Vijay Venugopal Dasa
Koramangala Bhakti Centre
My dear spiritual father,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace!
The Covid-19 virus has completely transformed the world since January 2020.
And, as we have always done, we find that you are way ahead of everyone else in preparedness:
- You have been protecting yourself from infections since your Simultaneous Liver and Kidney Transplant. And those of us who have been involved in your health, are therefore fully up-to-date on how to manage this.
- Due to the limitations on your physical travel, you decided to travel through subtle means - by ramping up your link with your disciples through the Internet, and we have all been very fortunate to get your association and interact with you every single day - much more than was ever possible during your days of unlimited travel
- Even this Vyasa Puja 2020 will give far more opportunities for devotees worldwide to watch the celebrations from much closer quarters than before, through use of better technology than previously. And you have arranged for Zoom interactivity so that you can also watch your worldwide disciples, and more disciples may get an opportunity to read out their homages than was possible before, as you will be in your quarters and not in the temple hall.
And now it is because of your messaging that disciples have realised that they are not immune to the effects of this virus, wherever they are in the world, even in Mayapur. You have emphasised that we have to observe social distancing, quarantine, and lock down like everyone else.
We get a master-class on the different ways in which Lord Gauranga wanted us to relate to other people in the world, by observing or hearing of Your interactions with my godbrothers and godsisters, with your own godbrothers and godsisters, and your many spiritual nephews and nieces, and, finally your connection to the those who are not Iskcon devotees.
It is not easy to understand why you are strict with some and lenient with others in the same circumstances. But one thing is clear to me. Whatever you do is transcendental, and directed by Lord Gauranga. Therefore it always feels blissful. Therefore it is possible for me to fight my resentment of devotees who create obstacles in my devotional service. If it was not for my full faith in your transcendental nature, this would not be possible.
For a year and a half I have been working to be a better disciple to you, and I hope that I have been able to please you a LITTLE more. You know everything within your heart.
Please keep showering your mercy on my family, and on me,
Your fallen spiritual son,
Vijay Venugopal Dasa