oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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
Hare Kṛṣṇa dear Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my humble respectful obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to you Guru Mahārāja! All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!!!
Śrīla Gurudeva, on the occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā this year, I pray to Śrī Śrī Rādhā Gopīnātha, Gaura-Nitāi, Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā and Narasiṁhadeva to protect you and bless you with good health.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.2.5 states that a saint who has accepted the infallible Lord as their very soul, brings only happiness in all beings whereas the demigods lead to both misery and happiness of living beings.
bhūtānāṁ deva-caritaṁ
duḥkhāya ca sukhāya ca
sukhāyaiva hi sādhūnāṁ
tvādṛśām acyutātmanām
(SB 11.2.5)
When I read this verse, I can clearly relate it to you. We can clearly observe that anyone who has ever been in association with you has never experienced nothing but happiness. For example, when you come online and visit your disciples’ homes, we hear from you a simple expression of “wow” or “kṛṣṇe matir astu” or a momentary glance; each and every disciple feels so special. By giving your personal attention and care, you bring happiness to every living entity.
The verse says that the demigods inflict suffering or happiness on the living entities depending on their activities. Whereas you have taken the suffering of the unqualified fallen souls like me and relieved us of our sins by unconditionally providing shelter under your lotus feet. By your mercy, I hope that someday I will understand how fortunate I am to be your disciple. Ten years have passed since you gave me initiation, and I have not understood even an iota of how fortunate I am.
When I watch how so many of your disciples are reacting to just having your darśana from a distance, I cannot fathom how fortunate I am to have a personal conversation with you. I am such a fool that I blabbered about the weather when you asked me, “How are things?” My instinct never thought of saying “I feel separation from you or to say I am happy seeing you and talking to you”. My mind is so absorbed in material things that I am completely blind to see the happiness standing in front of me. Please help me to understand that you are the source of my happiness.
You are teaching us every day through your Caitanya-līlā classes, and how by studying Śrīla Prabhupāda books regularly, one can be happy. During our recent trip to Śrī Māyāpur dhāma, we had the chance to listen to your Caitanya-līlā classes on the rooftop. Each and every second, I could see how ecstatic you were. It would have been a long tiring day after visiting many places in the dhāma. But, when we sit in front of you during the classes, it is out of the world experience. Sometimes, I was not paying attention to your class and only observing you. O Gurudeva, please allow me to understand how fortunate I am to witness this before my eyes. I am still blind to understanding that you are the source of my happiness.
Inspired by your achievements and in our attempt to please you, myself, and my wife (Śrī-guru-bhakti Devī Dāsī), recently completed our Bhakti-śāstrī and Teacher Training courses successfully. It was a happy moment to report that we had completed our courses. But this arrogant mind is thinking that I have achieved this. Recently, when you received the Bhakti-vaibhava degree, I could see how humble you were in accepting the degree. You have shown me that humility is the key to happiness. Again, I can clearly see that you are the source of my happiness.
To date, you have been hard-set in executing Śrīla Prabhupad’s instructions to you. When we met you in Māyāpur recently, you gave me personal instructions. I am still bewildered about how to execute your instruction. I do not have any other choice than to beg for your mercy so that I can execute your instruction. I know that if you are happy, I do not have to worry about anything else. “Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo”. It is my intense desire to make you happy and not be a source of worry. Please help me to be focused on your instructions.
Once again, I am repeating the same wish that I placed before you every year. Myself, my wife Śrī-guru-bhakti Devī Dāsī and my son Acyutānanda Mādhava Dāsa are trying hard to bring many souls unto your lotus feet with the help of our Bhakti-vṛkṣa devotees. Everyone is very sincere in pleasing you except me. My sincere heartfelt prayer to you to bestow your mercy upon us so that all of us can be fixed in your service.
I struggle to be a good father to my son and a good husband to my wife. Please help me so I can guide both of them materially and spiritually.
On this auspicious day, it is my sincere prayer that you please help me, my wife and my son to remain in the service of your lotus feet without succumbing to materialistic pleasures. I also sincerely pray to Lord Narasiṁhadeva to always protect you so that your mercy can deliver more and more conditioned souls.
Your fallen and unworthy servant begging for your mercy,
Ānandamaya Gopīnātha Dāsa (Dīkṣā)