Hare Kṛṣṇa Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to You!
On the occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we would like to express our gratitude for your guidance in our spiritual journey. Last year was very challenging for us due to my diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence. It came as an uninvited guest and we seek your blessings to face this reality. During our meeting in Dallas at the Sadhu-saṅga, you gave Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class and concluded by sharing how you are happy when you are among devotees despite your health challenges. This was a lesson for us as to how one can remain blissful in the association of devotees.
In July 2023 you were also admitted in hospital and all disciples were requested to chant for your speedy recovery. It was one day after my surgery and I was feeling helpless at that moment, but I prayed that I would get the courage and strength to hold back my beads and chant. I was able to do it the very next day and kept the vows I took at the time of initiation with additional rounds and I’m doing the same to date. I have not yet acquired the taste in chanting despite chanting for years but I trust your words and those of our previous ācāryas and I remain hopeful that one day I will get the taste.
Throughout my treatments from July to November I was not able to go to temple, but I am thankful for your daily online association. I was able to attend your classes and I always look forward to the question-and-answer sessions. You would always say something that answered questions that I had in my mind. I had to take a break from pūjārī services, teaching Bhakti-śāstrī, cooking, Sunday feast and festival classes. I also missed several classes from my Bhakti-vaibhava study from Māyāpur institute. After hearing a class, you gave in Juhu temple where you mentioned that you studied and sat for exams for Bhakti-vedānta, I was inspired to get back to my studies. If you are doing so much effort to set the right example for us, we should not waste our time and learn how to use it productively in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. I rejoined the Bhakti-vaibhava course, prepared and took some closed book tests. I have also started giving Sunday feast discourse and Bhakti-śāstrī classes. Due to physical limitations, I have not been able to get back to other services yet but seek your blessings so I can get the strength for that.
I am thankful to my god siblings who created the JPS app and made it very easy for us to get your association, read your messages, listen to your classes and understand your instructions.
Fortunate are all the devotees who were able to witness the installation of the Deities in Māyāpur in person. We were able to watch it on Māyāpur TV. All this wouldn’t have been possible without your leadership.
We always seek your blessing so we can progress spiritually, appreciate the association of devotees and service without committing offences.
Your spiritual daughter and family,
Prema Gaurāṅgī Devī Dāsī
Aindra Dāsa
Bhakta Dhruv Tapasvi