Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Please accept my humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Dear Guru Maharaja,
At the outset, I wish to offer my humble pranams to your lotus feet, as another year has gone by since I came under your loving care and spiritual protection.
During this past year, you have continued your glorious journey of giving Krishna to newer sets of people across continents. Be it the people in US, Bangladesh, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Australia or our own India. All this, in spite of the monumental health challenges that are only increasing with every passing day. You epitomise the act of how one should serve and adhere to the instructions received from one’s Spiritual Master oblivious of all trying situations that one may encounter – good, bad or otherwise.
During this year, we realise you had to, unfortunately, spend a major portion of your time in hospitals in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and other cities. While a normal person would have closed all doors and sought time-off for some well-earned rest and recuperation, through your team of devotees, you were ever caring and concerned for your disciples based through the world. Empathising with the concerns that all your devotees must be enduring for your speedy recovery, your cryptic communication every day through the JSSS site and the FB provided all of us a sense of the fatherly love towards the lost children (us).
Your concern for all your devotees/disciples, oblivious of your own physical challenges in the most trying circumstances, really is humbling and earthly words cannot describe the sense of guilt that one experiences for not doing even a fraction of what we are capable of doing.
During the year, we had the opportunity of getting your divine association on a number of occasions. These included our visits to Chennai and Mayapur (during Bhishma Pancaka). We happened to be around during the 5 days (during the Pancaka), when you travelled for the bath at the Ganges. Great moments, indeed. We did miss your towering presence during the ILS in February 2018. Of course, we had the pleasure of your virtual association from Chennai through the Internet.
The chance opportunity to perform some Vapu service to you and being in your close proximity at Mayapur albeit for all of 15 minutes is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. As the scriptures say, even a kshana’s association with an exalted devotee will help us in our spiritual path. I consider this meeting (and serving you) as one of those moments in my life.
As an update, we as a family, continue to do some insignificant contributions to various ISKCON projects. Preaching, at a personal level, has been very limited. I feel I am only contribution a fraction of my abilities. My mind still meanders to activities that are more directed to pleasing the senses at the mundane material platform.
Will continue to strive for more opportunities in the future.
I wish to again express my gratitude and thankfulness to you for accepting someone like me under your spiritual care and guidance. I hope and pray that I am inspired further and able to imbibe even a fraction of the above-stated qualities of yours.
We continue to pray for your speedy recovery so that you can continue with your mission to spread the word of the Lord to more people. Please feel free to order me to take up any service which can help your mission albeit even in a small way.
Your humble servant
Vishweshwar Govinda Das