nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatāka svāmin iti nāmine
nama ācaryapādāya nitāi-kṛpā-pradāyine
gaura-kathā-dhāma-dāya nagara-grāma-tāriṇe
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
How are you Guru Mahārāja?
As a 15-year-old girl living in Minnesota, it is hard for me. There is almost zero devotee association here and sometimes when I listen to kirtans, all I want to be is anywhere but here. I know that I am in such a good situation compared to many others but still, at times I find it tough to keep going. With school studies picking up and exams coming up soon, I undertake so much stress. On top of that, it is hard for me to find a balance between both my spiritual and material life. I am trying to advance in my spiritual life as much as possible but something or the other comes up. However, last year I wrote another ‘letter’ to you just like this one. In that piece, I asked you for shelter and soon enough, on my 15th appearance day, I received shelter from you.
The day, I got shelter, I was floating for the rest of the day. Ever since I can confidently say that while my school and other struggles are still there, my whole life has just gotten so much clearer. When before I’d take breaks in between homework to browse the internet, now I tend to spend that time alone with a harmonium. Most days, my rounds are done a lot earlier and I feel so happy all the time when I’m doing something Kṛṣṇa Conscious. For that, I wanted to thank you, Guru Mahārāja. All through your blessings, both my lives have turned up and I am so ready to face where they take me.
I am in no rush to get initiation. Even though I would love initiation at any time and I am trying my best to work towards it, I am in no rush. I waited many years for shelter and now that I look back on it, I know that I received Shelter at the best time for me personally. Therefore, while I will and currently am working towards initiation, I am in no rush as I know that you only have the best interests of each and every one of your disciples and all the other devotees. If I receive initiation tomorrow, then I will be more than ecstatic but, I will still be happy even if it takes many more months. While I would like to become your spiritual daughter as soon as possible, I realize that you along with all my seniors and sīkṣā gurus will only do what is best for me, and in the long run, it will benefit me the most.
That does not mean that I am sitting idle and just waiting for a miracle to fall from the sky. I am trying my best to preach and am currently taking a small kids class. I am also currently attending Bhakti-vṛkṣa from Her Grace Gāndharvī Gopīkā devī dāsī. Along with that, I am trying to take as many classes as possible in school that will teach me skills that may better help me in preaching. Hopefully, I may be able to reach more people in the future and I want to help you in spreading Prabhupāda’s mission.
Until next time,
Again please accept my respectful obeisances,
Your hopeful (Kṛṣṇa-willing future spiritual daughter) sheltered disciple,
Dhanya Arulprakasam (aspiring disciple)
Minneapolis, USA