All Glories to Śrī Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga!
All Glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
All Glories to Śrīla Gurudeva!
Dearest Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. After two years of celebrating your Holiness Vyāsa-pūjā online, the thought of this year’s live darśana and celebrations at Māyāpur is creating great eagerness in our hearts.
Although the online Vyāsa-pūjā attracted millions more people and was a great combined international event – a genius act of mercy of yours, Gurudeva! - we still miss the beauty of the Māyāpur celebrations.
In this past year, I remember how in your lectures and messages, you stressed upon studying Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books as well as taking the ISKCON Board exams. You also encouraged devotees to teach these to others. It’s known that a great ācārya is one who systematically plans for all his followers. You are nicely constantly guiding us, giving instructions on how to advance and always be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Last year I made a video offering, mentioning my services here at ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village, Wada, Maharashtra. My main focus in preaching is in the local tribal villages, as well as in local schools. You had commented once that “I think we should do some special program for the various saints, Vaiṣṇavas around India, that glorify the chanting of the holy name, and utilize them to propagate Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement.” (message on JPS App, 22nd April 2021). I find this a great source of inspiration and hope to try to do something along these lines.
The last few months of reading about your health updates were really astonishing. Clearly, your dedication and great transcendental faith and love for Śrīla Prabhupāda and Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. I feel so blessed that you are my guru, yet at the same time, I feel so fallen and ashamed, that I am not able to do better or improve in my devotional life.
I can only pray that you kindly be merciful unto me and bless me so that I can really somehow serve and remember Kṛṣṇa always. I pray that I may be protected from my anarthas and offences! Gurudeva, I have been initiated for 12 years now, second initiated as well, it sometimes feels more hard as the years are going on. We know what is to be done, but just this entire material atmosphere is unpleasant. A great soothing solace comes, when we do Harināma saṅkīrtana and especially see how others are relishing taking up to bhakti! I think this is because Lord Caitanya is happy, so we are feeling happy.
My dear spiritual father, please kindly bless me that I can be a proper devotee of Lord Caitanya, and please the paramparā – I have no faith in my material senses, mind or intelligence. I sincerely pray that you, my only pillar in life, be forever merciful to me and guide me always.
Your servant and son,
Hemarūpa Caitanya dāsa,
ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV),
Maharashtra, India.