Dear Guru Maharaj,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā-svāmin iti nāmine
namo ācāryapādāya nitāi-kṛpa-pradāyine
gaura-kathā dhāmadhāya nagara-grāma tāriṇe
All Glories to you on this most blessed event of Sri Vyasa Puja and All Glories to our beloved Srila Prabhupada.
In his instructions to Srila Rupa Goswami at Prayaga, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught,
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”
I don’t know how long I have been tossed up and down the waves of material misery and for how many lifetimes endlessly. It’s my great fortune that by the divine intervention of Srila Prabhupada’s books and your mercy that there is a hope for me to get out of this material tabernacle.
Over the past year I have tried to follow a few of your instructions judiciously. In your recent trip to Detroit in the summer last year you had requested that all disciples meet atleast once a month. By encouragement of serious godbrothers I have somehow tried to facilitate these meetings over the past month. Sometimes we were very fortunate to have the association of Senior devotees and at other times we relished the association of each other by discussing topics related to Krsna consciousness.
In your instructions you constantly emphasised how Srila Prabhupada wanted you to distribute atleast 10,000 big books and 100000 small books every month and you specifically wanted your disciples to take up this mantle from Srila Prabhupada to assist you in ensuring that this is followed. Over the past one year I have also tried in my little way to go out atleast twice a month on Sankirtan. In the process I’ve participating in distributing a few books, full sets, Harinaam outings and home programs. The friendships I have made while serving together on Sankirtan are the ones that have been relishing my devotional creeper.
I have been praying to delve deeply into sastra for some time now. By your mercy I was able to teach Bhakti Sastri at ISKCON Toronto, this has forced me to go deeper in my study of Srila Prabhupada’s books. It has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the philosophy and how to apply these sublime teachings in my life. I look forward to continuing my study through participating in the Bhakti Vaibhava course that would be happening soon.
As ISKCON’s Congregation Minister the Bhakti Vrksa concept is very dear to you. By your mercy every Friday my family and I have been able to have regular Friday programs and assisting in cultivating about 4 families in and around the Etobicoke area where we live. We relish our association with these devotees and are hoping that more and more devotees join us in regular sanga.
Another feather in Srila Prabhupada’s cap is the formation of a new centre in the GTA viz. ISKCON Milton. Along with 4 other families, my family and I started preaching programs in Milton around a year ago and today we have around 10 – 12 families that join us for regular programs and atleast 80 – 100 people during festival days. Srila Prabhupada was the maha senapati bhakta whom Lord Caitanya sent to distribute the Holy Name in every town and village. And your pranama mantra also has the same mood to distribute the Holy Name of Lord Gaura in every town and village. By your mercy I am able to assist you and Srila Prabhupada in spreading the Holy Name in the Milton and greater Halton region. Please give me your mercy that I can continue doing this service which is very dear to you.
Srila Narrotam das Thakur says:
gaura-prema-rasārṇave, śe tarańge jebā ḍube,
se rādhā-mādhava-antarańga
“If one says: "Let me dive deep into the waves of the nectarean ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya", he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna.”
By your mercy dear Guru Maharaj, I have also got entrance into Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, which is non-different from the confidential pastimes of Lord Caitanya. If you give me your blessings and permission for me to dive deeply through service I’m also hopeful that Srila Narottam das Thakur’s prophecy will become true in my life. Although I have innumerable faults and many shortcomings all these things will come to pass with your mercy. My shelter in this material world are your two lotus feet, the Holy Name of Sri Hari and my services in ISKCON.
On this occasion, praying that the Supreme Lord bestow His mercy and recuperate your ailing health.
Your spiritual son,
Narahari Dev das
ISKCON Milton