Dearest Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Śrīla Prabhuapada, all glories to your 70th Vyāsa-pūjā celebration.
This is the most joyful Vyāsa-pūjā, as Kṛṣṇa has kindly allowed us to glorify you in person. Your path has taught us to be ready for all eventualities. We experience the realisation that you are here for a purpose and until that purpose is fulfilled, your service will go on no matter what. Even against the odds, not to be thwarted by any physical condition. Prayers as direct statements of experience are also vijnanam, direct realization, and we can perceive there is far beyond this physical form of yours than meets the eye.
We cannot express sufficiently our gratitude to you for the sacrifices you make for us. Despite our shortcomings and negligence, you continue to have faith that we will find our way back to Godhead if we just follow your instructions. You’ve told us although you are able to lead the flight, we are the ones that need to follow and fly. You continue to be our refuge to persevere in spiritual progress in this tumultuous material existence that bewilders us constantly and enticing us to fall prey to our senses at every opportunity. We do not ever want to take your mercy for granted and earnestly pray that we always conscientiously try to maintain our vows. Failure to do so means you take upon yourself the resulting reaction. This is a very painful situation that we are seeing you going through. Forgive us Guru Mahārāja for our shortcomings. May we be successful in working together and giving each other full support in our spiritual lives. In times of difficulty, may we firmly follow the regulative principles regardless of how challenging the situation may be. If we fail to do so, it directly affects our Guru Mahārāja who will do anything for his beloved disciples.
Guru Mahārāja, I pray that wherever I may be I am always engaged in devotional service at your lotus feet. I hold close to my heart as always the wonderful service opportunity you allowed me when you were here in Australia Down Under. The big cymbals still ring in my ears, my fingers are still reaching out for the cherries and lychees. The crispy dosas in the makeshift kitchen by the beach in Byron Bay. The swift movement of your hands as you deftly don your turban before stepping out of the car. I continue to believe that you will be back with us here for yet more glorious memories. Praying to Lord Nrsngadev that that day comes soon.
Your spiritual daughter,
Sukeśvarī Rāṇī dāsī,
Brisbane, Australia