Dearest Gurudeva,
Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Vyaspuja Mahotsava ki jai! Our most awaited time of the year has come, your divine appearance anniversary in this world. We want to express our gratitude and love for your kindness, mercy, compassion and pure devotional ecstasy that you manifest to us unlimitedly. For decades Gurudev, you have only been thinking of the welfare of conditioned souls, how to give them some touch of Krishna Consciousness and how to take care, support and encourage those who have taken up to bhakti, the devotees – in their pursuit for prema-bhakti.
The ‘Jayapataka Swami App’ is another genius benediction you have given to all of us. I admire your spirit of ‘keeping with the times’ whilst never budging from the core principals of suddha-bhakti. Although you encourage everyone to use the internet, and other modern creations to spread bhakti – I have never heard you recommend anyone, any other processes other than pure devotional service: 1) strictly chanting rounds 2) taking only prasad 3) following 4 regulative principles 4) diligently studying Srila Prabhupada’s books 5) worshipping tulasi, deities, madhava-tithis 6) taking good association 7) sharing / spreading the sankirtan mission. This mood of accepting change in the way the world is going at the same time, keeping faith in the core tenets of bhakti is very encouraging to me, for I see your broadminded all encompassing nature.
Somehow, there are some devotees who take to other Vedic methods – like astrology, yajnic homas, palmisty, samskaras, etc – more strictly than they do to these core tenets of bhakti. I remember how you had said in one lecture, that all these we have to take with a ‘pinch of salt’, quoting Srila Prabhupada. In Srimad Bhagavatam we find many verses propounding that all results of any other bonafide process can also be granted by bhakti. I guess, developing faith in these seemingly simple activities of pure devotion is very important for all of us, always.
Generally, when something is done big, it has a widespread reach, but the depth may be compromised. For example, cooking for a thousand people as compared to cooking for 2 people. The quality is good, but still the taste of smaller scale cooking is generally more rich and excellent. Another example is teaching to a hundred people, as compared to teaching to ten. The students in the smaller class gain more by having focused attention of the teacher.
But my dear Gurudev, you have proved all these incidents wrong! Despite having more than 50,000 disciples (breadth), you are so personal to each and every one of us! (depth) You send devotees prayers, gifts, messages, medicine, prasad; you remember their names, family, work, seva. Such personal reciprocation is indeed amazing. One would think, that since so many disciples are there, how will the Guru be personal with all? But since the lockdown, daily you are meeting at least 300 devotees individually after your class and reciprocate with each one of them.
No one can complain that my Guru doesn’t know me! In fact, I think it is our duty as disciples to keep in touch with Guru. The JPS App has made you even more reachable, more personal, more accessible, more available, more loveable and more chances for everyone to render you service too. You are also very responsibly handling so many services to Srila Prabhupada – the TOVP, GBC, etc. And your humility, loving nature, personal dealings with Godbrothers and Godsisters, are all very inspirational to me.
Gurumaharaj, I’m trying my best in preaching in the local areas of where I am serving in and also inspiring my preacher friends who are serving in other places as well. I try and encourage the reading, discussion and study of Srila Prabhupada’s books amongst whomever I meet. I’m not capable of doing big big things like most of the ISKCON devotees. But I’m trying in my small capacity. I hope you kindly accept these, even tough they may be filled with so much fault. On this divine day, I gratefully wish you a happy vyaspuja ceremony and at the same time pray to your lotus feet, that I may always remain Krishna conscious (krsne matir astu) life after life.
Your son and servant,
Hemarupa Caitanya Das
ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village, Wada
Maharashtra, India.