4th April 20200
Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you, Gurumaharaj, on this very auspicious day of your Vyas Puja.
Namo om visnu padaya Krishna prestaya bhutale srimati Jayapatakasvamin iti namine
We offer our respectful obeisances to His Holiness Jayaptaka Swami who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
Nama acaryas-pádáya nitai-kripá pradayie Gaura-katha acaryas-padaya, doya nagara grana tarine
It says in the Srimad Bhagavatam (8.7.44);
tapyante loka-tāpena
sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ
paramārādhanaṁ tad dhi
puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ
Translations: “It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.”
Your sufferings and austerities for over 50 years in ISKCON (more, especially in the last 11 years after your stroke ) are surely recognised by Krishna. Since your ultimate goal has been to keep preaching Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.
You are such a personalist. The way you have developed and maintained a rapport with so many devotees and others on different projects that are important to Srila Prabhupada. Giving TOVP your life and soul just as you had building that first Rath chariot for Rath Yatra. Alsoin how you are ensuring that these projects still continue and to do that you still continue to preach to spread the knowledge and giveguidance.
How dear you must be to Krishna for your faithful services to Srila Prabhupada. Through very tough times when your body is not in your control, you are still out there preaching and nurturing your disciples so that they do not feel neglected. How much love you have for your disciples! And they shower as much love back to you.
Day by day we realise that this world is not our real home, and the relatives are not our closest persons in reality. We are just separate souls to whom we are attached due to our karma. But the closest are the Spiritual Master and Krishna. Through you we get our guidance and mercy. And through Krishna we get our strength and happiness.
In just one moment of your association, you hadcaptivated our hearts and inspired us so much that we couldn’t think of any other person to be our diksha guru (after taking guidance from our Siksha Guru, Mukunda Goswami for many years). You heard us and understood our dilemmas and you appreciated our endeavours. You left us no doubt. Finally we had connected with some one who will now guide us and nurture us in our spiritual path into Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Thank you for your mercy and love for such fallen souls like us. We are indebted to you.
Having never met you personally before 13thJanuary 2020, you made us feel so much at ease. The more we read about you and your preachingin the Sri Guru Prasańga – (an Eternal Bond) monthly magazines, the more we feel closer to you and blessed.
Gurumaharaj, it is our sincere desire that may we be able to serve you in any small way, in your service to Srila Prabhupada. Please allow us to stay in devotional service and progress to serve Their Lordships.
Hare Krishna.
We beg to remain,
Your most fallen servants.
Bharti & Nilesh Taank
Aspiring Disciples
Staines , London