Dear Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to Śrī Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga.
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
You continue to lead all of us by your example. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. You are a fighter and time and time again we see that not a day you miss your Caitanya-līlā classes, your administrative commitments, come what may.
Last year was a great year for all and for Dāmodara Deśa who were blessed with a few long visits of yourself Guru Mahārāja, which was more for you to visit EXPO2020 to see what learnings can be taken for TOVP Exhibits.
śrī-śuka uvāca
mahad-vicalanaṁ nṝṇāṁ gṛhiṇāṁ dīna-cetasām
niḥśreyasāya Bhagavān kalpate nānyathā kvacit
(SB 10.8.4)
O my Lord, O great devotee, persons like you move from one place to another not for their own interests but for the sake of poor-hearted gṛhasthas [householders]. Otherwise they have no interest in going from one place to another.
Post COVID, there is a tendency of new-found freedom and we are able to see lots of new comers and enthusiasm. It is time for all of us including Dāmodara Deśa Yātrā to relook at the environment and also readiness to fulfil the requirement, upskill capabilities, improve ourselves organizationally, succession planning etc. These are all not something to research upon, but you have given us all the knowhow to progress, and it is only a matter of organizing as per your directions. You have empowered all of us to do what is required to progress this movement, and we will continue to seek your blessings to improve in every facet of organization for collective improvement as well as individual upliftment.
Personally, I have a lot to reflect on the past and plan for service in future and I have a lot to catch up in your service and sadhana. I seek your blessings and strength to get over all our materialistic attachments and tendencies and this needs to be constantly worked upon.
You are also leading us by example on learning, but your progressing with Bhakti-vaibhava course. That is again for us to emulate and get serious on studying the śāstra in an organized way. Again here you have thought of some of us who are involved in administration and can quote time as an excuse to progress, and here again you have given us feasible ways to progress. So what stops us, except our own lethargy and negligence. Again, we take a vow to start progressing here.
Last year has been turbulent for ISKCON with various negative news on treatment of children. While that is upsetting, we all have a task to put things in place going forward to ensure that not one single event of this nature happens now and as Dāmodara Deśa Yātrā and as your disciples, I am willing to support in all possible ways, financially, organizationally to help you and the movement in making immediate progress that will give confidence to one and all in ISKCON and its future.
As JPS SC chairman, and as yātrā leader supporting you in serving Śrīla Prabhupāda’s movement, together with a team, I will try to imbibe your instruction, enable quick implementation of your desire to serve and with rapid progress, enhance devotee and disciple care.
I thank you for giving us a purpose in life, and also thank your servants, health team and all senior disciples, who are working so well together to serve you.
Please forgive us for our frailties and empower us with your blessings to serve.
We pray to Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava and aṣṭa sakhi, Śrī Prahlāda Narasiṁha, Śrī Śrī Pañca-tattva and Śrī Śrī Jagannātha Baladeva and Subhadrā Deities and all the holy dhāmas and devotees to continue to give you improved health and for us to serve you in person and serve your mission forever.
Your servant,
Śrī Vallabha dāsa
Congregation Leader – Dāmodara Deśa Yātrā