Dear Gurumahārāja, please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet.
Being a faithful Rūpānuga and dear disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are always greatly attached to serving the mission of Lord Caitanya in this world.
śrī-caitanya-mano-’bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikam
Around twenty years back, you were going for the inauguration of Śrīla Rūpa Sanātana Smṛti Mandir and I was one of the servants travelling in the bus with you. We packed many japa mālās for you to chant and give them out to the devotees getting initiated. On the way, you asked whether the japa mālās were offered to the deities. We were uncertain about this. By then we came near Chand Kazi Samādhi. Then you told me to go with all the japa mālās and touch them to the trees in Chand Kazi Samādhi. I went and touched the japa mālās to the Neem tree and Champaka trees in Chand Kazi Samādhi. What was uncertain about the japa mālās was easily turned into a certain act of devotional activity. Thus, you are always constantly in touch with the pastime places of Lord Caitanya and are establishing the importance of these pastime places by your activities. The devotees who got those japa mālās must be greatly fortunate having gotten the potency from Lord Caitanya and Bhakta Chand Kazi and thus the mission of Lord Caitanya is established in this world.
After that you were satisfied and started chanting on the japa mālās, but you noticed that I was not chanting like you. Therefore, you mercifully engaged my restless mind by telling me to massage your head which I did. Thus, you fulfilled the statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.16) that states: O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.
In Navadvīpa Maṇḍala Parikramā we were fortunate to serve you by carrying your big karatālas, kamcas, slippers and other paraphernalia. Once, during the hot day of the Parikramā, we could not bear to see you walking bare feet on hot paved path and were repeatedly bringing your slippers to wear. You were upset with us for this and were determined to walk bare feet just to set an example for everyone. When we reached the camp, your feet were cracked and bruised, and we got on opportunity to nurse. But despite your apparent suffering, you were still blissfully engaged in serving your dear Lord Caitanya. You were answering the mails that were brought by the secretaries. You were completely oblivious to the pain in the feet, being blissfully engaged in pleasing Lord Caitanya. Even when you return from walking during the Parikramā your service does not stop. Usually we go to take rest, bath or take prasāda, but you will go around the line of devotees sitting for prasāda and personally show your love and care by interacting with everyone. You would even personally give sun-cream to devotees whose skin is burnt in hot sun. While taking bath you would encourage your god-brothers to take bath in Ganga. When some of them said that they don’t have kamca, you offered to give out your own kamcha not considering that they are gṛhasthas.
It was inconceivable for us as to how you are blissful despite the apparent pain in the foot during parikramā. But a couple of months back, you sent the following message to enlighten us that though you do feel the pain but remembering the pastimes of Śrīla Prabhupāda and Lord Gaurāṅga and His associates your experience sublime experience blissfully:
Some people say I don't feel pain. My body is overwhelmed with pain. Srila Prabhupada said that sometimes the spiritual master suffers, carrying reactions of the disciples through dreams - sometimes, in other ways. I've had horrible dreams on occasions and sometimes, I feel physical pain. Remember how we are not the body. Through the body and the senses, we experience physical pleasure. Through the body and senses, we experience material suffering. Youth is more enjoyable. Disease and old age have more suffering. In spite of great physical suffering, I remember pastimes with Srila Prabhupada, pastimes of our Lord Gauranga and His associates, and the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. There is a sublime experience. Which makes all the suffering seem insignificant. It's difficult to describe. This suffering makes it difficult to fulfill all the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
Even this year, while you were in Chennai in the hospital undergoing treatment, as usual you were constantly contemplating about the Navadvīpa Maṇḍala Parikramā and various services that is reflected in various messages that you have been sending regularly:
Parikrama of Navadvipa Dhama, this year, has five groups. One international group, one Hindi group, one Gita Course group, and two Namahatta groups. So far, everyday, I visit all the five groups by internet and give a short class. The mayapur.tv shows the international group. Last night, got a fever. Supposed to be discharged today but doctor saw I got a fever and they're trying to figure out why I got a fever. I'm attending GBC meetings on the internet whenever I am conscious.
In another message, you are instructing the disciples to progress in devotional service:
I want disciples to progress in their devotional service so that they can experience the bliss, chant the names of Krsna and experience transcendental happiness. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krsna mentions many a time that we are not the body. This was repeated by Srila Prabhupada in a countless number of lectures. In this material world, we experience pleasure and pain through the senses but in the spiritual world, one is prasanna, always blissful. In the spiritual world, we try to please Krsna. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda give us Their causeless mercy.
I asked about Nityānanda Prabhu taking Jīva Gosvāmi in the Parikramā and about the period of that Parikramā. I had doubts that we in ISKCON are not following the auspicious period of Parikramā. Then you showed me that there are other Parikramā periods as well and recently you have practically inspired some devotees to conduct such Parikramās, viz., Pañca-krośa and Aṣṭs-krośa Parikramās in addition to the regular Gaura Pūrṇimā and Kartika Parikramas.
Please forgive my stupid offenses and continue to guide me in performing pure loving devotional service unto your Lordships Rādhā Mādhava and Gaurāṅga.
Your Servant,
Jayarādhākṛṣṇa dāsa