Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA

Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026

Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,

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

Please accept our most humble obeisances. Your ardent followers who are serving at New Goloka Dhāma humbly beg your mercy and thank you for your unlimited kindness by allowing us to take the saffron dust particles of your lotus feet through your glorious and ever-present vapuḥ.

We have understood that our great fortune on this material plane is to receive the sublime message of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu through you, His dear senāpati-bhakta. You have brought us this inestimable gem of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which includes the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare / Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare, and the science of self-realization. Had you not sacrificed so much to bring this transformative process of bhakti-yoga to the world, humankind would be lost in the pits of suffering and despair. We are saved! And we are eternally grateful that you have entrusted us with this most divine mission to help you reclaim the fallen conditioned souls. All glories to you, dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to you!

As you have so eloquently and constantly expressed, and something that resonates strongly with us today, the world is in dire straits for lack of knowledge and understanding of the Absolute Truth. The ancient scriptures that you carefully unpacked for anyone who chooses to read them so they can understand the truth are your greatest gift to the entire world. Unfortunately, you personally showed us that although the jīvas are searching for the truth, they are very slow or even unwilling to actually accept it. However, with the current adverse socioeconomic conditions and increasing harassment by various agents of the threefold miseries, eventually, more and more searching souls will arrive at the precipice of “Truth or Die,” as did those of us who have surrendered to you. Śrīla Prabhupāda, please continue to bless us so we may spread this message of the Absolute Truth to the sincere spiritual seekers, and help us understand true compassion to imbibe the same feeling of need and urgency so we may reach out to the suffering masses more insistently.

Our hearts are very heavy, Śrīla Prabhupāda, as over this last year so many disciples, pioneers, and warriors of yours have left our association; we are now helplessly drifting through the dreaded “decade of tears.” Although we rejoice for those stalwarts in achieving their long-­cherished desire to again join you in your personal service, it is difficult to dampen the profound pain of the loss. They were our mentors, gurus, guides, exemplars, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters – so much to so many, inspiring us all to serve and remember you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. That precious service was their life and soul, their main sustenance, infusing every fiber of their being … and to live here without those powerful modern mahārathas of Lord Caitanya’s army leaves us reeling. We humbly beg you to empower us so that we as the torchbearers have the strength to assume greater responsibility in your ISKCON mission so we ensure it continues flourishing on the heels of their powerful pioneering contributions.

Great news, Śrīla Prabhupāda: the steady application of your expert prescription of book distribution plus harināma plus prasādam has enabled our community to grow and flourish over the past decade or so. To support this phenomenal growth and our continued outreach efforts, we are building up the home base – both literally and figuratively. While work is underway to construct a bright, gorgeous, and more expansive temple, our primary focus is to purify our hearts and minds to best imbibe your teachings and sweetly share our beloved practice of sādhana–bhakti. Our worshipable Deities Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Golokānanda are the center of our lives, infusing us with shelter, solace, and strength. Our focus on chanting, hearing, and serving Them with purpose is very strong. As you repeatedly stressed, our spiritual advancement is a direct result of how sincerely we execute one of the nine processes of devotional service. You have kindly shared the formula of how we can truly be happy, fulfilled, and absorbed in serving Their Lordships in this very life. We are so very blessed to continue to nourish and grow this bhakti community with your loving guidance.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have repeatedly stressed that humbly serving in a spirit of cooperation is the most pleasing to you. ISKCON is a house in which the whole world can live, a forever home-sweet-home for those who have become attached to your mood and mission. Deepening the quality and authenticity of our association with one another through loving exchanges is the foundation of the New Goloka community. We are fixed here, living under your shelter; indeed, we clearly understand that sādhu-saṅga is the most precious jewel we can possess. As our spiritual master, guiding authority, and founder-ācārya, your pure and loving understanding that every living being is part and parcel of the Lord gives us the impetus to become more compassionate and inclusive of everyone. As you always exemplified in your personal dealings with others, we must be patient, caring, and tolerant and gently encourage everyone to be friendly toward the service of the Lord. Therefore, we must be absolutely resolute in spreading the glories of the mahā-mantra and the process of bhakti-yoga far and wide, and we must be united in that effort. It is our primary duty as your emissaries. We are committed to that role within your mission and we will not fail.

While we are all nicely assembled here together – worshiping and chanting, reading and hearing, singing and dancing, praying and feasting, serving and caring – we realize bhakti-yoga isn’t easy. You told us that, and you also told us that the process of bhakti-yoga is simple and sublime. Both are obviously true, and given the overwhelming evidence to take up this completely transformative process, we are delighted and relieved to receive this opportunity to surrender to you. When you were lecturing on the Sixth Canto, chapter 1, text 50 of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Detroit on 3 August 1975, you famously stated:

So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very kind that without considering whether he is a siddha or viddha or anything else – “Let them take kṛṣṇa-prema.” Therefore, Rūpa Gosvāmī prayed to Caitanya Mahāprabhu (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 19.53):

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

He understood, “Here is Kṛṣṇa, but He has come now in the most liberal way. Everyone He is giving kṛṣṇa-prema.” How? “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance, and become a lover of Kṛṣṇa.” So nice. Simply by chanting and dancing, one is becoming … Practical it is. All these boys and girls, four or five years ago they did not know who is Kṛṣṇa. That is surprising to everyone. The whole world is praising this movement because they see practically that how these European-American boys and girls are so much absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s gift. Namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te, kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne. So very simple thing. Don’t think I have played something wonder. No, it is not my wonder. The process is wonderful, the process itself. You have to simply accept; then your life will be successful. It is not that “Bhaktivedanta Swami has brought this.” They say. They give me the credit. That is my good fortune also. But actually, I am just like a peon. I have brought, but I am delivering it without any adulteration. That may be my credit. And if you take it without any adulteration and practice it, then your life is successful. This is the secret of success. Chant, dance, take prasādam, live very happily, and look very brilliant, and next life go to home, back to Godhead. So kindly … I am very pleased that you are doing nicely. But don’t be proud. Always remain humble, meek, that “I am nothing. I cannot …” That will be nice. And if you think, “Now I have become liberated. I can chant and dance,” no, don’t think like that. Just like even Caitanya-caritāmṛta author, he says, purīṣera kīṭa haite muñi se laghiṣṭha: “I am lower than the worm in the stool.” Jagāi mādhāi haite muñi se pāpiṣṭha: “I am more sinner than Jagāi-Mādhāi.” In this way … That is not artificial. A Vaiṣṇava must think like that, that “I am rotten. I have no value.” Don’t be proud. Then the things will go on nicely. And as soon as you become proud, then māyā – “Yes, you are God. Come on. I will kick you on your face. Come on.” (laughter) These rascals become God, and then māyā kicks on the face, and they think that they have become God. Don’t become like that. Always remain humble servant and you will be happy. Thank you very much.

In that mood of simplicity and sincerity, humility and inclusivity, determination and compassion, and with an attitude of gratitude for a brilliant life steeped in devotion, your servants at New Goloka Dhāma aspire to continue pushing forward this divine saṅkīrtana mission. We beg you to continue showering your mercy and compassion upon our humble endeavors.

His Divine Loving Grace Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda kī jaya!

Your eternal servant,

Līlāśakti Devī Dāsī

On behalf of the devotees at New Gokula

Houston, Texas, USA

Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026

Our dearest and most beloved spiritual master, Śrīla Prabhupāda,

Please accept our humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet, the shelter of all fallen and conditioned souls. All glories to Your Divine Grace for beginning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement and carrying it throughout the world. We are eternally grateful for your example of humility, tolerance, sacrifice, and unwavering determination in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, without your mercy and blessings we would have no strength to continue our devotional services. Whatever we have been able to do in our temple activities is only by your kindness and the inspiration of your instructions. We pray to remain steady year after year and to assist, in our small way, in spreading the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as you envisioned.

Forty-nine years ago, your dear disciples incorporated ISKCON of Houston and began the work of bringing spiritual life to this city. We are grateful to share a few glimpses of how your mercy continues to manifest here. Forty years ago, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Nīlamādhava made the Houston temple Their home, and this year we will celebrate Their anniversary along with Janmāṣṭamī and a kirtan festival that draws thousands of guests.

By the blessings of the Deities and your guidance, our Deity worship department strives to maintain and steadily improve standards, while training a new generation to serve. In recent years, many devotees have taken up this service, and we are encouraged to see their sincere growth in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

In keeping with your desire that Kṛṣṇa consciousness be shared with everyone regardless of background or qualification, the Bhakti Urban Farm program welcomes many new seekers each Sunday to hear hari-kathā and chant the holy names. Similarly, following your instruction to prepare future leaders, the Goswami Academy school has been serving for over a decade, with more than twenty full-time students and five full-time teachers dedicated to nurturing our children in devotional life and strong character. Our Sunday School is also vibrant, with over 180 students attending each week for age-appropriate classes on the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, japa and kirtan, arts and crafts, and interactive activities that help them learn Vaiṣṇava etiquette, prayers, and practical devotional habits. In line with your desire to establish higher education programs in devotional service, such as the Bhakti Śāstrī, Bhakti Vaibhava, and beyond, over the last twenty-five years more than 350 students have gone through our śāstric education.

Your book distribution and harināma-saṅkīrtana are especially dear to your heart. By your mercy, devotees go out daily to distribute your books throughout the city, and weekly harināma is held, along with prasādam distribution. You came to teach what we have forgotten – our eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa – and imbibing that same mood, we are trying to remind the public of Kṛṣṇa through the holy name, prasādam distribution, and your transcendental books. By your causeless mercy, overall book distribution increased by 25 percent in 2025 over 2024. This year, by your grace, Lord Jagannātha’s mercy was carried widely through our participation in the Art Car Parade caravan – wholeheartedly welcomed by the citizens of Houston, just as a thirsty person feels satisfied after drinking water. We reached thousands in person and many more through media coverage. We pray that this receptive spirit may awaken many hearts to the chanting of the holy name, and that your books and Lord Jagannātha’s mercy may enter every home.

Because you emphasized the importance of prasādam distribution for purification of the heart, Govinda’s restaurant has been serving the Houston community for the past decade – offering prasādam and introducing many local residents to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In addition, many other services continue throughout the year, including bhakti-vṛkṣa programs, university and college preaching, and numerous festivals. Sunday feasts, which Your Divine Grace started in the early years of establishing the movement, are now attended by a mix of approximately 800 visitors and devotees – an encouraging sign of your movement’s continued growth and outreach to the locals. These efforts are carried out by devotees who try to serve sincerely under your shelter.

This year, ISKCON of Houston is observing the 60th anniversary of your movement by organizing a gala to reflect on your mercy and to highlight what has been accomplished – from small beginnings to a dedicated community and many ongoing service efforts – while keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center. We pray that the program will please you, and that whatever good comes from it may be offered at your feet.

“And if we take up the process sincerely, with love, then Lord within will give you dictation: ‘You come this way, come this way, come this way.’ Otherwise, not. The first condition is: teṣāṁ satata-yuktānām. Therefore, we are trying to engage all our disciples to be engaged twenty-four hours in devotional service. Then his life will be successful. That is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.” (Morning walk, April 20, 1973, Los Angeles)

As you expressed on that morning walk, we are trying according to our capacity to remain engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service throughout the year in various ways. We aspire to make your instructions our life and soul. Still, we know that without your blessings we cannot go very far. On your divine appearance day, we therefore beg for your causeless mercy so we may continue to serve your mission with sincerity and help carry it forward for the benefit of others.

“The temple management very nicely means to render service to Kṛṣṇa.” (Lecture on Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 20.395, given in Hyderabad on August 17, 1976)

Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us that we may always remember your instruction that temple management means to render service to Kṛṣṇa. Kindly grant us the intelligence to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center of all our services, and the humility to cooperate as your servants in unity. Please engage us in whatever way will most please Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Nīlamādhava and further the saṅkīrtana mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, so that your books, your instructions, and the holy name may be carried to every heart. We offer this report and all that we are at your lotus feet.

Your servants,

The devotees at ISKCON Houston