My Dearest Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my prostrated humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus/saṅkīrtana feet. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
What a glory to have you back in Māyāpur for your 70th Vyāsa-pūjā celebration! As your spiritual position is ever increasing, your physical vehicle is now catching up with that rise; so many thoughts that you were on a physical exit from this realm but in reality, for us, a relieving longer stay.
rākhe kṛṣṇa māre ke māre kṛṣṇa rāke ke
In your case, this part of this sloka magnifies your position, ‘He whom Kṛṣṇa protects no one can kill.’ Many were thinking with regard to your earlier handicap, ‘Such a devotee of Lord Narasiṁhadeva, how could this happen?!’ However, the Lord acts beyond our tiny insect vision, as He manoeuvres His favoured Kings upon the chess board of this temporal realm.
Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ; your example again teaches us how the person bhāgavata exemplifies the book bhāgavata. Giving a complete map how to soldier through the quick sand and booby traps of this material world by always remembering Kṛṣṇa and never forgetting Him; acting solely for pleasure of the Lord.
By the Grace of the Lord, you have not only overcome the obstacles, but are forging ahead with preaching, initiations, and, who knows, another round the world travel regime. While most would call it quits, you are replacing bodily parts to squeeze more required precious years, lecturing and writing in service to Śrīla Prabhupāda in this present field.
What an example you are, what a history we are observing, a Jayapatākā, a victory flag against all odds. We watch how our beloved Śrīla Prabhupāda is so pleased with you as you serve, encourage, and please others. You have shown us how the Mercy of the Supreme is a descending process and the ‘open secret treasure box’ of success; service to guru. If we all follow you in this way, then just think how we can affect the world through a similar internal power rather than any temporal external pomp.
Best wishes on this most auspicious day,
Your aspiring servant,
Bhaktisiddhānta Swami