nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā-svāmin iti nāmine
namo ācāryapādāya nitāi-kṛpa-pradāyine
gaura-kathā dhāma dāya nagara-grāma tāriṇe
Dear Śrīla Gurudeva,
Please Accept Our Respectful Obeisances
All Glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
All Glories to Your Divine Grace!!
Every year there is always something unique which I get to learn from your divine grace and I try to phrase it as a slogan. Last 1 year its “Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu – Unparalleled Pure Devotion for Guru”
Last 1 year has been a very purifying period in my spiritual life by witnessing all the health challenges your divine grace needs to go through. But the good news is, yet again your divine grace performed a miracle by coming out successful amidst all the challenges which were thrown against you.
I am not sure if wider devotee community is aware but with my services being more into management in temple last 1 year, I was getting to know some of the political challenges/difficulties within ISKCON and your disciples are going through which was directly impacting your divine grace.
After getting to know all this, my bewilderment increased even further on how is it possible your divine grace is able to manage/hear all these political challenges which is really painful/bewildering even for me, what to speak of someone who is going through so many physical health challenges and pains like Your Divine Grace - In simple terms I just couldn’t imagine!!
In summary these experiences I went through- actually got me to get a glimpse of the depth of your devotion and love for Śrīla Prabhupāda. Seriously its way beyond what I can even think of!!
If there is anything which is keeping a newbie like me STILL going on in my Kṛṣṇa Consciousness and Bhakti-vṛkṣa Services amidst all the political challenges, then that’s purely the depth of your divine grace’s devotion and love for Śrīla Prabhupāda – it is just unparalleled in this planet !
All these years I was very proud thinking that I am the best role model disciple who is actually doing what one’s Guru is asking for and desiring for because many milestone projects which your divine grace was praying for, was getting manifested in the western world by using me as an instrument - to some extend at least. BUT last 1 year, major portion of that pride was smashed to broken glass pieces due to failing to manage various political challenges which was thrown against me, in a more true devotional way like your divine grace always do. So this shattered my heart to various pieces and made me realise – actually I am not even a devotee, forget about being a role model disciple!
This really pushed me and still pushing me down in my consciousness – spiritually speaking. BUT by seeing your victory flag flying really high with relentless pure devotion for your divine spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda amidst all the challenges you are going through – my almost dead devotion is coming back to life because I am getting HOPE – Yes maybe I am your fallen disciple grounded to the floor by all powerful agents of Maya BUT I still can WIN the battle by just trying to follow your footsteps as your disciple – just keep pushing NO MATTER WHAT!
Obviously Its easily said than done. At least one good thing for me is – I really appreciate the depth of your devotion and I am really getting to understand what devotion is. It makes me laugh at times to even think whether I really have devotion all these years? How many people I have cheated and still cheating by calling myself a senior devotee and preacher! Its absolutely pitiable and I must say if its not for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and your divine grace’s causeless mercy where anyone and everyone is empowered to preach – I just got no role to play in this movement and in fact even if I do, I wouldn’t even be interested to take on this role, if its not for YOU!
Its purely seeing your example and for that ONE and ONLY reason I am still trying to do whatever I am trying to do as devotional service. If not I would have gone off track months ago Guru Mahārājā.
So in summary this 1 year has been challenging purifying year which has bought me lot of realisations and appreciation towards your divine grace’s devotion and seriousness of your purpose to serve your spiritual master.
All I could beg and pray for in this Vyāsa-pūjā from your divine grace is – please bless me and my wife Yamuneśvarī with at least a drop of that nectar of devotion which is really a Sindhu (Ocean). I really get to understand the meaning of this Sanskrit word only by seeing Your Divine Grace – This is absolutely unparalleled devotion which can never ever be witnessed in this mortal world!
All we could do is continuously keep chanting and praying for your divine grace’s strong and good health so we could get many more years to witness your unadulterated pure devotion to your spiritual master. If we don’t get to witness your divine grace’s devotion, then we will have no idea what is really devotion!
Please forgive us for all the offences we have relentlessly committed towards your divine grace’s lotus feet and many of your senior disciples and devotees. We just beg for forgiveness so that any block in our spiritual life gets washed off and we can really access this drop of Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu which you are showering on us through your divine grace’s association constantly.
I know for a fact - If we fail to access in this lifetime which you are showering on us relentlessly then I doubt we can never ever get access to this pure devotion in any future lifetimes!
So hence my plea at your divine lotus feet Guru Mahārājā – PLEASE INUNDATE OUR HEARTS WITH THAT DROP OF PURE DEVOTION you got for your spiritual master. So we can purely serve your divine lotus feet relentless forever and don’t end up gambling our life YET AGAIN like FOOLS!
Happy 70th Year Vyāsa-pūjā Guru Mahārājā !!
Your worthless servants begging for the drop of pure devotion to your lotus feet,
Aravinda Kṛṣṇa dāsa and Yamuneśvarī devī dāsī
East London Bhakti-vṛkṣa, UK