My dearest spiritual father, Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious day. All glories to our saviour, Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to your divine self.
Another year gone and we are here to experience again the excitement for the festivities of your upcoming Vyāsa Pūjā. What can I write to describe a personality who is worshipped by the whole world, big and small? However, for my own purification, I shall make a very insignificant attempt to glorify your divine grace.
Guru Mahārāja, although you need not be here in this material world, out of your causeless mercy, you have come to purify us by giving shelter at your lotus feet which is our only refuge. We, being kali yuga products, are absorbed in sense gratification. But we are so fortunate that you have filled our life with your auspicious presence as LOVE PERSONIFIED. I have forgotten what sorrow is.
It is most amazing that despite belonging to the spiritual dhāma of Lord Caitanya, you move around like one of us. As the true representative of the Channāvatāra, this is your channa līlā which bewilders us. We can never understand your true position. However, for us it is important to understand that you are our worship-able master and we are your pet dogs.
Like a perfect spiritual master, you guide us daily by your vani through your Caitanya Līlā book compilation classes, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam classes on Saturdays and special classes on some occasions. You give us the words of caution on the path of bhakti, like vaisnava-aparādhā and so on; so that we don’t trip over. At the same time you make the path of bhakti seem so wonderful and attractive! Simply by hearing the class and having your darśana, I aspire to become a good devotee.
Your care and concern for the devotees are unmatched. One may question how you are able to maintain thousands of disciples all over the world while remaining stationary most of the time in Śrī Dhama Māyāpur. Of course you travel extensively too, to give your vapu association to one and all. However, like a tortoise which nurtures the turtles by meditating on them, you meditate upon our welfare, praying constantly. Thus Lord Krsna feels obliged to protect us. That is our only hope.
Like an exceptional leader, you guide most of the senior devotees of various sectors through various plans and strategies. Regardless of the condition of your health, you have exhaustive meetings all day long everyday. It is such an organisational support to simply have your inputs and that keeps the pillars of ISKCON strong.
As one of the servants of your health forum, I see on a regular basis, how much physical inconvenience and pain you undergo, some of which are inflicted by us. But you never complain, never crib. You only bless us lovingly in return. By your own example, you are teaching us what is the purport of taror iva sahisṇunā.
Your nirmatsara quality is very attractive. I never heard you criticising anyone. Even if you have to point out a mistake or deficiency as a service, you present it with such purity and a well wishing feeling that your words never hurt anyone. It is because you love the ‘Supreme Pūrṇaṁ’; thus, you see every living being connected to Him. By your mercy, we should learn to feel that kind of love for the Lord and everyone, only then we can follow in your footsteps.
Recently I heard that you had a conversation with HH Kadamba Kanana Mahārāja to whom you narrated some pastimes of Lord Caitanya. One statement of yours was overwhelming. You said, “Bhakti Tirtha Mahārāja gave me some service before he left. Do you have some service for me?” It shows how much you are in the mood of service ALL THE TIME!! You already have SO MUCH on your plate but it does not restrain you from asking for more.
Guru Mahārāja, I am completely awestruck by your qualities. With every passing day, the more I am getting to know your pastimes, you are becoming bigger and bigger in my heart and I am becoming smaller and smaller before you. This feeling makes me so happy though, as I am heading towards reality; my constitutional position of the servant of your servant.
Thank you for saving me from the miserable material existence. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude and respectful obeisances again and again.
Your most undeserving spiritual daughter,
Ramya Vrndavana Devī Dasī.