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 ācāryapādāya nitāi-kṛpā-pradāyine
gaura-kathā-dhāma-dāya nagara-grāma-tāriṇe
It’s amazing how we can express thoughts and feelings while spending almost the entirety of our relationship in separation. It is proof of the profound particularity of the relationship between guru and disciple.
Luckily, in June 2023, You were visiting Italy, and I was able to serve You, listen to You, and see You. Unfortunately, to my deep regret, I could not have the mercy of having Your personal darśana—to be able to speak to You directly, to receive advice, instructions, and to know Your thoughts on various aspects of life and service.
The days of Your presence flew by in the blink of an eye, caught up in the whirlwind of services that characterizes these moments. A year and a half has already passed since those days, but I still relive them with great emotion.
Everything is moving very fast. I sense big changes in society, and the same goes for our ISKCON—the association founded by our magnanimous benefactor, Śrīla Prabhupāda, of which You are a supporting column.
You are the one who strenuously pursues and implements Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, making His desire come true.
Once, Śrīla Prabhupāda came to me in a dream and said:
“Write to your Guru Mahārāja that He is the one who leads to liberation.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda was referring to You, dear Guru Mahārāja.
Without respite, indifferent to the innumerable great physical problems, You persevere in preaching, in developing, in welcoming new children to help and lead back to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Your mercy and love towards the conditioned jīvas have no limits whatsoever.
Here we find, in fact, what is set forth in the sacred scriptures: The Supreme Lord empowers His sincere devotee and makes him capable in various circumstances.
We are extremely fortunate to have your association—even if only virtual—and your instructions.
The only hope for me is to make You at least a little satisfied with my services and my attempts at improvement.
Actually, I am satisfied with my services: I have a large transcendental family to take care of, consisting of numerous divine manifestations. Your disciple and my son, Gora Nāṭa Rāja dāsa, helps me in almost all the various services and is very diligent and dedicated.
Furthermore, the translation service of Your app, JPS App, is continuing well—a service I have been carrying out since its inception in tandem with Lajjā Lakṣmī Mātājī. Serving with her is a source of well-being and tranquility, since we have views and exchanges in harmony.
There are so many things to tell You, dear Guru Mahārāja, but, as they say, “I'm a bit in the balloon”, so I’ll refer You to a private letter.
I pray to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva to always protect You and keep You healthy, so that You may continue to guide and instruct us.
I am so sorry that I have not been able to write a letter for Your glorious Vyāsa-pūjā even remotely worthy of the name. What I can't give up is spontaneity. Therefore, please forgive this daughter of Yours, who despite everything is sincere and intends to serve You, please You, and remain in the safe shelter of Your lotus feet.
Your spiritual children,
Antaraṅgā-śakti Devī Dāsī
Gaura Nāṭa Rāja Dāsa