudeva, or engaged in devo-
tional service.
Although you were on your deathbed, you dictated your purports to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. No
ordinary human being could accomplish such a miraculous feat; other people would be incoher-
ent under such circumstances. Only you could do what you did because you had the special
unlimited mercy of the Supreme Lord.
You emphasized that the practice of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, offers modern individu-
als a way to channel their energy into acts of love and devotion. This is especially appealing to
those seeking deeper connections and purpose beyond material achievements. Thus, you said,
devotional service is the only way to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Supreme Lord
Kṛṣṇa.
You are the special envoy of Lord Kṛṣṇa from the transcendental world, sent to deliver the
fallen souls on this planet. You are an ocean of mercy and filled with the auspicious qualities
described below:
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud
pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materi-
ally afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of
auspicious qualities.
You are the instructing spiritual master for everyone, the jagad-guru. As jagad-guru you are extin-
guishing the blazing fire of material existence and showing the path to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and
ultimate bliss.
Whatever we say in praise of you is not enough. It is like holding a candle in front of the sun.
Please continue to shower your blessings on us and lead us from this illusory material world to
the Absolute Truth.
We have a life-size banner of your most highly respected self in our temple, and we pay our
most humble obeisances at your lotus feet every day. We derive great inspiration from your smile
and compassion as you look upon us and shower us with your blessings.
Everything about you is excellent and unique. All people must follow your teachings to
become better human beings and better devotees and make their lives successful and peaceful.
All glories to your ISKCON! Jaya, jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Your most humble servants,
Bala Krishna Dāsa and the devotees at ISKCON Edmonton