My dear spiritual father,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda! All glories to Your Divine Grace on this auspicious anniversary of your glorious appearance!
Another year has passed which we have watched, dumbstruck with wonder. Every day there is a new health challenge. Every day there is a new administrative challenge. Every day there are disciples who want personal counselling from you. Every day there are disciples letting you down. everyday there are disciples quarreling with each other. Every day there are projects requiring your valuable input. Every day there are Vaiṣṇavas needing donations from you.
You don’t avoid any of them. You give your full attention to each of them. You sleep so little. And you can’t place your burdens of love on anyone, except Śrīla Prabhupāda.
I don’t want to be one of those who is a trouble to you. If I am not in a position to do anything for you, I want to at least purify myself a little every day. I therefore concentrate on improving my japa a little every day. I listen to every word spoken by you, just as I listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda every day. I beg you to please grant me the mercy as follows - please bless me to leave my body before you, in good health - I can’t bear to stay here even a minute in your absence. Please bless my wife Prema Padminī and children Pradeep and Ananth to be your eternal servants.
Your useless spiritual son,
Vijaya Veṇugopāla Dāsa (Dīkṣā)