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<title>OBV171019</title>
<meta name="Author" content="His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami">
<meta name="Subject" content="Pre-1978 Original Books">
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<p class="p1"><b> 13. Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1969-1977</b></p>
<p class="p2"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1969</b></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">September 4, 1969</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glory To Sri Guru And Gouranga!</b></p>
<p class="p7">This booklet is offered to the Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace 108 Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. He has graced us with the Absolute Truth—that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and we the living entities are His parts and parcels. All we can offer in return is our transcendental loving service birth after birth after birth.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">(International Society for Krishna Consciousness)</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Boston—38-40 N. Beacon Street</p>
<p class="p7">Buffalo—15 LaSalle Avenue</p>
<p class="p7">Columbus—318 East 20th Avenue</p>
<p class="p7">Detroit—74 West Forest Street</p>
<p class="p7">Hamburg—2 Hamburg 19, Eppendorfer WEG 11, West Germany</p>
<p class="p7">West Honolulu—Box 1684 Sunset Beach, Hawaii</p>
<p class="p7">London—7 Bury Place, Bloomsbury WC1, England</p>
<p class="p7">Los Angeles—1975 South Lacienega Boulevard</p>
<p class="p7">Montreal—3720 Park Avenue, Canada</p>
<p class="p7">New York City—61 Second Avenue</p>
<p class="p7">New Vrindaban, W. Virginia—RD 3, Moundsville</p>
<p class="p7">North Carolina—605 Airport Road, Chapel Hill</p>
<p class="p7">Philadelphia—45-24 Regent Street</p>
<p class="p7">San Francisco—518 Frederick Street</p>
<p class="p7">Seattle—5516 Roosevelt Way N.E.</p>
<p class="p7">Vancouver—2904 West 4th Avenue, B.C., Canada</p>
<p class="p7">Washington, D.C.—21-54 Newport Place N.W.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories To Sri Sri Guru Gouranga</p>
<p class="p7">namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale</p>
<p class="p7">Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Boston</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Uttara Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Uttara Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p12">Just at the end of night, when all is still<br>
And hung with blindness, breeding dark decay,<br>
The sun, with rays of cleansing, living light<br>
Moves forth on the horizon, and brings day;<br>
So an Acharya comes, bearing the light<br>
Of love of God, the clearest beams of all.<br>
He is our Shelter from the eyeless night<br>
Of nescience, and we know we shall not fall.<br>
If we but keep His teachings in our hearts<br>
We shall love Krishna by this one life's end,<br>
The Master's order is our life and soul<br>
For He is Krishna's confidential Friend.<br>
I therefore offer this most humble prayer<br>
That Srila Prabhupad make my faith strong;<br>
He is the sun; illuminating all:<br>
Go back to Godhead, back where you belong!</p>
<p class="p7">—Uttara Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Jahnava Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jahnava Devi Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Prayer for Spiritual Guidance</b></p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupad, by Your Mercy You are our Father<br>
Offering transcendence to our prodigal souls<br>
Insignificant we are within these corpses of matter<br>
Surrendering to your devotional knowledge our only stronghold.</p>
<p class="p12">By Your Mercy may I receive Your radiant Mercy<br>
Prostrating myself eternally at Your Sheltering Feet<br>
Fulfilling all desires to serve for which I am thirsty<br>
By surrendering to the Greatest, Krishna, the Complete Complete</p>
<p class="p7">—Jahnava Devi Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Lilavati</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Lilavati</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>For Prabhupadji</b></p>
<p class="p12">As we walked through the streets of New York, through the heat and the dirt and the waste,<br>
An indescribable smile came over His beautiful face.<br>
Not a smile that would last for a moment, or was curled by disdain or desire,<br>
But perpetual, blissful, secure, shyly gleaming with spiritual fire.</p>
<p class="p12">We gazed at that smiling so long, with its peace, its surrender and grace,<br>
That it seemed that the world of the living had its source in the glow of Your face.<br>
Now can we praise or describe You, who has plucked us up from our strife,<br>
Who has lit up this dark place of danger, and has given us back our life.</p>
<p class="p12">There was never a basis for living, there was never a reason to act,<br>
And now You have blessed us with unbound gifts, and every moment is packed<br>
With meaning, with hope and with joy; one small wish, one stubborn desire:<br>
To serve You and chant Hare Krishna for the rest of my eternal life.</p>
<p class="p7">—Lilavati<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Giriraj</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Giriraj</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>To The Spiritual Master</b></p>
<p class="p12">We shall work to serve You dear<br>
Be in Your sunlight always near<br>
And in Your rainfall always hear<br>
Hare Krishna in our ear<br>
Oh Swami, You are so beautiful,<br>
So perfect, great, and just,<br>
So nice and Oh so wonderful<br>
To come to souls like us.<br>
And so I love the Lord,<br>
Because You, so great, do love Him<br>
And this life which I am wont to hoard,<br>
Let me spend in His Kingdom.<br>
Krishna loves You, Swamiji,<br>
And so must I love in return<br>
Him the Source of all that be,<br>
All love, all truth, and all we learn.<br>
At night I always think of You while going to take rest<br>
And in the morning wake to think upon you even more<br>
In between I dream of You, Who are the very best<br>
Whose every move I relish and whose person I adore.<br>
Like fresh youth obsessed with young maiden<br>
I think on your scent of rose crops<br>
On your skin of sunlit heaven<br>
On your voice of honey raindrops<br>
That enters in my earthen ears<br>
And absorbs my wretched mind<br>
Into a pool of such deep tears<br>
I fall and think I'll never find<br>
My balance. Oh Prabhupad,<br>
You are guiding me truly back,<br>
Back Home and back to God.<br>
And I am following, just like the sack<br>
Of bones I think I am. Heart<br>
And soul You move in me because I love you so<br>
And never would I find myself apart<br>
From That where You would go.<br>
Let me serve and be with you—<br>
In separation all is bliss—<br>
And let me further love You too—<br>
Who can imagine such as this?<br>
You awaken our dormant love of God,<br>
For loving You we have no choice<br>
But love Your Master, Prabhupad,<br>
And sing aloud with simple voice:<br>
Hare Krishna! The Holy Name<br>
In praise of Him so good and kind<br>
To send You dear of mercy fame<br>
To love and make our life sublime.</p>
<p class="p7">—Giriraj<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Rukmini Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Rukmini Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p13"><i>Namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale<br>
Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">My Dearest Guru Maharaj,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humblest obeisances at Your Divine Lotus Feet on this holy day of Sri Vyasa Puja. All Glories to Çré Guru and Gouranga!</p>
<p class="p12">Our desire knotting into an illusory wheel<br>
A wheel of death and rebirth long unbroken<br>
We’re spun numb in the temporal and eternally we reel<br>
With our words of surrender left unspoken.</p>
<p class="p12">A fallen leaf in the wind may appear to hold life<br>
But detached from the whole tree it will wither<br>
Life without Divine Refuge—my Master—is strife<br>
Your service is evergreen, your Grace draws us together.</p>
<p class="p7">Your unworthy servant,<br>
Rukmini Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Saradia Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Saradia Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Two Aspects of Love</b></p>
<p class="p12">Our tears falling like rain<br>
Come back to see You again.<br>
You we have come to meet,<br>
Bow down at Your Lotus Feet;<br>
To hear Your nectarine words,<br>
Praise of the Supreme Lord.<br>
Your presence like morning dew,<br>
You're covered with golden hue.<br>
So long waited for this time,<br>
That again could bathe in Your shine.</p>
<p class="p12">Still, the whole truth is not in meeting,<br>
But in separation; that’s Your teaching.<br>
This is actually more sweet<br>
Than touching Your Lotus Feet.<br>
Because that is our life’s perfection:<br>
Feeling love for You in separation.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble daughter and servant,<br>
Saradia Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Satsvarupa</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Satsvarupa</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyas Puja Offering</b></p>
<p class="p7">In the first verse of his Prayers Glorifying the Spiritual Master, Sri Viswanath Chakravarty prays that the spiritual master is like a rain-pour of mercy. The rain is merciful because it alone can extinguish the blazing forest fire. That forest fire is compared to the burning heart of the man in material existence. He is trying to enjoy, but his heart is burning with anxieties: the pleasure of the senses is incomplete and temporary, the course of the mind is uncontrollable and sometimes beset with misery; and to take refuge in philosophic speculations or art and novels is finally too dry and tedious to be completely satisfying by itself. The atmosphere in which we live—the very conditions of existence on any planet in the universe—makes it impossible to relax, be peaceful or attain happiness. Because, although no one desires it, old age devours youth, diseases stop one and all from the pleasures of continual good health and everyone’s duration is at last cut off by the ax of death. Rebirth, old age, disease and death break out suddenly like fires, and no one is needed to start them. Just as in the city no one wants so many fires or accidents, and yet the ambulance or fire engine is always wandering in the street. Everywhere there are miseries!</p>
<p class="p7">Yet we learn from Bhagavad Gita that each and every living entity is factually aloof from all these miseries. The real person, the actual self who is eternal spirit-soul, is not subject to old age or death or any other disadvantage of the material world. Lord Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, declares that the real person is His part and parcel and is, as God Himself is, always blissful, eternal and full of knowledge. Our only mistake is to fall into illusion and forget our original position as eternal servitor of the Supreme. The retaining of the position of eternal blissful knowledge remains only theoretical for those souls who continue to wander, birth after birth, through the millions of species of life, as described by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Teachings of Lord Chaitanya. It is only by the mercy of a bonafide spiritual master who is coming in disciplic succession from Krishna that one can receive the realized knowledge by which he can cut the knot of ignorance which binds him to continue in his repeated sufferings. By the realized knowledge of the spiritual master, one can himself become self-realized (Gita, 4/34) and at once end his illusory struggle to be happy without God-consciousness. It is only by the mercy of the spiritual master that we can gain the goal of God-consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">We therefore offer our respectful obeisances to our spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who as our only real and permanent father, has kindly kindled in us the desire to serve eternally in the position of a transcendental worker in the Hare Krishna movement of Lord Chaitanya. The spiritual master descends like a stout rope down into the dark and filthy well where we are loitering; by Krishna’s Grace we can catch hold of that<b> </b>rope and be easily lifted into the invigorating and bright atmosphere of Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">But this present age is so rank with the cheating propensity that, even in so-called spiritual affairs, nine times out of ten the “guru” or “yogi” or “rishi” who proposes to revive our original consciousness turns out to be a fraud claiming himself to be God; a fraud who can only collect a fee, who cannot engage us in any full-time transcendental pursuit. We are certain to have escaped the plight of surrendering to a false guru by the mercy of the unbreakable chain of disciplic succession of spiritual masters called the Gaudiya Sampradaya, of which A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is the present, leading acharya—in direct line from Lord Chaitanya, the Original Teacher of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagwatam. What our spiritual master teaches us is purely spiritual, one hundred percent confirmed by the purport of the shastras, which is, that Krishna is to be sought out and served in love. The result of this process is seen in the students of Krishna Consciousness, whose lives are externally and internally distinct from all pretender-groups in that they are engaged with mind, body and words in the practical direct loving service of the Personality of Godhead, and wholeheartedly detached from material desires.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our prostrated obeisances to the spiritual master who through his many books is always filling our thoughts with the nectar of the Pastimes of Krishna, the Lifter of the Goverdhan Hill and the Beloved of the gopis. As far as I am concerned, I do not know Sri Krishna, but I know Prabhupad, and <span class="s2">he knows Krishna</span>. I offer my humble obeisances because he has engaged us in transcendental Samkirtan Party and given us transcendental dress, because he feeds us on prasadam or spiritual food and gives us spiritual family life. We cannot expect great numbers from the masses—who take a “guru” out of sense gratification or seeking health remedies, mystic powers or business success—to be attracted to the selfless acme of devotion to Krishna. We cannot ourselves ever love him enough or repay him or serve him in measure to the gift he made to us: fixing us onto the goal of service to Krishna. We can, however, make continual prayer to Krishna that our service to Sri Guru expand in enthusiasm and respect and that our home remain at his lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">—Satsvarupa<br>
(ISKCON—Boston)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Rupanuga</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Rupanuga</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>EIGHT INADEQUATE APPRECIATIONS ON THE APPEARANCE, DAY OF HIS DIVINE GRACE 108 SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA GOSWAMI PRABHUPADA:</b></p>
<p class="p12">We are in darkness,<br>
Your Divine Grace the light<br>
To guide us beyond<br>
This material night.</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine Grace has shown<br>
The whole world’s sleeping<br>
With hardened heart<br>
Against Sri Krishna’s seeking.</p>
<p class="p12">Yet by Your Divine Grace<br>
Of Lord Krishna we can hear:<br>
His Glorious Pastimes<br>
Give us boundless cheer!</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine Grace<br>
Has proven, beyond doubt, <br>
The Absolute is the Person<br>
We cannot live without.</p>
<p class="p12">As Acharya, Your Divine Grace<br>
Has shown us by example<br>
What we each are<br>
His infinitesimal spiritual sample.</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine Grace<br>
Has given the principle of Bhakti<br>
The only legitimate business<br>
Of Lord Krishna’s Jivashakti!</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine Grace is perfect<br>
So what is our improvement,<br>
Except our hearty promise<br>
To push Lord Chaitanya’s Movement.</p>
<p class="p12">Who can sing full of that day<br>
—Our obeisances are simply lame—<br>
When Your Divine Grace, Oh!<br>
Delivered the Holy Name!</p>
<p class="p7">—Rupanuga<br>
(ISKCON—Buffalo)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Prahladananda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Prahladananda</b></p>
<p class="p7">You came with Krishna Chaitanya in your heart and asked us humbly to come home. I in my fog stumbled into a circle of chanters of your merciful song and my heart began to melt. Oh! Prabhupad, Oh! deliverer of all wretched creatures such as I, how can I understand your love—I accept so little but you want to give so much. Oh! Krishna! Oh! Rama! Oh Chaitanya, Oh Nityananda! I beg you for the strength to repay your gift.</p>
<p class="p7">Prahladananda<br>
(ISKCON—Buffalo)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Jagadisha</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jagadisha</b></p>
<p class="p14"><b>For Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the Most Wonderful Shelter, on His Appearance Day</b></p>
<p class="p12">A baby—without sense<br>
Just come from nescience<br>
I try to praise<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Perfection Personified<br>
He’s come to these states<br>
Chanting Hare Krishna!<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">His only desire<br>
to serve Narayan<br>
From out of the mire<br>
He’s pulled the most fallen.</p>
<p class="p12">Samkirtan ki jaya<br>
Has come to this place<br>
Lord Gouranga’s Servant!<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">In contact with Maya<br>
Getting kicked in the face<br>
The Most Wonderful Shelter!<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">O Prabhupad!<br>
With Lotus Face<br>
Our Father and Mother<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Thank You Lord Krishna<br>
For this wonderful boon<br>
Our Beloved Guru<br>
Has come none too soon!</p>
<p class="p12">To be His servant<br>
Is nectar to taste<br>
There’s no other shelter,<br>
HIS DIVINE GRACE!!</p>
<p class="p7">O, PRABHUPAD!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">—Jagadisha<br>
(ISKCON—Buffalo)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Chapel Hill</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Chapel Hill</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Tosan Krishna</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Tosan Krishna</b></p>
<p class="p12">He brings the light<br>
Of a fresh new day<br>
Once lost in darkness<br>
We rejoice, now gay.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to Prabhupada<br>
Our loving father who guides us<br>
He is the One, there is no other<br>
May I serve Him, He came to accept us.</p>
<p class="p12">He delivered the message of blissful life<br>
Dispelling the fall of impersonal disaster,<br>
Sinking in the mire of self entanglement<br>
We are saved by the Grace of our Spiritual Master.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to Çré Guru<br>
Whose mercy lifts the nescient cloud; our eyes may see.<br>
He is the confidential Servitor<br>
May I offer my most humble obeisances to a pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p12">He has taught us the Divine Reality<br>
All Glories to Him, again I repeat<br>
Spiritual Souls, eternally free to serve<br>
May I nestle near His Lotus Feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupada, Your mercy I can never fathom<br>
You are the benediction for the whole human race<br>
I beg to always serve You<br>
I offer my humble obeisances, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">—Tosan Krishna<br>
(ISKCON—Chapel Hill)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Bhurijana</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Bhurijana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories to Jagat Guru!!!!!!!</b></p>
<p class="p12">Janmani Janmani I want Your Grace<br>
Of service to the Human race.<br>
Dearest Prabhupad, what can we give<br>
To You who taught us how to live.</p>
<p class="p12">Without God we’re dead, and nothing more.<br>
We’re forced to shop in Maya’s store.<br>
Our freedom’s nil—there’s no way out! .… <br>
You’ve caused a seed of Prem to sprout.</p>
<p class="p12">This seed within my heart You’ve sown<br>
It will not stop until it’s grown<br>
To the LORD SRI KRISHNA Whom it will greet<br>
And nestle, sheltered by His Lotus Feet.</p>
<p class="p12">You’ve made simple, easy, plain,<br>
The method used to remove the pain<br>
Of Birth, death, old age and disease.<br>
Please accept my obeisances, Prabhupad, please.</p>
<p class="p12">Maha mantra is the way<br>
For self realization in this day.<br>
Begone! Envy, lust, anger, and despair.<br>
You’ve cleansed my mind of Maya’s lair.</p>
<p class="p12">The Devotional Moon, Your Grace has shone on me,<br>
It’s Light, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—has let me see<br>
That, yes, God is Great and all in all…<br>
But KRISHNA’S BLUE AND SIX FEET TALL!</p>
<p class="p12">So Prabhupada , I beg and ask and beg again<br>
To let my service never end;<br>
Of Krishna’s Glories let me sing;<br>
And to Your doti let me cling.</p>
<p class="p7">—Bhurijana<br>
(ISKCON—Chapel Hill)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Vrindaban Chandra</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Vrindaban Chandra</b></p>
<p class="p15"><i>Namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale<br>
Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin iti namine</i></p>
<p class="p12">Without the Lord, man’s life is folly<br>
Completely controlled by the whims of Kali<br>
Ever engaged in seeking perverted pleasure<br>
Man foolishly forgets life’s full measure</p>
<p class="p12">So intoxicated with reality’s reflection<br>
They are blinded to life’s perfection”<br>
Knowing not the Supreme Objective<br>
They live with so limited a perspective</p>
<p class="p12">Put to sleep by Maya’s lullabye<br>
Their only reason in life is to die<br>
But you have come to awaken them all<br>
By allowing them to hear Chaitanya’s call</p>
<p class="p12">Your mercy, O Prabhupad, is so difficult to conceive<br>
For all their burdens you have come to relieve<br>
So allow me to offer you my respects from every side<br>
And by your teachings may I eternally abide.</p>
<p class="p7">—Vrindaban Chandra<br>
(ISKCON—Chapel Hill)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Nara-Narayan Viswakarna</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Nara-Narayan Viswakarna</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Adoration to Prabhupad</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Srila Prabhupad who is the dearmost person to all true Souls. At his lotus feet now I may take shelter from Maya’s deluding embrace. Oh Krishna, Your impartial lotus eyes have been moved by Prabhupad’s unswerving love; and mercy, fathomless bliss is ours! (unworthy sinners though we be) And wrecked, creeping to the showering light of his divine eyes embrace (tho’ obsessed by material life’s disgrace, No! We heal and shine in His aspect’s visage.) Prabhupad! Please take me with You to Lord Jagannath’s abode. Your miracle glance has trapped me now, forever in the Rasa of Your Love.</p>
<p class="p7">—Nara-Narayan Viswakarna<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Vishnujana</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Vishnujana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Sree Vyas Puja Offering</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Tvam na sandarsito dhatra dastaram nistitirastam<br>
Kalim satwaharam pansam karnadhara ibarnaram</i></p>
<p class="p7">We think that your goodness is met by us by the will of providence just to accept you as the captain of the ship which desires to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali which deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories Unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami</p>
<p class="p12">Oh thou spotless Merciful One<br>
You have severed this knot I could not have undone<br>
I was thinking that painful was actually fun<br>
Wine woman and song that cold birth and death pace<br>
Not to deny, but simply replace<br>
All desires we have with the Highest of tastes<br>
Under loving Direction of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">We are singing—Hare Krishna; Raising children—Hare Krishna; We are dancing—Krishna Krishna; always offering prayers—Hare Hare; We are cooking—Hare Rama; stringing garlands—Hare Rama; We are working—Rama Rama; That You’re pleasure is our care—Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept this Life You have given me.<br>
—Vishnujana<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Tamal Krishna</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Tamal Krishna</b></p>
<p class="p7">Most Beloved Prabhupad,</p>
<p class="p7">You have come offering blessings from Vrindaban. Leaving the yogis sitting safely on their skins, you have come to a country of anxiety and have made us to dance and chant. With the knowledge of Vyasa and raging like Narasingha, Your Grace has defeated the nonsense atheists. The whole world has become puffed-up in forgetfulness of Krishna—You are our Rescuer, bringer of the Maha Mantra.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace has proven that devotional service is spiritual life. From Your Grace’s transcendental form is revealed a body of lotuses. We, Your devotees, are so fallen that Lord Krishna has been compelled to give us His Greatest Mercy—Your Divine Grace. Had Your Grace not come we would yet be drowning but You have picked us up and restored us to life with Hare Krishna.</p>
<p class="p7">So now we are offering you our most humble obeisances from in front, from behind, and from all sides; we are singing Your praises, Deliverer of Lord Chaitanya’s Mercy, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">—Tamal Krishna<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Bhismadev</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Bhismadev</b></p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad,</p>
<p class="p7">You have come, A divine mirror showing us who we are—A link with the Eternal, Broadcasting Supreme Truth—Completely involved with us, Yet you exist in some other place. Thank you dear mirror of the soul. Hare Krishna. Your humble servant, Bhismadev<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Chintamoni</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Chintamoni</b></p>
<p class="p7">My Beloved Spiritual Master Prabhupad,</p>
<p class="p7">I am only a beggar, begging for your mercy. Oh please lift me out of this wretched condition and let me love You and Krishna. I am so anxiously awaiting the day when I will be filled with love for that Blue Boy—Govinda whose beauty is beckoning me on, and melting my heart.</p>
<p class="p7">I have absolutely no qualification for your mercy save being a fallen soul. So when I think how low I am, my heart grows heavy. But when I remember Your Divine Grace, I have great hope for myself and all fallen souls. For surely it is of no quality of my own that you are lifting me, but your own causeless love and mercy. Surely if one as fallen as I can obtain mercy, no man can fall so low as to be beyond mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh Prabhupad, Your love for us is cascading over these fallen souls and I fear we are drowning in an ocean of bliss. Never can I begin to appreciate your causeless love and mercy. I can only say Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna!</p>
<p class="p7">—Chintamoni<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Lawrence A. Heyda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Lawrence A. Heyda</b></p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad, your name calls up a wonderful, new hope in the frozen depths of my conditioned heart and I am groping towards you as the only reservoir for my total faith, love and devotion.</p>
<p class="p7">—Lawrence A. Heyda<br>
Hare Krishna<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Woomapati</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Woomapati</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyas Puja Tribute</b></p>
<p class="p16">“The Spiritual Master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord on account of His being the Most Confidential Servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed Scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master who is the bona fide representative of Hari.” (prayer)</p>
<p class="p16">“O Suta Goswami, the great sages who have completely taken shelter of the Lotus Feet of the Lord can at once sanctify others who may come into touch with them while the water of the Ganges can do so after a prolonged use only.” (Srimad Bhagwatam, 1.1.15)</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble and respectful obeisances to my beloved Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj, who out of His unlimited compassion and mercy has brought Krishna Consciousness to the most fallen souls of the kaliyuga.</p>
<p class="p7">One can only approach Krishna by the mercy of the bona fide representative of Krishna. How can we know how to approach Krishna by ourselves? Only someone who already knows how Krishna wants to be approached can direct others in the proper way of approaching Him. For this reason the Spiritual Master is honored and respected as much as Krishna Himself. This can be easily seen in His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami; for, which of us would know anything of the Supreme Absolute Truth, the All-Attractive Sri Krishna without the causeless Mercy of our Spiritual Master?</p>
<p class="p16">“I was born in the darkest of ignorance and my Spiritual Master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.” (prayer)</p>
<p class="p7">The genuine Spiritual Master teaches completely in accordance with the revealed Scriptures without any personally motivated interpretations, as the mailman delivers the letter without writing anything on himself. In this way, the Spiritual Master shows the student the Source of Divine Knowledge, so that the student can now see. The Spiritual Master also shows the student how to live in the revealed knowledge according to the directions in the Scriptures Themselves. I was such a fool to think that on my own I could find anything, let alone the Supreme Absolute Truth, but my Spiritual Master, by refusing to compromise with my idiocy, told me to simply take Krishna’s Word for things and see if it wasn’t better that way.</p>
<p class="p7">What can I say; what can I do; what can I write to communicate? Krishna Consciousness is perfect. Prabhupada is the perfect Spiritual Master. Everybody should fall at His Lotus Feet in humility and surrender. He has made His Mercy available to everyone and anybody who wastes this opportunity is a fool. Who else is showing so plainly the Beautiful Truth, the Supreme Person Sri Krishna? Who else is teaching us how to love Krishna the way that Krishna wants to be loved?</p>
<p class="p7">I beg to offer this most unworthy and inadequate tribute to my Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj on Vyas Puja, 1969. I prostrate myself at His Feet and offer my most respectful obeisances and undying gratitude again and again and again.</p>
<p class="p13"><i>Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishnapresthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine.</i></p>
<p class="p7">—Woomapati<br>
(ISKCON—Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Jayapataka</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jayapataka</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ALL GLORIES TO THE DIVINE MASTER!<br>
AND SRI KRISHNA CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU!</b></p>
<p class="p7">VYAS PUJA DAY. I beg to place this teeny offering at the Lotus Feet Of my Spiritual Master.</p>
<p class="p12">Blind men stumbling along the path<br>
Cannot find their way alone.<br>
As Causeless Mercy Incarnate,<br>
The Spiritual Master guides us home!</p>
<p class="p12">Back-To-Godhead the Goal set forth<br>
Beyond our feeble mind and effort.<br>
Only through His Divine Grace may<br>
We, the most fallen souls, arrive in port.</p>
<p class="p12">A blind man thirsty with no hope my own,<br>
Upon my head His Lotus Feet I beg to place.<br>
His Mercy on us all knows no limit!<br>
The thirst of the soul is satisfied by His Grace!</p>
<p class="p12">Amongst the pack of fools and hypocrites<br>
One stands out in the golden gleem of Truth!<br>
No thought of selfish ends be His!!<br>
The Guide is kindly leading us to Truth!!</p>
<p class="p12">Entangled in the quicksand of mind and action’s result,<br>
Guru Maharaj is lowering a cord of life to pull us up<br>
Beyond the clutches of concocted pleasure and pain!<br>
Returning us to our rightful place, there Krishna’s Love to sup!!</p>
<p class="p12">In the land of “Loving Exchange” the Master has His Home,<br>
And extends the invitation of the Lord, a Gift of utmost worth!<br>
How can we return this Gift of Boundless Grace?<br>
Bereft of all, I can but be to serve birth after birth!</p>
<p class="p12">Chanting HARE KRISHNA, so sweet from Him,<br>
We hear and dance in ecstacy of love!<br>
Praise, praise, praise the Gurudev!!!<br>
From all sides, below, above!!!</p>
<p class="p7">We are like so many sleeping fools being maneuvered in robot mechanisms here and there, sleeping souls in a nightmare created from our own perverted desires. The robot encagement is always on the verge of breakdown, both mechanically<b> </b>and electronically. Among these mechanically controlled personalities a free person is traversing unhampered by the robotism. He is trying to wake the sleeping fool from his robotistic situation of mechanical control to the free situation of Truth far beyond such limited scope.</p>
<p class="p7">We are like robots acting out Maya’s mechanical control in the three modes simply to try to satisfy the perversion of temporary infatuation. The Spiritual Master is so kindly trying to wake up the fallen souls in such precarious, unsatisfying condition of stereotype existence to the loving platform of pure devotional service. Unfortunately, we are too much anxious to sleep and let the robot act forcing us then to suffer and enjoy in relation to the machine, not tasting real happiness ourselves. No! No! Please, do not let it remain as such! Let us try to serve with willful purpose the Representative of Truth now present, although beyond the robotism of this inert material world, and thus taste the ecstacy of His Love causelessly reciprocated on our prostrate heads.</p>
<p class="p7">How can I, deluded in this robot cage, hope to illuminate the Glories of Sri Guru? It is like the lantern held up to illuminate the sun. I hope my poor representation of His Boundless Mercy and Grace will be understood as only the smallest voicing of His Unlimited Qualities beyond even the great demigods’ scope. All Glories to the Spiritual Master!! May He Grace us with the causeless mercy of His transcendental service for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="p7">The most fallen, unworthy servant of His Divine Grace,<br>
Jayapataka<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Yasodanandana</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Yasodanandana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale<br>
Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine</i></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Prabhupad, you’re so kind that during, a little poem I can’t find all the words to describe your sublime kindness. While sitting in front of you, I’ve realized how powerful you are. And when you’ve touched my beads everything has been transformed. It was like KRISHNA in front of me. All your powerfulness, your kindness and your sublime work of expanding KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS through this occidental world, it’s so marvelous, fabulous and magnificent that although my poor knowledge cannot conceive all your powerfulness, I offer my most respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet, and I chant respectfully all my rounds to please KRISHNA and to ask him to continue your good health. HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE</p>
<p class="p7">—Yasodanandana<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Sripati Das</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Sripati Das</b></p>
<p class="p7">In Appreciation of His Divine Grace A.C . Bhaktivedanta Swami Guru Maharaj. I am not sincere. I am not intelligent. I am not attentive when chanting the Holy Name. I don’t know how to be sincere when I say I am not humble. I am not intelligent enough to see that failure to carry out the instructions of the Spiritual Master with greatest vigour is less intelligent. But my Spiritual Master is so great—only Krishna knows how great—that he is spreading his mercy on the whole population of this planet. He has asked me to “chant Hare Krishna” and has requested me to be very serious about this. So in times of stress, when I forget Krishna more than usual, when Maya kicks me most, I may look at a picture of Prabhupad and remember to be very serious in this chanting of Hare Krishna. This is the most merciful benefit available to the living entities at large. So why not chant Hare Krishna? Dearest Prabhupad, you have sent very nice devotees with which I can associate and copy and learn from and notice bliss lighting their eyes when they think of you. Namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine.</p>
<p class="p7">—Sripati Das<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Hymie</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Hymie</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Hare Krishna,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. To vibrate the mantra is to be in harmony with the Supreme Personality. This tiny Spirit Soul which am I was a note lost from the Tune until drawn back to the All-attractive Song. Prabhupad with knowing Love, You sing the Song, You shine the Light, You speak the Word to guide us back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">—Hymie<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Gopal Krishna Das</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Gopal Krishna Das</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories To Sri Guru and Gouranga</b></p>
<p class="p7">First of all I beg to offer my most humble obeisances at my spiritual master’s feet. I think that I am very fortunate because you have accepted me as your disciple. If you would not have accepted me as your disciple, I would have continued to live in darkness, thinking that I know how to approach God. I will never be able to repay Lord Krishna for his Gifts. However, I want to give my spiritual master a small promise, and that is that I will always try to follow your teachings no matter where I am. Your teachings shall always guide my actions. Your teachings shall always guide my thinking and I shall always try to follow your teachings. Your kindness towards everyone is beyond description. You forever are willing to see anyone who is interested in going back to Godhead. You are so keen to remind everyone that they don’t belong to this material world, but belong to the spiritual world. It is only by your divine grace’s efforts that this movement has expanded so fast in so many cities and countries. My desire to see you always remains, even though I feel guilty sometimes for taking your valuable time. Your time is like Gold, whereas my time has no value. When I see you I think that I am seeing God, when I touch your lotus feet I feel that I am touching the Lord’s lotus feet. And when I receive your blessings, I feel that Lord Krishna has personally blessed me. I thank Lord Krishna for sending me to you. I am very grateful to my spiritual master because he is always telling me to serve the Lord and to chant Hare Krishna. I pray to Lord, that I shall always remain at my spiritual master’s lotus feet. Please oh Lord, keep me at my spiritual master’s feet. All my life I want to keep singing “Bande Guror Sri Charanaravindam, Bande Guror Sri Charanaravindam, Bande Guror Sri Charanaravindain.” Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishna presthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine.</p>
<p class="p7">—Prabhupad’s most unworthy servant,<br>
Gopal Krishna Das<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Baradraj</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Baradraj</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA<br>
<br>
TEACHER OF LOVE</b></p>
<p class="p7">Oh my master, You are the Messenger of Peace. Heavenly angel with your causeless mercy, You are raking the turbulent black waters of the ocean of Death fishing for drowning souls lending them the firmament of your Lotus Feet. You are glorious. Lighting up the dark caverns of my mind with soothing vibrations of Your transcendental utterings, I am becoming relieved of pain. Your speeches flow out. They are cleansing my blackened dusty heart “from dust accumulated for years together.”</p>
<p class="p7">You are pure, Prabhupad, Your Divine Grace. You are the Supreme Swan. I prostrate my afflicted self at Your fragrant Lotus Feet. Gathering all humility at my disposal, I wish to become Your humble servant. I wish to shut my eyes and let Your eyes see for me, for You are only seeing Krishna; Your ears are drinking the nectar of His Sweet Flute, Your tongue is always tasting the sweetness of His Name; Your feet are walking in His pastures. You are the Ark of eternal life. You are Lover of Krishna. Therefore do I offer unto You my humble obeisances. Oh Prabhupad, I am a worm trying to curl around the little toe of Your lotus feet. What can a worm do? Yet You are calling me a servant. My clumsy eulogizing only distracts others from perceiving YOUR GLORY!</p>
<p class="p7">—Baradraj<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p7">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Yasodanandana</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Yasodanandana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Namah Om Vishnu Padaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale<br>
Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine</i></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories To Prabhupad!</p>
<p class="p7">Such a powerful man as you, dear PRABHUPAD, it cannot be found everywhere. But one who is enough fortunate to find and practice your teachings of the BHAGAVAD GITA, and also chant always the MAHA MANTRA, this one, he is sure to be elevated to the transcendental platform, the platform of KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Therefore, O most beloved spiritual master, I must thank SRI KRISHNA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has sent to us a divine grace like you are, O dear Prabhupad! Myriads of thanks, and more and more, for you, Sublime Bhagavan, most knower man, O nice PRABHUPAD, who came on this earth as the greatest deliverer of Chaitanya’s Yajnas. All my wishes of good health for you, O Prabhupad.</p>
<p class="p17"><i>Tavah Kara Kamala Bare Nakam Adbhuta Sringam<br>
Dalita Hiranya Kashipu Tanu Bringam<br>
Keshava Drita Nara Hari Rupa<br>
Jaya Jagadisha Hari.</i></p>
<p class="p7">—Yasodanandana<br>
(ISKCON—Montreal)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—New Vrindaban</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New Vrindaban</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Ranadhir</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Ranadhir</b></p>
<p class="p7">PRABHUPAD</p>
<p class="p12">Your open eyes<br>
Shine moons through clouds.<br>
Illuminate the Sky<br>
To deeply mired fools (as I)<br>
Your lightening glance<br>
Strikes deep through doubts,<br>
Illuminates the Sky<br>
With Love (as far as eyes can see).</p>
<p class="p12">Your songs chase clouds<br>
From Indian summer nights<br>
Vibrate praise to God<br>
For sending us a Golden dawn.<br>
Your holy voice<br>
Delights all hearts (who choose to hear),<br>
Vibrates Love for Krishna<br>
Whose Love alone You give (to even me).</p>
<p class="p7">—Ranadhir<br>
(New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Anuradha Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Anuradha Devi Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to the Golden incarnation of Mercy, the incarnation of love, Srila Prabhupad, whose smile is like a beam of brahma-jyotir; who is like Lord Chaitanya descended among us, dancing and dispelling the darkness of ignorance. By His presence sanctifying any place He passes through making it a place of pilgrimage even for the demigods. When I see Prabhupada dancing, playing kharatals, smiling and chanting, I see all the greastest demigods, saints and sages from all the universe paying respects by showering flowers down upon His Holy Head, for His Lotus Feet to dance on. And cows and peacocks dancing and playing and Gopis all singing and playing on mridangas and kharatals and Krishna Himself playing His flute and dancing with Prabhupada. Please let me take the dust of His Lotus Petal Feet and pay my obeisances to Him, Prabhupada, the pure devotee, the Golden incarnation of mercy, the incarnation of love, whose tears are drops of the Yamuna River.</p>
<p class="p7">—Anuradha Devi Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Nayana Bhiram</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Nayana Bhiram</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is so dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter of the Lotus Feet of the transcendental Lord. He is even more merciful than Krishna. He has saved me from all kinds of degradation. He has given me the priceless gem of Krishna Consciousness when all I wanted was the glitter of material sense enjoyment. He has delivered Krishna and His Transcendental Abode when all I was looking for was nonsense.</p>
<p class="p7">Ingrate that I am, I cannot appreciate His causeless mercy nor can I fathom His greatness. But because I have accepted Prabhupad as my Spiritual Master, I try to follow His instructions by chanting the Holy Names of Krishna and to go out into the streets and tell others to do the same. Thus my life is being perfected.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga!</p>
<p class="p7">—Respectfully submitted,<br>
Nayana Bhiram</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Rudradas</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Rudradas</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories to His Divine Grace Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta</b></p>
<p class="p7">This material world is full of misery and ignorance. It is comprised of wars, prejudice, sexual perversion, quarrel and divorce. So we the young are thrust into this chaos and told to get a job and become nice respectable citizens. Those with the intelligence see the nonsense of this proposition and dropout. From there a search is started. We know the answers do not lie in this society of hypocrites, murderers and fools. But where do we go? Where do we turn? Immediately most take to drugs and sex life. But no matter how many trips and how many sexual experiences we are not satisfied. There is not peace. So here we are completely confused and yet despite all this confusion we keep hoping something or someone will come and show us something, a way, truth.</p>
<p class="p7">Three years ago Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta tame to this Western world at the age of seventy and thus fulfilled the desire of His Spiritual Master and the desire of the Supreme Being Krishna. He brought us, the seekers of the truth, chanting! dancing! feasting! Not just an hour a day or once a week, but a most sublime and ecstatic knowledge that we his initiated disciples enjoy every minute of every day of every week.</p>
<p class="p7">All it requires to follow this pure devotee is to realize that we are ignorant. Our knowledge of the truth amounts to nothing. Everyone is walking around claiming, “I think this, or I think that,” and yet they obviously radiate no peace or love and are always in anxiety. Even those who are trying to find God have no concept of what they are trying to find. Most people tend to think of the Supreme Being as an unfeeling computer located in some distant place pushing buttons for the rain to fall and pushing buttons for the sun to shine. Or the latest arising trend is to say that I am God, you are God and we have just forgotten it.</p>
<p class="p7">What utter nonsense. The Supreme Truth, the Creator, does not forget. How could God be subject to birth, death, disease, or old age? So Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta has given us, at last we can finally know, the knowledge. The Supreme Truth is not a massive computer, but actually He has a spiritual body, a spiritual name and a spiritual world where all eternally liberated spirit souls are dwelling in a loving relationship with the Supreme Personality Krishna! So at last there is a person, a divine person, who has brought us complete truth, the final truth, as is said in The Bhagavad Gita, beyond the White Light, the unmanifested, the complete Truth—Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">So let us stop our speculative nonsense of saying I think this and I think that and let us learn from and surrender unto this humble, loving and knowledgeable spiritual master, one who is in direct disciplic succession from when Krishna appeared on this planet five thousand years ago. He is the spiritual master of the world for He is bringing us knowledge of Krishna. What other so-called spiritual master is doing this? He brings us the complete truth, not just a partial truth. So everyone please take the time out to submissively examine what this divine saint is giving us. You will find that He will answer every question you can ask and the answers are backed up by the authority of the Vedas. You will find that this is not an emotional movement but a movement of knowledge. So take up this yoga of bhakti or devotion to Krishna and follow Krishna’s representative and dance in ecstasy, and as you follow your love for this saint will grow a blossom like a flower and if you please the spiritual master then you please Krishna. And just seeing Prabhupad just once who could not immediately feel this attraction for Him? He radiates complete Peace, Love and Knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">There are so many things to be said about Prabhupad, but who could ever do Him justice? How can one even hope to describe a pure devotee of Krishna?</p>
<p class="p7">—Rudradas</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Jadunandan</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jadunandan</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga</b></p>
<p class="p7">Last autumn in a book store I did not want to leave without the beautiful pictures I saw there. But they were too expensive for my purse. For a long time afterward I wanted to return and purchase at least one of these beautiful pictures of Krishna. In that time I wanted those pictures more than anything else, not knowing how much it was Lord Krishna that I really sought.</p>
<p class="p7">In the winter I was feeling more spiritually attracted to a Supreme Consciousness beyond the seeming oneness of the universe revealed to me by my senses. I was searching for a definite way of knowing how to live, how to raise my son. Then, so magnificently, to my house came the spiritual master of this planet.</p>
<p class="p7">Now the telling, the thinking and feeling is less and less of anything but Lord Sri Krishna and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Oh, here is the beginning for me—the hearing of the Supreme. Hearing from His Divine Grace is really hearing. Everything but hearing of Krishna is like noise, not great disturbance but not worth listening to unless the sound is a reminder of Krishna.</p>
<p class="p7">And all wonderful, His Grace has accepted me and my wife as his followers in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord Krishna. We are so happy my wife and I. Initiation by His Divine Grace is truly a rebirth. My life before initiation now seems like a previous lifetime, almost of a different body. It is so nice. My poor telling is inadequate to describe the beauty of Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Please, dear Prabhupad, please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Krishna is so merciful that even I have found His pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">—Jadunandan<br>
(ISKCON—New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Hayagrivadas</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Hayagrivadas</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the Lotus Feet of Our Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj, Who is the Gita Incarnate, Guru of the three planetary systems, the Embodiment of all Deities, and an Ever-effulgent Ocean of Causeless Mercy and Compassion. By His Grace the Holy Name of Krishna is chanted in the Western World. Who is there comparable to Him? He has descended to Kaliyuga America to awaken the most soundly sleeping souls by His joyous hymns to God. We have wandered countless births amidst the hot mazes of the material universe, finding only suffering in this mighty conflagration. But now we have met Him, a Cosmic Thundercloud, and He is pouring the Divine Water of Krishna Prem, love of God, upon us, extinguishing our desires and nourishing the flower of devotion in our souls. He is drawing this Water from the Benediction Ocean, and its supply is inexhaustible.</p>
<p class="p7">—Hayagrivadas<br>
(ISKCON—New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Satyabhama</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Satyabhama</b></p>
<p class="p7">My Most Beloved Prabhupad</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories at your glorious Lotus Feet. You are the gentle ocean of Mercy washing over us and cleansing our hearts of all the dirt collected there from lifetimes of material contamination. The dirtiest thing will come clean if there is sufficient water. And your Mercy Ocean is so vast and full that thousands of our fallen selves can bathe in its clean waters and become purified. Your causeless mercy upon us is wonderful and unfathomable. I can only fall down in the dust of Your holy Lotus Feet and beg you to accept my most humble but worthless obeisances.</p>
<p class="p7">—Satyabhama<br>
(New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Devananda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Devananda</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA</b></p>
<p class="p7">On this auspicious day we seek to praise and glorify our beloved Spiritual Master the Cynosure of our humble lives Who is praised and glorified even by Krishna Himself. How is it possible for us to describe such a one. He is the subject of transcendental love and bestower of such ripening love upon all the worlds of sentients as the glowing sun. He is the symbol of purity and the acme of compassion. He stands as the Vedic Tree and delivers the fruit of Love of Krishna. He is the promise of Lord Chaitanya to overflood the world with Krishna’s Names enchanting. He is the Spiritual Messenger, the Lord’s Angel of Mercy, the sweet harbinger and bringer of the Lord’s Own Flute Song charming all souls to the Lotus Land of Brajadhama, Krishna’s Own Who knows His Mind. This Cowherd of Goloka is expert in extracting milk of heart’s pure desire. O’ How He works such arts as these! He spreads the rays of the Benediction Moon, Lord Chaitanya, as the follower of the Goswamins and with the rains of His Mercy swells the springs of innumerable streams to increase the ocean of transcendental bliss.</p>
<p class="p7">He is the savior of all, the incomparable leader whose sweet will is only to free our fallen selves from the felon clutch of the Maya witch. He has banished the reign of impersonalist despair and established the Undenyable All Blissful Three-curved Krishna upon the throne of our minds. Who can compeer with Him. In the three worlds He is unsurpassed and most excellent. He has devoured the life of the atheists outright with the sharp teeth of transcendental knowledge, healed all wounds and bestowed life with the eternal balm of His smile and with His tongue He has licked open the eyes of the devotees. He is, the representative of Krishna’s lips resonant with intoxicating flavors of nectarean song.</p>
<p class="p7">O’ wonder! He has sown and caused to grow the creeper of love from this stone and barren field. I offer my most humble obeisances unto my Spiritual Master Who is the dear most confidential friend of Sri Sri Radha Krishna our Soul of souls. May He ever seal His feet in the open lotus of our heart of hearts.</p>
<p class="p12">NAMAH OM VISHNUPADAYA KPISHNAPRESTHAYA BHUTALE<br>
SRIMATE BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMIN ITI NAMINE.</p>
<p class="p7">—Devananda<br>
(New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Dwarkadish</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Dwarkadish</b></p>
<p class="p7">My Dear Prabhupad,</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you for bringing Lord Jagganath. I like to take care of my deities all the time. I like chanting Hare Krishna on my beads. I like to have Aroti for my deities. I like to know stories about Krishna. All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga. Thank you Prabhupad.</p>
<p class="p7">—Dwarkadish<br>
(New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Kértanänanda Swami</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Kértanänanda Swami</b></p>
<p class="p12">Nothing I have to offer Your Grace,<br>
Only a life of sin and shame to show;<br>
How can I approach Your heavenly face,<br>
Merciful Prabhupad, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Before You came my life was Void,<br>
Before You spoke I thought Him dead;<br>
But now I know by Your Divine Grace<br>
That Senses He has, and Name sublime—Krishna.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to Your Divine Grace,<br>
All Glories Holy Father;<br>
All Glories Teacher Transcendental,<br>
All Glories Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p class="p12">All that I have I owe to You,<br>
All that I know I learned from You;<br>
All that I want I see in You,<br>
Prabhupad, my worshipful Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">—Kértanänanda Swami<br>
(New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Hrishikesa </p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Hrishikesa </b></p>
<p class="p7">The living entity is sleeping on the bed of Maya. He is covered by illusion and unable to awaken himself. But You, Srila Prabhupad, the Pure Devotee, awaken the sleeping soul, for You see the Lord in all things and all things in the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">—Hrishikesa <br>
(ISKCON New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Birbhadra</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Birbhadra</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to you my dearest Spiritual Master. You are the only one, to come all this way to America to New York to the bums on the street. And you have brought so many people to Krishna Consciousness. And it is by your mercy only that I the most fallen have come to Krishna. All Glories to you, you who are Krishna’s greatest servitor.</p>
<p class="p7">—Birbhadra<br>
((ISKCON New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Tulasi Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Tulasi Devi Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most respectful obeisances unto his divine grace A. C . Bhaktivedanta Swami, who has lifted us out from the illusion of material sense enjoyment and is always replenishing our spiritual understanding. He is so merciful to his disciples in sharing his knowledge of the most wonderful Lord Sri Krishna. All Glories unto his lotus petal feet.</p>
<p class="p7">—Tulasi Devi Dasi<br>
((ISKCON New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p7">Hare Krishna Dearly Beloved Prabhupad. Please accept my most appreciative thanks for opening all of my senses to the glory of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in Their eternal abode in the spiritual sky. It is only by your causeless mercy that I, the most fallen and offensive living entity, have been pulled from the mire of material existence into the awareness of the Golden, blissful and infinite realm of Lord Sri Krishna. The only true desire I have is to bow before your lotus feet and pray you will accept my most humble obeisances. Also that Your Divine Grace, my master whose every atom emanates the glory of being the greatest servitor of Lord Sri Krishna, may allow me to serve you forever. All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga.</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON—New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Roger Kearney</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Roger Kearney</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>A Child’s Prayer<br>
(Thanking God for Prabhupada’s Appearance)</b></p>
<p class="p7">Alas! and must we walk the lonely paths of Maya all this life, and then again inhabit but another form, to find that twice one thousand million times we’ve sinned and heard God’s cry, but heeding not His word refused to make amends and take the HAND of Life Eternal, Creation’s Very Cause and End?</p>
<p class="p7">A very kindly God, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, who surely shows His love where e’er be life, was gracious unto us in showing us the means whereby we might be lifted back to Godhead; chant the NAME; and glorify the Lord through Prabhupad!</p>
<p class="p7">—Roger Kearney</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Paramananda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Paramananda</b></p>
<p class="p7">Whenever I think of you Srila Prabhupad I think of how tolerant you are of so many faults and offences people commit out of their ignorance. You are mercy personified, your patience has no end, indeed, you are as tolerant as a tree. From my point of view I cannot understand such tolerance. I think you are much greater than I could ever realize. You are distributing Krishna to everyone, slicing through the clouds of maya, and you remain undisturbed, never deviating from the path of Krishna Consciousness. Due to your example, I feel so petty and foolish when I am not in Krishna Consciousness. Because of Your Grace, I pray to my mind to worship Sri Krishna. I am so intolerant, so uncontrolled, so fallen, and still you have taken the trouble to harness my mind, my tongue, my ears, to catch me in your net and pull me onto your ship. You have allowed me to struggle to become Krishna conscious. I offer my most respectful obeisances unto your Lotus Feet a thousand times. You are indeed the ocean of mercy. I pray that I never fall into the clutches of Maya and violate the great boon you have bestowed upon me. Wherever there is sunlight there is shadow (maya). As soon as you step out of sunlight, you are in shadow.</p>
<p class="p7">—Paramananda<br>
(ISKCON—New Vrindaban)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New York</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Leelasuka</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Leelasuka</b></p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupada—There is no one more dear,<br>
To take shelter of Him means no more fear.<br>
Even more merciful than Krishna is He,<br>
Because by His Grace Krishna we can see.<br>
By rendering loving service to Him,<br>
Attachment for Maya grows completely dim.<br>
He is SO GREAT we can’t even conceive,<br>
Oh Prabhupada Your Lotus Feet may we never leave.<br>
Please just let us love You forever,<br>
To serve You is the most blissful endeavor.<br>
Hare Krishna.<br>
Your loving daughter and servant,</p>
<p class="p7">—Leelasuka<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Karunamoya</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Karunamoya</b></p>
<p class="p7">I humbly prostrate myself before the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master who has come to drown all souls in his ocean of Grace. He is the only sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world of birth and death. I offer my obeisances unto him a thousand times, again and again.</p>
<p class="p7">—Karunamoya<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Aniruddha</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Aniruddha</b></p>
<p class="p7">On the appearance day of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, 1969.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances to His Divine Grace, who by His Pure Devotion has picked us up from the ocean of suffering. I, myself, have no taste for this everlasting platform of eternal blissful servitude. My heart is so polluted and full of dirt. So, I pray that my mind be fixed up at the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master, so I may know how to serve Radha Krishna. His Mercy is truly beyond our conception. All Glories to His Divine Grace, he is always engaged in trying to deliver all of us, the fallen souls, to the platform of Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">—Aniruddha<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Rohini Kumara</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Rohini Kumara</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most worthless obeisances unto my spiritual master who has forced me to open my eyes to the torchlight of knowledge while I was lost in the darkness of ignorance.</p>
<p class="p7">This world, being overburdened with anxiety like a boat capsizing on stormy seas, is very much aggrieved. So you have come just to diminish the problem.<b> </b>I am the most sinful entity and just look upon my heart full of ignorance. For this body, which is ultimately meant for service to the Supreme Lord Krishna, has for so many years been engaged in nescience.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Guru of the Universe, you are the greatest of mystics. Please protect me because there is no one else who will save me from the clutches of Maya. I am such a great offender against the Lord and His devotees that I do not deserve your grace, and yet I am so puffed up as to ask for your causeless mercy. When this land is so fortunate to be marked with the impressions of your own lotus feet it appears more beautiful than Vrindaban. But when you have gone away it no longer seems so auspicious. Oh my master, when you live abroad I am no longer able to look upon your moon-like face with its smiles of full satisfaction. You alone can extinguish all my sufferings. I cannot exist for long without your presence, therefore I offer my repeated obeisances unto you, who have so kindly showered me with your benediction.</p>
<p class="p7">—Rohini Kumara<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Jayadvaitadas</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jayadvaitadas</b></p>
<p class="p7">Om Ajana Timiran Dasya Jnanan Jnana Salakaya Chaksurum Militam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah. I offer my most respectful obeisances unto my Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge when I was standing in the darkness of ignorance. This ignorance is forgetfulness of Krishna, and by the grace of the bona fide Spiritual Master is this ignorance dispelled.</p>
<p class="p7">Srila Prabhupada is the Personified Mercy of the Supreme Lord and our only hope for achieving the loving devotional service of Krishna. Following in the Footsteps of Lord Chaitanya, He has benedicted us with the Holy Name of Lord Krishna; and following in the Footsteps of Srila Vyasadev, He is presenting us with the essence of the Vedic literature in the form of His treasured books.</p>
<p class="p7">In The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srila Vyasadev’s basic presentation of the science of spiritual life and the first of Srila Prabhupada’s books to be published in this country, the importance of the Spiritual Master is stressed throughout. Arjuna was in a distressful condition of confusion and perplexity, and so he submitted to Lord Krishna, the Original Spiritual Master, for instruction. “Now I am confused about duty, and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” (Bhagavad Gita, II/7) Arjuna surrendered to the Spiritual Master. This is the beginning of The Bhagavad Gita and the beginning of spiritual life. It is understood that it is not possible to attain spiritual perfection by one’s own endeavor. Acceptance of the bona fide Spiritual Master is required. When a person desiring to cultivate Krishna Consciousness accepts initiation from a bona fide Spiritual Master, then the connection between the devotee and Krishna is established. Without such initiation, the actual connection with Krishna Consciousness is never achieved.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, in order to fulfill the mission of the human form of life, one must approach the Spiritual Master, who alone can give transcendental knowledge. The Bhagavad Gita recommends: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Gita, IV/34)</p>
<p class="p7">Spiritual Truth can only be understood from the disciplic succession. “Evam parampara praptum imam rajarsayo viduh.” “This supreme science was received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.” (Gita, IV/2) The Spiritual Master must be coming in an unbroken line of disciplic succession, and he must be a devotee of Krishna. Krishna says to Arjuna, “That very ancient science of the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore, you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.” (Gita, IV/3) The nondevotees<b> </b>may speculate on the meaning of The Bhagavad Gita, but they cannot understand it. They are licking on the bottle of honey. However, if one accepts initiation from the bona fide Spiritual Master, serving him humbly and inquiring from him submissively, he can actually taste the nectar of Krishna Consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Arjuna heard The Bhagavad Gita directly from Lord Krishna and his ignorance and illusion were completely dispelled. “Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, O Infallible One, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and now I am fixed without any doubt, prepared to act according to Your instructions.” (Gita, XVIII/72) A few verses later, Samjaya says, “By the mercy of Vyasa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the Master of all mysticism, Krishna, speaking Personally to Arjuna.” (Gita, XVIII/75) As Arjuna was able to see and hear Krishna, similarly Samjaya was able to see and hear Krishna directly with his purified senses, even though he was not personally present on the battlefield, and was thus able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Samjaya admitted that this was only possible by the mercy of Vyasadev, his Spiritual Master. Narada Muni is a disciple of Lord Brahma—a direct disciple of Krishna, and is the Spiritual Master of Vyasa. In this way, Vyasa is as good as Arjuna. If one, therefore, hears Bhagavad Gita from Srila Vyasadev or his bonafide representative, it is as good as hearing Krishna directly. Thus the bona fide Spiritual Master coming in disciplic succession from Vyasadev is as good as Lord Krishna Himself, and one who takes shelter of such Spiritual Master can achieve the same wonderful result achieved by Arjuna and by Samjaya.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace our Spiritual Master is the bona fide representative of Srila Vyasadev coming in unbroken disciplic succession. From his glorious activities on behalf of Lord Krishna, it is apparent that he has fully realized the purport of all Vedic literature, and thus is always personally situated in an intimate loving relationship with Lord Krishna, eternally serving His Lotus Feet. Srila Prabhupada is making the authorized transcendental science of The Bhagavad Gita available to everyone as it is, conveying its pure message without any adulteration, and is always engaged in propagating Lord Chaitanya’s Samkirtan Movement, the life of all transcendental knowledge, as the practical method for reviving our Krishna Consciousness. He is our only hope for becoming freed from the multiple miseries of material existence. By His Mercy alone, our ignorance and illusion can be dispelled and we can regain our memory as eternal part and parcel loving servitors of the Supreme Person. I offer my most humble obeisances unto my Spiritual Master, who is very kind and merciful, freely distributing love of Krishna to ourselves, the most fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">—Jayadvaitadas<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Harold Torf</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Harold Torf</b></p>
<p class="p7">From Prabhupad you learn what transcendental ecstacy is like just by looking at his vibrating form and his shining eyes. His eyes shine as much love of Krishna at you as you want.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad is so kind that even though I have almost nothing to give he accepts even this.</p>
<p class="p7">Everyone, everything is so powerful and opulent only as servants of Krishna.</p>
<p class="p7">—Harold Torf<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Chandan Acharya</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Chandan Acharya</b></p>
<p class="p7">Even as I work, even as I engage in devotional service to His Divine Grace, Maya leers at me enticing me: “Why am I doing this? What do I gain? Why should I tire myself? Why don’t I just pack up and return to the ‘easy’ life I led before I ever heard of ‘Hare Krishna’?” How this uncontrollable mind wanders.</p>
<p class="p7">But when Maya seems to have conquered all, and when my unsteady mind begins to consider surrender, I grasp my last resort and ultimate weapon. I ask myself: “How could I ever continue to exist without anymore association—no matter how seemingly insignificant—of my Prabhupada? How could I dream of surviving another day with the knowledge that I would no longer see His Sunshine Face and that I would be deprived of the warmth of His generous smile? How could I ever dream of leaving the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master to Whom I owe my eternal existence?”</p>
<p class="p7">How cruel but foolish Maya is to attempt to separate me from my Guru Maharaj Who has succored me from the deepest recesses of ignorance and depravity.</p>
<p class="p7">This useless slave offers his worthless obeisances to such Spiritual Master. Bande Guroh Sri Charanaravindam. </p>
<p class="p7">—Chandan Acharya<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Bhima</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Bhima</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga!</b></p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad is a Pure Devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, and He is always engaged one hundred percent in the transcendental service of the Lotus Feet of Lord Sri Krishna. Prabhupad is one of the most confidential friends of Sri Krishna. He is in direct disciplic succession from Lord Sri Krishna. He is a bona fide representative of Srila Vyasadev, and therefore He is eligible for the Vyasa Asana, Because only those who are representatives of Srila Vyasadev can occupy the Vyasa Asana. All bona fide representatives of Srila Vyasadev in the right disciplic succession are to be understood as Goswamis, because such Goswamis restrain all the senses from being deviated from the path of the previous Acharyas. I offer my humble obeisances to Prabhupad who is always serving Lord Sri Krishna’s Lotus Feet. I offer my humble obeisances to Prabhupad because he has so kindly let me who is so fallen take shelter of his Lotus Feet. I offer my humble obeisances to Prabhupad who never deviates from what the previous Acharyas teach. I offer my humble obeisances to Prabhupad who is always teaching by example.</p>
<p class="p7">Hari Bol!</p>
<p class="p7">—Bhima<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Balai Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Balai Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami</b></p>
<p class="p7">Prostrating myself at Your most beautiful Lotus Feet, I offer my most humble obeisances unto You, and hope that by Your Causeless Mercy You will accept my lowly services. When I awake in the morning I first offer my obeisances unto You, because I know it is by Your Grace only that I am waking at all.</p>
<p class="p7">Every night I pray to Lord Nrishinghadev, my dear Lord, please let Prabhupada remain on this planet until He has finished His books and fixed us up in His loving Service to spread Lord Chaitanya’s Samkirtan Mission. All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga.</p>
<p class="p7">Your undeserving servant,<br>
—Balai Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Rishi Kumara</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Rishi Kumara</b></p>
<p class="p7">The Spiritual Master is compared to a giant rain cloud because as a rain cloud extinguishes a forest fire, similarly the Spiritual Master is able to extinguish the fire of conditioned life. Conditioned life means that I am trying to enjoy the resources of material nature, and in this attempt I must accept the stringent laws which material nature imposes—namely, birth, death, disease and old age. The Spiritual Master instructs us on how to stop this cycle, and for one who follows his instructions without any deviation, the ocean of birth and death is easily overcome. This is the causeless mercy of the Spiritual Master—by his perfect instructions, we become free from material bondage, a miserable condition of existence which we have been subject to since time immemorial. In this age of Kali or quarrel, Prabhupada, the Acharya for this age, has very kindly come to this country to deliver the most fallen souls by means of Samkirtan Yajna, the recommended process for self-realization in this iron age. Prabhupada is offering us the opportunity of millions of lifetimes—love of Krishna—and the process is so simple. Prabhupada says, “Simply chant Hare Krishna, and be happy.”</p>
<p class="p7">—Rishi Kumara<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Gary Prabhu</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Gary Prabhu</b></p>
<p class="p7">Seeing Prabhupad’s hands; feeling the Absolute overpowering strength and courage of his gentleness flow from them.</p>
<p class="p7">—Gary Prabhu</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Brahmananda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Brahmananda</b></p>
<p class="p7">No one can claim to have wasted years wandering after such dirty things as I. No one else’s mind is so easily attracted by the promise of sense indulgence. No one is as forgetful as I. Yet His Divine Grace has accepted me as a servant. Not even my mother has given me Krishna’s Holy Name to always chant. Nor has my father taught me who I am, what the purpose of life is, and who God is. His Divine Grace has enlisted me in the transcendental loving service to Krishna instead of the service to Maya. No one else in the world could have done this. That is a fact. Therefore, I pray to the mercy of Lord Nityananda that I may spend every remaining moment of this life informing everyone I meet that His Divine Grace meets all the requirements stated by scriptures and by great authorities to be the Spiritual Master of every living entity of the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">—Brahmananda<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p7">III/21: “Whatsoever action is performed by a great man, common men will follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Gadadhar</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Gadadhar</b></p>
<p class="p7">O’ Prabhupad, last Sunday you initiated me and it was a very ecstatic and meaningful day. I experienced the great bliss of meeting you in person, and the act of surrendering to your lotus feet is the most important action I’ve ever taken. I feel I’m being swallowed in an ecstatic tear and along with my Godbrothers and Godsisters, I’m rolling down your lotus cheeks. Just as Sri Krishna Chaitanya filled India with love for Krishna, we will inundate this world with this tear of transcendental knowledge and bliss. I am forever offering my obeisances in surrendering to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">—Gadadhar<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Jimmy Feldman</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Jimmy Feldman</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Blissful Return to New York</b></p>
<p class="p7">Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin Iti Namine. Just hearing that Prabhupad was coming back to New York, the devotees, having felt separation from their Spiritual Master, were filled now with so much bliss as could be observed through flowing tears and joyous shouts of “Haribol.” On the day Prabhupad was to arrive, the temple was swarming with activity like a beehive. After morning kirtan, Jayadvaita and Brahmananda gave everyone some task to help prepare arrangements to satisfy our spiritual master. Cleaning the temple spotlessly was very important, for as Prabhupad says, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” It could be definitely said that each devotee engaged to his utmost abilities in this preparation before the transcendental arrival of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.</p>
<p class="p7">Knowing that my father’s apartment in New York City would be vacant for the weekend, I called my father begging him if our Spiritual Master could stay there while explaining to him that anybody who can render service to Prabhupad can be<b> </b>relieved to some past sins. At first my father refused giving me the excuse that a guest would be occupying the room, but when I told him that Prabhupad means a million times more to me than Arnold Palmer means to him, he got the message and okayed my most important request. Before I put down the receiver, jubilant and ecstatic shouts expressed our feeling of thankfulness.</p>
<p class="p7">At around noon on the day of arrival, most preparations were finished and the devotees took Prasadam, their spiritual food. Soon after, we gathered all the transcendental paraphernalia and departed for the airport singing joyfully the Holy Names of God while travelling on the bus. Arriving at the airport, the devotees paraded into the National Airlines Terminal pushing chairs aside and began to start kirtan. A crowd of spectators and National Airline officials watched as the devotees danced in ecstasy to the Hare Krishna Mantra. Finally, Prabhupad’s plane arrived, and the Swami stepped out of the terminal building while the most respectful man in the community, Kértanänanda Maharaj, offered a most beautiful garland of flowers to Prabhupad. Prabhupad, accepting the flowers from the sannyasi, then walked over to the seat prepared for him, as all of the devotees offered their obeisances. Gasps of joy were exulted as Prabhupad touched Balai’s baby in approval. Then Prabhupad was offered his khartals, and he led Kirtan. Then there was a procession out of the airport, as Ekayani strewed rosewater and rose petals in Prabhupad’s path as he walked to the car followed by the devotees, who have taken shelter at his lotus feet. In the car, driving toward my father’s apartment (which is really Krishna’s), Prabhupad warned us that no matter how far we have advanced, Maya is so strong that we can easily slip back, so always be engaged for Krishna and have complete faith. After settling down in the apartment, Brahmananda offered fruit to Prabhupad, which he then accepted and handed out to Purushottam, Hayagriva, Kértanänanda Maharaj, Jayadvaita, Chandan Acharya, and myself. I was as lucky and nervous as anyone could be and the pat my spiritual master gave me on the head was just another example of his causeless infinite mercy. Truly, this was the most treasurable and fortunate day in this life.</p>
<p class="p7">—Jimmy Feldman<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Haribasara</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Haribasara</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga. Please accept my most humbly repeated but all-respectful obeisances, for Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami, who’s most dear to us, He is the Spiritual Master. The last words and meaning of The Bhagavad Gita is surrender unto the Lord, and the bona fide Vedic scriptures state surrender to the Spiritual Master totally. Prabhupad has written, “The spiritual master cannot be two.” Prabhupad is master, caring for all of us, giving us love for Krishna, thus providing the love for everything else totally. That’s love spiritually. Nothing to do with the dead mundane world. Eternally, we are—but what are we without Prabhupad? Some of the most fallen we were. Prabhupad to us means mercy—from the ever-eternal ocean. Prabhupad should by all means be the most respected on the planet as prime and dearest representative of the Supreme Lord Krishna and no longer are we animals as previously, or stiff dry clay, but original spirit souls, living entities. A usefulness now has been realized and received by Krishna’s devotees, Prabhupad’s servants. The dead body no longer master, it will fall to the earth. So wonderful is the human life under the spiritual direction. A free spirit in complete service to merciful love, merciful freshness, the spiritual master. Being totally incomplete such praises, but complete in truth, Prabhupad claims nothing for himself but is glorified by the Supreme Lord Himself, for a devotee of the Lord seeks no rewards. In reality our real spiritual self is eternally in service, to Prabhupad and Lord Krishna. The body or dead body to nature it is servant so we most fallen souls are in service eternally spiritually only, no other way, so how could we claim anything for our selves. We ourselves are spiritual servants in blissful happiness. Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta is dear to Krishna and dearest to us. May there be ever love for our spiritual master. We have a true friend, eternal friend, in service to the Supreme Lord. This life is for the spiritual master in service to the Lord with eyes decorated with the love of Prabhupad every flowing loving tears. </p>
<p class="p7">Most fallen, <br>
—Haribasara.</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Patit Uddharan</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Patit Uddharan</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>“To Prabhupada”</b></p>
<p class="p12">Paramhansa of the Nectar Lake:<br>
Did You Your Own True Love forsake;<br>
Leaving His sweet and fragrant Lotus Breast,<br>
To come to this world of birth and death?</p>
<p class="p12">Or is this a helping hand you lend<br>
While this world of matter You Transcend,<br>
I am perplexed, please let it be known,<br>
Have You come to take me Home?</p>
<p class="p12">My feeble memory cannot recall,<br>
Did I once in anger slip and fall?<br>
If there is Truth, then tell me where<br>
And from this I’ll turn and go with You There.</p>
<p class="p12">Tell me please of Life’s True Goal<br>
So I can cleanse the dust out from my soul,<br>
And from this humbly let me start<br>
To nourish the spark of life within my heart.</p>
<p class="p12">Your blessing I crave as now I see,<br>
Your Love can teach Infinity,<br>
And of the mercy that therein lies<br>
For this my Twice-born soul does cry!</p>
<p class="p12">So tell me please of Vrindaban,<br>
And that Blue Gopala, yes the Gentle One,<br>
Known as Krishna, Devaki’s Son;<br>
To this sweet Abode I long to run!</p>
<p class="p12">“KRISHNA” yes that is the Name,<br>
And the reason why to Your feet I came,<br>
I pray I’ll hear KRISHNA wherever I go,<br>
With sounds of kartals and “HARI BOL”</p>
<p class="p12">Now tell me of His jeweled throne<br>
And how He dances when with Gopis He is alone,<br>
O how His flute notes fill the air!<br>
Tell me this in Your loving Prayer.</p>
<p class="p12">I see in Nectar that You swim<br>
While herding Surabi Cows with Him,<br>
Tell the beauty of His Lotus Flowers,<br>
And His strength, and fame and mystic powers.</p>
<p class="p12">And of Devotees Whom He holds so dear<br>
In Vaikuntha—His place where there is no fear.<br>
Please tell of His Features so like the Moon<br>
Tell me sweetly lest I swoon.</p>
<p class="p12">Now unto Your Lotus Feet I’ll cling<br>
Lest I be whipped by Maya’s sting<br>
Even the dust at Your Divine Feet<br>
As I bow down tastes Nectar Sweet.</p>
<p class="p12">O Paramhansa of our land,<br>
I see in glory that You stand<br>
Ten thousand times a day<br>
I beg Let me thank You for Your helping hand!</p>
<p class="p7">—Patit Uddharan<br>
(ISKCON—New York)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Subaldas</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Subaldas</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>In Praise of Prabhupada</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances to my Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has so kindly delivered the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mantra to the Western world. Following in the footprints of His beloved Guru Maharaj, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, He is delivering the science of unalloyed love of Krishna to the fallen souls who are under the spell of material nature since time immemorial. A strict follower of the Goswamis and chief proponent of Lord Chaitanya’s Samkirtan Movement, His Divine Grace is the Spiritual Master for the whole world. He is acharya because His every thought, word, and deed is dedicated to the service of the all-merciful Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. We humbly beg His mercy so that we may some day be able to render service to Him for spreading this great benediction to the humankind.</p>
<p class="p7">Facing all difficulties alone, He began the first ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple in a small storefront in the Lower East Side of New York during the summer of 1966. Preaching, cooking, writing, talking, chanting, everything was a one man show. He maintained the establishment by simply depending on Krishna. Now He is acharya for eighteen temples in four different countries and has hundreds of disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">I feel my words to be very inadequate in describing His greatness and mercy. He has helped me more than I can ever repay. To quote one of His letters:</p>
<p class="p16">The secret of success in the matter of Krishna Consciousness is devotion to the Lord and the Spiritual Master. In the Vedas the secret of success is described as follows: <i>“Yasya deva para bhakti yatha deve tatha gurou/ Tasya ete kathitha hi artha prakasyante mokat manah. </i>Only one who has developed unflinching faith in the Lord and the Spiritual Master can understand the revealed scripture unfolded before Him.”</p>
<p class="p7">—Subaldas<br>
(ISKCON—Philadelphia)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Gopinath</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Gopinath</b></p>
<p class="p7">We did not want to serve Sri Krishna and now we are suffering eternally. Like a man without any knowledge, we have lost all sense of preceptivity. Tried to be independent of Lord Krishna, now he has granted us this domain, so that one day we can revive our spiritual consciousness and go back to the eternal blissful spiritual plane. Lord Sri Krishna is so merciful, He has sent us beautiful Guru Maharaj, and how can we unfit wretches serve His Divine Grace without any material flaws. All I can do is pray for the mercy of beloved Prabhupada, so that one day I may become devoted even like the great saint Prahlada; and then return to the land of bliss and eternity and serve Radha and Krishna and stop the pangs of duality. All Glories to Sri Guru.</p>
<p class="p7">—Gopinath<br>
(ISKCON—Philadelphia)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Chitsukhananda</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Chitsukhananda</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories, All Glories, All Glories to the Grand Spiritual Master of the World Prabhupad, by Your unflinching causeless mercy I have been initiated as one of Your disciples and a most unworthy disciple I am. You have helped the lowest living entity to engage himself in devotional service. Although I know that factually I cannot render any service unto Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">I am very much absorbed in Maya, and I pray that I be able to remember You and in so remembering You I will undoubtedly chant the Glories of Sri Krishna Chaitanya.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most respectful obeisances unto You. All Glories, All Glories, All Glories to our Beloved Prabhupad. All Glories, All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga. Your most unworthy servant, </p>
<p class="p7">—Chitsukhananda<br>
(ISKCON—San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Makanlal</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Makanlal</b></p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad, master of my soul, I am rotting in nescience of this dark foul world, thinking yet there is some fragment to enjoy.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupad, in death, in deep illusion, I am lost without your guidance; all is useless, endless pain. This heart is black with lust and false desire; yet, burns a spark fanned only by your mercy, that I may one day come running to prostrate in surrender under the shelter of your matchless lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh master, my heart is aching for your love, but still this foolish stubborn mind would feign to turn your causeless love and mercy to the side.</p>
<p class="p7">But Prabhupad, there is no hope, no grain or spot of hope of even slight salvation excepting at your feet, serving in your limitless effulgence. Oh light of all lands, would that I could have no taste, no attraction whatsoever except to your loving kindness to serve you without end.</p>
<p class="p7">Endlessly I may wander and roam throughout creation, but nowhere can I find such loving kindness, master for all sentient souls. You are so kind and gentle, yet within your heart is burning the blaze of the strength of Lord Nrishinghadev, to save the searcher and wither the nonbeliever.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh Prabhupad, I am your disobedient son, who should grasp each word of sweet direction from your kind lips not fall instead behind. Yet I am helpless to your mercy and so may only beg that this poor wretched soul may stay forever in the service of your sweet and gentle feet.</p>
<p class="p7">—Makanlal<br>
(ISKCON—San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Hansadutta and Himavati</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Hansadutta and Himavati</b></p>
<p class="p16">The Spiritual Master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy; Just like the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the Spiritual Master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my most respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such Spiritual Master.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">The Spiritual Master is fit for being benedicted by the ocean of mercy, because of his full surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Absolute Truth—Krishna. Krishna is a person and He is that ocean of mercy. The bona fide Spiritual Master is the factual recipient of that ocean of mercy because “He is not envious, but a kindly friend to all creatures, and does not think himself a proprietor, and is free from false ego…” (Bhagavad Gita, 12/13) Krishna says, “That kind of person, he is very dear to me.” Now one may be very dear to some person in this material world, but that kind of endearment is not meant here. To be dear to Krishna is extraordinary because He is the Supermost Person in the entire creation, He is the Chief Eternal amongst all the eternals. In the Brahma Samhita He is described in the very first verse, “Krishna who is known as Govinda [Cowherdsboy] is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful Spiritual body. He is the Origin of all and He is the prime Cause of all causes.” So the form of the Supreme Person is not like the form we are in the understanding of. This material body is temporary as compared with the spiritual form which is eternal; this material body is full of ignorance and the spiritual form of Krishna is full of knowledge; this material form is always miserable with the problems of birth, old age, disease and death as compared with the form of Krishna which is always blissful. This is Krishna—Sat-chit-ananda Vigraha. His body is fashioned of eternity, knowledge and bliss; just like our form is made of the gross and subtle elements earth, water, fire, air, etc., his form is made of Sat-chit-ananda. To know Krishna or to be very dear to Krishna is very extraordinary, because you cannot associate with that Supreme Spiritual Person unless you are also of that Sat-chit-ananda nature. As much as you cannot enter into the sunglobe unless you have got the fiery body suited for that atmosphere, or water—you cannot live in the water because your body is not suited for that nature. Now how one can be reestablished in that spiritual nature is the whole program for the human society.</p>
<p class="p7">Krishna is the Cause of all causes and He must necessarily be the Knower of everything. This is confirmed in The Bhagavad Gita: “I am the Compiler of Vedanta and I am the Knower of Vedanta.” Vedanta means knowledge. So whatever knowledge there may be, it is originating from Krishna.</p>
<p class="p7">In the beginning of the creation, Krishna imparted the knowledge concerning the constitution of the living entities directly to Brahmaji from within his heart, and thus the disciplic succession in the matter of real knowledge was started with Brahma. Real knowledge means to know about Spirit, which is what I am—“Aham brahmasmi,” I am spirit—and false knowledge or Maya means to know things on the basis of the material senses which are imperfect and cannot extend to the reality of the spiritual world of which I am a part eternally. Maya means that I think I am this body and illusion is to know everything on the basis of this false identification.</p>
<p class="p7">So Spiritual Master means that He has heard the narration of the transcendental message as it was originally spoken to Brahma by Krishna. Krishna and anything Krishna speaks is completely identical with Him in every way. The transcendental knowledge which is coming down to us in that line is Sat-chit-ananda; it is not different from Krishna, and therefore anyone who has the good fortune to come in contact with such line and give it submissive aural reception, on such a person it will act. The electric current may be travelling through that wire over many thousands of miles, but still, if you touch it, you will get the shock. So the Spiritual Master is the transparent medium for Whom no one is equal to or greater than. Such Spiritual Master is completely spiritual, and no one should think that there is any trace of material inebriety about such Pure Devotee of the Lord. A live wire is completely electrified, and no one should make the mistake of touching it, lest he be burnt to ashes due to its being connected to the power house; as the live wire is full of potency, similarly the Spiritual Master, being in contact with the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna, through the chain of the disciplic succession, becomes completely identical with Krishna, Sat-chit-ananda. He is Krishna Consciousness personified. He is nondifferent from Krishna. The Spiritual Master is eternal, and He has eternal knowledge and He is eternally blissful. He lives in the spiritual world with Krishna at every moment, although He appears to be in the mundane world acting amongst mundane entities.</p>
<p class="p7">The Spiritual Master appears in this world just to do the work of his eternal Lord Sri Krishna and He has no other business. That work is described in the last chapter of The Bhagavad Gita. Krishna tells Arjuna, “For anyone who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me,” and the next verse says, “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.”</p>
<p class="p7">So the secret being explained by the pure devotees of Krishna is that the living entities are the eternal fragmental parts and parcels of Krishna and their eternal activity is to render transcendental loving service to Him. Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is giving us the suggestion that we “Always think of Me. Become My devotee. Worship Me. And offer your homage unto Me. The result is that you will come to Me without fail; I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.” It is not difficult to understand. All of us are persons and similarly Krishna or God is also a person, and since He is the Original Person, Cause of all causes, Maintainer, Creator, and Annihilator of everything, it naturally follows that He should be worshiped and thought of at every moment. Throughout eternity, that is the secret of the Spiritual Master. He has come to take us back to the Supreme Abode known as the Krishna Loka to associate there with our eternal Lord in mood of loving devotion. Imagine if the President sent his messenger to fetch you: “My dear sir, the President has sent me, and he is requesting that you come to the White House.” Would you be eager and immediately go? So this is not a matter of presidency, but the Dictator of all that be—this planet, the moon planet, sun planet and all the innumerable planets floating within this universe. The person to whom everything belongs is requesting you by the presence of His most dear friend the Spiritual Master to come home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Now there is no reason to speculate or hesitate—we have simply to clutch his lotus feet and hang on with determination, chanting the Holy Name of Krishna at every moment, crying to Krishna to please, please keep us always under the cooling downpour of mercy coming from the Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace, our Lord and Master, Paramhansa Paribrajackacharya Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj.</p>
<p class="p7">So on this auspicious day of the appearance of My spiritual Father Prabhupada, to whom I am eternally indebted, and who has so kindly given me shelter from the blazing fire of self-created miseries, I beg to offer my most humble obeisances (with his kind permission) to all of His most devoted servants, his spiritual children, my godbrothers and godsisters. They have been so kind and tolerant with me since the day of my spiritual birth by<b> </b>my Divine Master Prabhupada. I hope that they will always continue to help me so that some day I may be able to serve His Divine Grace with genuine loving devotion. And lastly, I beg Krishna to help me so that I may come out of the dark and dank dwelling place of this material body, and guide me so that I may be able to prostrate myself in full surrender at Your Lotus Feet, dear Prabhupada. Without the help of your eternal Lord to whom you have so kindly introduced all of us (Lord Krishna, Lord Chaitanya, Lord Jagannath), without their help I will never give up this insane attachment for the fleshy lump of ignorance which we take to be ourselves, and are anxious to enjoy.</p>
<p class="p7">I beg to offer my most humble obeisances at Your Divine Lotus Feet and shall hope to be eternally disturbed for coveting some small morsel of remembrance of Your Divine Grace upon me, which I think shall be enough to keep me while I go on travelling throughout the universe suffering for my countless misdeeds at Your Lotus Feet, and the Feet of my godbrothers and godsisters.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants,<br>
—Hansadutta and Himavati<br>
(ISKCON—San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Upendra das</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Upendra das</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humbled prostrations at the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master out of Whose Causeless Mercy have sprung so many moon-like devotees of the Lord. And by Whose Merciful glance has allowed this crow-like person to associate with His Swan-like Self and thereby become saved from the mire of nescience.</p>
<p class="p7">I am eternally crying out in joy at this fact: that I am the servant of the servant of the servant of this Heralder of Chaitanya’s Movement. He has spread the Holy Name throughout the width and breadth of this world. I pray to remain fixed as a particle of dust in some corner of my Master’s house.</p>
<p class="p7">It was through my Guru Maharaj that <span class="s2">all</span> doubts were dispelled for final when He kindly recited this verse:</p>
<p class="p12">“All Glories, All Glories to the Lord Who is known as the Son of Devaki.<br>
All Glories, All Glories to Krishna the light of the Vrishni Dynasty.<br>
All Glories, All Glories to He whose skin is the Monsoon cloud and very soft.<br>
All Glories, All Glories to He Who takes away the burden of the world."</p>
<p class="p7">O Can anyone know the simple glory of the Spiritual Master? No, not one! It is said that the Lord is All Merciful and this is confirmed without doubt in the Personification of Mercy, the Vaishnava Acharya.</p>
<p class="p7">So 3 times a day All Glories, All Glories to my Beloved Prabhupada Whose business it is to simply sing Hare Krishna, dance, and distribute Holy Prasadam … and my business remains to simply accept that Prasadam.</p>
<p class="p7">humbly prays at His Feet<br>
—Upendra das<br>
(ISKCON—Seattle)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Mahapurusha</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Mahapurusha</b></p>
<p class="p7">On this auspicious day of Vyas Puja I offer my humble obeisances to the Lotus Feet of our Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Paramhansa Paribrajackacharya Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj Prabhupad. I offer this small tribute with what genuine humility I have:</p>
<p class="p7">Among gentlemen, Prabhupad, You are the most cultured, because as a Pure Vaishnava. you surpass all Varnas and Ashramas.</p>
<p class="p7">Among scholars and philosophers You are the supermost learned because you are in perfect knowledge of the very End of Knowledge Himself.</p>
<p class="p7">Among singers you are the Best because you only sing of the Name, Fame and Glories of the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">Among dancers, you are the Most Beautiful because you are eternally dancing in ecstasy of Sri Krishna Samkirtan together with Lord Chaitanya and all His associates.</p>
<p class="p7">This list can continue endlessly. But Prabhupad among the kind you are the most benevolent and merciful, and among all the servants of Krishna in this world you are the most dear to Him; nor will there ever be one more dear to the Lord, because out of your causeless mercy you have freely delivered to us the most sublime and supreme secret of Krishna Consciousness. All Glories to your Lotus Feet! All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga! I pray that you will kindly accept me as your unworthy servant.</p>
<p class="p7">—Mahapurusha<br>
(ISKCON—Seattle)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Carl Lange</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Carl Lange</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the Spiritual Master who, out of his causeless mercy, has picked us up from the darkness and misery of the ocean of birth and death, and guides us by the radiance of his pure soul back to our original blissful position of eternal devoted servitors of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna. I offer my most humble obeisances to the Spiritual Master who is the transparent medium between this most fallen and conditioned soul and the All-Pure Govinda. The Spiritual Master is teaching the highest of all knowledge and the prime benediction for our souls, chanting and glorifying the Holy Names of Krishna. It is only through these means that we can develop pure love of God and have a taste for the nectarine of Krishna’s Name and Pastimes and tinge our eyes with the salve of love so that we too can see Krishna with these eyes and deliver ourselves from the material entanglement back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Prabhupad!</p>
<p class="p7">—Carl Lange<br>
(ISKCON—Seattle)</p>
<p class="p9">ISKCON—Washington</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Washington</b></p>
<p class="p11">—Damodar</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Damodar</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances to my Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, Who is so dear to Lord Krishna on this Earth, having taken shelter of His Lotus Feet. Prabhupad is the kindest of all living entities, giving without any restriction, to any person who desires it, pure unalloyed devotional service to God. He has had such mercy upon us, miserable conditioned souls with no qualification, to give us an opportunity to enter into service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, the Supreme Absolute Truth. Now have we deserved this gesture of mercy? There is no question of our deserving it. Prabhupad has simply given us this chance causelessly, just by His Grace. We have seen His perfection, and have become attracted to it. He is the transparent medium through Whom we can see Krishna Himself, because Prabhupad is working twenty-four hours daily for Krishna. He is always acting in the realization that everything is Krishna’s property, and is expert in engaging others in devotional service. Prabhupad is our dearmost friend. In working to satisfy Him, we can find actual satisfaction ourselves. When Prabhupad is being fanned, all His devotees are cooled as well. We have tried to satisfy ourselves, our family, our society, but in no case can we satisfy either others or ourselves unless we take shelter of the bonafide Spiritual Master—only He can tell us who we are, and what is the goal of this human form of life. We are trying hard to be big men, but Prabhupad advises us to become great through service of the Greatest. And He is in direct disciplic succession from Lord Chaitanya, the Summum Bonum Supreme Absolute Truth. Prabhupad can deliver Krishna to us. Our Spiritual Master is not God, but He is the rarest among all living entities—a pure devotee of God. Therefore, because He is completely spiritual, He is as good, as worshipable, as God. He is a true Sannyasin. Not that He has renounced work; no, He works hard for Krishna, only for Krishna, and for His Guru Maharaj. He came to this country just to please His Spiritual Master. Even though He was living in the most auspicious holy city of Vrindaban, He left for the United States to do <span class="s2">more</span> for His Spiritual Master. So in this way, through the disciplic succession, such Great Souls as Prabhupad have exhibited the qualities of true love of God in their selfless devotion to Krishna. And in this way Prabhupad has become the Spiritual Father of so many children, and is raising them nicely in Krishna Consciousness. He has given us the greatest gift—life. Before we were dead, just attached to a miserable material body, suffering on account of our illusory happiness. But now we are learning how to live. Prabhupad has opened our eyes in the midst of darkness, and given us the torch of knowledge. Therefore, He is the best friend. Prabhupad has given us His whole life, just because, as a pure devotee, He is so kind. Every action, every word, is for our benefit. He cares nothing for Himself, only for serving God, and teaching others how to serve. It is confirmed in the Bhagavad Gita that such a person, who explains the process of surrendering to Krishna, is the dearest to Krishna of all His servants. Therefore I bow down to the Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace, Who has rained down His Mercy upon the forest fire of material existence, and has given us this priceless jewel of Devotional Service of Krishna.</p>
<p class="p7">—Damodar<br>
(ISKCON—Washington)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Krishna Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Krishna Devi Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most respectful obeisances to my Spiritual Master A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad on His 73rd Appearance Day on this planet. Who can estimate the potency of the Spiritual Master Who sings the poems of former Acharyas and plays on the holy Mridanga? Who can estimate the potency of the Spiritual Master who is always immersed in the Ocean of Bliss of Lord Chaitanya? And who is the recipient of the full mercy of Lord Nityananda? Who can estimate the potency of the Spiritual Master who is always engaged as the transparent via media of the Absolute Truth and is the Most Merciful distributor of Krishna’s Mercy to the conditioned souls?</p>
<p class="p7">—Krishna Devi Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Washington)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Madhusudan</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Madhusudan</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Limited attempt to appreciate the unlimited Spiritual Master</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of the bona-fide Spiritual Master who alone can deliver the fallen conditioned souls such as myself from the pangs of material bondage, anxiety and raging fire-like lust. And it is he only who can impart transcendental knowledge to such fallen souls, because he has received it perfectly from the previous bona-fide Spiritual Master as originally taught by the source of all knowledge, Krishna Himself. The sound of this knowledge to the ear is like nectar to the parched throat coming straight down through him from the spiritual sky, Krishna Loka. He is the transparent medium through which we can penetrate the darkness of this material world and see clearly the pure spiritual reality which is eternally manifest and full of bliss. We have no other choice, but to always humbly worship the all-great unlimited bona-fide spiritual master and join the march, back to Home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">—Madhusudan<br>
(ISKCON—Washington)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Kanchanbala Dasi</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Kanchanbala Dasi</b></p>
<p class="p12">Thunders crashing, minds and thoughts twisting<br>
Misery for conditioned souls as<br>
Hate, greed, lust, all this existing<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us</p>
<p class="p12">So much lamentation inflicted<br>
When one forgets his natural goal<br>
As maya grabs each fallen soul<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us.</p>
<p class="p12">Deluding maya so strong, yet He,<br>
His Divine Grace, by Causeless Mercy<br>
Can pick us up from misery<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us.</p>
<p class="p12">By chanting the Holy Names of the Lord<br>
Complete service to Krishna<br>
And Prabhupad, all surrendered<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us.</p>
<p class="p12">Rendering this devotional service<br>
We can attain all perfection<br>
Love Godhead by His Mercy<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us.</p>
<p class="p12">Just to see Him smile, His Divine Grace<br>
So radiant, puts out all fire<br>
Of material desire by simply thinking of Him.<br>
Only Prabhupad can save us.</p>
<p class="p7">—Kanchanbala Dasi<br>
(ISKCON—Washington)</p>
<p class="p18">* * *</p>
<p class="p11">—Dinesh</p>
<p class="p5"><b>—Dinesh</b></p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to my Spiritual Master Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Who surpasses all the stated qualities of the Devotee. He is distributing the fruit of the tree planted by Lord Chaitanya—pure love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">—Dinesh<br>
(ISKCON—Washington)</p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1970</b></p>
<p class="p20"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 25, 1970</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p11">Introduction</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Introduction</b></p>
<p class="p7">This book is humbly offered at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who has proven by action and words beyond contemporary comparison that he is in the direct disciplic succession from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda, Çréla Visvanätha Cakraväti Öhakür Prabhupäda, Jéva Gosvämé, Rüpa Gosvämi and Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. We, the unworthy disciples of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, wholly accept him as the infallible guide and eternal father, and we do surrender our lives to his service. ISKCON Press has been created exclusively for the publication of Çréla Prabhupäda's writings. The press managers hereby pray to remain instruments of His Divine Grace and to publish Vyäsa Püja offerings in all our repeated births for thousands and thousands of years to come.</p>
<p class="p11">Viñëujana Svämé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Viñëujana Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>An Authoritative Appreciation on the Appearance Day of <br>
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p23"><br></p>
<p class="p7">All honor and respect are due unto Your Divine Grace, O representative of Çukadeva Gosvämé. "The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality deserves to understand this knowledge in spiritual values, and that also when retired from the activities of material happiness. Therefore, those who are not so well placed on account of being attached to material qualities may be shown the ways of transcendental realization by Your Goodness by describing the transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord." Çré Kåñëa, Your lotus feet exude a nectar which is kept in the heart of Your pure devotee, Çréla Prabhupäda, who has opened that heart of devotion to the Western world. Let the scholars and rascals claim to know the Unlimited by their limited brains, but for myself I accept Çré Kåñëa's verdict in His Bhagavad-gétä (Chapter 12.6-7): "For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me, and always being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating on Me: who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Påtha—for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death." Çréla Prabhupäda is the rare one out of many, many thousands, and therefore I take this opportunity to surrender this God-given life of mine with its attributes and deficiencies unto the shelter of the most expert personality His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, my spiritual master. Please don't think that surrender is an empty statement of sentiment. This is condemned in scripture. Nor should you think that the spiritual master is meant for absurd inquiry. No, Çréla Prabhupäda is accepted on the authority of sädhu and çästra. Sädhu means saintly persons who successfully taught Kåñëa consciousness by example in full accordance with the revealed scripture. The saintly personalities who form an unbroken chain of disciplic succession down to Çréla Prabhupäda are herein listed.</p>
<p class="p24">1. Kåñëa, 2. Brahmä, 3. Närada, 4. Vyäsa, 5. Madhva. Later came 22. Lord Caitanya and then more recently 29. Bhaktivinode, 30. Gaura Kiçora, 31. Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, and presently His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. All these saintly äcäryas can be recognized by their display of twenty-six saintly qualities, listed herein. 1. Kind to everyone, 2. Does not quarrel with anyone, 3. Fixed in the Absolute Truth, 4. Equal to everyone, 5. Faultless, 6. Charitable, 7. Mild, 8. Clean, 9. Simple, 10, Benevolent, 11. Peaceful, 12. Completely attached to Kåñëa, 13. Has no material hankerings, 14. Meek, 15. Steady, 16. Self-controlled, 17. Does not eat more than required, 18. Sane, 19. respectful, 20. Humble, 21. Grave, 22. Compassionate, 23. Friendly, 24. Poetic, 25. Expert, 26. Silent.</p>
<p class="p7">It would be impossible for anyone to develop all these qualities one by one, but the pure sädhu automatically exhibits all good qualities due to his becoming a pure devotee of the Lord. I have developed no qualities but firm faith that by association with my spiritual master, His orders and words, I must soon be cured of my material affinity.</p>
<p class="p7">Sädhu, çästra. Çästra means scripture, specifically the Vedic literature in which the Bhagavad-gétä is contained. The speaker is Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is affirmed in all the Vedas to be the Para-brahman Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom many emanations expand. In Chapter Eighteen, verse 65, Çré Kåñëa states the qualities of one who is surrendered fully: "Always think of Me. Become My devotee. Worship Me, and offer you homage unto Me. The result is that you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." And in the following verses Çré Kåñëa specifically describes my spiritual master. "For anyone who explains this supreme secret to the devotee, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in the world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." (<i>Bg.</i> 18.68-69) His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda has come to the western world at the age of seventy, enduring tribulations of social red tape and his own health. Still, with total devotion to the order of His Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Prabhupäda has opened His heart to the western world and is thereby overflooding us with His divine example of devotional service. Even before His Divine Grace arrived on the western shore, three volumes of Bhägavatam, the spotless Puräëa, were published by His Divine Grace. What a boundless blessing to the English speaking world. And in just four years Çréla Prabhupäda has translated and published ten full books in which the Personality of Godhead with all transcendental paraphernalia is authoritatively revealed and the means for attaining pure loving devotional service is scientifically presented. Herein is a list: 1. Bhagavad-géta As It Is, 2. Çré Éçopaniñad, 3. Teachings of Lord Caitanya, 4. The Nectar of Devotion, 5. Kåñëa Book. And these are just a few of the valuable gifts Çréla Prabhupäda is giving to the spiritually poverty-stricken West.</p>
<p class="p7">Regarding temples where everyone can see and take an active part in devotional activities, Çréla Prabhupäda has founded branches of the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness in major cities around the world where the resident students are joyfully and faithfully executing the regulative principles of devotional service imparted by His Divine Grace. Another reading in the Bhagavad-géta, Chapter Nine, verses 13-14, says, "O son of Påtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. They are always engaged in chanting My glories. Endeavoring with great determination, offering homage unto Me, they worship Me with devotion." These verses confirm the order Çréla Prabhupäda to all His students to always chant and hear the glories of the Lord. This order was propounded by Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya who prophesized, "In as many towns and villages as there are on earth, this Hare Kåñëa will be chanted and heard." And Çréla Prabhupäda is fulfilling the desire of the Lord by sending His disciples chanting into the teeming masses. Çréla Prabhupäda Himself has recorded numerous songs and record albums which are played worldwide.</p>
<p class="p7">No one can deny these facts of Çréla Prabhupäda's activities, nor can anyone refute these verses from scripture which confirm Çréla Prabhupäda's great mission and personality. Nor can anyone be blind to the super-excellent qualifications of the saintly teachers who have imparted these pure teachings. Taking all these facts into consideration, along with the purifying association of Çréla Prabhupäda, which has obviously changed the disgraced lives of myself and hundreds of others into purity, who would be such a fool as not to give praise, and even more, to give one's life in the service of such a spiritual master? His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the only propounder of Lord Caitanya's holy saìkértana worldwide congregational chanting. Such an extraordinarily qualified personality as Çréla Prabhupäda must be accepted as the captain of the ship of devotional service which is just suitable for crossing over this difficult ocean of Kali which deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being. And I, Viñëujana Svämé, do offer prostrated obeisances before the holy picture of my beloved spiritual master and pray only for the strength to overcome any hindrances in executing Çréla Prabhupäda's Divine command.</p>
<p class="p25">Chant Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p25">Viñëujana Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Brahmänanda Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Offering on the Most Blessed Advent Day of My Spiritual Master, <br>
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, August 25, 1970</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">In the Nectar of Devotion by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda it is stated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, one of the primary disciples of Lord Caitanya and a recognized sädhu and authority, that revealed scriptures are any books which give enlightenment in the matter of advancing devotional service. This definition is valid for scriptures followed by all bona fide religions of the world as well as the Vedic scriptures followed by the Kåñëa consciousness movement. In the Vedic literature the conclusion is that all conditioned souls should surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa. In the Bhagavad-gétä, which is the most widely recognized scriptural authority of the Vedic literature, it is stated:</p>
<p class="p16">Always think of Me. Become My devotee. Worship Me, and offer you homage unto Me. The result is that you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.<br>
[<i>Bg</i>. 18.65]</p>
<p class="p7">Anyone who wants to follow this invaluable instruction should sincerely ask, "Who is Kåñëa? Where can He be found? How do I surrender to Him?" If sincerity is there, then without a doubt Kåñëa will guide you back to Him. It is Kåñëa's desire that all the conditioned souls struggling hard in the material world return to their constitutional positions of being His eternally conscious part and parcels. A son may leave home and go out into the world to pursue his life independently and may no longer remember his father, but the father is always thinking of his son, where he may be, and what he is doing. Similarly, Kåñëa is always thinking of us and by His kindness in so many ways ever invites us to return from this foreign material world. He come Himself and exhibits transcendental pastimes to attract us and says: </p>
<p class="p16">"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving this body, take birth again in the material world, but attains my eternal abode." (Bg. 4.9) </p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa delivers His word in the scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gétä. </p>
<p class="p16">"Anyone who listens with faith and without enviousness becomes free from the sinful reactions and will attain to the planets where the pious dwell." [<i>Bg.</i> 18.71]</p>
<p class="p7">And Kåñëa sends His representative, the authorized spiritual master. As it is confirmed in the Caitanya-caritämåta, guru-kåñëa-kåpäya päya bhakti-lata bija: </p>
<p class="p16">"By the grace of guru one gets Kåñëa, and by the grace of Kåñëa one gets a bona fide guru." [<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</p>
<p class="p7">The Bhagavad-gétä is meant to bring us to this understanding, that the only way to become Kåñëa conscious is to surrender to His representatives, the spiritual master. All the perplexities of life can be solved if one approaches and surrenders completely to a bona fide spiritual master, who is in the disciplic succession from Lord Kåñëa, because a person with a bona fide spiritual master is supposed to know everything. Arjuna is poised on the battle field of Kurukñetra totally perplexed, but he asks Lord Kåñëa, the supreme spiritual master, to make a definite solution. He offers himself to Kåñëa as a disciple he wants to stop friendly talks. Talks between the master and disciple are serious, and Arjuna wants to talk very seriously before the recognized spiritual master. Kåñëa is therefore the original spiritual master in the science of the Bhagavad-gétä, and Arjuna is the original disciple in understanding the Gita. Arjuna speaks to his spiritual master frankly and with simplicity, without false prestige. "Now I am confused about duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. </p>
<p class="p16">"Now I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me."<span class="s1"> </span>(<i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> 2.7)</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa is speaking through the Bhagavad-gétä as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and also the original spiritual master. The Lord immediately takes the position of the teacher and instructs Arjuna the science of Kåñëa consciousness. He cautions Arjuna: </p>
<p class="p16">"One who executes his duties according to my injunctions and who follows this teaching faithfully becomes free from the bondage of fruitive actions." [<i>Bg.</i> 3.31] </p>
<p class="p7">Such a qualification is necessary because although anyone can be given spiritual understanding, no matter what his material distinctions, still one must be transcendentally qualified. You cannot purchase transcendental knowledge; you cannot force it by your strength; nor can you speculate it from your mind. The only way to receive transcendental knowledge from the descending disciplic succession is to love your spiritual master without motives. </p>
<p class="p16">"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come back to Me." (<i>Bg</i>. 10.10)</p>
<p class="p7">Transcendental knowledge comes from the spiritual master, so there cannot be any adulteration either in the spiritual master or in the aspiring disciple, otherwise the transcendental effect is adulterated. However, in the beginning of Kåñëa consciousness one may not fully discharge the injunctions of the spiritual master, but because one is not resentful of this principle of faithfully following his spiritual master's instruction, and works sincerely without consideration of defeat and hopelessness, he will surely be promoted to the stage of pure Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Arjuna has this qualification of sincere love. </p>
<p class="p16">"That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend. Therefore, you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science." (<i>Bg.</i> 4.3) </p>
<p class="p7">So it is a fact that anyone who wants to understand the Bhagavad-gétä must follow the line of Arjuna, who is recognized by Kåñëa, his spiritual master, as being a sincerely surrendered soul. A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and there is not in his teachings the slightest deviation from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as it was first imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god Vivasvän. <span class="s3">(See <i>Bg.</i> 4.1)</span> One should be careful to avoid self-interested people who seek aggrandizement and who deviate others from the actual path. One should understand that just as the Lord is transcendental, so is His representative, the bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Not only does Kåñëa demonstrate the crucial importance of surrendering to the spiritual master by delivering the Bhagavad-gétä to His disciple Arjuna, but to avoid any misunderstanding He specifically declares: </p>
<p class="p16">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge to you because he has seen the truth." [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34] </p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, my spiritual master writes the following purport to this important verse in his Bhagavad-gétä As It Is.</p>
<p class="p7">The singular importance of the spiritual master is even more explicitly declared by the Lord Himself in the Ädi puräëa, as quoted in The Nectar of Devotion by the author His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. </p>
<p class="p16">"My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee." (Ä<i>di-Puräëa)</i> </p>
<p class="p7">On the supreme authority of Lord Kåñëa Himself, you cannot approach Him directly, but only through His pure devotees. Thus a Vaiñëava always first accepts a spiritual master and then renders service to him.</p>
<p class="p7">A bona fide spiritual master is not an ordinary person. If a disciple does not understand the transcendental nature of his spiritual master, then it is better for him not to accept a spiritual master. Accepting a spiritual master means to surrender everything 100% to him. You cannot argue or debate with him. You can only surrender, serve, and inquire. The qualification of the spiritual master is stated in The Nectar of Devotion, page 58: he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great and unique personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, having put aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Rascal spiritual master, who are not directed by scriptural injunctions, whose character is doubtful, who do not follow the principles of devotional service, or who have not conquered the influence of the six sense gratifying agents of the tongue, belly, genitals, anger, mind, and words, should never be accepted as a spiritual master by a sincere candidate for spiritual life. Because of his total surrender to Lord Kåñëa, a pure devotee automatically develops all good qualities, which he does not have to develop extraneously. These qualities are specifically mentioned in the Bhagavad-gétä, 12.13-19: </p>
<p class="p16">He is not envious, he is truthful, free from false ego, always satisfied, equal both in happiness and distress, etc.</p>
<p class="p7">Such a pure devotee is very, very dear to the Lord because of his unalloyed service attitude. </p>
<p class="p16">"There is no servant in the world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." [<i>Bg.</i> 18.69]</p>
<p class="p7">The pure devotee is completely dependant upon the mercy of the Lord, and according to the Lord's promise, His devotee will never be vanquished, even though he may have to withstand many severe tests. Such pure surrender out of love conquers the Lord so that He reciprocates with love to His devotee. </p>
<p class="p16">"No one is envied by Me, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all; yet whoever renders service to Me in devotion as a friend, is in Me and I am a friend to him. " [<i>Bg.</i> 9.29]</p>
<p class="p7">A pure devotee of the Lord is completely purified of the defects of all conditioned living entities. He is not illusioned. He does not have imperfect senses. He does not have the tendency to cheat others. He never makes a mistake. He has achieved this transcendental perfection by taking complete shelter at the feet of his spiritual master and thus through the spotless disciplic succession coming from Lord Kåñëa. This spiritual master has no connection with sense gratification or mental speculation. He has completely purified himself by surrendering completely to the Lord. </p>
<p class="p26"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p26"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p27">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa further describes His pure devotee in the following verses. </p>
<p class="p16">"Their thoughts dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss, enlightening one another and conversing about Me." [<i>Bg.</i> 10.9]</p>
<p class="p16">"They are always engaged in chanting My glories. Endeavoring with great determination, offering homage unto Me, they worship Me with devotion." [<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</p>
<p class="p7">How to approach the spiritual master is authoritatively presented in the Eleventh Canto of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam by Sage Prabuddha to Mahäräja Nimi, as quoted in The Nectar of Devotion. </p>
<p class="p16">"My dear King, a disciple has to accept the spiritual master not only as spiritual master but also as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Supersoul. In other words, the disciple should accept the spiritual master as God because he is the external manifestation of Kåñëa." </p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa Himself confirms this also in the Eleventh Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, 17th Chapter, 22nd verse. </p>
<p class="p16">"My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level as an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods." (<span class="s1">11.17.22)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Iron which is constant contact with fire does not have the qualities of iron. It acts only like the fire, and any other lump of iron that comes in contact with it also becomes fire. By his unalloyed surrender, the spiritual master is God. </p>
<p class="p16">"All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to verily dwell in Me. Being engaged in My transcendental service, He attains Me." [<i>Bg. </i>7.18]</p>
<p class="p7">The testimony that my spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is such a spiritual master is that I was once no different than a homeless dog on the street, but by the mercy of my spiritual master I have been able to realize these authorized conclusions. </p>
<p class="p16">"By the mercy of Vyäsa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Kåñëa, who was speaking personally to Arjuna." [<i>Bg.</i> 18.75]</p>
<p class="p7">I therefore prostrate myself like a stick in the dust of the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, and pray to him with all the humility at my command to fully engage my body, mind, words, and me, spirit soul, in his transcendental loving service to his satisfaction. <i>"yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo, yasyäprasädänna-gatiù kuto 'pi </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span><i>.</i> By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. If the spiritual master is displeased, one's whereabouts is unknown."</p>
<p class="p28">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Kirtanänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kirtanänanda Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p18"><b>To His Divine Loving Grace Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
On His Vyäsa Püjä Day, August 25, 1970</b></p>
<p class="p29"><br></p>
<p class="p30">I offer my humble obeisances,<br>
I offer my worthless daëòavats,<br>
I offer endless prostrations<br>
To Çréla Prabhupäda, His Divine Loving Grace.</p>
<p class="p30">Why did you come from Braja's holy land?<br>
Why now in Kali's darkest hour?<br>
Why were we not prepared?<br>
The Absolute Truth has come.</p>
<p class="p30">O Holy Infinite Mercy,<br>
O Pure Divine Grace,<br>
O Savior of all the worlds,<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, it is you!</p>
<p class="p30">Some men worship cats and dogs,<br>
Some sacrifice their all to fleeting sex;<br>
What mercy you bestow on all who take-<br>
Devotional service, eternal, O Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p30">Where are you going, Çréla Prabhupäda?<br>
Back to that realm from when you came?<br>
Strike me or kill me-that I beg,<br>
But never leave me, O Divine Grace</p>
<p class="p30">The pollution you see is all my own;<br>
How painful to one so pure.<br>
How can you forever absorb my sins,<br>
Yet remain forever without sin?</p>
<p class="p30">Such patience, O Holy Father, no one can deserve;<br>
But if you do not dry up my filthy mind,<br>
What sun is left uncontaminated? <br>
I have no other shelter than You!</p>
<p class="p25">Kirtanänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Subaldäsa Svämé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Subaldäsa Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">I meditate on the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and offer all obeisances unto him. He is the mercy representation of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and is very freely distributing pure love of Kåñëa to the Western world.</p>
<p class="p7">In the Caitanya-caritämåta it is said: </p>
<p class="p16">"By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Kåñëa, one can achieve the platform of devotional service. There is no other way." [<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace is such a pure devotee, and he act like a touchstone because His contact can turn a base person into a lover of Kåñëa. This is the greatest gift that can be given to anyone. Therefore one should constantly pray for the mercy of the spiritual master and worship him as Kåñëa Himself with all due respect and attention because Kåñëa states in the Eleventh Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, 17th Chapter, 22nd verse. </p>
<p class="p16">"My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level as an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods." </p>
<p class="p7">I therefore fall at His feet and pray for His causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">O servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé, I offer all obeisances unto You and pray that I may become an instrument in Your service. You may do with me as You like.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Subaldäsa Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Nameless</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nameless</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>All auspiciousness unto our beloved spiritual master <br>
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</b></p>
<p class="p32"><br></p>
<p class="p33">"My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee." </p>
<p class="p25">The above instruction was given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa, in the Ädi Puräëa to His dear friend and disciple Arjuna. Accepting a spiritual master is instructed by the Lord to Arjuna in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> also.</p>
<p class="p16">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">Advancement on the path of self-realization means to unconditionally surrender unto the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master and offer unconditional service at the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. Without surrender and service unto the spiritual master, there is no chance of progress in spiritual life because the spiritual master is the representative of the Lord and is empowered by the Lord to release the conditioned souls from material contamination and reestablish us in our eternal constitutional positions as servants of God. This is confirmed in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p16">Of these, the wise one who is in full knowledge, in union with Me through pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me. [<i>Bg. </i>7.17]</p>
<p class="p16">He who follows this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage himself with faith, making Me the supreme goal-he is very, very dear to Me. [<i>Bg. </i>12.20]</p>
<p class="p34">For anyone who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. (18.68-69)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çuçruñoù çraddadhänasya väsudeva-kathä ruchiù<br>
syän mahat sevayä vipräù puëyatérthä niñevaëät</i></p>
<p class="p34">"O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all ranges of vice, a standard of great service is done. And as the result of such great service, affinity for the messages of Väsudeva is made possible." [<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</p>
<p class="p6"><i>atho mahäbhäga bhavän amoghadåk<br>
çuchi çraväù satyarataudhåtabrataù</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>urukram asyä akhila bandha muktaya<br>
samädhinä anusmara tad viceñöitam</i></p>
<p class="p34">"O Väsudeva, your vision is completely fixed and perfect. Your good fame is spotless. You are fixed in vow and situated in truthfulness. And as such you can think of the pastimes of the Lord in trance just for the liberation of the people in general from all material bindings." [<i>Bhäg. </i>1.5.13]</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù saàdariçito dhäträ dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattvaharaà puàsäà karëadhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p34">"We think that your goodness is met by us by the will of providence just to accept you as the captain of the ship which desires to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being" [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.22]</p>
<p class="p28">This is further enunciated by the great Vedic authority and äcärya Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravaté Öhäkur. He states: </p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädänna-gatiù kuto 'pi</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>dhyäyaà stuvaàs taysa yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement. Therefore I should always remember the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore when one accepts a spiritual master he must make it his life and soul to surrender and offer service to his spiritual master. Advancement in spiritual life depends on whether the spiritual master is satisfied with one's service and surrender. This is the test. In a recent lecture delivered in the Los Angeles Temple, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda stated that transcendental subject matters are understood only through surrendering. His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda goes on to say, "Just as we offer daëòabatas, we fall down straight in front of the Deities, similarly, the first thing is that one must fall down straight before the spiritual master. If you don't find such a spiritual master, then don't accept him. When you accept a spiritual master, you surrender unto him fully. If you think he is not worth surrendering to, then don't accept a spiritual master. This is the Vedic process. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was talking with Kåñëa as a friend, but when he saw this friendly talking would not solve the problem, at that time he surrendered to Kåñëa. Although he was His friend, still he accepted Kåñëa as his spiritual master." This example is specifically mentioned in the Bhagavad-gétä.</p>
<p class="p16">Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me. [<i>Bg</i>. 2.7]</p>
<p class="p7">So Arjuna offers himself to Kåñëa as a disciple; he wants to stop friendly talks. Talks between the spiritual master and disciple are serious, and now Arjuna wants to talk very seriously before the recognized spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda continues </p>
<p class="p16">"The acceptance of a spiritual master means that you cannot argue; you have to accept. And before accepting, you have to consider, 'I am going to decide whether to accept this spiritual master and accept his words without argument.' That is the test. The first question is surrender. A person to whom you cannot surrender is not worthy to be your spiritual master. And if you think within yourself, I shall not surrender; I shall remain as his disciple,' then it is cheating. So that cheating process is not very much helpful for spiritual progress. Spiritual progress means that one must be very truthful. That is the brahminical qualification." </p>
<p class="p7">This transcendental literature, the Bhagavad-gétä, has been presented by the Lord just to give relief to the conditioned souls desiring to become free of material contaminations. Therefore Kåñëa is the original spiritual master in the science of the Bhagavad-gétä, and Arjuna is the original disciple in understanding the Bhagavad-gétä. Therefore it behooves the desiring student to follow in the footsteps of arjuna and surrender unto the bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">The reason so much emphasis is placed on acceptance of a bona fide spiritual master is that the bona fide spiritual is the representative of the Supreme Lord and thereby is empowered by the Lord to relieve the fallen conditioned souls of materialistic misery, namely the hellish cycle of birth, death, disease, and old age. In the Eleventh Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Sage Prabuddha instructs Mahäräja Nimi as follows:</p>
<p class="p16">My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level as an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods.</p>
<p class="p7">This is also confirmed by Çréla Visvanätha Cakraväti Öhakür in the following verse:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäddhari-tvena samasta çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all the revealed scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari. <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span></p>
<p class="p7">It is further confirmed by His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, These servants of God come with a mission of life to propagate God consciousness in human society, and intelligent persons should cooperate with them in every respect.</p>
<p class="p7">The qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master are mentioned in the Eleventh Canto of Çrémad Bhägavatam, with Sage Prabuddha addressing Mahäräja Nimi: </p>
<p class="p16">"My dear King, please know for certain that in the material world there is no happiness. It is simply a mistake to think that there is happiness here, because this place is full of nothing but miserable conditions. Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and argument and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss."</p>
<p class="p7">Specific qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master are as follows: He follows scriptural injunctions very rigidly. His character is perfect. (He follows the twenty-six qualifications of a devotee mentioned in the Vedic scripture <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>) He follows the principles of devotional service. He is fully conversant with the Vedic scriptures. He has conquered the six sense gratifying agents, namely the tongue, belly, genitals, anger, mind, and words.</p>
<p class="p7">According to the Nectar of Devotion, anyone who is practicing control of the six sense-gratifying agents may make disciples all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">According to çästra, one is very fortunate to come in contact with a bona fide spiritual master. After many, many lifetimes of pious activity one comes to the platform of Kåñëa consciousness and is blessed by the Lord with a spiritual master to guide oneself on that path of pure devotional service. In the Caitanya-caritämåta it is stated,<i> guru kåñëa kåpäya päya bhakti-lata béja</i>: </p>
<p class="p16">"By the grace of guru one gets Kåñëa, and by the grace of Kåñëa one gets a bona fide guru."</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore Kåñëa consciousness and advancement in spiritual life means staunch faith in both guru and Kåñëa. One minus the other is not good for the devotee. One should never try to approach Kåñëa directly. Anyone who talks of Kåñëa without service to guru will not be successful on the path of pure devotional service. These above statements are confirmed by the Vedic çästra, authorized äcäryas in the disciplic succession, by the supreme authority, the knower of all the Vedas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">So in conclusion of this worthless attempt to offer my appreciations to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, I would like to take the opportunity of offering my worthless obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who has been directly empowered by the Lord to relieve the miserable fallen conditioned souls such as myself from the ocean of nescience. And therefore I am always praying at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda for his merciful assistance in dragging my doglike self up the spiritual platform of fulfilling the essence of human life-surrender to guru. Unfortunately I do not have sufficient strength, nor do I have proper intelligence to surrender, and therefore my position is very shaky. Consequently my only recourse is to take protective shelter at the lotus feet of my spiritual master and fervently pray that the day may come when I may begin to faithfully serve my spiritual master's instructions.</p>
<p class="p28">[No name given]</p>
<p class="p11">Sadänandiné devé däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Sadänandiné devé däsé</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p12">Lovers abound to drag you away;<br>
Satisfy her now, but she'll never stay.<br>
Just to exploit-each takes what she will.<br>
Only His Grace that hope for love can fill.</p>
<p class="p12">Intoxication, another false hope,<br>
Sunshine and ice cream and bubbling soap,<br>
All promise you happiness, but where's that at?<br>
Without Prabhupäda you'll still die like a rat.</p>
<p class="p12">So give it all up and bow at his feet,<br>
And by His Grace Lord Kåñëa you'll meet.<br>
Play with the cows in Våndävana grass.<br>
With a little blue boy, eternity pass.</p>
<p class="p12">There's Subal and Balaräma, all to play,<br>
With eternal Truth there you can stay.<br>
Drink always this nectar-bliss is for you.<br>
Where you are a person and God is too!</p>
<p class="p12">Or cry in the dark-humanity's child,<br>
Make you world void, morality defiled,<br>
No where to turn-no hope for this race,<br>
Or open your eyes to His Divine Loving Grace.</p>
<p class="p28">I offer my prostrated obeisances to His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, who has forced me to open my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge while I was standing in the darkness of ignorance.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Sadänandiné devé däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Hamburg)</p>
<p class="p11">Bhadrasena däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bhadrasena däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">The only light on a stormy night is the lightning flash revealing the variegatedness hidden by darkness. O perfect servant of Sarasvaté, You are dispelling the darkness. Full of life is this knowledge, clear and clean as the mountain stream. Revealing our true duty, the spiritual master has come, preaching devotional service, to love the Supreme Person. O teacher, O father, give us another chance to glorify and serve your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p28">Your footservant,</p>
<p class="p28">Bhadrasena däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Tamal Kåñëa Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Tamal Kåñëa Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>To His Divine Loving Grace Çréla Prabhupäda <br>
on His Vyäsa Püjä Day, August 25, 1970</b></p>
<p class="p35"><br></p>
<p class="p30">Chanting strongly the mahämantra,<br>
Shaking with love of God;<br>
Your Divine Grace's instructions<br>
We cannot disregard.</p>
<p class="p30">Çré Caitanya's trusted messenger<br>
Of Çré Kåñëa's personal reality<br>
Chastiser of the impersonalists;<br>
Protector of the Deity.</p>
<p class="p30">Äcärya of devotional service<br>
In the line of Çré Vyäsa,<br>
Bearing the torch of knowledge<br>
Your Divine Grace alone can save us.</p>
<p class="p30">Çréla Prabhupäda, You have come<br>
To teach us how to enter,<br>
The kingdom of God cannot be had <br>
Unless we take Your shelter.</p>
<p class="p30">Kåñëa's pure devotee<br>
No one can replace,<br>
Our Lord and master,<br>
Your Divine and Loving Grace.</p>
<p class="p25">Tamal Kåñëa Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p25">(ISKCON)</p>
<p class="p11">Madhumaëgala Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Madhumaëgala Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p28">All glories to Çré Guru and Çré Gauräëga,</p>
<p class="p28">Oh Prabhupäda, Protector of the most fallen, whose great heart beats to the rhythm Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare. Whose nectarine smile raises high our eyebrows of affection milking us dry with tears of love.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Madhumaëgala Däsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Nameless</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nameless</b></p>
<p class="p30">May my mind seek the Shelter of Him<br>
Whose lotus feet destroy kalpas of sin,<br>
Whose feet are garlanded with flowers,<br>
Whose feet are eternally auspicious,<br>
Whose feet traverse the three worlds,<br>
Whose feet dance to a thousand drums,<br>
Whose feet appear to me in dreams,<br>
Whose feet bring joy, relief, remembrance,<br>
Whose feet, I, unworthy, touch.</p>
<p class="p12">May my mind seek the service of Him<br>
Whose hand, electric, awakens me to life,<br>
Whose hand points out the Vedic open road,<br>
Whose hand opens the ancient sacred books,<br>
Whose hand writes absolute and golden words,<br>
Whose hand beats the mådaìgas of Bengal,<br>
Whose hand plays shining cymbals to the Lord,<br>
Whose hand counts prayers upon a million beads,<br>
Whose hand benedicts and fills the empty heart,<br>
Whose hand soweth unknown seeds in the soul,<br>
Whose hand gatherest the fruits,<br>
Whose hand bestoweth copious gifts,<br>
Whose hand bathes the blue body of Kåñëa,<br>
Whose hand is a hand of fire,<br>
Whose hand pats my head as I weep.<br>
[no name supplied]</p>
<p class="p11">Suridäsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Suridäsa Adhikaré</b></p>
<p class="p28">TOUTES GLORIES A ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</p>
<p class="p12">Divine Maitre Spirituel<br>
Et eternal messager,<br>
Våndävana Vous avez laisse<br>
Pour mettre fin a nos querelles.</p>
<p class="p12">Vos Pieds de Lotus ont a jamais sanctifie<br>
Ces contrees froides et impersonnelles.<br>
Deliverant la science du service devotionnel<br>
Votre misericorde nous a combles.</p>
<p class="p12">Avec la chant des Saints Noms de Dieu<br>
Et Votre Devouement pour Givinda,<br>
Votre Grace apparient a Goloka,<br>
Situee au plus haut des cieux.</p>
<p class="p12">Laissez-moi prier avee ferveur,<br>
Afin que je ne Vous oublie jamais<br>
Si Vous le voulez, dans mon coeur, Vouz pouvez rester<br>
Vie apres vie.</p>
<p class="p28">Votre serviteur<br>
Suridäsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p36"><b>Translation:</b></p>
<p class="p12">Divine Spiritual Master<br>
And eternal messenger,<br>
Våndävana You have left<br>
For bringing an end to our quarrels.</p>
<p class="p12">Your Lotus Feet have forever sanctified<br>
These countries cold and impersonal.<br>
Delivering the science of devotional service,<br>
Your mercy has overflooded us.</p>
<p class="p12">With the chant of the holy names of God<br>
And Your devotion for Govinda,<br>
Your Grace belongs to Goloka,<br>
Situated in the highest of skies.</p>
<p class="p12">Let me pray with fervor<br>
So I will never forget You.<br>
If you want it, in my heart You can stay<br>
Life after life</p>
<p class="p11">Jaduräëé devi däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jaduräëé devi däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. Your Divine Grace is a messenger from Goloka Våndävana, and your mission is to attract the conditioned souls to associate with Çré Kåñëa and His eternal associates. You are yourself not different from Lord Kåñëa because who but the Lord can deliver His devotees. You are the representative of Balarämajé, the original spiritual master and the source of spiritual strength for all devotees. You are the manifestation of the Lord's infinite mercy, and therefore you are more merciful than the Lord. Thousands of births of penances and austerities cannot liberate one from the whirlpool of material energy but one word from the spiritual master, and the conditioned soul is at once free. As a business firm is bound by the order of its bona fide representative or by his signature on a contract, so Lord Kåñëa is bound by the words and promises of His bona fide representative. If you accept someone in the service of the Lord, then Kåñëa must also accept him.</p>
<p class="p7">You are always absorbed in the loving affairs of Rädhä and Kåñëa, and if we hear from you and follow you instructions then we can also enter into the kingdom of Våndävana. When you saw the photograph of Kartamasi in your apartment on the Bowery you told me "I like that doll," and "My desire is to be His friend." You are always thinking of Kåñëa, and He also cannot separate His mind from you. You are one of the Lord's dear friends in Våndävana, who is sometimes chasing the shadows that the birds make on the ground, sometimes shouting ill names into the well, sometimes imitating the sounds of the animals, sometimes sharing Lord Kåñëa's läòòus and kacoris and sometimes hearing Him tell jokes at lunch.</p>
<p class="p7">Because you have accepted Lord Kåñëa as your friend, you are an ocean of mercy pulling us who are rotting in the kingdom of material energy. As the swan dices deep into the water and grasps only the essence of the water, the milk, so you have forgotten everything material and grasped the essence of everything spiritual, the fearless lotus feet of the son of Nanda. And the nectar which you are always tasting from the feet of the Lord is flowing like a river from your lips in the form of the narration of the glories of His name, fame, form and pastimes. Simply by hearing from you, Çréla Prabhupäda, can give relief from the fire of material nescience, and simply by following your instructions we can enter into the association of His Lordship Çré Kåñëa in His eternal abode and receive from Him the special power of bestowing love of God to all living entities.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Jaduräëé devi däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Çrématé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çrématé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>Bhaja Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the spiritual master of the universe, who sits on his red velvet Vyäsäsana as Supersoul sits in my heart.</p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the transcendental Guru, whose every activity is freely performed with love of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the friend of every living entity, who has given us bhakti, devotional service, as the means and the end.</p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the real father and mother of us all, at whose lotus feet I am eternally taking shelter.</p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the golden Lord and lover, who is always pouring forth transcendental nectar.</p>
<p class="p30">I worship Çréla Prabhupäda, the captain of our ship, He who could be with Govinda, He who could be in Våndävana, India, but He who is here with us. Such mercy-if only I could appreciate this gift from Govinda.</p>
<p class="p24">An opportunity to love<br>
—to know<br>
—to grow</p>
<p class="p30">Jayate! Jayate! Jayate!<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p25">Your eternal servant,<br>
</p>
<p class="p25">Çrématé Däsé</p>
<p class="p25">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Patita Pavana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Patita Pavana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, only by your kindness, only by your patience, were we ever saved from further ignorance. O Çréla Prabhupäda, only by your mercy, only by your grace, could we have ever seen a sliver of a trace of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet, the potency of such feet being such as to attract even the most mäyä-stricken soul and almost inconceivably, force him to serve Kåñëa almost against his will. The dog in the street is engrossed in trying to satisfy his senses, but the rays of Your lotus feet have caught his eye, and now he is trying to drag himself past the flickering mundane pleasures which line the road to the dust of Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">These lotus feet are satisfying. The dog is not very intelligent, but he knows pleasure from pain. The senses burn like fire, but Your lotus feet are putting out this fire with the higher taste of spiritual pleasure.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus feet</p>
<p class="p28">Your fallen servant,<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Patita Pavana Däsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Dhanaïjaya däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dhanaïjaya däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble and respectful obeisances at the wondrous lotus feet of my spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Guru Mahäräja, who out of his causeless mercy is pulling so many fallen souls out of the darkness of this age of confusion and impersonalism and placing them in the dazzling light of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">He is spreading the benedicting rays of Lord Caitanya's saìkirtana movement to every nook and cranny of this fallen planet and thus instilling transcendental bliss in the lowest and most wretched of mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">He has installed the name of Kåñëa in every continent, and to all nations he is bringing peace, and his formula is, "Simply chant Hare Kåñëa and your life will be sublime." He is requesting the youth of all nations to take Kåñëa consciousness very seriously, and the result will be the perfection of this human form of life. And they are taking to this process very readily without any previous qualifications, and they, in turn, are spreading the universal message of love of Godhead, and all the world is vibrating with the holy names of Lord Kåñëa, thus purifying the hearts of all living beings.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances a thousand times at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Çåéla Prabhupäda, who is so merciful as to have simply glanced over my wretched self and rekindled the spark of loving devotional service which had been dormant for many millions of lifetimes.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Dhanaïjaya däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Gaurasundara Däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p37"><b>Gaurasundara Däsa Adhikaré</b></p>
<p class="p12">Blind lead the blind deeper into darkness.<br>
Even the rich men's sorrows know no redress.<br>
Modern education only trains us in guessing,<br>
But you give to us the absolute blessing.<br>
The bounty caught after endless nets cast,<br>
Will be held by the dreamers awakened at last.<br>
You appeared, the superexcellent sage,<br>
Just to deliver the people of this age.<br>
I had no hope, I was defeated<br>
Until you explained the Bhagavad-gétä.<br>
You are so kind to show mercy to me.<br>
From illusion's grip please set me free.<br>
You can see clearly to expertly guide<br>
All homesick souls to Gauräìgas side.<br>
You are the favorite of Çré Rädhä Kåñëa.<br>
Let me pray to act just as you wish now.</p>
<p class="p28">Gaurasundara Däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Keçava Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Keçava Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you Çréla Prabhupäda, you are a pure dvotee of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa and a perfect disciple of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace, let me offer my most respectful and humble obeisances unto your golden lotus feet again and again until I faint from exhaustion. Your Divine Grace, I beg to bring to attention that I may write and say praises for many days of Brahmä, and still the sum total would be an inadequate address to one fraction of your divine potency. Your Divine Grace, Oh how can one glorify, understand, know, that which unknowable. There is no limit to your magnitude, no culmination of your glowing magnificence.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda! You are the perfection of all that is good, perfect. But all I can do is render some insignificant service to the best of the ability which you have endowed me with, to the peak of this energy you have mercifully given to me, and pray that you may accept me and pray that my love for you is pure enough. You are the only one who can open my eyes. You know that I must go beyond praise and act only on behalf of you, surrender unto you fully with this life which I am offering to you.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>jäyate Prabhupäda! jäyate jagat-guru jäyate!</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Keçava Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Harer Näma däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Harer Näma däsa Adhikaré</b></p>
<p class="p12"><i>Now I Know</i></p>
<p class="p12">1. Now I know why I'm sad,<br>
For when I lost Kåñëa<br>
I lost the best friend I had.</p>
<p class="p12">2. Çréla Prabhupäda had graced me<br>
With pictures of Kåñëa<br>
That even a blind eye can see.</p>
<p class="p12">3. Now I know Kåñëa's God,<br>
Through His Grace my deaf ears<br>
Have heard it from Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p28">Harer Näma däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Boulder)</p>
<p class="p11">Maithilé Däsé</p>
<p class="p37"><b>Maithilé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">My best friend is Kåñëa's best friend. His name is Prabhupäda. He loves Kåñëa more than anybody. Kåñëa loves him more than we can imagine. He is very kind to us. He gives us flowers in the morning. He lets us take care of Rädhä and Kåñëa, and he allows us to associate with Kåñëa, Balaräma and Subhadrä. He gives us nice songs to sing, dances to dance, and instruments to play. He smiles better than anybody, and when Kåñëa gives him some prasadäm, He always lets us have some too. We are really glad to have him as our best friend because he tells wonderful stories all about what Kåñëa does. You see, Kåñëa is our best friend too, only we forgot all about Him. He sent us His most saintly servant and best friend who never forgot Him to remind us that there is a blue boy in Våndävana who would like us to join Him and live with Him forever.</p>
<p class="p28">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Maithilé Däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Evalyn</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Evalyn</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the inconceivable mercy potency of the lotus-eyed one, Çré Kåñëa. </p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, because you fill all desires I beg of you one thing-that you may implant in this lusty heart of mine the desire to sincerely utter the names of Hare Kåñëa so that I may someday be able to render You some kind of service.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most fallen and unworthy servant,</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Evalyn</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Dénanätha Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dénanätha Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">Glory To He Whose Mercy Has Let Us See<br>
How Much Illusioned We Are Subject To Be</p>
<p class="p38"><b>I</b></p>
<p class="p12">Glory to He whose love rays have come,<br>
Delivering the message which Caitanya begun.</p>
<p class="p38"><b>II</b></p>
<p class="p12">In darkness lost souls all led astray,<br>
Lost without hope not knowing the way;<br>
Pure lights of love He has brought,<br>
Delivering the way that Caitanya taught.</p>
<p class="p38"><b>III</b></p>
<p class="p12">Glory to He whose mercy alone<br>
Has brought devotional service to take us back home,<br>
Delivering the message which never grows old,<br>
Mahä-mantra, real life of the soul.</p>
<p class="p28">Dénanätha Däsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Narottamänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Narottamänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, when I say your name, why do no tears come to my eyes? Why are not my throat and lungs chokes up with cough? You are the eternal servant of Rädhä and Kåñëa and have come to answer the cries of all fallen souls. Bearing the holy name as a weapon of love, You have conquered our hearts which were ever steeped in ignorance, and now You are leading us home. Çréla Prabhupäda, You are the personification of the mercy of Lord Nityänanda and have dragged this soul from the depths of his crowlike association, and You have placed him in the company of swans. Çréla Prabhupäda, I pray for the day that I can bring you joy. You have given me Kåñëa. But where is my desire to serve? Why is it that my mind and senses are uncontrolled?</p>
<p class="p7">I pray the time will come that my mind will think of You and my senses will be engaged only in Your service. I pray for that day that I can, with all humility and sincerity of Narottamadäsa Öhäkur fall down in complete surrender at Your fragrant lotus feet. Çréla Prabhupäda, I pray for the day that I develop love for my spiritual master. All glories to Your Divine lotus self.</p>
<p class="p28">Your most fallen and unworthy servant,</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Narottamänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Govinda Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Govinda Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">All praises and glories to my spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">I, fallen soul, lost in turmoil of time by illusion blind, All glories to my spiritual master, His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">Despite my nescience, You have given to me knowledge and the eyes to see. The Personality of mercy you are, distributing harer näma prem wide and far. Who can describe Your kindness, for though we drift, You offer the greatest gift. How to know God, how to love God, the greatest mystery, and the solution You offer ever freely. Please give me the ability to serve You eternally, in whatever capacity You may choose for me.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Govinda Däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Nitai däsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nitai däsa Brahmacaré</b></p>
<p class="p7">I wish to offer my most humble and heartfelt obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who appeared on this date just before the turn of the century in the family of a pure devotee. He has been charged, by the highest authority, with the responsibility of spreading this pure love of God to the western world, where the rampant disease of impersonalism and voidism are the causes of so much spiritual confusion and are the roots of the soul-killing civilization current here today. With His Divine Grace's coming, the dam of delusion was broken, and the western world is being flooded with pure love for God-the same joyous inundation that first swept throughout India 500 years ago with the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the most merciful of all incarnations. Please know it to be true that if it were not for His Divine Grace, I would have been dragged by the seething undercurrent of lust out into the nether regions of anger and hatred to grope in that darkness for any phantom shape. But instead, although my help is certainly unneeded, he has engaged me in helping to spread this benediction to all mankind. So I kick my particles of dust into the ocean of nescience where Çréla Prabhupäda is floating transcendental boulders for crossing safely and soundly to the shores of Goloka Våndävana, where some One awaits our arrival. Thus my good fortune has been made. I pray that I shall never forget how good that fortune is nor how it came by me. I offer my most prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of His Divine Loving Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, <i>uttama guru.</i></p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Nitai däsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Boulder)</p>
<p class="p11">Türyadäsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Türya däsa Brahmacaré</b></p>
<p class="p12">All glories to Your causeless mercy. <br>
In fact, I don't even understand <br>
Why I, the most fallen fool of all,<br>
Am now being guided by Your hand.</p>
<p class="p12">By the grace of Kåñëa, it is said,<br>
One receives the spiritual master.<br>
By the grace of You, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
I was saved from certain disaster.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to Your causeless mercy.<br>
In fact, I don't even understand<br>
Why I, fool number one,<br>
Was given guidance by Your lotus hand.</p>
<p class="p12">Türya däsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Trivikrama Däsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Trivikrama Däsa Brahmacaré</b></p>
<p class="p7">The Vedas describe narädhamas as the lowest of mankind heavily contaminated by the material conception of life. They also state that the pure devotee, the sat-guru can, through His causeless mercy, teach these lowest of mankind the perfection of human life, loving devotional service to Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">But what of one so engrossed in material nature, one whose senses are so contaminated, that even after having associated with a pure devotee he still has no taste, no desire to serve Rädhä and Kåñëa? Where is the hope for one like me, so enthralled by illusion, so addicted to mäyä? Must he continue indefinitely in this hell of birth and death, disease and old age?</p>
<p class="p7">But wait! There is one truth so persistent, one fact so glaring, that it penetrates even the gross senses. It approaches from all ten directions, sometimes subtlely, sometimes forcefully, sometimes magnificently. And what is that truth that defies even mäyä's clutch? Simply that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is worthy to be worshipped by every living entity in this whole material creation, and my only prayer is that He allow me to offer my worthless obeisances at His holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p28">Trivikrama Däsa Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Vämanadeva Däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Vämanadeva Däsa Adhikaré</b></p>
<p class="p4">ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA-OUR SPIRITUAL MASTER</p>
<p class="p35"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Çré Kåñëa has been so kind. He has sent me Çréla Prabhupäda, His pure devotee. In approaching His Divine Grace, I had only a small spark of desire to know about God. But Çréla Prabhupäda is so kind, so merciful, that he has kindled this flickering spark into the fire of devotional service. It is through Çréla Prabhupäda's mercy alone that he has instilled in me the desire to know, to love, and to serve Kåñëa. This service is the highest level of spiritual understanding, the perfection of human life, coming from the most confidential devotee of the Lord. I offer my obeisances, my service and my life to the mission of spreading Çréla Prabhupäda's divine teachings so that I may somehow show the sincerity of my claims.</p>
<p class="p7">Eternally indebted to our mutually beloved spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Vämanadeva Däsa Adhikaré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">Indira Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Indira Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p34">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he as seen the truth." (Bhagavad-gétä, 4.34)</p>
<p class="p7">In this verse, Lord Kåñëa is revealing the process for self-realization. One must first approach the bona fide spiritual master, make sincere inquiries and render service.</p>
<p class="p7">It is said that by Kåñëa's mercy one obtains a spiritual master, and by the mercy of the spiritual master one gets Kåñëa. On this most auspicious day of Vyäsa Püjä, my most earnest desire is to find some way to thank Kåñëa for His causeless mercy in leading me, as blind as I am, to the service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p34">"All the devotees of the Lord traverse this earth just to recover the conditioned souls from their delusion." (His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda)</p>
<p class="p7">Such a powerful devotee of the Lord can pick up even the lowest among mankind. Thus by the causeless mercy of Kåñëa, I, the lowest among mankind, have been stepped upon by the lotus feet of His servant and dearest friend. </p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, let me offer my respectful obeisances to His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Indira Däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">Gurudäsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gurudäsa</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena<br>
paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänam<br>
jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p34">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my prostrated obeisances unto your lotus feet O Divine Çréla Prabhupäda, where I find shelter in the sweet shade offered by your toes of knowledge. You who has seen Kåñëa and has given with causeless mercy to the moonlike recipients in this miserable place.</p>
<p class="p7">I have so much to surrender to you for, and yet your mercy alone can remind me of this fact.</p>
<p class="p7">I thank you for fathering so many Vaiñëava Godbrothers and sisters and I can learn at their feet, they who are learning to be worthy of the regal name "Vaiñëava."</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my humble obeisances unto your golden self, who is more magnanimous than anyone because you are bestowing freely what no one else has given to the West, pure love of Lord Caitanya, who has given us pure love of Kåñëa. And you have presented to us the most wonderful line of paramparä lineage, whose heritage we are blundering to keep.</p>
<p class="p7">And as we grope, you come and remind us that we must "simply chant Hare Kåñëa," and our answers to all questions will be revealed. You have given us the linkage (the transcendental umbilical cord) with the most complete reservoir, purity unbounded, mercy manifest, Çyämasundara, the end of our soul's love.</p>
<p class="p7">You must do with me anything, yes, anything that Kåñëa desires since the composition of gross elements called lovingly by you as Gurudäsa is nothing but another bit of paraphernalia dedicated to Kåñëa's service, impure now, but by your direction this gross material is brought into transcendental service, for it is said in the Çré Éçopaniñad:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>éçävasyam idaà sarvaà <br>
yat kiïca jagatyäà jagat, <br>
tena tyaktena bhuïjéthä.<br>
mä gådaù kasya svid dhanam</i></p>
<p class="p34">"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong." </p>
<p class="p7">So continue to please offer me to Kåñëa, and by determination and unflinching faith in you I will try to help you instead of making you pull the opposite way, away from illusions sphere.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the general on the battlefield of mäyä, directing expertly with your boundless tactical moves that extend from Kåñëaloka and embarrass mäyä at every turn, You come and everything lumpy becomes smooth. Çréla Prabhupäda, you whose clever diplomacy satisfies the most demanding of demons. Who became the marriage councilor in front of my eyes, one evening, for a most respected and seemingly important diplomat of illusion who couldn't control the threefold miseries, and thus consulted our dispeller of woe, our beloved Çréla Prabhupäda. In London, one noted psychologist upon visiting Çréla Prabhupäda said to his wife, "I am going to see my psychiatrist."</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is the liaison between Kåñëa and all the living entities. Let me understand his teachings, as well as his bodily features, for his vani goodness pervade our dark hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are most expert as you cradle a flower softly between your lotus fingers for two hours on the morning walk, and your kindness knows bounds. For as I wait for you to stoop for the fifth day in a row to walk with you and receive knowledge, you spy me and say. "Oh, are you coming?" And I feel that I have benefited by you loving association already, for five days, and feeling selfish say, "Yes, Prabhupäda," and you so kind, accepting, tendering, say, "Thank you very much." As always I am uplifted and prance along at your side, knowing I am in the association of the extensions of Kåñëa, Rädhä, the gopés, the gopas, the Päëòavas, Lord Caitanya and associates, crores and crores of associates, so how can I ever be lonely. If I know one thousandth of you I know everything, you who are Mahäpauruñikaù, the most sincere devotee of Lord Kåñëa who has given again to this world the congregation of knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sambandha</i> or relationship, <i>abhidheya</i> or activity that pertains to the relationship, and prayojana or object of such activity, nothing else deviates from these categories of knowledge which you put before us so simply and force us to ask</p>
<p class="p39">1) Who am I?<br>
2) What am I here for?<br>
3) Where am I going?</p>
<p class="p7">And though you are an associate of Kåñëa, you take the time to associate with the lowest speck of dust who is so puffed up. You touch and ruffle my sikha and head as it rests on your lotus foot, and in your causeless mercy you, like the sun, dry up the urine with your purity. And as the flower bends towards the sun, so also this weed bends towards you, for it is not mäyä that nourishes.</p>
<p class="p7">Add all the items of illusion together, and the product will be illusion with all its attendant miseries.</p>
<p class="p7">So always you attract us moths away from the flame of illusion, out of the window in freedom to be fed by <i>kåñëa-prem</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">And I remember fondly in Ascot, England, when a butterfly or moth perched on your finger submissively, like a trained lion, wanting your association. And when you pointed your finger, the whole world revolved around it.</p>
<p class="p7">So why be unhappy? That is not spiritual life, for it is mäyä that causes this unhappiness. Why join her?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasmin sarväëi bhütäny<br>
ätmaiväbhüd vijänataù<br>
tatra ko mohaù kaù çoka<br>
ekatvam anupaçyataù</i></p>
<p class="p34">"One who sees all living entities as spiritual equals, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What is there as illusion or anxiety for him?" [<i>Éço</i> 7]</p>
<p class="p7">This you taught me every morning in England, as well as politics, grammar, ethics, economy, history, physics, metaphysics, ontology, morphology, and diplomacy. Oh, wretch that I am to have forgotten all.</p>
<p class="p7">So Çréla Prabhupäda, all I want to say, and I can't say enough, is that I don't want wealth, respect, love, knowledge, liberation, anything. I want you. You who have given me a microscopic taste of that unfathomable nectar where your home village lies, where as </p>
<p class="p16">"I worship that transcendental seat, known as Çvetadvépa where as loving consorts the lakshmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree where the soil is the purpose-gem, all water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favorite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss, and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where the numberless milk-cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk; where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment. That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world" [<i>Bs.</i> 5.56] </p>
<p class="p7">This you delivered to me in a ceremony of second birth, the sound of Kåñëa's flute, you, the father, gayatri and Vedas the mother, and I the naughty child. </p>
<p class="p7">So I pray that everyone will wake up and listen to these paramparä teachings and follow your finger, pointing straight up, out of your bead bag, pointing back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p28">Your servant<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Gurudäsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Yamunä Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Yamunä Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Homage</b></p>
<p class="p23"><br></p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, Çréla Prabhupäda, from your eternal abode of Goloka,<br>
My only craving is to hear in your company<br>
The pastimes of Kåñëa and Rädhikä,<br>
As the subject and object from the depths of my heart.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, Çré Kåñëa Caitanyadeva, appearing as the son of mother Sacé,<br>
May I take the shelter of those lotus feet of Thine.<br>
May my mind, body and all of my energy<br>
Be offered unflinchingly to the feet of my preceptor His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, Çréla Prabhupäda, from your eternal abode of Goloka,<br>
My desire is cemented to your ankle bells of knowledge,<br>
My love is cemented to your footfalls of mercy.<br>
All in all, thou art my life, thou art my life.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, the ocean of mercy, Lord Nityänanda Balaräma Prabhu,<br>
You are always full of transcendental bliss.<br>
May I taste one drop of that ocean of unalloyed Kåñëa-bhakti-rasa<br>
To offer steadily increasing love and devotion in the service of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, Çréla Prabhupäda, from your eternal abode of Goloka,<br>
sa vai puàsäà paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokñaje<br>
ahaitukyapratihatä yayä'tma samprasédatu<br>
O glory, O glory to your lightning message from Kåñëa's arms, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship Çré Advaita Äcarya Prabhu,<br>
You are Éçvara, the Lord of all Vaiñëavas, exposing Yourself as Bhakti-avatära.<br>
May Your immeasurable potency be mirrored in my heart<br>
By the ardent praising of the glories of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p30">O my Lordship, Çréla Prabhupädaji, from your eternal abode of Goloka,<br>
May my determination undeterred culminate in endless obeisances unto you.<br>
That väëé presence of sweet recollection that I am only your servant <br>
And you are my eternal master, in any condition.</p>
<p class="p25">Yamunä Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p25">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Muralédhara Däsa &amp; Christine Carol</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Muralédhara Däsa &amp; Christine Carol</b></p>
<p class="p34">"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." <span class="s1">(Bhagavad-gétä, </span>7.19<span class="s1">)</span></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is very rare. It is a practical fact that his every thought, word and action is surrendered at the lotus feet of Govinda, the primeval Lord and reservoir of all transcendental mellows.</p>
<p class="p7">One must travel throughout the three worlds before he is finally fortunate enough to meet a bona fide spiritual master who can give him direction back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda has delivered me from the frustration of material life. By his causeless mercy he is giving me the joyful reality of Kåñëa consciousness. Oh what happiness is service at his lotus feet!</p>
<p class="p7">The dearmost friend and ever well-wisher, my savior and most worshipful Lord, I have nothing to offer except my undying gratitude that you have engaged me in your service.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Muralédhara Däsa</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">My most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, whose infinite compassion penetrates the hearts of all souls.</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Christine Carol</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Haàsaduta Däsa Adhikaré &amp; Himavaté Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Haàsaduta Däsa Adhikaré &amp; Himavaté Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p12">1) Çréla Prabhupäda is his name,<br>
from Våndävana he came<br>
To bless the dumb and spiritually lame<br>
By giving them the holy name.</p>
<p class="p12">2) By his grace a dumb man speaks,<br>
And a lame man gets spiritual feet.<br>
He sits on the Vyäsa seat,<br>
And countless Prabhus serve his feet.</p>
<p class="p12">3) Hear from him, become a speaker;<br>
Deliver the fallen through <i>Bhagavad-gétä;<br>
</i>A real <i>mahätmä</i>, not a cheater<br>
That you become God interpreting the <i>Gétä</i>.</p>
<p class="p12">4) Free as a bird in the egg,<br>
Falsely proud, we do not beg<br>
His mercy, so we continue to forget<br>
Eternal life, for birth, old age, disease and death.</p>
<p class="p12">5) This human form has just one purpose:<br>
To catch the seed of devotional service.<br>
The goal of life lost without notice;<br>
Instead of God, dog is our solace.</p>
<p class="p12">6) God is great and we are small,<br>
But you have taught us, that's not all.<br>
The chief eternal we should call.<br>
Let me serve you. I'm helplessly fallen.</p>
<p class="p12">7) Eternally indebted to you,<br>
For opening our eyes, O Çré Guru.<br>
To serve you feet is what we want to do.<br>
Two wretched beggars, we stand before you.</p>
<p class="p12">8) Although we're unworthy and unqualified,<br>
Won't you accept us to be purified,<br>
That by your grace we may go inside<br>
The kingdom of God, fully rectified?</p>
<p class="p12">9) This is our offering, our prayer is done,<br>
Please allow us to beg your pardon<br>
For exhibiting ourselves so dumb,<br>
Like one with a candle who tries to illuminate the sun.</p>
<p class="p28">Haàsaduta Däsa Adhikaré &amp; Himavaté Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Hamburg)</p>
<p class="p11">Rudra and Rädhikä</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Rudra and Rädhikä</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, my beautiful spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p7">I beg to offer my respectful obeisances at your sweet lotus feet. What can I say or do? Everything that I say or do is contaminated with the dust and dirt of material existence accumulated since time immemorial. If someone were to remain unbathed even for a month, the smell of such a person would be intolerable, and yet Your Divine Grace is allowing this fallen soul who has not bathed for eternity to be Your disciple. I cannot understand.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, my association for this birth has been most low. All I learned from my parent, friends, etc., was, "Your are God. Enjoy, enjoy." From birth I was raised like a cat and dog, so here I stand, a finished product in a human body with the consciousness of an animal. I have no qualification, I have no understanding of anything you are doing or saying, Çréla Prabhupäda. But just as a wild animal is sometimes seen to take shelter of a kind animal trainer, so this lowly person, sensing Your unending kindness, is praying that he may take shelter at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">As husband and wife we are praying to Kåñëa to give us the strength to become Your servants. We are praying that we may raise children to the chanting of Hare Kåñëa. To hear <i>Bhagavad-géta</i>, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> to take <i>prasadam</i>, and dance in bliss. To raise children not like we were raised as cats and dogs, but raised to understand from birth that-<i>aham brahmäsmi</i>-all are eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my repeated obeisances at Your sweet lotus feet, which alone, if You were to place them upon my head, would extinguish forevermore the fire that is blazing in my heart. In my mind I am keeping this small hope, for without Your causeless mercy, never, never, never, never, will the holy name be revealed to me.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances and insignificant services to Your Divine person, who is the unending ocean of everything that is nice in its purest form. Truthfulness, love, kindness, mercy, leadership, simplicity, courage, unbelievable tolerance—Çréla Prabhupäda, Your loving qualities are as unending as the eternal abode of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p28">Your most unworthy servants,<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Rudra and Rädhikä</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Chicago)</p>
<p class="p11">Kulaçekhara Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kulaçekhara Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Homage 1970</b></p>
<p class="p40"><br></p>
<p class="p16">"My dear Lord, You are the deliverer of living entities from the hellish condition of materialistic life, but that does not matter to me. Whether I am elevated to the heavenly platform, or I remain on this earthly planet, or I am dispatched to the hellish planets…that does not matter at all to me. My only prayer is that at the time of my death I may simply remember Your two beautiful feet, which are just like the lotus flower fructifying during the autumn season." (King Kulaçekhara, <i>Mukunda-mälä-stotra</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">This poem by King Kulaçekhara is the essence of Your teaching Çréla Prabhupäda: to serve unalloyed with mind fixed on Kåñëa at every moment, in any place. Let me take this teaching into my heart as the be-all and end-all of my life. By Your grace I have gained the intelligence to realize a little of the essence of this teaching. So now it is my duty to dovetail all of my intelligence in the service of Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa and propagate this knowledge of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> to the fallen souls of Kali Yuga.</p>
<p class="p7">I am relishing Your association through the medium of Book <i>Bhagavatä</i> daily and also chanting my rounds, serving the Deities, eating Kåñëa <i>prasädam</i>, going on <i>saìkértana</i> and associating with such nice devotees here in Hamburg Temple, and I know that this is all You ask me and also these activities are most pleasing to Your Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">So this is my only prayer, Çréla Prabhupäda, let me become Kåñëa conscious. I have no other business or duty in this planet, or any other planet for that matter. But still, my words of praise are so dry. Just let me continue to serve You. That is all I beg.</p>
<p class="p7">I beg to remain Your servant,<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Kulaçekhara Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Hamburg)</p>
<p class="p11">Gour-Hari Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gour-Hari Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">We All Go Back to Godhead</p>
<p class="p7">My devotional service is cleaning the altar. I take care of my Deities and make garlands for Çréla Prabhupäda. My spiritual master is pure. He gives flowers when You give Him flowers. I chant rounds. I serve Çréla Prabhupäda fruits and incense. You are very Kåñëa conscious. When You touched my head, it felt as soft as a rose petal. The first time I saw You I cried a little bit because I want to go back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, my dear sweet master who has kindly lifted me from the pits of heathen existence and placed me so neatly in Kåñëa's eternal abode. My dear father, You have made me dance and sing and rejoice like a little boy shouting Hari, Hare Näma. You are my puppeteer, breathing life into my ears, all glories to those strings of life that are pulling this wretched creature from the muck to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your causeless mercy, which covers the three worlds and is discussed most intimately by the <i>gopés</i> themselves.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the dearest teacher, who has come to these materialistic, godless countries and proven, by His mere presence, that God is alive in the hearts of all living entities. Your teachings have relieved them once and for all of their atheistic burdens. Hari Bol, awaken to the holy name. A thousand times all glories to Çré Guru, who has forced me to love Him.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear father, I am the most fallen being, the most difficult and polluted, and yet, although You know me in this condition of life, You bestowed upon me the gift of grace, that shining jewel of <i>bhakti</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">My repeated obeisances to the dust that Your lotus feet kick to the winds. Even the demigods themselves relish after Your dust. You are the most worshipable servant. All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p28">Thank You very much.<br>
</p>
<p class="p28">Gour-Hari Däsa, July 30, 1970</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Rämänuja Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Rämänuja Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p28">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda. You are worthy of all glories.</p>
<p class="p7">You have so mercifully picked me up from the darkest of ignorance, and You have given Me Kåñëa's holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">You have delivered me from the deepest confusion and frustration and have showed me the way to pure love for Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given me shelter from the butchershop of material existence and have eased all my anxieties.</p>
<p class="p7">Through Your causeless love and mercy You have given such a fallen and wretched soul as myself Kåñëa's causeless devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">You are a pure lover of Lord Kåñëa, and therefore I do offer You my most humble and worthless obeisances.</p>
<p class="p7">Jayate Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your worthless servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Rämänuja Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Hayagrévadäsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Hayagréva däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">May my mind seek the mercy of Him<br>
Whose eyes are great springs of compassion,<br>
Whose eyes see Him behind materials,<br>
Whose eyes strike the flame of devotion,<br>
Whose eyes sparkle with kindly wisdom,<br>
Whose eyes are the eyes of a child,<br>
Whose eyes survey all in eternity,<br>
Whose eyes are the sun and the moon,<br>
Whose eyes close in rapt meditation,<br>
Whose eyes have beheld the Great God,<br>
Whose eyes are the soul and the Self.</p>
<p class="p30">May my mind seek the presence of Him<br>
Whose voice disturbs my long sleeping,<br>
Whose voice calls the true names of youth,<br>
Whose voice chastiseth demons,<br>
Whose voice answers all yet is silent,<br>
Whose voice chants the poetry of Sanskrit,<br>
Whose voice chokes with longing and love,<br>
Whose voice sings the mantras of praise,<br>
Whose voice summons cows in Vaikuëöha,<br>
Whose voice Kåñëa and Rädhä must know,<br>
Whose voice I will hear at my death.</p>
<p class="p12">May my mind seek the vision of Him<br>
Whose smile spreads a blissful effulgence,<br>
Whose smile conquers legions of skeptics,<br>
Whose smile uproots the weeds of my doubt,<br>
Whose smile lightens the burdens of Kali,<br>
Whose smile is worth the tears of my endless migrations,<br>
Whose smile severs the tree with its roots above,<br>
Whose smile dissolves my pride and illusion,<br>
Whose smile is a downpour of mercy,<br>
Whose smile extinguishes the blazing fire of <i>saàsära</i>,<br>
Whose smile draws nectar from bright seas of knowledge,<br>
Whose smile, amidst two armies, speaks to my battle worn self.</p>
<p class="p7">Hayagrévadäsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Çré Govinda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çré Govinda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the most worthy servant of His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">I who am standing in darkness do offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who has come to me and forced my eyes to open to the torchlight of knowledge.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, Your service is our only purpose in life. Through Your causeless mercy only we are being awakened from our deathlike material sleep. You have opened our eyes to the prison of material existence in which <i>mäyä</i> has kept us since that time in the far distant past when we chose to leave our home and our loving relationship with the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. We are trapped in this prison by our desires for the stool of temporary matter, and You alone on this whole planet of death are helping us to escape. You are pounding down the walls of nescience and sawing through the bars of lust, anger, and greed. But still we are searching in every corner of our cell for somewhere to hide from the truth which is shining in through the crevices made by Your mighty blows. But there is nowhere to hide. You will not let us hide. Help us, Çréla Prabhupäda. Help us transcend our tiny selves and our selfish desire so that we can immerse our beings in service to You in Your great mission as given to You by His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda. All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çré Govinda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Prabhävaté Dasé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Prabhävaté Dasé</b></p>
<p class="p28"><b>Çré Vyäsa Püjä Offering</b></p>
<p class="p35"><br></p>
<p class="p7">May we serve Çréla Prabhupäda every single moment with everything we have. He is uplifting us out of ignorance. Çréla Prabhupäda is so merciful. His mercy and pure love are beyond my present understanding. He is the most humble, the most kind person I know. So many offenses I commit, but by the mercy of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa, Çréla Prabhupäda and the devotees, I am still here. May we follow Prabhupäda's guidance. May we serve Prabhupäda with devotional loving service eternally. Through Çréla Prabhupäda's and Lord Caitanya's and Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa's grace, may we spread this <i>Saìkértana</i> movement.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">May we surrender unto Him.</p>
<p class="p7">The most fallen<br>
Prabhävaté Dasé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boulder)</p>
<p class="p11">Änanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Änanda Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">I at the feet of Guru Mahäräja<br>
obeisances give prostrate;<br>
Please drag me back to Godhead, back to home,<br>
eternal blissful state.<br>
No love can e'er I have for sweet Hari,<br>
but by His kindmost grace<br>
He gives this ripened fruit to everyone <br>
who gives such fruit a place.<br>
So many defects have I wondering when<br>
I shall become sincere;<br>
He teaches of Lord Caitanya to whomever wants<br>
to understand and hear.<br>
When shall my knowledge be transferred from head<br>
to heart; and when, thus free<br>
From bondage unto Mäyä, slave to Him,<br>
I be and thus set free?<br>
When shall I know His mercy great, unparalleled His store;<br>
He frees from sinful reaction those who will<br>
go forth and sin no more.<br>
Våndävana now more sanctified by His<br>
merciful sojourn there.<br>
By means of tolerance and humility,<br>
He shows the simple way;<br>
He presents the Vedic literature, but never<br>
from Rüpa will He stray.<br>
When shall I tear away my senses from<br>
mundane, ephemeral things<br>
And fix on Çréla Prabhupäda's lotus feet<br>
to know the love he brings?</p>
<p class="p28">Änanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Gopala Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gopala Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to His Divine Grace, who is uplifting the most fallen souls from the darkest mundane conditions to the level of love of Kåñëa. And only by the grace of the spiritual master is one benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. I offer my most unworthy obeisances to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Gopala Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Mahäpuruña Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mahäpuruña Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">In my heart, Çréla Prabhupäda dispels all darkness and dismay,<br>
Just as the effulgent sun drives away dark night each day.<br>
Even thought I turned from Him just like a stupid fool,<br>
He soothed my burning heart more than the summer moon is cool.<br>
As pure devotee and <i>äcärya</i>, He fully does His part,<br>
But Çréla Prabhupäda never clams himself to be smart.<br>
He gives all credit to His Guru Mahäräja Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta.<br>
And because of his most humble way, He knows that secret Vedanta.<br>
O Çréla Prabhupäda, please save me—I am fallen down so low.<br>
Outside Your loving grace there is no other way I know.<br>
To Lord Nityänanda I pray, please fix me in Çréla Prabhupäda's service;<br>
Then about my sinful life no longer I'll feel nervous.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Mahäpuruña Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Madri Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Madri Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p12">All glories to your Divine lotus feet, O Çréla Prabhupäda, our most merciful <br>
Guru Mahäräja. Your Divine Grace has so kindly afforded our fallen souls<br>
the shade of Your lotus feet. I prostrate my most fallen self and beg to be<br>
always engaged in endless service so kindly bestowed upon me by Your<br>
Divine Grace. O Çréla Prabhupäda, so kindly are you showering mercy<br>
upon our sleeping souls suffering from separation from Govinda. Your<br>
Graces most divine and merciful gift of Hare Kåñëa, O disciple of Çréla<br>
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati, has banished all impersonalism and voidism<br>
from our hearts. Being so dear to Lord Çré Kåñëa, without Your Divine <br>
Graces mercy we would never have been reawakened to the light of<br>
devotional service of Kåñëa the cowherd boy of Våndävana. Please accept<br>
this offering of my most worthless services at Your Divine Lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Madri Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Yvonne Prabhu</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Yvonne Prabhu</b></p>
<p class="p12">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is kind, situated at the lotus feet of Çré <br>
Kåñëa, who, knowing and loving Kåñëa as a dear friend, never ceases to<br>
glorify Him by chanting beautifully about His pastimes, who, through his<br>
causeless mercy, is delivering us, the fallen conditioned souls, from this<br>
material nescience, who, by example and teaching, is giving the jewel of<br>
the love of Kåñëa. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who has made possible<br>
to all an eternity of devotional service to the lord.</p>
<p class="p26"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p26"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Yvonne Prabhu</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Dämodaradäsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dämodaradäsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">O our spiritual master, just by Your grace please allow us to offer unto You our obeisances, which are so full of faults and offenses. Your Divine Loving Grace, You are the all-merciful spiritual master of the universe. Since we are so weak and unfeeling, we are praying to the Lord for strength and devotion on executing Your orders. We have no understanding of You. You are always with Lord Kåñëa, so You are an inconceivable ocean of mercy, which we have not had the intelligence to jump into. So let us also pray unto You to give us strength and devotion in Your eternal service, which is the perfection of this human life. Unless a person is serving You, he has no hope of leaving this miserable world of death. Only You can bestow love of God to suffering humanity at this time because You are the only present bona fide representative of God. You are the very self of Kåñëa, as confirmed by Rüpa Gosvämé. Without Your service by performing <i>saìkértana</i> in the public streets, no man can entertain the hope of spiritual life. And no one except Your divine self is pushing the <i>saìkértana</i> of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, which will soon be the universal religion of mankind. We await with transcendental anxiety the day when all the kings of the world will bow down to You, the great king, Guru Mahäräja. Therefore please allow us to take shelter of Your lotus feet because You are so kind that You will accept even the most fallen, just out of Your love for Lord Caitanya. All Glory to You, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Dämodaradäsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKON Washington, D.C.)</p>
<p class="p11">Jayagovinda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayagovinda Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p38"><b>1.</b></p>
<p class="p12">Captain of our ship, ablown<br>
Across a stormy ocean,<br>
Our master holds the calm<br>
Within His hand, His fast devotion.</p>
<p class="p12">A crested peak above the skies,<br>
From where a Lordships gaze<br>
Descends in love to warm mens hearts,<br>
Is answer to our prayers.</p>
<p class="p12">There is His eye above the mist,<br>
And matters shimmering displays,<br>
Unmoved by earths phantasmagoria<br>
Absorbed in transcendence ways.</p>
<p class="p12">And now to us His mercy comes,<br>
Adorn in our reflected face,<br>
To lift us by His causeless love,<br>
To our original place.</p>
<p class="p38"><b>2.</b></p>
<p class="p12">The world in every step will dance,<br>
And tears on seeing shed;<br>
When loves eyes bring us <br>
On life's path to Absolute to tread.</p>
<p class="p12">Tho' mercy comes not by our strength<br>
Nor by the little we've earned:<br>
We spoil the fruit of Kåñëa's love,<br>
By grasping yet unlearn'd.</p>
<p class="p12">Love is in the teachers words,<br>
Not our conditioned hearts.<br>
With swelling pride let us not fall,<br>
But look to where love starts.</p>
<p class="p12">Disciplic line now given us,<br>
Will give one a path,<br>
Who seeks the Absolute<br>
As Kåñëa in the <i>Gétä</i> saith.</p>
<p class="p12">But love only hath our master<br>
When down-bending by His grace,<br>
He descends to our poor playground,<br>
Bless us with His smiling face.</p>
<p class="p7">Jayagovinda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKON Hamburg)</p>
<p class="p11">Dick Arthur</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dick Arthur</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, thou sayest that Lord Çré Kåñëa is the greatest thief, yet it is Thee hast stolen my heart. All glories to Thee, my beloved Guru<br>
Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Love,<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Dick Arthur</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Mohanänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mohanänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p28">Çréla Prabhupäda –</p>
<p class="p41">On this most blessed day-<br>
<i>tvaà paryaöannarka iva trilokém<br>
antaçcaro väyurivätma säkñi<br>
parävare brahmaëi dharmato vrataiù<br>
snätasya me nyunamalaà vicakñva</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your goodness, Çréla Prabhupäda, can go round everywhere in the three worlds like the sun and can penetrate into the internal region of everyone as good as the air, and as such You are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Kindly therefore find out the deficiency in me although I am absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary regulations and in vow. Çréla Prabhupäda please accept my humble obeisances 1,000 times at Your lotus feet. I am so much indebted to You for picking me up from the darkness of ignorance. I was so much blind to the purpose of life, and this type of blindness is considered worse than death. For what is life without purpose? Simply animal sense gratification. The human body is called the ship, the spiritual master is the captain of the ship, the scriptures are the favorable breezes. Therefore let me now surrender unto Your expert guidance, O representative of Vyäsadeva, for I know that this is the only way I can ever find my way across the miserable ocean of hypocrisy, death and deceit.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù samdarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattvaharaà puàsäà<br>
karëadhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p7">We think that Your goodness is met by us by the will of providence just to accept You as the captain of the ship which desires to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.22]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Let me take refuge at Your lotus feet eternally. Çréla Prabhupäda, that is Your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most fallen servant,<br>
Mohanänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Viçäla Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Viçäla Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p28"><b>To His Divine and Loving Grace and Spiritual Master of the Universe Çréla Prabhupada!</b></p>
<p class="p35"><br></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual masters.</p>
<p class="p7">My deepest gratitude and sincere loving obeisances cannot express to You my deepest feeling of love and affection and admiration. I wish to express to You my sincerest appreciation for Your pure and infallible association, which is greater than life itself. I am the most fallen of Your disciples and humbly beg Your kind mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">I know You have given me Your grace, but due to my fallen condition I haven't taken full advantage of it. I will try to make every sincere attempt to be deserving of Your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my heartfelt love and devotion and unflinching faith in Your Divine Grace. My most humble obeisances to You, Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Viçäla Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Chitralekha Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Chitralekha Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">My respectful obeisances I offer to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are so kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western worlds, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism. <br>
</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, out of Your causeless mercy, You have come and forced me to come away from a submerged in sense gratification, and led me to this life of religiosity. But I am fool number one, for I have no attraction to Your causeless mercy. O Prabhupada, I pray that one day I will be able to recognize Your mercy and serve Your lotus feet with unalloyed devotion.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy servant,<br>
Chitralekha Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Cathy Barry</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Cathy Barry</b></p>
<p class="p7">No more to say than that the path you guide us on, Çréla Prabhupäda, is the only way back home.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare <br>
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare</i></p>
<p class="p7">Cathy Barry</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">Yogeçvara Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Yogeçvara Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">Bhaktivedanta- <br>
Means knowledge and love,<br>
His mercy a gift <br>
Sent from above.</p>
<p class="p12">The name of Hari<br>
Puts us in His embrace,<br>
We bow at the feet, <br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Hear, my soul, <br>
This fervent plea, <br>
Kåñëa's servant<br>
You're meant to be. <br>
But for one boon<br>
You'd not know your place,<br>
The boundless love <br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">This request <br>
He's made of me, <br>
Devotional service<br>
Done patiently. <br>
Unflinching faith, <br>
Is all that it takes.<br>
This comes by serving <br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">By tracing His steps <br>
Success is sure,<br>
Receiving the bliss <br>
That none can procure.</p>
<p class="p12">Our humble obeisances <br>
We gladly repeat,<br>
Strive for the dust <br>
Beneath Your lotus feet.<br>
We sin, we abuse,<br>
Dare not see Your face. <br>
You smile and laugh,<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Warmest of all,<br>
You move the world. <br>
We follow Your staff<br>
As You shephard our fold. <br>
There s no way to tell<br>
How we relish the taste <br>
That comes from serving<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Chukha, my Master, <br>
This be my desire,<br>
To spread Your word <br>
And extinguish the fire,<br>
To please You by walking In Gauräìga's pace,<br>
The goal of my life, <br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Faulty perception <br>
Has us deceived.<br>
To know our true selves <br>
Begs being relieved.<br>
We're freed by the sound of Väsudeva,<br>
I surrender my life,<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">To prosecute well <br>
And not cause disgrace,<br>
This be thy wish, <br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">I bow down at Your lotus feet with all the humility at my command.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Yogeçvara Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Cidänanda das</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Cidänanda das</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">The Lord is so kind to have sent you to the most fallen souls. And you are so kind to try to engage us in the service of the Lord. You have promised that if one services the Lord he will be happy and his life will be successful You are the most happy, and your life is the most successful. You have explained the path of devotional service from a scientific point of view, and you are the pure devotee most versed in wisdom. Çréla Prabhupäda, all glories and yet again all glories for displaying the perfect example of a teacher. Srilä Prabhupada, you have said just sit down and Chant Hare Kåñëa Mantra and immediately you will feel very nice. And when you grow tired of having <i>kértana</i>, take nice food and just go on chanting and eating, and everything will be all right. Çréla Prabhupäda, all glories, all glories and yet again all glories to Your Divine Loving Grace. And you have said, Prabhupada, there is nothing more valuable in this world than a devotee engaged in preaching Kåñëa consciousness. And so, Çréla Prabhupäda, I offer you my most respectful and repeated obeisances.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Cidänanda das</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Vancouver)</p>
<p class="p11">Våndävana Candra Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Våndävana Candra Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mukham karoti väcälam paìgum<br>
laìghayate girim ya krpas<br>
tamaham vande sri gurum dinataranam</i></p>
<p class="p33">''I am offering my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual master by whose mercy a dumb man can become a great speaker and a lame man can cross over a mountain, and whose thus delivers all fallen souls."</p>
<p class="p7">May I learn to love You, Çréla Prabhupäda, dearest father, friend and master only in this way will there be no more love for the <i>mäyä</i> witch. Unconditional surrender—this is the price you ask that I pay. So I ask for nothing more than to utilize my life's energy exclusively in Your loving service. For if I cannot hear of Your glories, better that I were deaf. And if I am unable to see You, better for me to be blind. And if I cannot serve in some insignificant way, then it is best that I die. Çréla Prabhupäda, You are everything.</p>
<p class="p7">Always Your servant,<br>
Våndävana Candra Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Baltimore)</p>
<p class="p11">Kåñëa Nandiné </p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kåñëa Nandiné</b></p>
<p class="p12">1. Kåñëa, when I feel lonely <br>
Or when I've gone astray, <br>
Help me to know <br>
That through You only <br>
Is how I find the way.</p>
<p class="p12">2. Then when <i>Mäyä</i> comes to call <br>
And I follow where she leads, <br>
Show me before I weaken and I fall <br>
Kåñëa is all that I need.</p>
<p class="p12">3. Guide my steps where I can see <br>
The rightful place I once knew. <br>
Then back to Godhead <br>
Thru Çréla Prabhupäda's mercy <br>
I will return to you.</p>
<p class="p12">4. I stumbled thru the darkness, <br>
Trying to find a way <br>
To reason why we came to be<br>
And where the answers lay.</p>
<p class="p12">5. A ray of light pierced the night <br>
With joy that filled my being; <br>
From the sound of Hare Kåñëa,<br>
I knew what I was seeing.</p>
<p class="p12">6. The light became the master's face;<br>
His voice rang clear and true. <br>
Sincere devotees will find their place <br>
With Kåñëa when life through.</p>
<p class="p12">7. Heed the words my master said,<br>
He knows why we came to be;<br>
He shows the way back to Godhead <br>
On the path eternity. </p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa Nandiné </p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Karunäsindhu Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Karunäsindhu Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to my beloved preceptor A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who has lifted me from the filthiest place and is constantly cleansing my black heart with the glow from his pure heart which is a million times brighter then the glow from a million suns. All glories to the Sacred Messenger and servant of Lord Caitanya and the servant of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja who is showering the fallen souls with the most dear nectar: pure love of Kåñëa which is the only succor for the misery of the burning fire of material existence. The task of glorifying Your causeless mercy is limitless and my facilities are most inadequate and meager. The only service that I can render to Your Divine Grace is that I am proof that You are the most merciful, for You have accepted me the most contaminated and degraded living entity as Your student. My plea is that You will kindly accept my eternal gratitude, for there is no question of ever being able to repay Your overwhelming mercy for You have bestowed upon me the greatest blessing, the most valuable and rare miracle—the shelter of Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Karunäsindhu Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Rukmiëé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Rukmiëé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, I am recalling as you entered the temple gazing upon the Deity, Your Divine Grace golden and effulgent as the Deity, bent to prostrate yourself before Their Lordship and recalling to receive you in my heart. At the fearless refuge of your feet I beg to offer sweet smelling incense, in the round, circle your knees, your chest, humbly look into your eyes compassionate to those who are the wretched of those who are fallen, in the round circle your chest, your knees, and again your holy feet. O Divine master, I worship your feet the flame of sweet smelling camphor, in the round, circle your holy knees, your chest, seeing your lotus eyes, and again recall your feet. O my dear Çréla Prabhupäda, the five flames of the ghee lamp offered at your feet. (O my dear master! you are light in this dark world) offered to your knee, your chest, your moonlike face, and again in the round, circle repeatedly, and again worship your feet. O that I may wash your holy feet with water of the conchshell, and the water be mixed with tears of love for you, and this water I am drinking as it is a nectarine river rushing into the ocean of love of Kåñëa. I beg to offer a cloth for drying your lotus feet, and in the round I meditate upon your knees, your chest, your face, (O my dear guru! All eyes but yours are closed!) and circle your chest, your knees, and feet, the <i>äçrayä</i> for we, the fallen. Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, at your fragrant lotus feet I beg to offer a sweet yellow rose circling again and again and up to your face and in the round again approach your feet. O Your Divine Grace I beg to offer you a cooling fan for your pleasure. O my dear Lord, I pray that a cooling fan be to your pleasure. By the blowing of the conchshell three times may all the people of the world become attracted to the holy name and offer loving service to Your Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Tridandi Gosvämé Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Rukmiëé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Çréman Patita Uddharana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çréman Patita Uddharana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p42"><b>Bhaja Çré Prabhupädamåta</b></p>
<p class="p30">You are God's most priceless angelic gift to us;<br>
You came as a penniless sage;<br>
You carried with you Kåñëa's formula for the dawn of the golden Age.<br>
The passengers of the ship you sailed upon <br>
hardly recognized the pearl.<br>
Of a <i>paramahaàsa</i> mendicant destined to give shelter to the world.</p>
<p class="p12">Blossoming are the Vaikuëöha trees<br>
as their leaves play in the wind.<br>
O as an orchard of saffron goodness <br>
you moved gently across our land.<br>
Your Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> seeds have put <br>
prosperity of sacrifice into the air.<br>
They're sprouting as creepers of the awareness<br>
of Lord Krsnas mercy everywhere.</p>
<p class="p12">Transcendental do your lotus eyes open, <br>
as a lotus flower unfolds,<br>
Strong your countenance like the Himalayas:<br>
heavy truthful, bold.<br>
Your story-telling is like Çré Yamunä,<br>
Rich the flavor of each one <br>
reserved for your pure devotees tastes.</p>
<p class="p12">Bright your fiery smile <br>
effulgent like the sun-gods radiance,<br>
And Vivasvän seeks out the Sumeru<br>
I beg you let me live within your glance<br>
The nectar of surabhi cows <br>
cannot be purer than the moonbeams of your eyes.<br>
Your triumphant devotees express their love for you <br>
together in one word of victory, ''Jaya."</p>
<p class="p12">Wonderful your books just like the <i>sudarçana</i> <br>
which make <i>mäyä's</i> agents turn<br>
Like lighting your pen so inspired, <br>
the child or elder learns<br>
Of the Supreme Personality As He Is, <br>
and of the shelter of His feet.<br>
You are His all-merciful representative,<br>
Your Divine Grace our only need.</p>
<p class="p12">Ecstatic emanations of thee are sweeter still <br>
than the fine-petaled gardenias scent. <br>
Your teachings of pure devotion <br>
are for tomorrows <i>paramahaàsas</i> meant <br>
may millions take shelter of your feet <br>
like the bees on the <i>ratha-yatra</i> car <br>
for you are the only source of honey <br>
found in twisted world bizarre.</p>
<p class="p12">Aloof you stand from the bodily demands <br>
you head held high, erect.<br>
By the strength of your devotion <br>
Lord Caitanya's movement you protect <br>
Effulgent are the thousand suns <br>
bursting within your heart.<br>
Very dear you are to the faithful <br>
who from your path can never part.</p>
<p class="p12">Saintly and delicate your emotions of waves of bliss <br>
rove your soul entranced <br>
And in your golden, lotus footsteps <br>
aspirants of <i>bhakti</i> become anxious to dance <br>
Lively just like the particles of dust <br>
in a vagabond mass of wind.<br>
Which swirls, circles, grows tired and stills <br>
then rises eagerly to dance again.</p>
<p class="p12">More gentle and full than the Mother's <br>
is your heartbeat of bliss.<br>
The orphans you have nursed to life <br>
bow down their heads in thankfulness.<br>
Dry, then, like a walnut was my heart,<br>
filled with vipers of desire.<br>
Now my heart has begun to open like a lotus,<br>
purified by Kåñëa conscious fire.</p>
<p class="p12">Yes, fully you are meant for worship,<br>
but especially, Sir, your feet<br>
In acceptance of my shelter there<br>
does my life become complete.<br>
Master you are of my spirit<br>
this eternal truth be always so.<br>
Just tell me where you think it best for me<br>
and to that place I'll go.</p>
<p class="p12">In the light of knowledge I've stayed in darkness,<br>
but by your mercy I will learn<br>
Spirit is revealed unto man who,<br>
from his senses to God has turned.<br>
Of nothing I am qualified to speak, but I can assure you this:<br>
Unto every soul I meet ever I will declare<br>
the holy name vibrates Vaikuëöha bliss.</p>
<p class="p12">I beg you accept these shallow <i>slokas</i>,<br>
how inadequate they praise thee.<br>
I pray of course that your glories <br>
spoken here are sung most properly.<br>
May these poetic verses of Çré Patita<br>
speak well of thee, O Prabhupäda,<br>
And may they assist whoever reads them<br>
to taste a drop of nectar of love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréman Patita Uddharana Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Vaikuëöha)</p>
<p class="p11">Janakaräja Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Janakaräja Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>17 Ñrédhara 484 Caitanya Era</b></p>
<p class="p7">To Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">I offer all my respects to You. You have so mercifully given me a new life, spiritual life. You have wiped away all the anxieties and frustrations of my past life. You are so kindly guiding on the path to home back to Godhead. All glories to You mercy upon the most fallen soul in the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Your devotee </p>
<p class="p7">Janakaräja Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Jananiväsa Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jananiväsa Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">For My Eternal Spiritual Master on His Appearance Day<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble, respectful, and prostrated obeisances before the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His most exalted and Divine Grace Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda. Why You have come into my life O Prabhupäda, I do not know. Only I bow at Your feet and ask with all humility at my command that I may cling mind and soul fully to Your service. O pure devotee, You are the spiritual master. You are the only <i>äcärya</i> in this age.. All these other nonsense men can't hold a candle before You. How can I ever comprehend Your causeless mercy, O Çréla Prabhupäda? Please forgive the many offenses that I have committed in Your service. And please accept my most humble obeisances at Your precious lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jananiväsa Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Columbus)</p>
<p class="p11">Sänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Sänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is wiser than the wise and so merciful. He is the answer to my most intimate questions. To look upon His lotus face is to see pure love for Kåñëa. He invokes only one desire—to surrender and serve Kåñëa. How I relish sitting at His lotus feet, soaking up the healing rays of pure love for God. All glories to the captain of the transcendental ship who is taking us back to home.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Sänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Mirabhai Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mirabhai Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most respectful obeisances to Çréla Prabhupäda, who has come to this western world to renew our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord Kåñëa and take us home. Lord Kåñëa is the most worthy of praise. Let's sing His name and tell of His fame. Kåñëa has made everything, and servants are what we're meant to be. So let's sing Hare Hare and dance for Kåñëa and take <i>prasädam</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respects to Çréla Prabhupäda from in front, from behind, from all sides I offer my respects.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Mirabhai Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Saraladevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Saraladevé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Offering of Worship to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances at the holy lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth, having taken shelter of the transcendental Lord, and who, as the servant of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda, is preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and thus riding the Western world of voidness and impersonalism. I offer repeated obeisances unto his lotus feet.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Caitanya confirms that one travels through all 8,400,00 species of life, birth after birth after miserable birth, until he is somehow fortunate enough to gain the association of a bona fide spiritual master. I am praying to Lord Kåñëa that now He has given me the opportunity, I don't ruin it by offensive behavior. Çréla Prabhupäda has written, "To think of becoming a fool is the real qualification for a bona fide disciple. As soon as one thinks that he has become wiser than the spiritual master, one is surely doomed. We should remain everlastingly a fool before the spiritual master—not artificially, but feelingly—and then we can make real progress." <i>yasya prasädäd bhagvat-prasädo</i>: By the mercy of Kåñëa one gets a bona fide spiritual master, and by the mercy of the the bona fide spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but if we are not careful to receive this mercy in a humble state of mind and with all due respect for its divine source, we will again fall from Kåñëa consciousness and become absorbed in the material atmosphere.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to distribute unlimited spiritual mercy to everyone, but we must be willing to receive it. We must develop that qualification. <i>Ye yathä mäà prapadyante</i>: Kåñëa reciprocates with His devotees in proportion to their individual degree of surrender unto Him. The spiritual master is God's own self, as confirmed by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, and if the spiritual master is pleased upon us then our success in going back to Godhead is assured. We must try to render pure devotional service, free from mental speculation and personal self-interested motives, at the lotus feet of the spiritual master. <i>Säkñäd hari</i>: <i>säkñäd</i> means directly, and <i>hari</i> means God. The spiritual master is directly the representative of God, and He is to be worshipped as such. The instruction of the spiritual master coming through the bona fide <i>paramparä</i> is all perfect, and we have only to accept it in this way. Kåñëa says in <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, "One who executes his duties according to My injunctions and who follows this teaching faithfully becomes free from the bondage of fruitive reactions." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 3.31]</span> We are all undergoing material misery as a reaction to our fruitive actions and it is [text missing]</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my beloved Spiritual Master who is so kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and saving the conditioned souls from being doomed. It is through Your causeless mercy that ALL my doubts are destroyed and gradually I am becoming a civilized human being. O dearest Prabhupäda, You are the perfect living example of what we can achieve in this lifetime by chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> and rendering devotional service unto Çré Kåñëa. All glories unto the lotus feet of my Spiritual Master, who is a bona fide representative of Hari.</p>
<p class="p7">Eternally, Your loving servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Saraladevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Pauline</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Pauline</b></p>
<p class="p7">Gardenia flowers! How fortunate you are to surround the neck of one so pure. But I am so fallen; I can only worship from afar. Gaze upon His merciful smile-knowing all. To see His lotus feet dance invites you to join in His ecstasy. His lips chant the holy name of Hari for all to hear. And His voice! Oh! Such nectar ripples from His never ending repertoire of transcendental knowledge. Çréla Prabhupäda is the only answer. Accept Him, obey Him, love Him and render service unto Him. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Pauline</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Pamela Smith</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Pamela Smith</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to our beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, who so kindly blesses our lives with His presence. We owe so much to Him, and yet we so seldom remember what he has given us—a way out of the more and degradation and misery of material existence. Daily we continue to indulge ourselves in nonsense, not caring how much we hurt Him by rejecting His gift. If we could only remember that He is with us always, no matter where His body is, and conduct ourselves the way He wants us to, perhaps we could really learn what it is to be Kåñëa conscious.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Pamela Smith</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Yaçodänandana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Yaçodänandana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">O Guru</p>
<p class="p12">You've shown me how to see<br>
everything that can be-<br>
a devotee, a tree, a bee-<br>
as a spiritual spark.</p>
<p class="p12">On a nice sunny day,<br>
while I was searching a way<br>
to become fully happy,<br>
I saw them in the park.</p>
<p class="p12">There was the picture of a blue boy,<br>
in front of whom everybody danced in joy,<br>
and the picture of an Indian sage,<br>
dressed like people of Vedic age.</p>
<p class="p12">I went on chanting,<br>
dancing<br>
and eating…</p>
<p class="p12">day after day-<br>
week after week-<br>
month after month-<br>
But it's on that day,<br>
O Divine sage, <br>
that you've extracted these teeth,<br>
these teeth which are not at all sweet.<br>
The poisonous teeth keep us from the feet<br>
of the reservoir of all that is sweet:<br>
GOVINDA<br>
Thank You, Çréla Prabhupäda-<br>
and accept my eternal service because you've extracted the material vice.</p>
<p class="p7">Yaçodänandana Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Kanupréya Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kanupréya Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, You are dancing with the Six Gosvämés on the bank of the Yamunä, listening to the <i>véëä</i> of Närada Muni and singing songs of Våndävana. Please let me dance at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Kanupréya Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Tom</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Tom</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, to you owe my entire existence, for without you I would still be in a most wretched condition. Having no qualifications as a devotee, I do not understand how I have come into your association. You are so merciful to have brought such a wretched being as myself this very nice Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>. You have given so much, and in return I have given you nothing. Such insincerity and disbelief are not fitting before a spiritual master such as yourself. O Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept my most unworthy and humble obeisances, the most fallen and wretched of all the devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">Tom</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Chicago)</p>
<p class="p11">Satyabrata Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Satyabrata Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">Insignificant worm I am,<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>To begin to speak of one<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>so high–Prabhupäda!<br>
Lover of God, Kåñëa is blue,<br>
Lover of God, yes, that is <br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>you–Prabhupäda!<br>
You say to repeat His holy name,<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Sing His glory<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>and chant His fame,<br>
And to this best love will come<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>And melt this laden heart<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>so burdensome–Prabhupäda!<br>
Your mercy alone can pull me away<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>from these dreadful claws of<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>material stay.<br>
Birth and death is <i>Mäyä's</i> song,<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Misery to suffer, No! this<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>tune is wrong!<br>
Save me! Save me!<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>This I pray.<br>
O Prabhupäda!<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>You're the only way!<br>
Perfection of life, so sublime,<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Is to render you service <br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>pure an sublime–Prabhupäda!<br>
Again and again, just let me lie<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>prostrate at the lotus-like feet<br>
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>of my beloved Guru Mahäräja–Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p28">Satyabrata Däsa</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Tokyo)</p>
<p class="p11">Paramänanda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Paramänanda Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept my most humble obeisances at Your transcendental lotus feet. You make me feel so humble because against Your glowing purity my dirty heart stands out. You are the fire of devotional service, and Your association makes me feel warmly packed up tight at the lotus feet of the Lord eternally. Your grace overwhelms all fears due to the bodily concept of life. You are full of causeless mercy for all living beings equally. Your example has saved many, many fallen souls from the grasp of the <i>mäyä</i> witch. Your knowledge is inconceivable to dullards like me. I am an unworthy burden on Your sweet self.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,<br>
Paramänanda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Bahuläçva Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bahuläçva Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of His being the mist confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master comes, out of His causeless mercy, to bring us the message of Kåñëa and by calling down His rain of mercy, He extinguishes the blazing fire of material desires.</p>
<p class="p7">In material life our hearts are always burning with desires. Our minds reeling, our senses out of control, we are being carried down the royal road to hell.</p>
<p class="p7">What hope is therefore such fellow souls outside the shelter of a pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, O my Lord Çré Kåñëa, let me fall down at his lotus feet and with humility at heart let me be beg to be engaged in His service birth after birth. For so fortunate am I to have the association of the message carrier of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Hari.</p>
<p class="p7">Bahuläçva Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Berkeley)</p>
<p class="p11">John Ivey</p>
<p class="p22"><b>John Ivey</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. I am glad I came to Kåñëa consciousness. By your mercy I came to Kåñëa consciousness. You are so merciful to bring me from <i>mäyä</i>. All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga! Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">John Ivey</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Åñikumära Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Åñikumära Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">[text missing]<br>
...Kåñëa consciousness in the western world. Çréla Prabhupäda is the authorized <i>äcärya</i> coming in disciplic succession from Lord Kåñëa Himself and is freely distributing the perfection of life-devotional service. Advancement in Kåñëa consciousness is proportionate to our surrender to His Divine Grace. Surrender means to follow the instructions of our spiritual master cent percent, without any interpretation or personal motivation. So the mercy of the spiritual master is there for everyone but if we do not surrender unconditionally, we cannot advance, as much as the sun is distributing its light everywhere equally, but if we stay indoors how can we receive the sunlight? So let us now give up all material consideration and surrender fully at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">Åñikumära Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Jayänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">O Çréla Prabhupäda, I'd sunk so low!<br>
Such a wretched and miserable soul.<br>
Burning up in illusions heat,<br>
Lord Kåñëa bought me to Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda, You're brave and strong,<br>
Alone restoring a world gone wrong,<br>
Boldly marching on and on,<br>
Preaching and chanting the divine song.</p>
<p class="p12">O Çréla Prabhupäda! It's only You<br>
Who can save this ignorant puffed up fool.<br>
I deserve a million births in a horrible place,<br>
But I pray eternally to Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">I was no more alive than a piece of stone<br>
Until You taught me the holy song.<br>
By Your mercy You're accepting so many souls<br>
And showing us all how to go back home.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Pure soul on this planet.<br>
Death and the grave is what we fared<br>
Had it not been for Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">Jayänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Närada Muni Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Närada Muni Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">For an eternity I had forgotten who I am. Just live and enjoy the life span covered by darkness and illusion. I thought I was wise, always seeking to end the confusion. What is Truth? What are lies? Then You come to the western world to reclaim the lost souls. You told me who I am and planted the most glorious seed of devotional service in my aching heart. Prabhupäda, my beloved spiritual master, one million times a day I should prostrate myself at Your lotus feet. Your presence is the light of millions of suns, which give light causelessly even to the darkest of places, such as my soul. Like the wind carries the fragrance of a rose, Your causeless mercy fills the air with the nectar of devotion, giving shelter to the world-weary travelers. Let this contaminated soul cling always to Your lotus feet. Let the mirror of my mind always reflect on Your words and forms, and please allow this lustful body to be eternally engaged in Your transcendental loving service. You are the purifying process of God realization. You are remembrance of Kåñëa. His dearmost friend and intimate servant. You are forcing my sleeping self to awaken to the promise I made in the womb. My dear Lord Çré Kåñëa, You are everything. Please allow me through the grace of Your pure devotee to always serve You. Prabhupäda, I love You. Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Närada Muni Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Munibunda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Munibunda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, on my knees I beg You to please accept my most humble obeisances. I know only You as my master, just as a dog lying half dead in the street accepts the person who has given shelter to the animal and nursed it back to life. Similarly, You have lifted me out of this miserable condition of life and allowed me to take shelter at Your divine lotus feet. But I am such a wretched soul that I have not accepted Your mercy. Therefore I beg You to please bless me with genuine desire to serve You.</p>
<p class="p7">You Divine Grace is so great that You are offering pure love of Kåñëa to the lowest of mankind, myself!</p>
<p class="p7">Although I have no qualifications nor have I performed any pious deeds, You have benedicted me into the ocean of Your causeless mercy, the holy name Hare. My life belongs to You my spiritual master, for I have no other way of repaying Your Divine Grace other than offering my unworthy self as Your menial servant. Please be so kind as to accept me.</p>
<p class="p7">I will accept any way You will handle me.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal loving servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Munibunda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Jambavaté Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jambavaté Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p12">My dear father Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
Languishing in darkness I have played<br>
In heedless wanton and senseless ways.<br>
Seeking to gratify my senses only,<br>
I have wandered weak and lonely<br>
So many careless thoughtless days.</p>
<p class="p12">O my sweet father master, Jayate!<br>
Jayate golden saintly sun of mercy.<br>
Without Your benediction smile,<br>
Without Your cares for fallen souls,<br>
The cold sword death would cut us down<br>
To cast us deep in the dark dungeon of hell.</p>
<p class="p12">But by Your mercy all is saved.<br>
There is a chance, our only chance,<br>
To see the light of day.<br>
So kindly take me deeper, Prabhupäda, <br>
In the service of the holy name,<br>
That all souls may know Your shelter.</p>
<p class="p12">If only we can serve You.<br>
What can I say? Helplessly I am in disarray,<br>
Only hoping for some way<br>
To be useful at Your feet,<br>
Never able to repay Your causeless grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Golden in Kåñëa's radiant smile,<br>
You are dancing as a cowherd boy.<br>
So kindly help us sing Your glories far and wide,<br>
O saint among the highest.</p>
<p class="p12">Appreciation I have not for<br>
Your unending river of prefect love,<br>
Just help us sing the praises of some<br>
Sweet sounds of the Golden Vaiñëava,<br>
The mercy incarnate of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda.</p>
<p class="p12">Kindly help us chant Your glories<br>
In the sweet and holy names.<br>
By Your mercy I humbly beg You<br>
Lift this burden of opposite nescience<br>
Just so this poor tongue can always be<br>
[text missing]</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is lifting from our eyes <i>Mäyä</i> Devé's veil of illusion.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is guiding our feet on the path of perfection of life.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is waking us up to Kåñëa, although we have been asleep for millions of years, birth after birth.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the giver of real knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is constantly engaged in chanting the holy names of Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, whose loving devotion to Kåñëa is awakening the dormant love of God in everyone's heart.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who has given us the most precious jewel-Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who has instilled in us the desire to spread the holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories! All glories! to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most worthless servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jambavaté Däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Arundhuti Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Arundhuti Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!!!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your transcendental lotus feet. You have left Våndävana and come to this terrible place full of drugs, illicit sex, and sinful activities in general, where everybody's life is based simply on sense gratification. But Your mercy is so great that You have brought us to Vaikuëöha. You have taught us so well that these bodies are not meant for pleasing our senses, but that they should be used in the service of our dearmost Lord, Çré Kåñëa. O Çréla Prabhupäda, if it wasn't for You, we would still be lost in the ocean of nescience, we would still be ignorant of our eternal loving relationship with Çré Kåñëa. Before You came, we had nothing, and now we have everything. O Çréla Prabhupäda, by Your grace, we have no need for any fancy foodstuffs, clothing, or shelter, for we now have Hare Kåñëa, the <i>mahä-mantra</i>. All glories, all glories to You, our divine spiritual master, our father, our king, our everything. All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Begging to remain You servant,</p>
<p class="p31"><br></p>
<p class="p28">Arundhuti Däsé</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Terry</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Terry</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">The merciful spiritual master has come and given me everything. I was searching for nothing but my own enjoyment, but through Kåñëa's mercy He has come and grabbed me out. He has given me true life and forced me to see the death. The perfected being, the merciful spiritual master, distributing mercy, has seen fit to let it extend to the lowest regions so that it may touch my head. Truly He has extended a shaft of light through the darkest regions, just so that it could guide the most fallen back to home. This shaft of light is the holy name of Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth. Being the prime distributor of Kåñëa's mercy He is offering to everyone. This must be so, or surely it would not have extended this far down. Truly He is the pure vehicle of the mercy of Kåñëa. The perfect and divine spiritual master has come and taken me like a tree and shaken off the leaves, the temporary shelter, so that we must take shelter at His divine lotus feet. Just let me be humble enough to sincerely offer all glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Terry</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCONSan Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Trevor</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Trevor</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, you are like the most beautiful flower attracting the honeybees; we the ignorant fallen souls are the honeybees; attracted to your most effulgent self, giving to us the pure nectar that you have gathered from the transcendental lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Giving us guidance on our way back home to Kåñëa, of who we should be in remembrance, but in our stupidness are always forgetful of, desiring all other things, when He is always the only thing we should be desirous of besides your most inexhaustible mercy and beneficent instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the glorious sun that spreads the light on the path we tread, so dark without Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">I am like a little child shut inside a dark room, and you have come along and opened the door, and the sunlight is shining in, oh so glorious, but in my foolishness I still sit in the corner where it is still rather shady.</p>
<p class="p7">Even if I sat down for a million lifetimes and more, could I ever describe in my ignorant and foolish words your most indescribable opulence?</p>
<p class="p7">I beg always to hear your divine instructions, pure in every way, and being a most confidential servant of Lord Kåñëa, my master you must stay.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Trevor</p>
<p class="p28">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Kåñëakanti Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kåñëakanti Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please kindly accept my most unworthy obeisances at your lotus feet. You have forced us from the slumber of material consciousness and have awakened us to our factual position as servants of Çré Kåñëa. You have given us the key to real spiritual life and transcendental bliss by engaging us in Lord Caitanya's movement. You are the eternal father and well-wishing guide for the materially exhausted souls of this planet.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the unlimited mercy of Kåñëa personified. Following in the footsteps of Çréla Vyäsadeva, you have given us the torchlight of knowledge, illuminating the path through the darkness of the material world caught in the raging storm of the Kaliyuga.</p>
<p class="p7">You are performing the greatest miracle by bestowing <i>kåñëa-prem</i> into our iron hearts. Beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, on this most holy day, I beg to ever remain in your service at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëakanti Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Haivilas Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Haivilas Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">You are the benedicting form of Kåñëa, bestowing Your causeless mercy on the fallen souls, ever inviting them to associate with You in the transcendental mellows of <i>rasa</i>, Your surabhi mellow nectar of devotion fills the empty cups of the devotees' hearts desiring love of Kåñëa. Like little puppies just out of their mother's womb, we cuddle at Your benign lotus feet, those thunderbolts of self-realization giving shelter and fulfilling the transcendental desires of all devotees. Sublime consummator, transcendental devotee ever undaunted by <i>mäyä's</i> exhortations, at every moment Your spontaneous love for Hari manifests in the perfection of the <i>mädhurya</i> <i>lélä</i>: the perfection of ecstatic loving exchanges glitters in Your eyes and dances on Your tongue, which like the <i>suka</i> bird sweetens the holy <i>çästras</i>. O master at whose feet all the masters prostrate humbly, You are the energetic, and I one infinitesimal part of your energies. You are the master, I the servant. You are the Lord, I the unwilling slave. Please eternally engage me, for without Your instruction darkness smites the heart of the fallen soul. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the most merciful savior of mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal slave,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Haivilas Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Paris)</p>
<p class="p11">Taruëé Däsi</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Taruëé Däsi</b></p>
<p class="p25">All glories to Your Divine Loving Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, may Your divine appearance days in this earth bless us with many, many, many more years.</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine light shines,<br>
and I look at naught but darkness.<br>
Your Divine way leads to truth,<br>
and I choose naught but illusion.<br>
Your Divine Grace gives all knowledge,<br>
and I talk naught but ignorance.<br>
Your Divine Love emanates ecstasy,<br>
and I accept naught but misery.<br>
Your Divine lotus feet pull home to God,<br>
and I clasp to naught but <i>mäyä</i> at death.<br>
Your Divine loving words are wakening tones of bliss,<br>
and I hear naught but nescience.<br>
O sublime and merciful lover of all,<br>
You bless the fallen and lift from the dead.<br>
Be it known that the giver of strength<br>
and of wisdom abides in the heart,<br>
even in this prison.<br>
Be it known that the giver of gifts supreme (Çréla Prabhupäda)<br>
accepts only good and cares not for our sins.<br>
Be he worshipped and praised.<br>
Forever be He praised,<br>
For the gifts of all gifts He gives,<br>
The way to love of Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.<br>
All glories to Him may they be.</p>
<p class="p7">Your worthless servant at Your most sublime lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Taruëé Däsi</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Michael</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Michael</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Divine One </p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">O Divine One, I thank You for showing me the way back to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">O Divine One, I thank You for directing me to the lighter path.</p>
<p class="p7">O Divine One, I humbly worship You and thank You for showing me the way to perfect peace.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Michael</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Sudama Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Sudama Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dearest beloved Guru Mahäräja,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most humble of obeisances at Your Divine and golden lotus feet. So merciful are you. So one year ago I was struck as though dumb by the glitter of <i>mäyä's</i> dress thinking this is all in all. Then somehow or other I was fortunate enough to receive your most merciful glance. This glance of yours, these teachings which you teach, all mercy personified. By these you have picked up myself and so many others from the deepest, darkest pits of material existence. For the love that you grace holds for your Guru Mahäräja I wish only to fashion my love for you in this way. I do not think that you could have found anyone as degraded in habit and mind as myself and somehow you have mercifully accepted. Somehow you have sent me here to this foreign land to spread those teachings and transcendental sound vibrations. So it is proven, you have traversed here not by physical presence but rather by your vibrations presence to deliver this merciful science to all. So it is proven, one need not understand another's language to communicate this blissful process but simply vibrate those two syllable KÅÑËA and sing loudly your name. PRABHUPÄDA ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA and the name of GAURÄÌGA LORD CAITANYA! SO simply is this yet who can ever understand your causeless mercy upon us? As it is stated "The spiritual master is receiving benediction form the ocean of mercy; just as the rain cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence." Therefore pray to Gauräìga and Nityänandathat we all may remain your eternal servants and to glorify you, for this debt I am owing, is so much great. My only desire is to rejoice in you. And the only pleasure that I have is to see other rejoice and drown in your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy disciple,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Sudama Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Tokyo)</p>
<p class="p11">Cintämaëi Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Cintämaëi Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the only friend I have ever had. You are the only person who could or would help me when I was unhappy or lonely. No one else ever told me about Kåñëa. How could I have ever known about Kåñëa, who is my life and soul, if you had not told me?</p>
<p class="p7">Before I met you I was dead, you have given me my very life. So I am eternally indebted to you. Please fulfill the true desire of my soul and let me surrender fully at your feet and serve you forever, and never desire anything else.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, you are the greatest person in the universe because you are lifting the burden from us who are so sinful and weak. How can we ever thank you? Everyone was unhappy in this universe and although we are small and insignificant you are great enough to care. You are flooding the universe with mercy; and you are making us, your disciples, dance in ecstasy!</p>
<p class="p7">This song Hare Kåñëa and dance goes on forever and I can't get enough of it. The more I say the name Hare Kåñëa, the more the hankering increases. Yes, you are giving us the "all beautiful God," Kåñëa; Who is unbelievable and unsurpassed in beauty, mercy and all good traits. The Lord Kåñëa is now on this earth. He is living in the heart of you, Prabhupäda. And the two of you together are destroying the darkness of the world. May I ever prostrate myself at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">I am your most ungrateful, disobedient and unworthy servant</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Cintämaëi Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Tokyo)</p>
<p class="p11">Léläçuka Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Léläçuka Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p25">My beloved spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p12">I know it is only by Your grace that I can offer my most humble and respectful obeisances on this most holy day, Vyäsa Püjä.<br>
My spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are so inconceivably kind.<br>
Trying to fathom Your causeless mercy<br>
Is beyond the conception of the limited mind.<br>
The senses are not meant for pleasing<br>
But to use them in Kåñëa's service to learn<br>
To devote life and soul to the spiritual master,<br>
Never wanting anything in return.<br>
I know I must keep my faith in the Lord<br>
That He'll force me to surrender<br>
Completely unto Your lotus feet<br>
With loving service always to render.<br>
I am the most unworthy servant of the most wonderful spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p28">Léläçuka Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p43">Yaçodänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Yaçodänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p44">Refreshing shower of bliss. Hearing You, O <i>sattvata, </i> is like nectar coming from Your lips. Associating with You, O Caitanya Guru, is like the glowing sunshine, which makes everything fine. O Prabhupäda, I’m not sincere; I’m not surrendered like Brahmänanda, Satsvarüpa, Viñëujana. But still I’ve got the desire to serve You—O lotus feet Grace.</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Yaçodänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Ed</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Ed</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>Apologies to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">O Çréla Prabhupäda, kindest of fathers, I, gutted with black sins, heaviest of all, feel myself moving upward. O Çréla Prabhupäda, I will never understand this miracle. Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, keep boosting me up, in spite of my great ingratitude. Please father, I am lost, take me home. I have nothing with which to pay, father, but my eternally worthless obeisances.</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Ed</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Chicago)</p>
<p class="p11">Mike</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mike</b></p>
<p class="p12">There is a place far, far away<br>
Where Kåñëa and the <i>gopés</i> play.<br>
All things come from there, it’s true.<br>
Even souls like me and you.<br>
But here we are like babies crying,<br>
For in Kåñëä’s love we are not abiding.</p>
<p class="p12">Nothing seemed to soothe us here,<br>
And constantly we live in fear.<br>
When there was no place left to hide,<br>
We fell to the ground and began to cry.<br>
We woke up with empty hearts,<br>
But we could see it was the start,<br>
The start of something pure and clean,<br>
Like water in a rippling stream</p>
<p class="p12">Beside the stream there was a boat.<br>
We stepped inside and began to float.<br>
Every passenger happy and young,<br>
And everyone of them sins this song:<br>
Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa<br>
Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare<br>
Hare Räma Hare Räma <br>
Räma Räma Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p12">We leaned in closer and began to hear,<br>
And sure enough we lost our fear,<br>
We felt such bliss from up above;<br>
There are no bounds in Kåñëa’s love.<br>
And when the captain appeared on deck,<br>
We felt as minute as tiny specks.<br>
The captain is golden;<br>
He shines like the sun.<br>
The captain so merciful<br>
He takes anyone.<br>
Prabhupäda, Prabhupäda, Lover of God Absolute,<br>
Prabhupäda, Prabhupäda, always hearing Kåñëa’s Flute.</p>
<p class="p12">So Kåñëa has given us a way to return to Våndävana and resume our natural positions as His eternal servants in the transcendental world so fair.</p>
<p class="p12">But only<br>
Through the pure devotee,<br>
A soul who rings true,<br>
But we know Him only as<br>
Our Çré Guru.</p>
<p class="p12">HARER NÄMA HARER NÄMA<br>
HARER NÄMAIVA KEVALAM<br>
KALAU NASTY EVA NASTY EVA NASTY EVA<br>
GATIR ANYATHÄ</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!!!</p>
<p class="p44">Most fallen servant,</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Mike</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Jayaçré Däsi</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayaçré Däsi</b></p>
<p class="p44">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda. Most holy one, You have saved my whole existence from the poison blackness of impersonalism. You showed that we are all not God, but that He is God, Kåñëa. You are the supreme most beloved servant of Their Lordships Çré Çré Radha-Kåñëa. You have brought in Your glory, truth and wisdom, and the disciplic succession is my guiding light in this darkness of ignorance and oppression.</p>
<p class="p44">Most holy one, all glory to Your lotus feet. Most kind, most beautiful, humble holy Father, please save me so wretched and put me in the service of Your servant so that this <i>Maya</i> cannot reach me with her poison clutches. Hari Bol.</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Jayaçré Däsi</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Jyotir Mayé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jyotir Mayé</b></p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, here on Ilavaté Varsa, you are the master at whose feet all masters are assembled, but in Goloka Våndävana who are you? What is your name, cowherd boy, playing in the field with Kåñëa and thousands of cows and calves? As you walk, the grass at once under the touch of your lotus feet regains its consciousness and its love and raises high its fragile limbs. You do not pay attention to the wretched covering of matter, but you see just souls learning how to love, and so you just said, at the sight of my bewildered and speculative mind, “She is like a flower dancing on the wind.”</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Jyotir Mayé</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">David Jakupko</p>
<p class="p22"><b>David Jakupko</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept my worthless obeisances. By your mercy I have found this Kåñëa consciousness movement. It is so nice: chanting, dancing, taking <i>prasädam,</i> reading your beautiful books. For someone who deserves nothing, I have found everything. By Kåñëa’s mercy I have been blessed with a spiritual master, you, Çréla Prabhupäda, a pure devotee of Kåñëa, who is spreading pure love of God to the most fallen in the Western world, which is full of impersonalism and voidism. I am so fortunate to have you, Çréla Prabhupäda, to show me how to live. Thank you so very much, Çréla Prabhupäda. <i>Çréla Prabhupäda ki jaya!</i></p>
<p class="p44">Your most wretched servant,</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">David Jakupko</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Herapaïcami Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Herapaïcami Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories to He who takes away the heavy burden of this material existence. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who came to pick up the fallen souls and take them back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Herapaïcami Däsé</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Janet McCoy</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Janet McCoy</b></p>
<p class="p44">O dear Prabhupäda, you smile that does radiate light in the darkness of the universe, the breath of your words that eradicates all misconception and doubt, the caress of your touch that does lighten the burden of heavy sorrow…for those who have forgotten God, you have taken our hands and led us to the lake. You have shown us the Banyan tree and let us hear the sound of its leaves as they rustle in the wind. That I might kneel at your feet and offer my most humble obeisances, I should be blissful in the presence of your auspicious being.</p>
<p class="p44">O blessed Çréla Prabhupäda, I see your effulgent smile and hear the breath of your words and feel the caress of your touch…and know that our Lord Kåñëa is gracious, so very merciful, and so very beautiful.</p>
<p class="p44">HARE KÅÑËA!!!</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Janet McCoy</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">William McCoy</p>
<p class="p22"><b>William McCoy</b></p>
<p class="p44">I offer my most respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who is always engaged in pure, transcendental loving service to Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda is the deliverer of the Absolute Truth. Out of his causeless, loving mercy, he is pulling fallen souls out of <i>mäyä,</i> one after another, and taking them all directly back to Godhead with unsurpassable enthusiasm.</p>
<p class="p44">I pray that I may offer my lowly and insignificant service to Çréla Prabhupäda eternally. ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!!</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">William McCoy</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">Kancanbäla Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kancanbäla Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p44">I offer my most respectful, prostrated obeisances to dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, who is so dear to Lord Çré Kåñëa on this earth, having taken shelter at His transcendental lotus feet. You, who are the dearmost friend of Kåñëa, by Your causeless mercy, are grabbing us fallen souls and placing us at His sweet lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Only by my insignificant, whimsical desires, I am now engaged in this material nescience full of endless calamity from time immemorial. Impersonalism, wars, and anxieties raging, all created by conditioned souls’ polluted desires. This material world is just like a turbulent whirlpool twisting and turning madly, and the conditioned souls like my fallen self are compared to the tiny particles of dust whirling in it. Here and there the bits of glittering but worthless broken glass flying. Yet the senses are drawn to the useless objects, just to get some pleasure out of them. So lower the covered souls sink, to the darkest regions of this whirlpool, attempting to find some way to fulfill the longing, unknown desire.</p>
<p class="p44">All seemed so hopeless, how to break free from the twisting whirlpool? I, just a particle of dust, have no strength and was groping in darkness not having a bit of knowledge what to take complete shelter of. Only by Your ever causeless mercy You are pulling me out of this dark whirlpool of birth, death, disease and old age to be situated in my constitutional position; full of bliss, knowledge and eternity, forever serving the Supreme Lord with love.</p>
<p class="p44">O Prabhupäda, You are so merciful to me, as I am so wretched and fallen. I can’t conceive and appreciate Your unlimited kindness, showing me how to approach the unapproachable, who is the fulfiller of all desires. No living entity could ever approach Lord Çré Kåñëa on one’s own, but only through You, a pure devotee and dear friend of Kåñëa, can we ever associate with Him. You have given me such a priceless gift, I can never repay.</p>
<p class="p44">Never do I want to pray to Your Divine Self for anything, as I am such a completely unworthy servitor, but O Prabhupäda, I only beg to be engaged every second and between every second in Your transcendental loving service and always be immersed in unalloyed bliss. Only by Your limitless grace, could I ever achieve this.</p>
<p class="p44">Jayate, Your Divine Loving Grace!</p>
<p class="p44">Your loving daughter,</p>
<p class="p45"><br></p>
<p class="p44">Kancanbäla Däsé</p>
<p class="p44">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Mike</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mike</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Uttama Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the bringer of light, who has shown us blind men Kåñëa. All my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda who has begun chipping away at <i>mäyä’s</i> illusion with his <i>uttama adhikäré</i> consciousness. Now Kåñëa’s reservoir of bliss and knowledge is able to flow freely within all of us. With Çréla Prabhupäda’s grace, Govinda appears clearly to us now, transcendental, all-beautifying, all-purifying, all-powerful, and full of bliss. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the giver of light.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Mike</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boulder)</p>
<p class="p11">Maria Suarez</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Maria Suarez</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept my worthless obeisances unto Your golden lotus feet. Your are always chanting Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare, and Your hands are busy working for Kåñëa and chanting Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>. And Your mind is always thinking of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Haribol.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Maria Suarez</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Janet Naysmith (Mrs.)</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Janet Naysmith (Mrs.)</b></p>
<p class="p7">As a lonely child bathes in the shadows of springtime, so do I bathe in the warmth of you love enshrouding me softly like the soft touch of a lotus petal.</p>
<p class="p7">On the shore of the material world I am rendered vulnerable, and I leave footprints that show traversing of a searching soul lost in the quagmire of mind weeds. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are so merciful upon such an unworthy soul; you are the only person who has ever truly loved me, and I am so encompassed by your smile, by your beautiful eyes, by your voice, the golden voice of the kingdom.</p>
<p class="p7">How could anyone leave your service ever? Guru Mahäräja, please forgive my verbal fumblings, for I am so indebted to Your divine lotus feet that I can never explain my gratitude to You. So I crave to take shelter of Your lotus feet and cal Your name in worship.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Janet Naysmith (Mrs.)</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Bhurijana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bhurijana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To the perfect servant of Saravaté Gosvämé Mahäräja</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You are factually saving the entire world. Your Divine Grace has sent Your young but faithful servants to all remote and near countries to call everyone back to home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">I am one of those servants, although not a good one. Çréla Prabhupäda, Your mercy is such that even the most fallen attempts by myself Your Divine Grace has accepted and offer to Your Guru Mahäräja and thusly to Kåñëa. As I examine my life, I find nothing that qualifies me to serve You, Çréla Prabhupäda, I find nothing but Your causeless mercy. My desires are impure, my activities are worse, but Çréla Prabhupäda Your mercy is so strong that even I can be saved simply by allowing Your words to move my heart. If I can be saved then everyone can be saved. So Çréla Prabhupäda, <i>paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya</i> Prabhupäda, with full faith in Your powers, I beg You to allow me to help You distribute Kåñëa consciousness all over the world, so You can fulfill the desires of Your merciful Guru Mahäräja—So that one day, soon I hope, You will be pleased with me—and that is Kåñëa consciousness, to make You smile.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Bhurijana Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Tokyo)</p>
<p class="p11">Aravinda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Aravinda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Most beloved Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most inadequate obeisances at Your lotus feet on this blessed occasion. Today especially I am thinking how merciful You that from Your lotus feet there is springing forth a great river of mercy which is over flooding the entire universe. You are inviting all the sentient beings to dive in and flow with its current as it enters the nectarean ocean of loving exchange at the lotus feet of Çré Çré Rädhä Govinda. One tide has come, causelessly, and swept me away. Now I am your most unworthy servant, eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is there, boundless, for everyone if they just flow with the tide of submissive loving service to You. But there are those of us who are so foolish that we are paddling against the waves or else somehow trying to grab hold of the shore. I am one such rascal. I am desiring to do all kinds of nonsense, but the flow is overwhelming and the rocklike covering shielding my heart is being worn away just as the flow of the river wears away the bank. Çréla Prabhupäda, You are forcing me to become Kåñëa conscious. I am eternally grateful. Please let me love You and serve You forever.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Aravinda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Pradyumna Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Pradyumna Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most respectful obeisances unto the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Tridaëòi Gosvämé Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Mahäräja who is a true and bona fide spiritual master because he is following exactly in the line of disciplic succession from his own beloved spiritual master His Divine Grace Tridaëòi Gosvämé Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Gosvämé Mahäräja is addressed in prayer as Rüpänuga, or true follower of Rüpa Gosvämé. We find a reference of an incident in the biography of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu that shows that Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé knew the mind of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and this was confirmed by the Lord Himself. The disciplic succession is such that the knowledge and the experience of consciousness of Kåñëa which is passed down, if heard correctly without deviation, remains true and eternally correct. Due to the potency of the disciplic succession, our most beloved spiritual guide and master, Çréla Prabhupäda, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Mahäräja, does now possess the knowledge of the mind of Lord Caitanya. The position of the spiritual master is that by passing down the scriptural instructions of the Supreme Lord and by practicing them at every moment with His whole self, He teaches us how to respond to the desire and will of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. This is the meaning of the disciplic succession. Although we have experience of the knowledge of different meanings of various books and different religious secular communities and organizations, the disciplic succession of knowledge is certainly not merely the passing down of an intellectual understanding of different meanings or procedures for executing rituals, but while including this knowledge, its primary aim is to pass down an actual experience of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So with the help of the scriptures and information from the heart, we have been trying to properly ascertain the correct position and importance of being a student of the bona fide spiritual master. What does the spiritual master offer that cannot be found at the marketplace? That is the eternal consciousness of the desire and wish of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, humbly serving Him, without any care for whatever position we may be placed in birth after birth. So we are prepared to offer our most respectful and humble complete obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, for birth after birth after birth of eager and true devotional service.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Pradyumna Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Indumaté Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Indumaté Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">On the surface of this planet earth there is someone so dear to the Lord, Çré Kåñëa, because that someone has taken shelter of the Lord’s transcendental lotus feet. You are that dear person, O Çréla Prabhupäda, and you are most dear to us, your students.</p>
<p class="p7">Our minds and hearts were full of dangerous poison like the venom of a snake. The illusory attraction of material energy was eating away our hearts. We were trying to love these bodies and putting all our hopes and dreams into the lusty, temporary affairs of this material world. And we were suffering in <i>mäyä.</i> Only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, can reciprocate with us because you know about Çré Kåñëa, the reservoir of love. Your love for us is pure and completely satisfying to us because it is pure love of God-head that you are distributing to anyone who will accept. So if we can only remember that you are the only person whom we can trust with our love, and that you are the only person who will never hurt us or disappoint us and also that that affection which you have for your students is the most precious possession—if we can only remember you, Çréla Prabhupäda, the servant of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, then we will be on our way back home, back to our Lord’s lotus feet. By your mercy, may we always remember to look upon you with our eyes always filled with tears of joyous love. All glories to you, our divine spiritual preceptor His Divine Grace Tridaëòi Gosvämé Abhay Caran Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja. All glories unto you.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Indumaté Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Uddhavadäsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Uddhavadäsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>484 of Caitanya Era, month of Håñékeça</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p16">“There are two classes of living beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world, every entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world, every entity is called infallible” [<i>Bg. </i>15.15]</p>
<p class="p7">It becomes the activity of the materialistic person to follow the precepts of another person who he views to be more elevated in knowledge. However, we must consider: What is knowledge, and how can we recognize one who has knowledge? Many types of knowledge exist. There is knowledge of mechanics, letters, bodies, locations, sequences, positions, thoughts, activities, and countless other categories. But all this knowledge of various descriptions either collectively or individually, cannot solve one very important enigma: Death. All knowledge thus far discovered or invented by materialistic society has not been able to save one of its citizens from the clutches of inevitable death. Doctors have not been able to cut the death out of the liveliest of bodies. Politicians have had no success in spreading eternity in their minute domains. Philosophers, endlessly speculating, cannot think up the magic formula whereby this material body will endure. So the highest form of knowledge would be that which would save one from death. This is known as spiritual science. Obviously the entities of this world have no knowledge of spiritual science because the problem of death still remains. Therefore we may agree that these living entities are fallible. One who has perfect knowledge would know how to save himself and others from death. According to Lord Çré Kåñëa, such a person exists, and we should accept such a person as our beloved spiritual master. Lord Çré Kåñëa furthermore indicates how to recognize the bona fide spiritual master. <i>Bahünäà janmanäm ante jïänavän mäà prapadyante:</i> When one is perfect in knowledge, he surrenders unto Kåñëa. So we can understand that one who has surrendered unto Kåñëa, that is, one who is constantly remembering Him, glorifying Him, serving Him, or teaching about Him, is a man of perfect knowledge—infallible. By the declarations of Kåñëa it is to be understood that one who is surrendered unto Him is not to be considered a material person, but completely spiritual, and we should accept his authority to become perfectly knowledgeable. If we desire to know who our father is, we must accept the authority of our mother, and if our mother is pure she can inform us properly. Likewise, if we desire to know Kåñëa we must accept the authority of a pure devotee of Kåñëa. The true servant of Kåñëa tries to engage every living entity he encounters in the service of Kåñëa either by will, by force, or by slight of tongue, and the true disciple accepts the engagements of the spiritual master as the only purport of his life. His prayer then becomes, “My dear beloved spiritual master, please force me, who am so unwilling, to forsake my pilgrimage to <i>mäyä</i> and to return home by your feet where I belong.” I actually thought that I was worthy to serve you and that you would be pleased with my wonderful activities, and glorifying myself in this way I forgot the purpose of life, to glorify the spiritual master. You forced me to rectify this blunder and now my only hope is that you allow me to always glorify your sacred name.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">The most worthless Uddhava däsa Adhikäré, servant of the most qualified His Divine Loving Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Lalit Kumära Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Lalit Kumära Däsa Adhikäré </b><span class="s4"><b>Plus</b></span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories toÇréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">I have been bitten by <i>mäyä,</i> the deadly snake whose fangs of lust and greed have kept me for countless lives in an almost unconscious state of existence. And the deadly venom caters to my foolish mind, only because of my weakness and lack of faith. And you, O dearest spiritual master, have come as a dark rain cloud, full of the ocean of knowledge, to extinguish the blazing fire of material existence and reinstate us in loving devotion to our beloved Lord.But so weak, bewildered and unfortunate I am that I just can’t seem to get myself to really execute my devotional service to you as wholeheartedly and sincerely as I should. O master of lave and devotion, I am praying for you to help me, but I am a worthless, useless, puffed up pile of stool, and I need your guidance and help so badly. But I am so low that I don’t even give you a chance. If there is anyone as fallen and deluded as I am, then you can surely help him first, but I assure you there is no one who is as fallen as I, nor will there ever be one at any time.</p>
<p class="p7">On this most auspicious and glorious day when all your disciples offer their deepest and most respectful obeisances to you and pray for your good health and guidance, I can but only hope that someday my devotion will be as steady and pure as that of your wonderful disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, the representative of Çréla Vyäsadeva and kind master of all.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Lalit Kumära Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Madhusüdana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Madhusüdana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda, Mercy Incarnation of the Lord</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">If one gets the opportunity of hearing, serving or associating with a bona fide spiritual master, a pure devotee, one should know that he is getting the direct mercy and blessing of the Supreme Lord Himself. In this world, at this time, we are so, so fallen that it even takes time to realize our low position, but due to the all-powerful and antiseptic nature of Kåñëa, even a dirt such as myself can be cleaned up by His contact, of this there is no doubt. Just as the all-powerful pure sun evaporates the puddle or urine and purifies the spot and yet does not become dirty itself in the least.</p>
<p class="p7">It is for sure that given some time the chanting of Hare Kåñëa, the method of contacting the Supreme pure will awaken everyone to the natural, blissful condition of loving service to God. This is the only pleasure that exists and all other so-called pleasure is just different degrees of pain. The only sources of transcendental pleasure are the pure devotees like the divine, sweet reservoir of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda—the lotus feet of whom are much more illuminating than a thousand suns. Serving the spiritual master is the most palatable process of self-realization or spiritual life. And it is so effective that simply by taking it, experimenting like a true scientist to see if it works at all, one can feel the uncommon ecstasy of transcendental service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">My Dear Prabhupäda, I am thinking that I should cooperate with your disciples and make the whole world surrender at your lotus feet, you who are infallibly fixed at the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">I cannot possibly ask you for anything. You have given me much more than I could ever deserve even if I performed millions of years of penances and austerities.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us the unlimited ocean of transcendental nectar—devotional service. It is nice to know that this service is open eternally and also your association. Please accept the most humble obeisances of this worthless servant at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">I remain you loving son,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Madhusüdana Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Nandakiçora Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nandakiçora Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>manasa deha geha yo kichu mora<br>
arpinu tuapade nandakishora<br>
maravi rakavi yo ieecha tohara<br>
nitya dasa priat tua adhikara<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Mänasa Deha Geha 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O my dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept this prayer from Your lowly servant, and I pray to Your lotus feet that I may someday be attracted to fulfilling its conditions. You have already done so because Your Divine Grace is fully surrendered in love to the lotus feet of Ñré Çré Rädhä Kåñëa. I thank Your Divine Grace for also giving me the opportunity to do so.</p>
<p class="p7">Your lowest servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Nandakiçora Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Providence)</p>
<p class="p11">David Hanson</p>
<p class="p22"><b>David Hanson</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Forgive me; I’m so ignorant I can’t even tell you how much I love you. I pray you will help me completely surrender unto your most merciful lotus feet. Thank you!</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">David Hanson</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Atlanta)</p>
<p class="p11">Hådayänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Hådayänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">All glories unto His Divine Grace<br>
The ever-Lord of my heart<br>
Whose bold hands kindly unknit<br>
The soul’s misguided material embrace</p>
<p class="p12">Whose clear words cut off this false affair<br>
With some heartless mental midnight void<br>
Whole love and glory crisscrosses the earth<br>
Delivering God to those who dare</p>
<p class="p12">O thou eternal agent of Caitanya<br>
Whose heart can never stray from His heart<br>
Who devastates the lie of formless gods<br>
And hurls us at the feet of dear Gauräìga</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Hådayänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Jayädvaita Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayädvaita Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">[Text Missing] </p>
<p class="p7">...the mercy of the spiritual master is that if we simply accept his teachings and execute our activities in Kåñëa consciousness under his direction, we will be freed from material reactions and be promoted to the association of Kåñëa. </p>
<p class="p16">“But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled and doomed to ignorance and bondage.” [<i>Bg.</i> 3.32]</p>
<p class="p7"> We must surrender. We must accept everything the spiritual master says, completely, without question or hesitation. As soon as one neglects to follow the instructions of the spiritual master, he is fallen. My spiritual master knows everything, and therefore I must execute his instructions without hesitation. If we think that we are better than Çréla Prabhupäda, independent of Çréla Prabhupäda, as good as Çréla Prabhupäda, on the same level as Çréla Prabhupäda, or anything other than the eternal microscopic servitor of the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, then we are doomed. </p>
<p class="p7"><i>guru-kåñëa-kåpäya päya bhakti-lata-béja: </i>By the mercy of the spiritual master and by the mercy of Kåñëa, one can enter into devotional service and go back to Godhead, back to home. Kåñëa is all merciful, and Çréla Prabhupäda is all merciful, but we have to be all-receptive, all-eager and all-anxious to be always engaged in his service. “…when the spiritual master sees the genuine desire of the disciples he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.” Çréla Prabhupäda is always ready to distribute the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but we must be sufficiently anxious to receive it.</p>
<p class="p7">When will I cry to engage only in Çréla Prabhupäda’s service?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I render pure devotional service to the purest devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme abode and purifier?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I be liberated from my own self-interest and desire only to execute the mission of my spiritual master, whose teachings can liberate anyone, whose face is like a lotus flower, and who is the eternal servitor of Lord Mukunda?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I always remember Çréla Prabhupäda, never forgetting him?</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is the complete reservoir of the Complete Whole. When will I surrender unto him completely?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I stop being puffed up at what I think I’ve done and glorify the all-glorious activities of Çréla Prabhupäda, the eternal servitor of Lord Urukrama?</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is pleasing everyone because he satisfies the senses of Govinda. When will I stop trying to please my own senses and only desire to give pleasure to him?</p>
<p class="p7">When will my only pleasure be to serve the lotus feet of my beloved spiritual master, who is the eternal pleasure of Lord Nityänanda?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I surrender my senses to the control of my spiritual master, the servant of the Gosvämés and Lord Håñikeça Himself?</p>
<p class="p7">When will I lose the taste for <i>mäyä</i> and be attracted only to serving Çréla Prabhupäda, whose pure devotion can attract even Lord Kåñëa?</p>
<p class="p7">I pray that my only identity may be as an eternal servitor of his holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jayädvaita Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Karunamayé Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Karunamayé Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please Prabhupäda, accept my most humble and very, very unworthy obeisances at Your blooming lotus feet. By Your grace only can one be freed from the duality and frustration born of this material world, and again engage my fallen self in the service of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. By Your causeless mercy, so many fallen souls are now regaining their memories and beginning to understand that this mind and false ego entangles one more and more to this weary material world. But by the sweet chanting of Hare Kåñëa the living entity becomes so enlivened and again gets a taste of it natural blissful state of existence. So even here one can revive pure love for Çré Kåñëa the beautiful cowherd boy, then no longer is this place considered to be miserable, but it is Våndävana where Kåñëa is playing so nicely with His transcendental companions.</p>
<p class="p7">You are so kind to us Prabhupäda for giving us Kåñëa and by Kåñëa’s mercy He has sent from the spiritual sky Your Divine Self. Your children have been showered with an endless amount of good fortune. You have so kindly saved us from leading the lives of cats and dogs where there is total confusion and ignorance. If we hadn’t been guided by Supersoul to bring us into contact with the pure devotee of the Lord Your children would be descending into very hellish conditions. But now look, we are becoming joyful again. Please Prabhupäda help me develop a seriousness for Kåñëa consciousness and a service attitude. I’m finally feeling a bit of gratefulness and much unworthiness for this gift of love of Godhead. I have given nothing and You have gifted myself with the most perfect knowledge, Çré Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Loving Grace.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Karunamayé Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Berkeley)</p>
<p class="p11">Bali Mardan Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bali Mardan Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Three Songs in Praise to Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Constant Journey</b></p>
<p class="p12">1. This life is a constant journey,<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda the guiding star.<br>
We can see the way before us.<br>
Though the goal is very far.</p>
<p class="p12">2. With the real <i>Bhagavad-gétä<br>
</i>We have started on the road.<br>
Wonder why the mundane wranglers<br>
Have to carry such a load.</p>
<p class="p12">3. And with Prabhupäda to guide us<br>
We will traverse every curve<br>
On the path to Kåñëaloka,<br>
Where Kåñëa is always served.</p>
<p class="p12">4. This life is a constant journey<br>
Back to Kåñëa, back to God.<br>
We are traveling on the highway<br>
That is lit by Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>Kåñëa All the Time</b></p>
<p class="p12">1. One thought’s on my mind now;<br>
It’s made my life sublime.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda said there’s nothing more—<br>
It’s Kåñëa all the time.</p>
<p class="p12">2. Kåñëa’s the enjoyer,<br>
At last there’s no more void<br>
Since Prabhupäda has said<br>
That we are the enjoyed</p>
<p class="p12">3. Çréla Prabhupäda’s our teacher<br>
He’s leading us away<br>
From the endless miseries <br>
We used to face each day.</p>
<p class="p12">4. Distressed and curious,<br>
A piece of glass was all we saw,<br>
But Prabhupäda accepted us,<br>
He gave us something more.</p>
<p class="p12">5. Çréla Prabhupäda’s our savior,<br>
He gave back the sight<br>
Of the jewel within the lotus;<br>
He gave us back our lives.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>His Divine Grace</b></p>
<p class="p12">The earth is torn with material anxiety;<br>
The young are rioting against their society.<br>
One person, a great soul, has come from above<br>
To sing about Kåñëa, to give divine love.<br>
He is dancing in ecstasy, eyes all aglow,<br>
Coming among us, so God we may know.<br>
His lips are a fountain of nectarine bliss;<br>
Mundane pleasures we never miss.<br>
For He is providing a life of perfection<br>
To learn to serve Kåñëa, to beg His protection.<br>
Prabhupäda has come, <i>mäyä</i> has run,<br>
Unable to stand in front of the sun.<br>
He is <i>mahätmä</i> the servant most dear,<br>
Bringing souls back to Godhead, shattering fear.<br>
He does not care for bodily designation,<br>
French, American, Japanese, or Canadian.<br>
All he drags, out of the cage<br>
Of birth, death, disease and old age.<br>
He is the science of the eternally living<br>
To raise the most wretched, to be all-forgiving.<br>
Him we must offer beautiful prayer.<br>
We must not forget Him. He is most dear.<br>
His remembrance brings love, a quivering feeling.<br>
The material disease is thus seen to be healing.<br>
To love Him is the most valuable of all possessions,<br>
To taste the infinite mercy of the disciplic succession.<br>
Thus do we bow down, thus we are singing<br>
To Him who is carrying us back to the living.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Bali Mardan Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Sydney)</p>
<p class="p11">Denise </p>
<p class="p22"><b>Denise </b></p>
<p class="p7">Haribol Hare Kåñëa <i>nama om viñëu-pädäya </i>Nitai (I don’t know what to say, except Govinda jaya jaya.) Hare Kåñëa</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Denise (5 years old)</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Déneça Candra Däsa Adhikäré &amp; Kåñëadevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Déneça Candra Däsa Adhikäré &amp; Kåñëadevé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Offering</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who is most dear to Kåñëa on this earth due to his taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is not only the representative of Çré Kåñëa, but who is also representing Çréla Vyäsadeva. In this way Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy is increased. Çréla Vyäsadeva is an empowered incarnation of Çré Kåñëa who took mercy on the fallen souls of this age of Kali and supplied us nectar in the form of the four divisions of the original <i>Veda, </i>the <i>Upaniñads, Vedänta-sütra, Mahäbhärata </i>(containing <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>), and the most spotless <i>puräna Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i> In this great <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>the story is related of Vyäsadeva’s despondency despite his elevated position of realization of the truth, and how his spiritual master, Närada Muni, cleared away his despondency by instructing Çréla Vyäsadeva to write the narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa. Thus <i>Çrémad Bhägavatam</i> is a torchlight of real knowledge to the conditioned souls in dark ignorance.</p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, who is also a representative of Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé and Çréla Suta Gosvämé. Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé was a liberated soul even before birth, and so he was satisfied within himself. But when he heard the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> from his father Çréla Vyäsadeva, his heart became attracted and melted. At once he went out from his home and spoke <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>the most sublime and perfect teaching, to King Parékñit. Suta Gosvämé heard this sublime literature, rendered sweeter by the lips of Çréla Çukadeva, and then Süta spoke <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>to the sages gathered at Naimiñäraëya. The pious souls gathered at Naimiñäraëya were in perplexity as to what would most benefit the conditioned living beings in this iron age of quarrel and destruction. After intelligently submitting questions to Süta Gosvämé and submissively hearing the answers, they concluded that <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>is the shelter of the fallen souls in this age. Çréla Prabhupäda has given us <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> in English, and to further sweeten it, He has further demonstrated the answer to the existential problems in this quarrelsome world by his own example—in teachings and in actions.</p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, who is representing the mist munificent of all <i>avatäras,</i> Lord Caitanya. “In the modern age Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu preached the cult of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> by practical demonstration.” (Introduction to <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>) In other words, Lord Caitanya ordered that the cult of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>throughout His life. [?] Lord Caitanya overflooded the earth with pure love of God and began the <i>saìkértana</i> movement of congregational chanting of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">I am offering my most respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, who is the most willing and fearless servant of all the great <i>äcäryas,</i> and who in great love for his spiritual master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda, brought the entire <i>saìkértana</i> movement, the entire <i>Brahma-sampradäya,</i> to the barren Western countries. Çréla Prabhupäda is always engaged in furnishing us with the most beautiful and precious jewels, and He has made us wealthy. First, He has given us the <i>mahä-mantra, </i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare., which is itself all-attractive and inclusive of all spiritual opulence's, and He has given us this divine philosophy, <i>as it is, </i>ever fresh, unchanged, eternal and liberating in nature. Çréla Prabhupäda has instructed us all, as His disciples, to continue spreading this Kåñëa consciousness movement. This was the instruction of His spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my humble obeisances to my God brothers and God sisters who are always engaged in rendering service to Çréla Prabhupäda by carrying out His sincerest desire to distribute this most natural of occupations, loving service to Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa. As for myself, I am hoping to take birth again and again in the material world until I have given some service to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances are unto You, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Déneça Candra Däsa Adhikäré &amp; Kåñëadevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Washington, D.C)</p>
<p class="p11">John Barry</p>
<p class="p22"><b>John Barry</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, you have come to guide us on how to know, love and serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">John Barry</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON St. Louis)</p>
<p class="p11">Kapiladeva Däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kapiladeva Däsa brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda. He is so mercifully delivering us from this ocean of birth and death to which we are so attracted.</p>
<p class="p7">He has pointed out to us the limits of mundane science and its failure to answer the fundamental problems of mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">Ha has given the cup of nectar of devotion to almighty Kåñëa from which to drink.</p>
<p class="p7">His truth, the truth absolute which he brings, is vanquishing the darkness of nescience which grips the Western industrial nonsense society.</p>
<p class="p7">He is a breath of fresh air in the smog of delusion.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace has shown us how to dance and sing our way back into the kingdom of God.</p>
<p class="p7">We fallen souls deluded by the material energy offer our humble gratitude unto this beloved enlightened soul who is delivering us from the bondage of <i>karma.</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kapiladeva Däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Kasturika Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kasturika Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Has opened up His heart so free,<br>
His love flows like the waves of the sea,<br>
this worthless wretch with heart impure<br>
falls prostrate upon our mercy shore.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Radiating divine grace<br>
Throughout this thirsty human race<br>
O refuge from this sin we’ve sown,<br>
Your limitless glory remains unknown.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, I am so lost and alone on this planet without you. O Lord Nityänanda I plead that You will give me unflinching strength to stay by his most holy divine lotus feet, without which my existence is certainly doomed. I shall never walk in the light of devotional service to the only Shepherd who has come home to take his surrendered children home, for my mind is most wayward, and I am the most fallen.</p>
<p class="p7">Eternally ashamed of my inadequate obeisances,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kasturika Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Jack Prabhu</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jack Prabhu</b></p>
<p class="p12">Angel of mercy we cried unto Thee—<br>
Only in Your service will we ever be free<br>
And swift the mother comes for the child<br>
Bringing rain for our hearts so burning and wild<br>
You came dearest friend and sheltered our soul.</p>
<p class="p12">We came into Your arms, our last hope was gone<br>
Having fallen so low we just can’t go on<br>
And You will never depart and leave us alone<br>
Until we all know His love and live in His home.<br>
You smile dearest friend and shelter our soul</p>
<p class="p12">Your face all aglow from His light within<br>
Lights up the darkness we live once again<br>
Our lives we have offered up into Your hands<br>
Sing always of His beauty, praise His sacred land<br>
You dance dearest friend and shelter our soul</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jack Prabhu</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Berkley)</p>
<p class="p11">Gopénätha Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gopénätha Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace, His loving face, His immortal taste, is leading us back to Godhead, out of <i>mäyä’s</i> snare Such direction is the prime benediction. For those who relish only birth and death, deprived of Kåñëa, we seek that which is not. Unknowingly we try to feed dead bodies in so many ways. Armed with the ammunition of <i>avidyä,</i> we simply learn how to exploit, not knowing the progressive values of existence, which cannot be given to us by those who don’t know them.</p>
<p class="p7">Their solutions to escape dualities are simply entangling. Therefore, one should take shelter at the divine lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda. He can erase all false designations of false prestige. <i>Nirnana moha!</i> Become free from illusion’s involvement, which hampers us from knowing our real spiritual oneness or total agreement with the imperishable, knowledgeable, and blissful personality of the spiritual realm, who is beyond the gaze of sensuous inspection or the purview of the deluded speculators. Çréla Prabhupäda alone knows Kåñëa. Let us stop culturing garbage and surrender in unalloyed devotion to Him. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, whose inconceivable mercy is our life and soul.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Gopénätha Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Columbus)</p>
<p class="p11">Jayatértha Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayatértha Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, this message, this spirit of devotion, so sublime and pure, has come through the channel of Your Divine Mercy. This truth, eternal, full of bliss and knowledge, long covered by the darkness born of ignorance, is now revealed through the agency of Your Divine Understanding. You are uncontaminated, perfect in beauty, strength, humility and all divine qualities.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Äcärya-deva</i>, You are the knower of the <i>Vedas, </i>You are the deliverer of the fallen souls, and You are not impersonal. You are a vibrant, perfect and glorious person.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the all-merciful <i>Çré-Guru</i>, You are the only shelter of my crippled and depraved self, and Your lotus feet are the end-all and be-all of my life.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jayatértha Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Kåñëa Viläsiné Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kåñëa Viläsiné Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">To Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">You have pulled me out of the swirling morass of nescience I was drowning in and forced me to bow down at Your soothing lotus feet. All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, my most merciful spiritual master, who is selflessly spreading the divine mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. You have out of Your causeless compassion, dipped us in the ocean of bliss and eternity and pierced our dark shell of ignorance with the light of pure knowledge. You have given what no other could give, the beautiful lotus-eyed one with peacock feathers and ankle bells, the blue cowherd boy who charms the entire cosmos with the sweet sound of His flute.</p>
<p class="p7">You have kindly made approach to Lord Çré Kåñëa so easy for the most fallen and desolate. You give us <i>prasädam,</i> dancing, chanting and ask only our life and soul. Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, engage me always in service of You lotus feet; never let me fall away from Your divine self. You are the only light that can safely guide us through this raging ocean of Kali.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most humble obeisances, Çréla Prabhupäda, for You are most dear to Çré Kåñëa upon this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. You have delivered to the most arrogant and miserable of beings the full nectarine of in the form of these holy names, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Räma. Please, therefore, let us open our hearts wide and accept Your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa Viläsiné Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Fransisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Dayänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dayänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda—Jagat-Guru</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p12"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]<br>
</span>Yes, You are pulling us up, Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
By Your Divine Grace<br>
We <i>are</i> receiving Kåñëa’s grace.<br>
Thank you , Çréla Prabhupäda, for this divine present;<br>
You are giving causeless knowledge and detachment.<br>
Once bound up by lust and greed,<br>
We’ve been given by you the key whereby we’re freed.<br>
Lost in the desert if empiric means,<br>
You are flooding us with the full nectarine—<br>
Ocean of bliss.<br>
Forced by impersonal rationalization<br>
To excuse our sense gratification,<br>
Hauled up by the captain of the ship across this material ocean,<br>
You’ve given us this love and devotion.<br>
Your love is flowing freely<br>
From Your heart and from Your personality.<br>
So just see, it is truly<br>
A fact that Prabhupäda <i>sarvam iti.<br>
</i>Prabhupäda, just see, Your heart’s desire<br>
Is cooling off our raging minds,<br>
Putting out this forest fire<br>
And benedicting all mankind.<br>
It’s Your <i>saìkértana<br>
</i>That’s our life and soul—<br>
Spreading it everywhere is our goal.<br>
I am cultivating love of You,<br>
That is why I must do Your instruction,<br>
And the instruction is You.<br>
Now my humble request<br>
Is just engage me in more service.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my obeisances at the feet of Your divine form, name, activities, and words, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Dayänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Nandarané Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nandarané Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">I was standing in filth and darkness with my eyes tightly closed and my mind unleashed, among the ruins of humanity and its death productivity, pretending myself to be the controller and enjoyer of all in my encompassment.</p>
<p class="p7">And then You came, Çréla Prabhupäda, and forced open my eyes with Your torchlight of knowledge, burning away all my misgivings with the intensity of <i>bhakti-prema.</i></p>
<p class="p7">You have cleansed this environment with the sound of the holy name, and purified my activities by the regulations of devotional service, and liberated my soul with Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana.</i></p>
<p class="p7">And I am humbling myself at Your lotus feet because You have brought to this world of death one drop of nectar from our eternal home, one glimpse of our beloved lotus-eyed Gopénätha.</p>
<p class="p7">My pray is that I may eternally fall down at Your feet and thereby rise up to an understanding of the depth of Your mercy, that Your have left Your beloved Kåñëa simply to retrieve us from the gutter of material existence. And I relish Your activities here even more than the activities of my Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">Please, therefore, I beg that You may dwell with us one moment longer, to satisfy our heartfelt craving for some word of our Lord, and quell my rising fear that You may one day go back home and leave me here.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Nandarané Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Tosan Kåñëa Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Tosan Kåñëa Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my worthless obeisances at Your lotus feet. I cannot estimate You causeless mercy. You have come just to force us to become Kåñëa conscious. Your are completely pure; not a tinge of material dust covers Your effulgent self. Everything You do is perfect and wonderful. You are the sentient representative of the sentient Supreme. By Your hand, nescience is vanquished. You vigilant, fatherly care keeps us safe from fiery lust. If it were not for You, we would not lift a finger but for <i>mäyä’s</i> sake. Everyone should know that without You, Çréla Prabhupäda, he’s doomed. There is no choice. The <i>jagat guru’s</i> order is life’s only aim, one’s all and all. You, O Divine Loving Grace, possess all the Vaikuëöha qualifications. You dexterously wield all the transcendental weaponry. Your radiant <i>paramhaìsa</i> consciousness melts impersonalism and voidism at a piercing glance. You are our regal Lord, master of the senses.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, Çréla Jagat Guru Prabhupäda Mahäräja, the bona fide representative of Hari. I beg to offer my fallen prostrated obeisances to You from all sides eternally. You are Çré Çréla Jagat Guru.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most fallen servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Tosan Kåñëa Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Palékä Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Palékä Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of He who is continuously delivering the conditioned souls from the nightmare of material existence, and distributing the taste of transcendental life.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances unto the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, who is so kind that he is forcing me to go back home to that transcendental abode where true pleasure exists.</p>
<p class="p7">I pray to Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa that I may always be surrendered to receive Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy and continually under any condition distribute His mercy freely to humanity. I pray to Her Lordship Rädhäräëé, who is the controller of devotional service, that She will make me a puppet in the service of His Divine Grace. May I develop through His grace a spark of pure sincerity and eternally find all pleasure in the service of my beloved spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your servant</p>
<p class="p7">Palékä Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Vaikuëöhanätha Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Vaikuëöhanätha Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glory unto You, O Çréla Prabhupäda, <i>Jagat-guru</i>. You are picking up the miserable and illusioned souls of Kali yuga and placing them on the highest platform of existence—pure love of God. You are showing everyone the true life of eternal bliss and knowledge in the kingdom of God.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p12">O Çréla Prabhupäda! No one can appreciate You.<br>
Your love goes far, far beyond our view.<br>
You are in Våndävana, in the spiritual sky,<br>
Far, far above the view of our limited eye.<br>
Your every move is the ecstasy of Your love.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda has been sent from Kåñëa above.<br>
Your presence is the jéva soul’s dearmost jewel,<br>
Even for the most fallen, like me, who is but a fool.<br>
Your presence is so sweet, like transcendental touchstone.<br>
Your lotus feet are our heart’s deepest desire’s home.<br>
From our frustration and despair and belief in void,<br>
You have proven God, by Your radiant love, unalloyed.<br>
O the world should be joyous that You have come.<br>
Why do we not see you? Are we deaf and dumb?<br>
My words can never describe You, O <i>Paramahaàsa</i>, so grand,<br>
But You are so great, for with Lord Kåñëa You stand.</p>
<p class="p12">I hereby confess the horrendous acts that I have done.<br>
The greatest offenses I have committed before our holy lotus one.<br>
O Çréla Prabhupäda, present in Your words, You already know<br>
That I am so fallen, that I am so wretched and low.<br>
Just as Näräyaëa would not forgive Durväsä for what he had done.<br>
Forgiveness from Mahäräja Ambaréña could be the only one—<br>
Lord Kåñëa does not forgive offenses at You lotus feet like I have done.<br>
The only person in existence that can forgive me is You—<br>
the all-merciful one.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, my fear is not that I shall take birth in a hellish condition. That would not matter. My fear is that my link with You might be broken by my mad elephant offenses. O Çréla Prabhupäda, please never let me go from You. (Unless I am a hindrance to Your movement. Then make me leave immediately.)</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Vaikuëöhanätha Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Svarüpa Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Svarüpa Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p16">“Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (<i>Bhag</i>. 3.7.19)</p>
<p class="p7">Under your lotus feet there is shade enough for all fallen souls to take shelter because You are His pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">From You lotus lips flows an eternal river of nectar from which all may drink and know his glories because You are His pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes You are crying, lotus tears, in love; yes, You are His pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Always You are writing, singing, teaching, so that all who care to listen may remember Him; You are most dear unto Him!</p>
<p class="p7">You are the only spiritual master because only Your Divine Grace is teaching “Just worship Govinda; always remember Kåñëa.” You are the only way to Him—because You are His pure devotee!</p>
<p class="p7">Without Your Divine Grace, I am an orphan. Please accept my worthless service eternally.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Svarüpa Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Boston)</p>
<p class="p11">Babrubahon Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Babrubahon Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humblest obeisances unto Your lotus feet, even though I have no right to be in Your presence. </p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, if only I could do just one simple thing for You my life would be a success, but due to my present condition I am a disgrace to the whole <i>paramparä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, just to think how I let You down is a very sorrowful experience. Even at the time of initiation I have made You grieve because of my presence.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, the only thing that I could do is beg You so humbly and with such humility that You should take charge of my life, for I can do nothing by myself. If only You would make me into a tool for Your divine mission, this would be the perfection of my life. So please, my beloved Lord and Master Çréla Prabhupäda, with all humility I am begging You to take charge of my life, for I feel there is no other way.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept the unworthy obeisances of Your eternal servitor.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Babrubahon Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Amagha Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Amagha Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble respectful obeisances unto the golden lotus feet of He who has plucked me up from afar, taken me under wing, and given me some sight to see that I am blind. I sense that in Him there is such love, that one can know no greater. I mean my most beloved Guru Mahäräja, His Divine and Loving Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">And I offer Him this feeble poem, which I wrote just before I became His disciple: </p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupäda, Prabhupäda<br>
Living love with golden feet,<br>
I am waiting, tearful, yearning,<br>
For a chance your glance to meet.<br>
I have seen you in your children,<br>
Felt their chanting, dancing love,<br>
Watched their eyes in love transcending,<br>
Known you’ve come here from above.<br>
There is no one near me like you:<br>
You have made me fall and cry.<br>
There is no one living like you<br>
Here and in the spirit sky.<br>
As I write with pouring eyes,<br>
My heart it burns and twists and cries,<br>
“Where are you, father, Prabhupäda?”<br>
I have loved you, but have not.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Amagha Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Tokyo)</p>
<p class="p11">Çrilekhadevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çrilekhadevé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">So long we have slept. So long we have dreamed in nescience. So blind a search within that dream; searching for pieces of broken glass.</p>
<p class="p7">And, O Prabhupäda! O precious gem! So gentle a nudge You have given us; so kind a prayer to awaken to His love. You are delivering us from the dark eternal womb of <i>mäyä. </i>Our infant eyes are being forced open by Your all-attractive light. And O such and infinitely loving and merciful father we have found in You!</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most humble obeisances of the most unworthy among my Godbrothers and sisters.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çrilekhadevé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Toronto)</p>
<p class="p11">Jamunäcärya</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jamunäcärya</b></p>
<p class="p7">Thinking of the spiritual is just like drowning oneself in the ocean of mercy. If we always think of Çréla Prabhupäda, our loving father, then we can become blissful, for Çréla Prabhupäda is drowning in the ocean of nectar. But now that we have fallen into the ocean of misery, Çréla Prabhupäda has come to fish us out with the line if infinite mercy, Hare Kåñëa. If we bite the line by chanting, then no longer are we caught up in the knot of matter and back on home we go, back to Godhead, to drown with Prabhupäda in the nectarine ocean of devotion. No longer shall we be allured by the bait of <i>mäyä,</i> for once we fix our minds on the eyes of Çréla Prabhupäda, which are as cooling as the lotus petal, then never again can we see illusion. So I must take shelter at the feet of my spiritual master and try to learn how to serve properly. In this way, I will be able to reciprocate love instead of selfishly letting my father serve me.</p>
<p class="p7">Please forgive me Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jamunäcärya</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Columbus)</p>
<p class="p11">Guenn Dohrlandha Cole</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Guenn Dohrlandha Cole</b></p>
<p class="p7">It cannot be said that the pure of heart, asleep like children in their bed, will ever remain asleep once Kåñëa has touched their hearts. Their sleep, the sleep of ignorance, is washed away, and the finer worlds of spirit, invisible and unknown before, are revealed to them. Then, quietly and slowly, never with haste, begins the journey of love down a path of flowers, the colors of which are not to be found upon the mortal plane.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Guenn Dohrlandha Cole</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Paulin</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Paulin</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, by Your causeless mercy I wish to surrender at Your lotus feet and serve You, Your Divine Grace, with all my being for eternity.</p>
<p class="p7">You know my heart, Çréla Prabhupäda; please accept it with all its contamination so that even I can serve. Great spiritual master of the universes, to serve You is the goal of all entities.</p>
<p class="p7">Your lowly servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Paulin</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Francisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Gadädhara Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gadädhara Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace. I offer You my repeated worthless obeisances. Truly You are delivering the most fallen souls. None of Your devotees is as insincere, shallow, stupid, obstinate, and arrogant as me. I am offensive to You repeatedly, and yet still You take care of me. How can a braying ass offer respect to the spiritual master of the universe? You are more merciful than Kåñëa. Kåñëa gives us what we deserve, but You give us only Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">How foolish I am to have such a thought,<br>
But I pray you accept my worthless support.<br>
You establish real living in this kingdom of death.<br>
Spiritual life with your guidance is a life full of bliss.<br>
Your books and example can give us knowledge of this.<br>
And when you pick up the <i>karatälas</i> to sing God’s holy name,<br>
I know in my heart you’re causing cinders to flame.<br>
How foolish I am to have such a thought,<br>
But I pray you accept my worthless support.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternally fallen servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Gadädhara Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Richard</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Richard</b></p>
<p class="p7">Glories unto the divine lotus feet of my spiritual master, who has remained steadfast in service to His spiritual master and who has come to mercifully preach the wonders of Kåñëa and to deliver my fallen soul from the ocean of nescience.</p>
<p class="p7">The joyous path to liberation lies open to one in surrender. The door of demigod worship closes behind, for Kåñëa is ahead. My service never ending; one drop of nectar. Oh! My eternal master, bestow Thy mercy on one so undeserving, one without qualification.</p>
<p class="p7">Glories unto the divine lotus feet of my spiritual master, separation from who invites misery, curses the light, even so when Kåñëa leaves Dvärakä no pastime but sorrow. Again I come to my knees at Your feet. Oh! My eternal master. I surrender!</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Richard</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Jose)</p>
<p class="p11">Prahlädänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Prahlädänanda Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Through this dungeon I have desired and still too ignorant to leave. I’ve faintly heard you cry in the light asking me to come see. You who are in love with everyone and everything are at Kåñëa’s feet and He at Yours. The clouds come and go, but the moonshine of your smile dissolves them, and so now and then I can see more clearly. “Oh Kåñëa! Oh! Most auspicious universe!” My pride covers my humility, so to see what I cannot see I must surrender to Your lotus feet. Devotional service and the kingdom of God are one and the same. Your Divine Grace at Boston Airport. I see you in this picture here, one hand holding a bead bag in the air, waving to the devotees. <i>“Kiba jaya jaya goräcänder arotiki sobhä.</i>” How happy the must have been, bowing down at your lotus feet. “<i>Jähnavé-taöa vane jaga jana-manlobhä.</i>” When will I accept my Godbrothers and surrender at their feet. I turn to Lord Jagannätha and smile—You’re real. The pleasure that I feel tells me I’m going home. Lord Caitanya in ecstasy of love walks to Våndävana, and the animals dance with Him. “Sing ye. O animals, the name of Kåñëa.” “You may see Lord Jaganätha smile, but you would faint if you actually saw Him.” “Oh when will my mind be completely purified so that I may be able to see Våndävana as it is?” “The real thing is <i>bhakti,</i> your feeling. Kåñëa, kindly take. I have no qualification. I am rotten, fallen. (Çréla Prabhupäda is crying.) But I have brought this thing for You. Please take.” “You may all think that I am very advanced, but I pray to Kåñëa every day to protect me from <i>mäyä.</i>” To be personal must be amazing. If I could hear you, then I would know.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Prahlädänanda Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Buffalo)</p>
<p class="p11">Hanuman Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Hanuman Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the savior of the western world. By You Divine Loving Grace, New York, Tokyo, London, Paris, Sydney. etc., are benedicted by the wave of Love of God. From all sides Your children prostrate themselves, offering their life at Your divine lotus feet. Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare. Let’s sing and dance till we get fully unconscious in divine ecstatic bliss again and again, forever. This is the final goal of all sentient beings.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Hanuman Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Paris)</p>
<p class="p11">Gajendra Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Gajendra Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of my Guru Mahäräja, His Divine Grace Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. It is by His Divine mercy that He has descended to this place of misery and death to inundate this entire planet with ecstasy of pure unalloyed love for Kåñëa. He is the tidal wave of Lord Caitanya’s movement, and He is the most dear companion of Lord Çré Kåñëa. He has planted the seeds of loving devotion in our hearts where only thorns and weeds could grow, and he has turned our feet from the ways of darkness and illusion to the path of eternal auspiciousness. My appreciation of His Divine Grace is all a worthless drop. I can only pray to be His eternal servitor, and that alone will make me happy.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Gajendra Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Madhu Kanta</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Madhu Kanta</b></p>
<p class="p12">As the embryo is trapped within the womb,<br>
The spirit soul is encaged in a material tomb.<br>
Birth, death, disease and old age<br>
Make the four sides of this eternal cage.<br>
But to every cage there is a key,<br>
His Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda to set us free.</p>
<p class="p12">The smoldering fire is covered by smoke<br>
Like the conditioned soul that nature does invoke.<br>
His Kåñëa consciousness is little perceived,<br>
But by Kåñëa’s mercy His Divine Grace is received.<br>
Such an <i>äcärya</i> alone knows Mäyä’s maze,<br>
And by Çréla Prabhupäda’s words that spiritual spark will blaze.</p>
<p class="p12">That eternal enemy known as lust,<br>
Which covers the mirror of the mind like dust.<br>
Regulating the senses is the purifying process<br>
Of Çréla Prabhupäda, who guarantees success.<br>
His transcendental love knows no bounds<br>
And which is spread through His eternal sounds:<br>
<br>
Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Madhu Kanta</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Raëadhir Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Raëadhir Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p39">The kindness of Kåñëa<br>
To make it so plain:<br>
One <i>guru,<br>
</i>One holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">So bereft of vision am I that still, to me, my spiritual master appears approachable and lovable. So conceited am I that still I have the nerve to address one so exalted as the personal representative of Lord Çré Kåñëa. By what inconceivable mercy has such a contaminated soul come into contact with the spotlessly pure devotee? How can Kåñëa continue to allow me to offer such contaminated service, with such pride, to the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja, who is offering the rarest, finest and most wonderful gift to the entire world with such complete grace and incredible humility?</p>
<p class="p7">He is an infinite reservoir of purity who can accept the offenses of so many jackals without becoming contaminated Himself. His mercy is so wise and so deep that He can accept contact with anyone, enlisting whatever crude energy they have and engaging it in the service if the Lord, offering it with love and devotion to Kåñëa, for us. And He is so indefatigably kind and so unflinchingly strong that He is single-handedly dragging so many reluctant and leaded souls back to home.</p>
<p class="p7">So Kåñëa in His perfect wisdom has given us this one brilliant radiant personage, to who no one else can even hold a candle, and there can be no doubt in the sincere seeker’s heart and mind that He is the <i>jagatguru</i> and intimate servitor of Kåñëa. And Çréla Prabhupäda, in His perfect wisdom, has given us the one <i>mantra,</i> the wonderful Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra,</i> which alone can counteract the influence of the age of Kali, and which alone can deliver the fallen soul to the highest position in the spiritual sky, the supreme abode of Çré Kåñëa. The one teacher is unmistakable, and the message is so clear, direct and simple, and yet we are refusing to appreciate such a holy sage for His real value, and we are so reluctant to embrace the <i>yuga-dharma,</i> the chanting of Hare Kåñëa, the holy name which is our only salvation in this age. By Kåñëa’s mercy, there is only one path and one guide for us, and both are so glaringly obvious that if we fail to accept Çréla Prabhupäda as our spiritual master and devote our entire being in His service, chanting constantly the holy name under His sublime instruction, we are guilty of total blindness to, willful ignorance of, and utter disregard for, the most majestic and beautiful sight in the entire universe, His Divine Loving Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Raëadhir Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Dharmaräja Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Dharmaräja Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Divine Master Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">On this glorious day let me continually offer my fallen obeisances unto Your lotus feet. You are Kåñëa’s Divine Grace showering unlimited mercy on all the fallen souls. Like a beautiful swan You have come amongst the miserable crows to deliver Lord Caitanya’s <i>saìkértana</i> movement. Kåñëa has directed me to Your lotus feet, the only shelter for the fallen conditioned souls like myself. Your love for Kåñëa has attracted my polluted heart. Unworthy rascal that I am, I do not deserve Your blessings and association, But I pray that Kåñëa will give me strength to serve at Your lotus feet eternally. <i>Vande guroù ñré caranäravindam.</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your most wretched servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Dharmaräja Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Toronto)</p>
<p class="p11">Colleen McDonald</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Colleen McDonald</b></p>
<p class="p12">The sun sinks down to the horizon,<br>
And darkness wings close o’er the land.<br>
But the morning will come in but a few hours<br>
And the dew drops will gleam from all the flowers.</p>
<p class="p12">So the dark night of <i>mäyä</i> has covered our souls,<br>
Bringing all of us dangerously near to the shoals<br>
Of death and pain and eternal night.<br>
But a new morning gleams—Çréla Prabhupäda brings the light!</p>
<p class="p12">He strengthens our hearts with but one small, sweet smile,<br>
And the daytime grows nearer, as we cover one more mile<br>
Of that long dangerous road to Kåñëa’s own home.<br>
But with Prabhupäda to lead us, we fear nothing that roams.</p>
<p class="p12">That black stoney wastes of <i>mäyä’s</i> hell-night<br>
Are naught compared to Çréla Prabhupäda’s might.<br>
Hail Bhaktivedanta, all glories to Thee,<br>
For Thou has shown us the light,<br>
That we may be free!</p>
<p class="p7">Colleen McDonald</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Vancouver)</p>
<p class="p11">Paramätma Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Paramätma Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda, You’ve come to save the most fallen souls<br>
From dark illusion, the greatest foe.<br>
Please help me serve You more<br>
Whom I have no attraction for.<br>
Without Your mercy there is no hope—<br>
Simply dreaming like a dope.<br>
When will I not be affected by <i>mäyä’s</i> hold,<br>
When our hearts are pure like gold,<br>
Then I’ll be able to serve with all my heart<br>
And will be able to play my part.<br>
All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Paramätma Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Franisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Shahid</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Shahid</b></p>
<p class="p46"><b>Prabhupäda-gétä</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">What is to be said by me? Possessor of imperfect senses am I, where no words can transcend the glorious games He conjures from I know not what! He strives to light the gray ashes of spiritual insight, which long forgotten lie in the ruins of impersonalism, atheism and void of Brahman, all <i>mäyä’s</i> last stronghold on man, cutting him away from eternal bliss.</p>
<p class="p7">All this He illuminates as naturally as the sun follows the rays above the horizon on the scarlet dawn.</p>
<p class="p7">What is to be said by me? Possessor of imperfect senses am I, where no words can transcend the glorious games He conjures from I know not what! Shepherd He is, gathering the lost souls, leading the flock through the intricate maze <i>mäyä </i>has spun. Just surrender to His holy lotus feet, play your part right in the game I pray, and behold, it is no longer a game because the prize for the winner is an introduction to the Supreme Personality, the entity Kåñëa, who for always stays.</p>
<p class="p7">Possessor of imperfect senses am I, where no words have the power to transcend the fathomless ocean of my eternal master Çréla Prabhupäda, His Divine Grace. My most humble obeisances at His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">His willing slave,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Shahid</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Mandakiné</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mandakiné</b></p>
<p class="p7">What’s happening in Våndävana?</p>
<p class="p7">The blades of grass are jumping joyfully, the <i>surabhé</i> cows are so much in love that Våndävan earth is covered with milk, the cowherd boys and girls stop to play in the field and begin to dance. The most merciful upon the fallen souls, Patita Pavana, the golden Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, raises His hands and roars <i>Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!</i> Near His side, Prabhu Nityänanda, eternally full of bliss and happiness, plays the <i>mådaìga.</i> Advaita, Gadädhara and Çréväsa are here as well. And all their Divine Graces Çréla Bhaktivinoda and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté are playing <i>karatälas. </i>Närada Muni flies so fast that people just see his tamboura, his clappers and his beautiful garland. Çrémati Rädhäräëé, who keeps Kåñëa under Her control, plays Her transcendental flute. Kåñëa with blooming eyes is listening.</p>
<p class="p7">What is happening?</p>
<p class="p7">Somewhere in the three worlds, on a middle planet called Earth, the most dear confidential servant of the Lord is accomplishing the promise of the Holy <i>Bhägavatam:</i> “In every town and village, the name of Hari will be sung.” Çréla Prabhupäda is singing the holy name. Guru Mahäräja is singing the great <i>mantra</i> for deliverance.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Mandakiné</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON London)</p>
<p class="p11">Sandy </p>
<p class="p22"><b>Sandy </b></p>
<p class="p7">To Çréla Prabhupäda, my spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p7">Why have you brought me into Your presence? I am more undeserving than a lump of clay, yet I don’t even know the meaning of humility. I know nothing except that the <i>only</i> time I am happy is when I am serving You. Please help me to serve You as I would serve Kåñëa and to serve others as I would serve You, always. Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Sandy (Seamstress)</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Devakinandana Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Devakinandana Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çré Guru and Çré Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Devakinandana Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Çrédämä Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çrédämä Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To My Beloved Spiritual Father, Çréla Prabhupäda.</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p12">By remembering Your presence<br>
I have received such endless pleasure.<br>
The lotus feet of Your Divine Grace<br>
Are but a never ending treasure.<br>
Your mercy, such expanding love<br>
But a never ending rain.<br>
O dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You’re soothing all our pain.<br>
This world a dried up desert<br>
Without a drop to drink.<br>
The mercy You have bestowed on us<br>
Is our transcendental link.<br>
The science You have presented,<br>
So blissful, so complete,<br>
Of which we have the option<br>
To take or scorch in heat.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my prostrated obeisances upon your transcendental lotus feet, which are displaying eternal love of Kåñëa by your infinite mercy to this suffering material world.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çrédämä Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISCKON Provincetown)</p>
<p class="p11">Janmanjaya and Tara Däsi</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Janmanjaya and Tara Däsi</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">O the most blessed event! Oh, how great is Kåñëa’s mercy on our fallen conditioned souls that He has sent us one who is the most pure, most surrendered, most merciful! How can we deserve such causeless mercy and love bestowed upon us by Your Guru Mahäräja?</p>
<p class="p7">We, the most wretched souls in this material universe, do fall in the dust of Your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, our true father, and offer You our obeisances. You, the most merciful, have given us new life. In our darkest mire of ignorance, so full of anxiety and despair, Your Divine Grace has become the sun personified and planted a seed of devotional service within our hearts. O Çréla Prabhupäda please help us to love you and Kåñëa more. Help us become truly enlivened in this devotional service for which we are always anxious, that we may spread the message of Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu all over the world. Most merciful Çréla Prabhupäda, help us come with genuine devotion and surrender at you lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Janmanjaya and Tara Däsi</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Atlanta)</p>
<p class="p11">Stokakåñëa Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Stokakåñëa Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">Lost and bewildered,<br>
Unhappy, forlorn,<br>
Hearts heavy with grief,<br>
Anger, scorn,<br>
But He came to us<br>
to show the cure.<br>
Chant Hare Kåñëa,<br>
Be happy, be pure.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to Prabhupäda,<br>
His mercy un-asked.<br>
We, in delusion,<br>
Find real life at last.<br>
Life without Kåñëa,<br>
Degenerate, fallen,<br>
Because of Prabhupäda,<br>
Benediction for all.</p>
<p class="p12">How can we, the fortunate,<br>
Show our love for Him<br>
Who gave such a gift<br>
To us full if sin?<br>
Service, surrender,<br>
This we must do.<br>
Ever increasing, that is the cure.</p>
<p class="p12">Approach Kåñëa through service;<br>
It’s the only way.<br>
Without Prabhupäda’s guidance,<br>
Our path be not swayed.<br>
Our lives we give willingly;<br>
For more service we pray.<br>
All glories to Prabhupäda,<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Stokakåñëa Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p11">Kenneth Prabhu</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kenneth Prabhu</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Prabhupäda! Prabhupäda You are so beautiful. Your lotus body shines like the sun in the sky. O His Divine Loving Grace, Your <i>dhoti</i> shines of a radiant light that is so beautiful. Your lotus eyes, lips, face, just gleam like the sun on a clear day.</p>
<p class="p7">O Prabhupäda! Your lotus body shines like a gem, it gleams like the stars, and it shines like the sun. You are so beautiful—O Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kenneth Prabhu</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">William R. Reed</p>
<p class="p22"><b>William R. Reed</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">You have come with the sunshine of Your transcendental smile and the nectarean music of Your voice to awaken us from the sleep to which we, in our arrogant and lustful state, have been so long attached.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept now, from Your most unworthy servant, my humble obeisances at You most holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">William R. Reed</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Nityänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Nityänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. Will I ever be able to appreciate Your great mercy on me? I am so polluted and envious; my only hope is to catch the rain of Your causeless mercy and to offer myself to the spiritual master; perhaps He would be so kind as to engage me in His service.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace, who is so mercifully relaying the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya to the most fallen of this decadent age—picking up my worthless self from the bog of material life. All glories to His Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your servant</p>
<p class="p7">Nityänanda Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Buffalo)</p>
<p class="p11">Peter</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Peter</b></p>
<p class="p12">1.</p>
<p class="p12">Impelled by love of Him You came,<br>
Rejecting all that once was wish.<br>
To please Your lover is Your wish.</p>
<p class="p12">2.</p>
<p class="p12">By copying Your actions we our act frame.<br>
To act for love of Him is bliss.<br>
To act for love of Him is bliss.</p>
<p class="p12">3.</p>
<p class="p12">We won’t, by merchanting, our souls defame<br>
Be your example then we start<br>
to please Kåñëa, then we start.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Peter</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New Våndävana)</p>
<p class="p11">Bhasbara Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bhasbara Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">With lips like lotus petals and eyes closed, and I thinking of His Grace in that He is dreaming in trance. The divine teacher is speaking nice things in His garden about Kåñëa and His cowherd friends. The most pure among men and the truest of friends, I can only try to offer all my love and service life after life.</p>
<p class="p7">O my dearest Father, my only wish in this fallen life of mine is that tears, may come to my eyes when I hear Your praise of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Bhasbara Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Rohiëé Kumära Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Rohiëé Kumära Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>aho vayaà janma-bhåto ’dya häsma<br>
våddhänuvåttyäpi viloma-jätäù<br>
dauñkulyam ädhià vidhunoti çéghraà<br>
mahattamänäm abhidhäna-yogaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“O God, although we are born in a mixed caste, still we are distinctly promoted in birthright simply by serving and following the great who are advanced in knowledge. Even by connection with great souls in conversation, one cleanse oneself of all disqualification of lower birth without delay." (<i>Bhäg </i>1.18.18)</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are so kind that by your inconceivable mercy you are raising us who are less then <i>mlecchas</i> to the all-auspicious position of serving you. Now I am considering my present life to be <i>janmabhåtaù</i> simply my <i>guru-seva.</i> O <i>jagad-guru, </i>you are the only disciple of Sarasvaté Öhäkur who is actually following Çré Caitanya’s precepts. This is why I have come to the cooling shade of your lotus feet. There are so many spiritual masters, but they are not <i>ädhià vidhunoti çéghraà,</i> or quickly relieving Kali Yuga men from the sufferings of this world. But by your grace I have found the most relishable pleasures at your feet. Therefore I beg that you always hold me tight as your disciple, lest <i>mäyä</i> grab me with her many arms from thy holy feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Rohiëé Kumära Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON New York)</p>
<p class="p11">Vaiñëava Çruti </p>
<p class="p22"><b>Vaiñëava Çruti </b></p>
<p class="p47"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà<br>
paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande<br>
çré-guruà déna-täraëam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“I am offering my respectful obeisances to the spiritual master by whose mercy a dumb man can become the great speaker and a lame man can cross mountains. He thus delivers all fallen souls.”</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Vaiñëava Çruti </p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Atlanta)</p>
<p class="p11">Rabindra Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Rabindra Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">1. The many highways and byways were all seen by one who was lonely.<br>
2. Bereft of guidance and vision he wandered in the darkness tight about,<br>
3. His mind and body bleeding the horrors of this age of Kali<br>
4. With fatigue’s demand he fell, laying down with a painful shout.<br>
5. Only darkness, behind his eyelids as the blackness upon his heart<br>
6. Then there came to pass a radiant soul, and said “From this hell you should depart!”<br>
7. Behold in vision this saintly man; not a mortal is he,<br>
8. Witness please, and marvel as he leads the <i>kértana</i> of Hari.<br>
9. My dear man, have you not heard of Våndävana and of Çré Gaur-hari?<br>
10. Prabhupäda, Caitanya! All auspicious sounds do vibrate this earth and sky.<br>
11. No one is greater exalter than he,<br>
12. for he knows the mellows of the Six Gosvämés.<br>
13. His Divine Grace is full of bliss<br>
14. as Çré Rädhikä relishing Kåñëa’s kiss.<br>
15. Now just hear the loving cheer<br>
16. of those who hold him most dear!<br>
17. Mother earth weeps a sigh of relief<br>
18. for those who are now in firm belief.<br>
19. All glories to he; Çréla Prabhupädajé<br>
20. Who has come to save those as you and me<br>
21. A most magnanimous soul is he<br>
22. This pure devotee of Lord Hari <br>
23. So now leave this dreadful age of Kali<br>
24. and touch the feet of our beloved Swäméjé.<br>
25. This is my plea and you will see<br>
26. That is his glory, everyone should be.<br>
27. Yes, this is bliss and of miseries be free<br>
28. Take shelter of him only please<br>
29. For this glorious vision should not cease.<br>
30. And yea for soon did they leave<br>
31. For His Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupädajé</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Rabindra Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Vancouver)</p>
<p class="p11">Manmohini Däsi</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Manmohini Däsi</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To My Beloved Father, Çréla Prabhupäda.</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p12">Like a fish out of water I tried every stroke,<br>
Searching eyes and dry pages without any luck,<br>
Questioning why isn’t everyone happy? Why are they so bored?<br>
Never understanding that all had forgotten the Lord.<br>
By Your mercy, my father, You’ve given me such pleasure.<br>
The understanding that Govinda is the reservoir of pleasure.<br>
As long as I remember His blue lotus feet,<br>
I swim in an ocean of nectar so sweet.</p>
<p class="p7">I‘ve had glimpses and revelations of my love for you, but they never, never last long enough. I offer my respectful obeisances unto your holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Manmohini Däsi</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Provincetown)</p>
<p class="p11">Romaharñana Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Romaharñana Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">The <i>jéva</i> soul is more illuminating that a million suns but limited to this one body’s consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">The Supersoul is beyond our conscious level and beyond limitations, conscious of all, yet does nit manifest for <i>jéva</i> soul until he is pure.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Mahätmä Prabhupäda has manifested for all <i>asuras, çüdras,</i> goddesses, etc. He comes to us as an ocean of bliss and endless mercy. He knows no lamentation. Only give all you have to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Romaharñana Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Suchitra Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Suchitra Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to my spiritual master, my dear Çréla Prabhupäda, what can I say? You have given me everything; the benediction of loving You. I have nothing to give in return but the fruit of the seed You have placed in my heart, that is pure love of Kåñëa. Please let me serve You eternally. All glories to Your love for Kåñëa. Please accept my most humble obeisances and please forgive me for all the offenses I have committed to Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your most fallen and worthless servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Suchitra Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Seattle)</p>
<p class="p11">Saranga Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Saranga Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">From the darkness and ignorance of conditioned life<br>
You have brought us beyond our strife<br>
To enjoy without Kåñëa—we’d never know<br>
Without Your mercy, down deeper we’d go</p>
<p class="p12">You have shown us how to serve<br>
From loving devotions we can not swerve<br>
By Your Grace we can see the light<br>
Without You we are in darkest night</p>
<p class="p12">Only You can give us hope<br>
With material nature we cannot cope<br>
Eternal life of knowledge and bliss<br>
Serving God, You bring us this</p>
<p class="p12">Kåñëa’s love come only through You<br>
God’s closest servant showering life anew<br>
On the most fallen like rain from the cloud<br>
All of Your glories let us shout aloud!<br>
Jayate, jäyate Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Saranga Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Berkley)</p>
<p class="p11">Mahänanda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Mahänanda Däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. I am always remembering something that You once wrote in a letter to Çama Däsi.</p>
<p class="p7">“When I initiated you, I accepted you on that very moment as my daughter. So you are eternally my daughter and I am your father. There is no doubt about it. And our relationship is based on Krishna Consciousness, so the more successful you preach and help Krishna Consciousness movement, the more our relationship in transcendental platform is firm and fixed up. Our business is to chant and glorify the Holy Name of Krishna and wherever we may remain, Krishna is with us, Krishna is within your heart, Krishna is within my heart. So, spiritually there is no question of separation, even physically we may be in far distant place.”</p>
<p class="p7">These words are very, very dear to me, and in them I find the key as to how I can express loving feelings on Your appearance day. Therefore, I humbly pray to Kåñëa that He be kind to me and please give me the opportunity today to render some service to You in some way. Also, I pray that I please be fixed up in this position eternally.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Mahänanda Däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Vidärbha Kanya Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Vidärbha Kanya Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most humble obeisances. All the prabhus gather together unto Your Divine lotus feet and there prostrate themselves chanting <i>“nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine. Namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe.” </i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span> And they bring Your Divine Grace garlands of beautiful flowers to place over You head and around Your neck. So, too, do I pay my respects, begging humbleness, and by Your divine and unfathomable mercy I pray also to string a garland of my life and energy—and I want to give it to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, I want to give it to You. I want to give it to You.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, it is by taking Your mercy-offering alone that I can become a garland in Your service. Your mercy showers and endless sweet rain, but I am fool enough to hide under the leaves of <i>mäyä.</i> I beg to come; I beg to open and receive Your mercy. Then, just as the flowers give themselves in full service, so, too, can I give myself at You lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace is my spiritual master. I wish no one else so much in my mind or in my heart.</p>
<p class="p7">Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Vidärbha Kanya Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Baltimore)</p>
<p class="p11">Jayadeva Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jayadeva Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear beloved Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">You deserve all respect. Had You not come to teach love of Kåñëa, my time, and many others, would surely be spent culturing nescience.</p>
<p class="p7">Now, from following Your instructions, I have had a small taste of the spiritual sky, a small taste of rendering loving service to Kåñëa, and I have become aware for a few moments of the causeless magnanimous, and constant loving reciprocation from Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">These few moments, these small tastes of love of Kåñëa, have certainly been the most happy times I can remember, and I beg that You continue to teach love of Kåñëa more forcibly than ever. You alone can save the conditioned souls from turning into cats and dogs with human bodies. You alone are the only hope for the living entities in general on this planet, to return back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">You command love from all entities, and although I forget this so much, I beg You to continue to forcibly bring this great science of Kåñëa to us. Please force us to open our eyes to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Hope this meets You in good health.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy disciple,</p>
<p class="p7">Jayadeva Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Jose)</p>
<p class="p11">Makanlal Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Makanlal Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">Graced with tales of glory <br>
For all to share</p>
<p class="p12">O benediction moon, kindly open my<br>
Cold heart with Your love,<br>
That this fallen soul may sing of Your glorious mission,<br>
For there is no hope at any turn but Your mercy,<br>
Even though we squander You away</p>
<p class="p12">Force us faster in our stumbling progress<br>
Please force us faster<br>
To surrender to Your mission.<br>
Perhaps soon by Kåñëa’s grace<br>
You will enter deeper in my heart,<br>
Driving out the cold impersonal void<br>
That cares so little for Your kindness.</p>
<p class="p12">O my father, I beg You<br>
Burn from my heart the black soul seeds of lust.<br>
Burn up this darkness with Your blazing mercy<br>
And force me to awaken.<br>
You are my only hope, my life, though<br>
I would squander You away<br>
And in foolishness turn You from my heart</p>
<p class="p12">Please forgive me, please forgive me, just<br>
Make me strong in Your service,<br>
Not a rascal fool,<br>
Just kindly make us pure at Your feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Please make me Your instrument.<br>
Force this wretched soul to be transparent,<br>
Worked within Your gentle hands<br>
To carry out Your mercy mission<br>
In the spirit of Öhäkur Bhaktivinode.</p>
<p class="p12">Without Your guidance there is no chance<br>
For this godless hellish globe.<br>
All rests on You, master of masters,<br>
For we are weak and only fall.</p>
<p class="p12">Just fix me in Your footsteps,<br>
Free from doubt and fear,<br>
Only to fulfill Your desires,<br>
Taking all fallen souls home<br>
To Your golden merciful feet</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Makanlal Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Bhadra Bardan Däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bhadra Bardan Däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my worthless obeisances at Your lotus feet. It is You who have taught me to pay obeisances, and thus rooted me from the intellectual stool which I, a future pig, was so happy to enjoy. You have gone like Lord Brähma amongst the American hogs, caught us on Your clean white tusks, and taken us from the dirty place we had fallen to.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus feet, which the <i>karmés</i> think are located in the material universe, but which are actually in Vaikuëöha. Your lotus feet stand always one fraction above the filth, and therefore let me rest my aching head at their stem!</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus hands, which are stretched out free for all to clasp on to, but which few are willing to take shelter of. Your hands are as soft as the breast of a swan, yet You are unwilling to relinquish even the smallest devotee (me!).</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus mouth, from which such a stream of nectar flows that I cannot estimate its oceanic extent. Each morning You are presenting one drop of this ocean, in order to instill in my crowish breast a taste for nectar. Therefore You are the <i>Paramahaàsa</i> of the Western world.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus eyes, whose separation I fear more than bodily death. You see everything through the Vedic spectacle, and thus You are able to sift milk form my soul and leave aside all the filthy water.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your lotus head, which contains all the <i>Vedas</i> in that small space. Your head appears to be medium size, but like Kåñëa it is not contained even within all the materialistic manifestation.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, because by Your touch even my wretched soul is coming alive at last. Because You are uncontaminated, prophylactic, simply by Your contact the mist fallen becomes the most exalted. Therefore You are praised in all the scriptures as even more merciful than the Supreme Person.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Bhadra Bardan Däsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Greg</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Greg</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda says come let’s go home,<br>
Come grab hold I will take you back,<br>
Right back to Godhead;<br>
Just try to understand that.</p>
<p class="p12">To give our hearts to something,<br>
This is what we all must do,<br>
So just give it back to Kåñëa,<br>
And your troubles will be through.</p>
<p class="p12">Çré Guru is unlimited in His mercy;<br>
He will shed it to me and you,<br>
So if by His grace I can surrender,<br>
I will learn to serve in love and devotion too.</p>
<p class="p12">With flowers around Your neck<br>
And the word Kåñëa on Your lips,<br>
You say just chant this <i>mantra,<br>
</i>And you will find truth and bliss.</p>
<p class="p12">Just chant Hare Kåñëa,<br>
Please just chant this holy name.<br>
Just try and render service,<br>
And you will go back from where you came</p>
<p class="p12">This is such a nice message<br>
You have bought to me, one who is so low,<br>
To spread this <i>saìkértana</i> movement<br>
So we can all become self-realized souls</p>
<p class="p12">My heart is very dirty<br>
From years of so much lust.<br>
I know now, simply chanting<br>
I can wash away the dust.</p>
<p class="p12">To pay my humble obeisances,<br>
This is what I desire always to do,<br>
To sing and dance and chant<br>
For Kåñëa, with all due respect to You.</p>
<p class="p12">A pure devotee has presented Himself<br>
With such beautiful luster,<br>
So let me bow down in obeisances<br>
And give back all the energy I can muster.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Greg</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON San Fransisco)</p>
<p class="p11">Kausalya Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Kausalya Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">My beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, </p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is causeless like the Supreme Lord…abundant and overflowing, open to anyone who will taste the nectar of this pure life You have given us.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, my Divine Master. You have out upon our lips the holy name of the Lord Kåñëa…and the benediction of the holy name is coming to us in waves by Your mercy…</p>
<p class="p7">By the purity of Your self we are becoming purified from the most abominable conditions of life…we have come to the shelter of Your lotus feet…our hearts deluded by the glaring material energy…filled with impersonal conceptions void and lifeless…and by hearing the chanting of the name from Your holy lips, we can know what is life…our hearts are becoming clear and pure…In the serenity of this purifying process…we are desiring to hear and chant the transcendental glories of the Lord, and His holy name is peace to out hearts…serving, meditating, offering, everything, glorifying…</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You have given us all of this…and by Your mercy our hearts are becoming cooled from this blazing fire of material existence…All glories, all glories to my Guru Mahäräja…because of Your love for Väsudev…and in turn You are very dear to Him…we can have a taste of the nectar of loving devotion…let me eternally serve…I pray at Your feet…</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Kausalya Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Alice Rollins</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Alice Rollins</b></p>
<p class="p7">To His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories! This fool, plucked from <i>Mäyä,</i> prostrates herself at Your holy lotus feet. Such bliss in the transcendental knowledge that You bestow upon us, your eternal servitors. All glories to Your pure devotion. Hari Bol!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Alice Rollins</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Honolulu)</p>
<p class="p11">Jahnava Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Jahnava Devé Däsé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">O pure devotee of the Lord, all glories unto the full nectar of Your sweetly transcendental lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your unalloyed and faithful devotional service unto the lotus feet of Your spiritual master, His Divine and Loving Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Loving Grace. You are a magnificent instrument of Lord Caitanya’s gift of worldwide <i>saìkértana</i> to the fallen conditioned souls on this material planet. Your pure lotus lips are the potent vehicle of <i>Harer</i> <i>Näma</i>. All glories to Your Divine Grace. Haribol! Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, whose transcendental resting place is the all-attractive lotus feet of Their Divine and Loving Lordship Çré Çré Rädhikä and Kåñëa. <i>Jayate, jäyate, Prabhupäda!</i></p>
<p class="p7">I am begging to offer a most unworthy prayer unto Your holy lotus feet. That since I am part and parcel of the Lord, and since I cannot simply die in shame for my sinful negligence to simply follow you most humble example of this <i>paraàparä</i> program with loving devotion, that still, by Kåñëa’s grace, I be given more opportunity to rectify my forgetfulness due to ambition and the cheating propensity, so that I may not completely waste this life that Kåñëa has so kindly provided for the purpose of <i>saìkértana</i> cleansing through service.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer repeatedly my most respectful obeisances prostrated eternally at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy servant,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Jahnava Devé Däsé</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Providence)</p>
<p class="p11">Tony Prabhu</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Tony Prabhu</b></p>
<p class="p7">Literary offering to Çré Guru. Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my worthless humble obeisances unto Çréla Prabhupäda who has brought the most precious gift of existence, love, worship and devotional service to Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to my Guru Spiritual Master who has awakened my heart from degrading impious lusting to blissful pious trusting of my only protector Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the pure devotee of the Lord whose mercy is as boundless as the ocean of pure bliss. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Tony Prabhu</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavan däsa</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Bhagavan däsa</b></p>
<p class="p12">So pure and simple is your message<br>
Given for the relief of all humanity.<br>
You are the ever well-wisher of all mankind,<br>
And Your mercy has touched upon me.<br>
All You desire is the pleasure of Kåñëa<br>
By seeing His children return to His service.<br>
So You are His most confidential friend,<br>
Please therefore engage me at Your lotus feet.<br>
Any position I reached is by Your mercy.<br>
Any knowledge I have is by Your grace.<br>
There is nothing I have achieved that has not been by Your kindness.<br>
Now all that I desire is unalloyed devotion at Your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
Under Your direction, Vaikuëöha can exist here<br>
A divine population free from fear.<br>
Small children freed from contamination<br>
Run in the fields of New Våndävana playing with the cows<br>
with exclamations of “Haribol!” “<i>Jaya</i> Prabhupäda!”<br>
Wherever You are I know that<br>
Through the link of service Your love is manifest.<br>
Nothing material do You desire,<br>
Just my soul for Kåñëa.<br>
Now You are traveling to teach us all<br>
That we must perform selfless service in any condition of life.<br>
“One who has life—he can preach.”<br>
So I pray that I can follow in Your lotus footsteps.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servant</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Bhagavandäsa</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Chris Balley</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Chris Balley</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to His Divine Loving Grace Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p7">I, Your most fallen servant, offer my most humble obeisances at Your lotus petal feet! O Prabhupäda, that Your causeless mercy can be so bountiful and so wonderful as to extend even to myself, the most fallen wretch, is far beyond my understanding. All I can attempt, all I desire, is to serve at Your lotus feet. Please accept my worthless obeisances, O my Guru Mahäräja.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servitor,</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Chris Balley</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Detroit)</p>
<p class="p11">Çréranga Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Çréranga Däsa Brahmacäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Loving father of so many fallen souls, I offer my most humble obeisances unto your divine lotus feet. It is by you hand that each of us has been delivered from the womb of darkness. Now we take a good deep breath. We laugh. We dance. We press our faces into the heavenly dust that you stand upon. You have asked us to go home with you. Well we are all following joyfully shouting, singing Haribol! Hare Kåñëa! All glories to Prabhupäda, the most merciful, the most glorious!</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çréranga Däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Vancouver)</p>
<p class="p11">Tunga Bhadra</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Tunga Bhadra</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">You are life shining. Shining Your love of Çré Kåñëa for everyone to follow Your lotus feet through this dark existence back to our Supreme and loving Lord. I pray to understand, to realize my position, so I can perform Your orders, Your wishes. To please You will be my satisfaction, my joy, my life. All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Tunga Bhadra</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p11">Pam Reynolds</p>
<p class="p22"><b>Pam Reynolds</b></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. I only hope to be more sincere when I say this in the future. Thank You, Çréla Prabhupäda, for taking me away from the hellish life I was in and for giving me the chance to chant Hare Kåñëa. I’m so thankful Çréla Prabhupäda for this chance. I don’t deserve this mercy. I only want to serve You Çréla Prabhupäda in any way I can. I surrender everything to You; I have tried to be the big controller long enough. All I have accomplished in my endeavors to control is nearly to destroy my life completely. I’m so fallen I don’t feel worthy to write these things. I desire nothing else Çréla Prabhupäda but to serve You. I feel much separation from You Çréla Prabhupäda; I only hope to become more sincere and grateful. Please always let me serve Çréla Prabhupäda, and please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda. Please accept me as You most humble fallen servant.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servant</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Pam Reynolds</p>
<p class="p7">(ISKCON Los Angeles)</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1971</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 15, 1971</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p18"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>Håñékeça 9, 485 Caitanya Era<br>
(August 15, 1971)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter of His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.</p>
<p class="p9">Books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p48"><b>Books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p28"><i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is<br>
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Canto I in 3 vol.)<br>
Teachings of Lord Caitanya<br>
Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (2 vol.)<br>
Çré Éçopanisad<br>
Easy Journey to Other Planets<br>
Kåñëa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System<br>
The Nectar of Devotion<br>
The First Step in God Realization<br>
The Lord in the Heart<br>
Pure Devotional Service—The Change in Heart<br>
The Process of Creation<br>
The Cause of All Causes<br>
Puruña-sükta Confirmed<br>
Descriptions of the Incarnations of Godhead<br>
Back to Godhead Magazine (Founder)</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p28">The literature of His Divine Grace is available through any ISKCON center or directly from ISKCON Press.</p>
<p class="p9">Worldwide Centers</p>
<p class="p7">Worldwide Centers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p28"><b>Amherst</b><i> Massachusetts </i>P.O. Box 821 01002</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Amsterdam</b><i> Holland</i> Bethanien Straat 39, Centoun</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Atlanta</b><i> Georgia</i> 24 13th St. 30309 / 404-876-9522</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Baltimore</b><i> Maryland</i> 1300 N. Calvert St. 21202 / 301-539-4497</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Berkeley</b><i> California</i> 2710 Durant Ave. 94704</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Berlin</b><i> Germany</i> Schluterstrasse 39/V, 10000 Berlin 12</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Bombay</b><i> India</i> Akash Ganga Bldg., 89 Warden Rd. / 360616</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Boston</b><i> Massachusetts</i> 40 N. Beacon St. 02134 / 617-254-7910</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Boulder</b><i> Colorado</i> 623 Concord St. 80302</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Buffalo</b><i> New York</i> 130-132 Bidwell Pkwy. 14222 / 716-882-0281</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Calcutta</b><i> India</i> 3 Albert Road, Calcutta-17</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Columbus</b><i> Ohio</i> 318 E. 20th Ave. 43201 / 614-299-4946</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Dallas</b><i> Texas</i> 3913 Turtle Creek Blvd. 75219 / 214-521-8838</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Delhi</b><i> India</i> 3514 Netashi Subash Marg</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Detroit</b><i> Michigan</i> 8311 E. Jefferson St. 48214 / 313-824-60000</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Gainesville</b><i> Florida</i> 216 S.W. 2nd Street 32601 / 904-378-0992</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Hamburg</b> W. <i>Germany</i> 2000 Hamburg 6, Bartelstrasse 65</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Hong Kong</b><i> China' c/o </i>Monet Limited, 5 Hankow 1E G/F, J Hotong House, Kowloon</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Honolulu</b><i> Hawaii</i> 2016 McKinley St. 96822 808-941-0380</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Houston</b><i> Texas</i> 406 Gray Street 77002 / 713-522-0635</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Kuala Lampur</b><i> Malaysia</i> 6th Mile, Cheras Road</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Laguna Beach</b><i> California</i> 130 Woodland Dr. 92651 / 714-494-8772</p>
<p class="p28"><b>London</b><i> England</i> 7 Bury Place, Bloomsbury WC1 / 01-242-0394</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Los Angeles</b><i> California</i> 3764 Watseka Ave. 90034 / 213-836-9286</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Miami</b><i> Florida</i> 3613 Bayview Rd., Coconut Grove 33133 / 305-448-6492</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Montreal</b><i> Canada</i> 3720 Park Ave., Quebec / 514-849-4318</p>
<p class="p28"><b>New Orleans</b><i> Louisiana</i> 7827 Spruce St. 70118 / 504-866-4814</p>
<p class="p28"><b>New Våndävana</b> W. <i>Virginia</i> RD 3, Moundsville 26041 / 304-845-7400</p>
<p class="p28"><b>New York City</b><i> New York</i> 439 Henry Street 11231 / 212-596-9658</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Ocean City</b><i> Maryland</i> 209 Talbot Street 21842</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Paris</b><i> France</i> c/o Fein, 8 Rue Lacage, 14e / 301-289-5446</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Philadelphia</b><i> Pennsylvania</i> 641 E. Chelten Ave. 19144 / 215-Vi9-1767</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Pittsburgh</b><i> Pennsylvania</i> 1655 Shady Ave. 15217 / 412-421-6656</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Portland</b><i> Oregon</i> 2325 E. Burnside St. 97214 / 503-235-9709</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Salt Lake City</b><i> Utah</i> 774 E. 8th St., So. Salt Lake City 84102 / 801-263-6666</p>
<p class="p25"><b>San Diego</b><i> California</i> 3689 Park Blvd. 92103 / 714-291-7778</p>
<p class="p28"><b>San Francisco</b><i> California</i> 455 Valencia St. 94103 / 415-864-4584</p>
<p class="p28"><b>San Jose</b><i> California</i> 397 S. 11th St. 95112 408-286-0423</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Santa Barbara</b><i> California</i> 613 E. Victoria St. 93103 / 805-962-5007</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Seattle</b><i> Washington</i> 5516 Roosevelt Way NE 98105 / 206-525-8911</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Singapore</b><i> China</i> 80 Stevens Road, Singapore-10</p>
<p class="p28"><b>St. Louis</b><i> Missouri</i> 4544 Laclede Ave. 63108 / 314-367-1354</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Suva</b><i> Fiji Islands</i> 44 Baniwai Road</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Sydney</b><i> Australia</i> 118 Oxford St., Paddington</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Tallahassee</b><i> Florida</i> 324 W. College Ave. 32301</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Tokyo</b><i> Japan</i> 3211 Minami Asakawa-cho Hachioji-shi 193</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Toronto</b><i> Canada</i> 187 E. Gerrard Toronto 225 / 416-922-5415</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Trinidad</b><i> West Indies</i> 258 Christian Dr., Plaisance Pk. Pointe-a-Pierre</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Tucson</b><i> Arizona</i> 132 Santa Rita 85719</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Vancouver</b><i> Canada</i> 260 Raymur St., No. 305, B.C. / 608-254-7413</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Victoria</b><i> Canada</i> 2407 Fernwood Rd. B.C. / 608-383-0378</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Washington D.C.</b><i> D. C.</i> 2015 'Q' Street NW 20008 / 202-667-3516</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Wilmington</b><i> Delaware</i> 2307 Baynard Blvd. 19802 / 302-652-1505</p>
<p class="p28"><b>ISKCON PRESS</b> 32 Tiffany Place, Brooklyn, New York 11231 / 212-596-0707</p>
<p class="p9">The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Vyäs Püjä </i>is a literary offering of praise and gratitude from the students unto the pure Vaiñëava spiritual master. By its very nature such a compilation of praise of a pure devotee must face insufficiency. Just as devotees cannot adequately describe the infinite glories of the Supreme Lord, so a disciple cannot do justice to the immeasurable ocean of kind, transcendental instruction who is the spiritual master—the representative of Kåñëa appearing before us conditioned souls. He is stated by Kåñëa in <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>to be “the dearmost” for his preaching <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is </i>to the devotees, and the Lord says that there will never be one more dear to Him. If one thinks of the <i>Vyäsa Püjä </i>as an attempt to finish up glorification of the spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, then we must inform him that in that endeavor this book must fall far short of the goal. In a preface to his <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>translation and commentary, Çréla Prabhupäda writes as follows concerning the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa:</p>
<p class="p16">"We should not forget that the Lord is unlimited. This material world out of which this tiny earth is only <span class="s5">a </span>particle, represents a fragmental portion of His unfathomable glories. And on the surface of the earth there are numberless cities, and in each and every one of them there are hundreds of printing houses all engaged in broadcasting the message of this limited space. We can just imagine how many hundreds of thousands of volumes we may need to glorify the activities of the unlimited Lord. Therefore, sixty volumes of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>are just a sample distribution of His glories presented in a manner understandable to the stagnant brain of the residents of this insignificant globe. The residents of higher planets, who have brains superior to man’s, go through thousands and millions of volumes of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>to know about the glories of the Lord.”</p>
<p class="p7">What is true of the Supreme Lord is true of His pure devotee: the glory of His causeless mercy outmeasures all collections of praise. Just as the Ananta Çeña incarnation failed to enunciate a complete description of the glories and varieties of the Supreme Lord although He tried for thousands of years with thousands of heads, so thousands of disciples cannot capture in writing the infinite scope and worth of Çréla Prabhupäda. Even leaders of nondevotees have come to appreciate the ISKCON movement founded by His Divine Grace, and in newspapers and magazines we read comments such as: “These are good men; we need more of them in our community.” “The Kåñëa consciousness movement is teaching about God on an educated level,” “They are good, peaceful people, who do not go in for intoxication or illicit sex,” etc. Anyone seriously concerned with improving the current degraded times can appreciate that Çréla Prabhupäda is turning wretched young men and women into flowerlike devotees who do not take part in any sort of vices and who engage twenty-four hours a day in the topmost welfare work by informing everyone of his eternal spiritual nature in love of God. It is a fact that anyone Who takes to Krishna consciousness and who chants Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare will get relief from material misgivings and will get free of repeated birth and death and become eligible to go back to the kingdom of God. Çréla Prabhupäda is freeing everyone from the clutches of the material nature. His potency to distribute elevation from material misery, love of God, comes directly in the line from Lord Caitanya, who was prayed to as follows by Rüpa Gosvämé: “I offer my obeisances to You. You are the most munificent person because You are directly distributing love of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">This book is a sampling. Some of the praises are more eloquent than others, some are more expert, some are factual reports, attempts at <i>çlokas</i>—but none can completely capture how dearly and strongly our spiritual master loves Kåñëa and how completely Kåñëa loves him and reciprocates with him at every moment. But it is in order with the scriptures and the line of <i>äcäryas</i> that we present this book to our spiritual master; for it is a sincere expression from the disciples who are prostrated at his lotus feet. We can understand that as a father likes to hear the talk of his baby child, even if it is broken, infantile speech, so the spiritual master appreciates our attempts at transcendental speech because we are his children, and are sincerely engaged in loving service.</p>
<p class="p7">These written pieces are transcendental and confidential. The unsympathetic outsider who pokes his nose into this relationship cannot enter its understanding. One who does not chant Hare Kåñëa cannot understand or feel the relish of chanting because chanting is for those who chant. Similarly, <i>Vyäs Püjä </i>is for the disciples and the spiritual master. It remains a great secret to those who are not touched with the association of devotional service. “The line of service as drawn by you is fresh and bracing as morning dew.”</p>
<p class="p7">Our object, as you have so carefully taught us, Çréla Prabhupäda, is not to keep Kåñëa consciousness to ourselves, but to spread it all over the world. This year you have been traveling to India personally speaking and managing ISKCON and showing us the meaning of <i>äcärya</i> by example. And now you are traveling and inspiring the devotees and centers in the U.S. and Europe. At <i>Vyäs Püjä </i>time we, your intimate children, are gathered at your feet to tell you our feelings as best we can. By your blessing, we can go forth from this <i>Vyäs Püjä </i>gathering of 1971 and, all devotees together as one great ISKCON, without faction, truly perform the work with our thoughts, words and deeds. Let us go and distribute this literature of Çréla Prabhupäda’s—Kåñëa’s message—kindly delivered to the Western countries. Let us cooperate without ill feelings among ourselves. Let us very strictly observe all the regulative principles and stay as pure representatives. Let us celebrate pure <i>saìkértana </i>and magazine distribution to please you. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">All your disciples pray that you will remain in our presence for many years to come, and by our cooperation you will be able to spend time writing volumes of <i>Bhägavatam </i>while we carry on the program and mission of your Guru Mahäräja.</p>
<p class="p9">Offerings from ISKCON Temples Around the World</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Offerings from ISKCON Temples Around the World</b></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Press</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—PRESS</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">There is a servant of God who has endless mouths which are constantly praising the glories of his master, and this pastime has no end. So, how is it possible for the few of us at ISKCON Press to do justice to the glorification of the pure devotee of God, who is more glorious than God Himself?</p>
<p class="p7">Only by your teachings are we engaged in an activity which will raise us from this world of empty dreams. You say that when one’s intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of all misgivings through complete knowledge. We beg you, then, Our Beloved Spiritual Master, who has already engaged our minds and intelligence through so many books about Kåñëa, help us fix our faith in the Supreme so that we may accept Him as our only refuge. Some of us are just beginning our devotional service. Some have been working at it for some time and are already tasting that sought after nectar; but all of us have some misgiving which only you can help us to overcome, for what is knowledge to us except your beloved instructions. By remembering your instructions one can be relieved of feeling separation from you. By following your instructions one can actually overcome the natural, miseries of the material world and eventually become happy in devotional service. All of us can develop pure love of God. Perhaps one of us will, and that one alone can begin to appreciate your unlimited transcendental qualities.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON PRESS</p>
<p class="p49">Advaita das Adhikari / Uddhava das Adhikari / Nara devi dasi / Jayadvaita das brahmacari / Lilasuka Dasi / Sita-Rama das / Jadurani dasi / Meenakatan das Adhikari / Vilasini devi dasi / Usik das / Tusita dasi / Sarmahat das / Gadadhar das / Bhargava das / Baradräj das Adhikari / Mamata devi dasi / Murlidhar das brahmacari / Kuladri das brahmacari / Nitai Das / Kirtimati Devi Dasi / Yugal kisore das Adhikari / Bimala Devi / Puspabana Das / Anandini devi dasi / Lynn Perry / Palika dasi / Candanacarya däsa / Kasturika dasi / Kanchanbala dasi / Madhusudana das Adhikari / Charoni devi dasi / Pompa dasi / Nabadvip das brahmacari / Vidarbhasuta devi dasi / Madhupuri dasi / Pradyumna das / Tapas Das Brahmacari / Jagganath Suta das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New York</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p12">O listen, gentle souls, please hear us sing,<br>
With joyful hearts, a message we bring.<br>
Of He who came to save us from disgrace,<br>
Our beloved Prabhupäda, His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">The sky was filled with flowers on that day,<br>
When He appeared, Abhay Caran De.<br>
His lotus feet this fallen world would grace,<br>
Our last chance, His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Lost we are and searching in the night,<br>
Praying in darkness, give us our sight.<br>
O turn toward us divine and moonlike face,<br>
Smile and show the way, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Now countless sins are burning in our hearts,<br>
We fallen souls, from the Lord did depart.<br>
Only You can save the human race,<br>
Fall at Your feet, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Chaitanya’s mercy You came, chanting Hare Näma,<br>
Blessing all with <i>prema</i>, instead of deadly <i>käma</i>.<br>
O purify, our hearts, leave not a trace,<br>
Our lord and master, His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">The Absolute Truth has lotus feet You said.<br>
What a gift—we thought that He was dead.<br>
Such sweetness You brought to this terrible place.<br>
Fall at Your feet, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">So simple and clean, truthful and pure,<br>
Devotional service alone shall endure.<br>
Your message has given a life full of brace,<br>
Serve at Your feet, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">O dear Prabhupäda, hear Your children sing,<br>
Your message in every town will ring.<br>
Service to Kåñëa, through Your loving grace,<br>
Serve You forever, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—New York</p>
<p class="p49">Bhavananda das Adhikari / Palika dasi / Carol Goeddeke / Bhaktijan das / L Regis / Kushakratha das / Kapindra Das / Kanka Dasi / Rupanuga das / Kansa Dasi / Kalindi devi dasi / Harsharani Devi / Kunjabehari däsa / Ekendra das / Kousika das brahmacäré / DANA / Kasturika Devi Dasi / Candanacarya däsa / Ekayani Dasi / Gopal Krishna Däsa / Chaya Devi / Yogamaya Dasi / Subhananda Das / Mahendra Das Brahmacari / Jamadagni das Brahmachary / Harikesa das Brahmacary / Sasimukha / Rohini Kumar das Brahmacari / Bhutavhavan Das B. / Virendra Das Brahmachary / Rukmini Devi Dasi / Bob III / Koumadaki Devi Dasi / Mandalesvara / Mahapurusa däsa / Bhadra devi dasi / Chediraj das / Richard O’Shea / Visnugada däsa / Mark Joyce / Paul Darling / Arundhati dasi / Romapada Das / Aniruddha däsa / John Fluckiger / Paramananda das / Vaijayanti devi dasi / Balai dasi / Payahsvini Devi Dasi / Nandini dasi / Brahmavitta Das / Nara devi dasi / Prayaga Devi Dasi / Urvasi dasi / Mamata devi dasi / Rosemary / Radhabavani Devi Dasi / Varanasi dasi / Mallika / Charlotte / Nimai Sundar Dasi / Gandharvika Devi Dasi / Pratichi Devi Dasi / Narayan Das / Vilasini devi dasi / Jeremy Post Darling / Madhupuri dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Dallas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Dallas</b></p>
<p class="p50"><b>Most Mericiful Spiritual Father! </b></p>
<p class="p7">The waves of Your causeless mercy are spreading over this material world like a tidal wave, drowning us all in the nectar of love of God. By Your lotus feet you have graced us with the highest benediction—engagement in Your service, the bliss of <i>saìkértana. </i>Please allow us to humbly serve You with love offerings of heart, body, mind, words, time and energy, in order to spread these blessed holy names throughout the three worlds. In the darkness of night we stumbled along until, by Your mercy, one by one, we heard the transcendental song, so nice, such a relief from this cruel, cruel world full of hate and grief. We were little lost children, and now You’re bringing us home.</p>
<p class="p7">We are learning how to appreciate the words of instruction which Your Divine Grace is so kindly delivering to us. We are learning how to offer our activities to Your Divine Grace and thereby become happy and find meaning to our lives. We are learning how to tell others of this message so that they may be benefited by Your association. We are learning how to develop the sincerity to try to please You.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Your Holiness.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to the eternal message of love you have given us! All Glories to the transcendental moon of the Çré Kåñëa <i>Çaìkértana </i>Movement of Lord Chaitanya, which we relish more and more each day!</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, blessed day, time most sweet,<br>
The end of life’s eternal repeat,<br>
Causeless mercy has come complete—<br>
Devotional service at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Mohanananda and Çasti devi / Prajapati and Satarupa and Sadhananda / Prahladananda / Rshavdev / Raghunath / Rodney / Paul / Kelly / Gail and Kody</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, our seed-giving father, whom we aspire to serve eternally. He has given us life. He has implanted in us the seed of transcendental love of the Absolute. He has linked us to the glorious ancestry of other great souls like Himself, such as Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkur, Çréla Baladeva Vidyabhusana, and Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, all fountains of sparkling nectar of spiritual perception. He has raised us and trained us to be fit members of the spiritual society. He has passed on to us the chance to serve Kåñëa. He has explained to us the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>and the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>and He has handed over the keys to the storehouse of Truth.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda has given us all this and more. But foolish as we are we have not thanked Him. We have persisted in showing our weakness and unworthiness. Still He has remained our guardian and well-wisher. He does not need us; we need Him. And yet, although He does not neglect us, we neglect Him. We now ferverently pray that we will always be engaged in His sacred service, realizing our own insignificance. And we beg to remain in the shelter of His smiling glance.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>ISKCON—Honolulu</p>
<p class="p49">Goursundar Das / Siddha Swarup das / Govinda devi dasi / Brian Lynch / Shaktimati Devi Dasi / Prabhladahlada das / Balabhadra das / Goverdhan das / Manjari devi dasi / Tarun Kanti Das / William R. Reed / Turyadas / Ron De Freo / Sasisekhar das / Kenny Perragramo / Gary Davidson / Jayasri dasi / Omar / Kusa Devi Dasi / Änanda däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my unworthy obeisances at the lotus feet of the world teacher, my eternal spiritual master, paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya, Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Gosvami Prabhupäda, who is alone responsible for spreading around the entire world the holy names of Lord Çré Kåñëa, Whose names alone can render all benediction upon the living beings. I do offer my most respectful humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet, which are always transcendentally situated in Goloka Våndävana. Your lotus eyes ever embrace the beautiful form of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. Just as milk is ever flowing from the bags of the <i>surabhi</i> cows, so love of Kåñëa continually pours from your heart, anointing all fallen souls with the bliss of Kåñëa consciousness. Just as rays of sunshine cleanse the most contaminated place, so your presence has purified this whole planet. You, the dearmost friend of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, have bestowed your causeless mercy on the most fallen of all souls. I therefore humbly beg you to attach me to your lotus feet in eternal loving service.</p>
<p class="p12">You have given us Lord Caitanya’s gift,<br>
From the darkest ignorance, you uplift<br>
The most degraded fallen soul—<br>
The incomplete part of the complete whole.<br>
To serve you, dear Prabhupäda, is my goal, without end,<br>
And to accept your love, Prabhupäda, Kåñëa’s<span class="s5"> </span>dearmost friend.</p>
<p class="p7">I pay my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who lifted me gently out of the ocean of materialism and deposited me tenderly in the ocean of transcendental bliss, where the continual chanting of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare gave direction to my confused spirit soul and purpose to my material body.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,<br>
ISKCON AMSTERDAM</p>
<p class="p49">Bäla Gopala Dasi / Robert C Maxwell / Douglas Jerebine / Robert Mompion / David H. Aycrigg / Vivienne Dich / Gary S [indistinct] / Robert Taylor / Jean Pierre Sauvignon / Mary Fitzhugh / Vivienne Micallef / Dhananjaya das / Thop Keilman / Geraldine Keilman / Madhavi Lata Dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çré1a Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">To our Most Dear and Beloved Spiritual Master<br>
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p12">We are lost in the illusion of personal desire,<br>
Wallowing long in nescience and mire.</p>
<p class="p12">Gone all remembrance of knowledge and bliss;<br>
Unknowingly suffering in a burning abyss.</p>
<p class="p12">Bereft of intelligence, good qualities and sense,<br>
Bewildered by external events.</p>
<p class="p12">But One emerged seeking neither glory nor fame,<br>
Teaching a simple doctrine—Chant the holy name.</p>
<p class="p12">Freely giving the love we sought,<br>
Message of Chaitanya mercifully brought.</p>
<p class="p7">Boldly preaching the message of God,<br>
His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You, Divine Master, on this most blessed day!!</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>To find the correct words to express the gratitude all of us in this Society feel for what You have done is a difficult matter. In the course of our daily activities we see so many people teetering on the brink of disaster that we cannot but wonder why we few are so fortunate as to be chosen to fit the exalted position of acting as servants of the Servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Reflecting back on past activities in conditional life, we realize that Lord Govinda is much kinder than we can imagine. To extend such mercy to those dwelling in the most unfortunate status of life is the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord. We also understand that it is only by the blessings of a bona fide spiritual master who is coming in direct disciplic succession that one can obtain the favor of the Supreme.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have come and you are teaching us the real meaning of spiritual life, as you were perfectly taught by your Guru Mahäräja. We humbly request you to kindly accept our respects, and our pledge to always serve you in your divine mission of relieving the burden of all lost souls with the chanting of the holy name. We bow down before you with thankful hearts, grateful for the comfort you have brought to us, which can only be described as immeasurable on account of its ever increasing quality.</p>
<p class="p7">Jayate!!! Jayate!!! Jayate Çréla Prabhupäda!!!</p>
<p class="p7">Your most unworthy servants,<br>
ISKCON San Diego</p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta das Brahmacharya / Surya das Adhikary / Rajiblocan das / Paratrikananda das / Marney Prabhu / Norah Haas / Annapurna dasi / Nrishingha Chaitanya / Marybelle Kraigmont</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Trinidad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Trinidad</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our prostrated obeisances at the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. His Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, is a great and pure saint. He is full of godly qualities. He is coming in the <i>parampara</i> from Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">It is our joy to know that Lord Kåñëa exists, and the unquestionable proof is to come in contact with Çréla Prabhupäda. His transcendental qualities are above anything to be experienced in this world. Our incapable words of praise are like trying to show someone the sun with a candle.</p>
<p class="p7">If only everyone could come in contact with Çréla Prabhupäda, that would be the greatest thing that could ever happen.</p>
<p class="p7">Before Çréla Prabhupäda bestowed His mercy upon us, we were simply frustrated, unable to fulfill our hearts’ desire for happiness, eternity and knowledge. Now, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda has taken us, who were full of misery and ignorance and afraid of death, and has given us eternal life of bliss and knowledge. For such a gift, what can we say? It is simply mercy upon us. We beg You that we may be allowed to serve You eternally, and by so doing, help other living entities know of You.</p>
<p class="p7">Our only happiness is to remember that You are fully present with us always by Your instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">We are trying to carry out Your instructions by glorifying the <i>parampara</i> system, without which the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> is not understandable. The people here, being Indian descendants, have been raised hearing Hare Kåñëa and the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>but because it was not from the lips of a pure devotee, it had no meaning.</p>
<p class="p7">They are astonished that American boys and girls are chanting and taking this message of Lord Kåñëa seriously. This is Your mercy, and this is what we tell and explain to them. You have left India to teach a godless civilization to love Kåñëa. The so-called Hindus and religionists have their own concocted philosophy and teachings; they cannot understand that without Your mercy and grace they cannot know God. Kåñëa says, “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Bg. 4.34)</p>
<p class="p7">There are many professional men here who call themselves <i>gurus</i> and accept disciples. They completely cover the real teachings of <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>Milk touched by the lips of a serpent causes poisonous effects. To the public, it appears to be the same teaching, but actually it is all showbottle. In the end, they are all impersonalists and voidists.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.</p>
<p class="p7">We had no knowledge of God or Kåñëa—we were the biggest fools; but because we had the mercy of Kåñëa, we came to You and accepted Your words and Yourself as our Father. “By the mercy of Kåñëa one gets a spiritual master, and by the mercy of the spiritual master one gets Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">So our knowledge is perfect, without defect or mistake, because we do not modify what You teach us—which in turn is what Lord Caitanya taught—<i>premä</i>, pure love of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We appreciate You more than ever now since being in Trinidad. Here are all the demigod worshipers having <i>Çiva-kértana</i> and <i>Kali-kértana—</i>but the only <i>kértana</i> can be <i>saìkértana</i> (glorification of Lord Kåñëa). Here they have fire sacrifices, but they are all void without Your Divine Grace to sanctify them. They chant Hare Kåñëa, too, with a mind to merge, and in between smoke and do all nonsense. Only if they hear from You will they be able to have real spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray to always remember Your glories and instructions so that we can be humble instruments in Your great plan in serving Lord Caitanyadeva, to deliver these fallen souls drowning in the ocean of birth and death. This can happen only when we realize Your mercy and greatness as a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Hare Kåñëa.!</p>
<p class="p7">Your loving children,</p>
<p class="p49">Saradia dasi and Vaikunthanath das</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Trinidad</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Hamburg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Hamburg</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">All the wise men all over the world glorify and chant the glories of the Lord. Their life is His glorification. What to speak of your life, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, perfect <i>äcärya</i>. To serve these great men, self-realized souls who have seen the Truth, is the goal of life. We want to serve you, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, most confidential servitor of the Lord, Çré Kåñëa. All the wise men are certainly great because they glorify the Lord. But you, our dear Çréla Prabhupäda, are the greatest. of all. You have come in the Western world to sow the devotional creeper in everyone’s heart. You have told us that overlording and sense gratification will never save nor satisfy anyone. Out of love of Väsudeva you have accepted many students, taking their sins. You are great. Your love is greater than you, and to love God is now for us an easy job. Your love is equal to all. You give everyone the same message of Gauräìga: Chant the holy name! Chant the holy name! Chant the holy name! Hare Kåñëa!</p>
<p class="p7">Your eyes are moving, like the bees they swiftly fly, then stop, here, there, and amongst the networks of matter detect the soul loving and pure. Your bee eyes relish the nectar of the flowerlike soul and search for Janärdana, the eternal witness! He is there standing on the bank of the river, His smile discovers His rose petal teeth, You recognize Him as Your eyes always are seeing Väsudeva, Kåñëa, the dearmost friend of the <i>gopés</i> and the <i>gopas</i>. Behind your eyes is the beautiful Våndävana, where always you help Rädhäräëé to prepare charming gifts and offer loving words. She is grateful and loves You also, so when, standing on the altar, beautiful and royal, she looked at you, Prabhupäda, Her smile beamed, dazzling river, and that sudden glow of love, when you left the temple, never appeared again on her lotus face.</p>
<p class="p7">In the dark of our soul, all at once was given to us by your inconceivable mercy: “Here is Kåñëa. Just take. Always remember Kåñëa by chanting His holy names, that's all.” You tell us what is what; you give us the eyes to see the truth. You are implanting by Your infinite causeless mercy the seed of love for the holy lotus feet of all bona fide <i>äcäryas</i> in the disciplic succession, and You thereby enable us to accept the eternal blessings of the Supreme Lord Himself, who has said: “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, nor will there ever be one more dear.”</p>
<p class="p7">By your infinite mercy you allow us, in Hamburg, to engage ourselves in translating the transcendental literatures in French, Dutch and German. And so kindly You give us the responsibility that the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya be brought in writing to people of different countries in their different languages. For you stated: “Language should be no barrier for taking to Kåñëa consciousness.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You are the embodiment of the teachings of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and You show us how to practice these precepts in our daily life. Filip buys flowers for Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa. What more can one desire than direct service to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord who has so kindly appeared in the temple on the request of your Divine Grace. Balarämajé in this way also appeared! The sight of His white complexion and sweet smile made our stone hearts melt a bit. Just as the goddess of fortune offers Him blue garments and gold-made necklaces, after He has enjoyed the <i>gopés</i> in the Yamunä River. Through your grace we may also sew for Him a sumptuous dress so He may look as radiant as the white elephant of Indra, the king of heaven.</p>
<p class="p7">The most unqualified are we, but Their Lordships accept our fumbling attempts of service because we serve you.</p>
<p class="p7">Maria thanks You for your illuminated path and for your smiling appearance while concentrated observing the Deities, one day in the temple. And later on, during <i>saìkértana</i>, you appeared in the illuminated sky singing among the cows along with Kåñëa, carrying His flute.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, how can we ever deserve a drop of the mercy, which you are so kindly spreading in oceans of love? How can we ever understand what you are so unrestrictedly giving us, without having desperate feelings of inability to express our indebtedness to You? How can we ever forget the intimate friend of God, who picked us up out of the whirlpool of misery and despair, to guide us, helpless souls, to the level of—how inconceivable it is—love of God! How can we ever express our gratitude for all the happiness, hope, warmth, and—more and more—the eagerness to serve which you have injected into our lives?</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, we don’t understand your grace and your mercy which is given by You like a raincloud which pours water on the forest fire! We can’t realize the present You are giving to us. But we will try to get sincere and use this present more and more. We are just like little children who don’t know how to use it. The more we will use it, the more it will grow, and such a present is just coming from a desire tree.</p>
<p class="p7">Although we are the most fallen, although we are unable to see, hear or speak, still for the first time in our life we feel there is somebody we can love without ulterior motive. It is You, O Çréla Prabhupäda, our spiritual father, we can trust, take shelter in and love.</p>
<p class="p7">Our words are much too dry, too materially contaminated to praise Your infinite mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Your instructions are our lives!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Hamburg</p>
<p class="p49">Mandali Bhadra Das / Antonio / Gunnar / Maria Leida / Rolf / Filip / Andre / Herbert / Tulip Asteman / Lilashakti devi dasi / Haripriya Devi Dasi / Jyotirmayee Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Boulder</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Boulder</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p12">“He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die<br>
When thou art living still in Sound!<br>
The Vaisnavas die to live and living try<br>
To spread the holy life around!”</p>
<p class="p51"><i>Çréla Bhaktivinode Öhäkur</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>jaya om viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad bhaktivedanta gosvämé prabhupäda </i>. … Divine master and eternal well-wishing friend. …</p>
<p class="p7">On this cherished day of Vyäs Püjä, all glories are unto you, O Çréla Prabhupäda, for you are the bestower of the divine wisdom of <i>bhakti, </i>the wonderful message of Lord Caitanya, to all entities.</p>
<p class="p7">You are just like a <i>çuka</i>, for just as this parrot bird enhances the flavor of the nectarean juice of the fruit, similarly, you, by your infinite mercy, have given all peoples the liquid nectar of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>in such a way that juice can be tasted by all who drink the <i>çabda </i>or transcendental sound.</p>
<p class="p7">As you have said of your Guru Mahäräja, Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvaté, most beloved of souls, “He lives forever by His Divine Instructions, and the follower lives with Him.” So also, anyone who drinks of the nectar of your message finds eternal life full of bliss and perfect knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the supreme intelligent person, <i>paramahaàsa, </i>and like a swan who extracts milk from an ocean of water, you succor nectar essence from the flowery Vedic wisdom and give us the real story of God, our relation to Him, and our duty in this rare gift of human life.</p>
<p class="p7">As you have purported in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>the Vedic cream, the <i>Vedas </i>are to be compared with the desire tree, since they contain all things knowable by the human being both for mundane necessities as well as spiritual realization. The <i>Vedas </i>contain regulated principles of knowledge in all spheres (social, political, medical, military, metaphysical, etc.), and beyond this there is the scientific process for spiritual realization, the highest level being the realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, as the reservoir of all <i>rasas</i> or relationships. The essence of all relationship is love, and this love is originally a natural spiritual exchange between. the living being and Kåñëa<span class="s5">, </span>the supreme spiritual being. So, the Vedic principles are to help us come to an understanding of Kåñëa and our eternal relationship to Him. The Lord Himself says that the purport of the <i>Vedas</i> is to understand Him.</p>
<p class="p7">All anxiety and frustration in human society are due to lack of spiritual understanding. When a living being forgets his relationship with the supreme spiritual whole, he develops a taste for enjoying his illusory independence. But this taste for independent pleasure is never satiated because the eternal blissful living being can never be satisfied by a temporary miserable condition of life. As you have explained in <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, material attachment is experienced by one of three ways: negligence of spiritual life, fear of a spiritual personal identity, or the concept of void that underlies the frustration of material life. To free oneself from these three attachments, we have to find shelter of the Lord and, guided by the bona fide spiritual master, follow the penances of regulative principles. Under the guidance of the spiritual master who is expert in engaging everyone in <i>bhakti</i>, or transcendental devotional service to the Supreme Lord, we can develop a taste for hearing about Kåñëa. Gradually, through service and surrender, we can develop attachment for the Lord, and mature attachment will blossom as <i>bhäva</i>, eventually flowering into <i>premä</i>, or pure love of God. In this stage we will see Kåñëa face to face, and being fixed in <i>samädhi, </i>spiritual trance, our hankering soul will be satisfied by the perfect scientific process of perfect devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">This scientific process has been so simply and tastefully arranged by you that all we have to do is drink the nectar essence of your heart and soul, and simultaneously we will lose our taste for anything else. Trying to enjoy the taste of our temporary material arrangements has conditioned us to accept the bitter as sweetness. We have forgotten the real sweetness of our loving relationship to the Lord. But you have so kindly, out of your causeless mercy, given us the fuel to reignite the spiritual light of perfect knowledge. This fuel is chanting the holy names of the Lord, the <i>mahä-mantra</i>: Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare. All glories to this highest welfare remedy for all diseased and miserable souls lost in this dangerous ocean of Kali. You have given us the divine dispensation and asked us to simply chant. Glorify always the Lord and His potency through the holy names. Anyone who submissively hears this river of liquid nectar and drinks of the sound will attain eternal life in the kingdom of God, which is far beyond this miserable kingdom of death, birth, old age and disease. This chanting process, when enriched with <i>bhakti, </i>loving service, can excite superexcellent unalloyed love for God and thus rid the conditioned soul of the gross and subtle coils which keep him in material entanglement.</p>
<p class="p7">Senses are an eternal quality of each individual living entity, and Kåñëa is the supreme proprietor of the senses, or Håçékeça. Originally, it is the nature of the senses to be actively in service for the transcendental pleasure of the Supreme Lord, but when the senses are engaged for the self-centered pleasure of the minute individual soul, Kåñëa awards the fallen soul the facility for limited sense gratification. Thus the living being becomes captivated by the external potency of the Lord and has to undergo a purification process to rid his heart of the knot of self-centered egoism—the material disease.</p>
<p class="p7">This purification process meant for reviving our natural spiritual consciousness is the superexcellent mode of<i> bhakti-yoga </i>and is the only means of cutting the knot of material entanglement. This service attitude is implanted by the grace of the Lord in the form of the <i>bhägavatas</i>. By being situated in service to the <i>bhägavatas</i> we can become candidates for transcendental loving service—and, as is said by Kåñëa in <i>Brahma-saàhitä, </i>“Loving devotion—than whom there is no superior well-being who goes hand in hand with the attainment of the exclusive state of supreme bliss, and who can lead to Myself.,”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä<br>
Bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiki.</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Regularly attending the <i>bhägavata</i> class or rendering service unto the pure devotees destroys all that is inauspicious in the heart of a candidate almost to nil, and thus loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, comes to be an irrevocable fact.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.2.18]</p>
<p class="p7">Since the devotee <i>bhägavata</i> is a direct representative of the Supreme Lord, by rendering service unto him with sincere submission we gradually become fixed in devotional service. Thus, being favorably situated in such service by the grace of the Lord’s representative, and merely by that service alone being fully satisfied, we can overcome any hankerings for material sense activity. It is by the mercy of you, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we can reattain our natural constitutional position and become <i>brahma-bhüta</i>, or self-satisfied. In all the three worlds, only your grace can save us from this kingdom of darkness. You are the torchlight of knowledge, and your perfect endeavors for the supreme satisfaction of <span class="s5">Kåñëa </span>are automatically benefiting all peoples for all time.</p>
<p class="p7">As a pure devotee in the line of disciplic chain from the Lord Himself, you are always engaged in activity following your beloved Guru Mahäräja on the path of the previous <i>äcäryas</i>. By engaging your ears in hearing, your tongue in chanting, your mind in remembering the pastimes of Kåñëa, your body in service, you are setting the supreme example of cultivation of Kåñëa consciousness. By such devotional service you are giving the highest benediction to all humanity in the mode of transcendental loving service.</p>
<p class="p7">On this day of your Vyäs Püjä, all glories to you, Prabhupäda, for by your mercy all entities can partake of the nectar of hearing, chanting and remembering the glories of the Supreme Lord. You are giving the priceless gift to all entities—the beautiful gift of <i>bhakti-vedänta</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">It is only by your grace that we can ever hope to be situated in the relishable supermost life of <i>bhakti-rasa, </i>and being so situated is the only way, <i>the only way, the only way</i> to come to the transcendental platform of love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">On this day may we all join together with our desire as one, offering our most sincere and humble obeisances unto your divine lotus feet and begging to remain your most unworthy servants birth after birth after birth.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi<br>
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">“By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement. Therefore I should always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!’</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Boulder</p>
<p class="p49">Kuruçrestha Das Adhikari / Dennis McLean / Mark Jahre / Bruce Webster / Michael Prabhu / Nancy Bailey / Elicia Heller / Vincent Frocco / Pournamasi devi dasi / Tulsi dasa</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Boston</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">In attempting from our fallen position, we the devotees of the Boston temple wish to make an offering of our praise to you, in hopes you will kindly accept it. There are now twenty-five devotees here, five of whom are initiated. We think it best if we just tell you of our activities on your behalf. We are now performing all-day <i>saìkértana</i> by traveling each day to a different city in the New England area and in this way trying to distribute <i>saìkértana</i> benediction to as many people as possible. We are distributing about 300 <i>Back to Godheads </i>daily in this way. As for our temple schedule, we are rigidly following attendance at <i>maìgala-ärätrika</i>, <i>japa</i>, classes and evening classes also, as per your order. Every Sunday at noon we go before the Deities of Rädhä and Kåñëa, who are most beautiful, and we report to them what we have done in your service. We are understanding that devotional service to the Lord is only through the bona fide spiritual master. We have a radio show on in Boston every Wednesday night at 7 P.M., and we do it by acting out plays for voices and sound effects from the <i>Kåñëa </i>Book. We hope your Divine Grace will have time to listen when we send you a tape of one of our recent shows, the stealing of the cows by Lord Brahmä.</p>
<p class="p7">Now we have heard that you are going to come to Boston to personally install the Deities, and we are too much happy. Please bless us with the increased desire to serve you always, 24 hours in each day.</p>
<p class="p7">Since most of the devotees here are uninitiated, we want to beg you to accept us as your disciples. We submit ourselves to you and pray that we may be able to assist you in your service to Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We understand from your books and instructions from your initiated disciples that the spiritual master is the special favor of the Supreme Lord, without whom one is condemned to remain rotting in the material world, to suffer repeated birth, death, disease and old age. We already regard you as our savior. Although we are all—initiated and uninitiated—neophytes, we have already tasted the nectar of transcendental life by chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>, and that one drop of nectar has been enough, so that we have left behind all material engagements for your devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">In order to take initiation, we understand that we should accept the word of the spiritual master as Absolute Truth, as good as God, and on the evidence of all authority and from our own hearts, each of us promises to follow you in that way. If we cannot make your order our life and soul, then we will face a fate worse than death—we will not attain the perfection of favorable, transcendental service to Kåñëa. Without you there is no hope. By following the regulative principles and cooperating amongst ourselves we desire to be good servitors, and by our example we know that our spiritual family members will increase. We know already that we are on the best path for self-realization, purification, happiness and transcendental knowledge. We can understand that in this Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy the atmosphere is corrupted with many bogus teachers; but we know that you are providing the expert and bona fide captain of the ship to take this human <span class="s5">life </span>across the ocean of birth and death. Please keep us engaged in your service eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Boston</p>
<p class="p49">Satsvarupa das Adhikary / Andy Day / Roger Crowley / Lee Roth / Darra S. Cole / Gouri dasi / Paul M. Joses / Rosemary Force / Martin Alan Lewis / Carol Bruck / Victor Doran / Nancy Doress / Carolannie De Gregory / Thomas V. Groves / Jody Keene / Larry D. DeGregory / J. S. Jill Lewis / James McDonough / Joseph Thurber / Barbara Murphy / Harer Nama das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Houston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Houston</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We of Houston temple do join together with all temples on this earth in offering our most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is so dear unto Lord Kåñëa on this planet, having taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Transcendental Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O Spiritual Master, Servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are so kindly preaching this message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering these Western countries from impersonalism and voidism.</p>
<p class="p7">We of Houston Yäträ who are standing in darkness do offer our most respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our Spiritual Master, who has opened our eyes with the torchlight of transcendental knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories, All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is delivering the entire world from the darkest well of material nescience into the full light of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa<span class="s5">.</span></p>
<p class="p7">After our crores and crores of sinful lives, it is by your mercy only that we can be given the chance to reclaim our constitutional position as Lord Kåñëa<span class="s5">’s </span>eternal parts and parcels. The Lord has spoken that one who claims to be His devotee is not His devotee, but one who is the devotee of His devotee, is actually His devotee. So we are always praying to become constantly absorbed in service to your divine lotus feet, which afford all fallen souls such as ourselves the only suitable passage for crossing over this difficult ocean of Kali. In the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> this is confirmed—that only by the mercy of such a pure devotee as yourself can one approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Çré Kåñëa<span class="s5">. </span>Thus you have made your most blessed appearance in this hellish world on this most holy day so that all conditioned souls may be delivered simply by regular hearing of your transcendental message. This transcendental message is coming exactly in line with the most pure disciplic succession descending from the Absolute Truth Çré Kåñëa<span class="s5"> </span>Caitanya Mahäprabhu and following directly in the footsteps of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé. Such authorized teachings are steering us past the most wretched maelstroms of impersonalism and voidism into the unlimited nectarean ocean of devotional service. Now, we are gradually understanding our factual position as the eternal servants of the all-beautiful Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa<span class="s5">.</span></p>
<p class="p7">In our humble attempt to become simply instrumental to the previous Äcäryas, we are eagerly endeavoring to make this Saìkértana Movement our life and soul. By distribution of your transcendental literature in the streets, in the parks, on the campuses, in the libraries, on the radio, on the T.V., we are giving all the people here in Houston a chance to hear your nectarean words so that the blazing fire within their hearts may be replaced with irrevocable devotional service. We ourselves in Houston Yäträ are also taking advantage of such great literature and are always feeling your transcendental presence. But our service to you, Divine Çréla Prabhupäda, is so inadequate—it is only by your mercy alone that we are able to do anything for the benefit of suffering humanity. Only because you offer our worthless service to Kåñëa<span class="s5"> </span>does it have any value.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, on this most blessed day of your Divine appearance for giving us the opportunity to become happy and make others happy.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories, All Glories, All Glories to you, O Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">The most fallen servants at your Divine lotus feet,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Houston</p>
<p class="p49">Srinath das Brahmachary / Dave Prabhu / Mike Nixon / Dina Bandu das / Bob Gremillion / Steven Prabhu / Rishavadev das Brahmachary / Lisa prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Most insignificant Montreal Yäträ bows down a thousand times at the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda in a joyous celebration of the most sacred day of Your appearance on this earth planet. Blessed be that day on which the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa, displayed His causeless mercy on these most difficult times of Kali-yuga by showering upon mankind the pure sparks of knowledge and devotion, Your Divine Grace. Let the whole world rejoice in the shelter of Your lotus feet, for You are delivering love of God across the boundaries of mountains and oceans, across the barriers of races and nations, and past the breeding grounds of speculation and sectarianism. You have sounded the transcendental conchshell of devotion and God’s army has gathered, vibrating the most holy sound of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">Though we cannot serve and Your blessing do not deserve, we take shelter of Your divine lotus feet, O our spiritual master, knowing You to be the direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">In the year nineteen sixty-eight of the Christian Era, Your Divine Grace sanctified this northern corner of the world with Your soft lotus feet. You took Vaikuntha-loka from Your heart and installed it in an abandoned bowling alley at the foot of Mount Royal, Montreal’s Govardhana-like Hill. You touched the finger of love of God on this city, a fester of godless enjoyment. Into the jaws of Ste-Catherine street, a modern Aghäsura, amidst the clatter and screech, cow eating, illicit sex, gambling and deadening intoxicants, You sent children of God chanting nicely the transcendental call of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare, with saffron robes flashing in the sun, chattering of <i>karätalas </i>and sweet pounding of <i>mådaìga </i>drums, and even through rain and snow they chant and dance ecstatically. <i>“Mais qu est ce que c’est?” </i>“It’s <i>saìkértana, </i>Hari Bol! The life of all transcendental knowledge! See how miserable is this world: one season we are freezing, the next we are sweating; here there is only flickering happiness, birth, old age, disease and death. Come to Vaikuëöha, where you can be eternally blissful and full of knowledge.” And by Your mercy they come. The temple is scented with fragrant spices, incense and flowers; there is constant singing and dancing for the Absolute Person; there is sumptuous feasting on the remnants of holy <i>prasädam</i>; there are transcendental plays and blissful discussions on the sublime science of devotional service; Lord Jagannätha is smiling, and the spiritual masters of the disciplic succession seem to drink the nectar of that smile. O people of the world, just cast aside for a moment the snares of speculation and doubt and taste the sublime nectar of devotion to the Lord at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace! The ocean of gratefulness of the devotees knows no shore and could only be expressed in wondrous joy and tears of ineptitude. There was no creeper of devotion within our hearts, just dry ashes and accumulated dust, but You planted the seed, and under Your direction we shall go on trying to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead and indulge in the hope that we will always guard against offenses at Your lotus feet. With the watering process of chanting, the creeper of devotion will affirm itself and steadily grow to eventually produce the ripened fruit of love of Godhead, the goal of human life.</p>
<p class="p7">Jayate Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Montreal</p>
<p class="p49">Abraham Gonzalez / Paul Brault / Connie Di Marco / Robert Robitaille / Sripati däsa Brahmacari / Lloyd Jeffery / Thomas J. Boyd / Albert Bheiner / Lucien Dupuy / Sambitananda das / Denis Dubuc</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Salt Lake City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Salt Lake City</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p12">Our lives are short-lived,<br>
foolishly playing in the mud of illusion,<br>
stuck hopelessly, crying out in the trenches of confusion,<br>
dirt of desire, eroding, covering my devotion, my love.<br>
Our lives are but flickering moments.<br>
Save me, please,<br>
whoever you are,<br>
wherever you are,<br>
I need you.<br>
You came, my beloved eternal father,<br>
situated on a golden throne, vibrating tones of shelter—<br>
Kåñëa’s divine plan—<br>
a pure soul, not ordinary man.<br>
Unworthy as I am, you accepted me as a son.<br>
Through your causeless mercy the battle shall be won.<br>
You let me serve you: “Make your will mine.”<br>
I have fallen so many times—<br>
lust and anger my heart’s only incline—<br>
yet you have yanked me back each time,<br>
allowing me, unqualified, to preach the message Divine.<br>
To all you in Salt Lake<br>
it is time to awake.<br>
Çré Guru Deva is here;<br>
in holy instruction he does appear<br>
as the shining light rising on the sunset of the mind,<br>
setting deeply and softly within the heart sublime.<br>
Please accept this gift benign.<br>
You must take, chant the holy names—only this way can you be free<br>
from Kali’s chains.<br>
Come now, Çréla Prabhupäda is waiting to guide you to Våndävan,<br>
land of bliss and love, free from sin.<br>
Our lives are so short-lived.<br>
Embedded in nature’s tombstone image,<br>
Mäyä’s path, a maze without an exit.<br>
But we here are determined to free you from bondage,<br>
for our spiritual master has sent out the order—<br>
we must bring you to His lotus feet.<br>
They are taking notice, we can see it:<br>
friendly smiles, encouraging words, acceptance of the chanting.<br>
“We, think we would like to come by your temple.”<br>
Their sectarian concepts are being smashed by the<br>
sounds of Kåñëa and Räma, over and over,<br>
forever.</p>
<p class="p7">We here in Utah pray we may always be engaged at every moment in serving your desires with full enthusiasm and determination. Çréla Prabhupäda, we want to give the city of Salt Lake to you!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Salt Lake City</p>
<p class="p49">Janakaraj Das / Patraka Das / Jagatguru das / Narada Muni Das brahmachary</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Santa Barbara</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Santa Barbara</b></p>
<p class="p18">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉ GURU AND ÇRÉ GAURÄÌGA!</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Prabhus,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, at whose lotus feet we are all able to find shelter from <i>mäyä’s </i>strong influences. On behalf of the very nice association of my Prabhus here, and also speaking for myself, I’m wishing to express our sincere pardons for sending in this Vyäs Püjä Offering so late. Prabhupäda is so very kind and lenient and understanding of the fallen condition of the conditioned souls in this Kali-yuga, on account of his determination and unwavering faith in the execution of the will of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. The benediction of this <i>Saìkértana </i>Movement of Lord Caitanya’s is causelessly being showered upon the masses of peoples all around the world, and the credit is all due to His Divine Grace, yet he is so merciful that he allows the lowest of mankind to take advantage of this downpour from the ocean of mercy of love of Godhead, and thus be elevated to the highest status of devotional service and receive the credit so undeservingly. So we do sincerely offer our prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, all the Vaiñëavas, Lord Caitanya and his associates and to the lotus feet of His Lordship Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa, who are all so magnanimous in their bestowing this eternal engagement of glorification through the processes of chanting the holy names of the Lord and honoring the transcendental remnants of refreshments offered to the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">We must try to remember all the causeless mercy Çréla Prabhupäda is bestowing upon us. Then we should try to distribute this mercy to everyone. This will make Prabhupäda happy and pleased with us. We, the three <i>brahmacaries</i> here, do a good deal of street <i>Saìkértana, </i>setting up with a table displaying the books of His Divine Grace, chanting the Lord’s names and circulating with book bags full of <i>Back to Godheads</i> up and down a four block area of Santa Barbara’s busiest downtown section. We have found very good results in distributing this Kåñëa consciousness at shopping centers in Santa Barbara and many other nearby towns as well. As Çréla Prabhupäda says, “We must be sincere in our activities; then success will be there,” so we must be very humble and sincere in our service to Çréla Prabhupäda, showing how nice Lord Caitanya’s movement is, and then we will realize that this knowledge is better than any book knowledge or intelligence.</p>
<p class="p7">The student community of the University of California at Santa Barbara is receiving transcendental sound vibrations every Monday morning at 10:30 when the ISKCON Radio Program goes on the air. We have also established Public Service Announcements on other local radio stations in our area. This has proven to be somewhat effective in attracting people to the love feasts on Sunday and occasionally our guests for <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>classes mention hearing about our program from radio announcements. <i>Saìkértana </i>is augmented often with special engagements such as speaking at clubs, at private schools, public schools, and sometimes small groups of curious inquirers. This is beneficial for the displaying of Prabhupäda’s books, distributing the Lord’s <i>prasädam </i>and helping us to become surrendered as we try to utilize Lord Caitanya’s weapon for fighting this age by preaching this knowledge to the people who are suffering due to indulgence in the four degrading sinful activities of meat eating, intoxication, illicit sex life and gambling. And by always chanting Hare Kåñëa everywhere people will gradually understand, for it is said by Lord Caitanya and Prabhupäda confirms it. Simply and efficiently we must spread this Kåñëa consciousness for the benefit of all mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">We are so fortunate to be able to receive this knowledge from Çréla Prabhupäda, who has so kindly come here and accepted us as his disciples, even though we have no qualifications. We do not have the feeling for His Divine Grace that we should, but we are praying that in the future we will be able to give him all the respect he is due, and beg at his lotus feet for his special mercy upon us.</p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Santa Barbara</p>
<p class="p49">Bansidhari däsa Brahmacarya / Jayanarayana däsa Brahmacarya / Sivanivas das Brahmacarya</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Our dear father, Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept our most worthless obeisances at your soothing and cooling lotus feet. You are the only source of honey where we may find flowing love for <span class="s5">Kåñëa, </span>in His sweet and holy name. Oh, you are like the dove who flies to the blooming apple tree, cradled in Kåñëa’s love, there where you want us to be. But we, are worthless, like beggars who steal and have no thanks for your gifts. You have brought pure Caitanya <i>premä</i>, golden love of Kåñëa, and sing sweet songs of Lord Dénabandhu, the friend of the most fallen. Let us offer our respectful obeisances to you, who are our only hope. As the sun lights up the day, so you light our hearts with your mercy. As a <i>surabhé </i>cow pours forth abundances of milk, so you flood this dark world with your presence. Out of kindness you are plucking fallen souls from the ocean of the material whirlpool and turning them into pure devotees. You alone are our dear firend, awaiting with outstretched arms for us to step up toward you. Joy in Kåñëa you are giving us, love for the Supreme. One glance from your eyes that we have seen awakens us from <i>mäyä’s</i> dream.</p>
<p class="p7">Let us pray, our dear father Prabhupäda, may you please engage us in your service, may you never let us fall away. Let us pray, our dear father Prabhupäda, that our eyes closed shut by the deep sleep of darkness be awakened to behold your mercy. And when will our eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly, just remembering your merciful mission? We pray, our dear father Prabhupäda, that we may somehow become your servants faithfully, transformed for eternity. Just help us to broadcast your glories by preaching the divine command, until there’s never even a soul who hasn’t your books in his hand.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Seattle</p>
<p class="p49">Makanlal Das Adhikary / Diane Prabhu / Paramisvari Das / Royal / Tilak Devi Dasi / Rukma Das / Jambavati Dasi / Jayadeva das Brahmachary / Jeff Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to prostrate ourselves at Your Divine Grace’s lotus feet in humble acknowledgement of Your Divine Grace’s infinite causeless mercy upon us fallen conditioned souls. We do accept and ascertain that Your Divine Grace is truly the bona fide spiritual master, a pure Vaiñëava representing Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Absolute Truth.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciation of Your Divine Grace’s protection for his devotees; as much as the lotus blossom is untouched by water even while surrounded by a lake, so when we are on <i>saìkértana, </i>by Your Divine Grace’s protection, we are unaffected by the material whirlpool.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations for Your Divine Grace’s allowing us to assist in Your Divine Grace’s service to Kåñëa. Your Divine Grace is giving us devotional service, accepting it, authorizing it, making it potent. This devotional service, is clearly mercy only.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations to Your Divine Grace’s benediction of the privilege to live in a Kåñëa conscious temple, which Your Divine Grace has made a bubble of Vaikuëöha within this world simply by Your Divine Grace’s presence.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations to Your Divine Grace for making available Kåñëa’s mercy, <i>prasädam</i>, which cools the fire of our impure senses.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations for Your Divine Grace’s acceptance of us as spiritual infants under Your Divine Grace’s sheltering wing; by Your Divine Grace’s causeless mercy we are eternal children of the eternal father, the spiritual master, who guides and instructs so patiently, just waiting for us to mature.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations to Your Divine Grace for allowing us to preach Kåñëa consciousness, for empowering us to deliver transcendental knowledge and the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> to everyone. We do not deserve such an elevated position, but still Your Divine Grace has such mercy on us; there is no other explanation to this mercy than causeless.</p>
<p class="p7">Each of us has found that the entire system of material activities is a constant source of perplexity and misery, and now Your Divine Grace has made available the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu as the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra, </i>potent only due to Your Divine Grace’s authorization. We humbly attempt to express some gratitude for this, even though we have no real feeling of gratitude.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer appreciations for Your Divine Grace’s filling our restless, barren minds with a river of nectar which flows from Your Divine Grace’s lips as <i>Kåñëa I &amp; II, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Çré Éçopaniñad, Bhagavad-gétä, Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, etc.</p>
<p class="p7">We cannot express nearly enough gratitude to account for Your Divine Grace’s mercy. Please just keep us in Your Divine Grace’s flock—we offer ourselves for Your Divine Grace’s use and manipulation. We are servants to the spiritual master by Your Divine Grace’s mercy; please allow us to serve Your Divine Grace eternally and be instruments in the execution of Your Divine Grace’s will.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—New Orleans</p>
<p class="p49">Nityananda däsa / Aubrey Lowpie / Joseph Schiester / Michael Morgan / Debra Ruth Nolin / Susan Evans / Kanya Kumari devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Tallahasse</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Tallahasse</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p12">Feeling surrounded by an ocean of impersonalism,<br>
our only refuge Kåñëa’s words through your mouth—<br>
“My devotee shall never be vanquished!”—<br>
We cling to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Being far away in Tallahassee with letters and visitors<br>
few and far between, feeling separation from the rest of<br>
ISKCON, our hope sustained by your words of concern in a letter—<br>
Let us be even more separated so we can feel your presence even more.</p>
<p class="p12">Waiting to hear of your arrival in New York,<br>
our only consolation your words, “The spiritual master’s<br>
instructions should be taken as the spiritual master himself—<br>
not his physical presence.”</p>
<p class="p12">Thinking of your lotus feet traveling over the sacred land<br>
of India and hearing of your conquests and plans for even Moscow—<br>
we wonder where you are now and pray to always keep your lotus<br>
feet in our hearts.</p>
<p class="p12">Seeing your picture with hands upraised in ecstatic <i>kértana</i>,<br>
we long to dance with you, and hearing your words from <i>KÅÑËA<br>
Book</i> saying “Dance with Kåñëa,” we long to jump and shout with ecstasy.</p>
<p class="p12">Hearing your songs about Govinda again and again, our daily<br>
sustenance, our air of life, we drink this nectar, and we also<br>
desire, like Lord Brahmä, to become “the eternal maidservant of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p12">Feeling your presence with the arrival of Çrématé Tulasé Devé,<br>
so green and beautiful, who would not flourish but for your<br>
presence, all auspiciousness follows.</p>
<p class="p12">Seeing your mercy touch the heart of a mother in Fort Myers<br>
who cries reading Back to Godhead, thinking of you in the<br>
New York Bowery walking in the snow with “pointed holyman’s shoes,”</p>
<p class="p12">Seeing your mercy at work bringing us two flowerlike devotees<br>
who had only a two-year-old Back to Godhead and after being<br>
here 45 minutes said, “We want to join you,”</p>
<p class="p12">Seeing your infinite compassion touch the heart of a stranded<br>
girl far away in a country town who wrote, “Prabhupäda is my<br>
spiritual master because it is he who has made this bliss<br>
accessible to even the most unworthy of souls which is mine …</p>
<p class="p12">How miraculous is this holy privilege to serve Lord Kåñëa<span class="s5">!<br>
</span>I ask nothing except the privilege of serving Him always in<br>
whatever way He wishes.”</p>
<p class="p12">Seeing your golden face illuminating our altar, our new devotees<br>
saying, “He seems to be smiling like a proud father who is pleased<br>
with any little service done in the temple.”</p>
<p class="p12">Hearing your words, thinking of your lotus feet, praying for<br>
your mercy, we become transformed from claylike dolls to<br>
dancing devotees—please let us be your puppets, please<br>
mold us, move us as you desire.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Tallahasse</p>
<p class="p49">Tara Devi Dasi / Janmanjaya Däsa Adhikary / Robert Carol / Chris Prabhu / Debra Mather / Debbe Prabhu / Wayne Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Toronto</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ÄCÄRYA</b></p>
<p class="p12">Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Please accept our service to you.<br>
We accept you as good as God.<br>
Our life and soul is serving you.</p>
<p class="p12">From waking time till we take rest<br>
Whatever we do is directed by you.<br>
Your works act as our guide posts<br>
So that when we are working we know what to do.</p>
<p class="p12">We pray to the Lord Çréla Govinda,<br>
That He will give us facility<br>
To please you with whatever we do,<br>
Serving to our full capacity.</p>
<p class="p12">Within the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>,<br>
Chapter Sixteen, one through three,<br>
The godly qualities are listed,<br>
And in you we can practically see:</p>
<p class="p7">Like Daniel, who fearlessly walked into a den of lions, you have walked into this horrid den of nescience in order to teach us how to love Kåñëa. You are free from all fear only because you have surrendered unto the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">You’ve shown us purity by delivering hundreds of sinful persons from their gross ignorance.</p>
<p class="p12">In spiritual poverty, clothed to the hilt,<br>
Dressed in false ego, deformed by guilt,<br>
I was somehow sighted by your spiritual eye<br>
And benedicted by your perfect charity.<br>
I was convinced the world was false, the Lord a fraud,<br>
But you opened my eyes and gave me God.</p>
<p class="p7">I have fallen from the boat of knowledge into the ocean of ignorance and misery, but now I find that your rope has been placed in my hands. Prabhupäda, you are our eternal loving father, and I hope I can please you as one of your fallen sons.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">You are Gosvämé, one whose senses are controlled. What relief in the Age of Kali you offer this world of sense indulgence. Turmoil prevails, the result of lust. Almost lost are the eternal principles of religion. With your help only can we learn to conquer the enemy of the world, lust, by engaging our senses in the eternal loving service of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p12">To sacrifice the breath of life in transcendental sound,<br>
exhibiting the joy of devotional trance,<br>
You’ve given up material desires to spread the name around.<br>
<i>Mäyä’s</i> display cannot attract your glance.</p>
<p class="p12">Govinda’s lotus feet are all in all for one as you<br>
Who guides the ship of <i>bhakti </i>through Kali.<br>
The <i>Saìkértan yajïa</i> boat has a very fallen crew,<br>
But your Grace is saving even such as we.<br>
All glory to your perfect navigation, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">O topmost swanlike devotee, Çréla Prabhupäda, through the study of the <i>Vedas </i>and service under the expert guidance of your Guru Mahäräja, you have given us even the cream—the brilliant <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam. </i>All Glories to Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">You have proven the godly quality of austerity a million times just by leaving your comfortable motherland India at 70 years, bringing into the heart of <i>Mäyä</i>, to the most degraded souls, the absolute sound vibration of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Everyone in this world is thinking himself the source of knowledge. Only you, Prabhupäda, are the authority because you are totally surrendered in love unto the Lord. Courageously, without diplomacy, in an age where everyone is compromising, you are relating the truth simply. This straightforwardness is attracting the hearts of all sincere souls; only you exhibit the pure quality of simplicity in this age of Kali.</p>
<p class="p12">He is nonviolent because he is pure.<br>
By his constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord<br>
And his remembrance and unalloyed love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna,<br>
By glorifying Him in all activities,<br>
He is always absorbed in trance.<br>
By surrendering everything for the pleasure of the Lord<br>
He remains pure and uncontaminated.<br>
And because he distributes this freely without detention,<br>
He is dearest to Krishna.<br>
Because he is pure, he is nonviolent<br>
And because of his being pure, he cannot distort nor cause disturbance,<br>
As the sun can cause no darkness.</p>
<p class="p7">You are fixed in the Absolute Truth. The Lord advises us in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master …” You are conveying the message of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa as it is. Without interpretation you are presenting for everyone’s benefit the complete science of devotional service. All the sincere souls in the universe will hear the truth from you and surrender at your lotus feet. A truthful person never breaks his word of honor. So I’m sure you are taking all your devotees back home, back to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>O dear servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé, you are without the poisonous affliction of anger and are so kindly showing us (the most fallen souls) how to conquer this most detrimental characteristic of this age of Kali. All respects and glories unto you.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You have shown us how you are completely renounced by leaving beautiful Våndävana to come to this hellish place just to carry out the directions of Your Guru Mahäräja</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>O great merciful Äcärya, you have the transcendental quality of peacefulness, as did your own spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvaté Gosvämé, and with this sublime peacefulness you are putting at ease the distressed minds of your disciples. All Glories unto you, Çréla Prabhupäda, most confidential servitor of Çré Hari (Kåñëa).</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>All our endeavors are full of fault, but your transcendental vision sees all as pure spirit souls, flawless like Brahman. You see Kåñëa everywhere and in everything. You realize the conditioned souls follow the great <i>Äcäryas</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>How can we possibly know your compassion for all living entities? You have picked us up from the eternal darkness of material life, and you are so mercifully trying to show us the glories of chanting the holy name. Any living entity who sincerely follows your instructions can attain pure love of God and go back to Goloka Våndävana. Who could be more compassionate?</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You have shown us how to be without greed by giving your only possession so freely. Factually you are the richest wandering mendicant in the material world and the most munificent of all living entities, for you are distributing love of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You have shown us how to be gentle by your delicate graceful dancing before Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa and Lord Jagannätha. To see your dancing in ecstasy is to see “gentleness” personified.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories unto you, dear Prabhupäda.<br>
You are seeing the loving pastimes of Çré Rädhikä and Mädhava.<br>
We see your body tremble, the tears flowing from your eyes.<br>
All this is wondrous.<br>
We can just imagine your shyness.<br>
Your loving students whom you’ve taught so well<br>
Are now also bowing their heads to the bashfulness felt.</p>
<p class="p7">“One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with undeviating determination and faith …” Dear beloved spiritual father, Çréla Prabhupäda, through this determination alone, you followed the instructions of your Guru Mahäräja and came to this demonic land, simply to attract the most fallen and engage us in your devotional service. By this unparalleled quality, Your Divine Grace endured countless offences made against your lotus feet; but still you continued to simply chant softly the sweet names of that young boy, Govinda!</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You’ve shown us vigor by the way you always engage so whole-heartedly in whatever you do. You are always full of energy for serving the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You have certainly shown us forgiveness. We are all such crude rascals, and yet you never cease being kind and compassionate towards us. We commit so many offenses, even to your face, but you are fully self-satisfied, having taken shelter of Kåñëa’s lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>You have such fortitude. We heard that you were so full of energy upon first arriving <span class="s6">I </span>in India with your American disciples that no one could keep the same pace.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>So far as cleanliness is concerned, every one of your disciples can attest that every thought, word and action that you have ever had, spoken or performed is spotlessly white.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>As for being without enviousness—how could you possibly envy anyone? Kåñëa tells Arjuna that he may understand the most confidential knowledge because he is not envious. You are helping so many others to understand the <i>Gétä, </i>and you are helping so many also to be free from enviousness, so you must certainly love everyone, without reservations.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>And even though you are the most honorable personality on this earthly sphere, you have never once sought after that honor. Renouncing everything, including honor, you came to the hellish countries and very humbly performed the greatest miracle of the Twentieth Century.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>Please accept our most humble prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. We pray for your long life.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Toronto</p>
<p class="p49">Jagadisha Däsa Adhikary / Dharmaraj däsa Adhikari / Laxmimoni Devi Dasi / Cynthia Dasi / Dave Prabhu / Ethel Prabhu / John Brzezinski / Rick Holtzman / John Taylor / Van(?) Charnell / Bob Sebed / David Roberts / Rasananda däsa / Leslie Borth / Sue Bramacarinie / Guna Mai Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Austin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Austin</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">By your unfathomable mercy, Your Divine Grace offers to deliver the fallen conditioned souls from subjugation to the whims of a mind caught in the endless turns of ignorant and passionate sense attachment. By your love of KÅÑËA<span class="s5">, </span>the Absolute Truth, and your transparent transmission of His instructions, Your Divine Grace has vanquished the esoteric mysteries shrouding God.</p>
<p class="p7">My eyes are still stunned from the darkness of material life, so, Your Divine Grace, I cannot appreciate your transcendental beauty and wisdom; KÅÑËA’s opulences find reflection in you by dint of your unending and uncontaminated devotion to KÅÑËA<span class="s5">. </span>My lips have spoken too many lies, so nothing I say can worthily praise Your Divine Grace, or your message.</p>
<p class="p7">My mind has imagined and concocted too much <i>mäyä</i>, so I cannot conceive the vastness of your strength and kindness. But, you, O merciful <i>Jagad-guru</i>, present Lord KÅÑËA in His threefold bending form to these blinded eyes, and to these poisoned lips Your Divine Grace delivers the nectar of Çré Mahämantra, and to this polluted deluded mind, Your Divine Grace presents the ever fresh purity of KÅÑËA<span class="s5">-Lélä.</span></p>
<p class="p7">O Eternal Father, you reveal to us our spiritual mother, <i>Veda</i>, and I offer to your lotus feet 10,000 obeisances and my worthless soul. You are the most merciful spiritual master giving the ignorant the highest honor there is in this life, love of KÅÑËA<span class="s5">, </span>making them mad for KÅÑËA consciousness. The profit of my heart resides in fruits mundane; please render this my doggish heart to heel your lotus feet. The hunger that my spiritual nature had been feeling so intensely was satisfied with the nectar of the teachings which Your Divine Grace has so kindly brought to the Western world. I understand what my relationship to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is. I am surrendering to KÅÑËA and will know what He wants me to do only through your guidance and Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">We all lined up in front of the temple to greet His Divine Grace with flowers, to actually hand His Divine Grace a flower. Even now I can hardly believe it. Sometimes I think I’m dreaming. I know that I’m not, but it seems that way, it’s so wonderful. Lost in the web of misery for eons of years. An ocean of nescience that brought nothing but fear. Out of total darkness there shines a light—His Divine Grace shines so bright. The center of the universe we thought was our minds, but now we bow down at your lotus feet a million times. So please be with me in spirit always, so that I can cook for you and sing for you and help to spread this merciful movement in full consciousness. Please fill my empty heart with your glorious nature.</p>
<p class="p7">The intelligent people ask Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, “What is your magic? How have you made these wretched hippies into pure Vaiñëavas?” Your Divine Grace replies, “My magic is that I don’t tell lies. I don’t give a bluff. Here is the real thing, Kåñëa is God, not a rascal that claims to be God. Real God is Kåñëa, with all opulences.” That is your magic, Çréla Prabhupäda. Thank you for not cheating me.</p>
<p class="p7">I hope to be your surrendered servant,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Austin</p>
<p class="p49">Visnujana Swami / Chris Pinkerd / Steve Bridge / Ron Grant / Peter Hooper / Ishan das Adhikary / Bibavati dasi Adhikary / Sri Galimdas Brahmacaré / Dwija Hari das Brahmacaré / Subananda das Brahmacaré / Jai Gopa das Brahmacaré</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda: You have come just to guide all the fallen conditioned souls back to home, back to the supreme abode, Godhead. You are the pure example following cent percent your Guru Mahäräja. All Glories to Vyäs Püjä, this most blessed event, on which you, as the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Lord’s will, come to guide us in sublime devotional service everywhere. Please accept this humble appreciation at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">By the mercy of the spiritual master we get Kåñëa. The most important day in the lives of everyone on this planet is the appearance day of Your Divine Grace. Now there is hope. You are here to give new life to a lost and fallen world. Without You, Çréla Prabhupäda, there is no imagining the hell we would have to experience death after death, for eternity.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for this transcendental regulated temple life. We can see practically how regulated spiritual life is helping us remember the Supreme Lord, and so we are happy and advancing in Kåñëa consciousness. Due to your causeless mercy, New Jagannätha Puré is efficiently and enthusiastically regulated to Your Divine Grace’s recommended schedule. You are pulling us all out of animal life and teaching us to live like human beings.</p>
<p class="p7">These inhabitants of Kali-Yuga do not come to Kåñëa’s temples, so, Çréla Prabhupäda, by your unlimited divine love we bring the temple’s Kåñëa consciousness to the streets in the form of transcendental <i>saìkértana. </i>The association of the holy name and the pure devotee brings the fallen souls their long awaited chance to come back to Godhead. So many have come to your lotus feet, being attracted by the mercy of blissful <i>saìkértana</i> (chanting the holy names of the Lord in public). This sublime <i>yajïa </i>can be performed anywhere, anytime. This process is so easy, Çréla Prabhupäda. Devotees of your lotus feet will do anything to distribute your <i>saìkértana</i> mercy. Lord Kåñëa is so kind upon us. May all <i>saìkértana </i>parties like our party at Powell and Market in San Francisco endeavor to be more attractive, effective and always enthusiastic to distribute this Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Before the famous “Rathayäträ” parade, a nice festival in Golden Gate Park was held for the spiritual development and happiness of all our lost godbrothers and godsisters. Your golden literatures were distributed all over the parkland, and so many tasted this sublime philosophy by devouring <i>prasädam</i> and hearing our Lord’s pastimes. By your infinite goodness all the temples participating were in ecstasy. <i>Kértanas</i> ran all day, and the <i>prasädam</i> was first class.</p>
<p class="p7">Thousands are benedicted by participating in the annual Rathayäträ festival. Only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, could bring together the most fallen of souls and engage them in this transcendental parade. You graced everyone with several addresses. You are always teaching these glories of pure servitorship wherever you go. Lord Jagannätha’s carts were so glorious, and all your disciples were in ecstasy on account of divine association. So much serious devotion went into preparing this festival, only because of the love and teachings you have given all so freely.</p>
<p class="p7">I can see how you want it to be a community of devotees offering everything to thee. What more could I want? What more could I find? Working for you is so divine! It doesn’t matter what I can do as long as I offer the results unto you. Engaging our talents in service to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, is nondifferent from serving Lord Çré Kåñëa. These mundane occupations and duties become ecstatic when performed for your transcendental pleasure. Be it a businessman, an actor, a politician, if it is <i>éçäväsyam</i> (God-centered), it is sublime and successful. The important thing is that you have shown us we are all part of the Lord, an infinitesimal part, and not God Himself, so it is only logical to serve Him who is so great.</p>
<p class="p7">You, dear Prabhupäda, have taught us the importance and method of pleasing Lord Kåñëa’s transcendental appetite. So we offer these foodstuffs that Kåñëa relishes. The more we devote ourselves in love for this duty, the more blissful<span class="s5"> </span>we become. We offer them to you, the spiritual master, who offers them to the most munificent Lord Chaitanya, who offers them to Lord Kåñëa. Then Rädhä-Kåñëa eats, Lord Jagganätha, Lord Chaitanya Mahäprabhu eats, and you become satisfied upon seeing us taste your remnants. <i>Prasädam</i>, spiritual foodstuff, is so pure, and the devotees in New Jagannatha Puri are crazy over this benediction.</p>
<p class="p7">As for us who have been so long trying to squeeze some nectar from novels, physics lectures and nonsense philosophy, Your Divine Grace has mercifully appeared as person <i>Bhagavatam</i>. You are in your writings, perfectly teaching the science of God. By distributing your transcendental literature, many fallen souls can personally associate with a pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Many of your devotees, although never meeting you in body, have engaged in personal service in separation because of your causeless benediction. Your potency is in your books, and you are awakening our dormant love of God. So as each case of these masterpieces, <i>Kåñëa</i> <i>Books, Bhagavad-gétä </i>and <i>Teachings of Lord Caitanya's </i>are distributed to libraries and bookstores in every town and village, we can see as the sun freely gives sunlight, your mercy is also freely given to all who will simply receive it!</p>
<p class="p7">So many Kåñëa conscious programs are reaching the fallen conditioned souls via the mass media. In the San Francisco area, radio stations announced Rathayaträ, and the newspapers publicized the events of the festival preparations and parade. All across North America the new Rädhä-Kåñëa album is being offered over the radio. T.V. interviews and newsreel flashes are spreading this process of going “Back to Godhead” to every heart and ear. Whatever the vehicle, you are bringing all out of the darkness of mundane sense gratification and into the nectar of glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We can even become transcendental businessmen and distribute incense made by devotees just for spreading your glories everywhere. Just by this incense distribution alone so many more souls are becoming aware of this Kåñëa consciousness movement. All this mercy is just to make the world conscious that Kåñëa is the best and only worshipable object and that everyone should engaged in His service. This is all for your pleasure, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Sunday feast is so blissful. The cooks begin Lord Jagannatha’s preparations Saturday evening and engage into the night. By your unlimited causeless mercy we arise for another Sunday feast anticipating the day’s program. Kåñëa’s floors are waxed and walls scrubbed. Çréla Prabhupäda, all these temples should be the most opulent places of worship. Please help us always to do the needful in keeping Kåñëa’s temples spotless. <i>Dotis </i>are fresh, and heads are always shaved, except on Ekädaçé. As soon as guests arrive they receive full greetings and are engaged in hearing Kåñëa’s pastimes, viewing these sublime literatures and cleaning, painting or helping serve the feast. All attend ecstatic feast <i>ärätrika. </i>Our lecture program is followed by a transcendental play or slide show. Plays done for your pleasure are always so nice. Always there are nice varieties of <i>prasädam </i>for Lord Jagannatha. After the feast relished in bliss, many continue listening to the devotees, some explore <i>Kåñëa Books </i>and <i>Bhägavatams, </i>and the rest attend an <i>ärätrika</i> some Sundays going for two hours. All glories to your inconceivable mercy. Godbrothers are always after feast relishing so much this Kåñëa consciousness, and when there is more <i>prasädam</i> than is taken it is offered to surrounding communes which now relish the devotees’ Sunday visits. This Sunday feast is such an exciting vehicle for spreading this ocean of mercy, and it would be so nice to expand this program.</p>
<p class="p7">Offering flowers in love and devotion for the pleasure of Their Lordships Jagannatha, Subhadrä, Balaräma and Govinda is such a nice engagement. It is so exciting making you a flower garland, Çréla Prabhupäda. All these devotional services are cleansing our wretched hearts and minds. Cleaning the most blessed <i>Vyasäsana</i> and touching a pure devotee’s pillow seat is purifying to the heart.</p>
<p class="p7">One Sunday in June, San Quentin Prison, where murderers are put to death, and where society’s hardest core criminals are sent, was blessed by the divine appearance of Çréla Prabhupäda’s potency, manifested by Lord Chaitanya’s <i>saìkértana</i> party. We found them totally receptive to your message, and they very eagerly received your literatures and a copy of the Rädhä-Kåñëa album to play over the prison radio station. They all took part in the unlimited mercy of Your Divine Grace by chanting the <i>Mahamantra</i>. Sanätana Gosvämé, while in prison, told the prisoners they were fortunate not being associated with worldly life. We are all prisoners in this material world, and Your Divine Grace holds the key which frees us from lust, greed, anger, birth, old age and disease. The key is this Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>. We are always praying for your unlimited mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">It is the natural desire of the soul to serve the Deity. The Deity is Kåñëa, the only enjoyer and the only object of love. The Supreme Lord, out of His special love for His pure devotee, allows Himself to be served by everyone by incarnating Himself in the form of the <i>arcä-vigraha</i>. But even in the liberated state the spirit soul never forgets the spiritual master. All service rendered to the Supreme Lord is rendered to the spiritual master eternally. All glories to our eternal spiritual father, for it only is by your complete love of God that we are enabled to render any devotional service, and only by your accepting our offensive acts of devotion are they made acceptable to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, all glories to the highest recipient of Kåñëa’s nectarean ocean of love. The most kind and welcoming doorkeeper of Kåñëa’s eternal abode, Çréla Prabhupäda, who is always beckoning, with an immeasurable smile, us, helpless and wretched wanderers, caught up in the spokes of the wheels of <i>saàsara</i> to enter. You are begging with a humble heart that we forsake all false claims of enjoyment and proprietorship at the threshold and simply surrender unto the lotus feet of Väsudeva. Our previous masters (of lust, anger and greed) for crores of years may demand some service, for one who seeks shelter in Kåñëa’s house, the others become likened to the jackals in the forest.</p>
<p class="p7">By your causeless mercy you have forced open our eyes, which were clouded by ignorance, and by your mercy we can surrender our self, mind and body at your lotus feet. When one becomes initiated as your disciple it is understood that he will become unflinching in his<span class="s5"> </span>devotion to your lotus feet. If I could just develop a drop of appreciation for your kindness and tolerance for me, my heart would <span class="s5">be </span>in pain 24 hours a day. No one can ever leave your lotus feet after you have accepted him as your disciple because he is bound by love.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda! How Jagannatha Puré Loves You! Please accept all our obeisances, although they are most worthless, on this most auspicious day in the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p7">From Your Eternal Disciples,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—San Francisco</p>
<p class="p49">Keçava / Öhakur Haridäsa / Butatma / Chiranyile / Bakresvar / Janakanath / Satyadeva / Sankarananda / Manibanda / Pat / Sanchmana / John Snow / Richard Melton / Richard / Ted / Gene / Devarshi / Killy / Visal / Lochan / Satyadevi / Kunti Devi / Devahuti / Dayanidi / Laurence / Yudisthir</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Columbus</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Columbus</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>COLUMBUS ISKCON<br>
ÇRÉ VYÄS PÜJÄ HOMAGE</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, our spiritual master and the qualified bona fide personal representative of the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa, in this age. Who is like unto our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda? When we were all drowning in the ocean of death, His Divine Grace alone came with the transcendental message of back home, back to Godhead. And thusly the ghastly fires of materialism are not only reduced to ashes but are transformed into the sun rays of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">At our temple in Columbus, Ohio, we are trying to be of some service to His Divine Grace in presenting this overpowering Truth to the world of Kali Age: that the central figure in existence is the Absolute Personality of Godhead whose moonlike face outcharms millions of Cupids and whose supreme status is reserved for the loving service of His instrumental parts and parcels, which alone can touch Him: Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare. Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">And so our temple’s activities are an attempt to pursue His Divine Grace’s instructions: a <i>bhakti-yoga </i>club at Ohio State University, high school class lectures in the Columbus area, credit courses at other area Ohio campuses, and a program with the Cleveland Temple to present large Kåñëa conscious festivals at the different Ohio colleges. We are undertaking a massive redecorating project at our temple and then we will invite different groups of people to come there and, in the association of devotees, to hear about the ultimate and most important end of human activity: Lord Kåñëa, His service and transcendental features.</p>
<p class="p7">We also have <i>saìkértana </i>party downtown at the Ohio State Capitol Building, and there <i>Back to Godhead Magazine </i>is distributed. We of course have the daily schedule of classes and <i>ärätrika </i>ceremony and <i>prasädam </i>program. And we can see the potency of devotional service in so far as there are always people coming to and calling the temple to learn about Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">In these and many many more, ever-increasing ways, we pray and aspire to please, O Çréla Prabhupäda, be allowed entry into Your service and let us do our fullest and best, to make Lord Chaitanya’s movement a roaring success. All glories to His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. Please accept our most reverential and humble obeisances.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Columbus</p>
<p class="p49">David Prabhu / Reno Prabhu / Mike Prabhu / Will Prabhu / Bob Prabhu / Jananivasa däsa / Greg and Dhoti Prabhus / Little Mike Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">All Glory to You, our beloved <i>guru</i>, whose pure love of Çré Kåñëa awakens the hearts of those near His divine instructions … You, Çréla Prabhupäda, the great personality, the most dear to Lord Kåñëa on the earth … You who display the teachings of Lord Caitanya, dissipating the long-felt loneliness of us here.</p>
<p class="p7">As we deeply appreciate You more, Çréla Prabhupäda, true knowledge is revealed; as true knowledge is revealed, we appreciate You more deeply.</p>
<p class="p7">We hug at Your holy leg like little children, seeking shelter of God.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glory to Your providential appearance with Your Guru Mahäräja;</p>
<p class="p7">All Glory to Your divine appearance in the Western World;</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Your glorious appearance day, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p49">Rsavdeva Däsa adhikäré Adhikaré / Shivani devi dasi / Dru Prabhu / David Brahmacharya / Indumati devi dasi / Kalyani devi dasi / Vaidyanath das / Kapiladev das Brahmacari / Richard brahmacäré / Suruchi dasi / Tajh Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Washington, D.C.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Washington, D.C.</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept this offering on Your appearance day.</p>
<p class="p7">Satisfaction, knowledge and bliss will only come when You are eternally manifest in our hearts and lives by service unto Your, Divine lotus feet. By Your mercy You have taken us under Your protection, and with infinite patience You are teaching us the principles of devotional service unto Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa. We are most obdurate and fallen, unqualified to be called students of such a swan of God. We are trying to understand that actually You are the one pushing on this <i>saìkértana </i>movement, and that by Your kindness You are giving us work to assist You. But in truth You need no assistance. You are complete by Your complete surrender to the Complete, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is like a rain cloud, deriving mercy from Kåñëa’s ocean and graciously raining that mercy down upon the miserable conditioned souls suffering in the fires of material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">You left Våndävana just to please Your Guru Mahäräja. The inexplicable miracle of Your journey leaves us dumbfounded with gratitude which cannot be repaid even through <i>lacs</i> and <i>crores </i>of lifetimes of service. We have come to You for selfish reasons, impersonalists all, but Your infinite, selfless devotion unto Çré Gauräìga is now our inspiration. We have only one prayer—please give us the strength to serve You without cessation eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">We prostrate ourselves at Your lotus feet with blades of grass between our teeth, awaiting Your divine command. <i>Jayate!</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Washington, D.C.</p>
<p class="p49">Damodara das Adhikary / Patita Pavana das Adhikari / Michael McLaughlin / Tom Morrison / Emily Marsh / Måganetri devi dasi / Tosan Kåñëa das / Gulab dasi / Robert Geiger / Patrick Cooksey</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prayers by the Inhabitants of New Dvärakä Upon the Arrival of Çréla Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Oh, dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, beloved child of Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, we do fall on the ground at Your feet, offering all prostrations and respects unto You. For so long we have heard the glories of Your activities, and Your name has been heard from the lips of the whole world. Our work for You is a labor of love; and our pining in Your absence has stimulated this ecstasy, felt now, in Your presence.</p>
<p class="p7">By Your desire alone we have come together to hear the <i>sadhus</i> who can cut into pieces the network of illusory affection in the material world, to glorify the Lord Çré Kåñëa by recitation of the holy name, to remember always that we are naught but dust at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">This gift you have brought us of hearing, chanting and remembering is proof of Your love for us. Who else has ever come here—to the play-yard of jackals and snakes—where men are animals and sin is the motto for material life? And yet You have strode in with <i>daëòa </i>and robes—chasing the darkness from every corner of our hearts with the power of the holy name—Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Now we receive You into our midst with joy and unbounded affection. With our hearts we have bathed clean the streets of the city. We have garlanded all of the cows and decorated every door. With our mind’s eye we have seen every path lined with palm branches and jeweled elephants. Within each home waits a feast prepared just for You.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the light and the life of our every moment. Knowledge of the Absolute has descended to us through You; thus You are the embodiment of all perfection. <i>Hare Näma</i> has arrived at our ears on account of Your mercy; thus You are the harbinger of all auspiciousness. Cleanliness, austerity, truthfulness and nonviolence are Your companions; thus You are the one source for our safety, purity, and eventual return to the kingdom of God.</p>
<p class="p7">We find that there is no fear, so long as we chant the holy name—for the name Himself spreads the glories of eternal life within our hearts. And there is no darkness, so long as we stand in the illumination of Your instructions, which guide us from the forest of illusion to the pastures of Våndävana. We see no opposition to spreading this holy life, for You are the boldest king of all. You have come to fight the most ferocious battle against forgetfulness of His lotus feet. Your troops are dancing Vaiñëavas, and Your weapon is the Absolute Truth.</p>
<p class="p7">There is no fear, for You are the spiritual master of the universe. You are the glasses by which our blinded eyes may see the footprints of the Lord Govinda’s lotus feet. And You have promised that because we are fools, we need not attempt to study Vedanta: “You go on chanting this Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>, and it will make you all-perfect.”</p>
<p class="p7">So we welcome You humbly to our city of New Dvärakä. We beg You to engage us in the service of His lotus feet. And if You are satisfied, then stay with us eternally, just to enliven us in the matter of going back to Home, Back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Householders</b></p>
<p class="p49">Nagapatni, Tradhis, Janmastami / Vikramini, Babrubahan / Sachi Devi, Karandhar / Santanandi, Romharsan / Nandarani, Dayananda, Chandramukhi, Vilasimi / Suchitra, Gajendra, Purnima / Sarala devi, Karunasindhu, Ananga / Krsnakanti, Herapancami / Jayatirtha, Ujjala, Gopal Bhatta das / Vrindaban Chandra, Vidarba Kanya / Kanupriya, Chaitanya dasi / Dasi, Baba, Govinda dasi</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Women</b></p>
<p class="p49">Poulastini Devi Dasi / Erin McHugh / Dru Meier / Becky Rusho Lilashakti / Nandalal / Freda Tepfer / Tungabadra / Chintomini / Carol O’Brien / Sheelavati / Tulsi Devi / Påsni / Joanne McNamara / Suniti Devi</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Men</b></p>
<p class="p49">Chidananda / Madhukantha / Siddesvar / Romesvar / Philip / Paramesvari / Bhutanath / Trilochana / Jangarama / Pierre / Upadaliya / Pipalai / Larry / Premarnava / Srivas / Sarvabhouma / Riktananda</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are completely unworthy of Your mercy. Our life, which was once a stagnant pool of material lust, by Your blessing has become an ocean of transcendental nectar of devotion. Your greatness is only understood by the Supreme Lord, and simply by His mercy upon the fallen He has sent You to deliver us. We pray at Your lotus feet to be constantly engaged in your service, and that is the only way we can hope to show some of the gratitude you are due.</p>
<p class="p7">108 times a hundred thousand times a million Glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, for making Yourself so readily available through Your books. You are Kåñëa’s mercy personified and are offering the whole world eternal life at the lotus feet of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">O eternal spiritual father, You are the true representative of <i>Bhagavata-dharma </i>and are defeating the atheist with Your pure love and perfect knowledge. You have delivered <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>to the Western world, and from <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>we return:</p>
<p class="p7">“We think that we have met your goodness by the will of providence just to accept you as captain of the ship which desires to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” (<i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, 7.1.22) You have given us life, Çréla Prabhupäda. By Your mercy alone can we advance in Kåñëa consciousness. Please help us so that we may use every moment fully in Your loving service.</p>
<p class="p7">By Your mercy the world, so full of quarrel, hypocrisy and strife, is being benedicted by Çré Kåñëa’s <i>Saìkértana yajïa. </i>Through You Lord Caitanya’s desire is fulfilled as the holy name is spread to every town, village and city in the world. As the touchstone transforms base iron to gold, Your infinite love for Govinda is transforming this godless society to Vaikuntha. With perfectly realized knowledge You pry <i>mäyä</i> from our hearts. Please make us receptive to Your causeless, ceaseless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">In disciplic succession from the most stalwart pure devotees You have come. You are <i>jagad-guru, </i>spiritual master for this entire universe. You alone have given us the most glorious name, which pierces the hard interknitting knot of material attraction. You are Mahäbhägavata and exemplify the teachings of <i>Bhagavad gétä.</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.</p>
<p class="p16">“They are always engaged in chanting My glories. Endeavoring with great determination, offering homage unto Me, they worship Me with great devotion.” [<i>Bg.</i> 9.13-14]</p>
<p class="p16">“For anyone Who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.</p>
<p class="p16">“There is no servant in this world more dear to Me, than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” <i>(Bhagavad-gétä</i>, 18.68-69)</p>
<p class="p7">Our fervent prayer is to have eternal service at Your lotus feet. Without You we stay in total darkness. You bear the torch of knowledge. Please pry open our eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Buffalo</p>
<p class="p49">Çréman Rupänuga Däsa Adhikäré / Çrématé Kalindé Däsé / Frank Tortorice / Richard Witkowski / Lee Seibert / Val Menchetti / Phillip Hetzel / Sean Hobgood / Tim Lee / Jim Cameron / Mark Mansour / Kirtikä Devé Däsé / Laura Jaffe / Sandy Woods / Marilyn Valier / Stephan Raisz / Stephen Mansour / Caroline Mansour / Mark Shaller / David Perry / Kathy Stiffler / Tejiyasa Däsa adhikäré / Pat Hall / Kathy Hall / Guëagrahe Däsa / Robert Noland / Gene Laska / David Olson / Larry Kelly</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Sydney &amp; Melbourne</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Sydney &amp; Melbourne</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Upon one subcontinent in that subcelestial region about thirty souls were mired, who, due to ignorance, were, dancing a ghastly ballet of degradation. Day after day they would sleep like bears, eat like hogs, have sex like cats, fight like dogs, then brag about it like the frogs. So fallen were they that because, it offended Your taste, You picked them up with a loving hand and kind words, and at length they aspired to serve in Sydney <i>Yäträ</i> at the feet of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">You even visited this <i>Yäträ</i> during the past year to teach that Kåñëa is far away, yet by serving His friend, the <i>Guru</i>, we can reach that Spiritual Sky, with no more difficulty than it takes to turn one’s face from the darkness to the light!</p>
<p class="p7">We remember the installation ceremony of Rädhä and Kåñëa <i>murtés</i>. You were biting Your lower lip while dressing Them so carefully after Their bath in milk. We remember Your renaming Tamarama Road, Harer Näma Road. We remember Your saying, “This Australia has no culture, so we will give them Kåñëa consciousness.” We remember, when asked, “What practical good is chanting Hare Kåñëa,” Your answering firmly, “It saves you from death!” We remember Your explaining how the now Jewish people were once known as the dynasty of Yadu, and how 5,000 years ago this planet, Bhärata, was peaceful and prosperous under the direction of the <i>brähmaëas </i>and the saintly kings, Parékñit and Yudhiñöhira. And finally we remember Your reading in the purport to Text <span class="s3">18</span>, 4<span class="s7">th</span> Chapter, 2nd Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam: </i>“A Vaiñëava is powerful enough to turn into a Vaiñëava even the Kirätas (Africans), Äbhéras (Muslims), Yavanas (Turks), Khasädayas (Chinese), etc.,” and saying, “The scientists and philosophers—why do they not come to learn this great science of Kåñëa consciousness? They are not successful in bringing peace to the world, but … I THINK WE CAN DO IT.”</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Prabhupäda, never has a great soul such as Yourself appeared to us before, and we are only praying that our remembrances of Your loving attitude sustain us in Your continued service life after life, just as, when wandering along a bleak and desolate highway, one sees lotus petals on the way and knows that he is nearing the journey’s end, that he is finally approaching Våndävana, where Kåñëa is eternally manifest as Çyamasundara, in abodes built of spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, and always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of <i>gopés</i>, or cowmaidens.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Prabhupäda, never has one such as Yourself appeared to us, and we are only praying that our remembrances of Your Transcendental pastimes sustain us in Your continued service. Just as a traveler, weary to death, might suddenly see a familiar landmark and know that, finally, after so many difficulties, and having almost lost the way, he is near to his home, similarly, Prabhupäda, never let us forget You and the heartening remembrance that You and Kåñëa are our only friends.</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>ISKCON—Sydney</p>
<p class="p49">Caru das brahmacari / Dipak das Adhikary / Acharya das brahmacari / Kurma das brahmacari / Bhajana Bhi das brahmacari / Des Prabhu / Baibabi Devi / Kåñëa Premi Devi / Rishav Devi / Govinda Nandini Devi / Govinda Mohini Devi / Rasarani Devi / Ragunattha das Adhikari / Ajit das brahmacari / Vegavan das brahmacari / Nirmal Kuman das brahmacari / Nartaki devi dasi / Padmavati devi dasi / Gourangi devi dasi</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Melbourne</p>
<p class="p49">Upendra das Adhikari / Chitraleka devi dasi / Upananda das Adhikari / Ahoula devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p12">A gift so priceless as a pure devotee<br>
Has sailed from India to set us free<br>
With knowledge, love and a very soft heart<br>
He is serving the world the holy names<br>
So that Godly life can again start.</p>
<p class="p7">An expert gardener can transform the most desolate and rocklike ground into a splendorous garden of Eden. With patience and constant love and care, he can change the barren surface into a thick bed of moist soil, perfectly suitable for nurturing an enchanting oasis filled with variegated fruits and flowers.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You are a transcendental gardener who has come to cultivate the dry, dirty and stonelike hearts so that the eternal seed of devotional service can be planted. With few facilities, but unlimited love and care, You have caused this devotional creeper to blossom within our hearts. This plant is priceless, for its fragrance transcends all the three worlds. For such a gift we feel we can never repay You.</p>
<p class="p12">O Guru Mahäräja our souls do reach<br>
To give you love as we instruct and preach<br>
To all living beings whoever they may be<br>
So they too may taste Your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Your knowledge glows like ocean waves and pounds over Maya’s shore. Your love tide rises and abruptly destroys sand castle illusion dreams and then carries us out into Your mercy ocean.</p>
<p class="p7">We look back and see all seaweed-like material impurities remaining on the shore as we wade all day and ride back to Godhead on your waves of devout love. You have kindly dragged us off the hot beach and cooled our burning bodies in your nectarean water. For such a gift we feel we can never repay you.</p>
<p class="p12">O Guru Mahäräja, our souls do reach<br>
To give your love as we instruct and preach<br>
To all living beings whoever they may be<br>
So they too may taste your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p12">You have nursed us to life with motherly affection.<br>
The milk you fed us is nourishing a life of perfection.<br>
You teach us patiently as if raising a newborn child<br>
In order to help us control our senses as they run wild.</p>
<p class="p12">You are dragging our minds from the residence of crows<br>
By giving us a place as nice as Your lotus toes.<br>
O my master, father, teacher and eternal friend,<br>
Your potency brings material life to an end.</p>
<p class="p12">O delicate saint as gentle as a newly blossomed flower,<br>
All your energy is engaged in serving Kåñëa hour upon hour.<br>
Your Divine presence can neutralize all our sinful reactions,<br>
And thus by Your Grace Rädhä and Kåñëa become the object of all our attractions.</p>
<p class="p12">O Çréla Prabhupäda, we owe You our lives and nothing less<br>
By Kåñëa’s mercy You’ve come and we’ve been blessed.<br>
Yet, fallen as we are, we only appreciate what you do,<br>
And therefore our only repayment is in the words,<br>
Thank You.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants eternally indebted to You,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Vancouver</p>
<p class="p49">Mahatma Das Adhikary / Mahesvari Devi Dasi / Suklumbar Das Brahmacary / Rabindra Das / Mayavati Devi / Bala Krsna Das Brahmacary / Bob Prabhu / Bhumna Das Brahmacary / Andrea Kellerman / Bob Prabhu / Paramisvari Das / Mike Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. The ocean of mercy is Kåñëa, and because the spiritual master is a fully surrendered soul, he is linked up with Kåñëa in a bond of love.</p>
<p class="p7">Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material life. Sometimes we see a blazing forest fire. The flames are so strong that no one can go to put them out, nor can anyone escape. We are all burning in the fire of repeated birth and death—who can put out the anxiety? Who can escape? We have only to wait for the rain of mercy coming from the lotus lips of our beloved spiritual master. He alone can extinguish the fire. For we are so foolish that we have not the desire to escape. Burning in the flame of false ego, overcome with pride as soon as we forget his divine lotus feet, only by thinking of our beloved gurudeva can we deem ourselves lower than straw in the street. When will that day be mine, by his divine mercy, that my mind will seek no other shelter than his lotus feet?</p>
<p class="p7">Constantly hearing the message of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, His Divine Grace, the pure ray of Viñëu love, has come chanting the holy names of Hare, Kåñëa and Räma. Melting our hearts with <i>bhagavat-prasädam</i>, the apostle of love is preparing us to know, love and to serve Rädhä and Kåñëa. No other soul could tell of the pastimes of the divine couple, so unlucky I’ve no taste for relishing the nectar of their transcendental pastimes. Still, by his causeless mercy even we are being engaged in Rädhä-Kåñëa devotional service. Let us all honor the lotus feet of the most confidential servitor of Çré Hari. Without His Divine Grace, no one can make any spiritual advancement.</p>
<p class="p7">What is the question of anyone’s finding freedom from the three ropes of material nature outside of the disciplic succession. For how can a cloud furnish water on its own? Only by his divine benediction can we receive Kåñëa’s mercy. Therefore at least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. Please accept this must unworthy Vyäs Püjä offering from your Chicago Temple. Begging for some insignificant service,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Chicago</p>
<p class="p39">Bahulasva Das<br>
President</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to His Divine.Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda on this His most Holy appearance day (Vyäs Püjä).</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>“In every town and village,” Lord Caitanya said, “people will know My name.” And now, after five hundred years have passed, that opportunity has come. It has come to us, your fallen worthless servants in Atlanta Yäträ, solely through your divine causeless mercy. When we were lost in the grip of Kali-yuga, drowning in the ocean of demoniac mentality, you found us. You set flowing the river of nectar. In sweet words you told of God, the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa<span class="s5">, </span>that we were all His eternal servants, part and parcels, and that if we wanted to be happy we should simply start acting again in that constitutional position. You came vibrating the sublime spiritual sound Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare and told us if we could simply chant it with you we could fully counteract all our past unholy association. To us so filled up with impersonal void philosophy and unclean consciousness, it sounded somewhat strange, but you made it so attractive, how could we resist? Your Divine Grace is presenting this message of Lord Caitanya so clearly and purely that all the world will surely be attracted. We are totally undeserving of this great favor that you have shown us. Like Jagai and Madhai, we were only typical examples of this age, covered up by the modes of passion and ignorance. How could we understand the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya? But Lord Çré Kåñëa placed us into illusion, and now through Your Divine Grace He is so kindly removing it. Still we are so impure and fallen. Our service is so full of fault, and we are yet so inexpert in executing Your Divine Grace’s blissful all-merciful orders. But because we make some fumbling effort, Your Divine Grace continues to engage us in the all-cleansing service of the transcendental Lord. And, you even allow us to participate in the ecstatic spreading of this sublime Lord Caitanya saìkértana movement. Every day we see it growing around us, and we are amazed at Your Divine Grace’s power and love which has its direct source in the Supreme Lord Himself. That love coming through Your Divine Grace is the force behind this movement, and it is solely responsible for all of our successes. If only we can execute your orders, that love and mercy will be present, and it will benedict everyone. It is all so astoundingly wonderful! We are so inadequate, fallen and puffed-up, but you see through it all and love us as spirit souls. How can we ever repay such kindness? Please do not be offended by our stonelike hearts and rebellious natures. Kindly, just allow us to continue to happily serve Your Divine Grace so that in some lifetime through Your causeless mercy we might be able to surrender at Your lotus feet. O Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the most confidential intimate servitor and representative of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. To your Divine Grace, who is so selflessly and mercifully spreading the rays of the benediction moon of the Lord Caitanya <i>Saìkértana</i> movement, our humble, respectful, fallen obeisances are unto you.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Atlanta</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>jaya om viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad bhaktivedänta gosvämé mahäräja ki jaya</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Dear and Merciful Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our <i>daëòavats</i> at Your lotus feet. Your lotus feet are the reservoir of mercy for all fallen souls like ourselves where we can bathe in the cool and soothing ocean of devotion and extinguish the burning holocaust of material sense enjoyment. We are fallen rebels trying to exist without serving Kåñëa, but You have captured us with Your Kåñëa consciousness movement, Çréla Prabhupäda, and have stirred up within our covered hearts a desire to relish service at Your lotus feet. Your love for us is beyond any reason, Çréla Prabhupäda. How can You love us so much, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">If You had not come we would be rotting in the competitive wheel of supremacy, reeking with false ego and pride, with love for no one else but ourselves and immediate associates. But why have You left everything and come here? We did not even know the meaning of the holy person. Why have You come to such a place, Çréla Prabhupäda, and embraced us? You came and soothed our burning minds with the nectarean ocean of Hare Kåñëa and fed us delicious Kåñëa <i>prasädam</i>. Then You raised Your arms magnificently, and it was as if we were being lifted from the darkest hole in the material creation into the blazing sunlight. You have dressed us in eternal spiritual garb, and You have put garlands on us. In our mouths You have put the rose water that has touched the lotus feet of the Lord, and You have moved our arms to the <i>mådaìga </i>and thus commanded the attention of the world to the power and glory of the holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">What was there to speak about before You came? What did we have to say to anyone? Now by Your inconceivable mercy we can understand that eternal link of service that exists between every creature in the creation. Çréla Prabhupäda, Your kindness upon us is paining our hearts because we think that we shall never be able to love You so much in return. But we are trying to propagate <i>saìkértana </i>all over the midwest for Your pleasure. Lord Kåñëa has given us a very beautiful temple in a well respected part of the city, and whenever we have ecstatic <i>kértanas </i>on the front lawn all the cars slow down, and many pull over to watch. The devotees bring them trays of blissful <i>prasädam, </i>and some even venture out and dance with us.</p>
<p class="p7">Every day Your <i>vyäsäsana</i> is cleaned nicely, and during <i>kértanas </i>we longingly eye Your seat and hope that someday soon You will come and sit there and we will all sit below You at Your feet and listen to Your nectarean words with rapt attention.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Guru Mahäräj has instructed You to introduce Kåñëa conscious literature to the western world, so every day we go on <i>saìkértana </i>and put all of the collections into Your literature funds. Çréla Prabhupäda, we are feeling so inadequate! We are praying to Lord Kåñëa to please give us more understanding of what will give You satisfaction. What could we have ever possessed before that kept us from surrendering to Your auspicious smile of bliss, to come and dance in ecstasy and to hear about the wonderful activities of the Lord Kåñëa? Somewhere from in our covered hearts we are seeing a bud of devotion growing, and we are just hoping that it may one day flower, and that Your lotus feet will walk across them.</p>
<p class="p7">You have created a transcendental army, armed with <i>mådaìgas </i>and <i>karatälas</i> and devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and You, His most pure devotee, and we are feeling inspired to traverse this planet and smash the illusion of atheism and voidism. All glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda. But for You we would have no courage and strength, but by Your grace we can feel like lions and preach anywhere and everywhere the message of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>as You have taught us. May every word that we speak be pleasurable to You, Çréla Prabhupäda; may every action of our mind and body be pleasing to You. Only by Your grace can we be budged from our timeless entanglement in material affairs and relish pure unalloyed service to You.</p>
<p class="p7">Because we are so fallen, Çréla Prabhupäda, we cannot glorify You properly, but we are begging that You accept this Vyäs Püjä offering and be pleased upon us.</p>
<p class="p7">We remain eternally Your servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Detroit</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>THE EARTH FOR KRSNA</b></p>
<p class="p7">Vyäs Püjä, 1971</p>
<p class="p12">Of the heavenly city in America,<br>
Of the importation of the eternally new,<br>
Of the lotus-decked land of Kåñëa, Våndävana,<br>
Of the happy land of peacocks, <i>kadamba</i><span class="s8"><i> </i></span>trees, ferns, lakes, cows,<br>
Of Their Lordships Rädhä-Kåñëa,<br>
Of New Våndävana and its advent in these Western hills,<br>
Of these, the gifts of Your heart, O Spiritual Master,<br>
We chant and glorify.</p>
<p class="p12">Community, brotherhood, nature, love—once vapors, dreams—<br>
These You have concretized and embedded<br>
In the reality of service at His feet.<br>
Now nirväëa’s blown out, liberation’s kicked away<br>
By the beautiful feet of the Boy of Våndävana.<br>
You gave us His picture and told us His name<br>
And said, “Yearn for Him and be happy.<br>
Serve Him and love Him, and build villages and temples for Him.”</p>
<p class="p12">Seven temples You have planned on Govardhana,<br>
Temples rising from the grassy hills and tulip trees,<br>
Pinnacles to the clouds, the Deities’ abode,<br>
In celebration of the lovely cowherd Boy.</p>
<p class="p12">Cows on the hills, their bells ringing, their serene lowing,<br>
Cows dozing, whishing the flies with their tails,<br>
Cows staring, chewing, ambling their paths to the fresh grasses,<br>
Lotus-eyed cows, lovely elegant ladies,<br>
Fat, pregnant cows, brimming with milk,<br>
Docile, calm, gentle cows, Kåñëa’s cows,<br>
Your cows, Çréla Prabhupäd,<br>
Happy in New Våndävana, free from the hands of the butchers,<br>
Free from Kali’s bloody hand, from his merciless knives.<br>
O that we could save them all! Round them all up and bring them here<br>
To serve their milk in New Våndävana.<br>
Cows for Kåñëa! Acres for Kåñëa! Land! Grains! Cows!<br>
O let’s restore the earth for Him!</p>
<p class="p12">Poor earth, poor cow we’ve always kicked and beaten!<br>
Milk for Kåñëa! The earth itself for Kåñëa!<br>
The same old rolling, copious, generous earth,<br>
Transformed, transfigured by His smile, His words,<br>
Into spiritual land, into a new Våndävana.<br>
Lift us, O great Master, to Thy visionary heights!<br>
One song! One scripture! One God! One work!<br>
Hare Kåñëa! <i>Bhagavad-gétä! </i>Kåñëa! Våndävana!<br>
The earth for Kåñëa! The worlds for Kåñëa! Our hearts for Kåñëa! Now!<br>
Grant us to serve as midwives to Your dream,<br>
To build anew with all eyes turned to Him,<br>
To erect temples, hamlets, cities, nations,<br>
To forge materials into real spirituals,<br>
In tribute to Him You love, in consciousness of Him.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p49">Kértanänanda Swami / Hayagriva / Shamadasi / Paramananda / Satyabhama / Premananda / Samba / Ranadhir / Sandini / Bhagavatananda / Jimini / Devakinanda / Shutadunya / Girish / Birbhadra / Jitendria / Jerrie / Labungalatik / Bill / Ken / Dick / Vince / Linda / Dr. George Henderson / Edward / Ned / David / Arthur / Anthony / Elizabeth / Lynn / Jo Anne / Ricardo / Susan / Evelyn / Darlene</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p18">VYÄS PÜJÄ OFFERING—Cleveland ISKCON<br>
FOR ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA—A MOST INADEQUATE OFFERING</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">On this most auspicious Vyäs Püjä day, we offer our repeated obeisances and prostrations unto the lotus feet of our wonderful swanlike wandering mendicant spiritual master, His Divine Grace 108 Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we are worthless beggars at Your lotus feet, deserving so little, yet receiving so much. To please You, to make You smile, that is our life. We are fallen so far, yet by Your causeless mercy You have given us a new life, a way to live, a guide to follow. Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, give us the courage, the knowledge, and the faith to follow purely.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You have given us all we know. Without You, we are all adrift, alone in this world of darkness and death. You are so kind that You have even given us the ways and means to serve You and please You. So please now accept this meager offering and guide us as Your puppets back home to the shelter of unalloyed devotion, helpless at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servants in ISKCON-Cleveland,</p>
<p class="p49">Çré Govinda Däsa Adhikäré / Çrélekha devi dasi / Leon Prabhu / Woody Prabhu / Debbie Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p7">VYÄS PÜJÄ OFFERING TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>“A Family of Love, A Society of Trust”</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Presented unto the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">As servants of Your Divine Grace located at your ISKCON branch in Philadelphia, we as a transcendental family beg to offer our most humble obeisances unto you.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>jaya om viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad bhaktivedänta gosvämé mahäräja ki jaya</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Gaura premänanda hari haribol</i></p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉ GURU AND GAURÄÌGA!<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">These one hundred and eight lines of praise of your Kåñëa consciousness movement are being offered unto the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace for your pleasure. Our poem is a plea that all men become Kåñëa conscious. You are the seed-giving father of our spiritual family. You fulfill the most confidential and cherished desires, for the greatest yearning of the soul is unalloyed devotion to Kåñëa. We offer all homage and respects unto you again and again because your movement of Kåñëa consciousness is so sublime. </p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p18">Çré Çré Vyäs Püjä Day.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>I.<br>
</b>For millions of years of recycled births,<br>
In heavens and hells and in-between earths,<br>
In the bodies of creatures I’ve been forced to appear,<br>
To be struck down by nature vanquished in fear!</p>
<p class="p12"><b>II.<br>
</b>In what shape will it be that my desires dictate<br>
That I must come again, O what is my fate?<br>
In which concocted material form<br>
Shall I pretend to enjoy till by death I am torn!</p>
<p class="p12"><b>III.<br>
</b>A lion, a bedbug, a she-ass, a snake,<br>
Which body will Nature desire me to take,<br>
If I pass thinking of dog, I get dog body next,<br>
All due to lust, anger and greed (and addiction to sex).</p>
<p class="p12"><b>IV.<br>
</b>After eight millions of births did Nature send<br>
This spirit soul human birth to return once again<br>
To that natural state of God consciousness<br>
If but to service to Kåñëa I can but say, “Yes!”</p>
<p class="p25"><b>V.<br>
</b>So in the womb of some mother trapped by gasses and urine<br>
I am forced to accept bites from my brothers, the worms,<br>
Uncomfortable am I, feet over head,<br>
If I assumed that position now I’d be dead!</p>
<p class="p35"><br></p>
<p class="p25"><b>VI.<br>
</b>I pray, O God, free me from this awkward position,<br>
I’ll serve You forever without any condition.<br>
Once I appear I receive only slaps,<br>
With tears into the nurse’s arms I collapse.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>VII.<br>
</b>And then surrounded by uncles and aunts,<br>
False impressions within my wee mind they implant.<br>
They are thinking they own this poor little boy;<br>
They lead me from God with their desire to enjoy.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>VIII.<br>
</b>As a poet or artist or litterateur,<br>
A stereotyped man I become doomed for sure.<br>
Full of polish and gold but false prestige of a dog,<br>
Accepting rewards like the ass or food like the hog.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>IX.<br>
</b>O what are my chances: a billion to one—<br>
That I’ll gain freedom from false forms of fun?<br>
O, now Çréla Prabhupäda’s come for fallen men’s sake,<br>
And just by His calling all sleeping men wake!</p>
<p class="p12"><b>X.<br>
</b>Sweet satisfaction and bliss emanate from His soul;<br>
And the effects of His remedy shall never let go.<br>
“Just be thou absorbed in Kåñëa <i>bhakti</i>,” He asks.<br>
No price but devotion the fee for His holy task.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XI.<br>
</b>Poor fools who think of this body’s one hundred year span,<br>
As all in all take Him to be an ordinary man,<br>
No cessation achieved from pleasure and pain,<br>
An ordinary man forever to them He remains.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XII.<br>
</b>But those avowed to submission, and pure,<br>
Eternal nectar from the Guru secure,<br>
Freedom from vengeance, anger and hate;<br>
The wise turn from delusion before it’s too late.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XIII<br>
</b>A hungry karmé was I, but He gave me <i>prasäd—<br>
</i>From devotee of <i>mäyä</i> I became devotee of God!<br>
To crows such as this has appeared Kåñëa’s swan;<br>
Back to home! Back to Godhead very soon I’ll be gone!</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XIV<br>
</b>Awake, world of <i>Mäyä</i>! The <i>Äcärya</i>—a prophet-has come,<br>
With a heart a million times more bright than the sun.<br>
“Who is crazy?” He asks, “my disciples are sane.”<br>
Back to the original home without any pain.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XV.<br>
</b>Become addicted to the strong drug of love,<br>
That descends from the Heavens Transcendent Above<br>
Do not mock, laugh or scoff at moon-struck devotees,<br>
“Just chant Hare Kåñëa,” we beg of you please!</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XVI.<br>
</b>Around thy neck the <i>tulasé</i> seed garland please tie,<br>
So that you may be protected from having to die.<br>
Death’s agents are ordered, “Leave Vaiñëavas alone—<br>
Such devotees are pure: Let them all go back Home.”</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XVII.<br>
</b>Decorate your body with the <i>gopi-candana-tilaka</i> clay,<br>
Let others know that unto Kåñëa you pray.<br>
The devotee of Kåñëa purifies any foul place,<br>
Marked with lotus flower, disc, conch shell and mace.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XVIII.<br>
</b>Wear flower garlands which Lord Kåñëa’s worn first,<br>
By sanctifying your body you’re engaged in His service.<br>
Such a soul becomes unconquerable by material energy,<br>
No longer does nature act as his enemy.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>IX.<br>
</b>No man has fallen to such degradation and sin<br>
That one utterance of the name “Kåñëa” cannot purify him.<br>
And one who displays symptoms of bliss such as tears<br>
Burns to ashes sins stocked up for hundreds of thousands of years.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XX.<br>
</b>Wanting our natural duty is called <i>lälasä-mayé</i>,<br>
Fulfillment is in becoming the Lord’s pure devotee.<br>
In worshiping Kåñëa we must learn to cry,<br>
For tickets back to Godhead, loving tears are our price.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXI.<br>
</b>The prayers of <i>Äcäryas</i> can free us from sin,<br>
Trips to the spiritual sky does the pure devotee win.<br>
O, the tongue decorated with prayers of the <i>Gétä</i>!<br>
Daring the soul who worships the Deity.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXII.<br>
</b>When coming to the temple please bring something nice;<br>
If you have no money, then why not flowers, fruit or rice?<br>
If when you come, the Spiritual Sky scents enter your nose,<br>
Then Lord Kåñëa’s Divine form He will from your heart disclose.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXIII.<br>
</b>The four Kumäras—Sanätana, Sananda, Sanaka and Sanat—<br>
Were liberated simply by smelling flowers and incense that<br>
Were first offered to the Deity, who their scent enjoyed.<br>
They changed their minds about the Ultimate being impersonal or void.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXIV.<br>
</b>Rüpa Gosvämé promises that to see the Mürti of Govindadeva<br>
From the courthouse of Yamaräja the lucky viewer is saved.<br>
Even if he is not promoted to Vaikuëöha, still his future’s nice,<br>
For viewing Govinda’s Deity form he is elevated in pious life.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXV.<br>
</b>Adopt the ways of Vaiñëava men,<br>
A spiritual group of true-hearted friends,<br>
Become blessed by Våndävana’s land’s holy dust,<br>
Join in our family of love and of trust.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXVI.<br>
</b>Bruce, Bhugarbha, Bill, Steve, Jerry, Elliot and Tom<br>
Michael, Michael, Michael, Michael, Nayana Bhiram<br>
Mangala Maya., Maha Purusha, Patit Uddharan<br>
All request your blessings as Prabhupäda’s sons.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>XXVII.<br>
</b>Cathy, Connie and I and II Emily<br>
Pray most heartily as Çréla Prabhupäda’s family<br>
Rafael, Gabriel, Bedangi and Daivishakti.<br>
One and all offer prayer to the Deliverer of <i>Bhakti</i>!!!</p>
<p class="p12">P.S. Our dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept<br>
our prayers that we may become pure<br>
devotees of Lord Caitanya’s Saìkértana Movement<br>
simply by taking shelter of You, His representative,<br>
in eternal serving mood.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants in Kåñëa consciousness,<br>
<br>
Your devotees<br>
ISKCON—Philadelphia June 20, 1971</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Wilmington</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Wilmington</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, by your grace we are becoming successful on our march back home, back to Godhead. Surely without Your Divine Grace there is no meaning to our lives.</p>
<p class="p7">We fervently pray for your continued guidance, falling at your feet again and again. Please Çréla Prabhupäda, we beg of Your Divine Grace to accept us eternally as your menial servants.</p>
<p class="p7">By your unlimited mercy our stonelike hearts are growing soft, and we are becoming stronger in spreading Lord Caitanya’s wonderful <i>saìkértana </i>movement.</p>
<p class="p7">May we always strive to taste the dust of your lotus feet, our only shelter. The struggle to serve your lotus feet is the straight path that leads through the narrow gate to the kingdom of God where your feet are dancing and your eyes are looking into the ocean of love.</p>
<p class="p7">So today we would like to offer our lives to you and surrender as your most degraded disciples. Please order us to always keep in the fire of Kåñëa consciousness, the only purpose for living. Let the streets be filled with the glorious chanting of Hare Kåñëa! Let the eternal nectar of Kåñëa <i>premä</i> enter into the hearts of everyone, and let the glories of Lord Gauräìga and Çré Nityänanda be our very breath. Let everyone fall at the feet of Çréla Prabhupäda and take rest from their journey. Tears come and and go as we look towards home, the transcendental abode of eternal bliss and love.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank You, dear Kåñëa, for the rarest gift in all the three worlds, the association of Your pure devotee. Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for bringing us back to life. All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p7">Hare Kåñëa! Your most fallen and worthless servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Wilmington</p>
<p class="p49">Lee Prabhu / Bruce Prabhu / Richard Prabhu / Lalit Kumar and Jambuvati devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Gainesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Gainesville</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are worth taking shelter of because you are completely and forever free from all material desires and you are absorbed in the loving service of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the topmost expert in all branches of Vedic literature, and you are specially glorified because you are actively preaching the sublime conclusion of all Vedic wisdom, unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Person, or Kåñëa consciousness. And because you have personally realized this knowledge by mature experience, your words have boundless transcendental potency, and thus you are able to convince so many others of the real truth, and out of your causeless compassion they also become engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">You have completely taken shelter of your spiritual master, and thus you are fully endowed with all of the courage and grace of the bona fide spiritual master. With your pure intelligence, you can easily navigate the ship of our devotional service through the stormy waters of Kali, and yet by your causeless mercy, the great boat simultaneously remains at the material shore for all the conditioned souls to get on board, and thus you are delivering so many fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">We can understand that your mercy is equally offered to everyone and that you are not partial to anyone. Therefore if one appears to be advancing more quickly than another, it is because he is more readily accepting Your Divine Grace. Therefore we humbly beg Your Divine Grace that we may be more serious in our devotional life, and that, just like an intelligent businessman or politician, we take this golden opportunity the first time around. We beg to offer our most humble obeisances at Your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,<br>
ISKCON—Gainesville</p>
<p class="p49">Hridayananda Däsa Adikari / David Prabhu / Radhavallabh / Gary Prabhu / Judy Travis / Anangamanjari Devi Dasi / Adrienne Liberman</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Our dearmost beloved spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda: “Our respectful obeisances are unto You, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.”</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana</i>, which spreads the rays of the benediction moon. From Your divine lotus lips has come the nectarean instructions of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu—“Preach Kåñëa consciousness. You don’t have to be very learned or scholarly. Just be sincere. Approach people on the streets or knock on their doors and ask them to chant Hare Kåñëa. That’s all.”</p>
<p class="p7">This is the path back to home, back to Godhead—to hear about Kåñëa, to chant His glories, to dance at <i>kértana</i>, to work for Kåñëa, to take Kåñëa <i>prasädam</i>, and to request of everyone that they should join in these most auspicious activities. That is our life and soul. Before, we had been sinking for countless births in a quicksand of <i>mäyä</i>. By <i>mäyä’s</i> dictation we were being forced to work and struggle very hard in a vain attempt at getting some relief from the pain of material contact. But in spite of our efforts, she kept burying us deeper in frustration. But, Çréla Prabhupäda, even though we are obstinate and wish not to see, You are forcing us to open our eyes, blinded by material lust. You have come to this country, which is so overburdened with illicit sex, drugs, flesh eating, and sought only to preach the purest message of love of Godhead. How is it that so many are coming to You, becoming purified and receiving so much benefit? What is Your magic? “My magic is I don’t tell lies! I don’t bluff.” You are so powerful, so merciful, so kind to us fallen conditioned souls. Let us fall prostrate at Your lotus feet and beg for Your guidance. We have no other love, no other desire, no other ambition in life beyond serving You. We pray that we may engage all our mind, body and words undividedly for the pleasure of Your Divine Grace, for if we can somehow please You, then we know that Kåñëa is pleased.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO YOU, ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble and sincere obeisances at Your most transcendental lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants, ISKCON—St. Louis</p>
<p class="p49">Vamandri Das / Jadhavacharya das / Stuart Rose / Sharon Robinette / Eugene L. Baum / Bhadrinarayan das / Michael T. Whelan / Judy A. Fornes / Jayme F. Simmons / Pamela Smith / Richard L. Smith / and Yogamaya / and Mahamaya / John L. Barry / Cathy Barry / and Baladev Das / Pamela R. Perorser / Nancy Robinette / Indira dasi / and Jagganatha Das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Ocean City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Ocean City</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our fully prostrated obeisances unto your lotus feet as we humbly offer our desire to glorify Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O spiritual life of our lives, without you we are stranded in the desert of the material world hopelessly desiring the pure taste in water. Somehow or other, Your Divine Grace has been sent by Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu to freely give us the nectarean <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu </i>and the sweet taste of the holy names. Your Divine Grace, your supreme intelligence is Håñékeça’s plan, which is our oasis of transcendental dependability—we know your lotus instructions are our only stronghold from the allurement of <i>mäyä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace, we understand we have no qualification to offer anything to the Supreme Pure Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa save and except Your Divine Grace’s <i>premä. </i>(Therefore, dear Lord Kåñëa, please help us to meditate upon our spiritual master’s service constantly.)</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Çré Caitanya has created so much devotional service by giving us <i>saìkértana</i>. By the mercy of your Guru Mahäräja you have delivered this sublime gift to us, and now our whole lives’ activities are centered around spreading Your Divine Grace’s message of love of God. To become instruments of spreading your mercy is our only devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">Our dear savior, we cannot conceive nor begin to conceive of your divine glory because you know the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Çré Kåñëa and how to please Him!</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Lord Nåsiàha-deva please accept this prayer for the protection of our beloved spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te narasiàhäya prahlädähläda-däyine<br>
hiraëyakaçipor vakñaù-çilä-öaìka-nakhälaye<br>
ito nåsiàhaù parato nåsiàho<br>
yato yato yämi tato nåsiàhaù<br>
bahir nåsiàho hådaye nåsiàho<br>
nåsiàham ädià çaraëaà prapadye<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Nåsiàha Puräëa</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-çåìgaà<br>
dalita-hiraëyakaçipu-tanu-bhåìgam<br>
keçava dhåta-narahari-rüpa jaya jagadéça hare<br>
jaya jagadéça hare</i> <i>jaya jagadéça hare<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Daçävatära-stotra 4</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Ocean City</p>
<p class="p49">Nandakishore Das / Jahnava Devi Dasi / Robbie / Prabhupada das Brahmacari / Steve Hines / Jane Peatross</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Portland</b></p>
<p class="p12">You have given us a brand new life<br>
Free from hubble-bubble and strife.<br>
In return, you seek no payment or fame<br>
Just that we chant Kåñëa’s Holy Name.<br>
Someday, I pray we’ll let you get it done<br>
The perfect delivery of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p12">A mystery to the speculators and theory makers<br>
Unknown to the hard working laborers,<br>
Kåñëa has come in His Holy Name.<br>
His glories are being spread everywhere<br>
Now that Your Divine Grace has come<br>
To deliver perfectly <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p12">Mundane eyes cannot see why You have come<br>
But a great soul is heard not just looked upon.<br>
Let us be sure not to lose our sight<br>
That You dwell in that which You write.<br>
So I pray that we young lambs<br>
Can someday see why You’ve really come<br>
To deliver perfectly <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p12">Because You are the Giver of Unfathomable Qualities<br>
Just as the rain cloud blesses everything with innumerable rain drops<br>
You have always taught us to control the tongue<br>
And we are just beginning to understand why You’ve come<br>
To deliver perfectly <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Portland</p>
<p class="p49">Danavir Das Adikary / Kamala Devi Dasi / Trilochana däsa adhikäré / Trai Das Adhikary / Visnu Das / Kaàsaré Das / Pramada devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Tuscon</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Tuscon</b></p>
<p class="p7">VYÄS PÜJÄ OFFERING</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
By your holy mercy<br>
You’ve touched our crippled hearts.<br>
O Eternal Father,<br>
our words are too shallow to even<br>
begin to glorify you.<br>
If only I could prostrate myself at your feet and<br>
burst into tears of surrender.<br>
Appreciating your causeless compassion,<br>
Thousands of lost ones are being pulled<br>
from the material vomit<br>
Into the infinite ocean of devotional nectar<br>
that rolls down your cheeks.</p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupäda gave us water,<br>
And it tastes of Kåñëa.<br>
Prabhupäda bade us look at the moon,<br>
And it shines Kåñëa.<br>
Prabhupäda leads us dancing,<br>
And our feet wear wings.<br>
Prabhupäda bade us eat,<br>
And Kåñëa is the grain.<br>
Prabhupäda sends us everywhere<br>
With Kåñëa on our lips.<br>
Prabhupäda has named us,<br>
And so we have been born.<br>
Can we repay this with simple flowers?<br>
Or rosewater at your feet?<br>
Kåñëa could not repay the <i>gopis’</i> love.<br>
We must also claim our inability<br>
To repay the love<br>
That keeps you in this world<br>
For our sake.<br>
All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
a pure devotee of Çré Kåñëa,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Tuscon</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—London</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—London</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the Golden Vaisnava, Jagat Guru, Çréla Prabhupäda, from whose lotus feet emanates this wondrous fountain of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya <i>Saìkértana.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Due to Your causeless mercy, Çré Jagannätha, Lord of the universe, now rides annually through the major Western cities. All persons who are fortunate enough to even view the Lord’s journey are marked for liberation.</p>
<p class="p7">Now everyone has the opportunity to hear the divine name. The prediction of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is every second made more apparent—that in every village and every town the holy names of the Lord will be sung.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, every time you rescue some fallen soul from <i>mäyä</i> and safely pack him off, back to home, back to Godhead, Mäyädevi sings all glories to these wondrous activities You perform in a most humble attitude.</p>
<p class="p12">With mundane words<br>
How can I express<br>
The infinite glories<br>
Of Your Divine Grace?</p>
<p class="p12">You flood us with mercy<br>
By letting us serve You,<br>
And You’ve said by this service<br>
We shall always be with You.</p>
<p class="p12">Just like a father,<br>
With love and affection<br>
You set the example<br>
of human perfection.</p>
<p class="p12">Religious fanatics<br>
May rave and rant,<br>
But You show respect<br>
For even an ant.</p>
<p class="p12">In defeating an atheist<br>
You’re forceful and bold,<br>
Yet You are so gentle—<br>
You help a child on with his robe.</p>
<p class="p12">You came, chanting God’s name,<br>
And told us to listen;<br>
You have roused the most fallen—<br>
Lord Caitanya’s mission!</p>
<p class="p12">The suffering of humanity<br>
You cannot stand,<br>
So please make me able<br>
To serve as Your hand,</p>
<p class="p12">And distribute Your mercy<br>
To the poor fallen souls,<br>
Who have no remembrance<br>
Of life’s real goal.</p>
<p class="p12">You said, “Surrender to Kåñëa<br>
And your perfection is sure;<br>
I give you this message<br>
Now you please keep it pure.”</p>
<p class="p12">So I beg, please release me<br>
From lust and false pride,<br>
So at Your lotus feet<br>
I may always reside.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the most auspicious day of <i>Vyäs Püjä! </i>Seventy-five years ago, this very day, our beloved Guru Mahäräja Çréla Prabhupäda came into this world pure like the lotus flower. Not for one day did He forget Kåñëa: even as a small child He had His Deities to serve.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, by the order of Your Guru Mahäräja You came to this hellish Western world to deliver the message of Väsudeva to everyone—you possessed but a few rupees, a pair of <i>karatälas, </i>the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>and so much, so much love for Kåñëa and for His most fallen and forgetful parts and parcels. And because of Your purity—Your lotus eyes shining for the Lord—so many hearts frustrated by this existence, which does not befit a gentleman, were attracted to the message of Lord Caitanya. They found somebody who knew the truth, able to tell them who they were: “Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, <i>sac-cid-änanda, </i>and we are His parts and parcels, also eternal, full of bliss and knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">You are so compassionate, Çréla Prabhupäda—now everyone can hear the glories about the son of Nanda, the unalloyed love of Yaçodä Mätä and the <i>gopés</i>, unsophisticated village girls of Vrajabhumi. Who is God? What does He do? What does He look like? Who are His friends? What are our relationships with Him? Everything you tell us. You want us to remember what is in our heart like a seed: LOVE OF GOD.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda—my only hope—I have no ability, no qualification; but You know the art of using everything for Kåñëa. So please use this bad bargain as You like. May I become more humble, compassionate, tolerant, and try to serve You better.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Lord Caitanya <i>Saìkértana!</i></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çrématé Rädhäräëé!</p>
<p class="p7">Hari Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON-London</p>
<p class="p49">Jaya Jagadiña Däsa / Allen / Dayananda däsa / Ovardia / [indistinct] / “Sarasvati devi dasi” / Nara Narayana däsa / Mary(?) Crawford / Väsudeva das Heidrum / Roncor Das / Sananda Kumara Das / M. Balygask / Ian / Clare / Tribhuvannatha Das / Jill / Aditi devi dasi / Thonben(?) / Nigel Norris / Charlie / Janet / Wedas / Malati dasi / Serena / Greg / Dinadayadri dasi / Pat Grant / Mary Salberte / Maria Johanna Sansters / Mondakini devi dasi / Devaki Prabhu / Jai Hari das / Druvananda Prabhu / Neville / Kula Shekhara Das / F. Olenyey / [indistinct] / Ksirodaksayee Das Adhikari / Peter / John Kenneth Nicholls / Droupadi Devi Dasi / Devadatta Dasa / Martin and Jo Tait</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Malasya</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Malasya</b></p>
<p class="p7">O my dearest Father,</p>
<p class="p12">Searching and searching I have been for long,<br>
Yet knowing not what I was searching for.<br>
With each moment growing more and more forlorn,<br>
Death was what I had thought of.</p>
<p class="p12">But my Dearest Father, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
From afar You have come<br>
To let flow from Your Divine Heart<br>
The Causeless Mercy that has picked me up<br>
And shown me the true path<br>
Of life’s beauty and love.</p>
<p class="p12">Now I know that material life<br>
If understood is simply a jest,<br>
If misunderstood it becomes a pest,<br>
And once relinquished through love<br>
Of Lord Rädhä-Kåñëa,<br>
It is at its best.</p>
<p class="p12">Let me chant forever<br>
The Glories of the master of my soul,<br>
The Divine messenger of the golden avatar,<br>
Whose pure love of Kåñëa<br>
Transforms blind barking dogs into Evangellic demigods.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories! All Glories! With millions of<br>
heavenly voices, <i>mådunga </i>and <i>karatäls</i>,<br>
and millions of roses and lotuses.<br>
With a throbbing heart,<br>
Jai! Jai! Gurudev.</p>
<p class="p12">Let me become the humble servant<br>
of the servant of the servant<br>
Of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Loving Father, please be<br>
merciful upon me<br>
For you are my only shelter.</p>
<p class="p12">Father, please save me,<br>
for I’m the most fallen.<br>
Father please save me,<br>
for one one else can.</p>
<p class="p12">I know I’m not worthy<br>
of having Your mercy,<br>
But without You<br>
I cannot stand.</p>
<p class="p12">I know You have told me<br>
that once we loved Kåñëa.<br>
You said<br>
that’s where we belong.</p>
<p class="p12">But I am so foolish,<br>
I can’t tell the difference;<br>
And I’ve been far away<br>
for so long.</p>
<p class="p12">My Father, You’ve said<br>
if we try we can love Him,<br>
Although our lost hearts<br>
are all callous and hard.</p>
<p class="p12">Then we can fly<br>
fully free from the forest,<br>
That’s in ashes, all<br>
broken and charred.</p>
<p class="p12">It’s cold and it’s dark<br>
in this old world without You.<br>
It’s like a dry lake,<br>
without the white swan.<br>
There is no red lotus<br>
of heavenly fragrance,<br>
And the essence of life<br>
it is gone.</p>
<p class="p12">I was blind as a donkey<br>
until I first heard You,<br>
The chanting and dancing<br>
in transcendental love.<br>
Now I can live<br>
by Your loving instructions,<br>
Your mercy now here<br>
from above.</p>
<p class="p12">If I can just keep<br>
Your eternal instructions,<br>
My spiritual life<br>
is assured.<br>
Without deviation<br>
I’ll stay in this mercy,<br>
And my mind will not<br>
be allured.</p>
<p class="p12">Now I’m growing older;<br>
my time it is thinning.<br>
Your loving instructions<br>
I’ve got to live<br>
To chant Hare Kåñëa<br>
and think of You always,<br>
And my heart<br>
in surrender to give.</p>
<p class="p12">My Father, You’re coming<br>
from far away places<br>
To give us the nectar,<br>
so pure and so sweet.<br>
I know You must hurry,<br>
but just for a moment,<br>
May I touch my head<br>
to Your feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Malaysia is waiting<br>
for Your lotus footprint,<br>
To hear You chanting,<br>
and then hear You speak.<br>
She’s fallen and lonely,<br>
but by Your kind mercy,<br>
She’ll bow down,<br>
so humble and meek.</p>
<p class="p12">I’ve tried to make <i>kértana<br>
</i>and preach of Your glories.<br>
I’ve tried to help children<br>
revive their lost love.<br>
Now You are coming<br>
to pour out the honey<br>
And take us all home<br>
up above.</p>
<p class="p12">You’re going all over,<br>
distributing mercy.<br>
You’re giving all people<br>
eternal pure love.<br>
That love is for Kåñëa,<br>
the original Person,<br>
The cause of all causes,<br>
above.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Malasya</p>
<p class="p49">Neo Prabhu / Hänuman Däsa</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Pittsburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Pittsburgh</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda has given us a priceless gift. We are obliged to him. To render loving service to his holy lotus feet is our only chance to fulfill this obligation. For so many births we have been subject to death, disease and old age (a most awkward position for pure spirit), and he has picked us up.</p>
<p class="p7">As for our present life, we had been worshiping the very action which would have insured our continued bondage to this miserable material world—intoxication, illicit sex, meat eating and gambling. But for His Divine Grace, these would constitute our very life. Of course we rationalized our behavior and even became self-righteous about it. But as Kåñëa says <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>6.6]</span> “For he who has conquered his mind it is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.” Can we conceive of a worse hell than to be a constant companion of our worst enemy, our own mind?</p>
<p class="p7">But verily this was our position before the causeless mercy of Kåñëa directed His pure representative, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, to our shore to teach the message of Lord Caitanya, “Forceful and bold.” Chant Hare Kåñëa, and you will acquire a higher taste. Why serve the temporary atomic when you are meant to serve the eternal infinite (Lord Çré Kåñëa)? And simply His sincerity, His loving kindness and His determination have forced open our eyes.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Pittsburgh</p>
<p class="p49">Trivikram Mahäräja / Bibhu das / Mahä Yogé das / Kåñëa dasi / Chibiabus</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Baltimore</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Baltimore</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our heads at your feet and be gracious to forgive us for all of our offenses committed out of a lack of surrender.</p>
<p class="p7">We would very much like to thank you for being the purest devotee of the Lord and a completely surrendered servant of your illustrious Guru Mahäräja, who has sent you to this country, where you have collected us, your devotees, from the vicious degradation of this age.</p>
<p class="p7">From your lotus lips emanates the original sound of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>which convinces us of the supremacy of Lord Kåñëa and the importance of Kåñëa consciousness in our lives and which has brought great joy to our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">Under the shelter of your lotus feet we find eternal shelter and peace, and we are very anxious to remain there always.</p>
<p class="p7">We would very much like to thank you for giving us life itself, Kåñëa consciousness, and an active part in Lord Caitanya’s mission.</p>
<p class="p7">It is not possible to repay the debt we owe to you, but please accept us as your eternal disciples and allow us to glorify your activities forever.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants and children,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Baltimore</p>
<p class="p49">Abhirama Das Adhikary / Vijayadini Dasi / Madhavananda Das Brahmachary / Puru Das Brahmachary / Bruce Das / Peter Ledel / Adi Pati Das Adhikary / Prachidevi dasi / Michael Johnson / Jim Conaway / Michele Conaway / Indriyani Devi Dasi / Meg German</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Paris</b></p>
<p class="p52"><b>Poems for His Divine Grace -</b></p>
<p class="p12">La vie n’est pas la vie,<br>
Sans Vous.<br>
Divine Grace.<br>
Car I’amour nous cherchons<br>
Et trouvons<br>
La disgrace.<br>
Chaque jour un peu plus,<br>
Nous rapproche<br>
De Vous;<br>
Vous nous accordez tout,<br>
Y compris<br>
Votre grace.<br>
La vie n’est pas la vie,<br>
Sans Vous,<br>
Divine Grace.<br>
Le service d’amour<br>
Rendu<br>
Au Dieu Supreme,<br>
C’est Vous, O Divin Pere,<br>
Qui nous<br>
L’ enseignez.<br>
Kåñëa Vous envoya<br>
Pour nous<br>
Sauver, mais<br>
L’avons nous merite?</p>
<p class="p12">Life is not life<br>
Without You,<br>
Divine Grace,<br>
For we seek for love<br>
And find disgrace.<br>
Every day brings us<br>
Nearer to You;<br>
You bestow everything<br>
To us, including<br>
Your grace.<br>
Life is not life<br>
Without You,<br>
Divine Grace,</p>
<p class="p12">The loving service Rendered<br>
To the Supreme Godhead,<br>
It is You, O Divine Father,<br>
Who teaches it to us.<br>
Kåñëa sent You<br>
For saving us, but<br>
Do we deserve that?</p>
<p class="p7">Unworthy I am to write to Your Divine Grace. When the Lord hears the blessed murmurs You see His holy face! Unworthily we dare make words to offer you nothing in fact. Awareness of your gifts is only a baby in our minds. And we are so foolish ourselves. Oh, please do accept only our tears.</p>
<p class="p52"><b>The Spiritual Master: An Ocean of Mercy</b></p>
<p class="p12">All glories unto You, Srila Prabhupäda,<br>
Who, by Your teachings, save us from <i>maya</i> and her bondage.<br>
By Your causeless mercy only we learn how to know<br>
Him without whom we cannot exist, our beloved Lord Sri Kåñëa,<br>
He whose beauty charms thousands of Cupids and<br>
He whose mere glance pervades all this creation.<br>
It is thanks to You, Srila Prabhupäda, that we understand now<br>
That it is very late and high time to come home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p12">These seeds You are planting<br>
are bearing remarkable fruits,<br>
rendered succulent by the sun and<br>
the moon rising together.<br>
In the mellow rhapsody of Hare Kåñëa<br>
the undisturbed authority prays,<br>
“O my Lord Sri Kåñëa, the son of Vasudeva, the<br>
all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I do offer<br>
my respectful obeisances unto You.”<br>
Tired from Your long journey,<br>
You entered our modest temple,<br>
payed Your obeisances slowly<br>
to Guru-Gauranga and Your Guru Maharaja.<br>
I have never seen anything so<br>
magnificent as Your Divine Grace<br>
giving all respect to Their Supreme Lordships.<br>
In the eternal kingdom of God<br>
He enjoys His eternal life<br>
of bliss and knowledge.<br>
By His causeless mercy He is<br>
revealing to us this bliss and knowledge<br>
and the eternal life of devotion.<br>
Under the protection of His lotus feet<br>
the seedlings are ripening,<br>
waiting for Radha and Kåñëa<br>
to reap their hearts in the<br>
full moon of the <i>rasa-lila</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Paris</p>
<p class="p49">Irene devi dasi / Ghanasyama däsa adhikäré / Claudine</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Bombay</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Bombay</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Vande ’ham çré-guroù<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7">Yes, you are the <i>Jagat</i> <i>Guru</i> come in myriad forms to give relief to the millions of down-trodden souls, souls that have no fortune to be delivered from their demoniac existence. But you have come to create the good fortune for these wretched vagabonds.<br>
<i>Vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>Yes, it is only your lotus feet that can soothe the gnawing, burning, perverted desires of all the lost <i>jévas.<br>
vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Çré-gurün vaiñëavams ca<br>
</i>Yes, you are keeping the message pure and intact; all others have deviated or fallen, but you have remained true to the chalked out path laid down by the Vaiñëava <i>äcäryas.<br>
vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Çré rüpam<br>
</i>Yes, it was Çré Rüpa Goswämé who received the divine instructions from Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu at the Sacred Triveni. And you also have been divinely inspired to present the law book of Kåñëa consciousness: <i>The Nectar of Devotion.<br>
vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Sägrajätam<br>
</i>Yes, Çré Sanätana Goswämé is worth taking shelter of, for it was he who so endeavored, with great determination, to establish the Våndävana of Mathurä, and you, Çréla Prabhupäda, have created Våndävana all over the world. Wherever there is pure devotional service to Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa, that is Våndävana. You have clearly established that Kåñëa is unlimited, His Holy Name is unlimited and likewise His Supreme Abode is unlimited.<br>
<i>Vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Saha-gaëa-raghunäthänvitaà taà sa-jévam<br>
</i>Yes, you are keeping your vows Çréla Prabhupäda, just as those associates of Våndävana, Çré Raghunätha Däsa and Çré Jéva Goswämé, very rigidly kept their vows in the matter of chanting the name, saying prayers, making obeisances and circumambulating, etc. Your vow is to spread the Holy Name throughout the world. You are living a purport of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s prediction <i>“pritivite ache jato nagara ädi gram sarvatra pracara hoibe mora rama.” </i>“In every town and village in every city, street the glories of My name will be sung.” Just as with Çré Jéva Goswämé, you are also perfectly presenting volumes of transcendental literature for the upliftment of all mankind.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>sädvaitaà<br>
</i>Yes, it was Advaita Äcärya who prayed so earnestly for the coming of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are part of that entourage come from above. You are the Pure Devotee-Servant of God today.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>sävadhütaà<br>
</i>Yes, Nityänanda granted those two rascals, Jagai and Madai, His Mercy, and you, Çréla Prabhupäda, have accepted so many self-interested rascals as your children.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>parijana-sahitaà kåñëa-caitanya-devaà<br>
</i>Yes, the Golden Lord gave us His mercy in the form of the divine name, and you are the servant to the name that no one else can compare with. You are completely pure and without the slightest bit of self-interest. You can be given nothing because you have everything, that is, the loving devotional service of Lord Kåñëa.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>çré-rädhä-kåñëa-pädän<br>
</i>Yes, Rädhä and Kåñëa are your life and soul, and you are Their eternal maidservant. If only we can hold on to those feet who dance with Them, we know our lives will be perfect.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>saha-gana-lalitä-çréviçäkhänvitäàç ca.<br>
</i>Yes, you are numbered amongst the most confidential servitors of Their Lordships. You are always assisting these maidservants in Their eternal <i>lélä</i> with the Lord. You are captured by the Lord, and You will never leave Våndävana. You are strictly Kåñëa’s property. We have no real hope of ever rendering any loving service to you, but we pray with all our hearts that we may never hinder your divine mission and that after our crores of births world, we may someday bury our faces in the dust from the feet of your devotee.<br>
<i>vande ’ham çré-guroù</i></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>vande ’ham çré-guroù.<br>
vande ’ham çré-guroù.<br>
vande guroù çré-çré-caraëäravindam.</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Bombay</p>
<p class="p49">Mahamsa Das Brahmachari / Ksudhi Das Brahmachari / Rsi Kumara das Brahmachary / Nanda Kumara das Adhikary / Tusta Krishna Das Adhikary / Kåñëa Tulasi das / Guru Kripa / Madhudvisa Swami</p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1972</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">September 2, 1972</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p9">Introduction</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä Introduction</b></p>
<p class="p18">Håñékeça 9, 486 Caitanya Era</p>
<p class="p18">September 2, 1972</p>
<p class="p53"><br></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari [Kåñëa].</p>
<p class="p54"><i>—Çré Gurvañöakam </i><span class="s3"><i>[7]</i></span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä-sindhu<br>
adhama janära bandu<br>
lokanäth lokera jévana<br>
hä hä prabhu koro doyä<br>
deho more pada-chäyä<br>
ebe jaç ghuñuk tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p16">Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor and the lord and master of the devotees. O, master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p54"><i>—Vaiñëava poet</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami, You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.”</p>
<p class="p9">The Äcäryadeva</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Äcäryadeva</b></p>
<p class="p7">When we speak of the fundamental principle of <i>Gurudeva </i>or <i>Äcäryadeva</i>, we speak of something that is of universal application. There is only one <i>Guru </i>who appears in an infinity of forms to teach all men. The <i>Guru </i>or <i>Äcäryadeva, </i>as we learn from the bonafide scriptures, delivers the message of the absolute world, the transcendental abode of the Absolute Personality where everything non-differentially serves the Absolute Truth. In the <i>Kaöha-Upaniñad </i>it is said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad-vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet<br>
samit-päëiù çrotriyaà brahma-niñöham</i></p>
<p class="p16">‘In order to learn that transcendental science, one must approach the bona-fide Spiritual Master in disciplic succession, fixed in the Absolute Truth.’</p>
<p class="p7">Thus it has been enjoined herewith that in order to receive that transcendental knowledge one must approach the <i>Guru. </i>Therefore, if the Absolute Truth is one, about which we think there is no difference of opinion, the <i>Guru </i>also cannot be two. The <i>Äcäryadeva</i> to whom we offer our humble homage, is not the <i>Guru </i>of a sectarian institution or one out of many differing exponents of the truth. On the contrary He is the <i>Jagatguru </i>or the <i>Guru </i>of all of us; the only difference is that some obey Him wholeheartedly, while others do not obey Him directly.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhägavatam </i>it is said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryaà mäà vijänéyän nävamanyeta karhicit<br>
na martya-buddhyäsüyeta sarva-deva-mayo guruù</i></p>
<p class="p16">‘One should understand the Spiritual Master to be as good as I am,’ said the Blessed Lord, ‘Nobody should be jealous of the Spiritual Master or think of Him as an ordinary man because the Spiritual Master is the sum total of all demigods.’ [<i>Bhä</i>g. 11.17.27]</p>
<p class="p7">That is, the <i>Äcärya</i> has been identified with Godhead Himself, He has nothing to do with the affairs of this mundane world. He does not descend here to meddle with the affairs of temporary necessities but to deliver the fallen and conditioned souls. He appears before us to reveal the light of the <i>Vedas </i>and to bestow upon us the blessings of full-fledged freedom after which we should hanker at every step of our life’s journey.”</p>
<p class="p7">“The transcendental knowledge of the <i>Vedas </i>was first uttered by Godhead to Brahmä, the Creator of this particular universe. From Brahmä the Knowledge descended to Närada from Närada to Vyäsadeva, from Vyäsadeva to Madhva and in this process of disciplic succession the transcendental knowledge was being transmitted by one disciple to another till it reached Lord Gauräìga or Çré Kåñëa-Caitanya Who posed as the Disciple and Successor of Çré Éçvara Puri. The present <i>Äcäryadeva</i> is the tenth disciplic representative from Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, the original representative of this transcendental tradition in its fullness from Lord Caitanya. The knowledge that we receive from Him is not different from that imparted by Godhead Himself and the succession of the <i>Äcäryas</i> in the preceptorial line of Brahmä. We adore this auspicious day as Çré Vyäsa-püjä Tithi because the <i>Äcärya</i> is the living representative of Vyäsadeva, the Divine compiler of the <i>Vedas, </i>the <i>Puräëas, Gétä, Mahäbharata </i>and the <i>Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our knowledge is so poor, our senses are so imperfect and our sources are so limited that it is not possible for us to have even the slightest knowledge of the absolute region without surrendering ourselves at the Lotus Feet of Çré Vyäsadeva or His bonafide representative. We cannot know anything of the transcendental region by our limited perverted method of observation and experiment. But all of us can lend our eager ears for the aural reception of the transcendental sound transmitted from that region to this through the unadulterated medium of Çré <i>Gurudeva </i>or Çré Vyäsadeva. Therefore gentlemen, we should surrender ourselves today to the Feet of the representative of Çré Vyäsadeva for the elimination of all our differences bred by our unsubmissive attitude, It is accordingly said in <i>Çré</i> <i>Gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena</i> <i>paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà</i> <i>jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">‘Just approach the wise and bonafide Spiritual Master. Surrender unto him first and try to understand him by enquiries and service. Such a wise Spiritual Master will enlighten you with transcendental knowledge because he has already known the Absolute Truth.’ <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">To receive the transcendental knowledge we must completely surrender ourselves to the real <i>Äcärya</i> in a spirit of ardent enquiry and service. The actual performance of the service of the Absolute under the guidance of the <i>Äcärya</i> is the only vehicle by which we can assimilate the transcendental knowledge. The offering of our humble services and homage to the Feet of the <i>Acaryadeva </i>will enable us to be favoured with the capacity of assimilating the transcendental knowledge so kindly transmitted by Him to all persons without distinction.</p>
<p class="p7">The Divine message from his holy lips is the congenial thing for the suffering humanity. All of us should hear him patiently. If we listen to the Transcendental Sound without unnecessary opposition, he will surely have mercy upon us. The <i>Äcärya’s</i> message is to take us back to our original home and back to God. Therefore, we should hear Him patiently, follow Him in the measure of our conviction and bow down at His Lotus Feet for releasing us of our present causeless unwillingness for serving the Absolute and all souls.</p>
<p class="p7">Had he not appeared before us to deliver us from the thraldom of this gross worldly delusion—surely we should have remained for lives and ages in the darkness of helpless captivity. Had he not appeared before us, we would not have been able to understand the eternal truth of the sublime teaching of Lord Caitanya,—had He not appeared before us, we could not have been able to know the significance of the first sloka of <i>Brahma-saàhitä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù</i> <i>sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù<br>
anädir ädir govindaù</i> <i>sarva-käraëa-käraëam</i></p>
<p class="p16">‘Kåñëa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead, He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the Origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the Prime Cause of all causes.’” [<i>Bs.</i> 5.1]</p>
<p class="p54">—Abhay Charan Däs<br>
(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda)<br>
Çré Vyäsa-püjä Address, 1936</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“Absolute is sentient<br>
Thou hast proved,<br>
Impersonal calamity<br>
Thou hast moved.”</i></p>
<p class="p9">Offerings from ISKCON Temples Around the World</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Offerings to His Divine Grace from His Disciples at ISKCON Temples Around the World …</b></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Amherst</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Amherst</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, it is only by the dint of your guiding benediction and soul quenching grace that we have been allowed to sip from the pure ocean—our Lord Kåñëa’s causeless mercy. Even though we taste but the tiniest rivulets of realization and devotion it is such a relief from the pangs of material miseries. By following your example as servant to the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa, we are slowly but surely learning to control our mind and senses and to be true friends to everyone, by giving them this simple program of chanting, dancing and feasting. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are Kåñëa’s messenger so kindly paying this earthly kingdom a visit. Our only duty is to give you the warmest possible reception by helping you in your mission of spreading the rays of Lord Caitanya’s benediction moon.</p>
<p class="p7">This Amherst <i>äçrama </i>is surrounded by a five-college area with about 45,000 students. We’ve been here three and a half months engaging students and townspeople in the joyous process of glorifying the Supreme Enjoyer through dancing, feasting, chanting, and preparation for the real graduation—eternal, blissful life with Kåñëa. What nectar! Everyone is thirsty for the absolutely pure association that you, father Çréla Prabhupäda, are revealing to your blinded children.</p>
<p class="p7">There was an average attendance of forty spirit souls at a Kåñëa class held at the University of Massachusetts. Already there are five new devotees, who are daily distributing books and <i>prasädam </i>on campus and at the Om Tat Sat bookstore in Amherst. The semester was highlighted by a visit from the “First Transcendental Exposition” who presented their transcendental rock opera to hundreds of devotees and students. By this modern media many students were enchanted with Kåñëa consciousness and impressed with the practicality of <i>éçäväsya. </i>Even other spiritual movements are attracted to Kåñëa. We were recently invited to a <i>kuëòaliné-yoga </i>restaurant and everybody engaged in a most ecstatic <i>kértana, </i>mercy!</p>
<p class="p7">This summer will find us singing, dancing, chanting and preaching in the New England seaside resorts, attempting to calm some of the agitating whirlpools of material entanglements with that truly “pacific ocean” of transcendental devotion which you have blessed us with. We are confident that these directions from your heart, dearmost Prabhupäda, will lead many imprisoned souls from the consuming flame into the illuminating light of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p54"><i>ISKCON Amherst</i></p>
<p class="p49">Sahadev das Brahmachary / Båhatrath das Brahmachary / Andy Prabhu / Brian Prabhu / Mathuresh das Brahmachary / Vidura das Brahmachary / Marc Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya</i> <i>jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena</i> <i>tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Spiritual Father Çréla Prabhupäda:</p>
<p class="p7">We prostrate our bodies beneath Your sacred feet which turn all soil they rest upon into a Holy Place; on this most auspicious occasion our respectful obeisances are unto You, our beloved spiritual master who spreads the Benediction of Lord Caitanya like golden honey flowing from the spiritual sky, drenching us with sweetness.</p>
<p class="p55">With the Absolute Truth in Your blessed Hand,<br>
chanting and dancing across the land!<br>
Thinking Yourself the most fallen,<br>
The lowest beggar at the feet of Your spiritual master,<br>
But You are part of the <i>mahätmä</i> tree<br>
Which is eternally giving the conditioned souls<br>
The most relishable fruits of <i>kåñëa-premä</i>.<br>
You are the most humble and kind and merciful!<br>
You are begging everybody to take the most precious gem:<br>
The Hare Kåñëa<i> mantra</i>.<br>
The demigods churned the milky ocean,<br>
First came poison, next precious stones, then the moon;<br>
And later on, the <i>kalpa-taru</i> which grants everything wished for.<br>
All these were discarded by the gods in favor of the nectar, <i>amåta</i>,<br>
For securing which they had embarked on their great endeavor.<br>
Similarly You have given the world<br>
The most essential teaching of the Scriptures:<br>
Chanting the <i>mahämantra</i> as taught by Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu,<br>
Leaving aside the unessential things;<br>
Lecturing non-stop, without caring for the occasional flop,<br>
At a frantic pace, Your Divine Grace,<br>
Your wonderful face glowing like the sun<br>
Illuminating all directions with its light,<br>
Conquering us all, without a fight.<br>
Your heart overflows with nectarean bliss<br>
Upon hearing the pastimes of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.<br>
So it has happened that Thee, O Graceful Prabhupäda,<br>
Have risen like the sun in the Eastern horizon,<br>
Illuminating the hearts of all with pure love for Kåñëa.<br>
You are the one who has the power from Lord Kåñëa to give all living entities eternal liberation.<br>
We offer our humble obeisances again and again to You, because You are a pure devotee of Kåñëa, we respect You always. O Çréla Prabhupäda, who is so much absorbed in transcendental love<br>
That Kåñëa can’t leave You even for the time of a breath.<br>
You who are the attraction of Rädhäräëé.<br>
By the waves of devotional service,<br>
Overflowing the conditioned souls<br>
With an ocean of Grace!<br>
You, who stays in life only for the service that You render to Govinda.<br>
Because You are the kindest man in the world, You give everything, whether to beast, boy, or girl;<br>
Even dogs like us can have some, if only we would accept it!<br>
Our burned-out hearts full of materialistic dilemma,<br>
Because of You, we know that we must chant Hare Kåñëa!<br>
No one would tell us except the Lord Himself,<br>
But our ears were deaf to Him millions of lifetimes ago - - -<br>
You know.<br>
Kåñëa has given You to us<br>
And You have given Him,<br>
We like You very much.<br>
By the mercy of Your greatness and purity,<br>
You can deliver all the fallen souls.<br>
Your greatness is recognized by all the demigods,<br>
And You are the most dear to Çré Kåñëa and Çrémati Rädhäräëé,<br>
You are such a rare soul, who knows Kåñëa as He is.<br>
By Your grace alone, we have the chance to taste<br>
These wonderful fruits of love<br>
Coming down from the desire-trees in sweet <i>kértana</i>.<br>
We pray for the time when we might follow<br>
Your most humble example<br>
By becoming Kåñëa conscious,<br>
Helping our blessed brothers<br>
Rather than hindering them,<br>
We pray that very soon we will be able to use<br>
every second in Your service rather than to dream<br>
About illusory sense gratification and personal prestige.<br>
Please accept this humble prayer—<br>
Let us ever lie prostrate<br>
Beneath the dust of Your lotus feet.<br>
A single word from Your sanctified lips<br>
Can turn a gloomy night into a fresh spring afternoon!<br>
You have come to lead us all back to Home<br>
Back to Godhead,<br>
To the <i>tulasé</i>-scented forests of Çré Våndävana.<br>
Please have mercy on these lowly fools called:</p>
<p class="p54"><i>ISKCON Amsterdam</i></p>
<p class="p49">Aksoja Das Brahmacari / Priyavrata das Brahmachary / Sudarsana Das Brahmachary / Thomas R. A. King / Krishna S. Acharya / Bidhan Chandra Das / Bhakti Kirtan das / J. H. Hargreaves / Richard Slavin / Atmananda das Brahmachary / Kishori devi dasi / Eddy Gaasbeek / Hari Kåñëa Das / Madhumangala Das Brahmachary / Girdhari das / Jan keilman</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p7">As the sun rises in the East moving Westward so You have brought Caitanya’s moon rising full. Without Your Causeless Mercy no one could get out of the clutches of <i>Mäyä</i>. Birth and death, old age and disease, these things every living entity is hankering after in this world only. Blinded by <i>Mäyä’s</i> curtain of illusion, searching for what is not in this material world. Always getting kicked, never learning. O Jagadguru You alone have the Divine key to save the world, nay the universe from <i>Mäyä’s</i> trap. Just like mice we went for the cheese and got caught in this cycle of <i>saàsära</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, You are the heaviest, the <i>guru</i>, immovable, always serving Kåñëa’s lotus feet, never flinching or listening to <i>Mäyä’s</i> call. The perfection of <i>bhakti </i>cult—Your Divine Grace. O most perfect of devotees, at Your lotus feet we beg shelter from <i>Mäyä’s</i> sting which for millions of births we thought was the way to be.</p>
<p class="p7">In this one short life that we thought all in all, by Kåñëa’s grace we have been led to You. Blinded by ignorance, passion and greed we are totally unworthy of Your mercy. You are so pure and kind, giving the highest gift freely to all who will take (<i>Kåñëa-premä</i>, pure <i>bhakti</i>, nothing less. An unceasing flow of nectar from Your lotus lips).</p>
<p class="p7">Awakening the world to Kåñëa’s Beauty and Fame, never stopping, always pushing on, encouraging Your disciples more every day to push on. Asking us to also pick up the torch light of knowledge and distribute it to the world. With You as our Divine Master we cannot fail.</p>
<p class="p7">We are Your most unworthy servants. You are our eternal Master. With You at the helm we are crossing over this ocean of nescience, just as one steps over a cows hoofprint full of water.</p>
<p class="p7">Your unworthy children and servants,</p>
<p class="p54"><i>ISKCON Atlanta</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bhakti Viva Dasi / Ballavhi devi dasi / Bhakta Philip Prabhu / Bhakta Allan / Balavanta Das Adhikary / Surendra Das, Kali Dasi, Laxmi Dasi / Radha Mohan Das Brahmacary / Jayasena Das Brahmacary</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Auckland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Auckland</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to You Çréla Prabhupäda! You are taking the thorn of materialistic existence out of many, many hearts and you are replacing it with the most fragrant flower of devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">O Deliverer of fallen souls, Your glance is like touchstone in as much as it has turned the hardest hearts into Gold.</p>
<p class="p7">The sweet nectar of Love of Kåñëa is pouring constantly from Your lips and by Your example the whole world can embrace Kåñëaloka, that supreme abode of the Cowherd Boy, Govinda.</p>
<p class="p7">The whole world is steeped in impersonalism and voidism yet you are so sweetly offering the parched and dry souls a drink of nectar from the shoreless Ocean of Mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the real Spiritual Master, Çréla Prabhupäda, because You are always engaged in chanting the names of the Lord and preaching the message of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p12">You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Master at Whose Feet<br>
All masters gather<br>
<br>
And others we have seen<br>
are shamed and speechless<br>
in Your presence<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
Sophisticated and more than expert<br>
at expressing Your mercy<br>
through multifarious channels<br>
<br>
So many moods,<br>
So many attractive features<br>
Do You manifest<br>
Before us<br>
<br>
And we receive them<br>
with joy<br>
and revel<br>
in their ecstasy<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the King<br>
And you sit<span class="s9"> </span>on a throne<br>
of crushed velvet and golden lace<br>
<br>
While the cream of humanity<br>
dances in delight<br>
and countless demigods<br>
praise you from above<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
Most humble servitor<br>
of Your<br>
Beloved Guru Mahäräja<br>
<br>
And tears came to our eyes<br>
and our throats choked up<br>
when You told<br>
How He saved You<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the King of Comedians<br>
and Innumerable<br>
are the occasions<br>
<br>
That we’ve been victimized<br>
by Your Bengali proverbs<br>
and rolled on the floor<br>
in uncontrollable hysteria<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the kind-hearted Grandfather<br>
Who delights in Sarasvaté’s rendition<br>
of Manipuré dancing<br>
<br>
And we’ve watched You<br>
chuckle in glee<br>
as You transcendentally<br>
terrorize her<br>
<br>
And her eyes widen in disbelief<br>
at the thought of being<br>
mailed away to America<br>
in a tiny package<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Perfectionist<br>
and You dumbfounded us<br>
that morning in Bombay<br>
<br>
When Your hawk-like eyes<br>
spotted us<br>
committing offenses<br>
we never knew existed<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
More tolerant than the tree<br>
And You lovingly accept<br>
our impure service<br>
<br>
And offer us knowledge<br>
of Kåñëa in return<br>
though we repeatedly<br>
offend Your Lotus Feet<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Master Chef<br>
And even bitter melon, somehow<br>
becomes sweet when You cook it<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the little Cowherd Boy from Goloka<br>
And when You wander<br>
round Your room<br>
<br>
Looking at pictures<br>
of Kåñëa and His friends<br>
We realize how foolish we are<br>
to have ever thought You an old man<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Jet-age Swami<br>
and the whole planet<br>
is becoming a <i>tértha<br>
<br>
</i>By the touch<br>
of Your Lotus Feet<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Master Linguist<br>
whose words and phrases<br>
dance like puppets<br>
<br>
On the pages of Your books<br>
and Kåñëa Himself<br>
is manifest before us<br>
in all His splendour<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupada<br>
the Master of motion<br>
and the swan-like gestures<br>
of Your dancing hands<br>
<br>
embrace our eyes<br>
and captivate our hearts<br>
enthralling us more<br>
than a thousand ballets<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the raging lion<br>
and the razor-like sharpness<br>
of Your lightning attack<br>
<br>
Rips to shreds<br>
the imperfect argument<br>
of even the most<br>
formidable foe<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the submissive cow<br>
and You give the milk of knowledge<br>
wherever we lead You<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
the Concerned Shepherd<br>
and Kåñëa<br>
the Owner of the Flock<br>
<br>
Has sent You<br>
to find His wayward sheep<br>
and safely guide them<br>
back to Home<br>
<br>
You are Prabhupäda<br>
flawless in every respect<br>
and therefore more than worthy<br>
of our constant worship<br>
<br>
And we are convinced<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
as Gaurasundara has<br>
so nicely said it<br>
<br>
That anyone who claims<br>
to know anything<br>
about Çré Kåñëa<br>
must have learned it from You</p>
<p class="p51"><i>ISKCON Auckland</i></p>
<p class="p49">Kåñëa Tulasi devi dasi / Richard Cook Brahmacari / Glen Lee [indistinct] / Allan Lauder / Kevin Humphrey / Satyavati Devi / Goura Krishna Dasa / Bhajanabhi dasa brahmacari / Allan [indistinct] / Harvey Marx / Tusta Krishna Das / Yajneswara Das Brahmacari / Bhakti Kumadi / Chaitanya / Vane devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Austin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Austin</b></p>
<p class="p7">Yes, we want to be Kåñëa conscious; we are tired of lonely, ignorant, deathly lives without any real happiness. We want to be free to live spiritual lives and be in love with Kåñëa and all His creations.</p>
<p class="p7">Who does not want to be in Våndävana with Rädhä, Kåñëa, Balaräma and the cows? The words of Your Divine Grace can give us real light beyond the unreality which Lord Kåñëa has created, but for which we ourselves are responsible. “An affectionate father does not like that his children should be chastised by another agent, still he puts his disobedient children under the custody of a severe man just to bring them in order. But the all affectionate Almighty Father desires at the same time relief of the conditioned soul from the clutches of the illusory energy.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>1.7.5]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa has red lotus petal eyes and a peacock feather in His hair, He is perfect and complete and so is the mercy at Your lotus feet. We are bowing down at Your lotus feet and await the day that our throats will be choked up and our eyes will be flowing with uncontrollable tears, unable to express our appreciation to Your Divine Grace. Please accept whatever gratitude You have created within us.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Austin</p>
<p class="p49">Prahladananda das / Srénätha das Brahmachary / Dharmabhavana das / Bhakta Ben</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Berkeley</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Berkeley</b></p>
<p class="p12"><span class="s10">You are the only </span><i>äcärya</i> now,<br>
The saviour of the conditioned soul<br>
At Your lotus feet we bow,<br>
To please You our only goal,<br>
<br>
We hope that we may be number twelve, <br>
Though in offenses we do abound.<br>
Into Your ocean of mercy we delve<br>
To spread the holy sound.<br>
<br>
To follow Your order with no offense<br>
This is our only dream.<br>
Then Your mission will be a success,<br>
Defeating <i>mäyä’s</i> scheme.<br>
<br>
Your gift to us the holy name<br>
Heard from Your lotus lips; <br>
The grip of <i>mäyä</i> You can tame<br>
With merely Your fingertips.<br>
<br>
In Your books You put<br>
Your heart, Your knowledge has no bounds, <br>
In hopes from <i>mäyä</i> we will part<br>
You vibrate<span class="s10"> </span>these holy sounds.</p>
<p class="p51"><i>ISKCON Berkeley</i></p>
<p class="p49">Trai Dasa Adhikary / Janet Bohan / Debbie Hilliard / Ratnesvari Dasi / Trayi devi dasi / Mongala Dave Dasi / Bhaktin Kalindi / Novina devi dasi / Pramada dasi / Bhaktin Tamala / Sivani devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Berlin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Berlin</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6">All Glories to Çré Çré Guru and Gauräìga!!<br>
All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!!</p>
<p class="p7">Our Beloved Spiritual Father!</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrated <i>daëòavats </i>at Your Lotus Feet. We are praying for Your eternal well-being.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the ever-sought, personified Mercy of Kåñëa. It may be easier to escape the fangs of a hungry tiger than to remain untouched by the all-pervasiveness of Your merciful glance.</p>
<p class="p7">Just as the sun rises on the horizon and puts an end to night, similarly You take all suffering from the <i>jévas</i>, by giving them shelter in the whorl of Your causeless love. You, Çréla Prabhupäda, are setting them free from the hellish condition of <i>saàsära, </i>the pain of birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh Mother, Father, beloved Friend, how shall we call you? No words from our lips can adequately express the glory of Your causeless Mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">As a child is powerless to reach the birds in the sky, similarly the words uttered by our indolent lips are powerless to even approach the true greatness of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray to Kåñëa, begging to grant us this boon that one day we may be able to truly chant Your Glories, the Glories of our beloved Spiritual Master.</p>
<p class="p7">Your loving, but unworthy servants at Your Lotus Feet.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Berlin</p>
<p class="p49">Vasudeva Das Adhikari / Akrura das Adhikari / Hartwig Prabhu / Telman Debto / Aundiese Berkenramp / Haripriya Devi Dasi / Mandali Bhadra Das / Ganga devi / Bimala Prasad / Herbert Yound / Chaitanya Das (Baby)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfillment of this bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying your qualities because in the world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.”</i></p>
<p class="p54"><i>—Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya</i></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Boston</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Beloved Savior, Eternal Jagad-guru, O Sweet Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">We beg that you be so merciful as to accept our humble obeisances, a thousand times, and again and yet again. We have taken shelter under the dust of Your Lotus Feet, laying our lives at Your Nectar Feet of Gold. You are Divine Loving Kindness personified. You are an unlimited ocean of Spiritual Blessing for all living entitles, because You see the Naughty Cowherd Boy, Govinda, everywhere. You descend to this hellish world from the Eternal Realm of Goloka Våndävana just to teach us about our real selves and our relationship with Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the resplendent reservoir of all Transcendental and mundane knowledge. You are fully serving Lord Caitanya and Your Supreme Spiritual Master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda; therefore, You are pure and free from all material dirt.</p>
<p class="p17"><i>All Glories to Your Saving Grace,<br>
Golden Son of Caitanya’s race,<br>
Freeing us all from voidist den,<br>
Defeating rascals with a poet’s pen.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Ten billion trillion glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda, Personal Savior of us and our Godbrothers everywhere.</p>
<p class="p7">Hearing Your perfect instructions to follow in the footsteps of the great devotees of the past, our hearts melt to hear the nectar which flows unceasingly from Your golden lotus-like lips. Will we ever really hear the delicious wave of sound which You have so mercifully delivered to us? Hare Kåñëa/ Hare Räma.</p>
<p class="p7">We, Your surrendered students of ISKCON Boston, are just beginning to learn how much You’ve given us. We are ashamed to admit that we don’t appreciate You nearly enough. We want to apologize for not assisting you so nicely. We feel we’ve actually been a detriment to the spreading of Lord Caitanya’s Holy Movement. Thus we pray for an increased desire to serve You. We want nothing except to engage eternally in the Transcendental Loving Service of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us each day our real life, learning how to serve.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank You, dear Spiritual Father, for holding our hands while we learn to walk.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Boston</p>
<p class="p49">Prajapati das / Satarupa dasi / Suhotra dasa Brahmacari / Bhakta Bradd Weinberg / Somadas dasa Brahmacari / Douglas William Hewer / Alan Hays / Bill Oliverson / Andy Wiernasy / Brian Lynch / Sue Devi dasi &amp; Bhakta Bret das / Daniel Friedman / Chediraja das / Sumati dasi / Mathuresh das / Prabhavati dasi / Sarmistha Dasi / Meena Dasi / Pyari Mohan Das / Nancy Bulmer / Sukhada devi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p7">The snow storm of Kali-yuga is falling with great force and mountains of jealousy, envy, hatred, lust, anger, and greed are forming all over the planet. In the midst of this snow storm a mango tree has arisen bearing the sweet nectar of love of God. This mango tree has spread some very wonderful seeds and now we see little mango trees beginning to grow around the world bearing the same sweet nectar of love of God. It appears as if a miracle has taken place on this planet. Sweet nectarean mango fruits are growing amidst a violent snow storm.</p>
<p class="p7">This mango tree must have some divine potency in that it can defy the laws of nature in such a way. Not only that, this mango tree is producing excessive amounts of fruits and distributing the sweet fruits to all the unfortunate souls who are living amidst the storm. As a result, in many parts of the world we are finding mango orchards and by some miracle the mountains of snow are melting in these areas. Who is this wonderful sweet, compassionate, and beautiful mango tree? It is you Çréla Prabhupäda. You are the most wonderful, sweetest, most compassionate and beautiful person on this planet. You are producing thousands of offspring who are developing your self-same qualities: like father like son (and daughter). It is truly amazing that your good self is fathering the <i>brähmaëa </i>class back to life. People agree that there are seven wonders of the world, yet we believe that you are more wonderful than all of them put together. So wonderful are you that words must be invented to describe your glories.</p>
<p class="p7">Your heart is a garden of blossoming flowers of <i>bhakti, </i>scented with the aroma of the highest love for Rädhä-Kåñëa and all souls. Your veins nourish the garden with waters composed of all good qualities of the human being and these waters are again pumped throughout your heart nourishing you in a way to act for the benefit of all human kind. Your mind is Våndävana because Lord Kåñëa never leaves Våndävana and Lord Kåñëa never leaves your mind. Love of God is the picture of your person as you exhibit perfection in every action. Perfection means cent per cent surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa. Perfection means Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">We were all sunk in the canyons of delusion, thinking ourselves majestic kings and queens loving all humanity. Yet we had no good qualities, not even one, though we thought we were perfect. And how did we understand we were not perfect? We placed ourselves next to you and we saw perfection personified in living color. It is just like the wives of the demigods who, thinking themselves to be very musically talented, became embarrassed of their musical qualifications upon hearing Kåñëa’s flute. Next to you Çréla Prabhupäda, any good qualities we thought we possessed seemed to disappear and we realize now that such a saint as yourself should not allow himself to associate with such debauchers, as much as the stool room is never connected with the temple. Yet because you have perfect vision of transcendence and are firmly situated beyond all dualities, you have accepted us as part and parcel servants of God, and have agreed to take us back to the Lord’s eternal kingdom.</p>
<p class="p7">What is the value of our lives and possessions? We, who are eternal, full of knowledge and bliss have identified with this temporary body full of ignorance and therefore we are struggling just to remain in your mercy ocean. Thousands of our lives cannot equal one moment of your presence on the planet. You are worthy of praise, even by the demigods, just as Kåñëa told the<i> gopés</i> there would be no way he could repay them, so there seems to be no way to repay you. It is due only to the inconceivable causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa that we filthy specks of dirt floating aimlessly throughout the three worlds, have finally been allowed to take shelter at your lotus feet, you who are the most dear to Kåñëa. Now our only desire is to serve You eternally, but unfortunately we are without capabilities. Please let us fall under your steady and knowing gaze. You can show us all how to bathe in that ocean of love of Kåñëa. And because without that ocean there is no meaning to our existence, without you our lives are worthless. Please help us to serve you better, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please help us to hang on to your lotus feet. We all love you very much because you are bringing sunshine into our hearts and because you have allowed us to be your servants. How wonderful it is that ugly ducklings have been allowed to associate with a beautiful swan! Though we are surely among the most fallen souls in the three worlds, in our hearts dwells only love and complete faith in your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Buffalo</p>
<p class="p49">Gunagrahi Das / Mahatma Das / Mahesvari Devi Dasi / Scott Brahmachary / Thakur Haridas Bramachary / James Brahmachary / Ayodhyapati das Brahmacari / Mike Brahmacary / Himalata Dasi / Saptanatha Das Adhikary / Kavi Das Adhikary / Kirtika devi dasi / Dave Adhikary / Bhakti Michael / Suzanne Hudeau / Dawn O’Mally / Krishna Dasi / Gabriel / Susan Gannon</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>For Çréla Prabhupäda, Our Most Wonderful Spiritual Master</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Lost in the prison of Durgä, blinded by sensual desires,<br>
we wandered, stumbling towards death,<br>
False hopes and dreams, all illusory shadows,<br>
gave promise of freedom,<br>
soon cruelly transformed into chains.<br>
Every step that we took bound us up more and more,<br>
rushing for escape, close by now we saw,<br>
the grim reaper, death, only laughing at us.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>O God! O God! Please help us lost souls!<br>
We know not how we have come here<br>
and there appears no way out!<br>
O God! O God! Show us the way!</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>We turned and saw many waiting to show<br>
thinkers, philosophers, yogés and bogies,<br>
Work hard! Drop out! Enjoy! Void! I am God!<br>
What is this? No! More confusion and pain?</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Then … one day … we turned the corner and saw …<br>
smiling people, so clean, with robes and shaved heads.<br>
“We’re going home now. Come back with us please.<br>
This is our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
he’s showing the way.”</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Somehow…for some reason, we stay.<br>
You weren’t like the others,<br>
we had come to the end<br>
Now through the weeks, months, and years<br>
our affection for you has grown so deep.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Our Father, our Master, our very life’s breath—<br>
without whom there can only be death.<br>
Please accept our repeated </i>daëòavats<br>
<i>and kindly continue to allow us to offer our lives<br>
to the service of your Holy lotus feet.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Chicago</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Çré Govinda däsa Adhikäri / Jayadas Brahmacari / Bhakta Warren / Rayah Noa / Kevin brahmachary das / Mike Dahl / Tom Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p7">A MOST INADEQUATE OFFERING AT THE LOTUS FEET OF HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPÄDA ON THE WONDERFUL OCCASION OF HIS APPEARANCE DAY, ÇRÉ VYÄSA-PÜJÄ.</p>
<p class="p12">O, Most Merciful<br>
Captain of the soul,<br>
This lonely ship was floundering,<br>
Upon some dark tamasic shoal.<br>
But from a secret mellow place<br>
You’ve come to still the gale,<br>
And with transcendent soothing words<br>
You’ve gently filled our sail.</p>
<p class="p12">O Incorruptible<br>
Keeper of the chart,<br>
Eternal pounding waves of Time<br>
Would soon have torn our craft apart.<br>
But staunch and mighty admirals<br>
Have sent you from the east,<br>
To bend our course and mend our hulls,<br>
And give our tortured minds relief.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, the Indomitable<br>
Defender of the mast,<br>
Your Grace is at the tiller<br>
And our progress now sure and fast.<br>
Though we, your crewmen, are clumsy,<br>
You have faith in us somehow,<br>
You have given us the morning watch<br>
And placed us at the bow.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, Most Magnificent<br>
Master of the ship,<br>
The final profit, you have taught,<br>
Will more than justify the trip,<br>
You say we’ll set our anchor down<br>
In a land of incessant joy,<br>
Where eternal lives reflect the love<br>
of a Golden Maid and a Blackish Boy.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, Tender Perfect Captain,<br>
Please bless this novice crew,<br>
that we may find our sea legs soon,<br>
And see this voyage through.<br>
Please kill within our clouded minds,<br>
any thoughts of mutiny,<br>
So we may enter that Våndävana land<br>
which lies beyond this fearful sea.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept the sincere obeisances of all of your students and disciples here in Cleveland. We are trying our best, individually and collectively, to learn to serve you. And we hope that you will be pleased to bless us, so that our service may quickly become unalloyed.</p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO YOU ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Cleveland</p>
<p class="p49">Batua Gopal das / Audolomy das / Bhakta greg / Bhakta Paul / A. Wilson-Bey / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Joel / John Haslett / Bhakta Dan / Bhakta Maha Mike / Charoni dasi / Bhaktin Chris / Shelley / Bhaktin Judy / Monica / Bhaktin Elaine / April Wilson-Bey / Sukhasagavi Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Denver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Denver</b></p>
<p class="p7">Throughout our childhood and into our youthful days we watched the world around us. In the schools we heard the instructions of our teachers; how artfully they skirted our questions concerning ourselves and the nature of life around us. “A tale told by an idiot … signifying nothing” echoed from the podiums, announcing the philosophy of the time upon our straining ears, left us baffled and angry, aimless in our wandering. Daily the tension increased, gripping our stomach in a tight knot of fear and desire, as hot and cold war raged uncontrollably on every level of society. Scientific advancement promised the golden age but produced instead the plague of pollution, boasting the power to destroy the world ten times over by the mere pushing of one red button. Politicians passionately pledged the final solution but retired instead fattened by the blood and tears of their ‘welfare state.’ Even the priests, the representatives of religion, also fell free to the tide of lust, anger, false knowledge, and hypocrisy, leaving the churches and temples only as social centers. From our parents’ mouths we heard the final cry, “No one knows the meaning of life; you had better not ask.”</p>
<p class="p7">You stood alone, the great soul, untouched upon your island of transcendental purity, as the whole of humanity swirled at the lip of the seething whirlpool of material lust. Braving the lowest depths of Mäyä’s prison you, with the light of your radiant knowledge, pierced the darkness and we followed you through the maze-like corridors into the sunlight. The fever of <i>Mäyä’s</i> bite maddened us, but with your cooling strokes of transcendental sound you pacified our lust-crazed hearts, nursing us back to health. With fathomless patience you led us to the bank and let us drink of the ocean of Caitanya’s mercy. Still we cannot see the greatness of your lotus-like heart, nor can we understand your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">You have found us wandering among the crows, picking through the garbage, the chewed remnants of the stagnant material world. You are the <i>Paramahaàsa, </i>the topmost swan-like devotee of the Lord, teaching the art of picking nectar, even from the refuse. Only by your association can we learn this art, only by your mercy can we make any advancement in spiritual life, only by your association can we fulfill the mission of life.</p>
<p class="p7">In the Fourth Chapter, 34th verse of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>Lord Kåñëa tells Arjuna that in order to learn the truth, one must approach such a bonafide Spiritual Master, making relevant inquiries with submission and service. Only such a self-realized, Kåñëa conscious Spiritual Master can answer all questions perfectly because by his own deliberation and arguments he himself has realized the conclusion of all revealed scriptures, and has therefore seen the truth. Because he is in the disciplic succession from time immemorial, beginning with Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Truth Himself, he is the direct representative of the Personality of Godhead and the Supersoul. Therefore by serving such a bonafide Spiritual Master, one can serve the Lord directly thus opening the path to the Vaikuëöha world.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa confirms in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>in the 18th chapter:</p>
<p class="p16">One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the Kingdom of God. [<i>Bg.</i> 18.55]</p>
<p class="p27">Some persons wrongly conclude that by dint of their mental power, meditational prowess, or by the study of the Vedic literature that Kåñëa becomes accessible. But this is definitely denied by the Lord Himself in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>He says there:</p>
<p class="p16">The form which you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity nor by worship. No one can see me as I am. Only by undivided devotional service can I be understood directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding. (<i>Bg.</i> 11.53 &amp; 54)</p>
<p class="p27">Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé explains that “First class devotional service is known by one’s tendency to be fully engaged in Kåñëa consciousness, serving the Lord favorably,” In other words devotional service means that one performs activities which are pleasing to the transcendental senses of the Lord. Obviously, if a person desires to become the servant of someone, his first business is to find out what the master wants, to find out what pleases him. It is not that one does just anything which happens to come to his mind, completely ignoring the desires of the master. That is an absurd proposal. Similarly, devotional service to the Lord must be executed in knowledge of what Kåñëa wants. Then it can be accepted as devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">In conditional life, deluded by the three modes of material nature, It is impossible to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who is completely transcendental to all this material world. Nor could we discover what He wants hidden as He is by the curtain of <i>mäyä</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 7.25]</span>. From our situation it is impossible to estimate His position. And that is why Kåñëa has given the instruction for our deliverance, which we found in the 4th chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> “You just approach a Spiritual Master …” Kåñëa says that in order to learn the truth, in order to come to the platform of devotional service, we must contact such a surrendered soul, a soul already fixed up in devotional service to the Lord. Such a great soul is 100% engaged in devotional service, and by sincere and steadfast execution of his orders we can also attain this platform. Without following the directions of the Spiritual Master we will surely fail, we will simply waste our valuable time.</p>
<p class="p7">This is confirmed in the Caitanya-caritämåta,<span class="s8"><i> </i></span>where it is said:</p>
<p class="p16">“By the mercy of the Spiritual Master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Kåñëa one can achieve the platform of devotional service, there is no other way. [<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</p>
<p class="p27">And again:</p>
<p class="p16">“By the mercy of the Spiritual Master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the Spiritual Master no one can make any advancement…”</p>
<p class="p7">So it is confirmed here, and supported in numerous other places in the revealed scriptures, that acceptance of the shelter of the bonafide spiritual master is the crucial point in spiritual life. Without this connection with the spiritual master there is no access to devotional service to the Lord, and therefore no connection with Kåñëa can be made.</p>
<p class="p7">From the descriptions in the revealed scriptures, from the statements of the great devotees and <i>äcäryas</i> of the past, and from our own experience, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are that great soul. You are the bonafide Spiritual Master, the direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The truth which has baffled all our attempts to discover, you have seen. You have smashed the false knowledge of the mental speculators and are delivering the entire earth from the clutches of the heartless vacuum of the impersonalists. You are the mercy of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, delivering Kåñëa freely to whomever will take. Leaving aside all material considerations you have completely surrendered unto the Lotus Feet of Lord Kåñëa, and are therefore the topmost cream of all great personalities. By your pleasure alone we can be delivered, and by your displeasure no one can be saved. Our success or failure depends entirely on your satisfaction. Therefore we are praying to Lord Kåñëa that by His mercy we may surrender ourselves at your lotus feet. Please accept us as your most menial servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Denver</p>
<p class="p49">Tulsi das Brahmacary / Kurusrestha das Adhikari / Maitreya das Brahmacary / Mahashakti das Brahmacary / Mitravinda devi dasi / Nandita Gokula devi dasi / Jagatguru dasa Brahmacary / Pranaballavh das Brahmacary / Iksakurani dasi / Jan / Tina / Lynn / Greg Adenhold / R. Randolph White / John Brooks / Gerald Monge / Liz Hanks / Diane Gonzalez</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Our Dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our wretched yet heartfelt <i>daëòavats</i> at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Bhaktivinode Öhäkur once acclaimed that a great prophet-<i>äcärya</i> would come and spread this essential life-giving movement around the world. So you have come with a song for Kåñëa in your heart and mercifully giving us the instruction, “Chant Hare Kåñëa!” Now everyone is singing and dancing and relishing real pleasure, so distant from the singing and dancing of the <i>mäyä</i> witch. We have seen how one philosopher recently predicted that in ten years this Hare Kåñëa would spread around the world to a majority of people. All this comes about by your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Before you came our collective <i>karma</i> was as the sewage in the gutter but still you have placed your lotus feet in the mire of our hearts, out of great compassion. Your feet are properly compared to the sun.</p>
<p class="p12">“The sun’s great heat can purify<br>
A sewer’s stale and rotten place.<br>
Your lotus feet will rectify…<br>
An impure heart comes clean and chaste.”</p>
<p class="p27">May we eternally bow our heads at your lotus feet and thankfully bathe in the glory there of devotional service to Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a family of real love and trust we remain,</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servants,<br>
ISKCON Detroit</p>
<p class="p49">Miriam / Vilasini devi dasi / Douglas Wainwright / Kamal Pandey / Donald Chojnacki / Tony / John Christopher [indistinct] / Peter Laudert / Maha Jim / Joseph Eckardt / David [indistinct] / Jude / Sriman Chris Prabhu / Linda Zulli / Karunamaya Devi Dasi / Robin devi dasi Das / Bhadranarayan das Brahmachary / Hrishakti dasi / Sitala devi dasi / Sarvardi devi dasi / Catherine devi dasi / Govardhan dasa / Arjuna Das / Kripamayee devi dasi / Arnold Prabhu</p>
<p class="p14"><b>The Shelter of the Mind</b></p>
<p class="p12">O mind seek the shelter of your <i>guru</i>,<br>
Mind! Bow down to the one who comforts you.<br>
Serve Him with devotion, cherish His blessing<br>
For Kåñëa’s lotus feet in His heart He’s caressing.</p>
<p class="p12">He is thy father, thy master, thy friend;<br>
Bow down at His feet, O mind, go again,<br>
To your natural place, unknown to you now;<br>
Press thyself to his feet and bow, O mind, bow!</p>
<p class="p12">His infinite love you do not comprehend.<br>
You bathe in the stench of your thoughts which offend,<br>
Yet he has tolerance and a compassionate Nature;<br>
So bow, mind, to the one God sent as your saviour.</p>
<p class="p12">Do not pick up some quarrel, be not, O mind, mean.<br>
Lower than the dusty road’s grass, thy self, O mind, deem.<br>
Look not to exploit for your own worthless gain;<br>
Bathe fully, O mind, in the <i>rasa</i> of the Name.</p>
<p class="p12">O Mind, you have not one quality of a humble <i>sädhu.<br>
</i>Your diabolical propensities you continuously prove.<br>
Why wander the wasteland of wanton despair?<br>
O mind for his shelter do not you have care?</p>
<p class="p12">O mind, thou are bondage and the cause of my fall.<br>
On Prabhupäda’s mercy you have failed to call.<br>
I chained unto you—what more horrible fate!<br>
O mind, call out for your <i>guru</i> before it’s too late!</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to our Spiritual Master Çréla Prabhupäda!<br>
All glories to Çré Guru and Gouraìga!<br>
All glories to the Shelter of Lord Kåñëa’s holy name!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Detroit</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Dusseldorf, Germany</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Dusseldorf, Germany</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances. Kåñëa has sent you to us to light up this material world which is full of ignorance. The flowers which are surrounding your neck relish the nectar of being near and decorating a servant of Çré Kåñëa. Your only business is to get the fallen souls out of the darkness of this material world, and they are fully dependent on your causeless grace. You are leading them on the blissful path back to Godhead, so we wish to have no other desire than serving your lotus feet. Only by being your child can one understand the meaning of the spiritual father who leads his child to the true purpose of life. But we are unable to thank you or to give our proper respect for the things which you are doing. We just hope that we will be able to remember you in our activities, and that you find some joy in your spiritual children. All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Dusseldorf</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Edinburgh, Scotland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Edinburgh, Scotland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p12">O my Sweet bright Lotus-eyed Love, Lord of all,<br>
Playing such wondrous flute, beckoning all souls with Your call.<br>
Supreme kindness, boundless Love so great and pure,<br>
You’re always sending out Your great angels to return home for sure.<br>
As these great souls sing your glories and call Your Holy Name,<br>
All over creation they spread Your wondrous fame.<br>
Dear Lord Kåñëa You care for me so well,<br>
A onetime loving angel before into this mire I fell.<br>
Now my nature is horrid, as a lowly serpent I slither,<br>
Long gone are my wings, lusty action caused them to wither.<br>
No longer bathing in the glory and light of Your beautiful grace,<br>
Guilt of demonic living has caused me to turn my face.<br>
Helped by the love of Lord Jesus, who taught me so much, when an ear I would lend,<br>
Arranged by You so nicely to guide me to Çréla Prabhupäda my eternal loving spiritual master and friend.</p>
<p class="p12">Now caught in the net of my saviour who trawls the oceans black,<br>
<i>Bhakti </i>just to please You, bringing your little ones back.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories, all glories, to Prabhupäda, may you always bless such a devoted soul,<br>
And please give me strength to serve him always fighting <i>mäyä’s</i> illusory goal.<br>
As the greatest fisher this earthly planet has ever known,<br>
Let me please remain in Prabhupäda’s giant catch,<br>
helping other souls to go back to home.</p>
<p class="p12">Dear Lord, you send your greatest, who make the path so clear,<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda in his mercy has destroyed all there is to fear.<br>
If I praise and thank you for a million <i>kalpas </i>or more,<br>
That would never be enough for sending dear Prabhupäda to open the heavenly door.</p>
<p class="p12">So please dearest Lord, Gopäla, I beg of you, let my thanks be my loving work,<br>
Never again my duty to deviate selfishly, give up and shirk.<br>
Eternally engaged in <i>bhakti, </i>a shining example at his Holy Lotus Feet!<br>
Guidance and shelter from my dearmost friend,<br>
Perhaps some day again Lord face to face you’ll let us lovingly meet.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to You, Çré Kåñëa.<br>
All glories to their Holinesses in disciplic succession,<br>
All glories to Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON—Edinburgh, Scotland</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Edmonton</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Edmonton</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>“Your heart is more brave than a million eagles...”</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your heart is more brave than a million eagles and Your lotus eyes are as pools of milk shining soft like the autumnal moon.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, they say that the Himalayan mountains are breathtaking and that the paintings of Spain bring tears to the eyes of the beholders. But, my dear Gurujé, they have not yet been embraced by your compassion. Inexhaustible fountain of Divine Mercy and soul-soothing peace is the thought of your causeless love and oceanic compassion for all entrapped in this prison house of illusion.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, most precious soul, you have picked me up from this ocean of suffering where I was dragged by the whirlpools of desire and lust and battered against the scraping rocks a million times, and left to be on the shores of eternal suffering.</p>
<p class="p7">O my Lord, your words are transcendentally pure; they are enchanting my soul, singing sweetly of the Celestial Herdsman, Gopäla, by the clear waters of Yamunä. O Prabhupäda, the Herdsman of my soul, May this spotless lotus of love grow upon the waters of my soul and with you as my Ferryman, let me start the journey home.</p>
<p class="p7">O thou Çréla Prabhupäda, who are the refuge of all simple, sincere souls, our eternal father and friend, you are the kindest man in the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, Prabhupäda, Thank you,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Edmonton</p>
<p class="p49">Paramesvari Das Brahmachary (President) / Gene Prabhu / Guy Prabhu / Randy Prabhu / Chris Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—First Transcendental Exposition</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—First Transcendental Exposition</b></p>
<p class="p7">Jaya Om Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda! 108 exclamations of <i>Jaya</i> we offer to you, O topmost swan-like devotee and wandering mendicant. Prabhupäda, you are just like the desire tree which can fulfill the desires of everyone, and thus you are <i>jagad-guru</i> and forever worthy for taking shelter of;<span class="s11"> </span>as there is no distinction between yourself and your teachings, you are easily available for all of us desiring relief from material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">You have stated that if we become glorious devotees then this is naturally your glory because you are the spiritual master. Therefore, we, the members of the First Transcendental Exposition, dedicate our lives to fulfill a glorious task that you have begun. It is stated, “<i>nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deçatäriëe</i>.” You have come to deliver us from impersonalism and voidism. So we, your disciples, vow to eradicate the misconceptions that Kåñëa is a demigod, man, unperson or void and all other nonsense opinions which are taught in the universities all over the country. We also promise to take <i>kértana</i> with Lord Caitanya and Rädhä-Kåñëa Deities all over the United States and distribute your literature. Also 50% of the income from our college engagements will go to your book fund.</p>
<p class="p7">In conclusion let us remember to always strive for full Kåñëa consciousness so that by our becoming glorious you will be glorified.</p>
<p class="p7">First Transcendental Exposition</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Frankfurt</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Frankfurt</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>A Prayer from a Most Dejected Soul</b></p>
<p class="p12"><b>1</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>As Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta gave you your orders,<br>
I too have been ordered by you,<br>
A Vaiñëava is he,<br>
who makes others Vaiñëava.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>2</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>Your order is clear, my duty set<br>
The whole world must come to Caitanya’s feet.<br>
Without your grace what can I do?<br>
Worship your feet, your Divine Grace.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>3</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>More merciful than the Lord Çré Kåñëa,<br>
You came to give what the Lord cannot give.<br>
Devotional service is Summum Bonum,<br>
Çré Rädhikä is your friend.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>4</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>Kali-yuga has one boon remaining<br>
Your grace comes delivering the Holy Name.<br>
By chanting the damned have all been saved<br>
Including this Bhadravardhana.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>5</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>Hare Kåñëa comes straight from Kåñëaloka,<br>
but with chanting I have no connection,<br>
Your grace has the right, you have the mace<br>
Now keep me on Caitanya’s path.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>6</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>O when will that day come<br>
when setting aside all thoughts<br>
I shall guilelessly call upon the Holy Name<br>
and see your order as my life and soul.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>7</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>My Lord your glance is as cooling as the light from millions of moons<br>
By your grace a blind man can cross a great mountain<br>
I pray I may always remember those feet<br>
not daring to gaze upon your lotus face.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><b>8</b></p>
<p class="p56"><i>Your grace forgive my dumb probation<br>
O the Evangelic Angel! Let me offer my soul at your lotus feet.<br>
“I have no shelter other than Çréla Prabhupäda”<br>
Humbly prays Bhadravardhana.</i></p>
<p class="p57"><br></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Frankfurt<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Our obeisances are unto your Divine Lotus Feet again and again.</p>
<p class="p7">While all is turmoil and bitterness, you alone are pure and sweetly fresh.</p>
<p class="p7">We are mangy dogs without qualification nor any outstanding features, begging for more of your infinite mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, our hearts are sore from separation. Please engage us fully in your causeless devotional service for all eternity.</p>
<p class="p7">Your obedient servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Urdhareta Das Brahmacari / Bhadravardhana dasa Brahmachary</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our Dear Beloved Spiritual Master, Çréla Prabhupäda:</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our obeisances, offered humbly at your Lotus Feet again and again, and again. How can we ever express the gratitude we feel for the change in heart you have affected in us, by far the most fallen of all your disciples.</p>
<p class="p12">Spiritual rain of mercy drops<br>
Like diamonds of perfect<br>
Multi-faceted love,<br>
Prabhupada distributing bliss<br>
to us—undeserving fools.<br>
Prabhupäda!<br>
You cast out demons of anxiety<br>
With a glance—<br>
Your effulgence spreading<br>
Kåñëa <i>premä</i>, for miles<br>
Around—<br>
Your voice purifying whole cities—<br>
You have caused a generation to<br>
Sing for joy,<br>
For Love of God, Kåñëa<br>
The Supreme Personality of Godhead.<br>
A whole generation of bereft souls<br>
stranded in the world of names,<br>
Now on the streets,<br>
On the road, door to door,<br>
Spreading Your Fame,<br>
Chanting the Holy Names<br>
of the Lord—All due to<br>
Your Causeless Mercy.</p>
<p class="p12">We are hauled from the ocean of<br>
Nescience into the blissful<br>
Ship of nectar—<br>
Serving Your Lotus Feet<br>
Drawn eternally, forcibly<br>
By your effulgent example.</p>
<p class="p12">O beautiful swan, flying<br>
With such overwhelming knowledge<br>
And ease, leading us over<br>
The treacherous ocean of <i>mäyä</i>,<br>
Please guide us Back Home.</p>
<p class="p12">You Who are past obligation<br>
Please fix us up at Your Lotus Feet—<br>
By Your causeless kindness, Mercy<br>
Delivered to such fallen souls as ourselves.</p>
<p class="p12">The Eternal Ship of Service<br>
To the Infinite Lord, Çré Kåñëa<br>
Who holds You most dear.<br>
All Glories to His Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p7">Gurukula</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Offering of the Gurukula Kindergarten</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my obeisances at Your lotus feet. Çréla Prabhupäda please come and give me a picture of Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé to put on my altar and then I’ll be satisfied. I won’t want anything else. I want something, for my heart—something to help me—I want some hand beads to put around my hands and my feet too. I want pictures of Kåñëa all around my head on a hat so I’ll be spiritual and remember to go to <i>ärätrika</i>. Could I also have some knee and toe-beads. I want you to help me become Kåñëa conscious and stop sucking my thumb. Will you please tell Kåñëa to come with You?</p>
<p class="p7">I want You to help me to stop walking so slow and run really really fast.</p>
<p class="p7">Please please help me Çréla Prabhupäda to go to Kåñëa-loka, Please help me to go to the Vaikuëöhas so that I can travel all around and help me to get strong.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda would You please love me and I’ll love You. I like You so much—You’re the best than anyone in this whole universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa, Balaräma, Rämacandra, Lakñmaëa, Hanumän, Sétä, and also a great devotee named Tulasé. Hare Kåñëa!</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Bhakta Sean</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. It was very nice of You to come here to America, because You have saved all the people around this world. You are bringing all the fallen souls back to where their constitutional position is, to where they really were before. As<span class="s12"> </span>a pure spirit soul, their constitutional position was as a servant of God. And You have made all sorts of devotees around this world like <i>sannyäsés</i>, householders and <i>brahmacärés</i>, for them to become self-realized.</p>
<p class="p7">Also, You are making a Kåñëa conscious school for children all over the world to come to learn Kåñëa consciousness, so that when you get older you won’t have so much to worry about, and you won’t know so much about <i>karmé</i> life, and then when you die you either have 100% God consciousness, or half, and then go to the Spiritual Sky. Sometimes we go on traveling <i>saìkértana </i>to preach love of God from city to city. We lead <i>ärätrika</i>, learn Sanskrit. Everything is based upon Kåñëa consciousness. All glories to Your blessings to bring us all back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Ekendra</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances at Your Lotus Feet. I am very happy at Gurukula. We went on traveling <i>saìkértana </i>for one week and it was very nice. It was very nice of You to come here to the United States, because You are so merciful. We have children’s <i>ärätrika</i> every morning, and we have six boys in Gurukula now. We have made a very nice <i>vyäsäsana</i> for You to sit on when You come to see us. You are so pure, Çréla Prabhupäda, that You brought 3,000 devotees into the movement. That is a lot. You are very powerful. You are teaching us that love of Kåñëa is our only thing to do. If You come, I will bow down at Your Lotus Feet forever. At the airport all the devotees will bow down too, only because You are so very nice and are teaching love of Kåñëa all around the world.</p>
<p class="p7">I like <i>saìkértana</i> because it cleans your heart of all the accumulated dust for years together. It is Lord Caitanya’s movement. It makes you blissful and happy. Gurukula is the only real school in the whole world, because it teaches you how to chant Hare Kåñëa and be happy. Thank you so much for setting up this school because now I can learn about Kåñëa. Please give me some dust from Your Lotus Feet and a flower from Your garland, and then I will give You two shadow boxes I have made about the <i>räsa</i> dance and the fisherman who caught Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Dvärakädéçadäsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p58"><br></p>
<p class="p59">Dwarkadish Das / Edendra Das / Ananga / Bhaktin Carol / Bhakta John / Bhaktin Christina / Sean / Karinpur / Bhakta Brennan / Bhakta Marca / Lisa / Mahamaya Devi Dasi / Stokakrsna das Adhikary / Ameatma däsa Adhikary / Hiraëyagarbha däsa / Rsabhadev das Adhikary / Mrgendra Das Adhikary / Saraladevi dasi / Raghunatha das Brahmacary / Narayan Das Adhikary / Karunasindhu däsa / Bir Raghava däsa Adhikary / Sahadevi devi dasi / Bhagavata das Brahmacary / Bhaktin Debbe / Chaya Devi Dasi / Soucharya devi dasi / Tara devi dasi / Kuìkuma devi dasi / Bhaktine Carol / Bir Mala dasi / Jahnava devi dasi / Yamuna Bhakta dasi / Yasoda-Jivan däsa / Robert Martinez Brahmacary / Nini / Eddie L. [indistinct] / Bir Laksman dasa Brahmacari / Dhrstaketu däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Hamburg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Hamburg</b></p>
<p class="p7">1. Seeing God is not so easy as you may think my friend, without the light bulb you can’t even see your hand,</p>
<p class="p7">2. Please understand that your eyes are not much better than the beautiful eyes printed on the peacock’s feather.</p>
<p class="p7">3. And your ear is practically on par with a tomb, because what are you hearing beyond the walls of this room?</p>
<p class="p7">4. And your mind, what can you remember today, of the things you said and did this same time yesterday?</p>
<p class="p7">5. Now you are thinking your intelligence is really the thing, but at death where will you go and before birth where had you been?</p>
<p class="p7">6. So it is a fact that we are all ignorant and fool number one, yet we dare to speculate and say where the creation comes from.</p>
<p class="p7">7. In the beginning they say a chunk was floating in space, somehow it exploded and everything fell into place.</p>
<p class="p7">8. But where did this chunk come from and all of that space? Have we any experience of a house just falling into place?</p>
<p class="p7">9. Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die, they say that God is a fiction, a preposterous lie.</p>
<p class="p7">10. But who can live a second beyond their own time and who will be laughing at the time of their dying?</p>
<p class="p7">11. The whole world is drowning in a whirlpool of matter, too dull to see spirit by the roar of their own laughter.</p>
<p class="p7">12. You may be blind, ignorant and dumb, or aristocratic, intelligent and very handsome,</p>
<p class="p7">13. But it is my duty to place before you this humble submission as I’ve heard it from my <i>guru</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">14. Put all of your knowledge and intelligence aside. Simply hear the message of Lord Caitanya and decide.</p>
<p class="p7">15. Associate with <i>sädhus </i>and hear their vibration. Be always engaged in their service and achieve the highest destination.</p>
<p class="p7">16. Do not count me, I have no perfection. Your intelligence is to find the nectar in this pile of rejection.</p>
<p class="p7">17. Although I am unqualified and not fit to look your way, I am thankful while offering, you have not kicked me away.</p>
<p class="p7">18. I beg your pardon for taking advantage of your Divine Grace. I will not disturb you further with my attempts for your praise.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Nectar of Devotion, </i>my dear Çréla Prabhupäda, You state that “Besides these (50 transcendental qualities of Lord Kåñëa), there are other transcendental qualities which are described by Lord Çiva to Pärvaté in the <i>Padma Puräëa </i>and in the First Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhagavatam, </i>in connection with a conversation between the demigod of the earth and the King of religion, Yamaräja. It is said therein: </p>
<p class="p16">“Persons who are desirous of becoming great personalities must be decorated with the following qualities: truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, perseverance, renunciation, peacefulness, simplicity, control of the senses, equilibrium of the mind, austerity, equality, forbearance, placidity, learning, knowledge, opulence, chivalry, influence, strength, memory, independence, tactfulness, luster, patience, ability to talk, gravity, steadiness, faithfulness, fame, respectfulness, and lack of false egotism.” Persons who are desiring to become great souls cannot be without any of the above qualities, so …</p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda is always revealing these qualities in Your everyday dealings with us.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember a time when You showed Your quality of</p>
<p class="p6"><b>TRUTHFULNESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">You told us once that one time when You were a little boy, You and Your friends went and stole some watermelons and ate them. But while eating the watermelon by chance You swallowed a watermelon seed. Previously You had heard from someone that if You swallow a watermelon seed, it will sprout and grow in your stomach until you burst. So naturally being quite innocent and naive You took it as true and You became very frightened. You went to Your mother and asked her if it was true, that if you swallow at watermelon seed it would grow in your stomach until you died. She answered, yes, it was true. Then You admitted to her what You had done and asked her what to do. She replied that You should pray to Kåñëa to save You. And You did and Kåñëa did save You.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>CLEANLINESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">One time Your Divine Grace came to Montreal to take care of some immigration procedure and I was to take care of You. So I was planning to wash Your clothing after You took Your bath. But when I entered the room I saw that Your Divine Grace had already washed and spread all of Your cloth all over the room to dry and so in amazement I exclaimed, “Oh Prabhupäda, You washed Your own clothing!” and You looked surprised and replied “If I don’t show you the example then how will you know what to do?” We were always fascinated also to see how You always wash Your fingertips and mouth after taking even a small morsel of <i>prasädam. </i>And You are always mortified when You see any of us break some rule of hygiene. Your Grace is so clean also in Your mind because You never think badly of anyone or find fault unnecessarily.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>MERCY</b></p>
<p class="p7">When in India, in anger I made some loud noise in my room and it disrupted Your Divine Grace’s lecture, I was feeling very repentant about it and I was so ashamed to come to see You the next morning to apologize. You were so merciful when I told You what I had done and You easily forgave me by saving, “That’s all right, if I’m not tolerant then how will you learn to become tolerant?”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>PERSEVERANCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace told us that after You took <i>sannyäsa </i>in Your old age You were living in New Delhi by Yourself. You were writing Your <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>and printing <i>Back to Godhead </i>newspapers, and distributing literature and gathering money, Then after some time one day You were walking down the street and somehow a bull struck You and You fell on the street. Somehow You managed to get back to Your rooms where You lay there without working or cooking for some days unable to relieve Yourself. At that time You were wondering if You had done the right thing by leaving Your comfortable home, and taking <i>sannyäsa. </i>But then You were remembering the six <i>gosvämés</i> of Våndävana. There were all very rich, learned and aristocratic. But because Lord Caitanya instructed them, they went to live in Våndävana bereft of all comforts just like mendicants. How much wonderful they were. In this way by remembering the six <i>gosvämés</i> You gained confidence and gradually recovered from Your accident. So in spite of so much inconvenience, You have pushed on.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>RENUNCIATION (or becoming a sannyäsé)</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace described very nicely in Calcutta immediately after giving <i>sannyäsa</i> to Revaténandana, because he asked You what his duty was as a <i>sannyäsa</i>. Your Divine Grace replied—“<i>Sannyäsa</i> means to give up Your planmaking for sense gratification.” Actually by this definition, even though a person may be unable to embrace the <i>sannyäsa</i> order of life, he can elevate himself to such a position that he gives up his tendency for sense gratification simply by dovetailing his desires to please the senses of Kåñëa. So by Your definition even a most degraded soul can become elevated and accepted as renounced.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>PEACEFULNESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes when I would have the opportunity to be in the kitchen cooking for Your Divine Grace we would peek through the door of Your room to see what You were doing, and You would always look so peaceful, calm and quiet, thinking about something or looking through Your papers and books. To protect Kåñëa I have seen You become a most stubborn adversary in some heated discussion but on Your own account You are always willing to overlook all provocation and simply say laughingly, “That’s alright—give him some <i>prasädam” </i>and then You nicely change the subject.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>SIMPLICITY</b></p>
<p class="p7">In London last year one of the boys saw You go from Your room for a shower wearing just a towel, And he was happy to see that You were so natural and simple. You are also simple in Your words, since You always say, “Simply chant Hare Kåñëa and your life will be sublime.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>CONTROL OF THE SENSES</b></p>
<p class="p7">Once upon a time there was a feast and You gave a lecture saying how people think that they are God. After the lecture the feast was brought out and You were given a tremendous plate of <i>prasädam. </i>You just looked at it, then You looked up and said, “I can’t eat all of this—I’m not God.” Everyone laughed and You distributed the <i>prasädam </i>to everyone.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>EQUILIBRIUM</b></p>
<p class="p7">As I mentioned before many crazy boys came to You in the beginning. So one time one of Your students asked You for $15 for gasoline so that he could burn himself and commit suicide. So You asked the treasurer to come. Then You asked the treasurer, “Have we got $15 for this boy to buy gasoline?” The treasurer, knowing the boy’s intention, said, “No, Çréla Prabhupäda.” So Your Divine Grace calmly told him that he’d have to wait. In this way although people come to You with the craziest motives still Your mind is always fixed on Kåñëa and You do not care to deviate.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>AUSTERITY</b></p>
<p class="p7">In Bombay You were eating very little and because I was the cook I often wondered if it was due to my bad cooking. When I asked You why You were eating less these days, You replied “Because I am less hungry. Throughout my life I have tasted so many tasty dishes. Now I’m an old man. I have no more desire to enjoy so many varieties of tastes. Whatever you bring, it is very nice and I will accept it.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>EQUALITY</b></p>
<p class="p7">Of course not everyone and everything is equal but You see everyone and everything transcendentally, which means anyone can perform devotional service to Kåñëa. The mother is not better than the child, the husband not better than the wife. How often I’ve heard You say, “You are dancing, she is dancing, you are singing, she is singing, you are cooking, she is cooking, so what is the difference between you and her? To Kåñëa you are the same.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>FORBEARANCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">In the beginning of Your movement many of Your students were not very serious but You always tolerated all their offences against You or Kåñëa, understanding full well that it was sheer ignorance on the part of these westerners. Yet inspite of all shortcomings You gradually elevated all of them. You asked them not to smoke but You knew it was not possible for most of them to give it up so You tolerated it. You said that “You must understand that smoking is not good for spiritual life so you must stop, and you must think that my Spiritual Master says I should not smoke. So instead of smoking one pack of cigarettes in a day, smoke two, one in the morning and one in the evening.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>PLACIDITY</b></p>
<p class="p7">When You came to London last year, while on the plane, a tooth fell out of Your mouth, but You remained completely calm, and no one could even tell.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>LEARNING</b></p>
<p class="p7">We heard that while Your Divine Grace was in London You met with very big intellectuals and that You defeated them in arguments in philosophy and religion.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>KNOWLEDGE</b></p>
<p class="p7">In New York a long time ago, at the end of Your lecture, a boy came forward and asked if a person who is Kåñëa conscious knows everything. “Yes,” You replied. “Then,” the boy continued, “if You know everything why don’t You let the scientists know the cure for cancer. After all they are struggling so hard to find the cure,” “Yes!” You replied, “just chant Hare Kåñëa.” In this way You revealed how You are in full knowledge by always giving the perfect answer to each question.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>OPULENCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">You explained that when You were in family life You had a good business, and so You were a good provider for Your wife and five children. But now although You have left five children You have 2500 children. And You don’t work to support them—they support You. So aren’t You a rich man.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>CHIVALRY</b></p>
<p class="p7">You are a perfect gentleman. Once a girl disciple and You were to pass through the door at the same time but it was too narrow. Instantly You stepped back and made a gallant gesture for her to go first.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>INFLUENCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">Wherever You go You gain recognition from everyone. In San Francisco the devotees were arrested for having <i>saìkértana </i>in the street. When they were brought before the judge he immediately said, “Oh let them go. They’re Sväméjé’s men.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>STRENGTH</b></p>
<p class="p7">One time in India at Gétä Bhavan an usher tried to keep one of the devotees seated during an ecstatic <i>kértana </i>so that the stage wouldn’t collapse due to so much dancing. You were on Your feet jumping but when You saw this You immediately arrested the man bodily. The man was so frightened that he recoiled into some dark corner.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>MEMORY</b></p>
<p class="p7">One time You were telling us something You had remembered when You had been a tiny baby in Your mother’s lap. Your memory is perfect because You always remember Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>INDEPENDENCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">Since You are fully surrendered to Kåñëa, under the Lord’s protection, You are completely free to act on behalf of Kåñëa in any way He sees fit.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>TACTFULNESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">George Harrison was telling You one time that “Everyone says their way is the right way. So how to know who is the right <i>guru</i>?” You replied, “I’m not saying I’m right. We say everything belongs to Kåñëa. So that a person who is giving everything to Kåñëa, he’s right, and that person is Kåñëa’s representative.” So George Harrison ended up giving You $19,000 to finance the first printing of the <i>Kåñëa Book</i>.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>LUSTER</b></p>
<p class="p7">Years ago You were taking Your morning walk with Puruñottama and a policeman was watching You. He approached Puruñottama and said, “Hey, that Man is glowing.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>PATIENCE</b></p>
<p class="p7">At an engagement in a Boston University, after the lecture You asked if there were any questions. One boy stood up and began expounding how he was God and everyone was God, etc., etc. for quite a long time. You simply sat listening. At the end of ten minutes the boy had exhausted his scope and so he sat down. Then some seconds later You asked, “You are God?” The audience burst into laughter.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>ABILITY TO TALK</b></p>
<p class="p7">You can talk so nicely that this whole movement is existing on the strength of Your talking. You speak into the microphone, it is recorded, then someone transcribes, then it is compiled and edited, composed, made ready for the printer, printed by ISKCON PRESS or Dai Nippon, then it’s distributed and money is spent for maintenance and repeating the process by printing another book. Our society is therefore resting on Your ability to speak so nicely on Kåñëa’s behalf.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>GRAVITY</b></p>
<p class="p7">I remember one time in Bombay when our future was hanging up in the air and all the devotees on this first World <i>saìkértana</i> gathered in Your Divine Grace’s little room just to see what Your plans would be and how things were to change or take shape. But Your Divine Grace talked some business with Åñi<span class="s5"> </span>Kumära and then everyone waited for You to give each some specific assignment. But You remained silent rubbing Your head. Everyone was waiting to speak to You privately but no one left Your room. Finally You opened Your Lotus eyes and said “That’s all, don’t expect anymore.” You would not disclose Your mind although You are always full of plans.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>STEADINESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">An old devotee said that You once told him that You went across the entire ocean at a very old age to a strange country, and you didn’t fall into <i>mäyä</i>. “But,” You added, “if you did that you would.”<span class="s13"> </span>So<span class="s13"> </span>in spite of so much change and hardship still You have remained constant and steady.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>FAITHFULNESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté asked You in Your first meeting to preach in the English language. And although You remained in householder life for many years and did not have His association, still You remained loyal, always thinking about Him. You’ve told us “I never for a moment forgot about my Spiritual Master from the first time I laid eyes on him.” And in Your old age finally You are executing Your first duty to Him.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>FAME</b></p>
<p class="p7">In India there are so many <i>sannyäsés</i> but here there is just Yourself so You have become so well-known for preaching the message of Kåñëa. And returning to India You have also become famous there on account of becoming famous in the West. Everyone is amazed by what You have been able to do in spreading the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>RESPECTFULNESS</b></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Caitanya recommended that one should become free from false pride not expecting anything for himself but giving all respects to others. Because Your Divine Grace is respectful to everyone including the ant, therefore You are also always treated respectfully by others.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>LACK OF FALSE EGOTISM</b></p>
<p class="p7">Riding back to the temple from an engagement at the <i>paëòal</i> in Calcutta, a nice man was praising Your Divine Grace so highly. He was saying things like “You must be Kåñëa Caitanya Himself appearing again for the benefit of the most fallen souls of the West, because otherwise no one could accomplish what You have been able to do, by changing the ways of the Western boys and girls.” He went on and on sincerely praising You to the heights and You heard him. Then You interrupted him and said, “Oh my dear sir, I am nothing, please give me your blessings.” I was so much touched by Your humble attitude and lack of egotism; although You are the Greatest Soul in the Creation. You are asking for the blessings of some ordinary person.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Hamburg</p>
<p class="p49">Hansadutta Das Adhikary / Haimavati Devi Dasi / Chakravarty das Brahmacary / Smita Krsna Das Brahmacary / Astaratha Das Brahmacaré / Surabhi Devi Dasi / Sacinandan das Brahmachary / Bhakti Heinz Das Brahmachary / Bhakti Bert das Brahmachary / Bhakti Wolfram Brahmacaria / Indriyani devi dasi / Han Koster / Christian Jansen / Bernd Keteel</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Master: We, your disciples here at New Navadvépa, offer our worthless obeisances unto your Lotus Feet and pray that you keep us eternally in Your service.</p>
<p class="p7">All of us in this country have spent many years in the slaughter-houses called schools under the pretence of gaining knowledge. These questions were not discussed: Who are you? What is this life? What is its purpose? If an aspiring student asked these questions, no answer was given. No one knew the answer and no one cared to know. Yet, these unanswered questions created unrest in our parents’ and teacher’s minds and disturbed their lopsided efforts to gain and maintain the maximum in material comforts.</p>
<p class="p7">Dissatisfied with schools and the worthless knowledge taught there, we abandoned them to enjoy like animals, engaging in unrestricted sense gratification. Finding no satisfaction, many of us resorted to intoxication in order to annihilate ourselves. But by the Grace of God we were pulled off the incessant seesaw of <i>bhukti </i>and <i>mukti. </i>We were blessed with the association of Çréla Prabhupäda, our Spiritual Master. It is only through the grace of a pure devotee of God that a conditioned soul can take up the positive practice of devotional service and transcend the desires for sense gratification and liberation (annihilation). His gift is real knowledge; knowledge of our eternal identity, our relation with this world and our relationship with God. He has taught us the distinction between spirit and matter and has shown us practically that our eternal function as spirit soul is to serve. Not to serve these material bodies, but to serve Kåñëa, the Supreme Person, the controller of both spirit and matter. Çréla Prabhupäda, through his causeless mercy, has opened our eyes by teaching us to chant Hare Kåñëa and hear Kåñëa’s pastimes in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam. </i>He has given us the highest teaching: Kåñëa’s own words in <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>He has engaged us here in New Navadvépa Temple in worshiping the Deities of Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityänanda, Çré Advaita, Gadädhara, and Çréväsa. He has given us worship of Çrématé Tulasé devé and let us place her flowers and leaves on Lord Caitanya’s Lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">He has let us help spread this benediction of Kåñëa consciousness all over the world through Lord Caitanya’s <i>saìkértana </i>movement. He has given so many people new life. We must accept the chance he has offered. If we do not, then His mission will not suffer, we will suffer. If we do, then we can rejoice in the wonderful light Çréla Prabhupäda has showered on a dark world and, taking shelter at his lotus feet, find eternal peace in the constant service of God’s pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we offer our worthless obeisances unto your Lotus Feet and pray you keep us eternally in your service.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Honolulu</p>
<p class="p49">Goursundar das Adhikary / Balabhadra das brahmacary / Jivan Kåñëa das Brahmacary / Vaikhanas das Brahmacary / Hari Ballavh das Adhikary / Phenop das Brahmacary / Radha Govinda das Brahmacary / Tarun Kanti das Brahmacary / Gour Govinda das Brahmacary / Goverdhan das Brahmacary / Brsni das Brahmacary / Babhru das Brahmachary / Manjari dasi / Kusa devi dasi / Suparna dasa Brahmacary / Prahladahlada das Brahmachary / Siddha Swarupananda Goswami / Sasisekha das Brahmacary / Jayasri dasi / Govinda dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Houston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Houston</b></p>
<p class="p7">We have too long hesitated in finding full shelter at Çré Gurudeva’s Lotus Feet. Let us not be miserly in our approach of Çré Gurudeva’s Lotus Feet, but rather let us prostrate ourselves corporally, mentally, and verbally, clinging ever more dearly to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">My Spiritual Master has not advised the watering down of His Guru Mahäräja’s Divine Instruction. As such, He remains the All-Merciful transparent via medium to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, Whose instruction is ever-fresh, “an imperishable science of <i>Yoga</i>.”</p>
<p class="p7">My Spiritual Master has blessed us with the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He has called upon us to keep ever within our throats the Holy <i>mahä-mantra</i>—Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare / Hare Räma Hare Räma, Räma Räma Hare Hare. He has directed us to Çré Näma for the pure purpose of devotional service to Lord Kåñëa. My Guru Mahäräja has not directed me to Çré Näma for sense gratification, economic development, religiosity, or liberation, but only for the transcendental pleasure of the Supreme Person, Çré Kåñëa. He has said, “Our liberation is transcendental loving, service to Lord Kåñëa.” (<i>jéve-svarüpaya nitya-kåñëa däsa</i>). The <i>Caitanya-caritämåta </i>confirms the super-excellence of <i>hari-kértana</i>, glorification of the Holy Name, as the <i>Yuga-dharma.</i></p>
<p class="p7">“A person who chants the Holy Name of Kåñëa once can counteract the resultant actions of more sinful activities than he is able to perform.” Let us, therefore, pray for the Divine Mercy of Lord Hari to remove all the doubts and weaknesses of heart so that our service to Çréla Prabhupäda will not discredit his valuable contribution to this dark planet.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Bhagavän, Kåñëa, declares in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>(18.66): “Give up all varieties of religiousness, and just surrender unto Me; and in return I shall protect you from all sinful reactions. Therefore, you have nothing to fear.”</p>
<p class="p7">My Guru Mahäräja has not asked me to hesitate in any way in fulfilling Lord Kåñëa’s desire. Rather, He has said of Arjuna: “Although he could understand that his duty to fight was awaiting him, still, on account of miserly weakness, he could not discharge the duty.” (<i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> 2.7 purport)</p>
<p class="p7">The aspiring devotee, free from delusion, does not rely upon his feeble strength to free himself from material affection. Kåñëa says, “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it,” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 7.14]</span> Let us become fully absorbed in carrying out His instruction, this being our only <i>tapasya. </i>“When one’s intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge, and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>5.17]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Let us, therefore, disregard our past and future and follow the example of Prahläda Mahäräja given us by Çréla Prabhupäda. In <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>Prahläda Mahäräja offers the following prayer to the Lord: “My dear Lord Nåsiàha, if I can be elevated to the position of Your servant, then it will be possible for me to hear about Your activities. You are the supreme Friend, the supreme worshipable Deity. Your pastimes are transcendental, and simply by hearing of them one can counteract all his sinful activities. Therefore, I shall not care for all those sinful activities because simply by hearing about your pastimes I shall get out of all contamination of material attachment.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhag.</i> 7.9.17]</span><i> </i>Therefore, let us become firmly attached through affection to Çréla Prabhupäda’s Lotus <span class="s10">Feet. </span>Let our faith become steady in happiness or distress, success or failure. Çré Gurudeva may be approached, as He has indicated, by fulfilling His instruction without deviation. My Spiritual Master has instructed me to give submissive aural reception to the Supreme Person, Kåñëa, with single-pointed attention, that I might, by His causeless mercy, realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the pages of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam. </i>Çréla Prabhupäda states in a purport of the same literature: “One should hear <i>Bhägavatam</i> with rapt attention from the real person and then only he can at one realize the presence of Lord Kåñëa in every page of the <i>Bhägavatam. </i>The secret of knowing <i>Bhägavata</i> is mentioned here. Nobody can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. Nobody can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if somebody hears with rapt attention <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> from the right person and at the very beginning of it, one can assuredly see Lord Kåñëa in Person in the pages of <i>Bhägavatam</i>. <span class="s3">(1.3.44 purport)</span> In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>Lord Kåñëa says: “My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of <i>bhakti-yoga. </i>In this way you will develop a desire to attain to Me.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>12.9]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa has causelessly sent us His mercy incarnation, the Spiritual Master, and now we need simply execute these instructions of Guru Mahäräja without any interpretation of our ever-faulty cognition. The <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>10th Canto, 14th chapter, 8th verse, states: “My dear Lord, any person who is constantly awaiting Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him, and who goes on suffering the resultant actions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible to become liberated for it has become his rightful claim.”</p>
<p class="p7">Arjuna, being very much confused about his duty, accepts Lord Kåñëa as his Spiritual Master. “Now I am confused about duty, and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 2.7]</span> Arjuna, the perfect disciple, is humbly submitting to Kåñëa, the perfect Spiritual Master, to explain “clearly what is best” for him. Çréla Prabhupäda is clearly our “ever well-wisher.” As such, He knows our real self-interest and is instilling within us the desire to please both the Spiritual Master and Lord Kåñëa. The <i>Vedas </i>say that only to one who has unflinching faith in both the Spiritual Master and Lord Kåñëa are all the truths of the <i>Vedas </i>revealed.</p>
<p class="p7">O, servant of Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda, Divine Messenger of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, I offer my most respectful obeisances unto Your Lotus Feet again and again. Please forgive our many offenses, and keep us ever-determined in Your service.</p>
<p class="p7">Your worthless servants,<br>
ISKCON Houston</p>
<p class="p49">Puñta Kåñëa das Brahmacäré / Dave Prabhu / Kusakratha das brahmacäré / Bhakta Jim / Bhaktin Deb / Prsni Dasi / Bhakta Geoff / Bir Kåñëa das Brahmacäré / Bhakta Dave / Bhaktin Pamela / Nandalal dasi / Bhaktine Sandy</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>It is his kindness…</b></p>
<p class="p7">For taking us under his wing like a father eagle and now that we can fly a little bit we shouldn’t become forgetful that our father is ever ready with life-giving instructions. I ask myself, what do I feel in my heart for my spiritual master. I’m finding it very hard to be me. I can safely conclude that I feel nothing at all. And I’m seeing that inside all that I have is a collection of thoughts that I’ve received from others. I’ve found that I depend on others for strength, for guidance and that I really don’t have anything to say which I can find to be my own. We all have a fund of knowledge on the surface but some situations and occasions demand that we have to go beneath the surface and really be honest with ourselves. Externally we can label different things and deal with different situations according to this fund of knowledge that we may have. But sometimes we have to go deeper inside and this process can be hard. So let us first consider our actual position. There are many different formulas for happiness in the material world to choose from. We can take any course we desire to take, but those wise and thoughtful, inquisitive and innocent men and women will be caught by the ears and caught by the heart when they hear of the wonderful pastimes of Rädhä and Govinda from the factually realized soul. Those intelligent men will seriously consider the formula for happiness as given by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and will follow his instructions and seek the shelter of his feet and hear what he has to say for he is actually possessing real peacefulness and real humility. He is an individual of great consequence because he has this link with God and he is simply trying to carry out the instructions of his spiritual master and instruct others on how they can find that link with the Supreme Lord—Kåñëa. There is a great ocean in front of our house and it is very extensive and broad and we cannot see the other shore. But this ocean of pleasure and fullness that comes from the eternal pastimes of Lord Kåñëa made visible through the literary genius of Çréla Prabhupäda, our spiritual master, makes this vast ocean appear insignificant and unimportant. So our business is to become introspective and ever able to correct ourselves, not letting ourselves get puffed up by thinking that we are great, and also to learn how to fly and give our energy in Kåñëa’s service. Rather than demand recognition, attention or a pat on the back, we must go within our own hearts in prayer and ask you for the strength to serve, to make that link. And let us endeavor and continue to serve Kåñëa, each other, and anyone else who is soft-hearted enough to feel or hope to understand the saintly art of self-surrender unto the blessed feet of the pure devotee who is our ever well-wisher.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p49">Prasuti Dasi / Capo [indistinct] / Dattatreya Das / Bilva Mangala das / Gangarama Das / Prabala Das / Suruchi devi dasi / Sivanivas das &amp; Susit das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most humble and prostrated obeisances in the shadow of the dust of the lotus feet of our eternal preceptor and spiritual guide. We mean to say that we fall to the ground and pray the merciful suffrage of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, Jagadgurudeva, our spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Let all men hear our offering and understand the purport thereof, lest they be doomed to remain forever shackled and tortured by the stringent laws of the kingdom of sin and ignorance. Only by obtaining the mercy of Çré Gurudeva can the fettered soul gain release from the perpetual sentence of misguided existence. Only by the dawn of the rays of the lotus feet of the spiritual master can the soul attain the beatitude of contacting and living in the eternal association of the holy name. The holy name is revealed through the spoken words and every activity of the spiritual master. By serving the spiritual master one acquires eligibility for uttering the holy name without offense. The only method of serving the spiritual master consists in uttering the holy name without offense in His company. The association of the spiritual master is the means of realizing the mode of life which is free from offense against the holy name. If one calls upon the holy name only once sincerely, within the grace of the spiritual master, he is freed from all worldly entanglements for good, know this without doubt or fear. Seek ye that person, find Him under any circumstance, give up all varieties of motives for existing, and simply surrender unto His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">The conditioned soul can only attempt to sincerely obtain the Mercy of Gurudeva. He has nothing other to do. If he wants to do anything else, he is foredoomed to go astray and plunge into the bottomless abyss of delusion. We are in utter need of receiving the Mercy of Gurudeva. We are completely destitute and derelict. The sense of this, our dire predicament, makes itself felt in its truly effective form only to the person who is sincerely desirous of leading a life of which the sole object is to conduce the blessings of Gurudeva by absolute, unconditional, reverential service to His instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">Even the grossest sinner can be delivered by the spiritual master, let all misgivings be dispelled. By voluntary consent, anyone can obtain the holy grace of Gurudeva by the method of unconditional submission. Furthermore, Gurudeva enables the bonafide aspirant to obtain the strength required for such submission even in the otherwise impossible surroundings of this mundane world. Unknowable is the glory of the spiritual master; unfathomable are the depths of his mercy. He walks amongst us, His every activity manifested to our mundane vision, yet we know Him not, Who has come here for reasons beyond our capacity to comprehend. Eternally a mystery, forever eluding the mind’s circumvision, Gurudeva shares our time for purposes no one knows.</p>
<p class="p7">Continual, unceasing recall of the holy name is the means of deliverance for this dark age. This realization has indeed been seen by the grace of Gurudeva, but it is not capable of being retained except by the continual blessing of Gurudeva. The memory persists by the grace of Gurudeva. If service to Gurudeva is relaxed, the memory of the holy name also loses its spiritual significance. It is only by the continuous and exclusive service to Gurudeva that the divine event of the dawning of the holy name remains manifest. The spiritual master is a transcendental personality, and service to Him must be performed on the transcendental plane. He cannot be served by mundane notions or shallow, punctilious observance of external conduct. Verily by the method of unconditional obedience only is Gurudeva actually served. This absolute state of alert, conscious submission to the will and instructions of Gurudeva is the very essence of the transcendental, super-excellent admission into the congregation of the chanting of the holy names without which all attempts and endeavors amount to nothing more than fruitless toil, the sowing of seed on barren land, the milking of a dried up cow.</p>
<p class="p7">Some may think that they are justified in adversely considering the transcendental position of the spiritual master from the angular point of view of their mundane plane. They are apt to think that if Gurudeva really belongs to the transcendental plane, His conduct would be of an extraordinary kind and would also appear as such to all mundane spectators. Empiricists expect miracles and are prepared to serve only persons who are able to satisfy their atheistic demands. The desire to be mystified by the superficial display of miraculous powers and covet the obtaining of boons in the shape of extended scope for the gratification of their sensuous appetites. But Gurudeva lives above all expectations and conceptions of the worldling. It is no part of His business to satisfy any expectations of any mundane person. Rather it is the sole duty of the worldling to try to understand in a spirit of humility and reverence why the spiritual master is the actual pure servant of the holy name without having to perform miracles that are alone claimed to be recognized as spiritual manifestations by unbelievers.</p>
<p class="p7">Our words and offerings are hollow and vain attempts in the matter of appropriately addressing Gurudeva on this auspicious day of His appearance. By dint of our unsubmissive and contaminated attitudes, we are doomed to forever remain beyond the boundaries of the abode of pure devotion to the Lotus Feet of Gurudeva. We shall certainly forever suffer and fetter the soul’s agony of separation from the Holy Name because of our unwillingness and inability to surrender to Gurudeva. But by this simple creed of continuous, determined effort to approach Gurudeva, by serving His Word, we shall eternally take solace and envision that plane of absolute transcendental ecstasy as seen through the anointed eye of vainless, guileless, shameless service to Gurudeva. Forever lost to death and darkness, Gurudeva is our only life and light.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">The undeserving residents of New Dvärakä-dhama,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Manchester</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Manchester</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Just when the darkness of this material existence was closing in, when the influence of Kali was becoming more and more marked, and when all hope of salvation seemed lost—just then a bright moon rose above the darkness—the Moon of Caitanya!</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You have brought Lord Caitanya’s Moon to the West to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and establish eternal life of bliss and knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">Due to the darkness our eyes had become blinded to the glory of Lord Caitanya, We had forgotten how to love and were more interested in a life of gross sense gratification, enjoying like animals.</p>
<p class="p7">But now You are teaching us how to develop our eternal love for Kåñëa, how to experience a taste of the full nectar for which we are always anxious. Now we are learning more and more what real satisfaction is. We are so indebted to You, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please let us serve You for the rest of our existence and let us never leave the shelter of Your Holy Lotus Feet. That is real satisfaction!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Manchester</p>
<p class="p49">Ranchor Das / Sanatan Das / Devamaya Devi Dasi / Rose / Fred / Steve / CM / Sage (Cyril) / Pauline</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Mexico City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Mexico City</b></p>
<p class="p7">Jaya!</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to the assembled devotees!</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Çré Guru and Gouräìga!</p>
<p class="p7">Jaya, Çréla Prabhupäda, what can we say except that we love you, and we will always try very sincerely to push on this great movement, that you began just to relieve the suffering condition of the world.</p>
<p class="p7">So let us be strong in observing the four regulative principles and chant the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i><span class="s8"><i> </i></span>untiringly each minute of each day and in the end we will return with you to our original pure life.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer Our eternal obeisances to you.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to our Gurudeva. <i>Om viñëu-päda paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrémad bhaktivedanta gosvämé mahäräja prabhupäda</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Mexico City</p>
<p class="p49">Citsukhananda dasa / Candravali devi dasi / Chandrasekar dasa / Haihaya dasa / Narmada devi dasi / Rohinikumara dasa / Ujjal dasa / Ramgovinda dasa / Yamunajivana dasa / Indradeva dasa / Anantaacarya dasa / Vimalaprasada dasa / Chuck / Tungavidya devi dasi / Indureka devi dasi / Jagatananda dasa / Madhavacarya dasa / Prabodhananda dasa / Lalitaprasad dasa / Srivas dasa / Radharani devi dasi / Patrimaducanta devi dasi / Hugo / Lakshmipriya devi dasi / Kirtiraja dasa</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Miami</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Rupa Gosvämé has described in his <i>Bhaktirasämåta-sindhu </i>that there are six characteristics of pure devotional service. His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda exhibits these characteristics in full as he is situated on the platform of pure devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>1.</b> Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distress: Çréla Prabhupäda is a soul completely surrendered to Kåñëa, a pure devotee, the <i>jagad-guru </i>of this universe. Kåñëa states in <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>verse 66, chapter 18, “Just give up all varieties of religiousness and surrender unto Me and in return I will protect you from all sinful reactions. Therefore you have nothing to fear.” Çréla Prabhupäda has given everything to Kåñëa—body, mind and words. He is famous all over the world, is always receiving valuable gifts, but uses nothing for himself. He gives everything to Kåñëa, and so Kåñëa has relieved him from all material distress. And by his mercy, he has come to this western world on the order of his spiritual master to give us the message of <i>Çrémad</i> <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>Çréla Prabhupäda said when he first came here that all his Students were morose when they came to him, but now they are chanting Hare Kåñëa and dancing like jubilant peacocks. All Glories to His Divine Grace for he has relieved us from the miseries of material existence by giving us the supreme opportunity to serve his transcendental lotus feet,</p>
<p class="p7"><b>2.</b> Pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness: Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé defines all-auspiciousness as welfare activities for all people of the world. Çréla Prabhupäda is giving to everyone the greatest welfare work—that which is eternal—love of Godhead. By his infinite mercy he is distributing love of Godhead to all the fallen souls of this Age of Kali. Everyone in this material world is a fool number one, but Çréla Prabhupäda is giving everyone the chance to get out of this most foolish and miserable position by giving us the prime benediction for humanity at large: Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana. </i>No one in this material world can give us this greatest thing of being able to render service to the Supreme Lord. Kåñëa says “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service to him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” Without Çréla Prabhupäda there is no way to become self-realized, as he is the transparent via media to Godhead. And thus Çréla Prabhupäda is certainly performing the highest welfare work for all humanity: distributing profusely to everyone, regardless of race, creed, color, pure love of God. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>3.</b> Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure: Rupa Gosvämé says there are three kinds of pleasure—material pleasure, the pleasure of Brahman, and Kåñëa conscious pleasure. Kåñëa conscious pleasure is the highest because it is eternal, whereas the others are temporary. Çréla Prabhupäda is fully in Kåñëa consciousness and therefore can never return to the material platform. However attractive material life may seem, he knows that it cannot be compared to the spiritual Kåñëa consciousness activities. Çréla Prabhupäda does not aspire after any happiness of the material world, not even the yogic perfections. He is in knowledge that material happiness is a little puddle compared to the happiness of simply giving everything to Kåñëa. He is in complete transcendental happiness as he has surrendered everything to Çré Kåñëa. Çréla Prabhupäda has only one desire and that is to always be engaged in service to his spiritual master. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>4.</b> Pure devotional service is rarely achieved: In <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>it is stated how rare it is for one to come to Kåñëa consciousness. “Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection; and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” One can perform so many penances, austerities, give so much charity and still not attain love of God. There is only one way to achieve this ultimate goal of life, and that is through the mercy of the pure devotee. Our beloved spiritual master Çréla Prabhupäda. Pure devotional service is so very rare and yet Çréla Prabhupäda has attained to this stage by giving himself completely to the Lord, and now, he is so kind, so humble, so very merciful, beyond our conception, that he is distributing this pure devotional service to us, the most fallen living entities. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>5.</b> Pure devotional service derides the conception of liberation: Before Çréla Prabhupäda came to save us, we were all in nescience, thinking that to become one with the Lord was the ultimate, wanting to give up all material possessions and simply merge into the shining effulgence of the <i>brahma-jyotir</i>. But then Çréla Prabhupäda came and told us that impersonal Brahman is not the ultimate, we do not have to give up our identities, we are all eternal individuals, we are simply Kåñëa’s maidservants, we should not give up all our possessions, but utilize all our possessions in Kåñëa’s service, do not stop eating, but eat only Kåñëa <i>prasädam</i>. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>6.</b> Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Kåñëa: Kåñëa says that there is no means to attract Him except by transcendental loving service. “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the Kingdom of God.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.55]</span> Çréla Prabhupäda is so great, so magnanimous. Kåñëa is the Supreme Pure. One must be completely pure to approach Him. Çréla Prabhupäda is a pure devotee of the Lord, he has given everything to Kåñëa, simply out of love, and so Kåñëa has become attracted by his love. Çréla Prabhupäda, out of his unlimited mercy, has become our transparent via media to Kåñëa. We are so fallen, so contaminated, and yet, our <i>jagad-guru</i> has come to this western world to give us the wonderful opportunity to render some service to him, and by letting us serve him, he has given us everything. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">The last prayer of Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté’s Gurvañöakam <span class="s3">[8] </span>reads, “By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement. Therefore I must always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I must offer my respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of such spiritual master.” So on this day of Vyäsa-püjä, the appearance day of our beloved spiritual master, we offer our obeisances, lying prostrated, millions of times, at the feet of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, who has all the good qualities, but has one quality especially outstanding infinite unlimited causeless mercy. All Glories to His Divine Grace. All Glories to His Divine Grace. All Glories to His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">The <i>jagad-guru of </i>the universe has come to save the fallen souls,<br>
Has come to tell us that this life is meant for reaching the ultimate goal.<br>
Guru Mahäräja told Prabhupäda to preach Kåñëa’s message to the western land,<br>
To tell us that Kåñëa is the Supreme and to give us the helping hand.<br>
Before Çréla Prabhupäda came to us our lives were spent each day<br>
In sense enjoyment, speculation—ultimate decay,<br>
Involved in sex life, drugs and drink; always full of frustration,<br>
Feeling lost, lonely, miserable, looking for some mitigation.<br>
And then Çréla Prabhupäda came to us to tell us of the Lord—<br>
That we are all His parts and parcels but that we’ve been allured<br>
Into <i>mäyä’s </i>camp due to our constant greed and lust,<br>
But that we can conquer these enemies simply by accepting the dust<br>
Of the lotus feet of <i>gurudeva, </i>our saviour and our king,<br>
Who has given us Kåñëa’s message and thus given us everything,<br>
Who has told us “Do not waste your time in mental speculation,<br>
And do not care for yogic powers and ultimate liberation.<br>
Simply chant Hare Kåñëa, dance, take <i>prasädam </i>and to everybody preach,<br>
And by this simple process love of Godhead you will surely reach.”<br>
So on this day of Vyäsa-püjä we would like to say<br>
That Çréla Prabhupäda has given us the only way<br>
To end our lives of degradation, misery and strife,<br>
By giving us the full knowledge, bliss and eternal life.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, All Glories to Çré Guru<br>
Who’s given us love of Kåñëa, a life all fresh and new,<br>
We wish to offer our obeisances to you,<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, our master, father, teacher and <i>guru.<br>
</i>We fall down at your lotus feet and pray to always be<br>
Engaged in your unalloyed loving service eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Miami</p>
<p class="p49">Sudama das Adhikary / Riksharaj das brahmacäré / Mahavira Das brahmacäré / Bhakti Joe / Ricardo / Steve Prabhu / Arundhati dasi / Ken Prabhu / Aniruddha däs / Bob Prabhu / Phil / Diane Prabhu / Rohini Davi<br>
Laura Prabhu / Carol Prabhu / Cindy Prabhu / Janaka das / Puspadan das / Monmohini Devi / Nimai Devi / Pedro Prabhu / Jo Ann / Steve Prabhu / Dharma das brahmacäré / Zachar Ben lozech bar yofu</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Monterey</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Monterey</b></p>
<p class="p12">O beloved master who gave us Kåñëa and His sweet flute to revive our matter-worn minds,<br>
Milking the cow of bliss and shaking the tree of thought, which showers down sweet fruits, <i>Bhägavata</i>,<span class="s8"><i> </i></span>O Nectar.<br>
Mercy <i>kértanas </i>sent forth by you. Heals the poison of greed and lust, opens up the heart to Kåñëa’s tune.<br>
Bringing to plastic man a sweet piece of nectar which does he drink gets him off to Goloka spirit world.<br>
Out from <i>mäyä’s</i> dream oh deliverer, He’s helping us to cheat <i>mäyä</i>, giving us Kåñëa when we seek the darkness.<br>
Thy plan is bold it calls the world a madhouse and shows to everyone his true soul’s potentials.<br>
So clear the knowledge from your lips how nice the path of devotion is. A science far beyond this universe you bring oh Deliverer.<br>
Tomorrow freak assaults you plan upon. <i>Mäyä’s</i> dreamland soon of course you will fan into a flame of love these dull coals of hearts which but for you would linger ever in bondage to <i>karma</i>.<br>
How is it that one finds such a green pasture, such a nice herder to protect us from the dark dense forest of delusion.<br>
Truly only Kåñëa’s mercy. <i>Kértana, kértana, hari-kértana</i> brought by Çré Guru.</p>
<p class="p12">Jaya Rädhe, Jaya Rädhe, Jaya Rädhe, Çré Guru.<br>
Bhaja Govinda, Bhaja Govinda, Çré Guru<br>
Çré Guru watering the seed in our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Monterey</p>
<p class="p49">Kapiladev das Brahmacari / Agnidevi / Dale Streisand Brahmacari / Tripararie das Adhikary / Bill Webber Brahmacari</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p7">We can understand that Your Divine Grace is ever immersed in the transcendental mood of the <i>gopés, </i>rendering eternal loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Çré Kåñëa. And because the Lord is ever reciprocating with His pure devotees, Your personality is so wonderfully decorated with the six opulences of Beauty, Fame, Wealth, Knowledge, Power and Renunciation. But because of our wretched enviousness we are unable to glorify You properly.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“yadyapi ämära guru caitanyera däsa<br>
tathäpi jäniye ämi täàhära prakäça” </i><span class="s3"><i> <br>
</i>[<i>Ädi 1.44</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p27">Kåñëa Däsa Kaviräja said, “Although I know that my Spiritual Master is the servitor of Çré Caitanya, yet I know Him also as the plenary manifestation of the Lord.” So kindly be merciful upon us in accepting this offering. Disregard our envious nature and accept only our most inward desire to somehow or other become the servants of the servants of Your sacred Lotus Feet.</p>
<p class="p7">We, Your children, prostrate ourselves at Your Divine Lotus Feet with hearts broken by our inability to render devotion and our lips murmuring words in praise of Your opulences.</p>
<p class="p7">In Your opulence of Beauty Your Body “is just like a mirror on which the reflection of Kåñëa’s beauty develops at every moment.” We pray at Your feet because they are Lotus and are never contaminated by their appearance in this material world. Though they seem to be here on this planet, they have walked all the three worlds and tarry in the Land of Vraja. They are ever traversing the Forest of Våndävana in pursuit of eternal pastimes with that Great Cowherd Boy known as Govinda, Kåñëa. Because of this the dust which decorates Your feet is ever worshipable by us. There is no greater beauty in this world than to see Your Lotus feet dance to the pounding of <i>mådaìgas </i>and <i>karatälas, </i>displaying a beautiful choreography for the sweet pleasure of the Supreme Lord. You are dancing on the heads of great modern demons who surely had Käliya as an ancestor; ever dancing ecstatically, removing all anxiety from the hearts of the devotees. Even the demigods come to pay homage at Your feet and garland them with respectful prayers; thus they confirm the statement of the <i>Vedas </i>that the Pure Devotee of Lord Kåñëa is glorified all over the universe, even by great powerful personalities such as the demigods. All living entities are hankering after a taste of the nectarine ocean in which Your Divine Feet bathe, because such a draught alone can quench the blazing fire of lust within the heart and plant there the tender creeper of devotion. By growing, this creeper will reduce the fiery ocean of material existence to the size of a cow’s hoofprint in the mud. To take to the cooling shelter of such transcendental feet is the conclusion of all revealed scriptures and the perfection of life:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“guru kåñëa rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa-kåpä karen baktagane”</i></p>
<p class="p16">“That the Spiritual Master is non-different from Kåñëa is the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures. Because It is Kåñëa only who delivers His devotees in the form of the Spiritual Master.” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45]</p>
<p class="p7">As our unworthy eyes dare lift their gaze from the Lotus of Your Feet, Your Personal Beauty becomes revealed. Resplendent, glowing, beyond the scope of words, our throats become choked up with indescribable longing. Your Legs are like pillars of strength, they spring up like graceful tree trunks. Your finger is all auspicious: it points to the Vedic Way, it hums and glides over a million honey-colored beads, and it chastizes the disciple. Your mouth is the nectarine gate from which flows the ocean of mercy. To the demons Your words are as sharp as the pointed beak of Garuòa is to the heads of snakes; but to the devotees they are as honey which melts the heart.</p>
<p class="p7">Ceaselessly You are ever glorifying the Supreme Lord with Your words and songs, beautiful as clouds passing across the summer sky. And when Your oceanic smile uncovers the pearl of Your teeth the hearts of Your devotees tingle with joy. Your eyes are as guileless as a child’s. They burn softly with the mood of the <i>gopés </i>and melt the hearts even of stone-hearted men. Sometimes it is said that Your eyes become decorated with tears of ecstasy and tears of compassion. And sometimes they display a girlish shyness.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace, the many features of Your beauty will remain the subject of discussion for future generations. It is by Your beauty that Your disciple can glimpse into Your unalloyed heart and begin to understand Your Most Elevated position in the eternal serving mood of the Supreme Lord. Çréla Prabhupäda, kindly please, forgive us our lack of appreciation for the transcendental qualities of Your Saintly Self.</p>
<p class="p7">It is right that the devotees should flock from all over the world and gather about Your Feet like particles of dust that collect at the feet of the traveler. It is right that You should be glorified and garlanded with praises because of the opulences which the Lord has Himself showered upon You, being pleased by Your activities.</p>
<p class="p7">Besides Your Beauty You are also adorned nicely with all other opulences. You are most famous. The world knows You as the greatest devotee of Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is that fame, and none other, which is tinged with the Eternal. You are the most prominent expounder of the Glories of the Lord and therefore You bathe in His Glory.</p>
<p class="p7">Although you want no material benefit still the Lord has laid down at Your feet so many palaces all over the world and surrounded You with thousands of servants ready to serve Your slightest inclination.</p>
<p class="p7">In Your Opulence of Knowledge You have defeated all the modern atheistic scientists who search for at solution to the material entanglement by investigating ever more elaborately the constitution of matter. Such rascals are the cause of further human bondage. Because of their unalloyed devotion to enviousness, they tear down the religious principles and taunt the devotees of the Lord. Therefore, as the Lord Himself stated in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend My Self.” “In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself.” Your Divine Grace comes in the disciplic succession and because You deliver the Supreme Lord’s message unadulterated, the devotees accept that You are “to be honored as the Supreme Lord on account of Your being the most confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities, therefore they offer their most respectful obeisances unto You.” But the demons will not accept You and therefore they are getting more and more entangled and will be destroyed eventually. The ruination of their plans is foretold by all Your activities but it is particularly inherent in Your opulence <span class="s11">of </span>knowledge, that shining lamp with which You are so kindly destroying the ignorance of the world. All glories to Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">You are also the most<span class="s13"> </span>powerful because You are empowered by the Supreme Lord Himself. You are powerful as a lion. You have single-handedly twisted Kali-yuga out of its disastrous course and set humanity back on its rightful path. You are defeating all the demons like a hurricane wind uproots trees. On Your shoulders rests the destiny of the world and yet You smile sweetly displaying the same ease as did Lord Kåñëa when He upheld Govardhana Hill on the little finger of His left hand for eight days. Your immense strength is never used offensively, for You are the tender father of the devotees. The touch of Your hand can be as soft as the touch of a flower and as delicate as a soft spring breeze. Just as Prahläda Mahäräja prayed to Lord Nåsiàha-deva, we pray to You very humbly that You forgive the offenses that the demons are constantly committing against Your Lotus feet, and against Your disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">But the most sacred and mysterious of Your opulences is that of Renunciation. And this quality You possess to the highest degree. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>it is said:</p>
<p class="p16">“Abandoning all attachment to the results of his activities, ever satisfied and independent, he performs no fruitive action, although engaged in all kinds of undertakings.” <span class="s1">(<i>Bg. </i></span>4.20<span class="s1">)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace is forcefully stirring the world back to Home, back to Godhead, and the waves of Your activities are affecting the farthest corners of the world, yet You remain peaceful, being constantly immersed in transcendental thoughts of the Supreme Lord. To the materialist who cannot understand unalloyed devotional service to Kåñëa this is the most puzzling and incomprehensible thing. But the devotee knows that without this self-sufficient independence there is no real value to any endeavor. So our Divine Master, we, your fallen servants, offer our most sincere homage to Your Lotus Feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, You are a great king adorned with all opulences and godly qualities. You sit amongst Your subjects like the powerful sun sits amongst the stars, illuminating each one. Your Mercy is as cooling to the world as the pouring of a cloud unto the forest fire. So on this most auspicious day of Your appearance, a day which will be ever celebrated in the annals of the universe, Your most insignificant disciples offer this humble praise to Your Transcendental Self. Kindly please accept such an unworthy effort. For ourselves we ask only that You allow us to always remember the instruction of Lord Kåñëa to Uddhava,</p>
<p class="p16">“The Spiritual Master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very Self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being.” </p>
<p class="p7">We know that remembering this we will be able to engage in unalloyed service to Your Most Divine Feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Montreal</p>
<p class="p49">Serge Grondbois / Kripasindhu dasa / Sripati das Adhikari / Raul Brault / Satyahit Das Brahmacari / Richard Mason / Mayapurasasi Dasa / Rijean / Dharmaraj dasa Adhikari / Vyshwambhar das Brahmachary / Bill Richardson / Elisabeth Roussel / Flounce / Claire / Urvasi devi dasi / Margot (dasi)</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Munchen</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Munchen</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are offering our respectful obeisances unto the Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. He has been so kind to us by giving us the highest gift in this world: engaging us in His service in serving Kåñëa. He is so merciful, always encouraging everyone to become happy by joining this nice movement. Our only desires have become to serve Him more and lose the attraction for the allurements of <i>mäyä</i>.</p>
<p class="p16">Our respectful obeisances unto You, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Munchen</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to You! The pure devotee of Kåñëa, the Spiritual Master of the universe, the representative of the Supreme Personality of Absolute Truth. Our humble and meager gratitude is due unto Your Divine Grace …</p>
<p class="p7">… for giving us free of charge the greatest gift of love of Kåñëa,</p>
<p class="p7">… for showing us the example of perfect worshipable devotion to Kåñëa,</p>
<p class="p7">… for tolerating our repeated offenses at Your Holy Feet, and more so because, despite our offenses, You retain us in Kåñëa’s service,</p>
<p class="p7">… for giving us Infallible shelter and providing all our needs,</p>
<p class="p7">… for extending loving and gentle compassion towards us, who are envious of all living beings,</p>
<p class="p7">… for delivering us from the most dangerous snare of illusion, the contamination of voidism and impersonalism,</p>
<p class="p7">… for coming to rescue us even when none of us asked You to come,</p>
<p class="p7">… for giving us real life through Your simple instructions for spiritual reawakening,</p>
<p class="p7">… for protecting us from fall-down,</p>
<p class="p7">… for engaging us in pure devotional service to Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We cannot understand why or how Your Divine Grace’s Mercy is coming, but we do recognize that it is far greater than any other auspiciousness. We therefore beg to remain in service to You, O Spiritual Master, the pure devotee of Kåñëa. All Glories to You, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON New Orleans</p>
<p class="p54">“By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement.<i> Çré Gurvañöakam </i><span class="s3"><i>(8)</i></span></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The Spiritual Master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari (Kåñëa).” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</p>
<p class="p7">Who then can calculate the blessedness of His Divine Grace, and the auspiciousness of the day of His appearance. Thus we pause to formally acknowledge our gratitude; but if we should commemorate it daily, it would still be inadequate.</p>
<p class="p12">As the sun dries the dew<br>
on the trees of New Våndävana<br>
And forms Kåñëa colored clouds<br>
So the spiritual master dries from<br>
our spirit souls the murky liquid of <i>mäyä<br>
</i>and washes us clean in His causeless ocean of mercy.<br>
Oh Çréla Prabhupäda, we come to the<br>
lotus-petal softness of Your feet,<br>
offering only the sins of a thousand births<br>
And in return receive the Spiritual Sky.</p>
<p class="p12">O Purest of the Pure devotees,<br>
O Companion of the Tulasé Tree,<br>
Your perfect knowledge shines everywhere<br>
For those who would see.<br>
The nectar from Your lips has fed us,<br>
Replacing the bitter taste of<br>
Conditioned life with the<br>
Sweet knowledge of the Supreme.<br>
Eternally desiring to serve beneath<br>
Your gentle lotus feet,<br>
We sing Your glories, and humbly,<br>
offer all obeisances unto You.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Spiritual Master of the Universe!</p>
<p class="p12">Most humbly,</p>
<p class="p12">Kirtanänanda Swami and all the<br>
“inmates” (as You call them) of<br>
New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—New York</b></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master, who is teaching us the central point of life.</p>
<p class="p7">On the day of <i>Vyäsa-püjä, </i>it is our duty and pleasure to glorify our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. As Çréla Prabhupäda stated in a lecture some years ago, it is the duty of the disciple to offer respectful obeisances unto his spiritual master, and in doing so, the specific qualifications of the spiritual master should be mentioned. Çréla Prabhupäda has said, “He (the <i>äcärya</i>) has nothing to do with the affairs of this mundane world. He does not descend here to meddle with the affairs of temporary necessities but to deliver the fallen and conditioned souls …”</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, on this day we wish to glorify our divine spiritual master in terms of his factual qualifications. Once in Boston there was a <i>yoga </i>student who was attracted to Kåñëa consciousness and was attending Çréla Prabhupäda’s lectures. He once asked His Divine Grace, “How can I leave my <i>guru </i>and take initiation from you?” Çréla Prabhupäda replied, “That I cannot say. We don’t want sentiment. (If today you come on sentiment, then tomorrow you will change to something else on the same basis). Just try to understand this philosophy.” Therefore we do not wish to present sentimental propositions to be accepted or rejected by the flickering mind. We wish to present factual statements which can be intelligently accepted after careful and serious deliberation. This is the Vedic process. We therefore wish to present the following unshakable facts, which we are prepared to defend against any and all challengers.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the bona fide representative of Lord Kåñëa coming in the disciplic chain. As stated in <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>if one wants to know the transcendental reality, he must surrender unto a bona fide spiritual master. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span> The bona fide spiritual master is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as stated by the Lord Himself (<i>Bhäg. </i>11.17.22). Such a spiritual master appears in the chain of disciplic succession, or <i>paramparä, </i>which is explained by Lord Kåñëa in the Fourth Chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>The original spiritual master in our line is Lord Brahmä, who was instructed by the Supreme Lord Himself (<i>tene</i> b<i>rahma håda ya ädi-kavaye</i>). Lord Brahmä instructed Närada Muni, Närada instructed Vyäsadeva, the author of the Vedic literature, and Vyäsadeva instructed Madhväcärya. This line continues in contemporary times, and just to reaffirm its authenticity, the Personality of Godhead again appeared in this same line of authority as Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. From Lord Caitanya this line continues unbroken through the Gosvämés of Våndävana, Çréla Bhaktivinode Öhäkura and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the bona fide representative of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé because he not only received initiation from him but is factually carrying out his words of instruction. In 1937 Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé instructed Çréla Prabhupäda to preach the philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness in the English language. That Çréla Prabhupäda has done this—despite all risks, difficulties and personal inconveniences—is an indisputable fact, Therefore, because he has wholeheartedly executed the order of his spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda is his bona fide servant and factual representative. Thus he is the bona fide representative of the Lord in the disciplic chain.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is preaching in its pure form the message of Lord Caitanya, which is the only hope for the conditioned souls of the Kali-yuga for realizing the goal of life. Çréla Prabhupäda’s preaching program is based on four principles: (1) chanting, (2) dancing, (3) distribution of Kåñëa-<i>prasädam</i>, and (4) presentation of the philosophical ideas of <i>Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>as they are. As stated by Narottama däsa Thäkura, this is the method of Lord Caitanya. Çréla Prabhupäda has never added or subtracted anything to this method, but has always spread this process as it is, by precept and personal example. Nor has Çréla Prabhupäda ever sanctioned unauthorized additions or subtractions by anyone else. Although always presenting Kåñëa consciousness in a manner appropriate to time and place, Çréla Prabhupäda has never compromised the purity of the <i>saìkirtana </i>movement. <i>Harer näma, harer näma, harer nämaiva kevalam/ kalau nästy eva nästy eva nästy eva, gatir anyathä. </i>This is the only medicine, and Çréla Prabhupäda is the only<span class="s12"> </span>one who has brought it for us. Therefore he is our only real benefactor.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is delivering the Western countries from voidism and impersonalism and teaching us the ultimate aim of life. The ultimate goal of life is Lord Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme personality of Godhead (<i>vasudeva-parä gatiù</i>). Without Kåñëa consciousness, the living entities simply drink the poisonous results of mental speculation and sense gratification, as confirmed by Narottama däsa Öhäkura. Thus they are forced to adopt obnoxious practices like meat-eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex and glide down to animal life. This poison is being accepted as nectar by the foolish living entities of this age, and they are specifically being encouraged by the so-called political, religious, educational and social leaders. Thus they are committing spiritual suicide by forgetting the purpose of life. And the philosophical rationalizations for such actions are the speculations of impersonalism and voidism. Those who seek escape from the material clutches of sense gratification are ensnared by these philosophies, and thus their mission in life is also defeated.</p>
<p class="p7">By teaching <i>Bhagavata-dharma</i>, the science of pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is freeing the misguided conditioned souls of this age from the gross and subtle clutches of illusion and bringing them to surrender at the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa, the father of all living entities. While the scientists and politicians are propagating sense enjoyment through materialistic advancement, the philosophers are teaching hopeless and impractical ideas of spiritual self-annihilation, and religionists are preaching sectarian dogmatism but at the same time encouraging all forms of sinful life, Çréla Prabhupäda is giving the eternal life of devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">Although we, the residents of the Western world, are among the most degraded members of human society, being addicted to all sinful activities, His Divine Grace is elevating us to the platform of pure Kåñëa consciousness by the transcendental process authorized by the Six Gosvämés. Even the most degraded can be purified by taking shelter of his lotus feet <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>2.4.18]</span>.</p>
<p class="p7">We are drowning ourselves in the poison of the age of Kali, but His Divine Grace has saved our lives and caused us to drink from the ocean of <i>bhakti-rasämåta</i>. We therefore offer our obeisances unto his lotus feet thousands of times.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Press &amp; New York Temple</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Paris</b></p>
<p class="p12">O, dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
We are all trembling in the<br>
Bottomless well of ignorance.</p>
<p class="p12">And You, standing above,<br>
Lower the rope of devotion<br>
And divine love to shivering<br>
Rats as we are in the material world.</p>
<p class="p12">We are drinking at the<br>
Bitter fountain of flickering pleasure,<br>
And You are offering us an ocean of nectar<br>
Amidst peaceful waves of thousands<br>
Of transcendental tastes.<br>
You are chanting the Holy Name,<br>
Ceaselessly seated on the flower<br>
Of eternal ecstasy.<br>
We are hungrily eating<br>
The poisoned cake of false enjoyment,<br>
But You are attracting us with Your<br>
Words of supreme wisdom, sweet<br>
Like the nectar tears that sometimes<br>
Flow from Your eyes.</p>
<p class="p12">You have become our only shelter,<br>
Our ultimate protector from all fear.<br>
We fall at Your Lotus Feet,<br>
And by their benediction,<br>
O Çréla Prabhupäda, most confidential<br>
Servitor of Lord Govinda,<br>
By Your activities of worshiping,<br>
Praying, chanting, preaching,<br>
Writing and translating,<br>
You are plowing this whole planet,<br>
Leaving behind You the spotless seed<br>
Of causeless love.</p>
<p class="p12">We offer our most respeetful obeisances<br>
Unto You.<br>
In this material desert<br>
Of salt water and sharp rocks<br>
You are the comforting oasis.<br>
You are like the rising moon<br>
After a hot summer day.<br>
So many lives we have spent here,<br>
Now You are delivering us back home!<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, by Your pure speech,<br>
The perfect movements of Your body,<br>
Your merciful glance, Your sublime<br>
Enthusiasm for hearing and chanting about<br>
The wonderful pastimes between Rädhikä and<br>
Mädhava, as well as Their Qualities,<br>
Names, Forms even amidst the sharp<br>
Degradation of this age of Iron, Hatred,</p>
<p class="p12">You are making manifest the incredible<br>
Sweetness of Vrndävana, the refreshing<br>
Ecstasy of Navadvépa.<br>
Serving Your lotus Feet, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Is our only access to the love of the<br>
Lords of these eternal abodes, <br>
Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa,<br>
Çré Gauräìga Mahäprabhu.<br>
Jaya Çré Jagad-gurudeva!<br>
All resounding glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p12">Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Please accept our most humble obeisances<br>
At Your Lotus Feet.<br>
By Your divine mercy, we, in Paris, have<br>
Received the first of Your books translated<br>
In French, and we are feeling ecstasy in the<br>
Distribution of this sacred literature. This whole<br>
planet is starving for this knowledge, and now<br>
Finally we can begin to spread it to the French knowing people.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, our fervent prayer to You is that you bless us with seriousness and enthusiasm so that there will be no impediment to our service to You in spreading the cooling rays of the moon of Gaura-Nitai all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Paris</p>
<p class="p49">Harivilas das brahmachari / Bhügarbha däsa brahmacäré / Gurugouranga däsa brahmacary / Kritanga Das Brahmacari / Brahmarata das Brahmacari / Sivajvara däs brahmacäré / Jayabalaram das brahmanchary / Patrick das brahmachary / Jagat Prabhu das brahmachari / Jaya Jagadisa Das Brahmacari / Catherine Dasi / Ilide devi dasi / Collette Taillebois / Sri [indistinct] das / Elisabeth / Aditi devi dasi / Sväti devi dasi / Kapila das / Mondakini devi dasi / Locanananda Das Adhikary</p>
<p class="p12"><b>French</b></p>
<p class="p12">Toute gloire a Çré Guru Çré Gauräìga<br>
O, cher Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Nous tremblons tons dans le<br>
Puits sans fond de l’ ignorance<br>
Et Vous, debout sur la margelle<br>
Vous lancez la corde de la devotion et<br>
De l’ amour divin aux<br>
Haillons grelottants que nous sommes<br>
Dans ce monde materiel.</p>
<p class="p12">Nous buvons a la fontaine<br>
Aigrie du plaisir et Vous<br>
Nous offrez un ocean de nectar,<br>
Au milieu des vagues paisibles<br>
Aux mille reflets transcendentaux,<br>
Vous chantez les Saints Noms,<br>
Sans treve, assis sur la<br>
Fleur d’extase eternelle.</p>
<p class="p12">Nous mangeons avidement<br>
Le gateau empoisonne de la jouissance,<br>
Nous aimons son gout<br>
Mais Vous essuyez nos levres<br>
Avec Vos sages Paroles,<br>
Douces comme les larmes de nectar<br>
Coulant de Vos yeux.</p>
<p class="p12">Unique refuge devotionnel<br>
Protecteur des epines et langues<br>
Venimeuses de <i>mäyä<br>
</i>Nous nous prosternons devant Vous et<br>
Benissons Vos Pieds de Lotus,<br>
Eternel serviteur confidentiel du Seigneur Govinda<br>
Adorant, priant, chantant, prechant,<br>
Ecrivant, Vous sillonnez le monde<br>
Laissant derriere Vous l’ immaculee<br>
Semence de l’Amour sans cause,<br>
A Vous nous offrons nos respectueuses<br>
Obeisances.<br>
Dans ce desert materiel d’eau salee<br>
Et de rochers dechiquetes<br>
Vous etes l’Oasis ombrageante,<br>
Rafraichissante, Vous etes la Source<br>
Toujours claire, coulant a travers<br>
Les arbustes epineux et les laves<br>
De l’illusion.<br>
Qui pourrait oublier Vos Paroles,<br>
Vos gestes, Votre regard<br>
Lorsqu’ au milieu du tumulte de Kali<br>
Vous glorifiez le Seigneur, Ses Noms,<br>
Ses Qualites, Ses Divertissements?<br>
Foulant les braises ardentes de l’illusion<br>
Vous souriez dans l’extase sur une<br>
Note d’harmonium et Våndävana<br>
resonne des<br>
Gloires eternelles du Seigneur Kåñëa, Chantez le Saint Nom! Haribol!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Paris</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p7">Your disciples serving you here in Philadelphia have strung this variegated garland of poems in your praise, expressing the different flavors and hues of our eternal gratitude, love and devotion to you. And now, on this most auspicious day, we beg humbly to be allowed to approach the transcendental zone of your Most Holy Lotus Feet, so that prostrating ourselves abjectly at this most pure and sacred place of pilgrimage in the three worlds, we may lay this garland there; and although our offering is worthless and without art, if out of your causeless mercy you favor it with your glance, it will be made beautiful. All glories! All glories! All glories to your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p15">All glories to You, who gives us a priceless gem while we searched out broken pieces of glass!<br>
All glories to You, who makes shining <i>brähmaëas </i>from the dog-eater class;<br>
All glories to You, who are the most dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth;<br>
All glories to You, who leads us to the eternal land where there is no death or birth;<br>
All glories to You, who brings sweet vibration by which we can know the Supreme Lord;<br>
All glories to You, who promises to take us all Home before Kalki’s sword;<br>
All glories to You! My eternal father, Jagad-guru!<br>
May we always engage in serving your Divine Lotus Feet with ever-increasing love and devotion—<br>
We, who are most fallen, must never cease to end our entanglement in this dark material ocean.<br>
The endless cycle of <i>saàsära </i>can never be ended unless one hears the transcendental message from a <i>paramahaàsa </i>who has descended.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, you’ve come with such a glorious message!<br>
All glories to Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana </i>which is cleansing our hearts and delivering us from nescience!<br>
We are most unworthy of the precious gem that you are bestowing:<br>
<i>Bhakti </i>unto Govinda, the most merciful Lord, who is omnipresent and all-knowing;<br>
All glories, all glories<span class="s13"> </span>to You, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p12">In a world full of lust, anger, and greed<br>
When people are frustrated, bewildered confused,<br>
Not knowing what to do at any time and any place,<br>
Drowning themselves in a whirlpool of nescience,<br>
You have come as <i>jagad-guru<br>
</i>With an eternal desire to conquer and subdue<br>
All these bad elements bringing misfortune and fate,<br>
And return a lost people to Kåñëa’s Lotus Feet<br>
To Kåñëa, my God, the Supreme Enjoyer, my Father,<br>
Whom before you came I had completely forgotten<br>
And buried in an illusory world of “I want to enjoy,<br>
Everything is mine, and God is dead.”<br>
Kindly excuse me for not taking heed of your golden words,<br>
By executing which everyone can end their miseries,<br>
But I have been wandering in this dark world for a long time,<br>
Trying to forget the One who loves me most,<br>
Conditioned to think I am better than He,<br>
It’s very difficult to give up this false reality.<br>
So teach me patience my Father, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
That I may someday, very soon, give up all this nonsense and just love God.<br>
You are here to deliver fools like me,<br>
And I am the biggest fool for not taking your causeless mercy;<br>
Please accept my humble prayer and forgive me for hurting you,<br>
My progress is slow, so cumbersome, and so offensive.<br>
Never such a great soul like you have I met,<br>
What more can I say: I’ll try to follow in your footsteps,<br>
Spreading the Holy Name on every mind and every tongue,<br>
I know you have taught me the only way this war on <i>mäyä </i>can be won.<br>
The<i> Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>states that in the presence of Lord Sré Kåñëa, <i>mäyä </i>cannot stand,<br>
So in this way I will help you banish <i>mäyä </i>from this land.<br>
I humbly beg to remain in eternal service<br>
At Rädhä-Kåñëa’s and Your Lotus Feet,<br>
My Savior and Protector, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Your smile is the radiant sunshine that lights our every day,<br>
Guiding us back to Godhead the <i>harer näma </i>way.<br>
(Your smile alone, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
can make the world Krishna Conscious.)<br>
The darkest regions—we dark, covered souls—immediately respond with bliss,<br>
Dancing and singing in ecstasy to see you smile this.<br>
(Your smile alone, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
can make the world Kåñëa conscious,)<br>
Our fondest dream, our only hope: to please Your Divine Grace:<br>
To somehow coax your beautiful smile upon your lotus face.<br>
(Your smile alone, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
can make the world Krishna Conscious.)<br>
Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda for appearing awhile,<br>
But mostly Çréla Prabhupäda, thank you for your smile.<br>
(Your smile alone, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
can make the world Krishna Conscious.)<br>
We were involved in the movie-going,<br>
T.V. watching,<br>
getting high set …<br>
and feeling<br>
miserable<br>
Everyday thinking that there must be<br>
something else, some lost dream in the<br>
back of our mind that knew this wasn’t real or right<br>
but we had no one to show us<br>
the way out<br>
Wandering around in all this illusion<br>
drowning, suffocating, screaming,<br>
crying … praying<br>
for something:<br>
for You, O Dear Master</p>
<p class="p12">Your Lotus Feet touched<br>
Our shores, blessed<br>
Our minds, benedicted<br>
Our souls.<br>
All sin and sorrow and pain of<br>
Untold millions of years dissolved<br>
Into loving service for Your Divine Grace.<br>
And now our hearts sing with joy and laughter<br>
For our Master has come to guide his most unworthy servants.<br>
O Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
Without you we are<br>
Certainly nothing …</p>
<p class="p12">So long desire’s sinful seed has whirled<br>
This soul around through ceaseless toil and strife;<br>
Again, lust’s lying lure had caught me curled<br>
Within a womb, to die for one more life.</p>
<p class="p12">Not you, my Father. No lust led <i>you</i> here,<br>
Your mercy only on these dying souls<br>
Has led your shining foot across the land of fear<br>
To light the Way and transcendental Goal!</p>
<p class="p12">Pied-piper of the Absolute! Your song<br>
Has sprung the traps of death, and calls<br>
The dancing, singing, crying, blissful throng<br>
Beyond the cloud to <i>cintämaëi’s</i> dazzling halls.</p>
<p class="p15">So please accept our humble tearful prayer<br>
Just for your Transcendental Loving Care.</p>
<p class="p7">O dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, O winner of my heart—Had you not lifted me beyond the limits of this mind and senses I would alas still be drowning deep in that ocean of death, being tortured by the vicious waves of material desire, lust, greed, anger and hatred.</p>
<p class="p7">And you, oh best among saintly persons, are forcing me to cling and take shelter by the side of His Lotus Feet, the source of all light and love.</p>
<p class="p7">And I pray for your causeless mercy, that you may always push me in the direction home in spite the many impediments standing in the way of your transcendental loving lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">O my beloved Father, how can I repay such a debt as a life being causelessly saved <i>only</i> by your sweet will upon such a wretched and fallen soul as I.</p>
<p class="p7">It amazes me how such a miracle is done by so many souls being mercifully dragged to our true life: back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">And I beg to thank you for your love you have given us, for we had been practically devoid of any love.</p>
<p class="p7">We owe you our very selves for eternity, our eternal master.</p>
<p class="p7">Please keep us under your shelter for as long as we are cased within this shell and then may we rejoice with you the blissful enjoyment of the Lord’s eternal and ever-increasing pleasure—His causeless devotional service: the seed of our real life.</p>
<p class="p7">On this most blessed and sacred day, Çréla Prabhupäda, please forgive my inability to offer respects and gratitude to such a pure devotee, as crystal-clear as the sun, to your beautiful and kind self. And may we, all of your disciples, continually pray from the core of our hearts for your continued perfect health, our dear Father.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p49">Soudamani devi dasi / Jim / Rabindra Swarup däsa / Jeffery / Jambavati devi dasi / Kapindra das / Lalit Kumar das / Emily / Dhåñöadyumna däsa / Marilyn / Mithiladhisa däsa / Michael / Bhakta Andrew Jr. / Bhaktin Maria Rose / Bhaktin Christy / Trilocan Dasa / Phil / Maria / Dasarath dasa / Bedargi devi dasi / Bhakta Gabriel / Bhagyavati devi dasi / Bhakta Christopher / Mitra devi dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Phoenix / Tucson</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Phoenix / Tucson</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To our beloved Spiritual Master on Vyäsa-Püjä</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Om Visnu-päda Paramahaàsa parivräjakäcärya<br>
Añtottara-çata Çréla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p12">We offer our respects to you,<br>
Oh Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
The western world has now in it<br>
That feeling of love of God.</p>
<p class="p12">You came to us from far away,<br>
The land called India.<br>
Thanks to your Guru Mahäräja,<br>
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta.</p>
<p class="p12">The weeds of lust were growing strong<br>
So here you’ve planted a seed<br>
You’ve also planted one in Mayapura<br>
A hero be indeed …</p>
<p class="p12">You’ve brought Caitanya’s mission to<br>
The fallen ignorant.<br>
How could we ever thank you for<br>
This <i>saìkértana</i><span class="s8"><i> </i></span>Movement!</p>
<p class="p12">We all hope that you can get down<br>
To business of <i>Bhägavatam</i>.<br>
Just like the sage Süta Gosvämé<br>
Kåñëa-kathodayam.</p>
<p class="p12">From all your trying servants here,<br>
At Arizona Yatra.<br>
On this most holy Vyasa-Püjä day<br>
We worship You and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p54"><i>ISKCON Phoenix &amp; Tucson</i></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Portland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>To His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda—</b></p>
<p class="p12">I offer my most humble obeisances<br>
Unto Your Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
Because with a magical touchstone<br>
You’ve transformed lost dogs into joyful peacocks.<br>
The touchstone is Love of Kåñëa, and<br>
The magic is that You tell no lies.</p>
<p class="p12">I offer my most humble and respectful obeisances<br>
Unto Your Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
Because You are the most proficient doctor.<br>
Six years ago You came to the Western desert and<br>
supplied us with the ocean of nectar.</p>
<p class="p12">The desert’s mirage was blinding but<br>
Your wonderful elixir of immortality<br>
Cured the most deadly skin-disease called <i>mäyä</i>.<br>
The elixir is Kåñëa <i>prasädam</i> (spiritual food).<br>
And the nectar is devotion to Kåñëa,<br>
Which satisfies the body, mind and soul.</p>
<p class="p12">We of the Portland Yatra would like to<br>
Bow down to You and thank You for kindly<br>
Coming here for 4 blissful days in June!</p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!!!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Portland</p>
<p class="p49">Danavir dasa Adhikari / Bhagwat Acharya dasa Adhikary / Kamala devi dasi / Deva Deva das brahmachary / Kasumapita devi dasi / Silananda dasa / Gopi Pran Das Brahmachary / Anubhavananda Das / Vishnupriya dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p13"><i>You have come to this land of mirage<br>
Just to please Your Guru Mahäräja.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>You landed in Boston at Commonwealth Pier<br>
Armed with yoga and feeling no fear,</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>Preaching that Kåñëa is always near<br>
And wondering how they will ever hear.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>From there You went to the Lower East side<br>
Where You were informed that God had just died.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>Each afternoon </i>saìkértana<i> in the park<br>
Inviting all for </i>Kåñëa-katha<i> after dark.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>You said to chant this </i>mantra<i> all the time<br>
And very soon your life</i><span class="s5"><i> </i></span><i>will be sublime.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>You showed how to leave this terrible place<br>
By following Your steadfast pace.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>We humbly submit these words of praise<br>
In hopes of pleasing Your Divine Grace.</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON San Diego</p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta dasa Brahmachary / Surya das Adhikary / Pratyaya das Brahmachary / Duradhana dasa Brahmachary / Douglas Souva / Robert B. Bailey / Ronald D. Sullivan / Tom Coppinger / Joseph Funkhouser / Pancastini Devi Dasi / Saranam Dasi / Annapurna Devi Dasi / Satyaki Devi Dasi / Rose de A. Sullivan</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>“The eleventh from Caitanya Mahäprabhu”</b></p>
<p class="p12">The eleventh from Caitanya Mahäprabhu,<br>
you’ve opened our eyes with pure knowledge and bliss.<br>
For your Guru <i>Mahäräja</i> has requested of you<br>
to fill all the world with Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p12">The contact of <i>çabda</i> on the sleeping soul<br>
exposes the sentiment of family, country and friends<br>
Causing it to perceive its unwholesome role<br>
and inspiring the embodied soul to transcend.</p>
<p class="p12">So by your Divine Grace, the revelation unfolds<br>
to those hypnotized by <i>Saàsära’s</i> fire.<br>
We are all Kåñëa’s servants, the secret you’ve told,<br>
and delivered us from the bondage of selfish desire.</p>
<p class="p12">Severing all attachment to the mundane,<br>
we rise up from this unholy place,<br>
Our soul free to blossom on the spiritual plane.<br>
All glories to you, Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON San Francisco</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our considered obeisances throughout our eternal engagement as living entities to our Beloved Spiritual Master, Who causelessly made His appearance in our lives as the only true benefactor and the ever well-wisher. By His mercy only we surfaced from immersion in the quagmires of misery. Once in the drowned conditions of ignorance, we are now blinking into the new birth His Divine Grace has afforded us by His potent delivery of transcendental knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">You have placed us by Your Precious Presence in the Kingdom of God, You have placed the Full Form and Textured Attributes of His Sweet Name on our tongues, which were thirsting for purity.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given access to the rich tradition of staunch Vaiñëavism, the twelfth succession from Caitanya Mahäprabhu … a history beginning outside of measured time in the eternal transcendence of the Supreme Realm.</p>
<p class="p7">You have told us, for the eventual absorption of our individuated consciousness, about the unlimited flavors of relationship with our Beautiful Lord: the complimentary personalities of His Supreme Personality, those in pure and intimate connection … and given us presently the association of one another as encouragement. You, the Spiritual Father, making Your followers God-brothers and God-sisters.</p>
<p class="p15">Commanding the following of four regulative abstentions to free us from the darkness of this degrading age.<br>
Commanding the regulative chanting of <i>japa-mälä </i>and <i>gäyatré </i>to keep our attentive interest in the eternal and joyfully performed,<br>
Our Savior from the slaughter-house educational institutions, giving the King of Education: <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i><span class="s10"><i>,<br>
</i></span>Our Deliverer from the routine work of the industrial state, giving the art of all work: <i>bhakti-yoga.<br>
</i>Our Savior from the vicious activities of exploitive militarism, giving the highest welfare work: <i>saìkértana,<br>
</i>Our Deliverer from the ocean of birth and death, giving access to the regions of eternal bliss and knowledge<br>
Who hath saved us from the wretched waggling of the tongue (eating other living entities for our selfish sustenance, making lies and offenses in the Face of our Creator) with Krsna <i>prasädam </i>and <i>paramparä </i>volubility;<br>
Who hath our ears ringing with <i>mahämantra, </i>eternal obeisance, accompanying instruments-melodies-meters, and the nectarean stream of glorification and instruction from the mountain source of your grand scholarship and devotion.<br>
Who hath soothed our eyes with the Mystical Figure of that Supreme Loveliness Whose Original Feature resides beyond the jurisdiction of the mind;<br>
Who hath our noses drinking the fragrance of beauty as the creation is offered back to the Creator, the Original Enjoyer;<br>
Who hath the living force released in His disciples, who are jumping about in holy revival of the expression of welcomed devotional ecstasy.<br>
Who Himself in Perfectional Example encourages our deeper absorption in Kåñëa consciousness;<br>
Who is increasingly appreciated in our own advancement … causing tear-offerings of thankfulness, causing laugh-offerings of achieving-the-hopeless …<br>
Prabhupäda! Prabhupäda! Prabhupäda! We love You, a love understood by those who have concluded their vain wanderings in the Shelter of Your care.</p>
<p class="p7">And for those neither mixed nor mixed-up is the pure and potent preservation of what You have given: to continue and spread this Mighty Movement of our Lord throughout the hearts of the world, throughout our lives. Because of the remembrance You have revived in us, our memory shall always offer its first respects to Jaya Om Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Tridaëòé Gosvämé, our eternally Beloved Guru-Mahäräja, His Divine and Loving Grace Çréla Prabhupäda!!!</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON San Francisco</p>
<p class="p49">Rajivlocan das brahmacäré / Srékanta Das brahmacäré / Suresa Das / Bhaninath das / Pravhoca Das / Chiranjib Däsa / Bhumna Das / Shankarananda dasa / Sengemonde das / Tom / Nalini Kanta das Brahmachary / Buksrta dasa brahmacäré / Babrubahan Dasa / Vikramini devi dasi / Laxmipati devi dasi / Candanacarya / Kasturika Dasi / Mark Anthony / Bill Prabhu / Charlotte + Saci Muki / Tom / Barkasvara dasa Adikari / Kalavati devi dasi / Kesava dasa brahmacäré / Bhutatma dasa brahmacäré / Buddhimanta dasa brahmacäré / Janakanatha dasa brahmacäré / Yogeschandra dasa brahmacäré / Jambhuvan dasa brahmacäré / Premarvana dasa brahmacäré / Nimai dasa brahmacäré / Rick Prabhu / Karnamrita dasa brahmacäré / Ghostabhahari dasa brahmacäré / Yajnapatni dasa brahmacäré / Sarvadarshan dasa brahmacäré / Visvareta dasa Adikari</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to Jagad-guru<br>
Your grace upon your throne,<br>
spiritual master of the universe,<br>
who lights the way back home.</p>
<p class="p12">We were wandering lost children<br>
supporting deadened worlds<br>
until your Divine Grace<br>
brought us life in the lotus whorls<br>
of Çré Çré Rädhä and Krishna’s Lotus Toes.</p>
<p class="p12">All the heavenly denizens<br>
sing divine and holy prayers,<br>
while the most lowly of all souls<br>
rise to the new destiny that is theirs.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to you Prabhupäda!<br>
The most amazing angel,<br>
carrying us all back home,<br>
gathering from every angle.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to you Prabhupäda!<br>
Who by your Guru’s teaching<br>
can change a wretched dog<br>
into a Vaiñëava preaching.</p>
<p class="p12">Better than to be with you<br>
is to serve you anywhere,<br>
though crores of miles may come between us<br>
your orders are our only care.</p>
<p class="p12">Nicer than wealth or women<br>
better than wine or fame<br>
when you let us offer you flowers,<br>
when you lead chanting of the holy name.</p>
<p class="p12">All Glories to you Prabhupäda!<br>
You’re the only hope<br>
for those who once sought happiness<br>
in intoxication and dope.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
while you’re out walking<br>
benedicting all you meet,<br>
even the lowly grasses offer obeisances at your feet.</p>
<p class="p12">You’ve come to cure the rascals,<br>
the ones who are prone to cheat<br>
as you’re making up an army<br>
in Lord Caitanya’s golden fleet.</p>
<p class="p12">All glories to you, Prabhupäda!<br>
Your grace upon the throne,<br>
Ever since your appearance day<br>
Helping souls to go back home.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Seattle</p>
<p class="p49">Makanlal das Adhikary / Kamsari das brahmachari / Gopesvar das Brahmachari / Joanne / Tilak Devi Dasi / Madhavi Dasi / Patraka däsa brahmachari / Madhavi Devi Dasi</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Stuttgart</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Stuttgart</b></p>
<p class="p12">Having been the most fallen amongst all living beings,<br>
We are deeply illusioned by this witch called <i>Mäyä</i>.<br>
Our eyes didn’t see nor did our ears hear, that<br>
Everybody within this material world finally has to die.<br>
We didn’t know anything about God and the purpose of our life.<br>
Though we are the most worthless and helpless amongst all souls<br>
And were sinking down and down towards the clutches of death,<br>
Still, by Your causeless mercy you picked us up<br>
From this ocean of repeated birth and death,<br>
Just like a father saves his child that has been lost.<br>
By opening our eyes and ears with Your Divine Light<br>
You brought us to this understanding, that<br>
Kåñëa Consciousness is the goal of our life,<br>
And Kåñëa Himself is our eternal loving Father.<br>
So therefore the only alms we are begging of You,<br>
Our dearmost <i>guru</i>, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Please keep us engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Stuttgart</p>
<p class="p49">Georg Zobel / Narendra Das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Tokyo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Tokyo</b></p>
<p class="p7">The best use of these insignificant and conditioned brains is the attempt to praise you, Çréla Prabhupäda. As a child paints a picture in nursery school, so we humbly offer our stunted utterances. Our song is the same. Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda:</p>
<p class="p7">“Lord Krsna says he who takes the task of delivering the fallen souls, is the most dear to Him. At every second You are setting examples for the world to follow.”</p>
<p class="p7">“Being blessed by the Lotus Feet of Çré Rüpa and Sanätana You are extricating souls from the lowest and most miserable condition of life, simply by Your offenceless singing of the sweet names of Hari.”</p>
<p class="p7">We fools have jumped at the poison before our eyes and are being carried by the currents of this world. From this fearful situation, who is it that has offered us aid?”</p>
<p class="p7">“In six years time the cry of a generation has become fulfilled … There is the desire to perform <i>tapaù </i>and become <i>niñkiïca </i>in service to You.”</p>
<p class="p7">“A pure devotee of the Lord who came to America’s shores at 70 years old and picked the flower of her youths. A crime for which both Socrates and Christ, each in their time, paid for with their lives.”</p>
<p class="p7">“In this material world, for millions and millions of life-times, everyone is looking for a desire tree. At last such a desire tree has made His appearance on this earth planet. You are fulfilling the desires of all Your disciples. You are giving the highest, most precious gift—Love of God, <i>kåñëa-premä</i>.”</p>
<p class="p7">“I must go (to Japan and Hawaii). I have promised and they will be disappointed if I shouldn’t come.” Though tired in body, amid bureaucrat obstinacy in Singapore, You said this, though L.A. was an easy choice. You instructed us in Tokyo. You do not care for any easy life.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to You, O jet-age Parivräjakäcärya.”</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Part II</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Odyssey</i>—(noun) a long wandering marked by many changes of fortune.</p>
<p class="p7">After the rain the air is quiet. This is the satisfaction of all entities. They are all searching for fulfillment, in so many forms of energy. Within the forest, extending over these hills, are countless entities holding to countless forms through which they hold their pleasure. Unimaginable is this eternal process of labor enacted as reality, strained as it is by its harsh concomitant conditions. Why are we lingering here so long?</p>
<p class="p7">Trees wait through the drought for the blessing of water, Every year they wait in this way. For lack of intelligence and knowledge, we are waiting here. Our perverse nature, having chosen its preference as enjoyer of the body, continues this preference in a situation holding so many hopes for joy. But we have become slaves in our act of freedom. The eternity we have been here we cannot even dare to remember.</p>
<p class="p7">Having no idea of the magnitude and intricacy of existence, not caring for knowledge, I was offered freely, no cause discernable, no qualification standing, the diamond. But because I was blinded, because I was a fool, I took it as an ordinary stone. Why did I take a rock? Only because it was given. With no qualification except that I accepted, I have finally begun the awakening and recollection from the most offensive dream. Whose mercy lifted me out of the catastrophe that I just deserved?</p>
<p class="p7">It is not the complacent suffering we thought it was. It is the fire of desire and object of desire unleashed, devouring this whole universal existence. There is no way out. It is all afire. But the rain extinguished the blaze. Suffering so long, the true watering and nourishing, education and growing are flourishing in the rainfall for whose taste we have always been anxious. The stone became a diamond, blindness was cut by its pure, piercing light, the fool was led by the hand. Who could have been tolerant to the ignorant, hostile and perverse?</p>
<p class="p7">The rain has cleared the air. In the moistened spring earth the seeds begin to grow. The mist shifts and lingers in the valleys. Now the dispelling dawn comes upon the hill. And it has entered into the window where I am standing. In Våndävana Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa dance eternally. Who has brought Them here?</p>
<p class="p7">The morning prayer begins. <i>Saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka …</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span><i> We </i>begin to glorify. <i>Kartäla </i>and <i>mådaìga </i>join the voices. The voices praise. <i>Vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam </i>… Unto my spiritual master, full with mercy, who has offered causelessly the unrelenting mercy of Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa to the most fallen of souls. I can do nothing but this. What value are my own words?</p>
<p class="p7">My spiritual master just iterates the eternal function: He is just acting out the infinite, incomprehensible love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Tokyo</p>
<p class="p49">Trivikram swami / Sudama Das Goswami Maharaj / Kartikeya Swami / Satadhanya das / Ramadulal das / Satyadeva das / Fasly Sameen / Samjaya das / Bhanu das Brahmäcari</p>
<p class="p16">My dear King, a disciple has to accept the spiritual master not only as spiritual master, but also as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and supersoul. In other words, the disciple should accept the spiritual master as God because he is the external manifestation of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Eleventh Canto<br>
Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i></p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Toronto</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p7">To our beloved spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda on His Appearance Day of the 486th year of the Caitanya Era.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrated humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. The shelter of Your lotus feet is more refreshing than the effects of blue lotus in cool reservoirs of water on a scorching hot summer day. We are merely helpless infants surrendering unto parental aid like a small insignificant crab taking shelter in the vast ocean.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us everything. How can we repay such inconceivable mercy except by serving you with full-hearted love and devotion? Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, help us to have the strength and conviction to carry out all of your instructions perfectly. Please allow us to always embrace your precious orders to the core of our hearts. Then we will relish unprecedented and excessive <i>rati </i>in remembrance of your guidance. We know that the aspiration of vain glory will cease to dance in our hearts for our stone-cold hearts are being influenced by you, Çréla Prabhupäda. May our surrender to your authority be complete by Kåñëa’s mercy. Simply if we could render service to you who has seen the truth then we too could see the truth. But due to our foolish incompetence we have no attraction to hearing from authorities, and less then zero ability to render any devotional service. We can only pray that by your causeless mercy and by the mercy of the lotus-eyed Govinda, Whom you love so much, that we will be accepted as fit to be dragged along on the trail of dust beneath your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Nothing that we do, say, or offer, can nearly equal the tiniest fragment of the benediction that you have so mercifully poured on our worthless existence. We have no feeling of spontaneous attraction nor can we even appreciate all your efforts. We have no attraction for hearing <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i><span class="s8"><i> </i></span>nor for chanting the Holy Names, and we are offensive in so many ways and yet you continue to patiently and lovingly guide us to the real happiness, to the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa Who is praised with transcendental song, and decorated with colorful flower garlands and brightly glowing jewels and ornaments.</p>
<p class="p7">We have been traveling through the canyons of misconceptions through so many species of life, possibly as a majestic demi-god or a demon in the hellish regions, but now we have been given the opportunity to serve you Çréla Prabhupäda, even though we have no value or qualification. It by your causeless mercy. Prior to our coming to this Kåñëa consciousness movement we were helplessly entangled in the tightening knot of illusion. By Kåñëa’s causeless mercy we came into contact with you, His pure devotee, who has handed us the jewel of Kåñëa consciousness. You are clearly illuminating the path back home. Back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Our minds are so desirous of independence and speculation. Please protect us from the enchantresses of the senses who lure our wandering homeward-bound minds. You have so graciously delivered the purest knowledge of the <i>äcäryas </i>to our dog-like minds filled with the rubbish and filth of thoughts of sense gratification, prestige and mundaneness. Please empty the chalice of our minds and fill it full with nectar. Please help us to surrender to your lotus feet so that we might fully recognize your wonderful benediction for all living entities and serve you to our full propensity.</p>
<p class="p7">You are blessed with the Holy Names and the Divine Love of Rädhä and Kåñëa. Of what use is our tongue if it is not engaged in chanting the glories of the Holy Names? You have so mercifully instructed us who were in the darkest depths of ignorance until we heard the sweet Vaikuëöha vibration Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare, in this nice chanting process. Our lives are worthless and meaningless without your most precious gift of teaching us this practical science of <i>bhakti. </i>You have bestowed upon us the greatest gift, love of the Divine Couple in separation as your Holiness’ servant. Please give us the intelligence to serve you faithfully 24 hours a day. Please help us to become worthy disciples, qualified respectable <i>brähmaëas. </i>Please open our eyes to our real identity so that we can be your eternal servants in pure devotional service devoid of all selfish desires.</p>
<p class="p7">Our ignorance of spiritual life and our desire for sense gratification keep us away from pure devotional service. What good is our life if we do not surrender at your lotus feet? Our existence in these bodies is so insignificant but when we are engaged in your devotional service we are the most important messengers of your mercy. Everything within the limited sphere of our tiny purview can become totally spiritualized simply by following your instructions. Çréla Prabhupäda, please give us the spiritual strength to control this mind which desires to entomb us in the catacombs of hankering and lamentation. Your spiritual master instructed you to spread this Kåñëa consciousness movement here in the Western world. You have so kindly allowed us to assist you in this great mission of mercy. We are eternally thankful to you Çréla Prabhupäda, although we have no real understanding of our eternal servitorship to you. Let us now rejoice at this great opportunity which has been awarded to such fallen conditioned souls as ourselves, making the standard of jubilation the unflinching determination to engage unhesitatingly in your devotional service. Trying to thank you is only more mercy. How can we thank you except by surrendering our lives at the dust of your lotus feet?</p>
<p class="p12">You found us when we were lost.<br>
You gave us life when we were dying.<br>
You have given us strength when we were weak.<br>
You have given us the Absolute Truth, when we knew nothing,<br>
You have given us the purpose of life, when we had none.<br>
You have given us lessons on how to love, when we knew nothing but lust.</p>
<p class="p12">So now may we offer you our bodies, minds, words and intelligence in your service to please you and Çré<span class="s14"> </span>Kåñëa,<br>
We are your Vaiñëava soldiers ready to execute your orders at every moment,<br>
The material nature is the battlefield.<br>
Lust, anger, greed and sense gratification are our enemies.<br>
Your books are our weapons.<br>
Transcendental knowledge is our ammunition.<br>
Distribution is the perfect discharge.<br>
The Vedic scriptures and your orders are our shield,<br>
Saffron and yellow <i>dhotis </i>and <i>saris </i>are our uniforms.<br>
<i>Tilaka </i>is our insignia.<br>
Prayer is our strength.<br>
Offered <i>dahl </i>and <i>chapatis </i>are our sustenance.</p>
<p class="p12">Hearing and chanting are our actions.<br>
<i>Kértana </i>is our vitality.<br>
Celibacy is our determination.<br>
Association of devotees is our enthusiasm.<br>
The regulative principles are our steadiness.<br>
Sincerity is our advancement.<br>
Sentimentalism and speculation are our retreat.<br>
Desire for liberation is our bondage.<br>
Devotion is our freedom.<br>
Deity worship is our purity.<br>
Forgetfulness is our defeat.<br>
Memory is our Victory, Jaya!<br>
<i>Saìkértana</i> is the altar of our life.<br>
Preaching is our life air and survival without which we would be as good as dried-up old sticks.<br>
Kåñëa’s lotus feet are our goal.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Toronto</p>
<p class="p49">Rochana dasa Adhikary / Svahna devi dasi / Drews Wilkinson / Janet &amp; Lisa / Gordon Pepin / Alfredo Antonio Rodriguez / Patricia Bebelman / Pam McFarlane / Jagadisha Däsa Adhikary / Laxmimoni Devi Dasi / Trilochana däsa Brahmacaré / Madhuhara Das / Visvakarma Däsa Brahmacary / David Field / Lawrence Schmidt / William Dean / Valerie Cormier / Marianne Coalin / Viñëudatta das Brahmacari / Kirtimati Devi Dasi / Yugal Kisore Das / Guna Mai Devi Dasi / Harold Newland</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Trinidad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Trinidad</b></p>
<p class="p12">May our most fallen and prostrated obeisances always embrace and greet,<br>
The holy dust from Your Divine and radiant Lotus Feet.<br>
May we at sometime somewhere beneath the skies,<br>
Be fortunate to behold the loving rays of Your Lotus Eyes.<br>
To serve the Spiritual Master with heart and soul,<br>
To please the Pure Devotee is life’s ultimate goal.<br>
To how down, to surrender, to fully depend,<br>
The mercy of the <i>guru</i> is causeless and without end.<br>
Your holy words should be loved and cherished in the heart,<br>
From Your divine instructions may we never part.<br>
All glory to the captain, the master of the ship.<br>
Who can guide a rotting boat to the end of its trip.<br>
A pure devotee with perfectional love,<br>
A divine messenger sent from above.<br>
All glories find their home and place,<br>
At the Lotus Feet of Your Divine Loving Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Trinidad</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at Your Divine Lotus Feet. Here in Trinidad distribution of Your Divine Grace’s books has become the reservoir of all bliss.</p>
<p class="p7">There are over four hundred thousand Indians here, most of whom descend from bonded servants brought from India 100 years ago.</p>
<p class="p7">The remnants of their religious traditions are professional <i>Bhägavatam </i>and <i>Rämäyaëa </i>readings—purely social events given by business men who are part-time <i>paëòits, </i>their qualification being that they were born in a <i>brähmaëa </i>family, and <i>püjäs</i>, where a <i>paëòit</i> visits a home and says prayers to Vivasvän, Çiva, Gaëeça, Durgä, or some other demi-god, for health, education, prosperity, or some other reason.</p>
<p class="p7">At such occasions food is usually prepared. A little is thrown into the fire and then they call the food <i>prasädam.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes at such occasions the old men put on <i>dhotis </i>and people call them <i>sädhus.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes the people abstain from flesh, sex and intoxication. When the <i>“paëòitas” </i>come to say prayers they abstain from these things for two weeks so that they become more qualified to receive their desired benediction from the respective demigod.</p>
<p class="p7">Almost all the several hundred temples here are Çivite and due to lack of care are falling apart.</p>
<p class="p7">You explained in a recent letter—“Yes, actually this Hindu religion is a dead religion … This Hindu religion has no philosophy, therefore it has died because in this age people have become very much hardened by material living and they are not much interested in sentimental religions like Hinduism. Sentiments are temporary and they always dry up. But what the people really want is a philosophy to give their life meaning and guide them under all changing circumstances—and the only philosophy available nowadays is profit. There is profit for sense gratification, or Marxism, or this -ism or that -ism. But none of these so-called philosophies have proven very successful in satisfying the people. Therefore, there is trouble all over the world, dissatisfaction, and the people are taking to the only philosophy left, the philosophy of hopelessness. But our Kåñëa philosophy is bringing real meaning and hope to the modern people. We are opening up the dead churches and temples, so we may be certain that because our philosophy offers the substantial basis for everyone’s life and the solution to all kinds of problems of miserable material life, that very soon the prediction of Lord Caitanya will come true and all men of the world will find shelter at the Lotus Feet of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, we humbly request that despit our blundering and incompetence you make us instruments in Your Divine Hands so that eventually every individual on this island will be touched by the impact—the love of Lord Caitanya’s Mission.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Fallen Servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Arthur Prabhu / Suräsrestha das Brahmacary / Patita Pavana das</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to the Most Holy, Gentle, and pure Personality, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Who is immersed in the ocean of loving service and Who is transfixing my heart with shafts of love-tufted knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Holy Divine Grace stands aloof and supreme, the <i>äcärya</i> of the universe, yet you stoop to touch a child’s cheek with lotus fingers (that day in Portland after you touched little Devaké’s cheek and we asked her that night if she remembered Çréla Prabhupäda and all she could do was touch her cheek).</p>
<p class="p7">Your Grace of great honesty and simplicity; in Eugene when a blind Christian asked, “you mean Christ could be right and you could be right at the same time?” you said, “Why not?” and brought down the house.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>1</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You have shown me<br>
the greatest tool (Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare)<br>
yet I continue<br>
to dip into the<br>
hellish ocean of<br>
birth and death,<br>
playing Jokers and fools<br>
acting on the decaying stage of<br>
Kali-yuga.<br>
Only you, Your Divine Grace, can end the show.<br>
Please save me.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>2</b></p>
<p class="p12">Compassionately and penniless<br>
you appeared<br>
a Saint in New York's East side<br>
deathbed<br>
of man’s<br>
dreams doing<br>
disappearing tricks in<br>
rings of illusion,<br>
offering your jewels<br>
humbly,<br>
nurturing small seeds of love<br>
for Godhead<br>
in stone ground<br>
promising everything—<br>
Matchless Gifts within.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>3</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Divine Lighthouse of Love,<br>
If only I could say I love you.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>4</b></p>
<p class="p12">Today spent,<br>
I’ve been merged in nescience<br>
listening to a mind<br>
acting like a body<br>
Still thinking about you is like being in the<br>
Spiritual Sky.</p>
<p class="p12"><b>5</b></p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
You are Vibrating<br>
Lord Caitanya’s mercy<br>
distributing freely love of God<br>
emanating from the sun<br>
of your devotion.</p>
<p class="p15">Jaya Gurudeva</p>
<p class="p15">All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p7">We must become convinced; You are the well-wisher of all living beings, you see the innate sweetness of the soul. Your instructions are so simple; Chant Hare Kåñëa, dance and take Kåñëa <i>prasädam.</i></p>
<p class="p7">But choking envy shrouds the heart with shrieks of resistance. Let me plunge my smoking mind again and again into the cooling rays of your benediction moon, O Perfect One.</p>
<p class="p7">I pray for the day when purified intelligence will guide me to distribute thousands of books.</p>
<p class="p7">You have set ablaze a fire within this wretched fallen soul, of Divine Love, long extinguished by layers of lust and envy.</p>
<p class="p7">My mind races to find some praise that can approach your inestimable purity.</p>
<p class="p7">A great ocean of Divine Love floods my heart, when looking at your eternal gaze of pure love for the Lotus-Eyed Govinda, the Attractor of Rädhä.</p>
<p class="p7">Your Purity, O Çré Guru, is a balm all-soothing to this parched heart.</p>
<p class="p12">A Divine Lotus flower you have given us<br>
Çré Guru, <i>harer näma çabda<br>
</i>Eternal lotus of innumerable petals,<br>
Unfolding boundless pools of sweet nectar<br>
Sweeter at each tasting, Divine Names<br>
To soothe all the fallen <i>jéva’s </i>burning pains.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eyes, decorated with the pulp of unalloyed love, shower eternal benediction upon all the struggling fallen souls, beckoning all, with great fiery sparks of eternal service to Çré Kåñëa, to freedom eternal with the sweetest One.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories, All Glories to You, Sagacious One. We beg to remain your eternal servants.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Vancouver</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Virginia Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Virginia Beach</b></p>
<p class="p7">To our eternal beloved spiritual father Çréla Prabhupäda whose <i>dhoti </i>we aspire to cling to.</p>
<p class="p7">We, your most fallen servants from Virginia Beach Dhama offer our respectful <i>daëòavats </i>from all sides seeking shelter at your Lotus Feet and offering to you on your Vyäsa-püjä this simple poem of praise of your most merciful Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">On this day, Your Vyäsa-Püjä<br>
in the most respectful mood<br>
with our heads bowed humbly at Your feet<br>
we pray that Your service we may always keep.</p>
<p class="p12">You are the source of rivers of compassion<br>
that spread over this globe of hostile nations,<br>
burning with unsatiated lust, anger and hate<br>
You call upon all to surrender this ghastly fate.</p>
<p class="p12">Interrupting nonsense covering the entire planet<br>
Instructing Your disciples about the way Lord Rämacandra ran it,<br>
shaping us up so we can ship out now<br>
well wisher of everyone, especially the <i>brähmaëas </i>and the cows.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh son of Nåsiàha, Guru most dear,<br>
bestower of life, destroyer of fear,<br>
transcendental dentist extracting rotten teeth, <i>vikarma</i>,<br>
filling up cavities with <i>sanätana-dharma.</i></p>
<p class="p12">Your lotus feet extending<br>
spreading shelter from despair,<br>
soothing wounds we could not heal<br>
lifting burdens we could not bear.</p>
<p class="p12">Çyämasundara dances on your voice of divine bliss<br>
barging untouched through the gates of <i>mäyä’s </i>tricks,<br>
flowing from Your lotus lips are transcendental sounds<br>
carrying us to Våndävana where bliss knows no bounds.</p>
<p class="p12">Your divine grace with blooming <i>pärijäta </i>smile<br>
you have so mercifully given shelter for an eternal while,<br>
if we take one step toward You, You reach out a mile<br>
You offer us love of Kåñëa instead of mucus, air and bile.</p>
<p class="p12">Now we prepare a raised <i>vyäsäsana<br>
</i>just suitable for a most royal king,<br>
for You who brought us Kåñëa’s name to sing<br>
and beautiful <i>karatälas </i>to sweetly ring.</p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept these eight verses. Please excuse our offenses which are so crude and blind. Thank you for bestowing Your mercy and let us serve You pleasingly for eternal time. We beg to remain at Your feet which never cease to amaze us,</p>
<p class="p7">Your Irresolute Children</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Virginia Beach</p>
<p class="p49">Brahmavitta Das Adhikari / Payahsvini devi dasi / Bhakta das Brahmavitta / Bhaktin Cissy / Bhakta Dean / Anuttama Das Brahmacary / Bhakta John / Bhakta Howard / Bhakta Stephen / Puru Das Bramacharya / Jnani Bhakta Tony / Bhakta Bruce / Bhakta Wally / Bhaktin Jody</p>
<p class="p11">ISKCON—Washington, D.C</p>
<p class="p10"><b>ISKCON—Washington, D.C</b></p>
<p class="p52"><b>The Captain of a Universal Crew</b></p>
<p class="p60"><b>1</b></p>
<p class="p12">This human body is a ship<br>
Which desires to make the trip,<br>
Across the Age-of-Kali Sea<br>
To dock at Port Eternity.<br>
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak<br>
And ocean storms are at their peak.<br>
Siren <i>Mäyä</i> sings her song:<br>
Could we resist for very long?<br>
The salty spray corrodes away<br>
The values of a former day.<br>
The hands on deck of the crumbling wreck<br>
Cannot lead, will not protect.<br>
On Kali’s beach our ship marooned;<br>
Without a captain we are doomed.</p>
<p class="p60"><b>2</b></p>
<p class="p12">But alongside pulls the “Providence!”<br>
By Divine Will or circumstance?<br>
Just see the golden gleaming hull,<br>
The saffron sails so strong and full!<br>
The mast is topped with a <i>tridaëòé </i>rod,<br>
The sign of Çréla Prabhupäda!<br>
I’ve heard of Him, <i>jagad-guru:<br>
</i>The captain of a universal crew,<br>
A thousand ships to Kåñëa-land<br>
Have been guided by His hand.</p>
<p class="p60"><b>3</b></p>
<p class="p12">O Prabhupäda! Save us, please!<br>
Though we have no good qualities;<br>
Still, we beg your mercy, Sir,<br>
If no more sins we shall incur,<br>
And if we serve you faithfully,<br>
Always, for eternity,<br>
And if we serve You, Prabhupäda,<br>
just as if You were God,<br>
Then, please take us to that place,<br>
Beyond mundane time and space,<br>
Past the difficult ocean of Kali;<br>
Or is it just our grievous folly<br>
To expect Your Holiness<br>
To hear us; we’re so worthless.</p>
<p class="p60"><b>4</b></p>
<p class="p12">Kåñëa’s mercy! Here He comes!<br>
With <i>karatälas </i>and <i>mådaìga </i>drums!<br>
Chanting, dancing, to the helm,<br>
To guide us on to Kåñëa’s realm!<br>
We will serve You without exception.<br>
We accept You as our captain.</p>
<p class="p60"><b>5</b></p>
<p class="p12">We cannot waste this human birth<br>
Upon Lord Kåñëa’s planet Earth,<br>
So we beg Your Grace to guide us<br>
To the Lord Who dwells inside us;<br>
O representative of God,<br>
Purest Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p60"><b>6</b></p>
<p class="p12">Who has gone so far to sally<br>
Forth and conquer Kali,<br>
Except Parékñit long ago,<br>
Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu,<br>
And now the messenger of God,<br>
Courageous Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p60"><b>7</b></p>
<p class="p12">Kåñëa is so kind to us,<br>
Such a role assigned to us,<br>
To serve Your mission and save all men,<br>
To bring them back to home again;<br>
We pray You give us strength from God,<br>
Eternal Master Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p60"><b>8</b></p>
<p class="p12">Mercy, mercy, mercy more<br>
Than anyone who’s come before;<br>
Mercy, mercy, mercy, more!<br>
You’ve brought us to Goloka’s door.<br>
You are just as good as God;<br>
We love You, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p28">(Help us to be Your devotees:<br>
Thus prays <i>ISKCON Washington, D.C.</i>)</p>
<p class="p12">My dear Lord Kåñëa,<br>
You are so kind upon this useless soul,<br>
But I do not know why You have brought me here.<br>
Now You can do whatever You like with me.</p>
<p class="p12">But I can guess that You have some business here,<br>
otherwise why should You call me<br>
to this demoniac place?</p>
<p class="p12">Most of the population here is covered by nature’s modes<br>
of ignorance and passion, and I do not know how<br>
they will be able to understand the transcendental<br>
message of Väsudeva.</p>
<p class="p12">I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I can be able to convince them<br>
about Your message. If You so desire, I wish that You may deliver them;<br>
just by Your desire they will be able to understand Your message.</p>
<p class="p12">The words of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> are Your incarnation,<br>
and if they receive them in submissive aural reception, repeatedly, then<br>
they will be able to understand Your message.</p>
<p class="p12">I have no devotion, nor have I any knowledge, but still<br>
I have been designated Bhaktivedanta.<br>
Now if You like, You can just fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1973</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 22, 1973</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p9">The Meaning of Vyäsa Püjä</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Meaning of Vyäsa Püjä</b></p>
<p class="p7">Vyäsa Püjä is the bona fide spiritual master’s appearance day.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Vyäsadeva very wonderfully compiled all the Vedic literatures. He is the original spiritual master for anyone following the Vedic way of spiritual realization. Therefore, the spiritual master is known as the representative of Vyäsadeva because he carries the message of Vyäsadeva throughout the world. Out of the millions of Sanskrit verses composed by Çréla Vyäsadeva the whole of Vedic knowledge is summarized in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> which is known as the ripened fruit of the desire tree of Vedic knowledge. The ripened fruit is received hand to hand through disciplic succession and anyone who does this work in disciplic succession from Çréla Vyäsadeva is considered to be his representative. Thus the appearance day of the spiritual master is worshiped as Vyäsa Püjä. In this connection, the exalted seat on which the spiritual master sits is called Vyäsäsana (the seat of Vyäsa). The system of offering respect to the spiritual master is current in all sections of Vedic followers. We of the Gauòéya Sampradäya offer our humble homage annually on the appearance day our spiritual master and this auspicious moment is called Vyäsa Püjä.</p>
<p class="p44">We dedicate this volume with the thousands of <i>daëòavats </i>at the lotus feet of our eternal spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara Çata Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja, who is so mercifully delivering the transcendental message of Vyäsadeva for the welfare of all living beings.</p>
<p class="p18"><b>The Disciplic Succession</b></p>
<p class="p44">Vedic knowledge, which contains information of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kåñëa, our relationship with Him, and how to develop love of Him, is not a question of research. Our research work is imperfect because we are researching things with imperfect, perishable senses. We have to accept perfect knowledge which comes down, as is stated in <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> by the <i>paramparä</i> disciplic succession. We have to receive knowledge from the proper source in disciplic succession beginning with the supreme spiritual master, Lord Çré Kåñëa, and handed down to a succession of spiritual masters. Vedic knowledge is received from transcendental sources, and the first words were spoken by the Lord Himself. The words spoken by the Lord are different from words spoken by a person of the mundane world who is infected with four defects. A mundaner...</p>
<p class="p61">1) is sure to commit mistakes, <br>
2) is invariably illusioned, <br>
3) has the tendency to cheat others and <br>
4) is limited by imperfect senses. </p>
<p class="p44">With these four imperfections, one cannot deliver perfect information of all-pervading knowledge.</p>
<p class="p44">This transcendental knowledge of the Vedas was first uttered by the Personality of Godhead to Brahmä, the creator if this particular universe. From Brahmä , the knowledge descended to Närada, from Närada to Vyäsadeva, from Vyäsadeva to Madhväcärya, and in this process of disciplic succession the transcendental knowledge was transmitted by one disciple to another till it reached Lord Gauräìga, or Çré Kåñëa Caitanya who posed as the disciple and successor of Çré Ésvara Puré. The present Äcäryadeva is the eleventh disciplic representative from Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, the original representative of this transcendental tradition in its fullness from Lord Caitanya. The knowledge that we receive from him is not different from that imparted by the Godhead Himself and the succession of <i>äcäryas</i> in the preceptorial line of Brahmä. The <i>äcärya</i> is the living representative of Vyäsadeva, the divine compiler of the <i>Vedas, </i>the <i>Puräëas, Bhagavad-gétä, Mahäbhärata and the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i></p>
<p class="p44">One who interprets the divine sound, or <i>säbda-brahman,</i> by his imperfect sense perception cannot be a real spiritual <i>guru</i> because, in the absence of the empiricist’s proper disciplinary training under the bona fide <i>äcärya,</i> the interpreter is sure to differ from Vyäsadeva, the prime authority of the Vedic revelation, (as the Mäyävädés do). Such an irrelevant interpreter, therefore, cannot be accepted as the <i>guru</i> or <i>äcärya, </i>howsoever he may be equipped with all the acquirements of material knowledge. On the other hand, one who has received the transcendental knowledge by aural reception from the bona fide preceptor in the disciplic chain and has sincere regard from the real <i>äcärya</i> must certainly be enlightened with the revealed knowledge of the <i>Vedas </i>which is permanently sealed to the cognitive approach of the empiricists. As it is stated in the <i>Svetäçvatara Upaniñad</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve thatä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä by arthäù<br>
prakäçänte mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p62">"Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, simultaneously, are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” </p>
<p class="p44">The practical process of accepting knowledge in this spirit is called <i>paramparä,</i> or disciplic succession.</p>
<p class="p44">As stated by Lord Kåñëa in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ahaà sarvasya prabhavo<br>
mattaù sarvaà pravartate<br>
iti matvä bhajante mäà<br>
budhä bhäva-samanvitäù</i></p>
<p class="p34">"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (<i>Bg.</i> 10.8)</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original reservoir of all knowledge. From Him alone the bona fide disciplic succession of transcendental knowledge descends. He is the origin of knowledge, He is the object of knowledge and He is the goal of knowledge. Furthermore, it is by His mercy only that one contacts a spiritual master in the genuine disciplic chain. By His all-pervading cognizance, He can understand the desire and sincerity of a conditioned soul and lead him, from within the heart, to the spiritual master. Thus Kåñëa appears before the devotee as the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Brahmä is the first created living being within the universe, as well as Lord Kåñëa’s first disciple in disciplic succession. He is empowered by Lord Kåñëa to create all manifestations in the universe. By virtue of his austerity, the Lord revealed the Vedic knowledge to him from within his heart. He is the author of the Brahma saàhitä.</p>
<p class="p44">Närada Muni is the son of Lord Brahmä. He has received the transcendental message from his father, and is thus eternally engaged in distributing this message for the benefit of all conditioned souls. On the vibrations of his transcendental <i>véëä</i> he can travel through all material and spiritual worlds. He first brought the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> to this planet earth.</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa Dvaipäyana Vyäsadeva is the disciple of Närada Muni and the original author of Vedic literature. As the literary incarnation of Kåñëa, he could see by divine vision the impending horrors and godlessness of this age. Thus under Närada’s instruction, he compiled the Vedic literatures for the fallen souls of this age.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Madhväcärya appeared in disciplic succession in the 12<span class="s15">th</span> Century and preached all over India. As the disciple of Çréla Vyäsadeva, Madhväcärya always stressed that God and man are separate individual personalities, even after liberation. Thus his philosophy is known as <i>dvaita</i> or dual.</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the special mercy incarnation for this age, appeared in disciplic succession from Çré Madhväcärya approximately 500 years ago for two purposes. First, He appeared to deliver the fallen souls by giving them the only effective process for self-realization in this age—chanting the holy names of God. By chanting, dancing and tasting the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Kåñëa, one can immediately develop his dormant love of God, thus achieving the perfectional stage of life. Secondly, the transcendental mellow of devotional service to Kåñëa is so sweet that Kåñëa Himself appeared in the mood of Rädhäräëé, Kåñëa’s foremost devotee, just to taste it. It has been stated by Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura that anyone who understands Lord Caitanya and His pastimes to be non-different from Kåñëa will immediately experience love of God. Lord Caitanya was always absorbed in chanting Kåñëa’s holy name and pushing on the <i>saìkértana</i> movement throughout the world. In this way, as the supreme teacher, He set the example for everyone.</p>
<p class="p44">The Six Gosvämés of Våndävana, of whom Rüpa and Sanätana Gosvämé are pictured here, were Lord Caitanya’s direct disciples. Under His order, they rediscovered the transcendental village of Våndävana where Lord Kåñëa performed His glorious pastimes 5,000 years ago. After hearing from Lord Caitanya, they wrote volumes of literature explaining and giving directions for devotional service to Kåñëa. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is based on the guidelines given in these books. Although Rüpa and Sanätana had become outcastes from brahminical society by engaging in the service of Mohammedans, Lord Caitanya raised them to the topmost position in the Vedic order as <i>gosvämés</i>, or spiritual masters for all classes of men. This is the proof of the potency of the <i>saìkértana</i> movement.</p>
<p class="p44">Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé, the spiritual master of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, is praised as follows: ”I offer my respectful obeisances to Çré Jagannnätha däsa Bäbäjé, who is respectful to the entire Vaiñëava community and who discovered the place where Lord Caitanya appeared.”</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura is the pioneer of Kåñëa consciousness in the Western world. His book on Kåñëa consciousness, “Lord Caitanya—His Life and Precepts,” was introduced at McGill University in Canada in the year 1896. Çréla Bhaktivinoda prayed for a “ray of Viñëu” to appear as his child, and, as a result, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura took birth as his son.</p>
<p class="p44">Gaura Kiçora däsa Bäbäjé, an intimate associate of Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, was chosen by him to be the spiritual master for his son, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. He was renunciation personified, being always merged in a feeling of separation and intense love for Kåñëa. He was extraordinarily humble and dedicated to the service of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, the foremost devotee and scholar of the previous age, is the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. He is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the bestower of devotional service upon the fallen souls. He is the deliverer of devotional service, which is enriched with the conjugal love of Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. He is the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. Thus, he never tolerates any statement against the teaching of devotional service as enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.</p>
<p class="p44">In 1936, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda delivered this poem as a Vyäsa Püjä homage for His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</p>
<p class="p12">1. Adore adore ye all<br>
The happy day.<br>
Blessed than heaven,<br>
Sweeter than May,<br>
When he appeared at Puré<br>
The holy place,<br>
My Lord and Master<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">2. Oh! My Master<br>
The evangelic angel.<br>
Give us thy light,<br>
Lite up thy candle.<br>
Struggle for existence<br>
A human race.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">3. Misled we are<br>
All going astray,<br>
Save us Lord<br>
Our fervent pray.<br>
Wonder thy ways<br>
To turn our face<br>
Adore thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">4. Forgotten Kåñëa<br>
We fallen souls,<br>
Paying most heavy<br>
The illusion’s toll.<br>
Darkness around<br>
All untrace.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">5. Message of Service<br>
Thou hast brought.<br>
A healthful life<br>
As Caitanya wrought.<br>
Unknown to all<br>
It’s full of brace.<br>
That’s your gift<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">6. Absolute is sentient<br>
Thou hast proved<br>
Impersonal calamity<br>
Thou hast moved.<br>
This gives us a life<br>
Anew and fresh,<br>
Worship thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">7. Had you not come<br>
Who has told<br>
The message of Kåñëa<br>
Forceful and bold.<br>
That’s your right<br>
You have the mace.<br>
Save me a fallen<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">8. The line of service<br>
As drawn by you<br>
Is pleasing and healthy<br>
Like morning dew.<br>
The oldest of all<br>
But in new dress<br>
Miracle done<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p44">“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are so kindly teaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism.”</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa Püjä Homages from the G.B.C.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Homages from the G.B.C.</b></p>
<p class="p44">The G.B.C. (Governing Body Commission ) is an international committee formed by Çréla Prabhupäda to organize and govern the growing ISKCON world.</p>
<p class="p44">Each member has the responsibility to enthuse the devotees in Kåñëa consciousness and see that they follow the regulative principles outlined by Çréla Prabhupäda. As direct representatives of the spiritual master, they are fully authorized to answer all questions concerning the devotional service of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p11">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>Eight Couplets on His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda:<br>
</b></p>
<p class="p44">A ray of light breaks through the night,<br>
giving us hope, restoring our sight.</p>
<p class="p44">Our love for Kåñëa was covered in dust<br>
of anger, greed and heinous lust.</p>
<p class="p44">We had no goodness, nor kindness, nor shame,<br>
but you gave us Kåñëa in the form of His name.</p>
<p class="p44">Your mercy is boundless, blissful and pure;<br>
still we are hesitant to take to the cure.</p>
<p class="p44">Though clouded over by envious desire,<br>
your lotus feet may we now aspire.</p>
<p class="p44">Let Caitanya’s message carried by you,<br>
transform our lives, tell what is true.</p>
<p class="p44">For God has descended in the form of His name,<br>
and so you have come, to deliver the same.</p>
<p class="p44">We look up to you, a lion bold,<br>
please give us courage, so we may not fold.</p>
<p class="p44">Invocation<br>
His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p28"><i>Sambandha—</i>who carries the torchlight of transcendental knowledge,</p>
<p class="p28"><i>Abhidheya—</i>who delivers the nine-fold aspect of service to Kåñëa as the follower of Rüpa Gosvämé,</p>
<p class="p28"><i>Prayojana—</i>who chants constantly the glories of Kåñëa, immersed in ecstatic love.</p>
<p class="p44">O spiritual master, O Gurudeva, we are wandering lost and bewildered, thrown hither and thither by the cruel currents of material life.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòe bhramite kona bhägyavän jiva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-lata-béja</i></p>
<p class="p44">Please give us shelter at thy lotus feet. You carry within your heart the effulgent personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena<br>
santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti<br>
yaà çyämsundaram acintya guëa svarüpaà<br>
govindam ädi puruñam taà ahaà bhajämi<br>
</i> (<i>Bs 5.38</i>)</p>
<p class="p44">And your presence is a veritable <i>tértha </i>(holy place) where all may be purified.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs<br>
tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho<br>
térthékurvanti térthäni<br>
sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä<br>
</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 1.13.10</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">You are empowered to speak the message of God and deliver His love to those who can hear you. To those who can hear you, you stop speaking. As you shower the mercy of Kåñëa’s love upon this burning earth, we stand in awe before your grandeur, glory and endless soothing grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Saàsära-dävänala-lédha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kälyäëa-guëärëavasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is receiving the benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a master.”</p>
<p class="p44">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé<br>
G.B.C—ISKCON Press and New York City<br>
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavän däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagavän däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p44">Let me reflect upon my spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Goswämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda, who is my very life and reason for existence. I pray that I can always remember him in my attempt to go back to Godhead. Wherever he may travel he goes in one absolute direction, and I beg that he takes me with him. Please let me cling to you Çréla Prabhupäda because you are the perfection of the soul.</p>
<p class="p44">To preach the message of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> is the climax of knowledge. It is the greatest challenge because everyone who has come to this material world harbors the weapons of envy and hatred towards the Supreme One. Therefore such work of the pure devotee is transcendentally pleasing to Çré Kåñëa. My master has chosen to enter the arena on Kåñëa’s behalf fighting the haughty challenges of slaughter houses, prostitution and the laws and graft of big business and their police henchmen. You have faced them with conviction in your spiritual master. You have fought with them, sung to them, preached to them, and brought them to surrender, rebirth and contentment. My powerful father, let me take shelter in your fearlessness and fight along your side.</p>
<p class="p44">Without purity, no one can lead. But you have shown the world that your life belongs only to Kåñëa, and your words have never differed from your actions. In this world there is nothing so pure and sublime as you and your mission. As such you can attract the lowest mind to have faith in Rädhä and Kåñëa. O standard of the universe! Please purify my wretched being so that I can give some service to the <i>saìkértana </i>movement of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p44">Because you are Kåñëa’s friend and devotee you are situated in complete and perfect truth. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> it is described that the nature of the Absolute Truth is His ability to release people from the miseries of material existence. Only a blind man could not see how you have brought fortune and auspiciousness to the most fallen. The demonic teachers who are respected and worshipped by the foolish class of men only bless their followers with distress and anxiety. My teacher and guide, please let me share in your wisdom and help you relieve the burden of the world.</p>
<p class="p44">In this material world even goodness is conditional. Although one may give something in charity, if the recipient is ungrateful the charity stops. But you are like the rain cloud that pours the mercy of love of God even on the rocks. Each time it rains the same rocks again receive water. You are the ultimate in mercy. Even though offenses are constantly committed at your lotus feet, you still offer blessing after blessing. Çréla Prabhupäda you are just like Lord Nityänanda. May my stone heart melt in the glow of your compassion.</p>
<p class="p44">Because the ocean is so deep the disturbances on the surface cannot reach into its depth. In the same way there is no way to measure how deep you have gone into the loving affairs of Rädhä and Kåñëa, or how much you are feeling for your spiritual master. Because of this you are never disturbed by the duality of this material world. But my mind is so fickle that even though I stand on the edge of the ocean of nectar I think of sitting in the mud of sense gratification. May my mind also become deep in love for Kåñëa and thus be a source of ecstasy in this life.</p>
<p class="p44">To broaden the sway of your spiritual master’s plan you gave up everything. For the ordinary person to give up family, wealth and society would be like giving up one’s life. But you had strict faith in your spiritual master that one should live only for Kåñëa’s cause. Weak as I am, my countless attachments pull me like horses from every side. O Gurudeva! Heaviest of the Universe! Please bless my mind, body and speech with unalloyed devotion to your feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Because you are aware of the supreme plan of the Absolute Lord you have no hankerings for the temporary pleasures of this material world. Whatever gain comes or whatever is taken away you consider as the mercy of the Lord and thus the ropes of material entanglement can never bind you. For you something has value when used in Kåñëa’s service. Çréla Prabhupäda, please keep me from being carried away by the waves of false needs. Please let me take shelter in your simplicity.</p>
<p class="p44">Today people are so frantically searching for the end to violence, but to learn non-violence they must come to you. Every moment that one has your auspicious association, he comes that much closer to immortality. Even if the trees and grass are present when you chant the holy name of Kåñëa, they become elevated. How glorious you are! You have become the shelter of every species of life!</p>
<p class="p44">Your only motive is to deliver the truth that Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and chanting the holy name will release one from all miseries of life. If no one accepts your message still you will not alter your position. And if one fortunate soul becomes liberated by taking to Kåñëa consciousness you see it as success for your mission. Like a log drifting in the river, somehow I have stopped at the port of your lotus feet, the entrance to Vaikuëöha. Let me glorify you whose every limb and motion sing of the truth.</p>
<p class="p44">You are the most fortunate because you know the transcendental position of Lord Kåñëa. Kåñëa is the never-failing friend, the ultimate proprietor and highest enjoyer. Therefore there can be no illusion or anxiety for you. Please awaken me from my slumber and take me to Kåñëa consciousness so that I too can have transcendental peace.</p>
<p class="p44">Countless living entities move throughout the universe sentenced to birth and death by the nature of their work. They peer out through a myriad of eyes, each giving a newer version of illusion. Before they can ever become satisfied in life, death again comes. Let me therefore run to your expansive arms of freedom. Please carry me back to my real home beyond this dark place.</p>
<p class="p44">On your request we go into the festering cities to deliver the holy names. How have I been able to join in this most merciful movement, being empty of compassion? Insult stings my mind and ignites my anger. Intolerance rises like a belligerent beast. Please let me drink of the waters of your forgiveness and learn how to love.</p>
<p class="p44">May each year of my life free me more from my bondage to material life and take me closer to your lotus feet. I do not want to fool myself—please take pity on me Çréla Prabhupäda and take me back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">Bhagavän däsa Adhikäré<br>
G.B.C. – France and the Mediterranean</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brahmänanda däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p44">It was in 1969 that one of us discovered an old issue of a magazine published by Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Saraswaté Öhäkura Mahäräja containing a homage written by Çréla Prabhupäda to commemorate the appearance day of his spiritual master. When it was brought to Çréla Prabhupäda’s attention he said we could also write down our Vyäsa Püjä appreciations, as he had done 40 years before, and publish them in a special book. We had very little time to inform all the temples to rush us their offerings, and as they came in only a few days before the deadline, we had to edit, compose and paste it all up for being printed in great haste. Out men worked well into the early morning for several days. On the morning of Vyäsa Püjä several finished copies arrived in Hamburg temple where Çréla Prabhupäda was staying. He was quite pleased and had the book read aloud to him.</p>
<p class="p44">That Vyäsa Püjä of five years ago is memorable to me because we were able to please our spiritual master by our service. This is the very meaning of Vyäsa Püjä. A disciple is always a debtor to his spiritual master. How can he repay what the spiritual master has given—devotional service? Imagine a friend agreeing to lend you any sum and when you repaid it he would immediately lend you double the sum, on and on, so that whenever you repaid you would immediately become a debtor for double the amount. The disciple is therefore ever alert as to how to please the spiritual master, and the spiritual master kindly provides needs so that the disciple can serve him as a menial servant. The spiritual master will even appear to be infirm so that he seems to be dependant upon his disciple’s service. This exhibition of the reciprocation of <i>bhakti</i> was also shown by the Lord Çré Kåñëa when He appeared as an ordinary child and was threatened by so many demons—just so that His devotees would constantly think of His welfare and protection.</p>
<p class="p44">With each yearly issue, the Vyäsa Püjä book surpassed the first 1969 issue. Now that there are so many devotees, the temple presidents and GBC are asked to write representatively. The appreciations are thoughtful and not sentimental and the get up and the illustrations become nicer each year. That 1969 Vyäsa Püjä is important because it demonstrated that by mutually cooperating we were able to please the spiritual master. If one of us had failed in his part, the deadline would have been missed. For me, then, the significance is that I feel obliged to admit that my being able to please my spiritual master is ultimately dependent upon my Godbrothers.</p>
<p class="p44">Throughout these several years of serving and learning from Çréla Prabhupäda, it has been their example that has convinced me of Çréla Prabhupäda’s teachings. I suspect that if I had been the sole disciple of Çréla Prabhupäda in all the world I would not have been able to advance in Kåñëa Consciousness. My Godbrothers are all so many ç<i>ikña gurus</i> because they have all taken the shelter one hundred per cent of our great <i>dikña guru</i>, Çréla Prabhupäda. So on this Vyäsa Püjä Day I glorify my spiritual master who has created so many representatives to teach and encourage me to become Kåñëa conscious. It is a fact that anyone who becomes Kåñëa conscious is very great and rare, <i>yatatäm api siddhänäm/ kaçcin mäà vetti tattvataù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. <i>7.3</i>]</span>, but of those who are Kåñëa conscious, he who can make others Kåñëa conscious is the greatest, <i>bhavitä na ca me tasmäd / anyaù priyataro bhuvi. </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.69]</span>.</p>
<p class="p44">His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda is the real spiritual master and <i>äcärya</i>. He teaches Kåñëa consciousness to everyone, regardless of time, circumstances, culture or religion. He is so expert that he can elevate any desiring candidate to the topmost position of qualified brahmin. Thus, he is the <i>jagat guru</i>, the spiritual teacher of the whole world. Others may claim to be <i>jagat guru</i> but they have not been outside of India or even outside their own state in India. So what do they know about <i>jagat,</i> the world? Anyone who tries to compromise Çréla Prabhupäda’s achievements is foolish and envious like a jackal. In the jungles the jackals howl together very boisterously and sometimes they come to think themselves the lords of the jungle, forgetting that the lion is the real king. They go on howling but as soon as the lion appears and gives one roar, they all scamper. So for all the so called spiritual masters, <i>yogés and svämés</i>, Çréla Prabhupäda’s achievement is very embarrassing.</p>
<p class="p44">As a disciple, I am the best testimony for Çréla Prabhupäda’s achievements. What he has given me no one else could—neither scientist, professor, mentor, philosopher, writer, parent nor politician. He has freed me from birth, death, old age and disease—<i>janma måtyu-jarä-duùkhaiù.</i></p>
<p class="p44">And only one who is freed from the miseries of the material body and the mind can really be happy—<i>vimukto ’måtam açnute. S</i>o in the ecstasy of Kåñëa consciousness I am prepared to incessantly glorify my spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">For a devotee, anyone who helps him in his devotional service to Çré Kåñëa or His representative is a friend, and an enemy is anyone who hinders his service. By the grace of my spiritual master I have so many friends in ISKCON. The purpose of ISKCON is that by associating together in living, studying, working and worshiping, we remind each other of Kåñëa and our relationship with Him. By preaching and cooperating together to broadcast the holy name and the philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness on a worldwide scale we also remind the people in general of Kåñëa. The result for all devotees within the society is that they are individually enhanced as well as being able to make the highest contribution to the welfare of all people of all parts of the world.</p>
<p class="p44">Our spiritual master has called ISKCON a sample of Vaikuëöha, the spiritual abode, where there is no anxiety. A sample of a very nice thing is meant to captivate us. Just like the Fuller Brush man sometimes comes to visit at your door and the first thing he does is give you a free sample brush. Being a sample, it is not very expensive, but it is nice and it is free, and so you become inclined to see what he is carrying in his case, resulting in your purchasing scores of his elegant and expensive goods. Similarly, the spiritual master has given us a sample of the spiritual abode where everyone is constantly remembering Kåñëa –the cowherd boys, the <i>gopés</i>, the beasts, the cows, the trees and the insects. ISKCON is organized so that in every activity we remember Kåñëa.<i> Buddhi-yogam upäçrétya, maccitaù satataà bhava</i> (<i>Bg.</i> 18.57). We have not had to pay anything to join; we’ve just taken freely as much as we like of chanting, dancing, feasting and learning philosophy. The result is that we are now mad after going back to Godhead at any cost.</p>
<p class="p44">The sample is meant to attract us, but we should not confuse it with the regular full line of goods for which we have to pay. ISKCON is not the same quantity of perfection as is Kåñëaloka. In ISKCON we are being trained up for entering the spiritual world by learning how to surrender everything. <i>Sarva-dharmän parityajya /mäm ekaà çaranaà vraja </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.66]</span><i>. </i>We should not become discouraged if sometimes our Godbrothers exhibit some resemblance to material inebrieties. That must be there because none of us are pure devotees. Because we are in this body and have some connection to it, sometimes we lapse back into the habit of becoming agitated by is needs and desires. But the vision of a devotee is fixed. He sees Kåñëa within everyone, he sees everyone serving Kåñëa and he sees equally, <i>paëòitäù sama-darçinaù </i>(<i>Bg.</i> 5.18). He does not criticize or chastise his God-brothers nor does he adulate them extravagantly. It is one thing to encourage one another in our service, but is another thing to extoll certain devotees because of confusing their material qualifications for spiritual advancement. For a devotee, flattery is something not wanted.</p>
<p class="p44">It is by chanting of Hare Kåñëa that we grow healthy in spiritual life. Although the chanting is so powerful that it eradicates more sins than we can commit, still the effectiveness of the chanting depends on the quality of the utterance—how eager we are to have Kåñëa. When we begin chanting Hare Kåñëa we must pass from the sinful stage to the intermediary stage, or clearing stage, before we can achieve the purified stage. In the clearing stage we become more and more enlightened, <i>näçayämy ätma-bhävastho/ jïäna-dépena bhäsvatä </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 10.11]</span> It is a gradual phenomena, like the dawning of the sun. At dawn there is no longer the darkness of night and we can see things, but we are still not in the brilliant sunlight of the day. But we know that because the sun has now dawned, if we wait patiently, the full light of the sun will surely come. So let us all cooperate fully like an army of spiritual masters to faithfully serve the mission of our spiritual master, each man to his best capacity, and free from all doubt and hesitation. Armed with the weapons of knowledge and detachment, <i>jïäna</i> and <i>vairägya, </i>we should stand and fight against forgetfulness of Kåñëa. Let us become <i>prakåti</i>, a means of pleasure for our spiritual master, and let him manipulate us as he wishes so that to his slight touch we will dance like puppets. On this Vyäsa Püjä Day let us all bow down and supplicate ourselves as follows: “I know no one but Kåñëa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me broken-hearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is my worshipful Lord unconditionally.”</p>
<p class="p44">Brahmänanda däsa Gosvämé<br>
G.B.C—Africa</p>
<p class="p11">Gaurasundara dasä Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gaurasundara dasä Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p44">I have been given this commission to write about the glories of Çréla Prabhupäda and find myself unable to adequately fulfill it. Çréla Prabhupäda stands supremely glorified by all that he is and all that he radiates. So I feel like a man offering a candle to the sun in that it is not what I can offer that is significant as much as the spirit in which it is done. Whatever I can say has no value that is not derived from him.</p>
<p class="p44">The exuberance in others that prompts them to offer flowing rivers of praise is well enough done by them. However, if I were to merely echo them I would not highly esteem my own honesty. For me personally to offer similarly grand speeches would be to court the estate of flattery. I do not feel qualified to summarize the qualities of my spiritual master any more than I do to pass judgments on them. I do not pretend to be able to appreciate everything about him. But still I aspire to dedicate myself to his service. I want to cling to that spirit of devotion throughout all turmoils of worldly existence.</p>
<p class="p44">It seems to me that the best form of gratitude is not susceptible of being reduced to a facile phrase but finds its expression in the sincere desire not to misrepresent the spiritual master. I see him as the forever living inspiration of the universal church of humble love of God. I do not like to see him misrepresented and yet I cannot feel that I am able to champion the cause of his representation against the forces of self righteousness, superficiality and sectarianism. It is the responsibility of the disciple not to betray the spiritual master by his insincerity. Devotion to God is the source of all sincerity. I can only pray to be established in love of Godhead by the mercy of my spiritual master and to be forgiven for my blundering attempts at his service.</p>
<p class="p44">Gaurasundara dasä Adhikäré<br>
G.B.C. – South America.</p>
<p class="p11">Haàsadüta däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Haàsadüta däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p44">Suppose you wanted to offer service to the president of the nation–how would you go about it? After thinking on it for some time, we can conclude that it simply isn’t possible. The president is so great that an ordinary citizen has no power to approach him. Similarly, if someone wants to serve God then how will he do that? Where is God? What is His name? What does He look like? And what does He want from us in the way of service? If we cannot even see God then how will we begin to serve Him? Most will conclude that because we have not seen Him, He doesn’t exist. Others will imagine that God is impersonal, or void, and still others will declare that they are themselves God or that everybody is God.</p>
<p class="p44">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> Kåñëa who is actually God Himself, declares to Arjuna “Just try to approach a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render him all kinds of service. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth. And when you have thus learned the truth you will know that all living beings are in Me and are Mine.” When the President wants to give information about his activities he sends his representative before the press, TV and Radio, who must accept his words as authorized information. Otherwise, they may invent so many things, but such information cannot be accepted as authorized. Similarly, in the material world, if we want to understand God then we have to be prepared to accept the words of the bona fide representative of God, the spiritual master. The spiritual master is the confidential agent of the Supreme Lord, and the conditioned souls have the opportunity of understanding and rendering service to the Supreme Soul Kåñëa only in the degree that they are able to please the spiritual master. An ordinary citizen cannot approach the president. But if he can somehow or other gain the favor of the president’s most confidential servant, then it becomes very easy. This fact is supported by Çréla Viçvanätha Chakravarté: “The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord.” Then again he says, “Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement in spiritual life.”</p>
<p class="p44">But if there are so many people claiming to be spiritual masters, how can I know who the bona fide spiritual master is? The answer is: The spiritual master is that person who has perfectly heard and is delivering without any adulteration, the words of Kåñëa coming down from the disciplic succession going directly back to Kåñëa 5,000 years ago and when he spoke <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> for the enlightenment of all mankind.</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is transparent. The spiritual master is not giving his opinion or fashionable interpretation of God, now will he claim that he is God. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> it is stated that “the great souls who are not deluded are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” In the purport of this verse it is stated that a <i>mahätma,</i> or spiritual master, cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man; the spiritual master must show positive symptoms. In other words, he must be engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord without any other engagement. Everyone, from the street sweeper to the king, is engaged in glorifying someone and hearing the glories of someone. But the spiritual master can be distinguished from all others by the difference in subject matter. The spiritual master is glorifying Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is simply engaged in delivering the words of Kåñëa. The spiritual master is just like the postman who brings a letter without adulterating it by adding something or scratching something out. When Kåñëa says that everyone should surrender to Him, the spiritual master does not interpret, but simply points out the truth of Kåñëa’s words and makes it clear by his own exemplary behavior that we have to surrender to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is not a particular person but the spiritual master is the principle of truth. There may be many spiritual masters, but the spiritual master is one, just as there may be many mathematics teachers but each one is teaching two plus two equals four. Therefore, the teacher is one. The duty of the disciple is to become himself a spiritual master by distributing the message of Kåñëa as he has received it from the lips of his spiritual master. In <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>Kåñëa also says, ”For one who explains this supreme secret (of <i>Bhagavad-gétä)</i> to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant more dear to Me in this world than he, and never will there be one more dear.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bg.</i></span><i> </i><span class="s3">18.68-69)</span></p>
<p class="p44">Without a spiritual master there is no question of spiritual life, just at without a father there is no question of material life. The father impregnates the mother and thus birth is made possible. Spiritual life is the second birth, and it is made possible by the spiritual father. Just as a bird is born once in the egg and twice when he becomes free from the darkness of that egg, everyone of us was born in ignorance, conditioned by this material body due to false identification, and the spiritual master has descended from the spiritual platform to help us break the illusion of bodily identification. The prayer in this connection is, ”I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. While I was standing in the darkness of ignorance, he forced me to open my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge.”</p>
<p class="p44">God is not impersonal or void but from the scriptures and the spiritual master we learn that God is the supreme living being, or the leader of all living beings. God is not lying lost like an inert stone waiting to be found; nor is He insentient as some imagine the Truth to be. On the contrary, as it is stated in the <i>Vedänta-sütra</i> the Absolute Truth is the origin of everything. The origin of everything cannot be impersonal, but must be the supreme intelligent living being amongst all other living beings. Therefore we can understand that everything is moving under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The spiritual master is an emissary of God moving in this material world under his dictation. The spiritual master is empowered by the Supreme Lord to accept service on His behalf and to deliver the whole universe back to home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">The disciple should never credit himself with finding the spiritual master, what to speak of finding or understanding God. Personally I do not know anything of God, and neither I can claim any understanding of my spiritual master. All I know is that he has taken me in and due to his causeless mercy he has allowed me to make myself a place under his lotus feet. Whatever he does is good; whatever he says is true. He may be wrong, he may be right, but he is always right. <i>Çästras</i> say that to one who has firm faith in his spiritual master and the words of the scripture alone are all the truths of spiritual science revealed. So let everyone take advantage of this opportunity and resolve always to pray for eternal guidance at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is so kindly taking us back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">Haàsadüta däsa Adhikäré<br>
G.B.C. – Germany and Eastern Europe</p>
<p class="p11">Jagadésa däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jagadésa däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p44">1. Kåñëa’s representative<br>
is now among us here,<br>
appearing like a human being,<br>
dispelling all our fear.</p>
<p class="p44">2. Our vision has been clouded<br>
by <i>mäyä’s </i>blinding glare,<br>
and thus we have become absorbed<br>
in a contaminated affair.</p>
<p class="p44">3. But <i>mäyä</i> has been kicking us<br>
and now we’re asking why.<br>
Why do I have to suffer?<br>
Am I just born to die?</p>
<p class="p44">4. This is simply Kåñëa’s plan—<br>
to bring us all back home,<br>
and by the grace of Çré Guru<br>
this factor can be known.</p>
<p class="p44">5. The atheistic men assert<br>
that there can be no God,<br>
or I am God and you are God<br>
or everything is void.</p>
<p class="p44">6. But Kåñëa’s ever beyond the reach<br>
of verbal jugglery,<br>
and those who try to use this trick<br>
prolong this misery.</p>
<p class="p44">7. For the present age of Kali-yuga<br>
there is no other way<br>
to fully understand the truth<br>
than to chant the holy name.</p>
<p class="p44">8. This message has been brought to earth<br>
by Caitanya Mahäprabhu,<br>
who is the Lord Çré Kåñëa Himself<br>
in golden hue, not blue.</p>
<p class="p44">9. Now Lord Caitanya’s messenger,<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
is clearing up the nonsense<br>
rascal’s theories on God.</p>
<p class="p44">10. The friend of every living being<br>
and dearest to the Lord,<br>
engaged in the highest welfare work<br>
for the benefit of all the world.</p>
<p class="p44">11. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya<br>
and Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
in every town and village<br>
they’ll be chanting names of God.</p>
<p class="p44">12. Kali is the most degraded age<br>
and full of imperfections,<br>
but on account of this <i>saìkértana </i>movement<br>
there’s thorough purification.</p>
<p class="p44">13. Somehow or other it has occurred<br>
and who can posit why?<br>
The waves of Prabhupäda’s mercy<br>
have reached such a fool as I.</p>
<p class="p44">14. I have no appreciation<br>
for what has come to be.<br>
I have no qualification,<br>
and still he has accepted me.</p>
<p class="p44">Jagadésa däsa Adhikäré<br>
G.B.C.—Canada</p>
<p class="p11">Karandhara däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Karandhara däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p44">I offer my most worthless obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who is the ocean of mercy and the personification of all the <i>Vedas.</i> His only desire is to deliver all the fallen and ignorant persons from the bondage of <i>mäyä</i> and for this he prays to Kåñëa constantly and schemes day and night. Simultaneously, with the Absolute Truth as delivered by Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé he vigorously strives to smash all the nonsense <i>yogés,</i> philosophers, scientists and assorted rascals. This is also his causeless mercy. How else will they all be relieved from the diseases of adversity to submission and service to the actual Supreme God? For these demons, Prabhupäda is death, and havoc personified, so fierce and determined, with his ignorance-destroying dissertations which he tirelessly delivers from early morning till the late hours of the night, day after day. He will not relent or settle for one inch of compromise. Total acceptance of the Vedic conclusion and absolute surrender to Kåñëa’s superiority and glory are his only terms. He writes volumes of literature, each one saying the same thing: surrender to Kåñëa; and he tirelessly pours his heart and soul into distributing this life-giving knowledge of Kåñëa Consciousness. He has no other thoughts or objectives, and cares for no other subject or topics than <i>Kåñëa-kathä</i>. He always attacks the rascals with a kick on the face and he blesses the devotees with, “Come on” and “Jai”. “Chant Hare Kåñëa” is the first word and the last, and service to his lotus feet is everything in between.</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to Çré Guru, Çréla Prabhupäda.<br>
Karandhara däsa Adhikäré<br>
G.B.C. – Western United States<br>
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust</p>
<p class="p11">Rüpänuga däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rüpänuga däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p44">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept my most humble <i>daëòavats. </i>In Your Divine Grace’s garden in Los Angeles, I was seated amongst a few disciples at your lotus feet (“the disciple learns love from the spiritual master”). We were softly chanting <i>japa</i>, waiting for you to speak something (revelation). The joyful sound of <i>kértana </i>was coming from the temple room, and you said (by your causeless mercy), Was it <i>you, </i>Gargamuni? Or was it someone else who asked me if these <i>kértanas</i> were disturbing me in the garden? “You laughed beautifully, raising your eyebrows high, and said, “It is Vaikuëöha!” At that very moment the sound from the Temple poured out the side entrance door, down the path and up through the garden gate, enveloping us all in a tangible ocean of nectar. Completely immersed, the hairs on my miserable body standing on end, I continued softly chanting <i>japa</i> that was nectar into the nectar air. Part of me, all too sure of my polluted condition, waited for the end of this endless moment that would never be lost (“all varieties of <i>rasas</i> or mellows turn into eternity”). The evening rays of pale, yellow-gold sunlight, slanting overhead into the trees beyond the garden wall, were emanating from Lord Kåñëa’s body, and He felt very near, as if behind the far garden wall (<i>acintya-bhedäbheda-tattva).</i></p>
<p class="p44">Everything is revealed in the river of nectar flowing from your lotus lips (the Absolute Truth). We can see only the <i>ädhibhautika </i>persons and the endless permutations of material energy as they appear on our eyeballs. We cannot even see one another, glowing with the light of a thousand suns. Only the illusory energy do we see, hiding ourselves as eternal spirit-souls. And, as the clouds passing near the full moon makes the moon appear to be moving, but only the cloud is doing the moving (“you must regard everything philosophically”), similarly, we cannot see the real form of Your Divine Grace before us. Yet, by the sound of your voice as recorded in your wonderful books (<i>uttama-çloka), </i>we can see by the light of higher intelligence, so that this material world at last has value in service to Kåñëa (“<i>åte rtham yat pratiyeta, na pratiyeta cätmani”, Bhäg. </i>2.9.34<span class="s3">)</span><i>.</i></p>
<p class="p44">Now I pray to surrender, renouncing the false role of overload and controller, and I beg, in the face of overlord and controller, and I beg, in the face of numberless immediate personal discrepancies, to somehow be retained in Your Divine Grace’s exalted service. I pray this finds you increasingly enthused by good news from all over the growing ISKCON world.</p>
<p class="p44">Your most fallen disciple,<br>
Rüpänuga däsa Gosvämé<br>
G.B.C. – Eastern United States.</p>
<p class="p11">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p44">One’s own spiritual master is his link with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is not a father for just one body, but he is eternally the father. Why is the day on which a disciple honors his spiritual master called Vyäsa Püjä? It is called Vyäsa Püjä because a bona fide spiritual master carries the message of Vyäsadeva throughout the world. Vyäsadeva compiled all the Vedic literatures. There are certain “realist” philosophers who do not believe that there was any person by the name of Vyäsadeva. Their idea is that anyone who is distributing Vedic knowledge is called Vyäsadeva. This class of philosophers are impersonalists, and they cannot appreciate how one person could write so many books; so they disbelieve. Actually, Vyäsadeva’s accomplishment is very astonishing. In a letter he wrote in 1970, our spiritual master Çréla Prabhupäda has explained: “Before Vyäsadeva all the Vedic scriptures were taught and received verbally in disciplic succession. Both the students and the spiritual master of those ages were so sharp in their memory that once they heard a transcendental message from their spiritual master the message was immediately imprinted into their brain and considered as a written language.”</p>
<p class="p44">Vyäsadeva appeared at the dawn of the age of Kali, just when all moral deterioration was about to begin due to the cursing of Mahäräja Parékñit by an upstart Brahmin boy. Vyäsadeva is a real person, a powerful incarnation of Kåñëa, and he is accepted by all Vedic authorities. He is known as Mahä Muni as he is also the spiritual master for all who follow the Vedic literature. No one in history can compare with him as a poet, philosopher, writer, etc. His influence is so great that it cannot even be calculated. He composed millions of Sanskrit verses and we are just trying to understand a fragmental portion of his work. Vyäsadeva summarized the whole Vedic literature in his mature work, the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam,</i> which is known as the ripened fruit of all the <i>Vedas. </i>This was done under the guidance of his spiritual master Närada Muni. This ripened fruit is received hand to hand through the disciplic succession. Anyone who does the work of Vyäsadeva is disciplic succession from Vyäsadeva is considered to be the bona fide spiritual master. On his appearance day the spiritual master is honored, and that celebration is called Vyäsa Püjä. Furthermore, the seat on which such a bona fide spiritual master sits is known as the <i>Vyäsäsana</i>.</p>
<p class="p44">It is accepted by those who are followers of the Absolute Truth that the Absolute Truth is one. That knowledge of the Absolute Truth, the source of all sources, is coming from the Vedic scriptures compiled by Vyäsadeva. Therefore, one who is an actual spiritual master has to speak the message of Vyäsadeva without change. The so-called <i>guru </i>of the impersonalist class cannot actually be accepted as a spiritual master or <i>guru</i> because he is not in line with Vyäsadeva. The message of Vyäsadeva is that Lord Çré Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> that Arjuna proclaims Kåñëa as the Supreme Brahman and this is affirmed by Vyäsadeva, Närada, etc. Throughout the whole Vedic literature the conclusion is: Kåñëa is the source of all incarnations and all manifestations, including the impersonal Brahman. This same message is delivered in this age by Lord Caitanya who stressed that one should simply chant the holy name of Kåñëa, the <i>mäha-mantra.</i> His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swämé Prabhupäda is therefore a bona fide spiritual master in the line of Vyäsadeva. There is no question of one’s being a<i> guru</i>, however, if he is teaching the subtle form of atheism known as impersonalism.</p>
<p class="p44">In this age of hypocrisy and quarrel, no one is actually following the teaching of Lord Kåñëa in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> But our spiritual master is following and by His Divine Grace we are also following. By the above evidence of Vyäsadeva’s position we can see that only the appearance day of our spiritual master can be honored as Vyäsa Püjä. No one else is glorifying Kåñëa, and so any <i>guru</i>-disciple relationship outside of Kåñëa consciousness is a useless waste of time.</p>
<p class="p44">It is stated in the <i>Vedas,</i> “Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all truths of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” Our spiritual master has described in his translation of the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> that Lord Caitanya supported this verse in the Vedic literature by personally believing in His spiritual master’s words. Just as Lord Caitanya introduced the <i>saëkértana</i> movement on His spiritual master’s orders, in the same way our Kåñëa consciousness movement started with the belief of Çréla Prabhupäda in the words of his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhänta Saraswaté Goswämé Mahäräja. Çréla Prabhupäda writes of them: “He wanted to preach, we believed in his words and tried somehow or other to fulfill them; now this movement has become successful all over the world. Thererfore faith in the words of the spiritual master is the secret to success. “ As disciples, our position is to dedicate our life and soul to the orders of the spiritual master. This is the way to perfection; and in that way, by helping the fallen mankind to realize their original position of love of God and to be happy in this world and the next, one also works on the highest platform for all humanity.</p>
<p class="p44">It is natural for the disciple to crave the favor and intimate association of the spiritual master. But the actual essence of how to capture this intimate association is revealed in these words by Çréla Prabhupäda: “Whoever is following my instruction, teaching the message of Lord Caitanya 24 hours a day, is my personal servant.” So that association with the spiritual master in intimacy is ours if we simply serve by distributing his literature on <i>saìkértana </i>or by whatever is our duty—preaching in class, working in the Spiritual Sky incense company or in the office or temple duties. If we perform our duty with full determination and enthusiasm for spreading Kåñëa consciousness, if we cooperate and assist him in this mission by cooperating with our God-brothers who are also doing this work, then in that way we will associate with the spiritual master and Kåñëa. Since we are devotees of Kåñëa, by associating with the spiritual master we can associate with Kåñëa. If one follows the orders of his spiritual master in separation from him he can experience the highest ecstasy of spiritual life and attain to love of Kåñëa. The orders of our spiritual master are simply to chant Hare Kåñëa and to follow the rules and regulations of <i>sädhana bhakti</i>, that is, to chant sixteen rounds offenselessly, to refrain from the four prohibitions and to preach, preach, preach! So it should be understood that he is giving us Kåñëa, if we can only understand and accept. If we chant Hare Kåñëa and are true to his orders then we are always with our spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">It is also a fact that the spiritual master takes on the offenses of his disciples. It is a very serious affair; those who become initiated disciples of the spiritual master have that responsibility. Çréla Prabhupäda described that the spiritual master sometimes suffers and gets diseased for his “misdeed” of taking on so many disciples on the order of Lord Caitanya. Of course we are engladdened to honor our spiritual master on this day, Vyäsa Püjä, but beyond that day, every hour, every moment, we have to be merciful to our spiritual master who is taking all risks for us. Merciful means we must carry out his orders, and work hard and remain pure by following all of his instructions. There is no question of a devotee breaking any prohibitive rules or of not taking part in the daily preaching work. We must represent him purely with body, mind and words and always be preaching in an uncompromising way. We must preach that Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that we are all His parts and parcels, and everyone is intended to go back to Godhead for eternal, blissful life with Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">There is no question that Çréla Prabhupäda is the perfect <i>guru</i>. The question is whether we can respond to his teachings fully. That is our whole life’s mission.</p>
<p class="p44">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé<br>
G.B.C.- Central United States.</p>
<p class="p11">Tamäla Kåñëa däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tamäla Kåñëa däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p44">To India you have sent us, your eldest children, to assist you in providing for our God-brothers and sisters abroad two spiritual abodes where all may come and be revived—Çré Mäyäpura Dhäma and Çré Våndävana Dhäma. Your plan is that we all work to save the world, but preaching is difficult and sometimes fatiguing. So you have indicated these two lands of Mäyäpura and Våndävana Dhäma as your spiritual oases where all devotees may come and be refreshed.</p>
<p class="p44">On behalf of my God-brothers and sisters who are serving you here in India, we pledge ourselves wholeheartedly to provide these spiritual paradises to all of your disciples. Let everyone come to be devotionally enriched with new inspiration and greater enthusiasm for pushing forth Lord Caitanya’s movement. May we serve Your Divine Grace by serving your devotees.</p>
<p class="p44">Tamäla Kåñëa däsa Gosvämé<br>
G.B.C. – India.</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa Püjä Homages from ISKCON Centers around the world.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa Püjä Homages from ISKCON Centers around the world.</b></p>
<p class="p11">Adelaide</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Adelaide</b></p>
<p class="p18"><b>All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga<br>
</b></p>
<p class="p44">Oh Çréla Prabhupadä, you are the most merciful person of this age.</p>
<p class="p44">You are spreading Lord Caitanya’s saìkértana movement in the western world and accepting as your disciples even the most fallen.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh Çréla Prabhupäda, in this age, where we have especially short memories, you are mercifully giving everyone a chance to constantly remember the glories of the Lord as stated in your translation of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are communicating with everyone on an international scale…and yet you can love each one of us individually.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, to watch you play with a child makes one forget oneself and causes the three worlds to appear joyful.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, the remembrance of your glance, your stance and your smile always negates the miseries of the material world.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, to think of you makes me feel ashamed, and yet happy and proud.</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p44">Adelaide ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Paëòava däsa / Renuka Süta däsa / Sahadeva däsa / Somendranätha däsa / Bhärata däsa / Cittahäré däsa / Ray Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirandhasya jïänäïjana-çalakäya<br>
cakñur unmilitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">In <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>Kåñëa states: “Out of compassion for them I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 10.11]</span> His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda is the surrendered mentor of his spiritual master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Saraswaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, and he is successfully carrying that shining lamp of knowledge to the western world. With the inexhaustible, all-perfect, transcendental message of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>for the benefit of all suffering beings. And it is the same selfless desire of all Vaiñëavas—the desire for pure, unalloyed devotion to the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa—which lives in the heart of our beloved <i>gurudeva</i>, Çréla Prabhupäda. In that perpetually all-auspicious mood of devotion to his <i>gurudeva,</i> Çréla Prabhupäda is fulfilling his spiritual master’s desire. We can clearly affirm this by the results of his endeavors since His Divine Grace’s arrival in New York in September, 1965.</p>
<p class="p44">Just prior to his arrival in America, Çréla Prabhupäda offered this prayer to Kåñëa, seeking the benediction of pure devotion and the ability to convince us of the transcendental message of loving devotional service to Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Lord. In this prayer, the essential qualifications and qualities of a bona fide spiritual master, or representative of the Absolute Truth, are perfectly recognizable. Because he is fully surrendered to the Absolute Truth, he receives in full measure the grace of the Supreme Lord, and thus he is able to bestow that grace on others. Çréla Prabhupäda begins: </p>
<p class="p34">"My dear Lord Kåñëa, You are so kind upon this useless soul. But I do not know why you have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me”.</p>
<p class="p44">A pure devotee of Kåñëa always accepts every condition of life, even the most uncomfortable, as Kåñëa’s kind mercy. At the advanced age of 70 years, Çréla Prabhupäda left material comfort behind him, sailing for America for one purpose—to please his dearmost spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p34">“But I guess that You have some business here, otherwise why should You call me here to this demoniac place. Most of the population here is covered by ignorance and passion, and I do not know how they will be able to understand the transcendental message of Väsudeva.”</p>
<p class="p44">To fulfill the desire of the bona fide spiritual master is to fulfill the desire of Kåñëa, for their desire is the same thing—to bring us back home, back to Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Godhead.</p>
<p class="p34">“But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic.”</p>
<p class="p44">What appears impossible is made possible by Kåñëa because Kåñëa has unlimited potency. One who is truly surrendered to Kåñëa recognizes this truth and lets Kåñëa act through him. This is the meaning of self-realization—realizing Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth, in all of one’s activities. One, who acts in Kåñëa consciousness, because he is accepting fully the causeless mercy of the Lord, is non-different from the Lord’s mercy just as an iron rod heated in fire becomes like the fire itself. Çréla Prabhupäda continues:</p>
<p class="p34">“Therefore I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I can be able to convince them about Your message. “</p>
<p class="p44">No one can be convinced of the truth by one who is not living the truth. The truth is that we must surrender to the Supreme Lord and His mercy, the spiritual master. The absolute potency of the spiritual master lies in his full surrender to his spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from Kåñëa. In this way the self-realized spiritual master acts as the transparent medium through which one can realize Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p34">“All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. If You so desire, I wish that You may deliver them, and by Your such desire only, all of them will be able to understand your message.”</p>
<p class="p44">Thus, a qualified spiritual master gives all credit for the success of Kåñëa’s mission to Kåñëa, taking no credit for himself. Situated in service to the Supreme Lord, who is all-powerful, he is the greatest optimist, feeling the greatest assurance that everyone will some day be receptive to the divine message of love for Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p34">“Somehow or other, You have brought me here to speak about You, now it is up to You to make me a success of failure as You like. You are the Lord of the whole creation, so if You like You can make my power of speaking as suitable as they can understand.”</p>
<p class="p44">Those who refuse to recognize the unlimited potency of the Supreme Lord fail to understand that He is capable of communicating His message to the conditioned souls through the potent words of the spiritual master. The spiritual master is expert in making the transcendental message understandable under the dictates of time and circumstance. Çréla Prabhupäda continues:</p>
<p class="p34">“By your causeless mercy only my words may become transcendentally pure, and I am sure when such transcendental message is penetrated in their hearts certainly they will feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.”</p>
<p class="p44">We can see that Prabhupäda’s faith in Kåñëa, the Supreme Soul of all living beings, Is bearing fruit in the measureless benediction of gladdened, reawakened souls now glorifying the Lord with the pure sound vibration of the holy names. Let us offer our most humble obeisances, falling at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda who is surrendered to the lotus feet of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. He alone can lead us to that place of eternal dance with Govinda, the Reservoir of all pleasure, Kåñëa. As he is surrendered to Him who prays at last to Lord Kåñëa:</p>
<p class="p34">“ I am just like a puppet in Your hands and You have brought me here; now You can make me dance as You like. I have no devotion, neither have I any knowledge, but still I have been designated Bhaktivedanta; now if You like You can just fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.”</p>
<p class="p44">Because in fact he is filled with devotion and knowledge, the highest devotion and knowledge obtainable, the purport of Bhaktivedanta is indeed being fulfilled in the most fruitful tree ever to blossom forth on this planet, loving devotion to the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p49">Tulasé däsa brahmacäré / Jagaddeva das brahmacäré / Hari Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Aìga däsa brahmacäré / Ätmänanda däsa brahmacäré / Çrutadeva däsa adhikäré / Gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëakñetre däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mauricio Prabhu / Bhakta Michael Prabhu / Bhakta Dennis Prabhu / Bhakta Gerrit Prabhu / Bhakta Joey Prabhu / Bhakta William Prabhu / Bhaktin Judey Prabhu / Bassie Prabhu / Bhaktin Karey &amp; daughter / Bhaktin Rädhä / Kuïjamandana devé däsé / Kiçoré devé däsé / Bhakti Kiçoré devé däsé / Bhaktin Katherine</p>
<p class="p11">Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p44">Our Dear Spiritual Master and Father,</p>
<p class="p44">We beg to offer our most humble and respectful obeisances at Your Divine Grace’s lotus feet on this most blessed event of your appearance day.</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace is rightly seated upon the most glorious throne (<i>Vyäsäsana)</i> because you are fully conversant in all systems of philosophy and are presenting the powerful <i>Bhägavatam, </i>in the defiance of all other systems, exactly in the viewpoint of Çréla Vyäsadeva. Thus your divine instructions are the firm ground upon which we stand.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray to remain in the service of your lotus feet, for the beloved devotee of the Lord can favor the neophytes more liberally than the Lord. Your Divine Grace has favored us by your divine appearance in this remote land of America. It is remote because it is so far away from the birthplace of our Lord Caitanya and the divine command, <i>saìkértana.</i></p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace has appeared as the well-wisher for all conditioned souls. Therefore you are eager for the spiritual improvement of the general public. Peace and friendship is impossible for a society which is detached from the association of God and His devotees. Therefore, Your Divine Grace has come here and has formed this glorious ISKCON <i>saëkértana </i>movement to turn our faces from the nescience towards the light of devotional service to the Supreme Person, Kåñëa. By the mercy of Your Divine Grace’s association, we too can join Lord Caitanya’s universal <i>saìkértana</i> party and thus reach the perfection of our lives.</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace is overflooding this morbid world with the message of love by Your Divine Grace’s translations and purports. Therefore we are humbly begging to be engaged in this sublime cause under your divine instructions. We are praying at your lotus feet that we take these instructions to our hearts, and as our very mission in life, go out and distribute your divine mercy to everyone.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray that this meets Your Divine Grace in the best of health.</p>
<p class="p44">Putting ourselves under your divine protection, as eternal servitors,</p>
<p class="p44">Atlanta, ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Balavanta däsa adhikäré / Jannaïjaya däsa adhikäré / Rädhä Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Jayasena däsa adhékäré / Sudäsa däsa adhikäré / Gokularaïjana däsa brahmacäré / Kardama Muni däsa brahmacäré / Amoghalélä däsa brahmacäré / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Rusty / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Henry / Bhakta Walter / Bhakta Bill Kelsey / Bhakta Mac / Anäìgamaïjaré devé däsé / Ballabhé devé däsé / Çrvaëanmaìgala devé däsé / Tara devé däsé / Devyäni devé däsé / Sukñmarüpiëé devé däsé / Bhaktin Mischella / Bhaktin Shirley / Bhaktin Sue / Bhaktin Heather / Bhaktin Beth</p>
<p class="p11">Austin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Austin</b></p>
<p class="p44">In material existence everyone is busily engaged in activities based on the bodily misconceptions “I” and “mine”. The Vedic knowledge, however, informs us that we are eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kåñëa and consciously or not, we are engaged in His service. Material existence means that we are unaware of our eternal relationship with Lord Kåñëa. Thus we feel ourselves to be in a most unnatural situation.</p>
<p class="p44">To aid the living entities entrapped by ignorance, Lord Kåñëa periodically incarnates or sends His bona fide representatives to disseminate information concerning the path back to Godhead. There are numerous welfare organizations to aid suffering humanity, but they fail to see the soul within man’s material body. Thus, they ignore entirely the real malady—the absence of genuine spiritual life. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, thirty-second in a 5,000 year old unbroken line of spiritual masters originating from Lord Çré Kåñëa Himself, is delivering knowledge beyond the illusory pretentions of our material relationships.</p>
<p class="p44">In 1966, His Divine Grace sat in a lower eastside New York park, chanted Hare Kåñëa and told us that our complicated existence of material enjoyments robbed us of our understanding of the Absolute Truth. Today there are over 60 centers around the world distributing the stolen knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus thousands of disciples are taking shelter under His Divine Grace’s instructions, and are finding comfort and light from his lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">As stated in the <i>Brahma-saàhitä,</i> the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa has an eternal transcendental form, full of bliss and knowledge. He is called Govinda because He is the “reservoir of all pleasure”. His pure devotees are connected with Him in a reciprocal relationship of love, and thus enjoy unlimited and unceasing happiness. As a desert is devoid of water, the material world is similarly dead and dry, being a place where one does not experience the sweet mellows of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p44">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the present <i>äcärya</i>, has been sent to us by Lord Kåñëa, to practically demonstrate and relate the means of reviving our dormant Kåñëa Consciousness. As Lord Kåñëa states in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p34">“Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men will follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” [<i>Bg.</i> 3.21]</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda’s unceasing efforts to broadcast the Supreme Lord’s glories throughout the world prove him to be the great soul or <i>mahätmä</i> that Lord Kåñëa describes—</p>
<p class="p34">“Always engaged in chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, offering homage unto Me, they worship Me with devotion.” [<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</p>
<p class="p44">In the<i> Vedas</i> it is stated that mundane sound vibrations are different from the objects they describe. But the name of God, the words used to describe His name, form, qualities, pastimes etc., being absolute, are non-different from the Personality of Godhead. Chanting of the names of God, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Räma therefore engages one in a direct relationship with the Supreme, the perfection of which is demonstrated in unalloyed devotion. It is only this natural love for Lord Kåñëa that can save us from our incessant hankering and lamentation over dead material things.</p>
<p class="p44">“I am simply an instrument for my master,” His Divine Grace declares. If somehow we can make his example our life, then we may attain the most attractive possession of pure love for God. All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Prahlädänanda däsa / Dharmabhävana däsa / Bhakta Lani</p>
<p class="p11">Bali</p>
<p class="p10"><b>BALI</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, our lord and savior,</p>
<p class="p44">You have too kindly instructed these fallen souls to preach the message of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. We like this assignment very much, but it is very difficult for us because we are like helpless and faithless bugs floating on their backs in a dark ocean. We beg for your causeless mercy upon us so that we can overcome our terrible inability to render service to you. According to Çukadeva Gosvämé, simply by hearing the transcendental glories of the Lord one achieves unflinching faith. So we cannot hear enough of the nectar of Çré Kåñëa’s holy name and pastimes. We aspire to the association of devotees who, like the Six Gosvämés of Våndävana, constantly discuss and chant the glories of the Lord together. We beg that you be pleased by our insignificant attempts to serve you.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, out of the limitless depths of your compassion, you have walked amongst the most wretched and sinful persons, humbly begging them to sing the holy name. It is truly a miracle that you have even charmed persons as low and unfortunate as ourselves into singing God’s name. You are carrying on the work begun by Çré Kåñëa Caitanya and His dear friends, Öhäkura Haridäsa and Çré Nityänanda Prabhu. And they must be extremely pleased with you. If we could only please you with our preaching efforts, as you have pleased them, then we might be able to chant Hare Kåñëa free from offenses. Thank you for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We beg to remain at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Your insignificant servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Parahaàsa däsa gosvämé / Parivräjakäcärya däsa gosvämé</p>
<p class="p11">Baltimore</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Baltimore</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Only after offering our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet many, many times can we describe a few qualities of your transcendental glories.</p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are destroying completely the materialistic view of the mundane scientists with their chemical conception of life and consciousness. As far as we, your servants are concerned, we are no longer under the grip of this nonsense—that life comes from the void or life comes from matter. Under this material conception of life, we have suffered many, many births and deaths. Now, after hearing from you, we have been lifted to the Vaiñëava platform, however unqualified we may be. In fact, your knowledge of the transcendence is so pure and potent, that after a few moments hearing the transcendental message of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is, </i>we are prepared to challenge all of those rascals, who are disguised as learned religionists, scientists, teachers, etc.</p>
<p class="p44">Under your shelter, Lord Caitanya <i>saàkértana </i>movement has been spread all over the world. Soon everyone will know of the holy names. Because the spreading of the holy names is the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, your spreading of the <i>saàkértana </i>movement is unchecked. Your Divine Grace has been empowered by the Supreme Lord to do so. And now we feel alive and happy just to try and follow your instructions, and to distribute the Lord’s holy name and your transcendental books, which can deliver all fallen souls from the clutches of birth and death.</p>
<p class="p44">Every sane man and woman who reads your books will surrender to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Dear servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé, you are the pure devotee of the Lord and the shelter of all conditioned souls. May our service and devotion to your lotus feet increase up to the limits of the endless ocean of your mercy upon us.</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to Çré Çré Guru and Gauräìga! All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Sama däsa / Sammita däsé / Bhakti Mark / Bhaktin Donna</p>
<p class="p11">Berlin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Berlin</b></p>
<p class="p12">At the height of confusion you came—<br>
To deliver the holy name.<br>
We thought God was dead like a stone.<br>
You taught that He is an eternal person.<br>
Proprietor, enjoyer and everyone’s friend,<br>
so you defined God by whom you’ve been sent.<br>
“In the beginning a chunk was floating is space.”<br>
“Humbug!” you say, and laugh in their face.<br>
Some claim “We’ll make man deathless.”<br>
From you we know this is madness.<br>
The lord and master of all I survey,<br>
but who is not anxious on the final day?<br>
From the topmost planet down to the lowest,<br>
birth and death wherever thou goest.<br>
No need to manufacture or speculate—<br>
hearing your words liberates.<br>
I am so happy that you’re taking me home,<br>
I tried to express this in my poem.<br>
Humbly before you I bow<br>
because you are everything I know.</p>
<p class="p49">Çivänanda däsa adhikäré / Alanätha däsa brahmacäré / Purujit däsa brahmacäré / Bhibhiñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Surabhé däsé / Madana Mohana Mohiné däsé / Gopé däsé / Bhakta Hans / Bhakta Hans / Viçvarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Térthäìga däsa adhikäré / Jessart / Ama däsa brahmacäré / Gobhaööa däsa Brahmäcäri</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagwat Dharma Discourse</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagwat Dharma Discourse</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our most sincere prostrate obeisances at your lotus feet. We beg to thank you for bringing us under the jurisdiction of the internal potency of the Lord. On our own account there is nothing significant to say, and even our fallen nature is uninteresting to mention. On your account, your liberated qualities are transcendental and innumerable, and we wish that we had enough strength of heart to describe them properly.</p>
<p class="p44">Those devotees who have some substantial service to back them can sincerely glorify your wonderful transcendental qualities, and they can feel transcendental bliss by discussing your qualities. I personally am aspiring and praying to be engaged in their service, those who have actually surrendered unto you.</p>
<p class="p44">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé / Véëä Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Puru däsa brahmacäré / Bähu Çéra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Tom and Bhakta Alan</p>
<p class="p11">Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Boston</b></p>
<p class="p12">From India’s sacred shore you came<br>
approaching the West fixed in aim<br>
to speak Kåñëa Consciousness all around<br>
by preaching and writing the holy sound.</p>
<p class="p12">Your Divine Grace has executed this mission<br>
so selfless, so relentless without diminution.<br>
You are teaching the fallen what is their real life<br>
devotional service to God, free from anger and strife.</p>
<p class="p12">Your brilliance is like the sun at noon<br>
and your presence alone is an infinite boon.<br>
Such a person Bhagwat is inconceivably rare<br>
and by your grace alone we are able to fare.</p>
<p class="p12">Our pioneer Bhaktivinode has predicted<br>
Europeans and Americans he has depicted,<br>
chanting and dancing together—not imagination<br>
but reality now due to your determination.</p>
<p class="p12">In <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> Lord Kåñëa says<br>
of all devotees, the preacher is the dearest of His.<br>
So that preaching you have done in the most wonderful way<br>
by a flood tide of scripture and pure example each day.</p>
<p class="p12">Your purity of principles no one can top<br>
and your preaching work no one can stop.<br>
You have spread Kåñëa’s glories to each village and town<br>
and no impediment exists that can ever push you down.</p>
<p class="p12">So as your disciples, our duty is clear—<br>
Your message, intact, must be spread far and near.<br>
To this we do pledge with full heart and soul—<br>
The saìkértana yajïa will be our prime goal.</p>
<p class="p44">Your servants at ISKCON Boston</p>
<p class="p11">Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p44"><i>We offer our respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is always situated in transcendence, beyond this temporary material world, and whose wonderous lotus feet offer eternal shelter for the surrendered soul</i>.</p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to you. You are the captain of the ship that can save us from the whirlpool of material duality by sailing us to the eternally fertile shores of Goloka-Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p44">Kindly forgive us. Our lack of sincerity prevents us from offering all respect to you. We know that you are giving us the most priceless gift of eternity free of charge: blissful association with the embodiment of all opulences, Bhagavän Çré Kåñëa, the reservoir of unlimited spiritual mellows. Our minds, which have bathed in stool and urine, are factually being washed clean in the transcendental ocean of devotional service. You are so kindly taking us by the hand, like children awakened to see the first dawn. You are prodding us gently, walking with us, leading us out of the darkness of our feverish mentalities, to show us Kåñëa’s dazzling beauty.</p>
<p class="p44">You have said that a devotee would much rather dance with Kåñëa than merge with Him. Thus you are inviting us to the spiritual sky where all the perfect beings are eternally engaged in their dance of love, free of any tinge of material inebriety. Out of natural attraction, we can no longer resist this invitation. We look around us, marvel at the paltry intelligence of our former cohorts and wonder that only a few months ago we were wallowing in the same ignorance, filthy in body, filthy in mind. And so we come to realize that it has been through your divine association alone that we have gained the intelligence to understand our most obedient real position at Kåñëa’s lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">The spiritual master of the universe,<br>
Whose lotus words are the vibration<br>
Of flawless transcendental knowledge,<br>
Of love for Kåñëa pure.</p>
<p class="p44">He has kindly accepted us as his spiritual sons and daughters.</p>
<p class="p44">Thus, although we are trying to feel some appreciation for what you are doing for us, we feel ashamed at the coldness of our hearts. Although we deserve nothing, still we pray at your lotus feet for the desire to render some small, sincere service on your behalf.</p>
<p class="p44">The Lord addresses his pure devotee, Brahmä, “All of Me, namely My actual eternal form, My transcendental existence, color, qualities, and activities—let all be awakened within you by factual realization.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>2.9.32]</span> Thus Kåñëa benedicts the surrendered soul with His personal association. “…In that joyous state one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses..” And now, as Kåñëa’s representative, full of compassion, you are offering to all the same supreme benediction, transforming this forsaken planet into glorious Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p44">How foolish are the impersonalists and voidists burdened with the disease of mental speculation, denying their spiritual senses and decrying the very existence of God. And what a mission it is to spiritualize this planet which is so ridden with these material infections. We know that this responsibility is ours: to aid you heart and soul in this endeavor, and thus we offer our <i>daëòavats </i>again and again and pray that we may realize the pertinence and seriousness of our lives in your service. The Lord says in <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is, </i>Chapter 10, verse 9, “The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” You alone are glorifying Kåñëa with every breath. You alone are enlightening the whole planet about the appearance and activities of the Lord. You alone are teaching how to sport in the ocean of mercy on waves of transcendental sound.</p>
<p class="p44">Calling Kåñëa’s name, you beckon all…Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma, Räma Räma Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p44">Your unworthy servants at Buffalo ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Guëagrahi däsa adhikäré / Ajitänanda däsa brahmacäré / Chediräja däsa brahmacäré / Kavi däsa adhikäré / Madhuhära däsa brahmacäré / Lalitänanda däsa brahmacäré / Vasudäma däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta David C. Olson / Bhakta Ron Bernstein / Bhakta Larry Bernstein / Bhakta Claude Crocker / Bhakta Tom Miller / Bhakta Kevin Cajstraw / Bhakta Jim / Bhaktin Cathy Crocker / Bhaktin Kandee / Bhaktin Lindsay Scheu / Bhaktin Kåñëa Däsé / Bhaktin Dawn O Mally / Bhaktin Gabriel / Kértikä devé däsé / Pürvacitté däsé / Kåñëa Bhäva däsé / Sétä devé däsé / Bhakti Jotindra</p>
<p class="p11">Calcutta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Calcutta</b></p>
<p class="p44"><i>Our most beloved, Çréla Prabhupäda, we fall to your lotus feet and there begin our prayers of glorification. You are Lord Kåñëa’s most intimate friend, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</i>.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are just like a sun. You rise over the earth planet to give the light of <i>saìkértana, </i>the chanting of the Lord’s Holy Name.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are like the cow who will give milk in any pasture. Anywhere in the world you may go, you are giving the milk of love of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are like the bee who hovers around the lotus flower; you are drinking the nectar of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, but instead of hiding it away like the bee, you let the honey flow without stop from your mouth in the shape of the glories of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the perfect guide; you have taken our hands and are so gently bringing us to the lotus feet of our Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the light of devotion pervading the entire universe. Only in the presence of that light can we see ourselves as eternal, blissful servants of Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the servant of the <i>gopés</i>, the bringer of ecstasy; were each day with you a night of Brahmä, we would only long for more hours to serve you.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are like the touchstone which changes iron into gold; you are transforming our hard iron hearts into molten gold, shining with the love of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are most dear to everyone, and the most merciful being in this world. All glories to you.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the most kind to fallen souls; you’ve lifted us from material bondage and have taught us how to engage in Kåñëa’s service; we will serve you birth after birth without any condition.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are so transcendentally situated on your <i>Vyäsäsana</i>, just waiting patiently for your children to come home, a brilliant jewel, dissipating the dark night of Kali.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are our only shelter; there is no love or happiness except at your lotus feet. Please let us always satisfy your desire, which is solely to please our Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the shelter of all fallen souls. We are hankering after your blessing which will turn our mind, body and soul unto Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the messenger of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have taught us how to worship Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa, the highest pleasure of life. Kindly let us live under the shadow of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the protector of all surrendered souls and the well-wisher of all devotees. May we please remain at your lotus feet forever.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are everything to us; without you there is nothing.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the reservoir of all knowledge, and the most confidential servitor of Çré Gauraìga Mahäprabhu and all His associates, such as the Six Gosvämés headed by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé. You are distributing their message of the nectar of devotional service. Your love for them carries you all over the world, giving this most precious gift.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the love of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, who was thinking always how to spread Kåñëa consciousness. And you have appeared to carry on this great mission.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the only ray of hope for the people in their presently degraded and suffering condition. Due to the contact of this contaminated material atmosphere, we are forgetting Kåñëa, and you have graciously come to remind us.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the life of those sincere souls, who have surrendered; you are the source of our energy, knowledge and love for the Lord, which enables us to serve you with undying faith and determination.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are like a desire tree which fulfills all desires. And you are fulfilling our innermost heart’s desire—namely service at the lotus feet of the Holy Couple, Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the most dear to Çrémati Rädhäräëé and by your mercy She is showering us with Her blessings in the form of entrance into the service of Her Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
You are the undoubtedly the most magnanimous personality, to have accepted such fallen souls as us. We have been waiting in eternity just to take refuge in the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">We are all humbly begging to eternally remain in the cooling shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Mädhavänanda däsa adhikäré / Kausalya devé däsé / Éçän däsa adhikäré / Vibhavaté devé däsé / Rämaëéya däsa brahmacäré / Ekanätha däsa brahmacäré / Gurudeva däsä brahmacäré / Ranchor däsa brahmacäré / Païca-Dravida svämé / Satchidänanda däsa brahmacäré / Näräyaëé devé däsé / Tuìga Bhadra devé däsé / Saradéya devé däsé / Çacématä devé däsé / Sumära devé däsé / Susan prabhu / Sailendra Prabhu / Mr. Chatterjee Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Caracas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Caracas</b></p>
<p class="p44">We offer our respectful obeisances at the feet of our eternal father, our blessed spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">We glorify our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p12">We glorify our spiritual master, the Lord’s most confidential servant,<br>
who gave us the meaning to our lives,<br>
who taught us that we are not God but His eternal servants<br>
who taught us to sacrifice everything for the Lord’s service in love and devotion.<br>
who showed us unfailing faith and dependence in Lord Kåñëa.<br>
who is giving refuge to the unfortunate,<br>
who gives love and mercy to all, of any kind, any color,<br>
who gives without personal motivations the words of the Lord, <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is,<br>
</i>who taught us how to preach, how to take <i>Bhägavata Prasäda, </i>how to dance in the glory of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p44">Only by our spiritual master’s grace are we alive and happy today. So as your disciples, we will carry out your instructions for making the world a happy place by chanting Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. And with love and kindness we will give others the same marvelous opportunity that you have so kindly afforded all of us—to go back home, back to Godhead. Haribol!</p>
<p class="p44">Your eternal servants in Venezuelan Temple</p>
<p class="p49">Argenis Prabhu / Manuel Prabhu / Jesus Prabhu / Nelson Prabhu / Joaquin Prabhu / Rafael Prabhu / Illan Prabhu / Carlos Prabhu / Satyajit Prabhu / Patita-Pävana Prabhu / Silven Prabhu / Anthony Prabhu / Nora Prabhu / Consuelo Prabhu / Elba Prabhu / Marabai Prabhu / Rumini Prabhu / Candraväli Prabhu / Nalinayatasanan Prabhu / Candraçekhara Prabhu / Citsukänanda däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Please allow us, with body, mind and words, to eternally present our humble offering at your lotus feet:</p>
<p class="p63">Freedom of spirit is your gift,<br>
we fallen souls you so mercifully uplift.</p>
<p class="p63">In the midst of <i>Mäyä’s</i> night,<br>
you reveal a world of light,<br>
free from death, old age and fright.</p>
<p class="p63">More valuable than a precious gem,<br>
your mercy from Lord Kåñëa stems.</p>
<p class="p63">You’ve given us life on this planet of death.<br>
For this we owe you every step and breath.</p>
<p class="p63"><i>Jagat-Guru</i>, the representative of Lord Çré Balaräma,<br>
in your service we pray to become strong</p>
<p class="p63">And free from desires on the sensual plane,<br>
by chanting Lord Kåñëa’s holy name.</p>
<p class="p63">A glimpse of a life beyond this world of misery,<br>
is your gift for those who want to see</p>
<p class="p63">A land of bliss, knowledge and eternal life,<br>
a realized alternative to this world of strife.</p>
<p class="p63">Lord Kåñëa is God, and we, His servants eternally.<br>
This Absolute Truth you’ve revealed so mercifully.</p>
<p class="p63">Out debt to you we cannot repay.<br>
Accept our lives, therefore, we humbly pray.</p>
<p class="p44">Your disciples at ISKCON Chicago</p>
<p class="p49">Çré Govinda däsa adhikäré / Lakñmé Näräyaëa däsä adhikäré / Auòulomi däsa adhikäré / Suìdhararüpa däsa adhikäré / Suvrata däsa adhikäré / Bhåçakapi däsa adhikäré / Urukrama däsa brahmacäré / Sändépani Muni däsa adhikäré / Yaçomatinandana däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä-Çyäma däsa brahmacäré / Péyuñkänti däsa brahmacäré / Balajé däsa brahmacäré / Hari Hara däsa brahmacäré / Kailäsacandra däsa brahmacäré / Damayanté devé däsé / Icchämaté devé däsé / Naiñkarmé devé däsé / Kåñëa Kumäré devé däsé / Sarvädé devé däsé / Abhay Charan däsa / Çrélekhä devé däsé / Sudarçana däsa / Bhaktin Kathy prabhu / Bhaktin Pat Prabhu / Bhaktin Lynn Prabhu / Bhaktin Mireya Prabhu / Anya Prabhu / Mr. &amp; Mrs. Shesha Reddy / Mr. &amp; Mrs. Ambarish Pathak / Bhakta David Walwark Prabhu / Bhakta Andy Prabhu / Parasära däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kevin Prabhu / Bhakta Tom Prabhu / Bhakta Paul Prabhu / Bhakta Brian Prabhu / Bhakta Mark Prabhu / Bhakta John Prabhu / Bhaktin Ruth Prabhu / Joshua Sanjya</p>
<p class="p11">Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Godbrothers, Godsisters and friends everywhere,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our humble obeisances at your feet. All Glories to our ever well-wisher and Divine Master, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p44">In the ordinary sense, most of us have never met and we probably never will. We have been dispatched by the order of His Divine Grace to all parts of the world and must now bear each other’s separation. Yet astonishingly enough our International Society for Krishna Consciousness is somehow existing, and in a most extraordinary, transcendental sense, we all know each other so well. So on this happy and thoughtful occasion, we are actually gathered together on the transcendental platform of <i>bhakti</i> just to offer our sincere obeisances at the lotus feet of our all-conquering Gurudeva, Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja—our dear Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">We naturally feel unprepared and unqualified to properly glorify our spiritual master on this holy day of Vyäsa Püjä. We must admit regretfully that we possess neither the erudition nor the realization to rival that of the noble <i>äcäryas, </i>including Çréla Prabhupäda Himself, who have paid homage to their own <i>gurus</i> with such sweet and appropriate words of love and genuine surrender. Therefore we first offer our humble obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, and unto His plenary expansion, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, as well as to His Avatara, Çré Advaita Äcärya, His manifest internal energy, Çré Gadädhara Paëòita and His perfect devotee, Çré Çréväsa. Our prayer is that we may be able to present some suitable homage at the lotus feet of our spiritual master on this blessed day of his appearance.</p>
<p class="p44">As we have it from the unimpeachable teachings of His Divine Grace Öhäkura Bhaktivinode, the order of the spiritual master is inseparable from the very life and soul of the disciple. This is also confirmed in the<i> Çrémad-Bhägavatam: jévaïchavo bhägavatäìghri-reëuà na jätu martyo ‘bhilabheta yas tu </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>2.3.23</i>]</span><i>” </i>A person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of a pure devotee of the Lord upon his head, certainly is a dead body.” For just as a dead body cannot move, so unless one receives the blessings of association with a pure devotee of the Lord, he cannot move along the path to spiritual perfection. And what is that perfection? <i>Etävän eva yajatäm iha niùçreyasodayaù bhagavaty acalo bhävo yad bhägavata-saìgataù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 2.3.11]</span><i>. </i>“All the different kinds of worshippers of multi demigods can attain the highest perfectional benediction, which is spontaneous attraction unflinchingly fixed upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by the association of the pure devotee of the Lord.”</p>
<p class="p44">My dear Prabhus, how shall we measure the extant to which our consciousness has already been transformed by our brief association with His Divine Grace? We are at once reminded of the proverbial frog in the well who, while trying to estimate the vast extent of the ocean in terms of his domestic units, i.e. well-widths, simply burst in frustration. Shall we say that our present range of vision is twice that of our former days? Four times? One hundred times? No! There is clearly no comparing the dark, narrow well of material existence with the unlimited vistas of devotional service which are now opened before us by his causeless mercy. <i>Tulayäma lavenäpi na svargaà näpunar-bhavam bhagavat-saìgi-saìgasya martyänäà kim-utäçiñaù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.18.13]</span><i> </i>“The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” Just see how our lives have changed, my dear friends. Once, we accepted as axiomatic truth that the crowning glory of human life was none other than the base animal propensities enacted liberally and free from the burden of conscience. Indeed, we were then prepared to defend the society of dogs and hogs against all philosophical attacks from more pious, thoughtful men or the different scriptures. Echoing the raucous sentiments of the multi-media <i>“gurus”</i>, we were prepared to stamp out the present corrupt regime, and to replace it with a full-fledged society of mongrels. Such was the nature of our intelligence. Just see how wonderfully we have been reformed. <i>Yat päda saàçrayäù süta munayaù praçamäyanäù sadyaù punanty upaspåñöäù svar-dhunyäpo’ nusevayä</i>, <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.15]</span><i> </i>“O Süta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.”</p>
<p class="p44">Now our position is the most auspicious. For we have been given the chance, without qualifications, to render devotional service unto the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa’s most confidential servant, Çréla Prabhupäda. <i>Suçrüñoù çraddadhänasya väsudeva-kathä-ruciù syän mahatsevayä vipräù puëya tértha-niñevaëät. </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</span><i> “</i>O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains the affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.” <i>Nañöa-präyeñv adhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä bhägvaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.2.18]</span><i> “</i>By regularly hearing the <i>Bhägavatam </i>(ie. the messages of Väsudeva”) and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs is established as an irrevocable fact. “ In this way our lives will know perfection. <i>Dhautätmä puruñaù kåñëa päda-mülaà na muïcati mukta-sarva-parikleçaù pänthaù sva-çaraëaà yathä. </i><span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg.</i> 2.8.6)</span><i>”</i>A pure devotee of the Lord, whose heart is once cleansed by the process of devotional service, never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa because they fully satisfy him, as the traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey.”</p>
<p class="p44">So on this Vyäsa Püjä day let us reaffirm before the lotus feet of our spiritual master our full commitment to his divine mission without reluctance or petty in-fighting. And what is the nature of that mission? Simply this: to flood the world with the sweet nectar of Kåñëa-premä the highest and purest love of Godhead now available to all within the ever-fresh pages of <i>Çré Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> and within the most holy <i>mahä-mantra, </i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare /Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. By the uncompromising order of his own Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, our worshipable master has dedicated his precious life to this wonderful cause.</p>
<p class="p44">It is Çréla Prabhupäda alone who is enthusing the whole world for chanting the holy name of Kåñëa. It is Çréla Prabhupäda alone who has dared to denounce the venomous propounders of impersonal and atheistic philosophies, now posing as respectable clergymen, educators and scientists, and force them to stand exposed at last before the astonished eyes of the world as the real arch-enemies of progressive human civilization. It is he alone who has accepted for himself untold trouble and very real pain just to purify us and free us from all evil affinities and the reactions to our black-heart deeds. And all the while he heaps the glory upon us, saying: “I consider you all as the representatives of my Guru Mahäräja, now playing as my affectionate disciples.” It is he alone, our dear Çréla Prabhupäda, who has filled up our near-deaf ear holes with the most relishable sweet nectar of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>and<i> Caitanya-caritämåta</i>, and who has single-handedly given us the means to place these transcendental literatures into the unsuspecting hands of housewives, truck drivers, hippies, students, merchants, service men, scientists, and even tribesmen all over this most fortunate planet. It is Çréla Prabhupäda alone who possess the insight to see that the great glorious days of Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana</i> are now almost upon us and has ordered us off to Mäyäpura to learn the art of making thousands of <i>mådaìga </i>drums—enough for every single town and village. It is our dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda who has given us bead-bags filled with <i>Tulasé</i> beads, i.e. the means to remember the lotus-eyed Lord twenty four hours a day. It is Çréla Prabhupäda alone who is our very life and soul, upon whom our thoughts dwell, our eyes and ears are focused and our only hope rests. My dear masters, let us bow down our heads in the dust at his lotus feet. All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p44">Your humble servants at Cleveland ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Baöu Gopälä däsa / Prabhänu däsa / Mänasacandra däsa / Dan Cunningham / Pyaricharan däsa / Akhilänanda däsa / Premärëava däsa / Fernando Macaspac / Séta Räma däsa / Madhuvrata däsa / Rasikänanda däsa / Harvey Mechanic / Sukhasägaré däsi / Guëamayé devé däsé / Gauräìga däsé / George Vutetakis</p>
<p class="p11">Denver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denver</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">The Absolute Truth is one. Amongst the tanks of intelligent society—philosophers, religionists , and transcendentalists—this is a universally accepted principle. And although seen from many angles of vision and understood in many degrees of completeness, there can be only one complete, of which everything in existence is but a part and parcel. All degrees of incompleteness are experienced due to a poor fund of knowledge from the inaccessibility of Absolute understanding to our limited material understanding.</p>
<p class="p44">So, as the Absolute is one, the real religion, the eternal service of the eternal Absolute Personality of Godhead cannot be a sectarian faith or relative understanding. There is one Supreme source of all emanations and all phenomenal and numinous existences are eternally related in an unbreakable tie of service to that Fountainhead of being.</p>
<p class="p44">In many places and in different times and circumstances, by the will of the Supreme Lord, the absolute world becomes manifest on this mundane plane. The absolute world, the abode of the Supreme Lord of all expansions, is a world where everything has the same purpose. The sky, trees, animals, inhabitants and the very land itself are all of the same eternal nature, and all are nondifferentially engaged in the service of the Lord. This transcendental truth appears differently to our limited designative understanding and is thus seen in many styles and creeds of sectarian conception. Nevertheless every living being, as part of the same complete whole, has the same natural function to fulfill. In relation with the Absolute all varieties of emanations are subordinate and therefore servants.</p>
<p class="p44">We have understood, then, that the original teacher or spiritual master is one. He is the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the primal source and master of everything, who but He can know of the real constitution of His energy? Therefore He is the original and the only teacher. When the Lord comes or sends His representative in the form of His son or servant, His message remains the same. But the path of service, by which one might approach Him, has been forgotten. Thus since time immemorial we have been lost within the maze of this material nature in different species as men, animals, demigods, plants, etc. Simply by hearing the messages coming down from the Absolute through the proper channels, this ignorance can be removed and our dormant service attitude can be completely revived.</p>
<p class="p44">In the beginning of creation, as the Lord released all living entities unto the supervision of this material nature, He also made provision so that they might return again to the spiritual world. It is explained in the revealed scriptures that He entrusted this knowledge to the first living being, Lord Brahmä, with the command that he distribute it to his descendents, the inhabitants of the material nature.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>evaà paramparä-präptam<br>
imaà räjañayo-viduù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 4.2</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Thus from one to another, from the beginning of creation, this supreme wisdom has been passed down from the saintly kings, sages, and teachers of the past into the modern age. Therefore, whoever has heard from the Absolute through this disciplic chain, and has molded his life to exemplify this knowledge, is the real <i>guru</i>, the representative of Kåñëa. And from him we must hear.</p>
<p class="p44">We can distinguish a self-realized Kåñëa consciousness man by the symptoms which he exhibits. In this way, we can be sure that we are hearing from the proper source. Kåñëa says in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä: “satataà kértayanto mäm…”</i> “they are always engaged in chanting My glories….”</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore, just as a man who is sexually inclined speaks and acts always in relation with sex-life, so a man fixed in the Absolute Truth acts only for the Absolute. In everything that he does—his thinking, eating, speaking and in every movement—he is glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a man, 100% absorbed in Kåñëa Consciousness, is the real spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">On this auspicious day, seventy-eight years ago, such a rare soul appeared. This is the occasion upon which we are presenting this meager offering in a humble attempt to thank him for the message which he has preserved intact, teaching us by his example how to practically apply it. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the modern representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, living now within our midst. He comes in a chain of spiritual masters and saints extending back to the first living being, Lord Brahmä. In every action he performs he fully exhibits the symptoms of a man fixed in perfect knowledge. He speaks of nothing but the absolute, His body is 100% engaged in the service of the Absolute and he lives untinged by the relative world in which he appears. It is said that by a moment’s association with such a person one can achieve the perfection for which we have searched thousands of lifetimes to find. We offer our most humble obeisances unto him.</p>
<p class="p44">ISKCON Denver</p>
<p class="p49">Kuruçreñöha däsa brahmacäré / Änanda vardhana däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä Dämodara däsa brahmacäré / Cärucandra däsa adhikäré / Präëaballava däsa adhikäré / Mäkhana Taskara däsa brahmacäré / Mahä-Çakti däsä brahmacäré / Dvéjiti Püjäka däsa brahmacäré / Dattätreya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Brad / Bhakta Mike / Madhüryalélänada devé däsé / Anurädhä devé däsé / Nanditä Gokula devé däsé / Sudarçaëé devé däsé / Räma Tulasé devé däsé / Bhaktin Mary / Bhaktin Judy</p>
<p class="p11">Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>To One Who is Great</b></p>
<p class="p12">To whom does one pay homage?<br>
To one who is great?<br>
Yes…<br>
But, who is great?<br>
And how is he great?</p>
<p class="p12">Some men are considered great<br>
Because they’ve done wonderful things<br>
For their country and fellow men,<br>
Like penicillin,<br>
And abolition.</p>
<p class="p12">But what good is curing one disease<br>
Or freeing some people from slavery,<br>
When most of the others<br>
Are all sick,<br>
Or still slaves?</p>
<p class="p12">If only someone could cure them all.<br>
Or free them all.<br>
But who?<br>
And how?</p>
<p class="p12">Does such a person exist<br>
With the potency and skill<br>
To cure everyone?<br>
And free everyone?</p>
<p class="p12">One who can cut the ropes<br>
Of material bondage,<br>
Who can cure our hearts<br>
Of their sinful desires?</p>
<p class="p12">To be sure, there is one.<br>
But how is he called?<br>
What is his name?<br>
And how is he known?</p>
<p class="p12">He is called <i>äcärya,<br>
Guru<br>
</i>Pure devotee,<br>
Saint.</p>
<p class="p12">He is known by his message<br>
Of love of God,<br>
And by the knowledge presented<br>
Without contamination.</p>
<p class="p12">He is known by his mercy;<br>
By distributing freely<br>
Both the way and means<br>
To get back to Home.</p>
<p class="p12">He is known by his actions.<br>
Every move is perfection.<br>
He teaches by example<br>
And he gives us direction.</p>
<p class="p12">To his disciples, he is Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Most intimate devotee<br>
Of the Supreme Person,<br>
Kåñëa,<br>
His friend.</p>
<p class="p12">A bona-fide teacher<br>
In an unbroken chain<br>
Of teachers and students—<br>
The <i>paramparä.</i></p>
<p class="p12">The potency of Kåñëa<br>
In his every word,<br>
He can cure us and free us<br>
If only he is heard.</p>
<p class="p12">He’s the greatest of great men<br>
Because his motivations are selfless—<br>
To deliver the fallen souls;<br>
Without him we are helpless.</p>
<p class="p12">So if paying a tribute<br>
Is what we desire,<br>
We should pay it to one<br>
Who is truly inspired.</p>
<p class="p12">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
The most humble of men,<br>
To you we pay homage,<br>
Again and again.</p>
<p class="p12">The purest of devotees;<br>
Incarnation of Mercy<br>
So great and so rare<br>
No one can compare;</p>
<p class="p12">To you we pay homage<br>
And offer humble respects,<br>
For you can cure every man<br>
And help get us back,</p>
<p class="p12">To home,<br>
To Godhead.<br>
</p>
<p class="p44"><b>brahmacärés;</b></p>
<p class="p49">Badarénäräyaëa däsa / Indravarta däsa / Yamunataöacara däsa / Draviëäkña däsa / Carüpa däsa / Ekeçvara däsa / Jagadéçvara däsa / Randy prabhu / Pat prabhu / David prabhu / Steve prabhu / Bob prabhu / Chuck prabhu / James prabhu / Karl prabhu / Tony prabhu / Michael prabhu / Kamal / Manu / Rajendra / Dharam</p>
<p class="p44"><b>brahmacärénés:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Viläsiné däsé / Lalitä çakhé däsé / Kåñëa Mayé däsé / Dakñayäné däsé / Marsha prabhu</p>
<p class="p44"><b>Grhasthas:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Govardhana and Sétäräëé / Narottamänanda and Sétäla / Gopälabhaööa and Krodhaçäminé / Doñavarjita and Taijasätmikä / Richard and Angie / Bod and Mary / Tony and Sylvia / Chris Raftis</p>
<p class="p44"><b>Children:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Gwen / Tony / Anthony / Jennifer / Katherine / Nick / Roger</p>
<p class="p11">Durban</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Durban</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kälyäëa-guëärëavasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy, just as a cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who has taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p44">Of all the qualities of the spiritual master, “mercy” is the most extraordinary. We learn from the <i>Upaniñads, “Oà pürëam adaù pürëam idam…”</i> that everything is perfect and complete because it has emanated from Kåñëa, who is perfect and complete. Therefore, despite the fact that our presence in the material world is ordained by divine will, the spiritual master is beyond the coverings of the material universe. This is the “causeless mercy “ of Kåñëa’s pure devotee, who sees the ultimate frustration and futility of material existence for all living entities.</p>
<p class="p44">Once while in Paris, an illiterate vagrant came to our Temple. The devotees offered him <i>prasädam </i>and a bath. Later, he said that he would like to return. We informed him that we had <i>ärätéka </i>at 4.30 each morning and that we welcome anyone to take part in our activities. He was there at ä<i>rätéka </i>the next morning and also asked to chant <i>japa </i>with us. He could not even read, as was apparent when I showed him a sheet of paper on which the <i>mantra</i> was written. But, nonetheless, he was able to chant the holy name and thereby derive the greatest benefit possible in this human form of life. Even the greatest material scientists of today, who are glorified by the general mass of people and who are generally too proud to chant the Lord’s holy name, in millions of years of experimenting could not derive the benefit that this illiterate man derived in one utterance of Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">I simply hope that I shall always remember such instances of my spiritual master’s mercy upon even the most fallen creatures. In such a way, I hope I shall never lessen the importance of my Gurudeva’s mission. By taking full refuge at the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, we find the mercy of Lord Caitanyadeva Himself.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, please bless me that I may be attracted to bathe in your mercy, even if only for a short time. I beg to remain with full-heart your mental servant, and the servant of your servants, eternally,</p>
<p class="p44">ISKCON South Africa</p>
<p class="p49">Puñöa Kåñëa Svämé / Janakaräj däsa brahmacäré / Kñudhi däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Edinburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Edinburgh</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>The Messenger</b></p>
<p class="p12">Behold a messenger of Godhead comes—<i>HE HAS COME, HE HAS COME!!<br>
</i>The most cherished prize of life this messenger has won<br>
And he’s giving it out freely for all those who are sincere.<br>
He does not ask you for blind following, he requests you lend an ear,<br>
And he’ll fill you up with nectar and he’ll tell you of the love<br>
That is pouring, falling freely from that vast abode above,<br>
Where truth is never challenged and all souls accept the fate,<br>
Eternal service unto Godhead, golden key to opened gate…<br>
Beyond Viroja’s river span in the Mahat-tattva cloud,<br>
Devotees run and play with He of all good qualities endowed.<br>
They are happy in that land of bliss having never left His side,<br>
What do they know of the wretched place where you and I abide?<br>
….the pit, the sewage trench where each soul rots in death,<br>
Awaiting <i>Mäyä’s</i> morbid messages, succumbing to her baited breath.<br>
Of all <i>jévas, </i>one quarter dwell from Krishna torn apart,<br>
Fools embracing heartaches cannot know the heart of all hearts.<br>
Thus Krishna sent our Prabhupäda to come and save us all,<br>
Like frogs who listen for the thunder, we should listen for his call.<br>
As the frogs begin to croak when agitated by the clash,<br>
We should agitated complacent tongues to chant, and to his feet should dash!<br>
“Chant Hare Kåñëa and be happy” is the sublime request he makes,<br>
Of highest bliss this <i>paramhaàsa</i> or swan-like soul, partakes.<br>
This–the same eternal teaching Närada gave Dhruva and Prahläda,<br>
Is now presented as it is for those who yearn for love of God.<br>
“Chant Hare Kåñëa and be happy,” such a small request,<br>
Yet just a meager handful come forward to pass the master’s test.<br>
Oh, fickle, cruel world, why hast thou waited for to hear?<br>
Are there only a small number of you who are at all sincere?<br>
The same words of truth our master gives were also given long ago,<br>
There is no flashy innovation, no gaudy spectacle or show.<br>
The same message, the same words printed ’pon a million leafs…<br>
Distributed into your hands, but is it that you lack belief?<br>
….that a soul as great as he could have descended from afar,<br>
Can you not accept it that the moon outshines the brightest star?<br>
Or have we, as his disciples, failed to present it as it is?<br>
Oh, world, is this the excuse you use to continue with the way you live?<br>
Forget the pock marks that can’t mar the beauty of the brightest moon.<br>
World! Can’t you see you’d better listen and change your habits soon?<br>
Despite your pittances of piety, Death has his noose about your neck;<br>
But chant the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> and generations you’ll protect!<br>
Chant this Hare Kåñëa and realize an honest Vaiñëava’s life,<br>
Of devotion, joy, fulfillment and freedom from all sorts of strife.<br>
Chant and see the valued lesson in realizing “<i>I’M</i> the fool.”<br>
Hear the message of the Bhagwat, Vyäsadeva’s effulgent jewel.<br>
…And the brightness of its luster more and more will shine within<br>
As the hearing of its nectar releases one from an eternity of sin.<br>
May His Grace be with us that this message will be heard in every<br>
Scottish town,<br>
And that all souls in the Scottish lands will come forth to spread<br>
the holy name around!</p>
<p class="p44">This pray most humbly,<br>
The devotees of YOUR gigantic ISKCON Edinburgh, Scotland</p>
<p class="p49">Patita Uddhäraëa däsa / Sambanätha däsa / Sanätana däsa / Anakdundibhi däsa / Premrüpa däsa / Caraëärvinda däsa / Sananda Kumara däsa / Acintyarüpa däsa / Sarvamaìgala däsé / Våndävanabihariëé däsé / Guëaräj däsé / Dayämayi däsé / Allison Bryce / Terry Mcdonald / Fiona Tait / Ruth Sweetman / Doñavarjita däsa / David Hoey Prabhu / DukRäma däsa / Denise Prabhu / Helen and Leslie Nurse Prabhus / Willy and Jenny Prabhus / Keith Young Prabhu / Dr. Nanda Kishor Agarwala Prabhu / Thon and Maggie Prabhus / Yannick Kukulka / Gordon Campbell / Ruth Holbrook / Joyce Reynolds</p>
<p class="p11">Glasgow</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Glasgow</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p18">KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA HE!!<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">As Lord Kåñëa has stated in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>pitäham asyo jagato<br>
mätä dhätä pitämahaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 9.17</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“I am the father of the universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire.”</p>
<p class="p44">After having been stationed here in Glasgow for about one month, we are having up to 40 guests each evening. The curious thing is that most of these guest are under 10 years of age. As the pure servant of the father of all living beings, you are displaying all His fatherly qualities perfectly. Otherwise, why would all of these wonderful souls come hankering at the door night after night just to hear about your activities around the globe—and also to hear about the ever-refreshing marvels of the beautiful flute-player, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">With new-found love and affection in their eyes, they queue up with bottles of milk, fruit and coins to put on the humble makeshift altar of our apartment. Unloved, dirty and innocent, they have all unanimously declared you as their spiritual father, without doubting your promise of Kåñëa for a moment.</p>
<p class="p44">By the mercy of the Lord, and by your personal benediction, perhaps I shall one day become as pure and innocent as these young souls.</p>
<p class="p44">Let us always be thinking of how to increase our work for you, dear Çréla Prabhupäda—on and on and on–never stopping or slowing down.</p>
<p class="p44">We beg to remain the most useless servants at your lotus feet:</p>
<p class="p49">Kiçora däsa / Suraräma däsa / Dhéraçanta däsa / Young devotees and angels / Margaret Douglas / Eleanor Brewer / Mo Lockhead / Joye McPherson / Jouce Pairns / Anne / Linda / Margaret / Jeanette / Yvonne / Robert / John / George / Albert / Owen / Frank / Frank / Jim / Alex / Margaret / Lalhemne / Elizabeth / Susanne / Elizabeth / Jessie / Elizabeth / Isobelle / Ann Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p34">“Children at the age of five are sent to the <i>gurukula, </i>or the place of the spiritual master, and the master trains young boys in the strict discipline of becoming <i>brahmacärés. </i>Without such practice, no one can make advancement in any <i>yoga,</i> whether it be <i>dhyäna, jïäna </i>or <i>bhakti.” (Bhagavad-gétä</i> purport, Chapter 6, verses 13-14).</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to the divine lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, our divine loving father, who has so mercifully benedicted us with the awe-inspiring gift of training these great souls according to his divine instructions. We are always feeling foolishly inadequate to perform such an auspicious service. Devotional service at Gurukula is an ocean of purification.</p>
<p class="p44">These children are the immense potential of the future. All day long they are vibrating <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam çlokas, </i>chanting Hare Kåñëa, dancing, eating <i>prasädam</i>, learning Deity worship, cleaning—being trained up in the <i>yuga dharma: bhakti yoga.</i></p>
<p class="p34">“Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly even before he begins teaching. One who teaches that way is called <i>äcärya,</i> or the ideal teacher…. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures… The king or the executive head of a state, the father and the school teacher are all considered to be natural leaders of the innocent people in general. All such natural leaders have a great responsibility to their dependents; therefore they must be conversant with standard books of moral and spiritual codes.”</p>
<p class="p44"><i>Saìkértana</i> is constant here; at every moment we are evidencing by our actions the example the children will follow. Mercifully, we have the example of Your Divine Grace towards which to direct them. Constantly they mirror our weakness and pettiness of character, forcing us to strive harder to achieve a better example, forcing us to become convinced, forcing us to become Kåñëa conscious. Mutually we are all growing together. Surely their growth will outstrip our own. To serve the lotus feet of these devotees, whose preaching will revolutionize the consciousness of the planet, is unknown, immeasurable pleasure to anyone save yourself and the devotees who are relishing its nectarine taste. It’s like a great and thrilling secret: here in Dallas, Texas are the future saviors of the planet by Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p44">To play even a small part in their flowering fills the devotional heart with satisfaction and gratitude. There is no way we can ever properly express our eternal indebtedness to Your Divine Grace for this <i>tapasya,</i> which is giving us such pleasure. Here are the student offerings:<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà namo bhagavate väsudeväya<br>
janmädy asya yato ‘nvayäd itarataç cärtheñv abhijïaù sva-räö tene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye muhyanti yat sürayaù tejo-väri-mådäà yathä vinimayo yatra tri-sargo-måñä dhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaà satyaà paraà dhémahi.</i></p>
<p class="p44">Please accept my fallen obeisances. You are so merciful you have taken us up from this dark well of material existence. I am lower than a straw in the street. You are giving us this knowledge. I am so fallen—please forgive me. You are so dear to Lord Kåñëa. You have blinded us to this material world and have given us the real knowledge. You are taking the dust from our hearts. You are so merciful to everybody.</p>
<p class="p44">Your servant,<br>
Dvärakädéça däsa<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Thank you for coming to Gurukula. If you did not come we would not be good devotees. You, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Çréla Prabhupäda, have come to this bad place. The only thing you are trying to do is follow your spiritual master. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who is so dear to Kåñëa. If we just follow Prabhupäda then we can become like him.</p>
<p class="p44">Prabhupäda’s servant,<br>
Bhaktin Christina<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">Thank you for coming and delivering me from the outside. Actually you were playing with Kåñëa but because you had some compassion towards us conditioned souls you came to teach us about Kåñëa. You are the most merciful. I am the most fallen. I am nothing but a dog. But you Çréla Prabhupäda are everything. You are so merciful that you have sent me to <i>Gurukula.</i></p>
<p class="p44">Your fallen servant,<br>
Bhaktin Lisa<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who is trying to get us back home, back to Godhead. I am so fallen. I am praying for you to pick me up out of the ocean of ignorance and darkness. I am so low that I am lower than the lowest animal on the lowest planet, but I am really lower. I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master a trillion times. You are doing your best to fulfill the desire of your spiritual master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja. I offer my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Your servant,<br>
Bhakta Shawn</p>
<p class="p11">Hamburg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hamburg</b></p>
<p class="p44"><i>Our most beloved spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p44">Lord Caitanya recommends hearing as the most important means of self-realization in this dark age of Kali. If we eagerly try to hear the transcendental words flowing from your lotus lips then one day we will become freed from all material hunger, thirst, fear and lamentation and be able to leave behind the dark dense forest of illusion on this material world.</p>
<p class="p44">This is your promise to us, the most fallen souls. You are an endless ocean of mercy and one who dives into it will find no end. That ocean can swallow all misgivings and purify everyone by its waves.</p>
<p class="p44">Please let us help you to carry these waves of your supreme message to the last dry spot, even if all we can say is “My dear sir, you are so nice, so intelligent, so rich, so learned, but please forget it all for a moment and chant Hare Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p44">The basic principle for spiritual advancement is that one has to accept a spiritual master. This you showed us by your own example. You are obeying the orders of your Guru Mahäräja perfectly. You are setting the highest example of what devotional service means. You are always giving us freely what no one else is able to give but you are never tired. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> you stated: “ Spirit is never old and therefore on the spiritual plane, service is never tiresome.”</p>
<p class="p44">On the Absolute platform of rendering service to Kåñëa, devoting the senses to engagement in the work of Kåñëa, and spreading Kåñëa’s message, one can transcend all designations like nationality, birth, race, etc. How can we ever conceive how much you are giving? You said on the spiritual platform there is only giving, but we have nothing to give you in return. We can only hope, that by your grace we will develop a little drop of serving mood.</p>
<p class="p44">You are like a cloud, that showers water everywhere. Somehow we have also been showered by your mercy, even though we are lower than dogs. By your great mercy you have made it possible for such fallen souls of this Kali-yuga to go back home, and the only qualification necessary for this is that we take shelter at your lotus feet. Your lotus feet do not touch the swamp of this material world and that is why anyone who lifts himself out of the swamp, taking shelter at your lotus feet, will be freed from all miseries. It is said that by the mercy of the spiritual master we receive the blessings of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, advancement is impossible. Thus since we have no intelligence or desire to serve Kåñëa, we can only seek shelter at your lotus feet. But even of this we are not capable because we are servants of our senses and have therefore lost all intelligence. But by the association of a pure devotee like you, Çréla Prabhupäda, even the most perverted of men can develop love of Kåñëa. That is why it is our honest desire that grant us shelter at your holy lotus feet, O Çréla Prabhupäda. We are only dirty beggars but you are so kind to engage us in holy activities. Please do not thrust us from you. Please forgive offenses that we commit again and again. You are our only rescue. Repeatedly we offer our worthless obeisances unto you. When will you bestow upon us your blessings so that we can understand your purity and become serious to serve you, O Çréla Prabhupäda?</p>
<p class="p44">May Kåñëa be so merciful to us and help us to finally surrender unto your lotus feet and appreciate your appearance in this material universe more and more.</p>
<p class="p44">Your most fallen servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Niàhilänanda däsa brahmacäré / Uthal däsa brahmacäré / Harinamananda däsa brahmacäré / Añöarätha däsa brahmacäré / Ätmavidyä däsa brahmacäré / Uktala däsa brahmacäré / Bhärata däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Etndreaz / Jaya Gaura däsa brahmacäré / Räj däsa brahmacäré / Gaura Kiçora däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Oietmar</p>
<p class="p11">Heidelburg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Heidelburg</b></p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa says in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The living entity in this material world carries his different conceptions of life as the air carries aromas.” [<i>Bg.</i> 15.8] </p>
<p class="p44">By your mercy, we learned that we are traveling from universe to universe, from planet to planet, accepting different types of bodies according to our desires for sense pleasures. We were born, grew old, became diseased and had to die again and again, millions and millions of times—who can estimate the number? Not only that, but the human form of life is very rare. Who knows how often we have missed the point—to give up the attempt to enjoy material nature independently and surrender unto a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord?</p>
<p class="p44">One day we were waking in a particular universe, on a particular planet, in a particular town, on a particular street, hearing the wonderful unknown sound vibrations of young people in saffron robes chanting Hare Kåñëa. They were your disciples, distributing the message of Lord Caitanya to Jagäi and Mädhäi. The living entity is an eternal servant of Kåñëa and by forgetting this eternal relationship has become crazy and is transmigrating under different conceptions of life from body to body, simply following the fruitless restlessness of his mind. But by chanting the holy name of Kåñëa and engaging under the guidance of the spiritual master, the living entity can change his conception of life, giving up love for matter and developing love for Kåñëa. In this way he can go back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupada, we are forever indebted to you. We can’t find the right words to express our gratitude, thinking that every word we may say is just false whether it sounds humble or not.</p>
<p class="p44">So we shall just go on following your instructions—chanting Hare Kåñëa, going on <i>saìkértana </i>in the streets, distributing your literature and trying to please you, despite our incapacity.</p>
<p class="p49">Påthu däsa brahmacäré / Veda-Vyäsa däsa brahmacäré / Çacénandanadäs brahmacäré / Havirdhana däsa brahmacäré / Räma Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Premcand däsa brahmacäré / Mahäräti däsa brahmacäré / Térhtada däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Erich / Bhakta Norbert / Bhakta George / Renukä devé däsé / Håmaté devé däsé / Santématé devé däsé / Kämäkñé devé däsé / Bhaktin Marlies / Bhaktin Ruth</p>
<p class="p11">Hong Kong</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hong Kong</b></p>
<p class="p44">ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</p>
<p class="p61">We offer our respectful obeisances unto our Prabhupäda, the perfect servant of Saraswäti Gosvämé and flower of the Madhva-Gauòéya Sampradäya. Prabhupäda had replaced the proud meanderings of our contaminated minds with the accurate Vedic version. He has purified our bodies with the ambrosial oil of God-centered living and had provoked our unwilling knees to gladly bow to the Supremely Wonderful Person. If we can always remember you, Prabhupäda, we will never know fear. If we can always hear your voice we will always be serious. If we can just engage our bodies following your instructions we will always act correctly. If we can continuously pray for your protection we will always be safe. We beg you for the love to be your servants.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhurijana däsa / Jagattarini däsé / Saïjaya däsa / Victor Ling / Sherub Yew / Patricia Yew / Eddy Chan / Lee Ming Kwong / Larry Mak / Raymond / Mr. Wong / Jante Chow / Teresa Chow / Richard Bellord / Maggie Chueng / Dr. Muckerjee / Sunil Khemaney / Kaminee Khamaney / Suby Khan / Lal Hemrajani / Ram Hemrajani / Charles Tang Wang Chung</p>
<p class="p44">And all the children whom by the mercy of your pure love have learned to sing Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare / Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p11">Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p44">In the human form of life, our consciousness provides a unique opportunity. Unlike our conscious and semi-conscious brethren, the fishes, reptiles, birds, beasts and plants, we possess the aptitude for examining the involvement of our consciousness with that which is not compatible with the self.</p>
<p class="p44">Philosophy and religion as well as the sciences and arts, while not embraced by all men, are the exclusive pursuits of consciousness enveloped in the human form. He who embraces the opportunity to scrutinize his position exhibits a rare vivacity. His concern is aimed at truth. If he is serious, he is given guidance towards the attainment of his goal by the direct mercy of the Supreme Truth Himself, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is confirmed in the <i>Çré Içopaniñad</i> as the proprietor and controller of all that be, animate and inanimate. In the <i>Brahma-saàhitä </i>Kåñëa is glorified as the cause of all causes. It is Kåñëa’s potency alone which can deliver the conditioned living entity from the suffering generated by his involvement in material existence.</p>
<p class="p44">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>Kåñëa is therefore called Mukunda, the giver of liberation. And it is by His kind direction, not by the puny efforts of our quibbling, measuring and judging, that we achieve a view of the Absolute Truth and gradually learn to abide in concert with Him. The conditioned living entity has imperfect senses and his mind is prone to mistakes and cheating. So he will not find it possible to extricate himself from his suffering by means of such fallible equipment. Even though they are confronted by disease, old age, birth and death, many will go so far as to deny that they are suffering.</p>
<p class="p44">The limitations of material involvement can be overcome only by accepting the help of Kåñëa’s special agent of mercy, the spiritual master, who appears in the line of disciplic succession authorized in the revealed scriptures. Such a spiritual master should be offered the rapt attention of all sincere aspirants to blissful, eternal and fully conscious spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p44">Taking shelter of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, we, the foolish materially encumbered spiritual parts and parcels of the Supreme All-Love, Çré Kåñëacandra, can be free to take up the primary constitutional function of all His parts who may be either in or beyond the limits of time and space—to serve Kåñëa favorably with no reservations.</p>
<p class="p44">Pride and envy have plunged us into the depths of the painful, illusory struggle for material happiness. Pride bars us from admitting the possibility of one who is above our scrutiny and judgment, and envy prods us to viciously plot the ruin of anyone better than ourself. These two enemies must be exorcised and no other weapon is fit for the task save the fine-edged scalpel of transcendental knowledge in the expert, benevolent hands of the <i>‘sädhu’</i> or spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">May all good men embrace the purifying influence of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who has appeared in the disciplic succession from Çré Kåñëa, Lord Brahmä, and Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çréla Prabhupäda is offering to deliver to whoever is sincerely thirsty the nectar of the conscious relationship between the parts of Godhead and Godhead himself, Kåñëa. To effect this deliverance we are encouraged to take up the Hare Näma <i>saìkértana, </i>the congregational chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>, and to adhere to the guidance of the authorized message of the past great teachers of the disciplic line from Lord Brahmä. By association with topics of Godhead love for Kåñëa blossoms in the heart. Let all good men take up association with him whose only business is to glorify Godhead in all his words and deeds.</p>
<p class="p44">Now and again, in the midst of devotees taken to the chant of Hari, there appears one who is never covered by <i>mäyä (</i>illusion). He is to be called Çréla Prabhupäda or one to whom even great men naturally surrender. May we take shelter of the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swämi Prabhupäda 108.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda for your kindness. May you be pleased to accept whatever service that, by your mercy, we can perform. May you be pleased to bless us with unadulterated love for Kåñëa as we are weary and must seek your protection.</p>
<p class="p44">Çaçiçekhara däsa brahmacäré<br>
For ISKCON Hawaii</p>
<p class="p49">Gaurasundara däsa adhikäré / Govinda däsé / Çaçiçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Taruëa Känti däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä Govinda däsa brahmacäré / Baläkhilya däsa brahmacäré / Phenapa däsa brahmacäré / Prahlädahläda däsa / brahmacäré / Suparëa däsa brahmacäré / Jévana Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Gaura Govinda däsa brahmacäré / Kanva däsa brahmacäré / Änanda däsa brahmacäré / Russell Noles / Today Darby / Tom Kasecky / Ron DeFeo / Tom Bleak / Mark Rickerson / Peter Lacroix / Reggie McGovern / Gary Bronner / Jayaçré däsé / Suki däsé / Jaquetta Buell / Debbie Figueroa / Beatrice Matusow / Kya Pond / Louise Donahue / Helen / Saruché däsé / Cecil / Tom McCarthy / Cole McFarland / John Carr / Steve Wolff / Bob Fulton / Brian Miller / Ralph Mastriani / Paul Gizzon / Chris Gallacgac / Mike Durkin / Micheal Rothstein / John Bishop / Mr. Peter Burwash / Capt. Charles Brooks / Brahmanya Tértha däsa adhikäré / Labuìga Maïjari däsé / Çyämsundara / Bhaktalladin / Bill Penoroza / Barbara Penaroza / Bhakti däsa / Greg Johnson / Kathy Johnson / Gaurasundara däsa / Bakreçvara däsa adhikäré / Kalavati däsé / Murli däsé / Skip Harmon / Lee Harmon / Govinda däsé / Wayne Nishiki / Celine Nishiki / Kai Kai / Jim Titcomb / Terry Titcomb</p>
<p class="p11">Houston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Houston</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">It is only by the boundless and causeless mercy of Your Divine Grace that we conditioned souls are, at long last, turning heads, eyes and ears away from the fantasy world of bodily consciousness and selfish desires. Whereas we have been standing in darkness through countless births, you are rushing forward to bring us the light of transcendental knowledge. With this light you are dissipating from our hearts the cloud of illusion, born of a desire to believe the concoctions of so-called friends, relatives, scientists, and scholars. Now, armed with the weapon of <i>bhakti-yoga </i>which you have so kindly offered, we are able to see through the illusory vision of the material mind and approach the Supreme Absolute Truth, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">We at Houston Yäträ offer our repeated obeisances unto the glorious lotus feet of Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. You are teaching us the essence of the <i>Vedas</i> in the line of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Indeed, Lord Caitanya Himself delivered this <i>saìkértana yajïa</i> to the conditioned souls of Kali-yuga that they might have the opportunity to revive their dormant Kåñëa consciousness and thereby return to their rightful position at the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa. As prescribed by Lord Caitanya Himself, the most beneficial purifying sacrifice to be performed by the conditioned soul in this age is the congregational chanting of the <i>mahämantra:</i> Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. Lord Caitanya prayed to Çré Kåñëa: ”Your holy name alone can render all benedictions upon the living beings….You have so kindly made approach to You easy by Your holy names.” But it is you, O merciful Jagat-guru, who is making our approach to those holy names so easy because you provide the all-important link between these transcendental names and our materially contaminated senses.</p>
<p class="p44">O eternal Father, you are so devotedly carrying this torchlight of Vedic knowledge from your predecessor and Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda. Because of this alone, the knowledge remains pure and uncontaminated, beyond the world-jugglery of so many nonsense Mäyävädé, impersonalist scholars. Because we are assured of your authority in transcendental matters by the luminous purity of your message, we therefore offer our obeisances, indeed our lives, at your transcendental lotus feet. With our consciousness lying in darkness we cannot see or understand Kåñëa directly. But the Lord is so kind. He has sent you as the external manifestation of Supersoul, His localized aspect in everyone’s heart. And if we can simply hear the knowledge which you are transmitting, then we can, by your mercy, come to realize our true constitutional position as eternal servants of the Lord. So we simply pray for the desire to remain at your feet and humbly protect this transcendental knowledge from the venom of the mundane wranglers.</p>
<p class="p44">Our eyes have remained in darkness for so long that we cannot even appreciate your transcendental beauty and wisdom. And our lips are far too contaminated by mundane sound vibrations to even consider being able to offer homage worthy of glorifying yourself and your divine message. So we at your Houston temple simply pray for the humility to bow our heads submissively at your glorious lotus feet and to become…….</p>
<p class="p44">Your eternal servants in the service of Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Giridharé däsa adhikäré / Vinode Vanidevé däsé / Rñabhadeva däsa adikäré / Kuà Kuà devé däsé / Lélävaté devé däsé / Bhaktin Clarice and Bhakta Blue / Bhaktin Melinda / Sahadeva däsa brahmacäré / Vimala Prasäda däsa brahmacäré / Anadiù däsa brahmacäré / Siddhavidyä däsa brahmacäré / Kérticandra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John Wollermann / Bhakta Dave Watkins / Rasämåta däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Hyderabad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hyderabad</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear eternal Father,</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, O representative of Çukadeva Gosvämé,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your transcendental feet.</p>
<p class="p44">It is known that you are the only bona fide <i>äcärya</i> from the disciplic succession who is preaching the message of Lord Caitanya:<i> prithvé te äche yate nagar ädi gräm sarvatre pracher haibe more näma.</i> In the Age of Kali, all the bogus masters who are misleading the people can’t hold a candle before you. How can we compare your causeless mercy, O servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Mahäräja? Please accept our most worthless obeisances time after time at your lotus feet, and please forgive the offenses that we commit in your service.</p>
<p class="p44"><i>Guru-kåñëa prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja. “</i>By the grace of <i>guru, </i>one can get a bona fide <i>guru</i>.” O Çréla Prabhupäda, simply by hearing from you we can get relief from the fire of material nescience, simply be following your instruction we can enter into the association of His Lordship Kåñëa in the eternal abode. Thank you very much for giving us the golden opportunity to become purified by chanting Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare, following your instructions and by studying your holy books.</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda! You are a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa and a perfect disciple of His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja. All glories to you, our divine preceptor His Divine Grace Tridaëòi Gosvämé Abhay Caran Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja.</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to you. All glories to Your Divine Grace. We are always praying for your good health.</p>
<p class="p49">Akñojänanda Svämé / Mahäàsa Svämé / Haridäs däsa brahmacäré / Mahendra däsa brahmacäré / Caitanyaguru dada brahmacäré / Änandamaya däsa brahmacäré / Pälikä devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Indian Travelling S<i>aìkértana</i> Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Indian Travelling Saìkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p44">Service in separation is union in separation. Service renders physical laws elastic. Time and space repair to the background, and devotional service stands exalted. Association through sound, the spiritual master in sound, never leaves, never is lost or forgotten. The constant unexpected guide, the art of service, is to hear. Real hearing. To hear and immediately assimilate in the mind and senses and then to manifest the sound in service—that is “hearing”. Hearing that stops when the speaker stops is not hearing. It is listening, merely a sensation. Çréla Prabhupäda’s tongue and lips and voice are not limited. They have no beginning and never end in the hearts of those who can hear. Just like electricity carried by different conductors (aluminum and copper conduct but also resist electricity; it is not until we come to silver and platinum that there is no resistance), some things are revealed from master to disciple, and others, due to the contamination of envy, are resisted or temporarily blocked. But the iron is getting hotter, and soon it will be redhot—because his fire is very hot, because he is the pure conductor of the descending fruit of <i>Bhägavata-rasa,</i> to be drunk through our ears and passed on to those dehydrated on the desert of void, in the <i>rasa</i>less realm of <i>niräkära </i>(formlessness). Ideas which harbor all misunderstandings are cultured there. And the seeds of devotion fructify very slowly in such a desert. But he sends rain: his voice rains down torrents to enrich us. <i>Såëvatäà sva-kathäù-kåñëaù</i>: “Just hear about Kåñëa, talk about Kåñëa , sing about Kåñëa, cry for Kåñëa. Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa.” Prabhupäda in <i>kértana </i>is pouring rain upon us that we may grow and bear fruits, sing and inspire dancing, write and be read, speak and be heard by those who can “hear”. Çréla Prabhupäda, when will we hear you? “When you are willing to hear like Mahäräja Parékñit. When you desire to hear more than any other thing. When you are pure enough to transmit what I say intact. When you can hear me even when I am not physically present before you. Then it is real hearing, hearing and chanting. Our mission is to make people hear and chant, but first <i>you</i> must learn to hear.”</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda has heard. He has heard Sarasvaté. He has heard Guara-kiçora, Bhaktivinoda, Jagannätha, Baladeva, Viçvanätha and Narottama. He has heard and is always hearing them. Just as they were sent to chant, so he has been sent. And we have been sent to hear, to assimilate and to go on chanting, to be heard by many more who are coming. That is the difference between His Divine Grace and all of the others, all the “men of knowledge”, “men of science”, “men of politics”, “men of power and influence”. They are all, honestly or dishonestly, attempting to find the truth, or God, or happiness, or whatever, but Çréla Prabhupäda has come from the Truth, down to us give something, to chant something. They are all striving, practicing, fighting, struggling, sometimes even succeeding in achieving their goal. But Prabhupäda is there, there with Kåñëa, calling down to them who are fighting, struggling, and us who are practicing and striving. He is calling to us to join him in the chanting and hearing.</p>
<p class="p44">We are traveling for him through deserts, deserts of sand and scorching Indian May asphalt and searing winds that dry <i>dhotés</i> in two minutes. And we are traveling for him through deserts of void hearts scorched by Saìkara and forced to take shelter under the rocks where it is damp and dark, where even sense gratification is bland and cold. But still they are reluctant to come out—afraid, bitter, angry and, worst of all, envious. But we know more than they think we know because His Divine Grace has told us. He has told us what no one could ever conclude by study or degrees or science or <i>yoga: </i>Kåñëa….dancing. When they hear, most cannot understand. Some see and are amazed. “We never knew anything like this—Kåñëa beyond the light, beyond the <i>guëas</i>. I thought I had it all worked out, but baffled, baffled. Now we see, and we are dwarfed again (which is our true size).” And they give, they give their energy, the kidnapped Sétä that they cannot enjoy but hoard in anxiety. And the Jeeps move to the next desert, successful. Çréla Prabhupäda; “Yes, the Jeeps idea is successful because it was my idea. That is my disease—I cannot think of any small plan, only gigantic plans. Cover all of India in your Jeeps. You never have to stop. You are free to go anywhere. You have my blessings.”</p>
<p class="p44">By Your blessings everything can happen—and is happening all over the world, in the deserts. Your rain makes them like fruitful valleys and your devotees like lakes who preserve the <i>rasa</i> and nurture the land, the sandy waste, into a garden.</p>
<p class="p44">May your rain never stop pouring on us. May there never be another drought. May the clouds never fade away.</p>
<p class="p49">Tridaëòi Achyutänanda Svämé / Gargamuni Svämé / Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé / Harikeça däsa brahmacäré / Çrédhara das brahmacäré / Suñaviläsa däsa brahmacäré / Parameçvari däsa brahmacäré / Dinanätha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Jakarta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jakarta</b></p>
<p class="p18">ALL GLORIES TO THE LOTUS-EYED ÇRÉ KÅÑËA!<br>
ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉ GURU AND GAURÄÌGA!<br>
ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p44">Greatest Merciful Äcärya,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our most humble obeisances at Your Grace’s lotus feet. We are all fallen souls and have no qualifications to be Kåñëa’s servants. We do not know much of Kåñëa's philosophy and have no other shelter than you. Please give us a little place at your lotus feet and through Your Grace’s kind and merciful instructions we will be able to serve Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">We all thank Your Grace for visiting us here in Jakarta just to let us taste the nectar of devotion to Çré Kåñëa. During Your Grace’s stay here it was so very blissful and full of knowledge that it is hard to forget. We are not satisfied yet with our service and wish we could do more to spread Kåñëa’s teachings here.</p>
<p class="p44">Without Your Grace’s translated books we could never have relished that drop of nectar of devotion. We are covered by Kåñëa’s illusory energy so much that we have forgotten our true and eternal relation with Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. Until your devotees brought your message to us, we had only wasted this human form of life. Your Grace is the only true representative from Çré Kåñëa who can inform us of the uninterpreted and true verses of Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">It is due to Your Grace’s mercy that thousands and thousands of people are reading Çré Kåñëa’s pastimes and eternal messages. The <i>saìkértana </i>movement lead by Your Grace comes directly from Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu and reminds us of our eternal relationship with Çré Kåñëa. Thus we are able to relish the taste of the nectar of devotion of Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">We beg to remain Your Divine Grace’s eternal servitors,</p>
<p class="p49">Dharamdäsa däsa / Aravindäkñi däsé / Hareça Prabhu / Maheça Prabhu / Puñpa Prabhu / Vidyä Prabhu / Kamala / Üña Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p44">To our divine spiritual father, Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p12">You have entered into our lives at different times and places,<br>
Turning tormented expressions into shining-happy faces.<br>
Thought of you purifies one’s existence and even past relations;<br>
To hear and serve you can liberate backward and forward generations.<br>
The only happiness is to love, and you give the love of the highest region.<br>
Those who take this gift from you form the all-auspicious legion.<br>
Instigating and unifying a chorus of glorification,<br>
Across the globe you go making a transcendental nation.<br>
Your verbal view of the modern day defeating sham scientific speech,<br>
Your innermost repose, Våndävana, existing far beyond mundane reach.<br>
The aspirant, continuing the cosmic <i>dhäma</i> of ever-evolving life,<br>
Comes to your feet, the catalyst, to that destination free of strife.<br>
Your disciple expands your shelter to the rare ones who seek,<br>
Inviting them to associate with you in the sublime company you keep.<br>
To be able to participate in the <i>saìkértana </i>mission of the Lord,<br>
Is a boon that our words and mind cannot possibly afford.<br>
In clear appreciation, in honest reciprocation….<br>
We can only offer you our life and service.<br>
But increasingly we want, blessed by Çré Kåñëa to please you….<br>
O the efficacious purity of your presence! O how the fallen need you!</p>
<p class="p49">Rñabhadeva däsa adhikäré / Asurakula Näçana däsa brahmacäré / Bhojadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Vern / Bhakta Glen / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Jeff / Bhakta Kelly / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Gauräìga däsa / Çivänideva däsé / Cinmayé däsé / Tarakadevé däsé / Bhaktin Cynthia / Bhaktin Judy / Bhaktin Miguel / Bhaktin Sharon / Bhaktin Psalm </p>
<p class="p11">London</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>Çré Vyäsa Püjä</b></p>
<p class="p44">To Our Dearmost Spiritual Master,</p>
<p class="p44">We all humbly offer our heartfelt obeisances and appreciations for the unlimited blessings bestowed by Your Divine Grace. In this confusing age of bewildering cataclysms, a source of actual spiritual enlightenment is indeed rare. But you stand above foolish man’s candle light probe into Kåñëa’s actual nature. For those conditioned souls groping in the pitch of darkness of <i>mäyä’s </i>labyrinth, Your Divine Grace extends a friendly hand of guidance to anyone fortunate enough to accept. In the murky vortex of <i>mäyä’s </i>cauldron, you are the calm eye of the storm, giving a universal panacea. Because you are continually bathe in the effulgence of Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa’s divine love emanating from the spiritual realm, we can have a transparent via media to that beautiful fountainhead of creation. Saturated by thoughts of the divine form of Çré Kåñëa, your association purifies our diseased mentality.</p>
<p class="p44">Due to your compassionate nature you have taken the duty of transforming crows into swans. Appearing as an old man, you are actually in eternal youth always dancing with Kåñëa. Sometimes we can even hear Kåñëa’s flute through the din, playing as you dance. Although you originally appeared as a poor mendicant, we can see that Kåñëa has given you inestimable wealth.</p>
<p class="p44">We have tried the medicine offered by the false <i>gurus</i> and choked on its poison. But Your Divine Grace has not tried to alter the original message of Kåñëa. Thus, because your prescription is unadulterated, it has unlimited efficacy. Being a perfect mystic, the transcendental land of Våndävana is injected into the gray clouded men of Kali by your potent words. Then your message creates a metamorphosis in the sullen living entities; they become bright faced and exhilarated, and appear as jolly madmen, overwhelmed with the intoxicating effect of Kåñëa’s divine name. By associating with the dust of your transcendental lotus feet, thousands of such happy madmen have appeared.</p>
<p class="p44">As the most beneficent Paramahaàsa, the essence of all knowledge of the entire creation has been extracted and simplified by you. Both the most erudite and the most intelligent can easily take refuge of your humble request: “Come back home to play with your dearmost friend whom you have forgotten.” That friend, Çré Kåñëa, Lord of everyone’s heart, is known most intimately by you. We were all dried up on the burning desert of mental speculation and sense gratification. You have presented us an unlimited ocean of immortal nectar.</p>
<p class="p44">How can we thank you in an appropriate manner? We shall eternally remain grateful and in your debt for freely distributing this great wealth of Kåñëa consciousness to us.</p>
<p class="p44">Simply by serving the pure devotee all the demigods become pleased. We also feel great satisfaction in your service, because you are pleasing Çré Hari, Kåñëa. The greatest wealth in the universe is association of a pure devotee. He knows the name, form, pastimes and paraphernalia of the Lord. We hope to somehow or other become your assistants by bringing more and more persons into your association. Thank you so very much.</p>
<p class="p44">Your humble servants, ISKCON London</p>
<p class="p49">Revaténananda Svämé / Nabhasvaté devé däsé / Ranchor däsa adhikäré / Devadatta däsa adhikäré / Vämanadeva däsa adhikäré / Kauçika däsa adhikäré / Svayambhür däsa adhikäré / Sarvasvarit däsa adhikäré / Dhanaïjaya däsa adhikäré / Vaikuëöhanätha däsa adhikäré / Bhaumadeva däsa brahmacäré / Dhéräìge däsa brahmacäré / Tribhuvanäth däsa brahmacäré / Pärtha däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Hari däsa brahmacäré / Vilvamaìgala däsa brahmacäré / Jananänandana däsa brahmacäré / Puräïjana däsa brahmacäré / Subhäga däsa brahmacäré / Advaitäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Çakñé Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Mahä-Viñëu däsa brahmacäré / Mohana däsa brahmacari / Éçvara Puré däsa brahmacäré / Bhaja Hari däsa brahmacäré / Haribolänanda däsa brahmacäré / Vimuktisaìga däsa brahmacäré / Vrajendra Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Ravindaranäth däsa brahmacäré / Dhéraëyéka däsa brahmacäré / Térthasädhaka däsa brahmacäré / Muktyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Govindänanda däsa brahmacäré / Vicitravérya däsa brahmacäré / Giridharadhäri däsa brahmacäré / Rohinénandana däsa brahmacäré / Tribhaìgänanda däsa brahmacäré / Vidyäbadhu devé däsé / Çucé devé däsé / Balagopäla devé däsé / Svaté devé däsé / Draupadé devé däsé / Léläçakté devé däsé / Añöaçakhé devé däsé / Käma kanté devé däsé / Çyämasundaré devé däsé / Pürëacandrä devé däsé / Jaya Lakñmé devé däsé / Kämadhuk devé däsé / Rämadevé däsé / Gaìgämayé devé däsé / Mälaté devé däsé / Indirä devé däsé / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Brian / Bhakta Thomas / Bhakta Pierce / Bhakta Noel / Bhakta Roger / Bhakta Eddy / Bhakta Sammy / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Roy / Bhakta Edward / Jagannätha / Çivadjvara / Dhruvänanda / Devaké / Bhakti Dharma / Bhaktin Shirley / Bhaktin Barbara / Bhaktin Jane / Bhaktin Dilly / Bhaktin Anna / Bhaktin Vivian / Bhaktin Roslin / Bhaktin Mrs. / Sharma</p>
<p class="p11">Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">In our modern world, there is such a great mass of conflicting statements about the purpose of our valuable life that the people of the world are at a loss to find genuine engagements for their energy. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>this is compared to the noise of an ocean. When we approach the shore of an ocean, there is a confusion of names being uttered, yet if one inquires the meaning of these names, nothing can be found. In the same way, all the names and designations of the material world will end just as the bubbles formed in the ocean rose to the surface and merged into the greater atmosphere. Men who are a little advanced often find themselves expounding a series of denials, saying to themselves, “not this, not this.” Unfortunately the mind rebels and refuses to accept such negative assertions, asking, now that we have restricted and proscribed so many things, what do we positively propose? The materialists live a life of denials, trying to avoid the painful exigencies of material existence. But they find that the so-called pleasures which they seek to pit against a harsh and inimical world are themselves temporary and lead to a negative state of exhaustion and death. The mind therefore seeks a positive goal in spiritual life to soothe and restore the chaffed conditions of material association. Therefore when it is confronted with more and subtler varieties of negation, the mind will inevitably refuse to accept such conclusions. The need is therefore for a positive statement of spiritual existence.</p>
<p class="p44">Çré Gurudeva is one, and there can be no denial of this fact. There is no question of sectarianism in the teachings of the real <i>äcärya;</i> his statements are the statements of the Supreme Absolute and therefore bear the impress of the imperial seal of the transcendental autocrat. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> one sloka states,</p>
<p class="p6"><i>vettha tvaà saumya tat sarvaà tattvatas tad-anugrahät<br>
brüyuù snigdhasya çiñyasya guravo guhyam apy uta</i></p>
<p class="p44">“And because you are submissive your spiritual masters have endowed you with all their favors. Therefore you can tell us all you have learned from them. “ <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.8]</span> Two words are significant, <i>saumya </i>and <i>snigdasya. </i>These words mean pure, simple and submissive. Because the <i>äcäryadeva </i>is submissive to the desires and requirements of his Guru Mahäräj, the seed of spiritual insemination is placed within him and he becomes fertile with transcendental knowledge. Our Spiritual Master’s Guru Mahäräja, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, once stated that the <i>guru</i> is able to speak exactly according to qualifications of the audience. Therefore there is a reciprocation which must involve both parties, the hearer and the speaker. If the hearer is pure, simple and submissive, then the speaker is able to engender the highest spiritual perfection through the medium of transcendental sound vibration. On the other hand, if there is some defect in the listener’s moral stance, then the level must be lowered to an acceptable platform. It is up to the <i>guru</i> to find the exact level on which to present the unalterable truths. “…In the Third Canto, twenty-fifth Chapter, twenty second verse, of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>Lord Kapila says, ‘My dear mother, when a person is actually in association with devotees, the sublime potency of My devotional service can be experienced.’ In other words, when a pure devotee speaks, his words act upon the hearts of the audience…(and have) the potency to inject spiritual life within the audience.”</p>
<p class="p44">The message of Gurudeva therefore cannot be opposed or debated, because there is a contradiction between the process of analytical reception and analytical destruction. One may choose one or the other, but if we choose the latter weapon to thrash out the Absolute Truth we will be up against a wall and have no means of defeating it. The conditioned soul has four defects and thus his potential knowledge is confined within the prison wall of the material manifestation. The processes of the elevationists and the <i>yogés, </i>only serve to approach the indolent, lax and unlimited feature of the Absolute without finding shred or trace of the originating Supreme Energetic. Even the successful <i>yogés</i>, who through the grace of Supersoul contrive to penetrate the effulgent boundary of the realm of Viñëuloka and arrive in the anti-material planets, are not allowed to remain but must return to their designated station in temporary material existence. Therefore it is concluded by all saints and <i>äcäryas</i> that the best, easiest and most secure means of approaching the truth is through the descending process. The descending process invokes two inherent factors for a full dose of receptivity-the <i>guru</i> and the Supreme Lord. This is stated in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta, “guru-kåñëa kåpäya-päya bhakti-latä-béja:” </i>By the grace of Kåñëa one receives the spiritual master, and by the grace of the spiritual master, one receives Kåñëa. </p>
<p class="p44">In the upliftment of the fallen souls in this age, the spiritual master is declared to be even more merciful that the Supreme Lord Himself. The spiritual master knows what is the business of the Supreme Lord and he is therefore willing to go one step further than is required of him to pick up those souls who would otherwise be out of touch with the Absolute Truth of devotional service. Again <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>reveals, “O Süta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.” The pure devotees of the Lord therefore traverse this mortal plane in the same way as the leaves of the lotus which stand a bare inch above the waters. There is a waxy coating over the leaves of the lotus flower so that even if there is an inundation of contamination it is immediately dissipated because it finds no crevices or flaws in which to rest. In the same way, being confident of the protective <i>yoga-mäyä</i> covering of the Lord, the pure devotee strides forth to face every danger just to rehabilitate the crippled mentality of the people in general. For this reason the worship of Çré Gurudeva is considered the ultimately auspicious form of worship. The spiritual master may indicate that one should worship and serve the Supreme Lord, but the Lord is more pleased by the worship of his most humble servant than He is of His own worship. “In the <i>Padma Puräëa </i>there is a nice statement praising the service of the Vaiñëavas or devotees. In that scripture Lord Çiva tells Parvaté, ‘My dear Parvaté there are different methods of worship, and out of all such methods the worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But even higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotees.”</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Çiva is a great <i>mahäjana </i>or expert authority on the process of devotional service and therefore his statements are accepted by all bona fide devotees. Throughout the history of the world many varieties of religious practice have been propagated according to time, place and circumstance, and in relation to the mentality of the people. Rüpa Gosvämé declared that amongst all of these, that religion which promotes pure love of God is foremost and first-class. Nevertheless, higher even than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotees. The devotees are compared with the vice-Lord. By providing the vice-Lord with every variety of service, submission and adherence, in reality one is serving the Lord Himself in the best possible manner. Nevertheless, Äcäryadeva never considers himself to be the Lord. Rather the praises and honors he receives are forwarded to the Lord in the same way the viceroy forwards all honors and riches to the lawful king of the country. Because of his scrupulosity in forwarding everything to the Lord, the <i>äcäryadeva</i> becomes qualified to receive all honors, and the best way of honoring the Lord is by honoring Çré Äcäryadeva. This fact is confirmed in the following statement, “Lord Kåñëa Himself, addressed to Arjuna, “My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee.”</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore especially in the modern age of Kali or quarrel and confusion, the recommended method of worship is to place oneself at the lotus feet of the pure devotees of the Lord. There is no such pure devotee who has appeared in the western world for the salvation of the most fallen <i>mleccha </i>class of men, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svämé Prabhupäda. At this auspicious moment of Vyäsa Püjä <i>tithi</i> let us all remember that it is causeless mercy alone which motivates the activities of the pure devotees, because they are not under the stringent laws of Dürga’s prison house. Therefore his appearance can neither be predicted, expected or demanded. He appears out of his sweet will, or at the command of his Guru Mahäräja.</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore we can only pray as follows:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala bhakti sadma<br>
vando mui sävadhäna mate<br>
yäìhära prasäde bhäi, e bhava tariyä yäi<br>
kåñëa präpti haya yäëhä hate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!!!</p>
<p class="p49">Adhideva däsa / Arjit däsa / Asurakula Näçana däsa / Balaka däsa / Baninätha däsa / Baàçidhari däsa / Bhadravardhana däsa / Bhuvaneçvara däsa / Brajera däsa / Brahmänanda Puré däsa / Cidänanda däsa / Gaìgädas däsa / Gaìgänärayaëa däsa / Gopavåindapäla däsa / Jitapräëa däsa / Jitavrata däsa / Kadamba Känana däsa / Kalarüpa däsa / Lakñmana däsa / Mathurä Mohana däsa / Paëòu däsa / Pratya Toña däsa / Raghunandana däsa / Rämläla däsa / Rämeçvara däsa / Räväëartäkara däsa / Çacéòuläla däsa / Sureça däsa / Tejomäya däsa / Öhäkura Haridäsa däsa / Uçika däsa / Vämanänanda däsa / Andy / Billy / Dave / Greg / George / Frank / Hamsa / Joel / Leon / Richard / Rory / Bob / Svarüpa Dämodara däsa / Larry / Çruti Kérti däsa / Kuïja Behäré däsa / Rakrasäja däsa / Vopadeva däsa / Hari däsa / PaRämahaàsi-Prahläda / Anasüya däsé-Ahlädiné / Jayaradhe däsé / Karuëämayé däsé- / Nimi Bhakti Prahläda / Sheela / Kértida Kanyäka däsé / Labaìgalatéka däsé / Mädhavé däsé / Paëòuräëé däsé / Pätré däsé / Påñëé däsé / Rädhä Kuëòa däsé / Räsaparäyaëé däsé / Sandipané däsé / Çélavaté däsé / Çréla däsé / Taraëé däsé / Ujjvala däsé- Gopäla Bhaööa / Våndävana Viläsiné däsé / Caitanya däsé-Gandharé / Draupadé däsé / Kandavasé däsé / Annabhäva däsé / Glenice–Kaçimu / Katherine / Linda / Morissa / Rädhä / Sara / Toni / Chris / Marian-Lisa, Lynette / Lucie / Cookie / Babru däsa, Satyaké däsé / Bir Raghava däsa, Bir Mala-Yamunä / Devendranäth däsa, Bhagavaccittä däsé-Viçakhä / Dineçvara däsa, Bhagavaté däsé / Baladeva / Gaëendra däsa, Dvéjapriyä däsé- / Govinda däsa, Gopäla däsa, / Gopénätha däsa / Käliyä Kåñëadäsa, Håçakti däsé / Karandhara däsa, Çacé devé / Bhakti Rüpa / Karuëäsindhu däsa, Saralä däsé- / Anaìga / Kavicandra däsa, Mahäçiné däsé-Bhakti däsa / Kåñëa Kanté däsé, Herapaìcamé däsé-Uttara / Kuvera däsa, Revaté däsé-Govinda däsa / Läla Kåñëa däsa, Parvaté däsé-Lélä, Candra Galé / Locana däsa, Kåñëa Viläsiné däsé-Ratha däsé / Madhukaëöha däsa, Karälapati däsé / Muralivädana däsa, Kaumadaki däsé / Nanda Kumära däsa, Paurëamañöamé däsé / Madhukara däsa, Léläçakté däsé / Mahäjana däsa, Çaraëägata-Hara / Naranäräyaëa däsa, Dinadayadri däsé / Mürti däsa, Mahäté däsé / Pradyumna däsa, Arundhaté däsé –Aniruddha däsa / Rädhä Gopinätha däsa, Våndä däsé / Raghavindu däsa, Vijayalakñmé däsé / Raëadhéra däsa, Sandiné däsé-Rädhämañöami / Saptarätha däsa, Hemaläta däsé / Saträjita däsa, Çrélakñmé däsé / Satsaìgänanda däsa, Yaïapriya däsé / Çrédäma däsa, Monmohiné däsé / Çrutasrava däsa, Prayäg däsé-Bhakti Raëajit däsa / Stoka Kåñëa däsa , Saha devé-Bhagavat / Såïjaya däsa, Devadidhité däsé-Lakñmé däsé / Svarüpa däsa, Kaìka däsé / Toñana däsa, Dakñiëa däsé – Govinda däsa / Tradhis däsa, Nagapatné däsé-Janmañöami däsé / Tripuräri däsa, Agné däsé-Bhakti Sureça / Vaikhänas däsa, Navéna däsé-Kanlindé / Visal däsa, Viläsiné däsé / Danavir däsa, Kamalä däsé / Gandharvä däsé-Derry Umapati däsa, Élavaté / Harer Näma däsa, Prabhavaté däsé / Båhad Bhänu däsa, Isusaram däsé - Tree, Sunshine / Bruce, Noreen / Hal, Barbara-Kama / Lewis, Sandra / Terry, Julie-Christen / Jerry, Aja-Hanuman / William, Mary</p>
<p class="p11">Mäyäpura</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mäyäpura</b></p>
<p class="p44">In material life, there are many renowned personalities who are glorified as great seekers of the truth. To seek after something means to attempt for that which is not presently in hand. These so-called “great seekers” of truth are not possessors of the truth. On the other hand, the pure devotee is a soul linked eternally to the Supreme Truth through transcendental relationship. Therefore, he is one who has achieved the highest goal of truth, knowledge and bliss.</p>
<p class="p44">Seeking in this material world is implemented through the perceptions of our six senses, including the mind. These material senses are all limited faculties which are not capable of directly perceiving the subtle building blocks of the cosmos. How, then, can the transcendental source of the fine and gross mechanisms of this material world, and the existences which lie beyond it, be understood by such blunt equipment as these material senses? The limits of perception may be increased by utilization of machines, etc., so that material knowledge increases, but since the basis is limited, all such knowledge falls short of the unlimited source of all knowledge. In other words, the system of attaining knowledge by increasing from the limited base sense perception can never envelope the Absolute Truth, Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Thus, the empiric philosophers seeking after the truth are persons who have taken the wrong road to the true perception of life. The spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession is not an empirical seeker after the truth because he has purchased the truth by his unalloyed devotion. Lord Kåñëa is the Supreme Authority on absolute knowledge as He Himself is the Absolute Truth. All information is perfectly available from the person who knows the complete network of total existence and the Supreme Source of existence, Lord Çré Kåñëa. Since His position is beyond the range of ordinary communications, how can contact be made? Actually Kåñëa initially made contact by revealing Himself to His devotee. Kåñëa Himself is therefore the original spiritual master or preceptor. Once the devotee has achieved full perception of Kåñëa by His mercy, his knowledge is perfect and complete. This perfect and complete knowledge has been handed down through disciplic succession or a chain of spiritual masters originating from Lord Kåñëa and coming down to His Divine Grace 108 Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">There is a vast gulf of difference between even the greatest of empiric philosophers or material scientists, who are still groping in the dark, and the perfected devotee carrying the torchlight of knowledge received as handed down through the line of spiritual masters at whose head stands the Lord Himself. Due to their excessive preoccupation with material darkness, the frustrated empiric seekers futilely curse the darkness and falsely conclude that either there is no ultimate truth or that the truth must be ultimately devoid of personal attributes. There is no advantage to making such unsubstantiated conclusions out of frustration. It is better to accept the shelter of the bona fide spiritual master who has achieved the essence of the truth.</p>
<p class="p44">His Divine Grace 108 Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta is such a pure spiritual master linked with Lord Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth, through the eternal chain of disciplic succession. Çréla Prabhupäda has taken the order of his spiritual master in hand and carried it throughout the world. His Divine Grace has fulfilled many predictions in ancient scriptures regarding the spreading of the Hare Kåñëa <i>saìkértana </i>movement. One prediction made nearly one hundred years ago by a great <i>äcärya </i>in the line from Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, namely, Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, states that people throughout the world will come to Çré Mäyäpura, the place of the Lord’s advent and pastimes as Lord Caitanya, and, together with the Indian <i>bhaktas</i> or devotees, will engage in worship of the Lord’s holy name by performance of <i>saìkértana. </i>Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura further predicted that at Çré Mäyäpura a spiritual city will evolve filled with temples and sanctity. In this respect also, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda has begun work towards fulfillment of the prophecy by the construction of ISKCON’s Çré Mäyäpura Candradaya Temple, and by personally supervising and advising on how to develop the many programs to make a perfect spiritual environment for advancement in Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p44">There is no one more kind or more merciful than the bona fide spiritual master. His efforts are never wasted. His kindness is not squandered on scentless flowers, but blossoms in the fragrant distribution of love of Kåñëa. At Çré Mäyäpura, Çréla Prabhupäda’s kindness in engaging his devotees in the distribution of mercy in dynamic ways is unlimited. Although caste-conscious priests and priests’ family members see temporary designations like Hindu, Moslem, Christian, black, white, <i>brähmaëa, çüdra, </i>etc., and object to the distribution of Kåñëa <i>prasäda</i> or mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda does not care for such fanatics, but goes on distributing, boldly chanting the name of the Lord to all who will accept the mercy. Thus he is giving all fallen souls, deluded into identification with the external body or mind, the chance to revive the dormant spark of love of God within their hearts. Çréla Prabhupäda’s English and Sanskrit School is so potent that after a short duration the students decide to dedicate their lives to the cause of the Supreme Lord and become perfect. This potency is due to the purity of purpose and presentation with which His Divine Grace is presenting the message of Godhead. Therefore, the whole world should appreciate the greatness of His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p44">Not only does Çréla Prabhupäda want to spread Kåñëa consciousness all over the world, but once it is spread, he wants it perpetuated. Therefore he has begun at short notice such projects at Çré Mäyäpura as making <i>mådaìgas, karatalas </i>and clay models of Kåñëa pastimes. Devotees are congregating from all over the world to serve in these transcendental activities. Thus Çréla Prabhupäda’s alluring plan for displaying the pastimes of the Lord, which can release the viewer from the clutches of material attachments, is just another example of the potent methods employed by the greatest exponent of Vedic knowledge in the world today.</p>
<p class="p44">Many so-called spiritualists have gone abroad from India, and, after some flurry of propaganda and disciple-making, have returned and built some structure, thus finishing their overseas preaching. Such bogus <i>yogés, </i>surrounded by their female supporters, cannot show the real potency of spiritual existence. Çréla Prabhupäda, however, did not rush back to India for gaining esteem in the homeland, but stayed for better or worse to establish and really give the help and spiritual guidance which the whole world is crying for. Now, only after firmly establishing Kåñëa consciousness all over the world, His Divine Grace is putting his attention towards constructing a spiritual city which, by showing ideal life, will be unique in the world. Çréla Prabhupäda’s translations of the Vedic scriptures have revealed the importance of the places where the Supreme Lord has exhibited His pastimes while appearing on this earth. Now the task of preparing a place for receiving the thousands of devotees who want to worship and respect these holy places has begun.</p>
<p class="p44">Life in this age is of very short duration, but in that short time it is possible to become attached to Kåñëa and His devotees. Just as we become attached to our family and friends, we may join Kåñëa’s family, which is actually our eternal existence, and make friends with Kåñëa’s devotees. Then, instead of frustration at seeing our temporary relations finished off one by one by the relentless hands of time, our eternal relations with the Lord and His devotees will always keep us filled with eternal knowledge and bliss. The real spiritual master offers full satisfaction to his disciples.</p>
<p class="p44">Quick happiness and distress are available in this material world, but they are worthless. Easy come—easy go. Real happiness in spiritual life alone is of permanent value. What can we offer to such a magnanimous person who, amidst the broken-glass-like pieces of this impermanent and transient material world, is giving the jewel of permanent spiritual existence? If there is duty to our friends, family, country, etc., although they offered us only temporary benefits, how great then is our duty to the spiritual master who has offered us the only thing of real value?</p>
<p class="p44">In perfect devotion our hearts would weep for the blessing of our spiritual master, and in anxiety to serve him our limbs would tremble and hairs stand on end, but we are so unfortunate to be lacking such sincerity. We can only pray for the day when we may sincerely be able to dedicate our every thought, breath and action in the service of our spiritual master, who is dear to us. There is nothing more which we have left to give. It is ours to work for the day when all the fallen souls may be so fortunate as to see the opportunity and make their lives perfect by taking shelter of the pure devotee. Repeatedly we “Mäyäpura-<i>niväsés”,</i> “residents of Mäyäpura”, offer our lives and souls at the lotus feet of the pure devotee of the Lord, His Divine Grace 108 Oà Viñëupäda Çré-Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, in humble and respectful obeisances to our most beloved and eternal spiritual master and father.</p>
<p class="p44">Signed<br>
The “Mäyäpura-<i>niväsés”</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bhavänanda Gosvämé / Tämala Kåñëa Gosvämé / Jayapataka Svämé / Gargamuni Svämé / Païca Dravida Svämé / Païcajanya brahmacäré / Prabasa brahmacäré / Janäniväsa brahmacäré / Gaurçakti brahmacäré / Ajamil brahmacäré / Dinadayal däsa brahmacäré / Satchi òuläl Prabhu / Dvija-Hari däsa brahmacäré / Pavamana däsa brahmacäré / Çrématé devé däsé / Bhaktijana däsa brahmacäré / Shaladaìga däsa brahmacäré / Prabas Prabhu / Hariharah däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Melbourne</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Melbourne</b></p>
<p class="p44"><i>Part I</i> – THE DISSIPATION OF NIGHT</p>
<p class="p12">Thy birth was pure, thy thoughts were clean,<br>
Rädhä and Kåñëa thou never forgot.<br>
Due to father’s kindness thou had thy <i>Ratha,<br>
</i>Thou imitated <i>püjä</i>, and caught from youth<br>
A hatred for gambling, illicit sex, intoxicants, and animal slaughter.<br>
Such a birth is rare in this world.<br>
“<i>Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.<br>
Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him.”<br>
</i>Thou met thy <i>guru</i>, auspicious day,<br>
And from his feet thou never strayed.<br>
A master beyond death is the <i>guru</i> dear,<br>
Potency sufficient to flood the whole world<br>
By injecting Kåñëa-<i>kathä </i>into every ear.<br>
Such a master is rare in this world.<br>
“<i>Only by the mercy of the spiritual master can one obtain the mercy of the Lord</i>.”<br>
There is a terrible land here<br>
Where demons build staircases to the sky,<br>
Where the innocent cow is slaughtered,<br>
And where the citizens constantly cry.<br>
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda, the light of the world,<br>
Seeing the plight of such conditioned souls, wrote<br>
‘Please just go there, and try<br>
To water the seed as Caitanya taught.’<br>
Such a request is rare in this world.<br>
“<i>The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me.”<br>
Bhagavad-gétä, </i>the Song of God,<br>
And <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>the nectarean fruit,<br>
Were brought by thee like the morning sun,<br>
Which rises golden and majestic in the east.<br>
And brings peace from the ghosts of the moonless night.<br>
Such literature is rare in this world.</p>
<p class="p44"><i>Part II – </i>THE NEW DAY</p>
<p class="p12">“<i>O Kåñëa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me</i>.”<br>
Wonderful times have just begun,<br>
The Mäyävädés from the field are running,<br>
Smashed by the book distribution forces.<br>
The public catches up the mighty song,<br>
Thy mace alone appears above the rest.<br>
Such a fight is rare in this world.<br>
“<i>Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your</i> <i>homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”<br>
</i>Thy flag flies beneath the noon day sky,<br>
All nations, all men take shelter<br>
Where no shadow casts its fearful face.<br>
At thy feet they bow and pray,<br>
‘Save me, Oh lord, from Yamaräj’s sway.’<br>
At thy nod, the <i>kértana </i>begins—<br>
Drums, <i>karatälas </i>thunderously crash,<br>
Then the voices of billions raised on high,<br>
Hands in the air, a tear in every eye.<br>
Dancing in step, men, elephants, dogs, and even the tree<br>
Sway in the celestial breeze which has brought thee here.<br>
Such a victory is rare in this world.</p>
<p class="p44">Melbourne ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Cäru däsa adhikäré / Gaëeça däsa brahmacäré / Harña däsa brahmacäré / Chris Prabhu / Gary Prabhu / Phil Prabhu / Hon Pei Prabhu / Donna Prabhu / Baibhabi devé däsé / Yäyaté devé däsé / Çucalä devé däsé / Åñabha devé däsé / Kämarüpa devé däsé / Cheryl / Sue / Charles Prabhu / Dépaka däsa / Hari Sauré däsa / Gaura Maëòala Bhaumé / Vidyäraëya däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">On this most glorious day of his appearance we pray at the lotus feet of our spiritual master for continued service and we beg to have the benediction of offering eternal homages and obeisances to his divine person. With soul-searching and insufficient means we attempt an impossible task—proclaiming and glorifying the inestimable purity and magnificence of our most exalted <i>gurudeva</i>. By his unflinching example we are stirred to follow in his footsteps and offer ourselves at his lotus feet. They are the only shelter from the onslaught of material illusion and forgetfulness of our true position as insignificant servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">It is stated in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>: “ We think that we have met Your Grace by the will of providence, and thus we accept you as captain of this ship for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of a human being.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.22]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda has guided this transcendental ship, the <i>saìkértana </i>movement, through the whirlpools and storms of material existence. He has salvaged countless lives that were floating adrift in material sense-gratification or cast ashore on the barren rocks of mental speculation and the desire for self-annihilation. Our individual and collective debt to him remains eternally unpaid.</p>
<p class="p44">He alone has done the impossible, what no else would have even attempted. Carrying out wholeheartedly and enthusiastically the orders of his spiritual master, he came to teach us the highest truth of divine service and love of Godhead. By his purity, he attracted us to the glorious light of the Vedic truths and by his example the most fallen souls were able to give up addiction to intoxication and illicit sex, and accept regulative principles for purification under disciplinary vows.</p>
<p class="p34">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>the potency of the pure devotee is described: “Like the sun, your goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are so good as the all-pervasive Supersoul…”</p>
<p class="p44">By contact with a pure Vaiñëava, or unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa, the impure are made pure. Thus the uncontaminated truth of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>is being broadcast worldwide, and propagated from numerous spiritual oases or training schools for a legion of Vaiñëavas. Vaiñëavism has been spread around the planet. In this age of quarrel, hypocracy and materialism, the highest perfection of spiritual life, or <i>viçva-dharma, </i>the universal religion coming directly from the Supreme Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, has been bestowed without discrimination to all. By his causeless mercy, he has manifested the torchlight of knowledge, <i>Çrémad-Bhagavad-gétä</i>, as well as the brilliant sun of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> to illuminate the dark night which covers all forgetful souls.</p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, your greatness can be seen in the blossoming of the divine lotus of <i>bhakti</i> in the hearts of your disciples. The seeds of divine love which you lovingly planted in these most barren souls are fructifying under the incessant showers of your magnificent mercy.</p>
<p class="p44">You are the personification of all scriptural injunctions and of pure devotional service to Çré Hari, Lord Çré Kåñëa, the final purport of the <i>çästras</i>. You are the perfect <i>äcärya, </i>or<i> “mahätma”,</i> whose only life purpose, as shown by your spotless example, is described in <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i> </p>
<p class="p34">"Always chanting my glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” [<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</p>
<p class="p44">We thus pray to the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya to give us eternal association with His most confidential servitor, Çréla Prabhupäda. May we with all the seriousness at our command fully carry out his instructions which we have taken as our life and soul.</p>
<p class="p44">Jayate, Jagat-guru, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">ISKCON MONTREAL QUEBEC</p>
<p class="p49">Uttamaçloka däsa adhikäré (president) / Visvakarma däsa brahmacäré / Adhiyajïa däsa brahmacäré / Mäyäpura sha sha däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Gokulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Stuart / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Denis / Bhakta Andre / Bhakta Michel / Bhakta Gaetan / Bhakta Rejean / Bahirsmaté devé däsé / Rädhä-Gopénätha däsa / Jyotiraditya devé däsé / Candra devé däsé / Sarvamayé devé däsé / Bhaktin Jade / Bhaktin Lucie / Bhaktin Pat</p>
<p class="p11">Mexico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mexico</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">No one can trace the history of the living entity’s entanglement in material nature. It is said that the living entities have been traveling through the universe from body to body since time immemorial. Due to association with material energy the living entities mind has been infected with the desire for sense gratification. Thus the eight-fold layers of earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego have covered his pure being. In this way he is suffering in the cycle of <i>saàsära </i>(repeated birth and death).</p>
<p class="p44">When the living entity comes in contact with material nature his pure consciousness (<i>bhakti) </i>becomes transferred into <i>käma </i>or lust. Impelled by this lust, which is born of contact with the quality of <i>rajas </i>(passion) he engaged in all types of sinful acts. Thus, a living entity in pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy known as lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire. It is said in the <i>Manu-småti </i>that lust can never be satisfied regardless of how much sense gratification one engages in, just as fire does not become extinguished by a constant supply of fuel. When there is a fire in the forest, no man can extinguish it. Only when the rain clouds pour water on it can the blaze be put out, and that is a rare occurrence. Rarer still, however, is the association of the <i>guru</i> who can extinguish the blazing fire of material existence (by the rain of transcendental knowledge.)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja</i></p>
<p class="p44">By the mercy of Kåñëa one comes in touch with the <i>guru;</i> by the grace of the <i>guru</i> the <i>bhakti-latä-béja (</i>seed of devotion) is planted in one’s heart. As the seed is watered by the process of ç<i>ravaëaà kértanam, </i>hearing and chanting the transcendental message of the <i>guru</i>, the <i>bhakti </i>creeper grows beyond the covering of the material energy. Piercing through the material covering, it enters the spiritual atmosphere where it bears fruit which is known as <i>premä </i>or love of Godhead. The devotee, having tasted that mature fruit of devotion, becomes merged into the ocean of bliss.</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore we fall down at the feet of Om Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré-Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Gosvämé Mahäräja and eternally thank him for coming to this mundane plane and giving us the transcendental seeds of the <i>mahä-mantra </i>Hare, Kåñëa and Räma. It is not out of mundane sentiment that we chant Jaya Prabhupäda. But we vibrate his holy glories because simply by hearing his divine message we are experiencing the extinguishing of the fire of material desire. His words possess the power to perform surgical incision on the self and thereby separate the pure spirit soul from all kinds of false designations. Although I am totally unqualified, on this holiest of days, I will place the dust from his lotus feet on my head and humbly try to speak on his unlimited glories as I have realized them by his mercy.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda is the ambassador from the spiritual realm. He not only excels us in every respect, but he is to be worshiped on an equal level with the Godhead by all those who are desiring to enter into the mood of pure <i>bhakti.</i></p>
<p class="p44">Bringing us the message of Braja, the message of unconditional surrender, Çréla Prabhupäda stands as the healing herb for our present mental disorder.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda is the sole agent by which we can establish our forgotten relationship with the all-love, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">In order to be set free from the chains of <i>käma</i> (lust) which perverts our pure nature, we, as sincere seekers of freedom, must crave Çréla Prabhupäda’s help. He is the transparent agent who can safely escort our march free from the chains of the four-fold miseries of sinful life.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda could never be an obstacle to the divine harmony which we desire. His motive is only to bring us from our present discord to total unity. Therefore his instructions must be accepted as the sole solution to our incompatible position.</p>
<p class="p44">To be humbler than a straw in the street means to always remember the lotus feet of our beloved <i>guru mahäräja</i>. We must always feel ourselves helpless in our every step toward Kåñëa. Therefore our eternal prayer is to catch the shelter of his lotus feet so we may be protected from the evil inclinations of the mind.</p>
<p class="p44">In this age of Kali, Kåñëa is reached by the method of offenselessly chanting His holy name. It is Çréla Prabhupäda who bestows on us the gift of offenseless chanting. It, therefore, stands to reason that it should be our utmost duty to worship his lotus feet with the rising of every sun.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté quotes one ç<i>loka</i> from the <i>Bhägavatam:</i> “That teacher is no teacher, that father is no father, that mother is no mother, that kinsman is no kinsman, that friend is no friend, if he cannot save one from the jaws of death, if he cannot give one admittance into eternal life, if he cannot enlighten one beyond the ignorance which addicts one to the sensual pleasures of this material world.” All glories unto you, O deliverer of the transcendental message of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is.</i> You are the ever-well wisher.</p>
<p class="p44">Know it for a fact that if we forget the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, then we certainly fall under the clutches of ignorance. It is the mercy of His Divine Grace that protects us and makes us immune to attachment for objects other than the Absolute Person, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">The highest benediction that Çréla Prabhupäda can bestow on one is to turn the mind always from desire for personal comforts and fix it on the lotus feet of the Divine Couple in Braja, Çré-Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa. Çré Caitanya and Nityänanda are the sole means through whom Çré-Çré Rädhä-Madhava are understood. Therefore, when one feels a spontaneous desire to take part in Their movement it is understood that such a fortunate soul has been blessed with the mercy of Çré Gurudeva.</p>
<p class="p44">He who is constantly showing us how to serve Godhead is none other than Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">If one is fortunate enough to obtain the holy dust from your feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, then only can he perceive the true nature of the transcendental world. It is by your mercy alone that we are understanding anything, about this purest of subject matters, the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>which we have no right to even discuss. There is no other way of obtaining Kåñëa <i>bhakti</i> except by the method of worshiping your lotus feet. We therefore fall down at your lotus feet and offer our humble obeisances at every moment.</p>
<p class="p44">We are all amazed at the constancy of your service to Godhead. We pray that we may also attain a similar constancy in our service unto your lotus feet. Bless us that your message may forever appear in our minds and on our tongues so the world may taste the sweet nectar of your divine instructions. We pray to always serve Kåñëa under your expert guidance. And may our aversion to devotional service which is due to our age-old association with the material energy be destroyed by your divine companionship.</p>
<p class="p44">I, personally, am full of false pride. I frankly confess that I am always trying to make myself stand out by the ugly method of speaking ill against others. The truth of the matter is that I have no good qualifications. Your mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda is all that I have. If by remembering your lotus feet I can find the strength to accept that I am full of imperfections, that will be a great benediction.</p>
<p class="p44">I know that if I can cultivate a devotional attitude towards your lotus feet, I am sure to get the final goal of life. If, however, I am unable to get your mercy, then life holds no desirable end for me.</p>
<p class="p44">On this holiest of days we humbly thank thee for your causeless mercy on the fallen souls. That mercy, the <i>Çrémad-Bhägvatam, </i>stands as an eternal monument of your benedictions. May we, by your grace, realize the substance of the<i> Bhägavata </i>and inspired by its beauty, deliver its message to every man.</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to he who has revealed the Absolute Truth as the divine cowherd-boy of Braja.</p>
<p class="p49">Bahulasva däsa adhikäré / Karuëa-mayé devé däsé / Haihaya däsa adhikäré / Abhay Caraëäravinda däsa / Arjuna and Yamal däsa / Turya däsa adhikäré / Çaktimaté devé däsé / Siddhasvara däsa adhikäré / Narmada devé däsé / Lakñmépriyä devé däsé / Jaya Räma däsa adhikäré / Elizabeth Prabhu / Räma Govinda däsa adhikäré / Raquel Prabhu / Oscar Prabhu / Rädhäräëé devé däsé / Rohiné-kumära däsa adhikäré / Indradeva däsa brahmacäré / Nandanandana däsa brahmacäré / Taruëa-kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Adhokñaja däsa brahmacäré / Amåtänanda däsa brahmacäré / Madana-manohara däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä-kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Satrajita däsa brahmacäré / Ned Prabhu / Hugo Prabhu / Bhakta Raul / Bhakta Carlos / Isaias Prabhu / Raul Prabhu / Alfredo Prabhu / Bhakta Alfredo / Rolando Prabhu / Bhakta Santos / Mario Prabhu / Bhakta Luis / Cirilo Prabhu / Rodolfo Prabhu / Bhaktin Malena / Bhaktin Conception / Bhaktin Rosa Maria / Bhaktin Silvia</p>
<p class="p11">Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Miami</b></p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to your holy feet Çréla Prabhupäda. You are our spiritual master and savior.</p>
<p class="p44">Through your mercy, we can hear all about our true home and how to go there in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>which is the true essence of all the <i>Vedas. </i>You have revealed the most sublime and intimate knowledge to us.</p>
<p class="p44">Many have come claiming to be “wielders of divine light” but only you have filled all the Vedic requirements to qualify as “Jagat Guru,” and only you have brought such pure joy to our hearts that we can give up all types of material happiness.</p>
<p class="p44">There is nothing invented or shallow in your purports, because you alone are the knower of Siddhänta (the conclusion of knowledge) and the true disciple of Vyäsadeva. Therefore, we surrender our ears to your strong voice which, like a sharp sword, slashes our demonic mentality and simultaneously fills us with thoughts of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Because we have come from such a godless culture, sworn to a sinful life of intoxication, meat eating and illicit sex, we feel that you have worked a special miracle to bring us to the standard of even <i>viddhi-bhakti </i>which is rarely achieved by the gross sum of transcendentalists, what to speak of others. We therefore accept you as the true representative of Lord Caitanya because no one else could empower you with the ability to counteract the effects of this age of Kali.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray that our lives will be living testimony to your perfect devotion to the cause of Kåñëa Consciousness and the orders of your Guru Mahäräja, who requested you to preach Kåñëa Consciousness in the English speaking countries.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray also that we will be able to continue your work with such vigor that it will be a credit to your good name. And that your instructions will perpetuate themselves in our dull memories.</p>
<p class="p44">And we are praying daily to Lord Nåsiàha that you can be relieved of the burden of our sinful activities and remain healthy because you are our only hope.</p>
<p class="p49">Abhiräma däsa adhikäré / Yädaväcärya däsa adhikäré / Madana Mohana däsa adhikäré / Rudra däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Vatsala däsa adhikäré / Sädhänanda däsa brahmacäré / Räji locana däsa adhikäré / Äja däsa brahmacäré / Gadi däsa brahmacäré / Räsa Paräyaëa däsa brahmacäré / Dharma däsa brahmacäré / Vijaya devé däsé / Cit-Sakté devé däsé / Våndävaneçvaré devé däsé / Rädhikä devé däsé / Bhakta Lélä devé däsé / Romané devé däsé / Navasé devé däsé / Bhaktin Barbara / Bhaktin Marie / Bhaktin Holly / Jévänuga däsa brahmacäré / Bhava Bhüti däsa brahmacäré / Saìkarñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Carl / Bhakta Howard / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Joel / Bhakta Pual / Bhakta Ken / Pürëima devé däsé / Brahmanie devé däsé / Bhaktin Lorie / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Neal / Sundaränanda däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Munich</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Munich</b></p>
<p class="p44">Wir beugen uns verehrend vor den heiligen Lotusfuben unseres geistigen Meisters A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, der uns ezwungen hat die Augen su offnen mit dem Fackelschein der Erkenntnis, als wir in der Kunkelheit der Unwissenheit standen<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p44">In der illusionaren Welt fuhrt ein Blinder den anderen und alle fallen in den Ozean der sich standig wiederholenden Geburten und Tode. Zwichen all diesen Blinden aber gibt es einen Sehenden, und das bist Du, Çréla Prabhupäda. Es gibt viele Sterne am Himmel, aber Du bist wie die Sonne, weil Du Kåñëa in Deinem Herzen tragst. Alle anderen Prabhus beugen sich vor Deinen Lotus fuben, weil Du wiekliche Vertreter Hari’s bist. Due bist in der Lage all diese, von Mäyä verblendeten Seelen zuruck nach Hause, zuruck zur Gottheit zu Fuhren. Deshalb sind wir unsagbar verschuldet und Dich zufried-enzustellen mub unser Lenen bestimmen.</p>
<p class="p44">Das Singen der heiligen Namen, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare, in jege Stadt und jedes Dorf zu verbreiten, dabei wollen wir Dir “helfen” um Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s Voraussage zu erfullen.</p>
<p class="p44">Deine ewig dienende Kinder</p>
<p class="p49">Sucandra däsa adhikäré / Bhuçakti devé däsé / Vaiñëavé däsé / Yamuniläya däsa brahmacäré / Ikñväku däsa brahmacäré / Akrüra däsa adhikäré / Basanta däsa brahmacäré / Açoka Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Durgäma däsa brahmacäré / Jïäna Vigraha däsa brahmacäré / Avinas Candra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ralph / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Frank</p>
<p class="p11">Nairobi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p12">While we were in our darkest hour<br>
Our eyes were blind, we could not see.<br>
Just like a blooming lotus flower<br>
You blossomed forth to set us free</p>
<p class="p12">From the bondage of <i>Mäyä’s</i> darkness<br>
To the light of Kåñëa’s sun.<br>
The mercy of Your Divine Grace<br>
Shines on everyone.</p>
<p class="p12">And when we asked you for the Truth<br>
You said Kåñëa’s name is absolute.<br>
To the chanter, the Lord awards the shelter of His lotus feet,<br>
And thus by chanting His holy name our lives can be perfect and complete.</p>
<p class="p12">You are the golden <i>Paramahaàsa<br>
</i>And all the universe is your lake in which to float.<br>
You bring the nectar across <i>Mäyä’s</i> rough and darkened waters<br>
And you are gliding us home in the transcendental boat.</p>
<p class="p12">We prostrate humbly at your lotus feet<br>
Your fallen servants we beg to remain,<br>
Actively engaged to serve you throughout eternity.</p>
<p class="p44">Your Humble Servants:</p>
<p class="p49">Chayavana däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavat däsa brahmacäré / Sarma däsa brahmacäré / Hari Kåpa däsa adhikäré / Jagad-guru däsa adhikäré / Daçärha däsa brahmacäré / Rasänanda däsa brahmacäré / Hayäsanänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Andrew / Venugit devé däsé / Bhakta Kiran / Bhakta Yashma</p>
<p class="p11">New Delhi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Delhi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Deluded by the glaring allure of material sense gratification, we were being dragged into the whirlpool of <i>mäyä</i>, deeper and deeper into the cycle of species of life. Somehow, by Kåñëa’s arrangement, we were thrown up from the bottom muck of ignorance to the human species of life. But, ignorant of our supreme interest, we were simply being swept again down the river of death, birth, old age and disease. Now by Your Divine Grace, we have landed on the shore of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">Although we are the most impure, you are the pure devotee of Kåñëa, <i>‘apapävidham’—</i>pure and antiseptic. Thus by your own love of God you are freeing us from the labyrinth of Godlessness.</p>
<p class="p44">The <i>Bhägavatam </i>tells us that “The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of a pure devotee of the Lord upon his head is certainly a dead body.” Certainly although we felt like dead, dry sticks, now your students are also becoming blazing fires of love of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">By serving you we are getting a taste for searching after Kåñëa. This confirms that you are <i>guru—</i>“O twice born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</span> And again in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>is written: <i>satataà kértayanto mäm. </i>“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” So you are the <i>äcärya </i>of the chanting of the holy names. You are always spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, banishing ignorance as the sun banishes night, declaring Kåñëa to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible, and eradicating atheism and voidism.</p>
<p class="p44">You have saved so many souls from the miseries of life by giving them the Vedic literatures as they are. You have not bluffed us but have gone straight to the point: <i>Vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedänta-kåd veda-vid eva cäham. </i>“By all the <i>Vedas </i>I (Kåñëa) am to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedänta, and I am the knower of the <i>Vedas.” </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>15.15]</span></p>
<p class="p44">You have infused into us the search after the Absolute Truth. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> it is written, “What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.” (<i>Bhag.</i> 2.3.17) Before meeting you we were blind to our interests, sleeping while you were awake. But now you have called us to Kåñëa and we have heard you crying for Him just like a child crying for his mother. Then you told us not to waste this precious life, for not even a moment can be replaced by millions of gold coins.</p>
<p class="p44">You have realized the conclusion of the scriptures: v<i>äsudeva sarvam iti. </i>This is the power of the spiritual master, as confirmed by such great authorities as Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé: “The qualifications of the spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters. Everyone should try to find such a bona fide spiritual master in order to fulfill his mission of life, which is to transfer himself to the plane of spiritual bliss.” (NOD pg. 58) By your life, words, intelligence and action you are giving unbreakable testimony in glory to the Lord. In Bombay, on the last day of our “Hare Kåñëa Festival”, we saw you dance and watched you circumambulate the Deities twice, clapping and smiling and turning so respectfully so that your back would not be to Them. The third and fourth times around you put your hands in the air and you were jumping. Effortlessly, you lifted the whole assembly far beyond this temporary material manifestation. We were exhilarated and we bounded around full of joy upon beholding this wonderful sight. An instant later it was over and again you were very grave. You are so kind to display to the fallen conditioned souls these wonderful manifestations of ecstatic feeling which arises from pure devotional service to Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa, in Mäyäpura you reminisced fondly with your Godbrother Çrédhara Svämé of the early days in your first meeting with His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda and of the events which followed, and in the end you shed tears. Then you danced with Çrédhara Svämé and your disciples wept with joy upon seeing this exchange of love between two surrendered servants of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">Although we cannot begin to comprehend or understand your actions and feelings, simply by seeing these symptoms of ecstatic love manifest in your person we are brought closer to that long lost goal of following in your footsteps and rendering pure unalloyed devotional service to Their Lordships Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mahäprabhoù kértana-nåtya-gétä-<br>
väditra-mädyan-manaso rasena<br>
romäïca-kampäçru-taraìga-bhäjo<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is always engaged in chanting and hearing the message of Lord Caitanya and sometimes is dancing in ecstasy. Sometimes he feels quivering in his body because of spiritual trance. I offer my respectful obeisances unto such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurvañöakam,</i> 2]</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa is the source of all knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness, and you are Lord Çré Kåñëa’s most confidential servitor. Therefore, we are praying for your mercy that we may always retain the ecstatic mood of your perfect devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Let our mind always rest on you, Çréla Prabhupäda. May your lotus feet eternally remain the object of our attraction.</p>
<p class="p61">Your most fallen servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Tejéyas däsa adhikäré / Madira devé däsé / Yadubara däsa adhikäré / Viçakhä devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">New Gokula Dhama, Auckland, New Zealand</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Gokula Dhama, Auckland, New Zealand</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">We here at New Gokula-dhäma are not a very scholarly crew. Our efforts to please you are mottled with many imperfections. So we are a little shy to offer our homage to you. We know it will be inadequate.</p>
<p class="p44">We perceive in you a great ocean of wisdom, experience and compassion. These virtues originate in Çré Kåñëa and are transmitted to you via the completely pure disciplic chain. Empowered in this way with the Lord’s own potency, you are salvaging our ruined lives. Before your appearance in the West we had not met one in whom we could place our trust. Disillusioned with parents, politicians and educators who seemed intent on riding their sinking ship to the bottom of the sea, we were searching a way out.</p>
<p class="p44">Scores of psuedo-religionists, psychedelic philosophers and damnation day clubs offered us the other side of the same coin. “Zero out… annihilate yourself….merging brings relief,” they proclaimed.</p>
<p class="p44">Mukti, bhukti, which way to go?<br>
The twisted banyon or the great zero?</p>
<p class="p44">Then one day from India you came,<br>
Bearing the mercy of the holy name.</p>
<p class="p44">Your glance so calm against this storm,<br>
Giving peace to the battle worn.</p>
<p class="p44">An elegant swan from the Vedic ocean<br>
Preaching the nectar of pure devotion.</p>
<p class="p44">You are the gateway to Godhead and by accepting our services you have afforded us the opportunity to enter the all-blissful world of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">You are beyond the gamut of our mundane minds and thus we are stymied in our efforts to glorify you. Sincerely we plead to remain always your humble servants and hope that you will accept this as an encomium in itself.</p>
<p class="p44">With our heads at your feet,<br>
We submit this humble offering.</p>
<p class="p49">Tuñöa Kåñëa däsa Gosvämé / Beharilal däsa adhikäré / Purundar däsa brahmacäré / Yajïeçvara däsa brahmacäré / Bhajanäbhi däsa brahmacäré / Hare Räma däsa brahmacäré / Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Allan Prabhu / Barrie Prabhu / David Prabhu / Bruce Prabhu / Charaka Prabhu / Gopépriyä devé däsé / Satyavaté devé däsé / Mälädhara devé däsé / Robyn Prabhu / Mary Prabhu / Sharron Prabhu / Tai-ane-Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna timirandhasya jïänäïjana çalakäya<br>
cakñur unmilitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">We wish to offer this small appreciation at Your Divine Grace’s lotus feet in honor of your appearance among us, the fallen conditioned souls. Considering that Your Divine Grace is Çré Jagat Guru (spiritual master of the universe) our appreciation can never be sufficient to match your glory.</p>
<p class="p44">If Your Divine Grace were not Jagat Guru then how could you deliver boys and girls all over the world from <i>Mäyä’s </i>grasp (illusion)?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yat päda-saàçrayäù süta<br>
munayaù praçamäyanäù<br>
sadyaù punanty upaspåñöäù<br>
svar-dhunyäpo ’nusevayä<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 1.1.15</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“O Süta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who came in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.” </p>
<p class="p44">You are called “Prabhupäda” because your only business is to serve Kåñëa cent per cent, and so you are the representative of Kåñëa’s lotus feet. By accepting Your Divine Grace as spiritual master and following your instructions (for awakening love of Kåñëa, God) anyone in the universe can at once be purified and take shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Mahätmänas tu mäà pärtha<br>
daivéà prakåtim äçrétäù<br>
bhajanty ananya-manaso<br>
jïätvä bhütädim avyayam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 9.13</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“O Son of Påthä, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace is wonderful because, even though you are present in this material world, you remain completely detached from matter and fully engaged in Krsna consciousness, free from all tinges of contamination.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Satataà kértyanto mäà<br>
yatantaç ca dådha-vratäù<br>
namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä<br>
nitya-yukta upäsate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 9.14</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.”</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace has all the qualifications of a pure devotee and bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession. Your activities and words are all dedicated to the service of your Guru Mahäräja. Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, you have written so many books delineating the science of God, you have given freely this chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> and you have engaged us in the pure devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">For so long, in our nescience, we have been clinging to this body and its paraphernalia as our self-identity, and we have accepted material scientists, <i>bhogi yogés </i>and other rascals as authorities. We had forgotten Kåñëa and His love for His parts and parcels, the living entities. Due to your mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda, our ignorance is factually being dissipated. You alone are revealing knowledge to us because you have seen the truth.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray to Your Divine Grace to accept our appreciations and obeisances. We pray to put aside our reluctance and quarrelsome habits and simply give a submissive hearing to your sublime message. We pray to always be in your transcendental association by following your instructions and being always engaged in your service.</p>
<p class="p63">“The line of service as drawn by you,<br>
Is pleasing and healthy, like morning dew.<br>
The oldest of all but in new dress,<br>
Miracle done, Your Divine Grace.”</p>
<p class="p44">Your erternal servants,<br>
New Orleans Yäträ</p>
<p class="p49">Nityänanda däsa / Kuëya Kumäré devé däsé / Bhakta Vimala / Çanté devé däsé / Premamayé devé däsé / Jeri / David / Mahendranätha däsa / Roy / Yogéndra vandana däsa / Våkodara das / Dwight / Dvibhüja däsa / Piyuñkänti däsa</p>
<p class="p11">New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44"><b>“The Earth Pays Homage to You”</b></p>
<p class="p44">In His glorious <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>Veda-Vyäsa depicts the cow, the embodiment of mother earth herself, standing in tears while her bull, Dharma, the true religion, is smitten by the cruel <i>çüdra-</i>faced Kali. In this age of Kali, countless calves are daily torn from their mothers. The calf is severed from its cow-mother earth by the demonic Kali-yuga mentality–greed for money and unrestricted sense enjoyment.</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore the earth pays homage to you. Çréla Prabhupäda. You shower rains of mercy from the dark clouds of mercy itself. Kåñëa is that dark cloud, Çréla Prabhupäda, and you are His rain of mercy. May you reign over all this poor parched earth!</p>
<p class="p44">Before you began chanting Hare Kåñëa in New York some seven years ago, there was no refuge from the earth slaughterer Kali. Though the horrors of Kali are still with us, the avenue of transcendence has been opened. You have given us an alternative. You have distributed the mercy of the alternative – the chanting of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa, Kåñëa, Hare Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma, Räma Räma Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p44">Now you have also posed another alternative in total living—your New Våndävana. The cows at New Våndävana are the only cows in the West that are not systematically slaughtered. Using the principle of cow protection as the foundation, you have drawn up and set forth the model of ideal life for man in this New Våndävana experience. The dream is all yours, Çréla Prabhupäda. How can we realize it? Through your mercy, through your mercy only.</p>
<p class="p44">Religion is man’s link to God. Veda-Vyäsa celebrates the bull as Dharma, religion personified. When the bull of religion is butchered, what is man left with? When the bull of truth is sold and departed, what kind of life can man live? Kali lives in the land of blind greed for money, the passport to the land of unrestricted senses. Kali butchers both the earth and Dharma and sells them for money. Without Dharma and his mother, man cannot leave Kali’s labyrinthine lands.</p>
<p class="p44">Many <i>yogés, </i>bogies,<i> svamés </i>and magicians within the labyrinth offer tinsel prizes and pampered consciences to their following, but they cannot award freedom. They cannot give new life. Only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, have given positive action, positive life styles, as exemplified by New Våndävana and the many centers for Kåñëa consciousness around the world.</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore the earth pays homage to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Now the calf and its mother can romp freely over the pastures. Now Dharma has been returned to the earth. Now they can be together again.</p>
<p class="p44">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p44">NEW VRINDABAN COMMUNITY:</p>
<p class="p44">The Inmates of New Våndävana<br>
Kértanänanda Svämé, President</p>
<p class="p11">New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New York</b></p>
<p class="p34">“The pearls of the necklace which is hanging on the neck of Kåñëa are as white as ducks; and the feather of the peacock which is decorating the head of Kåñëa is colored just like the rainbow. His yellow garment is like lightning in the sky. Kåñëa is like the newly arrived clouds; and the <i>gopés</i> are just like footbells on His feet. When the cloud pours rain on the grains in the field it appears Kåñëa is nourishing the hearts of the <i>gopés </i>by calling down His pastime rain of mercy. The ducks fly in the sky in the rainy season, and the rainbow is also seen in the sky at that time. Kåñëa freely moves with His friends as a cowherd boy in Våndävana; and when He plays His flute all the living creatures, mobile and immobile become overwhelmed with ecstasy, and they quiver and tears flow in their eyes. “ (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Pg. 90)</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa is always calling us, calling for us to see Him again. He has no need to bother, for, certainly, we are fallen and useless. Out of envy, we’ve made this material world our playground and now we stubbornly cling to our false independence and material attachments. And Kåñëa, the Supreme Beautiful, is always situated in His full, self-satisfied existence of eternity, knowledge and bliss. But nonetheless, He is always reaching down to us, reaching in through the eons of accumulated coverings, through the illusory effects of material lust. Now, in this age of quarrel and confusion, Kåñëa has come once again. He has come as the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">“The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because He is the most confidential servitor of the Lord.” Kåñëa is calling us, and Çréla Prabhupäda is calling us. And their call is one and the same. For Kåñëa’s message is just to surrender unto Him. “In return,” He promises, “ I shall protect you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” And what is Çréla Prabhupäda’s message? “Just chant Hare Kåñëa, dance for Kåñëa and be happy.” Chanting and dancing for Kåñëa <i>means </i>complete surrender to Kåñëa, for one chants and dances develops ecstatic love of Kåñëa. That is the undeniable fact, proven by the <i>çästras</i> and by the result.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>anäyäse bhava-kñaya kåñëera sevana<br>
eka kåñëa-nämera phale päi eta dhana</i></p>
<p class="p34">“As a result of chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra, </i>one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Kåñëa is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Cc., <i>Adi</i>, 8.28)</p>
<p class="p44"> Supreme purification, the association of Kåñëa’s holy name, is the means and the end. Thus, the purified devotee, ecstatic and peaceful in his undisturbed love, desires only to serve Kåñëa more and more, forever.</p>
<p class="p44">And what can we offer Çréla Prabhupäda in return for his gifts? Now we are safe, like children in his lap. Who can guess the course of events had he not extended his hand? How horrible, how frightening it would have been. And yet, only he has delivered the message, even to the most fallen.</p>
<p class="p44">We do not like to think of our previous lives. But all those around us are still groping and stumbling, suffering in pain. They are afraid to take Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy for, if they do, they will be forced to love Kåñëa, forced to surrender at His lotus feet, forced to give up their delusions of grandeur and their selfish material life. They cannot see the yawning abyss looming before them as inevitable death. What lies beyond their spot life, they do not know, and, worse, are unwilling to look.</p>
<p class="p44">Now that we’re hearing, now that we’ve heard, our path is clear. We must also call them, call them for Prabhupäda, call them for Kåñëa. Millions of books must be printed and distributed. And, for every town and village—a shining temple, Rädhä-Kåñëa’s abode. <i>Mådaìgas </i>pulsing, <i>karatälas </i>ringing, Çré Näma Prabhu vibrating across the face of the earth, we must call them again and again by repeating–by repeating what we’ve heard intact—and by following. With a prayer for success at the feet of Çré Çré Guru and Gauräìga, let us follow exactly, whatever our disqualifications are. O Gurudeva, we surrender life and soul, at your feet. Please make us your puppets; help us to serve you with love.</p>
<p class="p44">Your servants,<br>
ISKCON Press and New York Temple</p>
<p class="p44">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p49">Anuttama däsa / Apürva däsa / Bälajé däsa / Bhaktivinoda däsa / Bhargava däsa / Brajendranandena däsa / Dharmakçetra däsa / Dhérakåñëa däsa / Dhåñöaketu däsa / Gadägraja däsa / Garéyan däsa / Gopéjanavallabha däsa / Håñékeça däsa / IndrapRämada däsa / Jagajévana däsa / Jagannätha däsa / Jayaçacénandana däsa / Janärdana däsa / Jayädvaita däsa / Kåñëamürti däsa / Kapéndra däsa / Lokamaìgala däsa / Madhumaìgala däsa / Maìgalänanda däsa / Navadvépa däsa / Pippaläi däsa / Puñkara däsa / Räghavacaitanya däsa / Rädhävallabha däsa / Rasaräja däsa / Romapäda däsa / Çatajit däsa / Sevänanda däsa / Çravaëänanda däsa / Çréla däsa / Sumahat däsa / Sunanda däsa / Térthaprada däsa / Toñanakåñëa däsa / Vidyäbhüñaëa däsa / Viläsavigraha däsa / Vérendra däsa / Viñëu däsa / Viñëugadä däsa / Vrajendranandana däsa / Vyäsatértha däsa / Yamaräja däsa / Yogänanda däsa / Brahmacärénés / Alärka däsé / Baläi däsé / Bhümé däsé / Cäìcala däsé / Christina / Devé däsé / Dharmakälä däsé / Gauré däsé / Jaduräëé däsé / Jitramétra däsé / Latä däsé / Mahärha däsé / Mamatä däsé / Oàkära däsé / Pauravé däsé / Rägätmikä däsé / Sikhaëòiné däsé / Sunéta däsé / Väräëasé däsé / Householders / Bhadra däsé- Parékñit däsa / Tulasyänanda däsa / Daivañakté däsé –Nayanäbhiräma däsa / Jähnava däsé—Nandakiçora däsa / Lélämaïjaré däsé—Padmanäbha däsa / Naradevé däsé—Jagannäthasüta däsa / Käïcabäla däsé—Madhusüdana däsa / Räñörapälikä däsé—Nitäi däsa / Praphullamukhé däsé—Gaurahari däsa / Çravaëéya däsé–Santoña däsa / Yogamäyä däsé—Muralédhara däsa / Antardhyäna däsé—Jitasvära däsa / Ekäyané däsé—Gopälakåñëa däsa / Durläbha däsa / Uninitiated Devotees / Alvin Prabhu / Ahmed Prabhu / Bharat Jagannath Prabhu / David Prabhu / Ed Prabhu / Frank Prabhu / Jeff K. Prabhu / Jeff S. Prabhu / Joseph Prabhu / John I Prabhu / John II Prabhu / Lee R Prabhu / Lee M Prabhu / Lenny Prabhu / Oscar Prabhu / Peter Prabhu / Robby Prabhu / Ralph Prabhu / Tom Prabhu / Umberto Prabhu / Wayne Prabhu / Mark Prabhu / Donna Prabhu / Edith Prabhu—Osiris Prabhu / Helene Prabhu / Nicki Prabhu / Susan Prabhu / Valeri Prabhu / Julie Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paris</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">France is known as a country founded by revolution, both political and intellectual. Her people are accustomed to war and godlessness. But you have introduced a different kind of revolution. After this, there will be no others. Generally, revolution is followed by reform; those who fight are obliged to rebuild the society they have destroyed. But after your war there will be no ruins, no destruction, no need to rebuild. You train your soldiers to leave everything intact: their target is the heart, not the home, and their weapon is knowledge of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">We, your disciples of Paris temple, consider our devotional services here unusually important. We are required to prepare ourselves for meeting heavy challenges, for it was here that the Western world’s most influential literary figures and schools of philosophy took their birth. If the West is filled with impersonalism and voidism, it was here that these philosophies were structuralized and polished. But your piercing answers to such speculative ideologies and their propounders show the inevitable flaws.</p>
<p class="p44">Darwin and his anthropological tribe claim man to be a descendant of the apes. You reply, “Maybe <i>your </i>ancestors were apes; mine were philosophers. If we have descended from the apes, then why isn’t there one human-like child born of an ape mother from among the thousands born every day?”</p>
<p class="p44">The Existentialists sometimes use the example of the chaotic movement of molecules in a pot of boiling water to show how life is absurd and how the universe has no order. You have taught us how order exists everywhere, and how one must simply have a proper perspective to see it. Looking closely, one can observe that heated molecules do move in a definite way, and that one molecule hit by another must move a certain distance and in a certain direction. Nothing is without meaning in Kåñëa’s creation.</p>
<p class="p44">Empiric philosophers claim that it is not by reasoning that one arrives at truth. No scripture or philosophy, they say, can divine any truth more accurately than direct experience. The experience, they say, is more important than the word; the word is just a description after-the-fact of the experience. “That’s nonsense,” you reply. “Someone has said that? Let him experience my shoe. Then let him use his words to describe how pleasant it was.”</p>
<p class="p44">If by learning perfectly the lessons you bestow, perfect in all respects, we can help elevate the French people from their extraordinary entanglement in <i>mäyä, </i>then our mission as your representatives will have succeeded. People here are floating in a sewer of sexual and mental agitation, fed by philosophies and politics that justify such a life. No one has ever shown them as much compassion as you. In time, with proper cultivation, they will come to appreciate what you have brought to them. Until then, please allow our small message of love and gratitude to speak for the thousands and millions of souls who will eventually know the bliss of Kåñëa Consciousness by your mercy.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhagavän däsa / Locanänanda däsa / Viçvambhara däsa / Bhügarbha däsa / Yogeçvara däsa / Hariviläsa däsa / Indradumna däsa / Präbhava Vigraha däsa / Adhibhüta däsa / Dayämågya däsa / Dvijavara däsa / Rasada däsa / Bhavasindhu däsa / Jagadadija däsa / Bhakta Sergio / Bhakta JoJo / Kapila däsa / Paraçuräma däsa / Bhakta Claude / Bhakta Pierre / Rädhikä-Rämaëa däsa / Bhakta Jean-Marie / Gurugauräìga däsa / Janärdradi däsa / Çré Gopäla däsa / Bhakta Luigi / Bhakta Carlo / Bhakta Alain / Vaiñëava däsa / Arjuna däsa / Caitanya däsa / Jyotirmayé däsé / Alli Kåñëa däsé / Mondakiné däsé / Kåpämayé däsé / Annada däsé / Pärijäta däsé / Jaya Lakñmé däsé / Kåñëa Paräyaëa däsé / Bhaktin Helen / Bhaktin Mary Ann / Bhaktin Carol / Bhaktin Francine / Bhaktin Mara / Bhaktin Danielle / Aditi däsé / Bhaktin Maurine / Kåñëa Bhaminé däsé / Maïjaré däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p44">Our dear God-brothers and God-sisters,</p>
<p class="p44">Today is the day we gather together and offer praise to our most beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svämé Prabhupäda, on the most auspicious anniversary of his appearance among us in this mortal world. We have the inconceivably good fortune to be counted among his servants. Certainly we ought to praise him with all the power at our command. He left his native land at the age of seventy and sailed to strange and alien shores – to America. And in the year he arrived we were lost in darkness, blundering without guidance through the dense woods of illusion, crying out for the unknown with no one to help us. And Prabhupäda came with shining step to us, one by one, and suddenly the darkness vanished and all those dark and fearful years before seemed like a bad dream vanquished by sunrise and daybreak.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda was asked by a reporter if he considered himself the savior of the youth of America, and he replied with widening eyes: “Yes. Certainly!” And he pointed to his children sitting around him, saying that his movement had already saved them. “Just see he said, like a proud father, “bright faces…” And immediately all of their faces became very bright indeed.</p>
<p class="p44">We know that Çréla Prabhupäda is our savior. Every one of us has had the experience of seeing his former associates appearing as though they were living in another country, another planet; we saw how they were becoming more and more degraded by intoxicants, unrestricted sex-life and meat-eating, still struggling through the density of ignorance that had so miraculously been lifted from us when we first allowed the words of Çréla Prabhupäda to enter into our ears.</p>
<p class="p44">He alone has told us the truth as it is. He alone has not lied. From the beginning of our lives it was declared to us from all sides that we should become satisfied by improving the “quality of life,” that is, by unlimitedly increasing sense gratification. And this was a lie. Then we heard on in our frustration that we could achieve the highest aim of life if we extinguished our individual existences by crashing into a spiritual fire or blowing out into a void, and that this could be had from any number of pushers of the ultimate pleasure. This was an even greater lie. The falsity of both left us suspended, baffled, trapped. Then Prabhupäda came and showed us the way out, to the transcendental variegated realm of the unlimitedly increasing opulences and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: our home. Only Prabhupäda told us to become the most humble, and diagnosed the material disease for us as Mäyävädé life, the living entity’s desire to become God. And as this is the truth, all who heard were convinced.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda told us about Kåñëa. Void or impersonal philosophy is the wind that feeds the fire of material existence, and we are seeing this happening before our own eyes to the people of America. If the people are taught that God is void or impersonal, then their innate and unfulfilled propensity to relish the love of Kåñëa will send them searching among the perverted reflections of the degraded mundane sty. But Çréla Prabhupäda alone is delivering knowledge about Kåñëa. He alone is ceaselessly preaching the glories of the Lord. This can attract the longings of the people back to the Fountainhead of all spiritual <i>rasas</i>. This is the end of all knowledge and it is very, very rare. Kåñëa Himself declares it to be the most confidential knowledge, the most secret of all secrets. Great philosophers strain their minds for millions and millions of years through countless births before they can approach Kåñëa. Yet such is the mercy of the pure devotee of God, that he can easily deliver Kåñëa; and Prabhupäda came and stood on the street corners, handing Him out like candy to anyone who would take Him.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda is eleventh in the line of disciplic succession from Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and by himself he has fulfilled the prophecy of the Lord: “My name will be glorified in every town and village in the world.” There are some who take the wishes of God seriously. Such a one is His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Saraswaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda, who told our spiritual master in 1922, on the occasion of their first meeting, to preach Kåñëa Consciousness in the English language and in the Western world. We have seen the crudely printed broadsheets that were the first issues of Back to Godhead, which Prabhupäda began in 1944 and wrote, printed and distributed by himself. Our God-brothers who have read these early issues unanimously report the arousal of an intense feeling which bade them to fall at Çréla Prabhupäda’s lotus feet and worship him endlessly. The English is not easy, often irregularly composed, unpolished and seemingly spelled out with the greatest difficulty. You could not see there any promise of a career in English letters. ‘Sound advice’ might have counseled the author to stick to what he knew best. And yet, he kept at it issue after issue. In 1954 he retired from family life and took residence in a room in the Rädhä-Dämodara Temple at Våndävana; a photograph shows the tiny, narrow monk’s cell with its cracked, peeling walls and a few crudely–fashioned pieces of furniture where Prabhupäda rendered into English three thick volumes of <i>Srimad-Bhägavatam. </i>Then he had it printed with great difficulty and went out distributing. In this way for twenty years he kept faith with the order of his Guru Mahäräja in spite of all obstacles and frustration and with no hint of tangible success.</p>
<p class="p44">And who would have predicted it? Go and travel to any city in the world and you find Prabhupäda’s disciples there. He flies around the globe every year on a jet plane, and he lands to the glare of television lights and the questions of the press. Now look at his books: big, big volumes, how beautifully printed and bound they are, how richly illustrated, and explaining with such exquisite clarity the science of God in impeccable English. There’s an ever-increasing flood of them coming off the press, and they are taken up in the universities as the definitive editions. Is there any other author in the world who can boast of his own great press, solely engaged in the publication of his works, and an amazingly enthused corps of expert salesmen, who sleep in trucks and work twelve hours a day without wages?</p>
<p class="p44">So now they tell Prabhupäda that he has worked a miracle. “Well,” he replied, “I’m not a magician. But there is one thing to my credit. I have not tried to take the position of God. I have always remained the servant.” Because Prabhupäda has made himself the lowest, the unresisting servant of his spiritual master, Kåñëa has empowered him with all facility, and raised him to be the highest. We must forever glorify Prabhupäda for his causeless mercy in so perpetuating the sublime and miraculous institution of the Vaiñëava <i>guru</i>. Without the person of the Vaiñëava <i>guru</i>, we cannot approach the Supreme Absolute Truth. The two are inseparable. Kåñëa does not allow anyone to approach Him who has not become freed from all selfish tendencies for lording it over. No one can become free from lording it over unless he surrenders himself utterly to the lotus feet of the Vaiñëava <i>guru</i>. One is lifted to the highest order of the Vaiñëavas only when one can feel himself the lowest of all. This true humility can be found only by worshiping the lotus feet of Çré Gurudeva.</p>
<p class="p44">Let us therefore catch hold tightly to Çréla Prabhupäda’s lotus feet and never let go. He will deliver all of us to Kåñëa. He is the dearmost of Kåñëa. We are standing tongue-tied and dumb-founded before the splendor of the transcendental majesty of Çréla Prabhupäda. We have not the words. And we know well that if whatever devotion we have for Çréla Prabhupäda were to perpetually increase a million-fold each day, it would not match the causeless mercy he has bestowed upon us; nor will all the service we can ever render now and in eternity be adequate recompense for his grace. All Glories, all glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All Glories to Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda’s worthless servants in Philadelphia,</p>
<p class="p49">Ravindra Svarüpa däsa / Partåkänanda däsa / Dåiñöadyumna däsa / Trilocana däsa / Çuddhajéva däsa / Phatikchandra däsa / Yajïabhuk däsa / Maheçvara däsa / Ananta Vijay däsa / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Gary / Bhakta Blain / Bhakta James / Bhakta Jeff / Bhakta Cliff / Bhakta Micheal / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Kris / Bhakta Mike / Saudämaëé devé däsé / Mahäbhoga devé däsé / Gopénätha devé däsé / Bhakta Gabriel / Bhakta Chris</p>
<p class="p11">Pittsburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Pittsburgh</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate Bhaktivedanta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">We are most respectfully and humbly prostrating ourselves at your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, for despite our many strivings, we have found no other true shelter. Although we are certainly among the most sinful, fallen wretches, yet we are in fact the most fortunate souls in all the three worlds, for, by the limitless grace of the Lord, we have obtained the association of your merciful self. Due to our having become a little bit serious about factual spiritual life, Çré Kåñëa has been pleased to bestow upon us the intelligence to be attracted by your pure, exemplary life, and thus we have become enlivened to pursue your lotus feet….</p>
<p class="p34">“We think that we have met Your Grace by the will of Providence, and thus we accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of the human being.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.22]</p>
<p class="p44">And now, you, Çréla Prabhupäda, who are the perfect living example of humility, patience, tolerance, compassion and undeviating, cent-percent submission at the lotus feet of your Guru Mahäräja, (bearing upon yourself the weight of our past sins) are leading us up out of the realm of the living dead (who are lost to themselves amidst the deepening shadow of death.) You are offering to us that gem after which all conditioned souls are searching for millions upon millions of births, the highest gift: eternally perfect, absolutely unconditional and unlimitedly ecstatic hankering for the intimate association of Çré Çré Rädhä-Mädhava…..</p>
<p class="p44">We are praying, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we shall always possess the strength and determination to never deviate from your sacred service. In this way, and only in this way, will we ever be able to fulfill our duty, which is to fully accept and pass on to others the gift which you are offering. Please accept our heads at your lotus feet, and do with them as you wish; we aspire to become perfect tools in your hands….All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Mahendra däsa adhikäré / Sukhadä devé däsé / Lalita Kumära däsa adhikäré / Jambavaté devé däsé &amp; Mitra / Brahma däsa brahmacäré / Candrabhänu däsa brahmacäré / Kåpamäyä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Raymond brahmacäré / Naré devé däsé / Bhaktin Peggy</p>
<p class="p11">Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Portland</b></p>
<p class="p44">To our dearly beloved spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p44">We, your sons and daughters of Portland Temple, beg to join together with all your other wonderful spiritual children in offering our utterly worthless obeisances and futilely inadequate prayers in glorification of your divine lotus feet. Your lotus feet hover just above this abysmal material world to bring to our crippled and depraved selves the cooling moonlight of our Lord Caitanya’s divine command: Chant Hare Kåñëa!</p>
<p class="p44">Material existence is often compared with a blazing forest fire. In the forest, fire takes place without being set or desired by anyone. In the same way, the pangs of the material atmosphere attack us without our wanting such tribulations. We make our feeble attempts to foil these troubles in the shape of personal sense gratification and so-called advancement of material science only to be defeated by <i>mäyä</i> and her endless torrent of tricks. Similarly, we may dream of stopping the material miseries, but they are actually the nature of this world.</p>
<p class="p44">The indications of the Vedic wisdom is that to solve the perplexing problems of life we must surrender ourselves wholeheartedly at the lotus feet of Çré Gurudeva, the wise and bona fide spiritual master. The instruction of the <i>guru</i> is not to make some plan of temporary enjoyment. It is to take us beyond this flickering duality of pleasure, pain, birth and death to our eternal repose at the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa, the all-beautiful Personality of Godhead, where we can endlessly engage in His transcendental loving service. When we are being chased by a tiger in a dream the real solution lies not in searching for safety in the dreaming state but to simply wake up. Similarly, by his forceful words of instruction, the <i>äcäryadeva</i> is trying to wake us up from the sleep of material illusion and bring us to the understanding that we are pure spirit and belong to Kåñëa. Thus we are offering this homage unto you, O Çréla Prabhupäda, and begging for your mercy. May we follow the injunctions of all revealed scriptures, the footsteps of all the great authorities and your own personal example. With whole hearted attention and enthusiasm, may we hear and serve your divine instruction.</p>
<p class="p44">Eons of years ago, at the dawn of creation, the Lord imparted the knowledge of the <i>Vedas </i>unto the heart of Brahmä, the first living creature. Brahmä then imparted the same knowledge to his sons and disciples to spread this glorious science of God throughout the creation. They in turn delivered the same message to their disciples. Even now, Brahmä’s most famous son, Närada, is broadcasting the same message throughout the universe. That is the Vedic process of descending knowledge or receiving knowledge from higher authorities. After all, how can we ascend to such knowledge? Due to our imperfect senses, cheating tendency, mistakes and illusions, we must fall short in our attempts and become obliterated on the rocks of voidism and impersonalism. Thus, in the revealed scriptures it is imperatively enjoined that one must receive knowledge through disciplic succession. The Lord Himself has explained this in <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> with the words “<i>evaà paramparä präptam…”</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 4.2]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Therefore, it is not out of frail sentiment but with real knowledge and full faith that we pay this humble tribute to Your Divine Grace as our spiritual master. You are the embodiment of all saintly qualities such as humility, peacefulness, self-control and mercy. And most importantly, you are delivering to us the same knowledge imparted to Brahmä in ages gone by: that the transcendental sports of Çré Kåñëa, the Personality of Godhead, as exhibited in Våndävana, constitute the highest peak, the acme of transcendental realization. We have no doubts that you are a perfectly qualified bona fide spiritual master and we submit our wretched selves before you, begging by your unflinching mercy to become qualified disciples of your goodself. We have full faith that if somehow or other we can cling to your instructions, after many crores of births and deaths within this filthy material world we may someday be able to render some insignificant service to repay the priceless gift you have bestowed upon our undeserving selves. Maybe then we will actually understand the purport of the verse by the great Äcäryadeva Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura: “The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence.”</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to you Çréla Prabhupäda!!</p>
<p class="p44">Your servants in Portland,</p>
<p class="p49">Dina Bandhu däsa adhikäré / Äkuti devé däsé / Bhagavat Äcärya däsa adhikäré / Kaçumapitä devé däsé / Deva Deva däsa brahmacäré / Anantätma däsa brahmacäré / Anubhavänanda däsa brahmacäré / Çikhandi däsé / Bhakta Dwight / Bhakta Bruce / Bhakta John / Kälakantha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p44">Our dearly beloved father, Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">On this auspicious day we offer our respectful obeisances unto you, Your Divine Grace. By the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa, you have come as Jagat-guru, spiritual master of the universe, and by that same supreme will you have appeared in the western world to dispel the influence of voidism and impersonalism. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p44">You are delivering us from the illusion of birth, death, disease and old age. Yet had you not come, who would have, who would have told us about the message of Kåñëa, the path back to Godhead, the way back to home? Who would guide us, who would show us the way or teach us how to escape this world of death? You are the personified mercy of Kåñëa, come to save us from the dark well of ignorance. You are delivering us to the transcendental abode of Lord Govinda, which is made of touchstone and filled with desire trees. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace is only one of a kind. You are propagating the glorious Çré Kåñëa <i>saìkértana </i>Movement of <i>Çré Païca-tattva. </i>You have said yourself that you are single-handedly carrying out the message of Lord Caitanya. For yourself you need nothing, but in compassion for others you remain in the material world to give anyone who will come forward a chance to receive your mercy. You are the eternal master. We owe our life breath to you. We offer our respectful obeisances to you again and again.</p>
<p class="p44">Of what use is this life without your association? All the money in the world cannot help us. No amount of material success can help us. Indeed, there is no success without you. Without your grace, everything is a futile endeavor. Empty. Hollow. Your plan alone can bring happiness to the planet. Only the foolish turn away and do not recognize your prowess or surrender to your mission. Some may talk of liberation, but there is no transcended life outside your order. Your instruction is the only lifeline for the planet, what to speak of your lowly disciples. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p44">Oh Nämäcärya you have given us the holy name, the chanting of His glories. Wherever there is chanting of the holy name of Kåñëa, there is Kåñëa himself. So you have brought Kåñëa Himself and without your mercy no one can approach Him. Kåñëa says that “those who say they are My devotees are not really My devotees, but those who say they are the devotees of My devotees, they are actually My devotees.” Therefore, you are our only link with Kåñëa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p44">Our dear father Çréla Prabhupäda, we are weak and devoid of intelligence. Our only hope and joy is your association. We humbly appeal to your compassionate nature, that you may continue to raise us towards pure devotion, so we can help you to carry on this movement. Your careful guidance is our only strength, your mercy is all that we are made of. Without your protection we would all remain amongst the society of hogs, dogs, camels and asses. Now you have given us the light of <i>çästra, </i>which is the weapon against darkness and death. Armed with your most precious gifts, your books, we can stand against the warriors of illusion, taking shelter of your blessings. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again. </p>
<p class="p49">Makanlal däsa adhikäré / Bähuçéra däsa brahmacäré / Mahä-muni däsa brahmacäré / Saucélya däsa brahmacäré / Tilaka devé däsa / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta Allen / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Johnathan / Bhakta Chuck / Bhakta Lance / Bhakta Doug / Bhaktin Karen / Bhaktin Nancy / Bhaktin Ginette / Bhaktin Mary / Bhaktin Geanne / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Becky / Bhakta Don / Bhaktin Sylvia / Bhakta Dean / Bhaktin Jane</p>
<p class="p11">San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p44"><i>We offer our obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master who has forced open our eyes blinded by the darkness of ignorance with the torchlight of knowledge</i>.<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">Most Revered Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">We, your insignificant children, do offer our prostrated obeisances unto your feet, which are worshipable by everyone throughout the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Çiva once told Parvaté, </p>
<p class="p34">“My dear Parvaté, there are different methods of worship, and out of all such methods of worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But even higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotees. “ (Nectar of Devotion, page 103)</p>
<p class="p44">Similarly, in the Ä<i>di-Puräëa, </i>there is a statement by Lord Kåñëa Himself to Arjuna, “My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only the person who claims to be devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee.”</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, how can we claim to be Kåñëa’s devotees? Certainly not directly. By birth we are lower than <i>candälas</i> (dog-eaters). Only due to your continual blessings and causeless mercy upon us we are beginning to once again feel the joyful, blissful presence of Kåñëa within our hearts.</p>
<p class="p44">It is confirmed by Äcärya-deva Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté: “<i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo, yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto’pi, dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà, vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam.”</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span><i> </i>By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master on one can make any advancement. Therefore I should always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lotus feet of my spiritual master.”</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have performed the greatest miracle. It is not that you are just healing the sick or giving bread to the hungry. No, by your association alone, you are changing our very hearts. Just as Närada Muni once turned the coarse, sinful hunter, <i>mågäri</i>, into a great Vaiñëava, so you have picked up thieves, drug addicts, and worse and have made them flower-like, bright faced, dancing devotees of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Your Divine Grace is so potent that simply by associating with you through your greatest gifts (your books) the course of men’s lives throughout the world are being changed, although they have never seen you.</p>
<p class="p44">The materialists cannot see how this is taking place. But those who are serious about human life can see that your disciples are not ordinary. No, they are extraordinary. Nowhere else in the world can one find men and women who are actually becoming free from sinful existence. You have taught your students what the four pillars of sinful life are—flesh eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex-life—and you have taught us how to avoid these activities of damnation.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>viñayä vinivartante<br>
nirähärasya dehinaù<br>
rasa-varjaà raso ’py asya<br>
paraà dåñövä nivartate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 2.59</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste he is fixed in consciousness.” </p>
<p class="p44">In other words, because you have successfully engaged us in the thrilling eternal loving service of the Lord, how can we be attracted to the pale and temporary glitter of the material world?</p>
<p class="p44">As the perfect <i>äcärya, </i>you have convinced us of the conclusion of the <i>çästra.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>sarva-dharmän parityajya<br>
mäm ekaà çaranaà vraja<br>
ahaà tvaà sarva-päpebhyo<br>
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>18.66</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34"><i>“</i>Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.”</p>
<p class="p44"> You are practically showing how to surrender to Kåñëa, and by following your example we are free from fear. We are confident that Lord <i>Nåsiàha-deva </i>is watching out for our welfare.</p>
<p class="p44">Our only problem, Çréla Prabhupäda, is that we feel totally inadequate and incapable of ever rendering any meaningful service to you and your <i>saìkértana </i>movement, and this gives us great pain. We are so selfish that we are still praying to your unlimited compassionate nature that you will ask Lord Kåñëa to accept us as surrendered souls and protect us from Mäyä’s dangerous clutches.</p>
<p class="p18">ALL GLORIES , ALL GLORIES, ALL GLORIES<br>
TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA! JAYATE!</p>
<p class="p44">Your eternal servitors,</p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta däsa / Mahätma däsa / Nåsiàha Caitanya däsa / Taracandra däsa brahmacari / Kalacand däsa brahmacäré / Sureçvara däsa brahmacari / Kasta Krata däsa brahmacäré / Braja Kiçora däsa brahmacäré / Çaraëam däsé / Maheçvaré däsé / Pratyäya däsa Brahm äcäré / Danvanthari däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ray / Bhakta Ron / Bhakta Ann / Bhakta Barbara / Bhaktin Rose</p>
<p class="p11">San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p12">Deep in forgetfulness of our <i>sanätana-dharma,<br>
</i>Trusting material scientific conclusions,<br>
Hoping to taste success in exploiting nature,<br>
We make preparation for our evolutionary descent.<br>
Our lust, our hankering knows no bounds.<br>
Our spirit—dominating, passionate, prideful—<br>
A savage drive towards our own self-destruction,<br>
Our bliss-starved minds in frustration<br>
Search for relief in the conception<br>
Of void-imperson, the result; confusion, our hearts fast drying.<br>
Then the appearance of Your Divine Grace<br>
Bringing the truth of Goloka-Våndävana<br>
Where form-senses-love are all absolute.<br>
Even limited sense, even minds full of envy<br>
Can glimpse the beauty of all you teach<br>
Oh swan-like devotee, our most merciful savior.<br>
You transform any soul who will simply submit.<br>
Please allow us a position at your lotus feet;<br>
Please accept our service, though offensive and tainted;<br>
Please tolerate our inability to express our gratitude.</p>
<p class="p44">Your servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Bhütätma däsa brahmacäré / Yogeçcandra däsa brahmacäré / Goñöhavihäré däsa brahmacäré / Çré Känta däsa brahmacäré / Saìkaränanda däsa brahmacäré / Särvabhauma däsa brahmacäré / Kåta-karma däsa brahmacari / Kåtagäma däsa brahmacäré / Nimäi däsa brahmacäré / Yajïapati däsa brahmacäré / Sarvadarçaëa däsa brahmacäré / Nalini Känta däsa brahmacäré / Bhümna däsé brahmacäré / Rakñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Jambavan däsa brahmacäré / Janakanätha däsa brahmacäré / Karëämåta däsa brahmacäré / Pravacära däsa brahmacäré / Vijitätma däsa brahmacäré / Chiraïjéva däsa brahmacäré / Jagat Prabhu däsa brahmacäré / Pävana däsa brahmacäré / Nityanätha däsa brahmacäré / Vanabatta däsa brahmacäré / Yuddhamanyu däsa brahmacäré / John Prabhu / Mark Prabhu / Bob Prabhu / Rob Prabhu / Jocko Prabhu / Larry Prabhu / Iver Prabhu / Paul Prabhu / Lakñmipati devé däsé / Ratneçvaré devé däsé / Jévana devé däsé / Havirdhäné devé däsé / Maìgala devé däsé / Mådapriyä devé däsé / Mandanasiné devé däsé / Candranéva devé däsé / Lokanätha däsa adhikäré / Brajasundaré däsé / JaiKéçhana / Jayänanda däsa adhikäré / Trai / Candanäcärya däsa adhikäré / Kostorika däsé / Keçava Bhärati däsa adhikäré / Kauliné däsé / Jayadeva / Gajendra däsa adhikäré / Çucétra / Pürëima / Viçvaretha däsa adhikäré / Brajasvaré däsé / Hari Ballava däsa adhikäré / Kuça devé däsé / Devaprashta däsa adhikäré / Bhavatariné däsé / Karuëämayé #1 / Karuëämayé #2</p>
<p class="p11">Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>teñäà satata-yuktänäà<br>
bhajatäà préti-pürvakam<br>
dadämi buddhi-yogaà taà<br>
yena mäm upayänti te<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. <i>10.10</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Lord and he should be served with a humble submissive attitude.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi pranipätena<br>
paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà<br>
jïäninaç tattva-darçinaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>4.34</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p44">The <i>çästras </i>tell us that if we want to understand the Absolute Truth we must approach a bona fide spiritual master. The spiritual master must be approached with a humble, submissive attitude. Otherwise, inquiries will not be effective. By submissive inquiry and rendering service to the spiritual master, he will impart knowledge to us. This is possible because he has seen the Absolute Truth. And what is the truth? That is explained in the next ç<i>loka:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yaj jïätvä na punar moham<br>
evaà yäsyasi päëòava<br>
yena bhütäny açeñäëi<br>
drakñyasy ätmany atho mayi<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 4.35</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“And when you have thus learned the truth, you will know that all living beings are but part of Me—and that they are in Me and are Mine.”</p>
<p class="p44">This is the message that we have received from our spiritual master. <i>ahaà brahmäsmi—</i></p>
<p class="p44">I am not this material body but pure spirit soul. We are all living beings, and we are all part and parcel of the Supreme Lord (Kåñëa). And our eternal constitution position is to render loving devotional service at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. (<i>nitya-svarüpa-kåñëa-däsa)</i></p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is not a fad. It is a very serious proposition.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34"><i>“</i>The spiritual master is honored as much as God on account of his being the most confidential servant of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari (Kåñëa).” (<i>Çré Gurvañöakam,</i> Verse 7th<i> çloka)</i></p>
<p class="p44">Because of the mercy of the spiritual master we can actually make progress in knowledge. Real knowledge is knowledge of Kåñëa, Real knowledge means spiritual knowledge. Life is coming from spirit. And spirit is coming from God. Matter cannot produce independently. God is not a dead stone. But God is life.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, in every town and village we vow to take this chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra </i>and to expose the fake scientists who are saying that God is dead. This world is actually Kåñëa’s and it should be used in Kåñëa’s service; therefore we as Vaiñëavas cannot sit back and let the world go to ruination.</p>
<p class="p44">We pray to the Supreme Lord that we will be able to carry out the mission of our spiritual master and to go home, back to Godhead, in this lifetime.</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p49">Çukadeva däsa adhikäré / Jagamohiné devé däsé / Hari Basara däsa adhikäré / Gopékä devé däsé / Smaraëänanda däsa adhikäré / Saàsäramocana devé däsé / Bhakta Zion Sheldon Prabhu and Judy Prabhu / Devan Prabhu / Zachary Prabhu, Keçava däsa / Pat Hales Prabhu and Jane / Gopenar däsa brahmacäré / Karçari däsa brahmacäré / Ojaçré däsa brahmacäré / Mürti Macohara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Eric Prabhu / Bhagavan däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavan Don and Karen Prabhu / Bhakta Shannon Prabhu / Bhakta Jean Gruffre / Lakhimä devé däsé / Viñëupriyä devé däsé / Çikhändé devé däsé / Bhaktin Betty / Bhaktin Tobi / Bhaktin Debbie / Påñëi Garbha devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Stockholm</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Stockholm</b></p>
<p class="p44">108 glories to our beloved Gurudeva, the wandering mendicant and topmost swanlike devotee, the greatest preceptor who has taken shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Viñëu.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, please give us a place at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">In the <i>Nectar of Devotion, </i>Your Divine Grace quotes from <i>Padma Puräëa </i>wherein Siva tells Parvaté, “My dear Parvaté, there are different methods of worship. Out of all such methods of worship, the worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But ever higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotee.” From this we can understand that you are bestowing the greatest blessings upon everyone.</p>
<p class="p44">In this age of Kali there are many personalities on this earth like scientists, political leaders, etc., who pose themselves as being very expert and advanced in knowledge. They are like glow worms, and their glowing attracts the innocent people who become misdirected and confused in this way. But in the midst of this confusion, Çréla Prabhupäda, you have appeared like the sun and in all your shining glory you extinguish the vain glowing of the glow worms.</p>
<p class="p44">O Çréla Prabhupäda, now, as Lord Caitanya’s movement is about to be introduced in Sweden, we unworthy students and unwilling tools simply pray that we will always remember that your pleasure should be the object of our every action. When Lord Kåñëa entered <i>Dväraka </i>after His long absence, the citizens felt as if they had regained their lives, and they prayed to Him: “Oh Lord of the universe, You are your father, mother, friend, Lord, spiritual master and worshipable Deity. By following Your footsteps we have become successful in every respect. We pray therefore that you continue to bless us with Your mercy.” So now also, by your unfathomable mercy, the citizens of Stockholm will be given the same opportunity of regaining their lives.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, at this time we humbly pray that we can eternally be your faithful servants, and that what we do will be very pleasing to you. You are our life, Çréla Prabhupäda, our most beloved, and your mercy is our only hope. Our lives are completely vacant without you. Please let us always depend on you as a dog depends on the kindness of its master.</p>
<p class="p44">All glories to your divine lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">ISKCON STOCKHOLM</p>
<p class="p49">Ajita däsa adhikäré / Samita Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa Premé devé däsé / Vegavan däsa adhikäré / Padmavaté devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Sudäma Mahäräja’s Travelling Saìkértana Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sudäma Mahäräja’s Travelling Saìkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p44"><b>Invocation</b></p>
<p class="p12">O Lord, for once I do a noble deed<br>
And Thy help I must implore<br>
Let my masters, lust, anger and greed,<br>
Inspire me no more</p>
<p class="p12">Let devotion be the motive<br>
And humility the crave<br>
In making words a votive<br>
At the feet of Çré Gurudeva!</p>
<p class="p44">We beg to offer our most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the most confidential servant of the Supreme Lord. He is so kindly watering the seeds of devotion in our hearts with the ocean of Lord Caitanya’s distribution of love of God. He is our eternal father and guide, and by his pure and perfect direction he is bringing us back to home, back to the spiritual world.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, by Your Divine Grace, all of our aimlessness and frustration have been vanquished, and we are feeling ourselves happy in the service of Lord Kåñëa. Knowledge of the science of Kåñëa is so powerful that it can relieve the whole world of miseries, born of ignorance. Please, therefore, help us in distributing Kåñëa consciousness and in advertising you as the hero and saviour of the world.</p>
<p class="p44">All Glories to Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p44">Your eternal sons and servitors,</p>
<p class="p44">Sudäma Mahäräja’s Traveling Sakirtana Party,</p>
<p class="p49">Sudäma däsa Gosvämé / Nälinékänta däsa brahmacäré / Bhümna däsa brahmacäré / Viçvaretaù däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Lee / Kåñëa Caitanya däsa brahmacäré / Bhulänanda däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Sydney</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sydney</b></p>
<p class="p44">Our Dear Lord and Master,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p44">How can we find the words to glorify Your Divine Grace? Certainly our tiny minds are limited; we can still remember our past misconceptions. So what can we say on our own? We can only repeat the perfect knowledge of the revealed scriptures which emanate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p44">A pure devotee is the rarest kind of soul. No one is more dear or rare than a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. This is confirmed by Kåñëa Himself in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä. </i>It cannot be our own imagination. You are displaying boundless power to deliver us from this ocean of temporary names and dreams called the material world. Just by hearing your words, chanting Hare Kåñëa and remembering your instructions, there is a deep feeling in our hearts which we have never experienced before. Thus, you are the transcendental magician who has waved the wand of love of God over our hearts and turned us on the path back to Godhead. Kåñëa says that this experience is factually the mercy of His pure devotee, the self-realized soul. Only by the mercy of the spiritual master can one realize his eternal loving relationship with Kåñëa. Therefore the pure devotee or spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p44">A real spiritual master has a real spiritual master. Your spiritual master also had his spiritual master and this chain of spiritual masters begins with Lord Kåñëa Himself. Therefore, because you are simply repeating the words of your Guru Mahäräja, you speak with the authority of God. These words can purify any fallen soul who agrees to hear them. That is also stated in the scriptures—by hearing from a pure devotee who is completely surrendered to Kåñëa, one becomes completely purified. All we must do is hear the words of such a great soul—and you are that great soul. It is a proven fact that your words can penetrate our dirty hearts and make us leap in ecstasy, dance and shout the holy names of the Lord. Our lives are so sublime now that we have no interest besides Kåñëa. So the connection with Kåñëa is complete by Your Divine Grace. The proven fact stands: you are a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have no sin nor have you any doubt. You are a spiritual jewel, flashing upon the darkness of this world. You are the softest of the most merciful hearts, but you destroy illusion with a lightning-like sword of knowledge. You overpower the world of faithless men by the great bursting-forth of the bright sun of your knowledge just as the sun in the sky overpowers the foggy mist and the darkness of the night. Your knowledge is supreme because it is coming from Kåñëa, and that knowledge is fully revealed in the pages of your books.</p>
<p class="p44">May we all become pure reflections of your mercy so that others may share in the greatest gift. May all bow down at your lotus feet and greet a pure devotee of the Lord with body and soul. May they see the eternal mercy that is there in your face, in your smile, in your tears of love of Godhead, in your prayers, in your books, in your purifying order, in your plans so great, in your feet, and in our hearts.</p>
<p class="p12">Chanting now with folded eyes.<br>
Giving Kåñëa all you own,<br>
Pure as gold and soft as lotus,<br>
You are our eternal home.</p>
<p class="p44">The Devotees of Sydney, Australia:</p>
<p class="p49">Dépaka däsa adhikäré / Amogha däsa adhikäré / Vidyäraëya däsa brahmacäré / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Nakula däsa brahmacäré / Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Çivanätha däsa brahmacäré / Räma Prasäda däsa brahmacäré / Gaura Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Dick / Bhakta James / Bhakta Oudrija / Bhakta Bruce / Bhakta Doc / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Glen / Bhakta Hans / Kurma däsa brahmacäré / Narataki devé däsé (Rasmin) / Rasaräëé devé däsé / Ambikä däsé / Atri däsé / Bhaktin Marilyn / Bhaktin Jean / Bhaktin Sue / Cekitana devé däsé / Bhakta Hans / Bhakta Toran / Bhakta Bob / Bhaktin Moti / Bhaktin Donna</p>
<p class="p11">Tokyo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tokyo</b></p>
<p class="p18">On the occasion of your appearance on this planet,<br>
The most auspicious event in the three worlds,<br>
Vyäsa Püjä, 1973<br>
</p>
<p class="p44">Our eternal master, His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108 Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Svämé Prabhupäda. </p>
<p class="p6"><i>“Tomära hådaye sadä Govinda bisräma”</i></p>
<p class="p44">One must understand the rarity of the pure devotee and furthermore, the rarity of obtaining his association. Even to the great sages and demigods God Himself is inaccessible, for the layers of this material creation are indeed very subtle. Furthermore He is the Absolute Will in Himself, free to appear and disappear as He pleases. He holds the right of unapproachability by the infinitesimal individual’s will. He Himself is totally without obligation to the whole that He has willed to exist.</p>
<p class="p44">But inaccessible as He is (<i>vedeñu durlabham</i>) even by the most secret knowledge, He is always known to the pure devotee. It is not that God is prejudiced. He is freely offering the knowledge in His direct words; <i>Vedas, Vedänta-sütra </i>and <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>are visible to all men. But inspite of the gift, we, being enthralled by <i>mäyä, </i>are apt to create our own conditional meanings. To totally escape this conditioning is very difficult indeed. So it is accepting this knowledge that will bestow on us the meaning of the scripture as it is and will lead us to the supreme <i>dhäma.</i></p>
<p class="p44">The process is just to accept authoritative sources, or <i>paramparä, </i>directly manifested as the <i>guru </i>who is fixed in that final goal. Simply because we have continually refused to accept any authority other than our own is the<i> guru</i> rarely visible and generally ignored. However, we must declare that we have found such a person, worshipable by all, in Your Divine Grace. We need not speculate on how or why we have been so fortunate to receive this opportunity to meet, take faith in and even attempt to follow you. Somehow we have been found, and by steady practice of an infallible process we have comprehended the absolute principle you teach. To one who surrenders unto you, who are none other than a direct representative of Kåñëa, the Vedic knowledge becomes self-evident.</p>
<p class="p44">You taught us not only the distinction between the ephemeral pleasure of <i>saàsära </i>and the absolute bliss of <i>svarüpa siddhi, </i>our constitutional position in the <i>param-dhäma, </i>but also, more rare, the ultimate name of God, Kåñëa, the ultimate form of God, His qualities, His activities and His entourage. You taught us our own individuality and our relationship to Kåñëa. And you taught us the means to achieve that end. Knowledge of Kåñëa is the ultimate of all study, <i>räja-vidyä. </i>Nothing more remains to be taught or learned. You taught as <i>acaåya, </i>straight, without deviation, self-interest or flattery. From your position of realized knowledge and faith, and by your invaluable example, you persuaded us of the actual existence of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa, by His mercy, is in all of us. But in you He is shining through at every moment. Seeing the ultimate Kåñëa at all times, you have surpassed all demigods, sages, vedic scholars and <i>yogés. </i>Just by your pure unalloyed love and devotion to Kåñëa, Kåñëa has become obliged to reveal Himself. You are truly <i>mahätma.</i> You alone could have planted the seed of <i>bhakti, </i>the opportunity of the highest perfection, in our barren but nevertheless hankering hearts.</p>
<p class="p44">Your mercy alone, giving the <i>yuga-dharma </i>of Çré Caitanya, has enabled even the most fallen of Kali-yuga to retread the road towards Godhead. Your mercy alone has relieved us of our insurmountable sins. Your mercy alone has extinguished the <i>saàsära </i>or material existence. Your mercy alone has permitted approach to Kåñëa and has given us a taste of the true nectar. Without your mercy we now have nothing of value.</p>
<p class="p44">Kåñëa is with you at all times. It is a fact which few people will understand. But we know it is true. You are truly the most dear to Kåñëa. We know that you are leading us to the Supreme God. But what can we do, with no qualifications, no good quality except the mercy that you bestow on us? We only pray that you accept the praises and services we give you and forgive all the faults.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“Karuëa nä haile käìdiyä käìdiyä präëa nä räkhiba ära”</i></p>
<p class="p44">Your unworthy servants.</p>
<p class="p49">Trivikräma Mahäräja / Satyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Satyadeva däsa adhikäré / Bhänu däsa brahmacäré / Mahäguëa devé däsé / Kiyomi Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Toronto</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kälyäëa-guëärëavasya vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34"><i>“</i>The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is compared to a full rain cloud, and Kåñëa, God, is the ocean. The clouds form over the ocean and deposit needed water on the land. To supply water to the land is the mercy of the ocean. When there is a forest fire, the land is most in need of water because the only hope for the inhabitants is that a rain cloud will appear to douse the flames. No amount of effort on their part will help control the fire.</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Caitanya appeared in the Age of Kali as the most merciful incarnation of Kåñëa. He is so readily giving the highest perfection of life, pure love of God, to even the most fallen conditioned souls. Our spiritual master has taken full advantage of this mercy and is now distributing love of Kåñëa all over the blazing earth, asking everyone to awaken, chant Hare Kåñëa and thus become relieved from the suffering of material existence.</p>
<p class="p44">To take advantage of the soothing effects of such a downpour of mercy one must simply follow the bona fide spiritual master’s instructions and chant Hare Kåñëa. To get even more mercy, one should help Kåñëa’s representative, the spiritual master, to distribute Lord Caitanya’s message to all living entities.</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my humble obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, and pray that I may be of some service to him in his mission.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mahäprabhoù kértana-nåtya gétä-<br>
väditra-mädyan-manaso rasena<br>
romäïca-kampäçru-taraìga-bhäjo<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is always engaged in chanting and hearing the message of Lord Caitanya and sometimes is dancing in ecstasy. Sometimes he feels quivering in his body because of spiritual trance. I offer my respectful obeisances unto such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurvañöakam,</i> 2]</p>
<p class="p44">Lord Caitanya’s message is that everyone should chant the holy names of the Lord constantly. Our spiritual master has taken up the instruction of the Lord as his life and soul, and he has taken up the mission of the Lord—to spread this chanting to every corner of the world. The Lord claims such a preacher of Kåñëa Consciousness to be the most dear to Him, and therefore the spiritual master is the full recipient of the mercy of the Supreme Lord. Therefore he is always in trance, meditating on the names and songs of the Lord and feeling transcendental ecstasy. Sometimes such ecstasy manifests in different bodily symptoms such as standing of the hairs on end, shedding of tears, becoming stunned, etc. Such symptoms are not to be imitated, but are the natural consequence of chanting the holy name in pure love of God.</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master in whom this transcendental mood is manifest, and who is melting my stonelike impersonalist’s heart with the nectarean message of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-vigrahärändhana-nitya-nänä-<br>
çåéngära-tanmandira-märjanädau<br>
yuktasya bhaktäàç ca niyuïjato ’pi<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is always engaged along with his disciples in the temple worship of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. I offer my respectful obeisances unto such a spiritual master.”</p>
<p class="p44">Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has written that Çré Murti worship and <i>saìkértana</i> go hand in hand. The Six Gosvämés, although engaged continuously in the missionary activities of Lord Caitanya, all had their own Deities, who they worshiped with great care and attention.</p>
<p class="p44">The training of the neophyte devotee completely depends on the expert spiritual master who knows how to lead the disciple on the path back to Godhead. Here Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura had described the spiritual master engaging the disciples in the matter of decorating and dressing the Deity, as well as cleansing the temple of the Deity, etc.</p>
<p class="p44">In the Second Canto of the Ç<i>rémad-Bhägavatam</i>, it is described how Mahäräja Parékñit, a great devotee from childhood, would worship Kåñëa by imitating the family Deity worship, even while playing with dolls. Çréla Prabhupäda also has described how as a child he was encouraged in the same way by his family. Çréla Jéva Gosvämé has written that this engagement in Deity worship from childhood is a symptom of a <i>mahä-bhägavata, </i>a great devotee of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who has so kindly given us the vision of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>catur-vidha-çré-bhagavat-prasäda-<br>
svädv-anna-tåptän hari-bhakta-saìghän<br>
kåtvaiva tåptià bhajataù sadaiva<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is always offering four kinds of foodstuffs to the Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa. When he sees the devotees are eating <i>bhagavad-prasäda, </i>he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 4]</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master attracts the conditioned souls in the age of Kali with the simple formula of dancing, singing, hearing of the Absolute Truth and tasting foodstuffs offered to the Lord. Without the spiritual master there is no way of offering anything to Kåñëa. It is only because of Kåñëa’s love for His pure devotee that one is able to contact the Supreme Pure and thereby revive his own natural purity and love for God. When the devotees takes the remnants of foodstuffs which the spiritual master has offered to Kåñëa the spiritual master is satisfied. The satisfaction of the spiritual master is the key to advancement in spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p44">I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-rädhikä-mädhavayor apära<br>
mädhurya-lélä-guëa-rüpa-nämnäm<br>
pratikñaëäsvädana-lolupasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34"><i>“</i>The spiritual master is always anxious to hear and chant about the wonderful pastimes between Rädhikä and Mädhava, which are all in the modes of loving exchanges (<i>mädhurya-lélä), </i>as well as about Their qualities, names and forms. The spiritual master aspires after relishing these things at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances to such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 5]</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master is very anxious to chant and hear about Kåñëa. In the <i>Gétä </i>also Kåñëa says:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mac-cittä mad-gata-präëä<br>
bodhayantaù parasparam<br>
kathayantaç ca mäà nityaà<br>
tuñyanti ca ramanti ca<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 10.9</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p34">“Their thoughts dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.”</p>
<p class="p44">One can recognize the quality of a man’s character by the sound of the vibration he makes. The pure devotee speaks to glorify the transcendental activities of Rädhä and Kåñëa. He is not interested in glorifying mundane personalities of the material world, whose activities are being conducted under the influence of the three modes of material nature. He is experiencing the sweetness of the mellow of the Supreme Couple, Rädhä and Kåñëa, whose activities are completely transcendental to material qualities.</p>
<p class="p44">Neither does the spiritual master artificially try to stop speaking as the Mäyävädés do. He knows that the Absolute Truth is sentient, possessing form, attributes, name, etc., and because they are supreme he wishes to glorify them. The taste of such glorification is most relishable and therefore the spiritual master desires to distribute this taste to everyone. I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master who has poured nectar in my thirsty ear and revived my sleeping soul with the holy sound.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nikuïjayüno ratikeli-siddhyair<br>
yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä<br>
taträtidäkñädati-vallabhasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“The spiritual master is very much expert in assisting the <i>gopés</i> who are engaged in the perfection of Rädhä-Kåñëa conjugal love affairs. At different times they make different tasteful arrangements for such spiritual exchange, and the spiritual master is there to assist in the affairs. I offer my humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master, although apparently engaged in activities on the material plane, is actually absorbed in the transcendental realm of Goloka Våndävana. There he is engaged in eternal <i>räsä </i>with the Lord. If his relationship with the Lord is in the flavour of conjugal love, then he assists the <i>gopés </i>who are assisting Rädhä and Kåñëa in their all-perfect, all-blissful love affairs. Thus Lord Caitanya prays to become <i>gopé-bhartur-däsa-däsa-däsänudäsa, </i>the servant of the servant of the servant of the protector of the milkmaids of Vraja. The better position in transcendental terms is to become the servant of the servant far removed.</p>
<p class="p44">Therefore, I offer my obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, of whose transcendental <i>lélä </i>I know absolutely nothing, but whose mercy to the most fallen, such as myself, is easily perceptible.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34"><i>“</i>The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all reveled scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari (Kåñëa).” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</p>
<p class="p44">“One should understand the spiritual master to be as good as I am,” said the Blessed Lord. “Nobody should be jealous of the spiritual master, thinking of him as an ordinary man, because the spiritual master is the sum total of all the demigods.”</p>
<p class="p44">The spiritual master, even though honored as though he were God, remains always humble, thinking of himself as the eternal servant of God. He actually sees Himself as the servant of all, even his disciples, who are being trained by him in the science of God.</p>
<p class="p44">Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuti ’pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p34">“By the mercy of the spiritual master, one is benedicted by the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, on one can make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</p>
<p class="p44">The mercy of Kåñëa is that even the most fallen soul can be lifted up from the material ocean and re-established in his constitutional position as Kåñëa’s eternal servitor. The Lord has arranged that such mercy is not to be received directly, but is revealed by His authorized representative in disciplic succession. Such an authorized representative can elevate the conditioned soul to his liberated status by revealing the science of God (<i>Bhagavat-tattva-vijïänam) </i>to him. Without receiving this mercy from a pure devotee of the Lord there is no possibility of understanding the transcendental Personality of Godhead who lies beyond the range of the material senses and mind. I beg for the mercy of my spiritual master that I will never forget him for even a moment, and will never stop offering my obeisances at his lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Jagadéça däsa adhikäré / Rocana däsa adhikäré / Aàsu däsa adhikäré / Drupada däsa brahmacäré / Dharmaräja däsa adhikrai / Duñtadura däsa brahmacäré / Girijadhava däsa brahmacäré / Hara-kumära däsa brahmacäré / Hiraëyagarbha däsa adhikäré / Kaçiräma däsa brahmacäré / Mathuränätha däsa adhikäré / Rüpa Viläsa däsa brahmacäré / Saàvitänanda däsa adhikäré / Çrépati däsa adhikäré / Vicaru brahmacäré / Yugalkiçora däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta John / Bhakta Felicia / Yadunandana / Nirmalacandra / Yugalapréti / Bhaktimati / Bhakta Greg / Bhaktin Lisa / Bhakta Jeremy / Varuëé devé däsé / Lakñmémauné devé däsé / Urvasé devé däsé / Manohara devé däsé / Saucärya devé däsé / Kñama devé däsé / Jagatikaëòa devé däsé / Vraja devé däsé / Kértimaté devé däsé / Svahna devé däsé / Prahäraëa devé däsé / Paçupati devé däsé / Atigarvita devé däsé / Bhaktin Susan / Bhaktin Gerry / Bhaktin Marlene / Bhaktin Linda / Bhaktin Cynthia</p>
<p class="p44"><b>Travelling Party</b></p>
<p class="p49">Subala däsa Svämé / Bala-Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Divyänanda däsa adhikäré / Ayodhyapati däsa brahmacäré / Kåpäsindhu däsa brahmacäré / Tarakanätha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p44">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your feet. We are finding that by accepting you as our spiritual master you are transforming ourselves and the world from lonely drifters in a miserable place to blissful devotees in Vaikuëöha, the anxiety-free abode. This miracle is being granted by association with you. By this precious gift we are becoming cleansed just as garbage in the street is purified by contact with the powerful rays of the sun. By your mercy, a nation that was absorbed in the literature of the crows—sex and violence—is now blessed with an inundation of mercy that we are allowed to vigorously distribute—the science of the soul and the sweet pastimes of the Lord Çré Kåñëa. You have planted the seed of knowledge and devotion deep in our hearts by the medium of spiritual sound vibration. And, as the perfect gardener, you are cultivating with the nutrition of spiritual discipline and regulative principles the most precious fruit, love of God.</p>
<p class="p44">In this age of hypocrisy and cheating, the instructions of Kåñëa to the fallen souls are perverted by persons overcome by an intense desire for bodily sense gratification. Thus the transcendental potency of all the great scriptures of the world has been diminished by the unqualified tinkering of speculators and religionists, who are thrashing in the tangles of sectarianism. Into this region of ignorance, where pretentious, self-proclaimed savants offer sugary illusions to those hungry for real knowledge, you have come as the manifestation of Kåñëa’s mercy. As it is stated by Kåñëa in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, “</i>Even if one is considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.” The more detailed information as to how to obtain this knowledge is then given: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a bona fide spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him, the self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.” Only a person who is free from all material desires can know intimate and confidential information about the Personality of Godhead. And only a person who is transcendentally situated has the right to comment on such transcendental knowledge. When perfect knowledge is communicated by one who is completely qualified at act as spiritual master then this knowledge has the ability to pierce the layers of contaminated consciousness and spark the growth of real self-development.</p>
<p class="p44">You have rescued us from the control of our seething minds whose deep and shameful absorption in the principles of <i>käma</i>, or lust, deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being. Your transcendental instructions have freed us from enslavement to old habits and masters and your devotion to Kåñëa is so all-attractive that our attention has been turned from the flickering glitter of the material energy to the eternal peace and satisfaction of devotional service, <i>bhakti-rasa</i>. Decorated with all the finer sentiments and noble qualities of the perfected saints, you have attracted even us who had become the cynical and renegade deifiers of all authority . Even those who cannot understand your words are attracted by your sublime character.</p>
<p class="p44">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>Third Canto, Fifth Chapter, Vidura says: ”O my Lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are adverse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.” And again in the first Canto, Chap. 19, verse 32-33, King Parékñit says: “O <i>brähmaëa, </i>by your mercy only you have sanctified us, making us like unto places of pilgrimage, all by your presence here as my guest, by your mercy, we, who are but unworthy royalty, become eligible to serve the devotee. Simply by remembering you our houses become instantly sanctified. And what to speak of seeing you, touching you, washing your holy feet and offering you a seat in our home?” Just as the atheist cannot remain in the presence of the Personality of Godhead, so also the invulnerable sins of a man are immediately vanquished in your presence, O saint! O great mystic!</p>
<p class="p44">From these statements evidencing the great appreciation shown by self-realized souls for the pure devotees of the Lord, we can only fall at your feet and marvel at the mercy of the Lord who has allowed us to serve you. All glories to this most holy day of your appearance.</p>
<p class="p49">Bahudak däsa adhikäré / Nirupama devé däsé / Dharmätma däsa adhikäré / Kutéchak däsa adhikäré / Sujana devé däsé, Bhaktasüta / Prabhupäda däsa adhikäré / Janispriya däsa adhikäré / Bhogavaté devé däsé / Rabiìgra däsa adhikäré / Mäyäväté devé däsé, Mohiné / Paitrika däsa brahmacäré / Kåpanidhi däsa brahmacäré / Riddha däsa brahmacäré / Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Mahäriddhi däsa brahmacäré / Maheça däsa brahmäcäri / Bhakta Jacob / Bhaktin Devaki / Bhakta Kuïjabehari / Rohita däsa brahmacäré / Larry Prabhu / Gary Prabhu / Gilles Prabhu / Kåñëakathä däsa adhikäré / Anala devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p44">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p44">We offer our heartful obeisances to you, the best spiritual father of the whole cosmic situation. As you beckon us, we follow you with the faltering steps of babies entering the realm of purity. “Don’t be afraid, Kåñëa will protect,” you say with your chest expanded like Bhéñmadeva , to encourage us to become ‘Abhay Charan das.’ How fortunate we are to be called Vaiñëavas. By your example everywhere, you represent all the great <i>äcäryas </i>for all time and space. You are the <i>äcärya </i>with all the potency, as grave and exact as His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Prabhupäda, warm, personal, compassionate, a knower-of-all-worlds and encouraging like His Divine Grace Bhaktivinode Öhäkura. We see you sitting and writing at night as Bhaktivinode did, the sound of the gas motor fan puttering in the background; all of Navadvépa meets your gaze. As renounced as Gaura Kiçora däsa Bäbäjé, chanting for the whole world to hear it, you see all souls as devotees just as Çré Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé saw the tiger. You sing with soft-throated authority just like Çré Narottama däsa Öhäkura, and you are just like the embodiment of Çré Viçvanätha Cakravarté. You represent Çré Rüpa Gosvämépäda, the <i>Rasa-tattva. </i>You inspire <i>Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana </i>as Sanäntana Gosvämé’s <i>Siddhanta-tattva. </i>You are the embodiment of <i>Vidhi-tatva </i>as seen in Çré Gopäla Bhaööa’s <i>Hari-bhakti viläsa. </i>As the servant of Çré Raghunätha Gosvämé, you are eternally honoring all Vaiñëavas, and as Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa Gosvämé reads, so when you read the holy<i> Bhägavatam, </i>your eyes fill with tears. As the great Çré Kåñëa däsa Kaviräja has envisioned, you are bringing the holy <i>Mahä-mantra </i>to the lips of middle—aged women polishing their formica kitchens and to over-stuffed businessmen jostling one another in crowded subways. You teach with such clarity and simplicity for we common men could not hear you any other way, being so dulled by the material modes. Just at Çré Jéva Gosvämé, you know every aspect of Kåñëa’s Vaiñëava philosophy. On morning walks you see in the leaves of trees examples of <i>Govinda-bhäñya </i>in the clouds, the <i>Vedänta-sütra </i>in the animals. And then you ask us questions to let us realize what you see, just as the magician pulls rabbits out of top hats, you pull <i>kåñëa-prema-bhakti </i>out of stone hearts.</p>
<p class="p44">You carry on the tradition of Jagat Guru Çré Mädhavendra Puré and defeat the impersonalists; in the line of Çré Madhväcärya, you satisfy the hearts of all devotees that surrender to you. How fortunate we are to contact your lotus feet, to know anything about Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Ç<i>rémad-Bhägavatam, </i>the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra, </i>the Ç<i>rémad-Bhagavad-gétä, </i>the <i>arca-vigraha </i>of Their Lordships Rädhä and Kåñëa, the endless associates of the Supreme Lord, and now all of the wonderful and glorified Godbrothers that have gathered at your lotus feet. If you have not come to preach all this, we would not have had the opportunity to learn it, and revive others.</p>
<p class="p44">What have we done, we who are so full of greed, envy, umbrage and lust, to deserve to serve you in Holy Våndävana Dhäma. It is incomprehensible to us how vast your mercy is upon us. For now we are forming a close team, joyously building a wonderful Nanda Mahäräja’s house just for Kåñëa and Balaräma. We jump and work in the sands of Rämana Reté, wash in the water of the embracing Yamunä River, respect the holy <i>prasäda </i>prepared by Anand Prabhu, place our heads at the feet of Çré-Çré Rädhä-Madana-Mohana, Çré Rädhä-Govinda, Çré Rädhä-Gopénatha, Çré Rädhä-Rämana, Çré Rädhä-Gokulänanda, Çré Rädhä-Dämodara, Çré Rädhä-Çyämasundara, and Çré Rädhä-Giridharé. We are cooled from the scorching heat by the sandal-<i>tulasé</i> tastes of <i>Mahä-prasäda</i>. We are washed by the <i>Caraëämåta</i> of the Lord, and take the <i>parikrama</i> of Govardhana and Rädhä-Kuëòa. Here all of our examples of the species functioning in the modes of material nature become manifest: pigs eating stool instead of halva, camels eating thorny twigs, elephants rolling in the dust just after the bath, monkey mothers carrying their babies precariously swinging in the treetops, asses working just like asses just for a mouth full of grasses, and then kicking each other for some sex life, cows grazing peacefully in the forest, and peacocks dancing with feathers unfurled like a whole <i>kértana </i>party with arms upraised, “Hari Bol!”</p>
<p class="p44">Last night a nimba tree fell down in a storm and just missed hitting our house, but, as always, Kåñëa protects his devotees, and no one was harmed. We expected rather to see Nälakuvera and Maëigréva emerge resplendent with helmet and jewels!</p>
<p class="p44">Now you have allowed us these unserious devotees to serve you in your eternal home town. We beg only to follow in your footsteps by following your instructions and nothing more. Eternally you reside here in Våndävana with Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa, the cowherd boys, headed by Lord Balaräma, the demigods, and the host of pilgrims whose sins have been washed away by the River Yamunä.</p>
<p class="p44">You are the center of our life just as Lord Kåñëa is the center of life in Våndävana Dhäma. Here the holy name is on every mouth, <i>tilaka</i> adorns every beautiful face and bead-bags are the extensions of all the hands. The work is hard, the service is trying, but the rewards are too great. Here everything is done for Your Divine Grace, our dearmost spiritual master and father.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>“çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala bhakti-sadma<br>
vando mui sävadhäna mate<br>
yähära prasäde bhäi, e bhava tariyä yäi<br>
kåñëa präpti haya yäha hate<br>
çré guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu<br>
lokanätha lokera jévana<br>
hä hä prabhu kara dayä, deho more pada-chäyä<br>
ebe yaça ghuñuka tribhuvana.”<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 1</i>, 2]</span></p>
<p class="p44">Our goal is to remember your instructions at every moment. By so doing we may one day become Kåñëa conscious and then, representing you and your Guru Mahäräja, we may obtain the goal of life that we seek. We must always remember that we are representing you and must act as you do with all our heart and soul. We are eternally thanking you again and again for accepting us as your disciples.</p>
<p class="p49">Gurudäsa adhikäré / Yamunä devé däsé / Satyavrata däsa brahmacäré / Tatpur däsa brahmacäré / Gunärëava däsa brahmacäré / Anand Prabhu (Çréla Prabhupäda’s Godbrother) / Håñikeçänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Washington</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Washington</b></p>
<p class="p44">O! When will that day be mine when I shall become serious about this Kåñëa consciousness movement! O! When will I stop creating offenses at the lotus feet of my divine spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, and his disciples,—at the lotus feet of Kåñëa, the Lord, and all living beings! O! When will I take to the streets with a humble heart and an armload of Çréla Prabhupäda’s books, engaging humanity in serving God! O! When will I give up my petty independence and surrender to the order of Çréla Prabhupäda! O! Lord Kåñëa, though I am trying to resist You, please engage me in Çréla Prabhupäda’s service. By some trick counteract my sinful tendencies. Pay no attention to my mind. The only desire deep within my heart is to become Çréla Prabhupäda’s beloved.</p>
<p class="p44">Thus pray,</p>
<p class="p49">Dharmapäda däsa / Varuthapa däsa / Jim brahmacäré / Bhakta Ed / Varuëa däsa / Dämodara däsa / Manakumäré devé däsé / Viläsé devé däsé / Måganetri Devé / Païcalé Devé / Gulab Däsé / Häsyakäré däsa / Lakñmévan däsa / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Neil / Rathäìgapäëi däsa / Jim adhikäré / Rämbavati Devé / Bhaktin Pam / Rüpa Maïjaré Devé / Jaya Devé / Våndä Devé</p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1974</b></p>
<p class="p20"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 12, 1974</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p20"><br></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism.”</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</b></p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in the <i>Padma Puräëa</i> that of all types of worship, the worship of the Supreme Person is the highest, but higher still is the worship of the Lord’s devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa so favors His pure, unalloyed devotee that He is more pleased to see honor and respect shown His devotee than to receive such glorification Himself, just as the father is more appreciative of a compliment to his favorite son than to himself.</p>
<p class="p7">This Vyäsa-Püjä is such an offering of worship to the lotus feet of a pure devotee of Kåñëa, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, on the most auspicious anniversary of his appearance in this world.</p>
<p class="p7">In order to offer our meager thanks for the inconceivable and unlimited mercy bestowed upon us by our eternal spiritual father, all of Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples have compiled these offerings of glorification to His Divine Grace. It is understood that no amount of praise would be sufficient to properly honor such a pure devotee of Kåñëa, but the following humble attempt has been made and is now offered for his satisfaction. We offer our unworthy obeisances at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and pray that he will remain with us many, many more years, because we are so weak and insignificant and are maintained by his mercy alone.</p>
<p class="p11">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">To the True Mahätmä:</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, the true emissary of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Mahäprabhu declared:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma<br>
sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya 4.126</i>]</span> </p>
<p class="p7">“In every town and village the chanting of My name will be heard.”</p>
<p class="p7">It is you who has fulfilled these words of the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">The great saint Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda predicted that soon a pure soul would come to benedict the world with Kåñëa consciousness, and verily you are that pure soul, come to deliver us from the bondage of material existence. Constantly you preach to us the message of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>and describe endlessly the glory of Çré Kåñëa, thus revealing the meaning of<i> </i>the true <i>mahätmä</i>. Kåñëa describes in <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>satataà kértayanto mäà<br>
yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù<br>
namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä<br>
nitya-yuktä upäsate </i></p>
<p class="p7">“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Many are called <i>guru</i>, but you actually have the qualification of <i>guru</i> and <i>mahätmä</i>, as defined in the authoritative scriptures. One who accepts you as his spiritual master attains the perfection of life.</p>
<p class="p7">My only claim to your grace is that I am a most fallen soul, a wretched sinner entrapped within the bonds of <i>tamas</i> (ignorance) and <i>rajas</i> (passion). You are <i>jagad-guru</i>, a liberated soul who can save the whole universe. Prostrated, I wait for your causeless mercy to descend.</p>
<p class="p7">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé<br>
GBC—ISKCON New York<br>
Trustee, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brahmänanda däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have written as follows: “No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, mating and fearing.” On this Vyäsa-püjä day I offer my woefully inadequate appreciation to you, my spiritual master, who is guiding me back to home, back to Godhead. You are so expert a teacher that even such an incompetent as myself can make clear cut advancement. By giving me the practices and routine of spiritual life, you have made me strong in Kåñëa consciousness. The Lord says in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>as follows: “My dear Arjuna, winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulated principles of <i>bhakti-yoga. </i>In this way you will develop a desire to attain to Me.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have made me a GBC secretary, and my duty is to see that in all temples the rules and regulations of <i>bhakti-yoga </i>are being carefully followed. You have also made me a <i>sannyäsé, </i>which means that I must travel and preach as widely as possible. Actually a preacher of Kåñëa consciousness must preach by his life, not just his speeches. He himself must be perfect, because he is trying to prove that there is God in an age of people who relegate the Lord as an imagination or dead or something impersonal. If I behave badly even in the slightest, people will only be encouraged to doubt or even scoff Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya taught: <i>“äpani äcari' bhakti karila pracära,” </i>in this connection. <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi.</i> 4.41]</span></p>
<p class="p7">I have decided to give my life to preaching Kåñëa consciousness here in Africa. I came here alone by your order, and now by your mercy it is developing. We are preaching to the different tribes, visiting their places, and also starting our own self-sufficient community. These people are not hard-boiled like the sophisticated citizens of America. They are soft and have a feeling for God. Actually I feel that they are purifying me, not that I have come to purify them. We stay with them in their cottages made of earth and sticks and chant Hare Kåñëa and preach at six hour long meetings, and then we take <i>prasädam </i>of maize, roots, and vegetables. We are just completing our own cottage set on a hilltop overlooking the rolling hills and valleys and the lands and rivers of Kenya. Now we have started the planting. Here the land is so rich that practically everything can be grown. As people start joining us we will build larger buildings and a temple out of stone. We want to develop the African life so that they can get necessities without so much toil and be happy in Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">The people of Africa are very much attracted to Lord Caitanya’s movement. Wherever we go, by seeing them chanting Hare Kåñëa and dancing in spiritual trance, my eyes have been opened to the new day that is coming, a bright future for the world filled with happiness and abundance all because of this great world wide spiritual movement. You began it all back in 1966 in New York’s East Side in such a humble and charming way. How fortunate I am to have been a part of it right from the very beginning. I think my life was meant just to serve You. Please, Prabhupäda, let me remain with You always, and let me somehow or other represent You, to speak what You speak and to act as You do. Let me fall down straight with straw in my mouth and offer You my life birth after birth. I shall be eternally happy in this way.</p>
<p class="p7">Brahmänanda Swami<br>
GBC—Africa</p>
<p class="p11">Jagadésa däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jagadésa däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p18"><b>THE SUN HAS RISEN</b></p>
<p class="p12">Imagine that you’re trapped<br>
inside a room without a door;<br>
There are no windows either,<br>
No light, just walls, no more.</p>
<p class="p12">Within the room a dozen men<br>
Scramble all about;<br>
Asserting their authority<br>
While poetry they spout.</p>
<p class="p12">“There is no rhyme or reason<br>
To this place, we’re here to stay.”<br>
“Just be!” they say. “Be free!<br>
Don’t let anything get in the way.”</p>
<p class="p12">Yet all the time within that room<br>
Chaos reigns supreme.<br>
Embarrassed by their ignorance,<br>
The men can only dream.</p>
<p class="p12">“That in the future I’ll enjoy,<br>
There isn’t any doubt.<br>
After all my plans are there,<br>
Why shouldn’t they work out?”</p>
<p class="p12">It was in 1965<br>
America was discovered,<br>
Full of forlorn man-like beasts<br>
Who only sinned and suffered.</p>
<p class="p12">Blind men led by more blind men<br>
Without a trace of sight,<br>
Plunging ever deeper<br>
Into an endless night.</p>
<p class="p12">They claim to know so many things.<br>
They've even reached the moon.<br>
They're like the fly who thinks he's king<br>
By sitting on the throne.</p>
<p class="p12">The jewel upon the cobra's head<br>
Distracts one from his threat.<br>
And so with "material progress"<br>
One forgets old age and death.</p>
<p class="p12">Unlike the room as mentioned here<br>
There's actually an escape<br>
From the futile struggle that goes<br>
On, the hopeless masquerade.</p>
<p class="p12">A thousand blind men can be led<br>
By one man who can see.<br>
Thousands of sinful persons<br>
Can be saved by a pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p12">His Divine Grace is teaching us<br>
The purpose of human life.<br>
He's cutting through our ignorance<br>
With the transcendental knife.</p>
<p class="p12">Pure Kåñëa consciousness<br>
Is compared to the sun.<br>
It purifies everything and<br>
Puts darkness on the run.</p>
<p class="p12">Surrender at his lotus feet.<br>
There is no other shelter.<br>
Otherwise you'll be forced to act<br>
By the modes of material nature.</p>
<p class="p12">More merciful than Kåñëa Himself<br>
Is Caitanya Mahäprabhu!<br>
More merciful than Caitanya Himself<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, that’s you!</p>
<p class="p12">Your presence makes the world auspicious<br>
To see and hear you gladdens the hearts of all.<br>
How do you remain always young,<br>
Surrounded by birth, disease, old age and death?</p>
<p class="p12">Your words, scented with the fragrance of Goloka<br>
Are laden full with Kåñëa nectar.<br>
May my mind become attracted to that scent,<br>
May my heart be a receptacle for that nectar.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, sublime spiritual master! You have entered so expertly,<br>
Picking open the lock of my heart.<br>
Now, with the same expertise, please<br>
Close the lock and never leave me.</p>
<p class="p12">Kåñëa, master of the personified Vedas,<br>
Is your constant support.<br>
What can I offer to you who has everything?<br>
Only my eagerness for your mercy.<br>
No one can measure your unlimited mercy,<br>
You, who are grateful for the smallest offering.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh, spiritual alchemist! Please melt my heart of iron,<br>
That it may flow like gold under your lotus feet.<br>
Riding the Vedic ship of truth, Gurudeva!<br>
Your heaviness keeps the course steadfast,<br>
Prevents my falling to Mäyä’s waves of illusion.<br>
Oh, pure devotee! You are controlling even Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Magnanimously distributing spiritual treasure,<br>
without limit, bestowing grace.<br>
By your shyness, keeping Kåñëa<br>
From the eyes of the unfaithful.</p>
<p class="p12">Prabhupäda! I, lowly, a fallen soul,<br>
Have no attraction for self-realization;<br>
It is you alone, my divine master,<br>
Who are my only attraction.</p>
<p class="p12">Please accept my <i>daëòavats<br>
</i>At your divine lotus feet.<br>
I pray that there for eternity<br>
You will let me have a seat.</p>
<p class="p7">Jagadéça däsa adhikäré<br>
GBC - Midwest USA</p>
<p class="p11">Karandhara däsa Adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Karandhara däsa Adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my worthless obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. Such a wretched, miserable fool am I that I cannot appreciate the significance of my spiritual master and his priceless gift; knowledge of and devotion to the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Kåñëa. For the most part, I am lost in the ocean of material desires and illusions. Lust and the hankering for adoration and glory cling to my rascal mind and distract me from concentrating on following my spiritual master’s instructions. The countless offenses I have committed at his lotus feet condemn me to the perdition of ingratitude and rebelliousness to his mercy. There is absolutely no good to be found in a scoundrel like myself. Who can comprehend, then, the mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda? Who can measure his kindness and wisdom? He engages <i>mäyä’s </i>slaves in <i>bhakti-yoga </i>and enlightens the fools of this dark world with the bright sun of <i>Bhagavän-vidyä. </i>He is not to be understood by the wrangling mind or self-interested intelligence. Only by chanting Hare Kåñëa on the beads, a minimum of sixteen rounds daily, vibrating softly the <i>gäyatré mantra, </i>bowing down in humility to the <i>vaiñëavas, Tulasé devé </i>and the Deity, and participating in the spreading of the benediction moon, <i>Hari-näma-saìkértana, </i>to all the suffering, conditioned souls in any way and every way possible, can we marvel in the ecstasy of Çréla Prabhupäda’s inconceivable level of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Certainly volumes should be recorded on the glories of our spiritual master. Descriptions both scientific and esoteric in his praise could be recited. But, ignorant and sinful as I am, Çrématé Sarasvaté does not reward me with clear, fixed-up knowledge and remembrance, or poetic sentiment for his position. So I remain a self-preoccupied blubbering idiot, trying to eke out some sincere expression of appreciation of my spiritual master, and failing unforgivingly in doing so.</p>
<p class="p7">Karandhara däs adhikäré<br>
GBC - India</p>
<p class="p11">Taittiriya däsa</p>
<p class="p64"><b>Taittiréya</b><span class="s16"><b> däsa</b></span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">To my Lord, Çréla Prabhupäda, my eternal spiritual master, my spiritual father, to whom I am eternally indebted for delivering the wisdom and understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa:</p>
<p class="p12">From the joyous and pure hours of morning glory,<br>
I sing your praises, the Lord’s emissary.</p>
<p class="p12">All that I do from sunrise to sunset<br>
I offer to your lotus feet so as not to forget.</p>
<p class="p12">Without your grace my life would be nothing;<br>
My knowledge and wealth would just add to my suffering.</p>
<p class="p12">Your lotus feet are the only shelter I've found,<br>
By your mercy only, I am now homeward bound.</p>
<p class="p12">My dear Lord Çré Kåñëa, I owe everything to You<br>
For sending my master with the message bold and true.</p>
<p class="p12">Love of God is the goal to which to aspire,<br>
In your unalloyed service I shall never tire.</p>
<p class="p12">The most blessed of holy days we now celebrate;<br>
You have come to this world, our fears to mitigate.</p>
<p class="p12">With the untold message of Gaura-Nitäi;<br>
Chanting and dancing is service most high.</p>
<p class="p12">As you dictate so shall I act;<br>
My Lord and master, establish this fact.</p>
<p class="p12">There is no greater servant of Kåñëa, our God,<br>
Than my father and master, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Taittiréya<br>
GBC - Hawaii and Far East</p>
<p class="p11">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p12"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p12"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p12">O<i> jagad-guru, </i>Çréla Prabhupäda!<br>
You’ve come as the external form of God.<br>
We beg to offer you a respectable seat,<br>
We beg to listen, at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Our merciful master, Çréla Prabhupäda!<br>
Take pity and help us to follow God’s law.<br>
By desires we’re tortured, we beg for relief,<br>
We beg for the shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">Only you know, and not hellish society,<br>
The glory of Kåñëa’s Supreme Personality.<br>
Now we are begging; we want to know Him too;<br>
And only your lordship knows thus what to do.</p>
<p class="p12">To engage us in spiritual bliss,<br>
That is your grace, the world’s greatest gift.<br>
You are free from all envy, you’re our only friend,<br>
Please accept our obeisances, again and again.</p>
<p class="p12">O<i> jagad-guru, </i>you have come in a line<br>
Of <i>jagad-gurus </i>beyond space and time.<br>
You’ve declared the best knowledge that can ever be;<br>
Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality.</p>
<p class="p12">We fall at your feet, we beg for your grace.<br>
Please take us out of our present disgrace.<br>
You’re the emblem of <i>Bhagavad-gétä;<br>
</i>Moving the world when you chant Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p12">Without your mercy, we’ll suffer forever,<br>
our hearts in a knot that we’ll never sever.<br>
O please intervene! We are lost helpless souls<br>
Who fall in the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Hrdayänanda däsa Goswami<br>
GBC - Mexico and South America</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p12">I offer my respectful obeisances,<br>
To my beloved spiritual master Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Who is especially blessed by Lord Kåñëa<br>
To show us the beauty of surrender to the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p12">To me surrender was something<br>
Meant only for the defeated and foolish;<br>
A pitiful submission to physical, mental or intellectual<br>
Slavery, for those who had no will or creativity.</p>
<p class="p12">But by your mercy you showed us how to surrender<br>
Envy, lust, pride and selfishness;<br>
In return for a new birth of self<br>
And a life of superexcellence as one of Kåñëa’s sons.</p>
<p class="p12">Being in your presence—so surrendered yet dignified,<br>
Brought back a lost desire to serve God,<br>
Which despite the taste left by former religious folly,<br>
Ever so subtly pushed me closer.</p>
<p class="p12">Then our first challenges came,<br>
From father, brother, friends, priest and outraged mother;<br>
Who with defiance pulled together<br>
At the tender creeper of devotion,<br>
Testing the depth of my conviction and sanity,<br>
And offering again a path I knew could not tolerate compromise.</p>
<p class="p12">But somehow from chanting,<br>
Came words filled with undeniable knowledge,<br>
Knowledge I had heard you sing, knowledge that had come<br>
Through the milleniums, from the original person.</p>
<p class="p12">It could not be covered by empty, foolish speculation,<br>
And at that point I saw them all fall away,<br>
As birds from a limb<br>
When they are frightened by an unexpected noise.</p>
<p class="p12">Soon however, I realized that the comfort of victory<br>
Was far from secured; a new combat began,<br>
Against the urges of the senses, against sleep<br>
And envious feelings for those who served better than me.<br>
Against material love, fame and power,<br>
Against unnecessary comfort and renouncing duty.</p>
<p class="p12">How many times have I felt the razor’s edge,<br>
Of choice between truth and illusion,<br>
And you were always there to save, encourage and forgive.<br>
By your mercy only ordeal turned into blessing.</p>
<p class="p12">Still I see far, far into the distance,<br>
A purified image of myself,<br>
And I pray you will watch for me, for I do not know<br>
How many lifetimes in front of me that image is.</p>
<p class="p12">O my Lord and master, Çré Gurudeva,<br>
When will the time come, when your word and instruction<br>
Will be received by me as the sweetest nectar, and that<br>
Ocean of bliss will rush in to fill my dry heart.</p>
<p class="p12">Please give me the strength and determination,<br>
To always remember I am just a servant, to remember<br>
The goal of all this work, to make my life<br>
Non-different from what I speak.</p>
<p class="p12">Let me continue to serve you when you are not here,<br>
Reciting the glories of your mercy, your blessings,<br>
Which are overflowing, sweeping away the filth of Kali-yuga.<br>
All glories to you, my father and master.</p>
<p class="p12">Your bliss reveals the repulsive face of<br>
Material happiness. Your glory embarrasses the sun,<br>
Moon and lotus. Please hear me, as I stand<br>
Calling for your shelter.</p>
<p class="p7">Bhagavän däs adhikäré,<br>
GBC Mediterranean</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</b></p>
<p class="p11">Adelaide</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Adelaide</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most humble obeisances at the lotus feet of our <i>guru mahäräja, </i>His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Unfortunate as we are, lacking in any spiritual qualities, we cannot even humbly bow our heads at the feet of our spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Birth after birth, for millions of years, we have wandered aimlessly throughout the material universe simply engaged in a fruitless search for flickering pleasure, like thieves, always anxious to steal that which is not ours, in hopes of satisfying our interminable cravings.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have picked us up - lifted us clear of the endless tossing of the ocean of material existence. You are light, destroying the dense darkness of our ignorance. Offering a gem that is pure, simple and unchanging, only you can show us our real selves. You are saying so simply “Here it is - accept.”</p>
<p class="p7">But, degraded fools that we are, we are too foolish to surrender. We cling to old material conceptions of life. Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept our obeisances again and again. May our minds somehow attach themselves to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Yaçomatinandana däsa brahmacäré / Sahadeva däsa brahmacäré / Çivanätha däsa brahmacäré / Rämaprasäda däsa brahmacäré / Bhütanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Keith / Baibabi devé däsé / Gopäla devé däsé / Rukmavaté devé däsé / Bhaktin Penny / Bhaktin Diane</p>
<p class="p11">Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré-Çrémad Bhaktivedänta Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré-Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our prostrated obeisances again and again at the lotus feet of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Çréla Prabhupäda, who is distributing the truth, the Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, without adulteration.</p>
<p class="p16">“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances unto Çréla Prabhupäda and his <i>guru-mahäräja, </i>Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami Mahäräja Öhäkura, by whose grace we may be engaged in the service of the servant of the servant of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p16">“One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.” [<i>Bg.</i> 18.55]</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, oh spiritual master, student of Sarasvaté! You are so kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism.</p>
<p class="p7">Only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, can save the fallen souls in this world of illusion, hypocrisy, sinful life, impersonalism, voidism, frustration, misery and suffering, because you carry with you the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> as it is. Where there is the devotee, there is Kåñëa, the supremely powerful, and victory is sure. Of all translators of the <i>Gétä, </i>only you are coming in the disciplic succession, presenting the divine fruit from Kåñëa, Brahmä, Närada, etc. With the transparency of glass, you are passing on the message from your <i>guru. </i>In this way you qualify as a bonafide spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Eight years ago, following the order of your <i>guru, </i>you came to the western world to preach Kåñëa consciousness to the <i>caëòälas</i> (dog eaters) and <i>mlecchas</i> (most degraded persons). With firm determination, conviction and great intelligence you began ISKCON, giving us the chance to render devotional service. You are the perfect example of a disciple following the orders of his guru, and you are now successful all over the world. We pray to be able to make our lives perfect by becoming your completely surrendered disciples. We pray to help fulfill your dearmost desire by learning to distribute your books.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servants at Amsterdam Yatra,</p>
<p class="p49">Tulasé däsa brahmacäré / Ätmänanda däsa brahmacäré / Aìga däsa brahmacäré / Madhumaìgala däsa brahmacäré / Térthasädhaka däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëakñetra däsa brahmacäré / Rämagati däsa brahmacäré / Païcamukha däsa brahmacäré / Hetu däsa brahmacäré / Mahävidyä däsa brahmacäré / Mågapati däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Svarüpa Dämodar / Bhakta Benjamin / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Jacob / Bhakta Roelof / Bhakta Eddy / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Claude / Hari-Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Mani-bandha däsa adhikäré / Vimuktisaìga däsa adhikäré / Satyä devé däsé / Kantä devé däsé / Viçvä devé däsé / Näbhasvaté devé däsé / Lasikä devé däsé / Rukminipriya devé däsé / Bhaktin Angela / Bhaktin Annie / Bhaktin Sheena / Bhaktin Judy / Bhaktin Nanya</p>
<p class="p11">Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your effulgent divine grace! You have come with the glorious message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, at the request of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda, in order to deliver our wretched selves from this dark world, deep in the grip of impersonalism and voidism. Because you are absorbed in love for Govinda, you emanate ecstatic <i>prema</i>, “<i>prema bhakti yähä hoi-te</i>,”<i> </i>and you purify anyone and everyone that comes under your shelter. You rid us of the ignorance that covers us, <i>“avidyä vinäça yäte.” </i>The <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>gives us the system for receiving bonafide transcendental knowledge—“<i>evaà paramparä präptam imaà räjarñayo viduù” </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 4.2]</span>, and you are coming in the powerful <i>Brahmä-Gauòéya-Vaiñëava Sampradäya </i>disciplic line. We have practically seen the results of your devotional potency. So many disciples are now bright-faced and blissful simply by chanting the <i>mahä-mantra </i>and following the four regulative principles (no eating of flesh, intoxication, illicit sex life or gambling). You once told a reporter that “No one wants to undergo any austerity … people want everything very cheaply,” and thus “for something genuine, the followers may be very little—for something rubbish, the followers may be many.” Because we have observed that so many <i>mlecchas </i>and other such degraded persons have actually given up their sinful activities and are following these afore-mentioned principles, having come under your shelter, we conclude that you are the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one else could accomplish such a feat. Still, not one of us can begin to appreciate or understand the depth of your love for Rädhä-Kåñëa because we are conditioned to see through our blunt senses. All we can do is offer our inadequate, insincere obeisances and try to serve you by hearing, chanting, preaching and carrying out your instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">You have expressed your desire that we “take over the United States and make it Kåñëa conscious,” and in order to do this we should become serious about this preaching work. In order to make a revolution against this Godless society we must scrutinizingly study your books, which are reservoirs of beauty and truth, and then…</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tasmäd ajïäna-sambhütaà<br>
håt-sthaà jïänäsinätmanaù<br>
chittvainaà saàçayaà yogam<br>
ätiñöhottiñöha bhärata <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>4.42</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">…armed with the weapon of knowledge we must fight and kill the demoniac mentality which has covered and contaminated the hearts of all conditioned souls. Your Divine Grace has stated that America is one of the best places, having taken up the motto, “In God We Trust.” Therefore, taking full advantage of that motto and the political sentiment of the people in general, we’ve begun to describe who God is and how to trust Him, through the media of politics. In this way the public will hear your nectarine, transcendental messages about Kåñëa. This is another example of Your Divine Grace’s expertise in fulfilling Kåñëa’s will through transcendental cunningness and unwavering determination. You are showering your mercy on everyone, as the cloud pours water on the forest fire, by one means or another. Those who will not read or try to understand your books will have the chance to know your transcendental messages by reading the newspaper articles of the political clashes between the devotees and the demons. In this way the whole society will change their hearts through your causeless mercy. It is due to this inconceivable mercy that we have been allowed to act as instruments on your behalf.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray on this most glorious day of your appearance that we may remain ever fixed in your loving service, keeping a humble and submissive attitude, fully surrendering our minds, bodies and words unto you. We beg to put our unworthy selves under your divine protection as your eternal servitors.</p>
<p class="p7">Atlanta ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Balavanta däs adhikäré / Rädhä-mohana däs brahmacäré / Jayasena däs brahmacäré / Sudas adhikäré / Gadi däs adhikäré / Gokularaïjana däs brahmacäré / Amoghalélä däs brahmacäré / Jayadharma däs brahmacäré / Kardamamuni däs brahmacäré / Haricarana däs brahmacäré / Bahuçéra däs brahmacäré / Carudeñëa däs brahmacäré / Rämaräja däs brahmacäré / Vaiñëavänanda däs brahmacäré / Bhakta Gene / Bhakta Ron / Bhakta Bill Kelsey / Bhakta John / Bhakta Ben / Bhakta Mike M. / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Hans / Bhakta Randy / Sanandänanda-maïjaré devé däsé / Sükñmarüpiné devé däsé / Sravanamangala devé däsé / Deväyané devé däsé / Ballabhé devé däsé / Arcé devé däsé / Bhaktin Elaine / Bhaktin Linda / Bhaktin Susan / Bhaktin Doreen / Bhaktin Heather</p>
<p class="p11">Austin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Austin</b></p>
<p class="p7">In every country we will find the general populace more or less adherent to the rules and regulations of the society, while a small percentage willfully violates such state laws. Those souls who, incalculably long ago, acquired a rebellious attitude towards God, were sent into material nature to live out their fantasies of becoming the supreme god, the enjoyer and controller. Although every living entity is the eternal servant of God, Lord Kåñëa, they are imprisoned in material bodies, acting helplessly under the direction of <i>Mäyä’s</i> mental and sensual impulses. Service to such illusions never satisfies the factual longing of the soul for real, unending pleasure and awareness.</p>
<p class="p7">The Vedic literature informs us that after passing through the 8,400,000 species of life, “It is time to inquire about Brahman.” As spirit souls we require spiritual life, and therefore Lord Kåñëa, out of compassion, sometimes sends his representative as the spiritual master. The spiritual master delivers to his disciples knowledge of the material and spiritual laws so that they can act properly, become liberated from material perplexities and achieve the Supreme Lord’s eternal, blissful service and association.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa cautions us in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>that only a bonafide representative of His can reveal His message exactly as it is to the aspirant disciple.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>evaà paramparä präptam<br>
imaà räjarsayo viduù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“This supreme science of <i>yoga </i>was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Rüpa Goswami informs us that a spiritual master is one who can control the six sense gratifying agents, i.e. the tongue, belly, genitals, mind, anger and words. If one is the servant of such impulses, how can he surrender to God to act for the Lord’s interest? The spiritual master is one who utilizes his senses in the service of the Lord for everyone’s benefit.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yoga-yukto viçuddhätmä<br>
vijitätmä jitendriyaù<br>
sarva-bhütätma-bhütätmä<br>
kurvann api na lipyate</i></p>
<p class="p7">“One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul, and who controls his mind and senses, is dear to everyone, and everyone is dear to him. Though always working, such a man is never entangled.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 5.7]</span></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is an <i>äcärya </i>(teacher by example) coming in disciplic line from Lord Kåñëa. His demonstration of aloofness from material sense gratification and his incessant glorification of Kåñëa testifies to his absorption in the loving service of God.</p>
<p class="p7">“Those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 9.13-14]</span></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace is giving us real knowledge of life and pure existence, not simply the word jugglery of so-called scientists, philosophers, educators, etc. These rascal demons, though totally ignorant of any true spiritual knowledge, mislead and misdirect the general mass of people into material activities leading to more bondage. Çréla Prabhupäda’s pure and simple logic cuts through the labyrinths of bewilderment and fear created by such demoniac authorities.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa and His devotees are served best by love. All living entities in conditional life suffer from forgetfulness of this loving attitude. Seeing this plight of the living beings, compassionate devotees attempt to end such distress by spreading Kåñëa consciousness. The spiritual master’s greatness not only lies in reminding his disciples about Lord Kåñëa and devotional service, but also in teaching them how to relate the same knowledge to others.</p>
<p class="p7">“For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bg.</i></span><i> </i><span class="s3">18.68-69)</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Austin ISKCON</i></p>
<p class="p49">Prahlädänanda däsa / Jitapräna däsa / Dharmabhävana däsa / Cinmayé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">BBT Travelling Saàkértana Party, India</p>
<p class="p64"><b>BBT Travelling S</b><span class="s16"><b>aàkértana</b></span><b> Party, India</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>akñiëoù phalaà tvädåçaà darçanaà hi<br>
tanoù phalaà tvädåça-gätra-saìgaù<br>
jihvä-phalaà tvädåça-kértanaà hi<br>
sudurlabha-bhägavataà hi loke</i></p>
<p class="p7">“O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfillment of this bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying your qualities because in this world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.” (<i>Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa never directly consorts with <i>mäyä</i>;<i> </i>He simply casts His glance over the material energy and creation occurs. So also you, Çréla Prabhupäda, come from Våndävana untouched to rescue us from this ocean of illusion, yet the waves of this ocean never disturb you. Your body is the manifestation of Gauräìga’s mercy, and by seeing you our spiritual sight is restored. What sunrise can match the gleam of your smile?</p>
<p class="p7">We come in touch with you by taking the shelter of your lotus feet, and because you have taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, we become sanctified. You are spiritual touchstone, transforming iron-hearted materialists into devotees of the Lord. As Mahäräja Ambaréña would not touch anyone except pure devotees, similarly we only want your association.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we glorify you with our frog-like tongues? We are in this world of illusioned men. But you are not. You are our <i>guru-mahäräja, </i>come to take us home. There is no one more merciful than you. We are your servants, and we beg to offer you our respectful obeisances.</p>
<p class="p49">Aksojänanda Swami / Païcadraviòa Swami / Anirdeçya Vapu däsa brahmacäré / Nåsiàhänanda däsa brahmacäré / Sutlesh däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Berlin</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Berlin</b></p>
<p class="p26"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Our <i>daëòavats</i> are eternally offered at your lotus feet. As stated in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Kåñëa, the ocean of birth and death becomes as tiny as the small pool in the footprint of a calf. Because you are the pure representative of Kåñëa, you are mercifully engaging us in Çré Caitanya’s <i>saàkértan</i> movement. Only by your mercy can one receive the mercy of God.</p>
<p class="p7"> We are unqualified beggars approaching you for mercy. There is nothing for us to do in the three worlds but serve you. Please allow us to assist you in spreading Kåñëa consciousness all over the world. As stated in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta,</i> only a <i>jagad-guru</i> can accept disciples all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7"> By giving us your transcendental literature to distribute, you are making our lives perfect. We offer our eternal praises of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p49">Çivänanda däsa adhikäré / Madanmohanmohiné devé däsé / Satra däsa adhikäré / Padmä devé däsé / Jamunélaya däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Susanne / Alanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Barbara / Gopeça däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Jenny / Väyuvähana däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Pat / Eka däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Anna / Niñpäpa däsa brahmacäré / Viçvarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Térthäìga däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Marc / Bhakta Roland</p>
<p class="p11">Bombay</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bombay</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Your appearance day is the most historic event in the history of man. In the material world everyone takes birth to enjoy with lust, desire, and anger. Everyone wants to become Kåñëa. Everyone is born envious of Kåñëa. But your appearance is just to glorify Kåñëa, as Lord Caitanya did.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>päträpätra-vicära nähi, nähi sthänästhäna<br>
yei yäìhä päya, täìhä kare prema-däna</i></p>
<p class="p7">“In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. Wherever they got the opportunity, the members of the Païca-tattva distributed love of Godhead.”</p>
<p class="p7"> You are Lord Caitanya’s most confidential associate, and have appeared to fulfill His mission. Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s mission was to spread Kåñëa consciousness all over the world. <i>“Påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma,”</i> <span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya</i> 4.126]</span> in every town and village. Therefore you are Lord Caitanya’s most confidential servant, because you are doing this work for Him. Many, many great scholars, sages and devotees have appeared from time to time on our <i>Gauòéya Vaiñëava</i> line and elsewhere, but none of them can be considered as great as Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"> The purpose of the advent of Lord Caitanya was not to prove the supremacy of Vedic scholarship or the performance of pious activity, nor did he come to do any mundane welfare work for the people. His philosophy and s<i>aàkértan</i> movement are not meant for only <i>brähmaëas, kñatriyas,</i> or the intellectual class of men. The real purpose of Lord Caitanya’s appearance is, as Narottama däsa has said, <i>“Patita-pävana-hetu tava avatära;”</i> simply to deliver the fallen souls. Who has delivered so many fallen souls from such a condition as you? In our disciplic line there have been many great <i>äcäryas;</i> the six Goswamis, Viçvanätha Cakravarté, Bhaktivinode Öhäkura, etc., who have written many books about devotional service that are as great as <i>çruti</i> and<i> småti.</i> The Goswamis of Våndävana were authorized on different <i>rasas</i> of <i>bhakti.</i> They were great <i>mahäbhagavatas.</i> Indeed they were exalted personalities. But as far as delivering fallen souls, no one can equal Your Divine Grace. Therefore, you are not only our <i>äcärya</i> for this age. <i>Yuga-äcärya.</i> You are cent per cent the perfection of Lord Caitanya’s teachings. You are the peak. No one can ever approach such a platform. In fact, Lord Caitanya is letting you do more than He Himself did 500 years ago. Of trillions of living entities He has chosen you to take Kåñëa consciousness to every town and village. Therefore, this <i>saàkértana </i>movement is more potent and powerful today than it was when the Lord was here.</p>
<p class="p7"> In this <i>kali-yuga</i> everyone is full of lust, anger and greed, being engrossed in the modes of passion and ignorance. We, all your disciples, are also born in that same ocean of material desires. We have been suffering in the hellish darkness of the material worlds since time immemorial. But you are that beam of light, pure and transcendental to this godless world, glowing with love of God. All the evils we know are completely unknown to you, and all of the bliss that you are immersed in is alien to us. And yet you have so kindly extended your all-merciful hand to pull us out from this dark well of material life. As Narottama däsa Öhäkur has said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>cakhu-dän dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,<br>
divya jïän håde prokäçito prema-bhakti jähä hoite<br>
avidyä vinäça jäte, vede gäy jähära carito</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The spiritual master opened my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic <i>prema</i> emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.” <span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 3]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> Lord Caitanya delivered Jagäi and Mädhäi but left millions of Jagäis and Mädhäis for you. Just as it is said in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>saj-jana, durjana, paìgu, jaòa, andha-gaëa<br>
prema-vanyäya òubäila jagatera jana</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The Kåñëa consciousness movement will inundate the entire world and drown everyone, whether one be a gentleman, a rogue or even lame, invalid or blind.”</p>
<p class="p7"> Under your divine guidance, the whole world is being inundated by your ISKCON. You have thus established the truth of the wonderful vision of <i>çästra.</i> You have not only delivered all your disciples from the clutches of sinful life (meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex etc.), but have also inculcated in them divine qualities such as self-control, austerity, simplicity, non-violence, truthfulness, cleanliness, etc. Who but your divine self could have brought about such astounding changes? As Narottama said in his prayer to a <i>vaiñëava:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>jähära nikaöe gele päpa düre jäy<br>
emona doyäla prabhu kebä kothä päy</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Whose association other than yours can cause all the sinful reactions of the most sinful man to run away? Who is so merciful as Your Divine Grace? Search as I may, I cannot find him?”</p>
<p class="p7">So you are the greatest <i>vaiñëava,</i> because you are the most magnanimous, and because you are benedicting us with the highest perfection; <i>prema bhakti.</i></p>
<p class="p7"> You are so kind and humble that you do not take any credit for all your achievements. Taking unflinching shelter at the lotus feet of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté and Çréla Rüpa Goswami, you give all the credit to them. Your <i>guru-mahäräja</i> is now glorified all over the world. We who are so polluted by the <i>Kali-yuga</i> and have nevertheless been accepted by you, simply pray earnestly to the Supreme Lord Caitanya and the six Goswamis to help us in glorifying Your Divine Grace all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7"> Here in India especially there are so many rascals, so-called <i>swamis, yogés, avatäras,</i> etc. who have become popular. Even the gentlemen are cheated by such imposters, who are simply interested in name, fame, money and women. In every Indian house there are pictures of these so-called gods. Because of so many hoaxes and stunts, intelligent people have lost faith in their own religion and culture. They are blindly running towards the western materialistic civilization. We want to restore their faith by showing the beauty of Vedic culture and <i>vaiñëava</i> life. We want to install a picture of Your Divine Grace, the only perfect saint alive today, in each of these houses. We want to create a revolution in the impious lives of the inhabitants of <i>Bhärat Bhümi. </i>We are convinced that only your mercy can do it. These are the people who are most misguided. They are actually poisoned; we must bring them back to their normal healthy conditions. Please give us sufficient strength to fulfill this mission. Their miserable conditions have left them callous and without trust for anyone. They run around like dogs barking at and biting one another. But your transcendental movement is for everyone. Just as Lord Caitanya devised many tricks to engage even stubborn, hard-hearted people like the impersonalists, fruitive workers, false logicians, blasphemers, non-devotees and the lowest among the student community, so you are also planning many tricks to conquer these atheistic offenders.</p>
<p class="p7"> They may have many ideas about your disciples, but as soon as they see you they immediately bow down. Everyone likes you and that is our only hope. If they recognize you, they will forget everyone else. Because you are spiritual, you can actually convince them with spiritual truth. Everyone else is material and therefore can impart only darkness in the name of light. Who can stand against you? Your patience and determination are limitless. One day, on your morning walk, a man started blaspheming you, saying that you are always criticizing everyone else. Your disciples were there with you, and they were going to throw him away, but you stopped them, smiled and said; “I am just saying what Kåñëa has said in <i>Bhagavad-gétä.”</i> After a while the man came to his senses. He bowed down and touched your feet, and you accepted him. You are causelessly merciful because of being always absorbed in love of Rädhä-Kåñëa. You are on the transcendental platform, free from anxieties. You have no business dealings with mundane people; you only deal with them to show them your causeless mercy. “Somehow they must become attracted to Kåñëa.” This is your only concern.</p>
<p class="p7"> The transcendental name of Kåñëa being vibrated through your lips surpasses all the singing of the <i>gandharvas,</i> the celestial singers. As soon as the Name Kåñëa is mentioned to you, your face beams like the morning sun. O Çréla Prabhupäda, when we will deserve to be your disciples? When will we give up our petty little worlds? When shall we be allowed entry into the world of the <i>paramahaàsas</i> with Your Divine Grace? We cannot even solve the petty differences between ourselves. Even after hearing so much from you, still we do not understand the value of the soul, especially the soul who has surrendered to Kåñëa. Nor have we any appreciation of our Godbrothers.</p>
<p class="p7"> But you have started this movement form zero. Long before starting ISKCON you struggled unsuccessfully for many years just to find one person who could learn pure Kåñëa consciousness from you. Even though you now have thousands of disciples, you never lose sight of the value of each and every one of them. Each of them, disciples and <i>karmés</i> alike, receive boundless mercy form you. You do not look at anyone’s faults. Someone may be 99% in <i>mäyä</i> and one percent in Kåñëa consciousness. You just look at his 1% and immediately devise a trick to expand his service.</p>
<p class="p7"> My dear father, on this day of your divine appearance we make a meager offer of love at your lotus feet, and beg that you accept it. We pray for the strength required to recognize our godbrothers and godsisters as your loving children. We beg for the cooperative spirit to push on this movement throughout and beyond this world. We pray that Kåñëa may give us the intelligence to act for your pleasure.</p>
<p class="p7"> This material existence is a nightmare, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please, we do not want to come back here. You have bought us this far, now please take us further away from this hellish place, back to where the Supreme Attractive Person is playing upon His flute, enjoying eternal sports with the g<i>opés</i>. Please take us back to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu,<br>
lokanäth lokera jévana hä hä prabhu koro doyä, <br>
deho more pada-chäyä, ebe jaça ghuñuk tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Please be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.”</p>
<p class="p49">Giriräj däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Amar / Chaitanyagur däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Sevakram / Çrédhar däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Suresh / Lokanäth däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Panduraìga / Tatpara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Sudhakar / Patit Uddhäran däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Dilabar / Vilvamaìgala däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kåñëa däsa / Hari däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kardamamuni däsa / Ekanätha däsa brahmacäré / Pitambar däsa / Niñtraiguëya däsa brahmacäré / Pälikä däsé / Nava Yogendra däsa brahmacäré / Aditya däsé / Asurakulanäçana däsa brahmacäré / Ambikä däsé / Vaikuëöhaguëa däsa brahmacäré / Ramiyä däsé / Muktänanda däsa brahmacäré / Indurekä däsé / Kåñëägraja däsa brahmacäré / Kastaré däsé / Sutalesh däsa brahmacäré / Maëimaïjaré däsé / Anirdreshyavapu däsa brahmacäré / Raìgä däsé / Sheshmukhé däsé / Manasvi däsa adhikäré / Ikñäkuräëé devé däsé / Jagat Purusha däsa adhikäré / Gandéva devé däsé / Vishäla däsa adhikäré / Vishälimé devé däsé / Jashomatinandana däsa adhikäré / Rädhä Kuëòa devé däsé / Manmohan däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Boston</b></p>
<p class="p12">1) All glories to this holy day<br>
When to this place of death you came<br>
In <i>Kali’s</i> camp, a humble sage,<br>
Whose weapon is the holy Name.<br>
Not covered by material modes<br>
Or lost in “this demoniac place,”<br>
Absorbed in Väñudev’s abode,<br>
Dependent on Çré Kåñëa’s grace.<br>
By such grace and fortune we meet.<br>
We bow before your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p12">2) Caitanya’s message you are preaching<br>
To flood the world with holy sound,<br>
The <i>Bhägavata</i> is swiftly reaching,<br>
Through books and chanting, every town.<br>
You sing the word of Çukadeva<br>
And wake the sleeping <i>jéva</i> souls,<br>
And hearing you we are all saved<br>
From “scientists” and voidists cold.<br>
Oh deliverer of vibration sweet,<br>
We glorify your holy feet.</p>
<p class="p12">3) In torrents falling like the rain<br>
Your mercy washed clean our hearts.<br>
This <i>mahämantra</i> steals the pain<br>
And from the cobra’s trance we start.<br>
But even now, before you bowed<br>
Our minds to trash and nonsense run,<br>
Yet of your mercy, you have vowed<br>
To take us to <i>paraà padam.<br>
</i> Now we, with mind and word and deed<br>
Take shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Çrénätha däsa / Harigada däsa / Bhakta Ted / Matureça däsa / Bhüdara däsa / Bhakta Jim / Båhaträtha däsa / Vivasvan däsa / Bhakta Andy / Pyärémohana däsa / Näréndra däsa / Bhakta Neal / Ädi-keçava däsa / Basu Gopäla däsa / Bhakta Lewie / Påthuçrava däsa / Kåñëäcana däsa / Bhakta Richard / Bityasiddha däsa / Uttamauca däsa / Bhakta Dan / Kamal däsa / Välméki däsa / Sumati däsé / Treya däsa and Pramadä däsé / Nandä däsé / Ajameda däsa and Çakuntala däsé / Gandharvika däsé / Govinda-vallabhä däsé / Bhaktin Millie</p>
<p class="p11">Buenos Aires</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buenos Aires</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi<br>
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i> Oh! Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> There are not enough words in the three worlds to glorify you properly. Words all go in vain. Our senses and minds, full of sins, in darkness due to the spell of material nature, would betray us upon trying to evaluate and venerate your mercy. Your mercy is spreading a flow of <i>kåñëa-prem</i> all over the world. May our hearts be filled with that mercy, transcendental loving service to the Lord, and be freed from material desires. You have reminded us of our original positions as eternal servitors of the Lord, blessing us with the chanting of His holy Names. Fallen souls that we are, we only want to remain on your transcendental love ship, serving you unconditionally, crossing over the ocean of material miseries. Please accept our heads at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äçliñya vä päda-ratäà pinañöu mäm<br>
adarçanän marma-hatäà karotu vä<br>
yathä tathä vä vidadhätu lampaöo<br>
mat-präëa-näthas tu sa eva näparaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I do not know anyone except Kåñëa as my Lord, and He shall always remain as such, even if He handles me roughly by His embrace. Or He may make me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, but He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.” <span class="s3">[<i>Çikñäñöaka</i> 8]</span></p>
<p class="p49">Krishna Kiçora däsa adhikäré / Tulasé devé däsé / Nitya-tåpta däsa adhikäré / Sara Säné devé däsé / Mahä-Viñëu däsa adhikäré / Viçakhä devé däsé / Atulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä devé däsé / Prem-prayojana däsa brahmacäré / Indumaté devé däsé / Nitya-Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Lakñmé devé däsé / Närada däsa brahmacäré / Çucé devé däsé / Devänanda däsa brahmacäré / Jagadéça däsa brahmacäré / Ramon prabhu / Rämänanda däsa brahmacäré / Miguel prabhu / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Ruben prabhu / Crunchi prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,<br>
bando mui sävadhäna mate jähära prasäde bhäi, <br>
e bhava toriyä jäi, kåñëa-präpti hoy jähä ha’te</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.” <span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 1]<br>
</span></p>
<p class="p7"> In this age of bewilderment and frustration it is almost impossible for the living being to find shelter, or freedom, from confusion. Everyone is talking of or planning for some peaceful situation. Everyone is searching for what is natural. Because of our illusory identification with the body, wife, family and society, life seems to be a great burden. This illusory attachment carries us from body to body <i>(saàsära)</i>, and in our search for happiness, we are simply being burned by the fire of anxiety <i>(däva)</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the cloud that extinguishes this fire; just as the rain cloud draws water from the ocean and distributes it evenly in all directions, so you are receiving, in great quantity, the mercy of Kåñëa, and are in turn distributing this mercy to anyone who will receive it. Only by properly receiving this mercy will this fire be extinguished and real happiness be experienced.</p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, we have so many illusory material desires which bind us to this limited material sphere. Please don’ö let our minds bewilder us. We are trying to sincerely seek the shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"> We pray that our intelligence will become clear and our concentration steady. In this consciousness we will be capable of truly rendering service to you lotus feet. </p>
<p class="p7"> Your mercy is vast as the ocean. We are asking only for a drop, because just a drop is capable of satisfying all living beings.</p>
<p class="p7"> We further pray that our service may become both uninterrupted and unmotivated, for this is the only way to satisfy the self.</p>
<p class="p49">Häsyakäré däsa / Näré devé däsé / Bhakta Bill / Cediräja däsa / Gopénatha devé däsé / Bhakta Phil / Ätmäräma däsa / Bhaktin Cheryl / Bhakta Ron / Madhuhära däsa Bhaktin / Candy Bhakta Richard / Kåpämaya däsa / Bhaktin Pam / Bhakta Keith / Lakñmévän däsa / Lokavarëottama däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Capetown</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Capetown</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya <br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve <br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“…and the saint Mädhavendra Puré recited the following verse again and again at the end of his life, and passed away while reading this verse:</p>
<p class="p16">‘O my Lord Mathuränäth, oh most merciful one, Thou art ever gracious to the poor and weak. When shall I have Thy sight? Oh my dear beloved one, my heart yearns for Thy sight and has been impatient and weak, and I can say no more. Alas! What shall I do now?’” </p>
<p class="p7">Let us beg for the mercy of your lotus feet, O spiritual master, for you are so dear to Rädhä and Kåñëa, the divine couple of Våndävana. Let us bathe our hearts in the ocean of devotional service, and return with you back to home, back to Godhead. Let us, who are very fallen and weak, follow your lotus feet as menial servants. Let us all worship and serve together this beloved <i>jagad-guru</i>, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Puñöa-kåñëa Swami / Jagad-guru däsa / Saras prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Caracas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Caracas</b></p>
<p class="p7">To Çréla Prabhupäda, Kåñëa’s causeless mercy,</p>
<p class="p7">By our own desire we took to this inferior position, just as one changes gold for stones. Such is our miserable condition, that even what is evident is for us the greatest mystery. We, insignificant dust specks, have been benedicted with your compassion, and now have the opportunity of knowing real from unreal, bliss and ecstatic love from mere mundane sentimentalism.</p>
<p class="p7">Patiently, over and over you teach us how to serve the Lord. By your grace it is possible, even for us, the greatest rascals, to be engaged. What was rotten and considered lost is now turning to be fresh and youthful. What was dead and useless is now full of life. Your endless love of God is sustaining humanity from its ultimate end, and just because you are here we can say there is life on this planet.</p>
<p class="p7">You have accepted so many inconveniences to come to this abominable part of the world to teach us of His Name and Qualities!</p>
<p class="p7">Is it possible not to love he who has bought the nectar that is alleviating the pains of our great mistake of leaving Kåñëa?</p>
<p class="p7">An interminable ocean of transcendental sounds is flowing from your lips, quenching our soul’s thirst. O spiritual master! Don’t let us loose. We need your constant guidance. Being engaged in the service of your lotus feet, our lives are of some value.</p>
<p class="p49">Pramäëa däsa / Kavi däsa / Oswaldo Prabhu / Tamoha däsa / Alaìkara däsa / Juan Prabhu / Havi däsa / Siàha däsa / Durantavéra däsa / Viraha däsa, pres. / Purujit däsa / Rafael Prabhu / Ürdhvabaga däsa / Efrain Prabhu / Kratu däsa / Walter Prabhu / Phaëéndra däsa / Miguel Angel Prabhu / Gopeça däsa / Yanosky Prabhu / Vareça däsa / Alexis Prabhu / Çubhänanda däsé / Guigue Prahbu / Vara däsé / Debbie Prabhu / Modané däsé / Carolina Prabhu / Rukmiëé däsé / Celisol Prabhu / Neobis Prabhu / Maria Elena Prabhu / Thais Prabhu / Elizabeth Prabhu / Rosa Prabhu / Maria Rosario Prabhu / Vérabähu däsa – Kartä däsé / Roberto – Evelyn / Horacio – Graciela / Mrs. Elba</p>
<p class="p11">Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> By Lord Çré Kåñëa’s supreme will we have had the great fortune to contact you and render service unto you. Although your glories cannot be appreciated or understood by our fallen selves, we beg to express our inadequate glorification of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"> Kåñëa’s direction, received perfectly through Your Divine Grace, is to find out a bonafide spiritual master, inquire submissively from him and render service unto him. That service should be menial, without desire for prestige, without sophistication. You possess full qualification, and we can only offer our humble obeisances at your lotus feet, praying that you kindly continue to accept our service, though we possess qualifications in only a minute degree. Such a great soul as Your Divine Grace has the potency to reveal, even to the least intelligent, the true knowledge necessary for spiritual realization.</p>
<p class="p7">“<i>Äcäryavän puruño veda</i>,”<i> </i>as the Vedic literature states <span class="s3">[<i>Chändogya Up.</i> 6.14.2]</span>. The Vedas say further:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”</p>
<p class="p7">By Your Divine Grace only is there possibility for the development of this faith, therefore we offer our humble obeisances at your lotus feet and pray you kindly accept our daily offering of service with all the sincerity we can muster.</p>
<p class="p7"> It is said in the Vedas that with the blessings of a bonafide spiritual master, even someone without following any regulations can be become advanced; and without those blessings, no one, regardless of qualification, can make any advancement. As Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravaté Öhäkura has instructed: </p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi<br>
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">“By satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied. And by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance of being promoted to the plane of Kåñëa consciousness. I should, therefore, meditate and pray for his mercy three times unto him, my spiritual master.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are helpless at his lotus feet, though we have little practical realization of this fact. Please, therefore accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet and allow us to come to the transcendental platform.</p>
<p class="p7"> Caught in the citadel of Durgä, so far from our transcendental home, and our eternal Lords Çré Çré Kiçora-Kiçoré, we can only repeat the prayer of Raghunätha däsa Goswami Prabhupäda and endeavor with sincere determination to execute its import. </p>
<p class="p16">“Oh mind! The aspiration of vain glory is dancing in my heart like an impudent dog-eating pariah woman. How could it be possible for my heart, so long under her influence, to be blessed with the holy love? Render, therefore, eternal loving service to the most beloved commander-in-chief of the Lord (çré gurudeva), who will instantly save thee from her clutches and confer upon thee the most precious gift of love for the Divine Couple.”</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our repeated obeisances and offerings at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your disciples at Chicago Yatra,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Çré Govinda däsa adhikäré / Çré Lekhä / Auòulomi däsa adhikäré / Sudarñana däsa / Sundararüpa däsa adhikäré / Lalanä / Pratyatoña däsa adhikäré / Çyämänanda däsa / Rädhäçyäma däsa adhikäré / Rucé / Saàkértan däsa adhikäré / Saïjaya däsa / Nimäi däsa adhikäré / Naiñkarmé / Braja Kiçora däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäkuëda / Jayadäsa däsa brahmacäré / Damayanté / Kailäsacandra däsa brahmacäré / Cit-çakté / Candraçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Nikuïjaräçé Viläsé / Péyüñkanti däsa brahmacäré / Çubhadä / Niçcinta däsa brahmacäré / Ürmilä / Paëòrika däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëamayé / Raìganätha däsa brahmacäré / Mekhalä / Viçäläkña däsa brahmacäré / Paramahaàsa / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta Zennon / Çrékäré / Bhakta Rob / Bhakta Joe / Kalalalapa / Bhakta Dennis / Bhakta Chuck / Bhaktin Adele / Bhakta Charlie / Bhakta Luke / Çyämasundara däsa / Bhakta Tom B. / Bhakta Tom / Bhaktin Martha / Bhaktin Joan / Bhakta Ed / Bhakta Lee / Bhaktin Sue / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Mark / Bhaktin Barb</p>
<p class="p11">Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We beg you to accept our most humble and heartfelt obeisances at your kind lotus feet. You are the dearmost personality in our lives. We live by your mercy. Your mercy exceeds the limitations of this material world and so our life is “deathless,” being full of devotional service. That is the real test of the spiritual master. He can elevate his disciple and save him from the cycle of birth and death. We must always be serious to execute life’s duty and serve you with unwavering faith and determination. <i>Samutkaëöhä</i> is the amount of eagerness required for one to go back home, back to Godhead. This eagerness of the disciple is the reflections of the spiritual master’s love for Kåñëa and His parts and parcels. By his all-attractive compassionate nature (the nature of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu), the helpless, lonely and frightened conditioned souls are at last blessed with this long-sought relief from their rebellious life of fruitive activities.</p>
<p class="p7"> Narottama däsa Öhäkura advises: “<i>sadhu çästra guru väkya, cittete kariyä aikya.</i>” “One must consider the instructions of the <i>sädhu</i>, the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master in order to understand the real purpose of spiritual life.” You have come as <i>jagad-guru</i>, and by our accepting your shelter we have accepted this principle in full. Any good character or good fortune we may possess is all because you yourself are an unlimited reservoir of goodness and fortune. This only proves that you are non-different from your instructions. As you have always said: “My spiritual master is always with me.” So you are always with us Çréla Prabhupäda. You are expanding yourself more and more through so many volumes of great transcendental literatures, like <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, which you have tasted and so sweetly flavored. We were Kali’s men of iron under his mechanical rule. Our lives were short-lived. We were quarrelsome, lazy, intoxicated with self-complacency, misguided, unlucky and above all always disturbed. You have touched our lives with transcendental knowledge, giving peace to our hearts and making us men of Gokula; devotees of Rädhä-Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> We offer you our humble homage on this holy day of Vyäsa Püjä. You are the representative of Vyäsadeva, the incarnation of God. You are the personification of the <i>Bhägavatam</i>, the topmost achievement of Vyäsa. Dear Prabhupäda, you are the personification of the teachings of Lord Caitanya, and as such, you are as brilliant as the sun. You have arisen just after the departure of Lord Caitanya, accompanied by the chanting of the Holy Names. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness in this age of Kali shall get light from your association. Naturally we fell incapable of glorifying you properly, fallen as we are, but even if we were perfect in transcendental realization we still could not adequately glorify you, for you are our eternal spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7"> You are always uncompromising in principle.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>päträpätra-vicära nähi nähi sthänästhäna<br>
yei yäìhä päya täìhä kare prema-däna<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Ädi. 7.23</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Despite the criticisms of popular persons who say that you should have not accepted Europeans, Americans and other mlecchas as <i>brähmaëas</i> and offered them <i>sannyäsa</i>, you remain firm in the all-compassionate, magnanimous spirit of the Païca-tattwa. In carrying out your mission, you have answered the critics as such:</p>
<p class="p16"> “The Kåñëa consciousness movement should be spread wherever possible, and one should accept those who thus become Vaiñëavas as being greater than <i>brähmaëas</i>, Hindus or Indians. Although jealous persons may be envious, if we stick to our principles and follow in the footsteps of the Païca-tattva, this movement will go on unchecked by imitation <i>svämés</i>, <i>sannyäsés</i>, religionists, philosophers or scientists, for it is transcendental to all material considerations. Therefore those who propagate the Kåñëa consciousness movement should not be afraid of such rascals and fools.”</p>
<p class="p7"> We pray that by accepting this encouragement we will be able to make your mission our mission. We here at Cleveland ISKCON will take confidence in your instruction, and go out every day to preach, preach and preach anywhere and everywhere the wonderful message of <i>kåñëa-prem</i>. In this way the Hare Kåñëa movement will be invincible; we will have pleased our spiritual master, who is forever preaching the message of the Lord Caitanya and dancing in ecstacy.</p>
<p class="p65">Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare</p>
<p class="p49">Baöu Gopäla däsa adhikäré, Pres. / Sukhasägaré / Akhilänanda däsa adhikäré / Mågäkñé / Mänascandra däsa brahmacäré / Gauräìga / Pyäré Charaë däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Michele / Rasikänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Paula / Gopaté däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Maryanne / Jagadéçvara däsa brahmacäré / Duzer / Tutu / Mågrndra däsa brahmacäré / Kelly / Tim / Madhuvrata däsa brahmacäré / Gaìga däsa brahmacäré / John and Majorie Haslett / Bhakta Dan / Mr. and Mrs. Vutetakis / Bhakta Jim / Mr. and Mrs. James Svec / Bhakta Ron / Mr. and Mrs. Leon Williams / Bhakta Doug / Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams </p>
<p class="p11">Dallas Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dallas Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p7"> We are asked to glorify our spiritual master with a few words for this Vyäsa Püjä book. Actually anyone with only a little knowledge of ISKCON, Çréla Prabhupäda or Kåñëa can understand the difficulty of such an endeavor. One cannot speak just a few words in praise of the spiritual master. <i>Dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà</i>; one should glorify the spiritual master three times daily. There are countless praises to be spoken. </p>
<p class="p7"> The first thing Sanätana Goswami inquired of his spiritual master, Lord Caitanya, was <i>ätmatattva jijïäsä.</i> That means he wanted to know the meaning of spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">He wanted to know how to become free of material entanglement. In the material world, everyone is thinking “<i>évaro ‘ham ahaà bhogé</i>,” I am God. Therefore, <i>karmätmakam </i>or <i>puëyakärya</i> is the standard; fruitive work or pious activities.</p>
<p class="p7"> However the sincere souls seek an answer to the real question of life, <i>brahma jijïäsä</i>. One must seek out the association of liberated souls and take shelter of a spiritual master (<i>praëipätena</i>). One must take initiation and try to understand spiritual life. Now everyone has the opportunity to surrender to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"> Of course one may not be entirely sure what this means. However, the Vedas explain it, so let us try to understand from the Vedic point of view. Prabhupäda can be understood in this way; <i>pra</i> means great of fore. Kåñëa says He is <i>prabhu</i>, <i>prabhavaù</i> and <i>pralayaù</i> – the master, the creation and dissolution. Therefore we can understand that the syllable <i>pra</i> indicates the foremost, because Kåñëa is called <i>éçvara-parama</i>, and it is said, “<i>sarva-loka-maheçvaram</i>,” meaning He is the foremost master. <i>Prabhavaù</i> means the Kåñëa is the very point of creation. He is called <i>ädi-puruña</i> (<i>janmädy asya yataù</i>). That means He is one without a beginning or <i>anädir</i> <i>ädiù</i>. And again He is called <i>pralayaù</i> or the ultimate dissolution. He is <i>nidhänam</i> and <i>äçraya</i> or the final resting place of everything. So, because Kåñëa is everything by definition (<i>väsudeva sarvam iti</i>), it is relevant to show what Prabhupäda is in relation to Him.</p>
<p class="p7"> <i>Bhü</i> means the living entity. <i>Bhü</i> means being and <i>bhüta</i> also means entity. <i>Ätmavat sarva-bhüteñu yaù paçyati sa paëòitaù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Néti Çästra</i> 10]</span> means that one who sees every entity as soul is really learned. So <i>yas tu sarväni bhütäny ätmany eva nu paçyati</i>, one may try to see all entities as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Therefore in that regard, it is to be understood that the spiritual master is not only a living entity or spirit soul, but a highly elevated <i>prabhu</i> or god. Because he is in direct contact with, and because he is loved by Kåñëa (<i>priya eva tasysa</i>), he is treated just like Kåñëa (<i>säkñäd-dhari</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">Lastly the word <i>päda</i> emphasizes that our spiritual master is situated at the feet of Lord Kåñëa always, and that there are many other highly qualified masters situated at the feet of Prabhupäda. So in terms of verbal glorification we may simply try to define Prabhupäda. As far as practical glorification is concerned, we are trying to teach the message of Prabhupäda to the students of Gurukula, who are in turn glorifying him. Here are some of their glorifications:<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. You are so kind to come to America to preach this Kåñëa consciousness. If you did not come then we would be going to hell. Only by the grace of your spiritual master did you come to America. You had the desire to preach so much that you have opened so many temples all over the world in just eight years time. You have delivered so many people from going to hell. Even tough you had to go through so many temples just to come and preach, still you preached Kåñëa consciousness. You were so determined to preach this knowledge of Kåñëa that you have made many devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda! You are following your spiritual master Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté so nicely. Thank you for opening Gurukula and bringing children from all over the world. You are the bona fide spiritual master because you are preaching this Kåñëa consciousness. There are other spiritual masters, but you are the <span class="s2">real</span> spiritual master because you have come in disciplic succession of bona fide spiritual masters.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Ekendra däsa Brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">Advanced class – Age 10<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"> You are very kind to all the fallen souls. You are like the dazzling sun in the midst of all darkness. You have come to save us from birth, disease, old age and death. Also from sex, killing of cows, etc. Because of Lord Caitanya and you, there will be chanting of the Holy Name in every town and village. I hope to stay with you eternally. You are very, very dear to Kåñëa. Yet we are just dogs and cats. You are helping us from dog life to human life, then to devotee stage. I can’t even hope to think of how merciful you are. You are so determined to preach this Kåñëa consciousness. I offer my respects to you so many times that only you and Kåñëa know. Also, I have no qualification to serve you.</p>
<p class="p7"> My dear Prabhupäda, you are so kind to bring this Gurukula for all the children, because all the children will be Kåñëa conscious, instead of dog conscious. Also, you are so kind to bring this Kåñëa consciousness to the U.S.A. and <span class="s2">teach everyone</span> how to be devotees under the direction of your spiritual master Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. You are called Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedänta Goswamé Mahäräja Prabhupäda. To those who can hear you, you never stop speaking to them. So please give us your lotus feet, which are pure and enjoyable to see and worship.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your unworthy servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Bhaktin Carol</p>
<p class="p7">Advanced class – Age 11<br>
</p>
<p class="p12"><i>He guro tvaà bhaktisiddhäntät</i></p>
<p class="p7">“O Guru, you are from Bhaktisiddhänta”</p>
<p class="p7">O Guru, O Saviour! You are coming in disciplic succession from Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami. You come to this western part of the world just to save the fallen souls. All of us need your mercy, because we are so fallen. If it were not for your mercy I would be on my way to hell. I am so fallen, I deserved to be kicked again and again. Gurudev! <i>Kåpä-bindu diyä, kara ei däse tåëäpekña ati héna.</i> “Gurudeva! Give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. (by Çréla Bhaktivinoda).” You are like a bright sun, because you are a pure devotee of Lord Kåñëa, and because you have all knowledge of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Bhagavad-gétä</i>, etc. I am very fallen, but still you have accepted me as your disciple. By your mercy I am able to go to Gurukula. O Guru! O representative of Bhaktisiddhänta! I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p26"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p26"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Stavya däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">Advanced Class – Age 12<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"> You have turned our eyes and ears around to associate with the most transcendental feet of Kåñëa. You are rapidly spreading the message of Lord Caitanya. You are the best example for us because we are so fallen. You have taken all of this trouble just to deliver us from this material world. Please let me serve your lotus feet. I am the most fallen, because I don’t have any love for Kåñëa. You have taken the impurities out of our dirty minds and replaced them with Kåñëa consciousness. You are the most surrendered soul to Kåñëa. Let me offer my obeisances unto you again and again.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Dvärakädhéça däña brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">Advanced Class – Age 11<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"> The Deities are looking more and more beautiful every day. A lot of devotees are going out and preaching every day. You are a pure devotee of Kåñëa. You are very glorious. Everyone dances nicely in <i>ärätrika</i> and <i>sundara</i>-<i>ärätrika</i>. Dayänanda is a very nice <i>äcärya</i>. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the representative of this temple. You are preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. You are shining with effulgence.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Candramukhé devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7">Intermediate class – age 6<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">From Subhadrä to Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto Kåñëa’s dearest swan because he is preaching Kåñëa consciousness all over the world, and saving the fallen souls from repeated birth and death. Kåñëa’s dearest swan is Çréla Prabhupäda because he is pleasing Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Intermediate class – Age 6<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. You have so kindly come out of compassion. All glories to our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are so kind, you have spread the Hare Kåñëa <i>Mahä</i>-<i>mantra</i>. You are Kåñëa’s pure representative. You have been so kind that you have spread Lord Caitanya’s movement. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. You have given us the greatest knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Lélä-smaraëa däsa</p>
<p class="p7">Intermediate class – Age 8<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><b>DALLAS GURUKULA</b></p>
<p class="p49">Nirägadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Angela / Stavya däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Carol / Dvärakädhéça däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Christina / Ekendra däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Diana / Bhakta Morgan / Bhaktin Lisa / Bhakta John / Bhaktin Stephanie / Bhakta Joe / Bhaktin Tonya / Bhakta Jesse / Bhakta Catton / Bhagavat-çästra däsa / Candra-kanté däsé / Deva-deva däsa / Candra-mukhé däsé / Deva-kanté däsa / Dhämayanti däsé / Dhanaïjaya däsa / Käma-gäyatré däsé / Dhéroddhata däsa / Lakñmé-rüpa däsé / Keçava däsa / Lalitä däsé / Lélä-smaraëa däsa / Lélä-maïjaré däsé / Markendeya däsa / Prema-sukha däsé / Raghunätha däsa / Çyäma däsé / Sanatkumära däsa / Çukla däsé / Vakreçvara däsa / Subhadrä däsé / Våndävana däsa / Tamäla däsé / Eric Twigg / Véryavän Paëòita däsa / Ananya däsé / Samba däsa / Alolacandraka däsé / Puräëärka däsa / Anaìga däsé / Kértana däsa / Caitanya däsé / Kalpataru däsa / Lasikä däsé / Loka Päla däsa / Lalitäïgé däsé / Änanda däsa / Sammohiné däsé / Yuvaté däsé / Ananta Çeña däsa / Jagannätha Puré däsé / Siddha Bäbä däsa / Bhaktinä däsé / Caitanya däsa / Bhakté däsé / Yaçovara däsa / Çacémukhé däsé / Däruka Suta däsa / Änandiné däsé / Viçvareta däsa / Kunté däsé / Nandiné däsé / Vraja däsé / Kenareçvaré däsé / Lakñmé däsé / Nägajiö däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>PRESCHOOL</b></p>
<p class="p49">Nägapatné devé däsé / Käminé devé däsé / Dhärané devé däsé / Harä devé däsé / Gaìgä däsa / Näräyaëajvära däsa / Vaiñëava däsa / Gopäla Bhaööa däsa / Çaraìga däsa / Kham devé däsé / Çatrighna däsa / Taruëa däsa / Jagannätha däsa / Prabhupäda däsa / Viläsiné devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>DALLAS GURUKULA</b></p>
<p class="p49">Dayänanda däsa / Bhakte Rüpa däsa / Nandaräëé devé däsé / Jyotir däsa / Hiraëyagarbha däsa / Arjit däsa / Çaucärya devé däsé / Subandhu däsa / Giridhäré däsa / Mädhavendra Puré däsa / Vinoda Väëé devé däsé / Nirnäça däsa / Åñabhadeva däsa / Maitreya däsa / Kuà Kuà devé däsé / Hal däsa / Maëòaleçvara däsa / Bhakta Butch / Vimala devé däsé (Éçvara Puré) / Bhakta Gary / Dvärakänätha däsa / Hector / Kåñëa Priya devé däsé / Bhakta Mike / Carucandra däsa / Bhakta Mike / Sudarçani devé däsé / Rämagopäla däsa / Rüpa-viläsa däsa / Baladeva däsa / Candrika devé däsé / Paratpara däsa / Éçvaré devé däsé / Babrubhahan däsa / Vikräminé devé däsé / Jïänagämya däsa / Kälindé devé däsé / Kåñëa Kumäré devé däsé / Kñamä devé däsé / Räjarñé däsa / Mahäçiné devé däsé / Vraja Räja däsa / Patåi devé däsé / Akñobhya däsa / Jagathatåi devé däsé / Rägänatha däsa / Viçälakñmé devé däsé / Bir Lakñmaëa / Bhaktin Sherry / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Donna</p>
<p class="p11">Denver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denver</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">The human form of life, obtain after over eight million births in various species, is an immensely valuable opportunity. The body covers our remembrance of past sufferings, but now we are beginning to perceive and understand our precarious situation.</p>
<p class="p7"> Eternity and bliss are our birthright. Home is a place built of dazzling touchstone. Trees there are called “<i>kalpa-våkña</i>,” or purpose trees, that fulfill all desires, and fields are white with sweet milk that vanquishes all hunger and thirst. In this abode lives our dearmost friend Whose matchless beauty is the subject of Vedic songs; and Whose uncountable glories are always decorating the tongues of the topmost liberated souls.</p>
<p class="p7"> A long time has assed since we’ve seen His moonlike face or heard His sweet gentle voice. We’ve grown accustomed to the coarse dealings of this world and forgotten our most intimate relationship. Countless days and nights, anger, lust, pain and terror have left us raw and insensitive, eagerly accepting the flickering sensations of blood, mucus and stool in exchange for spiritual communion.</p>
<p class="p7"> We can only mock at Him, deny His existence and scorn His spiritual beauty. Mental concoction and word jugglery have become our signposts for wandering since the dawn of creation.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p66"><i>Like children we stand helpless,<br>
on the shore of material life.<br>
The dense fog of ignorance<br>
hangs like night, and the sea,<br>
its incessant roar and pounding waves,<br>
rings in our ears</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We have looked everywhere in Brahmä’s creation, and now we have found the beginning of perfection. Just a moment’s association with Your Divine Grace can deliver us.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 7</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">According to revealed scripture, all bona fide <i>sädhus</i> and <i>äcäryas</i>, you are to be respected and worshiped on the level of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa. You are as good as Kåñëa because you alone can deliver Him to the fallen souls. Only by the priceless fortune of your association can anyone in this material world make even the slightest advancement.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu<br>
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä<br>
bhagavaty uttama-çloke<br>
bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.18</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> You are as good as the Personality of Godhead because you and your association in transcendental service means “gradual promotion on the path of devotion.” And the path of devotion culminates in <i>kåñëa-prem</i>, the perfect stage of existence.</p>
<p class="p7"> Who can properly describe the auspiciousness of your presence here? How is it possible to understand you and your unfathomable mercy? Now, after only a few years’ time, you have raised an army of purified souls from the filth and degradation of Kali-yuga. Following in the footsteps of Caitanya Mahäprabhu you have unleashed a flood of love of Kåñëa, which now threatens to drown the whole world. You are actually the devotee. We can only run behind you begging for your shelter.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guro-prasädo balavän na tasmäd ballavataram</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The causeless mercy of the spiritual master is the most powerful; there is nothing stronger that that <i>guru-prasäda</i>.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p49">Änanda Vardhana däs / Räma Tulasé däsé / Mahä Çakté däsa / Kadamba däsé / Rädhä Dämodara däsa / Bhaktin Paula / Naikätmä däsa / Bhaktin Dori / Svaväsa däsa / Bhaktin Suzanne / Vyäpi däsa / Bhaktin Susan / Çréniväsa däsa / Bhaktin Cristen / Véracandra däsa / Bhaktin Bobbi / Païcänanda däsa / Bhaktin Tessie / Rasämåta däsa / Bhaktin Nina / Bhakta John K. / Bhakta Buddy / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Ed / Bhakta John S. / Bhakta Doug / Kuruçreñöha däsa / Bhakta Martin / Devé däsé / Bhakta Don / Präëaballava däsa / Bhakta Jack / Anurädhä däsé / Bhakta Michael / Dattätreya däsa / Bhakta James / Bhaktapriyä däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Please accept our most respectful obeisances on this Vyäsa Püjä day. You are a bonafide spiritual master, the direct representative of the Supreme Lord Himself. We have all accepted you as our spiritual master, not on the basis of some whim or sentiment, but on the authority of the revealed scriptures and on the strength of your personal accomplishment as a world preacher.</p>
<p class="p7"> There are many qualifications by which a bonafide spiritual master can be recognized. The most important is that he must be coming in direct disciplic succession from Kåñëa Himself. You are in the Gauòéya Vaiñëava <i>sampradäya</i> in direct line from Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Your spiritual master, His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami Mahäräja, instructed you to preach Kåñëa consciousness in the western countries. You have successfully executed this mission and are now world-famous. It is our duty as your disciples to perpetuate and increase your fame. Please help us to be faithful to you and to glorify you in every town and village.</p>
<p class="p7"> Another qualification of a bonafide spiritual master is that he knows nothing but Kåñëa. Just as a person who is ghostly haunted speaks nothing but nonsense, so the pure devotee is always speaking about Kåñëa. He is “Godly haunted.” When asked once how one could be sure that you are the bonafide guru, you replied “Just see who is the most addicted to Kåñëa.” Certainly no one can say that in the last eight years you have ever, even for one moment, spoken or done anything not in relation to Kåñëa. Please help us to become as determined and fixed in our service as you are in your service to your <i>guru-mahäräja</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"> Another qualification of the bonafide spiritual master is that he has taken a complete bath on the ocean of Vedic literature. You are widely recognized as the world’s leading authority on Vedic scripture. You have translated <i>Çré Éçopaniñad</i>, <i>Caitanya Caritämåta</i>, and <i>Bhagavad-géta</i>. You purports to each verse of these texts are clear and illuminating. Your life’s mission is an elaborate English presentation of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>. The <i>Bhägavatam</i> is just as brilliant as the sun, and by your causeless mercy the dense darkness of ignorance in the western countries is being dissipated by its light. Please help us to manage our own affairs nicely so that you will be free to render this great service to your <i>guru-mahäräja</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"> The bonafide spiritual master is expert in arranging things according to time, place and circumstances for spreading Kåñëa consciousness. You have created ISKCON as the perfect vehicle for making devotees all over the world. Just by becoming fully engaged in ISKCON’s activities, so many European and American <i>mlecchas</i> have become Vaikuëöha angels. Through ISKCON, Lord Caitanya’s program of chanting the Holy Name, dancing and feasting on <i>kåñëa-prasäda</i> is now easily available to everyone. You have shocked your Godbrothers by accepting women disciples and performing marriages, but you are acting strictly on the authority of the Caitanya Mahäprabhu and the Vedic scriptures. You are denying no one the opportunity to hear from you and become your student. Please give us the ability to engage everyone somehow or other in your service.</p>
<p class="p7"> The spiritual master is as good as God, but he never claims to be God. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> Kåñëa says “Surrender to Me.” You are saying “Surrender to Kåñëa.” You are presenting Kåñëa’s message <span class="s2">as</span> <span class="s2">it</span> <span class="s2">is</span>. You say that whatever success you have attained is due only to the grace of your <i>guru-mahäräja</i>. He has made you a jewel and you are making all of us jewels. Just as an ambassador to a foreign country is given all the honor due to the President himself, you are honored as much as the Lord Himself because you are His most confidential representative. Please help us to reflect your mood of feeling more lowly than even a blade of grass.</p>
<p class="p7"> The spiritual master must be an <i>äcärya</i>, one who teaches by personal example. You said that people will become convinced of our philosophy by our purity. You have without compromise insisted that your students strictly follow the four regulative principles and Rüpa Goswami’s injunction to act only in the mode of goodness. It is your perfect purity which has given us the strength to give up sin and lead a holy life. Please help us to be unflinching in our determination to become qualified <i>brähmaëas</i> who can guide society by pure example.</p>
<p class="p7"> It is undeniable established that you are the bonafide spiritual master. It is our responsibility to become your bonafide disciples. Your order must be our life and soul. Your greatest desire is that we distribute books. Each of us must take this as our topmost duty. Those of us who are unable to go out and distribute books directly must think of ourselves as servants of the book distributors and do everything we can to facilitate their service. There are soldiers on the front line and soldiers behind the lines to help them. We are all soldiers fighting in your army to defeat <i>mäyä</i>. Please accept us all as your eternal servitors. Please help us to hear you properly and distribute your books profusely. All glories to Çré Guru and Çré Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p49">Govardhana däsa-Sétäräëé däsé / Dakñäyané däsé / Bädarinäräyaëa däsa-Naväsé däsé / Madhumati däsé / Indravarta däsa-Viläsiné däsé / Dhenumaté däsé / Gopäla Bhaööa däsa-Kroshaçäminé däsé / Madhyama däsé / Doñavarjita däsa-Taijasätmikä däsé / Raìgavaté däsé / Ürdhvareta däsa-Jayarädhe däsé / Mahäräëé däsé / Kåñëakathänanda däsa-Sarvaçaktématé däsé / Bhaktin Kim / Gäya däsa-Nikuïjaräçéviläsé däsé / Bhaktin Lynn / Jeff-Ilene Prabhus / Dale-Marge Prabhus / Bob-Mary Prabhus / Roger, Dhruva, Jennifer Prabhus / Nitai däsa / Yämunataöacära däsa / Bhakta Craig / Draviëäkña däsa / Bhakta Pete / Carurüpa däsa / Bhakta Russ / Phatikcandra däsa / Bhakta Robert / Udayänanda däsa / Bhakta Fred / Triyogi däsa / Bhakta Steve / Khaëòaparasu däsa / Bhakta Tom / Daruëa däsa / Bhakta Kamal / Caturbhäva däsa / Draviëapradä däsa / Niñtraiguëya däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Edinburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Edinburgh</b></p>
<p class="p12">1. Let my eternal refuge be at your holy lotus feet<br>
Both in times of material happiness and distress.<br>
May my ears be ever anxious to hear the sweet<br>
Nectar emanating from your lotus lips as you bless<br>
The entire creation with your mercifulness.</p>
<p class="p12">2. Thank you for coming to take us all back home<br>
Though our desire to go is pitifully week.<br>
Prabhupäda, what could we do had you not come?<br>
So many fallen souls had reached the peak<br>
Of degradation and miserable frustration.</p>
<p class="p12">3. Lust still burns inside our clouded hearts,<br>
I see so many people come and go.<br>
You teach them they’re eternally Kåñëa’s parts<br>
And parcels, and some may know<br>
It’s true, but still some fall again.</p>
<p class="p12">4. Oh Prabhupäda, I pray I’ll never leave<br>
Your divine association by your grace.<br>
Lord Nitäi, please don’t let <i>mäyä</i> thieve<br>
Me away to try and enjoy someplace,<br>
Other than Çréla Prabhupäda’s service.</p>
<p class="p12">5. Let nothing matter to me but to please your grace.<br>
Lord Hari, please take all other desires away.<br>
I know one day we’ll see Kåñëa’s lotus face<br>
If at Prabhupäda’s feet we can faithfully stay.<br>
Let my mind and heart desire this only and always.</p>
<p class="p7">ALL GLORIES TO YOUR DIVINE GRACE!</p>
<p class="p49">Pärtha däsa brahmacäré / Sarvamaìgala devé däsé / Barhiñati däsa brahmacäré / Bhaväni devé däsé / Purédäs däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Christine / Niraïjana däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Rosalie / Mahävidyä däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Sheila / Bhakta Ross / Bhaktin Elizabeth / Bhakta Finbar / Bhaktin Lizzy / Bhakta Robert / Bhaktin Angela / Bhakta Cy / Bhaktin Joyce / Sambanätha and Guëaräja / Gopäla and Karpadiné / Sukarma, Dayämayé and Govinda / Yaduratna däsa adhikäré / Acintarüpa and Govardhana / Billy and Jean Prabhus / Peter and Denise Prabhus</p>
<p class="p11">Gainesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gainesville</b></p>
<p class="p7"> “Prabhupäda;” one who has taken the position of the Lord. Such a great soul is very rare, and if by chance one gets the opportunity to associate with such an exalted personality, he should take it as the ultimate boon of life.</p>
<p class="p7"> Many times people ask the devotees about their statements the Kåñëa consciousness is for the “intelligent” class of men. Conditioned by the impersonal disease that everything is one and the same, foolish critics try to eliminate these natural distinctions amongst the various species, and put forward the mistaken theory that all paths lead to the same goal; that it does not matter what you do, because everything is illusion anyway. They therefore foolishly criticize the Kåñëa consciousness movement for recognizing the individuality of all living entities, and they say the devotees discriminate by limiting Kåñëa consciousness to the “intelligentsia” only.</p>
<p class="p7"> In examining this argument, one quickly comes to the conclusion that this belief is simply a product of their mundane conditioning only. By “intelligent,” we do not mean the ability to do well on material I.Q. tests, or make a lot of money, or speak several languages. No, to the contrary, an intelligent man is one who can actually understand that he is suffering, and that the cause of his misery is lack of spiritual knowledge. The perfect example are the two Goswamis, Rüpa and Sanätana. Although they had all facility for material happiness—money, fame, power and knowledge—they were still not satisfied. Why? Because they did not know the purpose of life! They did not even know who they were!</p>
<p class="p7"> Sanätana Goswami prayed to Lord Caitanya in the following way: “I am born of a lower family, my associations are all abominable, and I am fallen, the most wretched of mankind. I was suffering in the dark well of material enjoyment, and I never knew the actual goal of life. I do not know what is beneficial for me. Although in the mundane sphere, I am what is known as a learned man, I am in fact so much of a fool that I accept that I am learned. You have accepted me as your servant, and You have delivered me from the entanglement of material life. Now You can tell me what my duty is in this liberated state of life.”</p>
<p class="p7"> From this plea, we can learn a great deal about the nature of the real guru and disciple. Although Sanätana Goswami was such a great personality, still, in the presence of his spiritual master he considered himself a great fool. It is therefore stated that one who remains a fool in the presence of his spiritual master is a real guru, while one who says he is so advanced that he can speak better than his <i>guru</i> is a rascal.</p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, we see your following in the footsteps of Sanätana Goswami as your real qualification. In spite of so much success, in spite of so much honor and respect, you have never personally taken credit for your accomplishments, but have always placed them at the lotus feet of your <i>guru-mahäräja</i> for his satisfaction. That is the real <i>guru</i>! <i>Guru</i> is not one who thinks that “Because my disciples are offering me respect as God (the <i>guru</i> is considered as good as God on account of his being the confidential servitor of the Lord), therefore I have become God.” A real <i>guru</i> will never speak such nonsense.</p>
<p class="p7">The real <i>guru</i> knows that God never <span class="s2">becomes</span> God, but always <span class="s2">is</span> God. God means the Supreme, all-powerful; therefore, hoe can He be controlled by anything? How can God, the highest authority, the Absolute Truth, be controlled by ignorance? It is not possible. Because we ourselves are controlled by material nature, and because we are thinking ourselves to be God, we therefore think that Kåñëa’s form must be material. We try to bring God down to our level.</p>
<p class="p7"> When Kåñëa told Arjuna that He spoke the science of <i>yoga</i> to the sun-god, Arjuna asked “The sun-god Vivasvän is senior by birth to You. How am I to understand that in the beginning You instructed this science to him?” Kåñëa replied, “Many, many births both you and I have passed, Arjuna. I can remember all of them, but you cannot.” Kåñëa’s memory is perfect in all phases of time, and we cannot even remember what we doing a few days before. Kåñëa has the potency of God, but not ourselves.</p>
<p class="p7"> In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, it is further stated “<i>tene brahma hrdä</i>;” this knowledge was imparted into the heart of the first created being, Lord Brahmä, by the same Kåñëa that spoke to Arjuna 5,000 years ago and the sun-god some 120 million years ago. The fact that there is no difference between these various incarnations is confirmed by Kåñëa Himself in the fourth chapter of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ajo ’pi sann avyayätmä<br>
bhütänäm éçvaro ’pi san<br>
prakåtià sväm adhiñöhäya<br>
sambhavämy ätma-mäyayä<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 4.6</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.”</p>
<p class="p7"> Kåñëa, God, has form. He is not formless, or impersonal, and it is that form that evokes our love. What’s more, Kåñëa’s form is <i>svarät</i>, eternal and full of knowledge. God does not have to take knowledge from anyone. He is the <span class="s2">source</span> of all knowledge. We too may also have knowledge, but it is limited. I may know what is going on in my body, and you may know what is going on in your body, but we cannot know what is going on in each other’s body. But Kåñëa says: </p>
<p class="p6"><i>sarvasya cähaà hådi sanniviñöo<br>
mattaù småtir jïänam apohanaà ca</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” </p>
<p class="p7">That is the difference between ourselves and God. God’s knowledge is all-pervasive and perfect, whereas our knowledge is limited and subject to illusion. Lord Brahmä therefore prays:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù<br>
sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù<br>
anädir ädir govindaù<br>
sarva-käraëa-käraëam</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Kåñëa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.”</p>
<p class="p7">How great, then, is the difference between meditation on the transcendental loving pastimes of Rädhä and Kåñëa, and meditation on the fearsome <i>viräöa-rüpa</i>, or the gross material manifestation of the Lord. How great the difference between directly serving your lotus feet and the lotus feet of the great <i>äcäryas</i> who you represent, and the so-called Christian who claims to have a “personal” relationship with God, but who do not know who God is or how He is great. This knowledge which you are giving us, Çåéla Prabhupäda, is your real contribution to mankind.</p>
<p class="p7"> Kåñëa says in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>; “Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me.” So, just as the demons are not willing to surrender to Kåñëa, they are just as inimical to the process of surrendering to His pure devotee. Yet, in spite of so many obstacles, your firm dedication to the instructions of your <i>guru-mahäräja</i>, and your unlimited compassion for the conditioned souls suffering the pangs of repeated birth and death, has pushed this movement forward with great force and purity. That is your qualification.</p>
<p class="p7"> There are so many rascals Çréla Prabhupäda. They publish translations of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, and though Kåñëa clearly says “<i>Sarva-dharmäm parityaja mäm ekaà çaranaëam vraja</i>,” “Give up all other nonsense and just surrender unto Me,” they have not taught anyone to become devotees of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7"> You are delivering the real message of Godhead; you are the confidential servitor and representative of the Lord; you have never changed one word, one letter of the Vedic knowledge; in every action you prove yourself to be on the top rung of spiritual perfection (although in your own mind you feel yourself to be the most fallen); you are bringing light where there was once darkness; you have been authorized to speak on behalf of the Lord and the disciplic succession; for these and innumerable other reasons, the Kåñëa consciousness movement, under your direction, is the only spiritual shelter for the world today.</p>
<p class="p7"> The non-devotees can’t touch you Çréla Prabhupäda. They can’t come up to the standard of the ground on which you walk. They are simply rascals, contaminated with thoughts like, “I am God,” or “God is formless,” or “God is void.” If they do not accept <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i><span class="s2"><i>as it is</i></span>, and if they do not accept Kåñëa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then they are simply rascals. That’s all.</p>
<p class="p7"> So what can we say but thank you. Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda, for not cheating us, for giving us the reality at a time when everyone is simply concocting imaginary principles. Thank you for standing firm amidst our attempts to water it down and make it cheap. Thank you for tolerating our unceasing offenses and ingratitude for the great mission you have undertaken on behalf of your <i>guru-mahäräja</i> and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> Following in the footsteps of Sanätana Goswami, we are now praying with all earnestness that this knowledge of devotional service may manifest in our hearts, and the desire and determination to spread this movement all over the world, become our sole desire in life. Now we have received so much instruction about our relationship with Kåñëa, and now we are simply hoping that by your causeless mercy, we may somehow develop a taste for serving the lotus feet of Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p49">Amarendra däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Jeff / Sureñvara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Andy / Saìkarñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Norman / Bhakta Don / Bhakta Geoff / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Roger / Bhaktin Lisa / Bhakta Dennis / Bhaktin Heddy / Bhakta Jerry / Bhaktin Heidi / Bhakta Eric / Bhaktin Beth / Bhakta Buddy / Gäyatré devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Geneva</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Geneva</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Let us offer our unconditional homage to the lotus feet of our Gurudev and eternal preceptor, Oà viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedänta Swami Mahäräja Prabhupäda, whose appearance in this mundane sphere in the quintessence of Lord Çré Kåñëa’s grace. There is no other cause of our Gurudev’s advent other than the Absolute Godhead’s benevolent desire to pluck His hapless children out of the raging vortex of conditional life. Therefore, let us realize that our spiritual master’s mission is ever untinged by temporary necessities, that it is unmistakably linked to the immutable will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> For incalculable eons, the living entity is nurtured on the bewildering modes of nature and is being washed away by the waves of birth and death, <i>jätasya hi dhruvo måtyur dhruvaà janma måtasya ca </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 2.27]</span>. His voyage through bodies, time and space, so artfully facetted, allows him not the slightest suspicion of his unseemly predicament. His itinery, unknowingly projected by his own forgetfulness of Çré Kåñëa’s divine love and service, is a wearisome gauntlet that never seems to tire him, its faithful runner.</p>
<p class="p7"> Our Gurudev has come to boldly proclaim that such is not our true birthright. It is the death shroud of futile existence, <i>çrama eva hi kevalam</i>. He is therefore proffering the reality of our spiritual life – Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7"> The seed of divine love and service which the munificent Lord Çré Kåñëa cast into the heart of Brahmäjé was given, in turn, to Närada, and then to Vyäsa and Madhva, until it again reached the self same seed-giving Father in His effulgent form known as Gauräìga, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. It was received by the six Goswamis of Våindävana-dhäma whose sole aim was to establish the eternal religious principles for the universal benefit. Then that divine seed reached Öhäkura Bhaktivinode, and he planted it into the ear of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. Its next recipient was our own <i>Äcäryadeva</i>, His Divine Grace Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedänta Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda. All the representatives of this Gauòéya Vedanta <i>sampradäya</i> have declared that it is every persons right to accept Kåñëa consciousness and devotional service. With abiding faith in the previous <i>äcäryas</i> and undeviating adherence to the <i>çästras</i>, our spiritual master has single-handedly brought Kåñëa consciousness within the purview of the entire world. By attracting even the most fallen souls, such as ourselves, to the line of service drawn by his Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Prabhupäda has demonstrated that the devotee can purify himself in any condition of life. This is confirmed in the <i>Bhakti-Rasämåta-Sindhu</i> where it is states that it is not possible to commit more sinful activities than the offenseless chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> can purify. Therefore, the <span class="s2">bona fide</span> spiritual master is always engaged in delivering the Holy Name of Kåñëa to the ignorant class of men. Were it not for our Gurudev’s compassion on the plight of the world, the Holy Name surely would not have adorned our lips.</p>
<p class="p7"> On this Vyäsa Püjä day, the appearance of our Lord and master, Çréla Prabhupäda, let us meditate how fortunate souls, devoid of compassion and staggering in the darkness of material inebriety, might gain access to the <i>Hari-näma</i> movement of Lord Caitanya. Many years ago, Çréla Bhaktivinode Öhäkura claimed that one day, from all corners of the planet, devotees would assemble at Yogapétha, Çré Dhäma Mäyäpura, and would circumambulate the birthplace od Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, their tongues ringing “Jaya Çachinandana, Jaya Çachinandana.” That this has just come to pass was only Çréla Prabhupäda’s grace. That somehow we are being a party to the fulfillment of the prophecy of the <i>äcäryas</i> is only Çréla Prabhupäda’s grace. That our lives may one day become perfect in Kåñëa’s service through the <i>Saàkértan </i>movement will only be Çréla Prabhupäda’s grace.</p>
<p class="p7"> Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, our only fear is that material ambition may deny us that service to your holy lotus feet. Our redeemer, please bless us that we may become strong and pure and thereby aspire uninterruptedly after Lord Caitanya’s <i>saàkértan</i> which you have so kindly extended to us.</p>
<p class="p7"> Thus pray your most ignoble servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Guru Gauräìga däsa brahmacäré / Dayämågya däsa brahmacäré / Saìkäça däsa brahmacäré / Jayäntakåd däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jean Christophe däsa / Bhakta Oliver däsa / Bhaktin Catherine däsé / Bhaktin Maria däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Hamburg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hamburg</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i> </i>We offer our respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"> Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"> Our dear spiritual master Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7"> Please accept our humble obeisances. You came to the western world to deliver the fallen souls, and we, your disciples, want to help you spread this Kåñëa consciousness all over the world. This means that we want to give everyone a book or a record of the transcendental message of Çré Kåñëa. We know we can’t do anything directly for the Lord, but Kåñëa is so kind, He accepts our service through the transcendental medium of the authorized spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7"> Once your spiritual master was asked by a reporter why he was publishing a weekly magazine with the same theme about Kåñëa. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda replied: “In this universe there are millions of planets, and there exist as many universes as mustard seeds in a mustard seed bag. There are innumerable universes coming out of the pores of Mahäviñëu’s body when He exhales; and when He inhales, they all enter back into Him. And Mahäviñëu is only a portion of Kåñëa! Just see how big Kåñëa is! And beyond this material world there is the spiritual world, full of innumerable, gigantic spiritual planets called Vaikuëöhas, which are all resting in the effulgence of Çré Kåñëa, who engages in divine pastimes in Goloka Våindävana. And you newsmen are publishing everyday a magazine about the boring affairs of this tiny insignificant planet, never getting tired <span class="s2">this</span> dull theme.”</p>
<p class="p7"> Therefore, it is not enough at all to print one magazine a week about Kåñëa, who is so much more glorious. We should print a book a day about Kåñëa. No, it would not even be enough to print a book each <span class="s2">second</span> about Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> You took the words of your spiritual master very seriously and translated all of these nice books, which are now being distributed all over the world. Nothing pleases you more than to see that your books are published and distributed. So, our desire is to translate as much transcendental literature as possible in German language, and distribute it profusely, forgetting all material desires, not caring about material love, friendship and society. Your mercy is all that we are made of.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu,<br>
lokanäth lokera jévana hä hä prabhu koro doyä, <br>
deho more pada-chäyä, ebe jaça ghuñuk tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p49">Cakravaté däsa brahmacäré / Yakña däsa brahmacäré / Bhibiñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Gaëanätha däsa brahmacäré / Çacénandana däsa brahmacäré / Niñpäpa däsa brahmacäré / Jayagaura däsa brahmacäré / Bhärata däsa brahmacäré / Vedavyäsa däsa brahmacäré / Aya däsa brahmacäré / Harvirdhana däsa brahmacäré / Viñëujasa däsa brahmacäré / Gaura Kiçora däsa brahmacäré / Ikñväku däsa brahmacäré <i>/ </i>Vaidyanätha däsa brahmacäré / Ätmavidyä däsa adhikäré / Nikhilänanda däsa brahmacäré / Håmaté devé däsé / Bhakta Axel / Bhakta Rabhe</p>
<p class="p11">Heidelberg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Heidelberg</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We bow down before you in great reverence, as we understand that your lotus feet are the only way to approach devotional service. All our attempts to approach Kåñëa are useless without you benediction. By your grace only one can cross over the tossing waves of the material ocean and obtain Kåñëa’s mercy. Let us become absorbed in hearing the eternal words flowing from your lotus lips. Hearing the spiritual masters words, which are non-different from the absolute truth, is the perfection of life. Your words are like the sunshine, and wherever they may be repeated, darkness cannot remain.</p>
<p class="p7"> By accepting the authority of the father, a small child can understand everything nicely. Similarly, we accept you as our spiritual father for understanding God. Only by following your instructions with full faith can we come to the platform of understanding our eternal relationship with Kåñëa. This is the highest goal of human life, approachable only by the most qualified personalities. But your causeless mercy is so great that even <i>çüdras</i>, and those who are less than <i>çüdras</i>, are being picked up from the ocean of birth and death. You are the only one who can give us shelter. Your are the master of all the devotees. Please be merciful and bless us with the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Påthu däsa brahmacäré / Akrüra däsa adhikäré / Añöharäthä däsa brahmacäré / Harinämänanda däsa adhikäré / Térthadä däsa brahmacäré / Mahärati däsa adhikäré / Uthala däsa brahmacäré / Çilpakäriëé devé däsé / Premachanda däsa brahmacäré / Renukä devé däsé / Rämamohana däsa brahmacäré / Çänté Maté devé däsé / Mahäkoça däsa brahmacäré / Madanalasa devé däsé / Bhakta Egon / Maëi-maïjaré devé däsé / Bhakta David / Kamäkñé devé däsé / Bhaktin Marion / Bhaktin Robin</p>
<p class="p11">Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> Our spiritual great-grandfather, His Divine Grace Saccindänanda Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, has declared in his <i>daçaüla</i> that the Absolute truth is one, and cannot be approached with imperfect senses. The living entities have five senses for acquiring knowledge, and five organs of action, and above these, there is another sense, the mind. None of these is competent to enter into the anti-material domain of the Supreme Lord. Conditioned souls are stuck in the temporary varieties of knowledge the material nature provides, and have no means to leap over the barrier of ignorance, save and except being coached by the spiritual master. </p>
<p class="p7"> Envious persons, with an eye to scrutinizing all phenomenon through their doubting intellect, are prone to inquire as to whether the exclusive passport of the <i>bhaktis</i> is fair or non-biased. The doubting souls cannot accept the priority of pure love and would make all means of acquaintanceship with the Lord equally one and the same in their result. Our preceptor exemplar, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, has quoted a verse from the <i>Puräëas</i> which puts the question to rest:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>harer näma harer näma harer nämaiva kevalam<br>
kalau nästy eva nästy eva nästy eva gatir anyathä</i></p>
<p class="p7">The purport is that there is but one means of deliverance in the age of Kali, and that is to chant Hari’s Name, or specifically, the <i>mahä-mantra</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare</i></p>
<p class="p7">One who is able to succeed in chanting these anti-material Names without <i>aparädha</i>, offense, becomes at once famous throughout the universe. On the other hand, one who advances in mystic power, and employs his talents for material gain, as in the case of Rävaëa and Hiraëyäkña, becomes infamous, and his life is a failure.</p>
<p class="p7"> Success in life, and a pure and satisfied mind, are achieved through the association of the <i>bhaktivedäntas</i>. Even a moment in the presence of the servants of Kåñëa, or even their causelessly merciful glance, is the most auspicious moment of a soul’s conditioned sojourn, and guarantees access to <i>bhakti</i>, the <span class="s2">sine qua non</span> of ultimate eternity, bliss and knowledge. Indeed, Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja has stated in his <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ei brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja</i></p>
<p class="p7">We are endlessly traveling throughout millions of species of life, touching every planet in the universe, but by the mercy of a pure devotee of Kåñëa, one may receive the seed of devotion within the heart, which, if developed, leads to freedom from birth and death. The spiritual master is known as the vice-Lord, because of the plemipotentiary endowment from the Lord Himself. He is able to remold and reform the heart of the disciple and return it to its original godly shape, provided the disciple is surrendered to his instructions and is a willing servant. We must always understand that in matters of spirit there is no undue force applied to unwilling subjects. Those willing to remain in the material world are given facility to suffer for eternity under the hand of Durgä, and those willing to return back to home, back to Godhead, are given the opportunity when Kåñëa sees fit.</p>
<p class="p7"> Our spiritual master is our life and soul; his order is more dear than our life-breath. No one can afford to accept a cheat, whose orders will warp and destroy the life of devotion. It is exigent therefore, for us to inquire into the specifications of the devotee, so that we may recognize His Divine Grace when we have the opportunity of his audience. In a lecture delivered in London on October 6, 1969 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda declared that there are but two prerequisites for the spiritual master. He must have thorough realization that he is not the body, that is, he is spirit soul. Secondly, he must have heard from the right sources. </p>
<p class="p7"> Let us for a moment examine this proposal. If the spiritual master has understood that he is not material but an anti-material living entity, he is not willing to take advantage of material facilities for sense gratification, nor is he willing to exploit others for gain. <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> states that one who sees all living entities as having the same qualities neither laments nor desires. This exalted status of <i>brahma-bhüta</i> must be present before we can actually trust anyone. Otherwise there will forever be some kind of inebriation, and this is not acceptable in a spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7"> Simple understanding of the spiritual nature of one’s existence is not enough to deliver him from all material difficulties. The further qualification is that the spiritual master must have heard from the right sources. This means sources in direct, unbroken contact with the Absolute Truth. If the truth is one, the alteration of the truth means duality and relativity. A relative truth will not lead one on the progressive path back to home, back to Godhead. But His Divine Grace has heard from Kåñëa directly through disciplic succession, unbroken and unaltered.</p>
<p class="p7"> His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is possessed of all good spiritual qualifications, and therefore we must accept him as the captain of the ship crossing over the difficult ocean of the age of Kali. So many men have come preaching from India, but they have not borne the diploma of disciplic succession. Consequently, their students have failed in the final examination at death. Let us forever remain obedient to our <i>guru-mahäräja,</i> because his service is our constitution, our life-force. Let us pray to never surpass His Divine Grace through meritorious works or fine words, but simply remain available, ready to do his bidding as he sees fit. In this attitude alone can we hope to attract his attention and receive the highest benediction of spiritual life, to serve the servant of the servant of the <i>gopés</i>, a thousand times removed. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p49">Sudämä däsa Goswami / Taruëa Kanté däsa brahmacäré / Ñré Räga däsa brahmacäré / Durdarça däsa brahmacäré / Atulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Päëòu däsa brahmacäré / Gauragovinda däsa brahmacäré / Hariharä däsa brahmacäré / Praghoña däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Chris / Kåñëacaitanya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mike / Gajahanta däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Greg / Karëämåta däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John / Bhadravardhana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Bryan / Nitäi-gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Terry / Ñrutadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rick / Kanva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Chuck / Ramaëotsuka däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kevin / Yamadagni däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John / Aniruddha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Paul / Goloka Väsiné / Jayadevé / Sarucé devé däsé / Våëdadevé / Nirüpädi devé däsé / Nipuno / Bhavatäriné devé däsé / Ätmäräma / Sharon Prabhu / Gokulänanda / Babhru däsa adhikäré – Satyaki devé däsé / Premärëava däsa adhikäré – Jaya Çré devé däsé / Kadambakänana däsa adhikäré – Kirtidäkanyaké devé däsé / Janaka Åñi däsa adhikäré – Päëòuräné devé däsé / Vyäsatértha däsa adhikäré – Kajjalé devé däsé / Hari Ballava däsa adhikäré – Kuça devé däsé / Turya däsa adhikäré – Çaktimaté devé däsé / Balabhadra däsa adhikäré – Chaya devé däsé / Varuëa däsa adhikäré – Rüpa Maïjaré devé däsé / Rüpa Manohara däsa adhikäré – Madana Sundaré devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Jakarta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jakarta</b></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of our only beloved <i>Guru</i> and Father, who has left the most precious abode of Çré Kåñëa to come to this material world to save the most fallen souls and bring them all back to Godhead.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our unworthy dedication offered on this most auspicious day. Indeed there are no words worthy to be written in your praise, but we know you accept whatever we can do or say about you.</p>
<p class="p7"> Thank you for initiating pure and saintly devotees to deliver uninterpreted the message of Çré Kåñëa. It was only through them that three years ago the <i>mahä-mantra</i> was introduced to us. We were all drowning in the ocean of <i>Mäyä</i>, the illusory energy, trying to overlord this material energy, covered with material hankerings and lamentations, attached to temporary sense pleasure. By your causeless mercy we were awakened by transcendental knowledge of the Lord, the Supreme Person, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">The <i>saàkértan</i> led by Your Divine Grace is so blissful to hear. The philosophical expositions of Your Divine Grace answer all our questions. The chanting of <i>japa</i> that you have taught us connects us with the spiritual atmosphere. You have shown us how to engage all of our senses fully in the service of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7"> The memory of your presence in Jakarta still fills our hearts with ecstasy. Your talks soothed our hearts, vanquishing all doubts. The flowers in the garden, the paths outside, everything has become spiritual because of your visit, and they constantly remind us of you. </p>
<p class="p7"> We are in great joy to hear that you have planned to make Jakarta Australia’s branch of ISKCON, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the devotees you plan to dispatch. Though we do not have a Temple, Püjä is done at least twice a day at our small altars at home and <i>prasäda</i> is offered thrice a day. Every week <i>kértana</i> is performed with <i>ärätrika</i>, <i>prasäda</i> is distributed, and a few <i>çlokas</i> of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> read and explained. We regularly chant on beads and preach to at least a few people a day.</p>
<p class="p7">Of all the world centers, ISKCON Jakarta seems to be the most fallen, nevertheless Your Divine Grace has entrusted us with the service of translating and publishing books in Indonesian language, in order to spread Kåñëa consciousness. At present we are trying to sell Back-to-Godheads and some of your big books. Your mercy is pouring like rain on everyone, trying to make everyone worship Kåñëa and go back to Godhead in this very lifetime. All glories to you! Your knowledge is deep and profound. Let us help you spread your mercy to the conditioned souls. We offer our repeated obeisances unto you, whom we wish to love more and more, and whose mercy we beg.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,<br>
bando mui sävadhäna mate jähära prasäde bhäi<br>
e bhava toriyä jäi, kåñëa-präpti hoy jähä ha’te</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.” <span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 1]</span></p>
<p class="p7">With our heads at your feet, we submit this humble offering. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Aravindäkñé devé däsé / Bhaktin Levina / Çrématé Kamala / Bhaktin Joti / Çrématé Kamala / Bhaktin Kaushilya / Çrématé Lachmi / Bhaktin Dharmadas Dadlani / Çrématé Bharti / Bhaktin Budi / Bhaktin Kamlu / Bhaktin Pushpa</p>
<p class="p7">And all the children who, by your grace, have learned to chant Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p11">Kowloon</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Kowloon</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Most dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Please accept our very fallen obeisances. We beg for mercy at your lotus feet. To offer you praise that befits your actual position would require millions upon millions of tongues eternally chanting glorious hymns.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>premä haite kåñëa haya nija bhakta-vaça<br>
premä haite päya kåñëera sevä-sukha-rasa</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The Supreme Lord, who is greater than the greatest, becomes submissive to even a very insignificant devotee because of his devotional service. It is the beautiful and exalted nature of devotional service that the infinite Lord becomes submissive to the infinitesimal living entity because of it. In reciprocal devotional activities with the Lord, the devotee actually enjoys the transcendental mellow of devotional service.” [<i>Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi </i>7.145]</p>
<p class="p7"> For one such as yourself, who is honored so much more than simply an “insignificant devotee,” how is it possible for <i>mlecchas</i> like ourselves to offer you worthy praise? We simply beg for your mercy and intelligence to follow your loving guidance, as a drowning man gasps for air. Our only desire is to remain eternally at your service.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhurijana däsa adhikäré / Jagateriëi devé däsé / Devaprastha däsa adhikäré / Gulab / Yaçodamtisüta däsa brahmacäré / Sunile Khemaney / Minaketana däsa brahmacäré / Renuka, Suresh, Khilani / Bhakta David Tsang / Duru Santani / Richard Bellord and Cheung Wai Lan / The Hong Kong and Kowloon Children’s Classes / The Harilila families</p>
<p class="p11">Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mahätmänas tu mäà pärtha<br>
daivéà prakåtim äçritäù<br>
bhajanty ananya-manaso<br>
jïätvä bhütädim avyayam</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>satataà kértayanto mäà<br>
yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù<br>
namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä<br>
nitya-yuktä upäsate</i></p>
<p class="p7">“O son of Påthä, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 9.13]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> Your Divine grace so mercifully gives description of, and direction to, that eternal realm of pure beauty and bliss, which is exemplified in your own nature.</p>
<p class="p7"> Your very presence is that place of divine love, Vraja, for you fully know yourself to be Kåñëa’s and never lose connection with Him due to your unswerving desire to please the All-pleasing. He increases His, and your, wonder and affection in the inconceivable reciprocations of unconditional surrender, which is the ever-expanding intimacy of individuation amidst the sealing oneness of perfect attachment revealed in the central arena of creation.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ya idaà paramaà guhyaà<br>
mad-bhakteñv abhidhäsyati<br>
bhaktià mayi paräà kåtvä<br>
mäm evaiñyaty asaàçayaù</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>na ca tasmän manuñyeñu<br>
kaçcin me priya-kåttamaù<br>
bhavitä na ca me tasmäd<br>
anyaù priyataro bhuvi</i></p>
<p class="p7">“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.”</p>
<p class="p7">“There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>18.68-69)</span></p>
<p class="p7"> You have thus bought Kåñëa to the world by the magnetism of glorious devotion, and a band of disciples takes shelter at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"> The ambassador of the Lord of all planets, most dear to Kåñëa on this one, we anxiously submit ourselves to hearing and serving Your Divine Grace throughout the travel of time and space.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà<br>
karëa-dhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7"> Knowing not that which you do, your fullness immersed in the sublime; wanting that pleasing position in relation with you, to transmit your high message throughout vast time. Sometimes, when our surrender to purity becomes complete; there you will introduce our spiritual function as we meet your beloved, Who is seen reflected in transcendental tears, welling up in appreciation of our ever well-wisher, who causelessly came after all these years.</p>
<p class="p7"> We beg to remain bowed down before you or in the execution of you divine directives.</p>
<p class="p49">Svarüpa dämordara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Joe / Kñudhi däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Steve / Bhojadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Peter / Viçvämåta däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jim / Håñékeça däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Lucky / Bhakta Gary / Bhakta Dave / Åñabhadeva däsa adhikäré / Çiväni devé däsé / Locana däsa adhikäré / Kåñna viläsiné devé däsé / Bhakta Gauräìga däsa / Räthäyatra devé däsé / Bhakta Michael / Khandaväsé devé däsé / Nirüpädi devé däsé / Kusumikä devé däsé / Dhäteyé devé däsé / Bhaktin Rebecca</p>
<p class="p11">London</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p7">“We offer our respectful obeisances unto Çréla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve <br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O servant of Sarasvaté. You are kindly delivering the message of Lord Caitanyadeva to the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.” <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya <br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena <br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
To disregard your instructions clear<br>
You have shown the path to freedom<br>
“Chant the Name! Become free from fear.”</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
To you who came to the West alone,<br>
Showed us how to play <i>mådaìga,<br>
</i>Changed our hearts which were made of stone.</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
We have no attraction for the Name.<br>
O, Håñékeça! Master of the senses,<br>
Help us control our minds insane.</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
You sit up all night and write<br>
You are selflessly translating<br>
The spotless <i>Puräëa</i>, that will give us light.</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
You’ve taught us how to cook and eat,<br>
How to offer to Lord Kåñëa,<br>
And your holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
You have eased us of our malady,<br>
You have gently administered medicine,<br>
Cured the disease of <i>çünyavädi</i>.</p>
<p class="p55">How could we be so ungrateful<br>
We only want a life of ease,<br>
Lord Caitanya – <i>Patita Pävana</i>,<br>
Help us! Help us! Please.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i> O dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We, your servants here at Bhaktivedanta Manor, are so anxious for your perfect association. Only be such transcendental company will we become eligible to view the lotus feet of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> Your energy seems inexhaustible as you preach, write, travel, instruct disciples, constantly surprising us with your divine understanding of our dilemma. Our only pray is that someday we may learn to please you as you are pleasing your own <i>guru-mahäräja,</i> Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"> Fresh in our minds are the memories of last year’s wonderful Rathayäträ festival. You refused to ride in the chariot with Their Lordships Jagannätha, Subhadrä and Balaräma. Instead you led the devotees in chanting and dancing on the three-mile journey to Trafalgar Square. Sometimes you would stop, turn around and stare at the <i>Ratha</i> as it came to a halt. The whole parade would stop and watch you. Then, as if returning from another place, you would look back at the devotees and begin to leap into the air again and again, encouraging us to dance with you by simultaneously moving both your hands upwards and then downwards. We danced and danced until we where exhausted, but you were still fresh, almost unaffected by the excursion. On Janmäñöamé, you gave us Rädhä-Gokulänanda to worship and serve. You offered a most beautiful <i>ärätrika</i> to Them and led the devotees in circumambulating Their Lordships, again dancing and leaping in ecstasy. Most of us couldn’t believe our eyes as we watched you, and the ocean of bliss swelled in our hearts and engulfed us. We think we will never forget the wonderful summer of 1973. You would sit on the lawn for hours answering our questions, meeting guests and reporters. We know you will never be able to spare so much of your valuable time in this way again. But of course the wonderful thing is that now you are translating the spotless <i>Puräëa</i> <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam)</i> for our benefit and for the benefit of the entire world. Let us hope and pray that the unfortunate souls in this age of Kali will take shelter of this most precious jewel. We feel so incompetent to serve you. You demand such a high standard. <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> says that men in this age are lazy, quarrelsome, misguided, unfortunate and above all, always disturbed. So these are our qualities. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are truly magnanimous. You are constantly proving that you are our real father. One day we may prove that we are loyal, devoted children. Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, sometimes we feel like crying out loud for your mercy. But we know it is always there, we simply have to accept it. May we, your disciples here at Bhaktivedanta Manor, learn how to increase our menial service up to the point of saturating this entire planet with the sound of the Holy Names. Çréla Prabhupäda, we don’t deserve you. But that’s why Lord Caitanya is called Patita Pävana; He has given us you, who are His most devoted servant. All glories to Çré Guru and Gauräìga.</p>
<p class="p49">Tribhuvanätha / Mukunda / Räjaçekhara / Mädhavänanda / Mohanananda / Bhaja Hari / Dhyani / Tribhaìgänanda / Sudarçana / Devadatta / Dhéranäyaka / Haribolänanda / Mahävidyä / Puraïjana / Kulaçekhara / Éçvara / Paraméçvara / Vaikuëöhanätha / Bhakta Robert / Arcanänanda / Bhakta Mick / Jaya Lakñmaëa / Bhakta Patrick / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Matthew / Bhakta Mike / Bhaktipremoda and Yaçodmayé / Kñérodakaçäyé and Kurti and family / Manu däsa and family / Satvastha däsa, Christine and family / Komaläìgé / Malaté / Pürëacandra / Kauçalya / Shyämasundaré / Ramyä / Gaìgämayé / Rämadevé / Bhaktin Eileen / Draupadé / Bhaktin Elizabeth / Kamaläkänté / Éçvaré / Haripriyä / Säradiyä / Dhruvänanda / Sambhavé / Änanda / Mantriëé / Madhumaìgala / Ikñäkuräëé / Kadamba / Bhaktin Maeve / Rädhikä / Bhaktin Vujka / Käla / Bhaktin Sandra / Bhaktin Dharma / Bhaktin Syifa / Bhaktin Zora / Bhaktin Ann / Devaké / Dormia / Bhakta Mark</p>
<p class="p11">Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p4"><b>The person </b><b><i>Bhägavatam </i></b><b>gives perfect knowledge.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya <br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena <br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7"> ““I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “Full and scientific knowledge is Kåñëa, and everything is revealed to the person in Kåñëa consciousness. In complete Kåñëa consciousness, one knows that Kåñëa is the ultimate knowledge beyond any doubts.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 7.2]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “Real knowledge culminates in Kåñëa consciousness, the highest stage of transcendental knowledge.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>4.33]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple.”</p>
<p class="p7"> “A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “The result of receiving knowledge from a self-realized soul, or one who knows things as they are, is learning that all living beings are parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bg</i>. </span><span class="s13">4.35</span><span class="s3">)</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of spiritual understanding. As such, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Ignorance is the cause of our bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.38]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> We understand that the pure devotee is a soul thoroughly surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa. And as such the Lord, being situated within the heart as Supersoul, reveals perfect or absolute knowledge to the pure devotee from within. Therefore the pure devotee is the external manifestation of Supersoul. Or put another way; the pure devotee is a representative of perfect knowledge, or Lord Çré Kåñëa. Kåñëa is all perfect. And you are that pure devotee Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"> ““The devotees are always in My heart, and I am always in the hearts of the devotees. The devotee does not know anything beyond Me, and I also cannot forget the devotee. There is a very intimate relationship between Me and the pure devotees. Pure devotees in full knowledge are never out of spiritual touch, and therefore they are very much dear to Me.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg.</i> 9.4.68)</span></p>
<p class="p7">The Supreme Lord Kåñëa first spoke this perfect knowledge to the sun-god more than a hundred million years ago and the knowledge was passed down by disciplic succession, through Lord Caitanya to Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, and from him to His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. Now you are the <i>äcärya</i> for this age, the pure representative of Kåñëa, and the bestower of complete knowledge upon humanity. We can show our appreciation to you by learning this perfect knowledge and then teaching it to others without change.</p>
<p class="p12">This priceless gift that you have brought<br>
The perfect knowledge Kåñëa taught<br>
Revives the consciousness asleep<br>
for crores of births in <i>mäyä’s</i> keep<br>
Springing anew with clearing sight<br>
perfectly bright of golden hue<br>
Lord Caitanya’s <i>saàkértana<br>
</i>carries the message to heart pierced through<br>
These young boys and girls.<br>
following your teachings, light the halls<br>
Where millions lies despondent, entrapped<br>
in the silence of ignorance they suffer and die<br>
This perfect knowledge picks them up<br>
uncovers their soul, gives them help<br>
You have done this Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
You came to us and taught the truth<br>
Humanity falls at your feet to ask:<br>
“What service may I do? What task<br>
To show the Lord I understand<br>
To help your program, to lend a hand<br>
A billion lips chant <i>Hari-näma<br>
</i>A billion hearts feel <i>kåñëa-prema<br>
</i>You came alone and gave us this<br>
From your lotus mouth the nectar drops<br>
The swan-like man; you’ve saved us all<br>
Now we can study Kåñëa’s call.<br>
All glory to your lotus feet<br>
again and again and again.</p>
<p class="p49">Ameyätmä däsa / George Prabhu / Arjuna däsa / Harer Näma däsa / Bahurüpa däsa / Hasyapriya däsa / Vaàçévadanasuväsa däsa / Joe Prabhu / Väëinätha däsa / John Prabhu / Vaàçédhäré däsa / Kåtägama däsa / Bhuvaneçvara däsa / Lokasaraìga däsa / Bircandra däsa / Mahävérya däsa / Citraka däsa / Manäbhiräma däsa / Deva Deva däsa / Mathurä Mohana däsa / Dhanurveda däsa / Mäyäpur däsa / Dharmakñetra / Nadéa däsa / Dhümrakeça däsa / Päëòu däsa / Eugene Prabhu / Pävamäna däsa / Gaìgänäräyaëa däsa / Premarüpa däsa / Gopavåndäpäla däsa / Puëòaréka däsa / Ravéndranätha däsa / Çrékanta däsa / Ragunandana däsa / Suränanda däsa / Rameçvara däsa / Sureça däsa / Riktänanda däsa / Tripuräré däsa / Roger Prabhu #1 / Uçikä däsa / Roger Prabhu #2 / Vämänanda däsa / Çacéduläl däsa / Vaàçé däsa / Sevänanda däsa / Yogänanda däsa / Anasüya devé däsé / Antardhyäna devé däsé / Cinmayé devé däsé / Devahüti devé däsé / Diane Prabhu / Jambavaté devé däsé / Kathyrn Prabhu / Labaìgalatika devé däsé / Mädhavé devé däsé / Maëéndra devé däsé / Ména devé däsé / Nandaläl devé däsé / Païcalé devé däsé / Rene Prabhu / Rüpa Candra Prabhu / Çatadaré devé däsé / Sharamine Prabhu / Täraka devé däsé / Tuìga Bhadra devé däsé / Tuñöé devé däsé / Ujjalä devé däsé / Våndävaneçvaré devé däsé / Våndävana Viläsiné devé däsé / Yajïapriyä devé däsé / Amåtänada däsa and Jaya Gopé devé däsé / Anila däsa and Mahädhana devé däsé / Bahuläçva däsa and Karun</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Santa Cruz Devotees</b></p>
<p class="p49">Jivänanda däsa and Harñaräné devé däsé, Govinda, Gopäla, Gopénäthta / Doc Docstaker Prabhu and Sherry Prabhu / Jake Carigan Prabhu and Sarväné devé däsé, Sämaveda / Cidänanda däsa brahmacäré / Gavéra däsa bahmacäré / John McLeod Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Manchester</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Manchester</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Please accept our worthless obeisances at your most sanctified lotus feet. Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura sung;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,<br>
bando mui sävadhäna mate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only repositories of devotion. I bow down before him in great awe and reverence.”</p>
<p class="p7"> For many miserable births in this material world we have been vainly searching for happiness. During this search we have attached ourselves to so many different masters and rendered service in so many different ways to the ultimate mistress of the material world, Mayadevi. In this way all of our energy has been uselessly wasted, and we have remained unsatisfied. In such a bewildered condition we have somehow or other become fortunate enough to be attracted to the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya, delivered by you, Çréla Prabhupäda, and thus we have been rescued.</p>
<p class="p7">By hearing this message with submissive attention we have come to understand that you, as the bonafide representative of Çré Kåñëa, are our real master, for who we have been searching after birth after birth. Let us now serve you with all the devotion we are able to muster, for your lotus feet are the only shelter from the path of birth and death. Let us cling to the protection of Your Divine Grace lest we are again cast amongst the false masters of the material world. Let us bow down repeatedly before you, our eternal savior, for you are to be worshipped as Çré Kåñëa Himself is worshipped. If we can simply serve you steadfastly, giving all our attention to the fulfillment of your desires, being pleased with us, you will give us what only you are able to give – Kåñëa! Therefore we pray to Him that we may become content simply to remain the eternal servants of Your Divine Grace, the saviour of the western world.</p>
<p class="p49">Ranchor däsa / Devamäya devé däsé / Tanumadya däsa / Karpädiné devé däsé / Acintyarüpa däsa / Govardhana devé däsé / Çukapradä däsa / Ählädiné Çakté devé däsé / Gopäla däsa / Bhaktin Jacqueline / Bhakta David / Bhaktin Dorothy / Bhakta Dave / Bhaktin Anna</p>
<p class="p11">Mäyäpur</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mäyäpur</b></p>
<p class="p7">“The Golden Moon of Çréla Prabhupäda is Rising”</p>
<p class="p7"> Kåñëa says in the eleventh canto of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam; </i>“My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must not only be accepted as My representative but as My very self.” Your Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is thirty-second in the line of the Madhva-Gauòéya <i>sampradäya,</i> the disciplic chain of spiritual masters descending from Lord Kåñëa Himself. We, your sin-ridden children of Çré Caitanya Mäyäpurdhäma, the transcendental abode of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, taking great pleasure in lying down like a stick in the dust at your lotus feet. </p>
<p class="p7"> We admit that we do not understand the glories of Çré Caitanya. But we accept the lotus feet of the Païcatattwa just because it is pleasing to you. Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkur says;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ei chaya gosäïi yäìra——mui täìra däsa<br>
täì-sabära pada-reëu mora païca-gräsa</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I simply accept a person who follows in the footsteps of the Six Gosvämés, and the dust of such a person’s lotus feet are my foodstuff.” <span class="s3">(Cc. <i>Ädi</i>, 8.7)</span></p>
<p class="p7">The six Gosamis, Çré Rüpa, Çré Sanätana, Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa, Çré Raghunätha däsa, Çré Jéva, Çré Gopäla Bhaööa were prolific writers of glorious books which eternally enliven all the sincere souls throughout the universe. Çréla Prabhupäda, out of compassion and duty, you have continued to write books in order to please Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Lord Kåñëa, in <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> first distinguishes the spirit soul from gross matter, and in conclusion takes us to the pint of full surrender, in devotion to the Supreme Person. Now, you have kindly given us <i>Caitanya Caritämåta,</i> the most advanced glorification of God, yet we are still floundering on the sensual and mental platforms. We thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for all these nectarine books, which are gradually captivating our minds. Previous to reading them we had not even information or direction on why or how to submit ourselves at your lotus feet. Who, other then yourself, could write such books?</p>
<p class="p7">According to the <i>çastra</i> and the past <i>äcäryas,</i> only a pure devotee of the Lord like yourself could perform such miraculous work. We can understand from the teaching of Çréla Kåñëadäs Kaviräja Goswami how you are doing this. As Çréla Kåñëadäs says that his writing is actually the dictation of Çré Madana Mohan, so your writing is actually the dictation of Çré Kåñëa. As Çréla Kåñëadäs has done, so you are sitting with the Lord, writing authoritative instructions on how to serve in the kingdom of God.</p>
<p class="p7"> Somehow or other we find our insignificant selves rendering some small service to you here in your Çré Mäyäpur Candradaya Mandir. Lord Caitanya’s moon rises to the east of the building. At Çrévas Angham, Kåñëa Caitanya is dancing, and it is from here that He is kindly distributing the rays of the <i>saàkértana </i>benediction moon. We see that this moon is your moon, because it is yours to give. What greatness you must possess; the Supreme Lord has chosen you to be the present <i>äcärya.</i> It is said that Çré Candradev mercifully sheds light on the <i>caëòäla</i> and divine alike. Similarly, you are claiming us as your children, although we are fools, knaves, rascals and assassins. We are killers of the soul. On the northern side of Their Lordships Çré-Çré Rädhä-Mädhava is the Yogapéöha of Çré Gaurasundara. We who are just like coal, after repeated washings, and who are always committing offenses, thank you Çréla Prabhupäda, for having taken the Lord’s Yogapéöha with you across the ocean. Çrédham Mäyäpur is always golden, and we see that you also have the golden touch, for everywhere you go you turn that place into Chintamoni-dhäm, the kingdom of Çré Kåñëa. On the western front lies the Ganges, which is mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord and tulasi leaves:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yä vai lasac-chré-tulasé-vimiçra-<br>
kåñëäìghri-reëv-abhyadhikämbu-netré<br>
</i><span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg 1.19.6</i>)</span></p>
<p class="p7">And to the south is the Jalangi, which is glorified by the presence of His Divine Grace Çréla Öhäkur Bhaktivinode. We feel confident that Çréla Bhaktivinode’s desire for a transcendental city at Çré Mäyäpur is already in the beginning stages, because you are trying to fulfill that desire. Your desire is no different than Kåñëa’s desire. We beg that we may hold on tight to, and always remember, your lotus feet, whether in happy or distressed conditions of life. Furthermore we pray to be always engaged in your transcendental service, and to be always pleasing to you.</p>
<p class="p49">Jayapataka Swami / Bhävänanda Goswami / Prabäsa däsa / Baradaräja däsa / Janänibäs däsa / Rukiëé däsé / Çatadhanya däsa / Janameïjaya däsa / Bhavabhüti däsa / Tära däsé / Ädi-deva däsa / Saptarätha däsa / Ajämila däsa / Hemalaté däsé / Dénadyal däsa / Éçän däsa / Rasaparäyaëa däsa / Bibavaté däsé / Tértharäja däsa / Anakadarigabi däsa / Paìkajanya däsa / Våndävanbihäré däsé / Éçeçvara däsa / Patitapävana däsa / Jaganiväs däsa / Puñkar däsa / Çrémati däsé / Satajit / Aloo däsé / Bhakta Brice / Améyäbalé däsé / Bhakta Babendra / Maïju däsé / Bhakta Allen / Sumaté däsé / Bhakta Santosa / Bhaktin Mary / Bhakta Sankarsana / Kåñëa Sundar däsa / Bhakta Ravi / Gaëesh däsa / Bhakta Nirmal Candre / Ädi Guru däsa / Bhakta Ak / Bhakta Govinda / Bhakta Binode</p>
<p class="p11">Mexico City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mexico City</b></p>
<p class="p7">When someone saves your life, how can you best thank him? Can he be repaid with gold coins or sweet words? By offering your bank-balance and humble supplications you were not able to dissuade cruel death from carrying you away, for your things are of little value. He who saved you gave you the most valuable thing, your life. But we are such rascals that we think to pay off our debt with a few trinkets, and continue on our merry way as if nothing had happened.</p>
<p class="p7"> All living entities in the material world are struggling very hard. <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 15.7]</span> Sometimes they are happy; other times, when they are afflicted with the threefold miseries, they are distressed. <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 13.22]</span> We had no knowledge or faith in the spiritual path. Our fate was sealed by the unretractable law of <i>karma</i>. <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 4.38]</span> Blind to the brilliant sun of Vedic knowledge, we were quite content to glide down the royal path to hell. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>16.19]</span> We were quite deep in the dark pit of material existence, entrapped in the coils of eternal time <i>(käla-sarpa),</i> resigned to die.</p>
<p class="p7"> But due to some cause indeterminable by us, we met Your Divine Grace. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.21]</span> Pärvata-muni explains that the pure devotees like you good self are touchstones, because by the slight touch of your association anyone can be converted into a great devotee also. Çukadeva Goswami explains the same; that any living being , no matter how sinful, even an animal, by service unto a <i>mahä-bhägavata,</i> can come to know scientifically about the Personality of Godhead and thus free himself from the path of birth and death. <span class="s3">(<i>Bhag.</i> 2.7.46)</span> We want a prolonged life in this world to continue on the path of <i>preyaù,</i> but in your association we have tasted a moment of full consciousness. Therefore we are now on the <i>çreya-panthä</i> engaged in <i>brahma-jijïasä,</i> for you have taught us that <i>väsudeva-parä gatiù.</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We, the Mexican people, are descendents of the <i>räkñasa</i> enemies of the Personality of Godhead Çré Räma. After Rävaëa had been killed, those demoniac followers who survived fled to this land and founded our civilization. Even so, we have great hope of attaining <i>kåñëa-prem,</i> as Sanätana Goswami says:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tathä dékñä-vidhänena<br>
dvijatvaà jäyate nåëäm</i></p>
<p class="p7">“By being properly trained and initiated by a bona fide spiritual master one immediately gets his spiritual birth.” <span class="s3">[<i>Hari-bhakti-viläsa</i> 2.12]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Vyäsadeva explains that just as the sun is all-pervading in this universe, and the air penetrates into the innermost region of everyone, so the spiritual master enters as if he were the Supersoul Himself. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 1.5.7</i>]</span> We are so conditioned that we cannot take instruction form the <i>antaryämé </i>(God as the dearmost friend and guide within the heart of the living being). Paramätmä is the embodiment of <i>sad-cit</i> or full transcendental knowledge. So you have come, the external manifestation of Himself, holding the shining torchlight of knowledge, just to lead us back to the <i>paraàdhäma.</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Godhead says to surrender to His pure devotee to learn the truth about Him. <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 4.34]</span> Actually this is a timeless principle of devotional service, <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 4.15]</span> and not a modern cheating invention for monetary profit. The <i>Bhägavatam</i> says: “<i>nityaà bhägavata-sevayä.”</i> Service unto the pure devotees is the way of great men on the path of purification. But what is the nature of that service? The Supreme Lord instructs Arjuna throughout the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> in this matter:</p>
<p class="p7">“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 9.34; 18.65]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“O son of Kunté, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” <span class="s3">[<i>Gétä</i> 9.27]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa also gives the very same instructions to Lord Brahmä:</p>
<p class="p7">“The people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal. By meditating on Me through these deeds one will obtain devotion characterized by love in the shape of devotional service.” <span class="s3">[<i>Brahma-saàhitä</i> 5.61]</span></p>
<p class="p7">But how can we, the lowest of the low and most materially contaminated of the mundane entities expect to render such pure service to the Lord? Therefore God has said that <i>bhakta-seva</i> is <i>Kåñëa-seva.</i> By dedicating the very fiber of our existence to your service we can at once serve Bhagavän, and maybe then begin to return what you have given us.</p>
<p class="p49">Madan Manohara däsa / Bhakta Mario / Rädhä-Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Miguel / Rohiëé Kumära däsa / Bhakta Jesus / Baladeva däsa / Bhakta Santos / Kñiti däsa / Bhakta Manuel / Acaleçvara däsa / Bhakta Fernando / Ramaëya däsa / Bhakta Roger / Adhokñaja däsa / Bhakta Jesus / Puñpaloca däsa / Bhakta Octavio / Cäëòé däsa / Bhakta Abel / Käçeçvara däsa / Bhakta Antonio / Ugradaàñöra däsa / Bhakta Benjamin / Räma Govinda däsa / Bhakta Enrique / Kñetrasvarúpa däsa / Bhakta Jorge / Naöavara däsa / Uddharaëa däsa / Nanda Präëa däsa / däsa / Carudeha däsa / Satrijit däsa / Bhärata candra däsa / Niradhara devé däsé / Ana Marcela Prabhu / Nirlepa devé däsé / Subhadrä Prabhu / Ma. Soledad Prabhu / Draupadé Prabhu / Nohemi Prabhu / Bhagamäliné Prabhu / Rosario Prabhu / Saïcäyané devé däsé / Georgina Prabhu / Ma. Gaudalupe Ibanez Herrera / Alejandrina Prahbu / Bhadramürti devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Miami</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> We beg you, please accept our most respectful, humble, prostrated obeisances at your beautiful lotus feet. We are wondering if we will ever fully understand your position. We are feeling a knowing anxiety wondering how we will ever repay even a small portion of the debt we owe to you. You have entrusted us with the most secret of all secrets, the king of wisdom and knowledge—Çré Kåñëa’s transcendental message. Thus our attention has been diverted to our constitutional duty; we have been set upon the path of <i>yuga-dharma.</i> We have finally taken our birth in the human form of life.</p>
<p class="p7"> By carefully following your instructions we may some day realize the purport of the transcendental knowledge, and become wholeheartedly enthused to serve you in your enthusiastic service to your Gurudeva. Only by this process can we attain the pure devotional service by which we shall meet God—face to face. Please, therefore, continue to guide us with your causeless mercy, compassion and patience.</p>
<p class="p7">Our position is too well-known and our hearts so hard as to be impervious, but you continue to serve Lord Kåñëa, with or without us, and thereby enter deeper and deeper into the ocean of transcendental happiness. On the other hand, without our service to you, we would enter deeper and deeper into the ocean of miseries, feel the most acute unhappiness and become the most miserable human beings.</p>
<p class="p7">For the most part, we are sentimental fools and rascals and our puny, clumsy offerings must make you alarmed at our insincerity and snail-like progress. Actually, we have no offering whatsoever save our respects, our obeisances, our entreaties to tolerate our offenses, our supplications to employ us in your divine purpose, and our thanks.</p>
<p class="p7"> We pray that this Vyäsa-Püjä finds you in the best possible health and that we may continue to serve you in the association of your sincere disciples. Jaya Prabhupäda! Jaya Prabhupäda! Jaya Gurudeva! All glories to Your Divine Grace!</p>
<p class="p49">Akiïcana däsa / Bhakta Ernie / Caitanya Jévana däsa / Bhakta Gary / Dharma däsa / Bhakta George / Gopépräëa däsa / Bhakta Joe / Närada Muni däsa / Bhakta John G. / Çréman Paëòit däsa / Bhakta John H. / Bhakta Carl / Bhakta Marty / Bhakta Cyril / Bhakta Raymond / Bhakta David C. / Bhakta Ron / Bhakta David H. / Bhakta Pedro / Abhiräma däsa / Sulocana däsa / Bhakta Vatsala däsa / Tamohara däsa / Bhåçakapi däsa / Vallabhasen däsa / Haihayi däsa / Yugalakiçora däsa / Madan Mohana däsa / Bhakta Louis / Narahari däsa / Bhakta Mark / Rädhä-Gopénätha däsa / Sarväné / Bhaktin Farnie / Bhaktin marion / Bhaktin Marsha / Bhaktin Rosa / Bhägavata Çakté devé däsé / Sulocana devé däsé / Bhakta Lélä devé däsé / Vijaya devé däsé / Kértimaté devé däsé / Våndädevé devé däsé / Montriné devé däsé / Våndävaneçvaré devé däsé / Narmatä devé däsé / Bhaktin Judy / Raghunandiné devé däsé / Mataji / Rohiné devé däsé / Bhaktin Donna / Sarvadé devé däsé / Våndävane / Yadunandana / Lalitä / Amaréndra / Neils / Balaräma / Abhay Caran De / Pürëimä / Kåñëa Prema / Jesse</p>
<p class="p11">Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>etad eva hi sac-chiñyaiù<br>
kartavyaà guru-niñkåtam<br>
yad vai viçuddha-bhävena<br>
sarvärthätmärpaëaà gurau</i></p>
<p class="p7">“In order to repay the debt to the divine master <i>(guru)</i>, the only thing a sincere disciple should do is offer everything he has, including his very being, favorably in the eternal service of his <i>guru.</i>” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg.</i> 10.80.41)</span></p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, only your disciples will be able to understand the meaning of this verse. Generally speaking, the <i>karmés</i> (non-devotees) like to feel themselves independent, and the controllers of their lives:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>prakåteù kriyamäëäni<br>
guëaiù karmäëi sarvaçaù<br>
ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä<br>
kartäham iti manyate</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” <span class="s3">(Bg 3.27)</span></p>
<p class="p7"> But by your mercy we have learned our real constitutional position in relation to this temporary world, and more important, in relation to Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. <i>Jïäna</i> refers to knowledge of self as distinguished from matter. <i>Vijïäna</i> refers to the specific knowledge of the self in relation to the Supreme Self. It is explained thus in the <i>Çrémad Bhägavatam:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>jïänaà parama-guhyaà me<br>
yad vijïäna-samanvitam<br>
sarahasyaà tad-aìgaà ca<br>
gåhäëa gaditaà mayä</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Knowledge of the self and the Supreme Self is very confidential and mysterious, being veiled by <i>mäyä, </i>but such knowledge and specific realization can be understood if it is explained by the Lord Himself.” (<i>Bhäg. </i>2.9.31)</p>
<p class="p7">Of course the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> gives us that knowledge, and it is spoken by the Lord Himself. But how is it that of al the translations of the <i>Gétä</i>, only yours has led people to become devotees of God, Kåñëa? It is because you are a self-realized soul and pure devotee of Kåñëa. Kåñëa explains how this knowledge is taught in the <i>Gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p26"><i>imaà vivasvate yogaà<br>
proktavän aham avyayam<br>
vivasvän manave präha<br>
manur ikñväkave 'bravét<br>
</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>4.1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p26"><i>evaà paramparä-präptam<br>
imaà räjarñayo viduù<br>
sa käleneha mahatä<br>
yogo nañöaù parantapa<br>
</i><span class="s3"><i> </i>[<i>Bg. 4.2</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p26"><i>sa eväyaà mayä te 'dya<br>
yogaù proktaù purätanaù<br>
bhakto 'si me sakhä ceti<br>
rahasyaà hy etad uttamam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. <i>4.3</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of <i>yoga</i> to the sun-god, Vivasvän, and Vivasvän instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikñväku. This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in the course of time, the succession was broken, and the science as it is appears to be lost. That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told to you by Me because you are my devotee as well as my friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.”</p>
<p class="p7"> In other words the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> is not an imaginary theological, philosophical treatise meant to be studied and understood by mundane scholarship. It is the Absolute Truth spoken by God Himself. It is specifically meant for devotees, and it must be received through the disciplic succession of pure devotee spiritual masters, who alone can deliver this message purely on behalf of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The spiritual master is honored as much as God on account of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari [Kåñëa].” (<i>Çré Gurvañöakam,</i> 7th<i> çloka)</i></p>
<p class="p7">Also in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>Kåñëa says to His friend Uddhava that one should accept the spiritual master as the Lord’s very self. No one can understand the glories of the spiritual master without following completely his instructions. And if a person is not able to engage his disciples in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he should not pose himself as a spiritual master. But you are engaged in Kåñëa’s service, and have given us that boon also. You are serving Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and we are serving Him by serving you.</p>
<p class="p7"> One serves the spiritual master according to the desires of the spiritual master, not according to his own desires. A servant means one who carries out the orders of the master. That you have taught us by your own example. It was the desire of your spiritual master that Kåñëa consciousness be presented before the English-speaking people, and you have done it. In doing so, you have not compromised, but have spoken it as it is. That is the success and perfection of you activities, and our success is to assist you in your life’s mission without selfish motivation or desires for personal sense gratification.</p>
<p class="p49">Vicaru däsa / Bhartåhari däsa / Gokulänanda däsa / Praghoña däsa / Çivaräma däsa / Harakumära däsa / Jayabalaräma däsa / Bhakta Kevin / Premaniketana däsa / Bhakta Rick / Priyabhakta däsa / Bhakta Barry / Çukra däsa / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta John / Uttamaçoka däsa adhikäré / Bahirñmaté devé däsé / Mäyäpur sha sha däsa / Sarvamayé devé däsé / Jotiraditya devé däsé / Säshvé devé däsé / Çrékari devé däsé / Bhaktin Cindy / Candra devé däsé / Bhaktin Leona / Mohiné devé däsé / Rädhä Gopénätha däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Munich</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Munich</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya <br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena <br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">There are many who claim to be spiritual authorities, to be <i>guru,</i> or even God Himself, and we must judge them by their qualifications. But without spiritual education no one can discern that which is genuine from that which is bogus. Factually very few people actually know what God is, or what they are, or what the purpose of life is. Ignorant and susceptible to self-interested cheaters, we fail to comprehend our real duty towards the Supreme God, and glide down the hellish path of existence. Amidst the varieties of so-called <i>yogés,</i> who has even understood that he is not the body? Thus due to lack of transcendental association, the cheaters and the cheated continue their perpetual transmigration from body to body, through repeated births and deaths, within this material universe. Due to their misidentification with the body, or “skin disease,” they remain plagued by unlimited anxieties.</p>
<p class="p7">The real <i>guru</i> comes to initiate the fallen souls on the progressive path of spiritual realization. The first symptom of the <i>guru</i> is that he is absorbed in transcendence, and he can lift others out of material anxieties by imparting transcendental knowledge. If one at all wants to relieve himself of his suffering, he must find and take shelter at the feet of the bona fide spiritual master. The second symptom of a <i>guru</i> is that he is always speaking of and glorifying God, as confirmed in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</span></p>
<p class="p7">In this way there are eight symptoms of a <i>guru,</i> as described by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura in his <i>Gurvañöaka.</i> When one contacts and receives the blessings of the spiritual master, he realizes his ignorant situation and becomes totally dependent on his <i>guru</i> for elevation to pure consciousness. The representative of the Lord is empowered to elevate the most fallen souls to become <i>vaiñëavas,</i> or advanced transcendentalists, lovers of God.<i> </i>Narottama däsa Öhäkura says that by touching the holy Ganges water one can get liberation, but simply by seeing the pure devotee, the same effect is achieved. The pure devotee carries the Lord within his heart and can reveal Him to any sincere disciple. We should therefore desire even a small drop of mercy from the spiritual master in order to develop our eternal relationship with the Lord, and to experience spiritual bliss so that our attachment for material pleasures may be cast aside.</p>
<p class="p7">We therefore offer our service and surrender to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, a pure devotee of Lord Kåñëa, and pray that we some day bow at his lotus feet with the humility that is required for obtaining the mercy of the Lord. We ask desperately that he kindly engage us in his service and permit us to attach ourselves to his mission. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are an ocean of mercy. When you study us, you will find no qualifications, but we beg you, do not reject us. Our only hope is in serving those who serve you, in giving you pleasure by cooperating with your mission.</p>
<p class="p49">Avinäçacandra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Frank / Citräveça däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Frank / Durgamä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kurt / Açokakumära däsa brahmacäré / Sudeñëa däsa brahmacäré / Sutapá däsa adhikäré / Herta devé däsé – Eva devé / Surabhé devé däsé / Bhaktin Christine / Bhaktin Katy</p>
<p class="p11">Nairobi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our dear spiritual master,</p>
<p class="p7">We begin with a view to glorify you, Çréla Prabhupäda, but instead we find a lack of profundity, to our disgust. We can only resound the speeches of others and hope that their praises are somewhat just. There is no need to detail our lax or our needs. But we beg you to give us the devotional seed. Please accept our heartfelt obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">The powerful animosity of the conditioned living being aimed at the Lord is certainly undeserved by Him. But you destroy this wicked mood with the sharpened sword of truth, and bring them to surrender at His feet. How great is your mercy, how marvelous is your work!</p>
<p class="p7">We are your foreign troops, our brigade marching daily through the villages and towns preaching to the uncomplimentary half of Mahäräja Vena. We want to put a spiritual smile on the face of every African. The density of ignorance here seems impenetrable yet, to our surprise, they are coming to fly the Kåñëa flag. We are boldly waving the flag of devotional service in the face of corrupted generals and kings. The fight against the atheistic demeanor is led by you, and we beg to brave their resistance in the shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">GBC—Brahmananda Swami / Paramesvari däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavat däsa brahmacäré / Ramanuja däsa brahmacäré / Rasananda däsa brahmacäré / Vivikara däsa brahmacäré / Sarma däsa brahmacäré / Jayanta däsa brahmacäré / Sanat Kumara däsa Prabhu / Krsna däsa Prabhu / Maharati däsa Prabhu / Prabhanu däsa brahmacäré / Saktimati devé däsé / Hasyanandäsa brahmacäré </p>
<p class="p11">Näma Haööa TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Näma Haööa TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Jaya Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedänta-Tridaëòi-Gosvämé-Mahäräja-Prabhupäda ké jaya!</i></p>
<p class="p7"> With a humbled heart and prostrated obeisances we offer to thee this Vyäsa-Püjä, an offering most deserved by one who represents Çréla Vyäsadeva, the original spiritual master. You are so mercifully making unfortunates fortunate with the message of devotional service. Çukadeva Goswami stated to Mahäräja Parékñit the importance of hearing the Lord’s pastimes in the twenty-ninth chapter of the fourth canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam;</i></p>
<p class="p7"> “My dear King, one should stay at a place where the great <i>äcäryas</i> (holy teachers) speak about the transcendental activities of the Lord, and one should give aural reception to the nectarean river flowing from the moonlike faces of such great personalities. If someone eagerly continues to hear such transcendental sounds, then certainly he will become free from all material hunger, thirst, fear, and lamentation, as well as the illusions of material existence.”</p>
<p class="p7"> So many times we, who are so weak, seem to neglect this most important service of hearing of the Lord’s glorious pastimes, and in view of this fact, our hearts remain covered with the dust of conditional life. So now we take a little time to rectify this sad condition and pray to you, Gurudeva, that you’ll bestow kindness upon us and give us an attraction for this purifying process. Our neglect is not any fault in the process. We thought ourselves as authorities, but now we seek refuge at your feet.</p>
<p class="p7"> “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> It is only by this service unto you, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we may understand anything transcendental.</p>
<p class="p7"> “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“By regularly hearing the <i>Bhägavatam</i> and rendering service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.2.18]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> So this first and most important step to self-realization cannot be overemphasized. Just as sound is the first thing to rouse a sleeping man, so the transcendental sounds of the message of Lord Kåñëa and your ambrosial words can arouse our dormant Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">And who can measure such kindness? Your pure transmission of the transcendental sound reaches every corner of this planet due to your selfless translatory efforts. Now <i>çruti, småti, puräëa</i> and <i>païcarätra</i> are read in all parts of the globe, and nullify all past ideas of truth. You are teaching and distributing the highest gain, pure <i>bhakti-yoga</i>, and our service to the Lord becomes fixed by learning and distributing such literatures. Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Vaàçédhäré däsa brahmacäré / Mäyäpur däsa brahmacäré / Godruma däsa brahmacäré / Puëòaréka däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda, Our Divine Saviour</b></p>
<p class="p12">Of all the teachers that claim to be,<br>
You alone are giving Kåñëa, the merciful sea.<br>
You have found souls reeling with grief,<br>
Lamenting, the material world has become a bore.<br>
Your soothing sounds offer cool relief,<br>
Love of Kåñëa, into Vaikuëöha there is a door.<br>
You rescued us from spiritual destruction,<br>
By your grace, and <i>paramparä </i>instruction.<br>
Our great fortune receiving your chastising instructions,<br>
Your activities our only guide and directions.</p>
<p class="p12">My master, I am hankering for your sight,<br>
Praying, free me from the material night.<br>
Try as I did, nothing turned out right,<br>
Until you came, spreading angles of light.<br>
Your instructions are our eternal breath,<br>
Without you, Çréla Prabhupäda, there is only death.<br>
You have extinguished our nonsense ranting,<br>
And engaged our senses—now we’re chanting.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"> Since we have taken up Kåñëa consciousness under your care, we are truly appreciating real happiness. Our ability to appreciate your greatness is also increasing. Simply to become attached to your service is the perfection that fulfills all desires, and your service we are finding recreative, exciting, adventurous and full of ecstatic surprises. Lord Caitanya has chosen you to push open wide the doors of the storehouse of love of God. Before you, His mercy was available, but now it is reaching everywhere without exception. By dint of your potency, every continent is proving fertile ground for introducing the Holy Names and cultivating ecstatic transcendentally pure devotees of Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have some very prominent disciples, and some obscure ones too, but always you are impartial, distributing Kåñëa’s mercy indiscriminately. We are just trying to become serious about your instructions to us; chant Hare Kåñëa, read your books, and make New Orleans a “grand success.” Somehow Rädhä and Kåñëa have seen fit to come into our temple, but we understand it was due to Their Lordships’ love for Your Divine Grace. These all-attractive Deities you have named Rädhä-Rädhäkänta, the lover of Rädhäräëé.</p>
<p class="p7"> Our concrete advancements in the last year were small, but we offer you them in an attempt to glorify you as our infallible leader. More devotees have come, a dazzling new temple room was constructed, Gaura-Nitai in marble are awaiting installation.</p>
<p class="p49">Nityänanda däsa / Kanyakumäré devé däsé / Vimala däsa / Çänté devé däsé / Våkodara däsa / Debraja devé däsé / Caturbähu däsa / Haàsiné devé däsé / Mahendranätha däsa / Mitravindä devé däsé / Yogéndravandan däsa / Çréla devé däsé / Virendra däsa / Premamayé devé däsé / Satyavrata däsa / Steve, Kathleen and Candra / Muralimanohara däsa / Bhaktin Twig / Bhakta Robbie / Bhakta Risun / Suvrata däsa / Dvibhuja däsa / Vic Frank</p>
<p class="p11">New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor and the Lord and master of the devotees. Oh Çréla Prabhupäda! Please be merciful unto us and give us the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Coming into contact with the illusory energy, becoming envious of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa, taking up the uniform of a prisoner, contemplating the objects of the senses and being scorched by attachment, lust, anger, delusion, bewilderment of memory, loss of intelligence, utter submergence in the depths of darkness and pain—this is our ÿife’s history in the <i>mahat-tattwa.</i> We have wept oceans of tears, being forced to carry the unbearable, massive load of miseries so rightly deserved.</p>
<p class="p7">We had totally forsaken our eternal Lord Çré Kåñëa, who would never do the same to us. But, instead of leaving us in the pit of this horrifying entanglement, He has sent His dearmost personal delegate, whose voice has crushed our uncrushable pride, and who has turned our guilty faces to have a glimpse of reality in the highest form—Çré Çré Rädhä-Våndävanacandra.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have told us that if the bull (which represents the principles of religion) is protected nicely and given sufficient grazing pastures, then he will naturally eat up all the long grasses (which represent rampant irreligion) growing there. So all of us here at New Våndävana are daily letting the beautiful strong bulls out to pasture to eat the long grasses to their full satisfaction. Your simple, compassionate instructions are pouring forth like rivers of nectar from your lotus lips, entering our earholes. Consequently, we are feeling satisfied at heart and fully confident to meet <i>Mäyä’s</i> agents face to face, fighting down to the last confrontation as long as you remain with us as our bold commander-in-chief.</p>
<p class="p7"> In <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>Kåñëa promises to appear whenever there is necessity of relieving the burden of the earth by means of annihilating the miscreants and establishing religious principles. This is certainly a time of such necessity because for thousands of years the most offenseless and important animal, the cow (who represents Mother Earth), has been trembling due to seeing her life put in danger by the uncultured, lower than <i>çüdra, kali-yuga</i> man, and shedding tears due to seeing the pitiable condition of all her sons (men and animals). Kåñëa always fulfills His promise. Sometimes He sends His representative instead of personally coming, which is just as good as if He comes Himself.</p>
<p class="p7"> This time He has chosen to send His pure confidential servant, to solve all of the problems.</p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, you are that confidential servant from Kåñëa who is drying up the tears of the cows and stopping their fearful trembling. You have been sent to establish <i>varëa-äçrama-dharma</i> once again, though it has long since been lost. You are truly relieving Mother Earth of her burden.</p>
<p class="p7"> The beautiful cows of New våndävana, who represent Mother Earth, are so grateful to you that they are constantly offering you your favorite foodstuff; foaming white milk, thick with cream; liquid religiosity.</p>
<p class="p7"> According to the laws of Manu or Vedic law, we all deserve to be killed outright because of the heinous act and offenses we have committed in this life, being born in <i>mleccha</i> families, but instead, by your immeasurable loving kindness upon fallen souls such as us, you have gifted us with the most valuable jewel, which you call “simple living and high thinking.” Although we don’t value it enough, we are humbly thanking you for it as we prostrate ourselves at you lotus feet on this holiest of all holy days. May we satisfy you fully with our lives.</p>
<p class="p49">Kértanänanda Svämé / Paramahaàsa Svämé and the Inmates of New Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p11">Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda Temple New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda Temple New York</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya <br>
kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve <br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"> You are the topmost swan-like devotee and wandering mendicant, the jewel who is kindly delivering the message of Caitanya Mahäprabhu to the world. You have saved us from the most wretched states of existence, simply by giving us Kåñëa. It is Kåñëa’s mercy to have given us you.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa brahmite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">So fortunate are we to have received the seed of devotion after having traveled throughout the universe for so many billions of years. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the compassionate nature of the Lord. You cannot stand the sufferings of the conditioned souls, so out of your mercy you have descended to bring them back to the Kingdom of God. You are never stereotyped; you will do anything for Kåñëa. You have come to this place of ignorance carrying the torchlight known as <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i> Our eyes are being forced open by its brilliant glow.</p>
<p class="p7"> You are selflessly serving your spiritual master with unalloyed devotion. You have unflinching faith in his words and in the Lord. You are kindly accepting our service, though it is grossly materially tinged. By your touch, our service becomes pure and acceptable to Kåñëa. Your mercy is even greater than that of the Lord of Vaikuëöha, for although He is merciful to all the <i>nitya-mukta</i> (eternally liberated) souls, you are merciful to both <i>nitya-mukta and nitya-baddha </i>(eternally conditioned) souls. There is no possibility of ever repaying the debt we owe to you, but you are so humble that when you see your own disciples advancing in Kåñëa consciousness you feel indebted to them. Surely this humility is unrivalled.</p>
<p class="p7"> The water that washed your feet can purify all places of pilgrimage. Following perfectly in the footsteps of the Six Gosvämés of Våndävana, you purify all the reactions of the sinful activities of conditioned souls by pouring on them transcendental songs about Govinda. You are expert in increasing the limits of the ocean of transcendental bliss.</p>
<p class="p7"> Çréla Prabhupäda, you have given us so many wonderful books. This is another manifestation of your unlimited mercy. You are making access to yourself so easy. You are always finding ways to engage even unwilling persons in Kåñëa’s service. You are performing miracles, transforming <i>mlecchas i</i>nto <i>brähmaëas.</i> Your potency can transform the lowest soul into a pure devotee. You are a soul fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, engaged cent per cent in His service, always hearing and chanting the message of Lord Caitanya and always very anxious to hear of the transcendental pastimes of Rädhikä and Mädhava. We pray to be benedicted with one drop of your mercy and compassion. We beg to serve in your mission of delivering all conditioned souls within this universe. May we eternally remain as insignificant servants under the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Bali Mardan däsa Gosvämé / Aïjana / Cakradhara / Anuttama / Devämåta / Apürva / Dravida / Aténdriya / Gadägraja / Bhadra Sen / Garéyan / Bhaktivinoda / Gaurahari / Bhärgava / Gopäla Kåñëa / Bhågupati / Gopéjanaballava / Båsiàha / Gopéparäëadhana / Brajendranandana / Harikeça / Caturvyüha / Indrapramada / Indrayeça / Sumahat / Jagannätha / Sunanada / Jagannätha Süta / Térthapada / Jaiçacénanadana / Toçan Kåñëa / Jayädvaita / Urukrama / Janärdana / Uttaréyodhara / Janeçvara / Vidyäbhüçaëa / Jiteçvara / Viläsavigraha / Kalpavåkña / Vipramukhya / Kåñëa Kathä / Viñëu däsa / Lokamaìgala / Yadubara / Madhusüdana / Yamaräja / Maìgalänanda / Yogeçcandra / Matsya / Avritt / Mohanänanda / Bharat Jagannath / Murlidhara / Conrad / Navadvépa / Ed / Nanda Kiçora / Frank / Nayanäbhiram / Gabriel / Nirantara / Gary / Païcaratna / Gene / Paìkajanäbha / Glenn / Parékñit / Gregory / Pippalai / Jeff / Preraka / Jimi / Rädhävallabha / Ken / Rämabhadra / Louis / Rasaräja / Mike / Romapäda / Morris / Rukma / Norman / Sadäcära / Orville / Santoña / Paul / Sauçilya / Richard / Çréla / William / Taittiriya devé däsé / Alärka / Bhümi / Anala-Lakñmaëä / Daivaçakté / Bhadra-Tulasyänanda / Dharmakäla / Duùkhahantré / Çikhaëòiné / Ekäyané-Durlahba / Çravaëéya / Gauré / / Heraneträëé / Uçä / Jähnavä / Väräëasé / Jaduräëé / Viçäkhä / Käïcanbala / Yajïpriyä / Mahämäyä / Yogamäyä / Mamata / Andrea / Naradevé / Cindy / Oàkära / Dawn / Prabala / Diane / Praphullamukhé / Inge / Rägätmikä / Karen / Ñañti-Bhadrasena / Paula</p>
<p class="p11">Ottawa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ottawa</b></p>
<p class="p7"> Please accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. By your grace we can see again. There are many fools and rascals who pose themselves as men of science, but know not who they are nor what their relationship with God is. By definition, knowledge is information gathered from scripture, and science is the practical application of that knowledge under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. Since there are so many pretenders today, we always glorify you as a bona fide guru, and in our preaching work explain your relationship with Lord Kåñëa. Any sane man will accept you as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and take shelter of your lotus feet. We can conclude, therefore, that those who fail to be attracted to Kåñëa after hearing you chant the glories of the Lord in pure devotion, are not sincere seekers of truth.</p>
<p class="p7"> The Lord knows our heart’s innermost desires, and thus He sends His representative for those who are serious about self-realization, with the invitation to come back home. Just as the sunrise is self-evident, knowing you to be the confidential servitor of the Lord is simple to see. But there are those who, like the owl who sleeps in the daytime, don’t look for truth in this human form of life, and thus become animals or lower in their next birth. They are unfortunate. We are like unto such fools. But somehow or other we are begging to surrender unto Your Divine Grace and learn the science of God. This submission, we can understand, is the proper use of our minute independence.</p>
<p class="p7"> God is one, and the guru is in complete union and agreement with God. Our beloved Guru-Mahäräja does not manufacture God or give his own ideas about the Lord’s will. Instead he is qualified to speak on behalf of the Kåñëa without any adulteration. It is to be understood that when the spiritual master is speaking, the Lord is speaking through him. How can one who doesn’t know Kåñëa (His form, qualities, pastimes, etc.) claim to be a spiritual master? There is no question in our minds, or doubt in our hearts, that you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are the <i>jagad-guru</i>. Our reluctance to fully surrender is simply due to our past conditioning. Now that you have liberated us from illusion’s call, and satisfied us with the perfect and complete philosophy if the <i>Vedas</i>, let us cling tightly to your lotus feet, leaving no chance of ever forgetting Kåñëa again.</p>
<p class="p7"> It is not possible to express our gratitude on words, nor can we repay you by any amount of service. We can simply give you our hearts and souls. Now you can do with us as you like, eternally. We are praying to Kåñëa that we may not offend you. We wish to never withdraw from your shelter. Please forgive our offenses and bless us with Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7"> You are our only hope. Please bring us back to Godhead. This is our humble prayer.</p>
<p class="p49">Dharmaräja däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta George / Bala-kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rael / Adhiyajïa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Saurindra</p>
<p class="p11">Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paris</b></p>
<p class="p7"> Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, no one knows better than you how mankind is bent on destroying itself piecemeal, nor does anyone feel the same profound compassion for these children-at-arms, born of an unspeakable age, blinded by the illusion of material pleasure.</p>
<p class="p7"> For such petty minds as ours, it was hard to understand what could have motivated you to come to this wilderness of sin. You were disarming in the beginning, with your knowing smile, utter detachment, tolerance and a nature so gentle that you once tamed a butterfly in your Londonderry room. One could not help but be drawn in by your loving ways and broken English.</p>
<p class="p7"> But quickly you surprised us with your ravaging attacks on godless society and the demons behind it—“Fools and rascals!” “Kick on their faces!” “Dogs, hogs, camels and asses!” Although many were shocked, it was what spiritualism was lacking; relevancy and an understanding of the real problems, and the effect was a solidification of our own confidence in the strength and scope of Lord Caitanya’s movement.</p>
<p class="p7"> Most astonishing was that you never lost your original softness of heart, despite the hard-line stand against hypocrisy and exploitation. It was reassuring for those around you to find the same gentle spirit, the same compassion and delicate touch behind the tit-for-tat philosophy and burning commentaries on the insanity passing on as advancement of mankind.</p>
<p class="p7"> But what of those to come? How heavy a burden on those of the vanguard who have to demonstrate the same sensitivity and tact for the future generations. How serious the consequences for not following in the tradition of love and trust. And how great the need for determining how to put aside the false ego that colors our vision of what is to be done in truth.</p>
<p class="p7"> This is the essence of our Vyäsa-Püjä offering: that for the sake of your mission we are prepared to sacrifice all personal consideration and cooperate to spread the glories of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"> The devotees of Paris temple offer their most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of their spiritual master and pray together that by his grace the <i>saàkértan</i> movement may flourish in all countries of the world.</p>
<p class="p49">Janärdrädi däsa / Rasada däsa däsa / Rädhikä Ramaëa däsa / Viçvambhara däsa / Diraìga däsa / Jagadadija däsa / Sukirit däsa / Kapila däsa / Dvijavara däsa / Prabhava Vigraha däsa / Ädi Bhüta däsa / Bhavasindhupoöa däsa / Jayakula däsa / Parasuräma däsa / Bhagavan däsa / Abhinanda däsa / Bhugarba däsa / Indrdyumna däsa / Viñëurata däsa / Påthuputra däsa / Yogeçvara däsa / Vyala däsa / Häya Häya däsa / Hari Viläsa däsa / Narottamänanda däsa / Locänanda däsa / Sudhojaya däsa / Clement / Bernard I / Maureen / Jenny / Alain / Bernard II / Michele / Francine / Joreen / Dominique / Dominique / Danielle / Jiles / Serge / Joy / Jesline / Jeff / Dennis / Judy / Henrietta / Willi / Phillipe / Anne / Marie / Benjamine / Odile / Kåñëa Bhäminé devé däsé – Maïjaré / Kåpä Mayé devé däsé / Jyotirmayé devé däsé / Parijata devé däsé / Rameçvaré devé däsé – Jagannätha / Uçämaté devé däsé – Caitanya, Raghunätha / Jaya Lakñmé devé däsé / Sétäla devé däsé / Brahmajanané devé däsé / Ratimaïjaré devé däsé / Känté devé däsé / Annada devé däsé / Maithilé devé däsé / Vanessa / Arjuna / Bhogini devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our most worshipable Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Your lotus feet are the goal of practice of austerity, chanting of Vedic hymns and performance of penance of all kinds.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu,<br>
lokanäth lokera jévana hä hä prabhu koro doyä,<br>
deho more pada-chäyä, ebe jaça ghuñuk tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">THE OCEAN OF MERCY. Like vultures who frequent the battleground or wasteland, many psuedo-svämés have come to the United States with various concocted versions of Vedic religion. Ignorant of the true Vedic version (<i>evaà paramparä-präptam imam</i>), we took these plunderers to heart and found neither spiritual culture nor the cessation of material distress</p>
<p class="p7"> The past year, a prominent newspaper in India ran an article on the legions of incarnations and gurus who have invaded the west. One observation of the author was that amongst them there is but one who submits himself not as God but as the servant of God, Your Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"> In all the revealed scriptures of the world, the genuine <i>guru</i> is honored as much as God, but he never claims to be God, nor is he God. His position is <i>kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya</i>; he is the most confidential servant of the Lord. <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has a mission; to lead all of the conditioned souls of this material world back to Godhead. The spiritual master is the one who knows the plan of Kåñëa and is cent per cent engaged in the execution of His sacred mission.</p>
<p class="p7"> Your Divine Grace has nothing material to desire. You are completely absorbed in the Absolute Truth (<i>brahma-niñöhä</i>). As stated in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, the pure devotees of the Lord are under the internal potency of the Lord’s shelter. Religiousness, economic development, sense gratification and liberation are your maidservants.</p>
<p class="p7"> You have said, “Vaiñëava means compassion,” and your compassionate nature is fathomless. All glories to your ISKCON centers which vibrate with the enthusiastic chanting and dancing of the devotees! By your mercy, at dawn there is the sound of <i>maìgala-ärätrika</i> all over the globe. Thousands have seen the ecstatic <i>arcä-vigraha</i> of the Lord. Your books have fallen into the laps of millions. Your preaching work is a torchlight. The <i>mahä-mantra</i> now dances tongue to tongue like an all-consuming fire. In Mäyäpur, your brought about the fulfillment of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura’s prediction that one day easterners and westerners would be dancing and chanting “Jaya Çacénandana! Jaya Çacénandana!” at the sacred place of Çré Caitanya’s appearance.</p>
<p class="p7"> Now you are encouraging us to enter into the fields of politics, science and education, and to make extensive Kåñëa conscious propaganda so that others may be benedicted with this spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7"> THE FRIEND OF THE POOR. “It is very good, my dear child, that you have attained the Supreme goal of life by developing love of Godhead. Thus you have pleased me very much, and I am obliged to you. My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing <i>saìkértana</i> in association of devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting <i>kåñëa-nama</i>, for by this process you will be able to deliver all fallen souls.” <span class="s3">(<i>Cc. Ädi,</i> 7.91-92)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Presently, there are many altruists, philanthropists and humanitarians busily engaged in building hospitals, feeding the hungry and helping to bring lowly persons into the mainstream of society. But Your Divine Grace is more anxious to maintain temples wherein the Deity of Kåñëa is standing, benedicting all those who come before Him. You are more interested in the distribution of <i>prasädam</i>, which end the real hunger of the living entity. You are urging the planet to make permanent solutions to the problems of birth, disease, old age and death, and go back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">It is not such a great thing for someone to feed us when we are hungry, to give us needed money or cure some bodily ailment; but a friend of the soul, a friend beyond birth and death—such a friend is very, very rare.</p>
<p class="p7">THE LORD AND MASTER OF THE DEVOTEES. Once at a <i>Ratha-yäträ</i> festival, Your Divine Grace sat on Subhadrä’s chariot, surrounded by devotees who were holding ecstatic <i>kértana</i>. When you raised your hand to enthuse then, they responded like puppets, dancing higher and higher.</p>
<p class="p7"> When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was passing through a forest, His chanting of the Holy Name caused even the tigers and cobras to dance. Your purity is such that even our most fallen personalities are becoming devotees of the Lord, abstaining from illicit sex life, flesh-eating, intoxication and gambling.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu<br>
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä<br>
bhagavaty uttama-çloke<br>
bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.18</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“By regularly hearing the <i>Bhägavatam</i> and by rendering of service unto the pure devotee, all inauspicious things within the heart are practically destroyed, and loving service unto the Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.”</p>
<p class="p7">““When Kåñëa returns, He is garlanded with <i>tulasé</i> leaves. He puts His hand on the shoulder of a cowherd boyfriend and begins to blow His transcendental flute. The wives of the black deer become enchanted upon hearing the vibration of His flute, which resembles the vibration of the <i>véëä</i>. The deer come to Kåñëa and become so charmed that they stand still, forgetting their homes and husbands. </p>
<p class="p7">Just as a father is anxious to reclaim his renegade son, similarly Kåñëa is anxious for us to return to Våndävana, our original home. You have come for the purpose of bringing us back. “This Hare Kåñëa movement,” you have said, “is to enable us to re-enter the family of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes when Kåñëa is walking along with His cowherd boy friends, some of the cows scatter hither and thither. One of the cowherd boys will then run and bring the cows back, guiding them with his walking stick, explaining to Kåñëa, “Your cows were going off here and there,” and Kåñëa will say “Thank you very much.”</p>
<p class="p7"><i> Your worthless servants of Philadelphia ISKCON</i></p>
<p class="p11">Pittsburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Pittsburgh</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">It is very difficult for us to offer much insight or deeply moving words pertaining to your unlimited greatness, Çréla Prabhupäda, O beloved spiritual master. From the platform of limited and imperfect sense perception, it is difficult to appreciate the nature of one fixed in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Just as a man feels insignificant while looking into unlimited space, so our endeavor to comprehend the nature and position of Your Divine Grace, seems so puny. Still, we are influenced by your humble, instructive words to relate something of what we have realized about the science of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa consciousness is based solely on the mercy of Lord Kåñëa and His representatives in the material world, the spiritual master. Until you came to these western countries, Çréla Prabhupäda, all of us were completely devoid of any understanding of the real goal of life, which is to revive the lost consciousness of our eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kåñëa. Nor did we have any systematic process for realizing this goal. The propagandists of the modern education system say, “Because we can not see God, therefore He does not exist, and has no bearing on our existence.” While posing as men of knowledge, the so-called educationists allure, and then poison, the innocent population of the planet with their disease of mental speculation, exactly as the cobra with jewel on his head befools the innocent victim. Or just as an intoxicated man cannot see or speak of things with clarity, so these enemies of mankind, who are completely separated from the vision of the Absolute Truth by the curtain of the Lord’s deluding energy, speak all nonsense and thus contaminate the atmosphere with impure sound vibration.</p>
<p class="p7">Even without directly seeing the sun, one can realize its presence in the sky by its heat and light energy. Similarly, one can know that God exists by experiencing His diverse energies in the material world. When we see a skyscraper, we agree that an intelligent person is behind such an ordered construction. Still, in the face of Kåñëa’s material creation, which is working in flawless harmony and order in accordance with His will, the rascal “educators” and scientists invent so many theories to either prove that Kåñëa does not exist, or they simply make everything appear as unreal or meaningless. As is stated in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, in the age of Kali people have become increasingly faithless in God due to the propagation of so many ideas centered about exploitation and cheating for personal sense gratification. Without the presence if a pure devotee of the Lord, human society becomes lax in its progress towards the Personality of Godhead, degenerating into animalism and violence, with no real direction, save and except sense enjoyment and ultimate destruction.</p>
<p class="p7">When Lord Caitanya asked Rämänanda Räya what the most inauspicious thing for society was, he replied that not having the association of a pure devotee of the Lord was to be considered most unfortunate. By the Lord’s grace we are so fortunate as to have your association, Çréla Prabhupäda, both through your books and personally. Why we receive such mercy is incomprehensible. You have made this great, intricate science of God-realization understandable to persons like ourselves, who were born lower than <i>çüdras</i>. This has been made possible by your perfect realization of the science, as delivered to you by your spiritual master. If we could only realize our great fortune, we might be more enthusiastic in following the path you have outlined; but being unfortunate, we can boast of no sincere desire to surrender.</p>
<p class="p7">Because of your presence in the world we now have the chance to awaken our dormant understanding of and love for God, Kåñëa. This human form of life is specifically awarded so that we can awaken this dormant love, and thus go back to home, back to Godhead. If this is not done, then we spoil our opportunity, arrived at after countless excruciating revolutions in the cycle of birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7">“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”</p>
<p class="p7">We are praying that we may somehow or other remain at your lotus feet, and aid you in your mission to fulfill the desire of your spiritual master, His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda. We are praying to Lord Kåñëa to give us the facility to establish a successful center in Pittsburgh, so that the message of Lord Caitanya may be continually distributed as He desires. In this way the fallen souls of Kali-Yuga will be given a chance to gain true insight into the divine reality of the Kåñëa Consciousness Movement. We are praying to you Çréla Prabhupäda, to inundate the entire planet with your mercy by continuing your translations of the transcendental message of Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Mahendra däsa adhikäré / Sukhadä devé däsé / Lalitakumära däsa adhikäré / Jambavaté devé däsé / Brahmavitta däsa adhikäré / Payaùsviné devé däsé / Puru däsa brahmacäré / Vidambhä devé däsé / Brahmä däsa brahmacäré / Araudra devé däsé / Candrabhänu däsa brahmacäré / Mitra devé däsé / Ajitänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta däsa / Damaghoña däsa adhikäré / Våndä devé däsé / Bhakta Henry / Bhaktin Susan / Bhakta Terry / Bhaktin Bonnie / Bhakta Duke</p>
<p class="p11">Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Portland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa–preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to offer our most humble obeisances at your feet on this most blessed appearance day of Your Divine Grace. Had you not appeared before us with the transcendentally sublime Vedic wisdom, surely our dilemma of repeated birth, disease, old age and death would have remained unsolved for thousands of years. As imperfect and conditioned souls, our own sentimental words are inadequate expressions of thanksgiving. Instead we refer to the third canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, where Mahätmä Vidura declares:</p>
<p class="p16">“Those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.” (<i>Bhäg. </i>3.7.36)</p>
<p class="p7">An intelligent person who is sincerely endeavoring to expand his knowledge of the Absolute realm should seriously consider the advice of Lord Kåñëa in the fourth chapter of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>:</p>
<p class="p16">“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">Such a seer of truth was Çréla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who came in a line of pure disciplic succession from Lord Çré Kåñëa. Because you, Çréla Prabhupäda, heard patiently form Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta, your words now echo the transcendental potency of the Lord Himself. By your transcendental books and lectures, you are so kindly distributing Kåñëa’s message all over the world. Thoughtful citizens who can understand your literature receive practical spiritual direction in accordance with all revealed scriptures and all saintly persons of the world. You are <i>jagad-guru</i>; you are working for the benefit of all.</p>
<p class="p7">The <i>Upaniñads</i> have instructed us that only unto one who has implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of <i>Vedic</i> knowledge revealed. Faith is awakened simply by executing regulated devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, as recommended by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Any lowborn disciple who, humbling himself, engages everything in the service of the spiritual master, quickly attains the desired result. This is confirmed in the <i>Bhägavatam</i>, first canto, chapter two, text eighteen. Those complacent souls who accept worthless fakes as guru, and those who feel no need to approach a spiritual master, are condemned throughout the Vedic literatures. In the third chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, Lord Kåñëa states:</p>
<p class="p16">“Those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be doomed to ignorance and bondage.” [<i>Bg.</i> 3.32]</p>
<p class="p7">We in Portland, as your most incompetent students, have deiced to stay in each other’s association, and stick tightly to your divine instruction. We are told in <i>Bhägavatam:</i></p>
<p class="p16">“By serving the feet of the spiritual master one is able to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distress.” (<i>Bhäg.</i> 3.7.19)</p>
<p class="p7">On this we all agree.</p>
<p class="p49">Dénabandhu däsa adhikäré / Äkuté devé däsé / Anubhävänanda däsa brahmacäré / Lélä devé däsé / Jyeñöha däsa brahmacäré / Çikhaëòé devé däsé / Kälakantha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakti Kathy / Kåta Kåta däsa brahmacäré / Mr. And Mrs. Pat Harley / Çreñöha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ed / Sarvadåk däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Pat</p>
<p class="p11">Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Puerto Rico</b></p>
<p class="p7">We can find no more proper refuge for our prostrated obeisances than the lotus feet of our beloved spiritual father His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Bhavad-vidhä bhägavatas<br>
tértha-bhütaù svayaà vibho<br>
térthékurvanti térthäni<br>
sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåta</i></p>
<p class="p16">My lord! Devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. You carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, and as such, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</p>
<p class="p7">Once upon a time, by merciful arrangement, we came, afraid and quivering, into your garden. You sat in silence, legs stretched out before you, mustard oil on your body, shining in the noon-day sun. We sat and heard your voice break the silence: “It is stated in the <i>Upaniñads, </i>when God sees you see. Accept or refute?” Of course, Çréla Prabhupäda, whatever you say we accept as true. “HOW DO YOU ACCEPT?” (<i>Sädhu </i>means one who cuts.) We sat with our minds baffled, our voices airing confusion. You answered very simply, “The sun is one of Lord Kåñëa’s eyes. Without the light of the sun no one could see.” Of course, how simple! “So,” you said, eyes opening wide, “what is the power of your seeing?” As we thought we realized that the power of seeing was best utilized when seeing you.</p>
<p class="p7">As Satsvarüpa Mahäräja massaged you, we sympathized with his service and thought that the perfection of the hands was to touch you.</p>
<p class="p7">In morning <i>kértana </i>in LA, you fed the children cookies, and we thought, “O to relish that Prabhupäda <i>prasädam</i>.” But then you let us sing <i>kértana </i>and that was our <i>prasädam</i>.” You let us glorify you, and that was our glory, the perfection of our speech.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Tanoù phalaà tvädrça-gätra-saìgaù<br>
Jihvä-phalaà tvädåça-kortanaà hi<br>
Sudurlabha-bhägavataà hi loke</i></p>
<p class="p67">“O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfillment of this bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying you because in this world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.” (<i>Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">And, we have come and gone form <i>mäyä’s</i> embrace; <i>mäyära vaçe, yaccha bheçe, khäccha häbuòubu bhäi.” </i><span class="s3">[<i>Rädhä-Kåñëa Bol</i>]</span><i> </i>According to Çréla Bhaktivinode Thäkura, we are being carried away by the waves of <i>mäyä. </i>Even now we are afflicted by our old habits, tottering on the brink of falldown, we can only pray that during the hard times of our service we are somehow forced to remember you Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Jagajévan däsa adhikäré / Sétä devé däsé / Çrutaçrava däsa adhikäré / Anaìgamaïjaré devé däsé / Mahaçakti däsa adhikäré / Prayäga devé däsé / Yaçodajévan däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Magalie / Çréväs däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Toty / Radhupatipräëa däsa brahmacari / Kåñëa däsé / Mahädyüti däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Angela / Patatriräja däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Coqui / Raëajita däsa brahmacari / Bhakta Guillermo / Bhakta Amerigo / Bhakta John / Bhakta Micheal / Bhakta Hector / Bhakta Lee</p>
<p class="p11">Regina</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Regina</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa–preñöhäya bhütale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“We offer our respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is so dear to Lord Kåñëa on this earth, having taken shelter at His feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O servant of Sarasvaté Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the western countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism.”</p>
<p class="p7">You are being so merciful to all conditioned souls by freely spreading the rays of the benediction moon. Your mercy is giving us the tremendous opportunity to become fixed as atoms of the Lord’s lotus feet. And it only remains for us to surrender and take advantage of this opportunity to come closer to Kåñëa. We thank and praise you eternally for this. You are honored as much as the Supreme Lord on account of your being able to give Kåñëa to us. Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura confirms this in the seventh <i>çloka</i> of his <i>Gurvañöakam;</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>säksäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas thatùa bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vnade guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord on account of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari, Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">In order for anyone to make spiritual advancement one must obtain the mercy of the spiritual master. And when one develops faith in the Lord and the spiritual master, by the process of <i>çravaëaà kértanam </i>(hearing and chanting), one will progress nicely in spiritual consciousness. The <i>çastras </i>confirm this;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
Yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto’ pi<br>
Dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yäças tri-sandhyaà<br>
Vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“By the satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied. And by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance of being elevated to the plane of Kåñëa consciousness. I should therefore, meditate and pray for his mercy three times a day, and offer my respectful obeisances unto him, my spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</p>
<p class="p7">The Lord Himself says to Arjuna, in the <i>Ädi-Puräëa, </i>“My dear Pärtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee.” We also find His statement in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä;</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">We pray, along with Çrédhara Swami, “O all-merciful spiritual master, representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, when will my mind be completely surrendered unto your lotus feet? At that time, only by your mercy, I shall be able to get relief from all obstacles to spiritual life, and I shall be situated in blissful life.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Namo namas te’stu sahasra-kåtvaù<br>
Punaç ca bhüyo’pi namo namas te<br>
Namaù purastäd atha påñöhatas te<br>
Namo’stu te sarvata eva sarva</i></p>
<p class="p16">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto you a thousand times, and again and yet again! Obeisances from the front, from the behind and from all sides!” (<i>Bg</i>. 11.39-40)</p>
<p class="p7">As a closing gift we offer you the following prayer by Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Cakñudäna dila-yei, janme janme prabhu sei<br>
Divya-jïäna håde prakäçita prema-bhakti yähä haite<br>
Avidyä vinäça yäte, vede gäya yäìhära carita</i></p>
<p class="p7">“You open our darkened eyes and fill our hearts with transcendental knowledge. You are my lord, birth after birth. From you ecstatic <i>prema </i>emanates. By you ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of your character.” <span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 3]</span></p>
<p class="p49">Kåpäsindhu däsa / Bhakta Ray / Divyänanda däsa / Bhakta Don / Atigarvitä devé däsé / Bhakta George / Manohara devé däsé / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Norman / Bhakta Pat / Bhakta Ray / Bhakta Claudia / Bhakta Chris / Bhaktin Linda / Bhakta Rene / Subhadrä devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Rome</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rome</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala bhakati-sadma<br>
vandoì mui sävadhäna mate yäìhära prasäde bhäi<br>
e bhava tariyä yäi kåñëa-präpti haya yäìhä ha’te<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Throughout the length and breadth of the Vedas it has been declared that worship of Çré Gurudeva is a necessary factor in the quest of the final resting place, Goloka Våndävana, where one engages in eternal loving <i>rasa</i> with Kåñëa. Therefore, Vyäsa-Püjä is certainly the most auspicious event that all <i>vaiñëavas</i> celebrate. For without declaring our love for the spiritual master, how can we receive Lord Kåñëa’s benediction? In order to take to the true path of devotion, we must first find the guide who has already chalked out the way. However, we should not consider the guide to be an ordinary creature like ourselves. There is an incalculable difference between that person with limited knowledge of the empiric world and one in constant touch with the all-cognizant Çré Kåñëa. Such a “<i>mahatmaä” </i>is so rare that all the three worlds feel the transcendental pleasure of his presence and activities. His glorious pastimes are broadcast throughout the universe. Our only business and leasure should be to describe the fame and message of the <i>Äcäryadeva</i> to every last <i>jévätmä. </i>After all, why are we living, if not to serve our spiritual master? Many neophyte devotees ask: “What is it that sustains one’s eagerness and enthusiasm to serve the <i>guru?” </i>The reply is short and sweet; only love! Our ISKCON movement is based on love, moved by love, increases with love and is understood by love. There is no other motivation. Causeless love accompanied by knowledge and detachment from bodily designations keep our hearts light, our minds clear and the goal always in sight—-to please the spiritual master!</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore we humbly submit ourselves, devotees of ISKCON Rome, as solely dedicated to the pleasure of our spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré-Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda, and pray that we may some day be able to appreciate what His Divine Grace is giving us—-<i>Kåñëa-prema.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Dhanaïjaya däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Michelangelo / Somaka däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Stefano / Svastika däsa brahmacari / Bala Gopäla devé däsé / Bhakta Corrado / Mådä devé däsé / Bhakta Ivan AliKåñëa devé däsé / Bhakta Luigi / Bhaktin Sabrina / Bhakta Italo / Bhaktin Eugena / Bhakta Wayne / Bhaktin Alice / Bhakta Alberto</p>
<p class="p11">San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>it is stated;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naivopayanty apacitià kavayas taveça<br>
brahmäyuñäpi kåtam åddha-mudaù smarantaù<br>
yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhåtäm açubhaà vidhunvann<br>
äcärya-caitya-vapuñä sva-gatià vyanakti</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Oh! My Lord! No one can sufficiently acknowledge his obligation unto you, even devotees that have lived as long a period as the age of Brahmä. Because You do manifest Yourself in two features, namely externally as the <i>äcärya</i> and internally as the Supersoul in order to deliver the embodied living being by giving him direction as to how he can go unto You.” (<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.29.6)</p>
<p class="p7">Thus, by Kåñëa’s grace, you have come to give us the understanding of how to qualify ourselves to live at the lotus feet of the Lord. Unlike the self-appointed <i>gurus, </i>Your Divine Grace comes in the chain of disciplic succession coming from the Lord Himself. In <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>Lord Kåñëa states that the science of God-realization can only be learned in that way: “<i>Evam paramparä-präptam imaà räjarñayo viduh.” </i>Thus, Kåñëa has chosen you to lead the spell-bound people of this world out of the refuse pile of illusion. And because Your Divine Grace has accepted the task with pure-hearted faith in your spiritual master, Kåñëa has empowered you to execute the mission of spreading <i>Hari-näma-saàkirtana </i>successfully; in the hall of government, in the classrooms, in the laboratories, churches, streets, homes, newspapers, magazines, on radio and TV. Everywhere devotees are chanting and dancing. You are arming us for inundating the world with bombs of books, philosophy and <i>prasäda </i>to remove the influence of ignorance upon the suffering and helpless message of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya. “PREACH!! Kick on the face of the impersonalist, voidist rascals who lead the populace to hell!! Show everyone that Kåñëa is the Supreme proprietor and authority.”</p>
<p class="p7">You are showing us by perfect example how to execute the mission of the Lord. Thus, our sole duty is to follow you, surrendering life and soul, as you have followed your Gurudeva. We must have ever increasing faith that if we simply become sincere, Kåñëa will give us all facility and qualifications to please you. We pray at your feet that we can come closer to that goal every day.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta das adhikäré / Çaraëa devé däsé / Bir Kåñëa das adhikäré / Bhüvanapävané devé däsé / Mahätmä das adhikäré / Maheçvaré devé däsé / Guëagrähi das adhikäré / Kértikä devé däsé / Bhakta Ron adhikäré / Bhaktin Rose / Kämatavé devé däsé / Sändépané devé däsé / Bhaktin Sunshine / Kälacand däsa / Täracandra däsa / Rudravapu däsa / Bhakta Mike / Nåsiàha-caitanya däsa / Bhakta Glen / Dhämatäri däsa / Bhakta Kimo / Kañöa-krata däsa / Bhakta Wes / Matuìga däsa / Bhakta Greg / Dänadäkñya däsa</p>
<p class="p11">San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to acknowledge our eternal indebtedness to Your Divine Grace for so mercifully granting us a place at your hallowed lotus feet. Having so long suffered the contamination of such despicable qualities as lust, greed, envy and anger, let us not be guilty of hypocritical exaggeration by claiming ourselves capable of gratitude. Ashamed through and through of an obvious lack of good qualities, we are simply an unruly throng of beggars at your feet, totally undeserving yet totally dependent on the causeless mercy to be found there.</p>
<p class="p68">Armed with the Light<br>
Of Invincible Right,<br>
You have come to declare<br>
An end to despair.</p>
<p class="p7">Our eternal souls, imprisoned since time immemorial by our minds in the dust-filled dungeon of delusion, battered numb by our lusty body’s incessant though futile attempts to enjoy, delight at the welcome sweet sound of your blessed invitation to freedom.</p>
<p class="p68">Your compassionate call<br>
Has delivered us all<br>
From birth, disease,<br>
Old age and death.<br>
Their grip has confined<br>
Our body and mind<br>
And over and over<br>
Has stolen our breath.</p>
<p class="p68">Your blessed appearance<br>
Has finally saved<br>
A fortunate few<br>
From being enslaved<br>
By envy, by anger,<br>
By lust, and by greed.</p>
<p class="p68">You’ve provided us all<br>
With blessed relief<br>
From the pain of confusion,<br>
Delusion and grief,<br>
And taught us that Kåñëa’s<br>
All-holy Name,<br>
And your generous blessing<br>
Are all that we need.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray for your continued patient guidance in Kåñëa consciousness and implore you, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, to forgive our shamefully non-cooperative, non-appreciative material nature.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhütätma däsa / Samvatsara däsa / Vanabhaööa däsa / Särvabhauma däsa / Våkasaàga däsa / Vaiçeñika däsa / Kåtakarma däsa / Vipra däsa / Indranätha däsa / Yajïapati däsa / Janakanätha däsa / Yudhamanyu däsa / Mäkhana Taskara däsa / S.P.A Balah Prabhu / Pravacara däsa / Tom Prabhu / Rakñaëa däsa / Raëadurmada däsa / Tejomaya däsa / Candranibha devé däsé / Lokalélä devé däsé / Havirdhané devé däsé / Madanaçiné devé däsé / Jévana devé däsé / Prabhavaté devé däsé / Kamalätikä devé däsé / Çilävaté devé däsé / Kandarpa Sundaré devé däsé / Bhaktin Deborah / Bhaktin Evelyn / Jayänanda däsa / Trayé devé däsé / Viçvaretha däsa / Vrajeçvaré devé däsé / Keçava däsa / Lakñmépaté devé däsé / Keçava Bhärati däsa / Kauliné devé däsé / Gajendra däsa / Çucitå devé däsé / Vatsara däsa / Käkakanthä devé däsé / Vatsala däsa / Çaçikäla devé däsé / Mahäräja däsa / Vihäriëé devé däsé / Båhat sanu däsa / Su Çré devé däsé / Çuklämvara däsa / Kaumadé devé däsé / Nälinikanta däsa / Ratnaeçvaré devé däsé / Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja däsa / Balaräma däsa / Rädhikä däsé / Jayadharma däsa / Bhakta Sanätana däsa / Pürëimä däsa / Rämacandra däsa / Kåçiìgé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p7">All glories, all glories to you, Çréla Prabhupada, for coming to this country! You did not have to come here. You were in such a nice place, Våndävana, chanting Hare Kåñëa. You could have very easily stayed there in Vaikuëöha. But you are so kind, so merciful, that you took up the order of your spiritual master and came to teach the science of Kåñëa in this country. Since your arrival nine years ago, you have worked so hard that Lord Caitanya’s prophecy is now coming true; <i>“Påthi véte äche yato nagarädi gräma sarvatra pracär hoibe mora näma.” </i>“My Holy Name will be heard in every town and village of the world.”</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda. You have presented Kåñëa as He is, without interpretation or concoction. Nor have you claimed to be God, as is the style.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säksäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas thatùa bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">You should be paid all the respect due to God because you are the bona fide representative of Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our position is to try to please you, for without your favor, there is no chance of developing Kåñëa consciousness. <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
Yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto’ pi<br>
Dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yäças tri-sandhyaà<br>
Vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“O eternally holy one, you have carried the transcendental message of the Lord like a lamp, and have entered the dark caves of these western countries to dissipate the darkness of ignorance. You have so carefully taken us by the hand and led us into the brilliant sphere of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala bhakati sadma<br>
vandoì mui sävadhäna mate yäìhära prasäde bhäi<br>
e bhava tariyä yäi Kåñëa-präpti hoy yärihä hoite<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çré guru and Gauräìga!</p>
<p class="p49">Çukadeva däsa adhikäré / Jagamohiné devé däsé / Prabhänu däsa adhikaré / Jagadéçvaré devé däsé / HariBasära däsa adhikäré / Gopikä devé däsé / Ojasvé däsa adhikäré / Viñëupriyä devé däsé / Madhväcärya däsa / Påçnigarbha devé däsé / Gopeçvara däsa brahmacäré / Rägätmatané devé däsé / Kaàsäré däsa brahmacäré / Rohiné däsé / Lélänanda däsa brahmacari / Mädhurya-lélä däsé / Niñtula däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Karen / Sura däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Leaf / Anantätmä däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhayahäré däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Debbie / Nityanätha däsa brahmacari / Bhakta Sherman / Bhakta Al / Bhakta Randy</p>
<p class="p11">St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Om ajïäna –timirändhasya<br>
jïänäyjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çré-guruve namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">On this most blessed day we beg to offer our most humble obeisances to you. We cannot hope to adequately or even inadequately describe the glorious qualities possessed by yourself. Unfortunate as we are, we have no attraction for chanting the Holy Name of Çré Hari or serving your lotus feet in any way. That attachment to your lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires. Please forgive our childish ignorance. Like children lost at sea in a fateful crash, we look to you for guidance.</p>
<p class="p16">“You are like a captain of a ship in a great ocean, and you can direct us to our destination….” (<i>Bhäg. </i>1.13.40)</p>
<p class="p7">O servant of Sarasvaté Goswami, you have so kindly come to the western countries to teach the message of Lord Caitanya by which ignorance and the demoniac mentality are destroyed.</p>
<p class="p16">“Just as the atheist cannot remain in the presence of the Personality of Godhead, so also the invulnerable sins of a man are immediately vanquished in your presence.” (<i>Bhäg. </i>1.19.34)</p>
<p class="p7">Until you came we were ignorant and wallowing in the mire of voidism and impersonalism. Yet by your mercy alone we have been elevated to the platform of devotional service to the Lord, Çré Kåñëa. By your mercy alone one is able to cross over the ocean of birth and death and obtain Kåñëa’s mercy. Without you there can be no question of spiritual movement.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
Yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto’ pi<br>
Dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yäças tri-sandhyaà<br>
Vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">By your holy association we have been purified. It was said by the sages in the forest of Naimiñäraëya;</p>
<p class="p16">“The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.18.13]</p>
<p class="p16">“Even by conversing with such great souls, one can without delay clean up all disqualifications resulting from lower births.” (<i>Bhäg </i>1.19.18)</p>
<p class="p7">If such holy association can be appreciated by great saints and sages, then we must know certainly that even if we cannot comprehend the potency of your association, it is the greatest benediction. As the instructions of the spiritual master is said to be non-different from himself, if we simply follow your directions we will always remain in your purified company, and thus cross over the ocean of birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7">Now, as the plans of the <i>jagad-guru </i>are drawn on no small scale, we have been benedicted to transmit these instructions, contained in your books, to countless other souls. We have been empowered to broadcast this transcendental knowledge before the world. You are giving everyone the opportunity to take to spiritual life; the crow-like men do not, but some <span class="s2">do</span>. They may be shy way at first, but they later return, having that initial contact with you or your disciple. So in this city book distribution, <i>prasäda </i>distribution, and a growing college program are going on under the auspices of Your Holiness! We only pray that we can become serious in executing your instructions, successful in inundating the entire world in the wave of love of Godhead, and unflinching in our faith in the Supreme Lord’s mercy and protection.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p49">Makanläla däsa / Tilakä devé däsé / Lakñmé-näräya däsa / Icchämaté devé däsé / Mahämuni däsa / Çañtramayé devé däsé / Sauçélya däsa / Govinda Rüpiëé devé däsé / Jaya Räma däsa / Keli-Caïcala devé däsé / Caturätmä däsa / Dakñiëevaré devé däsé / Präëada däsa / Bhaktin Anne / Präëa däsa / Bhaktin Butterfly / Jagad-dhata däsa / Bhaktin Jesse / Bhéma däsa / Bhakta Carl / Balajé däsa / Bhakta Micheal / Bhakta Randy / Bhakta Mel</p>
<p class="p11">Stockholm</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Stockholm</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our eternally insignificant obeisances at your lotus feet. As the Ganges forever flows to the sea, let our minds be constantly attracted to your service, without deviation.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>Çréla Çukadev Goswami tells Mahäräja Parékñit, “My dear king, one should stay at a place where the great <i>äcäryas </i>speak about the transcendental activities of the Lord, and one should give aural reception to the nectarean rivers flowing from the moonlike faces of such great personalities.” You have so kindly and tastefully presented this <i>Bhägavat-Dharma, </i>as the parrot makes the taste of a fruit more relishable, by touching it with its beak.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh divine spiritual master, we pray that we, who have no qualification to serve you, may be able to meditate upon your body, words and deeds from which <i>kåñëa-prema </i>shines forth, destroying our lust, anger and greed. We know that it is impossible for conditioned selves to understand one-tenth of the nature of this divine love relished by Your Divine Grace. Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has given us a little understanding of this relationship between the Lord and His most confidential servitors by revealing to us that “All the associates and servitors of Kåñëa in Vraja are part of the service of Çré Rädhikä.” No wonder then that the love of Kåñëa exhibited by your grace is saving the world from hell.</p>
<p class="p7">Fully understanding that one can only please Kåñëa by pleasing His devotees, you came to the western world to give everyone a taste of the nectar of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam. </i>Into this hell of slaughterhouses, casinos, bars and brothels you calmly came with the message of Lord Caitanya, requesting the fallen souls to take up self-realization by the transcendental method of singing, dancing and feasting.</p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in the <i>Nectar of Devotion</i> that the qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the Vedas by deliberation and argument and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fame and glory will be spread all over the world as you are performing the greatest of miracles by turning stone-hearted entities into devotees of Kåñëa. The Lord’s service is described in the <i>Bhägavatam </i>as the ultimate good for the people in general.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, your service to the Lord is unmotivated and uninterrupted, and therefore you are absolutely self-satisfied. This quality makes you entirely unique and worshipable by the whole world.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the ideal teacher, and we are your unworthy disciples. You are our eternal father and we are your helpless children. You are the supreme spiritual master and we humbly pray that we may be engaged as menial servants at your feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Ajita däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa-premé devé däsé / Vegavän däsa adhikäré / Padmavaté devé däsé / Närendra däsa adhikäré / Lena prabhu / Smita Kåñëa däsa brahmacari / Arne Prabhu / Andrew Prabhu / Murali Dhara däsa brahmacari</p>
<p class="p11">Sydney, Australia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sydney, Australia</b></p>
<p class="p12">You came to the west, so simple and free,<br>
You placed in my heart a desire to see<br>
With pure eyes and a simple mind<br>
A way to turn lust into something sublime.</p>
<p class="p12">Like a downpour of rain you bestowed upon me<br>
Love in my heart in the form of a seed.<br>
And to make this seed grow, I try to please you<br>
By thinking of Kåñëa in all that I do.</p>
<p class="p12">And the more service I render, the more that I see<br>
You are there with my Lord, deep inside me<br>
As my relationship grows with you within my heart<br>
I pray nothing, in this world, will draw us apart.</p>
<p class="p12">For you have given me thoughts of a Spiritual Sky<br>
Full of fruits, trees and flowers, where nobody dies,<br>
And amongst this is dancing a small Boy of blue;<br>
This is Lord Kåñëa, emanating through you.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met your grace by the will of Providence, and thus we accept you as the captain of the ship for those who desire to cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of the human being.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.22]</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the representative of Çukadeva Goswami, and we therefore place ourselves under your command on this ship of Vedic literature.</p>
<p class="p16">“And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favors. Therefore you can tell us what you have learned from them.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.8]</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are purely representing Kåñëa through the words of your spiritual master, and so by your mercy we can hear Kåñëa. You are repeating exactly as you have heard from <i>paramparä, </i>or disciplic succession, thus you are qualified to give us what was given to sages in the past;</p>
<p class="p16">“Therefore devotees should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead (Bhagävan), who is their protector.” (<i>Bhäg. 1.2.14</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">It is that self-same knowledge that Kåñëa imparted to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukñetra, after hearing which Saïjaya declared;</p>
<p class="p16">“And so wonderful is this message that my hair is standing on end.” [<i>Bg.</i> 18.74]</p>
<p class="p7">So similarly we are being thrilled by receiving the ecstatic <i>prema</i> you are displaying and distributing. It is said in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>that learning from the spiritual master is as good as learning from Kåñëa, so we offer our humble obeisances at your feet.</p>
<p class="p7">“Your Divine Grace is known as “Prabhupäda” and “Viñëupäda,” which, according to <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam,</i> indicates your only business is serving the lotus feet of the Lord. Therefore we come to you on our knees, wretched and materially exhausted, and have complete faith that you can restore us, because;</p>
<p class="p16">“Those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can do so only after prolonged use.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.15]</p>
<p class="p7">Similarly, Çré Advaita told Çré Caitanya;</p>
<p class="p16">“Wherever You are, O Lord, there is Våndävana.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have brought Våndävana to us, by your divine mercy, and you are purifying the atmosphere wherever you go. You are known as a “vice-Lord,” according to the revealed scriptures, because you have come to bring us back home, back to Godhead. In light of your greatness, we cannot help but bow at your feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Because your only desire is to please Kåñëa, Kåñëa cannot forget you; in fact there is no one more dear to Him than yourself, according to <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>chapter 18, verse 69.</p>
<p class="p16">"There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear."</p>
<p class="p7">The Vedic literatures describe the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee. Pure unalloyed devotional service is performed without any motive for material benefit. Çréla Prabhupäda, you have no desire for <i>dharma, artha, käma or mokña </i>(religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation), and therefore we gladly worship your feet, and offer obeisances to you at least three times daily.</p>
<p class="p7">A person engaged in devotional service develops all good qualities, generally found in the demigods, as described by Çukadeva Goswami;</p>
<p class="p16">“My dear king, persons who have unflinching faith in Kåñëa and are without duplicity can develop all the good qualities of the demigods. On account of a devotee’s high grade of Kåñëa consciousness, even the demigods like to live with him, and therefore it can be understood that the qualities of the demigods have developed within this body.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 5.18.12]</p>
<p class="p16">“…you are free from all vice. You are well-versed in all religious scriptures, the <i>Puranas</i> and histories, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.” (<i>Bhäg. </i>1.1.6)</p>
<p class="p7">Unfortunate as I am, I cannot appreciate your greatness, but I pray that someday I may be able to glorify you in a befitting manner, worthy of a personality described as the sum total of all the demigods.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, may I offer my obeisances eternally unto you.</p>
<p class="p49">Buddhimanta däsa brahmacari / Rasarani devé däsé / Gaëeça däsa brahmacari / Åñabhä devé däsé / Gopénäthäcärya däsa brahmacari / Kämarüpä devé däsé / Antarätmä däsa brahmacari / Närtaké devé däsé / Bhaktin Rasmin / Laxmana devé däsé / Bhaktin Jean / Bhaktin Barbara / Citta Hari däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Garoon / Dvaipäyana däsa brahmacari / Bhaktin Maryanne / Bhakta John / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Ray / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta Duncan / Amogha däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Greg / Bhakta Linsay / Jayadharma däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Taipei</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Taipei</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our respectful obeisances at your holy feet. Vyäsa-Püjä offering is a very difficult task for devotees, and at the same time it is very easy. It is difficult because although we are experiencing your loving kindness upon us, as neophytes we are incapable of expressing it in words. And again, it is very simple because of the natural affection we have for Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">It is due to your association alone that we do not care to live without chanting Hare Kåñëa, and having you as the center of our activities. You are our control of mind, steady intelligence, pure habits and spiritual realization. We are the fish and you are our water. We are the plant and you are our soil. We are in darkness and you are the light.</p>
<p class="p7">Many times we are put into distress by our body or mind, or other living entities, or the aggregate of these. But when we remember your grace, all our troubles become insignificant, and we can again focus ourselves upon the goal, unalloyed love for Rädha-Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">The greatest quality of the Lord is His compassionate nature, represented by Çrématé Rädhäräëé. And all who take shelter of Her Grace attain success in spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">Although we stand before you covered by the modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, therefore incompetent to see your true position, still we pray that we can be able to appreciate the love you have for your <i>Gurudeva</i>, in the pure realm of Rädha-Kåñëa loving affairs.</p>
<p class="p7">Devotees are only attached to one thing, and that is their devotion to the spiritual master, so we are hoping that someday we can become your devotees.</p>
<p class="p49">Trivikrama Svämé / Çré Ballava däsa brahmacari / Dvijahari däsa brahmacari / Lalitäkrnsa däsa brahmacari / Ménakathä däsa brahmacari</p>
<p class="p11">Tokyo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tokyo</b></p>
<p class="p4">To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda<br>
On the occasion of Çré Vyäsa-Püjä</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Yudhiñöhira Mahäraja was talking to Bhémasena. The she-jackal was spitting fire; a dog was, without fear, barking at the king. Wind was blowing dust, and the clouds rained blood in their wake. The stars in the sky were fighting; the reservoirs, muddy; the cows, crying. Cities and mines turned ugly and barren. It was the beginning of the <i>Kali-yuga.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Invincible time has proceeded on its course. What were omens then are facts now. That we are born into such conditions we must take as great misfortune. We indeed were feeling like that, lamenting, and half-heartedly attempting different remedies, individual or social. But it was all darkness. If not the others, <i>we</i> at least felt it to be so. That must be why we turned to you.</p>
<p class="p7">In this miserable, degraded age, most merciful Kåñëa sent you. <i>Kali-yuga </i>without you would be hopeless. All principles of spiritual understanding had by now perished, being replaced by meat-eating, intoxication, sex, fraud, etc. There was no longer even a clue for reform. We were hopeless and deserving of the worst for our <i>vikarma. </i>Eternally, almost without consciousness, like a log, we were floating down the river of material existence. The actual cause, other than pure mercy, we cannot trace out, but somehow or other we came in touch with you, as a log sometimes catches the bank, and its journey downstream halts. That was the beginning of our life, our real birth. That was fortune, and later we came to know it as the only possible fortune.</p>
<p class="p7">All respect is due to the <i>guru</i>. It is a necessity. But in the <i>Kali-yuga,</i> how much more, then, we worship he who mercifully accepts, and what is more, delivers, <i>jévas </i>who have no qualification. You gave us not just Kåñëa, but also Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who, though non-different, is the most merciful, willing to purify the unwilling <i>mlecchas. </i>In spite of blasphemy and insult He does not condemn, but simply pleads that all people accept the nectar of chanting Hare Kåñëa, feeling love of God. By Your Divine Grace’s trick we have come to taste that nectar. So as Caitanya is called the most merciful of God’s forms, we must call you the most merciful of all <i>gurus</i>, because you have brought us to Him.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we praise you most? Action, not words, is proof of sincerity. Our actual homage unto you will be our eagerness to follow your orders. Your desire is that we preach this message and transform the world. Not to disrespect your words, we are trying to do this now. We pray even to Kåñëa for help. We must ever thank you for engaging us thusly, giving us this transcendental job, <i>sanätana-dharma.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa–preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate devaà<br>
gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>om ajïäna–timirändhasya<br>
jïänäyjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çré-guruve namaù</i></p>
<p class="p49">Gopäla Svämé / Bhänu däsa brahmacari / Satyadeva däsa adhikäré / Duradarça däsa brahmacari / Mahäguëa devé däsé / Lakñmaëa däsa brahmacari / Çatänanda däsa adhikäré / Kadumbakusumapriyä devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhaktyäveçya mano yasmin<br>
väcä yan-näma kértayan<br>
tyajan kalevaraà yogé<br>
mucyate käma-karmabhiù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The personality of Godhead, who appears in the mind of the devotee by attentive devotion and mediation and by chanting of the Holy name, releases the devotee from the bondage of fruitive activities at the time of his quitting the material body.” (<i>Bhäg </i>1.9.23)</p>
<p class="p7">Unto you <i>Guru</i> Mahäraja we offer the following prayer, because by your grace alone are the conditioned souls excited to re-engage in their constitutional position of loving servitude.</p>
<p class="p7">Our dear Çréla Prabhupäda, because of your unflinching faith and determination, you have received the garland of devotion form the tender hands of Çrémati Rädhäräëé. We beg for one drop of that mercy, one small petal of that garland, so that we may be inspired to approach your feet and offer our unworthy service.</p>
<p class="p49">Bahudak däsa / Ravéndra däsa / Käla däsa / Mathurä däsa / Rohita däsa / Pärtha däsa / Kutichak däsa / Jaganmitra däsa / Janispåhä däsa / Bhütamaheçvara däsa / Praçasya däsa Maheça däsa / Puëòarékäkñam däsa / Vrajärbhaka däsa / Caraëa däsa / Kåpänidhi däsa / Gaëapati däsa / Nätha däsa / Åddha däsa / Pätraka däsa / Daòi-harta Prabhu / Bhakta Perry / Bhakta Randy / Bhakta David / Bhakta Ron / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Mitch / Bhakta Larry / Prabhupäda däsa / Nirüpama däsé / Lolä däsa / Paçupati däsé / Mäyävaté däsé / Bhogavaté däsé / Rati-rüpa däsé / Sujan däsé / Uttama däsé / Yaçomaté däsé / Jayabhadra däsé / <i>Gétä</i> däsé / Lélä Prabhu / Svarüpa däsé / Maija Prabhu / Khaëòavabha däsé / Bhakta-suta / Devaké / Felicia / Jacob / Kuïjavihäré / Nitäi-Gauräìga</p>
<p class="p11">Washington, D. C.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Washington, D. C.</b></p>
<p class="p7">SIXTEEN ROUNDS</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span></p>
<p class="p7">1. All I know about Çréla Prabhupäda, I know just by his mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">2. All I know about Çréla Prabhupäda is that he is mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">3. All there is to know about Çréla Prabhupäda is that he is mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">4. All I can ever know about mercy is known when I know Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">5. I can never know anything other than Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">6. I can never know anything other than by Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">7. Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy is all there is to be known.</p>
<p class="p7">8. Everything is included in Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">9. Kåñëa is included in Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">10. The only way to know Kåñëa is by Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">11. Kåñëa is Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">12. Çréla Prabhupäda’s mercy is Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">13. Çréla Prabhupäda is Kåñëa’s mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">14. Çréla Prabhupäda is so merciful that even though I am a criminal against Kåñëa, Çréla Prabhupäda has sent me to his representatives who, by their transforming association, are planting the seed of devotion in my heart so that I may serve Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">15. I accept them as my preceptor-<i>gurus </i>and Çréla Prabhupäda as my initiator-<i>guru </i>and call on human society to accept Çréla Prabhupäda as world-<i>guru, </i>wherein lies our only hope for human life.</p>
<p class="p7">16. Çréla Prabhupäda is so merciful to all living beings that now we are obligated to serve him. O world! He has obligated us! In the larger scheme of things, now we must serve him!</p>
<p class="p49">Dämodara däsa-Måganetré devé däsé, Gulab däsé / Çrutadeva däsa-Kuïjamanadana devé däsé / Daçaräthä däsa / Bhägyavaté devé däsé, Rämacandra däsa / Jagara däsa-Padmamäliné devé däsé / Mamtä devé däsé / Varuthäpa däsa / Viläsé devé däsé / Dharmapäda däsa / Kåñëa Bhäva devé däsé / Aindra däsa / Bhaktin Jan / Nélämbara däsa / Gadäi däsa / Bhakta Graham / Bhakta Doug / Bhakta Edward / Bhakta Martin / Bhakta Zoran / Bhakta John / Bhakta Joel / Bhakta Micheal / Bhakta Russell / Bhakta Danny</p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1975</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 31, 1975</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p9">The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</b></p>
<p class="p7">The day on which a disciple celebrates the appearance of his spiritual master is called Vyäsa-püjä. The word “Vyäsa” indicates Çréla Vyäsadeva, a powerful incarnation of Kåñëa (God) who compiled all of the Vedic literature, and “<i>püjä</i>” means worship.</p>
<p class="p7">Vyäsadeva appeared five thousand years ago, at the dawn of the present Age of Quarrel, just when widespread moral deterioration was about to begin. He could foresee that the people of this age would be short-lived, unfortunate and always disturbed.</p>
<p class="p7">Before Vyäsadeva, all the Vedic scriptures were taught and received verbally in disciplic succession. The memories of both the students and the spiritual masters of those ages were so sharp that once they heard a transcendental message from their spiritual master, the message was immediately imprinted into their brains and considered a written language.</p>
<p class="p7">To give the unfortunate people of the modern age a chance to partake of the knowledge contained in the <i>Vedas</i>, Çré Vyäsadeva undertook the enormous task of compilation. He composed the millions of Sanskrit verses of the <i>Mahäbhärata</i>, the <i>Vedänta-sütra </i>and the <i>Puräëas</i>, including <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>. No one else in history can compare with him as a poet, philosopher or writer, and he is thus known as Mahämuni (the great sage). He is the spiritual master of all who follow the teachings of the <i>Vedas</i>. His final, mature work, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, is known as the “ripened fruit of the <i>Vedas</i>” and is sufficient in itself for God realization. The precious <i>Bhägavatam</i> has been handed down in disciplic succession, from <i>guru</i> to disciple, in an unbroken chain, and today His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, spiritual master of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is delivering it in turn to his disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">Out of his causeless mercy, Çréla Vyäsadeva wrote <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> for the benefit of the fallen people of Kali-yuga (the modern age), and out of his causeless mercy Çréla Prabhupäda is personally translating and expanding this monumental work—and he is preaching it throughout the western world as well. At the advanced age of seventy, he traveled under great hardship from India to America to found the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and today, nine years later, he tirelessly works eighteen to twenty hours a day, still translating and preaching the eternal message of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>: pure, unalloyed service to Kåñëa (God).</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añötottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, the foremost devotee and scholar of the previous age, is the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. He is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the bestower of devotional service upon the fallen souls. His is the deliverer of devotional service which is enriched with the conjugal love of Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. He is the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. Thus, he never tolerates any statement against the teaching of devotional service as enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>In 1936, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda delivered this poem as a Vyäsa-Püjä homage for His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</b></p>
<p class="p12">Adore adore ye all<br>
The happy day,<br>
Blessed than heaven,<br>
Sweeter than May,<br>
When he appeared at Puri<br>
The holy place,<br>
My Lord and Master<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh! my Master<br>
The evangelic angel,<br>
Give us Thy light,<br>
Light up Thy candle.<br>
Struggle for existence<br>
A human race.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Misled we are<br>
All going astray.<br>
Save us Lord<br>
Our fervent pray.<br>
Wonder Thy ways<br>
To turn our face.<br>
Adore Thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Forgotten Krishna<br>
We fallen souls,<br>
Paying most heavy<br>
The illusion’s toll.<br>
Darkness around<br>
All untrace.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Message of service<br>
Thou hast brought.<br>
A healthful life<br>
As Chaitanya wrought.<br>
Unknown to all<br>
It’s full of brace.<br>
That’s your gift<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Absolute is sentient<br>
Thou hast proved,<br>
Impersonal calamity<br>
Thou hast moved.<br>
This gives us a life<br>
Anew and fresh.<br>
Worship Thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Had you not come<br>
Who had told<br>
The message of Krishna<br>
Forceful and bold.<br>
That’s your right.<br>
You have the mace.<br>
Save me a fallen<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">The line of service<br>
As drawn by you<br>
Is pleasing and healthy<br>
Like morning dew.<br>
The oldest of all<br>
But in new dress.<br>
Miracle done<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p27">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p27">“Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with voidism and impersonalism.” <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</b></p>
<p class="p7">The G.B.C. (Governing Body Commission) is an international committee of disciples formed by Çréla Prabhupäda to organize and govern the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p11">Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäré, GBC, Middle East, Financial Affairs.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäré, GBC, Middle East, Financial Affairs.</b></p>
<p class="p7">I remember you in your association. I remember you in your pictures. I remember you in your smile or anger. I remember you dancing, chanting or crying. But most of all, my beloved master, I remember you in me. You are what I am: you are forming my new desires, my new intelligence and my new actions.</p>
<p class="p7">It is your words, Prabhupäda, that have saved me. The more I listen to them, the freer I become. In the dark jungle I have lived all my life. Your words have led to your radiating, walking shoes. Lost I have been for thousands and thousands of years. And all of a sudden, through your words, I discover these beautiful shiny soft shoes. Attracting me in the beginning because they glitter, they enchant me because they dance . … up and down, to and fro. Then, they appear before me, close to me, and humbly invite me to follow. I love these shoes of yours, Prabhupäda. I am still in the dark world: I don’t appreciate you for what you really are—the friend of the <i>gopés</i>, etc. I love you because of these shoes, because they are taking me out of this scary dark jungle. They are beautiful because I have to search no more. I love them because they give me relief. I remember how much I used to run and used to get very bruised. That is how I developed this thick skin, wounds on top of hardly healed wounds. The holes in the ground, the trees, the animals, all those scary things. No more! I have found these two lovely shiny shoes: they are taking me out. I have to worry no more. Every step I know exactly where to put. Walking is so easy in this dense forest—no more risks to take. Your words have proven and have convinced me that I will fall no more, as long as I follow those shoes. And it is such a relief, a happy joyous walk, knowing where to step next and having your words as a guide.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurujé, you see how selfish I am. You tell me, “All right son, remain selfish, but tend your real self-interest.” As I hear you say this over and over to me, all of a sudden I start to hear you: I start to believe you. I don’t care, Gurujé, for Lord Brahmä, who is in charge of such a wonderful creation. I don’t care for all the great demigods.</p>
<p class="p7">I don’t care for all the magicians around. The ones who walk on the water or fly in the sky. The ones who can go to the moon or make a heart melt on fire. What have they done for me? Nothing! Nothing! They simply made me more and more blind. But your shoes are different. They are my personal magician. They shine into my life. They melt my heart.</p>
<p class="p7">I am still in the darkness of ignorance. But lucky I am, I have your shoes. They run in front of me, and they stop and wait for me, and sometimes they dance for me. And in very rare instances, when I let them, they come and sit on my head.</p>
<p class="p7">Guru, I have found life. Life is simply my heart beating by your words, for your words. A new taste, a new world. Anything which negates your words is dead. I am far, far away from the ocean, but through your words I have come to believe that it exists. Reality has become your words for me. Because I am poisoned, near you I cannot come. I am not ready. I can’t hear your words when I am near you. I can’t see your shoes. I am so envious, I become deaf and blind. So let me be with your words and shoes.</p>
<p class="p7">Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäré, GBC, Middle East, Financial Affairs.</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Beloved Gurudeva, I place myself before you,<br>
in hopes that you can salvage something from my wasted life.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Due to sense gratification, I have lost all good qualities,<br>
and now I am simply left trying to maintain my false pride.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Gurudeva, you are like the sun which can purify the most <br>
untouchable thing and still remain unaffected;<br>
therefore you have allowed me to have the mercy of your </i>darçana<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Except for your mercy only the terrible reactions to my sinful<br>
life would await me,<br>
like a hungry wolf.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Please mold me as you will and forgive my struggles to resist you;<br>
I am low in intelligence and full of pride.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And you have stunned the whole world by teaching us how to live<br>
without sinful activity and fruitive work.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>As the insignificant crab becomes fearless when taking shelter of the vast ocean;<br>
You have showed us that the secret of fearlessness is in taking shelter of Kåñëa’s holy name.<br>
From you comes the strength to execute Kåñëa consciousness.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have placed us in palaces and fed us with the finest foods;<br>
You have made us famous to the world, although we had been merged<br>
in an ocean of insignificant faces;<br>
You have given us the highest knowledge with which even a child<br>
can challenge a great philosopher;</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have removed the depression from our eyes, the rags<br>
from our bodies and the dirt from our minds;<br>
Cleansing us within and without, you have created effulgent,<br>
moonlike faces where before there was only wasteland.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Gurudeva, you have given us the chance to again share in the<br>
opulence of our Father;<br>
Please protect us and keep us from becoming mice again,<br>
by losing sight that:<br>
You are our Lord and Master;<br>
You are the creator and maintainer of our fortune;<br>
And it is only you who are keeping us from being devoured by<br>
the material energy, our enemies and our egos.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>All glories to the embodiment of glory—Çrila Prabhupäda;<br>
You have picked us up from the rejected class;<br>
And in full ecstasy are taking us back home, back to Godhead.</i></p>
<p class="p17">Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brahmänanda Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p18"><b>Vyäsa-Pujä-the Appearance Day of the Spiritual Master</b></p>
<p class="p69"><i>He reasons ill who tells that Vaiñëavas die<br>
When thou art living still in sound!<br>
The Vaiñëavas die to live, and living try<br>
To spread the holy name around!<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes, Çrila Prabhupäda, you speak about a subject which is very frightening. You did it last year in San Francisco during your <i>Ratha-yäträ</i> speech before five thousand assembled American youths. You said, “You are generally young, whereas I am an old man who may die at any moment.” You say these things in order to make us take this movement more seriously. But it is unimaginable. How could such a thing ever happen? How can I believe that you, who are my master, my life and my soul would ever depart? Do the oceans ever dry up? Does the air ever blow away? Does the sun die? Then why should I believe that Your Divine Grace will?</p>
<p class="p7">Can you see what you have done to me, Çrila Prabhupäda? You have made me your eternal servitor. You cannot leave me, ever. Without your service there is no existence for me. The moment you leave I will fall down and begin to suffocate like a flapping fish washed up from the sea. I must have your service. Like a pet house dog I will scamper after you, even though you may try to leave me behind. Where you go, so will I. If you die, then so will I. My life is already yours, so there is no loss for me.</p>
<p class="p7">I wont let you die. I will block death, and also old age and disease. I will stand in the way and not let them pass. I am guarding your door, and by your grace I have the strength.</p>
<p class="p7">At least I can give you my own duration of life. I can offer you my own youthfulness. Just as the son of Yayäti agreed to offer his aging father his own youthfulness so that his father could prolong his enjoyment, even though it means the end of the son’s, so I also agree. Take my youth, my strength, my health. Give me your agedness. Let all the discomforts come to me. Let all the diseases come to me. Let death come and take me instead. Then there will be some small value to my life. I have no asset other than my death for your life. I am ready.</p>
<p class="p7">But Kåñëa proclaims boldly in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> <i>kaunteya pratijänéhi, na me bhaktyaù praëaçyati.</i> “My devotee never perishes.” You Çrila Prabhupäda, are Kåñëa’s devotee, and as far as I have seen, the only pure devotee in the world. So, Kåñëa is making this promise to you. Because you are the lord’s pure devotee, you are not an ordinary person. When Kåñëa certifies that nothing can defeat you, that includes death. “<i>Ihaiva tair jitaù sargo</i>.” You have already conquered over death. Who else in this world has done this? Even Einstein was not able to outsmart death. Just as God does not die, neither does his devotee. “<i>Na jäyate mriyate vä kadäcin</i>.” There is no death for the soul. “<i>Na hanyate hanyamäne çarére</i>.” Only the body dies. You alone Çrila Prabhupäda, have fully realized what it means to be spirit soul and not this body, and you are now trying to teach this. Because you are free from death, you want to save the rest of the world. You have dedicated your life to this-every moment, every thought, every word we hear and read as your books. And, I think, you will continue to teach anyone who wants to learn, until you are satisfied that at least one of us has understood that I WILL NOT DIE. Then you will depart, having fulfilled your mission.</p>
<p class="p7">So what is the purpose of my trying to keep Your Divine Grace from death? It is a foolish illusion for me to think that you will die? At night there is a tendency to think that the sun is no longer in the sky. Actually the sun is shining during the night as brightly as during the day, only I cannot see it. I know the sun is there even though it is out of my sight. It is a question of accepting authority and rejecting limited experiential knowledge.</p>
<p class="p67">Some day you will leave me, but now I know that you cannot die. Simply I will not be able to see you. I may not be able to see you, but I will be able to hear you. What you have tirelessly spoken will echo in my heart and I will know that you are there with Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the spiritual world. You will still be living and continuing to please Kåñëa as you are doing in this world. The only thing for me to do after you leave will be to continue to serve you and always do exactly what you have told me to do. Then I will live with you forever,</p>
<p class="p7">as your humble servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</b></p>
<p class="p11">Brazil</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brazil</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our humble obeisances and our attempts to help you in spreading the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, I once thought I was having so much fun playing different sports and so many other useless activities created by the demons to occupy our time away from Kåñëa. There is a famous story in the western world about an ordinary man, not like yourself. His name was the Pied Piper. This Pied Piper stole all the city children from their mothers and fathers and took them to a far away place. It is not that you are like this ordinary man, but in the same way you have taken us away from our horrible material life and are taking us back to an eternal land from where Your Grace has come, where there is no birth nor death and everyone is always filled with real, eternal happiness. O Çréla Prabhupäda, you are an eternal inhabitant of the spiritual world. Before you came here we were all suffering in stool, waking in the mornings to go to those horrible schools to hear and learn nonsense from fools. Now by your grace we have all become like madmen to study, learn, dance and sing about the wonderful Supreme Personality of Godhead in His own abode.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have given me life. I know there is nothing I can do to repay you, so please let me stay forever helping in any small way. You may send me anywhere you like, to heaven or to hell; please let me always be one of your servants at your feet. In the material world a boy falls in love with a young girl and that girl becomes the life and soul of the boy. The girl becomes everything in the world for this boy and if she was to go away, the boy would feel he had nothing to live for and would want to die. Çréla Prabhupäda, I am praying that I may also become attached in love that same way to you, so that if I ever leave your service I will want to die also. All your children here in Brazil we are praying for your long, healthy life and that all your desires are fulfilled. Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for everything that you have given us. Even though there is nothing we can do to repay you, may we always be enthusiastically engaged in helping you in your mission and following your simple rules.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your eternal children,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Mahävira däsa brahmacäré / Lélä Kamala däsa / Bhakta Claudio / Bhakta Marcio / Bhakta Lucio / Deva däsa / Bhakta Joca / Bhakta Julio / Bhakta Flavio / Bhakta Bosco / Bhakta Antonio / Bhakta Vamana / Bhakta Everaldo / Bhakta Eneas / Bhakta Jorge / Luca / Beta / Maria / Madhurasvära-devé däsé / Sonia / Cintia</p>
<p class="p11">Calcutta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Calcutta</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We humbly offer our most respectful obeisances unto your two lotus feet. While offering <i>daëòavats, </i>we fall before you in this way, straight like a stick, with a straw between our teeth, and beg for your mercy. You are the representative of Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the original spiritual master, and therefore you are very merciful. Your hand of mercy has touched our stonelike hearts and blessed our lives with ecstatic chanting and thoughts of Lord Caitanya. As the representative of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, your mission is to deliver the fallen souls back to Godhead, and by your causeless mercy you have raised us up to the rank of Vaisnava. And now, our dear beloved spiritual master, your glorification is our foremost duty.</p>
<p class="p7">You, alone, at seventy years of age, left the all-blissful, all-auspicious abode of Rädhä-Dämodara Temple in Çré Våindävana-dhäma and set out in the bottom of a boat to save us, who are not worthy to be saved. You came with Kåñëa in the form of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam;</i> you braved the cold New York winters; you tolerated the audacity of a puffed-up hashish <i>yogé</i>; you humbly accepted the insults of a drug-crazed teenage hippie, and, like a true Vaiñëava, held no malice and called him a friend. You chanted and danced the glories of Kåñëa while water was being poured down upon you from an irate tenant in an upstairs apartment. You cooked and served the <i>prasäda,</i> cleaned up after us, and never requested any assistance, until finally someone said, “Can I help, Swamiji?”</p>
<p class="p7">Upon visiting Våndävana recently, we could all only wonder at how you could leave such a wonderful place to come to the hellish Western world, but factually we would have never known Våndävana had you not brought us there. It is by your mercy alone that these fallen souls, groping in the black concrete skyscraper depths of Kali Age, are being lifted by the sweet liquid song of the holy names to the golden fields of Våndävana, where the cows are coming home in the cool of the evening and where, in the sweet secret depths of Vraja, the most sought after couple resides, in the perfect ecstasy of loving devotion. You brought us home to Våndävana and Mäyäpura.</p>
<p class="p7">By the potency of the holy name, you have taken the blazing fire burning within our bodies, our hearts, our minds and our intelligence for so many untold lifetimes and extinguished it. By the ocean of transcendental knowledge emanating from your cooling lotus-like mouth, you are untying the knot of material attachment, and at last, we are being freed from the painful cycle of birth and death. You are the most expert king, guarding your unworthy subjects against the onslaught of <i>mäyä. </i>You are delicate and gentle, with a lotus-like countenance. You are <i>Kåñëa’s </i>ambassador of love, and you are delivering the message of Lord Caitanya. Thus, you have traversed the world with your lotus-like feet and provided shelter for countless fallen souls<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We, here in Calcutta Yäträ, feel most fortunate that we will often throughout the year have the association of the holy <i>dhäma,</i> Çrédhäma Mäyäpura. Calcutta itself is a holy place, due to the fact that you have appeared here. Factually, according to the authority of books, we can understand that the pure devotee does not go to the holy places for purification, like the conditioned souls. So many conditioned souls go every day, all year, to relieve themselves of the great burden of their sins, leaving them at the holy places, and a great pure devotee like yourself goes there to take up the burden of those sins, thus relieving the burden of sinful activities from the holy place. Who is there who can estimate how valuable is your association, when you are purifying the holy places?</p>
<p class="p7">Also, from your books, we have learned that one can associate with the spiritual master directly or through his instructions, and of the two, association with him in separation, through his instructions, is even more valuable and of greater transcendental benefit. The instruction of the spiritual master can never be neglected. Simply by following his instructions, cent per cent, to his full satisfaction, the disciple is guaranteed to go back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore, we at Calcutta ISKCON again make a firm vow and pledge, as made when we all took our initiation. We will all sincerely chant sixteen rounds of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mäha-mantra </i>every day; we will follow all of the four regulative principles, cent per cent, without deviation; we will read your books every day, very carefully, and we will follow all other rules, regulations and instructions without deviation. And, without self-motivation or other vested interests, we cent per cent surrender to your lotus feet to perform our devotional service with full enthusiasm, sincerity, determination and patience. Yes, patience! Patiently, we are waiting, working very hard and waiting for you to just simply cast your merciful lotus-like glance upon us. Otherwise, our position is hopeless. You are the deliverer of the fallen and the only hope for those who want to cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali. You are the master of the ship that takes us over this ocean. O master, be merciful unto us, give us the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories to Jagadguru.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhagavat däsa / Maëibandha / Pürëaprajïa däsa / Mädri-devé däsé / Nitäicända däsa / Näräyaëi-devé däsé / Satyanäräyaëa däsa / Sumukhé-devé däsé / Abhinanda däsa / Kåñëarüpä-devé däsé / Tértharäja däsa / Nandahäsa-devé däsé / Rävaëäri däsa / Sumäna-devé däsé / Çyämlä däsa / Nandaläla-devé däsé / Debu</p>
<p class="p11">Caracas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Caracas</b></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to offer our respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who has so kindly benedicted Caracas Mandira with his effulgent presence and predicted great things for this center. Çréla Prabhupäda, you sat so self-assuredly, yet kindly, on the humble seat we had built for you. You appeared to tremble with ecstasy the evening of your arrival as you sang unaccompanied some lines from <i>Paräma Karuëä, </i>describing the glories of “those two Prabhus.” You are visiting your centers in order to encourage the devotees, and all the sincere assembled devotees felt their conviction swell simply by seeing your perfect example. You are the first pure devotee to visit South America in modern history, and by your grace alone we can fully take advantage of your spreading the rays of Lord Caitanya’s benediction moon. You revealed a hint of your own glories one night by saying, “Unless I know everything directly and indirectly about this Kåñëa consciousness movement, how can I call myself the founder-<i>äcärya?” </i>Çréla Prabhupäda, when, O when will we be able to enter into the most profound depths of our eternal relationship with you? We can see by shyly peering into your fathomless, loving eyes that there is an entire world of ecstasy awaiting us if we can just love you. You are so kindly encouraging, “Come on, come on!” and we are fumblingly following like hesitating babies just learning to walk. You preached one afternoon to a group of psychologists, informing them that they were simple repairing the “automobile” and not touching the “driver.” You were obviously preaching on Kåñëa’s behalf as you again and again drove home that point for almost a half hour. When will we preach fearlessly like you? When will we be mindful of Kåñëa’s guidance as you are?</p>
<p class="p7">We have just homesteaded hundreds of acres of fertile land here in Venezuela, and if we are sincere, there will be thousands. We are placing a sign there, “Foundador-Äcärya Su Divina Gracia A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.” The mule road is just being completed and the auto road never will be. We desire to follow strictly your instructions: “I advise you not to make it very much modernized. … You do not require any machines. … better to live without any modern amenities. …” Our distribution of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>in the Spanish language compares favorably with the top distributors in the world. That fire of enthusiasm which is consuming our lust has been kindled by your hand alone. That intelligence helping us to push on this movement in spite of government and press opposition is an expansion of your mind alone.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>You have brought light,<br>
to this darkened place;<br>
You have brought smiles<br>
to your disciple’s face;<br>
You alone are saving the human race.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>We bow most humbly again and again<br>
to the dust of your lotus feet,<br>
O Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
O Your Divine Grace!!</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p70">Humbly submitted by the assembled devotees of Caracas Mandira, Çré Çré Gurudeva Patita-pävana Ghoñöhyänandé Traveling Saìkértana Party, and the New Mathurä, Venezuelan Farm Community Project:</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Brahmacärés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Varäha däsa, president / Jayajagadéça däsa / Havir däsa / Tamoha däsa / Munipriya däsa / Kratu däsa / Kavi däsa / Vareça däsa / Purujit däsa / Rämänujäcärya däsa / Antaryämi däsa / Hari-caraëa däsa / Karuëäkña däsa / Madhurya däsa / Adi-çeña däsa / Hari-bhakti däsa / Hemanta däsa / Jagat-cakñur däsa / Aguëa däsa / Vanasaïcari däsa / Gopeça däsa / Bhakta Carlos / Bhakta Miguel / Bhakta Alfredo / Bhakta Jesus / Bhakta Rene / Bhakta Manuel / Bhakta Eduardo / Bhakta Enzo</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Brahmacärinés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Mürté-mürté devé däsé / Tilakiné devé däsé / Bhaktin Yoleida / Bhaktin Betty / Bhaktin Janet / Bhaktin Cointa</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Gåhasthas</b></p>
<p class="p49">Phenéndra däsa, Takäkaré devé däsé / Durantavéra däsa, Bhaktin Lolita / Premarüpa däsa, Bhaktin Lydia / Urdhvabhäga däsa, Modhané däsé / Vérabähu däsa, Karta däsé / Bhakta Juan Jose, Bhaktin Helen-Dhruva / Bhakta Mauro, Bhaktin Judith / Bhakta Franco, Bhaktin Maria / Mother Adara Prabhu / Nikhileçvari-devé däsé / Bhaktin Maritza</p>
<p class="p11">Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. We pray that on this auspicious day of your appearance in this world, we may be blessed by you and Lord Kåñëa to have your causeless devotional service in our lives, now and always, without interruption by the force of <i>mäyä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We have learned from the prayers of Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, <i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span><i>. </i>“By the grace of the spiritual master one receives the mercy of Kåñëa, without the mercy of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement.” So it is understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is approachable only by the causeless mercy of His pure Devotee. Actually, even ordinary persons in this material world are sometimes difficult to approach, so what to speak of God Himself! No ordinary man, for instance, can go to see the president of the United States. He is surrounded by a security network, which effectively prevents inimical or unqualified men from approaching him. Of course, that is the prerogative of a powerful person. He keeps company only with his intimate associates, not with indifferent, curious or inimical men. So, the Supreme Lord also protects the inner sanctum of His loving affairs from the prying eyes of envious persons. In the <i>Gitä</i> the Lord says: “I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency (<i>yogamäyä); </i>and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 7.25]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Of course, we have read in your books about the powerful devotees and <i>äcäryas </i>in our line of disciplic succession. Such personalities as Närada Muni, Lord Brahmä, Dhruva Mahäräja, Prahläda Mahäräja, Mahäräja Parékñit, etc. all performed so wonderfully the discharge of their respective devotional services that they were able to see the Personality of Godhead face to face. They attracted Lord Kåñëa by their unflinching determination, austerity, constant remembrance of Him, knowledge of the <i>Vedas,</i> and so forth, all culminating in unalloyed devotion at His lotus feet. Actually, that is the real qualification for approaching the Supreme Lord, as it is confirmed in <i>Bhagavad-gétä: </i>“My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter in the mysteries of My understanding.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.55] </span>The conclusion is that the devotional service of the Supreme Lord is only very rarely achieved, and even then it is not available to common men, but only to those who possess extraordinary qualifications. The materialists think that devotional service is “poor man’s business” but that is clearly not the fact. The Gosvämis, for instance, were so qualified by material standards as wealthy, successful and educated men, but even those qualifications were insufficient to award them the devotional service of the Lord. Only by the mercy of Lord Caitanya were they accepted for His service. And after achieving the Lord’s service, they felt most satisfied to live just like impoverished men, taking the most humble position at His lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">The point of this discussion is that you have created our qualifications. Ordinarily, common and atrocious men like ourselves have no business rendering devotional service. Persons who are envious, unclean, devoid of pious acts and completely lacking in knowledge of the self, as we once were, are not actually meant for devotional service of Kåñëa. They are meant to suffer eternally in <i>mäyä! </i>Such persons can never take up the regulative principles of devotional service, and you have also told us of your misgivings at first, as to whether or not we would be able to accept this life of Kåñëa consciousness. Those misgivings were just and correct, for it was actually impossible for us to become devotees of the Lord. We could not become devotees, but you were so determined that you prayed to Lord Kåñëa, and thus, by your desire only, we have been permitted to enter this movement of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the <i>äcärya, </i>Çréla Prabhupäda, the <i>äcärya </i>who always wants to increase the number of devotees, and your determination has made our lives very “uncomfortable.” We were quite satisfied to glide down to hell, but now we find ourselves checked by your order and instruction. It is very difficult to avoid your instruction, for it is eternal, unlike the temporary phenomena of this world. We become very unhappy on account of our stubborn reluctance to surrender to these orders, and that unhappiness and dissatisfaction weighs more and more heavily upon our hearts. Finally we must give in to you. I think that you are forcing us to become devotees. How lucky we are to have met you.</p>
<p class="p7">In <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> we have read that: “No one can escape the unique loving network of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared to deliver all the fallen souls. Therefore He devised many methods to liberate them from the clutches of mäyä.” <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i> 7.37)</span> Çréla Prabhupäda, you are always absorbed in hearing and chanting the message of Lord Caitanya, and you are also to be understood as nondifferent from the Supreme Lord, on account of your being His most confidential servitor. In fact <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> says: “According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.” <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> 1.45]</span> Thus we cannot escape your unique loving network, for you are the manifest representation of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has determined that it is now time for us all to return to His supreme abode. How foolish we are. How lucky we are that you have come to compel us to perfect our lives in this way.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore on this all-important day of your divine appearance, we humbly fall at your lotus feet, with tears in our eyes, and beg to offer our repeated obeisances at your lotus feet, just in the manner in which you have so mercifully taught us:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please keep us all at some small corner of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your servants at Cleveland ISKCON:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Baöu Gopäla däsa / Bhakta Bill / Mänasacandra däsa / Bhakta Eric / Akhilänanda däsa / Sukhasägari-devé däsé / Pyärécaraëa däsa / Gauräëga-devé däsé / Bhütabhavana däsa / Mågäkñi-devé däsé / Gopati däsa / Guëyarüpiné-devé däsé / Anädi däsa / Kåñëamayé-devé däsé / Divyäga däsa / Madhyamä-devé däsé / Muräri Caitanya däsa / Väjasäna-devé däsé / Dhanaïjaya Paëòita däsa / Lalitäsakhé-devé däsé / Lélämohana däsa / Veëuviläsa-devé däsé / Bhakta Shombe / Bhaktin Brenda / Bhakta Mike</p>
<p class="p11">Costa Rica</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Costa Rica</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Çré Vyäsa-Püjä Homage</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà<br>
karëa-dhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
</b></p>
<p class="p7">We have been searching for you all our lives, and through Lord Kåñëa’s mercy our searching and waiting is over. We were without life before we met Your Grace; simply dead bodies, not being able to distinguish reality from illusion. You have taken these dead bodies and given them life through devotional service. We can only bow at your lotus feet. </p>
<p class="p7">What kind of love could take a heart as cold as ice, and melt it into a flowing river? What kind of physician could take a pair of blind eyes and let them see the unapproachable form of Govinda? What kind of teacher could take a helpless child, and teach him the essence of true knowledge, the end of all learning, KÅÑËA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead? What kind of mercy could save a wretch like me? We can only bow at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">As a small baby is always in need of a nurse, so we are always in need of your mercy. As the young horse stands on weak legs, so we are barely standing above the horrible mire of illusion. Oh, Prabhupäda, we need your support. As the spoiled child is always asking for something, so we are always asking from you. We have nothing to give; we can only bow at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">My worthless words flutter as unintelligible sounds below the sublime vibrations that utter from your lotus like mouth. Oh, Gurudeva, you know that we can only speak by your mercy. Please let me bow at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Näräyaëa däsa Adhikäré<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Brahmacärés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Çaunaka däsa Kalpataru däsa / Bhakti Owen prabhu / Bhakti John prabhu / Bhakti William prabhu / Bhakti Hans prabhu</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Brahmacärinés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Bhaktin Maria prabhu</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Gåhastas</b></p>
<p class="p49">Näräyaëa däsa / Divya devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Dallas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dallas</b></p>
<p class="p7">As stated by Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the essence of the <i>Bhägavatam, catuùçloki:</i> a person interested in transcendental knowledge must inquire about it. Intelligent inquiry directed toward the source of all transcendental knowledge, Çré Kåñëa, is an integral part of the path of self-realization.</p>
<p class="p7">Because we are densely covered by the modes of passion and ignorance, it is impossible for us to contact Lord Kåñëa directly, although He resides in the nearness of our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, in the words of Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jéve säkçät nähi täte guru caittya-rüpe<br>
çikñä-guru haya kåñëa mahänta-svarüpe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the Supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a spiritual master is no one other than Kåñëa Himself.”</p>
<p class="p7">And Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja makes the point that although the spiritual master is a servitor of the Lord, he is also a plenary manifestation (<i>prakäça</i>) of the Lord. Lord Kåñëa manifests Himself in the form of <i>bhakta-çreñöha,</i> or the topmost devotee of the Lord. Kåñëa Himself says to Uddhava:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryaà mäà vijänéyän<br>
nävamanyeta karhicit<br>
na martya-buddhyäsüyeta<br>
sarva-devamayo guruù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“One should know the <i>äcärya</i> as myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”</p>
<p class="p7">Self-realization being the goal of our human life, we must become intelligent enough to approach the spiritual master and take initiation. He is the exemplary embodiment of the Lord’s mercy, and he is empowered to bestow on us the fulfillment of our desire for self-realization. Kåñëa confirms this in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena<br>
paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà<br>
jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Just to try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.”</p>
<p class="p7">Also, there is an important verse in the <i>Munòaka Upaniñad</i> wherein it is stated:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad-vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet<br>
samit-päëiù çrotriyaà brahma-niñöham</i></p>
<p class="p16">“To learn transcendental subject matter, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession, fixed in the Absolute Truth.”</p>
<p class="p7">The objective of the sincere inquirer of the Absolute Truth is established in all the <i>Vedas</i> as the lotus feet of Kåñëa. The practical acquisition of this objective is realized through devotional service, rendered unrestrictedly to the divine couple, Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda. The means for approaching this perfected platform of knowledge and service is stated in the <i>Çvetäçvatara Upaniñad</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”</p>
<p class="p7">Unfortunately, our intelligence for understanding the Absolute Truth has been covered by ignorance, into which we have been forcefully thrust by our all-devouring enemy, lust. It has covered our real spiritual inclination, and if we factually desire purification we must accept no alternative than to hear eagerly, with great care and attention, the messages of the spiritual master. Kåñëa warns:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>atha cet tvam ahaàkärän<br>
na çroñyasi vinaàkñyasi</i></p>
<p class="p7">“However, if out of false ego you do not hear, you will be lost.” Or, as sung by Viçvanätha Cakravarté, “Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.”</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, our only hope is to accept the lotus feet of the spiritual master, and have our senses, mind and intelligence enlivened by his instructions. This is confirmed by Narottama däsa Thäkura:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-mukha-padma-väkya, cittete horiyä aikya<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 2</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating form his lotus mouth.” He further states that the spiritual master destroys all (<i>avidyä-vinäçä</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">Factually, the entire material world is like a burning forest, and the lustful desires within out hearts are equally destructive. We are destined by time to see the frustration of all our materialistic goals, just as the forest animal loses everything, including his life, when the forest burns. But Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté sings:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kalyäna-guëärëavasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</p>
<p class="p7">Our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, is bestowing devotional service on the fallen souls. We are seemingly rendered useless by our bad association and lack of practical intelligence. Yet, he is engaging us in devotional service to Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavad-prasädaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">And further,</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma kevala bhakati-sadma</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service.” [<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 1]</p>
<p class="p7">In light of so much evidence of the mercy and potency of our spiritual master, we can only beg forgiveness that we are unable to perform any pleasing service to you. Nevertheless, you are continuing to benedict us with your purificatory instructions, and you continue to engage us in service at the feet of Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">By your causeless mercy only, will our struggling attempts to serve and please you result in pure devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p11">Dallas Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dallas Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>HARE KÅÑËA HARE KÅÑËA KÅÑËA KÅÑËA HARE HARE<br>
HARE RÄMA HARE RÄMA RÄMA RÄMA HARE HARE</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.”</p>
<p class="p7">Your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, are the only way that we will be able to attain devotional service because you are our spiritual master. You came to the western world, which was filled with impersonalism, and you gave us the message of Lord Caitanya. You have been so merciful on the fallen souls. You have given us the knowledge of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>and the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>you are giving us is bona fide because you accept Kåñëa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>written by other people are not bona fide because they do not accept Kåñëa as God. Thank you for this <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your servant,<br>
Lalitä-devé däsé<br>
Age 7<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances. I bow to your lotus feet which are like the ocean of mercy. You give mercy to everyone, just like the moonshines even in the yard of a sinful man. You brought forth the message of Kåñëa on the order of your guru and only by your coming am I now the servant of Kåñëa. If I had not gotten your mercy, then I would not be delivered. Certainly you give everyone your mercy, but not everyone takes it.</p>
<p class="p7">The only path of learning the truth is to approach a bona fide spiritual master, inquire from him submissively and render service. If a person does not serve the spiritual master, he cannot inquire submissively. Inquire submissively means to inquire humbly. A person should give his life and soul to the spiritual master. Then if he pleases the spiritual master, Kåñëa becomes pleased. Kåñëa says that the spiritual master is no different than Himself, because he is always engaged in Kåñëa’s service. There is no difference.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer my obeisances again and again. You are the most dear to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servant,<br>
Léläsmaraëa däsa brahmacäré<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dear Jagad-guru,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most worthless obeisances. You are saving the whole world from going to hell. You are saving the most fallen souls first, but also, at the same time you are saving the whole world. You are <i>jagad-guru, </i>the spiritual master of the whole universe. You are traveling to many countries and opening many temples. You are engaging the devotees in those temples and giving them instructions. At Gurukula you have given us the instruction to learn <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, which will be able to save us and many other fallen souls. We are sleeping in the lap of <i>mäyä </i>and you are coming up to us and saying, “jév jägo! jév jägo! Wake up! Wake up, sleeping souls!” <span class="s3">[<i>Aruëodaya-kértana</i> II]</span> You are opening our eyes with the torchlight of knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servant,<br>
Kamalalohita-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Delhi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Delhi</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>To Parama-puëya Oà Viñnupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108 Çré Çrémad Tridaëòi Gosvämi Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja,</b></p>
<p class="p7">This Kåñëa consciousness movement, which you have kindly established, is the embodiment of your mercy. Because it directly gives one the opportunity for devotional service, it is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord and His pleasure potency. How can anyone begin to properly understand and glorify your inconceivable kindness to give renegades like us this engagement of devotional service unto Kåñëa, who is known as Acintya. This is not only the topmost science of life, it is the only real knowledge. No one thought to and no one dared before to speak the truth, to reveal the fraud of <i>nirviçeña-çünyavädi. </i>Actually no one had the capacity:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The living entity is entangled inextricably in the <i>brahmäëòa </i>or material nature of birth and death.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äsuréà yonim äpannä<br>
müòhä janmani janmani<br>
mäm apräpyaiva kaunteya<br>
tato yänty adhamäà gatim</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink down to the most abominable type of existence.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 16.20]</span> How then, can those who cannot even get beyond the reaches of these activities of sense gratification understand the truth about Kåñëa?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmaëo hi pratiñöhäham<br>
amåtasyävyayasya ca<br>
çäsvatasya ca dharmasya<br>
sukhasyaikäntikasya ca</i></p>
<p class="p7">“And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness, and which is immortal, imperishable and eternal.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 14.27]</span> If one cannot even understand Brahman, then how can one understand the supreme source of Brahman? There is no cause for this understanding.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>na me viduù sura-gaëäù<br>
prabhavaà na maharñayaù<br>
aham ädir hi devänäà<br>
maharñiëäà ca sarvaçaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin, for in every respect, I am the source of the demigods and sages.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 10.2]</span> The knowledge of the scientists is bewildered by the Supreme Lord’s energies.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tribhir gunamayair bhävair<br>
ebhiù sarvam idaà jagat<br>
mohitaà näbijänäti<br>
mäm ebhyaù paraà avyayam</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Deluded by the three mode [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me who am above the modes and inexhaustible.” (<i>Bg.</i> 7.13) You are the greatest scientist because you are revealing the supreme soul of the universe. How then can we, who are fools, appreciate what you are doing for us by giving this Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra</i>? How can we appreciate the value of a moment of your association, which has picked us out of the asuric <i>janmani janmani? </i>Everyone here is fast asleep. You have <i>cakñur unmilitam</i>—placed us on your lap of compassion and pried open our eyes. No one who is even slightly impure can approach Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yeñäà tv anta-gataà päpaà<br>
janänäà puëya-karmaëäà<br>
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktä<br>
bhajante mäà dåòha-vratäù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 7.28]</span> We don’t even know who to surrender to or how to surrender. You simply are the grace of Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>ÇU</i> <i>6.23</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are hopelessly caught in the grip of <i>mäyä </i>and are not seeking any shelter but <i>mäyä</i>. Yet you are guiding us. You are clearly representing Çri Kåñëa’s greatest capacity of devotional service. You have come to call back to Godhead all conditioned souls on this planet. We are allured by seeing your greatest opulence, something we could never have dreamt of before—pure love of Godhead. <i>Kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam. </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7] </span>Just a small taste given by you of Çré Caitanya’s mercy makes us mad to want to dance. Your thousands of disciples are running everywhere like crazy, giving everyone your books. We can actually have only one prayer, and that is to become situated firmly at your lotus feet, free from any conditions. Let us pray to simply always remain in your eternal service.</p>
<p class="p49">Tejéyäs däsa adhikäré / Birsiàha däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëäraja däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Rädhe-Çyäma / Bhakta Myles / Asita däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Sétä-Räma / Kåñëa-gopäla däsa adhikäré / Çrédhäma däsa adhikäré / Madhurä-devé däsé / Tejéyasiné-devé däsé / Aditi-devé däsé / Çyämasundaré-devé däsé / Rambhavaté-devé däsé / Bhakta Linda</p>
<p class="p11">Denmark</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denmark</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All words of glorifying you are so insignificant because your mercy is so unlimited. You have given us so much; you have brought us back to life. But what can we do for you? We were untouchable like the worms in the stool. Out of your causeless mercy, you have come down and lifted us out of that hellish condition we were so attached to. In place of this you have given us the holy name, the most valuable thing. We are incredibly indebted to you. What can we do to please you? You have expressed your desire very often; translate and distribute your books! By this principle the whole world will become overflooded by your mercy. <i>Saìkértana </i>is our life and soul!</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Sucandra däsa brahmacäré / Harer Nämänanda däsa adhikäré / Jayagaura däsa adhikäré / Vaidyanätha däsa brahmacäré / Mahärathi däsa adhikäré / Çäntimati-devé däsé / Çilpakariëé-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Denver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denver</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">As we rode along the highway, we watched the world—houses, cars, parks and stores—race in a blur past the open window. Each door and fenced garden, carefully manicured vine and creeper slipped by, leaving only faint impressions on our observing minds. And like dreams, they slipped into obscurity, amidst the maze of similar impressions.</p>
<p class="p7">In contemplation, we watched, and thought how our lives, to this point, consisted of so many similarly valueless and now dreamlike incidents. The hopes and aspirations of youth, childhood and infancy with their seeming clarity and concreteness, and the depth of parental and familial relationships, their substance now spread thin in the shallow reminiscence of our maturity, have shattered, leaving only hazy, broken and scattered remembrances. We were thinking that we have found no tangible forms and could not search out the point of our lives. Disease and the invalidity of old age lurked just beyond our youthful life, and we had nothing to show for the years we had already spent. Still, in stunned apathy, we idled our time, seeing no recourse to our aimless existence.</p>
<p class="p7">Into the darkness of this fallen age came His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Because his vision is illuminated by the divine message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, he speaks the eternal truth. With relentless courage and determination he has taken up the mission of Çréla Bhaktivinoda, broadcasting, with perfect clarity and without the slightest distortion, the timeless wisdom of the <i>Vedas. </i>History can boast no great soul than this. To such a bona fide spiritual master we offer our most humble obeisances, falling at his feet in awe.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p49">Kuruçreñöha däsa adhikäré / Änandavardhana däsa / Léläçravaëa-devé däsé / Dhanvé däsa adhikäré / Mamatä-devé däsé / Daçaratha däsa adhikäré / Bhägavaté-devé däsé / Präëavallabha däsa adhikäré / Anurädhä-devé däsé / Dattätreya däsa adhikäré / Bhaktapriya-devé däsé / Setubandha däsa adhikäré / Khaëòita-devé däsé / Bahulävana däsa adhikäré / Jalayaçäyé-devé däsé / Padmäbha däsa adhikäré / Mahojjvala-devé däsé / Rädhädämodara däsa adhikäré / Näöakacandrikä-devé däsé / Koçalendra däsa adhikäré / Kadamba-devé däsé / Jyoti däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Nina / Çréniväsa däsa adhikäré / Tåpté-devé däsé / Bhakta Al / Dantadhara-devé däsé / Bhakta Mike / Bhaktin Cheryl / Véracandra däsa brahmacäré / Rämatulasé-devé däsé / Arthada däsa brahmacäré / Mäëéndra-devé däsé / Vyäpi däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Linda / Païcänanda däsa brahmacäré / Vilvamaëgala / Siddhänta däsa brahmacäré / Rämacandra / Raàgajé däsa brahmacäré / Rädhägovinda / Bhägadhäré däsa brahmacäré / Ätmä-devé däsé / Dugdhapäna däsa brahmacäré / Arjuna / Ravi däsa brahmacäré / Janärdana däsa / Vanecara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Cliff<br>
Bhakta Jerome / Bhakta Andre / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Scott / Bhakta Richard</p>
<p class="p11">Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p7">“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”</p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s3"><br>
</span><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">You are the mercy incarnation of Kåñëa. You are compared to a cloud which pours rain freely everywhere. By the widespread distribution of your books, which are now in so many languages, and by preaching work of your disciples in every corner of the world, your mercy has become available to everyone.</p>
<p class="p7">The fire of material existence is simply the burning desires in the hearts of the fallen souls to enjoy separately from Kåñëa. By giving knowledge of the all-attractive Lord and His eternal kingdom, you are transforming these sinful desires into the pure desire to serve Kåñëa, and to return home to Him after death.</p>
<p class="p7">You have established many beautiful temples, which are small models of the spiritual world. In these temples the forgetful souls have a chance to join in Lord Caitanya’s program of chanting, dancing, feasting and hearing the sublime philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">We are simply praying at your lotus feet that we be allowed to assist you, in some small way, in your service to your Guru Mahäräja. Please help us to follow your instructions strictly and distribute your books profusely.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>We beg to remain your humble servants,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Govardhana däsa adhikäré / Sétäräëé-devé däsé / Indravartä däsa adhikäré / Viläsiné-devé däsé / Doñavärjita däsa adhikäré / Taijasätmikä-devé däsé / Käliyakåñëa däsa adhikäré / Triçakti-devé däsé / Udayänanda däsa adhikäré / Dakñäyané-devé däsé / Kåñëakathänanda däsa adhikäré / Sarvaçaktimati-devé däsé / Draviëaprada däsa adhikäré / Kürmäyaëa-devé däsé / Vrajendraläla däsa adhikäré / Mukhyä-devé däsé / Navinakåñëa däsa adhikäré / Mahänandiné-devé däsé / Rudra däsa adhikäré / Rädhikä-devé däsé / Bhakta Bob / Bhaktin Mary / Bhakta Tony / Bhaktin Sylvia / Nélämbara däsa brahmacäré / Çukti-devé däsé / Khaëòaparaçu däsa brahmacäré / Rudraramaëé-devé däsé / Rudra Paëòéta däsa brahmacäré / Lekhaçravanti-devé däsé / Viçvatamukha däsa brahmacäré / Gouri Sengupta / Däruëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Nina / Mardaräja däsa brahmacäré / Aravinda däsa / Sukåti däsa brahmacäré / Rädhikä-devé däsé / Rämänanda Räya däsa brahmacäré / Jayavämana däsa brahmacäré / Caturbhäva däsa brahmacäré / Kapiladeva däsa brahmacäré / Nirantara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Craig</p>
<p class="p11">Edinburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Edinburgh</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><b>O dear Çrila Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Out of Lord Kåñëa’s causeless mercy He has led us to be approached by you, and by your mercy you are making Kåñëa available to us. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is, </i>which you are giving us. Kåñëa instructs Arjuna: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. A self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">This offering is, therefore, just like the offering of a candle to the sun.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the representative of Çréla Vyäsadeva, who is the literary incarnation of God, and you are the unalloyed devotee of Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whenever there is a decline in religious practice and a predominant rise in irreligion, the Supreme Lord advents Himself or send His bona fide representative. You are the bona fide representative of the Lord. Just as Çukadeva Gosvämi, out of his great compassion for the gross materialists, spoke the <i>Bhägavatam </i>on the bank of the Ganges, so you, the servant of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta, are coming in the wake of Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu to deliver the message of <i>Bhägavatam </i>and the chanting of the holy names to the Western countries.</p>
<p class="p7">Rüpa Gosvämi has prayed:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namo mahä-vadänyäya<br>
kåñëa-prema-pradäya te<br>
kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-<br>
nämne gaura-tviñe namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.53</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are distributing the devotional service of the Lord and bestowing love of God. By serving you, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are finding in our hearts a desire to hear about Kåñëa. By serving you, we are able to please Kåñëa more than if we were to serve Him directly, for no one is more dear to Kåñëa than you, who are risking everything for the lord. By hearing the message of Kåñëa from your lotus lips, our hearts are cleansed by Kåñëa Himself.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù<br>
puëya-çravaëa-kirtanaä<br>
hådy antaù-stho hy abhadräëi<br>
vidhunoti suhåt satäm<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 1.2.17</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">By your instructions you are giving us access to Kåñëa, for by regularly hearing the topics of the Lord, the loving service of the Lord is established. In the Bhagavad-gétä Kåñëa explains:</p>
<p class="p16">“One can understand the Supreme Lord as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.” [<i>Bg.</i> 18.55]</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Prabhupäda, you are our only refuge! Without your grace there is no question of our advancement back home to Godhead. Only by your example can we find the strength to push on with this <i>saìkértana </i>here in Scotland and therefore distribute Lord Caitanya’s message in the form of your books, magazines, records, the holy names and the Lord’s <i>prasäda. </i>Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Mahä-Viñëu däsa brahmacäré / Varäha-mürti däsa brahmacäré / Vaàçévadana däsa brahmacäré / Raghüdvaha däsa brahmacäré / Cittavinodana däsa brahmacäré / Yamunä-jévana däsa brahmacäré / Niraïjana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Clive / Kamaläàgé-devé däsé / Janärdani-påthu-devé däsé / Aukñëa-çakti-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Evanston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Evanston</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our most humble and respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet, which are like the soothing rays of Lord Kåñëa’s benediction moon.</p>
<p class="p7">Indeed. Your Divine Grace, being the eternal manifestation and representative of Lord Kåñëa, who is seated in our hearts as the Paramätmä, knows perfectly well the best course for spiritual progress for us and all the living beings fallen in this material world, this tabernacle of birth and death. From the depths of our hearts, we are calling upon your mercy so that we may fully realize your supreme exalted position as divine emissary of the Personality of Godhead, and thus surrender our lives cent per cent to your eternal service. Let us cast out as no better than stools all desires for sense gratification, economic development, religiosity and even liberation, by the means of our constant meditation on the perfect worship and execution of your order. You, as Lord Kåñëa’s viceroy somehow or other deputed to this hellish place, are the transparent via medium of the supreme controller Himself. You are our only rest and shelter.</p>
<p class="p7">On this holy Vyäsa-Püjä day, we offer our meager services, praying that Your Divine Grace will kindly accept.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>dui pade laila çaraëa</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Chicago ISKCON</b></p>
<p class="p49">Çré Govinda däsa / Çrélekhä-devé däsé / Sundararüpa däsa / Rädhäkuëòa-devé däsé / Audalomi däsa / Govindarüpiëé-devé däsé / Mahämuni däsa / Damayanté-devé däsé / Mågendra däsa / Citiçakti-devé däsé / Viñäläkña däsa / Bhaktyäveça-devé däsé / Candraçekhara däsa / Naiñkarmé-devé däsé / Pathik Candra däsa / Subhadrä-devé däsé / Jambavän däsa / Kalalalapa-devé däsé / Janakanätha däsa / Saàhäriëä-devé däsé / Paratrikänanda däsa / Ananta-devé däsé / Yamunä-taöacara däsa / Ruci-devé däsé / Raàganätha däsa / Jahnavé-devé däsé / Paëòrika däsa / Mukunda-devé däsé / Saìkértana däsa / Dänaçéla-devé däsé / Devänanda Paëòita däsa / Suprabvhä-devé däsé / Manusuta däsa / Valerie Prabhu / Ramäi däsa / Caitanya däsa / Sudarçana / Träëakartä däsa / Saïjaya / Cakré däsa / Çyämasundara / Rathayäträ däsa / Çacémätä / Rämakeli däsa / Meghakanyä / Jayakåñëa däsa / Çréla Jéva Gosvämé / Rämänanda däsa / Viñëupriyä / Madhubhartä däsa adhikäré / Mike Prabhu / Nate Prabhu / John Prabhu / Dennis Prabhu / Ted Prabhu / Denny Prabhu / James Prabhu / Ken Prabhu / Ed Prabhu / John Prabhu / Ron Prabhu / James Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Fiji</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Fiji</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">On this most eventful day, we beg you to please accept our respectful <i>daëòavats</i> again and again at your merciful feet.</p>
<p class="p7">It was such a nice day, that third of July, 1974, when you graced us a Nadi Airport, and we had your <i>darçana</i>. On that beautiful day our blissful life began the way to Çré Kåñëa. Many are called <i>guru, </i>but you actually have the qualification of <i>guru</i> and <i>mahätmä. </i>One who accepts you as his spiritual master attains the perfection of life. By giving us the practices and routine of actual spiritual life, you are making us strong in Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">You should be paid all the respect due to God because you are the bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa. Our position, and our heart and soul is to try and please you, for without your favor there is no chance of attaining <i>kåñëa-prema.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We have seen many <i>svämés </i>and<i> yogés</i> come from India and become popular by preaching their concocted ideas of voidism and impersonalism. They are simply interested in name, fame, money and women. You are kindly distributing Lord Caitanya’s jewel of <i>kåñëa-bhakti</i> and you are saving the whole world, turning it into Vaikuëöha with the holy vibration of the holy name of God. The people here are confused—just like we were but armed with your sublime books and shining example, we shall raise them to the standard of Kåñëa consciousness. We firmly dedicate ourselves to establish a worthy abode for Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">So, we humbly pray to Lord Kåñëa for your continued well-being, for without you there is no way back home, back to Kåñëa. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Hä hä prabhu koro doyä, deho more pada-chäya</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your unworthy servants,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Deoji Punja / Karasanji Panja / Bhakta Franco brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7"><b>ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
Your divine Grace<br>
Your glowing face<br>
You are all so sweet and new like the morning sun<br>
You melt my cold dark heart<br>
I beg from your feet never to part.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The holy name shines to everyone,<br>
All I know is </i>mäyä’s<i> glance<br>
But I feel </i>hari-näma<i> and want to dance.<br>
So I humbly pray for a little shade<br>
All I have is your lovely lotus feet!<br>
How can I ever be afraid?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Oh, let Kåñëa’s service be my life,<br>
In happiness and in distress<br>
You shall be my guide,<br>
My only pride!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bhakta Franco, Fiji, 4.5.75.</i></p>
<p class="p11">Gainesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gainesville</b></p>
<p class="p7">Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master and eternal father, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is conquering the resistance of the conditioned souls as a lion conquers the ineffectual resistance of the forest jackals. Thus, you are delivering us from the vicious jaws of the material energy.</p>
<p class="p7">On this occasion of your appearance day, it is quite fitting for us to reflect upon your position as the present <i>äcärya </i>in the disciplic succession of pure devotees, who are coming down thousands of years from the time when Lord Kåñëa Himself was present on the planet.</p>
<p class="p7">In the Fourth Chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>Kåñëa explains why He chose Arjuna to receive this knowledge and not someone else. Certainly, there were many qualified <i>karmés, jïänés </i>and <i>yogés</i> present on the planet, but Kåñëa did not choose any of them to hear the message of the <i>Gétä. </i>In stead, He chose Arjuna because Arjuna was Kåñëa’s friend, as well as His devotee. This, then, is the real qualification. One must be very eager to always hear and chant about the message of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, as well as describe the wonderful loving pastimes between Rädhikä and Mädhava. If one does this in a favorable manner, without offending the Lord by calling Him insulting names like “formless,” “impersonal,” or “void,” then he quickly attracts the mercy of the Lord and becomes His intimate servitor.</p>
<p class="p7">Not that one must be very adept at breathing exercises, mental speculation or ritualistic performances. Kåñëa did not choose any of these personalities. To the contrary, when we were recently in Våndävana for the Mäyäpura-Våndävana Pilgrimage, we could understand that one need not be a big, big scholar or rigid <i>brähmaëa </i>to love Kåñëa. Even simple cowherd women as the <i>gopés </i>were far more exalted than the most learned <i>brähmaëa </i>because they had realized the ultimate purpose of human life: that Kåñëa is the supreme lovable object and the proprietor of everything that be.</p>
<p class="p7">This point is further confirmed in the Sixth Chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>when Kåñëa tells Arjuna, </p>
<p class="p16">“Of all <i>yogés, </i>he who abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately untied with Me in <i>yoga,</i> and is the highest of all.” [<i>Bg.</i> 6.47]</p>
<p class="p7">An what is that <i>yoga</i>? That is also explained. “All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me. Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”</p>
<p class="p7">We are offering our respects, therefore, because you are the real <i>yogé</i> and are teaching the real <i>yoga.</i> You are the real representative of Kåñëa because you are His intimate friend and devotee. We are therefore humbly begging for your causeless mercy, so that we might somehow or other become free from the bondage of these material desires and become steady in the service of your lotus feet. That is our only request.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your servants,<br>
The devotees of Gainesville ISKCON</b></p>
<p class="p11">Geneva</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Geneva</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Having undertaken<br>
a futile search<br>
for shelter<br>
in a desolate landscape<br>
of sense pleasures<br>
and mental speculation,<br>
I reel from one sordid desire <br>
to another<br>
with no end in sight.<br>
Illusory images<br>
punctuate the horizon,<br>
whetting my slavish appetite<br>
for all that is tasteless,<br>
meaningless,<br>
hopeless.<br>
How long can I reel<br>
without falling?<br>
How often can I fall<br>
without perishing?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Having felt<br>
the caress of<br>
Gour-Nitai’s holy names<br>
on my callous heart,<br>
I beseech the mercy <br>
of My Äcärya<br>
so that I may reach<br>
the lotus feet<br>
of Rädhä-Kåñëa<br>
in whose sacred service<br>
reposes all truth,<br>
beauty and hope.<br>
May I gain the strength<br>
not to repudiate<br>
Your Divine Grace.<br>
O Gurudeva! You are the<br>
only landmark<br>
in the bleak wasteland<br>
of my life.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Guru Gauräìga däsa adhikäré / Dayämågya däsa adhikäré / Jayantakra däsa brahmacäré / Prasannätmä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Martin / Bhakta Calude / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Juan / Ramya-devé däsé / Bhaväni-devé däsé / Dågha-devä däsé / Hiraëmayé-devé däsé / Raghiné-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Germany</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Germany</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“I was born in the darkness of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened by eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”</p>
<p class="p7">Influenced by the modes of ignorance and passion, the whole so-called civilization is drifting to hell. Kåñëa says in <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tri-vidhaà narakasyedaà<br>
dväram näçanam ätmanaù<br>
kämaù krodhas tathä lobhas<br>
tasmäd etat trayam tyajet</i></p>
<p class="p16">“There are three gates leading to hell—lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.” [<i>Bg</i>. 16.21]</p>
<p class="p7">You are the knight who has appeared in the last minute to save mankind from spiritual death in the hell of material existence, towards which they are rushing like moths dashing into a blazing fire. Armed with the sword of transcendental knowledge, eternal spiritual kingdom received through the hands of <i>guru-paramparä,</i> you bravely fight against all-devouring <i>avidyä.</i> And as you fight you increase more and more in spiritual strength. By your energy, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has expanded all over the world, never tiring of releasing your attacks on <i>mäyä</i> by the distribution of your unsurpassable weapons in the form of “books of knowledge.” The enemy is already reduced to struggling for his very life.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta </i>(<i>Ädi </i>1.88–89)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sürya-candra hare yaiche saba andhakära<br>
vastu prakäçiyä kare dharmera pracära<br>
ei mata dui bhäi jévera ajïäna-<br>
tamo-näça kari’ kaila tattva-vastu-däna</i></p>
<p class="p16">“As the sun and moon drive away darkness by their appearance and reveal the nature of everything, these two brothers, Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda, dissipate the darkness of the living being’s ignorance and enlighten them with knowledge of the Absolute Truth.”</p>
<p class="p7">In the same holy land of Mäyäpura, the appearance land of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda, you said this year that the sun and moon have moved from the East to the West. It is up to us to distribute the rays of that sun. It is only by your mercy that this wonder could happen; only by the strength of your surrender to Kåñëa does the sun now dispel the darkness of ignorance, here in a place which was considered by the Vedic civilization as uninhabitable.</p>
<p class="p7">As eyewitnesses of the great effects your movements have obtained, we can simply pray to you for giving us more and more engagements as your insignificant pages. To spread this Kåñëa consciousness is the only thing needed in the present state of utter confusion. Therefore, let us, as you desire, publish your books as quick as possible (hopefully, we will have caught up with the American Book publishing by the end of this year) and distribute them also. This is the only thing to do, as you have repeatedly stressed: “<i>kåñëa-kathä</i> is the only remedy for the people of the world because it can situate one in the pure consciousness of the self and liberate one from material bondage. To preach <i>kåñëa-kathä</i> all over the world, as recommended by Lord Caitanya, is the greatest missionary activity, and all sensible men and women of the world may join in this great movement started by Lord Caitanya.”</p>
<p class="p49">Cakravarté / Surabhi-devé däsé / Påthu / Maëimaïjari-devé däsé / Akñara / Maddanäläsa-devé däsé / Gaurakiçora / Indirä-devé däsé / Vedavyäsa / Viçvadhäriëé-devé däsé / Çacénandana / Çacémätä-devé däsé / Térthäìga / Revaté-devé däsé / Açoka-kumära däsa brahmacäré / Käçané-devé däsé / Häraka däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëé-devé däsé / Ratnagarbha däsa brahmacäré / Darpanä-devé däsé / Añöaratha däsa brahmacäré / Snätä-devé däsé / Avinäçacandra däsa brahmacäré / Dénaçaraëa-devé däsé / Janmanélaya däsa brahmacäré / Umä-devé däsé / Havirdhana däsa brahmacäré / Håmati-devé däsé / Taponighi däsa brahmacäré / Rambhoru-devé däsé / Purujit däsa brahmacäré / Mänadä-devé däsé / Urdvarga däsa brahmacäré / Reëukä-devé däsé / Vaàsuli däsa brahmacäré / Mådäni-devé däsé / Maëidhara däsa brahmacäré / Robert / Rädhänätha däsa brahmacäré / Klaus / Jaländhara däsa brahmacäré / Peter / Haàsa däsa brahmacäré / Hare Kåñëa däsa / Durgamya däsa brahmacäré / Govinda säsa / Gaìgädhara däsa brahmacäré / Angela / Niñpäpa däsa brahmacäré / Elmar / Räma-mohana däsa brahmacäré / Severin / Sudeñëa däsa brahmacäré / Daniel / Yadavendra däsa brahmacäré / Ajätaçatru däsa brahmacäré / Gopeça däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëakñetra däsa brahmacäré / Bharata däsa brahmacäré / Ikñväku däsa brahmacäré / Talaìka däsa brahmacäré / Nikhilänanda däsa brahmacäré / Acchedya däsa brahmacäré / Uräìgama däsa brahmacäré / Yakña däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëé-suta däsa brahmacäré / Båhaspati däsa brahmacäré / Aja däsa brahmacäré / Mahäkoça däsa brahmacäré / Ätmavidyä däsa adhikäré / Påthu däsa adhikäré / Uöhala däsa adhikäré / Mahärathi däsa adhikäré / Bibhéñaëa däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Hong Kong</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hong Kong</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs<br>
tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho<br>
térthé-kurvanti térthäni<br>
sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä</i></p>
<p class="p16">“My lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</p>
<p class="p7">Wherever the pure devotees are engaged in chanting Kåñëa’s names and glorifying Kåñëa’s wonderful activities, Kåñëa Himself is present. Çréla Prabhupäda, you see Kåñëa present everywhere, and wherever you are is a place of pilgrimage. As the personification of all holy places, you are just meant for purifying the polluted consciousness of all fallen souls throughout the three worlds. Our very life is meant for searching out a person like yourself because by finding you, our service to Kåñëa begins.</p>
<p class="p7">A pure devotee like yourself can render any place into a place of pilgrimage, and without the presence of such persons, the holy places are sanctified in name only. You are present in every word of your instructions, and we are praying that we may have the strength to make them out very life and soul. This will change our hearts into places of pilgrimage also. When Kåñëa was present on this planet, the earth was most glorified because she was never separated from His lotus feet. We want to always have the shelter of your lotus feet by never deviating from your instructions. </p>
<p class="p7">We are simply amazed that you are writing so many books. If someone merely reads one of these, his life becomes perfect, and his path back to Godhead becomes clear. Even if someone touches or sees your books, he becomes more purified than by bathing in the Ganges or performing thousands of sacrifices. We are praying that we may always bathe our hearts in the cooling ocean of pure love of Kåñëa contained in your books. Your books extinguish the fire of conditional life which blazes in our hearts, and because they spread the rays of Lord Caitanya’s benediction moon, they are also the prime benediction for all humanity. With your books you are perfectly fulfilling the order of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté to spread Kåñëa consciousness all over the world, and we pray that we may always assist you in doing this.</p>
<p class="p7">O, Prabhupäda, please glance mercifully upon us. We are praying at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Hong Kong Yäträ</p>
<p class="p49">Païcadraviòa Svämé / Vijitätmä däsa brahmacäré / Änirdeçyavapu däsa brahmacäré / Pippaläi däsa brahmacäré / Yaçomati-süta däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>All glories to Oà Viçnupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our beloved spiritual master. He is translating the cream of the Vedic literatures in over ten languages so authoritatively and exquisitely that he is singlehandedly destroying the voidism and impersonalism that has the world in its relentless clutches.</p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your grace by the will of providence (<i>sandarçito dhäträ</i>), and thus we accept you as captain of the ship (<i>darëa-dharaù</i>) for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7">First of all, we have to be able to separate the reality from that which isn’t. In other words, we have to want to know what is what. The <i>Vedas</i> succinctly express these veiled yet all-pervading truths. They are so extensive that we couldn’t realize all of them in our lifetime. When somebody decides, without reservations, motives or self-deception, to unravel the mysteries of the <i>Vedas,</i> he soon sees that these texts make two things very clear.</p>
<p class="p7">1) The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kåñëa, the most powerful mystic (<i>Yogeçvara</i>) and the possessor of all-attractive transcendental opulences. The goal of our lives is to regain our currently covered personal association with Him. He dwells on innumerable planets of infinite variegatedness in the anti-material world (<i>nirasta-kuhakam</i>), with unlimited forms of dazzling splendor and sweetness. We are actually His eternal servants (<i>jévera svarüpa haya—kåñëera nitya-däsa </i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya</i> 20.108]</span>), being spiritual in essence. Now we have come to the material world, the land of the temporary and painful material energy, due to our original envy and pride (minute independence). This was a great mistake on our part. In the spiritual sky with Lord Kåñëa, everyone (everything) is of the same spiritual nature: eternal, full of knowledge and bliss (<i>sac-cid-änanda</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">2) The only way to reestablish our real position, after having fallen victim to this futile alternative, is to come in contact with a bona fide spiritual master (<i>guru</i>). Be wise enough to recognize him, hear from him and surrender to him with favorable service. The <i>Vedas</i> affirm this:</p>
<p class="p7"><i>tad vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet: </i>If you want to understand spiritual matters, you must accept a <i>guru. </i><span class="s3">(<i>Muëòaka Up.</i></span><i> </i><span class="s3">1.2.12</span>)</p>
<p class="p7"><i>dharmasya tattvaà nihitaà guhyaà mahäjano yena gataù sa panthäù: </i>It is very difficult to understand the secret of spiritual consciousness, but one who advances by the instruction of the previous <i>äcäryas</i> and follows in the footsteps of his predecessors in the line of disciplic succession will have success. Others will not. <span class="s3">[<i>Mahäbhärata, Vp.</i> 313.117]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>jévaï-chavo bhägavatäìghri-reëuà na jätu martyo ‘bhilabheta yas tu: </i>The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of a pure devotee upon his heart certainly is a dead body. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 7.5.32]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sandarçito dhäträ. </i>We think we have met Çréla Prabhupäda by the will of providence (the causeless mercy of Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu). Roaming fearful and helpless, never sure if we were progressing. Then we saw the mountain range: the <i>guru</i>. Streams ran underneath the desert because they would dry up if they had to snake on top of the hot sand exterior. Sometimes the bedrock was broken here and there, and oases bubbled up onto the surface. We sampled some of these oases, but found them ultimately leaving us little more than the mirages which constantly baffled us. We always had some everchanging plan for progress but, horribly, the thought lingered in our conscious substratum that perhaps we were only going in circles. The blemish of our struggle, fear and doubt burst when we finally saw the mountain range. Now the goal is in sight.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam,</i> which Prabhupäda is translating for us, the story of Kapiladeva, an incarnation of Kåñëa from the spiritual world (<i>avatära</i>), instructing His mother Devahüti about spiritual science is presented. <i>Sädhu</i> is a synonym for <i>mahätmä </i>(great soul), and Kapila gives important details about these <i>sädhus</i> and their elevated position:</p>
<p class="p7">“The symptoms of a <i>sädhu</i> are that he is tolerant, merciful (<i>karuëikäù</i>) and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures and all his characteristics are sublime (<i>sädhu-bhüñaëa</i>). Such a <i>sädhu</i> engages in staunch devotional service to the Lord (<i>bhaktià kurvanti ye dåòhäm</i>) without deviation. For the sake of the Lord he renounces all other connections, such as family relationships and friendly acquaintances within the world. Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the <i>sädhus</i> do not suffer from material miseries because they are always fixed on Me with their thoughts (<i>mad-gata-cetasaù</i>). O My mother, O virtuous lady, these are the qualities of great devotees who are free from all attachment. You must seek attachment to such holy men (<i>saìgas teñv artha te prarthyaù</i>), for this counteracts the pernicious effects of material attachment. In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart (<i>håt-karëa-rasäyanäù kathäù</i>). By cultivation of such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and service begin (<i>bhaktir anukramiñyati</i>). <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>3.25.21-25)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Kapila told Devahüti to seek attachment to such a spiritual master. Lord Caitanya also said <i>lavämätra sädhu-saìge sarva-siddhi haya: </i>“Simply a moment’s association with a pure devotee (<i>bhagavad-saìgi-saìgasya</i>) cannot be compared to being transferred to heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to die (<i>martyänäm</i>), association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>4.30.34)</span> Any kind of inoffensive contract with Çréla Prabhupäda, done in fear or ignorance of his prowess, with lavish pomp, or like a pauper, will bring inconceivable benefit (<i>ajìäta-sukåti</i>). The <i>Bhägavatam </i>elucidates that association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person (<i>sädhuñu</i>), leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge (<i>vihito ‘dhiyä</i>) <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>3.23.55)</span>.</p>
<p class="p7">To associate with Çréla Prabhupäda through his devotees, books, tapes or with him personally presents the opportunity to hear from him. He is constantly hearing about Kåñëa, as confirmed by Kapila Muni in His association with him allows us to have this transcendental message transferred through our ears into our minds.</p>
<p class="p7">“My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees (<i>mahan-mukha-cyutah</i>) carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your Lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>4.20.25)</span> Hearing the <i>Vedas</i> from mental speculators, will not help us. By hearing from the spiritual master, everything becomes transparently clear. The submissive disciple (<i>snigdhasya çiñyasya</i>) is endowed with favor from the spiritual master <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.8]</span>. He lives transcendentally and continues to remember the Lord even at the end of life when the power of remembrance is slackened due to derangement of bodily membranes.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bhakti kurvanti ye dåòhäm: </i>Kapiladeva gives us information that the spiritual master is engaging in staunch devotional service to the Lord without deviation. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>Lord Kåñëa says, <i>sädhur eva sa mantavyaù </i><span class="s3">[9.30]</span><i>:</i> a <i>sädhu</i> is a strict follower of devotional service (<i>sevayä</i>). It is thus further confirmed in this verse of the <i>Gétä</i> (4.34) that he imparts realization because he has already realized the truth.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Mahat-seväà-dväram ähur vimuktes:</i> “Service to a <i>mahätmä </i>is the royal road to liberation.” The <i>Bhägavatam</i> says by regular service to the pure Vaiñëavas, one can clear the dirt from his heart and thus enjoy supreme peace, liberation from material attachment and satisfaction automatically (<i>prasédato ‘tyanta-çamaà svataù</i>) <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>4.21.40]</span>. To become enwrapped in the pastimes of the spiritual world, which is the process called Kåñëa consciousness, we have to gain the higher taste of wanting nothing more than to always hear about, glorify and remember Lord Çré Kåñëa and His transcendental pastimes. The methodology of the most intelligent aspirant is service to the <i>guru.</i> “O twice born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the message of Väsudeva, (Kåñëa)” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</span>. Narottama däsa Öhäkura, a great <i>äcärya</i> in our line of disciplic succession says <i>chäòiyä vaiñëava-sevä nistära päyeche kebä:</i> Unless one serves the spiritual master and <i>äcäryas, </i>one cannot be liberated. <span class="s3">[<i>P.b. candrikä</i>] </span>In the <i>Bhägavatam, </i>Mahäräja Rahügaëa inquired from the great saint Jaòabharata how he could attain this liberation from material entanglement. Jaòabharata replied, <i>vinä mahat-päda-raja-’bhiñekam:</i> “O King, the perfectional stage of devotional service cannot be attained without being blessed by the dust of the feet of great devotees.”</p>
<p class="p7">So this dust from the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda is of utmost importance. And just what is the dust of his lotus feet? It is his orders.</p>
<p class="p7">Spiritual science has no room for directionless sentiment. If we don’t see this, then we are being bewildered by that which is not (<i>mäyä</i>).</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryera mata yei, sei mata sära<br>
täìra äjìä laìgi’ cale, sei ta’ asära</i></p>
<p class="p7">If we at all want to advance in spiritual life, we must take the order of the spiritual master as our life’s mission.<i> The Upaniñads </i>say that to one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of Kåñëa (<i>yathä deve tathä gurau</i>), the secret of success in Vedic knowledge is revealed.</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is personally present in his order (<i>väëé</i>) and picture. Çréla Prabhupäda, by the grace of Lord Kåñëa, singlehandedly established our international society because he did not deviate from the order of his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottaraçata Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. When Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta left the mortal world in 1936, he ordered all of his disciples to follow the desire of Lord Caitanya in preaching this Kåñëa consciousness. <i>Påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma.</i> “Move all throughout the world and preach in every town and village.” <span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya</i> 4.126]</span></p>
<p class="p7">He did not name a successor, but so many of his disciples immediately squandered a huge amount of funds and energy in court squabbles to try to win the post of <i>guru.</i> Therefore, because they intentionally deviated from their spiritual master’s order, they lost their preaching potency. In fact, most of them never even took it up. But Çréla Prabhupäda, unlike many of these others, did not have much personal contact with Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta. Yet Prabhupäda followed his spiritual master’s orders. And now he is the spiritual master of the world (<i>Jagad-guru</i>), the current representative of the spiritual chain (<i>Brahmä-sampradäya</i>) which descends from Lord Kåñëa through Brahmä, the empowered creator of the universe. </p>
<p class="p7">Kapiladeva concluded His discourse with Devahüti by describing that, through association of pure devotees, hearing the pastimes of Lord Çré Kåñëa liberates one from all material contamination (<i>mukti</i>), and than actual <i>bhakti</i> begins. When we achieve complete freedom from that energy which is superfluous to us, then we once again meet Lord Kåñëa in the spiritual sky and actually reawaken our dormant, eternal relationship with Him. This is called <i>paraà gati </i>or the supreme goal. Çréla Prabhupäda is not Lord Kåñëa or God, but he is as good as God because he is the confidential servitor of the Lord (<i>säkñäd dharitvena . . . kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya</i>) <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span>. All advancement that a disciple makes toward reestablishing his eternal relationship with Kåñëa must go through the facility of the spiritual master (<i>yasya prasädäd bhagavatprasädaù</i>) and if (<i>yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‘pi</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">“My Lord, devotees like your good self are virtual holy places personified (<i>tértha-bhütaù svayam</i>). <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</span> “Those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them. We here at ISKCON Honolulu are inconceivably blessed to have Çréla Prabhupäda’s personal association for our purification. The grounds here offer him a mango tree in the front yard complimented with a backyard bamboo hut under one of the largest banyan trees in Hawaii, and the only whole set of Païcätattva deities (Lord Caitanya and associates) in our whole movement. And we, the devotees, are attempting to offer him some humble service and follow his orders. This is not just some nice material arrangement, but on the contrary, that which Çréla Prabhupäda has given is Vedic, and because it is perfectly bona fide, those who are following it are getting the result of clearing away all illusions and realizing their actual position as loving servitors of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>ALL GLORIES TO ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your servants at ISKCON Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p49">Manasvé däsa adhikäré / Vraja-kiçora däsa brahmacäré / Niçcintya däsa brahmacäré / Godruma däsa brahmacäré / Bhümna däsa brahmacäré / Lakñmaëa däsa brahmacäré / Kardama däsa brahmacäré / Mäyäpura-candra däsa brahmacäré / Madhväcärya däsa brahmacäré / Väsudeva Ghoña däsa brahmacäré / Räma-lakñmaëa däsa brahmacäré / Käëva däsa brahmacäré / Yaçodäòuläla däsa brahmacäré / Nitäi-gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Päëòu däsa brahmacäré / Kailäsa-candra däsa brahmacäré / Håñékeça däsa adhikäré / Hariväsara däsa adhikäré / Raìga-raïjana däsa adhikäré / Premärëava däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Howard / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Eric / Bhakta Derrick / Ikñväkuräné-devé däsé / Gopilä-devé däsé / Sétä-devé däsé / Kadamba-devé däsé / Täruëä-devé däsé / Deçampuëyati-devé däsé / Jayaçré-devé däsé / Bhaktin Carissa / Rohiëé-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Hyderabad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hyderabad</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena <br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Really, we were born in the darkest ignorance, and you out of your causeless mercy opened our eyes with the torch of transcendental knowledge. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you.</p>
<p class="p7">Really, how merciful you are, how broadhearted you are, how magnanimous you are. Really, you are in the perfect stage of Kåñëa consciousness. Let us be excused, our Çré Gurumahäräja.</p>
<p class="p7">It is not sheer flattery or exaggeration. It is our heart-felt feeling that you are a bright example of a <i>sthita-prajïa </i>personality. While going through the <i>sthita-prajïa</i> description in <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>we were wondering how a person could be a sthita-prajïa<i> </i>on the mundane plane. Really, when we come in touch with you we find that you are the very same personality who is <i>sthita-prajïa.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We are rejected fellows, great sinners, stonehearted persons, wicked fellows and very degraded, fallen souls. We have no good qualities; nothing is good in us. Still, you are so merciful, so magnanimous that you accept us as your disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">We are wicked fellows, for we do not know how to pay respects to the spiritual master and how to serve him. The false ego in us is very obstinate, very puffed up. Therefore, very often, we commit mistakes and offenses. Still, you are so merciful and magnanimous that, in spite of our mistakes and offenses, you give us shelter at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Really, you are <i>väïchä-kalpa-taru,</i> a wish-fulfilling tree. We have personally felt that whenever we have cherished any desire, it is fulfilled than and there. But Gurujé, we cannot get any satisfaction in it. We know not how to utilize a chance, suitably and profitably, in Kåñëa’s service. We feel that we are still in a state of bewilderment because we have not yet gotten Kåñëa, <i>kåñëa-prema</i> or <i>kåñëa-bhakti</i>. It is only your causeless mercy that can bestow it on us. We want only this.</p>
<p class="p7">In the words of Kunté-devé, let us say;</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvayi me ‘nanya-viñayä<br>
matir madhu-pate ‘sakåt<br>
ratim udvahatäd addhä<br>
gaìgevaugham udanvati</i></p>
<p class="p7">“O Lord of Madhu, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea, without hindrance, let my attraction be constantly drawn unto You without being diverted to anyone else.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>1.8.42]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Similarly, we want our attraction to be constantly drawn to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, without being diverted to anyone else. We want to receive the constant flow of <i>guru-kåpä,</i> your causeless mercy, by receiving which the ignorance and bewilderment will be dispelled and real <i>jïäna-sürya,</i> pure <i>kåñëa-prema </i>and<i> bhakti</i> will be revealed unto us.</p>
<p class="p7">We have very wicked minds. They are like mischievous imps, cherishing many desire, but it is our prayer to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, that you kindly do not fulfill such desires which will create hindrances on the path of our transcendental progress. Kindly only fulfill those desires that will help us to achieve <i>kåñëa-prema </i>and <i>bhakti.</i></p>
<p class="p7">May God give you long life and good health to guide us eternally on this path of self-realization. We are so foolish that we know not anything about spiritual realization or how to tread the precipitous path of spirituality. Kindly guide us eternally.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Hare Kåñëa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your eternal servants,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Mahäàsa Svämé / Amiyaviläsa däsa / Acyutänanda Svämé / Prabhäkara däsa / Gauragovinda Svämé / Räghaveça däsa / Cheläpati däsa / Änandamaya däsa / Tatpara däsa / Mahävérya däsa / Mahäbala däsa / Gopeçvara däsa / Gopati däsa / Praghoña däsa / Änanda brahmacäré / Vasu Ghoña däsa / Chenaiya däsa / Rädhäramaëa däsa / Satyanäräyaëa-priya däsa / Bahuçira däsa / Palikä-devé däsé / Rämaçraddhä däsa / Kamlä-devé däsé / Sucarudeva däsa / Våndävané-devi däsé / Räghavendra däsa / Rasaparäyaëa däsa</p>
<p class="p11">London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p16">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16"> “Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé, you are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism." [<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">By Kåñëa’s causeless mercy, a conditioned soul meets <i>guru. </i>By <i>guru’s </i>mercy one can reach Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‘pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day, I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</p>
<p class="p7">You are showering us all with your mercy—Kåñëa’s mercy—opening our eyes with the torch of knowledge. The truth which you are giving us is as brilliant as the sun lighting up the darkness of our minds and cleansing our hearts of all sinful desires. When the sun rises, the light of the glowworms disappears. Similarly, the Absolute Truth which you are giving completely destroys all the speculative and nonsense philosophies of this mundane world. You are fulfilling the desires of your spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, by spreading these teaching in the western countries, by flooding all the continents with love for Kåñëa, and by finding ways to get Kåñëa into everyone’s home.</p>
<p class="p7">You are fulfilling the prediction of Lord Caitanya that the holy names of Kåñëa would be heard in every town and village. You are the most dear to Lord Kåñëa because you are preaching the message of <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is, </i>which alone can save the dreaming philosophers’ polluted minds.</p>
<p class="p7">You are fulfilling the desire of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura that from all over the world <i>bhaktas</i> would come to the holiest spot, Çrédhäma Mäyäpura, to chant the glories of the most munificent incarnation of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, on His appearance day.</p>
<p class="p7">All the millions of people born in India were ordered by Lord Caitanya to preach the holy name. Only you are doing this. You have completely taken shelter of your spiritual master’s instructions. Our only hope is to take shelter of your instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">Everyone in this world is a slave to <i>mäyä,</i> chained by lust, anger and greed and surrendered to sinful activities. Your love for your spiritual master and Kåñëa has saved us from this prison house. Everyone in this material world is sinking in the quicksand of illusion, but you are standing on firm ground, rescuing all who hold on to you by following your instructions. Everywhere you go becomes a holy spot, a place of pilgrimage, but being such crows, we had no desire to go to the places of the swans. Kåñëa tells us: “just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.” Kåñëa instructs Arjuna in the <i>Karma-yoga </i>Chapter, verse 29:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>prakåter guëa-sammüòhäù<br>
sajjante guëa-karmasu<br>
tän akåtsna-vido mandän<br>
kåtsna-vin na vicälayet</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not unsettle them, although these duties are inferior due to the performer’s lack of knowledge.”</p>
<p class="p7">But you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are kinder than the Lord Himself because you have come to deliver Kåñëa to even snakes like us. Somehow or other, even the lowest of creatures can be delivered by your mercy. If only we can follow your instructions and please you. This is our only hope.</p>
<p class="p7">You are so great that, on behalf of Lord Caitanya, you are accepting so many disciples born of low-class, meat-eating families. No other spiritual master would do this. You are the only spiritual master today; there is no one else who can give the soul protection, who can wake the soul from his deep sleep. Despite so many difficulties and disturbances caused by our inability to follow your instructions, you still kindly offer us the shelter of your lotus feet, asking us to please chant Hare Kåñëa. You are giving such an easy process to develop love of Kåñëa. If only we would have as much faith in you as you have in your spiritual master. Then we would be able to help you spread love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">You are teaching us just as a loving father teaches his children to behave. Somehow tolerating our foolishness, you are patiently teaching us to chant the holy names without offense. In this Kali-yuga, that is the only process to lead one to love of Godhead, which alone can satisfy the burning desires of the soul. You are greater than the Ganges River, which sanctifies after prolonged use, because just a moment’s association with you is far, far more effective. You are an ocean of mercy, you are the bona fide representative of Çréla Vyäsä; you are our only shelter; you are the dearmost friend of Lord Kåñëa in this world; you are the Lord’s most confidential servitor. Only by following your instructions can we be saved.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON London</b></p>
<p class="p49">Bhaja Hari däsa adhikäré—president / Bhakta John Hammersley / Mukunda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John / Patita-uddhärana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ross / Pärtha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta David / Narahari däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jamey / Våñabha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Philip / Kåpämaya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ian / Dhéraçänta däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Tony / Triveët däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Lawrence / Ädikartä däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäpriyä-devé däsé / Räsarasika däsa brahmacäré / Ramyä-devé däsé / Vrajendra-kumära däsa brahmacäré / Karpadiné-devé däsé / Ravimocana däsa brahmacäré / Ratnaraìhiné-devé däsé / Änandamaya däsa brahmacäré / Rucirä-devé däsé / Dhanvantaré däsa brahmacäré / Gokularäëé-devé däsé / Gokulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Viçäkhä-devé däsé / Advaita Äcärya däsa brahmacäré / Jagaddhätré-devé däsé / Mahämana däsa brahmacäré / Helen / Tanumadhya däsa brahmacäré / Maeve / Premänanda däsa brahmacäré / Janine / Gaurahari däsa brahmacäré / Baby Rukminé-devé däsé / Jananänanda däsa brahmacäré / Baby Rädhäkuëòa-devé däsé / Kiçora däsa adhikäré / Baby Yamunä-devé däsé / Rohiëénandana däsa adhikäré / Baby Kalindé-devé däsé / Jayalakñnaàa däsa adhikäré / Janaka-räja däsa adhikäré / Balabhadra däsa adhikäré / Baläyudha däsa adhikäré / Rädhä-kåñëa däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">London</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">O beloved spiritual master, please accept our most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>that one must accept a bona fide spiritual master, enquire from him submissively and render service unto him, if one wants to learn the Absolute Truth.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear spiritual father, we are tired of this material existence and are worn out by the constant kicking of <i>mäyä</i>. In fact, we have become just like dead man. Just as a spark becomes extinguished when it falls out of the fire, so the living entity who falls out of the spiritual world and loses his connection with the Lord becomes dull and unenthusiastic.</p>
<p class="p7">However, the Supreme Lord Kåñëa is so merciful that He always wants to help us, even though we are thanklessly trying to reject Him. Therefore He has sent you, Çréla Prabhupäda, to reawaken us from the deep sleep of material existence. This, you are doing most successfully. You are following the example of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu by chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra,</i> distributing <i>prasäda, </i>and preaching forcefully the message of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>and <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">By the mercy of the spiritual master one can achieve the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, no one can make any advancement.</p>
<p class="p7">One should never attempt to bypass the spiritual master and think that he can worship Kåñëa directly. This is a very great offense. Rather, one should try to become the most humble servant of his spiritual master and take shelter of his lotus feet. One should be prepared to render any kind of service—even the most menial task—because devotional service of any kind is the most precious gift; its value cannot be measured by any material means. Thus, if the spiritual master becomes pleased, Kåñëa also becomes pleased, and the living entity also becomes satisfied. The pleasure of the spiritual master is the only criterion for advancement in spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">Just as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu ordered, you are also requesting every man to take this Kåñëa consciousness and distribute it all over the world. </p>
<p class="p7">So we are praying at your lotus feet that we may be able to take this instruction to heart and make it our foremost desire, our very life and soul. Thus, begging for your mercy and protection, we will endeavor to push forward this wonderful movement, which you have so kindly created to help the conditioned souls go back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Again and again, we offer our most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your servants,</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Rädhä-London-éçvara-dhäma,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Ranchor däsa Adhikäré / Bhakta Ray / Prabhaviñëu däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rodney / Vicitravérya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Hugh / Raghuvéra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kåñëadäsa / Subhaga däsa brahmacäré / Léläçakti-devé däsé / Sarvasägara däsa brahmacäré / Jalasthita-devé däsé / Jagadbandhu däsa brahmacäré / Padma-devé däsé / Devadharma däsa brahmacäré<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> / Sävitré-devé däsé / Ratnanäbha däsa brahmacäré / Aïjana-devé däsé / Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëäveça-devé däsé / Yaçodäduläla däsa brahmacäré / Kuläëganä-devé däsé / Vairabhäjana däsa brahmacäré / Devamayä-devé däsé / Gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Jagajjévana däsa brahmacäré / Vrajendranandana däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Madras</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Madras</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Offering</b></p>
<p class="p12">The order was to spread this Kåñëa consciousness by His Divine Grace, <br>
Due to lack of faith, they all thought they would lose face.</p>
<p class="p17"><i>One great soul from high above,<br>
Decided to try because of his divine love.<br>
Across the “forbidden sea” he began to fare,<br>
To this </i>sampradäya<i> it was mighty rare.<br>
Only a few rupees he took<br>
And the </i>Bhägavata<i> </i>Puräëa<i>, Kali-yuga’s only book.<br>
During the voyage he became very sick,<br>
To Kåñëa’s pure devotee it’s a loving kick.<br>
Finally reaching the distant shore,<br>
It appeared most difficult to locate even one vegetarian store.<br>
Experiencing many hardships, and bearing the cold,<br>
His Divine Grace like a lion was bold.<br>
To Kåñëa’s lotus feet he had an eternal hold.<br>
Every day he preached in the park.<br>
To try with his love to remove them from the dark.<br>
Sometimes he would chant and sometimes he would dance,<br>
This was Caitanya’s process to give them all a chance.<br>
Not to engage in rigorous tapas, is the Kali-yuga message for all the mass.<br>
His Divine Grace came to deliver this simple message.<br>
Even though he received so much flak,<br>
Still his determination would not crack.<br>
Now in every town and village you are beginning to hear,<br>
That which is eternally very dear.<br>
That transcendental sound, which brings back the soul<br>
Connected with love, to that Supreme Whole.<br>
So is one thinks that His Divine Grace is an ordinary person,<br>
Open your ears and try to listen.<br>
It’s stated in the </i>çästras<i> that to spread this </i>bhakti<i> throughout the world,<br>
That great soul must be empowered by the Supreme Lord.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Just one drop of your mercy satisfies the real self. Just one glance from your tender eyes cools my mind. One smile from your lotus lips captures my thoughts. Your staunch walk fixed my future, and your fiery words destroyed my past. You are the embodiment of perfection, and your humility smashes my ego. When I sit near you I feel safe even in this burning fire of <i>saàsära, </i>and when you are far I remember your pure presence.</p>
<p class="p7">O divine father, let me break open this heart of steel and cry for your mercy.</p>
<p class="p49">Çravaëänanda däsa / Bhävabhüti däsa / Stryadhéça däsa / Trikiväsa däsa / Armanätha däsa / Ätmänanda däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Mauritius</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mauritius</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my obeisances and prayers. As you must know, some devotees are exceptional, while others are neophytes struggling for devotional service. I am a devotee of this second type. Along with your disciple Véëähara däsa brahmacäré, I have been sent far, far away from the mainstream of devotees and I feel a bit stranded without their association. Sometimes we joke that this is ISKCON Alcatraz, where sinful devotees are sent. For myself, I may explain to you that my character reference is summed up very nicely in Çréla Bhaktivinoda’s prayer “O Gopénätha.” I pray that by your mercy, in order to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, all of us can become as qualified as you would like us to be. Our only business is to represent you, and that task is very difficult. As your greatness is unfathomable, so, as a conditioned soul, my stupidity and foolishness is of equal measure. It is your greatness alone that has make this movement a success. Since we have been in Mauritius, tens of thousands of people have heard our <i>kértana </i>and chanted the holy name. We are teaching everyone the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> and Nitäi-Gauräìga! Now, as we walk down the streets, the little children shout, “Hari Bol, Nitäi-Gauräìga!” and we feel the bliss of the name. We are very lucky preachers to have found such a receptive audience. I think that if you give us your mercy and keep us always preaching for Lord Caitanya, <i>mäyä</i> will never catch up to us, and you may be proud to call us your servants.</p>
<p class="p49">Prabhänu däsa brahmacäré / Véëähara däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Mäyäpur</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mäyäpur</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>jagato yaù svayam ekaù<br>
parivartanaà karoti<br>
tasya mad-guru-devasya<br>
mähätmyam ahaà ceñöeya</i></p>
<p class="p7">(1) I must explain the glory of my spiritual master, who alone is causing the transformation of the world.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcärya-devaà çaàsanti<br>
veda-çästra-ëi-sarväëi<br>
daëòavatäà sahasräëi<br>
tasya paòayor dadämi</i></p>
<p class="p7">(2) All the scriptures are glorifying the <i>äcärya.</i> I offer my obeisances to his feet thousands of times.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëeti bhäñayati lokän<br>
çüdrann api tathä mlecchän<br>
çuddhayati mäm eväpi<br>
yas taà stavyaà stavémi</i></p>
<p class="p7">(3) I glorify him, who is most praiseworthy, because he is making the whole world utter the name “Kåñëa,” even <i>çüdras</i> and<i> mlecchas.</i> He is even purifying my fallen self.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jévo ’haìkärälaìkåto<br>
nimajjati bhavodadhau<br>
yadyapi sa nimajjati<br>
tathäpi kämam icchati</i></p>
<p class="p7">(4) The living entity, decorated with false ego, is drowning in the ocean of material life. Yet, even though he is drowning, he still desires sense enjoyment.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kådayantaù-stho bhagavän<br>
sarva-lokän upädiçat<br>
kaçcin na çrotuà çaknoti<br>
käma-våtena cetasä</i></p>
<p class="p7">(5) The Supreme Lord, situated within the heart, has given direction to every living being, but no one is ever able to hear Him due to lust and contaminated intelligence.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kintu yadä bhrañta-jévo<br>
harim icchati jïätum<br>
tat-käle guru-rüpeëa<br>
sa hariù prakäçayati</i></p>
<p class="p7">(6) But when the conditioned soul desires to know the Lord, at that time the Lord reveals Himself in the form of the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bähir ädeçäà çrutvä<br>
müòho jévo mohän muktaù<br>
bahiù-kåñëo bhäve tasmin<br>
antaù-kåñëaà darçayati</i></p>
<p class="p7">(7) Hearing the instructions from without, the conditioned soul becomes free from illusion. In this way the external Kåñëa reveals the internal Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>däsatvasya sadäcäro<br>
yasya jänämy asaàçayam<br>
tathäpi sa gurur asti<br>
prakäçaù paramätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">(8) I know without a doubt that the spiritual master’s character is that of a servant; nevertheless I accept him as the manifestation of the Supreme Soul.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëadäsa-kaviräja-gosvämi kahilenam<br>
yadyapi ämära guru-caitanyera däsa<br>
tathäpi jäniye ämi täìhära prakäça</i></p>
<p class="p7">(9) Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja says: “Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor of Lord Caitanya, I know him also as a plenary manifestation of the Lord.” <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> 1.44]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-paramparä-ñthitaà<br>
bhakti-niñöhaà suçästra-jïam<br>
ity uktaà çästreñu<br>
jänähi taà tal-lakñaëaiù</i></p>
<p class="p7">(10) Know the spiritual master by the symptoms given in the scriptures. He is in the bona fide disciplic succession; he is fixed in devotional service and displays complete knowledge of the scriptures.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tasmäd guruà prapadyeta<br>
jijïäsuù çreya uttamam<br>
çabde pare ca nisñëätaà<br>
brahmaëy upaçamäçrayam</i></p>
<p class="p7">(11) “Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving perfection must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.3.21]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>premä-bhäëòara-gåhät<br>
sa païca-tattvänugo guruù<br>
premoddharati çighraà hi<br>
tad-vitaraëaà karoti</i></p>
<p class="p7">(12) Being a true follower of the Païca-tattva, my spiritual master takes <i>prema</i> from its storehouse and distributes everywhere.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kadä guro tava seväm<br>
ananyäm eñiñyämy aham<br>
mäyayä saha yuddho ‘yaà<br>
mäà klamayaty anäçryaam</i></p>
<p class="p7">(13) O Gurudeva, when will I desire only your unalloyed service. This battle with the material nature is wearying me, for I have not taken shelter.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavän deva dadätu me<br>
pada-chäyä manä-mayäm<br>
tvad anayas tréñu lokeñu<br>
çaraëaà na bhaved guro</i></p>
<p class="p7">(14) O Lord, please give me the shade of your lotus feet. Other than you, no one can give shelter in these three worlds.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We have no qualification to write this eulogy in praise of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Nor do we ever expect to be so qualified. Çréla Prabhupäda is not an ordinary man. Ordinary words fail to convey his transcendental qualities. But we are not deterred in our meager attempt to glorify this great soul. We are sure that such attempts, although doomed to be inadequate, will nevertheless act to purify us. We are in great need of such purification. From the core of our hearts, we thank His Divine Grace for giving us this opportunity to purify ourselves.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is the direct representative of God on earth. He is the external manifestation of the Supreme Lord, and as Kåñëa says: “My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as My representative but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods.” (<i>Bhäg. </i>11.17.22)</p>
<p class="p7">This is not idle praise, but is practically observable in the behavior of Çréla Prabhupäda. His personality is decorated with all godly qualities. He is never subject to the influence of material nature, nor does he ever fail to control his senses. His mind, body, words and life are all cent per cent engaged in the service of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">Thus he is one with the Lord in quality. And just as Kåñëa is all good to those who come in contact with Him, similarly Çréla Prabhupäda’s contact purifies even a rascal like me.</p>
<p class="p7">Without his blessing no one can make spiritual advancement. If he is displeased, the disciple’s whereabouts are unknown. To see his body is the perfection of the eyes. Speaking his praises is the perfection of the voice. Touching his body brings a state of ecstasy. Hearing his voice is the constitution of the ears. We bow to his lotus feet again and again. We wish everyone the opportunity of having his association.</p>
<p class="p49">Jayapataka Svämé / Våndävana-vihäri-devé däsé / Trivikrama Svämé / Svädé-devé däsé / Jananiväsa däsa brahmacäré / Kämadhuk-devé däsé / Satadhanya däsa brahmacäré / Mayüra-devé däsé / Paìkajäìhri däsa / Räñörapälikä-devé däsé / Madhusvita däsa / Alo Rani / Tapomaya däsa / Kåñëa Rani / Medhavé däsa / Manju Rani / Sadänanda däsa / Anu / Aprameya däsa / Geeta / Sumahat däsa / Sundari / Rädhäkuëòa däsa / Suchi Rani / Yogänanda däsa / Nityänanda däsa / Hiraëyagarbha däsa / Sashi / Vyeìkata däsa / Améyäbalé / Bhakta Ray<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> / Kamala-kåñëa / Bhakta Guna / Priyänätha / Bhakta Kalipada / Bhakta Çubhabandhu / Anakadundubhi däsa / Gaëapati däsa</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p49">Çubhadälaya däsa / Gaolaya däsa / Kauraveçvaré däsa / Prabhäva däsa / Uddhära däsa / Nilämbara däsa / Bhakta Ajit / Bhakta Betu / Dvärakädhéça däsa / Ekendra däsa / Bhakta Devsingh / <i>And many others.</i></p>
<p class="p11">Mayapura-candrodaya-mandira<br>
Traveling Saìkértana Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mayapura-candrodaya-mandira<br>
Traveling Saìkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ceto-darpaëa-märjanaà bhava-mahä-dävägni-nirväpaëaà<br>
çreyaù-kairava-candrikävitaraëaà vidyä-vadhüjévanam<br>
änandämbudhi-vardhanaà pratipadaà pürëämåtäsvädanaà<br>
sarvätma-snapanaà paraà vijayate çré-kåñëa-saìkértanam</i></p>
<p class="p71">“Glory to the <i>çré-kåñëa-saìkértana,</i> which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This <i>saìkértana</i> movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.” <span class="s3">[<i>Çikñäñöaka</i> 1]<br>
</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories, all glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. By his causeless mercy he is extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence within the hearts of all fallen, conditioned souls who have come forward to receive his mercy. The science of love of God, Kåñëa consciousness, is open to everyone, and His Divine Grace appeared on this day for the purpose of carrying on the divine disciplic succession of Lord Çré Kåñëa (<i>evaà paramaparä-präptam</i>) and spreading the rays of the benediction moon of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. In this age of Kali, the golden moon has risen over that holy <i>dhäma</i> Çré Mäyäpura. By the mercy of Gaura-Nitäi, Çréla Prabhupäda desires to take us back to home, back to Godhead through this process of the <i>saìkértana </i>movement: Chanting, dancing, feasting on Kåñëa <i>prasäda</i>, and—so very dear to our beloved spiritual master—distribution of his books. By rendering service to him and studying the knowledge of Kåñëa consciousness, one may approach Kåñëa. There is no other way to obtain perfection. Therefore, on this most auspicious day we fall at your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, in hopes that we, the members of Çré Mäyäpura-Candrodaya-mandira traveling party, may somehow or other help your Divine Grace spread the rays of the benediction moon.</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Your Divine Grace<br>
—Çréla Prabhupäda Ki jaya—</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">Çré Mäyäpura-candrodaya-mandira TSKP 1</p>
<p class="p49">Gargamuni Svämé <i>and men</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çré Mäyäpura-candrodaya-mandira TSKP 2</p>
<p class="p49">Bhavänanda Gosvämé / Sudämä Gosvämé <i>and men</i></p>
<p class="p11">Melbourne</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Melbourne</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Part I</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çré Vyäsa-Püjä offering-1975.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda, I want to serve you.<br>
To you, I owe my life and soul.<br>
You are Kåñëa’s mercy.<br>
You have such strength that the whole universe can be delivered by your grace.<br>
I choose to take your mercy.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda, I want to repeat your words.<br>
When I do this, others hear you speaking.<br>
Your power of reason cannot be defeated.<br>
Your love for Kåñëa is what everyone really wants<br>
You boldly challenge the fools of night, but kindly give them a glimpse of day.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
I choose you.<br>
I choose your love<br>
I choose your mercy.<br>
I choose your knowledge-bearing books.<br>
I want to hear you speak.<br>
I want to serve you.<br>
I want to distribute your mercy (prasäda, chanting, books).</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Hear, O denizens of Earth!<br>
He knows Kåñëa, Whom you always sought.<br>
He brings the life that Lord Caitanya brought<br>
He can save you from repeated birth and death.<br>
He can show you life’s eternal breath.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Taste his mercy!<br>
Read his books!<br>
Chant Hare Kåñëa!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Part II</b></p>
<p class="p13">Geologists scrutinize the earth. They try to find its order.<br>
Others study water, fire and air.<br>
Theorizing, they put these things to uses of their own design.<br>
Ether, men disclaim, for they can’t perceive it,<br>
and mind, intelligence, false ego—these are matters “to be discussed.”</p>
<p class="p7">However, in one single <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>verse which our Spiritual Master has translated, all of these elements are listed in their factual place as Kåñëa’s separated material energies. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 7.4]</span> In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> these things are intricately defined, soaring far beyond the tick-tock lines of mental speculation. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>3.26.26]</span> (all); (<span class="s3"><i>Bhäg</i>. 2.5.26–29)</span> Thus, the wandering guessers are left behind. In fact, they are thoroughly defined. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 7.15-16]</span></p>
<p class="p7">This <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> “is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kåñëa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this <i>Puräëa.</i>” (<i>Bhäg. </i>1.3.43)</p>
<p class="p16">“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.” [<i>Bg. </i>9.2]</p>
<p class="p7">Anyone can speculate about the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>but only one great soul has repeated Kåñëa’s words as they are, for the present day world. Only one surrendered soul has presented Kåñëa as He is, for you and me. Examine the evidence! Try to appreciate this gift. It is the greatest gift. It is the matchless gift. The gift he has given is eternal.</p>
<p class="p7">Try to read our spiritual master’s books.* Vyäsa-püjä is a time to appreciate the spiritual master’s glories. He has given us our very life. If you read his books, you can begin to appreciate his glory. He is a pure unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa. (<i>Bg</i>. 4.2, 3, 34; <i>Bg</i>. 9.13, 14; <i>Bg</i>. 10.9; <i>NOD</i> page 58; <i>Cc. Ädi</i> 1.58; <i>Bhag.</i> 1.1.15; <i>Bhäg</i> 1.1.22; <i>Bhäg</i>.<i> </i>2.8.7)</p>
<p class="p16">“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence, or repeated birth and death. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</p>
<p class="p7"><b>—The devotees of ISKCON Melbourne.</b></p>
<p class="p11">Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Miami</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Çré Vyäsa-Püjä Homage</b></p>
<p class="p7">On the appearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda from his disciples at Miami ISKCON:</p>
<p class="p7">Our spiritual master is himself the perfect example of spiritual life because he is always keeping the instructions of his spiritual master in his heart. He has no other concern; therefore, he is never confused but always fixed. He is fulfilling the principal desire of his Guru Mahäräja by enthusiastically printing books, and this effort has amazed the whole world. He has maintained the same attitude of preaching by constantly annihilating the Mäyaväda philosophy, which has kept us locked in a vacuum of ignorance.</p>
<p class="p7">In this age of Kali, it is practically impossible to become elevated even to the mode of goodness, not to speak of approaching the platform of purified goodness where the Supreme Person Çré Kåñëa is reached through discharge of pure devotional service. But our spiritual master is such an expert preacher that simply by reading his books anyone can become transformed and destined to become a devotee of Kåñëa. In fact, we do not find anyone in history who has salvaged such fallen and wretched persons from their race to hell as our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda. Therefore, let us all take advantage of this blessed day to offer our most humble and grateful obeisances at his lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">I am most fortunate to have come in contact with such a glorious personality as Çréla Prabhupäda and I feel very obligated to his eternal service even though I am impurely discharging it. And this above everything else is bringing great pain to my heart. Therefore, let me fall down again and again at the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda and Lord Caitanya, praying to them to give me the benediction that some how or another I might satisfy Çréla Prabhupäda with my paltry attempts at devotional service; then my life will be complete.</p>
<p class="p7">Miami ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Abhiräma däsa adhikäré / Çrutirüpä devé däsé / Narahari däsa brahmacäré / Sulocana-devé däsé / Räghava däsa brahmacäré / Nartaka-gopäla däsé / Sulocana däsa brahmacäré / Våndä-devé däsé / Çréman Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Devadhiti-devé däsé / Dharma däsa brahmacäré / Mantriné-devé däsé / Rädhä-Gopinätha däsa adhikäré / Akäïcané-devé däsé / Såïjaya däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Holly / Tahohara däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Bernadett / Caitanya-jévana däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Sandy / Nandanäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Marsha / Iça däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Tony / Janärdana däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Donna / Jagatträtä däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Bonnie / Raghunätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Kay / Trimalla Bhaööa däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Peggy / Luìga-gaëeça däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Maria / Räma däsa brahmacäré / Pürëimä-devé däsé / Bhakta Alan / Lakñmé-devé däsé / Bhakta Rick / Yamunä-devé däsé / Bhakta Tim / Kåñëaprema däsa / Bhakta Wayne / Maïjaré-devé däsé / Bhakta Andy / Candra-devé däsé / Bhakta Gary / Julie / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Sunil / Bhakta George / Bhakta Chris / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Alfonso / Bhakta Lance / Bhakta Ched</p>
<p class="p11">Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa explains how rare a soul it is who takes to the loving devotional service of the Lord and achieves His lotus feet. How rare it is indeed, and how fortunate we are to have received the association, service and mercy of such a pure and steadfast devotee of Kåñëa as Your Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Weak and devoid of intelligence, there was no brightness in our future; only sure death awaited us. But now our path of uncertainty has been altered by the pure words flowing from your lotus mouth. Hindering doubts are being vanquished one after another by your deep sastric intelligence and devotional enthusiasm. No more will we be tricked by pseudo-religionists, philosophers or material scientists.</p>
<p class="p7">How your incomparable gift of pure service to Lord Kåñëa in the method of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu came to our doorstep we may never know, but let us fullheartedly try to take up the mercy you are bestowing with the same steadiness and eagerness that you unflinchingly exhibit. Please give us fully and enthusiastically engaged in serving your every desire. Such pure determination and strength can only come from you, the dearmost servant of Kåñëa, the protector of all surrendered souls. Out of your unlimited compassion, you are tolerating all our shortcomings and urging us all to invest more and more energy into Lord Caitanya’s <i>saìkértana </i>movement to benedict all suffering humanity. Our only prayer, dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, is that you kindly never reject us from the shade of your magnanimous lotus feet, which are the shelter for so many. Without your mercy, we are nothing and surely would again die. Our unending respectful obeisances unto Your Divine Grace. You are the only means to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! ISKCON Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p49">Çivaräma däsa brahmacäré / Miçraëé-devé däsé / Çukra däsa brahmacäré / Lalitä-devé däsé / Bhartåhari däsa brahmacäré / Medhyä-devé däsé / Priyabhakta däsa brahmacäré / Gopikä-devé däsé / Priyabandhu däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Elizabeth / Keçéçatru däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Joyce / Puñkaräkña däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Louise / Bhakta Arthur / Urvaçé-devé däsé / Bhakta Alain / Väruëai-devé däsé / Bhakta Bevin / Sarvamayé-devé däsé / Çrépati däsa adhikäré / Judy Prabhu / Rüpa-viläda däsa adhikäré / Mahäprabhu Patricia Prabhu / Mäyäpura-çaçé däsa adhikäré / Mitravindä / Lee Prabhu / Sanätana / Luc Prabhu / Mahäprabhu</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Special Friends: </b></p>
<p class="p49">Samir Choudhury / Gururaja / Thirmal and Ambika Bhat</p>
<p class="p11">Nairobi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Çré Vyäsa-Püjä Offering</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dear very revered and most merciful Çréla Prabhupäda, </b>we are dead without you, without your grace. All our joy is simply due to your mercy. You are the lord and master of us, your devotees. Please enliven us with just one drop of your mercy so that we can glorify you.</p>
<p class="p7">You have so mercifully drawn us from the pursuit of fake ecstasy; you have shown us that the false rapture we were seeking in dark filthy places is simply nothing. Real joy, real bliss, is open and free. Your disciples are experiencing this in towns and villages, halls and fields, roads and wooded paths all over the world. All glories to <i>çré-kåñëa-saìkértana, </i>which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together. </p>
<p class="p7">Dry logicians and scientists, false religionists and teachers waste their lives and those of their follower over a glimmering of understanding of a spark of the splendor of the Supreme Person. They cannot approach Him because only by loving devotional service is He to be known as He is. This is the science and the logic that you teach. You are His most confidential servitor, and as such you are worthy of all honor. Dear master, please bless us so that we can come alive to the urgency of life, the imminence of death and the all-embracing necessity for loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i> there is no love in the material world. We have searched and searched, distorting our minds and defiling our bodies, seeking the pure experience. There was nothing so pure or so absorbing that it could help us to forget the anxieties of birth, death, old age and disease. We were so uneasy before we met your mercy, and so puffed up, thinking that we had found happiness. You are so kind that you have given us the supremely lovable object, Kåñëa, but you haven’t asked us for anything in return. As a result we are obliged to try to give you everything—our bodies, our senses, our minds and our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">You worship Govinda, the Primeval Lord, who is adept in playing His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals, His head decked with peacock’s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique liveliness charming millions of cupids. The form of Kåñëa is not a fanciful creation of imagination formed after visualizing the beautiful things of the world. Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are so pure in your desire to take us all back home, back to Godhead, that you have not held anything back from us. The substance of your ecstatic love for your spiritual master is not private. You have revealed it for us all to benefit eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">Please give us your mercy so that we can come alive for you and strive to push foward this Kåñëa consciousness movement, as you are striving to push it forward and benedict all the conditioned souls. Your spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, used to pace up and down in his room like a caged lion, as he tried to think how he could push on this Kåñëa consciousness movement and please his spiritual master. Please, please give us your mercy so that we can come alive—for Kåñëa. There is nothing to live for—nothing to live for except to receive your mercy, and to spread it to all.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla prabhupäda, in this African Yäträ we feel that we are on the brink of a spiritual revolution. By the distribution of your transcendental literature, by the distribution of <i>bhagavat-prasäda </i>and by the ecstatic chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra, </i>countless thousands will be purified and benedicted. By your grace we can set up Gurukulas and <i>varëäçrama </i>colleges to educate thousands in <i>bhägavata-dharma, </i>the supreme science, the practical realization of ecstatic love of God. By your mercy we can set up <i>varëäçrama </i>to their natural propensities. The land is here, the people are here, and the knowledge you have given us is here. We meditate on the determination with which you set the Kåñëa consciousness movement moving in the Western world. When no one was prepared to accept your transcendental message, the transcendental vibrations from your lotus mouth, still you remained constant in your endeavor to fulfill the desires of your spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">You are a pure devotee, the outward manifestation of the Supersoul, the teacher by example for this fallen, quarrelsome age and the appointed guide to take us back home. We came to you poisoned with intoxicants; we abused you; we made you serve and wash our plates; we mistreated you in so many ways, but still you befriended us, loved us and preached to us until you dropped from exhaustion.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear lord and master, please, please give us a fraction of your faith, determination, enthusiasm and devotion. We will set this whole African continent ablaze with ecstatic love and devotions for Kåñna.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us so much. We can never repay you in countless lifetimes. We are so fallen and poor in understanding that we can never glorify you or thank you sufficiently. Yet you are pleased to love us as individuals and to accept our efforts to please you.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>çré-guru-karuëä-sindhu, </i>Please let us drown in your fathomless sweet mercy. This material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths leading unto death. Dear Prabhupäda, as a result of countless lifetimes of actions in passion and ignorance we have inherited death. We have only your mercy to enliven us, only your mercy to sustain us and only your mercy to look forward to. Please, please accept our slight service, and let us live in the ocean of your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">We, your fallen servants, are very much begrudging in our appreciation. Still, everyday we are dancing triumphantly and joyfully singing and chanting your praises. Without you, we are simply helpless children. Please give us the shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>ISKCON Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p49">Chäyavana däsa Gosvämé / Bhakta Justin / Çarma däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Abraham / Häsyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Sebastian / Jalakära däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta James / Caitya-guru däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Peter / Räsänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Juma / Mahäkratu däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Alphonso / Ajämila däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kimani / Nirägadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Paskali / Jïäna däsa adhikäré, Lélävaté-devé däsé / Bhakta Nyaburu / Bhakta Lucas / Bhakta Obamba / Bhakta Seom / Çuci-devé däsé / Yogéça däsa adhikäré / Yaçasviné-devé däsé / Sarva-vit däsa brahmacäré / Pärvaté-devé däsé / Daëòa däsa<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> / Çaktimati-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>ISKCON Mombasa</b></p>
<p class="p49">Dénanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Joseph / Nava-yogendra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mwangi / Åkñaräja däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Pauline / Padmalocana däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Wanjiku / Caraëäravinda däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Njeri / Tribhaìgänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Mary / Hetu däsa adhikäré / Vana-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Näma-haööa—Tokyo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Näma-haööa—Tokyo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà<br>
paëguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande<br>
çré-guruà déna-täraëam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p12">I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, by whose mercy a dumb man can speak and a lame man can cross over a mountain.</p>
<p class="p12">On this auspicious day let us offer our prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of our dear spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p12">We can only pray to take firm shelter<br>
at the lotus feet of our spiritual preceptor<br>
for he can protect us from <i>mäyä’s</i> glamor<br>
and deliver us Kåñëa’s favor.</p>
<p class="p12">We can only hope to be able to serve<br>
the lotus feet of our spiritual master<br>
birth after birth, life after life<br>
that’s all we desire: simply to serve.</p>
<p class="p12">O Prabhupäda,<br>
Give us shelter under your lotus feet<br>
which can save us from constant material defeat<br>
let’s make them our only safe retreat.</p>
<p class="p49">Gurukåpä Svämé / Yaçodänandana Svämé / Vaàçédharé / Vaàñévadana däsa brahmacäré / Yajïapati däsa brahmacäré / Bhäna däsa brahmacäré / Puëòaréka däsa brahmacäré / Kåtägama däsa brahmacäré / Mäyäpura däsa brahmacäré / Nadiyä däsa brahmacäré / Dhanyaväda däsa brahmacäré / Bhänu däsa brahmacäré / Mathurä däsa brahmacäré / Çré-caraëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhoktä däsa brahmacäré / Loka-çäraëya däsa brahmacäré / Hemäìga däsa brahmacäré / Mahäsaumya däsa brahmacäré / Jaya däsa brahmacäré / Bhuvaneçvara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ryan / Satyadeva däsa adhikäré / Sadänanda däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">New Dvärakä</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Dvärakä</b></p>
<p class="p7">With no knowledge of the science of God (Kåñëa consciousness) one falsely concludes that the world is for the pleasure of the living entities. Because of this ignorance he may try to adjust the various situations of his life by fruitive activities, thinking that the resultant actions will make him happy. Caught up in these different profit calculations he cannot see that no situation within this world can supply life without miseries. The obvious miseries of life, namely birth, death, old age, and disease, are invariably present anywhere and everywhere in the material world. Furthermore, according to the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>a person not sufficiently exhausted by one life of futile grasping for material pleasures is faced with a more engulfing future:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>dehino ‘smin yathä dehe<br>
kaumäraà yauvanaà jarä<br>
tathä dehäntara-präptir<br>
dhéras tatra na muhyati</i></p>
<p class="p7">“As the embodied soul continually passes in this body from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 2.13]</span> Riding on this insatiable desire to enjoy material things we are actually rotating through different bodies and species of life, hopelessly sampling the myriad of pleasures offered by each. Hankering to have one pleasure and lamenting for having lost another, we are helplessly lured up and down the evolutionary scale. Hope after hope, entanglement after entanglement, life after life, and worst of all, never asking the most obvious question, “Why?”. . . It is into this literal holocaust that the pure devotee has voluntarily descended.</p>
<p class="p7">Only the pure devotee is conspicuously free and uncontaminated by the desires of this material world, yet he walks among us relatively unknown. A drowning man, distracted by his struggle for life, may sometimes avoid his rescuer; and similarly we have avoided him, the pure one. Fortunately, kindness such as his cannot go unnoticed for long. It is only a matter of time before his identity as <i>jagat-guru,</i> or the one who can save the whole world, will dawn upon us.</p>
<p class="p7">Appropriately, on this blessed day, <i>Vyäsa-Püjä Tithi, </i>the anniversary of his appearance in this world, we the members of the New Dvärakä Community of the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness, would like to submit for the benefit of all living beings the following points concerning the factual identity of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">The true representative of God is mercifully present before us. However, without some identifying qualifications it will be difficult to separate his sovereign position from the score of masquerading pretenders who invariably congregate around the fame and fortune of spiritual life. To avoid an unwanted maze of confusing choices, a decisive criterion; i.e., <i>“guru, çästra, </i>and<i> sädhu” </i>is necessary. This is the welcome set of checks and balances which invariably establishes true spiritual fact. Any claim in actual spiritual circles is subject to the unanimous favor of these three. It is for this reason that bogus spiritual masters make a practice of avoiding strict adherence to the predecessor spiritual masters (<i>guru</i>), the Vedic scriptures (<i>çästra</i>), and all great saints and saintly persons (<i>sädhu</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">Standing out quite clearly above the bogus claims, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda comes in an unbroken chain of spiritual masters:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>evaà paramparä-präptam<br>
imaà räjarñayo viduù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 4.2]</span> This disciplic succession, known as the powerful <i>Brahmä-Mädhva-Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya, </i>transcends all barriers of time and goes back, unbroken, to the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa Himself. Thus the standard of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>is met:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré bhagavän uväca<br>
jïänaà parama-guhyaà me<br>
yad vijïäna-samanvitam<br>
sa-rahasyaà tad-aìgaà ca<br>
gåhäna-gäditaà mayä</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The Personality of Godhead said: ‘Knowledge about Me as described in the scriptures is very confidential, and it has to be realized in conjunction with devotional service. The necessary paraphernalia for that process is being explained by Me. You may take it up carefully.’” (<i>Bhäg. </i>2.9.31) Each spiritual master in this succession was carefully trained by his predecessor and given the spotless knowledge of God with specific instructions: “It must be preserved so carefully that if even one word is out of place the whole message may be contaminated.” The chain has been unmarred now for over 5,000 years and is today in the hands of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda having been passed to Him by His spiritual master Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Öhäkura Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Secondly, Çréla Prabhupäda’s every word is in perfect accordance with the vast library of Vedic literatures. The <i>Vedas</i> are the oldest, largest and most complete scriptures on earth.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çruti-småti-puräëädi-<br>
païcarätra-vidhià vinä<br>
aikäntiké harer bhaktir<br>
utpätäyaiva kalpate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Brs.</i> <i>1.2.101</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the Vedic literatures like the <i>Upaniñads, Puräëas, Närada Païcarätra, </i>etc., is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.” (<i>Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu</i>). These Vedic masterpieces foster all truths in all factual scriptures and include in depth knowledge on aspects of life ranging from simple diet to the intricacies of creation itself.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>vedaiç sarvair aham eva vedyo<br>
vedänta-kåd veda-vid eva cäham<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 15.15</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Having been compiled by the Supreme Lord in His literary incarnation as Kåñëa Dvaipäyana Vyäsa, the <i>Vedas</i> are considered an incarnation of Godhead. Çréla Prabhupäda’s every word can be checked against the Vedic <i>çästras </i>and found to be strictly undeviating.</p>
<p class="p7">So <i>guru, çästra, </i>and lastly now <i>sädhu </i>all direct in precisely the same way. There will never be any contradiction found in these three sources. In the Tenth Chapter of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>Arjuna claims that: “All the great sages such as Närada, Asita, Devala and Vyäsa” confirm the truth of Kåñëa consciousness. The revered Six Gosvämés of Våndävana are praised:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ei chaya gosäïi yära, mui tära däsa adhikäré<br>
täì-sabära pada-reëu mora païca-gräsa<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Näma-saìkértana 6</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“I am a servant of these Six Gosvämés. The dust from their lotus feet are my five kinds of food.” (Narottama däsa Öhäkura). These Six Gosvämés, who are still proclaimed as the greatest scholars of modern history, unanimously conclude Kåñëa’s supremacy in their writings such as <i>Hari-bhakti-viläsa, Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, </i>and the <i>Ñaòsandharbhas, </i>etc. Kåñëa consciousness is further emphasized by the mercy incarnation of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Himself:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ataeva ämi äjïä diluë sabäkäre<br>
yähäì tähäì prema-phala deha’ yäre täre</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I order every man within this universe to accept this Kåñëa consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere.” <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi,</i> 9.36]</span>. His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda’s teachings and exemplary actions, unlike the score of other so-called <i>gurus,</i> do not vary from this absolute standard.</p>
<p class="p7">Nor will they ever vary, either from <i>guru, </i>from <i>çästra, </i>or from <i>sädhu</i>. Each factor in this threefold proof acts to check the other two, and vice-versa, so that no flaw can possibly slip by. This is the final security lock on the airtight nature of the Absolute Truth. In matters of this importance, it is better, of course, to be safe than sorry. One may take iron for gold if he does not know the qualities of gold. Similarly, one may accept a false pretender for the real <i>guru</i> if he does not know the true test of a bona fide spiritual master. Çréla Prabhupäda is evidence of all these Vedic truths and in His writings He has left Himself completely available for the objective analysis of both aspirant devotee and ruthless skeptic. Due to these points and many others, we are strict and undeviating in one-pointed praise of our worthy preceptor. He alone is worthy of the title “Äcäryadeva”! Our glorification of him may climax again and again but it will never be sufficient. Still we beg that if anyone is able to duplicate his above mentioned qualifications, please, at this time, make yourself known. Otherwise be quick in admitting your dire predicament, express your utter need for receiving his mercy, and give up all other motives for existing, humbly surrendering yourself at the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Mahäräja Prabhupäda, <i>jagat-guru, </i>spiritual master of the entire universe!</p>
<p class="p49">Adhi deva däsa / Bhava devé däsé / Ahovala Nåsiàha däsa / Caturä devé däsé / Ameyätmä däsa / Dikñävaté devé däsé / Arcita däsa / Donna / Bhärgava däsa / Dorrie / Bhava däsa / Gauré devé däsé / Bill / Goloka väsé-devé däsé / Bopadeva däsa / Jaduräné devé däsé / Cakradhara däsa / Karen / Chitraka däsa / Kuçala devé däsé / Dan / Labaìgalatéka devé däsé / David / Lalitäcära devé däsé / Devämåta däsa / Lakñmépati devé däsé / Dharmakñetra däsa / Mädhavé devé däsé / Draviòa däsa / Madonna / Eddy / Oàkära devé däsé / Gadägraja däsa / Padmähära devé däsé / Gajapati däsa / Ragätmékä devé däsé / Gilbert / Sétä devé däsé / Gopavåndäpäla däsa / Suräsa devé däsé / Gopavåndeça däsa / Terry / Gopéparäëadhana däsa / Våndävana Viläsiné devé däsé / Gregory / Harer näma däsa / Harikeça däsa / Häsyapriya däsa / Indradeva däsa / Jagannätha däsa / Jamie / James / Jayädvaita däsa / Jayaçacénandana däsa / Jim / Jitamåtyu däsa / Jitavrata däsa / Jose / Kåñëa Känti däsa / Larry / Lokanätha Gosvämé däsa / Luis / Mädhava däsa / Mahävérya däsa / Maheçvara däsa / Maìgalänanda däsa / Matsya däsa / Michael / Micky / Mihialis / Pavamäna däsa / Peter / Prabhu däsa / Püjana däsa / Puëòréka däsa / Rabéndranätha däsa / Rädhäballabha däsa / Rakñana däsa / Rämeçvara däsa / Santoña däsa / Särvabhauma däsa / Çrékänta däsa / Suränanda däsa / Terry / Tulasé däsa / Uçika däsa / Vaiyäsaki däsa / Viläsa Vigraha däsa / Yamaräja däsa / Acyuta däsa / Çyäma devé däsé / Premänanda devé däsé / Agni deva däsa / Baläi devé däsé / Nandiné devé däsé / Bharadräja däsa / Rukminé devé däsé / Véra Kåñëa däsa / Bhüvana Päviné devé däsé / Véra Räghava däsa / Brahmarüpa däsa / Nirkula devé däsé / Brahmavitta däsa / Payasviné devé däsé / Bhakta däsa / Våndä däsé / Caitanya Siàha däsa / Racitämbära devé däsé / Jaya Rädhe devé däsé / Dämodara däsa / Måganetré devé däsé / Guläba devé däsé / Däruka däsa / Våñëé devé däsé / Deva deva däsa / Tuìgabhadrä devé däsé / Dharmadhyakña däsa / Rasäìgé devé däsé / Caitanya däsa / Hayagréva däsa / Jagannätha Suta däsa / Naradevé däsé / Kunté devé däsé / Jayaräma däsa / Çästra / Mayé devé däsé / Jayatértha däsa / Maïjualé devé däsé / Kälacandra däsa / Mohanasiné devé däsé / Karuëäsindhu däsa / Sarala devé däsé / Anaìga devé däsé / Kértiräja däsa / Haripüjä devé däsé / Rägalekhä / Kñetrajïa däsa / Ména devé däsé / Kuvera däsa / Revaté devé däsé / Govinda däsé / Kåñëa-nandana däsa / Läla Kåñëa däsa / Pärvaté devé däsé / Lélä däsé / Chandrävälé däsé / Dvärkädéça däsa / Locana däsa / Kåñëa Viläsiné devé däsé / Madana Mohan däsa / Våndävaneçvaré devé däsé / Madhukaëöha däsa / Karlapaté devé däsé / Madhusüdana däsa / Kaïcanbala devé däsé / Mahäjana däsa / Çaraëägata devé däsé / Manya däsa / Lynda / Garuòa däsa / Nimäi däsa / Milhilidhéça däsa / Rasamaïjaré devé däsé / Maëòalibhadra däsa / Muralévadana däsa / Koumadaké devé däsé / Navadvépa däsa / Varäëasé devé däsé / Chandrakänti devé däsé / Nanda Kiçora däsa / Jähnavä devé däsé / Nara-Näräyaëa däsa / Niçcintya devé däsé / Çakuntalä devé däsé / Nitäi däsa / Parékñit däsa / Bhadra devé däsé / Tulsyänanda däsa / Kåñëa Prema däsa / Parvata Muni / Nikuïjaväsiné däsé / Sämba däsa / Prajäpati däsa / Satarüpa devé däsi / Sadänanda däsa / Çrémad Bhägavatam däsa / Puru däsa / Jambavaté devé däsé / Rämaläla däsa / Champaka devé däsé / Raëadhéra däsa / Sandiné devé däsé / Rädhäñömaé devé däsé / Robin and Lisa / Åñabha deva däsa / Kunkum devé däsé / Vaijayanti devé däsé / Sauçiliya däsa / Danta devé däsé / Siddheçvara däsa / Lakñmépriyä devé däsé / Kunté devé däsé / Çrutaçvara däsa / Prayäga devé däsé / Ranajita däsa / Viñëupriyä devé däsé / Stoka Kåñëa däsa / Sahä devé däsé / Bhägavata däsa / Nitäi däsa / Svarüpa däsa / Käìka devé däsé / Kåñëa Kumära däsa / Tiatärthi däsa / Jagauriné devé däsé / Subäla däsa / Tradhéça däsa / Nagapatné devé däsé / Janmäñtamé / Dharmapatné devé däsé / Våndävana Candra däsa / Vidarbha Kanyä devé däsé / Nimäi Candra däsa / Yadubara däsa / Viçäkhä devé däsé / Yugala Kiçora däsa / Kirtimaté devé däsé / Yadunandana däsa / Braja badu devé däsé / Karuëämayé devé däsi / Däsa / Karuëämayé devé däsi / Yamala däsa / Arjuna däsa / Kirtidä Kämyakä devé däsé / Nimäi däsa / Kåñëalauliyä devé däsé / Subhadrä däsé / Mamatä devé däsé / Monmohiné devé däsé / Mällikä devé däsé / Çacé devé däsé / Bhakti-rüpa däsa / Kértanarasa däsa / Çäñöhi devé däsé / Bhadrasena däsa / Çatadaré devé däsé / Ujjala devé däsé / Gopäla Bhaööa däsa / Viläsiné devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">New Gokula (Vancouver-Bridesville)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Gokula (Vancouver-Bridesville)</b></p>
<p class="p7">Our repeated obeisances are paid unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who has so mercifully allowed us to engage in the service of Çré Çré Rädhä-Madana-mohana, and who has freed us from the mire of material existence. Çréla Prabhupäda, we bathe your lotus feet with our tears of gratitude, and we anoint our bowed heads with the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jévaïchavo bhägavatäìghri-reëuà na jätu<br>
martyo ‘bhilabheta yas tu</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of a pure devotee of the Lord upon his head is certainly a dead body.” (<i>Bhag.</i> <i>2.3.23</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">You have told us here at New Gokula:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mäträ-sparçäs tu kaunteya<br>
çitoñëa-sukha-duùkha-däù<br>
ägamäpäyino ‘nityäs<br>
täàs titikñasva bhärata<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. <i>2.14</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.”</p>
<p class="p7">The words emanating from your lotus mouth, and your gift to us—Çré Çré Rädhä-Madana-mohana—have given us the strength to carry out our first winter at New Gokula. May your lotus feet be our only attachment past the moment of death into eternal time. Çréla Prabhupäda, your words are the light of the sun which dispels the darkness of ignorance. We are so fortunate to have been allowed to step into the light of your mercy. We beg the Lord, Håñikeça, that we may never deviate from the mercy of your instructions. We beg the Lord that our offenses shall not drive us away from the service of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">You have taught us to worship Çré Çré Rädhä-Madana-mohana and to worship the cow. We are offering liquid religiosity to the Supreme Lord and we are seeing the earth become sanctified by your mercy. Çréla Prabhupäda, we pray that our service will attract others to take shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories unto you, Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
from the devotees of New Gokula</p>
<p class="p49">Bahudak däsa adhikäré / Bhagavaté-devé däsé / Bäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Lélämaïjaré-devé däsé / Janispåhä däsa adhikäré / Kåñëakumäré-devé däsé / Jïänagamya däsa brahmacäré / Madhumaté-devé däsé / Käla däsa adhikäré / Padyävalé-devé däsé / Kutichak däsa adhikäré / Pracetanä-devé däsé / Mahidhara däsa adhikäré / Ratirüpa-devé däsé / Pärtha däsa adhikäré / Subhavratä-devé däsé / Prabhupäda däsa adhikäré / Sunana-devé däsé / Rocana däsa adhikäré / Svahana-devé däsé / Prasasya däsa adhikäré / Uttama-devé däsé / Adhi-yajïa däsa brahmacäré / Yaçomati-devé däsé / Dadhi-hartä däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Margrette / Dakñiëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Marianne / Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Carol / Kalki däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Paula / Kåpänidhi däsa brahmacäré / Dhäriëé-devé däsé / Maheça däsa brahmacäré / Gétä-devé däsé / Mathurä däsa brahmacäré / Jayabhadra-devé däsé / Padmapä/n/i däsa brahmacäré / Kamaläkñi-devé däsé / Paçupati däsa brahmacäré / Klamahära-devé däsé / Patraka däsa brahmacäré / Lelihäna-devé däsé / Puëya-kérti däsa brahmacäré / Lola-devé däsé / Rameñöa däsa brahmacäré / Mahojjvala-devé däsé / Rohita däsa brahmacäré / Rudräëé-devé däsé / Svapanna däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Alice / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Dennis / Bhakta Danny / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Gordon / Bhakta Stephen / Bhakta Harry / Bhakta däsa / Varäha däsa / Bhakta Jason / Aruëati-devé däsé / Kuïjabihäré däsa / Narottama däsa / Nitäi-Gauräìga däsa / Candrahäsa-devé däsé / Devaké-devé däsé / Janaki-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Rasädi-viläsé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Jessie</p>
<p class="p11">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p7">To completely appreciate your transcendental glories is possible only by a devotee whose devotional service to Kåñëa is perfectly mature. We are just fledgling neophytes taking up your instructions on how to go back to home, back to Godhead and therefore we are feeling frustrated by our inability to properly praise our spiritual master. But one thing we are always careful to remember—that all our happiness and advancement in Kåñëa consciousness is due to your causeless mercy and kindness only. The <i>Vedas</i> state that by the mercy of the <i>guru</i> one achieves Kåñëa consciousness, and we are able to appreciate Your Divine Grace in this way.</p>
<p class="p7">At your New Orleans center we have worked hard to please and glorify our eternal master, Your Divine Grace. Just as Nityänanda Prabhu thought that if He could deliver the most fallen souls Jagäi and Mädhäi, Lord Caitanya would be more glorified, we are thinking that whatever we accomplish will be to your glory. Factually all our progress to push on this movement for the highest welfare of humanity is simply due to your spiritual potency and superexcellent devotion to the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">This year, you have purchased a wonderful farm near this temple and you have established a cow protection program, with crops on all the fields. At this center you have brought a dozen more souls to Kåñëa consciousness, making devotees out of meateaters. Here, you have installed white marble Gaura-Nitäi Deities, who are enthusing all the assembled devotees to chant and dance the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> in ecstasy. And you have expressed interest to visit us meager disciples soon.</p>
<p class="p7">All this and the continuation of our advancement in Kåñëa consciousness attests to your transcendental greatness.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Nityänanda däsa / Çänti-devé däsé / Vimala däsa / Kanyä-kumäré-devé däsé / Våkodara däsa / Maìgalä-devé däsé / Cärurüpa däsa / Bhaktilatä-devé däsé / Yogendra Vandana däsa / Madhumati-devé däsé / Jvaräjita däsa / Sanätané-devé däsé / Dvibhuja däsa / Katie / Rajendra däsa / Caraëa-devé däsé / Madhväcärya däsa / Räjanätha däsa / Ciraïjéva däsa / Rasaparäyaëé-devé däsé / Ameyätmä däsa / Virendra däsa / Éçana däsa / Barbara / Tony / Sarsvaté / Tom / Äryan / Paul / Vibhävati / Vic / Jim / Mahendranätha däsa / Haàsiné-devé däsé / Muniräja däsa / Lee</p>
<p class="p11">New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homage</b></p>
<p class="p72">“Our Spiritual Master is the Ocean of Mercy, the friend of the poor, the Lord and Master of the devotees. Oh Master, be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of Your Lotus Feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">No one can estimate the extent of your mercy. The spiritual master is the incarnation of Kåñëa’s mercy and Kåñëa Himself cannot measure His own potency since it is always increasing. Your kindness upon us is always increasing, for you turn no one away. Accepting nothing for yourself, you are always striving in so many ways to entice and inspire, somehow awaken our desire to give more to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">It is said that the test of a great mind is to be able to hold two opposing ideas which are generally taken to be opposite: idealism and practicality. You are distributing, by the grace of Lord Caitanya, the supremely pure gift of love of God. In your books you have intricately described the symptoms of the pure devotees blessed with such love. All this is far beyond our experience. Yet, you do not leave us to daydream or lament, speculate or concoct. But for each one of us you have left concrete instruction, minute for minute outlines for molding our lives.</p>
<p class="p7">We have all come without qualification. Still, you have engaged us, given us service. In the material world, they’ve run out of jobs. But there is no unemployment in ISKCON.</p>
<p class="p7">We were all born with no sense of duty. Lower than <i>çudras,</i> disrespecting everyone—we unbroken dogs, we could only make noise and fight. But you have given us responsibility, put trust in us. Now we have to try to repay you for your confidence.</p>
<p class="p7">Devoid of all good qualities, we approached you for the wrong reasons. But you have given us the right means of approach. So we must become humble.</p>
<p class="p7">Ignorant of the goal of life, we searched in darkness. Out of compassion, you told us of Kåñëa. We must utilize this knowledge. By right, you are the proprietor of our lives, though we still try to cheat you. Our way of life, our goal, our happiness—our families, friends and means of sustenance—our work, enjoyment, philosophy and satisfaction, these are all gifts from you. There is nothing left from our old lives except for bad habits. You have purchased us thoroughly.</p>
<p class="p7">So here we are assembled, a clan of your disciples, ignorant and irresponsible, untrained and devoid of all saintly qualities—and you have told us to build Våndävana. Who can we approach for help? Again we must address our prayers to you. Please open our ears and soften our hard hearts. Your instructions are all here. From your books and example, by the order of your representative we can know how to serve you.</p>
<p class="p7">But we are all hopelessly addicted to <i>mäyä</i>. Even when trying we cannot surrender. Always subject to illusion, we causelessly neglect your wishes although no one could be so kind as yourself. Still, you have ordered us to become devotees, and that is our hope. As a touchstone changes all to gold, you have the power to purify even us. Our faith is in you—we have only to listen and to live as you tell us to.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>The Inmates of New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p11">New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New York</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‘pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">From so many variegated walks of life, we have stumbled to fall at your lotus feet and unabashedly beg your cooling glance and lotus words. Our actual position as conniving rascals, thieves and ungrateful beggars becomes acutely and painfully apparent after even minimum exposure to the glaring torchlight of eternal knowledge, of which you are the profoundly merciful representative. Your causeless, unanticipated shining appearance into the dark night of our lives forces us to wonder at the expertise of your timing. You are our Gurudeva, a dauntless, transcendental hero, bearing the beacon of hope and brandishing <i>Vedänta,</i> the sword of truth to slice through the overwhelming nightmare of duality and contradiction of which this material illusion is composed. The witch <i>Mäyä</i> withdraws in reverence and shame from the illumination of your presence.</p>
<p class="p16">“Godhead is light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is godhead there is no nescience.”</p>
<p class="p7">In this humble position, we lay prostrate beneath your lotus feet, dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, begging for your unreserved guidance and continued blessings upon our feeble attempts to carry Lord Caitanya’s glorious <i>saìkértana</i> movement into the minds and hearts of all mankind.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Begging to remain your worthless servants,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Ädarçi däsa brahmacäré / Alärka-devé däsé / Alaìkära däsa brahmacäré / Araudrä-devé däsé / Aïjana däsa brahmacäré / Bhümi-devé däsé / Anuttama däsa brahmacäré / Haraëetraëé-devé däsé / Bhadra Sena däsa brahmacäré / Éçä-devé däsé / Bhaktivinoda däsa brahmacäré / Kamalätikä-devé däsé / Kamrä-devé däsé / Bhågupati däsa brahmacäré / Merulmälä-devé däsé / Caturvyüha däsa brahmacäré / Paraçakti-devé däsé / Dämodara Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Çélavaté-devé däsé / Darpaha däsa brahmacäré / Çikhaëòné-devé däsé / Devakénandana däsa brahmacäré / Beth Prabhu / Gopijana-vallabha däsa brahmacäré / Eileen Prabhu / Indriyeça däsa brahmacäré / Judy Prabhu / Kuëòalé däsa brahmacäré / Merylee Prabhu / Kértideva däsa brahmacäré / Miriam Prabhu / Païcarantna däsa brahmacäré / Julie Prabhu / Paìkajanäbha däsa brahmacäré / Faith Prabhu / Paramärädhya däsa brahmacäré / Pracé / Pravartaka däsa brahmacäré / Alexis Prabhu / Preraka däsa brahmacäré / Praphullamukhé-devé däsé / Romapäda däsa brahmacäré / Uçä-devé däsé / Sadäcära däsa brahmacäré / Linda Prabhu / Çréla däsa brahmacäré / Satyabhämä-devé däsé / Sunanda däsa brahmacäré / Urmilä-devé däsé / Täraka däsa brahmacäré / Päïcalé-devé däsé / Vidyäbhüñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Sunéta-devé däsé / Viprahita däsa brahmacäré / Rene Prabhu / Vipramukhya däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëäñtamé / Viñëugadä däsa brahmacäré / Woody Prabhu / Vrajendranandana däsa brahmacäré / April Prabhu / Yogendra däsa brahmacäré / Mädhavendra Puri däsa / Billy Prabhu / Premänanda däsa / Bob Prabhu / Mädhava däsa / Bruce Prabhu / David Prabhu / Donny Prabhu / Frank Prabhu / George Prabhu / Harvey Prabhu / Jimmy Prabhu / Jeff Prabhu / Jeff Prabhu / Jeffrey Prabhu / Joe Prabhu / Joel Prabhu / John A, Prabhu / John L. Prabhu / John M. Prabhu / John W. Prabhu / Kurt Prabhu / Luis Prabhu / Peter Prabhu / Richard Prabhu / Ädipati däsa adhikäré / Arthur Prabhu / Gaurahari däsa adhikäré / Janeçvara däsa adhikäré / Nick Prabhu / Paramänanda däsa adhikäré / Pratyatoña däsa adhikäré / Öhäkura Haridäsa däsa adhikäré / Toñaëa Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Will Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Ottawa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ottawa</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Even the most illusioned and sinful living entity cannot continue his degraded activities if he has the association of a pure devotee of Kåñëa. Because of you, Çréla Prabhupäda, a whole batch of eternally damned souls is breaking free of the shackles of death and springing up into eternal life. You are giving us the highest platform of activity and knowledge. Our simple task is to learn to absorb it all.</p>
<p class="p7">The very first principle of success is:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Therefore we are constantly trying to remember that our connection with Kåñëa is there only because of your mercy. Kåñëa is displaying the spiritual world by you invitation. Because of His love for you, He is allowing us to live in His direct presence, even though we are so offensive.</p>
<p class="p7">You have taught us everything we know; you are giving us the intelligence to realize it, and by your unlimited perfect qualities, you are attracting us to continue. If we can become absorbed in appreciating you, then that is our realization of actual transcendental knowledge, for you are transcendental knowledge personified.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for being so selfless in giving everything you are to us. We are so pleased to realize that it will take eternity to receive it all.</p>
<p class="p49">Aàçu däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Bernard / Dharmaräja däsa adhikäré / Jagatikanda däsa / Çréväsa däsa brahmacär / Ñaòbhuja-devé däsé / Räghava Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Käraëa-käraëa-devé däsé / Kåñëadäsa däsa brahmacäré / Rätri-devé däsé / Çäçvata däsa brahmacäré / Mother Maureen / Jayabalaräma däsa brahmacäré / Mother Diane / Lakñménätha däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëacandra-devé däsé / Trilokanätha däsa brahmacäré / Jähnavä-devé däsé / Bhakta Maurice</p>
<p class="p11">Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paris</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our Eternal Spiritual Father, please accept our prayers offered with love and devotion, humbly placed at your Lotus Feet.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">You are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. Your lotus feet alone can save one from repeated birth and death, because only by hearing from you can we know Mukunda, the giver of liberation.</p>
<p class="p7">You are so dear to Lord Çré Kåñëa, and are always engaged in the <i>samädhi</i> of the highest devotion to His lotus feet, and yet so mercifully you have come to this material world to guide us back to home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the external manifestation of the Lord dwelling in the hearts of all living entities. You are the perfect preacher of the <i>Bhägavata Puräëa,</i> because you are the person <i>bhägavata.</i></p>
<p class="p7">You can make everyone Kåñëa conscious, even the stone-hearted. If they follow your instructions, they can melt in love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa. You are the only master, giving purely the mercy of Lord Caitanya to everyone.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the life and soul of all fallen souls who have taken shelter of you. We are ever seeking your cooling glance, which is a soothing balm of moonlight and sweet sandalwood pulp on our <i>mäyä</i>-stricken hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">You are <i>jagat-guru,</i> the spiritual master of the universe, and the most exalted personality in the universe, because you are most mercifully extending your lotus-like hand to all the fallen conditioned souls, to lead them back to home, back to Godhead. You have no thought for yourself. Your only desire is to serve Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the exaltation of all the representatives of the Supreme Lord in the universe, the hope that we have sought for in innumerable births, the most needed Personality for all suffering conditioned souls. You are the cooling shade from the scorching material inebrieties, the refreshing elixir for the thirsty hearts of the <i>jévätmäs,</i> the soothing balm for the pains of material existence. You are most dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You have eyes that shine like the moon, and your hands by expansion move like a ballet dancer. Your lotus feet are like lotus petals, and your lips bring the nectar of the <i>näma, guëa, rüpa and lélä of Çré Kåñëa. Your smile charms all your disciples, and your dancing and chanting bring bliss to the hearts of all. Who can describe your kindness?</i></p>
<p class="p7">May we stay always with you, serving your lotus feet, helping you to fulfill your mission.</p>
<p class="p7">O servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé!</p>
<p class="p7">O preacher of the message of Lord Caitanya!</p>
<p class="p7">O deliverer of the western countries, we offer our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet, and feel very satisfied to remain in this position forever.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda! Your worthless sons and daughters:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Mädhavänanda däsa adhikäré, Kauçälya devé däsé / Yogeçvara däsa adhikaré, Jyotirmayé-devé däsé / Maëibandha däsa adhikäré, Känta devé däsé / Svarüpa Dämodara däsa / Vyala däsa adhikäré, Jaya Lakñmé devé däsé / Hariviläsa däsa adhikäré, Parijata devé däsé—Nitäi-Gour däsa / Acintyarüpa däsa adhikäré, Govardhana devé däsé—Gäyatré devé däsé / Janapräna däsa adhikäré, Kratuçreñtha devé däsé / Umäpati däsa adhikäré, Ilävati devé däsé / Dvijavara däsa brahmacäré / Çré Hariné devé däsé / Purédäsa brahmacäré / Jyeñöhä / Narendra däsa brahmacäré / Mahämedhä / Rämadäsa brahmacäré / Navalaìga / Mädhavendra Puré däsa brahmacäré / Saradi / Jagadädija däsa brahmacäré / Mathilde / Svastikadäsa brahmacäré / Anne / Andre / Josie / Crister / Weera / Aziz / Jacques / </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Farm</b></p>
<p class="p49">Viçvambara däsa, Satarüpä devé däsé / Éçvara däsa, Haripriyä devé däsé / Maëihära däsa, Amekhala devé däsé—Mädhava däsa / Arcä däsa, Sambhavé devé däsé—Kalä däsa / Haribalänanda däsa, Kamalakarté devé däsé—Lakñmé devé däsé / Devadatta däsa, Draupadé devé däsé—Devaké Bhaktidharma / Richard and Annie—Valerie / Avyaya däsa, Viçeña devé däsé—Satya / Viñëuräta däsa, Uçämaté devé däsé—Caitanya, Raghunätha / Vedäìga däsa, Brahmajanané devé däsé / Säkñé Gopäla däsa, Kåpämayé devé däsé—Gauraçakti / Bhavasindhupoöa däsa, Kämadhenu devé däsé / Rasa devé däsé / Olivier / Jalapriyä devé däsé—Bhakta Våndä, Caraëa-Padma, Våndä devé däsé / Kåñëa Bamani—Maïjaré, Gauraväëé / Ratimaïjaré—Sujata, Gopé däsé / Merumälä / Ärädhya / Marie-therese / Rosemary / Therese / Alka</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Traveling Saìkértana</b></p>
<p class="p49">Indradyumna däsa / Prabhäva Vigraha däsa, Jagatkérti devé däsé / Rädhikä-ramaëa däsa / Adiçekhära däsa, Mahinabhuçara devé däsé / Sandasa däsa / Canuräsé däsa / Jayakula däsa / Mahäbala däsa / Räsäda däsa / Bhuta Bhavana däsa / Sahasranurdhana däsa / Prasannätmä däsa / Våñakérti däsa / Brajiçma däsa / Indriya Damana däsa / Prakäçätmä däsa / Bhéma däsa, Maithilé devé däsé / Daëdakäraëya däsa, Känti devé däsé / Jévadayä däsa, Daëòakeçé devé däsé / Gopasvämé däsa, Sañövapävana devé däsé / Denny and Annie</p>
<p class="p11">Phoenix</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Phoenix</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Once upon eternal time, in a<br>
place where no materialists go<br>
Confidential inquiries were made<br>
about experiences below.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“Good brothers, ever in full knowledge,<br>
with your faces radiating bliss—<br>
You were rotting in the Iron Age;<br>
Please tell me how you attained this.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“Yes,” one said, “even my human birth,<br>
I thought, would not steer my course from hell.<br>
For it endured only a moment;<br>
the chances of reaching here were nil.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But I once had the experience of <br>
seeing a liberated soul.<br>
Whilst thinking of him, death swiftly came,<br>
and awarded me the supreme goal.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“It must be he!” cried another,<br>
“whose pleading released me from sleep’s tight hold.<br>
I’d never rise to do my duty,<br>
though time and time again I was told.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But his teachings I heard faithfully<br>
I even distributed my share.<br>
Isn’t it wonderful that this dulled mind<br>
Could become perfectly aware?”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“Yes, the influence of this saintly man<br>
is overwhelming, I must agree.<br>
The truth, as he explained it,<br>
left no room for my quarrelsome tendency.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>One said, “Friends, I am your servant,<br>
and since in these stories we do delight,<br>
Let us increase the ecstasy by<br>
hearing how I was freed from my plight.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>My difficulties, not uncommon,<br>
lay in the teaching I had received<br>
Before our spiritual master<br>
disproved the theories I believed.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>I had heard that after life was void <br>
or, at best, an impersonal light<br>
Into which we merged our identity.<br>
So I lost concern for wrong and right</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And did as my senses told me,<br>
But became confused as things grew worse<br>
Until I heard from him of karma<br>
and Kåñëa, the essence of Vedic verse.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“And you surrendered?” was asked.<br>
“For me such fortune would never come near.<br>
But the few cents I had donated once<br>
was enough to let me join you here.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>“It is his glory,” they concluded,<br>
“that we are now happy and free<br>
from the perpetually disturbing <br>
life of irreligiosity.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Let us go on as he has taught us<br>
in the selfless service of the Lord<br>
Let us please him with the love <br>
that long within our hearts was stored.”</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</b></p>
<p class="p49">Nalinikänta däsa adhikäré / Ratneçvaré-devé däsé / Janapävana däsa adhikäré / Dänakeli-devé däsé / Viçvaretaù däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Pam / Darpada däsa adhikäré / Brad, Lou and Raina / Bhakta Malcolm / Dennis, Cindy and Woodstock / Henry Chaney and family</p>
<p class="p11">Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Portland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to offer our most humble obeisances at your feet, on this most blessed appearance day of Your Divine Grace. Had you not appeared before us with the transcendentally sublime Vedic wisdom, surely our dilemma of repeated birth, death, old age and disease would have remained unsolved for thousands of years, As imperfect and conditioned souls, our own sentimental words are inadequate expressions of thanksgiving. Instead we refer to <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>(3.7.36) where Mahätmä Vidura declares:</p>
<p class="p16">“Those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.”</p>
<p class="p7">Any intelligent person who is sincerely endeavoring to expand his knowledge of the absolute realm should seriously consider the advice of Lord Kåñëa in <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>(4.34):</p>
<p class="p16">“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.”</p>
<p class="p7">Such a seer of truth is Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, who came in a line of pure disciplic succession from Lord Çré Kåñëa. Because you, Çréla Prabhupäda, heard patiently from Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta, your words now echo the transcendental potency of the Lord Himself. By your transcendental books and lectures, you are so kindly distributing Kåñëa’s message all over the world. Thoughtful citizens who can understand your literature receive practical spiritual direction in accordance with all revealed scriptures and all saintly persons of the world. You are <i>Jagad-guru</i>: you are working for the benefit of all.</p>
<p class="p7">The <i>Upaniñads</i> have instructed us that “Only unto one who has implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge revealed.” <span class="s3">[<i>ÇU</i> 6.23]</span> Faith is awakened simply by executing regulated devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. As recommended by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, any lowborn disciple who, humbling himself, engages everything in the service of the spiritual master, quickly attains the desired results. This is confirmed in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>First Canto, Chapter Two, text eighteen. Those complacent souls who accept worthless fakes as <i>guru</i>, and those who feel no need to approach a spiritual master are condemned throughout the Vedic Literature. In <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i><span class="s3">[3.32]</span> Lord Kåñëa states:</p>
<p class="p16">“Those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled and doomed to ignorance and bondage.”</p>
<p class="p7">We, in Portland, as your most incompetent students, have decided to stay in each other’s association and stick tightly to your divine instruction. We are told in <i>Bhägavatam </i><span class="s3">(3.7.29)</span>:</p>
<p class="p16">“By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is able to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distress.”</p>
<p class="p7">On this we all agree.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your humble servants in Portland,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Dénabandhu däsa adhikäré / Akuté-devé däsé / Mahäbhärata däsa adhikäré / Çikhaëdé-devé däsé / Anubhänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kusumäpitä-devé däsé / Jyeñtha däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Tanya / Kåtäkåta däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Barbara / Sarvadåk däsa brahmacäré / Lélä-devé däsé / Pati däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Karen / Bhakta Scott / Bhaktin Shakira / Bhakta Ron / Abhaya-devé däsé / Bhakta Michael / Maladhätré-devé / Bhakta Gandolph / Bhaktin Julie / Bhakta Matry / Bhaktin Anne / Bhakta Alvin / Anantätmä däsa brahmacäré / Devarñi däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jeff / Bhägavata Äcärya däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Kåñaìgi / Bhakta Rämänujäcärya / Bhakta Våndävana däsa / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Doug / Bhakta Jahari</p>
<p class="p11">Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Puerto Rico</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>ALL GLORY TO ÇRÉ GURU AND GAURÄÌGA!</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Our dearmost father and spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">You have created for us a life of good fortune, and you are our life and soul. Please accept our prostrate obeisances offered at your lotus feet, which are always decorated with the flower offerings of your flower-like devotees. You have appeared and poured forth your boundless mercy upon us, who are bereft of any other friend or shelter in this world. We wish simply to become worthy to be your children, to reciprocate the loving kindness you have shown to us. Please accept us.</p>
<p class="p7">Our good master, Çréla Prabhupäda, we cannot even imagine anything of the real significance of auspiciousness of your appearance in this world which we have been forced to appear in. But Providence is indeed merciful, for we have been blessed with the chance to meet with you and fall down at your lotus feet, hearing the message of Godhead emanating from your lips. The pure vibrations proceeding from your lotus mouth are the only solace to our hearts and minds, which are so full of lust. You have told us that this Kali-yuga we are living in is an ocean of faults, but we are not sorry to live in Kali-yuga as long as we have you as our master. We feel now that we have tasted the nectar of hearing your glorious songs and lectures, in praise of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa, there is nowhere we wish to be except in touch with those pure sound vibrations. We pray that we may never be unable to hear and recall the sound of your offerings of praise to the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, the time of your appearance in this dark world is a time when everyone rejoices and remembers the infinite mercy of the supreme Lord upon the conditioned souls. And we believe that this is the time when your spiritual master rejoices most of all. For it is you alone who have kept alive his great desire to confer the blessings of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu upon the whole of humanity. We offer our small token of appreciation.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your aspiring devotees in Puerto Rico:</b></p>
<p class="p49">Raghupatipräëa däsa brahmacäré / Dharmapada däsa brahmacäré / Yaçodäjévana däsa brahmacäri / Gopa däsa brahmacäré / Munipriya däsa brahmacäré / Pävanadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Don Delio / Bhakta Hector / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Ernesto / Bhakta Eliut / Bhaktin Julie / Bhaktin Angela</p>
<p class="p11">Rome</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rome</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>gurudeva!<br>
kåpä-bindu diyä, koro’ ei däse<br>
tåëäpekhä ati héna<br>
sakala-sahane, bolo diyä koro’<br>
nija-mäne spåhähéna<br>
sakale sammän, korite sakati<br>
deho’ nätha! yathä-yatha<br>
tabe to’ gäibo, harinäma-sukhe,<br>
aparädha ha’be hata</i></p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy, I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.</p>
<p class="p7">I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kabe heno kåpä, lobhiyä e jana<br>
kåtärtha hoibe, nätha!<br>
çakti-buddhi-hén, ämi ati déna<br>
koro’ more ätma-sätha</i></p>
<p class="p7">When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi,<br>
tomära karuëä sära<br>
karuëä na hoile, käëdéyä Kaëdéyä<br>
nä räkhibo ära</i></p>
<p class="p7">If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and will not be able to maintain my life.</p>
<p class="p7">We don’t have any qualification to glorify you, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are the greatest personality today in all the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p7">By your causeless mercy, you have given us your association and the opportunity to glorify you.</p>
<p class="p7">Let us, in this ever-increasing, most magnificent event of Çré Vyäsa-püjä, promise you once more with firm determination to dedicate our life and soul to follow all your instructions, and to propagate, as it is, this Kåñëa consciousness movement all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet, and remain with us many more years because if not, we will not be able to maintain our lives.</p>
<p class="p7">ÑRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA PATITA-PÄVANA!</p>
<p class="p49">Haihaya däsa adhikäré / Narmadä-devé däsé / Somaka däsa adhikäré / Mådä-devé däsé / Päïcanjanya däsa brahmacäré / Älikåñëa-devé däsé / Çréraìga däsa brahmacäré / Bhoginé-devé däsé / Yavanaha däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Sabrina / Måtyuhara däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Luciana / Manonätha däsa brahmacäri / Bhaktin Micaela / Ama däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Angela / Paraçuäma däsa brahmacäré / Abhaya-caraëäravinda däsa / Bhakti Angelo / Dhruva däsa / Bhakti Orlando / Saté-devé däsé / Bhakti Vito / Bhaktin Colette / Bhakti Marco / Bhakti Tonino / Bhakti Giovanni / Bhakti Bernard</p>
<p class="p11">San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>FOR PRABHUPÄDA</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We’ve waited so long to be taught<br>
All that we ought to know.<br>
This whole life was passing before our eyes<br>
With no rhyme or reason, but now<br>
There is the shelter of your lotus feet<br>
And your gentle guidance to learn.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O spiritual master, we pray for remembrance<br>
And intelligence to follow your instructions<br>
To the end of this journey.<br>
Everything is passing so quickly—let us serve<br>
And not be deviated. We fear to fall!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We are always suffering from our desires—<br>
Only by your mercy can we serve and<br>
Be lifted from this ocean of sense enjoyment.<br>
Your mercy is all that we have and all that we are.<br>
Prabhupäda, help us to surrender.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>For all of our disqualifications<br>
You have accepted us as your disciples.<br>
I beg to follow the code of behavior<br>
You have given to make one pure.<br>
Let us serve in these offensive bodies—<br>
Please accept any love that you allow us to give.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homage</b></p>
<p class="p7">O most merciful Çréla Prabhupäda, how can we repay the infinite debt that we owe you? Before your appearance in the West, we were forced to settle for the smallest trickle of transcendental knowledge. But now, Your Divine Grace has flooded us with the endless Vaiñëava philosophy of the <i>Vedas.</i> Previously, we had to remain content thinking of God as an inconceivable greatness, as an abstract force who had created everything, but was indescribable and unknowable. You have revolutionized the whole theology of the West and directed countless people from all over the world toward the most secret and intimate aspect of God. As Kåñëa has declared: </p>
<p class="p16">“Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata. This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection.” (<i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>15.19-20)</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, because you are enlightening countless conditioned souls and are turning them towards the real light of spiritual realization, you are the most dear to Kåñëa: </p>
<p class="p16">“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” (<i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>18.68-69)</p>
<p class="p7">Furthermore, Lord Kapiladeva tells His mother Devahüti: “. . .I do not find a greater person than he who has no interest outside of Mine, and who therefore engages and dedicates all his activities and all his life—everything—unto Me without cessation.” <span class="s3">(<i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>3.29.33)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Thus, there is no finer benediction than being in your holy association, for you are fully absorbed in the loving mood of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu—<i>çravaëaà kértanam</i>—hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Person, Çré Kåñëa. In this way you are engaging everyone in the <i>saìkértana</i> movement, giving all the conditioned souls the opportunity to go back to Godhead. Thus, of all that is glorious in this world, your mercy upon these fallen souls is the most glorious.</p>
<p class="p7">We, however, still devoid of any real compassion, devotion or sense of duty, remain your offensive, perverted reflections. Nevertheless, because your shelter is our only salvation, we must shamefully impose ourselves on you, begging to continue in your service. And we must also pray for the pure desire to please you in that service, free from any lust for personal gain. You are the perfect <i>äcärya,</i> following, as you say, “blindly” the instructions of your Guru Mahäräja, in the face of all opposition. And in spite of our reluctance to follow your example, still you receive us to magnanimously and fill us with your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">We can never repay you. You are giving us this matchless gift of love for Kåñëa. Please let us forever remember this gift and remain eternally obliged, fallen at your feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your unworthy servants at San Diego Yäträ,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Guëagrähi däsa adhikäré / Kértikä-devé däsé / Mathuränätha däsa adhikäré / Vrajadevé däsé / Matäìga däsa brahmacäré / Gopénätha-devé däsé / Bhadravardhana däsa brahmacäré / Liläçakti-devé däsé / Kuçakrata däsa brahmacäré / Sajjanajévana-devé däsé / Düradharña däsa brahmacäré / Kriyaçakti-devé däsé / Sarvadarçana däsa adhikäré / Sonapuri-devé däsé / Madhukära däsa adhikäré / Madhu-devé däsé / Murärimahité däsa brahmacäré (1) / Çatänanda-devé däsé / Murärimahité däsa brahmacäré (2) / Janaçakti-devé däsé / Çacéduläla däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Sharon / Dvärakäräja däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Wish / Maheçaväsa däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Narada / Vaàçé däsa brahmacäré / Kalpavåkña däsa adhikäré / Dhanurveda däsa adhikäré / Bhakta John / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta Raymond / Bhakta Dan / Bhakta Dan / Bhakta Carl / Bhakta David / Bhakta Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Barry / Bhakta Comet / Bhakta Candra / Bhakta Madhusacandra däsa</p>
<p class="p11">San Francisco</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Francisco</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda</i><b>,</b></p>
<p class="p16">“Like the sun, your goodness can travel in the three worlds, and like the air, you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me, despite my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary regulations and vows.” [<i>Bhäg. 1.5.7</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">Although born in a well-to-do family, having all material goods I could ever desire, and having been given a healthy body, still I was never satisfied until I made contact with Your Divine Grace. You have revealed the shortcomings in me that left me always unsatisfied, in spite of all material boons. By your words, you have slashed all the illusion of this world from my mind and forced me to accept that I am not the supreme proprietor, the supreme enjoyer or the supreme friend of all living entities. Rather, I am but an insignificant pawn of the energy of Kåñëa, God, and I am unhappy because I steadfastly refuse to apply this knowledge to my every action.</p>
<p class="p7">In <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>, it is stated that every action performed for personal sense gratification binds the performer to this material world. Unfortunately, I am so nonsensical that, although I hear your teachings, I repeatedly disregard your mercy. Thus, being so full of desire for personal name and fame, I suffer again and again. My only hope is that you will patiently tolerate my billions of offenses at your feet. Someday, I hope, you will so severely chastise me that I will be coerced into acting in full Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, I have such doubt in my ability to come to that point of unalloyed surrender unto your divine feet, but I have faith that, by your mercy and desire only, I may someday be saved. This faith in you is my sole reason for existing; without you, I would immediately die. Please engage me in your service of Lord Caitanya’s tree.</p>
<p class="p7">We were fools in the darkness, but you gave us the holy name, which shines like the rising sun. You gave us the light of mercy to see that we are the menial servants of a branch of Lord Gauräìga’s golden tree.</p>
<p class="p7">We were dead men, but only by your divine grace can we now dance and chant in ecstasy, filling our hearts with nectar from your lotus lips, which infite us to serve and be a golden branch of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s <i>saìkértana</i> movement tree.</p>
<p class="p7">Every early morning, we rise with the holy name in our ears and hearts. There is nothing else to be had in all three worlds. Then we bathe, and we prepare ourselves to see the holy eternal forms of Their Lordships Çré Rädhä-Gokulä-nanda, to clean Their temple and to honor Their <i>prasäda.</i></p>
<p class="p7">It is only by your ocean of divine mercy that we are allowed the chance to be eternal servants of a branch of Lord Çré Gaurasundara’s shimmering golden tree. There is no way for us to repay. We can only be for more service, so that we will be fully engaged in spreading this mercy of love of Godhead, flooding this planet over by your divine will. What more can we ask? Except that, by your grace, please, please help us to be more serious and sincere, and help us “desire to desire” to get a higher taste for Lord Çré Kåñëa’s holy name and service to Lord Caitanya’s universal tree.</p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta däsa adhikär / Säranäma-devé däsé / Bahuläçva däsa adhikär / Karuëämayé-devé däsé / Laìkeça däsa adhikäré / Dhaniñöhä-devé däsé / Yudamanya däsa adhikäré / Jévana-devé däsé / Mahäräja däsa adhikäré / Vihäriëé-devé däsé / Jéva däsa adhikäré / Maniné-devé däsé / Makhana Taskara däsa adhikäré / Kamatavé-devé däsé / Vaikuëöhanätha däsa adhikäré / Saraòiyä-devé däsé / Lokanätha däsa adhikäré / Vrajasundaré-devé däsé / Tapana Miçra däsa adhikäré / Ätmamäyä-devé däsé / Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Kaumudé-devé däsé / Çuklämbhara däsa adhikäré / Kelilalitä-devé däsé / Varëa däsa adhikäré / Lélä-smaraëam-devé däsé / Jayänanda däsa brahmacäré / Madanasiné-devé däsé / Hanumatpreseka däsa brahmacäré / Kalpalatikä-devé däsé / Kåta-karma däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Diane / Lokasäraìga däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Darlene / Haripada däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Janet / Rakñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bala däsa brahmacäré / Indranätha däsa brahmacäré / Nagaräja däsa brahmacäré / Pravacara däsa brahmacäré / Vigitätmä däsa brahmacäré / Parvata Muni däsa brahmacäré / Bhoktä däsa brahmacäré / Buddhi Maheçvara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ray / Bhakta Chris / Bhakta Paulley / Bhakta Ed / Bhakta Doug / Bhakta John / Bhakta Joe / Bhakta Tom</p>
<p class="p11">Santo Domingo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santo Domingo</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>O dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please let us offer our most humble and prostrate obeisances at your divine lotus feet. You are so magnanimous and merciful upon us that, even though we have no qualification, you accept us as your disciples. This is the highest gift in the world. There are innumerable living entities traveling throughout the different planets of the universe, and of them only a few are fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee. A pure devotee is a rare thing. You have come to this demoniac place to teach love of God (<i>kåñëa-prema</i>), but being unfortunate and foolish, we are so much absorbed in the modes of materialism that we cannot appreciate your greatness.</p>
<p class="p7">O beloved master, Kåñëa said in <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master” (<i>tad viddhi praëipätena, Bg </i>4.34), but you are so merciful that you have come to these Western countries, full of voidism and impersonalism, to teach us the ultimate aim of life: Lord Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of godhead (<i>väsudeva-parä gatiù, Bhäg.</i> 1.2.28-29). Before you came, we were lost in the world of illusion (<i>mäyä</i>), spending our nights uselessly sleeping and our days decorating our bodies. By your mercy, you have ransomed us from this material bondage. Only you could do it because only you are a genuine and perfect devotee of Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">O venerable Vaiñëava, O ocean of mercy, we humbly beg you, please let us remain as your eternal servants. We do not find the strength to carry on alone the <i>saìkértana</i> of the holy name of Hari. Please bless us, by giving us just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">O blissful prince of Vaikuëöha, since your bliss is always increasing, we know that Kåñëa is yours, and only you have the power to give Him to us. You can deliver any benediction to any living entity. We are simply begging you to turn your face, bright like the sun, upon us. Only your glance can purify everything from the dust of material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">O powerful <i>mahätmä,</i> since you are the external manifestation of Kåñëa, you are also the most powerful soul within this universe. Because of this fact, you are beyond our understanding. We can only beg you to forgive us for this fallible attempt to say something about your glories. We are drowning in this ocean of nescience, and not one pure word can come out of this polluted consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">O greatest saint among the saints, Çréla Prabhupäda, if you examine us, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all we are made of. We are very small devotees with only you to depend on. So please, be merciful upon us. Let us remain always like a speck of dust at your divine lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your eternal servants, ISKCON Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic</b></p>
<p class="p49">Rädhä-Çaraëa däsa adhikäré / Gobhaööa däsa adhikäré / Amalaharinäma däsa brahmacäré / Ménäkñi däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Alma / Bhakta Nestor / Mahänandé-devé däsé / Mädhurya-devé däsé / Viraya-devé däsé / Çubhänanda-devé däsé / Rukmiëé-devé däsé / Kåñëa-devé däsé / Govinda däsa / Bhaktin Luisa / Guru däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances. One hundred eight glories to the topmost wandering mendicant and swanlike devotee of the Lord, Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>väïcä-kalpatarubhyaç ca<br>
kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca<br>
patitänäà pävanebhyo<br>
vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord, who can fulfill all the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and who are full compassion for the fallen souls.” [<i>Vaiñëava</i> <i>Praëäma</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">You have kindly come to these Western shores, which are overburdened with materialism, voidism, and impersonalism. Out of your never-ending compassion for our fallen position, you are delivering <i>kåñëa-prema</i>—love of God—thus replacing our attachment to the frailties of this material world with love of Kåñëa. Truly, you are that desire tree because you have fulfilled all our material hankerings by giving us Kåñëa. You are the most munificent; because of your patience and determination you have tolerated so much on our behalf. We are even indebted to Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena <br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“I, who am standing in darkness, do humbly offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master, who is forcing my eyes open with the blazing torchlight of knowledge.” [<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">Forcing our eyes is your kindness upon conditioned souls like us. Because of our wandering in the realms of ignorance for millions of births, we are very reluctant, if not stubborn, to accept the reality of your instructions. But, this devotional service is so powerfully pure that our stoneheartedness is melting away. Just by your association, we are becoming ever-enlivened to serve Their eternal Lordships, Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">On this most blessed of events, the following devotees at ISKCON Seattle do offer our most respectful obeisances unto you:</p>
<p class="p49">Çukadeva däsa adhikäré / Jagamohiné-devé däsé / Prabhänu däsa adhikäré / Jagadéçvaré-devé däsé / Anagha däsa adhikäré / Dhanaçré-devé däsé / Dhamaghoña däsa adhikäré / Käntimati-devé däsé / Bir Räghava däsa adhikäré / Birmala-devé däsé / Jyotiräditya däsa adhikäré / Särada-devé däsé / Ñañöa däsa adhikäré / Kåñëapriya-devé däsé / Ojasvé däsa adhikäré / Viñëupriya-devé däsé / Bhakti Charlie / Bhakti Cathy / Kaàsäri däsa brahmacäré / Påçnigarbha-devé däsé / Siàha däsa brahmacäré / Ragmathani-devé däsé / Jagadädija däsa brahmacäré / Mädhurya-devé däsé / Aja däsa brahmacäré / Bhakti Laurie / Bhakti Tom / Bhakti Joni / Bhakti Ron / Patram däsa / Bhakti Mike / Prahläda däsa / Bhakti Tom / Bhaktim Zoe / Bhakti Kato / Bhaktim Phebbe / Bhakti Mark / Çrédämä däsa / Bhakti Bruce / Yamunä däsa / Rüpa-manohara däsa / Çantim däsa</p>
<p class="p11">South Africa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>South Africa</b></p>
<p class="p7">Let me offer my humble obeisances from the core of my heart to my spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedänta Swami Prabhupäda. Were it not for him, I could not even begin to imagine the self-made hell I would be in, at present.</p>
<p class="p7">What is the special quality of my Gurudeva that evokes the unconditional self-surrender of my many sincere Godbrothers?</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is the representative of Lord Nityänanda. As such, one who has attained Çré Guru’s lotus feet will be surely freed from all material desires. He will be a fit candidate to chant the holy name offenselessly. How long will I remain a materialistic rascal, devoid of the desire to surrender to Çré Gurudeva? Let me fall at his lotus feet at this very moment, so that I may offer myself as his menial servant. The sound of my spiritual master’s voice thrills my heart. I want to continually drink in that vibration which produces genuine health.</p>
<p class="p7">Let me not be unchaste like a prostitute, nor idle like the tree. I long to cling to and serve his lotus feet at every moment of my too short life. I long to be awakened from the horrible nightmare of repeated birth and death. My Gurudeva is the most benevolent personality in the three worlds, as he has risked accepting even an insincere wretch such as me for a disciple. As a master of duty, let me not dishonor my Gurudeva for some trivial whimsy. To lose the shelter of Çré Gurudeva is to be hurled again into the cesspool of foul stinks, darkness, and ever-painful associations. I implore everyone! Do not take the shelter of my Gurudeva lightly! He carries the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead within his lotus-like heart. If one experiences even the dim reflection of my Gurudeva’s mercy, he will immediately reject everything else as worthless and empty. Anyone who is actually interested in his own true well-being will never ignore the shelter of Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Let me also offer my respectful obeisances to my many Godbrothers, who are like so many moons reflecting the soothing mercy and teachings of my spiritual master. Let us strive together to please Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who is also known as Viçvambhara (the maintainer and leader of all living beings), as this is the heartfelt desire of His Divine Grace, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your unworthy servants,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Puñöakåñëa Svämé / Dhéräìga däsa brahmacäré / Jagadguru däsa brahmacäré / Pärthasärathi däsa brahmacäré / Gokulendra däsa brahmacäré / Rämänuja däsa brahmacäré / Åddha däsa brahmacäré / Säkñigopäla däsa brahmacäré / Rocané-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Çréla Prabhupäda's Traveling Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda's Traveling Party</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We are thoroughly diseased men,<br>
Hoping to become healthy again,<br>
Drowning in ignorance and passion,<br>
Overburdened with sinful reaction.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>So many offenses we have committed.<br>
In the spiritual world will we be permitted?<br>
For us, there is not a single chance<br>
Without your fully satisfied glance.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Falling to the ground many times each day,<br>
Ready to endeavor as you say,<br>
Constantly remembering you are no ordinary person,<br>
Thinking otherwise, our disease will only worsen.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are greater than the demigods by all measure.<br>
Satisfying you is actually real pleasure.<br>
We sincerely beg to stay<br>
At your lotus feet every step, every day.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Boldly giving up all personal consideration,<br>
You travel extensively from nation to nation,<br>
Preaching by day and writing books by night.<br>
There has never been a man of such might.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Smashing atheists, scientists and bogus gurus,<br>
And establishing facts, eternal truths.<br>
You either convince them or they flee away in fear<br>
If they read your books, their minds become clear.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your books astound the greatest of learned men,<br>
Introducing them to their dearmost friend.<br>
Translating these books, you are going through great pains,<br>
Showering pure knowledge on our dull-headed brains.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We pray to assist you in these most tremendous deeds,<br>
By providing for every one of your needs.<br>
We sincerely beg to stay<br>
At your lotus feet every step, every day.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Paramahaàsa Svämé, Personal Secretary / Çrutakérté däsa adhikäré, Personal Servant</p>
<p class="p11">Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara Saìkértana Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara Saìkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Offering</b></p>
<p class="p7">On this appearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, we are remembering the prediction of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura: “Soon will appear one who will spread the <i>saìkértana </i>movement of Lord Caitanya all over the world.” Your Divine Grace is that rare devotee, and we bow down to your lotus feet again and again. Your Divine Grace must have some intimate connection with Lord Caitanya, otherwise how is it that in five hundred years none of the great devotees have pushed the wave of love of Kåñëa so far as to teach the desert-like hearts in the Western world. We wish we could understand your special position in relation to Lord Caitanya, but as we are only your foot stool and dogs, we can only take your mercy and purify ourselves so that someday we may be enabled to glorify Your Divine Grace properly.</p>
<p class="p7">Apart from our inability to glorify Your Divine Grace, we learn from the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i><span class="s3">(18.68-69)</span>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ya idaà paramamà guhyaà<br>
mad-bhakteñv abhidhäsyati<br>
bhaktià mayi paräà kåtvä<br>
mäm evaiñyaty asaàçayaù</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>na ca tasmän manuñyeñu<br>
kaçcin me priya-kåttamaù<br>
bhavitä na ca me tasmän<br>
anyaù priyataro bhuvé</i></p>
<p class="p16">“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” </p>
<p class="p7">Not only was this said to men of earth, but Kåñëa spoke of your glories even to the demigods in heaven. In the <i>Nectar of Devotion, </i>it states that the spiritual master is the sum total of all the demigods. We ponder on the position of Your Divine Grace. Even if we could travel to the ends of millions of universes, we could gain nothing of value compared to your lotus feet. Your glories are sung by the devotee poets like Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté in <i>Çré Gurv-añöaka</i> (5):</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-rädhikä-mädhavayor apära-<br>
mädhurya-lélä-guëa-rüpa-nämnäm<br>
pratékñaëäsvädana-lolüpasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited, conjugal pastimes of Rädhikä and Mädhava, and Their qualities, names and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” [<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 5]</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is always engaged in assisting the <i>gopés </i>in the transcendental loving affaires of Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Most important to us is the shelter of your service. For it is your pleasure, realized through carrying out your orders, that protects us from <i>Mäyä</i>. Were it not for knowing your pleasure, certainly we would have lost the holy inspiration to tender our small devotional creepers. It is in this truth and realization that we perceive your splendor. We can therefore joyfully exclaim that there is no end to the ecstasy of serving and knowing the pleasure of Your Divine Grace, and we are confident that this pleasure will continue and sustain us in our march towards the Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara Traveling Saëkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 1</b></p>
<p class="p49">Viñëujana Svämé / Gurudäsa Svämé / Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé / Bhügarbha däsa adhikäré / Brikasaugha däsa brahmacäré / Mätäräja däsa brahmacäré / Gauräìga däsa brahmacäré / Dämodara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Jack / Bhakta Jim</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 2</b></p>
<p class="p49">Dhåñtadyumna däsa brahmacäré / Bhümna däsa brahmacäré / Térthapäda däsa brahmacäré / Gaurédäsa Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Käçénätha däsa brahmacäré / Choöa Haridäsa brahmacäré / Madhväcärya däsa adhikäré / Rämadäsa brahmacäré / Rämadäsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mike</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 3</b></p>
<p class="p49">Ädi-keçava däsa brahmacäré / Vidura däsa brahmacäré / Dravaëäkña däsa brahmacäré / Traidäsa adhikäré / Rasätala däsa brahmacäré / Lakñmé-Nåiàha däsa brahmacäré / Viñëudäsa brahmacäré / Çrédara däsa brahmacäré / Yadu Gaìgul däsa brahmacäré / Puñpa-gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Pratäparudra däsa brahmacäré / Räga-putra däsa brahmacäré / Vasu-gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Äcäryaratna däsa brahmacäré / Sataugati däsa brahmacäré / Maheçvara däsa brahmacäré / Subuddhi däsa brahmacäré / Sureça däsa brahmacäré / Miçra Bhagavän däsa brahmacäré / Gokula däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Brian / Bhakta Rick</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 4</b></p>
<p class="p49">Parivräjakäcärya Svämé / Dänavéra däsa adhikäré / Matureça däsa brahmacäré / Çré Manta däsa brahmacäré / Çré Räma däsa brahmacäré / Garuòa Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta James / Bhakta Lynn / Bhakta Jim</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 5</b></p>
<p class="p49">Kavicandra säsa adhikäré / Premädhava däsa adhikäré / Gaìgä däsa brahmacäré / Paramätmä däsa brahmacäré / Gopeça däsa brahmacäré / Yadunätha däsa brahmacäré / Vidyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Frank / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Jim</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 6</b></p>
<p class="p49">Brahmä däsa brahmacäré / Apürva däsa brahmacäré / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Anädi däsa brahmacäré / Vivasvän däsa brahmacäré / Häsyagräme däsa brahmacäré / Prapüjaka däsa brahmacäré / Jagat Sakha däsa brahmacäré / Dåçya Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Dåñöa däsa brahmacäré / Caitanya Candra däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Airport Saëkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p49">Tripuräri Svämé / Pragoña däsa brahmacäré / Buddhimanta däsa brahmacäré / Särvabhauma däsa brahmacäré / Gajahanta däsa brahmacäré / Devänanda Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Nikätma däsa brahmacäré / Janakénätha däsa brahmacäré / Bagaöhäri däsa brahmacäré / Sura däsa brahmacäré / Vaiçiñeka däsa brahmacäré / Païca-tattva däsa brahmacäré / Käçéräma däsa brahmacäré / Caraëa däsa brahmacäré / Dhruva däsa brahmacäré / Saïjaya däsa brahmacäré / Kalki däsa brahmacäré / Gokulacandra däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>TSKP No. 1</b></p>
<p class="p49">Yogeçcandra däsa brahmacäré / Govinda Datta däsa brahmacäré / Räja Vidyä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Elliot</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>TSKP No. 2</b></p>
<p class="p49">Janärdana däsa brahmacäré<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> / Gopäla Äcärya däsa brahmacäré / Çañöhévara däsa brahmacäré / Gaìgä Mantri däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>TSKP No. 3</b></p>
<p class="p49">Pyäri Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Baòa Hari däsa brahmacäré / Uddhava däsa brahmacäré / Karëapüra däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>TSKP No. 4</b></p>
<p class="p49">Prahlädänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kavi Datta däsa brahmacäré / Çivänanda däsa brahmacäré / Jïapaka däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>TSKP No. 5</b></p>
<p class="p49">Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Sarvopama däsa brahmacäré / Ratnabähu däsa brahmacäré / Mahä-mantra däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Head Office and Bus Construction</b></p>
<p class="p49">Keçava Bhäraté / Dayäla Candra däsa brahmacäré / Vipra däsa brahmacäré / Acyuta däsa brahmacäré / Sulocana däsa brahmacäré / Kamaläkänta däsa brahmacäré / Patatriräja däsa brahmacäré / Kamalänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kämu däsa brahmacäré / Rajendranätha däsa brahmacäré / Yädava däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Patrick</p>
<p class="p11">St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Our dear father Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet! Upon this momentous occasion of your holy appearance day, we pray for you to simply help us understand your mission. We have taken our birth in the Western world, which is full of impersonalism and voidism, and we have therefore failed to understand the purpose of life. Now we have become your disciples and have learned that Kåñëa is God. Next our duty is to go forward, to seek out our relationship with Him. In Bombay (7-29-74) you told us: “Kåñëa is very kind. Engage all your senses for understanding Kåñëa with devotion and faith—with love. The love is the basic principle for understanding Kåñëa. But develop your love. He wants that you should also love Him and give Him something. That He wants. Therefore He comes (<i>paritränäya sädhünäm</i>). He is asking out of love—that you try to love Him. Kåñëa’s so kind. And still you are not taking the opportunity of understanding Kåñëa. Just see how much unfortunate we are.” Therefore we humbly pray that you will help us to actually understand your identity and the real purpose of this Kåñëa consciousness process. In Atlanta you were asked, “Prabhupäda, how can we please you?” You replied, “Develop your love of God.”</p>
<p class="p7">We therefore humbly pray that we will all stop this impersonalism and voidism forever and fully utilize this opportunity you are giving us. We will try to become free from this bankrupt condition and fully develop our love for Kåñëa. Kindly help us to please you in this way.</p>
<p class="p49">Makanlal däsa / Präëa däsa / Jagaddhätä däsa / Bhéma däsa / Caturätma däsa / Präëada däsa / Janajanmädi däsa / Rädhä-dämodara däsa / Purandara Paëòita däsa / Vikarñaëa däsa / Bhakta David / Bhakta Larry / Bhakta Glenn / Tilaka däsé / Kelikäïcaké-devé däsé / Dakñiëivaré-devé däsé / Ätmarämä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Stockholm</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Stockholm</b></p>
<p class="p7">More enlightening than thousands of suns, you have benedicted the entire world by coming to the West to fulfill the desire of your spiritual master. There seems to be no proper way to express what you have done for us.</p>
<p class="p7">In all the ancient literatures of devotional service, the spiritual master is always considered to be either one of the confidential associates of Çrématé Rädhäräëé or a manifested representation of Çréla Nityänanda Prabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the most exalted person in all the universes, our great and dear master. You deliver the suffering living entities from the burning condition of life, just like a cloud pours water on a forest fire. This mercy of yours overfloods the entire universe with love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">You are an ocean of inestimable qualities. Your glories are immeasurable. What words or sentiments can do justice to your character? We can only pray that you will overlook our incompetence and allow us to continue our meager service to your lotus feet, with ever-increasing enthusiasm. Thus, perhaps we may one day help you, as you fulfill the prediction of Lord Caitanya, by flooding the depths of <i>Mäyä’s</i> dungeon with the sanity which comes only from service to you and to the Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is so great that in spite of our wretched service you dispel little by little the thick darkness of our ignorance. You are certainly the only being in this universe that can bring peace and happiness. Your unique strength can arrest the effects of Kali-yuga. Please accept us at your lotus feet so we may serve you forever.</p>
<p class="p7">Your causeless mercy has given us the hope to find with joy and confidence the relationship that binds us to Çré Kåñëa, even in this phenomenal world.</p>
<p class="p7">The shadow of your lotus feet refreshes our hearts from the burning fire of material life. They are the rivers that fill up the reservoir of eternal nectar. You are the compassion of the Lord, the saviour of the conditioned souls. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer thousands of respectful homages to the lotus feet of our spiritual master. You are the most confidential servitor of the Lord, and we are the most fallen souls. We have no idea of your real greatness, but nonetheless we ask your mercy; allow us to stay in the shadow of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the transcendental embodiment of perfection in service to the Lord, who cannot be understood by simply studying the <i>Vedas</i>, nor by undergoing severe penances, nor by charity, nor by worship, but only by pure loving service and devotion to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">You are as good as the Personality of Godhead; because your association is transcendental to everyone and everything. Just by seeing you or hearing you, everyone in His service is given enlightenment and enthusiasm. No one can really describe your auspiciousness. Following in the footsteps of your spiritual master, you have released a flood of love of Kåñëa throughout the whole world, and it will steadily drown the universe in Kåñëa consciousness. O Gurudeva, how can we glorify you with our frog-like tongues, so contaminated with material filth?</p>
<p class="p7">We cannot understand you, nor the transcendental abode where you come from. But by your incomparable kindness you have opened our eyes. Now we can see that we have been cheated by so-called advancement and sense gratification, and have been thus led into the darkest ignorance and frustration.</p>
<p class="p7">Before your merciful eyes there is no difference between a professor and a streetsweeper, a black man and a white man. There is no scarcity of conditioned souls like ourselves, but you have the strength and the enthusiasm to deliver us all.</p>
<p class="p7">Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are our only shelter. Please give us the shade of your lotus feet, so that the arms of the illusory energy, and the hindrances on the devotional path will never reach us.</p>
<p class="p7">Just as Lord Caitanya made the tigers and snakes chant the holy name, so you have come to preach to us, even though we were living lower than hogs and dogs.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are like a parent. Without the attentive service of his parent, a child cannot grow to manhood. Similarly, without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service.</p>
<p class="p7">Please let us assist you in spreading this <i>saìkértana</i> movement everywhere. We are offering our <i>daëòavats </i>to your transcendental lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your most fallen servants of the Stockholm Yäträ,</b></p>
<p class="p49">Älanätha däsa brahmacäré / Dvärakeça däsa brahmacäré / Smitakåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Citraketu däsa brahmacäré / Aristahe däsa brahmacäré / Jan Prabhu / Vaclav Prabhu / Çréhäriëé devé däsé / Ärcya devé däsé / Ajita däsa adhikäré, Kåñëa-premé devé däsé / Vegavän däsa adhikäré, Padnavaté devé däsé / Muralidhara däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Sydney, Australia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sydney, Australia</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">I offer my respectful obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedänta Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa on this planet because of his taking shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p16">O servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé, you are so kindly preaching the meaasge of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu to the Western countries, which are full of impersonalism, and voidism. [<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, I fall down at your lotus feet to receive your mercy, which is always flowing like the waters of the Ganges.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, those who submissively hear your message can drink the nectar and swim unlimitedly in the ocean of nectar.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena<br>
paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà<br>
jïäninas tattva-darçinaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>4.34</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the bestower of <i>kåñëa-prema,</i> delivering the mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Lord Caitanya is known as <i>mahä-vadänyävatära </i>which means He is the most magnanimous incarnation of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, Lord Kåñëa first imparted the Vedic knowledge into the heart of Lord Brahmä, the first created being (<i>tene brahma hådä</i>), and this fully ripened fruit is passed on carefully without any damage through the disciplic succession to Mädhavendra Puré, Éçvara Puré, Lord Caitanya, the Six Gosvämés, Çréla Bhaktivinoda, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta and now Your Divine Grace, you are melting our stonelike hearts with this same knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, your gracefulness is unexcelled wherever you travel. Your opening of Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira was glorious, and is still being relished by all your disciples.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, your association is more valuable than millions of priceless gems. Çréla Prabhupäda, your association is not limited to your personal form, but is ever-expanding in the form of your many books.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, I thank you for saving me from the deathlike ocean of material suffering, and I pray to the Lord that I will never give up the service of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Your tiny servants of ISKCON Sydney</b></p>
<p class="p11">Tehran</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tehran</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>cakñudäna dila-yei, janme janme prabhu sei<br>
divya-jïäna håde prakäçita<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä 3</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Everyone in this world has a color, a tint, a pair of “rose-colored glasses” in which they see themselves as the central point of existence. They go around preaching their own brand of “mine or I” ism very proudly. The so-called intelligent ones even claim to be aware of the multi-colorings and incorporate these higher perceptions into false claims of mastership. Everyone is pretending to know something, to be able to teach something, without admitting their own limitations and desires arising from colored senses and mind. Thus, no one has peace, nor can anyone give peace. None of the materially designated colors match the soul; rather, they are sources of misery to the soul.</p>
<p class="p7">You have made us aware of these colors that have been blinding us, by being completely free from them yourself. Your effulgence is without any tint. Whatever you do is transparent, expressing the natural brilliance of your soul’s devotion to Kåñëa. Your preaching is transparent (directing us to the Absolute Truth through logic, conviction, patience and confirmation by Vedic evidence). Your eating is transparent. (On our behalf, you accept hundreds of opulent offerings, yet you yourself eat barely enough to keep body and soul together.) Your walking, hearing, joking, sitting, dressing, and arguing are all transparently related to Kåñëa. You can call someone a rascal and then offer him <i>mahä-prasäda.</i> You show us the proper utility of everything by relating it to devotional service. Therefore, the <i>Vedas</i> sing of your character and call you the transparent via media to the supreme proprietor.</p>
<p class="p7">You are too practical and wise to ask us to drop our own polluted colors. You don’t find fault with us. Instead you ask us to engage whatever we have for the cause of <i>bhakti</i>. To the extent we live in your instructions, we also become transparent and truly qualified to distribute your mercy. We should never think “Now we have become devotees. Now we are finished, no more to learn.” No. Now you are giving us the chance to begin. Now you have let us actually see the dark shades of ignorance that have been covering us.</p>
<p class="p7">We no longer have license to pass judgments with our limited, colored vision. The beacon of pure, transparent light, service to Godhead, has become manifest through you. In a humble spirit, we ask for strength to follow.</p>
<p class="p49">Ätreya Åñi däsa adhikäré / Navayauvana däsa adhikäré / Rämänanda Räya däsa brahmacäré / Äli Prabhu / Vidhi-bhakti-devé däsé / Maïjaré-devé däsé / Mandakiné-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Toronto</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p16">“We were born in the darkness of ignorance and our spiritual master has opened our eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. O dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, we offer our respectful obeisances unto you.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namo namas te ’stu sahastra-kåtvaù<br>
punaç ca bhüyo ’pi namo namas te<br>
namaù purastäd atha påçthatas te<br>
namo ’stu te sarvata eva sarva</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We offer our respectful obeisances unto you a thousand times, and again and yet again. Obeisances from the front, from the behind and from all sides.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sarva-yoniñu kaunteya<br>
mürtayaù sambhavanti yäù<br>
täsäà brahma mahad-yonir<br>
ahaà béja-pradaù pitä</i></p>
<p class="p7">All 8,400,000 species of life are given birth through the agency of the material mother and father. But the great soul, he who is in knowledge of Kåñëa, is very rare (<i>jïänavän mäà prapadyate, sä mahätmä sudurlabhaù</i>), and he receives, through the mercy of Kåñëa and the <i>guru</i>, a precious gift, a second birth, thus beginning an eternal life of spiritual reawakening (<i>tathä dékñä-vidhänena, dvijatvaà jäyate nåëäm </i><span class="s3">[<i>Hari-bhakti-viläsa</i> 2.12]</span>).</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çéta ätapa bäta variçaëa<br>
e-dina yäminé jägé’ re<br>
viphale sevinu kåpaëa durajana<br>
capala sukha-lava lägi’ re<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhajahu Re Mana</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">In freezing cold, scorching heat, terrible wind and rain, through innumerable days and nights, we have awakened and slept, fruitlessly serving society, friendship and love and having to bear agitation and frustration for it.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>soàsära-biña-nale dibäniçi hiyä jvale<br>
juòäite nä käinu upäya<br>
(Narottama däsa)</i></p>
<p class="p7">All matter is on blazing fire, and it is always burning our hearts. Though ablaze, we have no desire to escape. Though our minds and bodies burn, we remain bound, trying to enjoy this holocaust.</p>
<p class="p7">But your words are penetrating our hearts with the rain of transcendental knowledge (<i>dibya-jïän kåde prokäçito</i>), thus extinguishing the fire of material desire (<i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span>), melting the covering of stone which is enshrouding our afflicted hearts, and rekindling our dormant desire to serve Kåñëa (<i>jévera svarüpa haya kåñëera nitya-däsa</i>) with the blazing fire of your pure <i>kåñëa-bhakti.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Out of pure compassion, you have become our eternal father (<i>janme janme prabhu sei </i><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 3]</span>), leading us out of the mire of <i>saàsära.</i> And what makes lowborn <i>mlecchas</i> and <i>yavanas</i> deserving of such favor?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi,<br>
tomära karuëä-sära<br>
(Bhaktivinoda)</i></p>
<p class="p16">“If you examine us, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that we are made of.”</p>
<p class="p7">You are transforming <i>nitya-baddhas </i>into <i>kåpä-siddhas</i> by the agency of your association, just as bell metal is turned to gold by the agency of mercury (<i>yathä käïcanatäà yäti käàsyaà rasa-vidhänataù </i><span class="s3">[<i>H.b.v.</i> 2.12]</span>).</p>
<p class="p6"><i>durlabha mänava janama satsaìge<br>
täraha e bhava sindhu re<br>
(Govinda däsa)</i></p>
<p class="p16">“In this world it is very rare to obtain a human birth, and rarer still to get the association of <i>sädhus,</i> by which the material ocean of emotions is crossed.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>akñëoù phalaà tvädåça-darçanaà hi<br>
tanoù phalaà tvädåça-gätra-saìgaù<br>
jihvä-phalaà tvädåça-kértanaà hi<br>
sudurlabhä-bhägavatä hi loke</i></p>
<p class="p16">“O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfillment of this bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying you qualities because in this world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.”</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa states in <i>Bhagavad-gétä:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>jïänaà te ‘haà sa-vijïänaà<br>
idaà vakñyämy açeñataù<br>
yaj jïätvä neha bhüyo ‘nyaj<br>
jïätavyam avaçiñyate</i></p>
<p class="p16">“I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge both phenomenal and nominal, by knowing which there shall remain nothing to be known.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>räja-vidyä räja-guhyaà<br>
pavitram idaà uttamam<br>
pratyakñävagamaà dharmyaà<br>
susukhaà kartum avyayam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 9.2</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perfection of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting and is joyfully performed.”</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Adhyätma-vidyä vidyänäm:</i> “Of all sciences, I am the spiritual science of the self.”</p>
<p class="p7">By revealing this most secret of all secrets, the science of self-realization, you are rendering the highest welfare for all living beings.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yo vä etad akñaraà gärgy aviditväsmäl<br>
lokät praiti sa kåpaëaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Båhad-äraëyaka Up. 3.8.10</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are delivering us from our miserly and animalistic condition of life and elevating us to the platform of not <i>brähmaëa,</i> not <i>vipra,</i> but Vaiñëava.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kibä vipra kibä nyäsé çudra kene naya<br>
yei kåñëa-tattva-vettä sei guru haya</i></p>
<p class="p16">“It does not matter whether a person is a <i>vipra</i> or born in a lower family or is in the renounced order of life. If he is master in the science of Kåñëa, he is the perfect and bona fide spiritual master.” (<i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">It is also stated in the <i>Vedas:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ñaö-karma-nipuëo vipro<br>
mantra-tantra-viçäradaù<br>
avaiñëavaù çvapaco guruù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“A scholarly <i>brähmaëa, </i>expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge, is unfit to become a spiritual master without being expert in the science of Kåñëa consciousness. But a person born in a family of al lower caste can become a spiritual master if he is a Vaiñëava.” [<i>Padma Puräëa</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">You are distributing love of Godhead, following directly in the footsteps of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His associates, without considering who is a fit candidate and who is not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. Unconditionally, you are distributing love of Godhead at every opportunity.</p>
<p class="p7">O Mahä-bhakta, you are <i>ätmäräma, </i>satisfied simply by discharging loving service to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sakala-sahane bolo diyä koro nija-mäne spåhähéna: </i>“Please give us strength. Let us be as you are, without desires or aspirations.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nikuïja-yüno rati-keli-siddhyai<br>
yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä<br>
taträti-däkñyäd ati-vallabhasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i>[<span class="s3"><i>Gurv-añöaka 6</i></span>]</p>
<p class="p7">O Çré Guru, you are a personal associate of Çrématé Rädhäräëé, who is the personification of Kåñëa’s internal pleasure potency, <i>hlädiné çakti,</i> and the embodiment of pure devotional service. Please be merciful unto us and allow us to gain Her favor. There is nothing more powerful than your causeless mercy. <i>Guro prasädo balavän na tasmäd ballavataram.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O Paramahaàsa, you are the phenomenal manifestation of Kåñëa and are directly empowered (<i>vibhüti</i>) by Lord Balaräma, the original spiritual master. By satisfying you, one can advance in spiritual consciousness. By pleasing you, one pleases Kåñëa. You are not bound by the <i>guëas</i> or ropes of illusion. Kåñëa Himself says in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryaà mäà vijäniyän<br>
nävamanyeta karhicit<br>
na martya-buddhyäsüyeta<br>
sarva-deva-mayo guruù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“One should understand the spiritual master to be as good as I am. No one should be jealous of him or think of him as an ordinary man because the spiritual master is the sum total of all the demigods.” [<i>Bhä</i>g. 11.17.27]</p>
<p class="p7">Also, in the <i>Padma Puräëa, </i>it is stated: <i>guruñu nara-matir yasya vä naraké saù.</i> “One who considers the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being is possessed of hellish intelligence.”</p>
<p class="p7">O sublime teacher, we have not yet experienced the effect of seeing Kåñëa’s lotus feet, which are adorned with the marks of a thunderbolt, a goad, a banner and a lotus. The splendor of their beautiful ruby nails resembles the orbit of the moon and dispels the thick gloom of one’s heart. But by rendering service to your lotus feet, though that service be insignificant, the thick gloom of our hearts is becoming dispelled because service to the <i>mahä-bhägavata </i>is greater than service to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Nor have we experienced the effect of seeing Kåñëa’s benevolent smile, which, for all those who bow to Him, drives away the ocean of tears caused by intense grief. But your all-compassionate smile is filling the cold chambers of our hearts with the warmth of love of God.</p>
<p class="p7">O Gurvendra, you are following in the footsteps of the Six Gosvämés of Våndävana:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau premaàåtämbho-nidhi<br>
dhérädhira-jana-priyau priyakarau nirmatsarau püjitau<br>
çré-caitanya-kåpä-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhärävahantä-rakau<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Ñaò-gosvämy-añöaka 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You too are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Kåñëa and dancing. You have said that the bona fide spiritual master is he who always speaks about Kåñëa. You are constantly glorifying Kåñëa by your actions, your words and your thoughts. You too are like an ocean of love of God, for you are drowning us all in an ever-increasing <i>sac-cid-änanda</i> existence. You too are popular both with the gentle and the ruffians, for you purify all by your contact.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>gaìgära paraça haile paçcäte pävana<br>
darçane pavitra kara ei tomära guëa</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Merely by the touch of the waters of the sacred Ganga, one becomes liberated, even if he is the lowest of mankind. But just by seeing you, the same effect is achieved.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>anuvrajämy ahaà nityaà<br>
püyeyetyanghri-reëubhiù</i></p>
<p class="p7">Whatever you do, you also are pleasing to everyone, and are fully blessed by Lord Caitanya, which is proven by the fact that this ISKCON <i>saìkértana</i> movement continues to increase. Thus, you also are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all conditioned souls in the material universe. And you are fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s prophecy: <i>påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma. </i>“My holy name will be heard in every town and village throughout the world.” <span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya</i> 4.126]</span> </p>
<p class="p7">Due to your causeless mercy, the holy name is rising in our hearts like the shining sun, and is dissipating the darkness of ignorance. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>näma vinu kali-käle nähi ära dharm<br>
sarva-mantra-sära näma, ei çästra-marma</i></p>
<p class="p16">“In this age of Kali, there is no other religious principle than the chanting of the holy name. The holy name is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all revealed scriptures.” (<i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">The scriptures offer many remedies to cure the material disease, but one needs an expert physician to prescribe the best remedy according to time and circumstance. And you are that expert physician of the soul.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa’s holy name alone can render all benediction upon the living beings, including the supreme benediction, <i>kåñëa-prema.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëa mantra haite habe saàsära mocana<br>
kåñëa näma haite päbe kåñëera caraëa</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kåñëa, one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting Hare Kåñëa one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>etädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan mamäpi<br>
durdaivam édåçam ihäjani nänurägaù<br>
(Çikñäñöaka)</i></p>
<p class="p7">Out of kindness, Kåñëa enables us to easily approach Him by His holy names, but we are so unfortunate that we have no attraction for them.</p>
<p class="p7">O Gurudeva, we were all fools attempting to enjoy the illusory fools’ paradise. But by accepting the shelter of your lotus feet, we are discovering that the holy names and the Lord are identical, and that simply by chanting we are becoming relieved of all material conditions. Now, we are wondering in anticipation:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nayanaà galad-açru dhärayä<br>
vadanaà gadgada-ruddhayä girä<br>
pulakair nicitaà vapuù kadä<br>
tava näma-grahaëe bhaviñyati</i></p>
<p class="p16">“When will our eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when we chant the holy name? When will our voices choke up and the hairs of our bodies stand on end at the recitation of the holy name?” [<i>Çikñäñöaka </i>6]</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tumi kåpä kori’ çraddhä-bindu diyä<br>
deha ‘kåñëa-näma-dhane<br>
kåñëa se tomära kåñëa dite pära<br>
tomära çakati äche<br>
ämi to ‘käìgäla ‘kåñëa’ ‘kåñëa’ boli’<br>
dhäi tava päche päche<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çaraëägati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“O Prabhupäda, please bless us by giving us just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Kåñëa. Kåñëa is yours; you have the power to give Him to us. We are simply running behind you shouting, Kåñëa, Kåñëa, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p49">Uttamaçloka däsa adhikäré / Bahiñmati-devé däsé / Ayodhyapati däsa adhikäré / Çréjikäré-devé däsé / Kåpäsindhu däsa adhikäré / Atigarvita-devé däsé / Kåñëa-kathä däsa adhikäré / Anala-devé däsé / Vicäru däsa adhikäré / Bhadrapriyä-devé däsé / Duryodhanaguru däsa adhikäré / Våndä-devé däsé / Trilokanätha däsa adhikäré / Kñéracora-devé däsé / Ravéndra däsa adhikäré / Mäyävaté-devé däsé / Bhakta Das / Bhaktin Joy / Bhakta Tony / Bhaktin Margaret / Çauré däsa adhikäré / Rädhä-devé däsé / Drupada däsa adhikäré / Pratimä-devé däsé / Viçvakarmä däsa brahmacäré / Praharaëa-devé däsé / Giriyädava däsa brahmacäré / Mäliné-devé däsé / Tärakanätha däsa brahmacäré / Jyotiräditya-devé däsé / Bhaktimärga däsa brahmacäré / Paurëamäsé-devé däsé / Nakädi däsa brahmacäré / Tribhuvaneçvaré-devé däsé / Govinda-bhakta däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Subhaja / Raghumiçra däsa brahmacäré / Rüpa / Baladeva däsa brahmacäré / Sanätana / Revatépräëanätha däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa däsé / Bhakta Chuck / Bhaktin Natalie / Härakumära däsa brahmacäré / Lakñmaëa-devé däsé / Bhakta Rodney / Mohiné-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Just as the sun rises in the east at the break of day,<br>
So the brilliant sun of Jagat-guru has risen in our soul.<br>
Before he came life was like death, dark and grey,<br>
Trying desperately to satisfy insatiable senses, thinking that was our goal.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Just as moths attracted by the light fly into the fire,<br>
And just as flies are attracted to the stool,<br>
So we foolish jéva souls have come into the mire<br>
Of illusion, and put ourselves under Mäyävädé’s rule.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Forgetting who we were and looking in a desperate attempt for love,<br>
We have searched on many a mountain, valley and stream,<br>
Looking like madmen everywhere below and above,<br>
Becoming frantic, ‘nothing is real, it’s a dream.’</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And then when everything was lost, nothing left,<br>
Nowhere to go, no one to love, no more hope,<br>
A brilliant light appeared before us (in the West)<br>
And said “Come on, cross over this ocean, I am your boat.”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, you have saved us from this hell,<br>
From degradation, misery and strife.<br>
You have picked us up out of that deep dark well<br>
And given us the priceless gift of eternal life.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have taught us that our dearmost friend and lover is Govinda,<br>
You have brought us to His abode, Çré Våndävana-dhäma.<br>
You have given us back our eternal dhäma<br>
And have distributed freely Kåñëa prema, no more karma.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We are fallen souls with no qualification. <br>
Still, we pray to help you serve your Gurudeva,<br>
And in this way always stay in your association.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And so on this holiest Vyäsa-Püjä day,<br>
We honor you with the greatest reverence and love.<br>
Your glories are known far and wide in every which way<br>
On the earth, down below and up above.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are the greatest of all, our father, master and friend,<br>
And so we wish to offer you the Vyäsa seat.<br>
To describe your glories there can be no end,<br>
We simply pray to be situated eternally at your lotus feet.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya Gurudeva!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Signed by the devotees of Våndävana Kåñëa-Balaräma-mandira</p>
<p class="p49">Akñayänanda Svämé / Bälagopäla-devé däsé / Dhanaïjaya däsa adhikäré / Daivaçakti-devé däsé / Änanda Mahäräja / Arundhaté-devé däsé / Praëava däsa adhikäré / Mahämäyä-devé däsé / Mahäkña däsa brahmacäré / Viçvadevé-devé däsé / Gaëanätha däsa brahmacäré / Prahläda Rakñäsa däsa brahmacäré / Mahävaräha däsa brahmacäré / Akiïcna däsa brahmacäré / Raëgavaté-devé däsé / Akrüra däsa brahmacäré / Mahaté-devé däsé / Bhävänanda Räya däsa brahmacäré / Mahävegavaté-devé däsé / Candrävalépati däsa brahmacäré / Nirmalä-devé däsé / Gopälavånda däsa brahmacäré / Rasajïä-devé däsé / Jätismara däsa brahmacäré / Viçäliné-devé däsé / Lohitäkña däsa adhikäré / Kiçoré-devé däsé / Mürti däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Kiçoré / Jagadänanda Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Sevänandé-devé däsé / Nayanäbhiräma däsa adhikäré / Vanamälané-devé däsé / Påthuputra däsa adhikäré / Sita Ram Prabhu / Prabhäsa däsa brahmacäré / Asita däsa adhikäré / Saccidänanda däsa brahmacäré / Dhéranäyaka däsa brahmacäré / Pürëacandra däsa adhikäré / Rädhe Çyäma däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Richard / Viçäla däsa adhikäré / Patraka däsa brahmacäré / Apürva däsa brahmacäré / Drupada däsa adhikäré / Gopati däsa brahmacäré / Huìkära däsa brahmacäré / Krodaha däsa adhikäré / Narottamänanda däsa adhikäré / Oàkara däsa adhikäré / Pradyumna däsa adhikäré / Prasannätmä däsa adhikäré / Patitana-pävana däsa brahmacäré / Räjaçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Shambunatha Pandey / Çivanätha däsa brahmacäré / Urukrama däsa brahmacäré / Çreñöha däsa brahmacäré / Kemraja Sastri / Hari Prasad Sastri / Anantaram Sastri / Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Girivaradhäré däsa brahmacäré / Smarahari däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Washington, D. C.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Washington, D. C.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs<br>
tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho<br>
térthé-kurvanti térthäni<br>
sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.” [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryaà mäm vijänéyän<br>
nävamanyeta karhicit<br>
na martya-buddhyäsüyeta<br>
sarva-deva-mayo guruù</i></p>
<p class="p16">“One should respect the <i>äcärya</i> as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya<br>
kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-<br>
svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve<br>
gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-<br>
päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Our Beloved Master,</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrate obeisances hundreds and hundreds of times at your lotus feet. It is by your mercy that we have any ability to appreciate your qualities. By hearing your divine words, the most ignorant child can distinguish between truth and falsehood. He can escape the most subtle doctrines and theories, which snag the best of the <i>yogés, jïänés, </i>elevationists and liberationists. He can cross the insurmountable ocean of illusion, and comprehending the ocean of truth, enter into the eternal realm of pure devotional service to Rädhä-Kåñëa, tasting the sweetest transcendental <i>rasa.</i> Therefore we bow down to you. Our only wish is to have our consciousness purified by the words emanating from your lotus mouth. Your words are our life and soul.</p>
<p class="p7">You are our connection with <i>çästra </i>and Kåñëa, and are to be respected on the same level with the Supreme Lord. With your grace we cross over all impediments. Without your grace we find neither perfection, happiness nor the supreme goal of life. You are the confirmation of all the <i>çästras</i> and the living receptacle of our meager service to Kåñëa, who is otherwise forever beyond our reach. We are praying at your feet that we may never fall victim to a notion or doctrine opposing your teachings.</p>
<p class="p7">Before meeting you, we could not distinguish between a spiritual person and an outstanding materialist. Not knowing who or what to follow, we were constant victims of the theories. Constantly cheated by our own minds or by others’ minds, we had no idea what disease was plaguing us, how deadly serious it really was, or what sort of solution would cure it. You came to us when we were blinded by lust. You hold the torchlight of knowledge and discrimination. Now we are gradually seeing, by your grace, that devotional service (<i>ahaituki-bhakti</i>) is the only spiritual path, and that the pure <i>bhakta</i> is the only true spiritual man. The pure devotee of Kåñëa, who is immersed in the bliss of pure love of God, is totally free of all defects and selfish desires. Being genuinely detached and unmotivated, he can never cheat us or lie. So, such a pure devotee alone (a pure Vaiñëava) is qualified as <i>jagad-guru,</i> and no one else can ever be. You, Çréla Prabhupäda, are such a devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Fully relishing the transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Caitanya and of Rädhä-Kåñëa, you are the ocean of compassion, and mercy spills out of you in an endless flow of teachings and books. You have come to possess Kåñëa by the strength of your devotion. The maker and the goal of all <i>çästra</i> is your confidential associate. You can deliver the most fallen souls, bringing them to the highest level of Vaiñëava. Because of you, anyone in any part of the world can reach the highest perfection and in turn, distribute mercy by delivering your mercy as it is.</p>
<p class="p49">Parivräjakäcärya Svämé / Våñakai däsa adhikäré / Vipinapurandara däsa adhikäré / Bidancandra däsa adhikäré / Brahmä däsa brahmacäré / Aindra däsa brahmacäré / Tamäla Kartika däsa brahmacäré / Varutapa däsa brahmacäré / Bhavanätha däsa brahmacäré / Yajïa däsa brahmacäré / Yadunätha däsa brahmacäré / Daëòé däsa brahmacäré / Puñpavän däsa brahmacäré / Abhay Charan däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Värdhanya däsa brahmacäré / Ambujäkña däsa brahmacäré / Aghäri däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Frank / Bhakta Harry / Bhakta John / Bhakta John / Bhakta Robert / Nandé-devé däsé / Säravädi-devé däsé / Sudhäcäré-devé däsé / Padmamälané-devé däsé / Ugrasena-devé däsé / Anaìgamaïjaré-devé däsé / Viläsé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Donna / Bhaktin Louise / Bhaktin Marget</p>
<p class="p11">Winnipeg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Winnipeg</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracärine<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O beloved spiritual master, sometimes, due to the material diseases of the conditioned soul, we find it very difficult to fully appreciate the causeless mercy which you are freely bestowing upon us. We are all so weak and devoid of intelligence; please allow us to be with you always. Being the direct representative of Lord Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, you also are <i>patita-pävana,</i> friend of the fallen. Since we have no spontaneous attraction for serving the lotus feet of Prabhu Nityänanda (<i>nitäi pada-kamala</i>), how else but by your inconceivable mercy can we maintain any kind of enthusiasm and determination in our devotional service? For so many births and deaths we have been maddened by a false concept of bodily life and bound up by hundreds and thousands of material desires. But now we have all the mercy necessary to cross over the ocean of material suffering. We simply have to take it. As Govinda däsa prays:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>durlabha mänava janama satsaìge<br>
täraha e bhava sindhu re</i></p>
<p class="p16">“The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter at His lotus feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master’s concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always mindful of the devotees who fully engage in cultivating knowledge of Him, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.” (<i>Ädi</i>, Vol. 1, purp)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sädhavo hådayaà mahyaà<br>
sädhünäà hådayaà tv aham<br>
mad-anyat te na jänanti<br>
nähaà tebhyo manäg api</i></p>
<p class="p16">“Saints are My heart, and only I am their hearts. They do not know anyone but Me, and therefore I do not recognize anyone besides them as Mine.” (<i>Ädi</i>, 1.62)</p>
<p class="p7">You are so compassionate upon the fallen conditioned souls, now it is our duty and responsibility to follow your instructions without deviation. At every moment, let us pray as Bhaktivinoda prayed: “It is so difficult to find the strength to carry on alone the <i>saìkértana </i>of the holy name of Hari. Please bless us by giving us one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Kåñëa. Give us all help. Give us all strength. Let us be as you are, without desires or aspirations.”</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dhari-tvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 7</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>éçvara-svarüpa bhakta täìra adhiñöhäna<br>
bhaktera hådaye kåñëera satata viçräma</i></p>
<p class="p16">“A pure devotee constantly engaged in the loving service of the Lord is identical with the Lord, who is always seated in his heart.” (<i>Ädi, </i>1.61)</p>
<p class="p7">Being fully absorbed in the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and being a soul thoroughly surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa, we understand that everything emanating from your lotus mouth is the Supreme Absolute Truth. The Lord, being situated within your heart as the Supersoul, reveals perfect absolute knowledge to you from within. We must always pray for the desire to hear from you and to execute your instructions without restriction.</p>
<p class="p7">Although we do not deserve your mercy and are so offensive in our actions, you are still benedicting us with your immeasurable loving kindness and blessing us with the most valuable jewel, the <i>mahä-mantra: Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We are humbly thanking you and prostrate ourselves at your lotus feet on this holiest of all holy days. May we please you with our lives and always strive to increase our service to your transcendental feet just as you are always increasing the ecstasies of your beloved Gurudeva Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Nandikeçvara däsa adhikäré / Mandaré-devé däsé / Kaàsahantä däsa adhikäré / Lokadåñöé-devé däsé / Tamohära däsa brahmacäré / Jaganmäta-devé däsé / Nätha däsa brahmacäré / Subhadrä-devé däsé / Dharma-präëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Patty / Vyäpaka däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Joanne / Bhüdeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Susan / Jitarati däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Audrey / Bhakta Bob / Bhaktin Sandra / Bhakta Derek / Bhakta Joe</p>
<p class="p73"><b>(1)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ohe!<br>
vaiñëava öhäkura, doyära sägara,<br>
e däse korunä kori'<br>
diyä pada-chäyä, çodho he ämäya,<br>
tomära caraëa dhori</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b><i>O revered Vaiñnava, O ocean of mercy! Please be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet.</i></b></p>
<p class="p73"><b>(2)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>chaya vega domi', chaya doña çodhi',<br>
chaya guna deho' däse<br>
chaya sat-saìga, deho' he ämäre,<br>
bosechi saìgera äçe</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b><i>Teach me to control my six passions, retify my six faults, bestow upon me the six good qualities, and offer upon me the six kinds of holy association.</i></b></p>
<p class="p73"><b>(3)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ekaké ämära, nähi päya bala,<br>
hari-näma-saìkértane<br>
tumi kåpä kori', çraddhä-bindu diyä,<br>
deho' kåñëa-näma-dhane</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b><i>I do not find the strength to carry on alone the sankirtana the holy name of Lord Hari. Please bless me by giving me just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Kåñëa.</i></b></p>
<p class="p73"><b>(4)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëa se tomära, kåñëa dite päro,<br>
tomära çakati äche<br>
ämi to' käìgäla, 'kåñëa' 'kåñëa' boli',<br>
dhäi tava päche päche</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b><i>Kåñëa is yours, you have the power to give Him to me. I am simply running behind you shouting, "Kåñëa! Kåñëa!"</i></b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1976</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">August 19, 1976</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p9">The Real Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Real Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Jévera 'svarüpa' haya—Kåñëera 'nitya-däsa'' </i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 20.108</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">"The actual constitutional position of every living being is that he is eternally the servant of God." [<i>Madhya</i> 20.108]</p>
<p class="p7">The great question of life is how we can learn to understand who we really are. The direct answer can be ascertained most quickly by accepting the scientific conclusions of the Vedic authorities. Çréla Vyäsadeva, the original compiler of the <i>Vedas</i>, taught that the highest activity a person can perform is to perfect his existence by engaging himself and everything he owns in the loving devotional service of the Supreme Lord. One who can potentially relay this message of Vyäsadeva, without alteration, to less fortunate souls who are covered by the darkness of ignorance is declared by God himself to be His best servant:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>na ca tasmän manuñyeñu kaçcin me priya-kåttamaù<br>
bhavitä na ca me tasmäd anyaù priyataro bhuvi</i></p>
<p class="p16">"There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. [<i>Bg.</i> 18.69]</p>
<p class="p7">Spiritual understanding can be properly obtained through the authorized protocol of the chain of disciplic succession, spiritual master to disciple, starting from Vyäsadeva. Vyäsadeva himself learned from the Supreme Lord Viñëu. Therefore, a spiritual master in the disciplic succession is the transparent via medium, the royal road to God. He is the perfect representative of the Lord, thus he is called "Prabhupäda." Because of his confidential relationship with God he is honored with the same worship as God.</p>
<p class="p7">Traditionally, the spiritual master is shown respect by offering him the seat of Vyäsadeva, the <i>vyäsäsana</i>, and by celebrating his birthday with the worship ceremony Vyäsa-püjä. Part of Vyäsa-püjä is the presentation by disciples of attempts to glorify the spiritual master in their own words. The purpose of these Vyäsa-püjä offerings is not to showcase the knowledge, artistry or advanced devotional sentiments of the disciples. We are all just neophyte students without any such qualifications. Rather, they should be read as affectionate expressions of our gratitude to His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda for saving the world, and as reflections of what we may have assimilated of the sublime message of Kåñëa consciousness, which can only be fully appreciated by giving submissive hearing to <i>guru-muhka-padma-väkya, the</i> nectarean words emanating from the lotus mouth of the spiritual master himself. It is these instructions, after all, which are Çréla Prabhupäda's most important gift. These instructions form the real substance of the Kåñëa consciousness movement.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanaà<br>
kavibhir éòitaà kalmañäpaham<br>
çravaëa-maëgalaà çrimad ätataà<br>
bhuvi gåëanti te buüridä janäù</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Oh, Lord Kåñëa, the nectar of your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. These narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities, and they eradicate all sinful reactions. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers." (<i>Bhäg. </i> 10.31.9)</p>
<p class="p9">Our Lord and Master, His Divine Grace</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Our Lord and Master, His Divine Grace</b></p>
<p class="p75"><b>by Satvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda considers it significant that in the year of his birth (1896), the message of Kåñëa consciousness went to the West in the form of a small book by the great Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura. A year later Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura's book <i>The life and Precepts of Lord Caitanya</i> gained a place in the library of McGill College, in Montreal, Canada. The volume foreshadowed the flood of love of God that would come seventy years later from Çréla Prabhupäda's own publishing house, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</p>
<p class="p7">We cannot write the biography of a pure devotee from the mundane viewpoint. After all, the pure devotee is eternally liberated (<i>nitya-mukta</i>), and it is offensive for the disciple to think of his spiritual master as an ordinary person. Çréla Prabhupäda took his birth in a Vaiñëava family, and his father was a pure devotee. So from the very beginning of his life, he was hearing about Kåñëa. His dedication of the <i>Kåñëa</i> book reads:</p>
<p class="p16">To my Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930), a pure devotee of Kåñëa, who raised me as a Kåñëa conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the <i>mådaìga</i>. He gave me Rädhä-Kåñëa <i>vigraha</i> to worship, and he gave me Jagannätha-Ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda describes his mother as always being concerned for his health and well-being. "If my mother were alive today, she would be happy just to see that I am living." Prabhupada was named Abhay Caran De (a name of Kåñëa which means that His lotus feet give protection from all fear). His father would say to <i>sädhus</i> who visited their home, "Please pray that my son, Abhay Caran, can become a pure devotee of Rädhäräëi." Çréla Prabhupäda describes many boyhood activities such as asking his father to buy him two water pistols. ("Why two?" "Because I have two hands.") Also, as a small child he insisted on performing a six-day Rathayäträ Festival in honor of Lord Kåñëa and engaged both his young neighborhood friends and adults in cooking <i>prasäda</i> for the festival and marching in the parade. One of his early memories is of trying to fly a kite. When it would not take flight he and his sister ran with the kite and prayed, "Dear God, please let if fly." As a small boy he used to consult the train schedules and meditate on how he could save the fare to go from his native Calcutta to Våndävana, the site of Lord Kåñëa's eternal pastimes. Our spiritual master once said, "I cannot remember a time when I was not Kåñëa conscious." Çréla Prabhupäda offers memories from his own life to illustrate the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>teaching that the self remains the same although the body changes from boyhood to youth (<i>dehino 'smin yathä dehe kaumäraà yauvanaà jarä</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 2.13]</span>). And so he remembers the time of a plague in Calcutta. In order to end the plague, a local <i>bäbäjé</i> organized a mass <i>kértana</i>. Çréla Prabhupäda remembers that at the time he was only half as tall as most adults, and he was trying to look out the window at the <i>harinäma kértana</i> party. From boyhood to youth he was always Kåñëa conscious.</p>
<p class="p7">The main influence of his early years was his father, a pure devotee, a loving guide, who arranged for his son's worship of Rädhä-Kåñëa and Lord Jagannätha, <i>mådaìga</i> playing for the <i>kértanas</i>, and even a marriage which would be most beneficial for his son's Kåñëa consciousness. Çréla Prabhupäda relates that there were two girls being discussed as possibilities for marriage. One girl was very beautiful looking, the other not so much. When Abhay Caran De heard that his father wanted him to marry the less beautiful girl he thought, "No, I don't want to marry her." But his father spoke to him and explained that if he married a wife who was very beautiful he would become too much attached to her and would never be able to leave her later in life when a man is supposed to accept the renounced order. Gour Mohan De's parental dealings (and their results) show that he was a genius in preparing his son to become a great disciple of a great spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda attended Scottish Churches College in Calcutta, which was taught by British professors. Once one such professor attempted to discredit the philosophy of <i>karma</i>, from the Christian viewpoint, by saying, "How could a person be awarded the results of all his activities in the form of <i>karma?</i> Many of our actions are not remembered or even witnessed by anyone. If in court there are no witnesses, no judgement can be given." Çréla Prabhupäda says that at the time he did not make an argumentative reply, but he shows us that the challenge from his boyhood professor is certainly defeated when one understands the position of the Supersoul, the expansion of the Supreme Lord who is within everyone's heart and who witnesses all by His all-pervading knowledge and who awards everyone his next life through the agency of material nature or <i>karma</i>. It is the Lord in the heart who witnesses all our actions, and He is completely competent to award us our next life based on what He has witnessed. Even hearing from his European professor, there was no question of Çréla Prabhupäda being affected by materialistic ideas. To one who imbibes Vedic culture in an atmosphere of love, and who grasps the transcendental science with his intelligence, there is never doubt or a falldown from the truth. Although in this period of growing up Çréla Prabhupäda entered marriage and business and even made political affiliation—he relates that he never at any time in his life smoked cigarettes or even drank coffee or tea. Of course, more and more so-called Hindus do these illicit practices, but Çréla Prabhupäda was never such a "Hindu" but always a pure Vaiñëava, one who follows the essence of the original culture of India—love of Kåñëa. According to Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that original culture (<i>Veda</i>) is not intended only for Indians, but is to be spread all over the world, especially by those persons fortunate enough to be born in the land of Bhärata-varña (India).</p>
<p class="p7">Abhay Caran graduated from college majoring in psychology and philosophy and entered a business occupation before he was hardly twenty years old. Through an intimate friend of the family, he was appointed a manager in the chemical firm of a well-known physician-chemist, Dr. Bhosh.</p>
<p class="p7">In 1922, as a "newly married young man, and one of the managers of Dr. Bhosh's laboratory in Calcutta," Abhay Caran "addicted to Ghandi's movement and dressed in white khädi," met the personality who was to become his spiritual master, by the arrangement of providence. A friend insisted that he visit the most learned Vaiñëava scholar and devotee of the age, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. At the first meeting Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté asked Çréla Prabhupäda, as an educated young man, to bring the spiritual knowledge of India's <i>Vedas,</i> Kåñëa consciousness, to the West. Abhay Caran objected, saying that first India must become politically independent before others will listen to her. Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté pointed out that political dependence or supremacy was a temporary thing of no importance compared to knowledge of the soul and God, which alone can solve all the problems of humanity. Çréla Prabhupäda relates that he was defeated by this argument and very much impressed with his future spiritual master's transcendental wisdom. Çréla Prabhupäda writes,</p>
<p class="p16">I was convinced that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's message is the only panacea for suffering humanity. I was also convinced that the message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu would spread all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Because of his immediate household engagements, Çréla Prabhupäda could not at once take up the order given to him at their first meeting, but he relates that he always meditated on how he might do so. He would always remember the impression of meeting the saintly person who would eventually become his spiritual master, and whose order became his life and soul. Çréla Prabhupäda began his own business, selling medicinal products, and at the same time he assisted in the activities of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté's preaching mission, the Gauòéa Math. He was formally initiated by his spiritual master in 1933. Desiring to do more direct service for his <i>guru,</i> he wrote him in 1936 asking what he could do, and received the same order given at his first meeting with Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. In a letter dated just two weeks before his departure from this mortal world, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté once again implored, "Teach Kåñëa consciousness to the English-speaking people." Çréla Prabhupäda began the fortnightly journal <i>Back to Godhead</i> in 1944.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda says that he met with his spiritual master no more than a dozen times. In the days Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta was living in this world, Çréla Prabhupäda was not one of the <i>sannyäsés</i> who lived with the spiritual master, thus it may not have been clear that, on the order of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, this disciple, out of all the others, would do the most to spread pure Kåñëa consciousness all over the world. But there were signs even in the beginning. Çréla Prabhupäda was very much attached to hearing his spiritual master speak. Çréla Prabhupäda explained that although at first he could not understand him, he would listen attentively whenever his spiritual master spoke and would remain listening even after most others had left. "Because I was good at <i>çravaëam</i> (hearing)," Çréla Prabhupäda says, "now I am good at <i>kértanam</i> (chanting or speaking Kåñëa consciousness)." One time he wrote a poem which contained the couplet "Absolute is sentient thou has proved / Impersonal calamity thou has removed," and his spiritual master was very pleased with this and would show it to all his guests. In this way, Çréla Prabhupäda demonstrated that he knew the mind of his spiritual master. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta was a very bold preacher who did not like his disciples to compromise—he wanted to defeat <i>Mäyävädé</i> impersonalism and establish the eternal truth if the soul in relation to Kåñëa. In preaching he particularly stressed the writing, printing, and distributing of books. So from his first efforts with <i>Back to Godhead</i> in 1944, Çréla Prabhupäda showed he knew the real desire of his spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">In 1959, Çréla Prabhupäda accepted <i>sannyäsa,</i> the renounced order, and began living alone in the Rädhä-Dämodara temple in Våndävana and translating the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> into English. He managed to raise funds to publish three volumes and then in 1965 he decided to travel to the Untied States. A friend offered free passage on a ship. Now, at this time Çréla Prabhupäda was seventy years old, retired from material activity and living in the sacred land if Våndävana. After so many years, why would he decide to travel to America? What hope had he, as a lone <i>sannyäsi</i>, of creating any interest among the American people, who have always been fully immersed in what Vedic culture considers the four pillars of sinful life—meat eating, illicit sex, gambling and intoxication? Mundane biographers would like to speculate and present their psychological theories on the life of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, why he waited, prepared himself, and then left for America with virtually no support or much chance for success. But the movements of persons completely surrendered to the <i>guru</i> and Kåñëa cannot be understood by such speculative methods. It is a fact that the Absolute Truth, Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be known by the material argument or sensual inspection, and similarly the servant of the absolute truth can also never be known by any means except devotion (<i>bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.55]</span>).</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yäìra citte kåñëa-premä karaye udaya<br>
taìra väkya, kriyä, mudrä vijïeha nä bujhaya</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Even the most learned man cannot understand the words, activities, and symptoms of a person situated in love of Godhead." (<i>Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä</i> 23.29)</p>
<p class="p7">Social historians have noted, however, that the arrival of Çréla Prabhupäda and Kåñëa consciousness to New York City in 1965—just when the youth of America were experiencing a spiritual crisis, the "hip" search for meaning beyond matter—couldn't have been better timed. In other words, even from the mundane historical point of view, Çréla Prabhupäda's coming to America in 1965 seemed truly providential; it was Kåñëa's arrangement for inaugurating the Hare Kåñëa movement in the Western world.</p>
<p class="p7">During the two-week voyage to America, Çréla Prabhupäda cooked for himself aboard the Jaladüta. He became seasick, however, and wrote in his diary that only by reading <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> did he feel solace. The ship arrived in Boston harbor, Commonwealth Pier, on September 17, 1965, for a short stop en route to New York. Çréla Prabhupäda expressed his helpless dependence on the will of Kåñëa in a poem he wrote while in the Boston harbor. Although feeling insignificant, he had courage and absolute confidence that the message of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> would appeal even to persons here in America, a land of demoniac living. Because everyone is the eternal servant of Kåñëa, Çréla Prabhupäda was convinced that Kåñëa consciousness would clean the Americans' hearts and appeal to their original spiritual nature. He arrived in New York with only forty rupees (approximately five dollars). Çréla Prabhupäda says that coming off the ship, he did not know where to go, whether to turn left or right. He did have a patron whom he had never met, a Mr.. Agarwal of Pennsylvania, whose invitation had enabled him to visit the United States. So Çréla Prabhupäda took a bus to Butler, Pennsylvania, the home of his patron. In the first Western-world news release about Çréla Prabhupäda, the <i>Butler Eagle</i> printed this article, entitled "Ambassador of Bhakti-yoga":</p>
<p class="p16">A slightly brown man in faded orange drapes wearing white bathing shoes stepped out of a compact car yesterday and into the Butler YMCA to attend a meeting. He is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swaméjé, a messenger from India to the peoples of the West.<br>
'My mission is to revive people's God-consciousness,' says the Swaméjé. 'God is the Father of all living beings, in thousands of different forms,' he explains. 'Human life is a stage of perfection in evolution; if we miss the message, back we go through the process again.'<br>
He believes that the highest possible state will be to go to God, or eternal life.</p>
<p class="p7">After staying in Butler, Çréla Prabhupäda was invited to stay at the New York country-<i>äçrama</i> of a Westernized Indian <i>guru.</i> This <i>guru</i> had been in the United States for some time, and he had a small following. He informed Çréla Prabhupäda that in order to live in the West one had to take to Western habits—meat-eating, drinking liquor, dressing the Western way. He even attempted to show Çréla Prabhupäda how to eat with a knife and fork. But rather than take to Western habits, Çréla Prabhupäda cooked the Vedic way (<i>dahl</i>, rice, and <i>chapatis</i>), offered the food to Kåñëa, and distributed it to the <i>äçrama</i> members, who were all very pleased. They had never before tasted Kåñëa <i>prasäda</i>. Even the Westernized <i>guru</i> admitted that he became healthy only when he eat the food prepared by Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Still without any secure position, Çréla Prabhupäda moved to a small apartment in upper Manhattan and supported himself by whatever books he could sell. He had brought with him a number of three-volume sets of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam,</i> and by occasional sales of these books he managed to push on. But one day all his belongings, including a donated typewriter and tape recorder, were stolen from his room.</p>
<p class="p7">Next, a young man invited him to share his loft located on the Bowery. A storekeeper who had made Çréla Prabhupäda's acquaintance heard of his proposed move and objected, "No, swami, you can't go to the Bowery! It's the worst place!" But the pure devotee had no other invitations, so he moved into the Bowery loft and began holding classes in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>. Çréla Prabhupäda relates that although there were usually derelicts lying on the street in front of his door, they would get up and clear a way for him when he came by and that they greeted him in a gentlemanly way. But Çréla Prabhupäda's host (a consumer of LSD) became crazy, and Çréla Prabhupäda could no longer stay in the Bowery loft.</p>
<p class="p7">In July, 1966, Çréla Prabhupäda obtained a storefront with a rear apartment, at 26 Second Avenue, on Manhattan's Lower East Side. A friend donated the first month's rent, and Çréla Prabhupäda made the storefront into the first center of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness—ISKCON, Inc.—based on the principles of <i>bhakti-yoga</i> taught by Lord Kåñëa in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> Çréla Prabhupäda taught classes every morning at 6:00 A.M. and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:00 P.M. Also, he introduced the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i>. A group of about a dozen young people, mostly boys, regularly attended. After a couple of months, he offered initiation, and Çréla Prabhupäda's first American disciples were born. In those days of ISKCON's infancy, Çréla Prabhupäda personally managed all affairs. It was he who did the cooking for the devotees, he who played the drum and chanted, he who gave all the lectures, he who personally handled all petty cash expenditures, answered the phone, typed the manuscripts and letter, mailed the letters, cleaned, worshipped, etc. He worked with the strength of a young man. By material standards he overworked. His first students were mainly ex-hippies and knew nothing of Vedic culture and practices. Everything had to come gradually and Çréla Prabhupäda tolerated all the ignorant offenses of his disciples. He only wanted to see that they were happy, engaging in chanting Hare Kåñëa and serving the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda's biography from 1966 is inseparable from the life and growth of ISKCON and the publication of his books.</p>
<p class="p7">Thus the milestones in Çréla Prabhupäda's life included these events: 1967—opening temples in San Francisco, Montreal, and Boson; 1968—the first Rathayäträ festival, in San Francisco. The most significant dates in his life are the publication dates of his books, which came in a steady stream, quickly increasing to a torrent: <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is</i> 1968; <i>Teachings of Lord Caitanya</i> 1968; <i>Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead</i> 1970; <i>The Nectar of Devotion</i> 1970 (more and more books). For the past ten years, he has traveled around the world by jet many times, opening centers, visiting disciples, and managing the affairs of the society in person and by mail. Yet, wherever he is, he translates at night by speaking into a dictaphone. He usually takes his evening rest at around 10 or 11 P.M. and then rises at 1 or 2 A.M. to translate the verses of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i> Wherever he goes he takes the dictaphone and translates, even if only a single page is done in a night. "Little drops of water wear away the stone," he says, "In this way I have written all these books." There are now almost a hundred established centers and fifty published volumes of books.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda has also invested much energy in bringing Kåñëa consciousness back to India. Some of his western spiritual children, disciples of ISKCON, joined with Çréla Prabhupäda in 1970 when he returned to India to revive the original Vedic culture. Especially in India he continued to personally manage the affairs of his institution, and with great struggle he began temples and centers in Mäyäpura, Våndävana, Bombay, etc. Now he has erected two pilgrimage sites with gorgeous temples capable of accommodating hundreds of devotees, at Mäyäpura and Våndävana, so that his western disciples can go at least yearly and receive the blessings of such holy sites. Çréla Prabhupäda's plans for the future development of Mäyäpura, the birthsite or Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, include the construction of the largest temple in India and development of an entire Vedic city, which will include a planetarium, <i>kértana</i> stadium, village industries, and even an airport. In recent years he has spent most of his time traveling in India and, at least once a year, touring the United States and Europe.</p>
<p class="p7">A biography of Çréla Prabhupäda is very difficult because <i>he has done so much!</i> Who can recount it all? Perhaps one day his disciples can put together an historical travel record of every place he has visited and blessed by his saintly presence, but will they be able to list all his achievements? Just as Kåñëa däsa Kaviräja compiled a record of places visited by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu on His South Indian tour, Prabhupäda's disciples will have to research extensively to reproduce the worldwide travels of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. And wherever he has gone he has given his local leaders extensive blueprints or the development of Kåñëa consciousness in their area. He has given thousands of lectures, many of them recorded and all of the fully realized in love of Kåñëa and substantiated with <i>çästric</i> references and strong arguments of logic.</p>
<p class="p7">Under almost any conditions of climate, travel, or residence, Çréla Prabhupäda manages to follow his simple, austere routine: translating with a dictaphone, morning walk, <i>darçana</i> in the temple, morning <i>Bhägavatama</i> class, breakfast, and so forth. He usually travels with only two or three assistants: his secretary, a personal servant, and a disciple like Pradyumna däsa or Nitäi däsa to assist with Sanskrit editing.</p>
<p class="p7">Struggling to relate the tiniest fragment of a true picture of Çréla Prabhupäda, I am reminded of his reply when one of his disciples asked him to speak about his own spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. He said, "What can I say about him? He was a Vaikuëöha man." Çréla Prabhupäda's biography is a continuum of loving transcendental service by a confidential servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And because he meditates, instructs, and acts only to deliver Kåñëa to all living beings, his life is the greatest benediction for the world.</p>
<p class="p7">One Indian Astrologer declared, on seeing a picture of Çréla Prabhupäda, "This is a man who can build a house in which the entire world can live in peace." That is a fact, because Çréla Prabhupäda is directly delivering Kåñëa, therefore He is competent to give all beings eternity, bliss and knowledge if they will surrender to His protection.</p>
<p class="p7">But what we do not see in Çréla Prabhupäda's biography as yet is the awarding of Nobel Prizes, full government support for his mission, and praise and appeals for guidance from the world's political leaders. This is due to those so-called leaders' ignorance, typical of the age of Kali.</p>
<p class="p7">While Çréla Prabhupäda's mission flowers among persons fortunate enough to receive the perfection of spiritual realization, he will never receive the appreciation of conditioned souls whose very aim in life is to supplant the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, and become Kåñëa themselves.</p>
<p class="p7">The only personality who can fully appreciate the biography of Çréla Prabhupäda is Kåñëa Himself. The Supreme Lord is keeping that biography in His heart, as affirmed by Lord Kåñëa in the Ninth Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam:</i> "Saints are My heart and only I am in their hearts. They do not know anyone but Me, and therefore I do not recognize anyone besides them as Mine." (<i>Ädi</i>, 1.62)</p>
<p class="p7">By hearing the facts and figures, dates and places, of his activities in this world, we can better appreciate the awesome reality of Çréla Prabhupäda's identity—empowered intimate devotee of the Supreme Lord. Let biographers come forward and tell more and more about the events of his life. Gradually, intelligent men will appreciate Çréla Prabhupäda as the greatest of all personalities.</p>
<p class="p7">—Satvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p9">Prayer unto the Lotus Feet of Krsna</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Prayer unto the Lotus Feet of Krsna<br>
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda<br>
on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965</b></p>
<p class="p44"><span class="s10">Friday, September 10, 1965, the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, </span>Çréla Prabhupäda, on a Steamer bound for America, wrote in his ship diary: </p>
<p class="p16">"Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath, Radha Damodar. The only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya's Leela. I have left Bharat Bhumi just to execute the order of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati in pursuance of Lord Chaitanya's order. I have no qualification, but I have taken up the risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully on Their mercy so far away from Vrindaban." </p>
<p class="p44">Three days later, in this mood of pure devotion, His Divine Grace composed the following prayer.</p>
<p class="p76"><b>———————</b></p>
<p class="p77">(refrain)</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëa taba puëya habe bhäi<br>
e-puëya koribe jabe rädhäräëé khusé habe<br>
dhruva ati boli tomä täi</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Kåñëa only when Çrématé Rädhäräëé becomes pleased with you.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-siddhänta saraswaté çacé-suta priya ati<br>
kåñëa-sebäya jära tula näi<br>
sei se mohänta-guru jagater madhe uru<br>
kåñëa-bhakti dey öhäi öhäi</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, who is very dear to Lord Gauräìga, the son of mother Çacé, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intense devotion to Kåñëa at different places throughout the world.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tära icchä balavän päçcätyete öhän öhän<br>
hoy jäte gauräìger näm<br>
påthivéte nagarädi äsamudra nada nadé<br>
sakalei loy kåñëa näm</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gauräìga will spread throughout all the countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the holy name of Kåñëa.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tähale änanda hoy tabe hoy digvijay<br>
caitanyer kåpä atiçay<br>
mäyä duñöa jata duùkhé jagate sabäi sukhé<br>
vaiñëaver icchä pürëa hoy</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>As the vast mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu conquers all directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, the Vaiñëavas' desire is then fulfilled.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>se kärja je koribäre äjïä jadi dilo more<br>
jogya nahi an déna héna<br>
täi se tomära kåpä mägitechi anurüpä<br>
äji numi sabär pravéëa</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Although my Guru Mahäräja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tomära se çakti pele guru-sebäya bastu mile<br>
jébana särthak jadi hoy<br>
sei se sevä päile tähale sukhé hale<br>
taba saìga bhägyate miloy</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>If You bestow Your power, by serving the spiritual master one attains the Absolute Truth-one's life becomes successful. If that service is obtained, then one becomes happy and gets Your association due to good fortune.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>evaà janaà nipatitaà prabhavähiküpe<br>
kämäbhikämam anu yaù prapatan prasaìgät<br>
kåtvätmasät surarñiëä bhagavan gåhétaù<br>
so 'haà kathaà nu visåje tava bhåtya-seväm</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Närada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service? </b>(Prahläda Mahäräja to Lord Nåsiàha-deva, <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <b>7.9.28</b>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tumi mor cira säthé bhuliyä mäyär läthi<br>
khäiyächi janma-janmäntare<br>
äji punaù e sujoga jadi hoy jogäyoga<br>
tabe päri tuhe milibäre</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>O Lord Kåñëa, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have suffered the kicks of </b><b><i>mäyä </i></b><b>birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occurs again, then I will surely be able to rejoin You.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tomära milane bhäi äbär se sukha päi<br>
gocärane ghuri din bhor<br>
kata bane chuöächuöi bane khäi luöäpuöi<br>
sei din kabe habe mor</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>O dear friend, in Your company I will experience great joy once again. In the early morning I will wander about the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and frolicking in the many forests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh when will that day be mine?</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>äji se subidhäne tomära smaraëa bhela<br>
baro äçä òäkiläm täi<br>
ämi tomära nitya-däsa täi kori eta äça<br>
tumi binä anya gati näi</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way. Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant and therefore I desire Your association so much. O Lord Kåñëa, except for You there is no other means of success.</b></p>
<p class="p9">Märkine Bhägavata-dharma</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Märkine Bhägavata-dharma<br>
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda<br>
at Boston Harbor, September 18, 1965</b></p>
<p class="p7">On September 17, 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda arrived in Boston on board the ship Jaladuta, carrying within his heart the orders of his spiritual master to speard the teachings of Çré Caitanya beyond the borders of India, thoughout the entire world. As he looked out upon Boston's bleak and dirty skyline, he could understand the difficulty of his sacred mission and felt great compassion for these godless people. Thus, with perfect humility, he composed this historic prayer in Bengali, praying for the deliverance of all fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p76"><b>———————</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>baro-kåpä kaile kåñëa adhamer prati<br>
ki lägiyänile hethä koro ebe gati</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>My dear Lord Kåñëa, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>äche kichu kärja taba ei anumäne<br>
nahe keno äniben ei ugra-sthäne</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>rajas tamo guëe erä sabäi äcchanna<br>
bäsudeb-kathä ruci nahe se prasanna</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Väsudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tabe jadi taba kåpä hoy ahaituké<br>
sakal-i sambhava hoy tumi se kautuké</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ki bhäve bujhäle tärä bujhe sei rasa<br>
eta kåpä koro prabhu kori nija-baça</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tomära icchäya saba hoy mäyä-baça<br>
tomära icchäya näça mäyär paraça</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>taba icchä hoy jadi tädera uddhär<br>
bujhibe niçcai tabe kathä se tomär</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhägavater kathä se taba avatär<br>
dhéra haiyä çune jadi käne bär bär</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>The words of </b><b><i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i></b><b>are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.</b></p>
<p class="p78">It is said in the <i>Srémad-Bhägavatam </i><span class="s3">(1.2.17-21)</span>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çrnvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù<br>
punya-çravaëa-kértanaù<br>
hådy antaù-stho hy abhadräëi<br>
vidhunoti suhåt satäm</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu<br>
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä<br>
bhagavaty uttama-çloke<br>
bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tadä rajas-tamo-bhäväù<br>
käma-lobhädayaç ca ye<br>
ceta etair anäviddhaà<br>
sthitaà sattve prasédati</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>evaà prasanna-manaso<br>
bhagavad-bhakti-yogataù<br>
bhagavat-tattva-vijïänaà<br>
mukta-saìgasya jäyate</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhidyate hådaya-granthiç<br>
chidyante sarva-saàçayäù<br>
kñéyante cäsya karmäëi<br>
dåñöa evätmanéçvare</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>"Çré Kåñëa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramätmä [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy. Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association. Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master."</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>rajas tamo hate tabe päibe nistär<br>
hådayer abhadra sate ghucibe tähär</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ki ko're bujhäbo kathä baro sei cähi<br>
khudra ämi déna héna kono çakti nähi</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>How will I make them understand this message of Kåñëa consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>athaca enecho prabhu kathä bolibäre<br>
je tomär icchä prabhu koro ei bäre</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>akhila jagat-guru! bacana se ämär<br>
alaìkåta koribär khamatä tomär</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>taba kåpä ha'le mor kathä çuddha habe<br>
çuniyä sabära çoka duùkha je ghucibe</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>äniyächo jadi prabhu ämäre näcäte<br>
näcäo näcäo prabhu näcäo se-mate<br>
käñöhera puttali jathä näcäo se-mate</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhakti näi beda näi näme khub daro<br>
"bhaktivedänta" näm ebe särthak kor</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Kåñëa. I have been designated as Bhaktivedänta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedänta.</b></p>
<p class="p79">Signed-the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,<br>
on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,<br>
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.<br>
dated 18th of September, 1965</p>
<p class="p9">His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</p>
<p class="p21"><b>His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</b></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, the foremost devotee and scholar of the previous age, is the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. He is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the bestower of devotional service upon the fallen souls. His is the deliverer of devotional service which is enriched with the conjugal love of Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. He is the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. Thus, he never tolerates any statement against the teaching of devotional service as enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p80"><b>In 1936, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda delivered this poem As a Vyäsa Püjä homage for His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</b></p>
<p class="p81"><b>“Adore, Adore Ye All the Happy Day”</b></p>
<p class="p82"><b>1)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Adore adore ye all,<br>
The happy day.<br>
Blessed than Heaven,<br>
Sweeter than May.<br>
When He appeared at Puri,<br>
The holy place,<br>
My Lord and Master<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>2)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Oh! my Master<br>
The evangelic angel.<br>
Give us thy light,<br>
Light up thy candle.<br>
Struggle for existence<br>
A Human race,<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>3)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Misled we are<br>
All going astray,<br>
Save us Lord<br>
Our fervent pray,<br>
Wonder thy ways<br>
To turn our face<br>
Adore thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>4)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Forgotten Krishna<br>
We fallen soul.<br>
Paying most heavy<br>
The illusion's toll.<br>
Darkness around<br>
All untrace,<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>5)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Message of service<br>
Thou has brought.<br>
A healthful life<br>
As Chaitanya wrought.<br>
Unknown to all<br>
It's full of brace.<br>
That's your gift<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>6)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Absolute is sentient<br>
Thou hast proved.<br>
Impersonal calamity<br>
Thou hast moved.<br>
This gives us a life<br>
Anew and fresh.<br>
Worship thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>7)</b></p>
<p class="p55">Had you not come<br>
Who had told,<br>
The message of Krishna<br>
Forceful and bold,<br>
That's your right<br>
You have the mace.<br>
Save me a fallen<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p82"><b>8)</b></p>
<p class="p55">The line of service<br>
As drawn by you,<br>
Is pleasing and healthy<br>
Like morning dew.<br>
The oldest of all<br>
But in new dress<br>
Miracle done<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p76"><b>———————</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda who is very deat to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at his louts feet."</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are so kindly teaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with Voidism and impersonalism." <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</b></p>
<p class="p11">Atreya Åñi däsa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atreya Åñi däsa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Caitanya, traveling through the jungle of Jhärikhaëòa, engaged the wild animals of the forest in chanting the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy. You are fulfilling the dreams of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté by spreading Lord Caitanya's mercy and compassion amongst the bewildered and degraded living entities all around the world.</p>
<p class="p7">In ten short years you have accomplished so much more than the mind can realize. You have created so many great devotees, fully engaged in the service of Lord Kåñëa, whom my envious nature cannot fully appreciate or appropriately praise. You have written so many wonderful books, each of which has the potency to save the entire human race from the fire of repeated birth and death. You have erected and established such great monuments, temples, schools, farms, etc., each proving the potency and glories of Lord Caitanya's mercy to the doubtful and inquisitive.</p>
<p class="p7">Just this beginning is enough to convince my doubtful speculative mind that the next decade will bring many heads decorated with material wisdom and knowledge and bedecked with crowns of earthly grandeur and splendor to your lotuslike feet, firmly situated on the way back to Godhead. Your books will be sought after by the scholars; the sound of <i>mådaìga</i> and <i>karatälas</i> will be heard in the palaces; the choice between Kåñëa and <i>mäyä</i> will become part of every man's inner thoughts and deliberations.</p>
<p class="p7">And even if the whole world would turn their ears off and remain in the darkness of ignorance, I beg you to continue showering me with your boundless mercy and compassion, so that one day I may develop a little true taste for serving your most beloved Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your mercy and compassion.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Atreya Åñi däsa</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Middle East</p>
<p class="p11">Balavanta däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Balavanta däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, on the most auspicious day of his divine appearance, 1976</i></p>
<p class="p7">The divine emissary, servant of Lord Caitanya, angel of divine mercy, has descended from on high where the holy name resounds and reverberates in all directions and falls and dances like a transcendental stream, filling all hearts with the supreme joy. He has appeared by love's holy command to spread the divine message of the transcendent Lord and fill the dark abyss of this sinful world with the glaring effulgence of God's holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">In this most fallen and dark age, all religious principles have been tossed and scattered by the storms of the all-powerful time factor. Therefore, he has appeared like a shining knight of your, radiant like the sun, touching our lifeless hearts, injecting the sweet breath of life, service to God, the most closely guarded secret, opening the gates to immortality.</p>
<p class="p7">Only the most foolish clown would ever dream to repay the priceless gift freely offered by the <i>äcärya</i>. What could be possibly given to one who has everything? Seeing my own wretched and ungrateful person, I can only fall in the dust of his lotus feet, weeping at my shameless insincerity, bitterly lamenting so much precious time lost. When, oh when will I dance high and leap in the divine trance of the holy name, in the boundless joy which ever abides in him, the transcendental, holy manifestation of the almighty Supreme Lord, shattering the darkness of this material world by his purity. My obeisances unto him again and yet again, a thousand times.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your unworthy servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Balavanta däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Southeast USA</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Merciful and Beloved Spiritual Master,</i></p>
<p class="p7">You have handed me the lifeline of devotional service, but I am so weak that I can hardly hold on. My persistent desire to enjoy this material world weighs heavily upon me though I see the teeth of <i>saàsära</i> snapping at my face.</p>
<p class="p7">The mind and senses wait like starving wolves, watching for my intelligence to stray from the shelter of your lotus feet. They challenge me day and night and mock at my determination.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, I know you as my only shelter. If I forget you for just a moment, I feel myself transforming again into a demon.</p>
<p class="p7">Bless me that I may always feel your presence near me, that I may, without doubt or speculation, do as you would like me to do, speak as you would speak, and teach as you would teach.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the touchstone of Kåñëa <i>bhakti</i> and I am overflowing with passion and ignorance. Please change my mad desires from this material world into genuine attachment to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your presence enlivens the transcendental senses of the soul. The ecstasy of my tongue is to chant your glories and taste the remnants of your <i>prasäda.</i> The ecstasy of my eyes is to see you singing and dancing in <i>kértana</i>. The ecstasy of my ears is to hear you explain the message of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">I am your eternal servant. If I may ask for something I beg to be able to remember your instructions wherever I am. You are the personified glory of the Lord's lotus feet. Please keep me somewhere safe in the petals of your lotus toes and take me with you.</p>
<p class="p7">Bhagavän däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Southern Europe</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brahmänanda Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my worthless obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Victorious was the day when you appeared,<br>
Your personality the Mäyävädés always feared.<br>
You have come to this wretched place<br>
To bestow upon us Your Divine Grace.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>I have no words al all to describe,<br>
sometimes this feeling makes me cry.<br>
The endless mercy which comes from you,<br>
cool and fresh like the morning dew.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are my life and you are my soul,<br>
for you have shown me Kåñëa's the goal.<br>
You are the purest of them all,<br>
give me your shelter for without it I'll fall.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>As for your qualities they are all sublime,<br>
for you are beyond eternal time.<br>
As for my good qualities I have none,<br>
but by your grace one day I'll attain some.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>When you speak the truth comes out,<br>
your words make sense, clearing the doubt.<br>
You shine a light for everyone to see<br>
the most valuable thing and there is no fee.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your message is, that Kåñëa is Parameçvara,<br>
second to none there is no other.<br>
He plays a flute and He is a cowherd boy,<br>
He sports with the </i>gopés<i>, in this way He enjoys.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Bestow upon me the strength to serve,<br>
Caitanya's message with bold nerve.<br>
Let me do as you have taught,<br>
defeating all the Mäyävädé thought.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Master and Friend this is my plea,<br>
I don't want enjoyment nor do I want to be free.<br>
I just want the service you have given,<br>
birth after birth in hell or in heaven.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Brahmänanda Svämé</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Africa</p>
<p class="p11">Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Vyäsa-Püjä Offering<br>
At the Divine Lotus Feet<br>
of My Beloved Guru Mahäräja<br>
on his 18st Appearance Day.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu says in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> that "the living entities are wandering throughout the universe; some are being elevated to the upper planets and some are going down in the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace or Kåñëa." <span class="s3">[<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</span> So how fortunate I am to have become your disciple. Prior to meeting you, I was wandering in the dark forest of illusion, not knowing the important mission of this human form of life. Now you have very kindly explained the mission, and it is my responsibility as your disciple, to rigidly follow your instructions for the rest of my life. Only this will please you.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Géta</i> Lord Kåñëa says, <i>vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva vedyaù</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>15.15]</span><i>:</i> "By all the <i>Vedas</i> I am to be known." Many of thousands of people are reading the <i>Vedas,</i> but only a few are understanding the real meaning of the <i>Vedas.</i> Gurudeva, if it wasn't for you, I would not have understood the meaning either. You do not concoct anything; but merely repeat what the Supreme Lord and the previous <i>äcäryas</i> have said. This is the secret of your success. A disciple's duty is to merely repeat what he has heard from his spiritual master. Then the preaching will have spiritual strength.</p>
<p class="p7">Any person who wants to render devotional service must accept a genuine spiritual master. The spiritual master is the transparent via medium to God. Therefore, the <i>çastras</i> enjoin:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tasmäd guruà prapadyeta<br>
jijïasuù çreya uttamam<br>
çabde pare ca niñëätaà<br>
brahmaëy upaçamäçrayam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and he must be able to convince others of these conclusions." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.3.21]</span> Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura advises that "it is only by the mercy of the spiritual master that one receives the mercy of Kåñëa." So I must always follow your instructions to be eligible for your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>påthivéte äche yata nagarädi-gräma<br>
sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma </i></p>
<p class="p7">"One day in every town and village I will be known by my name." <span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya</i> 4.126]</span> Gurudeva, you are not an ordinary entity. You have appeared just to make Lord Caitanya's prediction come true. You have been defined as the ocean of mercy, the friend of he poor and the lord and master of the devotees. O Gurudeva, please may I never forget to pray for your mercy and may I always remember your lotus feet and divine instructions.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—India, U.S.S.R.</p>
<p class="p11">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">I fall at the dust of your lotus feet, straining to plunge my infected mind into the oceanic network of your causeless mercy. The Våndävana-like vibration emanating from your lotus mouth is the end-all and be-all of my life. You are the sterling example of the pure devotee, and even among pure devotees your position is exalted. You are ecstatic <i>gaura-çakti,</i> and my eternal ambition is to have a full taste of the beams of transcendental bliss which are emanated from your lotus toenails. O Gurudeva, you are personified <i>çrotriyaà brahma-niñöham </i><span class="s3">[<i>MU</i> 1.2.12],</span> the eternal spiritual master, the only friend of a black-hearted soul like myself. You are lifting me out of the nightmare of so-called society, friendship and love, just as a kind father lifts his child out of a horrifying dream. Just as in nightmares a child is eaten by a tiger, so I was being eaten alive by the so-called society, friendship and love of this world. Even within the Kåñëa consciousness society, the dumbstruck fallen soul at times rushes to enjoy sense gratification. But you are so merciful that you deftly cut to pieces the putrid network of this gross illusion.</p>
<p class="p7">Millions of glories to Your Divine Grace. I offer millions of obeisances, purifying myself by bathing in the dust of Your lotus feet. You are saving the whole world by striking the petrified hearts of the conditioned souls with ecstatic knowledge, ecstatic <i>mantras</i> and thousands and millions of ecstatic engagements and services which emanate from the ocean of your causeless mercy. Let millions of <i>jévas</i> step forward and you will engage all of them. O Gurudeva, I beg to see the whole world drowning in the ocean of your mercy; let the whole universe bob and float and drown in the endless waves of your ecstatic mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">O beloved Gurudeva, let our relationship never be broken! I am your eternal servant, and you are my eternal master, my only shelter! Let the full implications of this master-servant relationship unfold! You are <i>kåñëa-preñöha</i> and I am hellish and fallen. Now I am begging that you fix me and fasten me as an atom at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—South America</p>
<p class="p11">Jagadéça däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jagadéça däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Mighty Gurudeva<br>
Çré Kåñna, the Supreme, appeared<br>
Five thousand years ago today<br>
To teach the </i>Bhagavad-gétä<br>
<i>That everyone may know his fame.<br>
</i>Ahaà sarvasya prabhavaù,<br>
<i>He is the source of all that be!<br>
</i>Sarva-dharma parityajya,<br>
<i>Surrender at His lotus feet!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Five hundred years ago, again<br>
He came, but in a special way,<br>
Disguised in golden gorgeous hue<br>
And chanting His own holy name.<br>
Due to the darkness of the age<br>
His teachings became obscure,<br>
And so He came to introduce<br>
The only process to endure.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa,<br>
Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare,<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma,<br>
Räma Räma, Hare Hare</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Again the purity was lost,<br>
And so He sent His trusted man,<br>
Bhaktisiddhänta Prabhupäda,<br>
To help the world understand.<br>
A first-class Vaiñëava was he,<br>
And preaching was his special power<br>
Defeating all the cheating sects,<br>
The nonsense rascals all would cower.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And now, we see his greatest gift<br>
to help the world to comprehend<br>
The message of the Supreme Lord<br>
By Kåñëa's grace he knew to send<br>
his dearest, Abhay Charan de,<br>
To shower the entire earth<br>
With Lord Çré Kåñëa's holy name,<br>
The only thing of any worth.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa,<br>
Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare,<br>
Hare Räma, Hare Räma,<br>
Räma Räma, Hare Hare</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>His greatness will be glorified<br>
For many centuries to come<br>
As one who altered history<br>
And saved the earth from certain doom.<br>
We are all servants of the Lord,<br>
But due to many sinful deeds<br>
We cannot understand ourselves.<br>
We've too many desire seeds.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Around the world misfortune reigns<br>
As people acting whimsically<br>
Create a hellish atmosphere<br>
Where no one can live peacefully.<br>
It's getting most impossible<br>
To know what's right and what is wrong.<br>
Great sinful deeds are being done!<br>
The future sings a gloomy song!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But, now the power of Kåñëa's names,<br>
Invoked by Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
Is altering the atmosphere.<br>
How, all can know the truth of God.<br>
Fulfillment of Lord Kåñëa's words<br>
And Lord Caitanya's </i>saìkértana<br>
<i>Can now be realized in full<br>
As Prabhupäda translates on.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O mighty Gurudeva!<br>
O master of my soul!<br>
Please help me if you will,<br>
Although, I'm such a fool.<br>
I must be purified!<br>
It's only by your grace!<br>
Or else I'm doomed to hell!<br>
Where they've reserved a place.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Kåñëa give me strength<br>
To always serve his feet<br>
And kick out all desires<br>
As </i>mäyä<i> may entreat!<br>
I wish I may be drawn<br>
To serve him all the time<br>
As filings always cling<br>
to the magnetic iron!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O mighty Prabhupäda!<br>
I hope that you will see<br>
me try to serve your feet<br>
and have mercy one me!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servant,</p>
<p class="p7">Jagadéça däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC</p>
<p class="p11">Jayatértha däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jayatértha däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my worthless and wretched obeisances at Your Lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Kåñëa, who is known as Ananta (unlimited), is the exclusive property of His pure and unalloyed devotees. As He exhibited in His superexcellent dealings with His queens in Dvärkä, He can be simultaneously possessed by hundreds and thousands of lovers and all of them remain perfectly satisfied. Thus He proves His claim to the title Ananta. Something that is material can be possessed only by one person at a time. He may sell it or give it away, but if he does so then he no longer owns it himself. If men try to share ownership then there is fighting. Such is the nature of material possessions. Once there was a story about a so-called <i>guru</i> who transferred his spiritual power to his disciple by touching him on the chest; afterwards he complained that he had given all of his potency to his disciple and had none remaining. Thus he proved, by spiritual definition, that he had no spiritual potency in the first place.</p>
<p class="p7">Jaòa Bharata prays:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>rahügaëaitat tapasä na yäti<br>
na cejyayä nirvapaëäd gåhäd vä<br>
na cchandasä naiva jalägni-süryair<br>
vinä mahat-päda-rajo-'bhiñekam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"O King Rahüguna, the perfectional stage of devotional service or the <i>paramahaàsa</i> stage of life cannot be attained without being blessed by the dust of the feet of great devotees. It is never attained by <i>tapasya</i> (austerity), the Vedic worshipping process, acceptance of renounced order of life, the discharge of the duties of household life, the chanting of Vedic hymns, or the performance of penances in the hot sun, within cold water or before the blazing fire." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>5.12.12]</span> Thus the potency of an actual spiritual master can be understood. If the dust can be gathered from His Lotus Feet and taken as the goal of one's life, the Kåñëa's mercy is very easily obtainable. And if the whole universe comes to take the dust of such a Pure Devotee's feet, then the whole universe can be delivered from the clutches of <i>mäyä. </i>Thus such a pure devotee may be very aptly be called <i>"jagad-guru,</i>" the spiritual master of the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Birth in this material world brings with it various kinds of miseries, diseases and attachments—but there is one good opportunity—association with a pure devotee of the Lord. After wandering through millions of species of life, propelled only by my enviousness of Kåñëa, it is indeed remarkable that I have gotten such an opportunity. I beg your mercy that I shall become and remain suitably grateful.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu states in His explanation of the <i>ätmäräma</i> verse:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>'hariù'-çabde nänärtha, dui mukhyatama<br>
sarve amaëgala hare, prema diyä hare mana</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Although the word <i>hari</i> has many different meanings, two are foremost. One meaning is that the Lord takes away all inauspicious things from his devotees, and the second meaning is that He attracts their minds by ecstatic love for God." (<i>Madhya</i> 24.59) Thus it can be understood that the spiritual master is the bona fide representative of Çré Hari (as stated by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura) because you change the pattern of our sinful lives and attract our minds to hear and chant about Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">I do not know why, beloved Guru Mahäräja, but you have allowed me, fool and nonsense that I am, to sit for many hours at Your lotus Feet. You have chastised me, and sometimes just to encourage me, you have praised me; you have smiled at me sweetly and given me personal advice, But despite the intimacy you have allowed me, I stand in awe of you. I remain amazed at the depth and breadth of your mercy towards the world and towards all souls and make my petition at your divine lotus feet that I may never in some moment of madness forget how kind you have been to me and that I may someday realized how great you actually are.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Please continue to engage me in your service,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Jayatértha däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Northern Europe</p>
<p class="p11">Puñöa Kåñëa Svämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Puñöa Kåñëa Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivrägakäcärya Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Mahäräja Prabhupäda. On this auspicious day, I beg for the Vaiñëavas' mercy that I may be able to describe an insignificant drop of your uncommon glories.</p>
<p class="p7">You have boldly and alone accepted the awesome task of redirecting the foolish apelike men collectively known as human society. With your purified vision you have penetrated the hearts of men and cut the knots of transient attachments, giving us an opportunity to realize our present diseased condition and our eternal position of dependency on Kåñëa. Who but You Divine Grace could dare to single-handedly denounce without reservation everything that lacks connection through service to the supreme proprietor, Çré Kåñëa. As you have repeatedly said, "Our test is very simple; you simply ask someone if he accepts Kåñëa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he says no, then immediately you know that he is a <i>müòha,</i> foolish like an ass, rascal." Having rebelled against the enjoyment of the Supreme Lord, everyone in this conditional world of birth and death is falsely thinking themselves independent, making plans which are doomed. Who but Your Divine Grace would have the courage and compassion to repeatedly label these foolish <i>müòhas</i> in the category of hogs, dogs, camels and asses, simply to awaken them against their will to the responsibility of human life? It is by your divinely inspired efforts that in this insane misdirected society there stands a genuine hope of a revolution in the hearts of men. You alone can bring the real standard in all spheres of human endeavor. Like a physician, you see all in this world as diseased on account of forgetfulness of devotional service to Çré Kåñëa. You clearly see the suicidal course in rejecting the cure and therefore you are traversing this planet with hopes of delivering all the fallen souls. One who rejects the medicine of <i>hari-näma,</i> those who are faithless, must return to this dangerous world of repeated birth and death, <i>måtyu-saàsära-vartmani.</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 9.3]</span> What benefit will there be for these <i>müòhas</i> if in the next life they are going to become dogs?</p>
<p class="p7">Now your books, the unadulterated teachings of Çré Kåñëa, are being distributed throughout the world. It is only a matter of time before the saner class of men reject all cheating forms of logic and take shelter of the genuine leadership which you offer. The best disciple is he who is most obedient to your wishes. It is a simple matter for the simplehearted. "Don't become over-intelligent," you warn. "Don't try to become more clever than your spiritual master and manufacture unauthorized methods for cheating. Before the Gurudeva, one should always consider himself a fool. Always remain a student of the Gurudeva as one is never perfect or complete in the matter of rendering devotional service to the Supreme Lord." Who is there, even in the imagination of poets, that could be decorated with all such desirable qualities as Your Divine Grace?</p>
<p class="p7">In all humility, I beg to offer myself as your menial servant. On this blessed occasion of your appearance day, kindly offer me the shade of your lotus feet, as your fame is spread throughout all the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p7">Puñöa Kåñëa Svämé</p>
<p class="p7">Secretary</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—South Africa</p>
<p class="p11">Rämeçvara däsa Svämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rämeçvara däsa Svämé</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. You are the embodiment of the mercy and compassion of the Supreme Lord on all conditioned souls. Your coming to the Western world teaches that a pure devotee will even go to hell to serve Kåñëa. In the Western countries especially, all the people are miscreants who are grossly foolish, the lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons. Having no intelligence, not knowing their real life, they all engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy each other and the world. Their "philosophy" is that to gratify the senses unto the end of life is the prime necessity of human society. Thus there is no end to their anxiety. Being bound by hundreds and thousands of desires, by lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means solely for sense gratification. None of the people know that the result of their sinful activities will be to repeatedly take birth among the species of demoniac life. Instead of taking knowledge from the great <i>äcäryas</i> (self realized bona fide teachers) they prefer to depend on the faulty, empiric-based speculations of the so-called scientists and philosophers. These so-called educators all present their views of creation, life's purpose, etc., on the basis of "I think...," "Maybe...," and "Perhaps...." Even though their imperfect theories are all challenged and replaced by some new idea in the course of time, they still rely on these cheaters because of their great attachment to material sense gratification.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva, your mission is to save all these fools and rascals from their miserable, hellish existence. You awaken within the hearts of all sincere aspirants the divine chanting of the holy names of Çré Kåñëa and Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and thus all are cleansed of unlimited material desires and purified of all sinful acts by the influence of the holy names. The knowledge you have brought educates all people about the real purpose of live, and enables them to transcend all the obstacles of material existence, summarized as birth, disease, old age and death. This knowledge brings one to surrender to Lord Kåñëa and thus relieves one of all sinful reactions. In just ten years since your coming to America, you have organized a great army of disciples and followers, with bases (temples) all over the world from which they go out and fight with <i>mäyä</i> by profuse distribution of the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra,</i> transcendental literatures, Kåñëa <i>prasäda,</i> etc. You are the central figure of the Kåñëa consciousness movement and have already traveled around the world fifteen times, preaching and expanding this movement. There is no author in the history of the world, save Vyäsadeva himself, that can compare with your literary achievements, and learned scholars everywhere respect this movement because of your books. Lord Caitanya's movement is predicted to spread into every town and village, over the next ten thousand years, and you have given the framework and foundation for the entire period in your writings. You have already brought Kåñëa consciousness all over the globe, and so I must conclude that you are the greatest devotee of Lord Caitanya, an empowered <i>çaktyäveça-avatära.</i> The Lord's desires for this world are being executed through Your Divine Grace; therefore the only hope for deliverance from the clutches of <i>mäyä</i> is complete surrender to your lotus feet. As Lord Caitanya's chief representative, your mercy is available for anyone. Please, kindly pick this wretched soul up from the dirty mire of materialism, and give me some place at the soles of your lotus feet. You are engaging all your disciples in distributing Kåñëa consciousness, for the ultimate benefit of all mankind. I humbly pray that somehow or other this fallen snakelike rascal may lose his demoniac nature and be purified from the thousands and millions of material desires that lie in my heart like a cancer, so I can render some service in spreading this movement. A life devoid of <i>saìkértana</i> is the worst punishment of Yamaräja. Please be merciful and always keep me on the <i>saìkértana</i> party, the only safe position in this world.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your worthless fool,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Rämeçvara däsa Svämé</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Los Angeles, Denver</p>
<p class="p11">Rüpanuga däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rüpanuga däsa adhikäré</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your Divine Grace's lotus feet. I remember that it took a while for your students to paint over the sign above the old storefront on Second Avenue, revealing "Matchless Gifts" to be actually "Hare Kåñëa." You Divine Grace brought this gift to the hub of the materialistic world, the lower East Side of New York City, the forefront of degradation—bowery bums, and the "drug revolution" around Tomkins Square and Avenue "A"—instigated by the frustrated intellectuals and other never-do-wells, the original hippies.</p>
<p class="p7">That early fall of 1966 I followed you back from your weekend chanting party at the Square. You held your classes, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> every morning at seven a.m. and the <i>Gétä</i>, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at seven p.m., and led the <i>kértanas,</i> passing out at the end of the program a little bowl of apples that you personally cut with a paring knife on the top of your makeshift lectern. You were our worshipable Deity, our Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. You sat upon you <i>äsana</i> at the back of the store, leaning back against the fading cushion from some old over-stuffed chair. The front of your <i>äsana</i> was decorated as an altar, with pictures of our <i>paramparä,</i> flowers and two large candelabras, and it was draped with old candlewax spotted velvets. You were our worshipable Deity.</p>
<p class="p7">We knew little about Lord Kåñëa and less about Caitanya Mahäprabhu. At first, one of us called you "Mahäprabhu" to distinguish you as the greatest, but you stopped that and late let us call you "Prabhupäda" instead of "Swaméjé." We certainly weren't very advanced; rather we must have been examples of the kind of disciples Çréla Jéva Gosvämé said were necessary to accept in order to keep the Vaiñëava movement going. The minimum was eight rounds and some of us couldn't even part with our shoulder-length hair, even after receiving initiation.</p>
<p class="p7">The storefront, about thirty feet long and thirteen feet at the widest point, was decorated with Belgian oriental-style rugs, some silk throws on the walls, and behind the <i>vyäsäsana</i> hung a large, round plywood sign of Rädhä-Kåñëa. The front of the store was partly occupied by two used mimeograph machines—ISKCON Press—upon which were printed the first BTG's and Easy Journeys. The stores didn't like to take them because they weren't sophisticated "glossies" and we didn't yet know how to distribute them on the streets or collect donations. Sometimes when we went out on the first street-chanting parties, the lady living a couple of floors up would dump water on our heads as we came out the front door. And the people in the back courtyard would yell out their windows when the smokey chanches from the lunch preparations billowed out the window of our tiny kitchen and drifted upwards into their apartments, True, the new days are just as good as the old days, but we relish the humble, sometimes humorous and certainly primordial beginnings under the personal guidance of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">After you sent some of the devotees to San Francisco and a few more to Montreal we held our weekly <i>iñöa-goñöhis</i> on business and philosophical questions. There were only about twelve boys and one girl, but we all sensed that what was going on in that storefront was the most important thing happening in the world. Our faith was right and Your Divine Grace remains our most worshipable Deity, eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">I hope this meets you in good health.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen disciple,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Rüpanuga däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Mideastern USA</p>
<p class="p11">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p16"><i>"One should never be envious of the spiritual master as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen and the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods." </i>[<i>Bhä</i>g. 11.17.27]</p>
<p class="p7">People in this age, Kali-yuga, are so fallen that they cannot appreciate the <i>äcärayadeva,</i> or universal teacher who delivers the message of the absolute world, the transcendental abode of the Supreme Person. The atheists do not believe in God or the next life and take it that our <i>guru,</i> Çréla Prabhupäda, is exploiting on the basis of a false promise. Or even if they claim they believe in God, they regard the <i>äcärya</i> of the Kåñëa consciousness movement as a leader of a sectarian faith, and do not care to help him in his mission.</p>
<p class="p7">But the devotees of the Kåñëa consciousness movement know the real situation of the spiritual master, from their personal realization and as confirmed in the Vedic scriptures. Kåñëa conscious knowledge, as taught by the spiritual master, is not sectarian religious faith. It is factual. No one can deny that throughout life each of us is constantly changing his body from boyhood to youth to old age. That is not a matter of religion, but fact. As for our situation after death, it is not logical to conclude that when the gross body ceases to function at death then the self simply disappears. That is like saying that at night when the blue sky and sun go out of sight they become nonexistent. Because our limited eyes cannot see what is actually taking place, even in the material world we cannot establish real knowledge on the basis of eyesight or on the judgment of the senses. If we want to know what is really happening when the sun appears to "die" at night or when the sun appears to be suddenly created each morning, then we have to consult knowledge of higher authority. A man and a dog both may see water in the desert, but the man does not trust what he sees; he has higher knowledge that what he is seeing is a mirage.</p>
<p class="p7">The Vedic literature is the profound science of discriminating between false and real, or matter and spirit, and in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> this science concludes in surrender to the Supreme Being as the cause of all causes. Lord Kåñëa says, "Give up all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me I will protect you from the reactions to sin. Do not fear." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.66] </span>The spiritual master is he who has learned from his own <i>guru</i> everything about spiritual identity as apart from dead matter, and he has personally surrendered all this actions and thoughts unto the infallible will of the Supreme Godhead, Çré Kåñëa. He is competent and authorized to make disciples whom he is able to deliver from the repeated sufferings of life in the material world. In ignorance and sinful desire, we remain in material life suffering repeated birth, death, old age and disease, and do not know how to get out of the cycle. The remedy is taking to Kåñëa consciousness under the guidance of the qualified spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">The above is less than the slightest indication of the greatness of our spiritual master. I have no power of love, nor am I empowered to write transcendentally on the exalted nature of my spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda; thus I am unable to describe his unbounded capacity to deliver all conditioned souls from suffering and bring them back to Godhead for eternal life of bliss and knowledge. This is my misfortune because it would greatly benefit readers of appreciate the bona fide spiritual master as well as the worshipful service attitude of the disciple toward his spiritual master—the rarest and most wonderful personal relationship in this miserable world. I can, however, recite a prayer of my spiritual master's, acknowledging the debt he feels to his own spiritual master. Let all devotees worship this prayer:</p>
<p class="p16">"...Had he not appeared before us to deliver us from the thralldom of this gross worldly delusion, surely we should have remained for lives and ages in the darkness of helpless captivity. Had he not appeared before us, we would not have been able to understand the eternal truth of the sublime teachings of Lord Caitanya. Had he not appeared before us, we could not have been able to know the significance of the first <i>sloka</i> of the <i>Brahma-saàhitä:</i> 'Kåñëa, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal, blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all, He has no other origin, and He is the prime cause of all causes.'</p>
<p class="p16">"Personally I have no hope of any direct service for the coming crores of births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore let me with all earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollections: that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realized through the unflinching mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all humility at my command."</p>
<p class="p7">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Central USA</p>
<p class="p11">Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé</b></p>
<p class="p83"><b>A Minister's Prayer</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(1) O merciful Master<br>
Timely you came<br>
Freely distributing<br>
The Lord's holy name.<br>
The pious, the sinful,<br>
You make no distinction,<br>
Their material existence<br>
Cast into extinction.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(2) Mahäprabhu's mission<br>
In your hands was placed,<br>
To offer the whole world<br>
Kåñëa's sweet name to taste.<br>
Within the heart<br>
Selfish desires ceasing,<br>
Kåñëa </i>bhakti<br>
<i> Ever increasing.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(3) Enter a minister<br>
With lust, anger and greed,<br>
But in his heart<br>
You have planted a seed.<br>
Powerful those forces<br>
Which lay within,<br>
Causing the minister<br>
Repeatedly to sin.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(4)But not so powerful<br>
As the seed you have sown,<br>
And with your care,<br>
The plant that has grown.<br>
Arrogant, proud,<br>
A wayward minister,<br>
But by your influence,<br>
No longer sinister.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(5) Evil forces<br>
Tried to attack<br>
But with your knowledge<br>
You forced them back.<br>
False prestige and pride<br>
Cut by your sword,<br>
I seek your shelter<br>
O merciful lord.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(6) Stripped of illusions,<br>
A naked soul,<br>
I wish to fulfill<br>
Life's cherished goal.<br>
Please take my hand<br>
And guide me true,<br>
In exchange my life<br>
I consign to you.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(7) The </i>çästra<i> proclaims you<br>
As "servitor lord",<br>
Free of false motives<br>
Service without reward.<br>
Austerity is your wealth,<br>
</i>Bhakti<i> your rule,<br>
Now I surrender,<br>
Please make me your tool.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>(8) To heaven or hell,<br>
By your order I shall go,<br>
To preach the glories<br>
Of the eternal soul.<br>
Eastward bound<br>
To a God-forgotten land,<br>
Departing with your order,<br>
Beneath your blessing hand.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé</p>
<p class="p7">GBC—Northeastern USA</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</b></p>
<p class="p11">Adelaide</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Adelaide</b></p>
<p class="p7">O Gurudeva,</p>
<p class="p17"><i>Yours is the voice that comes to me,<br>
carrying the sweep of eternity,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Yours is the voice of mercy,<br>
springing from causeless mercy,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Worship your holy feet,<br>
bow down my crippled mind and body,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your words my only hope,<br>
Your voice my only safety.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>In this dark world<br>
the real light is coming from your words.<br>
Your books are the seeds of the future.<br>
Kåñëa lives in your books.<br>
And He even travels in them—all over the globe<br>
Worship your lotus feet, O Gurudeva.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Darkness all 'roun, I've been asleep<br>
You have come to this dream, your mercy so deep<br>
And opened my eyes with torchlight so bright<br>
And now with ointment and gently you make them all right<br>
You came into this world, 'though you it can't touch<br>
For you walk with your lotus feet; may I bathe in their dust?<br>
You have opened my eyes, my wounds you do heal<br>
O let me be yours, I must take the cure</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
from habit I run<br>
trying to catch </i>mäyä<i>, attempt to have fun<br>
And I would plunge into darkness but for you, Brilliant Sun.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>A light of my life, but a candle I bring<br>
to place at your feet; but let the world ring,<br>
With your glorious message, turn from wanton ways<br>
and let all sing and rejoice this most happy day<br>
To let this be our work, let his be our play,<br>
may they all sing Hare Kåñëa on your next birthday.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Please engage me<br>
in your loving service</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your most fallen and insignificant,</p>
<p class="p49">Cittahari däsa adikäré / Veno Gopäla däsa bramacäré / Setukåt däsa bramhacäré / Duñöa-mohan däsa bramhacäré / Uñäpati däsa bramhacäré / Krodeçvara däsa bramhacäré / Bhakta Robert / Caramé-devé däsé / Bhadrä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Ahmedabad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ahmedabad</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Long are we ever seeking the dust of your lotus feet, for your infinite mercy holds no bounds. In your eyes you see only Kåñëa, but in ours we see only lust. By lust and hate we are bound to this world, seeing no light day after day. Then as if the sun had burned away the cloud you freely gave us Kåñëa, that transcendental sound. From that day on our lives have changed, never to be the same. Then you taught us compassion and taught us to spread this holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">So now we are in the desert, where the material flame is burning bright. We're surrounded by a desert that is poison to our sight. But deep within this desert lies an oasis that glitters more than gold. Its taste is like that of nectar and its touch is softer than snow. This oasis is your blessing, which forever seems to grow. Please always let us follow you, for you are the only retreat. Sometimes we find it difficult, and it seems like the fire is too hot, but if we can just learn to take shelter of your lotus feet, we know that you will free us from this troubled knot.</p>
<p class="p7">"I do not find the strength to carry on alone the <i>saìkértana</i> of the holy name of Hari. Please give me your blessing, just one drop of faith with which to obtain the holy name of Kåñëa." Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura sings like this and we are trying to understand his words. Please let us understand his words. Please let us understand this holy name so that the lust will fall away. Please give us your soothing embrace so that we may carry on. This is what we ask for, that will be our faith.</p>
<p class="p7">To trouble you with our imperfections in not what we desire, but we are fallen fools and know nothing but your grace. To beg, to borrow, to steal like a madman in the night, seeking after <i>prema-bhakti,</i> yet our hands are bound so tight, bound by the darkness of ignorance. O Prabhupäda, teach us to surrender more. We fall down just like a rod trying to catch your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">As a lotus flower opens, more of its beauty is revealed. As we are learning to surrender, your purity we can feel. How is it possible for you to do so much? There are no limits to your devotion, there are no boundaries in your way.</p>
<p class="p7">Like an iceberg in the ocean our hearts have frozen tight. But your words are like the sunshine bringing warmth and light. How can we understand your will, for it is of the Divine. Your words are ever fresh to us as the sun does ever shine. Taking off our shackles of illusion and carrying us back home, there is no way our hearts won't melt, just as from one small seed come flowers and fruits.</p>
<p class="p7">Our words seem incomplete in describing what you hold. We are falling at your lotus feet, desiring more and more to be enthusiastic, to carry out this chore. We are lame and blind and foolish in our ways, bowing down before you, praying for your grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>ISKCON Ahmedabad</i></p>
<p class="p49">Yaçomati-nandana däsa adhikaåé / Kåñëa gopäla däsa adhikäré / Kåñëadäsa brahmacäré / Vaidya däsa / Prema-pradäya däsa bramhacäré / Upendra Muni / Viläsé-devé däsé / Sundaré-devé däsé / Rädhä-kuëòa-devi däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The spiritual master is as much honored as Kåñëa as His most confidential servant.<br>
The spiritual master is the ocean of mercy and the representative of the ocean of truth.<br>
The spiritual master is admired by the greatest demigods and is factually served by them.<br>
The spiritual master is preaching the everlasting message of Lord Caitanya.<br>
The spiritual master is the hand of God.<br>
The spiritual master is blessing the sincere disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.<br>
The spiritual master is not produced by rubber-stamping an ordinary man.<br>
The spiritual master is faithful to Kåñëa's instructions.<br>
The spiritual master is seeing Kåñëa everywhere.<br>
The spiritual master is approached with submissive inquiry.<br>
The spiritual master is never says he is God.<br>
The spiritual master is free from all endeavors for mundane achievement.<br>
The spiritual master is never to be considered as bearing some material designation.<br>
The spiritual master is never to be criticized on the basis of physical boldly features.<br>
The spiritual master is deemed a success by making one disciple a pure devotee.<br>
The spiritual master is the transparent via medium to Kåñëa.<br>
The spiritual master is the eternal father.<br>
The spiritual master is the external manifestation of Supersoul.<br>
The spiritual master is more kind than the Lord because he knows the mission of the Lord.<br>
The spiritual master is an ocean of auspicious qualities.<br>
The spiritual master is the deliverer of most fallen.<br>
The spiritual master is the transcendental moon holding back the tide of Kali-yuga.<br>
The spiritual master is mercy and love personified.<br>
The spiritual master is the friend of the poor.<br>
The spiritual master is the life and soul of the disciple.<br>
The spiritual master is remembered within the heart of the Lord.<br>
The spiritual master is ever fresh, like Kåñëa.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Although these qualities are clearly visible, we fallen souls are too much perplexed by the workings of the material energy to appreciate such precious association. Please forgive our degraded condition.</p>
<p class="p49">Locanänanda däsa adhikäré / Vimuktasaìga däsa adhikäré / Téthasädhaka däsa adhikäré / Vimuktasaìga däsa adhikäré / Harekåñëa däsa adhikäré / Hayeçvara däsa adhikaåé / Parividha däsa adhikäré / Bidaïcandra däsa adhikäré / Yaçodä-vatsala däsa / Beìkateça däsa / Madhumaìgala däsa / Akhiladhara däsa / Vasüttama däsa / Bhakta Pierrot / Bhakta Dave / Bhakta Jean Pierre / Bhakta Rene / Bhäçyakara däsa / Mr. Singh / Bhakta Gergo / Rämeçvaré-devé däsé, Jagannätha / Nikuïja-väsiné, Rupa Maïjaré däsé / Näbhasvaté-devé däsé, Kåñëa Caitanya däsa / Añöasaké-devé däsé / Rämadevé däsé / Ugrasena-devé däsé / Anita-devé däsé / Savitri-devé däsé, Sermila / Lalitä-kuëòa-devé däsé / Sailendriya-devé däsé / Aharda-devé däsé / Maìgalya-devé dasi / Éçvaré-devé däsé / Atétagamana-devé däsé / Rhia / Gert / Odette / Lijntje / Rosemarie</p>
<p class="p7">TSKP</p>
<p class="p49">Mågapati däsa / Raëadurmada däsa / Jïänaräja däsa / Jayagopäla däsa / Mahävidyä däsa / Ätmänanda däsa / Mathurä däsa / Ekätmä däsa / Divyasiàha däsa / Mälaté-devé däsé / Guëamayé-devé däsé / Rukminépriyä-devé däsé / Çyämasundaré devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Ann Arbor</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ann Arbor</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">As a dwarf reaching for the moon or a candle trying to find out the sun, due to our conditioned nature we can barely ascertain and appreciate your sublime and exalted position.</p>
<p class="p7">But one thing we can understand is that had you not so kindly appeared before us we would have only this repeated holocaust of broken dreams and empty aspirations known as the material world as our future.</p>
<p class="p7">You are wisdom personified, the embodiment of compassion. Your words are the only standard of truth. By contact with a bona fide spiritual master one should come to know all things, both phenomenal and noumenal, and when listening to you this actually becomes a fact.</p>
<p class="p7">You have said that the path of <i>bhakti</i> is like nectar and it holds whatever one desires, and the way to take it is simply to follow. <i>Karmés</i> say "dogs run free so why can't we?" but you have pointed out that even enjoyable dog's life depends on a good master. Everyone is serving something or someone, but you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are the best master. Please benedict us that we may eternally follow and serve you faithfully.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants in Ann Arbor,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Badarinäräyaëa däsa / Jämunätaöacara däsa / Paripürëa däsa / Vaàçi däsa / Aiçvarya däsa / Bhakta Myles / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Lonnie / Navañi däsé / Dhenumaté däsé / Ananta däsé / Bhaktin Linda / Devala däsa / Anusüya däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O glorious master,<br>
all praises to thee<br>
You give eyes to the blind<br>
and melt hearts of steel.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We were in Kali's deep well<br>
given up hope<br>
But kindness has come in person<br>
you've passed us the rope.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O follower of the Gosvämés.<br>
You are their mercy-bearer<br>
One moment's touch with thee<br>
is the most precious elixer<br>
(the nectar of immortality).</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Habituated to the false,<br>
we are addicts of poison<br>
As servants of lust<br>
we are bereft of good reason.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Therefore we must now beg<br>
as drowning men cry<br>
Please give us your lamp<br>
guide us through the night.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>All souls are wandering<br>
aimless and amiss<br>
This rare life squandering<br>
hell's in our midst.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The jewel of human life<br>
lies in the camp of jackals<br>
But as a lion you strike<br>
reclaim the booty for Kåñëa.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your Hanumän-like challenge<br>
rings everywhere true and bold<br>
All pious men awaken<br>
and at your lotus feet take hold.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>As at Kurukñetra's destined battle<br>
Kåñëa's foes did quake<br>
So the false bottom of science<br>
You have given a fatal shake.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Let every fool or sage<br>
follow your guiding glances<br>
The world you can engage<br>
in devotional service, the matchless gift.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The measure of your love<br>
in eternity can't be found<br>
Yet such selfless pure love<br>
in your divine books is bound.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Atlanta ISKCON</p>
<p class="p7">Tennesee Farm</p>
<p class="p11">Auckland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Auckland</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Çréla Prabhupäda, the greatest of all<br>
having taken shelter at Kåñëa's lotus feet<br>
you are our only master and guide<br>
to save us from </i>mäyä's<i> defeat</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your ISKCON movement is a transcendental ship<br>
to carry us over the ocean of death<br>
and you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are the captain of the trip<br>
giving us nectar with every breath</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Every word you speak is so perfect<br>
every line you write so sublime<br>
every song you sing to glorify the Lord<br>
melts our hearts so hardened by Time</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have pierced through our covering of </i>mäyä<br>
<i>we've been carrying since time immemorial<br>
vainly searching for happiness in this material world<br>
through sense enjoyment so ephemeral</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By your divine instructions we've come to know<br>
of a higher goal in this human birth<br>
than just eating, sleeping, mating and defending<br>
which is all animal life is worth</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>For so long we've to taken to devotional service<br>
not caring for the mercy of the Lord<br>
so therefore quite willingly we've drunk poison<br>
with suffering our only reward</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Despite this misery we were still thinking<br>
"I am going to enjoy one day"<br>
just like an ass so foolish and stubborn<br>
we struggled to enjoy in this way</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Always misled by our fickle minds<br>
and our senses which never learn<br>
that material enjoyment just increases frustration<br>
like fuel helps a fire to burn</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Not only were we cheated by our body and mind<br>
but by our so-called leaders as well<br>
bogus </i>yogés<i>, politicians and religious men<br>
who themselves have nothing to tell</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>about actually what is the goal of life<br>
nor the process how to gain it<br>
they may have their various formulas for peace<br>
but where do we see them attain it?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And so misguided we've followed their whims<br>
controlled by </i>mäyä's<i> demand<br>
But now you have come to save us dear Prabhupäda<br>
and lead us to Kåñëa's command</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We owe you our very life and soul<br>
everything we have is yours<br>
your mercy is all we are made of<br>
and to serve you always is the perfection<br>
of our lives. Jaya Gurudeva!!</i></p>
<p class="p49">Yaçomaté-nandana däsa brahmacäré / Dayäsära däsa brahmacäré / Yamalärjuna däsa brahmacäré / Jita Giréça däsa brahmacäré / Kalasaàvara däsa brahmacäré / Sarväkña däsa brahmacäré / Parivädé däsa brahmacäré / Rudracanti däsa brahmacäré / Räma däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rob / Lakñmaëa-devé däsé / Sarvaga-devé däsé / Brahma-patné-devé däsé / Cintämaëi-devé däsé / Änanda-devé däsé / Bhaktin Leanne</p>
<p class="p11">Barcelona</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Barcelona</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The <i>mådaìga</i> sounds all over the world. In every town big or small the devotees are singing the holy names. In the ear of every conditioned soul this transcendental vibration is penetrating. The prediction of Lord Caitanya is being accomplished, as well as the desire of your spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">In the middle of this dense and permanent darkness of Kali-yuga, when everybody was completely sleeping, you came like a true father. Conscious of the danger, you made us awaken from our horrible nightmare.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jéva jägo, jéva jägo, goräcaìda bole<br>
kota nidrä jäo mäyä-péçäccéra kole<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Aruëodaya-kértana II</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p84"><b>"Wake up sleeping souls!<br>
Wake up, sleeping souls!<br>
How long will you sleep on the lap<br>
of the witch called mäyä?"</b></p>
<p class="p7">You have awakened us and continuously you are giving us the mercy of your instructions. But because of our bad habits we do not carry them out correctly. We are only an obstacle making your mission difficult.</p>
<p class="p7">How to thank you enough for what you are doing for us? To be humble, you have explained to us, one must be humble. But the example is your example: "I cannot be God, for I truly am small, but He kindly allows me to serve Him, that's all."</p>
<p class="p7">In this material world, people are trying to form different groups, political societies, religions, etc., without being conscious that in this way they are strengthening the chains that are already imprisoning them.</p>
<p class="p7">You have been our true liberator, because you are "Jagad-guru—<i>guru</i> of the universe—bringing us the message of Lord Kåñëa as it is:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sarva-dharmän parityajya<br>
mäm ekaà çaraëam vraja<br>
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo<br>
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.66]</span> And you said "That is His mercy transcendental and sweet. Take it... be happy!</p>
<p class="p7">Always bestowing your unlimited mercy, you are giving humanity the biggest reservoir of love in your incomparable translations of Vedic literature.</p>
<p class="p7">Thus, we only ask the space to be an atom at your lotus feet and the opportunity to serve you eternally.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jaya oà viñëu-päda paramahaàsa<br>
parivräjakäcärya añöottara-çata çré çrimad<br>
bhaktivedänta gosvämé mahäräja<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda ki jaya</i></p>
<p class="p16">"One hundred and eight glories to the wandering mendicant, to the great <i>bhakta</i> who resembles a swan, to the glorious master Çré Çrimad Bhaktivedänta Swami Mahäräja Prabhupäda, who has taken refuge at the lotuslike feet of Viñëu."</p>
<p class="p49">Sukérti däsa adhikäré / Bhütakåd däsa adhikäré / Devaräö däsa brahmacäré / Çri Padämbuja däsa brahmacäré / Çuci Çrava däsa brahmacäré / Guptälaya-devé däsé / Maria prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">BBT Library Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>BBT Library Party</b></p>
<p class="p7">Let us offer our most humble obeisances again and again at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Çrémad Bhägavatam,</i> Vidura appropriately addresses his spiritual master, Maitreya Muni, thusly:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>janasya kåñëäd vimukhasya daiväd<br>
adharma çilasya suduùkhitasya<br>
anugrahäyeha caranti nünaà<br>
bhütäni bhavyäni janärdanasya</i></p>
<p class="p16">"O my Lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls, who are adverse to the sense of subordination to the Lord." (<i>Bhäg. </i>3.5.3)</p>
<p class="p7">There is no more fitting glorification of Your Divine Grace than the very <i>Bhägavatam</i> which you yourself personify. We, unfortunately, can understand very little of this fact, being of this class of fallen souls adverse to Kåñëa <i>bhakti,</i> but by your causeless mercy we are becoming more and more appreciative of your greatness through the pages of the transcendental literatures which you are so kindly making available to the world at large. That is your magnanimity, that you are personally traveling to every town and village in the form of the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> and <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> and entering the homes, lives and hearts of all that you meet, thus creating the most wonderful revolution. <i>Pratinivåtta guëormi:</i> such materially conditioned souls as ourselves become gradually abhorred by our sinful lives and somehow or other become attracted to the devotional service of the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, the very fact that you are producing so many volumes of Kåñëa conscious literature is the final proof for fools such as ourselves that you are not an ordinary entity of this material world. As Lord Brahmä became qualified to offer countless prayers in glorification of the Lord by dint of his being acquainted with the ocean of truth, so you are always cognizant of the name, form, qualities, activities and pastimes of Lord Kåñëa and therefore are an endless river of nectar extending from the ocean of Kåñëa to our parched hearts. The <i>gopés</i> prayed to the Lord in this regard:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanaà<br>
kavibhir éòitaà kalmañapaham<br>
çravaëa maìgalaà çrémad-ätataà<br>
bhuvi gåëanti te bhüridä janäù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"My Lord, the nectar of Your words and the description of your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. Those narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities and they eradicate all sinful reaction. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers." (<i>Bhäg. </i> 10.31.9)</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we, your Western disciples, stand as evidence of the immense potency of your words. Although we come from lower than <i>mleccas</i> and <i>yavanas,</i> by your order we are in a tiny way assisting you in your mission to save the world. This, again, is simply by your causeless mercy, and is further evidence of your equanimity toward all living entities, in that you are saving us by engaging us in saving others. And yet you are so kind upon us to see that we get credit in Kåñëa's eyes for our feeble efforts in pushing on this <i>saìkértana</i> movement. Although this is bewildering to us, how fallen rascals such as ourselves can be counted among the authorized representatives of Lord Caitanya, it is so by Your Divine Grace, and it is therefore not at all astonishing. As stated in the <i>Garuòa Puräëa:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>kéöa-pakñi-mågäëäà ca<br>
harau sannyasta-karmaëäm<br>
ürdhvam eva gatià manye<br>
kià punar jïäninäà nåëäm</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Even the worms, birds, and beasts are assured of elevation to the highest perfection of life if they are completely surrendered to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, so what to speak of the philosophers among human beings?"</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, by Your Divine Grace we who were certainly lowborn creatures are now distributing your mercy in the form of your books to the learned philosophers, scholars, professors and theologians of the Western world. The fact that we of the BBT Library Party are able to do this work and that the response of the learned men of this materialistic society toward your books is so overwhelmingly favorable, is only further evidence of your expertise. You exactly fit Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé's definition of an <i>äcärya,</i> in that you are capable of bringing everyone, somehow or other, to Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, please favor us by allowing us to always remember your position as the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. We pray at your lotus feet that we never make the mistake of minimizing any instruction that you may impart as being subject to the defects of this material world. let us always perceive you as the person <i>Bhägavatam,</i> the personified instructions of Lord Kåñëa Himself. Please teach us to cherish the version of the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45].</p>
<p class="p49">His Holiness Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé / Jayädvaita däsa brahmacäré / Ghanaçyäma däsa brahmacäré / Mahäbuddhi däsa brahmacäré / Çré Galima däsa brahmacäré / Suhotra däsa brahmacäré / Çeña däsa brahmacäré / Çrédhara däsa brahmacäré / Gokulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kalakaëöha däsa brahmacäré / Mahäkåna däsa brahmacäré / Bhügarbha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">BBT Library Collecting Party</p>
<p class="p49">Mahädyuti däsa / Çrémän Paëòita däsa / Gatravän däsa / Mädhava däsa / Éça däsa / Yamunäpati däsa / Amoghalélä däsa / Nirantara däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Berkeley</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Berkeley</b></p>
<p class="p7">In Käçi Miçra's house at Puré one old man chants from six to six. Because of his old body he sometimes gets the words wrong, or leaves them out, or forgets of bang the <i>karatälas,</i> or dozes off to sleep.</p>
<p class="p7">When the soldiers of time make their final assaults on the city of nine gates, it will be very difficult to remember Kåñëa. Mahaåajä Kulaçekhära thought that it would be easier to remember Kåñëa if he died early, and he prayed for it.</p>
<p class="p7">Service to the spiritual master is the boat to cross the ocean of birth and death. An ignorant farm boy sometimes becomes a national hero in an emergency. In kali-yuga, anyone, whether he be woman, merchant or low class can approach the supreme destination by service to the Lord and His representative. We thank our spiritual master for giving us the nine items of devotional service. If diligently pursued in life, they well harbor in our thoughts at death.</p>
<p class="p7">A worm becomes a butterfly due to psychological changes in the mind. Similarly, services to the spiritual master are the wings whereby undisciplined, low-born worms like ourselves swiftly ascend to the platform of eternal life, bliss and knowledge. Let us take that service as our life and soul and always be happy.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Berkeley Yatra</i></p>
<p class="p11">Bombay</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bombay</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavantam evänucaran nirantaraà<br>
praçänta-niùçeña-mano-rathäntaraù<br>
kadäham aikäntika-nitya-kìkaraù<br>
praharñayiñyämi sa-nätha-jévitaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Stotra-ratnam 43</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">By serving you constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall we engage as your permanent eternal servants and always feel joyful to have such a perfect master?</p>
<p class="p7">The living entities are fragmental parts of the Supreme Lord, and they are eternal. But due to conditional life they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mamaiväàço jéva-loke<br>
jéva-bhütaù sanätanaù<br>
manaù ñañöhänéndriyäëi<br>
prakåti-sthäni karñati<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 15.7</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The mind is described as <i>mano-ratha</i> because the mind acts as a <i>ratha</i> or chariot, driving the living entity from place to place in pursuit of the fulfillment of his desires. The mind is the center of the senses and receives input from the senses, which are demanding gratification in terms of the objects of the senses. The mind is always busy accepting and rejecting on the basis of information received from the senses. Thus our mental chariot carries us from place to place, universe to universe, body after body, millennium after millennium in the vain pursuit of illusory material happiness.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çaréraà yad aväpnoti<br>
yac cäpy utkrämatiçvaraù<br>
gåhétvaitäni saàyäti<br>
väyur gandhän iväçayät<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 15.8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another, as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.</p>
<p class="p7">According to our mental conception at the time of death, we take on another body made of various senses, and we enjoy and suffer according to the senses we develop.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çrotraà caksuù sparçanaà ca<br>
rasanam ghräëam eva ca<br>
adhiñöhäya manaç cäyaà<br>
viñayän upasevate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 15.9</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, tongue, and nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects.</p>
<p class="p7">But despite wanderings from body to body, universe to universe, our senses are never satisfied, and our mind is never pacified.</p>
<p class="p7">In order to relieve the suffering of the conditioned souls wandering throughout the material worlds, the Lord advises in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> <span class="s3">(18.66)</span>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sarva-dharmän parityajya<br>
mäm ekaà çaranaà vraja<br>
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo<br>
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">Abandon all engagements and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.</p>
<p class="p7">We are receiving so many dictations from the mind and senses; we have to reject those dictations and accept the dictations of Kåñëa and His representative. We have manufactured so many engagements and duties, but the basic principle is sense gratification, and sense gratification can never satisfy the soul. The tongue is dictating, the belly is dictating, the genitals are dictating, all of the senses are dictating: "I want to enjoy." But instead of enjoying, we are suffering. We are not enjoyers. We are meant to serve Kåñëa. Thus the mind is constantly agitated, falsely trying to enjoy, accepting and rejecting, never caring to remember the lotus feet of Kåñëa or His representative. Therefore the Lord advises us to give up all of our materialistic plan-making and just surrender to His plan. The basic desire for sense gratification expands into so many "isms," such as communism, socialism, humanitarianism, altruism and philanthropism, but still the basic principle is sense gratification, limited or extended. Therefore the Lord advises us to give up all these "isms" and just take to Vaiñëavism—service to Viñëu or His representative. When the living entity surrenders to the Lord and realizes his constitutional position as the eternal servant of the Lord, he becomes peaceful and acts of the joyful platform as a liberated soul.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhoktäraà yajïa-tapasäà<br>
sarva-loka-maheçvaram<br>
suhådaà sarva-bhütänäà<br>
jïëtvä mäà çäntim åccati<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>5.29</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">"The sages knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries."</p>
<p class="p7">After all, we have to serve someone or something, but the perfection of our service is to serve you. We have been serving our bodies and our minds, inventing so many <i>dharmas</i> or isms to serve, serving anything and everything except your lotus feet. But we now want to kick out all other dictations and surrender to the dictations of your lotus feet. By accepting you as our perfect master we become peaceful and joyful, free from material desires, <i>praçänta.</i></p>
<p class="p7">A stray dog wanders here and there, miserable and filled with anxiety. He does not know where to find food or rest. Sometimes he roams from place to place searching for some scraps to eat, but he finds nothing. Sometimes he takes rest along side of the road, only to be disturbed by cruel kicks and harsh words. His body is lean and ragged; his mind is morose and helpless. Sometimes big dogs snarl and bite him or little children throw stones and chase him. But he is alone, hopeless; no master, <i>anätha.</i></p>
<p class="p7">A dog with a master is happy. He is fat and content. He wags his tail and barks loudly. He is confident. No one can bother him, because he has his master. He knows food will come. He has his place to stay. In all circumstances he knows his master will protect him. Thus he is happy, <i>sanätha.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We pray to remain eternally as your dog. All we want in life is your service. We require a master, and in you we have found the perfect master. Without you we are lost, hopeless; with you we are jubilant, pacified. You alone can protect us, provide for us, and give us shelter. You are so kind that you have accepted hundreds and thousands of stray dogs and are leading us with you in a joyful procession. Animals may snarl and children may throw stones but we are always cheerful and confident because we have our master, Your Divine Grace. We pray to tag along at your lotus feet, eternally following you wherever you go. You may lead us to heaven of you may lead us to hell—we do not care. We want you and you only. Having found our master we have nothing more to desire. We are happy because we have you, the perfect master. We are <i>sanätha,</i> and have attained the goal of our life.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants,</i> ISKCON Bombay</p>
<p class="p49">Giriräj däsa brahmacäré / Prabhaviñëu däsa brahmacäré / Dayämågya däsa brahmacäré / Bhérasnata däsa brahmacäré / Ekanätha däsa brahmacäré / Hari däsa brahmacäré / Mahäviñëu däsa brahmacäré / Mänasatéta däsa brahmacäré / Nélamaëi däsa brahmacäré / Nistraiguëya däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkha däsa brahmacäré / Vardhan däsa brahmacäré / Akñaya däsa brahmacäré / Ananta-padmanäbha däsa brahmacäré / Anupama däsa brahmacäré / Arjuna däsa brahmacäré / Bhärata däsa / Gaurasundara däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa-håd däsa brahmacäré / Satyänanda däsa / Subäla däsa brahmacäré / Upendra Muni däsa / Väsudeva däsa / Äditya-devé däsé / Ambikä-devé däsé / Anaìga-maïjaré-devé däsé / Antardhyäna-devé däsé / Ekayané-devé däsé / Kåñëa-devé däsé / Maniñä-devé däsé / Rukmiëé-priyä-devé däsé / Amogha däsa adhikäré and Rasaräëé-devé däsé / Dvaipäyaëa däsa adhikaåé and Atri-devé däsé / Éçvara däsa adhikäré and Hari-priyä-devé däsé / Jagat-pruüña däsa adhikäré and Gäëòiva-devé däsé / Mürti däsa adhikäré and Mahaté-devé däsé / Saurabha däsa adhikäré / Vijeta däsa adhikäré and Ärya-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Boston</b></p>
<p class="p7">Within this <i>brahmäëòa</i> or material sky there are billions of universes floating from the pores of Çré Mahä-Viñëu. Within each universe there are, again, billions of planets containing varied atmospheres and gradations of living conditions. These planets provide accommodating space for the limitless living entities who, having forgotten their original relationship with Kåñëa, are wandering from one situation to another through 8,400,000 species of life, in search of happiness. Filling up the entire <i>brahmäëòa</i> with life, these living entities, described as measuring one ten-thousandth to top of a tip of a hair, can be divided into two groups, the nonmoving (plants, trees and stones) and the moving (birds, aquatics, and animals). Among all of these billions of living entities only a very small portion are said to be human beings. And among those who are considered human, most fall into the category of the uncivilized, due to their aversion or ignorance of the codes governing religious life enunciated in the <i>Vedas.</i> We are then left with a very small remaining portion of human beings who are recognized as civilized because of their adherence to the Vedic principles. Of these, almost one-half are simply following in a superficial way, while committing all kinds of sinful activities. Among the half who are truly following the <i>Vedas,</i> most are interested in the <i>karma-käëòa</i> section and are aspiring to enjoy the results of their good works and pious activities. Out of many thousands of such sincere fruitive workers, perhaps one becomes wise and realizes the futility of his endeavor. Out of many millions of such wise men one may actually become liberated from the karmic cycle. And out of many millions of such liberated souls, who compromise the minutest portion of the total aggregate of living beings existing within this material world, a pure devotee of Lord Kåñëa is very difficult to find. Therefore, on this most auspicious day of the appearance of our spiritual master, Oà Viñëu-päda Paramahaàsa Paravräjakäcärya Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedanta Swami Çréla Prabhupäda, it is impossible for us to properly express our gratitude or fathom our unique fortune that out of all the trillions of uncountable creatures in existence, somehow or other, we have been blessed by the holy association of the living representative of Çréla Vyäsadeva, the original compiler of all transcendental knowledge, coming down in the preceptorial line originating with Lord Çré Kåñëa Himself. Such an authorized spiritual master is the rarest, most valuable gem to be found in all the three worlds. It is only by the brilliance of his flawless desire to act solely for the satisfaction of Lord Kåñëa that the entire human civilization can be delivered from all anxieties arising from the frustration of lusty desires.</p>
<p class="p7">Within the hearts of the conditioned souls there are hundreds and thousands of lusty desires for enjoyment in this material world. Being driven by these desires they are taking one body after another in an attempt to achieve satisfaction. However, because of the very nature of this material world, which Kåñëa declares to be <i>duùkhälayam açäçvatam,</i> a temporary place, full of miseries, the stage of satisfaction is never reached. They are thus becoming disappointed and fearful In the end death comes and they are forced to accept another material body, tightly bound up in a vast network of unlimited anxieties.</p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes one such illusioned living being foolishly approaches some so-called great personality, who has become expert in the fields of <i>karma, jïäna,</i> or <i>yoga,</i> to get some kind of relief. However, because such men have no knowledge of the eternal spiritual identity beyond this temporary body, and are bereft of a relationship with God, their instructions do not give him ultimate satisfaction. We have practical experience of this in the modern world. At present, the major portion of the human energy has been expended on vicious works with the aim of achieving a higher grade of sense gratification. This we have done. We have also invented innumerable philosophies and so-called "paths" by which we are trying to enhance our human experience. Yet, people are wondering why there is so much unhappiness and disunity and they have created many different "isms" in an attempt to deal with the situation. Unfortunately all such "isms" have helped only to intensify and not to diminish the problems of life. The leaders of the world, being blind to the knowledge of the self, can only give symptomatic treatment and cannot understand the root cause of the dissatisfaction which plagues all of us. That was described by Rämänanda Räya to Çré Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya asked Rämänanda Räya: "Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?" Rämänanda Räya replied, "Apart from separation from the devotees of Kåñëa I know of no other unbearable unhappiness." In the light of this statement, we can understand that the present dissatisfaction experienced on all levels of our present social structure is not due to the government, crime, politics, economics, men, women, etc. Neither will it be mitigated by artificial methods for the so-called improvement of our living conditions. The real fact is that as long as any civilization or society is bereft of the association of the most confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord, Çré Gurudeva, there can never be even a moment of true happiness for anyone. We therefore long for the day when the bona fide <i>äcärya,</i> Çréla Prabhupäda, will be recognized and sought after by the present world leaders for the absolute guidance required in order to progress. According to science's law of thermodynamics, a complex system, if left to itself, tends towards chaos and disintegration. Similarly any world organization which neglects the absolute direction of Lord Çré Kåñëa, the <i>Vedas</i> and the bona fide spiritual master will ultimately destroy itself. Modern day philosophers, politicians, social workers and all other theoreticians must give up their limited empiric endeavors which will never turn back the rising tide of degradation, either individually or collectively, and surrender, at once, to the lotus feet of the Guru. The spiritual master brings with him the won ingredient which, when added, will make the human endeavor meaningful and ultimately successful. That ingredient is devotional service to the Supreme Lord Kåñëa. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> this is explained: "The supreme occupation (<i>dharma</i>) for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self." In another place it is declared, "Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Lord must be considered dead although he is breathing." We therefore offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda, whose glorious appearance in this dead world is giving all living beings new hope for life. All glories, all glories to Çréla Prabhupäda, the Supreme Personality of servitor Godhead, who is as worshipable as Lord Kåñëa Himself! In the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> 1.45]</span> it is declared, "According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees." Millions of obeisances again and again to Çréla Prabhupäda, who is an ocean of compassion upon the fallen souls of the Western world. He is always situated in spiritual happiness, yet he also experiences unhappiness. He is unhappy to see the sufferings of others. Therefore, he is benedicting the entire world with his causeless mercy and delivering all living beings.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept our humble obeisances. We pray unto your lotus feet to please bestow upon us just one drop of your mercy, so that we may have no desire within our heart that is apart from yours. Purify us of all traces of self-motivation. Then, accepting your order as our life and soul, perhaps we may be of some small assistance in your tireless endeavor to shower the cooling moonlike rays of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda upon the suffering humanity. This alone will bring about ultimate relief of all miseries brought about by our "causeless unwillingness to serve and love the Supreme."</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, "Kåñëa is yours. You have the power to give Him to me. I am simply running behind you shouting, 'Kåñëa, Kåñëa'"</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!!</p>
<p class="p7">The devotees of Boston ISKCON</p>
<p class="p11">Brazil</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brazil</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our beloved spiritual master Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most respectful obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet, which are as refreshing as the light of thousands of moons, and which are our only refuge from the constant attacks that we suffer at the hands of the powerful energy of <i>mäyä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Oh Çréla Prabhupäda, we were always entangled in the material energy of <i>mahä-mäyä.</i> We were always engaged in the lowest forms of sense gratification. We were afflicted and tormented, being without protection and shelter. But you, O Jagad-guru, came to answer our cry, dedicating your life to saving us suffering, fallen souls, and thus giving up the peaceful atmosphere of the holy places like Våndävana and Mäyäpur. You came to the hellish Western countries, full of voidism and impersonalism, thus satisfying the desire if Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu and the order of your beloved spiritual master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé said that one who has desires to enjoy material things should never look at the young face of Govinda, for we know, beloved master, that it would be then impossible to go with material life. Here we had experienced in Brazil a little bit of Kåñëa consciousness, but suddenly everything was finished and we began to suffer separation.</p>
<p class="p7">Thus, in this painful condition, we begged for your help. We asked that you extend your hand to pull us out of the mire of material life. Immediately by your causeless mercy, you came and saved us. You saved us from drowning in illusion, from the physical relations of the material world. You saved us from forgetting Kåñëa. How, Çréla Prabhupäda, can we show our gratitude? What do we have to give you, except what you have given to us? Since we are nothing, and we have nothing, we only beg you that you accept our body, words and mind in your service, and that you use us like puppets in your mission to satisfy Kåñëa through the <i>saìkértana-yajïa.</i> We are begging, Çréla Prabhupäda, only that you never stop engaging us in the service of the Lord, and that you permit that even in spite of our constant offenses that we go on purifying ourselves on the service of your lotus feet. Where else can we find shelter, and what else can we do except serve Your Divine Grace?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä sindhu, adhama janära bandhu<br>
lokanäth lokera jévana<br>
hä hä prabhu kara dayä, deha more pada-chäyä<br>
ebe yäça ghuñuka tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds."</p>
<p class="p7">This immense country is completely in the darkness of ignorance, its thousands and thousands of persons simply sinking in nescience. We have the fervent desire to show these people that you are the <i>äcärya,</i> the pure devotee of the Lord. We want to show them that you have come here within the <i>mahat-tattva</i> only for the purpose of giving them <i>kåñëa-prema,</i> but without your mercy, our endeavors to show them will be all useless.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavata-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p16">"By the mercy of the spiritual master, one is benedicted with the mercy of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, no one can make any spiritual advancement. Therefore I should always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my most respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my spiritual master."</p>
<p class="p7">We implore you, Çréla Prabhupäda, prostrated with our heads in the dust of your feet, for your blessings and your mercy. O beloved Guru, this entire world will be reconquered for its original owner, Lord Çré Kåñëa. You have explained to us that the material energy is a product of the spiritual energy. Therefore, the whole world can be turned into Vaikuëöha, if we have your mercy. Therefore, we will go on fighting hard, waiting for the day when, by your grace, we return to transcendental bliss.</p>
<p class="p49">Ärädhya däsa brahmacäré / Bhamaka däsa brahmacäré / Durasada däsa brahmacäré / Guruvagmi däsa brahmacäré / Jagad Bhärata däsa brahmacäré / Kuladeva däsa brahmacäré / Viçvavandya däsa brahmacäré / Muni Priya däsa brahmacäré / Lokasäkñé däsa adhikäré / Vyäsa däsa brahmacäré / Bhütamätä-devé däsé / Mahäyogeçvara-devé däsé / Bhaktin Sandra / Bhaktin Divani / Bhaktin Neide / Bhaktin Ivanete / Bhaktin Virginia / Bhaktin Puññi-märga / Bhaktin Indumati / Bhaktin Cintia / Bhakta Eneas / Bhakta George / Bhakta Geomar / Bhakta Ivon / Bhakta Jorge / Bhakta Luis Carlos / Bhakta Pedro / Bhakta Quinho</p>
<p class="p7">BBT-TSKP</p>
<p class="p49">Viraha Prakaçca Gosvämé / Jagad-vicitra däsa brahmacäré / Paravyoma däsa brahmacäré / Yajïi däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7">Nova Ayodhyä Farm</p>
<p class="p49">Phanindra däsa adhikäré / Virocana däsa adhikäré / Ugraha däsa brahmacäré / Acala däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Luis / Bhakta Augusto / Bhakta Samba / Bhakta Victor / Bhakta Kåñëa Govinda / Bhaktin Ivete / Bhaktin Patricia / Bhaktin Maria Helena and children / Mahévéra däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Jenny / Bhaktin Devahüti / Lokabandhu däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Bridesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bridesville</b></p>
<p class="p7">We, the devotees of New Gokula dhäma, offer our prostrate obeisances at your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are the greatest of all mystics, for you are performing the greatest miracle. You are taking Westerners from the dark pit of material sense gratification and turning them into twice-born <i>brähmaëas.</i> Although we were desiring to remain in the mire of material existence, by your desires and prayers the Supreme Lord has acted from within our hearts to inspire us to take to devotional service.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde paya bhakti-latä-béja</i></p>
<p class="p16">"According to their <i>karma,</i> all living entities are wandering throughout the universes. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems and some are going to the lower ones. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kåñëa. By the mercy of both Kåñëa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of devotional service." [<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</p>
<p class="p7">We were drowning in the waves and whirlpools of the modes of material nature, rushing towards death and repeated birth, not even realizing it. You have saved us from that hellish ocean, Çréla Prabhupäda, we can only offer our prayers of gratitude. It is said that when a pure devotee narrates the unadulterated narrations of the Lord's transcendental pastimes, that narration is compared to a raging river. Even a casual bystander who happens to hear a pure devotee's speech is swept into that river until he eventually reaches the ocean of devotional service. The <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> states, "The value of one moment's association with a pure devotee of the Lord cannot even compare to the attainment of heavenly planets, liberation from matter, or attainment of worldly prosperity which is meant for death."</p>
<p class="p7">We have somehow received this causeless grace by your mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda. Therefore, in gratitude we wish to dedicate our lives to fulfilling your desires.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we ever repay you, Gurudeva, for you are giving us <i>räga vidyä, räja guhyam,</i> the king of knowledge and education; <i>padaà gachanty anämäyäm,</i> that state beyond all miseries; <i>çäçvataà padam avyayam </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.56]</span><i>,</i> the eternal and imperishable abode; and <i>çäntim apnoti naiñöhikéva,</i> unadulterated peace.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the most munificent person for you are directly empowered by Lord Kåñëa, as confirmed by Uddhava:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naivopanty apacitià kavayas taveça<br>
brahmäyuñäpi kåtam åddha-mudaù smarantaù<br>
yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhåtäm añbhaà vidhunvann<br>
äcärya-caitya-vapuñä sva-gatià vyanakti</i></p>
<p class="p16">"O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmä, for You appear in two features, externally as the <i>äcärya</i> and internally as the Supersoul—to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You." (<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.29.6)</p>
<p class="p7">Liberation from this material world is possible by knowing the transcendental nature of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa. We Westerners are so fallen that we did not even have a taste for hearing those auspicious narrations. But you are so kind, Çréla Prabhupäda, that you are blessing us with this affinity for hearing. This is explained in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> by Süta Gosvämé:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çuçrüñoh çraddadhänasya<br>
väsudeva-kathä-ruciù<br>
syän mahat-sevayä vipräù<br>
puëya-tértha-niñevaëät</i></p>
<p class="p16">"O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains an affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva." [<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>1.2.16</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">Human reasoning and logic cannot understand this miracle, for it is causeless mercy and nothing else.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, our happiness, gratitude and love for you forces us to dance in ecstasy when we hear your name being chanted, like Çrutadeva when he saw Lord Kåñëa. You are purifying our contaminated hearts and giving us the ultimate goal of life, love of God. Your mercy is so sublime that by your grace, we can easily cross the ocean of material miseries. The sublime potency of devotional service and the spiritual master is nicely stated by Süta Gosvämé in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu<br>
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä<br>
bhagavaty uttama-çloke<br>
bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké</i></p>
<p class="p16">"By regularly hearing the <i>Bhägavatam</i> and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact." [<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.2.18]</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us the supreme <i>dharma</i> or occupation. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda! Here at New Gokula you have taught us how to live peacefully and simply, protecting the cows, growing grains and vegetables, hearing <i>bhägavata-dharma</i> discourses and worshipping our deities, Çré Çré Rädhä-Madana-mohana. We pray that our endeavors here will justly present the Kåñëa conscious lifestyle to the vision of the Western world. Our hope is that all mankind will give up its suffering and toil and take to this Kåñëa consciousness movement, thus fulfilling your desire, Çréla Prabhupäda, to terminate forever the suffering of mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">New Gokula, Bridesville</p>
<p class="p49">Rocana däsa adhikäré / Prabhänu däsa adhikäré / Béra Räghava däsa adhikäré / Ojasvi däsa adhikäré / Paçupati däsa adhikäré / Viñëuyaça däsa brahmacäré / Çrémanta däsa brahmacäré / Aja däsa brahmacäré / Alambana däsa brahmacäré / Puëyakérti däsa brahmacäré / Svaphana däsa brahmacäré / Rohita däsa brahmacäré / Netainätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhatka Terry / Bhakta Raymond / Bhakta Merle / Bhakta Steve / Svahna-devé däsé / Jagadéçväné-devé däsé / Birmala-devé däsé / Viñëupriyä-devé däsé / Padyävalé-devé däsé / Lolä-devé däsé / Mohajjavala-devé däsé / Dahrini-devé däsé / Paratpara-devé däsé / Balaräma / Rüpa-manohara / Bhaktivinoda / Bhaktimaté-devé / Devaké / Yamunä / Candrahäsa / Tulasé-maïjaré / Malite-devé</p>
<p class="p11">Buenos Aires</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buenos Aires</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Vaiñëava Öhäkura, O ocean of mercy, may the swan of our mind enter the flower of your lotus feet and become locked up in the network of your transcendental qualities. In this way our hearts will become cleansed of all material affection.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the cause of all pleasure for the sincere disciple willing to follow the footprints left behind by Your Divine Grace. Your pearl-like tears of love flow down and mix with the holy dust which you touch. You show the way back home. Let us follow you birth after birth.</p>
<p class="p7">Like a golden parrot you touch that which is already sweet, turning it into nectar so delicious. You uplift even one so fallen as I who do not know the glories of your feet, which can give shelter to all because you are the most dear servant of Hari, Kåñëa, the Supreme Being.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the only one who can polish the rough diamonds of our hearts and present them as an offering to the lover of the <i>gopés,</i> the darling of Yaçodä, and the cause of all that be. We pray that He may give us unflinching loving service unto your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servants:</i></p>
<p class="p7">Païcadravida Svämé</p>
<p class="p7">All the assembled devotees of the Temple of Buenos Aires</p>
<p class="p11">Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories unto you. I am a materialistic rascal and have no good qualifications but somehow or other I have gained shelter at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p17"><i>A voice,<br>
Strewn with saffron mercy particles<br>
from the lotus feet of the Lord,<br>
Resounded in our material night,<br>
With sounds of jéva</i> jäga<i>, until then<br>
perfection was no where in sight;<br>
But rather than lines of poesy<br>
about the pure devotee glories,<br>
the </i>Vedas<i> have already told,<br>
Better a life of serving,<br>
the message you have brought,<br>
Like an animal sold.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to remain in your service.</p>
<p class="p49">Cediräja däsa brahmacäré / Kåpämäyä däsa adhikäré / Mukta Keça däsa / Phanamaëòita däsa / Bhakta Stack / Bhakta Chuck / Bhakta Thomas A. Drescher / Yudhiñöhira däsa / Surdarähara däsa / Bernard Eby / Micheal Run / Mahävegavaté-devé däsé / Kåñëa Bhävä-devé däsé / Purucitti-devé däsé / Bhaktin Pat / Bhaktin Mary</p>
<p class="p11">Caracas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Caracas</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Father:</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. You are liberating all fallen souls, causing the vibration of the holy names of Hare Kåñëa, Hare, Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare to be heard in every corner of the creation. Devoid of your shelter we are like dry trees without leaves or flowers, and your kind presence enables us to live in the garden of Våndävana, where the plaints of unalloyed love for Kåñëa grow.</p>
<p class="p7">Now that your devotional magnificence is gracing the world, and Lord Caitanya's mercy bathes all living beings, we want to chant about your love for Kåñëa. Our eyes cannot see that love, but our desire is to become infected with this love, and we know that by following you we will certainly obtain it.</p>
<p class="p7">You are doing the greatest benefit to human society and you are the perfect captain of the boat that can take us all to the permanent shelter of Kåñëa's lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">We are all made of your mercy, and all transcendental knowledge comes only from you, since you are the authentic representative of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Any spiritual strength and any possibility of renunciation also come from you. We had lived like animals but now you are giving us the chance of reaching the supreme goal of life: pure love for Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Just like soft lotus petals, your divine feet have marked all over the world a path of victory, truth, honesty and purity.</p>
<p class="p7">You show everyone that it is possible to live a perfect life. We do not have any way of repaying you.</p>
<p class="p7">Please let us serve you eternally and kindly accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sus sirvientes eternos,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bér Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Vérabähu däsa adhikäré / Vådvabaga däsa adhikäré / Kavi däsa brahmacäré / Kratu däsa brahmacäré / Vareña däsa brahmacäré / Rämänuja-äcärya däsa brahmacäré / Ädi-çeña däsa brahmacäré / Mädhurya däsa brahmacäré / Antaryämé däsa / Hådaya Paëòita däsa adhikäré / Hari-bhakta däsa brahmacäré / Jagat-cakñur däsa brahmacäré / Caitanya Anarüpa / Aguëa däsa adhikäré / Karuëäkña däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Alfredo / Bhakta Carlos / Bhakta Enzo / Bhakta Charlie / Bhakta Hernando / Bhakta Fernando / Bhakta Jose / Bhakta Jesus / Bhakta Nanda / Bhakta Druva / Bhakta Miranda / Bhakta Mauro / Bhakta Karta / Bhakta Modani / Bhakta Mürti Mürti</p>
<p class="p11">Carriere</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Carriere</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to the appearance day of 108 Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Çréla Prabhupäda! This most blessed event, Vyäsa-Püjä, gives us the opportunity to offer our feeble glorifications and gratitude to your spiritual master. Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, our appreciation can never equal the value of your mercy toward us. To get a bona fide spiritual master is the most rare and fortunate thing in the material world. Out of the millions of conditioned souls wandering in the material world, only a few will meet a pure devotee, by the mercy of Kåñëa. Then, by the mercy of a pure devotee like yourself, the conditioned souls like us get the chance to meet Kåñëa—face to face.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 8</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Actually, we can understand, without very much examination, that we are not qualified either for your mercy or for success in spiritual life. We are envious offenders, always lazy and neglectful of your instruction. Out of three ways to attain perfection, we are only making advancement by your mercy (<i>kåpä-siddha,</i> the mercy of a Vaiñëava). One can attain perfection by always remembering Kåñëa (<i>nitya-siddha</i>), but we only remember Kåñëa because you have reminded us of Him. One can also attain perfection by following the rules and regulations of devotional service (<i>sädhana-siddha</i>), but it is by your potency, protection, and instruction that we follow any rules or regulations at all. Factually, your mercy is all we are made of.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you have told us what you want us to do so many times in your books. You have told us to chant, dance, follow the regulative principles, and especially to preach Lord Caitanya's movement all over the world, and by these activities become successful in spiritual life. We will be able to preach and become successful only if we have complete faith in what you have taught us. You have already set the perfect example. This Kåñëa consciousness movement is going all over the world simply because you had implicit faith in the words of your Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. Faith in your words is the secret to all success in Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed." [<i>ÇU</i> 6.23]</p>
<p class="p7">So, Çréla Prabhupäda, our preaching work here on your farm in Mississippi has taken the forms of setting up a spiritual community as an example for others to follow, building facilities for people to come and live with Kåñëa at the center of their lives, growing fruits and vegetables and protecting Kåñëa's blissful, milk-giving cows. So, we have tried to show a little gratitude with words for the opportunity you are giving us, now we pray to spend our lives glorifying you with our works. Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>The devotees of the Hare Kåñëa farm, Carriere, Mississippi</i></p>
<p class="p49">Nityänanda däsa adhikäré / Caturhähu däsa adhikäré / Pandìga däsa brahmacäré / Jitamitra däsa brahmacäré / jagatkartä däsa brahmacäré / Yogendra däsa brahmacäré / Dvibhuja däsa brahmacäré / Daruëa däsa brahmacäré / Ernie / Danny / Ricky / Kanyä Kumäré-devé däsé / Mitravinda-devé däsé / Kamarikänta-devé däsé / Bhakta Vimal däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Charlotte</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Charlotte</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda for coming to this country and saving us. Your kindness is a fathomless ocean, your compassion knows no bounds. Indeed your fame is spread all over the three worlds. Thank you for allowing us to engage in your service. By developing attachment to you, our attachment to Kåñëa is guaranteed. You are most dear to Kåñëa, therefore you are very much like Kåñëa, completely pure and full of blissfulness. By approaching you in the proper way, our mental boundaries are broken and our bodily limitations are reduced almost to nil; thus our conditional life comes to an end. Just by remembering you, the most difficult thing becomes very easy. And when we forget you the easiest thing becomes very difficult.</p>
<p class="p7">My prayer to you is to always be able to think of you in all my activities, otherwise they are simply a waste of time. This human life is so short and the mind is so flickering; please accept this prayer so that the valuable time will not pass in vain.</p>
<p class="p7">May we ever remain indebted to your service, as long as you will have us.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen disciples at ISKCON's Charlotte outpost.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Gadé däsa adhikäré / Mahäprabhu däsa adhikäré / Paramätmä däsa brahmacäré / Kiranasa däsa brahmacäré / Hatari däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jim / Titikñä-devé däsé / Jaläìgé-devé däsé (Rädhikä däsé) / Bhaktin Sara</p>
<p class="p11">Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p7">By the grace of our spiritual master, our lives have become factually auspicious. The unsurpassable degree of auspiciousness with which our lives have become filled is only scantily perceived and less still remembered by our fallen selves.</p>
<p class="p7">Wandering upwards to the higher planetary systems and again down to the lower, we have tasted the false <i>amåta</i> of materialistic life. It is a dancing mirage the witch <i>mäyä</i> has drawn us into the depths of her desert of illusion, flying as bewildered moths into blazing fire. Superficial, impotent philosophies impelled us after <i>mäyä's</i> beckoning mirage—to enjoy as lords of this material nature. False family, friendship and society have claimed to serve us; encouraging us (only for a price) to continue to death our quest for the unattainable illusion. This impure motive of lust has polluted our hearts and ignorance has perpetuated our insane pursuit after the mirage of happiness in this barren desert of material life.</p>
<p class="p7">It is you alone Çréla Prabhupäda who can save us, you alone who can remove this ignorance:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïanäïjana-çaläkayä <br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çri-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge." [<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</p>
<p class="p7">Everyone in the material world is trapped, bound by the insurpassable power of <i>mäyä.</i> Not the greatest scholar, not the strongest man, the wealthiest aristocrat, most beautiful woman, nor most renounced <i>yogé</i> can escape her powerful grip. It is only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, who can give us the mercy of Lord Kåñëa, to take us from <i>mäyä's</i> control.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ei-bära-karuëä kara vaiñëava-gosäi<br>
patita-p-avana tomä vine keha näi<br>
Yäìhära nikaöe gele päpa düre yäya<br>
emana dayäla prabhu kebä kothä päya</i></p>
<p class="p16">O Vaiñëava Gosvämé, please be merciful to me this one time. You are the savior of the fallen; without you there is no one. Just by being in your presence, sins go far away. Where can anyone find such kindness</p>
<p class="p7">You are the mercy representation of the Supreme Lord, who has so kindly given to the reluctant unappreciative souls the highest benediction of the knowledge and realization to actually perceive the foolishness of material life. You have delivered us from the nonsense relative world of misery where pain, frustration and anxiety are accepted as pleasure. You have given us a glimpse, a genuine experience of our eternal life with the Supreme Lord, Bhagavän Çré Kåñëa. Please kindly accept our meager services.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëa se tomära, kåñëa dite pära<br>
tomära çakati äche<br>
ämi ta' käìgäla, 'kåñëa' 'kåñëa' boli',<br>
dhäi tava päche päche</i></p>
<p class="p16">Kåñëa is yours; you have to power to give Him to me I am simply running behind you shouting "Kåñëa, Kåñëa!"</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants at ISKCON Chicago</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Householders</b></p>
<p class="p49">Uttamaçloka / Çré Govinda / Çrépati / Viçalakña / Viñëu Datta / Caitanya / Juan / Svavas / Gopäla Bhaööa</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Brahmacärés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Caitanya Rüpa / John / Glen / Jim. Mc. / Mågendra / Manusüta / Paticandra / Divyäìga / Gopati / Träëakartä / Jaya Kåñëa / Jéva Gosvämé / Rämäi / Rämakeli / Hari-haräyänanda / Cakri / Madhuvrata</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Women</b></p>
<p class="p49">Çubhadä / Damayanti / Ñaòbhuja / Ätmäräma / Madhuvi / Bhaktavyasa / Diane / Barhiñmati / Çrélekhä / Ürvaçi / Kalalalapa / Jasmine / Jahnavé / Debbie / Tadit / Krotaçamani</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Children</b></p>
<p class="p49">Rädhä-gopénätha / Sudarñaëa / Arjuna / Nakula / Sahadeva / Gaìgä / Ananta Çeña / Äcärya / Nitäi</p>
<p class="p11">Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">The poet Narottama däsa has sung <i>"çré-guru-caraëe rati, ei sei uttama-gati."</i> Attachment to the lotus feet of one's guru is the perfection which fulfills all desires. How is it that we, who are expert only in sinning, have been given this chance to attain the summit of self-realization? This is your causeless mercy upon us. You have descended to display the potency of the Supreme Lord, whose absolute purity cleanses anyone in contacts. By your grace, you are traveling everywhere to benedict the most fallen souls of the Age of Iron. The results are apparent. Wherever your lotus feet have touched, devotees have come forth and temples have grown up. But for your good self, we find no one else so active, so successful in realizing the prophesy of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p7">Your mission has been given by Lord Gaurasundara Himself, who commanded that anyone who takes his birth in the land of Bhärata-varña is responsible for delivering this <i>saìkértana</i> movement to the rest of the world. Now, you have come, as foretold by Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda, just to fulfill that promise.</p>
<p class="p7">All of us here are without knowledge of the <i>Vedas</i> and know nothing of austerity. Because of our low nature we are unfaithful to our vows and even after accepting initiation from you, we fail to surrender. But you are the epitome of patience. You never turn us away, despite our countless offenses, but over and over repeat instructions to us who are so slow to learn.</p>
<p class="p7">Most munificent spiritual master, please grant that all our mundane ambitions will become destroyed. In time, even our worthless selves will become purified by your mercy, if only we remain under the shelter of your instructions. Kindly save us from the unceasing onslaught of the witch <i>mäyä,</i> who is constantly reminding us of our former ways and attempting to lure us back. Our memories are short, our minds are decayed and our senses are very strong, having had control over us for so long. But for your grace we have no hope at all, no possibility of rising above animal life. Our position is so fearful. If we had perished before, there would have been no great loss, because we were so fallen already. But now that we have caught sight of the supreme goal, now that we have tasted a drop of the nectar of Kåñëa consciousness, now there is so much at stake. Please don't let <i>mäyä</i> cheat us anymore. We want to become your disciples; we want to work for you because we have never before seen anyone capable of delivering so much good to so many men. We want to see the fulfillment of your mission because no one else has ever brought us such a vision of total happiness.</p>
<p class="p7">We are your eternal servants; our link with you is your instructions. In this way, keep us in contact with your lotus feet. Their touch alone can cure the disease we suffered from time immemorial. All glories to your unbounded mercy!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>The devotees of Cleveland ISKCON</i></p>
<p class="p49">Kåñëa-mürti däsa / Arjit däsa / Dhanaïjaya Paëòita däsa / Lélämohana däsa / Taru däsa / Candrabhänu däsa / Candi däsa / Mahärudra däsa / Anädi däsa / Keçava däsa / Bhakta Larry / Bhakta Joseph / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Moe / Bhakta Terry / Andrew Paige / Viñëu-priyä-devé däsé / Veëuviläsa-devé däsé / Cintämaëi-devé däsé / Dhämagraha-devé däsé / Bhaktin Chandra / Bhaktin Renee / Bhaktin Theresa / Mother Diane</p>
<p class="p11">Columbia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Columbia</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You were with Kåñëa and He sent you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To a world of death, where chewing the chewed</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Is the goal, and gratifying the senses</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>It the "Golden Rule."</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Now Çréla Prabhupäda has descended,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With Caitanya's mercy we are benedicted</i></p>
<p class="p7">Ärätrika: <i>I offer my body at your lotus feet,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With incense and burning camphor sweet,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With ghee lamp burning, I offer to your ankles my mind,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And with scented rose water, I offer my words to your knees and thighs.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I offer my life and soul with soft silk and flowers to your waist,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Fan your chest, and wave the </i>camara <i>to your face.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The taste of Goloka is in your smile,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And in your books remnants of love,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>O SO, your mercy is all I'm made of.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Hari däsa brahmacäré / Hari caraëa däsa brahmacäré / All the assembled devotees</p>
<p class="p11">Costa Rica</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Costa Rica</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our position is so precarious because although we are completely ashamed of our fallen condition we still grab for the stick of desire. We are always trying to become happy within this material world but this is like trying to be happy in a forest fire.</p>
<p class="p7">It was not possible to understand any of this before we came into your pure association, Çréla Prabhupäda. Searching for someone with truth was like an old blind man asking some rougue for guidance and the rascal takes the opportunity to lead the blind man to an open well and then plunder him.</p>
<p class="p7">In such a world there was no one to trust until, somehow or other, we heard the nectar about Lord Çré Kåñëa coming from your lotus mouth.</p>
<p class="p7">As Rüpa Gosvämé has stated:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ataù çré-kåñëa nämädi<br>
na bhaved grähyam indriyaiù<br>
</i><span class="s3"><i>[Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu 1.2.234]</i></span></p>
<p class="p7">"We cannot conceive the name, form and quality of Çré Kåñëa through our own material senses." Thus the only way it is possible to make any spiritual advancement along this path of knowledge and realization is by coming into contact with a pure devotee like you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">You are described as <i>niñkiïcana</i>—one who has no material desire to enjoy this material world, but moreover you are <i>ätmäräma,</i> which means that you have no desire other than to engage in devotional service. Therefore our prime realization is:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>vinä mahat päda-räjo 'bhiñkam</i></p>
<p class="p7">One cannot attain perfection without smearing the dust from the lotus feet of an exalted devotee on his head.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray to remain fixed in remembering our greatest fortune, which has been the appearance and activities of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">On this day, Çréla Prabhupäda, your disciples of your Costa Rica Mandira beg that you always allow us to take shelter of your association and instructions. We offerour <i>daëòavats</i> at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>The devotees at ISCKON Costa Rica</i></p>
<p class="p49">Païkajanäbha däsa brahmacäré / Çaunaka däsa brahmacäré / Kalpatru däsa brahmacäré / Sarvabhaväna däsa brahmacäré / Guru-prasäda däsa brahmacäré / Nagari däsa brahmacäré / Nirguëa däsa adhikäré / Näräyaëa däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Ronald / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Wilbert / Bhakta Roul / Bhakta Santos / Bhakta Raul / Divya-devé däsé / Devya däsé / Bhaktin Shanna / Bhaktin Viria / Bhaktin Nelania</p>
<p class="p11">Dallas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dallas</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena<br>
paripraçena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà<br>
jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." [<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</p>
<p class="p7">On this appearance day of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta swami Prabhupäda, let us try to understand the actual position of the bona fide <i>äcärya</i> and the relationship he has with his disciples. Just as a man suffering from an illness seeks help from a qualified physician in order that he might be cured, so also an individual infected by the disease of material consciousness must seek the help of the self-realized spiritual master. One who does not seek out transcendental assistance faces the risk of spoiling his life.</p>
<p class="p7">"After all," they argue, "I am simply acting the way that I was taught by my parents and teachers. How can so many people be following a completely erroneous conception of life? Besides, many of us have sophisticated life styles, and we are highly trained and disciplined in various occupations. We are contributing members of our great society, and besides, I have my own religion. How can you accuse us of spoiling our lives?"</p>
<p class="p7">The answer is quite clearly given in the <i>çästra </i><span class="s3">[</span><i>1.1.1]: athäto brahma-jijïäsä.</i> Now that we have this human form we must use it for solving the real problems of life. Simply by becoming polished animals is not the true goal of life. The real aim of human life is to inquire into the nature of the soul, to realize who we are and what is the summun bonum or the Absolute Truth. This is the proper utility of our intelligence. But how is this done? What is the method by which we can discover this supreme cause? After all, we have imperfect senses and a limited field of experiences.</p>
<p class="p7">This is the point at which one should seek the shelter of the bona fide spiritual master. Just as a person seeks out a physician once he discovers he has a disease, so also an intelligent man will be able to perceive that this material world is a miserable place. Everyone here is suffering from birth, death, old age, and disease. No one can escape the stringent laws of material nature. But the difficulty is that even though there is so much suffering due to poor fund of knowledge, the foolish materialists try to make some adjustment within the material energy. So therefore, out of his causeless mercy on such fallen souls, the spiritual master comes to open our eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge. He is always engaged in service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. <i>Mac-cittä mad-gata-präëäù.</i> "the thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 10.9]</span> Our beloved spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda, has no other purpose but to deliver the message of <i>kåñëa-prema</i> for everyone's benefit. Because of this, he is the most dear to Kåñëa. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.69]</span> Therefore one who aspires for becoming perfect in this life must approach the pure and unalloyed devotee of Kåñëa, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, without reservation, and surrender unto him with all faith and humility, and render him transcendental loving service. With this reciprocation established between the pure devotee and the submissive disciple, all auspiciousness is there, and one can be certain that he will soon be going back home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Hare Kåñëa</i></p>
<p class="p49">Vämanadeva däsa / Indira-devé däsé / Jagannätha däsa / Vånda däsé / Sundararüpa däsa / Rädhä-kuëòa-devé däsé / Lalitäìgé däsé / Çacémätä däsé / Bhaktarüpa däsa / Vinoda-väëi-devé däsé / Lalita Kumära däsa / Jambavaté-devé däsé / Miträ däsé / Bäla Gopäla däsa / Brajendra-nandana däsa / Lokahita-devé däsé / Çrémati däsé / Gadädara Paëòita däsa / Brahmi-devé däsé / Lalitä däsé / Babrubaham däsa / Vikramiëi-devé däsé / Rukmiëi däsé / Smaraëänanda däsa / Saàsära-mocana-devé däsé / Jagannätha däsa / Keçava däsa / Rukmiëi-Dvärakädhiña däsé / Gaura-çaraëa däsa / Bhaktin Brenda / Vämana-devé däsé / Kapiladeva däsa / Rasotsava däsé / Bhakta Ron / Lélä Maïjari-devé däsé / Varäha däsa / Bhakta Dave / Bhakta Dove / Bhakta Shawn / Änanda däsé / Jïänamudra däsa / Aëòäëòa däsa / Aniruddha däsa / Gadäi däsa / Känupriya däsa / Jyotimäyä däsa / Gopäla däsa / Jitapräëa däsa / Bhakta James / Bhakta Curt / Bhakta Norman / Biña Lakñi-devé däsé / Dyuti-devé däsé / Kalpalatéka-devé däsé / Kåñëa däsa / Khandavabha-devé däsé / Keçava däsa / Kñama-devé däsé / Prama-devé däsi / Tamäla däsé / Kunté däsé / Svarga-devé däsé / Suçarma-devé däsé / Kalpa-taru däsa / Gopé däsé / Saté däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Denver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denver</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Somehow we have gotten the association of a pure devotee of the Lord. He has no faults, he makes no mistakes, his vision is spotlessly pure and he is willing to guide us on the path of eternity. We are blind, of course, but even in this bewildered condition we can see that he is no ordinary saintly man. He is not a <i>guru</i> as they are found now, cheaply in the market, but by his symptoms he is a fully realized soul. With perfect intelligence he leads us, patiently training us in the endless subtleties of Kåñëa's service, introducing us with such cautious discretion into the assembly of Kåñëa's intimate association. His mercy cannot be described. The swanlike man has no business in the places where men like us abide. He has no taste for the animal existence which intoxicates our polluted consciousness. And yet he walks among us, speaks to us, accepts our offerings which even men of lesser stature scorn, and remains without quitting the monumental task of reclaiming those who have sunk so low.</p>
<p class="p7">In the revealed scriptures there are many recommendations given by the twice-born men of paths leading to the ultimate goal of human life. And there is some conflict as to which of the recommended systems is the best for purifying one's heart. But there is no confusion about the association of these great souls, the pure devotees of the Lord. It is conclusive in all scriptures that one cannot attain success without the association of these men. There is simply no other way.</p>
<p class="p7">So, somehow we have gotten the association of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. The revealed scriptures do not boast a more glorious or merciful soul than he. We pray that we may surrender everything we have to him without petty reservation. The debt he has created in us by extending his mercy is fathomless. There should be no talk of business or bargaining. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Denver ISKCON servitors</i></p>
<p class="p49">Kuruçreñöha däsa adhikäré / Praëaballauù däsa adhikäré / Svaväsa däsa adhikäré / Daçaratha däsa adhikäré / Dhanvé däsa adhikäré / Carcandra däsa adhikäré / Rädhä-Dämodara däsa adhikäré / Kaçakendra däsa adhikäré / Çréniväsa däsa adhikäré / Arthadä däsa brahmacäré / Aëuttoma däsa brahmacäré / Nandanandana däsa brahmacäré / Yajïnopabhoktä däsa brahmacäré / Govardhanadhäré däsa brahmacäré / Siddhänta däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä-Govinda däsa / Rämacandra däsa / Janärdana däsa / Äcärya däsa / Daru Brahman däsa / Acintya-çakti däsa / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Mantra Mike / Bhakta Mahä Mike / Bhakta Carlie / Bhakta Alan / Devé däsé / Anurädhä-devé däsé / Räma Tulasé-devé däsé / Våndävana-viläsani-devé däsé / Tåpti-devé däsé / Bhägyavaté-devé däsé / Sudarñaëé-devé däsé / Naöaka Candrikä-devé däsé / Püjä-devé däsé / Añöa-sakhé däsé / Rämän Reti-devé däsé / Kadamba-devé däsé / Tadit-devé däsé / Subhadrä-devé däsé / Aïhalé-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our most dear </i>Ç<i>réla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">You are the living force of your devotees. We offer you our eternal obeisances falling at your lotus feet, and there we beg to submit our humble prayers in glorification of your divine qualities, on this most auspicious day of Çré Vyäsa Püjä.</p>
<p class="p7">We can hardly speak or your glorious attributes; you are the most intimate friend of our Lord Çré Kåñëa. How can we ever understand your exalted position? You are favored by Çrématé Rädhäräëé and therefore you are the most beloved person in all the three worlds. You have come to deliver us from darkness to light, by freely distributing the nectar of this <i>saìkértana</i> movement of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Without considering who is a fit candidate, you have benedicted us with the sweet taste of the holy name. You have given us life; therefore we are eternally bound to you through loving devotional service. Please bless us that we may be able to purely repeat all that you have taught us We are nothing but your peons. We have no qualifications, and are most undeserving, but somehow or other we are being engaged by your mercy only. By receiving your mercy all of our desires are fulfilled. Kåñëa is so kind that He has sent you. O most beloved spiritual master, enable us to understand His kindness. We have no eyes to see, and although we are most dull we are begging for the shade of your lotus feet. For we know that in the most auspicious place, under your perfect guidance, we will actually begin to taste the nectar of the transcendentally sweet eternal life in association with our Lord Çré Kåñëa. How can we repay you? We can only offer our lives. Praying at your lotus feet, we offer our obeisances again and again.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants at Çré Devasädhana Mandira</i></p>
<p class="p49">Mädhavänanda däsa adhikäré / Païca-tattva däsa / Dhanvé Gaëeça däsa / Rathayäträ däsa / Rämänanda däsa / Rämänanda Räya däsa / Premärëava däsa / Govardhana däsa / Indrahartä däsa / Narottamänanda däsa / Brajendraläla däsa / Deva-deva däsa / Akhilänanda däsa / Navina Kåñëa däsa / Dhåñöaketu däsa / Gäya däsa / Kapiladeva däsa / Urukrama däsa / Bhakta Mike / Bhatka Randy / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta John A. / Bhakta John B. / Bhakta Nathan / Bkakta Don / Kauñalya-devé däsé / Jagaddhätré-devé däsé / Lekhaçravanté-devé däsé / Çukti-devé däsé / Mukhya-devé däsé / Sukhasägaré-devé däsé / Rudraramaëé-devé däsé / Yaçogamé-devé däsé / Mahamamdiné-devé däsé / Sétäräëé-devé däsé / Jayacåé-devé däsé / Jétämåta-devé däsé / Sarvaçaktimaté-devé däsé / Triçakti-devé däsé / Bhaktin Marge / Mågäkñi-devé däsé / Aravinda / Caitanya / Vasudeva Ghoña / Govinda Ghoña / Måkanda / Mäliné / Vibhu</p>
<p class="p11">Eastern Europe</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Eastern Europe</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O spiritual master, we beg to offer our most fallen <i>daëòavats</i> at your divine lotus feet a thousand times. We thank you very much for bringing the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra</i> to our country. We are all feeling spiritual bliss and happiness by chanting this <i>mantra.</i> We are determined to spread the chanting of this <i>mahä-mantra</i> in our country.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Gopäl Kåñëa däsa / Ananta Çanti / A.M. Prabhu / B.N. Prabhu / B.I. Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Fiji</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Fiji</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>rahügaëaitat tapasä na yäti<br>
na cejyayä nirvapaëäd gåhäd vä<br>
na cchandasä naiva jalägni-suüryair<br>
vinä mahat-päda-rajo 'bhiñekam</i></p>
<p class="p16">"My dear King Rahügaëa, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of the great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [<i>brahmacarya</i>], strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a <i>vänaprastha,</i> accepting <i>sannyäsa,</i> or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of the great devotee." (<i>Bhäg. </i>5.12.12)</p>
<p class="p7">Remembering how you spoke in those beginning days—"Push on this movement, that is my only request. Remain pure and spread Kåñëa consciousness." We had no idea then how your energy, purity and compassion would enable peoples in Russia, China and even the Fiji islands to hear the message of Lord Caitanya.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember Australia when we first came. Peoples gathered around us: "What are yer, mates? Who's the bloke in the picture?" It was you, Çréla Prabhupäda, and we told them of you, of your greatness by serving the Great. We endeavored only to repeat your words and now thousands chant the holy names.</p>
<p class="p7">In Fiji we are surrounded again and again with hundreds of eager faces attracted to your books that we hold up for view. Wherever we go people shout "Hare Kåñëa!"</p>
<p class="p7">Deoji remembers his first twenty-minute meeting with you in the transit lounge at the airport. You touched his head and asked him to build a temple for Kåñëa. Now that temple is started.</p>
<p class="p7">People know you here, Prabhupäda—they know your distinction.</p>
<p class="p7">My heart is hurting—but such a good hurt, for I am at your mercy. You have placed me here and now you can make me dance as you like.</p>
<p class="p7">Laga sere vua na Kalou! (Sing the names of God!)</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Upendra däsa / Deoji Puïja and family / Chitralekhä / Saumya Abhay Charan / Santaya Fjyu</p>
<p class="p11">Gainesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gainesville</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our worthless obeisances from beneath the dust of your lotus feet. Although this is the most auspicious of all occasions—the appearance day of the current <i>äcärya</i> in the <i>paramparä</i> system of disciplic succession—we are still greatly pained by our total lack of ability to express our feelings on this day. This, however, is not due to any academic or intellectual deficiency (indeed, in the material world we were expert at mental speculation and word jugglery), but rather must be attributed to our severe lack of sincerity and general demoniac disposition. Yet, as Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura notes in his poem <i>Gopinätha,</i> "many demons have attained your lotus feet." Therefore, in spite of these great defects, Kåñëa has been so kind as to give us a slight glimpse of your transcendental qualities, and we would therefore like to offer a few inadequate words of submission, respects, and appreciation on your appearance day.</p>
<p class="p7">In assessing the magnitude of your transcendental qualities, however, we concluded that it would take virtually hundreds of volumes of books to properly describe your transcendental symptoms. What's more is the fact that we are so fallen that we could not even detect such symptoms in the first place. What we would like to do, therefore, is simply list a few of the major qualities which we are able to perceive from within the darkness of our false egos, and hope that you will bestow your causeless mercy upon us in the future, so that we may develop firmer and firmer faith in your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">In this connection, we would like to cite a recent incident that best illustrates the quality of your firm dedication to the instructions of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and your own Guru Mahäräja, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. A few weeks ago one of our devotees was doing some shopping in a local store when he met a man who said he knew you when you first came to New York City in 1966. Upon seeing the devotee, the man asked, "Oh, how's Bhaktivedanta Swami these days?" "Oh, he's writing a lot of books," the devotee replied, not knowing what else to say. "Yes," the man said, almost expecting the answer, "he always did a lot of that."</p>
<p class="p7">So from this incident, we can understand your transcendental position as the "person <i>Bhägavatam</i>." We did not even know you when this incident originally took place, yet we can see by your actions that you are nondifferent from the instructions which you are giving us right up until the present day. Similarly, sometimes we obtain a copy of some of your older publications, ones published even before you came to America, and in these also, we see that you have been saying the same thing for years and years and years and years, and the message is still exactly verbatim, except perhaps for the technical editing. So this encourages us very greatly, especially since our own propensity is to speculate and twist the real thing, until we have gathered it and molded it to our own perverted desires for sense gratification. So this is perhaps your greatest qualification, as you yourself have said, that you "have not changed even one word of the original message."</p>
<p class="p7">Another transcendental quality that is also somewhat illustrated by this incident is your constant emphasis on book distribution. As you may know, at the present time the <i>karmé</i> press and media have gone on a "crusade" against Eastern movements in general, and our movement in particular. According to their perception, the leaders of these movements are making a lot of money for their sense gratification, and members in general have been brainwashed and tricked into serving such fallen leaders. As your servants and disciples, we emphatically deny this, and say that it is only their own envy that makes them think like this. Nothing could be further from the truth. The purpose of book distribution is not to make money, but is to spread the knowledge by which the suffering masses can be freed from the miseries of birth, death, disease and old age. Therefore your instructions are to distribute as many books as possible, because simply by reading the knowledge contained in the books, we can actually go home, back to Godhead. Therefore, book distribution is actually the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu upon the conditioned souls, and you, as His unalloyed devotee and advocate, are hailed at <i>patita-pävana,</i> or the deliverer of many, many fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">And finally, we must, as your disciples, admit that in spite of so much mercy and good instruction from Your Divine Grace, we are still suffering. Suffering because the knot of false pride and material attachment is so strong that we think that it is actually our real self that we are giving up, instead of our false self, or identification with this material body. In spite of so many offenses, however, you patiently tolerate our nonsense, and continue to drag us back to Kåñëa. Without you we have no position. It the Age of Kali, the only means for spiritual deliverance is the <i>saìkértana</i> movement. Nobody is qualified to perform ritualistic sacrifices, or mystic <i>yoga,</i> or austerities and penances—the only means is to receive the name of Govinda from the lips of a pure devotee. It is by your mercy only that we even have the little desire that we do. Therefore, you are known as <i>karuëä-sindhu,</i> or an ocean of mercy. We fall at your lotus feet and beg your forgiveness for our past offenses, and pray for a pinch of desire to execute your instructions. Without that, this Vyäsa-Püjä is simply another exercise in fancy rhetoric, without any practical application. Therefore, please fill our request, and force us to surrender.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>na tathä hy aghavän räjan<br>
püyeta tapa-ädhibhiù<br>
yathä kåñëärpita-präëas<br>
tat-puruña-niñevayä<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 6.1.16</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p16">"My dear King, if a sinful person engages in the service of a bona fide devotee of the Lord and thus learns how to dedicate his life unto the lotus feet of Kåñëa, he can be completely purified. One cannot be purified merely by undergoing austerity, penance, <i>brahmacarya</i> and the other methods of atonement I have previously described."</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your worthless servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Amarendra däsa / Dhaneçvara däsa / Jagannätha-tétha däsa / Syämakuëòa däsa / Manuçreñöha däsa / Droëäcärya däsa / Pundarékäkñaëa däsa / Saìkarñaëa däsa / Ekädañé däsa / Nitya-siddha däsa / Akiïcana-kåñëa däsa / Garuòa-Pandita däsa / Rämänanda Räsa / Väëinätha Vasu däsa / Bhakta Jeremy / Pratti banu däsa / Gäyatré däsé / Candåi däsé / Kaluini däsé / Kåñëa Kumaré däsé / Gaìgä-gaté däsé / Sranté däsé / Bhranté däsé / Gopapatné däsé / Yaçodamäyé däsé / Bhaktin Brenda / Bhaktin Sue / Janané däsé / Rämacandra däsa / Viçvambhara däsa / Parama-karuëä däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Geneva</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Geneva</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Once in a lecture, you said that when you first met His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, you understood that he was the perfect person to spread Lord Caitanya's movement. As servant of Sarasvaté, we understand that you are the perfect person to take up his mission. Who other than you could present with such force and yet such sweet words the message of the Lord, <i>gauraväëé.</i> There is really no one else, O Jagad-guru!</p>
<p class="p7">Weren't we wilder than the beasts of the Jhärikhaëëa jungle? And now we are chanting and dancing.</p>
<p class="p7">Mahäräja Parékñit was going to die in seven days, weren't we already dead? You are our Çukadeva Gosvämé; through your lips the message of Lord Gauräìga becomes sweeter and sweeter.</p>
<p class="p7">If Rüpa and Sanätana considered themselves more degraded than Jagäi and Mädhäi, what was our position, what would have been our fate? Närada Muni saved Mågäri; you came to hell to fulfill the orders of your Gurudeva, to pick us up from the ocean of our sinful deeds. With a lot of luck, we would have become trees, to "stand up naked for thousands of years," but by your grace we have been saved like the seven palm trees of South India.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, we pray to you that we may always remain in the cooling shade of your lotus feet. We pray to keep your instructions as our life and soul, life after life. We are helpless; without your grace we are just falling prey to anger, lust, greed envy and lamentation. Give us the strength. We pray to become and remain pure and to be allowed to assist you in your mission of spreading <i>kåñëa-prema</i> all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Here in Switzerland, people have everything they need materially. As perfect <i>narädhamas</i> they are organized like bees and ants. Through your grace, we shall try by giving them Kåñëa, to turn their "zeros" into millions!</p>
<p class="p49">Mädhavendra Puré däsa brahmacäré / Brajiñma däsa brahmacäré / Narendra däsa brahmacäré / Ädiräja däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkaräraëya däsa brahmacäré / Açoka Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Jyäntakåd däsa adhikäré / Maëihara däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Geremy / Bhakta Pier-Angelo / Bhakta Patrick / Bhakta Abdul / Bhaväné-devé däsé / Hiraëmayé-devé däsé / Kåñëa-känta-devé däsé / Maithili-devé däsé / Mandahäsa-devé däsé / Mondakini-devé däsé / Merumäla-devé däsé / Nandirüpaka-devé däsé / Kåpämayé-devé däsé / Catherine evelyne / Evelyne / Arjuna däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Germany</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Germany</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà<br>
paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande<br>
çré-guruà déna-täraëam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"By the mercy of the <i>guru,</i> even a dumb man can be the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at his lotus feet."</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism." <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Gurudeva!<br>
kåpä-bindu diyä kara 'ei däse,<br>
tåëäpekñä ati héna<br>
sakala-sahane, bala diyä kara',<br>
nija mäne spåhähéna</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sakale sammaë, korite çakati,<br>
deho' nätha! yathä yatha<br>
tabe to' gäibo, harinäma-sukhe,<br>
aparädha habe hata</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer to you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kabe heno kåpä, lobhiyä e jana,<br>
kåtärtha hoibe, nätha!<br>
çakti-buddhi-hén, ämi ati dén,<br>
koro' more ätma-sätha</i></p>
<p class="p7">"When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Allow me to be with you.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi,<br>
tomära karuëä-sära<br>
karuëä nä hoile, käìdiyä käìdiyä,<br>
präëa nä räkhibo ära</i></p>
<p class="p7">"If you examine me, you will find no good qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life."</p>
<p class="p7">Prostrating ourselves at your lotus feet, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, we pray for your unlimited mercy to help us become eligible for being your servants. Carrying the mercy of Kåñëa as a rain cloud carries rains, you are bestowing his mercy upon anyone and everyone, just as the rain cloud pours water. The cloud does not consider whether it pours water upon forests, rocks or lakes, and similarly you do not consider upon whom you will bestow your mercy. Although Kåñëa advised in B<i>hagavad-gétä</i> <span class="s3">[18.67]</span> that "this confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me," you are more merciful than Kåñëa and therefore you kindly explain to us the science of Kåñëa consciousness although we are not austere, not devoted, not sincerely engaged in devotional service and we are envious of Kåñëa. You are like a touchstone, which can transform iron into gold by touching it. By your kindness you have touched us with the vibration of Kåñëa's holy name. Unfortunately we are so fallen that we do not like to remain in touch with you constantly and so we are foolishly hampering our own transformation. When will the day come when your words become our life and soul?</p>
<p class="p7">As you have explained in <i>Caitanya-caritämåta,</i> in the absence of the spiritual master his words are the pride of his disciples. When will the day come?</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva, give to these servants just one drop of mercy. We are lower than blades of grass. Give us strength. On this holy event of Vyäsa-Püjä we are supposed to make an offering unto your lotus feet, but we are coming as beggars. Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, do not kick us away. Our only wish is to have our consciousness purified by the words emanating from your lotus mouth. Give us the shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Harikeça Svämé / Ajataçatru däsa brahmacäré / Akñara däsa brahmacäré / Alanätha däsa brahmacäré / Añöaratha däsa brahmacäré / Avinaçcandra däsa brahmacäré / Bharata däsa brahmacäré / Devarñiräö däsa brahmacäré / Dürgäma däsa brahmacäré / Dvärakandyaka däsa brahmacäré / Gaìgädhara däsa brahmacäré / Gopeça däsa brahmacäré / Guruçreñöha däsa brahmacäré / Haàsa däsa brahmacäré / Hanumän däsa brahmacäré / Haraka däsa brahmacäré / Jalandhara däsa brahmacäré / Kämadhenu däsa brahmacäré / Kaïjalocana däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa kñetra däsa brahmacäré / Madhuhä däsa brahmacäré / Maëidhara däsa brahmacäré / Niñpäpa däsa brahmacäré / Parameçvara däsa brahmacäré / Räma-mohan däsa brahmacäré / Wolfgang / Wolfram / Indira-devé däsé / Komalaìgi-devé däsé / Maëimaïjaré-devé däsé / Revaté-devé däsé / Ratnagarbha däsa brahmacäré / Rävaëäri däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëésuta däsa brahmacäré / Sarvapälaka däsa brahmacäré / Sucandra däsa brahmacäré / Sudeñëa däsa brahmacäré / Sumahat däsa brahmacäré / Talaìka däsa brahmacäré / Taponidhi däsa brahmacäré / Uraìgama däsa brahmacäré / Vedavyäsa däsa brahmacäré / Yadasaàpati däsa brahmacäré / Frank I / Frank II / Killian / Mark / Olaf / Rene / Siggi / Rohiëé-devé däsé / Umä-devé däsé / Anne / Heidi / Petra / Acedya and Darpaëa / Airävata and Amahomoha / Rädhäpriyä / Anädi / Ätmavidyä and Håmaté / Raghunätha / Cakravarté and Dénaçaraëa / Gaurakiçora and Kaïcané / Jaya gaura and Çäntimai / Mahärathé and Reëukä / Påöhu and Rambhoru / Sutapä and Herta two children / Vibhiñana and Mådani / Yakña and Madanalasa</p>
<p class="p11">Guyana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Guyana</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg to offer our prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">By your mercy Lord Caitanya's message is reaching every town and village of every country. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. Yet you never claim any credit for yourself but you always transfer all the honor to your Gurudeva.</p>
<p class="p7">Our only hope for advancing in love of God is to be engaged in loving service to your humble self because by such service only can we achieve the mercy or Kåñëa. You are so kindly giving the shade of your lotus feet to each and every one of us, indeed to all the conditioned souls.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> Kåñëa says, "Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to me without fail." On this blessed day of your merciful appearance on this planet and Kåñëa's manifested representative, we repeatedly worship and offer our homage unto you, fervently praying to be always engaged in thinking of how merciful you are to the conditioned souls and how especially fortunate we are to be accepted as disciples of an unalloyed devotee of Kåñëa as yourself.</p>
<p class="p7">We beg to remain always in the service of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Guyana devotees,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bhütädi däsa / Bhakta Rajcoomar / Bhaktin Tulsidai / Bhaktin Joan / Bhaktin Savitri / Phulmatri Prabhu / Sureça Candra Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p7">All victories and glories to Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108 Çré Çrémän A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, our beloved spiritual master. You are translating the cream of the Vedic literatures in so many languages throughout all parts of the world so authoritatively and exquisitely that you are single-handedly destroying the voidism and impersonalism that has the world in it's stringent clutches.</p>
<p class="p16">We think that we have met Your grace by the will or providence, and thus we accept you as captain of the ship (<i>karëa-dhära</i>) for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of a human being. <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7">The dust of your lotus feet touching our heads converts us from ravaging zombies (<i>jéväïchava</i>) to respectable human beings. This dust is extended in the form of your perfect instruction. This instruction is the breeze that inflates the sails of our human boat, allowing us to ply forward, across the turpid waters of the evil Kali, toward the safe and sublime shore of the spiritual sky.</p>
<p class="p7">Mild Hawaiian spring breezes wafted through the temple room windows. The sense of peace and satisfaction was due to the presence if the Païca-tattva in their full glory, dressed in the opulence of multicolored silk embroidered with glittering silver sequins, some square, some star-shaped, some round. You sat placidly, dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, emanating deep yet comforting knowledge; the regal purple background of the plush <i>vyäsäsana</i> providing an exemplary picture of your actual stature.</p>
<p class="p16">"We are interested in just one moon. I am looking for one moon. There are so many stars in the sky, but the light from just one moon is of so much more value. We are looking for just one moon."</p>
<p class="p7">You had said this before. Such repetition is glorious, only adding to the effect. You are the soothing, cooling personified moonshine of Lord Nityänanda. The impersonalists are so much fond of the dazzling <i>brahma-jyotir</i> because this <i>brahma-jyotir</i> is the effulgence of the transcendental body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone is looking for Kåñëa. Sunlight is a direct reflection of this <i>brahma-jyotir.</i> Moonlight is the direct reflection of sunshine. The predominating deity of the moon controls everyone's mind, and in the presence of soothing moonshine, everyone feels freedom and relief from the pangs of material existence. You are the pure reflection, the empowered representative of Lord Nityänanda Räma, the original spiritual master. Thus your realized words expertly cut through the darkness of our <i>avidya,</i> our ignorance. Although we know that we are implicated when we hear and read them, if we are sincere, we do not feel anxiety but soothing relief. Such is the effect of the transcendental moon which brightens everything amidst the age of darkness. Ignorance becomes dissipated and destroyed.</p>
<p class="p7">Now you want that there be just even one more moon. This you are asking of us. Full knowledge is there in all living entities but, caught from time immemorial in the clutches of the bewildering energy called <i>mäyä,</i> it does not manifest—or sometimes manifests only minutely. Thus so much darkness, some scattered stars, but you are looking for just one moon.</p>
<p class="p7">Hawaii is the best locale in the world to practice spiritual life. One can live on as little as two coconut dobs a day. This you have stated. Hawaii is the best place to absorb oneself in material happiness also. But pouring water on a fire while trying to ignite it is the strategy of the deluded. For one who is trying to realize spiritual ecstasy but has not abandoned material hankerings, Hawaii is not the best place.</p>
<p class="p7">We have seen you prosper here, and display all the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee. Thus you have allowed us to prosper also. By Kåñëa's grace, ISKCON—Honolulu has been presented the opportunity to afford you an opulent mansion located in one of the best valleys of the city, a valley noted for it's many churches and low crime rate. There are beautiful mango trees on and near the property. You have written to us, "and everyone knows how fond I am of mangos." The shade of the immense banyan tree in the backyard provides strength and vitality. While walking atop the open veranda which adjoins your room and overlooks a circular hedge of more than thirty <i>tulasé</i> trees, you once glanced toward the vegetable garden in the near north. Seeing the devotee working there, bare-chested and basking in the morning sun, you said to him from above, "be blessed."</p>
<p class="p7">But of all your prosperity, the most invigorating display of your opulence here was in the supremely important matter of your writing. Your pace was phenomenal, never before seen. Leaving almost all of the public lecturing to your disciples, you would speak from the <i>vyäsäsana</i> only on Sunday evenings, presenting the information that after death one may, on the planet of the plutonic king, relish embracing the red-hot form of a woman in he is so much immersed in that activity during life.</p>
<p class="p7">So much of the rest of the time you would translate. Later we would read the description of the hellish planets in the Fifth Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> and, at the culmination of the work, also experience your unprecedented acknowledgement, "Completed in the Honolulu temple of the Païca-tattva, June 5, 1975." You would sit in front of the deity and tell us that this mixing business should not go on. It is not the policy of the moonlike devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">In Hawaii it has been all too prevalent. So many have come; so many have gone. This we have seen.</p>
<p class="p7">The platform of pure devotional service is detailed in the Twelfth Chapter of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> The very first quality of a pure devotee is listed there. <i>Adveñöä:</i> nonenvious.</p>
<p class="p7">There are many symptoms of nescience; there are many contradictions labored under by the conditioned soul. Just like of one has stomach problems due to malfunctioning of his nerves in that area. He may take so much trouble to eat correct and properly combined foods along with balanced exercise and rest. But if the nerves leading from the brain to the stomach are pinched by a sublaxation of the vertebrae, what is the use of all such remedies? He must go to a chiropractor and have his spinal column put back in order. Then everything will go on nicely.</p>
<p class="p7">Similarly, we have to get to the root of our contamination, not just try to neutralize the symptoms, leaving the dirt underneath the rug. This is what you are giving us with this <i>bhakti-yoga</i> system. The other <i>yoga</i> or so-called <i>yoga</i> methodologies on this planet today don't come to grips with the root reason of our undesirable existence here. Almost all of their constituents are impersonalists and voidists. Although they might be able to have their relative truths securely established within, and although they are able to gloss over some of the symptoms of their contamination, thus manifesting some seemingly good qualities which will flicker and fail in the clutch, until they come to the platform of accepting the personal existence of the Supreme Truth and acting accordingly, their initial contamination remains. The system of devotional service you are so mercifully extending to us might not contain as many artificial austerities as some of the other more popular methods and concoctions, but only a few fortunate and rare souls will actually take this medicine. It is a medicine that cannot be compromised. You relentlessly rip away at our illusions, revealing things as they are. Not everyone really wants to know what they need to know. Some will come, and some will go.</p>
<p class="p7">You are teaching us what we have forgotten. We are originally all pure spiritual souls. But our eternal function is not God, but <i>däsa, däsa, däsa,</i> loving servitorship to God. Subordinate. We fell from that position due to our original sin. The Christians also have this concept of original sin, but when you ask them to elucidate matters, they cannot. This is because their system also allows that despicable leeway to ultimately balk. The reason for our falling from the spiritual world was due to our original envy and pride toward Lord Kåñëa. We thought, "why do I have to serve Kåñëa, I am just as good as Kåñëa." Thus we were sent down to get covered over again and again in the masquerade ball called <i>saàsära,</i> the excruciating cycle of birth and death. Our original light has now become covered by so many curtains, all linked to one another very systematically and scientifically. You are forcing us, your disciples, to realize and remove that original curtain so that we won't be forced to entangle ourselves only with subsequent symptoms. They will be lifted automatically, and thus by your grace, our moon will burst forth in full glory.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the eternal well-wisher of all living entities. Your mercy cannot be fathomed. You have taken the most fallen and have rejuvenated their God-given powers of intelligence and strength. But, by the eternal presence of minute independence, the <i>jéva</i> servitor can elect to turn his face from you, and futily try to imitate the eternal enjoyer. Thus for the soul still affected by the coverings of gross and subtle bodies, devotional service is like a razor's edge <span class="s3">[<i>KU </i>1.3.14]</span>. Some are following strictly and cleaning their faces so meticulously perfect, while others are suffering so many knicks and cuts. The most damaging misuse of this potency you are bestowing is <i>guru-aparädha</i> (<i>häthé-mättä,</i> the elephant offense) and <i>vaiñëava-aparädha,</i> offense to your devotees. These things ultimately surface because of the original sinful seed: envy.</p>
<p class="p7">You have written about this in your purport to verse of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé's <i>Upadeçämåta</i> (<i>The Nectar of Instruction</i>) as follows:</p>
<p class="p16">"This Kåñëa consciousness movement is a transcendental science, and there is no room for jealousy. As soon as one becomes envious, he falls from the platform of <i>paramahaàsa.</i> If we consider the bodily defects of a Vaiñëava, we should understand that we are committing an offense at the lotus feet of the Vaiñëava, which is very serious. For a neophyte especially, considering a pure devotee from a material point of view is very injurious. One should try to see the internal features and understand how he is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Those who think that Kåñëa consciousness is limited to a certain section of people or devotees are generally prone to see the external features of the devotee. It is also an offense to consider the empowered Vaiñëava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to give him advice or try to correct him."</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> purports <span class="s3">(<i>Madhya</i> 1.218-220 / <i>Madhya</i> 11.103)</span> you have added:</p>
<p class="p16">"When a Vaiñëava sees that another Vaiñëava is a recipient of the Lord's mercy, he becomes very happy. Vaiñëavas are not envious. One who is envious of the success of a Vaiñëava is certainly not a Vaiñëava himself, but an ordinary mundane man and should not be respected but rejected. There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaiñëavas in the Kåñëa consciousness movement, and they should be completely neglected. Unfortunately, in this age of Kali, there are many mundane persons in the dress of Vaiñëavas, and Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has described them as disciples of Kali. He said, <i>'kali-cela.</i>' He indicated that there is another Vaiñëava, a pseudo-Vaiñëava, with <i>tilaka</i> on his nose and <i>kaëöhi</i> beads around his neck. A Vaiñëava <i>äcärya</i> is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. A false <i>äcärya</i> may try to override a Vaiñëava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga."</p>
<p class="p16">"One must be considered bereft of the mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu when he criticizes the Kåñëa consciousness movement now spreading all over the world or finds fault with this movement or the leader of this movement."</p>
<p class="p7">The Lord's most recent appearance in the world was five-hundred years ago when He instructed us by playing the role of the ideal devotee, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. When the most powerful impersonalist of the time, Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, heard about Lord Caitanya's chanting and dancing, he displayed his envy by telling his numerous followers that the Lord was only a sentimentalist and a magician. Prakäçänanda further instructed them not to listen to the Lord, thus, in the name of knowledge, doing the greatest disservice by misleading others from the path of the Absolute Truth. Impersonalists are always envious. Prakäçänanda would preach that the Supreme does not have a mouth, legs, or eyes, indirectly saying that God is dumb, lame, and blind. Because of such preaching, Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté was attacked with leprosy.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the spiritual master of the universe, yet we have seen those who have become careless with this razor's edge approach you with sliced and bleeding jugular veins. They are not limited to one race or locale. In India, those who willfully disobeyed the orders of your spiritual master, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, are the most notorious. Although their foul action, or lack of action, force your divine <i>guru</i> to depart early from this world, they have no humility. They envy you because you have followed. Such men are cursed and should be avoided like crocodiles in a swamp.</p>
<p class="p7">It is a known fact that, due to tight customs and quarantine surveillance, there are no snakes or tigers present in the lush tropical environment of Hawaii. But Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has said that a man who cannot be controlled by the higher instruction of Kåñëa consciousness cannot me tamed. There is no such quarantine here for such a man. So many of them are sleeping in the darkness of this age. By delivering your message properly, they might be able to turn toward and become delivered. But for those who are pretending to sleep, whose minds wear the cloak of envy and the turban of greed, there is no possibility of becoming awakened. This we have seen.</p>
<p class="p7">You have told us that the material world is likened to a beehive. All the bees are scurrying about for the available honey, but, in the process, they are suffering the bites of one another. It is impossible to envy Lord Kåñëa in His realm because He doesn't allow it. One is immediately shipped down and packed up in the immense material straightjacket. Therefore their business becomes envying and destroying one another.</p>
<p class="p7">You have shown us clearly that this material world is a battle. Prabhupäda, please allow us to accept you fully as the captain of our ship. Sometimes Kali, the evil symbol of sin, or his servant, throws a wave which tumbles and bewilders us atop this invaluable boat. Without your merciful guidance, we would have been long lost in that horrible ocean. Instead we are seeing, slowly but surely, that all good qualities are coming now as long as we abide by your order in this war against the illusory energy. You are requesting this of us. We are thus becoming more enthusiastic and confident. We thus are shining more brightly daily. As long as we remain serious and sincere, as long as we do not allow envy to reenter our hearts, the pock marks of the moon do not detract from it's splendor.</p>
<p class="p7">You are in pure and ecstatic love of Kåñëa. Hawaii, Chicago, Geneva or Tokyo, it does not matter. Everywhere for you is Våndävana, and you create the Våndävana atmosphere for everyone anywhere you go. We, the devotees of ISKCON—Honolulu, pray that you allow us to ply this boat properly to it's destination and manifest our true moonlike nature. After all, it is your desire, and our only business is to eternally fulfill your desires, although our debt to you can never actually be repaid.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants at ISKCON—Honolulu</i></p>
<p class="p49">Çukadeva däsa adhikäré, Jagamohini-devé däsé, Mädhurya-lélä / Satyadeva däsa adhikäré, Mahäguëa-devé däsé, Maitreya, Muralé / Çatänanda däsa adhikäré, Kadamba-kusumäpriyä-devé däsé, Räma-lakñmaëa / Çästä däsa adhikäré / Jagad däsa adhikäré, Bhaktin Nancy / Harivallabha däsa adhikäré, Sakhé-devé däsé / Bharata däsa brahmacäré / Kani däsa brahmacäré / Gopéparäëadhana däsa brahmacäré / Lakñmaëa däsa brahmacäré / Niçcinta däsa brahmacäré / Péyüñahänti däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta-jana däsa brahmacäré / Munéçvara däsa brahmacäré / Ädi-kartä däsa brahmacäré / Kailäsaccandra däsa brahmacäré / Mark Hains / Kuça-devé däsé, Ätmäräma / Heräpaïcamé-devé däsé, Tära / Sukhé-devé däsé / Saàhäriëä-devé däsé / Bhakta William / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Bob / Lélänanda däsa brahmacäré / Jyotir däsa / Aniruddha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Houston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Houston</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">We prostrate ourselves before Your Divine Grace, begging your mercy this time and times forever more. You are the savior of the fallen—without you there is no one. No one to give us direction on the progressive march back to home, back to Godhead. Filled with lust, anger and greed, we couldn't understand the purpose of human life. But your kindness knows no bounds. Patiently and even with inconvenience to your divine self you have taught our fallen selves how to redirect these three gates to hell in such a perfect way that now our lust is turning into love, our anger into joy, and our greed into detachment. The darkness which was all-pervasive has been removed by your effulgent character, and we now all stand in the sun of Kåñëa. Merely by the touch of the waves of the sacred Ganges one becomes liberated, even if he is the lowest of mankind; but by just seeing you, the same effect is also achieved. We also understand that to see you is to recall your instructions and act accordingly. Therefore we are all calling to you, "Give us the shade of your lotus feet and purify us!" Allow us to always follow your perfect instructions so that we may always please Your Divine Grace. This is our only wish, simply to do as you command. The puppet has no movement separate from the puppeteer. Similarly we will not move independently of your desires. Please give us the shelter of your lotus feet and direct us as you like.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Lakñmé-Näräyaëa däsa / Vallaba Sena däsa / Darpada däsa / Jyotir / Siddhavidha / Dharmabhuvana / Bhushaya / Brähmaëya / Bhakta Dick / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Bob Cohen / Suvraa däsa adhikäré / Icchanaté-devé däsé / Ragurandiné-devé däsé / Danakelé-devé däsé / Rasupariné-devé däsé / Cularn-devé däsé / Citçaki-devé däsé / Debraja-devé däsé / Vasudeva Datta / Nimäi Paëòita / Savajasåda / Megachara / Paul Kértana</p>
<p class="p11">Hyderabad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hyderabad</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Like the eternal causal ocean, your mercy for the fallen souls knows no limits. You have plucked us out of this ditch of materialistic life, which is compared (<i>Antya</i> 6.193) to a hole into which people pass stool, and now there is no way we can repay you but to eternally become your menial servants. How unfortunate that we are unable to understand all that you have done for us, for our seeing is of no value unless our eyes are fixed on you.</p>
<p class="p7">Our eyes were tightly closed shut and you forced them open with the transcendental secrets of your divine love. Until we met you, we had no knowledge of what real love was. Seeing your humility so sublime, a personality so true and kind, we've become so attracted that we are unable to leave your association, remaining your servants till the end of eternal time.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our sincere obeisances at your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, even though we're so terribly unqualified, our hearts being full of sinful desires. All we can do is to try our hardest to serve you with determination and respect, hoping against hope, by Kåñëa's mercy, we will develop loving devotional service to you, without any self-motivation. Force us by the power of your pure love to serve Lord Caitanya and accept this distribution of love of God as our very life and soul.</p>
<p class="p7">O master, give us the courage and strength to preach this sublime message throughout the world. <i>Mäyä</i> is so strong that all we can do is constantly pray to you for protection. Please give us the intelligence to understand and accept your divine instructions, for you have become our intelligence to lead us back home, back to Godhead. May Kåñëa give us strength, so that once having caught hold of your lotus feet, nothing will make us let go.</p>
<p class="p7">How fortunate for us that we've chosen to accept your mercy. You are so wealthy that you make no distinctions as to whom you give your mercy. You freely distribute the mercy of your books to everyone. Truly, how can we estimate the potency of these priceless gems—each one with the power to annihilate unlimited sinful activities. If it were not for you and your books, the world would have been devoid of knowledge of Kåñëa. You have so kindly dedicated your life to translating the wealth of <i>bhakti</i> into so many languages, destroying the impersonalists, voidists and nonsense rascals that claim to be God. You have written so expertly that you shake the dull heads of the gross materialists and clearly establish the supremacy of Vaiñëavism. You are working so hard for us, Prabhupäda, that we think that you are trying to take the whole universe back to Kåñëa with you. Surely, after reading all your books, who will not be attracted? For thousands of eons we will be able to taste the nectar of your association, through the medium of your books.</p>
<p class="p7">O master, take these worthless specks and place us along with the dust of your lotus feet. Now that we've tasted the nectar of your association we can think of nothing else worth striving for but to see your brilliant smile upon your insignificant servants. No words can describe the feeling we get when we see you smile; our hearts become filled with transcendental bliss. Surely Kåñëa must have taught you all these wonderful things.</p>
<p class="p7">Of course you know, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we may write many words about how much love we feel for you, but only by our activities can we actually prove that love. When we are able to give up everything, as you had, for preaching the glories of devotional service to Kåñëa, without deviation, then we will really be able to speak of what love really is.</p>
<p class="p7">So now, following in the footsteps of our father, we will continue to preach your holy message for the benefit of all living entities. Lord Caitanya says: </p>
<p class="p16">"Whomever you meet, instruct him in the teachings of Kåñëa. In this way, on My order, become a spiritual maser and deliver the people of this country." [<i>Madhya</i> 7.128]</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda and Lord Caitanya (Kåñëa) have ordered us to deliver this message to everyone we meet, and so now our duty is clear—that we must accept these orders as our very life and soul and preach, preach, preach. Jaya Prabhupäda! May your transcendental love constantly increase.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants:</i></p>
<p class="p49">Mahäàña Svämé / Çrékara däsa brahmacäré / Vasu Ghoña däsa brahmacäré / Raghavendra däsa brahmacäré / Amiyaviläsa däsa brahmacäré / Änandamaya däsa brahmacäré / Yogapati däsa brahmacäré / Çrénidhi däsa brahmacäré / Satäìgati däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäramaëa däsa brahmacäré / Rämaçraddhä däsa brahmacäré / Saìkabrit däsa brahmacäré / Pürëabrama däsa brahmacäré / Purvabhakti däsa brahmacäré / Trikaväsa däsa brahmacäré / Acyutapreya däsa brahmacäré / Håñékeça däsa brahmacäré / Candrodäya däsa brahmacäré / Nilamaëi däsa brahmacäré / Saviyaçacé däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Subash / Bhakta Räma Kåñëa / Bhakta Lal / Bhakta Lakñménätha</p>
<p class="p11">Johannesburg &amp; Durban</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Johannesburg &amp; Durban</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädäd bhagavata-prasädo<br>
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi<br>
dhyäyaà stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">By the mercy of the spiritual master, one receives the benediction of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember my spiritual master. And at least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">This verse, which has been given to us by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, carries with it the key of success in devotional service. As success in devotional service is due to the mercy of the spiritual master. Without the spiritual master one cannot actually know anything regarding devotional service, and without knowing anything about devotional service it is not possible to find any happiness in life, whether individually or collectively as a society.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, great saints and sages like Çréla Vyäsadeva, Närada Muni, and Prahläda Mahäräja have concluded after careful study and consideration that the problems of life, especially those confronting our modern civilization, can only be solved by the method of widespread propaganda to promote the cult of <i>bhakti-yoga,</i> devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa</p>
<p class="p7">The sufferings of the conditioned souls are due only to their being neglectful of the order of the Supreme Lord. And thus the conditioned souls are being forced by the laws of nature to transmigrate through the bodies of 8,400,000 species of life, where they must suffer the pains of <i>janma</i> (birth), <i>måtyu</i> (death), <i>jarä</i> (old age), and <i>vyädhi</i> (disease). Only when one comes in contact with the bona fide spiritual master is it possible to receive the seed of devotional service.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä béja</i></p>
<p class="p16">(According to their <i>karma,</i> all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some of them are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kåñëa By the mercy of both Kåñëa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.)</p>
<p class="p7">After receiving the seed of devotional service from the bona fide <i>guru,</i> one has to then cultivate the creeper by the watering process, which is to chant the <i>mahä-mantra:</i> Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma Hare Hare. As the main creeper of devotional service begins to grow one has to take special caution to check any weeds with may try to kill the growth of the creeper. These weeds appear in the form of the ten offenses to the holy name.</p>
<p class="p7">While the watering process is going on one must also inquire from the spiritual master on matters regarding devotional service and one must render all kinds of service to him also. This will then provide good ground so that the creeper may spread its roots. All that then remains for the successful growth of the creeper is that it be placed under the open sky to receive the mercy of the suns rays. Thus it is by your mercy only, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we are able to advance in Kåñëa consciousness. You appear to us to be just like the shining sun.</p>
<p class="p7">It is our constant anxiety that when will the people of the world give up their foolish attachments to the cycle of birth and death and simply hear your messages of Godhead, as we have done, and thus become joyful.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we express with words our gratitude for your having bestowed upon us the ocean of Kåñëa mercy? Our humble Vyäsa-Püjä homage is like to offering of a small flame of fire to the sun globe. For what can we say to glorify you, which you have not taught us in the first place? Whatever we have heard from you we take as our heart and soul. We have no desire to hear from any other source however perfect it may appear to be, just like a chaste lady does not look to any other man other than her husband. We as your disciples do not know any other shelter than your lotus feet, which you have so kindly placed upon our unworthy heads in the form of your books. Therefore we hold your books close to our heart and we know that only by their distribution will the unfortunate inhabitants of this Kali-yuga be delivered.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept whatever we have been able to say to show our love for you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for we are like weak children before the powerful father.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Africa's Johannesburg and Durban Yäträs</p>
<p class="p49">Puñöa Kåñëa Svämé, G.B.C / Jagat-guru Svämé, Traveling SKP / Åddha däsa brahmacäré, Durban / Dhéräìga däsa adhikäré, Johannesburg / Devänanda Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Gokulendra däsa brahmacäré / Pärtha-särathi däsa brahmacäré / Rämänuja däsa brahmacäré / Antarätmä däsa brahmacäré / Raïjahit däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Warrik / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Hans / Abraham / Bhaktin Nadhira / Bhaktin Francis / Parijata</p>
<p class="p11">Kåñëa-Balaräma TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Kåñëa-Balaräma TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p7">Meeting With Our Guru</p>
<p class="p7">You call, "Where is Gurudäsa!" I come, expectant, eager to serve, prepared for the unexpected.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Nama oà viñëu pädäya:</i> I offer my obeisances to the lotus feet of you, Çréla Prabhupäda. <i>Kåñëa-preñöhäya bhütale:</i> you are very dear to Lord Kåñëa. <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Reverently I bow down, an air of eternity pervades the room, a seriousness of purpose found nowhere else. Conviction sets the mood and inspires me also, offering some small service, it becomes secondary, to the adventure for our mutual Lord, a small bluish boy. He can do so much. I try to write this but cannot express your greatness nor my love for you.</p>
<p class="p7">Your one knee is up in the air, like a great building of the future, your hand rests on the peak of your knee, your head rests back, relaxed, but you see everything.</p>
<p class="p7">When coming to see you a gravity is always there, even in our light joking which occurs often, interspersed with the business at hand. I watch interview after interview, with others also, sometimes in Hindi or Bengali, although the words are a montage passing by, the words still convey the same dedicated, serious love of Lord Kåñëa—<i>dhira</i>—engaging whomever you meet, changing their thinking, towards a higher philosophical understanding, or to render some service, or if nothing else to accept some <i>prasäda.</i> "Give them <i>prasäda,</i>" you say as people are going. Now after watching you for so long I automatically do this, without asking.</p>
<p class="p7">People come to you, never taking your <i>darçana</i> lightly. You want to give them the highest goal of life, Kåñëa consciousness. You want everyone to be happy, sometimes you have to administer the medicine by coaxing the seemingly bitter pill of surrender into them, sometimes cutting out the diseases we still carry, sometimes you engage us, as if we are holding a horse's mouth open and forcing the medicine in. Then with an encouraging word, whoever receives your mercy runs out of your room eager to execute the service you prescribe.</p>
<p class="p7">Anything may happen in your presence—you are transcendentally situated. You may question a new idea very carefully—"What makes you think your contribution is different?"—or you may ask "What is our goal? "To love Kåñëa," we answer. "Why?" you challenge. Or you may ask, "How do you know Lord Kåñëa is God?" You propose the answer and if it is not exact enough—"That is your dogmatism." You want us to be sure of what we are doing, many times you seem to question just to see if we are convinced or determined; if challenged and we remain silent "silence means affirmation" affirmation of whatever the opposing viewpoint is. Another time you questioned like a tornado, question after question. Each question was harder to answer. The questions took on technical rather than philosophical qualities, no bluffings, no abstractions. Çréla Prabhupäda's voice thundering like a cyclone and tornado combined. I simply said, "I am a great fool"; you said extremely quiet and soft, "One must remain a fool before his spiritual master. Lord Caitanya said that." Then the mood became philosophical. By your questioning you train us to be careful, hard as iron, soft as a rose.</p>
<p class="p7">Sitting in your new Mercedes 200SL Lotus Chariot, our elbows sometimes touching, you speak to a life member in the front seat. You are so quiet, contained, sure, peaceful, powerful. All of Lord Kåñëa comes from you; you are not separate from Lord Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa stays in His abode, yet runs faster than everyone. You also stay and we cannot keep up with you, and when you travel we cannot keep up with you. You told of a Bengali proverb: an intelligent man can make thirteen rupees by sitting, another less intelligent man gets twelve rupees by traveling. Either way whether you travel or sit down we cannot keep up with you. Sometimes you sit so still your automatic watch stops.</p>
<p class="p7">Assorted facts fill the air, you are a storehouse of transcendental wisdom:</p>
<p class="p7">"Hot <i>jalebis</i> cure colds.</p>
<p class="p7">"Some rich men used to bury a live child with their hidden treasure so that when the child dies, he would become a ghost and guard the treasure.</p>
<p class="p7">"Mustard oil on the body, not in the body.</p>
<p class="p7">"Now as we import dry milk from the West when before there was an abundance of cows, now we are importing <i>brähmaëas</i> from the West.</p>
<p class="p7">"A language does not consist of yes, no, very good.</p>
<p class="p7">"Do things cooperatively, for if you fail, no one person is to blame and if there is success, all persons get credit.</p>
<p class="p7">"The scientists research useless things. They say the poison is colorless, odorless and tasteless. How can they test that the poison is tasteless?" (And you imitate a dying scientist whose last words are "It is tasteless!")</p>
<p class="p7">"There were <i>yogés</i> who were able to eat mercury and then make gold from their urine." Then you laugh, "That is how they maintain themselves."</p>
<p class="p7">"They say that you don't see Kåñëa. How they can say you don't see, if they don't see? Just like you may have a lover and when you think of that lover you see, but the other person doesn't see your lover. They cannot see that you do not see Kåñëa. A man in Bengal was a writer and there was an accident in front of his window. He did not see because he was absorbed in writing. We are absorbed in Kåñëa, we can see Him." Little anecdotes spice your teachings.</p>
<p class="p7">As the Bengali countryside passes I think of the years you have sacrificed for us all, leaving the wonderful shelter of Rädhä-Dämodara to execute your Guru's orders. We too must go where you bid us, do what pleases us most.</p>
<p class="p7">Floating down the roads of Bengal, we ride silently in your new 200SL chariot, you view everything with clear blazing vision, curiosity with spiritual perspective combined. I too, like a child, try to view everything that passes by the window, so much going on, so much to see, everything living, everything personal, children, bullock carts, straw huts, bathing <i>ghats,</i> water buffalo, dogs, bicycles, <i>dahl</i> drying on the road, palm trees. So much to see, a variety of senses, yet I am pulled to see you, to disregard all that is going on around and gaze on your lotus face as the Bengal scenery floats by, as if the planet's zooming instead of the trees. That is your divine trick, I see <i>you</i> instead of the externals. You sit with your hand in the air, a flower between your long golden fingers, caressed by you, remaining ever fresh, unharmed during the whole journey. Your face concerned for the whole of humanity, your eyes beam compassionately, eyes no one can equal, combined with an unshakable strength, you see everything, your feet planted firmly on the ground, relaxed, sure of Lord Kåñëa's protection, you inspire the devotees of the world.</p>
<p class="p7">I see you instead of the variegatedness, you have attracted me to the divine instead of the mundane, you constantly trick everyone this way, "Think of Lord Kåñëa, not <i>mäyä,</i>" and because every movement of your eyes is preaching, you constantly engage in Kåñëa's service anyone who meets you.</p>
<p class="p7">You scoff at the material world, the same one that everyone embraces, yet you remain a gentleman in its domain. You tell humorous story upon story to describe the absurdity of fallible soldiers of illusion and through humor we can laugh at ourselves, at humanity's useless struggle and then try to embrace a higher taste. You tell us that material life means falldown, still the foolish man embraces the temporary pleasures and pains despite his seeing everything decay before him. Despite his brothers being jailed, he steals. You mock the foolishness. A man is sawing a branch (you demonstrate), sawing himself on the limb, cutting in such a way that he will fall. His friend comes and says, "If you cut that way you will fall down." "Don't tell me how to cut, I know," says the blinded fool, and when he falls on the ground he says to his friend, "Oh, you are a great astrologer, you can see the future."</p>
<p class="p7">Another story teaches us to be responsible for our actions. A man is beating someone with a trick, the police constable comes and charges you are beating that man. "Oh, no, it is not me beating him, it is the stick." You demonstrate that we must be responsible and not blame others.</p>
<p class="p7">We blunder with the blunt tool of narrow minds, not seeing that you want us to understand Kåñëa in a living spontaneous manner. Instead we try to make His teachings a geometric cement and steel formula. You teach us to be real devotees, not artificial but joyous and loving, sages who honor time and circumstance and we still choose to embrace hard and fast rules.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember years ago how you told us of the <i>smarta brähmaëa</i> who had two fish-shaped brass little dishes, <i>koñit</i> and <i>koñu.</i> This <i>brähmaëa</i> was pouring oblations of Ganges water back into the river. After finishing the oblations he put his two brass fish-shaped cups on the river bank and went to say his Gäyatré <i>mantra.</i> After Gäyatré, upon returning to the bank to get his cups, he saw cups of the same size and shape. The other <i>brähmaëas</i> had left them on the bank. The next day, to avoid the same mix-up, he placed a small clay ball in the cups, before saying his Gäyatré. When he went to retrieve his cups he saw all the <i>brähmaëas'</i> cups had little clay balls in them, as the thought that the clay ball was an esoteric ritual that they did not know, so being <i>smarta brähmaëas</i> they imitated blindly. "Sarble sing is dead," and half-hen logic were given at that time also.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we count the gifts you give us, you are training us all, lions, tigers, dogs, cats, gangsters and cheats, like a lion tamer in the circus of illusions. Mad men prisoners in the material world, you point out "who is crazy and who is sane." For ten years I meditate on how you try to show us that we are not this body. We still take refuge in this cage of mucus, bile, stool and bone. If we realized this simple fact there would not be any fighting. Again you illustrate with example and story. "When someone calls you <i>prabhu,</i> you should not think 'Come here and wipe my shoes.'" We are like children beating their father while arguing over which part to massage. The tendency to be envious is recounted by this dialogue: "did you hear of such and such a high court judge?" "No, it cannot be, he is not qualified to be a high court judge." "No, no it is true, he is a high court judge." "Alright, he may be a high court judge, but he must not be getting any salary!"</p>
<p class="p7">You warn us not to cheat, and I realize that you know that we are not very advanced. It is not a cheap thing. We vacillate from devotee to cheat a thousand times daily. Again you have to spoon-feed us with stories, as the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> and <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> are not imbibed in our frivolous state. This you illustrate with the story of a motivated devotee, the fictitious man from Bengal, Gopäla Bon, who is stringing a garland of <i>bokul</i> flowers. (<i>Bokul</i> is a flower as well as a vegetable mixed with other vegetables.) His friend asks, "What are you doing?" "Oh, I am making a garland for Lord Kåñëa," says Gopäla. "do you mean to say that Lord Kåñëa will come here and take this garland from you?" his friend asked. "That is my plan. If Lord Kåñëa doesn't come and take this garland, then I shall fry it up and eat it." Another time Gopäla Bon is walking down the road with a basket of wheat on his head, and a strong wind comes and scatters the wheat in all ten directions. Then Gopäla folds his hands together and says, "Govinda bhoga."</p>
<p class="p7">Riding in the car, back seat, sitting next to you, the "Kåñëa Meditation" tape penetrating, the joyous sound of your unmatchable harmonium filling our hearts with glee, you turn and say, "Gurudäsa Prabhu, can you play the harmonium like that?" and I realize that you are the best at everything. So many muscular youths fall behind in your transcendental wake. I feel proud sitting with you in the car, not only because it is a special privilege, but because I am proud of you and of being your son and disciple. You outclass us in all respects, as you have the qualities of Kåñëa. Therefore you are the <i>guru.</i> You can walk farther than any of us in the mornings, dance nicer, think quicker, quote more <i>çlokas,</i> open more temples, preach more miles, write more essays, poems, books, and letters, eat less <i>prasäda,</i> eat more <i>prasäda</i> if the mood strikes, sleep less, read more, think of Kåñëa more, sing the most beautifully, distribute the most books, attract the most members, make friends with the most devotees, remain transcendentally aloof, the most detached, the most dependent on Kåñëa, a traveling mendicant and simultaneously the most wealthy, able to smile broader than all, and then one second later appear the gravest. Softness caresses the corner of your eyes, fire blazes from the center, intelligence from the middle, you are able to hold a flower longer than all of us without crushing it, you know us all, we do not know you, and you allow familiarity. You become childlike and then suddenly if we misuse this, you cut us down like a banana in a whirlwind, you disappear as Lord Kåñëa did when the <i>gopés</i> became proud. You encourage us again and again, using a story as you coax us to be bold for Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We ask can we put on dramatic plays in the street, you say, "Why not, do it with Nåsiàha faces, what you do all will follow. It will become a style." Then you again tell of a Charles Chaplain film you say fifty years before. As follows: Charles Chaplain was at the ball dance (fancy dress ball) and when he went to sit some rascal nailed down his tailing coat. When Charles Chaplain got up, his tailing coat tore in the middle, he did not know it, and when he danced everyone was looking at his torn coat. Charles Chaplain went into the private room and saw in the mirrors that his tails were torn up the middle and so he tore the tail all the way up to the neck and he danced harder as they flapped around. All the people saw this and they too went into the private room and tore their tailing coats and danced. It became the style." Later: "Be bold, if you're going to hunt try for the rhinoceros, and if you're going to thieve go for the government reserve. If you fail, everyone will say "It was impossible," and if you succeed, everyone will say "How great."</p>
<p class="p7">You taught us again as we rode to Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda's Dvädaçé Mandir in Bir Nagar, West Bengal. The horn of our old green car failed. Bhavänanda Svämé and myself were yelling Hare Kåñëa out the window at all the obstacles on the road, so as to try and warn them of the car coming, but they sometimes did not hear. You then said, "Give me my plate," and you took your cane and banged on the plate and said, "This is our horn." It worked. We banged all the way to Bir Nagar and you laughed. "They will think that this is the latest American style horn and will want to imitate," and you laughed again.</p>
<p class="p7">In your history of India lessons to me you made the same point, that anything "made in Britain" was considered first-class. You told how the English came to India and instilled the whole population with the idea of buying British cloth, and how the British administrators were paid in gold via "the home bill," thus depleting the gold reserve, making India dependent on England. Because of this dependency India felt sheltered by Britain and so anything "made in England," done in England, was the style. It still exists today, you go on, "The villager asks if I vote for the British, will they care?" All these stories would not be necessary if we were able to hear you correctly. The <i>çästra</i> simply states the same thing:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yad yad äcarati çreñöhas<br>
tat tad evetaro janaù<br>
sa yat pramäëam kurute<br>
lokas tad anuvartate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 3.21</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." But we need spoon feeding and you take your precious time to do this like a caring mother dropping nectar in our yearning beaks. So we follow in your footsteps and follow your exemplary acts. Now let the whole world pursue.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eyes moist, everyone awaiting your next move, you grace us all individually, all different personalities, yet one in your presence. One frivolous becomes serious. The dry become juicy. We must not forget you, we must remain <i>dhéra</i> always. We must understand time and circumstances and mostly Prabhus, we must not fight anymore, we must read your instructions, your books daily and chant in-between. You have given us the mercy. Recently on a walk I asked "How does <i>kåpä-siddhi</i> work?" You turned on me suddenly and said, "If I give you a hundred thousand rupees and say, 'Take it, take it,' that is <i>kåpä-siddhi,</i>" and then to emphasize you put your hand in my stomach giving me the imaginary 100,000 rs., saying "Take it, take it! And when you spend, you realize—<i>kåpä-siddhi.</i>"</p>
<p class="p7">It is you who are giving us Kåñëa. We must take His lotus feet on our head. This is our goal, nothing else. You and He are not separate, that we must realize. I love you, you make me happy. <i>Guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja.</i> "Now go on and help me push on this movement." We leave your chambers, a new determination. Kåñëa please engage me in your service. Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servant,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Gurudäsa Svämé</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa-Balarama Traveling Saìkértana Party</p>
<p class="p11">Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We hope we may invoke the pleasure</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>of he whose glories have no measure,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the servant of the lotus feet of God,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The bringer of the</i> mahä-mantra,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Swami Mahäräja Prabhupäda.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He heard from the authority,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Who entrusted him with Lord Caitanya's teachings,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Then acting at the Lord's behest,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He sailed to the degraded West</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to satisfy his master by his preaching.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He found is in the degradation</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>of illicit sex, intoxication,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>gambling and unrestricted killing.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But by his mercy and his kindness,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>he cured us of your sinful blindness</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and picked us up when no one else was willing.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We were surely on our way to hell,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>thinking our bodies to be ourselves</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and thinking God impersonal of nothing.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But he showed us that we're spirit souls,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>servants of the Spirit whole—</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Lord Çré Kåñëa personal and loving.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He saves us from mundane frustration</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and spiritual self-annihilation,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>appearing as our transcendental savior</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To bring us back to</i> bhägavata-dharma,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Unalloyed by</i> jïäna <i>and</i> karma,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>engaging us in serving Kåñëa favor.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He boldly challenged scientists,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>religionists and atheists</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and members of the Mäyäväda school.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Showing us that one who's wise</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>is never one to compromise,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>he plainly called them rascals, rogues and fools.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Many men had come before,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>promising to show us more</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>but the came just to bluff us and to cheat.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>yet he came not to take our money,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>but to let us taste the honey</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>flowing from Lord Kåñëa lotus feet.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We cannot hope to fully glorify or understand</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The confidential servant from the transcendental land</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>who saved us from our miserable condition.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>O Prabhupäda! We therefore beg for but a drop of your compassion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>So that we may always be engaged in transcendental action</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to further spread Your Lordship's holy mission.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Dhumrakeça däsa adhikäré / Dåòha-vrata däsa adhikäré / Yuga-dharma däsa adhikäré / Gupta däsa adhikäré / Åñabhadeva däsa adhikäré / Ratnanäbha däsa adhikäré / Siàheçvara däsa brahmacäré / Bhojadeva däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Chris / Bhakta Leon / Bhakta Wayne / Bhakta Lenny / Cinmayé-devé däsé / Çréça-devé däsé / Nayika-devé däsé / Päpa-hariëé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Beverly</p>
<p class="p11">London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have come, a great sun, to brighten our day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To deliver from evil all those long astray</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The condemned, the fallen, so useless a host</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>All babbling, all crazy, all living as ghosts</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Captive by</i> mäyä's <i>soft glittering hands</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Conditioned we wandered in these wretched lands</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>In this rotten pool of</i> saàsära <i>we've played</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have come, a great sun, to brighten our day.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Shining, the lamp of knowledge you hold</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Standing alone in a dark land so bold</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You cut through our darkness, uproot our decay</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have come, a great sun, to brighten our day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>So patient, you tell of the Lord's personal form</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He appears to take birth, though He's never born</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Absolute is sentient thou also proclaim</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have come, a great sun, to brighten our day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have given us everything, O Prabhupäda, it's true</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>There's nothing that cannot be known from you</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>O Jagad-guru, all our fears you allay</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have come, a great sun, to brighten our day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Of us you ask little, just to chant Kåñëa's name</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To preach His glories and spread His fame</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To always stay pure and happy and sane,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You laugh like the sun, we're real people again!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">I beg that you will somehow or other accept our utterly insignificant <i>daëòavats</i> in the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">But for you, we would be eternally condemned to the hopeless labyrinth of birth and death. But for you, our every action would fasten ever tighter the iron shackles of illusion. But for you, we could never taste the mercy of Their Lordships Balaräma, Subhadrä, Jagannätha. And but for you, we should sink ever more bewildered to the foulest depths of dark confusion.</p>
<p class="p7">But for you, actual happiness would be no more than a hollow promise, forever broken. But for you, the endless nectar if the holy name for millions would remain untasted. But for you, we could never know so many words of mercy, timely spoken. And but for you, for us and countless others, our human life would be long since wasted.</p>
<p class="p7">Mere words are worthless, even parrots can cite poetry in meter and in rhyme. Likewise our words are empty too, though they may glitter like the sunshine on the marble white of dead mens' tombs. But by your mercy you can take these scanty, colored sheets and lifeless lines, and with your sharp perception maybe find a shaft of light that hides, perchance, within the gloom.</p>
<p class="p7">For you dear lord, are like unto the noblest bird, the swan, who sifts the priceless milk from puddles full of water-weeds and rain.</p>
<p class="p7">And thus you taste the endless sea of blissful nectar which come second unto none, by ever meditating on the lotus feet of Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa and spreading far the glories of Their holy name.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your worthless servants,</i> London Bhaktivedanta Manor</p>
<p class="p49">Çrémän Jayatértha (G.B.C.) / Tulasé däsa brahmacäré / Pärtha däsa brahmacäré / Mukunda däsa brahmacäré / Janänandan däsa brahmacäré / Raghubir däsa brahmacäré / Amita däsa brahmacäré / Kåpämaya däsa brahmacäré / Satyaväk däsa brahmacäré / Iläpati däsa brahmacäré / Änandamaya däsa brahmacäré / Parthavipati däsa brahmacäré / Gokulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Jagad-bandhu däsa brahmacäré / Medhavi däsa brahmacäré / Raghüdvaha däsa brahmacäré / Yajïäìga däsa brahmacäré / Vaàçévadana däsa brahmacäré / Daëòakäraëya däsa brahmacäré / Mohan däsa brahmacäré / Bhaumadeva däsa brahmacäré / Paradheya däsa brahmacäré / Parama Puruña däsa brahmacäré / Citraketu däsa brahmacäré / Varäha Mürti däsa brahmacäré / Säkñi gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Gauracand däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Bhuja däsa brahmacäré / Yamunä-jévana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Brian / Bhakta Ben / Bhakta Benedict / Bhakta Billy / Bhakta Greg / Bhakta Amin / Bhakta Gordon / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Wyn / Bhaja Hari däsa adhikäré / Rohiëé-nandana däsa adhikäré / Jaya Lakñmaëa däsa adhikäré / Narahari däsa adhikäré / Daçaratha däsa adhikäré / Aya däsa adhikäré / Balabhadra däsa adhikäré / Janakaräja däsa adhikäré / Çambhunätha däsa adhikäré / Madri-devé däsé / Ramya-devé däsé / Rucira-devé däsé / Arcanä-devé däsé / Ratnaraïjiné-devé däsé / Çré Käma-devé däsé / Guëaräja-devé däsé / Jagaddhätré-devé däsé / Aìgana-devé däsé / Nanda-priyä-devé däsé / Gokularäëi-devé däsé / Rädhä-priyä-devé däsé / Saumyarüpa-devé däsé / Mantriëi-devé däsé / Snäta-devé däsé / Gaìgämayé-devé däsé / Annada-devé däsé / Bhakta Maeve / Rädhä-kuëòa / Rukmiëé / Rädhä-priyä / Yamunä / Abhay Caran däsa / Bhakti Dawn</p>
<p class="p11">London (Bury Place)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London (Bury Place)</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Long ago the Lord did impart</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>transcendental knowledge into Lord Brahmä's heart</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The supreme spiritual science he did unfold</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to help the souls lost in the material world</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>This material body, a decaying shell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>in which the spirit soul does dwell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Servants of Kåñëa we all are</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>eternally existing brighter than a star</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kåñëa the Supreme Lord of all creation</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the original person, the source of all emanations</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The supreme personality, glorious beyond all</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>yet he sports before us as a little cowherd boy</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He gives a chance for souls gone astray</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to taste spiritual bliss and find the true way</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>This perfect knowledge was then handed down</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>by very great souls in a disciplic chain</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>From Brahmä to Närada and then to Vyäsa</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>in this way millions of years did pass</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>From sage to sage the message traveled</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>in age after age its glory was unraveled</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>These great saintly personalities, their prowess unequalled</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>dreamed of the day when all of the people</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>sunk in the mire of material existence</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>would be able to hear this great spiritual science</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Then Lord Caitanya, the crest of all incarnations,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>appeared in the line of disciplic succession</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He cultivated the tree of pure love of God</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and freely distributed the fruits grown thereon</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>As with the sages his desire was the same</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>that every town and village would glorify God's name</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>London to Los Angeles, let everywhere resound</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With the purifying vibration of transcendental sound</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Never forgetting what you had been told</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>this order became your life and soul</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Years passed waiting for the time to appear</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to execute the mission that you held so dear</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Then late in life, dressed in saffron robe</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you began the work that would change the globe</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>there in a small room in the holy dhäm</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you began to translate</i> Çrémad-Bhägavatam</p>
<p class="p7"><i>the spotless</i> Puräëa, <i>brilliant as the sun</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the world's greatest scripture, second to none</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>to mitigate the miseries of all classes of men</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>that very ancient science was now spoken again</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Oldest of all but in a new dress</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>miracle done, Your Divine Grace</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>thus forsaking the Lord's Våndävana home</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>into Kali's domain you ventured alone</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>with nothing but faith in God you set sail</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and alighted on the shores of Kali's capital</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Without mercy, friends or any material tender</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>but with something much greater—complete self-surrender</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You came and returned to us what we had lost</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the most sublime treasure, pure love of God</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Armed with the</i> Bhägavatam's <i>perfect knowledge</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>with undaunting spirit you began to preach</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The rest of the story will be indelibly inscribed</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>into the annals of history for all recorded time</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The historians of eternity will tell and retell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>of your great mercy errand to deliver souls from hell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He injected this desire into the disciplic line</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and hence it was carried until modern times</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Guru Mahäräja gave you the same instruction</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>"Take these teachings to the English-speaking nations"</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and the pious people of some future generation</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>will listen with wonder and great veneration</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Wherever the stories of the great saints are received</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>there will be descriptions of the miracles you achieved</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We are a testimony to this miracle, Gurudeva</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>each one of us from abominable life, you did save</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your gentle hand guiding us away from confusion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>away from the evils of desire, hate and delusion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>lifting us from his hell on earth</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>giving us knowledge, a second birth</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>taking us out of</i> mäyä's <i>filthy pit</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>giving us devotional service though we be unfit</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>teaching us to remember Kåñëa, the Supreme Lord</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and giving us a taste of the spiritual world</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Prabhupäda everything we owe to you</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you have made our lives so fresh and new</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was darkness now there is light</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was blindness now there is sight</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was dreaming in dark dingy rooms</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>now there is nectar and places of touchstone</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was cooking and eating only sin</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>now there is Kåñëa's delicious</i> prasäda</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was hard toil with scant reward</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>now we render service unto the Supreme Lord</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was envy and intense competition</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>now there is harmony and holy association</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Where there was loneliness in the world of praise and blame</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>now there is communal chanting of the Lord's holy name</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We are eternally indebted for the sacrifice you have made</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>so foolish to think that you can ever be repaid</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Whatever we have to offer is so insignificant and small</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>but still you accept it, because you're the most merciful of all</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We are simply praying that no matter what difficulties we may meet</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>we can always remain serving you lotus feet</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Thank you Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants at the London Temple</p>
<p class="p49">Vicitravérya däsa brahmacäré / Mahämän däsa brahmacäré / Ädikartä däsa brahmacäré / Akandädhi däsa brahmacäré / Mahäkartä däsa brahmacäré / Yaçoda-òuläla däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Gabriel / Lélaçakti-devé däsé / Jalasthita-devé däsé / Kåñëäveça-devé däsé / Kuläìgana-devé däsé / Archya-devé däsé / Padma-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My divine master,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your transcendental mind and attention are perpetually focused, in unalloyed devotion, upon the wonderful transcendental forms, names, qualities and pastimes of Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa in Braja. Your mind is completely transcendental and ecstatic, relishing the sublime mellows of devotional service at every moment. Yet, falling at your lotus feet in great humility, I urgently pray to you, my eternal master, to kindly turn your attention to my wretched self because, as fallen and unqualified as I am, I want to submit a prayer and an urgent appeal to you and beg you to kindly hear me:</p>
<p class="p7">A Disciple's Prayer to the Lotus Feet of His Eternal, Well-Wishing Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p7"><i>O my lord,</i></p>
<p class="p7">I am an eternal spirit soul, part and parcel of Kåñëa. Somehow or other at an unknown time in the remote past, I became covered by Kåñëa's illusory energy, <i>mäyä,</i> and I thought that I could enjoy life independently of Him. I then fell from the spiritual world, which is my eternal home, to the material world, which is nothing but a horrible place of suffering. Since that time I have been forced, for countless scores of births, to inhabit one body after another, appearing sometimes as a demigod, sometimes as a dog and sometimes in a lower form. In this way, I suffered terribly. Helplessly lost in the whirlpool of material illusion, I was completely mad, forgetting my eternal nature and my real constitutional position. Ignorant of my spiritual nature, I ran after material sense enjoyment, but was repeatedly kicked and frustrated in my attempt to be happy in that way. In such a state of frightening, hellish madness, I performed many horrible and unmentionable acts, which brought myself and others great pain. At the same time, other similarly illusioned living entities performed equally horrible actions which wrought great pain on me. Performing cruel and sinful actions based on ignorance, and impelled by a false desire to enjoy matter, I was forced to suffer the consequences, perpetually. Thus there was no limit to my suffering. At times, in the painful sojourn of my material existence, I came to appreciate the futility of sense enjoyment in the material world and considered material enjoyment to be full of miseries. However, due to my strong bodily conception, my memory was destroyed, and again and again I ran after material enjoyment just as an animal runs after a mirage in the desert. Lifetime after lifetime after lifetime, this horrible suffering continued without any relief.</p>
<p class="p7">II</p>
<p class="p7"><i>My eternal preceptor,</i></p>
<p class="p7">In this present lifetime, however, by the <i>inconceivable</i> causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, you came to save me. As a great Mahä-bhägavata Paramahaàsa Vaiñëava, you are eternally attached to Kåñëa and are therefore fully enlightened, blissful and self-satisfied. Yet, due to your <i>inconceivable</i> mercy, the thought of which melts my stone heart and makes me cry, you took pity on me.</p>
<p class="p7">First, you made me give up my strong addiction to grossly sinful habits such as flesh-eating, intoxication and illicit sex, which degrade the soul. Then, you taught me how to chant the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra</i>—the transcendental sound vibration which awakens the conditioned soul from his sleeping condition. You even showed me, a filthy animal, how to keep my body clean—I did not even know how to pass stool properly and you instructed me in the proper method. You put clean saffron cloth on my sinful body and taught me how to dance before the Deity. You prepared wonderful, pure foodstuffs, offered them in devotion to Kåñëa and fed me the remains until I could eat no more.</p>
<p class="p7">As I gradually became a bit more civilized, you began to instruct me in the proper aim of human life. You revealed to me, through your commentaries on <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam,</i> that I am not this temporary material body, but an infinitesimal spirit soul, constitutionally eternal (<i>sat</i>), full of knowledge (<i>cit</i>) and blissful (<i>änanda</i>); that I am part and parcel of the <i>Supreme</i> Soul, Kåñëa, who is an unlimitedly sweet cowherd boy; that I have an <i>eternal,</i> intimate, sublime relationship with Him based on transcendental loving service and surrender; that, due to impure desires, I fell from Kåñëa's abode in the spiritual world and became tightly bound up in the clutches of Kåñëa's illusory energy in a suffering condition, transmigrating from one material body to another; that this human form of life is a very great and rare gift of the material nature because, being equipped with higher and more subtle intelligence, it affords the conditioned soul a chance understand his existential position and to revive his original spiritual consciousness, or Kåñëa consciousness, thus getting out of material bondage. Finally, you took time to instruct me in all the procedures of <i>sädhana-bhakti,</i> or the regulative purificatory stage of devotional service, whereby the spiritual aspirant gradually reawakens his dormant, blissful, transcendental consciousness. In this way, you firmly and compassionately lifted me from a condition of madness to a sane condition of relative peacefulness, happiness and knowledge, wherein the miseries of material existence have been reduced to almost nil.</p>
<p class="p7">III</p>
<p class="p7"><i>My merciful chastiser,</i></p>
<p class="p7">However, not caring for your mercy, I have not fixed Kåñëa consciousness in my heart, as my life and soul. Becoming complacent and puffed up, I have maintained many material attachments and impurities.</p>
<p class="p7">My enthusiasm for engaging in service is sparked by the desire to be glorified and honored by others and for material profit. If these rewards do not come, I become bewildered in my determination. I am full of lust and secretly think of mundane sex pleasure while outwardly pretending to be a detached <i>sädhu.</i> I run here and there to gratify the tongue, and if I cannot eat to the neck, I become morose. I am always speaking nonsense and becoming enlivened when others hear and appreciate my loose talk. Forgetting that the other devotees are your parts and parcels—that they are your eternal personal servants—I deal with them in an arrogant and impersonal way, sometimes speaking harshly and sometimes criticizing unnecessarily. When I see another disciple advancing in Kåñëa consciousness, I become envious, and when a disciple falls down, I secretly feel satisfaction.</p>
<p class="p7">Because my mind is always disturbed by multifarious, personally-motivated desires, I cannot fix my mind on the process of advancement on Kåñëa consciousness. And because my vision is clouded and narrowed by such selfish desires, I lack the quality of compassion and consequently am unable to share in your great vision and magnanimous plan to save the world. My ingratefulness knowing no limit, I try to forget you, because the remembrance of your holy self causes me to feel ashamed of my fallen condition, my selfish schemes and my lack of loyalty to your lotus feet. This is my horrible and lamentable condition. Thinking of all these personal faults and shortcomings, I cry in shame.</p>
<p class="p7">IV</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Therefore, my eternal divine master,</i></p>
<p class="p7">In this lowly and unfortunate condition, I humbly pray to your merciful lotus feet to please take pity on this useless soul, who is so devoid of good qualities, noble intentions and pure aspirations. I am a fool! A fool! A weak and petty-minded fool! But you have planted in this fool's heart the seed of Kåñëa consciousness. This valuable seed, however, is being burned up by the fire of material lust that burns in my heart. Please save the seed which you have planted there! How fallen am I and how great is Kåñëa consciousness! This thought tears through my mind and heart like a hot iron rod. Please kick me hard with your lotus feet that I may wake up from this dangerous deep sleep of forgetfulness of the prime duty of human life. Clasping your lotus feet in my hands and pressing them on my chest, I humbly beg you to pick me up. Without Kåñëa consciousness I am no better than an dead man. Now I want to give up all my nonsense. I want to see the light of Kåñëa consciousness. I don't want to go on sleeping in ignorance. I surrender to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please fix me eternally at your lotus feet and protect me.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your disciples in the New Dvärkä community</i></p>
<p class="p49">Arcita däsa brahmacäré / Béra Lakñmaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhüdhara däsa brahmacäré / Devämåta däsa brahmacäré / Diça däsa brahmacäré / Gopavåndapäla däsa brahmacäré / Gajapati däsa brahmacäré / Gopipräëa däsa brahmacäré / Gadägraja däsa brahmacäré / Jitadüñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Jayaçacénandana däsa brahmacäré / Jayagauräìga däsa brahmacäré / Kamalanätha däsa brahmacäré / Kñamabuddhi däsa brahmacäré / Mantré däsa brahmacäré / Nitäi Gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Prapanna däsa brahmacäré / Riktänanda däsa brahmacäré / Sureçvara däsa brahmacäré / Suränanda däsa brahmacäré / Yamaräja däsa brahmacäré / Ürjasvat däsa brahmacäré / Haraväpu däsa brahmacäré / Ameyätma däsa brahmacäré / Räghava Caitanya däsa brahmacäré / Viprahita däsa brahmacäré / Draviòa däsa brahmacäré / Tribhuvanätha däsa brahmacäré / Jagajévana däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäballabha däsa brahmacäré / Çubhänanda däsa brahmacäré / Väëinatha däsa brahmacäré / Harernäma däsa brahmacäré / Mahäsaumya däsa brahmacäré / Devarñi däsa / Gopavåndeça däsa brahmacäré / Çrékänta däsa brahmacäré / Kälanidhi däsa brahmacäré / Sulocana däsa brahmacäré / Rämeñöa däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Jagadéça däsa brahmacäré / Syäma Gopa däsa / Gopäla Bhaööa Bhakta däsa / Indra Pramada däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Glen / Bhakta Jim Sullivan / Bhakta Luis / Bhakta Rolando / Bhakta Patrick Wire / Bhakta David / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Kevin / Bhakta Barry / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Mukunda Mike / Bhakta Eddie / Bhakta Alan / Bhakta Samädhi Steve / Bhakta Al / Bhakta Mamoe / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Sädhu Steve / Bhakta Michael / Bichael Freeman / Donald Martin / Robert Owen / Marlon Winston / Scott Steven / William Scott / Mahäkäla däsa / Rädhä-vinoda däsa / Gaura-kiçora däsa / Agnideva däsa adhikäré / Bahulavan däsa adhikäré / Dayäla Nitäi däsa adhikäré / Duryodhana-guru däsa adhikäré / Dämodara däsa adhikäré / Éçäna däsa adhikäré / Janeçvara däsa adhikäré / Jagannätha Süta däsa adhikäré / Kalpavåkña däsa adhikäré / Käruëasindhu däsa adhikäré / Maëgalänanda däsa adhikäré / Madhusüdana däsa adhikäré / Mahäkäla däsa adhikäré / Murlédhara däsa adhikäré / Mahäräja däsa adhikäré / Mithilädhéça däsa adhikäré / Parékñit däsa adhikäré / Padmanäbha däsa adhikäré / Puru däsa adhikäré / Rädhä-gopinätha däsa adhikäré / Rathagrahé däsa adhikäré / Åñabhadeva däsa adhikäré / Svarüpa däsa adhikäré / Vämanajana däsa adhikäré / Yugala-kiçora däsa adhikäré / Bhaktisiddhänta däsa adhikäré / Jiteçvara däsa adhikäré / Dattätreya däsa adhikäré / Nara-näräaëa däsa adhikäré / Kuvera däsa adhikäré / Bhaktarüpa däsa adhikäré / Nalinikänta däsa adhikäré / Däruka däsa adhikäré / Dänavir däsa adhikäré / Janajanmädi däsa adhikäré / Yadubara däsa adhikäré / Sauçélya däsa adhikäré / Maëòaleçvara däsa adhikäré / Gadädhara däsa adhikäré / Kértiräja däsa adhikäré / Caitanya Siàha däsa adhikäré / Yudhamanyu däsa adhikäré / Läla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Jaya Räma däsa adhikäré / Ciraïjéva däsa adhikäré / Indradeva däsa adhikäré / Muräri Mahiti däsa adhikäré / Govardhana-dharé däsa adhikäré / Bhaskara däsa adhikäré / Viläsa Vigraha däsa adhikäré / Karandhar däsa adhikäré / Nandaläla-devé däsé / Bhaktin Jennifer / Bhaktin Sharon / Bhaktin Lori Mckie / Bhaktin Karen / Bhaktin Lori / Dineçvara-devé däsé / Pütä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Lori / Bhaktin Geni / Nitya-tåptä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Helen / Ragabhümi-devé däsé / Caitanya-devé däsé / Ragabhümi-devé däsé / Dakñiëeçvaré-devé däsé / Ujjvala-devé däsé / Çama Priya-devé däsé / Bhadra-devé däsé / Mågänetri-devé däsé / Lélamaïjaré-devé däsé / Haripüjä-devé däsé / Gopänandakaré-devé däsé / Pärvaté-devé däsé / Mukunda-devé däsé / Revaté-devé däsé / Näräyaëi-devé däsé / Jayagauräìgé-devé däsé / Balaräma-devé däsé / Méaprakåti-devé däsé / Vinoda Väëi-devé däsé / Baläi-devé däsé / Novina-devé däsé / Rukmiëé-devé däsé / Vidyä-devé däsé / Däntä-devé däsé / Bibhävaté-devé däsé / Oàkära-devé däsé / Dämodara Priyä-devé däsé / Anavadyäìgi-devé däsé / Subhadrä-devé däsé / Nartaké-devé däsé / Devamätä-devé däsé / Kaumadaké-devé däsé / Rukmavaté-devé däsé / Rägapatné-devé däsé / Kaïcanbäla-devé däsé / Kåñëa Priyä-devé däsé / Niçcintya-devé däsé / Puñöé-devé däsé / Bkatki Karen / Madhumaläaté-devé däsé / Caturä-devé däsé / Dhåti-devé däsé / Dharmadä-devé däsé / Duùkhahantré-devé däsé / Dhåga-devé däsé / Dikñavaté-devé däsé / Jaduräëé-devé däsé / Kamalitéka-devé däsé / Kulapriyä-devé däsé / Lalitäcära-devé däsé / Madhyamä-devé däsé / Nanda-devé däsé / Phalini-devé däsé / Sétä-devé däsé / Çréla-devé däsé / Gauri-devé däsé / Sulakñmana-devé däsé / Khandita-devé däsé / Labaìgalatéka-devé däsé / Palika-devé däsé / Çré Garbha-devé däsé / Anavadyäìgé-devé däsé / Dämodarapriyä-devé däsé / Ñañöhé-devé däsé / Jambavaté / Bhaktapriyä-devé däsé / Vidaìka-devé däsé / Medhä-devé däsé / Rädhäräëé-devé däsé / Gopinätha däsa / Yamunä-devé däsé / Kelly / Sétä / Tulasé däsa / Kim / Mariann / Deva Dihiti-devé däsé / Bhaktin Laurie / Rasäìgé-devé däsé / Väräëasé-devé däsé / Rasamaïjaré-devé däsé / Nikuïjayasiné-devé däsé / Ahar-devé däsé / Bhaktin Kathy / Sukhadä-devé däsé / Kathy Gorry / Jaganmayé-devé däsé / Ätmäväna-devé däsé / Kértimaté-devé däsé / Jalasayé-devé däsé / Sajjana-jévana-devé däsé / Naimiñaraëya däsa / Ratneçari-devé däsé / Yogamäyä-devé däsé / Tuñöi-devé däsé / Våndädevé däsé / Maitreya / Lalitä / Ragalekha / Hita-Käraëa / Siddhänta Sarasvaté däsé / Draupadé / Gändhäré / Mirabai-devé / Tamäla däsé / Rukmiëé / Yugalapréti / Nitäi däsé / Jayadharma / Dandiné däsé / Dvärakänätha däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa Priyädevé däsé / Bhaktin Jennifer / Bhaktin Julie / Änanda / Aniruddha / Baladeva / Balita / Cakra / Dhérodatta / Govinda / Keçava / Kåñëa däsa / Prahläda / Sädhu / Samba / Çrédhäma / Anaìga däsé / Candramukhé / Jagannätha puré däsé / Lélä / Rahta / Nagapatné / Sammohiëé / Viläsiné / Gulab / Bhakti / Lalitä / Bhaktarüpa / Arjuna / Maëòalibhadra / Yadunandana / Kérana-rasa / Dväräkädhéça / Kåñëa-prema / Subäla / Samba / Nitäi / Kåñëa Caitanya / Bhakta Rüpa / Gaura-premänanda / Rasmin / Éçvara Puré / Kåñëänanda / Goläla Kåñëa / Priyätmaja / Nitäi-Caitanya / Rädhä Våndävana / Govinda däsé / Janiki / Rädhäñtami / Candrakänté / Candravälé / Anaìga / Kåñëa-mayé / Çakuntala-devé / Tulasyänanda / Ätma / Vaijayanti / Kunté / Jaya Radhe / Subhadrä / Kilindi / Lélänanda / Nimäi däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Madras</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Madras</b></p>
<p class="p7">Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who out of his great compassion for every living entity suffering in material existence, has translated the essence of Vedic knowledge into the most palatable words that have entered our ears.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are verily a holy place personified, because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart; you turn all places into places of pilgrimage. Who can measure your glories, Çréla Prabhupäda? You are doing what no one else has ever done. In South India, there are many large temples which have many <i>brähmaëas</i> reciting Vedic <i>mantras,</i> but none of their activities are attracting persons to become devotees of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Çré Kåñëa. You are the Jagad-guru, and the actual <i>äcärya, </i>as your activities prove. Please let us always hold tightly to your lotus feet, by being constantly immersed in your instructions. Thank you for picking us up, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bhavabhüti däsa brahmacäré / Çravanänanda däsa brahmacäré / Prasannätmä däsa brahmacäré / Täraka däsa brahmacäré / Vijaya däsa brahmacäåi / Narasiàha Mürti däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Mauritius</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mauritius</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances. First of all I must regret that I am not qualified to properly give you the glorification that is called for on this most glorious occasion of Vyäsa-Püjä. For glorifying you, the prolific talents in writing of great persons like Süta Gosvämé, Kåñëa däsa Kaviräja Gosvämé. Våndävana däsa Öhäkura and Rüpa Gosvämé can alone give proper testimonial to the fact of your unlimited greatness. Only persons such as these can accurately describe your sublime characteristics. Our attempt to glorify you is only like that of the child whose learning process is always sloppy and crude. Therefore kindly bear the faulty expression and irregular composition which fill this prayer and accept only our ardent desire to be engaged as your servants.</p>
<p class="p7">Any gentleman will readily accept that you are Lord Kåñëa's most confidential servant. This is confirmed in <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> by the Lord's own words. "For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." <span class="s3">(<i>Bg.</i></span><i> </i><span class="s3">18.68-69)</span> Therefore, because you are broadcasting the message of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> the most widely, purely, and effectively throughout the world, we can clearly understand from the Lord's own words that you are His most dear servant. There is no doubt about this, and therefore we are most anxious to please you.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the transcendental revolutionary. When you came to Mauritius and were greeted by so many public officials, you did not engage in "boot licking" as is the fashion among other so called <i>svämés.</i> Rather you immediately took the opportunity to criticize the faulty standards based in ignorance and in detail described to your captive audience how they could restructure their entire economic and social base to make the actual heaven on earth. Quite a surprise it was to those gentlemen who had expected only a sentimental lecture on "Hinduism" and in the turn of events received your transcendental boot in the face of misconception. You do not compromise truth in the face of material respect and gain. We have actually seen this.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the greatest transcendental general leading the troops of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Whenever you maneuver your troops the strategic position if the enemy is broken if not lost. We are simply thunderstruck by your transcendental feats, which go on increasing and increasing in the most inconceivable way. On whatever town or village we march by your order, no matter where it may be, as the transcendental vibrations are fired by different weapons, everyone, whether envious or nonenvious, stands up to take notice. No one can actually be indifferent to your transcendental firing squad. Therefore, this Kåñëa consciousness movement is loaded with transcendental happiness and you are the chief supplying agent giving us the unlimited ammunition of your wisdom and love. This is our experience.</p>
<p class="p7">The stride of a gentleman is firm, even bold, this voice holds the same gravity. Your heart is fixed, strong and determined to be full of love of Kåñëa, and friendly to every living being. This we have actually seen.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, it has also become our ambition and determination to become gentlemen. We have no business with harsh words, envy, or jealousy. Such trash should not be scattered in the lovely parks where devotional service takes place, but should be burnt up in the fire of your instructions. In this way, feeling lowly and insignificant as a natural inclination, the position of the forebearing grass and the tolerant tree begins to make perfect sense by your grace, whereas to the untrained observer such a situation is the situation of a fool. This has actually been our experience.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear spiritual master, dear lord, I am being beaten into submission by the laws of material nature and I cannot but wait for the day when my head finally touches the ground in complete obedience under the protection of your lotus feet and being unable to answer to the call of <i>mäyä,</i> I will smell the actual fragrance of lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Kindly favor us, your servants, so that we may take part in your transcendental pastimes of saving the fallen souls. Life after life this is our aspiration.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Prabhanu däsa brahmacäré / Çré-niketana däsa brahmacäré / Arjuna däsa brahmacäré / Nitäi-cända däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Mäyäpur</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mäyäpur</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>sent disciples over the sea</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But his Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Alone planted the devotional tree.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Chanting Hare Kåñëa, dancing,</i> prasäda,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Spreading the holy message of Gaura;</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda teaches</i> Gétä, Bhägavata</p>
<p class="p7"><i>without mixing in anything more.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Other so-called</i> sädhus <i>go abroad,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Soon to come back to their land.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>A failure only earning cheap applause</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Without making any permanent stand.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya Prabhupäda, for helping others find the way,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And weeding voidism and impersonalism from the West.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Watering and caring for our</i> bhakti <i>tree every day,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>New life, happy day, filled ever with zest.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Fallen from the path of divine knowledge</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Working hard like a dog, to enjoy like a hog,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We offer thousands of obeisances unto you, O great sage!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>For purifying our vision from the fog.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Holy name sung by ecstatic </i>mådaìga<i> beat</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Goes well for spreading the holy name around.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Prabhupäda's devotees with books on every street,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Here's the Big</i> mådaìga <i>carrying farthest the holy sound!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sarasvaté Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda's footsteps mark he path,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda guides us blind men up that holy road.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Develop Mäyäpur, wonderful Lord Caitanya's place of birth.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Living of dying is the same when living in the spiritual abode!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Holy Bhärata-varña misdirected, lost her sight,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>By Prabhupäda's mercy may her culture be restored.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Last in India ashen-covered embers scatter light</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Western</i> bhaktas <i>bring fresh to mind the Golden Lord.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The materialist is wrong is your song,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>without Kåñëa there is no way to be right.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>A sense-restricted scientist's song must be wrong,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Divine Grace's arguments are watertight.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>ISKCON was created by Your Divine Grace</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To stand united against the darkness of nescience.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We most fallen Mäyäpur</i> niväsé's <i>beg a humble place,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Eternally to serve Your Lotus Feet with awakened senses.</i></p>
<p class="p11">Melbourne</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Melbourne</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p85">Please accept our most fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. As stated in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>:</p>
<p class="p47"><i>kiräta-hüëändhra-pulinda-pulkaçä<br>
äbhéra-çumbhä yavanäù khasädayaù<br>
ye 'nye ca päpä yad-apäçrayäçrayäù<br>
çudhyanti tasmai prabhaviñëave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">Kiräta, Hüëa, Çumbha, Yavana and Khasa races and even others who are addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. </i>2.4.18]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are such a pure devotee, and even the most illusioned and sinful living entities cannot continue their degraded activities if they have the association of a pure devotee like you. By your mercy, you are giving everyone the chance of becoming Kåñëa conscious, the greatest boon of this human form of life. By your mercy, a dumb man can speak, and a lame man can cross over a mountain; and so we who are so unqualified, on this auspicious day, can simply offer you our prostrated obeisances again and again, praying to take complete shelter of your lotus feet, because by taking such shelter one can be protected from the glamor of <i>mäyä.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We can only hope to be able to serve you birth after birth, life after life, unflinchingly, with firm faith and determination to chant Hare Kåñëa and follow all the rules and regulations of <i>bhakti</i> life. Without you, Çréla Prabhupäda, our lives are meaningless. You have opened up our eyes with the torchlight of transcendental knowledge, so therefore we pray, "Please engage us eternally in your service!"</p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>The devotees of Melbourne Mandira</i></p>
<p class="p49">Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Kürma däsa adhikäré / Ugraçrava däsa adhikäré / Pundaréka däsa brahmacäré / Gopé Känta däsa brahmacäré / Banu däsa brahmacäré / Våòa däsa brahmacäré / Lagudi däsa brahmacäré / Viñvahetu däsa brahmacäré / Prabhu däsa brahmacäré / Setu Kåt däsa brahmacäré / Ciööa Hari däsa adhikäré / Rämaçaraëa däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Terry / Bhakta Farmer / Bhakta Robert / Bhakta Brett / Bhakta Phill / Ragätmika-devi däsé / Yayanti-devé däsé / Gopäla-devé däsé / Çukla-devé däsé / Matikädevé däsé / Satyarüpa-devé däsé / Vimala-devé däsé / Aparäjita-devé däsé / Bhaktin Eleanor / Bhaktin Laura</p>
<p class="p11">Mexico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mexico</b></p>
<p class="p7">Ladies and gentlemen, Çréla Prabhupäda, the best among the Vaiñëavas and the protector of his devotees, is the most exalted personality in the whole universe (<i>jagad-guru</i>), and therefore he should be offered the best worship in this Vyäsa-püjä. Although many exalted devotees are present here, no one can be equal or greater than Çréla Prabhupäda, because everyones' very advancement originally comes from our dear Gurudeva. As an individual soul is the basic principle of the growth of one's material body, similarly Çréla Prabhupäda is the principle of our spiritual growth. All kinds of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are meant to bring us to the point of surrendering unto him. The goal of all <i>yoga</i> paths is to enable us to get his association. Dear Godbrothers, it is superfluous to speak about Çréla Prabhupäda because every one of you know this intimate associate of Lord Çré Kåñëa, for whom there are no material and spiritual distinctions because he already lives in Goloka-Våndävana Dhäma and sees everything here as the proprietorship of the Lord. Being the representative of Kåñëa, he is to be considered as good as the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">He is very expert in using everything in the service of Çré Kåñëa. By the grace of Çréla Prabhupäda only, we are engaged in the practice of <i>bhakti,</i> which can be executed only with his mercy. Therefore he should receive this Vyäsa-püjä offering, and no one should disagree. As by watering the root of the tree, the watering of the whole tree is automatically accomplished, so by offering this Vyäsa-püjä to Çréla Prabhupäda everyone will be satisfied. If anyone is intelligent, it will be very good for him to surrender to unto the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda. If we satisfy our dear <i>guru,</i> then automatically we satisfy Çré Kåñëa, and if we satisfy Çré Kåñëa, then we become satisfied.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>From the most fallen souls in your service</i></p>
<p class="p49">Ädityeça däsa brahmacäré / Bhutabhavya däsa brahmacäré / Brajendra-kumära däsa brahmacäré / Devyapati däsa brahmacäré* / Dvija-hari däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Jagannätha däsa brahmacäré / Kåpälu däsa brahmacäré / Kñitimohana däsa brahmacäré / Kutahanta däsa brahmacäré / Madana monohara däsa brahmacäré / Maitreya Muni däsa brahmacäré / Rädhä-Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Stutya däsa brahmacäré / Uddharaëa däsa brahmacäré / Viñvaksena däsa brahmacäré / Carudeha däsa brahmacäré / Antonio / Enrique* / Bhakta Eusebio / Bhakta Felipe 1 / Bhakta Felipe 2 / Bhakta Fermin / Bhakta Gerardo / Bhakta Guillermo / Bhakta Joaquin / Bhakta Gorge / Vinico / Bhakta Migues / Bhakta Nocolas / Bhakta Octavio / Bhakta Pascual / Nirlepa-devé däsé / Rocana-devé däsé / Bhaktin Adriana / Bhaktin Alicia / Bhaktin Carmen / Acaleçvara däsa, Jaladoña-devé däsé / Jagannätha Miçra däsa, Jaganéya-devé däsé, Govinda, Palika / Sadanava däsa Bhaktin Tina / Saurasani-devé däsé / Kåñëa Caitanya / Guillermo Prabhu / Sergio Prabhu</p>
<p class="p7">*these two devotees just departed from this earth during TSKP</p>
<p class="p11">Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Miami</b></p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåpa-bindu diyä, koro' ei däse<br>
tåëäpekhä ati héna<br>
sakala-sahane, bolo diyä koro,<br>
nija-mane spåhähéna</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Human life begins when one makes some positive inquiry, searching out the Absolute Truth. The birth of Lord Brahmä was exemplary in this respect because from the very beginning of his life, his only interest was to search out the source of his existence. Our birth, however, was completely inauspicious in all respects, because we were born in the darkness of this age of Kali, at such a time when spiritual activities are in a stage of depression. Beginning from birth our only business has been to seek out all varieties of nescient activities, wasting away the most valuable opportunity which this human life provides. Not caring a fig for spiritual life, somehow or another, Çréla Prabhupäda, you have injected within such fallen and lowly souls the reawakening of a long lost desire to return back to our original constitutional position as eternal servitors of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Undoubtedly, you are <i>patita-pävana,</i> because no matter how hard we may resist, you are still proceeding to force our eyes open with the torchlight of knowledge. Perhaps one day we will realize that you are actually the external manifestation of Supersoul, bestowing your full blessing to anyone willing to a accept. Hopefully at that time we will take full advantage and bathe in the ocean of your unlimited mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Our fathomless sojourn through this material existence now seems to be coming to an end because by the mercy of Kåñëa you have appeared in our lonely lives. Now by your mercy we are actually entering back into our natural blissful lives of Kåñëa consciousness. Not only are you yourself engaged in distributing the unlimited, ever-sweet fruits of Lord Caitanya's tree, but now you are also inviting us to enter into such a sublime <i>lélä.</i> In this way, you are displaying all of the real qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master, as you are now practically engaging the whole world in the wonderful pastimes of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Only one decade ago Kåñëa was practically unknown to everyone. Now the entire globe is beginning to vibrate with the glories of Çré Kåñëa. Even the most callous souls are becoming unable to resist, and the greatest skeptics are beginning to accept. Truly, if anyone wants to see miracles, he need only open his eyes.</p>
<p class="p7">Although we are unable to fully appreciate your actual position, we are somehow able to perceive that you are our real father to whom we are eternally indebted. We are just like young children who don't even know what is good or bad, or what is right or wrong, and you are so tolerant, taking us by the hand and completely guiding us step by step on this most important voyage home. All of our former parents and teachers had no conception at all of how one should make proper use of this human form of life. They were only able to direct us in the matter of increasing our material bondage through greater and greater sense gratification. This is the greatest pitfall which causes one to completely lose all sanity and ultimately fall victim to the forest of material enjoyment. Actually, we had become faithful servants to masters we were never able to satisfy.</p>
<p class="p7">Now our lives are becoming fresh and new as we continue day by day to follow your simple instructions. By refraining from undesirable habits and chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra</i> you are enabling us to realize the topmost confidential knowledge with is not even to be found in all the Vedic scriptures. It is wait that by becoming the servant of a king one is able to gain the benefit of enjoying the whole kingdom. Similarly, by us becoming your servants, you are offering us eternal entry into the limitless ocean of love of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Knowing now that our lives are meant only for serving you, we pray that you may recognize our puny efforts and somehow or another be pleased by them. Our only request to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, is that you may always allow us to remain in the shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p49">Narahari däsa brahmacäré / Rädhava däsa brahmacäré / Dharma däsa brahmacäré / Laìgagaëeça däsa / Radhunäthat Puré däsa brahmacäré / Nandanäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Janärdana däsa brahmacäré / Staymädhava däsa brahmacäré / Mahäçåìga däsa brahmacäré / Rämadäsa däsa brahmacäré / Anantarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäliìgana däsa brahmacäré / Tejoprakäça däsa brahmacäré / Grahila däsa brahmacäré / Advaita däsa brahmacäré / Çré-mäyä däsa brahmacäré / Gauräìga däsa brahmacäré / Drutakarma däsa brahmacäré / Viçvavåkña däsa brahmacäré / Aridharaëa däsa brahmacäré / Ahobala Nåsiàha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Nick / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Chris / Bhakta Mahä Bob / Bhakta Jeff / Bhakta Gordon / Narataka Gopäla-devé däsé / Andharüpa-devé däsé / Ballavi-devé däsé / Bhaktin Debbie / Caitanya-jévana däsa, Hireñöanu-devé däsé / Suvrata däsa, Sukhadä-devé däsé / Çré Garbha däsa, Hardajïn-devé däsé, Sétä / Premarüpa däsa, Bhaktin Lydia / Bhakta Ched, Bhaktin Peggy / Pämagandra däsa, Rädhä Maïjaré däsé / Bhakta George, Bhaktin Denise</p>
<p class="p11">Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We were sleeping in the night of ignorance, and you came to awaken us to the reality of our true existence. Busy at so many shadow roles, we never understood who we were, blinded by the cloud of material enjoyment, imprisoned in <i>mäyä's</i> alien atmosphere. But your potent words pierced through the darkness of illusion, and we have now been delivered. Thus in a light of your purity, we could catch a glimpse of the realm which we now know to be Våndävana, the abode of unalloyed love, the land of <i>cintämaëi</i> where absolute knowledge and bliss manifest eternally.</p>
<p class="p7">Like the father who brings back home his disobedient children gone astray, you are bringing us back to our spiritual health and sanity, and inspiring us with the desire to enter into the eternal loving service of Kåñëa. You are showering us with the most priceless gift of pure devotional service. With no means of measuring or fulfilling our debt to you, we still beg to be accepted as your menial maidservants.</p>
<p class="p7">As your own desire is to serve the desire of your eternal father, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, to preach the message of Çré Caitanya in the West, we also pray to make your desire ours; thus our life will know perfection, by serving the perfect preceptor. You are the emblem of all knowledge; you are the effulgent <i>mahätmä</i> who can awaken within the hearts of even the most degraded <i>yavanas</i> and <i>mlecchas</i> attraction for devotional service. You are the embodiment of all perfection. We derive great pleasure in remembering your ambrosial body, always decorated with gracious motions. Looking at your form and hearing your words are the perfection of life because they are direct manifestations of Çré Kåñëa. The scriptures describe that the pure devotee is always meditating on the Lord and the Lord is also constantly thinking of His unalloyed devotee. We also pray at your lotus feet to be graced with constant remembrance of your instructions, nondifferent from you, and thus engage ourselves wholeheartedly in spreading the glories of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya wherever has not been heard your magnanimous name.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Mahäräja.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Nandikeçvara däsa, Mandaré-devé däsé, Subhadrä, Rädhäräëé / Bhartåhari däsa, Sarada-devé däsé / Hanumän däsa, Bhakta-devé däsé, Gaìgämäyi, Bhaktivedanta, Yamunämäyi / Aäyäpurçäsa däsa, Sarvamäyi-devé däsé, Sanätana / Jitavrata däsa, Rädhänarupiëé-devé däsé / Keçiçatru däsa, Medhyä-devé däsé / Dharmaräja däsa, Karen / Praghoña däsa brahmacäré / Gokulänanda däsa brahmacäré / Jitarati däsa brahmacäré / Vyäpaka däsa brahmacäré / Padmapäëi däsa brahmacäré / Ghoña Öhäkura däsa brahmacäré / Priyabandhu däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Govinda däsa brahmacäré / Vidyäräja däsa brahmacäré / Sadäpuñöa däsa brahmacäré / Parangara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Yvan / Bhaktin Alain / Bhakta Richard / Jyotiräditya-devé däsé / Jaganmätä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Line</p>
<p class="p11">Nairobi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear very merciful Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We long to glorify you as you deserve, at all times and especially on this most blessed occasion of Çré Vyäsa-püjä. Please be patient and accept the dumb feeling of gratitude with which we offer homage, and not the halting illiterate expressions. When Dhruva Mahäräja desired to glorify the Supreme Lord but lacked the words to do so, the Lord kindly touched his forehead with His conch, and Dhruva was able to offer nice prayers. Alas, in our abominable, godless culture we have no one to instruct us how to approach you, except you yourself. Please look kindly upon our endeavor. What little we can say and do is by your grace only.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We were born in the darkest ignorance, and you, our beloved Gurudeva, are opening our eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you. We are in such ignorance that we cannot tell light from darkness. Without your constant guidance, we are unable to perceive the danger of our position, hopelessly, helplessly attached as we are to our vain efforts to lord it over the inexorable, insurmountable material energy. We read that:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45].</p>
<p class="p7">Even knowing this, we are quite unqualified to approach you, to glorify you, or to offer any service to you.</p>
<p class="p7">You have written that "the expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciples' energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee on a specific devotional service according to his special tendency." Your supremely distinguished spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, regarded anyone as fallen who was not chanting sixty-four rounds a day. It is your supreme mercy on fallen wretches like ourselves that, pitying our lack of attachment to chanting, you accept us al your disciples if we chant only sixteen rounds a day. You have so kindly devised a limitless range of transcendental activity to engage our propensities and our slight attachment to devotional service.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sädhana-bhakti haite haya premera udgama</i></p>
<p class="p7">"By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of Godhead." The miracle is that, deeply embedded though we are in sinful activities, speech and thought, we are actually becoming purified by the process of devotional service which you have given us. <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i> 7.142)</span></p>
<p class="p7">How can we enumerate the joys of this real spiritual life, which is your gift to us? Deity worship, offering <i>ärätrika,</i> preaching, distribution, cooking for Rädhä and Kåñëa, dancing and chanting jubilantly with <i>mådaìga</i> and <i>karatälas</i>—these and so many other activities are deeply enlivening us, and drawing is from the pursuit of dangerous, so-called pleasure within the jurisdiction of <i>mäyä.</i> By following this natural, enjoyable process we are actually becoming transcendentalists, actually realizing that we are not these material bodies but that we are spirit souls with an eternal relationship with Kåñëa. You are really giving us Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as master, friend, even as our child or as our beloved.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa sits under the trees in Vaàçivaöa, attracting the hearts of the <i>gopés</i> with His flute. The vibration of that transcendental flute, entering the ears of Lord Brahmä, the creator of the material universe, was expressed by him as the <i>käma-gäyatré.</i> This Gäyatré <i>mantra</i> has been passed from master to disciple in the <i>paramparä,</i> and now you, the outward manifestation of Kåñëa within our hearts, are initiating us with it, and attracting us back to Kåñëa, the transcendental Cupid, inviting us to take part in His eternal blissful pastimes in the spiritual sky.</p>
<p class="p7">In the midst of the holocaust of this materialistic life, we are beginning to have some realization of eternal life full of variegated blissful activity. This is your miracle, that you are pulling <i>yavanas</i> and <i>mlecchas</i> off the streets and showing them the way to attain the topmost transcendental platform of pure love of God.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The real import of the scriptures is revealed to one who has unflinching faith in both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the spiritual master." In <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> it is stated that real faith is the complete conviction that simply by serving the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa one can attain all perfection. Serving you is as good as serving Kåñëa: <i>yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädhä.</i> By satisfying you, Kåñëa is also satisfied. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja has stated that, "One can become perfectly successful in the mission of his life if he acts exactly according to the words he hears from his spiritual master." Because we are lacking in this faith, we are constantly in illusion that we can improve your sublime instructions and thus the potency of your mission to benedict the entire world with Kåñëa consciousness is impaired.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>edäkä ämära, nähi päya bolo<br>
harinäma-saìkértane<br>
tumi kåpa kori', çraddhä-bindu diyä<br>
deha' kåñëa-näma-dhane</i></p>
<p class="p7">We do not find the strength to carry on alone with this <i>hari-näma saìkértana.</i> Please bless us by giving us just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namaste särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances are unto you, the devoted servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé, who are preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is Kåñëa Himself, descending in the mood of Çrématé Rädhäräëé to teach us perfect devotion and love for Kåñëa. He was so much attached to his spiritual master that he collected earth from his birthsite and ate a little of it every day. He was a Vedantist (<i>vedänta-kåd veda-vid eva cäham:</i> By the <i>Vedas</i> I am to be known; indeed, I am the compiler of <i>Vedänta,</i> and I am the knower of the <i>Vedas.</i>") and yet when His spiritual master called Him a fool, unqualified to study Vedänta philosophy, and instructed Him to chant the holy name of Kåñëa at all times, he humbly followed these simple instructions.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ei täëra väkye ämi dåòha viçväsa dhari'<br>
nirantara kåñëa-näma saìkértana kari</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I firmly believe in these words of my spiritual master, and therefore I always chant the holy name of the Lord, alone and in the association of devotees." <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i> 7.95)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Here in Kenya, where programs such as large-scale book distribution are hardly practicable, the instructions which you have kindly given us are simply those with which Çré Éçvara Puré benedicted his beloved disciple Çré Kåñëa Caitanya däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p6"><i>näca, gäo, bhakta-saìge kara saìkértana<br>
kåñëa-näma upadeçi' tära' sarva jana</i></p>
<p class="p7">"My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing <i>saìkértana</i> in the association of devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting <i>kåñëa-näma,</i> for by this process you will be able to deliver all fallen souls." As a result of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu's faithful adherence to the instructions of His spiritual master "the food of love of Godhead swelled in all directions, and thus young men, old men, women and children were all immersed in that inundation." <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i> 7.92)</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré guru käruëa-sindhu</i></p>
<p class="p7">We are also drowning in the sweet ocean of your mercy. During your last glorious memorable visit to Nairobi you instructed us how to preach carefully and humbly. You told us who we should approach people of all sorts "with a straw in our mouths," and how to flatter them wisely. You said we should invite them humbly to throw away all the nonsense they have learned and to follow the instructions of Lord Caitanya "Just chant Hare Kåñëa." We laughed with delight and you were also laughing, as you described how even "first-class loafers and rascals could become interested in Kåñëa consciousness and take up chanting if we preach like this." You instructed us that we should have "four-hour <i>kértanas</i> and distribute sumptuous <i>prasäda.</i>"</p>
<p class="p7">We are very much desirous that this flood of <i>kåñëa-prema,</i> ecstatic love or Kåñëa, sweep over the whole continent of Africa. We want to see thousands of fallen conditioned souls experiencing the transcendental pleasure of <i>çré harinäma-saìkértana-prasädänanda,</i> the real bliss of chanting and dancing for Kåñëa, and taking the sacred remnants of His foodstuffs.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, we humbly pray that you will forgive all our offenses, we have no seriousness to satisfy you and to fulfill your desires. Still we beg that you will continue to shower us with your mercy so that we can have the faith, enthusiasm and determination to carry on with this mission. Please bless us so that we can have <i>dåòha-vrata</i>—determined faith and <i>çrota-väkya,</i> acceptance of your words, so that we can carry out your instructions without deviation. In this way the chanting and dancing will go on nicely, the people of Africa will be benefited and we will become purified, and by your grace make advancement in devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">Praying that Lord Kåñëa will bless Your Divine Grace with long life and good spirits to carry on with your wonderful translations and purports to the transcendental Vaiñëava literatures, and with this great work of benedicting the entire world with Kåñëa consciousness, we humbly offer our prostrate <i>daëòavats</i> at your most holy lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Brahmänanda Svämé, GBC</p>
<p class="p49">Navyogendra Svämé (Mombasa) / Jïäna däsa, Lélävaté-devé däsé / Taponidhi däsa adhikäré / Yogéça däsa adhikäré / Räsalélä-devé däsé / Ajämila däsa brahmacäré / Hasyänanda däsa brahmacäré (Mombasa) / Jalakara däsa brahmacäré / Mahävirya däsa brahmacäré / Naradeva däsa brahmacäré / Sanätana däsa brahmacäré / Sarvavid däsa brahmacäré (Mombasa) / Tribhaìgänanda däsa brahmacäré / Pärvaté-devé däsé / Rädhikä-devé däsé / Çucé-devé däsé / Yaçasviné-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We fall again and again at your lotus feet. By your causeless mercy we are finding the strength to serve your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O beloved Gurudeva, amidst the ocean of unlimited frustration and anxiety where billions of souls are drowning, you are sailing. You have so much compassion for the plagued population that your mission is simply to save these insane sinners. Any one of them can take shelter of your mercy but due to their being tossed by the waves of this ocean (<i>sattva, rajas</i> and <i>tamo-guëa</i>) it is very difficult. But a few phenomenally fortunate sufferers catch hold of the life-saving seeds which you cast twenty-four hours daily for the rescue of the blind-visioned billions.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà<br>
karëa-dhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7">O Jagad-guru, our debt to you will never be paid even in a million millenniums. All we can do is beg and beg that you please let us stay with you forever.</p>
<p class="p7">Even if every tongue on the infinite-headed Anantadeva were chanting "thank you Çréla Prabhupäda, thank you," it would not be sufficient to express our gratitude, O Paramahaàsa Öhäkura.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namo namas te 'stu sahasra-kåtvaù<br>
punaç ca bhüyo 'pi namo namas te<br>
namaù purastäd atha påñöhatas te,<br>
namo 'stu te sarvata eva sarvaù</i></p>
<p class="p16">Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto you a thousand times, and again and yet again! Obeisances from the front, from behind and from all sides! (<i>Bg</i>. 11.39-40)</p>
<p class="p7">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p49">Våkodara däsa brahmacäré / Raìganätha däsa brahmacäré / Carüpa däsa brahmacäré / Jyarajit däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Lee / Bhakta Danny / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Rivers / Bhakta Randy / Bhakta Mike / Bhakta Syam / Bhakta Chris / Bhakta James / Bhakta Ernie / Bhakta Vic / Çänté-devé däsé / Bhaktin Barbara / Bhakta Linda / Bhakta Serena</p>
<p class="p11">New Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes, <i>yogyatä-vicäre kichu nähi paé, tomära karuëä-sära:</i> "If you examine me, you will find no good qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of." Individually or collectively, there is nothing to be said in our favor except that we are your disciples. By your mercy we can accomplish anything, but without Your Grace all of our so-called achievements are useless.</p>
<p class="p7">Our only business in life is to somehow or other regain your favor. First of all we have to receive you suitably, then we will be able to hear your message attentively. We have been instructed to accept you in our hearts to be as good as the Supreme Lord Himself: <i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair uktas tahtä bhävyata eva sadbhiù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span><i>.</i> Now we wish to receive you in our community in like manner.</p>
<p class="p7">As a body is rendered lifeless without the presence of the spirit soul, there is no meaning to New Vrindaban without your presence. Of course, we can understand that even without your actual physical presence you are still residing here. But it is all based upon desire. You will not choose to remain where you are not properly respected. Therefore we are trying to build you a palace.</p>
<p class="p7">We are always in a dependent position. We may have some desire but we are powerless to fulfill it by ourselves. All we can do is pray unto the lotus feet of Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-Vrindaban Candra to allow us to finish your palace this year. Then you may bless us by coming here and making everything perfect—our working, our lives, and our entire community.</p>
<p class="p49">Kértanänanda Svämé and all the inmates of New Vrindaban</p>
<p class="p11">New York/Rädhä-Dämodara TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New York/Rädhä-Dämodara TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">One day in Våndävana I ventured, "None of our men want to leave here."</p>
<p class="p7">You replied, "Yes, actually no one wants to leave here."</p>
<p class="p7">Yet, somehow or other, the desires had arisen and we had fallen away.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>icchä-dveña samutthena<br>
dvandva-mohena bhärata<br>
sarva-bhütäni sammohaà<br>
sarge yänti parantapa<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 7.27</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Although devotional activity is completely pure, still we are just now rising from the mine of fear and hate. Thus in contrast to your spotless purity, we stand embarrassed by filthy garments of material desire that cover our long camouflaged forms, hindering our motions as we struggle to take advantage of your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes, when a disease of the blood causes boils to erupt on the otherwise placid skin of society, you do not cry for the removal of the sores, but instead, treat the affliction within. And when the contagion of fear and hate begins to spread its full epidemic proportion, you are the all-knowing, undisturbed, universal physician, patiently dispensing Çré Caitanya's prescription of <i>hari-näma saìkértana.</i></p>
<p class="p7">When we had lost our way in the dense forest of delusion due to an unreasonable desire to taste all the fruit there, you appeared, just to lead u home.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Although we were once all good and loving sons of the Supreme Father, we became spiteful wanderers amongst the groves of bitter fruits, hopelessly seeking out that sweet fruit that grows in the lush courtyards of our fathers' kingdom. Never lost or disconsolate, you are dragging us back to His abode, although the fruits that you offer taste bitter to our still jaundiced tongues, and thus we complain endlessly as we follow.</p>
<p class="p7">Now, as we fall at your feet like responsible children, exhausted from lifetimes of capricious sporting, senseless of everything beyond your shelter, you shower forth your mercy in incessant torrents, consoling and promising that we will never wander from Våndävana again, as you have awakened the seeds of that Våndävana within our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to Your Divine Grace. May we somehow learn to accept your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants at New York ISKCON—Rädhä-Dämodara TSKP</i></p>
<p class="p11">Ottawa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ottawa</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The land of Bhärata-varña was once a paradise, with truthfulness</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>cleanliness, compassion and mercy standing supreme.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Indeed even the threefold miseries of life were not to be seen</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Yes, this land of Bhärata-varña was once very nice.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Advancing through Satya, Tretä and Dväpara</i> yugas,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>man's good qualities were gradually diminished.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kali was now suddenly upon us, flourishing with</i> asuras.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Only truthfulness remained to be vanquished.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Oh, Gurudeva, even though the age of Kali was just beginning,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the whole planet was so quickly degrading. The only trace</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>of civilization to be found in India, Kåñëa holy ground.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>It was Lord Caitanya's desire to restore this</i> sanätana-dharma</p>
<p class="p7"><i>And this He came to inspire through the</i> Hari-näma-saìkértana.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>But the age of Kali was so insistent, that few men realized</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>its significance. What was inspired in the East, would</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Ultimately flourish in the West.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And so it was that at an advanced age of life, you left the</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>holy dhäma of Våndävana to boldly confront Kali personified</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>like entering a cage of angry lions.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your only weapon</i>—<i>faith in the words of your Guru Mahäräja.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your determination</i>—<i>to make Vaiñëavas our of</i> yavanas.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your first year in America</i>—<i>filled with shortcomings and</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>frustrations. Few friends, poor shelter, cold weather.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Yet you stayed holding fast to the lotus feet of Kåñëa.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The tides must be turned, the battle must be won.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>For ten years now you have fought relentlessly.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are forever unflinching in your determination.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>In this way you remain a source of inspiration.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Even this most reluctant soul is becoming a devotee.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But the battle has yet to be won.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Hence you are always pushing us on.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With the sword of Vedic knowledge shining bright.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are cutting</i> mäyä's <i>ropes which are binding us tight.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Oh, Prabhupäda you are most intimate when writing your books.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Indeed your very presence is felt on every page.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>By diving deeply into that ocean of nectar</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The whole world can gain the association of the greatest sage.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dearmost eternal father,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We are drowning in an ocean of misery.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are the friend of the poor</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kindly bestow upon us a drop of your mercy.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Oh, Gurudeva, with you and Kåñëa on our side</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We will restore this land of Bhärata-varña.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We will reestablish the principles of religion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We will overflood the universe with</i> prema-bhakti.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our beloved Prabhupäda, please forgive us</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>For all the offenses we are committing at your lotus feet.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We offer our prostrated obeisances to you again and again.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We beg you to let us engage in your service for eternity.</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">You are present in your books, which are now being read everywhere around the world. Therefore you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. In fact you are more merciful, because Supersoul directs everyone to satisfy their desires. Sometimes these desires drag them into hellish conditions of live, or sometimes to elevated levels of material enjoyment. But you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are a pure, unalloyed devotee of Kåñëa. You can plant in the heart of the conditioned soul the seed of <i>bhakti.</i> This is your real mercy. A conditioned soul may travel for millions and millions of births in all species and realms of the material world, but he can never come to the point of devotional service. It is only by association with a pure devotee such as Your Divine Grace that one can enter the field of devotional service. By reading your books and following your instructions, we can have your association twenty-four hours a day.</p>
<p class="p7">It is now up to us to realize your unlimited greatness. You are a dear friend and intimate associate of Kåñëa, as Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura prays:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nikuïja-yünr rati-keli-siddhyai<br>
yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä<br>
taträti-däkñyäd ati vallabhasya<br>
vande guroù çåé caraëäravindam<br>
</i>[<span class="s3"><i>Gurv-añöaka 6</i></span>]</p>
<p class="p7">Your greatness is that you are the <i>äcärya</i> and by your perfect example you can show us how to become intimate as associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We can understand from your presentation of <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> that personal association with Kåñëa and sometimes separation from Kåñëa are the most transcendentally relishable mellows. Now you are allowing us to taste this fruit of love of God. By experiencing this mellow we, who have a long developed attraction for sense gratification, have give up the four pillars of sinful life, namely, intoxication, meat-eating, mental speculation, and illicit sex. It is your mercy, the taste of <i>prema,</i> that is allowing us to do so.</p>
<p class="p7">We pray to Kåñëa for the intelligence to understand your books. This understanding is the key to the shackle of the material energy. You are opening the storehouse of love of God and are freely distributing it to everyone.</p>
<p class="p7">This collection of praises from devotees around the world shows how you have made many different people unite and become resolute in purpose. Perhaps our humble attempts at broadcasting your fathomless glories will encourage you to be merciful upon us. Without your mercy we have noting, with it we have everything, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Aàçu däsa adhikäré / Rüpa-viläsa däsa adhikäré / Çäçvata däsa adhikäré / Räghava Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja däsa brahmacäré / Lakñménäth däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Serge / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Clem / Madirekñaëa-devé däsé / Mitravinda-devé däsé / Jagatkanda-devé däsé / Varuëi-devé däsé / Çaucärya-devé däsé / Käraëa-käraëa-devé däsé / Rätri-devé däsé / Mohiëé-devé däsé / Lasikä-devé däsé / Kåñëa Candra-devé däsé / Jahnava-devé däsé / Bhaktin Diane Morin / Bhaktin Diane</p>
<p class="p11">Paris &amp; New Mäyäpur</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paris &amp; New Mäyäpur</b></p>
<p class="p7">To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the <i>äcärya</i> of the world, who is transforming this earth into the abode of Lord Kåñëa, who is ever merciful to the fallen conditioned souls.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45]).</p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace, you are the empowered representative of Lord Kåñëa. As such you carry the conclusion of all Vedic knowledge ("Kåñëa, God, is great and we are small; the small should serve the great."), thus you are able to make <i>kåñëa-bhaktas</i> all over the world. Being fully saturated with service and devotion to Kåñëa, wherever you stay, temples and devotees of Kåñëa spring up. Tirelessly you are kindling the dampened souls of the age of Kali with your contagious enthusiasm for the message of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Your presence is like a strong wind that is clearing away the foul atmosphere of sense gratification and sin. You have wounded the personality of Kali by deeply implanting the eternal principles of <i>bhägavata-dharma.</i> Your presence is the essence of hope and devotees all over the world are cheering your transcendental activities. All glories to the wandering swanlike devotee, the great preceptor Çré Çrémän A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who has take complete shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are our supreme leader, <i>bando mui sävadhäna mate.</i> We look to you with great awe and reverence and want to model ourselves after you. You have freed us from the insanity if demoniac life and have given us a new birth into the spiritual world of Kåñëa consciousness. Thinking ourselves to be God, we were but proud beggars. Being born of sixth class families, having no pious activities, austerity or penance in mind, being bankrupt of spiritual knowledge, we had no attraction for serving the supreme master and hero of Våndävana, Lord Govinda. Now after hearing the transcendental sounds emanating from your lotus mouth, we are enthused for going back home, back to Godhead and for leaving aside our sinful activities. Please give us the strength to continue to follow your giant footsteps. O merciful master, you have dragged us from the womb of <i>mäyä</i> and have given us our real human birth. Please keep us steady in devotional service that we may not again become the toy of birth and death. We pray for devotion to the lotus feet of Guru and Gauräìga, and that we may always see you clearly in everything we do.</p>
<p class="p49">Räëidäsa däsa adhikäré / Ädiçekhar däsa adhikäré / Indradyumna däsa adhikäré / Prabhava Vigraha däsa adhikäré / Ariñöanäçana däsa brahmacäré / Bhéma däsa brahmacäré / Bhütabhävana däsa brahmacäré / Canuräri däsa brahmacäré / Gopasvämé däsa brahmacäré / Indriyadhamana däsa brahmacäré / Jévadayä däsa brahmacäré / Keçinäçana däsa brahmacäré / Mahäbala däsa brahmacäré / Pitäväsa däsa brahmacäré / Prasannätmä däsa brahmacäré / Rädhikä-Ramaëa däsa brahmacäré / Rasadä däsa brahmacäré / Sädhuçivapriya däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkaça däsa brahmacäré / Çré Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Våsakérti däsa brahmacäré / Adhibhüta däsa brahmacäré / Asita däsa brahmacäré / Dattätreya däsa brahmacäré / Jagadädija däsa brahmacäré / Kauñi däsa brahmacäré / Mahävidyä däsa brahmacäré / Puré däsa brahmacäré / Çalagräma däsa brahmacäré / Sudarçana däsa brahmacäré / Çucisattva däsa brahmacäré / Devarata däsa brahmacäré / Jageça däsa brahmacäré / Anila däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Andre / Bhakta Aziz / Bhakta Bruno / Bhakta Christian II / Bhakta Christian III / Bhakta Claude / Bhakta Christophe / Bhakta Georges / Bhakta Nestor / Bhakta Ryno / Bhakta Pierre / Bhakta Serge / Bhakta Joaquim / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Alex / Bhakta Weera / Bhakta Dieudonne / Kåñëa-vaminé-devé däsé / Satarüpa-devé däsé / Ramiya-devé däsé / Draupadé-devé däsé / Kamalakänti-devé däsé / Vanadevé-devé däsé / Kämadhenu-devé däsé / Guptälaya-devé däsé / Brahmajanani-devé däsé / Jyotirmayé-devé däsé / Uñämaté-devé däsé / Viçeña-devé däsé / Maithili-devé däsé / Ilavaté-devé däsé / Parijata-devé däsé / Govardhana-devé däsé / Kratuçreñöha-devé däsé / Mahimabhüñana-devé däsé / Kåpämayé-devé däsé / Aditi-devé däsé / Jagatkérti-devé däsé / Aga-devé däsé / Ärädhya-devé däsé / Viçvambhara däsa adhikäré / Guru-Gauräìga däsa adhikäré / Devadatta däsa adhikäré / Haribolänanda däsa adhikäré / Hetu däsa adhikäré / Kåtagna däsa adhikäré / Kuöécaka däsa adhikäré / Paraçuräma däsa adhikäré / Çévätmaka däsa adhikäré / Sukérti däsa adhikäré / Vedäìga däsa adhikäré / Avyaya däsa adhikäré / Jayatakåd däsa adhikäré / Umäpati däsa adhikäré / Janardradhi däsa adhikäré / Valyaväpu däsa adhikäré / Bhavasindhu däsa adhikäré / Hariviläsa däsa adhikäré / Acintyarüpa däsa adhikäré / Janapräëa däsa adhikäré / Bhütakåd däsa adhikäré / Dvijavara däsa adhikäré / Daëòakeçé-devé däsé / Gopénandiné-devé däsé / Jyeñöha-devé däsé / Känté-devé däsé / Mahämedha-devé däsé / Mandakiné-devé däsé / Merumälä-devé däsé / Måda-devé däsé / Navakaìga-devé däsé / Raginé-devé däsé / Rajïé-devé däsé / Saradé-devé däsé / Satasvapävana-devé däsé / Sétäla-devé däsé / Çréhariëé-devé däsé / Viçvadhariëé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Claire / Bhaktin Gretchen / Bhaktin Oria / Bhaktin Zena / Bhaktin Helga / Bhaktin Joy / Bhakktin Maria / Vaiñëava / Maïjaté / Gauraväëé / Dhruva / Devaké / Dharma / Dhaumya / Dhéralalitä / Lakñmé / Harikértana däsa / Mädhava / Rasadäsé / Våndävana / Bhaktasuta / Vijayanti / Caitanya / Raghunätha / Satya / Kåñëakathä / Nitäi-Caura / Gäyatré / Açeña / Rädhä-govinda däsé / Gaurañakti / Hanumän / Käla / Nirmala-candra / Sarasvaté / Hara däsé / Sarasvaté II / Yaduräëé</p>
<p class="p11">Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We humbly try on Vyäsa-Püjä day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To honor Your Divine Grace</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Deliverer of the Western world</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>So fallen in disgrace</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We're in the age of Kali-yuga</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>A time of pain and sorrow</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Irreligious life prevails</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>In an atmosphere of quarrel</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Amidst the chaos and confusion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Divine Grace arrived</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To preach the message of Mahäprabhu</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Compassion personified</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Lord Caitanya's advent is rare</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>He comes once in Brahmä's day</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>In His disciplic line you stand</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To teach what scriptures say</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>No weapons did you bring along</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Only the holy name</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>On the order of your Gurudeva</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You've expanded Kåñëa fame</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Savior of the Kali-yuga</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>All glories to you!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Philosopher of Vedic wisdom</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Scholar of the age</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your books bring light into the world</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>A new dawn page to page</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your translation of </i>Bhagavad-gétä</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Makes the meaning at last clear</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And your purports to</i> Çrémad-Bhägavatam</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Have freed our hearts from fear</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The theory that life comes from matter</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Is accepted without proof </i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But you have shown the soul to be</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Superior and aloof </i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You've taught that there's a difference</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Between God and the soul</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The relationship of the two exists</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>As a part is to the whole</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Savior of the Kali-yuga</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>All glories to you!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your morning walk conversations</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Enliven everyone</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>(As you walk, your head appears to be</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Held higher than the sun)</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The mystic sages can't approach</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The position you've attained</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The qualities of a pure devotee</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Are the highest honors gained</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>O</i> äcärya <i>of the universe</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How deep your plans do dwell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To save all fallen, conditioned souls</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>In heaven and in hell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>This godless age will not prevail</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your missions a success</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The holy name which you have sung</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Has touched our consciousness</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Savior of the Kali-yuga</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jaya, Jagad-guru!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>All glories to you!</i></p>
<p class="p11">Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Portland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">On this most holy day of your divine appearance, we, of New Maëipura, do beg to fall down in the dust of your lotus feet, along with all our Godbrothers from around the world, and offer our crippled and depraved selves in service to the <i>saìkértana</i> movement of Lord Caitanya. In the revealed scriptures it is declared that the spiritual master is to be worshiped as God because he is the most confidential servant of God. Therefore, we should write sixty volumes of glorification of you, Çréla Prabhupäda, and we could easily do it, since your glories are limitless, but we are simply praying that you will accept these few lines which are like offering a match to the sun.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> it is said, "Out of many thousands of men one will endeavor for perfection, and out of those who have achieved perfection, only one may know Me in truth." Only in our wildest dreams could we have ever thought that we would get one of those very rare souls as our spiritual master. We had no qualification to approach such a rare soul, being addicted to meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and drugs. We thought ourselves happy in such a degraded condition and we were marching off to hell.</p>
<p class="p7">While others were content to sit and chant, only you were moved by the compassion characteristic of the real Vaiñëava, the person who really knows Kåñëa in truth. Simply by making a humble effort to serve the lotus feet of your divine master you have relieved us from chewing the chewed again and again. It was actually the desire of Lord Caitanya that anyone who takes his birth in India should spread the <i>saìkértana</i> movement throughout the world, but again, Çréla Prabhupäda, only you, as a true vaiñëava, servant of the Lord, have submitted humbly to the Lord's orders. In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> Lord Kåñëa says that there is no servant dearer to him than the one who teaches the message of the <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> Only you, Çréla Prabhupäda, had the determination to become most dear to Kåñëa; only you had the courage to leave the holy <i>dhäma</i> and set foot to the grizzly Kali-yuga hill of America, just to rescue a few rotten conditioned souls—our lowly selves.</p>
<p class="p7">Even if we had millions of births it would not be possible to repay you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for your compassion, determination, courage and mercy. You released us from the muck of sense gratification into the cool, refreshing waters of satisfying the Lord. We are simply praying that somehow or other you engage us in assisting you in your holy mission of saving the world from hell, and we pray that whatever awkward and meager service we do will be accepted by you. Only in this way can we advance, for all the great authorities have confirmed that only by satisfying the spiritual master can one get the mercy of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, rolling in the dust of your feet we beg for your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your lowly servants in New Maëipura</i></p>
<p class="p49">Sarva-dåk däsa brahmacäré / Edhanéya-svabhäva däsa brahmacäré / Kaviräja däsa brahmacäré / Jyeñöha däsa brahmacäré / Anubhävänanda däsa brahmacäré / Déëa-bhandu däsa, Akuti-devé däsé / Mahébarta däsa, Çikhaëòi-devé däsé / Bhagavatäcärya däsa, Kuñumapitä-devé däsé / Bhakta Rämänuja, Bhaktin Kåñaìgi / Antara, Çréda-devé däsé / Abhaya-devé däsé / Bhakta Vådnävana / Anne, Bhakta Jahari / Rämyaka däsa brahmacäré / Girijärata däsa brahmacäré / Anantätmä däsa brahmacäré / Vibhu däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Ed</p>
<p class="p11">Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Puerto Rico</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Just as Priyavrata rode a chariot</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And was radiant like the sun.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>So your resplendent mercy has now come,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To continue what Caitanya Mahäprabhu had begun.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The </i>saìkértana<i> movement is going</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To every town and village,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>The devotees are traveling on an international pilgrimage,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>To awaken every sleeping soul to his heritage.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Sons of Kåñëa, awaken to the sound</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Of Gauräìga Mahäprabhu, whose mercy knows no limit,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Now with </i>khole<i> blazing and his </i>karatälas<i> shimmering.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda has come to us to give it.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>What can I do to serve you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I bang my head against the wall,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I have never done anything at all,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I'm hardly a servant, I'm so small, small small!</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Like an insect at the bottom of a well,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Whose voice is nothing amidst a chorus of others,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I beg to serve you with all my Godbrothers,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We will help you by pulling others from </i>mäyä's<i> gutters.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Please Prabhupäda, I want to open my eyes,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>And in the pure light of love see you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>If to your instructions I am always true</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I know Kåñëa will give me intelligence of what I have to do.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My only desire is to be your servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I am helpless without my spiritual master,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I will never leave; like a plaster</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I will remain glued to your instructions for ever after.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>On this Vyäsa-püjä, there is nothing I have to give,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You already own my life and soul,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Body, mind, and words, my goal</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Is to surrender all, and become full.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Please Prabhupäda, please do not kick me away,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Without you there is no night, there is no day.</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p49">Jagajévana däsa / All the assembled devotees</p>
<p class="p11">Rome</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rome</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda!</i></p>
<p class="p7">It is very difficult of us to express our gratefulness to you by words, so we are trying to do it by practical activity. Actually, that is the only way that we can show how to sincerely be thankful for what you are giving is.</p>
<p class="p7">In one of your letters to us, you said, </p>
<p class="p16">"There is very good scope in Europe for this <i>saìkértana</i> movement. If you just spread this chanting in Europe, then it becomes Vaikuëöha. Side by side push on the literature distribution as far as possible. This should be done very vigorously and you will have great success there. My Guru Mahäräja was always very pleased when even a small pamphlet was distributed."</p>
<p class="p7">As we want to please you, please you because we want more and more of your association. You are the only relationship we have, the only person we want to listen to. And pleasing you means to dive deep into the ocean of your smile, your instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">We want to whole of Italy to scream as loud as possible from the bottom of their lungs "Tutte le glorie a Çréla Prabhupäda!" (All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!).</p>
<p class="p7">And in the ecstasy of this desire we want to beg you to be so merciful towards us so that this feeling will grow become reality.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Hoping to become your sincere servants,</i></p>
<p class="p7">The devotees of Rome temple</p>
<p class="p49">Païcajanya däsa / Somaka däsa / Yavana däsa / Çré Giridhari däsa / Päpahä däsa / Satyaräja däsa / Dhenupälaka däsa / Jévanänanda däsa / Gaëanätha däsa / Tridaëòi däsa / Raìghati däsa / Dayänidhi däsa / Çréaìga däsa / Suptavigraha däsa / Änandasvarüpa däsa / Måtyuhara däsa / Bhütika däsa / Svastika däsa / Çrévatsa däsa / Manonätha däsa / Bhakta Vito / Bhakta Giovanni / Bhakta Haiden / Bhakta Antonio / Bhakta Maurizio / Bhakta Claudio / Bhakta Patrizio / Bhakta Lukas / Bhoginé-devé däsé / Ali Kåñëa-devé däsé / Amohamoha-devé däsé / Purëämrta-devé däsé / Citrarüpiëé-devé däsé / Yogänandakaré-devé däsé / Vicitraväsiné-devé däsé / Bhaktin Lola</p>
<p class="p11">San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We fall at your lotus feet, for in this dangerous jungle of material life your association provides the only sanctuary for our depraved and crippled selves. Before coming to Kåñëa consciousness, although having for ages been dulled by the spell of <i>mäyä</i> and devoid of all sense of well-being, we were nevertheless looked up to by our fellow <i>mlecchas</i> and <i>yavanas</i> as having some good qualification. In actuality, however, we were completely ignorant of any distinction between good and bad, happiness and distress, right and wrong, pleasure and pain, and were all marching obliviously towards the darkest, most hellish regions of the universe. Then you checked our ill-fated course and saved us from millions and millions of births of suffering in hell:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru karuëä sindhu,<br>
adhama jarära bandhu,<br>
lokanätha lokera jévana</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees."</p>
<p class="p6"><i>uadekñyanti te jïänaà<br>
jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are the real <i>guru.</i> Your words are not simply cheap boasts or the concocted fantasy of some pretender. You are always displaying your qualification by showing us the reality if a personal God and the blissful transcendental realm as it is described in the scriptures, and by giving us this <i>saìkértana</i> movement which spreads factual realization of the spiritual realm. You are fulfilling the prediction in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> that the Kåñëa consciousness movement will transform every town and village all over the world. What demons dare to deny your superexellence?</p>
<p class="p7">Association with a pure devotee is rarely achieved. We are such fools, however, that we have barely accepted a minute fraction of your mercy. And because this reluctance prevents us from properly qualifying as your devotees, we know that it is only by your unlimited magnanimity that we have been able to continue in your service. Realizing our deficiency, we pray to you for the power to relish and broadcast the glories of the Lord, and to effectively heed your repeated warnings of present and forthcoming danger within this material world. We also beg to be able to execute this service with a pure heart, free from all offenses, which only serve to hinder your divine mission and waste your precious time.</p>
<p class="p7">Independently, we can do nothing, for we can barely see beyond our own senses, what to speak of understanding how to best engage the entire universal population at Kåñëa's lotus feet. Thus, in full cooperative association, we must take complete shelter of your perfect direction and vision. Only through this unified effort, free from all selfish motivation, can we hope to be instrumental in the successful execution of your plan. In this way, the whole world will have facility to develop a feeling for that loving transcendental mood that we so conspicuously lack and that you so perfectly display. Praying at your lotus feet for forgiveness for our innumerable offenses, we remain...</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternally indebted servitors.</i></p>
<p class="p7">The devotees of ISKCON San Diego</p>
<p class="p49">Dvärakäräja däsa brahmacäré / Bhimala Prasäda däsa brahmacäré / Kaläcanda däsa brahmacäré / Täracandra däsa brahmacäré / Dhémän däsa brahmacäré / Kñetrasvarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Çaciòuläla däsa brahmacäré / Nanda-nandana däsa brahmacäré / Anantäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Veëudhara däsa brahmacäré / Puñpaloca däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Kiki / Bhakta Marc / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Frank / Bhakta Shannon / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Issac / Bhakta Eugene / Bhakta Armando / Bhakta Relipe / Niradhara-devé däsé / Mahodari-devé däsé / Janaçakti-devé däsé / Kriyäçakti-devé däsé / Ragamathani-devé däsé / Manohara-devé däsé / Çonapuré-devé däsé / Madhu-devé däsé / Çatänanda-devé däsé / Sandaminé-devé däsé / Girisuta-devé däsé / Bhümi-devé däsé / Paraçakti-devé däsé / Sajjana-devé däsé / Bhaktin Ellen / Bhaktin Donita / Guëagrahé däsa, Kirtéka-devé däsé / Mathuränätha däsa, Vrajadevé-däsé / Madhukara däsa, Léläçakti-devé däsé / Janaspåha däsa Bhogavaté-devé däsé / Mahäsana däsa, Sararüpa-devé däsé / Sanat-kumära däsa, Mathurä-devé däsé / Guëakara däsa, Kañöha-devé däsé / Bhakta Chuck, Bhaktin Martine / Mänasacandra / Mäyäpur / Nanda Mahäräja / Naimiñäranya / Närada Muni / Täraka-dei / Ädi-lélä / Bhaktin Faith Louis / Bhaktin Paula / Bhaktin Heather</p>
<p class="p11">Santo Domingo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santo Domingo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dear Gurudeva,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen and unworthy obeisances at your divine lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Years ago we were completely sleeping in the lap of <i>mäyä,</i> living like cats and dogs—eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Suddenly Kåñëa sent His mercy to be spread through His representatives: the Six Gosvämés. That was the same mercy of Lord Caitanya, who is none other than Çré Kåñëa Himself. And you, divine master, are his genuine representative. As the fools deride Kåñëa when He descends in His human form of life, similarly we the fools number one didn't know about your glories and potency. We knew only that we were given knowledge (<i>vidyä</i>), pure foodstuff (<i>prasäda</i>), and the most valuable <i>mahä-mantra</i> to be chanted, the Hare Kåñëa <i>mantra.</i> At first we were completely unable to understand anything except that everything you were so kindly giving us without motivation was very pleasing to all. We put just a little faith in what you were teaching. Not knowing the seriousness of your personality, we began trying to follow the instructions that you had given to your advanced disciples. And that was so powerful that even without your physical presence everything became as bright as the sun. Our hearts are enlightened by your mercy, which spreads through the three worlds as the Ganges water flows from Näräyaëa's feet. We begin to live again. Now, as time has passed, by practical experience we see ourselves different, and that difference is your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">O Gurudeva, you have changed our hearts by cleaning it with your purity. Without asking anything in return, you have given us an eternal and blissful life, full of knowledge and satisfaction. If there seems to be something more valuable than this, it is not absolute, surely. Please, spiritual master, excuse us because we are still not able to repay you for what you have given us, and we are helpless in this regard. Please, we beg you, accept this useless offering on your day of days.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants,</i></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Santa Domingo</p>
<p class="p49">Rädhä-çaraëa däsa brahmacäré / Amala-harinäma däsa brahmacäré / Ménäkñi däsa brahmacäré / Bir Candra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Lalo / Bhakta Carlos / Bhakta Johnathan / Bhakta Roberto / Bhakta Willo / Bhakta Negro / Bhakta Dimas / Bhakta Frank / Viraya-devé däsé / Bhaktin Caridad</p>
<p class="p11">Santiago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santiago</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">It is only through devotional service that a conditioned soul, who is tormented by thousands of sinful desires, can purify himself and thus understand Çré Kåñëa the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda! Your mercy is spread all over the three worlds. That mercy has touched us and today we are able to chant the holy names of the Lord and engage ourselves in His service. Otherwise, how could such an impudent mundane enjoyer and fallen soul such as myself pronounce the sacred names of the Lord. You, Çréla Prabhupäda, are like a merciful sword that cuts the hard know of the heart (<i>hådaya-granthi</i>). You are the manifestation of the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, who so kindly is dragging the conditioned souls out of the loneliness and darkness of this material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, eternal Father! Be merciful with us and permit us to transfer our attachments to your lotus feet, which are our only oasis in the desert of the material creation.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>prasaìgam ajaraà päçam<br>
ätmänaù kavayo viduù<br>
sa eva sädhuñu kåto<br>
mokña-dväram apävåtam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"All men of knowledge know very well that material attachment is the greatest entanglement of the soul, but this same attachment, when it is transferred to the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 3.25.20</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Chile</p>
<p class="p49">Viraha Prakaça Svämé</p>
<p class="p11">Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs<br>
tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho<br>
térthékurvanti térthäné<br>
sväntaù-stena gadäbhåtä</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage. <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</span></p>
<p class="p7">In meditation on this verse as we left Mäyäpur and Våndävana to return to our service in other parts of the world we are appreciating the value of this pilgrimage. To go to some holy place of pilgrimage does not mean only to take a bath in the Ganges or Yamunä or to visit the temples situated in those places. One must seek out and take advantage of the pure devotees who reside at such places. The holy places are meant of purifying the polluted consciousness of the human being by an atmosphere surcharged with the presence of the Lord's unalloyed devotees. The personality of Godhead is always with such pure devotees because of their unalloyed service, which is without any tinge of fruitive action. The Personality of Godhead is omnipresent by His diverse potencies everywhere within space, but the Lord's omnipresence is perceived and manifested by His unalloyed devotees like you, Çréla Prabhupäda, just as electricity is manifested in an electric bulb. Therefore, Çréla Prabhupäda, we feel that it has been by your mercy and for your mercy only that there has been any value to this annual pilgrimage.</p>
<p class="p7">Not only are the holy places worthy of the name only on account of the pure devotees residing there, but also actions of the pure devotees can render any place into a place of pilgrimage. Such pure devotees are able to rectify the polluted atmosphere of any place rendered unholy by the questionable actions of interested persons who try to adopt a professional life at the cost of the reputation of the holy place.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you were comfortably situated in your rooms at Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara temple, but you chose to leave to fulfill the order of your spiritual master and preach the message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Yet in your leaving, you took Våndävana with you—within your heart and within the pure chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Therefore, by your leaving and crisscrossing this entire planet, millions, nay, unlimited numbers of fallen conditioned souls are getting the opportunity to experience Våndävana. This is your mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">There are two ways of association with the spiritual master—<i>vapu</i> and <i>väëé. Vapu</i> means to be in his personal presence and <i>väëé</i> means to associate with him through his teachings by following his instructions. Of those two <i>väëé</i> is better. If a man is lost and confused in a dense forest and in such a hopeless condition he meets a woodsman who is familiar with the forest and knows its paths, then such a lost man simply has to take instructions and follow the directions of the woodsman and we will be freed from his fear and confusion. However, if out of false pride he rejects the instructions or even accepts them only partially, thinking himself to know better, then such a person is a fool! Therefore a devotee sees not with his eyes, but with his ears. Certainly, to see you, Çréla Prabhupäda, is very desirable, but what can we appreciate of your inconceivable pure love by our infected eyes? With our ears, though, we can hear your simple instructions as you gently encourage us along our path back to Godhead, out of this dense forest of delusion. Always your instructions ring with the urgency of not only becoming Kåñëa conscious ourselves but to preach Kåñëa consciousness to others. This is Lord Caitanya's movement!</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore it is with great eagerness and enthusiasm that we have returned to our service, surcharged by the atmosphere of Våndävana and Mäyäpur, where the Lord's <i>lélä</i> is enacted, and inspired by your association and instructions.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Seattle devotees</p>
<p class="p49">Bäla Kåñëa däsa adbikäré / Çañöa däsa adhikäré / Pati däsa adhikäré / Pärtha däsa adhikäré / Klamahara-devé däsé / Påñëigarbha-devé däsé / Jévanauñadhi-devé däsé / Pavani-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Kälapaté-devé däsé / Paçupati-devé däsé / Padyävali-devé däsé / Gitä-devé däsé / Madhumaté-devé däsé / Kåñëapriyä-devé däsé, Çantim / Meru-devé däsé / Uttama-devé däsé / Haravrata-devé däsé / Vedavaté-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">All glories unto you! You are the emissary of Lord Çré Kåñëa on this planet, and therefore we offer you our respectful obeisances again and again. You are <i>patita-pävana,</i> the friend of the most fallen, the manifested representation of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu. As such, you are empowered to deliver unlimited fallen souls. Nityänanda Prabhu delivered Jagäi and Mädhäi, but a servant of Nityänanda Prabhu, by His Grace, can deliver thousands of Jagäi's and Mädhäi's." <span class="s3">(<i>Madhya</i> 16.65 purport) </span>You are delivering not thousands but millions of Jagäi's and Mädhäi's and therefore we offer you our most fallen obeisances again and again. Even after you deliver such fallen souls, you travel all over the world just to help them become enlivened in Kåñëa consciousness, begging that they may get some attachment to the lotus feet of the Lord. When you are tired or not feeling well, you push on selflessly. Please help us to be of some assistance to you. Please help us to fulfill your desires. Please help us to become pure devotees. <i>Gurudeva kåpä-bindu diyä, lara' ei däse, tånäpekhä ati héna:</i> Gurudeva, give us just one drop of mercy. Your mercy is all that we are made of.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we understand your mercy? Solely by your own words in your books: "Only out of His immense compassion does the Personality of Godhead reveal himself as the spiritual master...he is the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. It is worthwhile to take shelter of such a steady devotee, who is called the <i>äçåaya-vigraha</i> or the manifestation of the form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter...the bona fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this test he is known to be a direct manifestation of Çré Nityänanda Prabhu. One should always think of the spiritual master in terms of his intimate relationship with Mukunda (Çré Kåñëa)...." <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi.</i> 1.46 purport)</span> In this way let us always try to remember you and serve without deviation.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON St. Louis</p>
<p class="p49">Makamläla däsa adhikäré / Präëa däsa / Präëadä däsa / Jagaddhatta däsa / Balajé däsa / Rädhä-Dämodara däsa / Gotpa däsa / Vivasvän däsa / Caturätmä däsa / Bhéma däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Stockholm</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Stockholm</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We appeared in the darkest of ages—Kali-yuga—and were overcome by the dualities of desire and hate. Actually this material world is nothing but a part of Mahä-Viñëu's dream, but to us, who were born in delusion, it seemed like a hellish nightmare. The demons proclaimed this world to be the only reality and therefore there was no hope of finding a way out of this hell. Then you came, O mercy incarnation of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çikñä-guruke ta 'jäni kåñëera svarüpa<br>
antaryämé, bhakta-çreñöha,——ei dui rüpa</i></p>
<p class="p7">"One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord." <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi.</i> 1.47)</span> You were holding the brilliant <i>Bhägavata Puräëa</i> in your hand and thereby proving that in this age men shall indeed get light from this <i>Puräëa.</i> All of a sudden we were filled with hope and joy. Now life became meaningful and we got a mission to execute. No words can describe the tremendous feeling of relief we felt when you took away our heavy burdens and when we try to thank you, you simply say that you have no mercy of your own, buy that you are simply carrying the mercy of Kåñëa, just like a postman delivers letters. From the authoritative scriptures, however, we learn that spiritual life is indeed based on free will. Therefore, you must have volunteered to come to this material world to deliver all the fallen souls by distributing the message of Lord Caitanya. Doesn't this give evidence of the greatest mercy? Actually, your mercy is so great that you are giving us what we could never dream of desiring. Lord Çré Kåñëa as Supersoul is fulfilling all the desires of the living entities by awarding them different bodies. We have taken birth in <i>mleccha</i> families and therefore our desires were certainly very low and nasty. In spite of this, however, you have given us the highest gift, love of Kåñëa. We therefore consider it impossible for us to repay our debt to you; nor can you be repayed by all the riches of the world. Therefore, we are yours, Çréla Prabhupäda, and we pray that we will be engaged one hundred percent in fulfilling your desires.</p>
<p class="p7">Now you are turning us into devotees and thus we are getting a share of Lord Kåñëa opulences. Consequently we are less and less experiencing the material miseries. Therefore we must pray every day to be able to remember how we suffered in the material world, and how greatly relieved we felt when you picked us up from this ocean of birth and death, so that we can remain your menial servants and thereby perfect our lives.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants in the Stockholm temple</i></p>
<p class="p49">Harinämänanda däsa adhikäré / Vegavän däsa adhikäré / Ajita däsa adhikäré / Smita Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Ariñöahe däsa brahmacäré / Vajkhyanätha däsa brahmacäré / Paraga däsa brahmacäré / Turéya däsa brahmacäré / Rädhänätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta John / Dvärakeça däsa / Çilpakariëé-devé däsé / Padmava-devé däsé / Kåñëa Premé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Pazvi / Murlédhara däsa / Gopäli-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Sydney</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sydney</b></p>
<p class="p7">"Oh! 'Çri Gurudeva-Çréla Prabhupäda"</p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are peaceful, tolerant and forebearing.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are magnanimous, equipoised and always sharing.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are kind, honest, a real well-wisher and friend,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>pure and gentle, it was you! Kåñëa did send.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>You and Lord Kåñëa are united.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Simply Kåñëa words are all you have cited.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kåñëa words and yours are one</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kåñëa has sent you to do what you have done.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>By your divine mercy from Lord Nityänanda</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>this age of Kali won't drag me under.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Everyone is suffering the material pain</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>because they don't take from you the greatest gain.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your divine and loving grace,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>mine is an extremely critical case.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>A bewildered lost and fallen soul</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>rotting in a deep dark hole.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Limitless, godly empowered one,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you don't care for what I've done.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is shining,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>by your mercy I'm out of </i>mäyä's<i> twining.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çré Jagad-gurudeva, Your Divine Grace,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>even though I continue in disgrace,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you are so transcendentally kind,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>carefully giving sight to the blind.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Universal perfect master—Çré Gurudeva</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I am destined for the grave.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>No hope other than you, Gaura Çakti.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are freely giving away </i>bhakti.</p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>You are sane, fully controlled, mercy personified,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>descended to benedict the materially dissatisfied.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You save the poor living entities drowning in illusion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>who are suffering death in their enjoying delusion.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bliss, knowledge and absolute truth in your words.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Emanating from your lips the sweetest things I have ever heard.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Defeating all the atheists and city </i>yogés</p>
<p class="p7"><i>by your grace, they are revealed as </i>bhogés</p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bestower of real love, determined golden Lord,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>save us from Durgä's chopping sword.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>With the nectar we are always anxious for,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you have opened wide the door.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Transcendental qualities manifest in you, magnanimous God,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have saved us from worshipping "god."</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Such a debt I can never repay,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>therefore I'm your servant for eternity.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Vyäsadeva you are the most royal,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>teaching all God's servants to be loyal.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Knowledge, bliss and eternity for all,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you have opened up the </i>bhakti<i> store.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Spiritual angel from Lord Keçava</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>showing all who they really are.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Killing the demoniac mentality of most,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you, alone, are the </i>mahä<i> host.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Spiritual master of all universal space,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you are perfect, expert judge of time and place.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Those who find fault in you, don't return to tell</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>of all the pain and suffering there is in hell.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Chanting the holy name, you are always found</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>ecstasy in your heart rolling around,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Cloud of mercy, in your divine word,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>auspiciousness from your lips is all that is heard.</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Leader of devotees and supreme worshipable object,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you have inaugurated Lord Caitanya's universal sect.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Defeating Mäyävädé sharks in the material pool</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>with "It's all one</i>—<i>then rascal, eat stool."</i></p>
<p class="p7">O ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Inexhaustible, equal with the unlimited Infallible One,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>the illusory energy has stolen my tongue.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>I'm incapable of glorifying you with enough care,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>therefore please accept the following prayer:</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala bhakati-sadma,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>bando mui dävanhäna mate</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>yähära prasäde bhäi, e bhava toriyä yäi,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>kåñëa-präpate hoy yähä hoite</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>guru-mukha-padma-väkya, cittete koriyä aikya</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>är nä koriho mane äçä</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>çré-guruçaraëe rati, ei sei uttama-gati,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>ye prasäde püre sarva äçä</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>cakhudhäna dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>dibya-jïän håde prokäçito</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>prema-bhakti yähä hoite, avidyä vinäsa yäte,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>vede gäy yähära carito</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>çré-guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>lokanäth lokera jévana</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>hähä prabhu koro dayä, deho more pada-chäyä,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>ebe yaça ghuñuk tribhuvana</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>gurudeva gurudeva gurudeva</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>gurudeva jaya jaya gurudeva</i></p>
<p class="p49">Jayadharma däsa adhikäré / Makula däsa adhikäré / Sanätana däsa adhikäré / Bhütanätha däsa brahmacäré / Svayambhür däsa brahmacäré / Ranuga Süta däsa brahmacäré / Jayaçéla däsa / Mandapa däsa / Girimakha däsa / Yugatéta däsa / Girirüpadhäré däsa / Bhakta Shastri / Bhakta Doug / Bhakta Greg / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Chris / Deva deva Priyä-devé däsé / Käma-rüpa-devé däsé / Aparäjita-devé däsé / Nitigati-devé däsé / Atétaguëa-devé däsé / Bhaktin Edith / Bhaktin Shany / Bhaktin Sunitha / Bhaktin Damon / Bhaktin Jane</p>
<p class="p11">Tehran</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tehran</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya prasädad bhagavat-prasädo<br>
yasyaprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi</i></p>
<p class="p7">This famous verse by Viçvanätha Cakravarté gives the sum and substance of Kåñëa conscious philosophy. Every devotee of the Lord admits his miserable position, fill of ignorance, and seeks the mercy of the Lord. In this verse Viçvanätha states that to get the mercy of the Lord, one must have the mercy of the <i>guru,</i> without whose mercy, one's spiritual life cannot be successful.</p>
<p class="p7">As Arjuna states in the <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> the minute living entity, covered over by ignorance, is bewildered about his duty. Therefore it is stated: the minute living entity, covered over by ignorance, is bewildered about his duty. Therefore it is stated:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tahtä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">So it is essential to surrender to and get information from the <i>guru</i> regarding how to approach the supreme. The <i>guru</i> is called <i>çikña-guru</i> or one who instructs how to serve the divine couple—Rädhä-Govinda.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> it states that those with resolute determination have their intelligence focused in one direction. According to Viçvanätha Cakravarté, this means that to execute the order of the spiritual master is the very life and soul of the disciple.</p>
<p class="p7">The disciple is no longer attached to family members, wife, children, etc., nor to money or position for his personal satisfaction, but instead uses all these for the service to his <i>guru.</i></p>
<p class="p7">We devotees in Tehran pledge our lives to you Çréla Prabhupäda. We are doing everything we can to preach your message here and distribute your books. We desire only to preach your service everywhere and we humbly beg that you keep us fixed in your service forever, even if we remain in this material world.</p>
<p class="p49">Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäré / Dayänanda däsa adhikäré / Nava Yauvana däsa adhikäré / Bhütätma däsa brahmacäré / Yogeçcandra däsa brahmacäré / Lohitäkña däsa adhikäré / Vidhi Bhakti däsa / Rämänanda Räya däsa / Vidhi Bhakti-devé däsé / Maïjaré-devé däsé / Nandaräëé-devé däsé / Rasajïä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Toronto</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p7">Before coming under the shelter of your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, we were all gliding down to hell.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>utkrämantaà sthitaà väpi<br>
bhuïjänaà vä guëänvitam<br>
vimüòhä nänupaçyanti<br>
paçyanti jïäna-cakñuñaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>15.10</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this." <i>Vimüòhäù</i> in this verse means foolish person. We were all first-class fools, engaged in sense gratification before taking shelter of your devotional service. It is stated in the <i>Båhad Aravyaka Upaniñad:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>yo vä etad akñaraà gargy<br>
aviditväsmäl lokät paiti sa kåpaëaë<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Båhad-äraëyaka Up. 3.8.10</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"He is a miserly man who does not solve the problems of life as a human and who thus quits this world like the cats and dogs, without understanding the science of self-realization."</p>
<p class="p7">So we were paving our way to animal births in our next lives if it hadn't been for your engaging us in the loving service of the Lord. Kåñëa states in the Fifteenth Chapter of the <i>Gétä</i> that for one who engages in His service, He delivers him from the ocean of birth and death. We were being trained in the Western world to be first-class sense gratifiers and now you are training us to be first-class servants of Kåñëa. It is said that one cannot buy a ticket to Våndävana but by serving your lotus feet we are becoming eligible in this life for going home, back to Godhead. We cannot possibly repay you for your mercy, but we can only beg you to allow us to serve you eternally. Rüpa Gosvämé states that Lord Caitanya is the most merciful of all of Kåñëa's incarnations. You are the most merciful of Lord Caitanya's representatives, for you are delivering us most fallen souls. All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories to your devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON New Remuëä</p>
<p class="p49">Viçvakarmä däsa brahmacäré / Ayodhyäpati däsa adhikäré / Kåpäsindhu däsa adhikäré / Tärakanätha däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëakathä däsa adhikäré / Kaàsahanta däsa adhikäré / Girijadhava däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktimärga däsa brahmacäré / Vicaru däsa brahmacäré / Nakaòi däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Gaìgä däsa brahmacäré / Vallabha Caitanya däsa / Ugreça däsa brahmacäré / Çukaväk däsa adhikäré / Trilokanätha däsa adhikäré / Sauri däsa adhikäré / Çubhaviläsa däsa adhikäré / Divyänanda däsa adhikäré / Drupada däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Richard / Bhakta Marcel / Bhakta Les / Bhakta Henry / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Gord / Bhakta Peter / Bhakta Lloyd / Bhakta Dave / Bhakta Earl / Bhadra-priyä-devé däsé / Praharaëa-devé däsé / Mäliné-devé däsé / Pratimä-devé däsé / Tribhuvaneçvaré-devé däsé / Çrékaré-devé däsé / Paurëamäsé-devé däsé / Kñéracora-devé däsé / Rudräëé-devé däsé / Nikhileçvaré-devé däsé / Atigarvitä-devé däsé / Lokadåñöé-devé däsé / Anala-devé däsé / Léläsuka-devé däsé / Manohara-devé däsé / Subhash-devé däsé / Açalata-devé däsé / Kämanagaré-devé däsé / Bhaktin Lynn / Bhaktin Karen / Jaya Çré Kåñëa / Çré Gändhäré / Lakñmanä / Nityänanda / Sudämä / Kåñëa-däsé / Sanätana / Rüpa / Indreça / Minakñi / Våndäna däsa Öhäkura / Chantielle / Sherr</p>
<p class="p11">Trinidad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Trinidad</b></p>
<p class="p7">The shining effulgence which emanates from you, Çréla Prabhupäda, and from your books is the flow of mercy which only you manifest. Some persons in this world gratify their senses unto the end of life, and others work hard to please their family, loved ones, friends, society, or humanity. But whether one engages on satisfying his own senses or whether he works to gratify others, all his material advancement must terminate with the single stroke of death. But Çréla Prabhupäda, your mercy is beyond the domain of death, because it is the same eternal, unending mercy which Kåñëa has for the fallen soul caught within the shackles of illusion. Prabhupäda, you unlock the chains of death, and lead us to the eternal world where Kåñëa reigns supreme.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are qualified to deliver all living entities. There is no amount of gold worth even one moment's association with you.</p>
<p class="p7">We can never know you. We have been in darkness so long we are almost blind. And you are dazzling like the sun. You bring life to us.</p>
<p class="p49">Tarakçya däsa adhikäré and all the assembled devotees</p>
<p class="p11">Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p7">In the age of Kali, men become like dogs, fighting and snarling over the bones of material sense objects. Although human life is meant for elevation of the self away from selfishness and greed, towards greed's opposite, pure live, in this age even the process of elevation—religion—becomes an acceleration for the degradation of human consciousness. As a result, human life has become a hopeless, confused nightmare, as humans frantically try to put out the fire of anxiety by dousing the flames with the gasoline of sense gratification. Escalating this desperate condition are the fools posing as educators, politicians and philosophers, who lead the path on the road to hell, waving the flags of atheism, impersonalism, and voidism as their standards. This is actually the condition of the world today. The glitter of the steel and glass skyscrapers blinds the world to the misery of those living within. All discrimination, truth, and reality are rapidly disappearing from the world, as the leaders extort the people to forget God, like a myth, and worship the television and rocketship as ultimate reality.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> Kåñëa promises that he will intervene when all truth and hope are in danger of being overwhelmed by illusion and despair. Kåñëa's promise to protect His devotees has been proven again and again in pastimes described in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam.</i> This promise is now being fulfilled by Kåñëa, and the personification of this promise is Çréla Prabhupäda, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Çréla Prabhupäda is obviously the direct representative of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Lord Caitanya was so kind that he killed the demons by flooding the world in the ocean of nectar and drowning them in <i>kåñëa-prema.</i> Lord Caitanya made the process of religion all-attractive, even to the materialists whose only thoughts are sense gratification. Lord Caitanya distributed His mercy so profusely that even tigers and deer would dance together in ecstasy. Çréla Prabhupäda is also flooding the whole world with this mercy so that dogs and cats like ourselves are now dancing together, swooning in ecstasy and forgetting our differences. You are uniting us in the purpose of satisfying Kåñëa and in this way removing all chaos from our lives.</p>
<p class="p7">In this age, when faith in God has declined to practically nil, Çréla Prabhupäda is singlehandedly pushing back this tide of atheism. Çréla Prabhupäda is fighting this battle of atheism on all fronts with logic, philosophy, anecdotes and stories that surpass any of the feeble arguments of the atheists. His kindness, magnanimity, warmth and affection can conquer even the most dubious heart. His scholarship, perseverance and brilliance can conquer even the most dubious heart. His scholarship, perseverance and brilliance are beating back the tides of impersonalism and voidism. Çréla Prabhupäda, we are just dimly able to perceive your greatness, but even that small understanding is filling us with the greatest awe and respect, and we are simply praying that we can, by Kåñëa's grace, properly appreciate your most elevated position and become bona fide disciples. A bona fide disciple is one who is always obeying his every instruction, and who is fully accepting his spiritual master's desire as his life and soul. Our only desire is that Kåñëa will give us the intelligence to become your bona fide disciples so that we can somehow please you, as this is the only desire we now have. We at Vancouver temple are looking forward to another year to dedicate ourselves in your service and hope to expand the Kåñëa consciousness movement in a way that will please Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Vancouver</p>
<p class="p49">Adhiyajïa däsa brahmacäré / Sthänur däsa brahmacäré / Maheça däsa brahmacäré / Vijitätmä däsa brahmacäré / Patraka däsa brahmacäré / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Dadihiharta däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Kalki Ken / Bhakta John / Änandamaya däsa brahmacäré / Varaìga däsa brahmacäré / Dyutidhara däsa brahmacäré / Yoginätha däsa brahmacäré / Prabhu däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Muräri Mark / Bhakta Mädhava Mark / Bhakta Wayne / Bhakta Keçava Ken / Bhaktin Lorraine / Bhaktin Sandy / Bahüdaka däsa, Nirupama-devé däsé, Kunjabihari däsa, Çyäma-Garui-devé däsé / Dharmarüpa däsa, Subhavrata-devé däsé, Lalitä-devé däsé / Mahédhara däsa, Pracetena-devé däsé, Narrotama däsa / Prasasya däsa, Svarüpa-devé däsé, Rasädiviläsi-devé däsé / Prabhupäda däsa, Raitrüpa-devé däsé, Janaké-devé däsé / Damaghoña däsa, Käntimaté-devé däsé, Candrakänti-devé däsé, Çrédämä Dämodara däsa / Rukmiëéça däsa, Vedagarbha-devé däsé, Sarmiñöa-devé däsé / Bhakta Nichio, Bhaktin Helena / Bhaktin Susan, Rohiëé-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çré Våndävana Dhäma</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate-bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe <br>
nirviçeña-çunyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Every morning we are rising very early to take bath, apply <i>tilaka</i> to the body and attend <i>maìgala-ärati.</i> And we sing:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The material world is compared to a revolving wheel of birth and death, <i>saàsära,</i> and we fallen souls of this world of birth and death are stated to be seated on a machine made of material energy, <i>yanträrüòhäni mäyayä</i> (Bg. <i>18.61</i>), traveling from one body to another, one species to another, enjoying or suffering according to our <i>karma:</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>dehino 'smin yathä dehe<br>
kaumäraà yauvanaà jarä<br>
tathä denäntara-präptir<br>
dhéras tatra na muhyati</i></p>
<p class="p7">"As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 2.13]</span> The word <i>dehinaù</i> refers to those who are embodied. These bodies are destined to suffer disease, old age and death, and then after death we must again me stuffed in another womb to be bitten by tiny worms, living in our own stool and urine, and doubled over for want of more space. In these ways we are suffering miserably. Therefore the material world is likened to a blazing forest fire of birth and death, <i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka. </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span></p>
<p class="p7">But in Çré Våndävana Dhäma, the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa displayed His wonderful pastimes with the cowherd men and women, full of eternity, knowledge and unlimited bliss, just to attract the conditioned souls captivated by the illusory enjoyment of the material world. And from that transcendental land of Våndävana one of the Lord's most confidential servitor has come directly empowered by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, because without the mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu no one can spread Kåñëa consciousness all over the world. He began to preach <i>sanätana-dharma,</i> the eternal occupation of the soul, loving service to Kåñëa, the all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now we can see the practical result. From all over the world—America, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the rest of South America, London, Paris, Iran, Spain, India, Africa, Australia, Japan and China—people are surrendering their lives and becoming devotees of Kåñëa. What other person has started with forty rupees and in ten years established an international society for God consciousness with centers in every major city in the world?</p>
<p class="p7">Now by the grace of that confidential servitor we have been given the opportunity to visit and live in the wonderful land of Çré Goloka-Våndävana, where the very dust is worshipped by great sages, due to its having been touched by the beautiful lotus feet of Kåñëa. And this pure devotee of Kåñëa has also established a beautiful temple of Kåñëa and His brother Balaräma on this land, in the very place where Their lotus feet pressed into the ground as They played with Their cows and cowherd boyfriends in the forest of Raman Reti.</p>
<p class="p7">That person is none other than Your Divine Grace Oà Viñëu-Päda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcära Añöottara Çata Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, founder-<i>äcärya</i> of the great International Society for Krishna Consciousness. By your grace one can cross over the miseries of the material world and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa. Therefore, we at the Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira, Raman Reti, Våndävana, India, humbly offer our respectful obeisances to you, falling on the ground at your lotus feet. The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way that we can attain pure devotional service, You are the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor and the lord and master of the devotees. Give us the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Praying this meets you in good health,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Akñayänanda Svämé / Påthu-putra Svämé / Stokakåñëa däsa adhikäré / Mahäjana däsa adhikäré / Haihaya däsa adhikäré / Dhanaïjaya däsa adhikäré / Yogänanda däsa adhikäré / Nitäi däsa adhikäré / Parameçvara däsa adhikäré / Karëämåta däsa adhikäré / Sarvabhävana däsa adhikäré / Minaketana Räma däsa brahmacäré / Guëärnava däsa brahmacäré / Saccidänanda däsa brahmacäré / Gauri däsa Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Govinda Bhakta däsa brahmacäré / Prapujaka däsa brahmacäré / Preraka däsa brahmacäré / Hundara däsa brahmacäré / Mahäkña däsa brahmacäré / Rukma däsa brahmacäré / Candravalipati däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavatäçraya däsa brahmacäré / Krodahä däsa brahmacäré / Dadhibhakña däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Nimäi Nitäi däsa brahmacäré / Dénädhyätmä däsa brahmacäré / Jyotiñmava däsa brahmacäré / Vrajendra Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Vipramukhya däsa brahmacäré / Nitäicand däsa brahmacäré / Apramatha / Hådaya Govinda däsa / Man-mohan / Vanamälé däsa / Vibhüti / Phoolcand Tiwari / Sevakrama / Santoña däsa brahmacäré / Rüpaviläsa däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Eric / Bhakta Burt / Haimavaté-devé däsé / Kiñoré-devé däsé / Pratimä-devé däsé / Mohini-çakti-devé däsé / Goloka-väsiné-devé däsé / Viçva-devé däsé / Citralekhä-devé däsé / Mahävegavarté-devé däsé / Känta-devé däsé / Ñaraëägata-devé däsé / Viçoka-devé däsé / Ramburu-devé däsé / Kåñëä-devé däsé / Haripüjä-devé däsé / Ugrasena-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Winnipeg</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Winnipeg</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are offering our homage unto the lotus feet of our most illustrious spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, on this most auspicious time of his appearance. We are attempting this humble effort to thank him in some small way for the incomparable service he is doing all mankind.</p>
<p class="p7">Conditional life within the material world is a miserable state of existence wherein we are tormented my endless desires and bound by unbridled senses. In this way the living entity travels about the universe from heaven to hell in search of pleasure and happiness. Blinded by the bodily concept of life we suffer uncounted torments and thus we are lost in illusion. By <i>mäyä's</i> influence we remain in this endless cycle of birth and death until somehow or other we come on contact with a pure devotee of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja</i></p>
<p class="p7">This process of contacting the spiritual master is further discussed by Kåñëa in <i>Bhagavad-gétä,</i> where the Lord says:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena<br>
pariprañnena sevayä</i></p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa advises that one should approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession, inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. Such a spiritual master can dispel all nescience because he has seen the truth, Lord Çré Kåñëa. For one who has submissively rendered service to the spiritual master with great faith and determination and has thus been delivered from the various crocodiles of impersonalism and voidism, he realizes the most confidential of all knowledge, surrender unto the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">This knowledge, the most valuable of all treasures, is not obtained by any speculative efforts, nor penances and austerities. Nor can it be purchased by quantities of gold. It is available only by the causeless mercy of the pure devotee. Having thus understood our previous ignorance of our constitutional position as eternal servants of Kåñëa (<i>jévera 'svarüpa' haya</i>——<i>kåñëera 'nitya-däsa' </i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya</i> 20.108]</span>) spiritual part and parcels of the supreme whole (<i>mamaiväàço jéva-loke jéva-bhütaù sanätanaù</i>), one realizes the real standard of happiness (<i>brahmaëo hi pratiñöhäham amåtas-yävyayasya ca</i>) and thus engages in the devotional service of the Lord. This is just like a dead man being revived again. Therefore the disciple becomes greatly indebted to the spiritual master, realizing his body, mind, words and soul to be completely the property of his beloved Gurudeva (<i>lokanätha lokera jévana</i>). For without his mercy we were struggling with death, identifying with dead matter.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore we have incurred a great debt and no amount of gratitude can ever liquidate it. The disciple must dedicate his every moment for the pleasure of the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in the revealed scriptures that the pure devotee is very much anxious to spread the message of Lord Caitanya—the chanting of His holy name to every town and village. This is actually the mission of our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda. He is not forced to appear in the material world by the laws of material nature, but he has only descended from the spiritual world to save the fallen conditioned souls. In this great endeavor, the disciple must help his spiritual master to spread the distribution of <i>Bhägavatam</i> literature in every town around the world and to help fulfill the prediction of Lord Caitanya that the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra</i> will go everywhere. This is then our prime goal, to unilaterally and unselfishly agree to help our spiritual master, His Divine Grace, in distributing his mercy and inundating this age of Kali with his pure sound vibration. Thus every word and instruction of Çréla Prabhupäda must be taken as our life and soul and we must endeavor with all determination to help fulfill his every desire.</p>
<p class="p7">Let us further offer our thanks and humble prayers for strength to His Divine Grace and thank him a thousand times over for his kindness in engaging us in his service.</p>
<p class="p49">Çivaräma däsa / Çukra däsa / Rabindra däsa / Dharmapräëa däsa / Nätha däsa / Bhüdeva däsa / Bhakta John / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Bruce / Miçräëé-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Somya-devé däsé / Mäyävaté-devé däsé / Bhaktin Nina</p>
<p class="p11">Washington D.C.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Washington D.C.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïanäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çri-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çikñä-guruke ta' jäni kåñëera svarüpa<br>
antaryämé, bhakta-çreñöha,</i>——<i>ei dui rüpa</i></p>
<p class="p7">"One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa manifests himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord."</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How can we approach you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you who are above this world.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How can we understand you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you who are so pure.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How, Gurudeva, can we serve you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>for we are servants with no hands,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How will we ever see your love for Kåñëa,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>for we are of the blind.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>How can we ever please you,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>for we are lame with troubled minds.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your heart is an ocean of compassion</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and you are flooding this whole world.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>O Gurudeva, we are but the mud which fouls a river stream,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Yet you are taking us with you, this is above our dreams.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have given us Våndävana, the transcendental land.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>You have given us the holy name of Kåñëa,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>when will we understand.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We pray that you will guide us,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and free us from this world</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Oh, Gurudeva, we are crying for your mercy</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>and pray for nothing more.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>We are begging for your mercy,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>give us Kåñëa and nothing more.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Many roads we have traveled,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>but the have ended just the same.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>But Gurudeva by your mercy,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>you have given us the holy name.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Now we render service, hoping to be pure,</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>knowing Kåñëa's name to be the only cure.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Now we pray you guide us, may we chant the holy name.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Help us, help us, Gurudeva, for we are of the lame.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Daivé hy eñä guëamayé<br>
mama mäyä duratyayä<br>
mäm eva ye prapadyante<br>
mäyäm etäà taranti te</i></p>
<p class="p16">"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome, but those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross over it." <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> 7.14</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have not only crossed the material nature but you are using it in spreading Lord Caitanya's movement beyond anyone's fathomable dreams. As a winter's snowfall covers the ground, so by your mercy you are laying a think blanket of <i>kåñëa-prema</i> throughout the world. There is no limit to your nature for it is of the divine.</p>
<p class="p7">Boundless and completely pure you are emanating the goal. So many people are wandering in this material world like dust in Väyu's wind. Only Kåñëa can understand your compassion, and you can understand His. Prabhupäda, you are saving this whole world. This immeasurable gift you have come to give.</p>
<p class="p49">Briñakäpi däsa adhikäré / Vipina-purandara däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa Gopäla däsa adhikäré / Lakñmévän däsa adhikäré / Vikeçvara däsa brahmacäré / Ambujäkña däsa brahmacäré / Vardanya däsa brahmacäré / Gabhéra däsa brahmacäré / Räma Sena däsa brahmacäré / Tamäla Kartika däsa brahmacäré / Aindra däsa brahmacäré / Bhavanätha däsa brahmacäré / Abhay Charan de däsa / Kåñëäñöamyänanda däsa / Bhakta Larry / Bhakta Juda / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta John / Sarvadé-devé däsé / Ñudhakaré-devé däsé / Vilasé-devé däsé / Lalitä sakhhé-devé däsé / Nandi-devé däsé / Megha-devé däsé / Nina-devé däsé / Guëyarüpiëé-devé däsé / Çailodgata-devé däsé / Bhaktin Ann / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Mary / Bhaktin Margaret / Bhaktin Christell / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Clair / Tamäla-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><i>gurudeva</i>!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåpä-bindu diyä, koro' ei däse, tåëäpekhä ati hina<br>
sakala-sahane, bolo diyä koro'-, nija-mäne spåhähéna</i></p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! By a drop of your mercy, make this servant of yours humbler than a blade of grass. Giving me strength to bear all trials and troubles, make me devoid of all desires for personal honor.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sakale sammän, korite çakati, deho' nätha! jathäjatha<br>
tabe to' gäibo, harinäma-sukhe, aparädha ha'be hata</i></p>
<p class="p7">O lord and master! Please give me the power to properly honor all living beings. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy and all my offenses cease.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kabe heno kåpä, lobhiyä e jana, kåtärtha hoibe, nätha!<br>
çakti-buddhi-hén, ämi ati din, koro' more ätma-sätha</i></p>
<p class="p7">O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence, I am very low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi, tomära karuëä-sära<br>
karuëä nä hoile, käìdiyä, präëa nä räkhibo ära</i></p>
<p class="p7">Upon examining my value, I find that I have none; your mercy is essential to me. Therefore, if you are not merciful I will constantly weep and I will not maintain my life any longer.</p>
<p class="p19"><b>Çré Vyäsa-püjä 1977</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p3"><b>The Most Blessed Event<br>
</b><span class="s1">September 7, 1977</span></p>
<p class="p4">The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master</p>
<p class="p5"><b>His Divine Grace<br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p4">His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda <br>
Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata <br>
Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p4">Founder-<i>Äcärya</i> of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</p>
<p class="p86">The Meaning of <span class="s17">Vyäsa-püjä</span></p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä</b></p>
<p class="p7">There is a secret to understanding Vedic knowledge:</p>
<p class="p47"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir<br>
yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù<br>
prakäçante mahätmanaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the tenets of the Vedic scriptures automatically revealed.” <span class="s3">[<i>ÇU</i> 6.23]</span></p>
<p class="p7">If we at all want to follow the Vedic path to knowledge, we must observe the spiritual master’s appearance day with proper veneration. Vyäsa-püjä is the special <i>püjä</i> (worship) named after Vyäsa, the supreme authority on the Vedic literature, and offered to the spiritual master on his birthday.</p>
<p class="p7">As the empowered literary incarnation of Godhead, Vyäsa compiled all the <i>Vedas, Puraëäs, Upaniäds, and Mahäbhärata </i>on the instructions of Narada, his spiritual master. Narada learned the Vedic wisdom from Brahma, who originally received it from the Supreme Lord Viñëu in his heart. The same transcendental knowledge comes in <i>paramparä,</i> the unbroken chain of disiplic succession, from Vyäsa through Madhva and others to Lord Çré Caitanya Mahaprabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most munificient incarnation of Lord Çré Kåñëa, transmitted the essence of Vedic knowledge by means of the Hare Kåñëa <i>maha-mantra</i>. As Lord Caitanya Himself explained to Prakaçananda Sarasvati:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru more mürkha dekhi' karila çäsana<br>
mürkha tumi, tomära nähika vedäntädhikära<br>
'kåñëa-mantra' japa sadä,—ei mantra-sära</i></p>
<p class="p7">“My spiritual master considered Me as a fool, and therefore he chastised Me. ‘You are a fool,’ he said. ‘You are not qualified to study Vedanta philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of Kåñëa. This is the essence of all <i>mantras</i> or Vedic hymns.’”<i> </i><span class="s3">[<i>Ädi </i>7.71]</span></p>
<p class="p7">During the past century, Lord Caitanya’s pure representatives Çréla Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Çréla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura planted the seeds of a movement to spread the <i>maha-mantra</i> all over the world. Those seeds have fructified in the form of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has, in the past decade, initiated thousands of disciples for more than thirty countries in the chanting of Hare Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is the most worthy recipient of Vyäsa-pujä because only he has given Vyäsadeva’s literatures to so many without changing the meaning one iota. In fact, four hundred fifty years ago, the great äcärya Çréla Vrndävana däsa Thäkura wrote that in the future, representatives of Vyäsadeva would elaborately describe the pastimes of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, a statement later confirmed by Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkur. By reading the publication of Çréla Prabhupäda’s <i>Çré Caitanya-caritämrta</i>, we can understand that he is such a representative. Çréla Prabhupäda’s books prompted one Indian scholar to write, “Upon seeing the work of Swami Bhaktivedanta, one is tempted to wonder whether he is not the same Vyäsa reborn to present his literatures in a universal language for modern man.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, as your disciples, we are offering our very inadequate glorifications of you in the pages of this Ninth Annual ISKCON Vyäsa-pujä book. We simply pray that you will find some pleasure in our meager efforts, for that is the actual meaning of Vyäsa-pujä.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, the foremost devotee and scholar of the previous age, is the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. He is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the bestower of devotional service upon the fallen souls. His is the deliverer of devotional service which is enriched with the conjugal love of Çré-Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. He is the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. Thus, he never tolerates any statement against the teaching of devotional service as enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>In 1936, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda delivered this poem as a Vyäsa-Püjä homage for His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté</b></p>
<p class="p12">Adore adore ye all<br>
The happy day,<br>
Blessed than heaven,<br>
Sweeter than May,<br>
When he appeared at Puri<br>
The holy place,<br>
My Lord and Master<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Oh! my Master<br>
The evangelic angel,<br>
Give us Thy light,<br>
Light up Thy candle.<br>
Struggle for existence<br>
A human race.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Misled we are<br>
All going astray.<br>
Save us Lord<br>
Our fervent pray.<br>
Wonder Thy ways<br>
To turn our face.<br>
Adore Thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Forgotten Krishna<br>
We fallen souls,<br>
Paying most heavy<br>
The illusion’s toll.<br>
Darkness around<br>
All untrace.<br>
The only hope<br>
His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Message of service<br>
Thou hast brought.<br>
A healthful life<br>
As Chaitanya wrought.<br>
Unknown to all<br>
It’s full of brace.<br>
That’s your gift<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Absolute is sentient<br>
Thou hast proved,<br>
Impersonal calamity<br>
Thou hast moved.<br>
This gives us a life<br>
Anew and fresh.<br>
Worship Thy feet<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">Had you not come<br>
Who had told<br>
The message of Krishna<br>
Forceful and bold.<br>
That’s your right.<br>
You have the mace.<br>
Save me a fallen<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p12">The line of service<br>
As drawn by you<br>
Is pleasing and healthy<br>
Like morning dew.<br>
The oldest of all<br>
But in new dress.<br>
Miracle done<br>
Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p9">The World Teacher of Kåñëa Consciousness</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The World Teacher of Kåñëa Consciousness</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>kali-kälera dharma-kåñëa-näma-saìkértana<br>
kåñëa-çakti vinä nahe tära pravartana <br>
</i><span class="s3"><i>(Caitanya-caritämrta, Antya 7.11-12)</i></span></p>
<p class="p6"><b>His Divine Grace <br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda<br>
Founder-Äcärya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness</b></p>
<p class="p7">FULFILLING THE ORDERS of his own spiritual master and of Lord Çri Caitanya Mahäprabhu, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is enlightening the world in the science of <i>bhägavata-dharma</i>-unalloyed devotional service to Lord Çri Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Thousands of years ago, Lord Çré Kåñëa descended in Bharata-varça-India to impart the essence of Vedic knowledge: that the highest duty of every living being is to abandon all other engagements and surrender unto Him. Later, nearly five hundred years ago, Kåñëa appeared in India again, as Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, to demonstrate, by His own example, how to surrender to Kåñëa and how to love Kåñëa. This mission of Lord Caitanya’s was firmyl established-on an unshakable foundation of Vedic evidence-by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämi Prabhupäda. Within recent history, this mission was preserved and enriched by Çréla Bhaktivinoda Thäkura, and Çréla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvämi Mahåäja Prabhupäda. Now, by the infallible desire of Lord Kåñëa and His representative <i>äcäryas</i> in the disciplic succession, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the Founder-<i>äcärya </i>of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, has carried this eternal mission beyond the borders of India and is establishing it around the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Those who have lost their vision because of the dense darkness of this age of Kali can receive light from His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">As Äcärya, Çréla Prabhupäda has shown his disciples—and the world—what it is to dedicate oneself fully to preaching the message of Kåñëa consciousness. Heedless of personal comfort, His Divine Grace endeavors unceasingly to bestow Kåñëa’s mercy upon the fallen souls of this age. In his compassion, he is immersed in the mood of Prahläda Mahäräja, who prayed to Lord Nåsiàha-deva:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraëyäs<br>
tvad-vérya-gäyana-mahämåta-magna-cittaù<br>
çoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyärtha-<br>
mäyä-sukhäya bharam udvahato vimüòhän<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.9.43</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.”</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu declared:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>pröhivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma <br>
sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya 4.126</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“IN AS MANY villages and towns as there are on the surface of the world, My name will be known.”</p>
<p class="p7">To fulfil Lord Caitanya’s prediction, Çréla Prabhupäda has established more than one hundred centers of the <i>saëkértana</i> movement—each with affiliated traveling parties—to spread Kåñëa’s glories throughout the world.</p>
<p class="p7">FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS in India, people have celebrated Kåñëa as the Supreme Godhead, the Lord of the universe. Now, by the mercy of Çréla Prabhupäda, hundreds and thousands of people celebrate the glories of Lord Jagannätha in cities all over the world. Çréla Prabhupäda is teaching the whole world how all living beings can live together as one in harmony and joy—by serving the Lord of the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is presenting a cultural movement for the respiritualization of all human society. Music, dance, theatre, cinema—all have value when glorifying Kåñëa only. Presented under Çréla Prabhupäda’s expert transcendental guidance, India’s imperishable heritage of genuine spiritual culture is being appreciated throughout the world, not just as exotic entertainment but as a profoundly meaningful way to understand and approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In a few months, Bombay will witness the opening of ISKCON’s Center for Vedic Knowledge and Culture, which will include a Vedic temple, a 450-seat theatre, a recording studio, a library, a prasädam restaurant, dioramas, and a comfortable 8-story International Guest House. This will be yet another of Çréla Prabhupäda’s great contributions to the cultural life of India, and of the world.</p>
<p class="p7">IN INDIA, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Thäkura staged transcendental theistic exhibitions, using dioramas to illustrate the ideas and events recorded in the Vedic literature. Following in the footsteps of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Thäkura, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda has commissioned his disciples to stage similar presentations in the West. Çréla Prahupäda’s First American Theistic Exhibition (F.A.T.E) uses not only traditional figures formed of straw and clay, but also sophisticated computer-controlled audiovisual effects.</p>
<p class="p7">TO DEMONSTRATE he practical value of “simple living and high thinking,” Çréla Prabhupäda has established twelve Kåñëa conscious farm communities in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and India. By protecting cows, growing crops and, in all activities, worshiping Kåñëa, Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples in these communities are illustrating the simple Vedic way to solve all economic problems and ultimately return home, back to Godhead, thus attaining the perfection of human life.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>kaumära äcaret präjïo<br>
dharmän bhägavatän iha<br>
durlabhaà mänuñaà janma<br>
tad apy adhruvam arthadam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 7.6.1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">RECOGNIZING that nowhere in the world are there schools where children may be trained in the high Vedic standards of purity, sense control, and Kåñëa consciousness, Çréla Prabhupäda has reintroduced the old Vedic system of education—the Gurukula system—by which children are not only materially educated but also spiritually trained so that they may attain the highest perfection of life. Aside from small ISKCON Gurukula schools throughout the world, Çréla Prabhupäda has now established the large, fully equipped Bhaktivedanta Gurukula in the holy city of Vréndävana for the children of ISKCON devotees and life members.</p>
<p class="p7">ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA is presenting the message of Kåñëa consciousness so convincingly and scientifically that even scientists have stepped forward to becomes his disciples. Some of these scientists have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute, an educational society of Ph.D.’s dedicated to presenting the Vedic scientific understanding to the general scientific community through disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Speakers from the Institute travel widely, and this fall the Institute is sponsoring in Vréndävana a scientific convention on the subject “Life Comes from Life.” Among the scientific monographs published by the Institute is <i>Demonstration by Information Theory that Life Cannot Arise from Matter </i>by Sadäpüta däsa Adhikäré (Richard Thompson, Ph.D.), one of Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Athäto Brahmä Jignäsa</i></p>
<p class="p7">BHAKTIVEDANTA INSTITUTE</p>
<p class="p7">HIS DIVINE GRACE Çréla Prabhupäda has established one hundred three temples of Lord Çré Kåñëa in thirty-six countries in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.</p>
<p class="p7">Each temple holds regularly scheduled worship of the Deity, sponsors <i>kértan, </i>distrubution of <i>prasäda, </i>and classes in <i>Bhagavad-gitä </i>and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>for the general public, and provides living facilities for devotees and guests. In short, the temples are like oases in the desert of mäyä. And, most important, each temple is a preaching centre from which Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples go out to chant the glories of Kåñëa and distribute Kåñëa consciousness literature, following in the footsteps of their spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7">IN EACH of ISKCON’s temples, Çréla Prabhupäda has established the Deity of the Lord, who is duly worshiped according to <i>päïcarätriké </i>regulations by initiated <i>brähmanas </i>among Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples. From 4 A.M. to 10 P.M., Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples are engaged in rendering different kinds of service to the Deity. Çréla Prabhupäda has given a summary study of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämi’s <i>Bhakti-rasämrta-sindhu </i>entitled <i>The Nectar of Devotion </i>to guide his disciples in the basic principles for worshiping the Deity.</p>
<p class="p7">IN ADDITION to etablishing temples in cities throuhgout the world, Çréla Prabhupäda has also inspired his disciples to travel from city to city, town to town, taking the Deity of the Lord with them, to preach the message of Kåñëa everywhere.</p>
<p class="p7">AMONG ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA’S most important contributions are the International Centers he has established in holy cities of India so that visitors from around the world may go there to learn about the spiritual culture of India’s Vedic heritage. In Våéndavana, where Lord Çré Kåñëa performed his youthful pastimes five thousand years ago, His Divine Grace has established the Kåñëa-Balaräma temple and International Guesthouse, already a place of pilgrimage for visitors both from India and from abroad. Recognizing that Çréla Prabhupäda is making Kåñëa and Våéndavana known all over the world, the Våéndavana city fathers have renamed the main road entering Våéndavana from Delhi “Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg” in his honor.</p>
<p class="p7">In Çrédhama Mäyäpur, the birthplace of Çré Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the already completed guesthouse, temple and residence buildings mark the initial stages of what is planned to be an entire Kåñëa conscious city. When completed, “The Vedic Planetarium and Temple of Understanding,” in the center of the city, will be the largest temple and cultural center in India.</p>
<p class="p7">UNDOUBTEDLY Çréla Prabhupäda’s greatest contribution to the spiritual welfare of humanity are his books—nearly seventy volumes of commentaries upon and translations and summary studies of India’s immortal Vedic scriptures. Çréla Prabhupäda’s books have now been translated into twenty-six different languages.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda’s books are unique because they present the message of the Vedic literature <i>as it is,</i><span class="s18"> </span>without personally motivated interpretatons. Thus, for the first time, the true glory of Vedic knowledge and culture is being recognized throughout the world.</p>
<p class="p7">More than fifty-five million copies of Çréla Prabhupäda’s books are now in print. The English edition of <i>Bhagavad-gitä As It Is, </i>now in its third printing, has already surpassed two and one-quarter million copies.</p>
<p class="p7">More than twenty-five hundred college professors and university and public libraries have placed standing orders for full sets of Çréla Prabhupäda’s books, twelve hundred of these orders from India alone. More than ninety percent of all the college an university libraries in the United States have ordered Çrila Prabhupäda’s books.</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual benefit that accrues to the reader from Çréla Prabhupäda’s books cannot even be estimated. But the appreciation that has poured in form the scholarly world can be at least partially understood from the following sample of reviews.</p>
<p class="p7">“Scholarship and religious devotion are joined in this work on the life of Caitanya....The present work is an monumental, seventeen volume translation of and commentary on Çri Caitanya-caritämrta....</p>
<p class="p7">While many of the comments are short, some are fairly long (three to seven pages) and could stand alone as essays. The description of the abode of Kåñëa, Vaikuëöha, is a beautifully written essay....The English syle is excellent....The set will be a valuable addition to upper division undergraduate and graduate libraries.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>___April 1977 Choice Magazine <br>
(World’s Leading Academic Librarians Journal)</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I have now read considerable parts [of <i>Bhagavad-gitä As It Is</i>]. As a human being I cannot but applaud the fact that your movement is bringing faith and joy back into the lives of many unhappy young people who have not been able to find those virtues in the religion and culture in which they were raised, and I wish you success in the good work you are doing.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Yours sincerely,<br>
A.L. Basham<br>
Professor and Head of the Department of Asian Civilizations<br>
The Australian National University</i></p>
<p class="p7">“We are well aware of the scholarly reputation of the works on Vedic and Bhaktic literature published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, particularly the translation and commentaries, and feel that they meet, without doubt, the requirements of our Academy library, which have to do, above all, with authenticity. Our students are all deeply involved in comparative philosophical and religious studies, and have need of works which are not only of the highest scholarly standards, but also represent the traditions themselves, rather than only scholarly opinion about traditions. From this point of view, we...find the Bhaktivedanta publications of great value.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Peter Lamborn Wilson, Librarian<br>
Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The appearance of an English translaion of Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé’s <i>Çré Caitanya-caritämrta </i>by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is a cause for celebration among both scholars in Indian studies and lay people seeking to enrich their knowledge of Indian spirtuality...it will fill a most serious lacuna in our libraries and in our courses of the religious traditions of India.</p>
<p class="p7">“For the first time we possess a readily accessible edition of this great religious classic that will provide opportunity for scholars in Indian literature to compare the original text with a modern English translation and become acquainted with the deeper spiritual meanings of this work through the learned commentary of Çré Bhaktivedanta.</p>
<p class="p7">“Anyone who bothers to give a close reading to the commentary will sense that here, as in his other works, Çré Bhaktivedanta has combined a healthy mixture of the fervent devotion and aesthetic sensitivity of a devotee and the intelluctual rigou of a textual scholar. At no point does he allow the intended meaning of the text to be eclipsed by the promotion of a particular doctrinal persuasion.</p>
<p class="p7">“This exquisitely wrought volume will be a welcome edition to the library of all persons who are committed to the study of Indian spirituality and religious literature, whether their interests are sparked by the motivations of the scholar, the devotee or the general reader.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Dr. J. Bruce Long<br>
Professor of Asian Studies<br>
Cornell University</i></p>
<p class="p7">“It has been a great pleasure to read over <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> which is very elaborate, very precise, and very succint. <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> by Swami Prabhupäda is an excellent presentation to the non-Sanskritic English-knowing population of the entire world. Problems dealing with Sanskritic works are manyfold. First of all, the linguistic peculiarities of Sanskrit make the students feel frustrated. Secondly comes the ethnic or cultural background which is solely responsible for the selection of exact semantic content. Thirdly, the context in which the given <i>çloka </i>is to be comprehended. Swami Prabhupädaji has solved all these problems simultaneously in this treatise by providing the transliteration, the world-translation, the free-translation, and the purport of every stanza. This book is extremely useful for those who are interested in History, Philosophy, Politics, Linuistics, Religion, Sociology, etc. of ancient India. I highly recommend this book for all the public libraries. Also this can be used as an undergraduate text for certain courses on Philosophy and or Religion of India. I wish Swami Prabhupädaji will bring forth treatises like this for the entire <i>Bhägavatam</i> as well as other eminent Sanskrit works. Undoubtedly, this work of Swamijé’s is a great contribution to the troubled human society of today’s world.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Dr. Sooda L. Bhatt<br>
Assistant Professor<br>
Boston University<br>
Boston, Mass.</i></p>
<p class="p7">“Of all the commentaries on <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>that have appeared until now in the Western countries, this present edition by Çré A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the best. In order to appreciate his success in presenting to the West the authorized edition of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>it is necessary to understand the significance or importance of Lord Kåñëa, the original author. In the Vedic literature of India, Viçnu is considered to be the Supreme Being by whose power there is order and stability in nature and who is worshipped with a spirit of love and devotion, in other words, <i>bhakti,</i> and it is understood that from time to time He incarnates, either totally or partially, with the aim of helping humanity. Lord Kåñëa is the original and complete form of Viçnu. I am very excited to see this publication in Spanish of <i>Bhagavad-gitä As It Is </i>by Çré A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Çréla Prabhupäda was brought up from his very birth in the strict practice of <i>bhakti-yoga </i>and he descends from a line of <i>gurus</i> which goes back to the original speaking of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>by Çré Kåñëa. Here Çréla Prabhupäda’s knowledge of Sanskrit is surprising and without parallel. His penetration into the meaning of the text only corresponds to a fully illuminated or fully realized soul who has in fact understood perfectly the meaning of <i>Bhagavad-gétä.</i> I personally intend to use it, this book, in the courses that I direct or teach on the language, culture and philosophy of India or those which I am teaching by invitation of the Mexican Government. This authorized edition of <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>will serve a double purpose in the countries of Spanish language: 1. It will help to stop the terrible cheating of <i>gurus </i>and <i>yogés </i>who are false and unauthorized and 2. it will be an opportunity for the people who speak Spanish to understand the precise meaning or significance of Oriental culture.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Dr. Kailas Vajpeye<br>
Dept. Oriental Studies<br>
University College of Mexico<br>
Mexico City</i></p>
<p class="p7">“A strange feature of the modern world is that in spite of vast advance in science and technology and the establishment of a good number of institutions for human welfare, mankind has not found tru peace and happiness. Knowledge of material sciences and arts has increased tremendously in recent times and millions of volumes on each fill the libraries the world over. People and leaders in every country are generally well-versed in these arts and sciences, but despite their efforts human society everywhere continues to be in turmoil and distress.</p>
<p class="p7">“The reason is not far to seek. It is that they have not learnt the Science of God, the most fundamental of every other art and science, and cared to apply it to the facts of life. The need of the hour is therefore to do it, if mankind is not only to survive but flower into a glorious existence.</p>
<p class="p7">“To teach this Science of God to people everywhere and to aid them in their progress and development towards the real goal of life, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> is the most eminently fitted. In fact, this great and ancient work of Vyäsa will find this need of the modern times, for ‘it is a cultural presentation for the re-spiritualization of the entire human society.’</p>
<p class="p7">“His Divine Grace Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the Founder-Äcärya of the ISKCON movement has taken upon himself, in addition to his ceaseless travels and other multifarious activities in the service of the Lord, the stupendous task of translating this Sanskrit work into English in about sixty volumes, for the welfare and happiness of mankind, It is really astonishing how he is able to do this single-handed, and when one comes to think of this, apart from his other great literary works, one is tempted to wonder if he is not the same Vyäsa Muni reborn today to adapt his own old work into a universal language of this age for the spiritual uplift of the modern man.</p>
<p class="p7">“So far, eight volumes of this most beautiful literature on God have been brought out by the ISKCON, and the rest are under preparation. Needless to say that in keeping with the excellence of their other publications, the publishers have seen to it that the printing, get-up and pictures in these volumes are also of the highest quality, as though to serve as an ornament to the divine contents of the books.</p>
<p class="p7">“This is a rare opportunity to people and leaders of every country, race and community in the world to know and understand the glorious Science of God and work for its perfection. I would say that this encyclopedia of spiritual knowledge is more important and fundamental than the encyclopedia of any other branch of knowledge and should, therefore, find a rightful place not only in the public and private libraries, big and small, of educational and oter institutions as also of every household, but above all in the hearts and minds of every man and woman.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Çré R. Subrahmanyam, M.A.<br>
Deputy Director (Research)<br>
Lok Sabha Secrtariat (National Parliament)<br>
New Delhi</i></p>
<p class="p7">“It is a great honor for me to have the pleasure of examining the publications of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. I find all of them to be of exceptional value for use in educational institutions and libraries. Particularly the ancient classic <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>I recommend to all students and readers in Indian philosophy and culture. The original text is presented, along with roman transliteration, word-for-word synonyms, accurate translation and extremely lucid commentary and exposition. It is a remarkable work, and definitely a landmark in the matter of elevating humanity toward world unification and divine consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">“The learned author, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, is a world-renowned saint and savant in the field of Vedic philosophy and its practical application in the modern world, where he has opened over a hundred spiritual <i>äçramas</i> for the study and cultivation of Vedic knowledge. Factually, he is unequalled in his efforts to establish the Vedic way of life, <i>sanätana-dharma, </i>in all countries of the world.</p>
<p class="p7">“Certainly I am most grateful that this message of the <i>Bhägavata </i>is being spread for the benefit of the world by such a qualified personality as Swami Bhaktivedanta.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Dr. Kalia, President<br>
Indian Library Association</i></p>
<p class="p7">“I consider as one of my greatest spiritual thrills that I had through a physical <i>darçana</i> (look) of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda on the 30th of March 1976 for the first time.</p>
<p class="p7">“I had the rare privilege to see with my own eyes the very embodiment of Kåñëa consciousness, the be-all and end-all of all beings.</p>
<p class="p7">“Çré Swami Prabhupäda has established the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness, which is spread in the 108 cities around the world. All the members of ISKCON are pure <i>brähmaëas</i> and Vaiñëavas, initiated in the most austere <i>sädhana </i>recommended by the greatest Gosvämis of Våndävana, Çré Rüpa Gosvämi, the author of <i>Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu </i>and Çré Sanätana Gosvämi, the author of <i>Hari-bhakti-viläsa </i>and many other works.</p>
<p class="p7">“I had earlier known Çréla Prabhupäda through his enormous works on <i>kåñëä-bhakti</i>, the nucleus of all Indian Vedic spiritual literature. To name a few of them, the <i>Bhagavad-gétä As It Is, The Nectar of Devotion, Kåñëa </i>(3 vols.), <i>Teachings of Lord Caitanya, </i>the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Çré Caitanya-caritämrta </i>and the commentary on <i>Çré Éçopaniñad </i>will suffice.</p>
<p class="p7">“It is noteworthy to mention that the <i>Éçopaniñad Bhäçya </i>is the greatest contribution of Çréla Prabhupäda as it completely refutes the Mäyäväda arguments of Çaëkaräcärya. This book is a treasure to be possessed by every Western scholar.</p>
<p class="p7">“Words fail me to describe the height of scholarship and devotion manifested in the volumes mentioned above. Our future generations and the posterity will definitely find a better world to live in through the efforts of Çréla Prabhupäda as he stands for the feelings of International Brotherhood and spiritual integration of all mankind which is the back-bone of the Vedic <i>sanätana-dharma </i>of India. The literary world outside India, particularly the Westerners, should be highly indebted to him, who has so scientifically acquainted them with what is best in Kåñëa conscious India.</p>
<p class="p7">“I may be permitted to recommend to all scholars, professors and other Dharmäcäryas the great importance and contribution of the books of Çré Swami Prabhupäda.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Çré Viswanath Sukla, Ph.D.<br>
Reader, Dept. Of Hindi. M.U.</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>is widely acclaimed as the Bible of Devotion <i>par excellence. </i>His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who has been the messenger of the Gospel of God-devotion abroad, has brought out an exquisite edition of the <i>Bhägavatam</i> with an English translation and explanation. The translator brings the spirit of the text, and the explanation is lucid. Going through the Third Canto, part four, which the Publishers have sent me, I find that the reader can get the utmost benefit from this publication. The perfume of divine love exudes from every page. The format, the get-up, the illustrations, are all pleasing to the eye as well as to the mind.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan<br>
Centre of Advanced Study of Philosophy<br>
University of Madras<br>
Madras</i></p>
<p class="p7">“The <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i>is no doubt the most important and the best known work in the whole of the Indian literature. The magnificence of its spiritual concepts and the sublimity of its thinking has secured it a great popularity everywhere, as an easily intelligible presentation of the Divine. The <i>Gétä </i>has been edited, translated and commented countless times. The meaning of the text is, at least in its main lines, obvious and clear. The justification of a new interpretation is therefore, in my opinion, dependent on the message conveyed by the commentary.</p>
<p class="p7">“The translator and commentator Swami Bhaktivedanta represents the Gauòéya Vaiñëava School and thus interprets the message of the <i>Gétä</i> ‘from the inside.’ Whole Çakara in Canto 5.12 interprets the plurality of the beings enumerated to be only conventional, and according to the Mäyävädés the individuals after liberation merge into the impersonal Brahman, Swami Bhaktivedanta states that Kåñëa here authoritatively emphasizes the eternity of the individuality. The transcendental form of God can be immediately experienced by a person who is duly prepared, as it is told in Canto 11. Just these two points are, I think, the reason for the interest in the <i>Gétä </i>among persons with a searching spirit. Swami Bhaktivedanta’s translation and commentary do deliver this message very convincingly indeed.”</p>
<p class="p54"><i>Pentti Aalto<br>
Dept. of Asian and African Studies<br>
University of Helsinki<br>
Helsinki, Finland</i></p>
<p class="p7">REVIEWING the multitude of gifts that Çréla Prabhupäda has given to us-his disciples-and to the world, we must conclude that no one has done more to glorify India, no one has done more to glorify Vedic culture, and no one has done more to glorify Lord Çré Kåñëa in the modern age than our divine master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances millions of times at his lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä homages from the G.B.C.</b></p>
<p class="p11">Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäri GBC-Middle East </p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäri GBC-Middle East </b></p>
<p class="p7">Each new <i>çloka</i> of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>adds endlessly to my distress, knowing that the completion of this monumental task will bring your divine mission to its close, and leave me a hopeless, stubborn, wretched and fallen orphan. Soon you will no longer be there, in New York, Tehran or Mäyäppur, to interject your causeless mercy into my darkened days. I fear that day when my parched dry heart will no longer receive your loving, compassionate showers, which are beyond all reason, logic and cause.</p>
<p class="p7">Due to this thought, a dark black cloud surrounds my whole existence and sinks me into a pit of abysmal depression. My whole life becomes meaningless, and the will to continue forsakes me. It is only then that the reality of this painful concern forces me to seek solace in the knowledge and realization you have so generously given me. A ray of hope enters my heart, and the voice of intelligence speaks thus to my weakened will: “Your Father has entrusted upon you Matchless Gifts, which will safeguard you and even lead you back to your eternal abode.”</p>
<p class="p7">As a neophyte I see your gifts as your words and your movement. Your words consist of philosophy, claims and instructions.</p>
<p class="p7">Your PHILOSOPHY is simple, yet it includes all the past <i>äcäryas, </i>religions and philosophies. It goes like this: Çré Kåñëa is the ultimate goal and the undiscovered pleasure in every object of desire. He is Govinda, the pleasure giver.</p>
<p class="p7">You say:</p>
<p class="p12">“She can not be that ultimate.<br>
This can not reach that ultimate.<br>
He can not have that ultimate.<br>
Kåñëa says that He is the ultimate in everything.”<br>
It can not give that ultimate.<br>
That can not bring that ultimate.</p>
<p class="p7">Your CLAIM is very serious: Only those who follow YOUR instructions will reach that ultimate.</p>
<p class="p7">And your INSTRUCTIONS are the most straightforward. They cover every move, every act and every thought. Without doubt, with full authority and gravity, you repeatedly tell us: Together serve Kåñëa unceasingly.</p>
<p class="p7">And this is the birth of your MOVEMENT-ISKCON. It is a precious gift, a golden carriage to carry on your words. It is your divine body, it is devotional service, it is Kåñëa personified in this day on this planet. It is the path, the gate, and the home. In it you and your words will live eternally, and by it every living entity can reach his eternal abode.</p>
<p class="p7">Your final word to all of us is: simply cooperate, stick together, serve together. Particularly those of us you have entrusted with responsibility for managing (among whom I am one) should realize the full, practical meaning of cooperation and be faithful to your words in order to lead and teach leadership to others.</p>
<p class="p7">I see us far from this realization, but due to your mercy I have some faith. Faith in the spiritual miracles happening each day, in the consciousness of my Godbrothers, and that of my own. I also realize that I have to begin from myself, here and now, at the lotus feet of my Godbrothers.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, rest assured, you have told us everything! It is now our duty to act and move towards that ultimate that you have promised us. You have requested that we cooperate, assuring that each of us can be a pure devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">If Kåñëa is the ultimate and our goal is Kåñëa, in order to reach that ultimate we reach out to you and beg your mercy on us fallen souls. You are our ultimate, we hold to your <i>dhoti, </i>take us Prabhupäda, take us!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servant, on these pages by your infinite mercy,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Atreya Åñi däsa adhikäri<br>
GBC-Middle East </p>
<p class="p11">Balavanta däsa adhikäri, GBC Southern U.S.A.</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Balavanta däsa adhikäri, GBC Southern U.S.A.</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Vyäsa-püjä Homage to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His message is the message of God. His desire is the desire of God, and his pleasure is the pleasure of God. There is no other way to approach Kåñëa than through the medium of His beloved servant, the spiritual master. Therefore, we must fall at his feet in all humility, without personal prestige or motivation, and beg his merciful glance upon us. Without becoming his unalloyed and thoroughly devoted servants, there is absolutely no escape from the miserable conditions of material existence. We must be, therefore, ever vigilant not to mistake him to be an ordinary man of whom we might become envious. Rather, we should be always proud of our spiritual master—proud of his courage, proud of his wisdom, and proud of his purity. He is actually Kåñëa, manifested before our crippled vision, because he is delivering the message of Kåñëa. He speaks what Kåñëa speaks, and he lives it for all to see.</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master remains always in Våndävana because wherever he goes, he makes that place as good as Våndävana. Internally, he relishes in Kåñëa’s sublime pastimes of love, while externally he preaches the mission of Lord Caitanya for the benefit of all. Thus he is the best of all <i>jiva </i>souls and none is more dear to Kåñëa than he.</p>
<p class="p7">Caught in <i>mäyä’s </i>grip, we can only sit humbly at his lotus feet, eagerly drinking every sound that springs from his lotus lips. Then, with all enthusiasm, obedience and submission, we must execute his divine command. He is our only hope, our shelter in a hostile ocean, our oasis in a barren desert.</p>
<p class="p7">When we approach the spiritual master, we must cast aside the crutches of material designations. We cannot maintain such artificialities and surrender utterly at his lotus feet. Foolish pride and a false sense of independence veil our real knowledge and hide the spiritual master from our vision. To become the menial servants of the spiritual master constitutes the perfection of our existence. Then our spiritual life is awakened, our eternal <i>rasa</i> established, and our platform of enjoyment revived. Once surrendered we are not disturbed, in any condition nor do we have any material desires, being completely satisfied simply to be his faithful servants. Unable to attain this position, the unsurrendered disciple, Balavanta däsa, continues to suffer without solace and can only lament his wretched condition, praying for the benediction rain of his spiritual master’s compassion.</p>
<p class="p7">Balavanta däsa adhikäri<br>
GBC Southern U.S.A.</p>
<p class="p11">Bhagavän däsa adhikäri, GBC-Southern Europe</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhagavän däsa adhikäri, GBC-Southern Europe</b></p>
<p class="p7">With the passing of each day, the vision of the newborn child expands. At first everything is unclear; then vague forms appear. Soon he is able to recognize that there are special people who always are concerned with his welfare. In this way he comes to know his father and mother as his security and protection. O beloved Gurudeva, you have taken us under your protection as your own children. At first we could not see what your exalted position was. But you gently opened our eyes with your divine knowledge and love, and soon it became clear that you were our eternal father, master and protector. As we watch your books appear, like golden waves emanating from your lotus mouth, you establish within our hearts the irrevocable faith that you are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. Merciful Çréla Prabhupäda, I am such a low fool that I do not even qualify to look upon your lotus feet. Still you are so kind that you have personally instructed me on so many different occasion-even in the privacy of your personal quarters.</p>
<p class="p7">I pray to Çré-Çré Gaura-Nitäi that my mind be always overflowing with your divine instructions and that I become more and more attached to serving your lotus feet, as a person is attached to his very breath.</p>
<p class="p7">Bhagavän däsa adhikäri<br>
GBC-Southern Europe</p>
<p class="p11">Brahmänanda Svämi, GBC-Africa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Brahmänanda Svämi, GBC-Africa</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The disciple’s perfection’s when the guru is pleased.<br>
I’m wanting that goal, and your orders received<br>
Are a boon that makes me the most fortunate soul.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, a Kåñëa conscious Africa’s your goal.<br>
You’ve made it so easy, you’ve done everything first.<br>
You’ve cut a clear path under conditions much worse.<br>
To America you came penniless and alone.<br>
Now you’re captain of the ship that will take us all home.<br>
You sent me on a voyage that seemed like years.<br>
Twelve days, just your words made me lose all fears.<br>
Step by step you guide us, the footing is safe.<br>
But I’m so hard-hearted, I forget and lose faith.<br>
And as the failing pupil gets the teacher’s special aid,<br>
A Nairobi visit by your mercy was paid.<br>
Black students to the walls, your preaching to hear,<br>
The biggest crowd assembled in more than a year,<br>
Your form was effulgent and your message divine,<br>
“Please chant Hare Kåñëa for a life so sublime.”<br>
The first step was taken, it was clear what to do,<br>
You’re the Founder-Äcärya, so we just followed you.<br>
Chanting and dancing in Thompkins Square Park<br>
Now happened again. Local papers remarked:<br>
“When you see these people, don’t say ’Jambo!’<br>
Say ‘Hare Kåñëa!’ It’s much better than ‘Hello!’<br>
Our programs were famous at the housing estates.<br>
No one could guess how much prasäda they ate.<br>
Our films were a hit, and Lord Jagannätha’s smile<br>
Brought a great cheer and clapping heard for thousands of miles.<br>
The Safari </i>kértana<i> was the best it could be,<br>
Street dancing, </i>prasäda<i> and books that were free.<br>
One evening began with a Benz caravan.<br>
Indian members assembled, a sedate program they’d planned.<br>
Then we opened the doors and much to our surprise<br>
An ecstatic swirling mass of black kids arrived.<br>
The </i>kértana<i> began, and the sound was so ecstatic<br>
That I jumped off stage and began dancing automatic.<br>
“Hare Kåñëa, Hare Räma!” was their only reply.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, you’ve made Africa the Spiritual Sky.<br>
Our programs are small now, as it is hard to maintain.<br>
Many blacks and whites came but few have remained.<br>
The potential still here though, our “Club” does quite well.<br>
Eighty men come twice daily, take prasäda and then yell: “Hare Kåñëa, Hare<br>
Räma!” and “Jaya Jagannätha!”<br>
It’s working Çréla Prabhupäda, it breaks that hard knot.<br>
A few African men are now holding on to your feet,<br>
And it brings back the times that have now become sweet.<br>
How you took me by the hand and so extra patiently<br>
Brought me up from the gutter to learn A B C.</i></p>
<p class="p12"><i>kiräta-hüëändhra-pulinda-pulkaçä<br>
äbhéra-çumbhä yavanäù khasädayaù<br>
ye 'nye ca päpä yad-apäçrayäçrayäù<br>
çudhyanti tasmai prabhaviñëave namaù <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 2.4.18</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Kiräta, Hüna, Ändhra, Pulinda,<br>
Pulkaça, Äbhéra, Çumbha, Yavana,<br>
The Khasa and others addicted to sin<br>
Are purified by the shelter of the devotees of Him.<br>
The Lord’s the Supreme Power, and I beg to be found<br>
With my head on the spot where His feet touch the ground.<br>
You said this temple’s real name was </i>Kiräta-çuddhi.<br>
Now five years have passed, and I’m beginning to see<br>
<i>The Africans are fallen aboriginal men,<br>
But the purification is needed in myself more than them.<br>
Vaiçëavas have a system or cleaning the heart,<br>
And that system takes effect as soon as you start.<br>
No bars on the nation or the colour of skin.<br>
A Vaiçëava’s strong enough to make changes within.<br>
</i>Stré, çüdra, kiräta<i> or </i>dvija-bandhu<i>.<br>
</i>O Prabhupäda, why can’t we just do what you do?<br>
<i>Kåñëa’s friends are so busy cleaning dust-worn minds,<br>
But my hours are spent with the faults that I find.<br>
You say it’s so easy, “Hold this Kåñëa science fast,<br>
Become the Lord’s man and reclaim the general mass.”<br>
Çré Caitanya’s order is to travel the globe<br>
Reclaiming all persons who want to be told.<br>
A reasonable man with an inquisitive mind<br>
Can accept this great message of a life so sublime.<br>
Vaiçëävas don’t all come from one special land.<br>
Just as you, Gurudeva, aren’t an ordinary man.<br>
By the service of the Lord and your spiritual guide,<br>
A special change happens within and outside.<br>
A Vaiçëava’s body changes spiritually at once.<br>
Anyone who thinks different is clearly a dunce.<br>
Lord Caitanya’s all-powerful, and under any circumstance,<br>
anyone from anywhere can take </i>prasäda <i>and dance.<br>
His self-declaration teaches how we should be:<br>
“I’m the servant of the servant of Lord Gopinäthji!”<br>
The devotees are few here, and perhaps it’s because<br>
The news about Africa’s gossiping buzz.<br>
Even though they are few, they’re first-class by your grace.<br>
They’re enthused more than me for preaching in this dark place.<br>
I thank you for sending them to help me.<br>
When I see them it’s only your mercy I see.<br>
We’re now just maintaining, but that doesn’t please you.<br>
You said expand here and these programs renew:<br>
Ratha-yäträ, a farm, and Gaura-Nitäi on </i>parikrama,<br>
<i>Go to every town and village and distribute the bombs.<br>
The Name and </i>prasäda<i> to each and every man.<br>
I’ll work until Africa’s called “Black Våëdävana.”<br>
Now I’m thinking to do this so as not to speak lame,<br>
But one problem is here and it’s me whose to blame.<br>
There’s a great difference between us, Prabhupäda, you and me.<br>
When you came to America you made your army.<br>
I’m not pure, so that feat is a bit out of sight.<br>
I depend on the men you send for my might.<br>
I want to please you and fulfil your desire,<br>
But without first-class men we’ll not kindle that fire.<br>
Some men are quite pure now, so let them come here.<br>
They’ll be stronger than ever if they serve for two years.<br>
The work is not hard, and yet spiritually<br>
There’s a test every minute that when taken blissfully<br>
Trains the mind to take shelter like the buzzing honeybee.<br>
Many men aren’t needed; one </i>akçauhiëé <i>will do<br>
Or just one </i>mahä-ratha, <i>Çréla Prabhupäda, like you.<br>
To please you is the perfection of every devotee.<br>
Whether preaching or farming or </i>vaidhi-bhakti.<br>
Their services vary, but one thing’s the same-<br>
<i>Your pleasure is the highest goal to attain.<br>
The Supreme Lord’s all-powerful: </i>prabhaviçëave namaù.<br>
<i>He’ll accept all our service even though He’s so far.<br>
So I beg for His blessing and His sanctioning will<br>
That your orders sublime I’ll completely fulfil.<br>
If this can be done, there’s no doubt in my heart,<br>
A journey back home I’ll be able to start.<br>
Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda, for giving me a chance<br>
To serve you and take </i>prasäda <i>and dance.</i></p>
<p class="p7">(versified by Jänakénätha däsa brahmacäré)</p>
<p class="p7">Brahmänanda Svämi<br>
GBC-Africa</p>
<p class="p11">Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré, GBC-Northern and Western India, BBT Trustee</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré, GBC-Northern and Western India, BBT Trustee</b></p>
<p class="p7">I beg to offer my most respectful <i>daëòavats</i> unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Oà Viçëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Açöottara-çata Çré-Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. You are the genuine representative of Çréla Vyäsadeva, and therefore entitled to receive offerings from your disciples every year. You are the most faithful and confidential servitor of the Lord and therefore deserve as much respect as Lord Kåñëa. In the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta </i>it is said that although every living entity is a servitor of God, the genuine spiritual master is a direct manifestation of the Supreme Lord. For a disciple to advance spiritually, he must be convinced of this.</p>
<p class="p7">In <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam, </i>Lord Kåñëa tells Uddhava:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äcäryaà mäm vijänéyän nävamayeta karhicit<br>
na martya-buddyäsüyeta sarva-devamäya guruù</i></p>
<p class="p7">“One should know the <i>äcärya </i>as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhä</i>g. 11.17.27]</span><i> </i>Here Lord Kåñëa specially instructing how a disciple should behave under the care of his spiritual master. A spiritual master is not an enjoyer of facilities offered by his disciples; rather, he is like a parent. Just like a child cannot grow up without the attentive guidance of his parents, one cannot learn to perform devotional service without the attentive guidance of the spiritual master. The ability to walk is born with a baby, and within a couple of years the child develops it with practice. Similarly, Kåñëa consciousness is eternally present within the conditioned soul but can only be realized when guided by a true representative of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">The Supreme Lord is so kind that He appears in two features to save the conditioned soul—externally as the <i>äcärya </i>and internally as the Supersoul. You have appeared just to deliver the fallen <i>mlecchas. </i>Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda used to say, “If at all there is a shortage of anything, it is of love of God.” The modern <i>räkçasa </i>leaders are denying God’s existence and thus misleading the human population. You took your spiritual master’s instruction to spread Kåñëa consciousness seriously, and therefore you are so successful. It is essential that a disciple follow his spiritual master’s instructions rigidly. You are a true <i>tattva-darçé, </i>or knower of the absolute truth, and therefore always anxious to preach. Even in your present illness, I see that you do not miss any opportunity to talk of Lord Kåñëa. You are a great Vaiçëäva, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are always trying to save the suffering humanity by giving them the supreme knowledge. You will always live by your divine instructions. On this auspicious day, I pray that I will always follow your instructions and help spread Lord Caitanya’s message. Only this will please you; nothing else will.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Gopäla Kåñëa däsa adhikäré<br>
GBC-Northern and Western India<br>
BBT Trustee</p>
<p class="p11">Hanñadüta Svämi, GBC-Çré Laëkä</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hanñadüta Svämi, GBC-Çré Laëkä</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">I cannot write anything that will properly glorify you. I am a condemned sinful creature. Somehow I was born with two hands and legs and have adopted the dress of a devotee as your disciple, but there is not a minuscular particle of sincerity or understanding in my heart.</p>
<p class="p7">I wonder how it is that I have passed so many empty days in your movement, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of your pure devotees without serving them properly, and still be allowed to continue. Your mercy is surely great. The mercy of your devotees is carrying me along back home, back to Godhead, although I am completely worthless and disqualified.</p>
<p class="p7">I cannot ask to be picked up as one of the most fallen in this world because you have already done that by your mere glance. I like to think that I might one day be accepted by your devotees as one of their devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">My words are empty and pretentious, but I continue to write this offering because I have no other alternative than to go through the motions and expressions of a devotee, hoping, like an alchemist trying to turn iron into gold, that Your Divine Grace will fill my empty words with spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Prabhupäda, no one knows who you really are and where your will go when your work on earth is done. How will I be able to keep hold of your lotus feet and remain free from the attraction of material energy which bewilders even Brahmä, the engineer of this universe? Therefore I think that you must make some special arrangement for me, because I am completely helpless and dependent upon you.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servant,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Hanñadüta Svämi<br>
GBC-Çré Laëkä</i></p>
<p class="p11">Harikesa Svämi, BBT trustee</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Harikesa Svämi, BBT trustee</b></p>
<p class="p7">Some people preach but do not act very nicely, while others act very nicely but do not preach. The wonder of the pure devotee (known as the <i>äcärya</i>) is that he both acts nicely and preaches. We have practically seen that you, Çréla Prabhupäda, both act in wonderful ways and preach perfectly according to time, place, and circumstances.</p>
<p class="p7">You have conquered over the urge to speak, the urges of the mind, the force of anger and the forces of the tongue, belly, and genital. You have no desire for sense gratification and are free from all varieties of bodily conceptions. Therefore you are the perfect gosvämi. Although now your body has grown “old and weak,” you are pushing it on through the force of your spiritual potency in order to spread this movement all over the world.. This is simply amazing. (By this example we are forced to understand that dead matter is forced to work by the energy of the spirit soul.) any other man would have lain down and died long ago, but you are expanding your service all the time. Although the demons are becoming more and more troublesome and place all kinds of obstacles in our path, you never become discouraged; rather, you inspire us more by your strong words and superhuman feats.</p>
<p class="p7">You are never disturbed at any moment because you are fixed in the Supreme, despite all difficulties which may arise due to the body, the demigods or other living beings. Because you are always united with the supreme will of the Lord, your activities are perfect in every way. We cannot understand how you constantly think of saving the fallen souls even when we disciples are ready to kill them for their being so foolish and demoniac and causing the devotees so much trouble. Therefore you are the <i>äcärya</i>.<i> </i>Prahläda Mahäräja said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraëyäs<br>
tvad-vérya-gäyana-mahämåta-magna-cittaù<br>
çoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyärtha-<br>
mäyä-sukhäya bharam udvahato vimüòhän<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.9.43</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” </p>
<p class="p7">Once I asked you when you were reading the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, Seventh Canto, “Prabhupäda, I think you are always enwrapped in the mood of Prahläda Mahäräja.” You said, “Yes—I am always thinking of how to save all these fools and rascals.” You are always thinking how they might be relieved from their miserable conditions of existence and engaged in the service of the Lord. Although Prahläda could have felt so much personal discomfort, extreme anxiety and pain by the persecutions of the demons, he was free from all difficulties because he simply merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss by chanting the Hare Kåñëa <i>maha-mantra</i>. You are always fully merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss by chanting and constantly meditating on how these fools and rascals can come to the highest perfection.</p>
<p class="p7">You have fully surrendered your life on the order of your spiritual master to spread Kåñëa consciousness to the Western world, and you are doing that wonderfully through your books. You are so kindly giving us all that which is necessary to regain our lost transcendental consciousness and enter into the kingdom of God. By your mercy we can know that the kingdom of God is here when we engage in chanting His holy names and preaching His glories to the fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">It is simply because of your books that the world atmosphere is becoming clearer and people can see things as they are. Even though they cannot understand the books (perhaps they are not even aware of their existence), which are so spiritually powerful, the effect is there and people are imperceptibly becoming purified although they cannot understand how or why. The completely demoniac trend of human society is gradually changing, and soon the time will come when Kåñëa will arrange the ways and means that Kåñëa consciousness will envelop the world in floods of transcendental ecstasy, and it is all because of your books.</p>
<p class="p7">So you are the perfect <i>äcärya</i>, acting and preaching in the most perfect way, guiding us (especially me—how fallen and sinful a person I am!) to the light of knowledge and gradually freeing us from the bondage of illusion. Your every activity is leading us back home, back to Godhead, and you are forcing all the conditioned souls to also return someday, although they have no idea to do it on their own.</p>
<p class="p7">I am praying that you will have me always as your humble servitor, and if ever I decide to deviate from the correct path of devotion, please beat me severely and drag me back to your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your foolish servant,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Harikesa Svämi<br>
BBT trustee<br>
GBC for Eastern Europe, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria</i> </p>
<p class="p11">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé, GBC-South America</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé, GBC-South</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda Pranati</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Prema-bhakti yähä haite, avidyä-vinäça yäte, vede gäya yäùära carita:</i></p>
<p class="p7">O great spiritual master! O most glorious Çréla Prabhupäda! The exquisite Vedic <i>mantras </i>sing ecstatically of your character. O most perfect Master! I fall down in the dust of your lotus feet, begging you to fan the spark of love within my heart. Kindle within my heart the blazing fire of unalloyed love for your lotus feet, so that the fire will immediately burn to ashes all fruitive desires and mental speculation.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Çré-guru-carae rati, ei sei uttama-gati, yei prasäde püre sarva äçä:</i></p>
<p class="p7">O most sublime messenger of Vaikuëöha! Your two lotus feet are the transparent via media for seeing the abode of Kåñëa. All liberations are found in the dust of your feet. Gorgeous and eternal worlds are beheld from the vantage point of the dust of your lotus feet. By tasting the nectar of the dust of your feet, all material desires are quickly annihilated. I am groping in the darkness of lust, O Gurudeva! Lead me at once to the dust of your feet!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>Guru-mukha-padma-väkya, cittete kariyä aikya, ära nä kariha mane äçä:</i></p>
<p class="p7">O most fascinating of those who speak and chant! Shine the beacon of your transcendental speaking on my heart. The blissful songs that you sing are a river of nectar flowing into our ears. All the infinite Vaikunöha planets floating in the spiritual sky, as well as the limitless material creation, are all revealed in your Bhaktivedanta purports. Only you know our self-interest; let your instructions be eternally engraved in our minds and hearts. Give us strength to drive out of our minds the venomous black snakes of opinions opposing your instructions.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yasya deve parä bhaktir yathä deve tathä gurau<br>
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù prakäçante mahätmanaù </i></p>
<p class="p7">O great Gurudeva! You are glorious like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. <i>Säkçäd dhartivena samasta-çästraih: </i>O inconceivable servitor Godhead! You are so merciful that you permit a shameless rogue such as myself to participate in your earthly pastimes. In your glorious descent to the earth, you do not kill the demons such as myself, but you save us and become our spiritual master. O beloved Gurudeva, you have shown your mercy to me who was floundering in animal life. Now by your inconceivable mercy let that animal become human, and let that human become Vaiçnäva, and please, beloved Gurudeva, let that Vaiçnäva be permitted to humbly and obediently return to his original, eternal post as an atom at the lotus feet of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Hådayänanda däsa Gosvämé<br>
GBC-South America</p>
<p class="p11">Jagadéça däsa, GBC-Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jagadéça däsa, GBC-Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p6"><b>Competent to Deliver the Universe<br>
(In praise of His Divine Grace <br>
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda)</b></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">The Golden Lord released the world</p>
<p class="p13"><i>By pardoning the sins of all.<br>
So, everyone went “Back to Home,”<br>
But there were plenty more to fall.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>Again the world is full of sin,<br>
Degrading further every day.<br>
Now atheists are gaining ground<br>
The demigods all stay away.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>But one who is much like the Lord,<br>
Compassionate beyond compare,<br>
Has entered this demonic place<br>
Where even truthfulness is rare.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>The world is overburdened with<br>
Activities of sinfulness,<br>
But he is so determined now<br>
To smash them all to nothingness.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>Despite profuse impediments<br>
Confronting him repeatedly,<br>
By tolerance and perfect faith<br>
He perseveres to victory.</i></p>
<p class="p13"><i>His vision is astonishing.<br>
He fully knows Lord Kåñëa’s plan.<br>
Like Arjuna or Hanumän,<br>
What no one else can do, he can.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Jagadéça däsa</p>
<p class="p7">GBC-Gurukula</p>
<p class="p11">Jayapataka Svämi, GBC-Eastern India &amp; Bangladesh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jayapataka Svämi, GBC-Eastern India &amp; Bangladesh</b></p>
<p class="p7">Vyäsa-püjä Offering to His Divine Grace Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda: The Transcendental Physician for the Modern Day</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The bona fide spiritual master is accepted as good as Kåñëa because he is the representative of Kåñëa. This is confirmed in all Vedic scriptures and by all authorities. If one judges a spiritual master by his appearance, by his possessions, or by other superficial methods, the judgement will be imperfect. A spiritual master speaks from the transcendental platform the vibrations he has received from his spiritual master through disciplic succession. These transcendental words are known as <i>çabda-brahma </i>and cannot be compared with ordinary sounds. Just as a touchstone cannot be identified conclusively until it transforms base metal into gold, or a physician until he can cure his patient, similarly, a bona fide spiritual master is able to transform a disciple, even of inferior nature, into a first-class person, i.e., a devotee of the Lord, A spiritual master is not merely a pet or a fashion to maintain for some time and discard on a whim. The spiritual master is Kåñëa’s way for coming to us and guiding us back to home, back to Godhead. It is serious business.</p>
<p class="p7">Knowledge is the light by which the darkness of ignorance is vanquished. Knowledge implies real knowledge, or knowledge free from error. Any kind of knowledge can be obtained in one of two ways. One way is by experimental knowledge, which is compared to blind men feeling the different limbs of an elephant and giving their postulations on the form and nature of the elephant. The blind man holding the trunk thinks and elephant is a gigantic snake, and the man holding the leg thinks another way. In this way different theories are evolved from different angles of observation, with no angle being complete or correct. The other method is by receiving knowledge by the descending process, i.e., through <i>guru-paramparä, </i>or disciplic succession. Knowledge handed down from the source of all knowledge, or descending knowledge, is perfect and free form defect because it doesn’t depend on the imperfect perceptions of imperfect people. Just as the sun is self-illuminating, real knowledge from Kåñëa is self-effulgent and doesn’t depend on empirical speculation.</p>
<p class="p7">Considering the unique position of the spiritual master, it is essential to consider how one should approach him. <i>Bhagavad-gitä </i>says:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà jïäninas tattva-darçinaù <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>4.34</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">One must approach the spiritual master in a humble frame of mind, surrender unto him and offer him service. Then one should inquire about the truth from the spiritual master because he has seen the truth. This forms a reciprocal relationship of service and enlightenment between the <i>guru </i>and the disciple. In a challenging attitude one cannot get enlightenment from the spiritual master. Surrender means complete surrender without considering the momentary material profit or loss.</p>
<p class="p7">Everyone is looking for a friend—someone to love and trust. But in this material world if we put our trust in anyone, laying our head in his lap, he will cut our head off. This is the position. His Divine Grace Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is showing how one can be a real well-wisher for everyone. Çréla Prabhupäda is relieving everyone, without discrimination, from all kinds of dangerous conditions. Actually, everyone is constantly suffering—at every moment we are suffering—so much so it is taken for granted. No one questions why he is being harassed and troubled by other creatures, why he is being agitated by his body and mind, why he is growing old or dying. Neither taking the miseries of life for granted nor the cures of the superficial symptoms will help. The expert physician searches out the root cause and treats it; subsequently, all symptoms disappear. The spiritual master is the total physician of our composite disease of material life and its miseries. Çréla Prabhupäda is curing his disciples and giving them real healthy life to lead in this life and the next. A normal doctor may demand high personal fees, but Çréla Prabhupäda is asking nothing for himself. Everything is used or the satisfaction of Kåñëa, and to uplift others from their miserable condition.</p>
<p class="p7">A patient’s relationship with his physician may end with the bill. But the spiritual master’s relationship with his patient (disciple) is eternal. Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura in his <i>Prayers to the Spiritual Master </i>describes how the spiritual master uplifts the devotee and trains him in this life, and in the liberated stage continues to guide the disciple to serving Kåñëa with spiritual senses. On the other hand, if the disciple doesn’t finish his business and reach Kåñëa in this life, the spiritual master again takes birth in this material world to deliver the disciple. The relationship between the <i>guru </i>and disciple is individual and everlasting. It is most nectarine and sweet.</p>
<p class="p7">Considering the great risk the spiritual master is taking for his disciple and the great gift he is giving, every disciple must take seriously his obligation to his spiritual master. Our relationship with Çréla Prabhupäda is not one-sided. We have sufficient instructions from Çréla Prabhupäda through his books and personal lectures and instructions to understand what is required of us to satisfy his desires. Çréla Prabhupäda has done so much for all of us, we should try to finish our business and not compel him to come again.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda is establishing truth from the <i>Vedas. </i>Recently Çréla Prabhupäda said: “In this world there are two groups. One group is good. One group is bad. They are fighting with each other for supremacy. Kåñëa and Balaräma are standing aside and watching both groups. We belong to Kåñëa-Balaräma’s group.” Only Kåñëa-Balaräma’s party is never defeated. (The whole world believed in the moon hoax, but Çréla Prabhupäda stood firm. Now the cheating is being revealed…)</p>
<p class="p7">Out of thousands and thousands of men, a few are surrendering in devotion. As Çréla Prabhupäda’s disciples our close connection must be maintained. How glorious, how rare are the devotees of Çréla Prabhupäda! ISKCON is a transcendental hospital, curing all inmates of the material disease. Not everyone is cured upon admittance. It takes time. Day by day, moment by moment, according to sincerity and practice, the devotees are progressing. Any superficial symptoms of previous diseases are not very important in comparison with the fact of taking shelter of Çréla Prabhupäda. Let us concentrate on the goal and consolidate our efforts to satisfy Çréla Prabhupäda, spreading Kåñëa consciousness for the welfare of the whole world. Remember, a great soul sees only the good quality in a person, while an envious person sees only the bad qualities.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda’s program is worldwide. Broad-minded persons can take part and feel their significance in Kåñëa consciousness’ massive program. Çréla Prabhupäda is our physician, and he is administering the cure. Chanting Hare Kåñëa, taking <i>mahä-prasäda </i>and working cooperatively with our Godbrothers to serve Çré Kåñëa and his devotees. The change of heart that the disciple undergoes under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master is the proof of the effectiveness of the sincerity of the disciple. Çréla Prabhupäda has already proved his efficacy, and now it is up to us to accept the cure and the medicine properly to perfect our lives and give this to others. This is Çréla Prabhupäda’s desire. On this holy Vyäsa-püjä day let us offer Çréla Prabhupäda our obeisances and glorify his name and instructions. I beg to take the dust of the feet of the great souls who have taken as their life and soul the service of Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7">Jayapataka Svämi<br>
GBC-Eastern India &amp; Bangladesh</p>
<p class="p11">Jayatértha däsa, GBC-United Kingdom, Midwest USA</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Jayatértha däsa, GBC-United Kingdom, Midwest USA</b></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept my most unworthy obeisances in the dust of your divine lotus feet. The history books are filled with tales of man’s adventures, his journeys east and west in search of new frontiers, with their promises of wealth, wisdom and fountains of youth. In such vain search, man, even today, is climbing to the tops of mountains and diving to the depths of oceans. Let them look here and there to find what they will, but as far as I am concerned, all my searches have found their treasured goal in your lotus feet. As Dhruva Mahäräja prays:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nünaà vimuñöa-matayas tava mäyayä te<br>
ye tväà bhaväpyaya-vimokñaëam anya-hetoù<br>
arcanti kalpaka-taruà kuëapopabhogyam<br>
icchanti yat sparçajaà niraye 'pi nèëäm <br>
</i><span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. 4.9.9</i>)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Although time wears away my youth with its fabled inevitability and my experience of the things of this world grows year by year, each Vyäsa-püjä finds me all the more convinced that the three worlds and all their contents, when not engaged in the service of your lotus feet, are as useless as the stool of a boar. Although the measure of my conviction may increase, the foolish hobgoblins of my mind and senses still seek to push me away from your shelter. Although the whole world stands about me shipwrecked, why do I still look there for refuge? Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, because of your Divine Grace only, there is still joy in the world, there is still hope in the world, there is still some future worth living for, some work worth doing, some words worth saying. Because of Your Divine Grace, man’s search still has a chance of reaching a worthwhile conclusion. I think, therefore, that because of your continued presence on earth, the sun and moon still rise at their appointed hours, the cows still give milk and the Deities in the temple shine forth in all Their Splendour.</p>
<p class="p7">The whole world is deluded by impersonalism out of frustration because in our experience all persons have exploited us and cheated us, and know that I am also a cheater. But in you we have found a true friend and well-wisher, and we can see by your example what a person is really meant to be. So we worship your lotus feet and pray for your benediction. As Prahläda Mahäraja prays in <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>svasty astu viçvasya khalaù prasédatäà<br>
dhyäyantu bhütäni çivaà mitho dhiyä<br>
manaç ca bhadraà bhajatäd adhokñaje<br>
äveçyatäà no matir apy ahaituké </i></p>
<p class="p7">“May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing <i>bhakti-yoga, </i>for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Çré Kåñëa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.” <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>5.18.9)</span></p>
<p class="p7">We pray also that the whole world may become attracted to your message: that we are the tiny servants of the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead and that they may see that it is only by receiving the pure, unalloyed mercy of accepting Your Divine Grace as their spiritual master and saviour that their useless lives will gain value and meaning.</p>
<p class="p7">Please always give me this power of recollection. Please always keep me engaged in your service.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen disciple &amp; servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Jayatértha däsa<br>
GBC-United Kingdom, Midwest USA</p>
<p class="p11">Kértananända Svämé, GBC-Central North America</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Kértanänanda Svämé, GBC-Central North America</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çrila Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">In the first chapter of <i>Ädi-lélä </i>in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> you have written, “It is not possible for a conditioned soul to directly meet Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but if one becomes a sincere devotee and seriously engages in devotional service, Lord Kåñëa sends an instructing spiritual master to show him favor and invoke his dormant propensity for serving the Supreme.”</p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is incalculable because you have come to us, who were never serious and had no contact whatsoever with devotional service. You described us nicely in your arrival prayer: “Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Väsudeva.” But just as Lord Caitanya engaged event the monkeys in Jhärikhaòä forest in chanting Hare Kåñëa, you have come and engaged us <i>mlecchas </i>and <i>yavanas </i>in dancing and singing about Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You have become glorious by carrying out the desire of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Prabhupäda; you are satisfied by virtue of your love for him and for Kåñëa. There is nothing we can do to glorify you further. Our words are all inappropriate; our activities are so imperfect. Our only hope is that someday, by the potency of the Holy Name, we may become purified to the point of living as you have taught us. Then you, all the members of the disciplic succession, and Lord Kåñëa Himself may become pleased to see all these fallen hippies dancing and singing just like devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">Kértanänanda Svämé<br>
GBC-Central North America</p>
<p class="p11">Paëcadraviòa Svämé, GBC-Latin America (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Equador, Peru)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paëcadraviòa Svämé, GBC-Latin America <br>
(Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Equador, Peru)</b></p>
<p class="p7">The light of your face, which glows with the golden hue of Lord Caitanya’s empowered mercy, shines, dazzling my eyes, and illuminates the only path of devotion. You are the knower of the unknown, Kåñëa, who does not reveal Himself but to the most pure of fully surrendered souls. Because you bestow your mercy on all, your are more kind than kindness. You are sweeter than the fresh rose in spring, and once knowing you no one could ever seek shelter in this empty material world again. You are more tolerant than the most noble tree, and you only see what little good there may be in my service.</p>
<p class="p7">I fall down in the dust of your lotus feet again and again and beg you, “Please forgive me.” I am so proud, so vain. Let this demoniac pride be vanquished so that somehow or other I may begin to serve you.</p>
<p class="p7">Like a blind, stumbling dog following a munificent king, I am following you, hoping to lap up some scraps of mercy. In such a fallen state where is the question of service? Still you may kick me or reward me. That is your right because you are my only master. I know no other refuge than your benedicting feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Paëcadraviòa Svämé<br>
GBC-Latin America (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Equador, Peru)</p>
<p class="p11">Rameñvara däsa Svämé, GBC-Western USA</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rameñvara däsa Svämé, GBC-Western USA</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Every living being in the world today is in darkness, forced to struggle hard for nonpermanent goals and for relief from the continual onslaught of the miseries of material life. You have the power to free us from this oppressive bondage, and because you are a pure devotee of Lord Caitanya, you are imbued with the divine characteristic of unlimited mercy for the fallen souls. Your blessings have been received by hundreds of millions of people, and the entire course of history is being changed by your inconceivable powers and your pure love for Kåñëa. Generally, “in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.” <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.1.10]</span> Their health and life-span is reduced because of irregular habits, overeating, indulgence in sense gratification, overdependence on another’s mercy and artificial standards of living—all of which weaken and waste their vital energy. Their laziness especially refers to spiritual practices, due to illusory bodily misidentification. Because everyone’s mind is victimized by many diversions of politics, cinema, sports, gambling, clubs, mundane libraries, bad association, smoking, drinking, cheating, pilfering, quarrelling, etc., they are always disturbed and full of anxieties. The whole world atmosphere is surcharged with faithlessness, lying propaganda and the strain of competition for sense gratification, enmity and war. Despite external appearances, it is impossible for any person to independently achieve happiness, peace of mind, and freedom from the suffering inflicted by this distorted way of life.</p>
<p class="p7">When Raghunätha däsa finally escaped from his family and achieved shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, the Lord told him, “The mercy of Lord Kåñëa is stronger than anything else. Therefore the Lord has delivered you from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into which people pass stool.” <span class="s3">(<i>Antya </i>6.193<i>)</i></span> Lord Caitanya emphasized that a life of material comfort is like a ditch of stool, and anyone addicted to the materialistic way of life is like a worm living in stool. Even though it is abominable, the worm cannot give up the stool, and similarly even though material life is wretched, the poor living entity cannot get out of this filthy entanglement. Only the mercy of Kåñëa can save one from such misery!</p>
<p class="p7">At the beginning of the Kali-yuga, the sages at Naimiñäranya, who had gathered to perform sacrifices to counteract the degrading influence of the age, questioned Süta Gosvämé how people would be able to receive the mercy of Kåñëa since the Lord had left the world for His own transcendental abode. Süta Gosvämé answered that in this age the mercy of the Lord would be delivered to all people through transcendental books. “This <i>Bhägavat Puränä </i>is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kåñëa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this <i>Puränä.”</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, your books have descended from the spiritual world and are full of the all-powerful potencies of the Personality of Godhead. They are nondifferent from Kåñëa and contain all His mercy. When your disciples voluntarily approach the fallen souls to distribute these books, and engage them in giving a donation and taking a book, their lives become perfect because they have received the inconceivable mercy of the Lord. Simply by giving a donation or taking a book they have begun their favourable association with Your Divine Grace, the spiritual master of the universe, and they become infected, by your blessings, with divine, transcendental qualities, beginning with the affinity to hear about Kåñëa, to associate with His devotees, etc. Anyone who engages in Lord Caitanya’s <i>saëkértana</i> movement in this way receives your transcendental blessings because you are the ocean of mercy. In this way, millions of people are taking your books every year and are receiving the seed of devotional life and love for Kåñëa. It appears externally that you are in India or America, but actually you are in the spiritual world, eternally bestowing your blessings on all who come in contact with you. You are so powerful that simultaneously millions of living entities in all different parts of the world can receive your blessings at once through these books. Who can know your real position or the extent of your power? It is said in the <i>Ädi-lélä </i>that, “The internal devotees or potencies are all eternal associates in the pastimes of the Lord. Only with them does the Lord advent to propound the <i>saëkértana </i>movement, only with them does the Lord taste the mellow of conjugal love, and only with them does He distribute this love of God to people in general.” <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i> 7.18-19)</span> Lord Caitanya has sent you to this world to establish his mission and change the entire world order. All His desires are being fulfilled by you, and the earth planet is becoming a gateway for all the inhabitants of this universe to return to Kåñëaloka. Just to receive your blessings the demigods on the heavenly planets are waiting in line to take birth here. This glorious day of your appearance in the world will be forever celebrated as the most significant transcendental event in the history of Lord Caitanya’s movement, for you have transformed the world’s <i>karma </i>and re-established spiritual life. In great awe and reverence I fall at your lotus feet and beg to be engaged by you in helping distribute your books in every village and town, for as long as you’ll allow me this privilege.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your unworthy servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Rameñvara däsa Svämé<br>
GBC-Western USA</p>
<p class="p11">Rüpänuga däsa, GBC, Mid-Eastern U.S., Canada, Trustee, Bhaktivedanta Institute</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rüpänuga däsa, GBC, Mid-Eastern U.S., Canada, <br>
Trustee, Bhaktivedanta Institute</b></p>
<p class="p7">In 1942, Columbus sailed into the Atlantic, competing with other explorers to discover the easiest way to India, the land of wonderful spices, silks, tapestries, jewels, gold and silver. The feudal lords and barons of Europe wanted to add more taste to their venison. They desired finer fabrics, diamonds and emeralds to decorate their ladies. They required richer woven drapes for their dullish castle walls and precious metals to increase their wealth and power. Columbus landed at the Bahama Islands off the coast of Florida and, thinking that he had found India, called the natives “Indians.” He was in the vanguard of the many foolish men from the Western countries who have approached India for materialistic, external reasons. They never found the real treasure of India, hidden until Your Divine Grace revealed the complete science of Kåñëa consciousness in your books.</p>
<p class="p7">The British were supposedly able administrators, but they never cared for the real opulence, the storehouse of love of God. They were determined to “civilize” the subcontinent, in their illusion not seeing the Vedic culture but only confusing the mud and thatched huts of Bengal with those of tribal Africa. Yet, a few centuries before the British rule, Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityänanda danced in those simple huts at Mäyäpur, in the company of the greatest Vaiñëäva saints, relishing the topmost internal pastimes of Rädhä-Kåñëa. And these truths would still be secret if it wasn’t for the books of Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">In 1492, Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu was enjoying the pastimes of His <i>paugaëòa</i> age, during which His chief occupation was to engage Himself in study. Meanwhile, Columbus sailed into the womb of oblivion.</p>
<p class="p7">Today, while Western sceptics continue to flirt with <i>Mäyävädé</i> catastrophe, and hover over India’s external features—the so-called poverty, “over-population,” the caste system” and underdeveloped technology—Your Divine Grace proceeds to methodically conquer the culture of the Western world, without firing a shot, simply by distributing your books.</p>
<p class="p7">Those concerned with external history say this is the year 1977, but historians will know it as the year 491, Caitanya Era, the Age of the Hare Kåñëa Movement. Personally, I have no legitimate expectation of going back to Godhead, but I can only pray to remain in this Movement birth after birth for the next 9,500 years. I beg to remain your ISKCON man.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen disciple,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Rüpänuga däsa, GBC<br>
Mid-Eastern U.S., Canada<br>
Trustee, Bhaktivedanta Institute</p>
<p class="p11">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé, GBC-Pacific Northwest, Dallas</p>
<p class="p64"><span class="s16"><b>Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé, </b></span><b>GBC-Pacific Northwest, Dallas</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Namaù</i>-obeisances. Before you came, Çréla Prabhupäda, there were no real obeisances. As children, we submitted to the guidance of our parents and society’s overseers, but as we grew up we rejected their leadership. I know in my own case I submissively imbibed allegiance to conventional religious belief and nation-worship—and later found the objects of obeisances to be false, hypocritical, blind. Some of us in hopelessness then made “obeisances” to marijuana, LSD, hippy life radical politics, or to more respectable material gods—but all were later exposed as cheaters. But in rendering utmost respect to you, we honor love and spiritual wisdom personified. Bowing down to you again and again is natural and proper. Why? Because you are the confidential servitor of Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kåñëa’s greatness demands we make repeated prostrated obeisances when faced with His inconceivable, unlimited opulences as the Supreme Controller, the resting place of the innumerable souls and the source of all material and spiritual universes. You, Çréla Prabhupäda, are the proven representative of Lord Kåñëa, and in making obeisances to you we honor and please Kåñëa Himself. And because you alone have so kindly come and expertly taken us out of our abysmal suffering condition (<i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span><i>)</i> we personally thank you and bow at your feet, begging to be maintained by you in eternal devotional service to the Supreme Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>oà-</i>address. As our spiritual master you have taught us how to address you and how to address the Supreme Personality of Godhead through you. Otherwise, as we did not know how to make obeisances, so we also did not know how to address you or the Lord. So you have given us this Çréla Prabhupäda <i>praäti, </i>and it is completely right and fitting.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>viçëu-pädäya-</i>unto him who is at the feet of Lord Kåñëa. Because you are most humbly taking shelter at the feet of the Supreme Lord, therefore you are the greatest person in human society and therefore we follow your example and instructions. We consider the dust of your feet the most treasured crown. You do not act outside of Kåñëa’s devotional service, and you always remain confident of the protection He extends to the surrendered soul. This is no mere figure of speech, but you have demonstrated your surrender as the boldest and <i>the most successful world-</i>äcärya <i>ever, </i>on behalf of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>kåñëä-preñöhäya-</i>who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa. Because you are taking shelter of Kåñëa’s lotus feet, therefore you are very dear to the transcendental Lord. One who is dear to Lord Kåñëa is very rare (<i>sa mahätmä sudurlabhaù), </i>and he is like an auspicious touchstone who can turn whomever he meets into another rare devotee of Kåñëa. You are speaking Kåñëa’s eternal teachings throughout the world in millions of published books. Thousands of dedicated <i>bhaktas </i>are surrendered to you and engaged by you in full-time preaching of Lord Kåñëa’s glories. You have induced the whole world into chanting “Hare Kåñëa!” Anyone with intelligence can understand that you are <i>kåñëä-preñöhäya, </i>very dear to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>bhü-tale-</i>on the earth. You are preaching here on the earth, the planet of death. Lord Kåñëa sent you here. You came to 26 Second Avenue, New York City, the earth, and the East Village newspaper proclaimed your mission with the front-page headline: “Save Earth now!”. You are the saviour of the earth, and therefore you live amongst us, although you have nothing to do with the earth, being entirely spiritual. But because you are engaged in preaching you are moving all over this earth planet and informing us, “You are not this body, which is nothing but earth, water and fire. You are all eternal spirit souls; you belong to Kåñëa and the spiritual world.” It is no exaggeration to say you bless the earth wherever your lotus feet touch.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>çrémate-</i>all beautiful. This describes Lord Kåñëa, and it is also the address preceding your name. You alone, out of so many <i>gurus </i>and <i>yogés, </i>teachers and leaders, carry the eternally youthful beauty of Kåñëa. The <i>Kåñëa Book</i> describes that Devaké became the most beautiful to behold when Kåñëa was residing in her womb before His birth. You also are pure and beautiful to behold, bearing Kåñëa’s Holy Name in the prisonlike atmosphere of 20<span class="s19">th</span> century Kali-yuga.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Bhaktivedänta-svämin-</i>A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Not just “gurudeva” we praise, or “the spiritual master,” but the one Çréla Prabhupäda who is the object of our personal prayer and homage, the only one, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Keeping your name is our claim to Lord Kåñëa’s attention. We will always go on chanting your name in Çréla Prabhupäda <i>Praëati</i>; your name is directly the holy name and can be chanted as such.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>iti nämine-</i>who is named. Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe </i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>namaù-</i>obeisances. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All glories especially to his <i>väëé. </i>But all glories to his personal <i>darçana </i>as well, soft as a rose, and hard as the thunderbolt.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>te-</i>unto you. Our devotional service is rendered not to Lord Kåñëa directly, but unto you. <i>Prasäda </i>means offering foodstuff first unto you. The vows of <i>brahmacarya </i>and <i>sannyäsa </i>are made unto you. <i>Gåhasthas’</i> regulated promises are unto you; and their children are rendered unto you. Offerings of life, money, intelligence and words are unto you, and the entire <i>saëkértana </i>movement is rendering service unto you-every book and every dollar collected is rendered unto you. And because you are <i>viçëu-pädäya, </i>we know for certain that whatever we render to you goes lovingly directed to Kåñëa’s lotus feet. There is no Kåñëa <i>prema </i>unless it is <i>bhakti </i>unto you.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>särasvate deve-</i>servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé; spiritual master. We have heard the greatness of our grandfather spiritual master, your <i>guru mahäräja. </i>He was a lion-<i>guru</i>, and on his order you came to the West and saved us. Here you are impressing on us that you are the meek servitor of your spiritual master. You ask us to pray to you in your connection with Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvamé. You are our lord and master and yet you are the servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvamé. “Whatever little success I have achieved,” you’ve told us, is coming from your believing a hundred percent in the words of your spiritual master. You have complete faith in Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda. We cannot understand your intimate relationship with your spiritual master, but we aspire to worship you in your obedience to his order. That you are his servant is also the secret of <i>our </i>success; we want to help you carry out the order of your <i>guru-mahäräja, </i>Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, and thus please him.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>gaura-väé</i>-the message of Lord Caitanya. This is the substance of your teaching. Scholars may say Caitanya Mahäprabhu was a great Vaiçäva saint of long ago, five hundred years past, but He is not still completely with us as we push on Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s <i>saëkértana </i>movement on your order? Yes, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is living in this Hare Kåñëa Movement—Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåsëä Kåñëa, Hare Hare / Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare. You are delivering His message undiluted, and it is being appreciated more and more by young men who are joining you, as well as by learned scholars, as the highest contribution to all living entities. And you have demonstrated in your seventeen volumes of <i>Caitanya-caritämåta, </i>with forcible logic and Vedic evidence, that Caitanya Mahäprabhu is Lord Kåñëa Himself, the cause of all causes.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>pracäriëe-</i>who are preaching. You have well earned retirement millions of times, but you go on preaching. Sometimes you are so weak you cannot stand, you cannot eat, but you go on preaching. “Help the suffering humanity. They are all in ignorance and cannot understand that there is another life. Give them Kåñëa.” It is only rascaldom if we claim not to understand our duty as your disciples. I heard you myself at one initiation, as you handed the <i>sannyäsés </i>their <i>daòas: </i>“Now preach! Preach! Go preach!”</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>nirviçeça-</i>from impersonalism; <i>çünya-vädi-</i>from voidism. Previously we did not even know the disease, although we were inflicted. Now we are cured and equipped to fight all kinds of Mäyävädés. You have trained us all expertly. “I am simply praying,” you have said, “for the mercy to be able to fight on behalf of Caitanya Mahäprabhu.”</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>päçcätya; </i>western; <i>deça-</i>countries. The further west you go in India, people are most like asses, said Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Närada Muni described the western gate of the body as the source of degradation through unrestrained sexual proclivity. But now Kåñëa consciousness is firmly implanted in the West. “The brainwashing books are already there.” It is spreading like an epidemic. We can eventually see the day when the West becomes pious under Kåñëa consciousness. The blind man and the lame man are cooperating. It is all because of your preaching, on the order of Lord Caitanya and Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>täriëe-</i>who are delivering. Please engage us always in your sublime devotional service. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé<br>
GBC-Pacific Northwest, Dallas</p>
<p class="p11">Svarüpa Dämodara däsa, GBC, Minister of Higher Education</p>
<p class="p64"><span class="s16"><b>Svarüpa Dämodara däsa, G</b></span><b>BC, Minister of Higher Education</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe <br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Your Divine Grace, my lord and master, has shown most scientifically that the fundamental principle of knowledge is to know the difference between <i>matter </i>and <i>spirit, </i>that is, between the field of activities and the knower of the field, <i>kñetra-kñetrajëayor jëänam </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 13.3]</span>. It is your divine mercy and priceless gift that we are blessed to see that matter per se is characterized by low information-content. It can be transformed into different complex forms, sizes, colors, tastes, fragrance, etc., of high information-content by the touch of the spirit (life) just like a potter can mold clay into different forms for different purposes. Missing this very basic point, the material scientists are guided by <i>mäyä, </i>the illusory energy of the Divine Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa, <i>mäyayäpahåta-jëänäù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 7.15]</span>. So they take shelter of catch words like “chance,” “molecular evolution,” “mutation,” etc., which can be shown to have no scientific validity whatsoever.</p>
<p class="p7">You have also demonstrated that the ultimate goal of all knowledge is to know Väsudeva, Lord Kåñëa, <i>väsudeva-parä vedäù…</i>(<i>Bhäg. </i>1.2.28)<i>,</i> and the nature of the Absolute Truth must be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have proved without any tinge of doubt that <i>bhakti </i>is the only scientific process by which one can know the actual features of the Absolute Truth and is indeed the very science of the relationship between <i>jévätma </i>and Paramätmä, which is the basis of Kåñëa consciousness and the goal of life.</p>
<p class="p7">How fortunate is this most fallen soul to have been allowed by the all-merciful Lord Hari to have <i>darçana</i> of your lotus feet. Your instructions are so powerful-like the echoing thunder of the monsoon season. “What good is your Ph.D. unless it is used for Kåñëa?” you remarked oftentimes. Your glance is full of compassion and loving care. Remembering your divine instructions constantly makes me fearless like a child in the lap of his mother. Born most lowly, I never know how to behave and speak before Your Divine Grace. You tolerated and forgave all my offenses. There is no one more merciful than you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please allow me to prostrate myself before the dust of your lotus feet birth after birth.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Most fallen servant,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Svarüpa Dämodara däsa<br>
GBC, Minister of Higher Education</p>
<p class="p11">Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé, Personal Secretary to Çréla Prabhupäda, GBC-Northeast USA, China</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé, Personal Secretary to Çréla Prabhupäda, GBC-Northeast USA, China</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>All glories, all glories<br>
To our beloved lord,<br>
Who appeared in lokanätha Mullick’s home<br>
By his own sweet accord.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Jagannätha in procession<br>
With young friends he did play; <br>
Now introduced throughout the world-<br>
Ratha-yäträ Day.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa arcane<br>
From his father he did imbibe,<br>
Installed Them in all nations,<br>
Mankind purified.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Kåñëñ consciousness movement,<br>
Your banner is unfurled.<br>
Mahäprabhu’s message<br>
Now over floods the world.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your books, praised by scholars,<br>
Act as </i>cintämaé<i> stones,<br>
Create Vaikunöha atmosphere<br>
In all your reader’s homes.</i></p>
<p class="p17">Bhagavad-gétä As It Is<br>
<i> Kåñëa unalloyed,<br>
Speculators, interpreters,<br>
Cheaters-all destroyed.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You condemn them without exception,<br>
No one dares reply:<br>
“Anthill civilization,<br>
</i> Çva-viò-varähoçöåa-kharaiù.<i>”</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Mäyäpur’s planetarium,<br>
Våndävana Kåñëa-Balaräma,<br>
Bombay science joins culture<br>
Broadcasting hari-näma.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Blessed are the devotees<br>
Who shelter at thy Feet,<br>
A life imbued with </i>bhakti<br>
<i> Kåñëa surely meet.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your Grace, like the sun<br>
Illuminates the day,<br>
Blind, a fallen soul,<br>
Your mercy I do pray.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvämé<br>
Personal Secretary to Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
GBC-Northeast USA, China</p>
<p class="p9">Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Vyäsa-Püjä Homages from ISKCON centers around the world</b></p>
<p class="p11">Adelaide</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Adelaide</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Gurudeva kåpä-bindu diyä</i></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are the most dear servant of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura because, in spite of all personal difficulties, you have taken his order to preach Kåñëa consciousness all over the world as your life and soul. You are showing us by your example how to advance in Kåñëa consciousness. Give everything to the spiritual master and the spiritual master will give you everything-Kåñëa. O Çréla Prabhupäda, we are so fallen and you are an immeasurable ocean of mercy. We are the most fallen because you have given us the truth and we still reject it. O how unfortunate we are, O Gurudeva. The most sinful man can become Kåñëa conscious simply by a small drop of your mercy—simply by your wish. From Lord Kåñëa’s abode you have come to this hell. O Çréla Prabhupäda, even though we are so unwilling, please drag us back to Kåñëa!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your aspiring servants, </i>Adelaide Mandira</p>
<p class="p49">Vaàçévadana Suväsä däsa brahmacäré / Nirabhadra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Peter / Sarva Lakçaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Patrick / Gaura Maëòala Bhümi däsa brahmacäré / Pürëacandra däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Michael / Räsamaëòala-devé däsé / Veëu Gopäla däsa brahmäcaré / Bhakta John / Dämodara </p>
<p class="p11">Ahmedabad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ahmedabad</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We are indeed proud of offering our humble obeisances unto your most exalted lotus feet. When Jesus Christ was on this earth, he had only a handful of sincerely dedicated disciples, but because he was a genuine master, now Christianity is spread all over the world. We have now no doubt that the message of Kåñëa consciousness is going to sweep across the entire universe hundreds of times more than Christianity. This is because not only are you the most genuine <i>äcärya</i>—representative of God—but you are the most daring devotee. You have truly staked everything to spread the message of Kåñëa. You have not hidden any secrets. You have boldly declared the supremacy of Kåñëa in a place where they had hardly heard about Him. When every other Vaiñëava Godbrother of yours was afraid of dirtying his hands to pick up the fallen souls, you picked up the challenge and put your hands in the most foul muck of the Western materialistic existence. As a result, thousands of impure creatures like us are stuck to your lotus hand. Just as the fish which is flapping in the sand gets relief when put back in water, or a traveller in the desert gets new life when he sees a reservoir of water, we have found our home in your fearless shelter.</p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is unlimited and all-pervading. Once you told us, “Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has warned that the spiritual master should not take too many disciples, but I am still taking many disciples, because if I don't where will they go? What will be their fate?" This mercy of yours is your unique quality. Actually, because of taking so many sinful people as disciples, your health has deteriorated. You have no <i>karmas</i> to pay for, but since you are accepting the sinful reactions of your fallen disciples, who sometimes go back to their old sinful habits, you are suffering. Of course, you are above any suffering because you are absorbed in the thoughts of Kåñëa, but your sickness breaks our hearts. Recently when Your Divine Grace was sick in Mäyäpur, one night your body was burning with high fever, and I was trying to massage you with the broken heart, grief and anxiety, being unable to take away your fever. But you all of a sudden started speaking: "Why are these rascal scientists saying life comes from matter?" and another time you asked, "What do they say when we say everything belongs to Kåñëa?" So even in the midst of heavy fever you are only thinking how to deliver the fallen souls and how to save them from the atheistic propaganda which is going on everywhere. You are actually showing us how to be perfect Vaiñëavas. Even though you are the spiritual master of the entire universe, everyone thinks you are his friend. You are not taking any credit for all your achievements. You are just saying, "It is all because of the grace of my guru-mahäräja," and whatever remaining credit, you give to your disciples. "Because you are all serving me so nicely, everything is going on nicely." Once someone was saying in Mäyäpur when the temple was completed, "Now Çréla Prabhupäda’s desire is fulfilled." Then you immediately said, "Not my desire. It was Bhaktivinoda Thäkura's desire that Bengali devotees and Western devotees shall dance together glorifying the holy name of the Lord. So now his desire has come true. Who am I?" You always enthuse your disciples with your ever-dynamic preaching ideas. Your desire is to see that every human being becomes Kåñëa conscious. Just as Väsudeva Datta was willing to take over the sinful reactions of all the people of the world so that they may become eternally happy, you also want to make everyone happy by making him Kåñëa conscious at the cost of anything.</p>
<p class="p7">Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda, you are a thunderbolt for the <i>bhogé yogés</i> and Mäyävädés, but for your devotees you are like a rose petal. Somehow or other we have now smelled the rose of your lotus feet and gained the life eternal, full of bliss and knowledge. Please give us the grace and strength so that we may stick to your lotus feet and continue this most exalted mission that you have started.</p>
<p class="p7">We are very sincerely praying at your lotus feet that you may get whatever health we have and the remaining years of our useless lives. One moment of your being on this earth is worth hundreds of lifetimes of ignorant fools like us. So please stay on this earth and remain the shelter for thousands of afflicted living beings.</p>
<p class="p7">Your qualities are unlimited, and only Çukadeva Gosvämé or Lord Çiva or Närada can glorify you properly. We are contaminated and ignorant dogs of yours. How much can we glorify you?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>cakhu-däna dilä jei, janme janme prabhu sei<br>
divya-jïäna håde prakäçita<br>
prema-bhakti jähä haite, abidyä binäça jäte<br>
bede gäya jähära carita</i></p>
<p class="p74"><b>He who has given me the gift of transcendental vision is my lord, birth after birth. By his mercy, divine knowledge is revealed within the heart, bestowing </b><b><i>prema-bhakti </i></b><b>and destroying ignorance. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character. </b><span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> <b>3</b>] </span></p>
<p class="p7">Please forgive our countless offenses and bestow your causeless mercy. We prostrate at your lotus feet again and again.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servants at ISKCON Ahmedabad</p>
<p class="p49">Yaçomatinandana däsa adhikäré / Kåñëanäma däsa brahmacäré / Radhakunda-devé däsé / Devadharma däsa brahmacäré / Upendra Muni Prabhu / Sundaré-devé däsé / Kåñëavallabha däsa brahmacäré / Kumära Prabhu / Karuëämaya däsa brahmacäré / Jagdéça Prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Amsterdam</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Formerly, we had no desire for becoming Kåñëa conscious and were shamelessly serving the unlimited orders of lusty desires, without even wanting to give them up. But now you have awakened our spiritual intelligence and taught us to disobey the demands of <i>mäyä</i>. Now we are feeling somewhat relieved, having realized what a dangerous predicament we were in. We were just like blind men walking on a cliffside with jagged rocks below. We think, therefore, that you have saved our lives; indeed, you have saved us from unlimited suffering through millions of lives. What can we say or do, therefore, to express our gratitude? Certainly we cannot ever repay this debt to you. By your mercy the gateway to liberation has been opened.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Mahat-seväà dväram ähur vimukteù</i>, we pray that we may follow your instructions without deviation or concoction and thus not cause you pain. You are kindly allowing us to assist you in the worship of Çré Çré Rädhä Gopinätha and in spreading the mission of Lord Caitanya. Without your mercy the whole world would have gone to hell, but, by your presence, millions will be saved.</p>
<p class="p7">How can we estimate our good fortune to be living on the same planet, which has become a <i>tértha</i> by the touch of your lotus feet, what to speak of actually being members of your movement? Certainly we must be amongst the most fortunate souls in the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON Amsterdam</p>
<p class="p49">Locanänanda däsa adhikäré / Ätmänanda däsa adhikäré / Térthasädhaka däsa adhikäré / Vimuktasaìga däsa adhikäré / Hayeçvara däsa adhikäré / Raëadurmada däsa adhikäré / Bidaïcandra däsa adhikäré / Veìkaöeça däsa adhikäré / Mahotsaha däsa brahmacäré / Bhavasindhupüta däsa brahmacäré / Vasüttama däsa brahmacäré / Mahävidyä däsa brahmacäré / Mågapati däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Yaçodä-vatsala däsa brahmacäré / Jïänaräja däsa brahmacäré / Mathurä däsa brahmacäré / Våñëi-vaàça däsa brahmacäré / Bhäñyakära däsa brahmacäré / Akhiladhära däsa brahmacäré / Väyuvahana däsa brahmacäré / Divasiàha däsa brahmacäré / Präëa däsa brahmacäré / Echamaya däsa brahmacäré / Trilokanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Gad / Bhakta Gordan / Bhakta Maximo / Bhakta Clive / Bhakta Karl Heinz / Bhakta Jacinto / Bhakta Jerry / Bhakta Manuel / Bhakta Jimmy / Bhakta Leo / Bhakta Arnold / Bhakta Ebel / Bhakta Ed / Bhakta Cesar / Bhakta Maha Michael / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Gerto / Baväné-devé däsé / Sailendriya-devé däsé / Nikuïjaväsiné-devé däsé / Näbhasvaté-devé däsé / Lalitä-kuëòa-devé däsé / Ugrasena-devé däsé / Ahärada-devé däsé / Gurubhakta-devé däsé / Marutvaté-devé däsé / Kämadhenu-devé däsé / Kapardiné-devé däsé / Rämaëéya-devé däsé / Vedasmåti-devé däsé / Ärdra-devé däsé / Santala-devé däsé / Bhakta Roepvati / Bhakta Ingrid / Bhakta Jean Louis / Bhakta Rene / Bhakta Manzalya / Rüpa Maïjaré / Kåñëa Caitanya Gaurahari / Inga / Miriam</p>
<p class="p11">Ann Arbor</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ann Arbor</b></p>
<p class="p7">"Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death." (<i>Bg</i>. 13.26)</p>
<p class="p7">The essence of religion can be enunciated only by the Personality of Godhead Himself. Kåñëa knows everything perfectly and the pure devotee is only speaking exactly what Kåñëa speaks. Therefore, to hear from him means to receive the unadulterated Absolute Truth. When Kåñëa is known all things become known, and that understanding illuminates everything as the sun lights up the day. Like dark and light, side by side coexisting, the surrendered soul experiences sublime life even in this world (<i>brahma-bhütaù prasannätmä</i> <i>Bg</i>. 18.54) while the mundaner is always filled with anxieties and grief. The simple difference is the speck in the eye, the arrogant refusal to see the world as designed for Kåñëa's pleasure.</p>
<p class="p7">This perspective is the gift of the bona fide spiritual master. He does not take the risks and burdens of the material world merely to deliver some temporary trinket of mystic <i>siddhis</i>, or a coyly turned rationale for dog and hog life. He is delivering eternal life, full of bliss and knowledge—nothing less—to all who are willing to strive for it. Because the pure devotee has actually seen the truth, he can bring the haze of ambiguous terms-Supreme, absolute, liberation, oneness—into the crystal—clear focus of ever-youthful Rädhä and Kåñëa, surrounded by eternal loving servitors in the transcendental land of <i>cintämaëi</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore our obligation is clear-salvation delivered in exchange for sincere service. As that father invests time and trouble in an infant child with the hope that the child will become a good son later to assist him, so we are always praying to become mature sons and daughters able to assist in maintaining and increasing Lord Caitanya's <i>saìkértana</i> movement. May we always feel indebted.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Badarinäräyaëa däsa / Bhakta Eric / Amara-devé däsé / Yamunätaöacara däsa / Bhakta Lonnie / Devala-devé däsé / Mitravän däsa / Bhakta Tim / Néla Mädhava-devé<b> </b>däsé / Paripürëa däsa / Navasé-devé däsé / Anasüyä-devé däsé / Vaàçi däsa / Dhenumaté-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Atlanta</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Atlanta</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By nature's own way we have all been bewildered.<br>
In every step vexed, through this world we meandered</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Without proper purpose in so many species.<br>
Blind fools, our own suffering we saw but did not</i><b><i> </i></b><i>see</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your fixed lotus feet offering shelter to all.<br>
Grieving, waiting in hell for your mercy to fall,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Bereft of your guidance to life's real purpose.<br>
Confused, nay, perplexed-and of God hardly curious-</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>How could souls such as we ever know something higher<br>
Than lamenting and hankering-without your desire?</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>Brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-Kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Guru Mahäräja, you have given us the seed of life, the priceless science of <i>bhakti</i>. Please look upon us favorably as we attempt to water the seed, for if you are not enlivened by our service then we are only dead bodies, having no value to anyone.</p>
<p class="p7">You, Çréla Prabhupäda, are of all value to everyone; a transparent via medium for Kåñëa's mercy, revealing real life where before was only nescience. Save the whole world, Prabhupäda, somehow or other please save them all.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept us among your foot servants and order carriers.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><b>New Panihati</b></p>
<p class="p49">Gokularaïjana däsa / Dénäçraya däsa / Sväha-devé däsé / Bhakta Nick / Jayasena däsa / Dvärakä däsa / Jaöilä-devé däsé / Bhakta Jeff / Rädhämohana däsa / Bhakta Gerry / Bhaktin Cindy / Bhakta Rowland / Carudeñëa däsa / Bhakta Walter / Bhaktin Sandy / Balavé-devé däsé / Haricaraëa däsa / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Kim / Tärä-devé däsé / Saìkarñaëa däsa / Bhakta Gabriel / Janaka Åñi däsa / Devaké-devé däsé / Vaiñëavänanda däsa / Bhakta Jerry / Muräri-sevaka / Påçni-devé däsé / Ramaëotsuka däsa / Bhakta Bryan / Balavanta däsa / Çyämaprabhä-devé däsé / Balabhadra / Bhakta John / Janamejaya däsa / Bhaööäcärya däsa / Bhakta Don / Mahäçakti däsa / Karuëäpürëaçakti-devé däsé / Darpada däsa / Bhakta Steve / Muräri Gupta / Devé däsé / Vedaguhya däsa / Näradé-devé däsé / Mahejya däsa / Bhaktin Didri / Kokika däsa / Mädhuryalélänanda- devé däsé / Sahaçåìghré däsa / Sädhu / Haàsagati däsa / Amoghavérya däsa / Darubrahma / Maitreya däsa / Madanamohané-devé däsé / Sarvasiddhipata däsa / Çravaëamaìgala / Paramparä däsa / Bakula däsa / Kåñëarnayé / Nirguëa däsa / Danakeli-devé däsé / Çyämakuëòa däsa / Rasämåta</p>
<p class="p11">Auckland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Auckland</b></p>
<p class="p7">Before attempting to glorify you, Çréla Prabhupäda, let us first offer our heads at your lotus feet. By the power of our minds, and by our so-called knowledge, we can not properly see or understand you; how then can we hope to offer you the praise that you really deserve? It is not possible. Our only hope, therefore, of presenting a nice offering to you on this auspicious day of Vyäsa-püjä is if, by your mercy, we can give up (if even for a moment) the ascending method of approach, and witness our own frailties and impurities. In such a state of humility, one may see just how far away from Kåñëa he actually is and thereby simultaneously perceive how close to Kåñëa you are. Only in such a state of utter humility and love is it actually possible to offer you sincere praise. Before continuing, let us apologize that we have not come to this condition. Lacking such humility, our offering will surely be laced with deceit and pretence. It will certainly be childish and lacking in sincerity. We hope you will forgive us for this.</p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is the mercy manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As such he can never be considered separate or different from Kåñëa. If one is fortunate enough to meet such a spiritual master, it is as good as meeting Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45].</p>
<p class="p7">Thus we are very fortunate to have your association, Çréla Prabhupäda, for associating with the pure devotee is as good as associating with Kåñëa. Similarly, your instructions are nondifferent from the instructions of Çré Kåñëa, for you are His external manifestation.</p>
<p class="p7">Because of our lamentable condition, and owing to the fact that we find it difficult to utilize anything other than our senses in the pursuit of knowledge, Kåñëa has sent you to us. You are a liberated devotee; you are a <i>çaktyäveça-avatära</i>, an empowered incarnation of Kåñëa Himself, appearing only for the benefit of the most fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">"Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the Supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a spiritual master is no one other than Kåñëa Himself." <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi lélä </i>1.53)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Your mercy is distributed in the form of transcendental sound, and by hearing you speak and by receiving your orders we have incurred a debt that can never really be repaid. The burden of such a debt is not really a burden, however; it is a great joy, for the spiritual doorway has been opened. Now it is up to us to enter or not to enter. The only repayment we can make for taking these instructions is to act on them. This is the open secret of transcendental life. The spiritual master can be pleased by one who follows his instructions, and not otherwise. Our great hope is that someday we may be able to actually please you with body, mind and words. This is the way in which a sincere disciple can genuinely honor or glorify his spiritual master. This Vyäsa-püjä offering is like a tiny candle offered to a great sun, and we are ashamed that it could not be nicer.</p>
<p class="p7">from your humble servants,</p>
<p class="p7">Hare Kåñëa Marae and North Shore</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine </i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. You are always absorbed in the thoughts of Lord Kåñëa and cannot forget Him even for a moment.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mac-cittä mad-gata-präëä bodhayantaù parasparam<br>
kathayantaç ca mäà nityaà tuñyanti ca ramanti ca</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 10.9]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, everything you do and say and plan is as good as Kåñëa's plan. Therefore you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are very victorious and successful in your preaching mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. You are a true <i>mahätmä</i>, always glorifying the<b> </b>Lord.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>satataà kértayanto mäà yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù<br>
namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä nitya-yuktä upäsate</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg. </i>9.14]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you can make this whole world God conscious and make everyone servant of Kåñëa instead of servant of the senses, because the embodied soul, by his immemorial desire to avoid Kåñëa consciousness, causes his own bewilderment. Due to this he forgets his constitutional position as eternal, blissful servant of Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tad viddhi praëipätena paripraçnena sevayä<br>
upadekñyanti te jïänaà jïäninas tattva-darçinaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a bona fide spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, by inquiring submissively and rendering service like a menial servant without false prestige and satisfying you is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service and inquiries to the spiritual master it will not be effective. Therefore, when the student is submissive and always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>api ced asi päpebhyaù sarvebhyaù päpa-kåt-tamaù<br>
sarvaà jïäna-plavenaiva våjinaà santariñyasi</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated on the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 4.36]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we, as your disciples, would like to become very disciplined to your instructions and become your menial servants.<b> </b>Even<b> </b>though we are so conditioned in our existence, we pray that you may accept our insignificant service so that we may purify our existence to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali-yuga.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà<br>
karëa-dhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we have been indulging in so much sense gratification for so many hundreds and thousands of years, and finally by the grace of Lord Kåñëa we have come in contact with a pure devotee like yourself, Çréla Prabhupäda!!</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"Upon traversing this whole material creation of Lord Brahmä, one fortunate soul might get the <i>bhakti-latä</i> (seed of devotion). This happens by the grace of guru and Kåñëa."</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Añöasiddhi däsa adhikäré / Vasusveça däsa brahmacäré / Rämaëéya-devi däsé / Sahadeva däsa adhikäré / Vrajaräja däsa brahmacäré / Rädhikä Ramaëa-devé däsé / Pärvaté däsa adhikäré / Vinoda däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktin Cilia / Bhütanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Mike / Bhaktin Janice / Uñäpati däsa brahmacäré / Jïänamürti-devé däsé / Bhaktin Ricky</p>
<p class="p11">Australia BBT TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Australia BBT TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Hare Kåñëa! Please accept our most humble obeisances and our prostrated selves in the dust of your lotus feet. We beg to offer you our service for the rest of eternity, and the following prayer for your pleasure to commemorate the most blessed event for all: your appearance day in this world. </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Eight Prayers Glorifying the Spiritual Master</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Invocation:</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Ordained was the time in '65<br>
when His Divine Grace first came<br>
with </i>Bhägavatams<i>, $7 and sweet </i>hari-näma<i>,<br>
our lives were never the same.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i> You came to us with our eyes shut tight; <br>
delivering souls is your mission.<br>
illuminating our ignorance with knowledge so bright<br>
you freed us from </i>mäyä's<i> condition.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i> You gave us the choice to serve </i>mäyä<i> or God,<br>
and going 'Back Home' is the goal,<br>
</i>prema-bhakti<i> to Kåñëa, the means and the end<br>
only service to you is the toll.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>"Distribute my books! Distribute my books,<br>
distribute my books to please me!"<br>
and pleasure to you is pleasure to Kåñëa.<br>
Life's meant for that opportunity.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Our previous lives, inexperienced by years,<br>
that moment you came was our start,<br>
now </i>saìkértana<i> is our 'life and soul',<br>
your instructions engraved in our hearts.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>With determination, enthusiasm and patience we'll fight<br>
</i>Mäyä's<i> onslaughts, with you at command; <br>
You 're like Hanumän bridging the gap to Çré Laìkä,<br>
we're small spiders just kicking the sand.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O</i><b><i> </i></b><i>eternal father, please bestow upon us<br>
sincere service; so our Lord we can meet,<br>
after drowning so long in this ocean of death<br>
help us cling to your sweet lotus feet!!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Blessed's the day when Çré Kåñëa appeared,<br>
Çré Kåñëa Caitanya and you, and we pray<br>
the day you return to cintämaëi-dhäma<br>
we'll stay </i>däsas<i> to you, our prabhu.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Australian BBT-TSKP</p>
<p class="p49">Gopinäthacärya däsa / Kåpä-kära däsa / Añöasiddhi däsa / Ädipuruña däsa / Ätmäräma däsa / Alalanätha däsa / Jïänasamudra däsa / Ganeça däsa / Guëa-vraté-devé däsé / Jïänamürti-devé däsé / Atéta-guëa-devé däsé / Aparäjita-devé däsé / Jaleyu-devé däsé / Çrélekhä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Jackie</p>
<p class="p11">Baltimore</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Baltimore</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen, worthless obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. You are the most glorious personality and you are the savior of the entire world. From your lotus mouth showers the transcendental rain of Lord Caitanya's pastimes of mercy, which destroys all the ignorance of this material world.</p>
<p class="p7">When this nectar mixes with the flood of devotional service, emanating just like moonbeams from your lotus feet, an ocean of Kåñëa <i>prema</i> surges forth. Every place that Your Divine Grace's lotus feet set down unlock the floodgate of this love of Kåñëa, and all the living entities there become drowned in the holy name of the Lord. Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">We fall at your feet again and again. You are the supreme friend<b> </b>of<b> </b>everyone and you are the <i>äcärya</i> of the three worlds.</p>
<p class="p7">We are lowly, filthy, rotten and the most contaminated entities, and you, dear Çréla Prabhupäda, are the only hope for such weak-willed and evil-hearted souls as us. We are madly engaged in chewing the chewed and sinking deeper and deeper into the hell of material life, completely and grossly covered with illusion.</p>
<p class="p7">You are so kind, tolerant, expert and merciful that you are repeatedly saving us again and again from the burning stench of this illusion.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Your golden face is just like the rising sun, and from your golden heart emanates the moonlight of compassion. When your golden lotus lips narrate the ripened fruit and essence of transcendental knowledge, you open our eyes and hearts<b> </b>to<b> </b>the eternal beauty and bliss of Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">We are now afraid of this material world. We don't want to take birth here anymore and work hard like an ass, foaming at the mouth, full of frustration and anxiety, and always being defeated by death: <i>pa, pha. ba, bha, ma.</i></p>
<p class="p7">All this just to chew the chewed.</p>
<p class="p7">You are our only shelter and you have so mercifully saved us from this eternal hell.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given us the chance to be eternally young, blissful, and full of knowledge, just as you are. All fear of life is gone when we remember Your Divine Grace. When we chant Hare Kåñëa we feel ourselves to be the most fortunate people in the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, being your insignificant servant is better than any other position in the three worlds. We can never repay you, Çréla Prabhupäda, nor do we even want that day to ever come that we are not eternally indebted to you. Our prayer is that the full meaning and purpose of our human form of life, which you have causelessly unveiled to us, be fulfilled with Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">Let us remain forever as your tiny servants, and Your Divine Grace our spotless and pure spiritual master. Keep us forever as dust under your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants at ISKCON Baltimore</p>
<p class="p11">Berkeley</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Berkeley</b></p>
<p class="p7">All Glories to Your Divine Grace</p>
<p class="p7">The struggle for existence does not take place for one in spiritual consciousness. You are absorbed in your service to Kåñëa, and so you are unaffected by the three modes.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>daivé hy eñä guëa-mayé mama mäyä duratyayä<br>
mäm eva ye prapadyante mäyäm etäà taranti te<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. <i>7.14</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We are here in the material world, and except for yourself, most of us are in a material consciousness. By your mercy you have descended to this stool house, bringing with you the spiritual world and spiritual knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">Just as Kåñëa descends in the human form, you appear displaying Lord Caitanya's pastimes—but the unintelligent, such as myself, have no appreciation for pure devotees such as yourself.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are <i>jagad-guru</i>, enacting this <i>Saìkértana</i> mission right here in this most degraded culture. The people here are of the lowest caliber of <i>mlecchas</i> and <i>çüdras</i>. And you, my divine master, have left your beloved Goloka Våndävana to come and engage them properly in Kåñëa's service.</p>
<p class="p7">The sinful activities of these Western people are but a reflection of my own sinister and envious mentality. You have given me the process for cleansing my body and soul, but I become slack unless chastised often. I pray to you for the strength to follow your teachings.</p>
<p class="p7">For all the knowledge and happiness you are bringing to us, the only thing you ask in return is that we distribute your mercy to others in the form of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> and <i>Bhagavad-gitä</i>, which can make the whole world Kåñëa conscious. We are so fortunate to have a chance to partake in this spiritual activity of dispersing knowledge which frees the soul of millions of sinful reactions.</p>
<p class="p7">However, most unfortunately, I have no strong desire to carry out your order. I simply want to live comfortably in the temple, enjoying my senses and doing whatever service satisfies me. By my self-motivated mentality, I have no compassion or love, and making someone else happy is only secondary.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are <i>brahma-bhütaù prasannätmä</i>: not affected by these material modes in which I am so deeply entwined, just as a snake tightly wraps his victim who is so foolish as to venture into dangerous areas.</p>
<p class="p7">You have taught me that "Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others." But when my service is praised I become enlivened, and when I am chastised I become morose.</p>
<p class="p7">You are unattached to everything in this world, and you are drawn to Kåñëa like filings to a powerful magnet. You are always telling us about Kåñëa and His pastimes and His service:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>satataà kértayanto mäà yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù<br>
namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä nitya-yuktä upäsate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 9.14</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">If only I can be attracted by your unparalleled good qualities and leave the undesirable association of my mind. I am struggling for material satisfaction, controlled by my unbridled senses and my monkeylike activities, which cover any of my good features.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you have saved me from falling off the cliff of human life into the cycle of evolution. If somehow, by your mercy alone, I can keep on distributing your books, and develop some appreciation of your appearance, then my life will become all-auspicious and successful.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept my prostrate obeisances at your lotus feet, and please don't kick me away into the<b> </b>mire of nescience from which you dragged me.</p>
<p class="p7">I pray to you to give me the strength to carry out your order.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen and offensive servants,</p>
<p class="p7">New Jagannatha Puri Dhama, Berkeley</p>
<p class="p49">Cäru däsa, Båhaspati däsa / Svayaïjata däsa / Bhakta däsa / Hanumat-prasaka däsa / Krta-karmä däsa / Yäjïavalkaya däsa / Rämänuja däsa / Vyäla däsa / Lokanätha däsa / Mauri däsa / Çakti-pati däsa / Vatsala däsa / Viçoka däsa / Maharñi däsa / Bhäskara däsa / Våndävana-candra däsa / Varuëa däsa / Kuna-kära däsa / Trilocana däsa / Parvata Muni däsa / Haripäda däsa / Tapanäcärya däsa / Magaräja däsa / Mahä-Nidhi däsa / Rämäçraya däsa / Jïäna-gati däsa / Jagadeça däsa, / Pravananada däsa / Mitrasena däsa / Svaka däsa / Candraçekhara däsa / Nimäi däsa / Gohita däsa / Bhadravardhana däsa / Bäla däsa / Thäkur Haridäsa däsa / Miçra Bhagavän däsa / Jéva däsa / Ravi däsa, / Bhakta Gilbert / Bhakta Bopot / Bhakta Alien / Bhakta Al / Bhakta Jack / Bhakta Jamil / Bhakta Richard / Vaibhavé-devé däsé / Rüpa-maïjari-devé däsé / Lamba-devé däsé / Lélä-devé däsé / Kåñëa-laulya-devé däsé / Maheçvarya-devé däsé / Kasta-devé däsé / Patraja-devé däsé / Nada-devé däsé / Nityarüpa-devé däsé / Lolä-devé däsé / Jayabhadrä-devé däsé / Buddhi-devé däsé / Çubhalakñmi-devé däsé / Déneñöa-devé däsé / Maniné-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Varäha-devé däsé / Karuëä-devé däsé / Çoëapuré-devé däsé / Kopalatika-devé däsé / Kaëva-devé däsé / Kalilalitä-devé däsé / Prabala-devé däsé, / Sudharmä-devé däsé / Masiné-devé däsé / Jagannätha-Puri- devé däsé / Lélä-smaraëa-devé däsé / Rohiëé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Lola / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Jean-Marie, / Bhaktin Katy / Bhaktin Lyn / Bhaktin Clare / Jagannätha / Balaräma / Kåñëa / Sämba / Lokapäla / Dhruva / Subhadrä / Våëdä / Jayadevé / Yogamäyä / Lalitä / Mahämäyä / Devaké</p>
<p class="p11">BBT Library Party</p>
<p class="p10"><b>BBT Library Party</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrate obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu</i>, Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé states:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>anäsaktasya viñayän yathärham upayuïjataù<br>
nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe yuktaà vairägyam ucyate</i></p>
<p class="p7">“When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kåñëa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness." <span class="s3">[<i>Brs</i> 1.2.255] </span>As the most exalted <i>rüpänuga</i>, you embody this, Çréla Prabhupäda. For example, if a wretched, bewildered <i>jéva</i> reluctantly offers some service to you, as Kåñëa's most intimate devotee you display your magnanimous nature by accepting that service, however faulty, and the <i>jéva</i> benefits by helping spread Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore, you are the most expert and wonderful spiritual master, and we thank you for engaging us on the BBT Library Party. Although you found us uneducated (even by <i>mleccha</i> standards), you have enthused and dispatched us to preach to the "intelligensia" who, at best, are no better than drunken Jagäis and Mädhäis in the garb of "Ph.D., professor, and dean." Now, you are enabling even them to become purified by serving Kåñëa. Some are purchasing your books; some are recommending them to libraries. And some scholars, in circles where ass-like braying is the theme song, have suddenly produced sweet praises for you and your books, such as these:</p>
<p class="p16">"It is axiomatic that no book can be expected to entirely satisfy all its potential readers. Here is one, however, which can be said to come remarkably close to that ideal...." (re: <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>)</p>
<p class="p16">"It is really astonishing how Çréla Prabhupäda is able to translate the entire <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> single handed, and when one comes to think of this, apart from his other great literary works, one is tempted to wonder if he is not the same Vyäsa Muni reborn today to adapt his own old work into a universal language of this age for the spiritual upliftment of the modern man."</p>
<p class="p7">Let them utilize your books more and more, as textbooks, reference books, required or extra-credit reading, and, eventually, as the solution to their ghostly-haunted lives of mental speculation and fruitive activity. Already, hundreds have written reviews; thousands have purchased individually; and at least two thousand libraries (public, private, and university libraries alike, representing eighteen countries on four continents) have utilized BBT's standing order service to acquire a complete set of your books for their patrons.</p>
<p class="p7">So let the philosophers and religionists irrigate their "comparative approach" with the life-giving nectar of your preaching, Çréla Prabhupäda. Let the literary specialists satisfy their passion for adventure and love by reading <i>kåñëa-lélä</i> as rendered through the lotuslike lips of a pure devotee. May the sanskritists and Indologists, squinting at the diacritics, expand their vision to the extent of actually understanding the books they study, by utilizing your editions. Even the sociologists, artists, lawyers, and biologists can utilize your books, for as you said, "I touch on these fields whenever possible."</p>
<p class="p7">Grasping for words to represent even one percent of your divine glory on this Vyäsa-püjä day, we simply offer to you our Library Party services as one more example of what unqualified disciples can do with the help of a bona fide guru:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande çré-guruà déna-täraëam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains."</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please allow us to utilize our lives in your service under any circumstances.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants, The International BBT Library Party</p>
<p class="p49">Satsvarüpa däsa Gosvämé / Kälakaëöha däsa brahmacäré / Gokulänanda däsa adhikäré / Bhügarbha däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Buddhi däsa brahmacäré / Rädha Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Ghanaçyäma däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Krama däsa brahmacäré / Iça däsa brahmacäré / Çeña däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Bhaktivedanta Institute</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhaktivedanta Institute</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Real science means to approach a bona fide spiritual master and submissively inquire from him about the Absolute Truth in a spirit of sincere service. In this way one can learn the truth through practical realization in a systematic and effective way. Without spiritual knowledge, scientists, philosophers and scholars can only develop educational systems that basically amount to what has been called "intellectual animalism." This means that the result of their knowledge is directed ultimately toward the bodily necessities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. These necessities, common to both men and animals, are met in the animal kingdom without universities. The human society should also take care of these necessities without great endeavor and thus free the human intellect for higher purposes.</p>
<p class="p7"> <i>Athäto brahma-jijïäsä </i><span class="s3">[</span><i>1.1.1]</i>, the motto of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, expresses this higher purpose perfectly. The human form of life is meant for inquiring into what I am, what God is, what the meaning of life and the goal of knowledge is. These are the questions of thoughtful men, and one must know the proper process for answering them—<i>tad viddhi praëipätena</i>, by approaching the spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p7"> Those who simply want to work hard for sense gratification cannot understand that life is a principle distinct from and superior to matter, and that the supreme life is Kåñëa. All scientific, literary and philosophical research should be directed toward this conclusion, <i>idaà hi puàsas tapasaù çrutasya vä sviñöasya süktasya ca buddhi-dattayoh</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.5.22]</span>. Once having cleared away all doubts by careful understanding that Kåñëa is everything, <i>väsudevaù sarvam iti</i>, then one should fully surrender unto Him, <i>sarva-dharmän parityajya</i>, engaging everything in His devotional service. In this way by fixing the mind on Kåñëa in pure, unalloyed devotional service <i>man-manä bhava mad-bhaktaù</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 18.65]</span>, one can attain the supreme destination of life and go back home, back to Godhead, <i>yänti mad-yäjino 'pi mäm </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 9.25]</span>. The practical achievement of this goal can be realized simply by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master, accepting him as the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord.</p>
<p class="p7"> We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Essential truth concisely spoken is true eloquence. In a few words you can eloquently point out that which thousands of years of human speculation have failed to discover. Thus you are the greatest scientist, the most perfect professor, the most learned scholar and our most beloved spiritual father. You are not concerned with the mundane wranglings of inert minds, but you fill our hearts with transcendental knowledge, divya-jïana håde prakäçita. Attachment to your lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires. We can feel very secure in carrying out your instructions perfectly. You have mercifully taught us to abandon the grinding mill of arrogant scholarship and to take up the path of humble endeavor in devotional service as the path of knowledge. By your mercy only is our success assured.</p>
<p class="p11">Bhuvaneçvara</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bhuvaneçvara</b></p>
<p class="p7">Today is the one day set aside especially for the glorification of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Of course, every day we are worshiping His Divine Grace: <i>Çré-guru-caraëa-padma</i>. The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. This is our daily prayer, but it is on this day, his glorious appearance day, that we stop and make a double appreciation of our lord and master, who so graciously bestowed his mercy on us by appearing on this day. Although every day in the association of a pure devotee is a festive occasion, the day on which he appears for giving us this daily association is doubly important and most dear to our hearts. He has appeared the day after the appearance day of Lord Çré Kåñëa, which illustrates the ancient Vedic adage "by the mercy of Kåñëa one gets guru"—now by the guru's mercy we shall be able to get Kåñëa. <i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span>. Here in this verse Viçvanätha Cakravaté Thäkura emphasizes, as does Narottama däsa Thäkura in <i>Çré-guru-caraëa-padma</i>, the divine importance of having the transcendental spiritual guide. As the student without a teacher is a fool, the ship without a captain is sunk, the mountain climber without a guide is lost, so similarly the spiritual aspirant without the divine master is doomed to failure on the path to spiritual perfection.</p>
<p class="p7"> Human life begins at the point when one accepts with faith and devotion a spiritual master for his guidance out of the darkness of ignorance. But who is to be chosen, and how, is of the utmost importance, for to choose an impostor as a guide on the path of transcendence is the paramount danger which one may meet on his sojourn through this material world; nay, it can practically mean his eternal damnation here. As the teacher without a degree cannot teach, as a captain cannot sail without thorough experience, as the mountain guide cannot lead without having gone the path himself before, similarly the spiritual master which one chooses must be full completely with the required qualifications to guide one back along the venerable but difficult path of transcendence. The first and foremost is that he is an <i>äcärya</i> in the bona fide line of disciplic succession. Therein all qualifications are contained. First we should examine the disciplic succession and what it means: It is the unbroken chain of spiritual masters who have handed down intact the divine message of pure devotional service as it was enunciated by the original spiritual master, Çré Kåñëa, to His first disciple, Lord Brahmä. There is never any addition or subtraction made. As it was received, so it was given—the transcendental message. It is out of divine love and faith for the Lord that the spiritual masters will never change the message of the Lord, lest their heart of hearts be drowned in a ocean of grief at disappointing their beloved. So the <i>äcärya</i> is one who through his thought, word and deeds teaches the message of the disciplic succession, as inculcated to him by the guru, the <i>çästras</i> and <i>sädhus</i>—previous saints in the line, and it is this alone which makes one qualified to be the preceptor of the spiritual path.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, the eminent scholar and intimate disciple and associate of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and poet among poets in Vaiñëava literature, has deftly praised the qualities of an <i>äcärya</i> in his concise but powerful and sweet treatise the <i>Upadeçämåta</i>. In the first verse<b> </b>he<b> </b>enunciates:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>väco vegaà manasaù krodha-vegaà<br>
jihvä-vegam udaropastha-vegam<br>
etän vegän yo viñaheta dhéraù<br>
sarväm apémäà påthivéà sa çiñyät </i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Vaco vegam</i>-It is most difficult to control the urge to speak. The tongue is most voracious and eager to speak always and anything, without cessation. It is he who can always control the ever-swaggering tongue and train it to vibrate transcendental sound only. Then he alone can become the <i>äcärya</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Manasaù krodha-vegam—</i>"My dear Kåñëa," Arjuna entreats, "is it not more difficult to control the mind than to control the raging wind?" The mind is so stubborn and obstinate that it controls the intelligence at times, but he who trains the mind to concentrate always on the beautiful cowherd boy Govinda, His form, name, pastimes, paraphernalia and associates, he alone can be an <i>äcärya</i>. Did not Viçvämitra the great sage become angry with Rambhä, did not Brahmä the creator of the universe become furious with the Kumäras, did not Lord Çiva, who is Mahädeva, burn Cupid to ashes in rage, but did not Lord Viñëu massage the feet of Bhågu upon the latter's insult? It is only when one is in the transcendental mode of pure goodness that one can be free of anger, because anger is the product of lust, and lust is the product of attachment via contemplation of the objects of the senses. So it is only one whose mind is fixed on the Supreme Lord, whose speech always glorifies the transcendental Lord, and whose gross senses, the tongue, the mind and the genital, are always withdrawn from the objects of the senses—completely controlled—he can renounce anger, the loss of which brings boundless joy. He alone can become an <i>äcärya</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jihvä-vegam—</i>"The only way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is the old American quotation. The lusty desires of the cook are transferred through the food to the mind of the waiting recipient; the wicked desires of the hotel's cook are also readily available in the fancy prepared dishes. The heart is an open receptacle for the wicked and lusty desires of the cooks who prepare foodstuff's, which encourage sinful activities, save and except the foodstuffs prepared by the hands of the ardent devotee of the Lord for the exclusive pleasure of the Lord, the remnants of which are distributed and shared with great relish after being offered to the Lord by the devotee. One who can, with all the determination at his command, remove all desires for tasting anything but Çré Kåñëa's divine remnants can alone be called an <i>äcärya</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"> <i>Udaropastha-vegam—</i>one should not endeavor to make the body fat and strong, thus increasing the bodily conception of life and clouding the path to spiritual perfection. When the body increases in weight and strength, the urge to enjoy the genital also increases. One who denies the body undue and excessive increase in the vital fluid of life and conserves it therein for memory, determination and enthusiasm for spiritual pursuits, accepting only enough to keep body and soul together, he alone can be an <i>äcärya</i>.</p>
<p class="p7"> The prince among poets in Vaiñëava literature, Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, says that <i>etän vegän</i>—he who controls all these urges—is <i>viñaheta dhéraù</i>, the one and only <i>dhéra</i>, a sober person in this world. Undisturbed by the influence of the modes of material nature on these six sense gratifying agents, he has conquered the material nature. The <i>dhéra</i> is guru, or heavy; that is, he is situated in one place above the material ocean's wave. Therefore Çré Rüpa says, <i>sarväm apémäm påthivéà sa çiñyat</i>—he alone can go throughout the world and make disciples because he alone has become <i>äcärya</i>, one who teaches the path of transcendence from the guru, the <i>çästra</i>, and the <i>sädhus</i>, by his thought, word, and deeds.</p>
<p class="p7">The <i>äcärya</i> is a veritable transcendental repository of spiritual knowledge and thoughts. His association is like touchstone, enlightening everyone he meets via the touch of transcendental sound vibration, which enters and purifies the heart of every true seeker who practically sees with his own eyes that every action of the <i>äcärya</i> is a manifestation of his divine knowledge and teachings, an example for all to follow. Such a veritable king should be approached with great caution, for Çré Kåñëa Himself has said, <i>äcäryaà mäà vijänéyät</i>. The <i>äcärya</i> is My very self. Just as the ambassador is given equal reception as the president he represents, so the spiritual master is to be received like Kåñëa because he is thinking, speaking and acting on behalf of the Lord. He is doing what the Lord Himself would do for us if we were able to see Him with our spiritually blind eyes. We cannot reach the Lord in the heart, so He has come out and manifested Himself as guru, the external manifestation of Paramätmä, the Lord in the heart. And because He is in contact with Paramätmä, who is everywhere in full knowledge of everything, there is nothing which is secret for the <i>äcärya</i>. The <i>äcärya</i> may know whatever he may need or choose to know at any given second. As Vyäsa was <i>tri-käla-jïa</i>, or able to perceive time in all three phases—past, present and future—so the <i>äcärya</i> has this power. Therefore it is said, <i>sarva-devamayo guruh</i>: he is the sum total of all the demigods. If one worships the <i>äcärya</i>, then he has fulfilled all his commitments to all the demigods. The <i>äcärya</i> is a veritable repository of all strength, fame, knowledge, beauty, and wealth. He is unrivalled in the worlds and should be approached with only the utmost respect and veneration. Verily it is said that when one stands before the spiritual master he should think himself a total fool. Further it is stated that one must never be envious of the <i>äcärya</i>, for it is enviousness of Kåñëa. If the ambassador is insulted, the president is insulted, therefore envy is an offense at the lotus feet of the spiritual master, which is known as Vaiñëava-<i>aparädha</i>. Such an offense causes havoc on the progressive path back to Godhead. One should strictly avoid it. The <i>äcärya</i> should be approached in a humble frame of mind (<i>paripraçnena sevayä</i>), with an innocent and inquisitive mind and a humble service attitude, because this is the only method and combination which endears the guru to enlighten the disciple with transcendental knowledge. It is this knowledge we must obtain to transcend the material world.</p>
<p class="p7">No one is more kind and gracious than the <i>äcärya</i>. Coming to this rotten, miserable material world! What a great sacrifice for all of us, who are so unworthy—suffering for our sinful reactions, reducing our burden in traversing the path to spiritual progress. He is the greatest servant to all humanity, for he is the greatest servant of the Supreme Lord, Çré Kåñëa. Therefore he is master, spiritual master, <i>äcärya</i>, and it is his path we must follow, holding on tightly to his <i>dhoti</i>, for it is by his merciful glance alone that we can go back to Godhead. He has spared no pains in fulfilling the orders of his guru-mahäräja in coming to the Western world, facing terrible conditions of health, weather, eating, sleeping and traveling, giving up all bodily comforts, undaunted in his determination that "I must satisfy my guru-mahäräja. "This consciousness we must also attain. This we must also cry out for. We must throw off all of our material desires, shun all hope for liberation, and pray constantly day and night with all the courage at our command that we can in some small way satisfy even minutely our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7"> A new day is dawning in the history of the world, the face of all nations will change, their culture, their eating habits, their sleeping habits, their processes of mating and defending, their routine of keeping clean, everything from A to Z is being changed—their thoughts, their words and their deeds—all by the grace of one single personality, a personality so divine, so powerful, so learned, so beautiful, so wealthy, so renounced, so famous that he defies comprehension by the greatest material intellect and the swiftest material mind. Let us all on this day renew our pledge to become an integral part in his plan of changing the entire destiny of mankind by unreservedly surrendering our every thought, word and deed at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, who Thäkura Bhaktivinoda predicted would come and preach the message of Lord Caitanya unrestrictedly throughout the world. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the fulfiller of Lord Caitanya's prophecy that<b> "</b>My name shall be heard in every town and village of the world."</p>
<p class="p49">Gaura Govinda Svämé / Dhéraçänia däsa brahmacäré / Vyäpé däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavat däsa brahmacäré / Prakäçätmä däsa brahmacäré / Hare Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Saïjäta däsa brahmacäré / Premalauna däsa brahmacäré / Digpati däsa adhikäré / Jitapräëa däsa brahmacäré / Mahäbhuja däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Bloomington</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bloomington</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> We have no qualifications to make an offering to Your Divine Grace. Any qualification we may have to serve you is due to your causeless mercy only. So please let us realize our position, which is just like that of a sold-out animal, who is completely dependent upon its master in every respect. You are our master and have given us everything. You have brought us the Hare Kåñëa <i>mahä-mantra</i>, the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which we are suffering. You are maintaining us daily, supplying us with <i>kåñëa-prasäda</i>, with the shelter of your Vaikuëöha temples and with the association of <i>kåñëa-bhaktas</i>. You have placed us under the expert care of your devotee, His Holiness Kértanänanda Svämé. You have given us Çré Çré Rädhä Våndävana Candra to saturate our eyes and purify our hearts. You are destroying the long-cherished desire for sense gratification and in turn you are filling the mouths of your devotees with <i>kåñëa-kathä</i>. You are a miracle worker, transforming dark-hearted <i>mlecchas</i> into bright-faced Vaiñëavas. And now it is coming to pass that in every town and village the holy names of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Räma are being vibrated because you have so faithfully followed the instructions of your guru-mahäräja. His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. It is described that one drop of Lord Caitanya's mercy can inundate the entire world with pure love for Kåñëa. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are that one drop. Your Divine Grace is our only hope in this world of birth and death. O Gurudeva, please do not let us escape the deluge of your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Please help this sinner catch hold of your lotus feet. All glories, all glories, all glories to the emissary of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p49">Briñakäpi däsa / Papasthäya däsa / Särjädi-devé däsé / Nityodita däsa / Kåñëañtämé däsa / Varaha-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Bogota</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bogota</b></p>
<p class="p7">One who thinks that the spiritual master is a common man certainly possesses hellish intelligence and his eternal captivity in illusion is a certainty. Çréla Prabhupäda, your body is completely spiritual and your every breath is a prayer to Kåñëa. Your smile and shining teeth are a gateway to the spiritual world, and from your mouth there is a constant cascade of golden Vaikuëöha nectar. May I always bathe myself in the <i>kåñëa-kathä</i> which flows from your lotus mouth. Your eyes are like a window to Goloka, and if one steadily gazes into your lotus eyes he becomes melted in ecstasy, for they twinkle with pure love of Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">There are so many so-called important persons and foolish knaves in this material world who count themselves as greatly fortunate. But I know that I am truly blessed by Lord Caitanya because I have been allowed to serve you and become counted among your disciples. I do not care a fig for those so-called lucky fellows because I know that all their good luck goes sour at the bleak moment of their death. But among countless conditioned souls I have been benedicted by Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda's mercy, and so I, who am worse than worthless, have been allowed to serve you, who are the best of all persons. No one else is the <i>äcärya</i>, no one else is <i>jagad-guru</i>, and no one else is more dear to me than yourself. I pray that after many lifetimes of service. Lord Kåñëa will allow me to become your devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants, ISKCON, Bogota, Colombia</p>
<p class="p11">Bombay</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Bombay</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda:</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our eternal prostrated obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. On the auspicious occasion of Çré Vyäsa-Püjä we meditate on your unlimited transcendental qualities and glorious pastimes in reclaiming the fallen conditioned souls, and we find that you are the personification of the transcendental love described by Çré Prahläda Mahäräja.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraëyäs<br>
tvad-vérya-gäyana-mahämåta-magna-cittaù<br>
çoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyärtha-<br>
mäyä-sukhäya bharam udvahato vimüòhän<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.9.43</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You were living alone in Våndävana, absorbed in thoughts of the lotus feet of Kåñëa. From your sacred rooms at Rädhä Dämodara, looking over the <i>bhajana-kuöira</i> of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämi, you were feeling transcendental bliss. Merged in that ocean of <i>bhakti-rasa</i>, what need was there for you to leave that holy place? What need was there for you to leave the sanctified atmosphere of Våndävana, so pure and peaceful,<b> </b>to<b> </b>come to the hellish cities of the West?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>präyeëa deva munayaù sva-vimukti-kämä<br>
maunaà caranti vijane na parärtha-niñöhäù<br>
naitän vihäya kåpaëän vimumukña eko<br>
nänyaà tvad asya çaraëaà bhramato 'nupaçye<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.9.44</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You remembered the divine instructions of your beloved spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara-çata Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, and you left your idyllic existence in Våndävana in order to deliver us poor fools and rascals rotting amidst the horrible noises and smells of our big cities.</p>
<p class="p7">The people in the West are completely devoid of God-consciousness, completely deluded by the modes of passion and ignorance. Only you could properly appreciate our abominable position. Intoxicated by sinful life, we considered ourselves very advanced. What could we learn from you? Fat and complacent, we already had so many big leaders and teachers. How could we learn anything from You?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-prahräda uväca<br>
matir na kåñëe parataù svato vä<br>
mitho 'bhipadyeta gåha-vratänäm<br>
adänta-gobhir viçatäà tamisraà<br>
punaù punaç carvita-carvaëänäm<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.5.30</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You had come to the West out of compassion for us rascals, but how<b> </b>to<b> </b>save us?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>na te viduù svärtha-gatià hi viñëuà<br>
duräçayä ye bahir-artha-mäninaù<br>
andhä yathändhair upanéyamänäs<br>
te 'péça-tantryäm uru-dämni baddhäù<br>
</i>(<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.5.31</i>)</p>
<p class="p7">We are so fallen and Godless,<b> </b>how could we ever understand your sublime message?</p>
<p class="p6"><i>naiñäà matis tävad urukramäìghrià<br>
spåçaty anarthäpagamo yad-arthaù<br>
mahéyasäà päda-rajo-'bhiñekaà<br>
niñkiïcanänäà na våëéta yävat<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.5.32</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We think that only by your causeless mercy could such wretched souls be engaged in the loving service of the Lord—only by your transcendental tricks and by the dust of your lotus feet. You sat under a tree in Thompkins Square Park and began chanting "Hare Kåñëa." And, when we thought, "Who is this fellow? What is he doing?" You began to explain the <i>Bhagavad-gitä As It Is</i>. You gave us a new life, and you taught us how to live. Some people have hearts like stone, some have hearts like gold, and some have hearts like butter. But your heart is like nectar, always melting in love of God. Therefore you were pleased by our simple efforts to dance and chant "Hare Kåñëa," and to honor the <i>kåñëa-prasäda</i> you prepared for us. Only by your causeless mercy could we get any idea of Kåñëa consciousness, and only through your transcendental love could our attachment for Çré Kåñëa develop. You gave us life and you taught us how to live. You taught us how to eat, how to sleep, how to wash, how to dress, how to worship, how to sit, how to speak, how to think, and how to serve. You gave us the "Hare Kåñëa" <i>mantra</i> and the transcendental seed of <i>kåñëa-bhakti</i>. The sunshine of your purity and the rainfall of your mercy created auspicious conditions in which the seed could grow, and you tendered the young creeper, cutting the weeds with your sharp criticism, and supporting the sapling with your loving guidance.</p>
<p class="p7">What could we offer to Kåñëa? Kåñëa is <i>ätmäräma</i>. Furthermore, He resides in a limitless kingdom of spiritual gems, where He is always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. What could we ever do to please Him? Your heart is so soft that you were pleased even by the awkward attempts of His child trying to walk. And somehow or other, because you were pleased, we think that Lord Kåñëa, out of His great love for you, may also have been pleased. Thus by your mercy only He granted us devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">Although from one point of view we are still helpless children and can only cry for you, from another point of view you have trained us so nicely and expertly that we now feel we want to do something for you. You have given us life, but you are so kind that you want to bring everyone to their real understanding of life. Your mission is so great and we are so insignificant, but still you have engaged us in preaching—in the same spirit expressed by Çré Prahläda Mahäräja and in the same spirit demonstrated by your guru-mahäräja when he sent you to the West.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>taà çyena-vegaà çata-candra-vartmabhiç<br>
carantam acchidram upary-adho hariù<br>
kåtväööa-häsaà kharam utsvanolbaëaà<br>
nimélitäkñaà jagåhe mahä-javaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>7.9.28</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We pray to remain eternally engaged in your transcendental loving service and to help give others the same life that you have given us.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Surabhér Abhipälayanta däsa Svämé / Räghava Caitanya däsa brahmacäré / Vijeta däsa adhikäré / Giriräja däsa brahmacäré / Raghupati Räghava däsa / Bali Mardana däsa adhikäré / Amoghaléla däsa brahmacäré / Äditya-devé däsé / Abhayäçraya däsa brahmacäri / Räma Raïjana däsa brahmacäré / Ärya-devé däsé / Akñaya däsa brahmacäré / Räma Tulasé däsa brahmacäré / Gäëòéva-devé däsé / Arjuna däsa brahmacäré / Siddhärtha däsa brahmacäré / Ekayäné-devé däsé / Chitrakära däsa brahmacäré / Subala däsa brahmacäré / Käntä-devé däsé / Ekanätha däsa brahmacäré / Vijaya däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa käntä-devé däsé / Gaurasundara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Hasamukha / Pälikä-devé däsé / Haridäsa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Lau / Rädha Räsavihäri devé däsé / Pippalai däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Manohara / Räma-devé däsé / Prasannätmä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Sunila / Çyämasundaré-devé däsé / Puëòaréka däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Vibhüti / Taittreya-devé däsé / Puré däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Viñëu brahmacäré / Viçva-devé däsé / Pürëa Brahma däsa brahmacäré / Nistraiguëya däsa adhikäré / Våndävané-devé däsé / Räma Çraddhä däsa brahmacäré / Räja Räma däsa adhikäré</p>
<p class="p11">Boston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Boston</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>I</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>In the spirit of enjoyment<br>
We pedestaled genitals<br>
Chewed thorns<br>
Nuzzled stool<br>
And tottered under an awesome load.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Blind, we saw happiness everywhere<br>
Bound up, we struggled<br>
Foolish we languished<br>
Eternally we died.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Illusion was our happiness, reality, life.<br>
We were trapped<br>
Shackled<br>
Imprisoned.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>In a day without light<br>
In a universe without sun<br>
We were most important<br>
We were crass, filthy, self-centered,<br>
lowborn, liars.<br>
Haughtily strutting<br>
Through the cosmopolitan monotone<br>
of scum<br>
We pranced, insignificant specks. In those lifeless depths<br>
We thought we were God.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>On the treadmill<br>
We confidently ran<br>
With Kali conviction<br>
Further into darkness<br>
Life after life<br>
Death after death<br>
Smiling all the while<br>
Lost.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>II.</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And beyond that material cloud<br>
On the other side of this tiny earth globe<br>
Under the shelter of Çré Çré Rädhä Dämodara<br>
In pristine purity<br>
You patiently sat<br>
In </i>paramparä<i> surrender<br>
To Bhaktisiddhänta's soul-saving order<br>
Translating of the Vedas<br>
That most delectable fruit<br>
</i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Guardian of the Caitanya</i><b><i> </i></b><i>tree<br>
With saffron flowing robes<br>
You, triumphant guru<br>
Then graciously offered us the intoxicating<br>
fragrant flower<br>
</i>Çri-hari-näma<br>
<i>Graciously then you placed before</i><b><i> </i></b><i>us the<br>
irresistable fruit<br>
Pure love of Godhead.<br>
And by your causeless mercy The crows became swans.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You saturate our eyes with heart-melting<br>
</i>Çré-vigraha<br>
<i>And our tongues never know the end<br>
Of your most special gift<br>
The Lord's </i>prasäda<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are the most esteemed ambassador<br>
Our only contact<br>
You are the crystalline</i><b><i> </i></b><i>looking glass<br>
Our only glimpse<br>
Of the supreme abode.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your touchstone mercy <br>
Our only foothold <br>
The supreme magician <br>
You turn bell metal to gold.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>III</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By the grace of our spiritual master<br>
Our every step<br>
Is hallowed and steady<br>
Returning back home<br>
Through that long-forgotten door<br>
</i>Sevana<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By the grace of our spiritual master Chills of eagerness<br>
Wrench us from this body<br>
As we fall flat hundred times,<br>
thousand times <br>
Eternally.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda, eternal father<br>
We are dogs.<br>
How can we praise you?<br>
Still, boundless is your mercy. <br>
Though we grovel, spit and foam<br>
in wrath<br>
Still your cleansing rain<br>
Purifies even the lowest born.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Master, regent, king<br>
Your causeless mercy,<br>
Your boundless grace,<br>
Your eternal care...<br>
Yet we still turn away.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Prabhupada... please!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Devotees of New Guëòicä Dhäma (Boston Yatra)</p>
<p class="p49">Aja däsa / Niraïjana däsa / Çrénatha däsa / Käliya Kåñëa däsa / Narendra däsa / Vasu Gopäla däsa / Agraëi däsa / Kardama Muni däsa / Matureça däsa / Çivänanda däsa / Dénanätha däsa / Mädhava däsa / Svarüpa Dämodara däsa / Sadapüta däsa / Gadädhara Paëòita däsa / Mukta Vandya däsa / Räma Vijaya däsa / Jaya Yadunandana däsa / Vallabha Bhaööa däsa / Çacésuta däsa / Çivänanda Sena däsa / Rägänuga däsa / Prabhupäda däsa / Madanagopäla däsa / Bhakta Danny / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Eric / Bhakta Angels / Bhakta Bobby / Bhakta Fernando / Bhakta Paul / Mürti Vandya-devé<b> </b>däsé<b> </b>/<b> </b>Madana-mohana / Mohiné-devé däsé / Gandharvikä-devé däsé / Madhumaté-devé däsé / Mahälakñmé-devé däsé / Sumati-devé däsé / Devahüti-devé däsé / Jaya Lalitä-devé däsé / Vijayadevé däsé / Kulaja-devé däsé / Rasa Paräyaëé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Heidi / Bhaktin Cecilia / Bhaktin Debbi / Bhaktin Sue / Bhaktin Susan / Bhaktin Yola / Bhaktin Kathy / Bhaktin Pat / Tri-çakti / Maliné / Çyämakuëòa Gopévallabha / Navanéta Taskara / Cintämaëi / Nåsiàha / Kåñëa / Kälindé</p>
<p class="p11">Buffalo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Buffalo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ohe!<br>
vaiñëava öhäkura, doyära sägara,<br>
e däse korunä kori'<br>
diyä pada-chäyä, çodho he ämäya,<br>
tomära caraëa dhori</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>chaya vega domi', chaya doña çodhi',<br>
chaya guna deho' däse<br>
chaya sat-saìga, deho' he ämäre,<br>
bosechi saìgera äçe</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ekaké ämära, nähi päya bala,<br>
hari-näma-saìkértane<br>
tumi kåpä kori', çraddhä-bindu diyä,<br>
deho' kåñëa-näma-dhane</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>kåñëa se tomära, kåñëa dite päro,<br>
tomära çakati äche<br>
ämi to' käìgäla, 'kåñëa' 'kåñëa' boli',<br>
dhäi tava päche päche</i></p>
<p class="p7">Oh, venerable Vaiñëava, dearly beloved spiritual master, you are the life and sustenance of our existence. Just as the sun activates lifeless trees at winter's end and ushers in the flower-bearing spring, you have by your presence given life to a lifeless world. Please give us the shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, ocean of auspicious qualities, please wash away our faults and passions, and as the cloud pours water on the forest fire, extinguish this blazing fire of material existence in which we have been burning since time immemorial. Please give us the shelter of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, lionhearted and fearless father, out of your causeless kindness you have informed us of our eternal blissful nature as servants of Kåñëa. Now please bestow upon us the faith to carry on this <i>saìkértana</i> movement, which is benefiting all of humanity. Please give us the protection of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, protector of fallen souls, please accept our humble offerings of homage and make our lives successful. If you do not accept our tiny offerings, then our lives are ruined and we will surely be lost again in the whirlpool of material suffering. Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, give us the mercy of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servants in Buffalo, New York</p>
<p class="p11">Caracas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Caracas</b></p>
<p class="p7">When you were in Caracas, Çréla Prabhupäda, you made a statement that Caracas is a <i>Saìkértana</i> Temple. We have been trying to fulfill this statement by dedicating our lives to the preaching of Kåñëa consciousness here in Venezuela.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember in your room in Mäyäpur this year, many devotees were informing you of different activities of ISKCON around the world. We introduced our top distributor to you, and you remarked, "Yes, he has the mercy of Kåñëa." Then you continued by stating that actually everyone has the mercy of Kåñëa, but in one sense the preaching of Kåñëa consciousness is higher:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>na ca tasmän manuñyeñu kaçcin me priya-kåttamaù<br>
bhavitä na ca me tasmäd anyaù priyataro bhuvi<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg. 18.69</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than him, nor will there ever be one more dear." Because actually you are the one who is doing the preaching, you are the most dear to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhärata-bhümite haila manuñya janma yära<br>
janma särthaka kari' kara para-upakära<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> <i>9.41</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"One who has taken birth as a human being in the land of India should make his life successful, and work for the benefit of all other people." This is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and you have taken up this mission with full faith in your guru-mahäräja. You have shown us that our real home is also in the transcendental land of Bharata-varña, in the transcendental <i>dhämas</i> of Mäyäpur and Våndävana. Therefore we must also accept this instruction of Lord Caitanya as applying to ourselves. Therefore we should dedicate our lives to spreading your words to every town and village in the universe. Actually everyone is a resident of these transcendental dhämas, and you have made it our duty to reveal this to the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Therefore you have so many projects; book distribution, temple construction in India, food distribution, farm projects throughout the world, and many others; and all of these projects have one aim, to fulfill the desire of your guru-mahäräja by gradually introducing everyone to Kåñëa consciousness and providing occupations for all classes of men under Kåñëa's <i>varëäçrama-dharma</i> system so that everyone can go back to home, back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa states in the <i>Bhagavad-gitä </i>that the wise should not disturb the ignorant in their performance of <i>vikarmic</i> activities <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 3.29]</span>, but you are more kind than Kåñëa Himself, so we pray that you may benedict us with an atom of your infinite compassion for the conditioned souls, that we may be pleasing to you.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tähale änanda hoy tabe hoy digvijay<br>
caitanyer kåpä atiçay<br>
mäyä duñöa jata duùkhé jagate sabäi sukhé<br>
vaiñëaver icchä pürëa hoy</i></p>
<p class="p7">"As the vast mercy of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu conquers all directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, the Vaiñëava's desire is then fulfilled."</p>
<p class="p7">So please, Çréla Prabhupäda, let us become the instruments for fulfilling this desire of yours wherever you send us.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants birth after birth,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Bér Kåñëa däsa / Purujit däsa / Jayajagadéça däsa / Vérabähu däsa Hari / Bhakti däsa / Tamoha däsa / Kavi däsa / Ädiçeña däsa / Rämänujäcärya däsa / Antaryämé däsa / Jagat Cakñur däsa / Kratu däsa / Darantavéra däsa / Viçuddha Sattva däsa / Jïäna Sukåti däsa / Nitya Svarüpa däsa / Avatäré däsa / Hari Cakra däsa / Rohiëé Priya däsa / Mädhaväçraya däsa / Paularñi däsa / Jayavérasiàha<b> </b>däsa / Hari Veëu däsa / Matsya däsa / Romasa däsa / Antarya däsa / Karuëäkñya däsa / Gopeça däsa / Jatu Karëya däsa / Bhakta Rene / Bhakta Jorge / Bhakta Eduardo / Bhakta Hector / Bhakta Angel / Bhakta Jose / Bhakta Ellio / Bhakta Jario / Bhakta Hilberto / Bhakta Jorge / Bhakta Edgar / Bhakta Omar / Bhakta Ricardo / Bhakta Felix / Bhakta Rafael / Bhuvaëé Pävani-devé<b> </b>däsé<b> / </b>Mürti Mürti-devé däsé / Amita-çakti-devé däsé / Nityalélä-devé däsé / Kartä-devé däsé / Tadakäri-devé däsé / Änandini-devé däsé / Tri Çakti-devé däsé / Bhadräkåti-devé däsé / Jaya Räma-devé däsé / Jaminé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Irma / Bhaktin Maria / Bhaktin Myrta / Bhaktin Jannet / Bhaktin Georgina / Bhaktin Laura / Kåñëa Caitanya / Akrüra / Kiçoré / Håñékeça / Vairägya Vidyä</p>
<p class="p11">Carriere</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Carriere</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our worthless obeisances. Please accept our insufficient gratitude for bringing us out of <i>mäyäs'</i> blazing fire and into the cool shade of Your Divine Grace's lotus feet. Whenever we try to express our appreciation of you it is embarrasing, because our gratitude can never equal what you are doing for us.</p>
<p class="p7"> One time you came to visit us here at your New Tälavana farm community. We were able to hear you speak and see you face-to-face and experience your presence directly (<i>vapu</i> association). However, since then we are more and more experiencing how you are present in your instructions and we are still relishing your association (<i>väëé</i> association).</p>
<p class="p7">Actually, this is the most mercy. When you go somewhere not everyone will be able to go to your room to speak with you, but you are readily available to everyone in your books. The mercy and association of a pure devotee and the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa are equally available to all in your teachings. Now, we do not want to let this priceless opportunity slip through our fingers.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, in the <i>Caitanya-caritämrta</i> you said that "The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple."</p>
<p class="p7">So we humbly submit ourselves at your lotus feet to pray that our minds and hearts will become eternally absorbed in your instructions. We also pray that we will be able to make ourselves suitable instruments for executing your directions perfectly. In that way we can always relish your association.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants,</i> The devotees of New Tälavana Farm Community</p>
<p class="p49">Nityänada däsa / Candra Çekhara / Tim / Arjuna / Yogéndra Vandana däsa / Brahmänanda / Puré and family / Kamarikänta Devé-däsé / Sürya / Jagatkartä däsa / David / Kiki / Mitra / Rohita / Barry / Jennifer / Bäla / Caturbähu / Jim / Jämbavaté / Vaiñëava</p>
<p class="p11">Chandigarh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Chandigarh</b></p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, please accept our humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. As long as there is sunshine in this material world, please accept our respectful obeisances.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ<br>
dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà<br>
karëa-dhära ivärëavam</i></p>
<p class="p16">“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.” <i>(Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>1.1.22)</p>
<p class="p7">We are very fortunate to come in contact with your grace. Otherwise we were simply suffering the cruel kicks of <i>mäyä</i>, being forced to serve our senses. You are such a powerful Vaiñëava that you are delivering the whole world.</p>
<p class="p7">As it is stated in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>, by the grace of both the spiritual master and Kåñëa, one receives the seed of devotional service (<i>bhakti-latä-béja</i>), and by the watering process of <i>çravaëaà kértanam</i> this plant can be made to grow all the way up to Goloka Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">We can see very clearly that you possess all of the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master. Eight basic stanzas explaining the spiritual master are given by Visvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura in his famous <i>Gurvañöaka </i>prayers.</p>
<p class="p7">First of all you are able to deliver the fallen conditioned souls from the wheel of birth and death. So many previously sinful people are now following the restrictions of no meat-eating, no gambling, no illicit sex, and no intoxication by your teachings, and along with chanting Hare Kåñëa, they are becoming free from birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7">You are always engaged in chanting and hearing the message of Lord Caitanya. By your potency people all over the world are chanting Hare Kåñëa. Also in accordance with the will of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, you are spreading the teachings of <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i> and <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> all over the world.</p>
<p class="p7">You are always engaged in worshiping the<b> </b>eternal forms of Çré Çré Rädhä Kåñëa and teaching us to do the same.</p>
<p class="p7">You are teaching also the simple and sublime method of eating and distributing <i>Kåñëa-prasäda</i>. Before, we were engaged in eating so many sinful things. But by taking <i>Kåñëa-prasäda</i> we can become purified in body, mind and soul. And the process is so joyful.</p>
<p class="p7">You are always hearing, chanting and serving Their Lordships Çré Rädhikä Mädhava.</p>
<p class="p7">By these symptoms of a bona fide spiritual master you are worshipable on an equal level with God. This is because you are teaching the message of God and are therefore very dear to the Lord. We should always remember your lotus feet and at least three times a day we should offer you our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you for giving us <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>. Thank you for giving us the work of <i>Saìkértana</i>. Thank you for giving us <i>Kåñëa-prasäda</i>. Thank you for giving us the association of devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">As stated by Uddhava to Lord Kåñëa in the Eleventh Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>: "O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmä, for You appear in two features—externally as the <i>äcärya</i> and internally as the Supersoul—to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You." <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.29.6)</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your unworthy servants at ISKCON Chandigarh, India</p>
<p class="p49">Trivikrama Svämé / Rapuganätha däsa / Bhakta Mahädeva / Caitya-guru däsa / Lakñmaëa Äçraya däsa / Bhakta Jagadésa Mehta / Ruci däsa / Bhakta Indra Sagar / Bhakta Kåñëa Kumära / Devarñi Räj däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Chicago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Chicago</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">This material world is full of death and darkness, and we are all blind creatures groping in the endless night. With no illumination in any direction everything seemed so hopeless and futile, but then by your appearance you revealed a new hope. This <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, the tonic for this diseased age of Kali, is unveiling a new and eternal way of life, full of light and knowledge without suffering and misery. It is indeed very fortunate for us that you have translated and published these books for the general use of the Western public. Where else can such books be found? Every page is filled with the glories of Lord Çré Kåñëa, whose pastimes and activities are wonderful to hear and recite. Full of transcendental subject matter, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> exposes the mirage existence of the material world and redirects the reader to his proper path, the path back to home, back to Godhead. With your clear purports to eliminate any tint of speculation, these books are presented so nicely that anyone will marvel at the true clarity and realization behind your every word.</p>
<p class="p7">Prabhupäda, these books are your mercy to the fallen conditioned souls and the foodstuff of your disciples. Our lives are maintained in so many ways by the association of these books. We think that these books are the greatest boon to humanity. Thank you for your kindness and compassion. We offer repeated obeisances unto you. We hope that you will continue on with this wonderful mission of translating the entire <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>. Please bless us with just a speck of your enthusiasm for book distribution, so that we may gain your pleasure.</p>
<p class="p11">Cleveland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Cleveland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet."</p>
<p class="p7">"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."</p>
<p class="p7">All glories unto you, O spiritual master. It has been said by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Thäkura:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities." <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span></p>
<p class="p7">These are the symptoms of a bona fide spiritual master, and anyone can see that you, Çréla Prabhupäda, out of your causeless mercy and kindness, are delivering so many fallen souls from this blazing fire of material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">In material consciousness, we have found no peace, no happiness,<b> </b>no<b> </b>satisfaction, but now, Çréla Prabhupäda, we have hope, because we have tasted a higher pleasure and that pleasure is simply to try to please you and Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Please accept this Vyäsa-Püjä offering from the devotees here at Cleveland ISKCON, because without your blessings, our lives are spoiled.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda. </i></p>
<p class="p7">OM TAT SAT</p>
<p class="p49">Arijit däsa / Sthayibhäva däsa / Bhakta Stan / Mother Elsa / Bhama däsa / Bhakta Larry Holt / Bhakta Maurice / Mother Donna / Candrabhänu däsa / Bhakta Larry / Vrajanandana däsa / Mother Teresa / Keçava däsa / Bhakta Norman / Dhämagräha-devé däsé / Mother Vicky / Mahä Mantra däsa / Bhakta Kevin / Déna Dayä-devé däsé / Mother Diane / Mänasacandra däsa / Bhakta Phil / Brahmavadni-devé däsé / Mother Candra / Mahä Rudra däsa / Bhakta James / Gauraìga-devé däsé / Rädhikä-devé däsé / Lélämohana däsa / Bhakta Tony / Päpasüdané-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Costa Rica</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Costa Rica</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>It is revealed in the scriptures there is no other way<br>
than to seek a master and at his feet stay.<br>
Submissively and sincerely we must submit<br>
so that Kåñëa in our heart may someday sit.<br>
We should see ourselves clear of this abominable existence<br>
so that unto his words there will be no resistance.<br>
Now there are many gurus with different teachings<br>
for those in their hearts have different reachings.<br>
He must come from Kåñëa in the disciplic succession<br>
then we'll be sure to find no repression.<br>
Well versed in the scriptures in perfect control of his senses<br>
he'll be able to help us over mäyä's fences.<br>
A mind of good qualities and extremely kind<br>
there's no one like Prabhupäda we can find.<br>
I pray to be with you through your instructions forever<br>
so that this hard knot in my heart may some day sever.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><span class="s3"><br>
</span>Devotees of New Vaikuëöha Dhäma</p>
<p class="p49">Näräyaëa däsa adhikäré / Sarvabhävana däsa brahmacäré / Guruprasäda däsa brahmacäré / Nagari däsa brahmacäré / Paìkajänabha däsa brahmacäré / Kértideva däsa brahmacäré / Çaunaka däsa brahmacäré / Vidvän däsa brahmacäré / Rämalakñmaëa däsa brahmacäré / Rameça däsa brahmacäré / Viduttama däsa brahmacäré / Bhakti Wilbert / Bhakti Alberto / Bhakti Gerardo / Bhakti William / Divya-devé däsé / Sevya-devé däsé / Saurasani-devé däsé / Narmadä-devé däsé / Vijayamürti-devé däsé / Mother Melania / Mother Elizabath-devé<b> </b>däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Costa Rica Farm</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Costa Rica Farm</b></p>
<p class="p7">Even though I am completely unqualified and more insignificant than an ant, still I am aspiring for your causeless mercy. I am that dwarf reaching for the moon. I simply pray to Kåñëa for the intelligence to remain a servant of your nice disciples eternally.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>bhavantam evänucaran nirantaraù<br>
praçänta-niùçeña-manorathäntaraù<br>
kadäham aikäntika-nitya-kiìkaraù<br>
praharñayiñyämi sanätha-jévitam</i></p>
<p class="p7">It is stated, "By serving you constantly one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall we engage as your permanent eternal servants and always feel joyful to have such a perfect master?" <span class="s3">[<i>Stotra-ratna</i> 43]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are like a full moon that stands out brightly amongst so many stars. This cooling and ever-beautiful light that is emanating from you is the only shelter for such a rascal as myself. My past is extremely regretful and yet my mind doesn't permit me to regret. Planting the seed of devotion in a stonehearted creature like myself is difficult, but only a pure devotee like you could do such a thing. I was bound for the deep sea of hellish distress and now I feel the fire of hope within me. Without you I wouldn't know anything. Everything I have learned worth learning I've learned from you. Therefore the <i>çästras</i> enjoin:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tasmäd guruà prapadyeta jijïäsuù çreya uttamam<br>
çäbde pare ca niñëätaà brahmaëy upaçamäçrayam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and he must be able to convince others of these conclusions." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.3.21]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Because of having these very rare qualifications you are the living example of a perfect devotee. You always remember Kåñëa, and the exalted <i>sädhus</i> and demigods chant your glories.</p>
<p class="p7">There are no bounds to your mercy and there is no end to your glories. As I dwell in this fire of material consciousness I pray that you please bestow your causeless mercy upon me.</p>
<p class="p7">New Virajä Dhäma</p>
<p class="p49">Nirguëa däsa adhikäré / Räma-Vigraha däsa<b> </b>adhikäré / Néläcala-devé däsé / Mother Molly</p>
<p class="p11">Dallas</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dallas</b></p>
<p class="p7">The other day we saw a tiny frog swimming in the urine of a toilet that had not been flushed. He was struggling to avoid the large stools and to scale the smooth slick sides of the toilet. Wondering how he had gotten into such a predicament, it occured to us that we ourselves were in a similar situation when our spiritual master came to save us.</p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in the <i>Puräëas</i> that there are many gurus who are very expert in taking away all of a disciple's money, but very rare is the guru who can take away all of his disciple's material anxieties. We are feeling very fortunate that among thousands of cheaters, the actual teacher, the <i>äcäryadeva</i>, has appeared to properly guide us, to save us from an ocean of anxiety. The <i>Bhägavatam</i> analogizes that to take shelter of others, the cheaters, who propose themselves unceremoniously to be God or to be guru, is just like diving into shallow water. The result is that one simply breaks his head.</p>
<p class="p7">In order to be God, one must be <i>sarva-käraëa-käraëam</i>, the cause of all causes. Actually, the position of God has been held eternally by the Supreme Person, Bhagavän Çré Kåñëa, and it is not subject to change according to popular vote or committee appointment or any other process; neither can someone fit in as a "co-God" (i.e., "I am God, you are God, we are all God"), for the very word "God" implies the Supreme, the Ultimate, the Greatest Person. If it were possible for someone else also to come to that level, then the superlativeness of the Supreme would automatically become null and void, which it is not.</p>
<p class="p7">Although all conditioned souls have been vying for the position of God since time immemorial, the fact remains that it is already held in eternal tenure, and applications are not being accepted, nor will they ever be. Thus, notwithstanding the great opulences that any particular man might have, it is our recommendation that one try for a position for which he is actually suited and for which there are many openings. That position is servant of Çré Kåñëa, who is <i>already</i> God.</p>
<p class="p7">In the same vein, one also may not be considered to be a guru, or spiritual master, if he is preaching any message other than servitude to Kåñëa. He must not concoct his own idea of God consciousness or spiritual life. <i>Mahäjano yena gataù sa panthäù</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Mahäbhärata, Vp.</i> 313.117]</span>. He must follow in the footsteps of the great spiritual authorities who precede him.</p>
<p class="p7">We have seen that our own spiritual master, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, meets the qualifications of a bona fide <i>guru</i> in that he is perfectly realized in his eternal position as servant of Kåñëa and his full-time program is to implicate the rest of the world in such transcendental service. It must also be noted that his efforts have been highly successful. Now even in courts of law, the judges, lawyers, district attorneys, and grand juries are all chanting Hare Kåñëa. More and more it can be seen that, due to the influence of our spiritual master and his ISKCON movement, the entire world is gradually becoming Kåñëa conscious. It is therefore our fervent prayer that we may be as instrumental as possible in cooperating with this movement and providing to Çréla Prabhupäda, in his gargantuan endeavors, whatever microscopic assistance that we can.</p>
<p class="p7">Dallas ISKCON</p>
<p class="p49">Gatravän däsa brahmacäré / Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Éça däsa brahmacäré / Jayadharma däsa brahmacäré / Jyotirmaya däsa brahmacäré / Kalaëka däsa brahmacäré / Kanupriya däsa brahmacäré / Mädhava däsa brahmacäré / Mahädyuti däsa brahmacäré / Çréman Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Yamunäpati däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Bruce / Divyajïänänanda däsa adhikäré / Gauraçaraëa däsa adhikäré / Gopéça däsa adhikäré / Jaganmitra däsa adhikäré / Lélananda däsa adhikäré / Makharadhvaja däsa adhikäré / Maëòaleçvara däsa adhikäré / Subandhu däsa adhikäré / Nirantara däsa adhikäré / Sumahat däsa adhikäré / Vallabha Sena däsa adhikäré / Balvati-devé däsé / Bimalä-devé däsé / Devé-devé däsé / Divyaçakti-devé däsé / Dyuti-devé däsé / Karuëämayi-devé däsé / Khaëòavabha-devé däsé / Lélämaïjari-devé däsé / Ragunandiné-devé däsé / Sanätani-devé däsé / Çaçti-devé däsé / Çaçvatapävana-devé däsé / Suçarma-devé däsé / Svarga-devé däsé / Triçakti-devé däsé / Vali-devé däsé / Vämanadevé-däsé / Bhaktin Nancy / Änanda / Bhadrasena / Bhakta Prahläda / Caïcalä / Govinda / Éçvara<b> </b>Puré / Jagannatha-Pun / Kalpataru / Keçava / Mäliné / Nimäi<b> </b>Paëòita / Nitya<b> </b>Lélä / Räsotsava / Sändépani Muni / Saté / Satyä / Varäha / Väsudeva<b> </b>Datta / Yamunä-jévana / Gopé</p>
<p class="p11">Denver </p>
<p class="p10"><b>Denver </b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande paramänanda-mädhavam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.</p>
<p class="p7">His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda is the life of the world, the only light in a dark universe. Without his shelter the whole world is wandering aimlessly in ignorance, fretting on the stage of human life and then disappearing beneath the waves of animal existence. But he knows everything! Nothing is inaccessible to him. His devotion is pure and he stands at the summit of existence. Yet in patient humility and compassion he left the serenity of Våndävana and alone struggled against all obstacles to reclaim us. This is a very deep thing and cannot be lightly described. We must carefully consider that without him there is no value to anything in this world. There is no measure for the weight of our debt to him. We can only work with all our energy and in all sincerity to try to help him in his glorious mission. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p7"><b>All the residents of New Badarinäräyana</b></p>
<p class="p49">Siddhänta däsa brahmacäré / Arthundu däsa brahmacäré / Véracandra däsa brahmacäré / Anüttama däsa brahmacäré / Lalitändana däsa brahmacäré / Sarvadåk däsa brahmacäré / Yajïapuruña däsa brahmacäré / Jyoti däsa brahmacäré / Cakradhäré däsa brahmacäré / Yamunä Jim / Bhakta Larry / Jagannatha Jack / Puruña Peter / Käla Claude / Tulasé Thor / Japa John / Kuruçreñöha däsa adhikäré / Svaväsa däsa adhikäré / Präëa-vallabha däsa adhikäré / Kauçalendra däsa adhikäré / Çréniväsa däsa adhikäré / Mahébharta däsa adhikäré / Rädhä Dämodara däsa adhikäré / Pati däsa adhikäré / Çrédämä däsa adhikäré / Éçvara Ishmael / Ojasvé / Rüpänanda / Devé-däsé / Tadit-devé däsé / Kadamba-devé däsé / Nätaka Candrikä-devé däsé / Tåpti-devé däsé / Våndävana Viläsiné-devé däsé / Anvradhu-devé däsé / Räma Tulasé-devé däsé / Nidrä-devé däsé / Añöa-sakhi-devé däsé / Jagajänani-devé däsé / Ramaëa Reti-devé<b> </b>däsé / Püjä-devé däsé / Viñëu-priyä-devé<b> </b>däsé / Päëòuräëé-devé däsé / Çikhaëòi-devé däsé / Meru-devé däsé / Bhaktilatä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Kate / Bhaktin Colleen / Bhaktin Denise / Äcärya / Janärdana / Rädhä<b> </b>Govinda / Aïjalé / Subhadrä / Nityanda / Kartamaña / Bhaktivinoda / Gopinätha rasa / Néla Mädhava / Jubal / Ärya / Sétä Räma / Çré Ramaëé</p>
<p class="p11">Detroit</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Detroit</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Once, people had brains in their heads instead of stool. In those days the value of a bona fide spiritual master was readily understood. No one was accepted as a respectable gentlemen unless he had been thoroughly educated by a legitimate <i>guru</i>; thus young children were placed in the care of a learned spiritual master is a matter of course. Now such good sense is rarely found. Rendered foolish by this age, even the brightest men can see no use for an <i>äcärya</i>. They are confident. They are self-reliant. They are industrious—and they are completely blind. Consequently they are falling into the proverbial ditch; which is, incidentally, quite large enough to accommodate all of them. The energy and enthusiasm of these blind men is marvelous to see, as they rush headlong toward the brink—but it does make for harder landings. Overall, the situation is very, very sad indeed.</p>
<p class="p7">Fortunately for such misguided men, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the father of everyone, is forever alert. Situated within each heart as the Supersoul, He is acutely aware of the sufferings of His sons within this material world. Out of compassion for them, to mitigate their pains, and to arrange for their transfer to the all-blissful kingdom of God, He sends His confidential representative, the bona fide spiritual master. As a nation sends its fully empowered ambassador to represent its interests in a foreign land, so the Vaikuëöha ambassador, the empowered <i>äcärya</i>, represents the Godhead within this material world. He embodies all the transcendental excellences found in the Lord, and is as fully capable a deliverer as the Lord Himself. One who foolishly takes the spiritual master to be an ordinary man thus makes the most dangerous mistake. <i>Guru Kåñëa-rüpa hana,</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> 1.45]</span>. "The <i>guru</i> is as good as Kåñëa."</p>
<p class="p7">No one can fathom the transcendental qualities of the spiritual master; but of all his qualities, it is compassion which is the foremost. He cannot bear to see the poor souls wandering blindly in this dangerous material world, where even sighted men must watch their step. His heart goes out to them and he considers, "If someone is ignorant and addicted to the path of <i>saàsära</i>, how can one who is actually learned, merciful and advanced in spiritual knowledge engage him in fruitive activity and thus further entangle him in material existence? If a blind man is walking down the wrong path, how can a gentleman allow him to continue on his way to danger? How can he approve this method? No wise or kind man can allow this." (<i>Bhäg.</i> 5.5.18) Thinking like this, the spiritual master undertakes the rescue of all the fallen souls. One after another he arrests them, pulls them away from the precipice of sense gratification, and places them safely on the broad path of devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">No sooner has this kindness been done, however, than the ingrates who have been saved turn on the rescuer to protest his interference. "Why have you checked our free movements? Have you no consideration for the rights of others? We'll have you jailed, or worse!" In this way the spiritual master has taken up a thankless and dangerous task, full of insult, injury and sometimes death. There are so many examples<b> </b>in history of saintly persons who were abused by those whom they tried<b> </b>to<b> </b>deliver: Lord Jesus Christ, Haridäsa Thäkura, Lord Nityänanda, etc. Despite these difficulties, however, the pure devotees persist in their efforts to engage everyone in the service of the Supreme Lord, which brings immediate relief from all the miseries of material existence. Such kind and self-sacrificing souls are very rare. Although they are sometimes misunderstood by fools and rascals, their work does not go unnoticed; for Lord Kåñëa Himself takes up the task of glorifying His pure devotees. In the <i>Gétä</i> the Lord declares, "For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 18.69]</span></p>
<p class="p7">With such an endorsement by the Supreme Personality of Godhead,<b> </b>it<b> </b>is sure and certain that the fame of the pure devotee spiritual master will spread unchecked all over the world; the order of Lord Kåñëa cannot be ignored. At His command, all heads must bow down at the feet of the recognized spiritual master. Practically we are now seeing it to be so; for our own beloved spiritual master. His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda, is gradually becoming the most famous and worshiped personality in the world. Despite the envious efforts of his cripple-minded critics, Çréla Prabhupäda's influence is spreading more and more. His books are now found everywhere, and are being studied by the most learned scholars. Millions of people are visiting his palatial temples all over the world, and bowing down before his <i>vyäsäsana</i>. And best of all, people everywhere are taking up the chanting of Hare Kåñëa, simply by his humble request, "Chant Hare Kåñëa and be happy."</p>
<p class="p7">As disciples of Çréla Prabhupäda we have arranged for his glorification today in the form of this Vyäsa-püjä book, as well as by celebrations in all of our ISKCON temples. The real mastermind of this universal tribute, however, is Lord Kåñëa Himself. It is His incontrovertible will and pleasure that the name and fame of His pure devotee be glorified everywhere. In the face of such perfect expertise and determination, our immature contribution can hardly be considered significant. Still, we are hopeful that when our feeble words are added to those of thousands and millions of more qualified devotees, the resultant sound vibration will draw the attention and reverence of every intelligent man. May they all come and bow down before Çréla Prabhupäda. He is the foremost representative of Lord Caitanya and the spiritual master of everyone. Today is his eighty-second birthday; we therefore prostrate ourselves in the dust at his lotus feet and offer him our most humble obeisances.</p>
<p class="p7">Detroit, Michigan Devasädhana Mandira</p>
<p class="p49">Govardùana däsa / Narottamänanda däsa / Baöu Gopäla däsa / Indrabhartä däsa / Udayänanda däsa / Vrajendraläla däsa / Navéna Kåñëa däsa / Païca Tattva däsa / Bhüñaya däsa / Prabhanu däsa / Viçäläkña däsa / Akhilänanda däsa / Räméya däsa / Ramänanda Räya däsa / Dhanvigaëeça däsa / Rathayäträ däsa / Ramänanda däsa / Jitätula däsa / Jyotiräditya däsa / Rudra Paëòita däsa / Muräri Mahéti däsa / Bhakta Gary / Bhakta Keith / Bhakta Wayne / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Jerry / Ananta Çeña / Kåñëa Candra / Gaìga / Devakénandana / Sétäräëé-devé däsé / Viläsiné-devé däsé / Sukhasagaré-devé däsé / Dakñayané-devé däsé / Mukhya-devé däsé / Mahänandiné-devé däsé / Lekhaçravanti-devé däsé / Kalalapa-devé däsé / Cintämaëi-devé<b> </b>däsé<b> / </b>Sukti-devé däsé / Govinda Rupiëé-devé däsé / Ananta-devé däsé / Yaçogamé-devé däsé / Sarvaçaktimati-devé däsé / Jähnavé-devé däsé / Ann / Linda / Linda / Robbi / Tara / Aravinda / Rädhika / Måkanda / Vibhu / Jähnavé / Séta</p>
<p class="p11">Dixon</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Dixon</b></p>
<p class="p7">From the devotees from the New Godruma Farm Community to our beloved Gurudeva on this most blessed day: Çréla Prabhupäda, you are receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so you are extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence, of repeated birth and death. Our lives are caught in a cesspool of sinful activities, so what good can come of it? We approach you, Gurudeva, with straw in teeth, because Kåñëa declares that you have seen the truth. Give us sight, let us see!!</p>
<p class="p7">Now we pray, we beg, please let us stay with you in your service<b> </b>until<b> </b>we understand without deviation this king of all knowledge.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva, just give us, your servants, one drop of your mercy. We are lower than the blades of grass; give us help; give us strength. Let us be as you are without desires or aspirations.</p>
<p class="p7">If you are not merciful unto us, we can only weep and we will not be able to maintain our lives.</p>
<p class="p49">Lokasära däsa adhikaré / Bhakta Joe / Yaçomaté-devé däsé / Éçvarapati däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Gus / Uçä-devé däsé / Bhakta Jack / Käla däsa brahmacäré / Keli-Caïcalä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Eastern Europe TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Eastern Europe TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">On this most holy day, we, with our tiny and limited ability, attempt to glorify you, whose glories know no limits. You have given us wretched souls so much help and kindness that we may go on serving you eternally, ever indebted to you. The grace which you bestow so compassionately upon everyone is called divine, because it is coming from Kåñëa. You are the manifestation of Kåñëa's mercy in the material world, therefore you are known as His Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">Who can understand the wonderful characteristics of the pure devotee? When we, your disciples, look upon you, we are simply amazed, our hearts filled with respect and affection for you. Please let us never consider you to be ordinary! Please let us always remember that you do not live in any planet of the material sky, nor do you feel any contact with material elements. Your so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord's identical interest, and thus you are permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the <i>mahat-tattva.</i> You are always in the spiritual sky since you constantly share the transcendental loving association of the Lord.</p>
<p class="p7">You have kindly accepted us as your disciples, therefore our only business is now to please you. To please the spiritual master means to receive his blessings. Without the blessings of the pure devotee no one can make spiritual advancement. Once you said that real gratitude toward you is if we simply understand the importance of this Kåñëa consciousness. In this dark age of Kali, Kåñëa consciousness is greatly needed, because millions of people are suffering greatly due to having lost their proper vision. They have forgotten that the living entities are eternally subordinate servants of God. Living under these conditions, how would it be possible for them to become happy? Thus everybody is thinking in the bodily conception of life and remaining like animals. Just like in eastern Europe, where the attempt is systematically made to kill God, the leaders are so afraid of the name "God" that they are very enthusiastic to make all kinds of propaganda against religion. Scientists and professors are writing volumes of books about scientific atheism. Spending millions of dollars, they have built huge arrangements for defense, to make sure that no other idea will obstruct their way. But can there be any hindrance before your <i>saìkértana</i> movement? Can anyone stop this mission of Lord Caitanya? Despite all security arrangements and propaganda, can anyone remain hidden from your books, which are the illumination of perfection and purity? The words of the pure devotee penetrate all iron curtains of false propaganda. You are the intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, therefore you manifest His <i>saìkértana-çakti</i> in person. Therefore no society can escape from being flooded with your books. This flood of <i>saìkértana</i> sweeps away all useless security by which the demons try to avoid surrender to Kåñëa. The devotees are drowned in this ocean of ecstasy, and the nondevotees are floating. In this way everybody, even the lowborn atheists, get the chance of being delivered. And all this is due to the divine attributes of the pure devotee, as it is confirmed in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-mäyäà<br>
stré-çüdra-hüëa-çabarä api päpa-jéväù<br>
yady adbhuta-krama-paräyaëa-çéla-çikñäs<br>
tiryag-janä api kim u çruta-dhäraëä ye</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Surrendered souls, even from the groups leading sinful lives, such as the woman, the laborer class, the hünas, the Siberians, etc., or even the birds and beasts, can also know about the science of Godhead and become liberated from the clutches of the illusory energy by surrendering unto the pure devotee of the Lord and by following in his footsteps in devotional service." <span class="s3">(<i>Bhag.</i> 2.7.46)</span></p>
<p class="p7">By helping you to spread this <i>saìkértana</i> movement, we are doing the greatest welfare work. This is the only way to pay back a minute part of our debt to you. However, to perform this service there is need of good qualities. Unfortunately we haven't got any quality about which we could be proud. For anything really valuable we have to ask Your Divine Grace. Thus, we are a lot of beggars only.</p>
<p class="p7">O Gurudeva, please shower your rain of mercy upon us! Please give us strength and enthusiasm! Please let us take an eternal part in your <i>saìkértana</i> movement! Please give us the chance to be with you and serve you wherever you are!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your spiritual sons,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Avineçacandra däsa brahmacäré / Dvärakeça däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa-kñetra däsa brahmacäré / Nikhiländana däsa brahmacäré / Paragati däsa brahmacäré / Prapüjäka däsa brahmacäré / Çacénandana däsa brahmacäré / Sucandra däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Ecuador</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ecuador</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your words<br>
Once they’ve struck the heart <br>
Of the innocent victim<br>
are like the venom<br>
that subtly cuts material life<br>
short !<br>
It is as if<br>
in your presence<br>
the incessant flow<br>
Of material desires<br>
Had no choice<br>
than to stop<br>
Even momentarily</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>My eyes weep<br>
'cause they can't</i><b><i> </i></b><i>see you<br>
and when my eyes<br>
behold you<br>
my heart quivers and throbs<br>
and desperately cries<br>
'cause my hands<br>
long to touch your lotus feet<br>
but due to my insignificant condition<br>
I cannot reach you.<br>
It is as if<br>
In your presence<br>
The incessant flow<br>
of material desires<br>
had no other choice<br>
Than to stop<br>
even if for a moment.<br>
Gracias,<br>
tus eternos sirvientes<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p49">Bhakta Jorge / Bhakta Byron / Bhakta Jimmy / Bhakta Joselito / Bhakta John / Bhakta Dick / Bhakta Marcos<b> </b>Jr. / Gobhäöa däsa adhikäré / Måganäthadäsa brahmacäré / Arindama däsa brahmacäré / Madhuré-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Fiji Islands</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Fiji Islands</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda "I.O.U."</p>
<p class="p17"><i>The material debts I had accumulated were too many to count.<br>
Lawyer, doctor and dentist, such an incredible amount!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But as much as I'd make myself debtor to all,<br>
by good ways and right means the sum soon did fall.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>So many bills, so many ills, sometimes in the red, sometimes in the black<br>
But there's one debt now that I could never pay back.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The debt to my spiritual master, can anything there greater be?<br>
Nor could lifetimes of service remove that responsibility.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>He opened my eyes which were closed tight for so long.<br>
An operation that required </i>çästra<i>, </i>sat-saìga<i> and song.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Such methods were revolutionary in light of present-day "knowledge,"<br>
which now only appears to be so much useless garbage.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>A change of heart, a clean, fresh mind,<br>
is there any surgeon this day, my soul, can he find?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>I know they would try hard but by material means,<br>
which is like trying to climb stars with "two-by-four" beams.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>There's no man alive today who knows such an art,<br>
of cleansing the mind and melting the heart.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>To you dear Prabhupäda I've fallen in debt<br>
with no way to reimburse the price that you've</i><b><i> </i></b><i>set</i><b><i>.</i></b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You ask only simple service to Kåñëa with love,<br>
but try as I may can a crow become a dove?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Here's all that I have, just one humble prayer,<br>
to convey a few words and show that I care.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Please take what I offer, though so little to give.<br>
Somewhere in your deep heart please grant me reprieve.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The devotees of the Fiji Islands</i></p>
<p class="p49">Väsudeva däsa adhikäré / Bhägavati-devé däsé / Bhühanä-mohana däsa adhikäré / Çrémati Naräbda-devé däsé / Sevänanda däsa adhikäré / Çravaëéya-devé däsé / Upananda däsa brahmacäré / Nimäé-çaraëa / Sajjanäçraya däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Gainesville</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Gainesville</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Moon is farther than the sun,<br>
With this knowledge you have come.<br>
Souls whose lives were without fun,<br>
Now, however, you have won.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Words of wisdom on your lips,<br>
Vedic scriptures are your stick.<br>
Absolute Truth within your grip,<br>
</i>Paramparä<i> is your whip.</i></p>
<p class="p17">Karmés, jïänés<i> are your game,<br>
</i>Kåñëa-bhakti<i> is your fame.<br>
Smashing concepts of "all the</i><b><i> </i></b><i>same,"<br>
One way only-the holy name!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Life comes from life, you have proved.<br>
Scientific nonsense thus disproved.<br>
Devotion to Kåñëa you've approved,<br>
</i>Mäyä's<i> illusion now removed.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Chemicals not we are made,<br>
Impersonal calamity you have razed.<br>
God is a person we have craved,<br>
Road to Godhead you have paved.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Like a lion without fear,<br>
Bringing the message both far and near.<br>
</i>Yasya deve parä bhaktiù, <span class="s3">[<i>ÇU</i> <i>6.23</i>]<br>
</span><i>All that's left is just to hear.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our worthless obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. Although it is not the position of the servant to ask from the master, we are simply praying that you benedict us with the potency to preach this knowledge all over the world. Last year we saw the Kåñëa consciousness movement become famous in every household throughout the planet, and even. though we are now engaged in a fierce struggle with the demons who are trying to stop this movement, we are confident that this is Kåñëa's plan for a glorious victory. Therefore Çréla Prabhupäda, don't forget your fallen disciples here in Gainesville. We want to go too. Everyone loves a winner, and you are conquering the entire universe in the tradition of Prahläda Mahäräja, Ambaréña Mahäräja, Arjuna and the Päëòavas, Lord Caitanya and the Six Gosvämés, Bhaktivinoda Thäkura and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta. Please take us with you. Don't leave us here to rot in this ocean of birth and death. Force us to become qualified to have your association. Please let us be there when the whole world surrenders at your lotus feet, and Rädhä-Kåñëa are installed in the White House!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Amarendra däsa / Puëòarékäkña däsa / Akiïcana Kåñëa däsa / Rämänanda däsa / Manuçreñöha däsa / Väëénätha Vasu däsa / Déna Vatsala däsa / Droëäcäryaguru däsa / Jitakrodha däsa / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Joel / Bhakta Richard / Gäyatré-devé däsé / Çränti-devé däsé / Småti-devé däsé / Gaìgägati-devé däsé / Yaçodämayé-devé däsé / Gopapatné-devé däsé / Çyämapriya-devé däsé / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Diane / Bhaktin Jill / Bhaktin Jeanette</p>
<p class="p11">Guayaquil</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Guayaquil</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Auspicious stars glittered in the firmament,<br>
In anticipation of your divine descent.<br>
And on the hallowed day on which you came,<br>
The devotees danced and sang in ecstasy the holy</i><b><i> </i></b><i>name</i><b><i>.</i></b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your devotees are like so many grains of sand,<br>
Benedicted by your books, and the touch of your hand,<br>
Your words are soft but like thunder, and your character</i><b><i> </i></b><i>of gold,<br>
The friend of the fallen, and the Vaiñëava bold.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You alone came to mäyä's citadel,<br>
And began to ring the real liberty bell,<br>
The sleeping souls began to awaken,<br>
And, for the first time, were spiritually shaking!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Chant! Chant! Chant! You commanded.<br>
And everyone danced, completely enchanted.<br>
Now "Hare Kåñëa" has become a household word, <br>
And in every city His ame is heard.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>No one can be our spiritual master <br>
But you who have given the answer <br>
To "who am I?" and life's purpose <br>
Of being Lord Kåñëa's eternal servants.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are honored all over the three worlds,<br>
As the most confidential servitor of the Lord,<br>
And so amidst a chorus of celestial praise,<br>
We submit this small offering to Your Divine Grace.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your servants at Guayaquil, Ecuador</i></p>
<p class="p11">Geneva</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Geneva</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Gurudeva,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Harassed by uncontrolled senses,<br>
Haunted by mental speculation,<br>
my heart remains a barren earth,<br>
unfit to receive your seed of Kåñëa-prema.<br>
You bravely declare any land fertile; <br>
Undauntedly you plow away the rocks<br>
and water the parched cracks<br>
of my insignificant life.<br>
Eternal master,</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have brought Çré Caitanya's blessing<br>
to such remote and useless spots as my heart,<br>
Still reaping the fruit of eternal service<br>
to Govinda's lotus feet.<br>
You are empowered to bring all bewildered souls<br>
back to home, back to Godhead,<br>
and though bereft of all merit<br>
I humbly implore Your Divine Grace<br>
to permit this worthless creature<br>
to assist you.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br>
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà karëa-dhära ivärëavam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg. 1.1.22</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">For countless aeons we have languished in this world of chimera, enthralled by mäyä's embrace. We have all but forgotten the lotus feet of Govinda, the primeval Lord. Had Your Divine Grace not intervened<b> </b>in<b> </b>the bleak and miserable wasteland of our life, the seed of devotional service to Lord Kåñëa would never have been sown.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva<br>
guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.151</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead because only through your confidential service to Lord Kåñëa has our journey through myriad sinful activities and their reactions been checked and <i>kåñëa-bhakti</i> enshrined. You have uplifted such foolish scoundrels as ourselves, and therefore, you too are <i>patita-pävana</i>. We remember having accompanied Your Divine Grace on a morning walk during which your silence was punctuated by the rhythmic tapping of your cane on the ground. While we were hoping to capture your merciful glance, you suddenly turned on us and stated a Sanskrit <i>çloka</i>. the only word of which we could understand was <i>mleccha</i>. You then lapsed again into a long silence before revealing the meaning of your quotation. "You are all <i>mlecchas</i>, "you said tersely, "but by the grace of a pure devotee you have become Vaiñëava." And then you did give us a merciful glance.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Vaiñëava thäkura tomära kukura boliyä jana</i>. The pure devotee is thäkura, as good as God Himself because he can deliver God to all manners of men. Therefore, we simply pray to become your <i>kukura</i>, or dog. Our qualities being nonexistent, we could never have reached you, Çréla Prabhupäda, but Your Divine Grace being boundless, has nonetheless reached down to us. You have filled our body with vigor, our mind and intelligence with <i>räja-vidyä</i>, and our heart with <i>prema</i>. We shall never be able to repay the awesome debt that we have incurred to you. Cäëakya Paëòita declares that no amount of riches can ever repay one word of the spiritual master's instructions. Nevertheless, we implore you to give us the steadfastness to do your bidding so that we may begin to try. We pledge our life to your exalted mission of bringing Lord Caitanya's <i>näma-saìkértana</i> to every town and village.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma<br>
sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>CB Antya 4.126</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You have often affirmed that you have given us everything—the holy name, the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, Deity worship, Kåñëa <i>prasäda</i>—and that it is now simply up to us to preach extensively and tell everyone enthusiastically about Kåñëa. Kindly grant us the strength to follow in your footsteps, whatever the condition of life in which Kåñëa may deem fit to place us.</p>
<p class="p7">On this most auspicious day of your divine appearance in this world, Çréla Prabhupäda, we address you with all the humility that we can muster and wish to reaffirm the vows which we made to you in front of the fire, the <i>mürtis</i>, and the assembled devotees at the time of our initiation. Let us constantly remain your menial servants, for we have no refuge outside your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">the devotees of ISKCON-Switzerland</p>
<p class="p49">Guru Gauräìga däsa adhikäré / Rädhä Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Candrapati däsa adhikäré / Çaìikaräraëya däsa brahmacäré / Sarva Pälaka däsa brahmacäré / Pävaneçana däsa brahmacäré / Ädibhüta däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Gurudeva däsa brahmacäré / Yugalamürti däsa brahmacäré / Jévadaya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Manfred / Bhakta Guillermo / Hiraëmayé-devé däsé / Rämya-devé däsé / Mandahäsa-devé däsé / Nanda Priyä-devé däsé / Mandäkini-devé däsé / Bhaktin Christine / Arjuna</p>
<p class="p11">Germany</p>
<p class="p64"><b>Germany</b></p>
<p class="p7">All the living entities in the material world are day and night very busy under the spell of the illusory energy. Seeking for happiness and peace, the living entity experiences different degrees of so-called happiness and distress. Thus wandering from one body to another in 8,400,000 species of life-sometimes accepting the body of a plant or that of an animal or sometimes of a human being or demigod—the living entity completely forgets his eternal relationship with the Lord. Foolishly he is satisfied with his material position, never experiencing the real happiness he is seeking since time immemorial. Trying to establish himself under nice living conditions, all his attempts for happiness are burnt by the all-devouring time.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yaà yam artham upädatte duùkhena sukha-hetave<br>
taà taà dhunoti bhagavän pumäï chocati yat-kåte</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Whatever is produced by the materialist with great pain and labor for so-called happiness, the Supreme Personality, as the time factor, destroys, and for this reason the conditioned soul laments." <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>3.30.2)</span></p>
<p class="p7">The burning conditioned soul in the material world may get relief from its distress when getting in contact with the authorized spiritual master who is compared to the cloud that showers rain anywhere without consideration. This "rain" is the causeless mercy of the Lord and it is showered by the causeless mercy of the guru.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities." <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The <i>äcärya</i> can instruct one about the value of human life. There is no need for the disciple to be rich, beautiful or learned. Everyone can become enlightened merely by associating with the bona fide <i>äcärya</i> even if devoid of all good qualities. Similarly Närada Muni, when born as a <i>çüdra</i>, became enlightened by the association of great devotees. <i>Äcäryavän puruño veda </i><span class="s3">[<i>Chändogya Up.</i> 6.14.2]</span>. Simply by associating with devotees of the Lord one will also become a devotee, and one will use this form of life the right way. This human form of life is not meant to be wasted for sense gratification. For that purpose there are so many other forms of life. If at the time of death you can remember the Lord then your life was successful. Otherwise not. All that counts is<i> ante näräyaëa-småti </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 2.1.6]</span>. Nothing else. This is the teachings of the <i>äcäryas</i>. It is our choice to take it or not. When we are sick we consult a physician who can give some good advice. He tells us "do this, don't do that, eat this, don't eat that, etc." If we seriously follow the orders of the physician then we can become cured in due course. But if we don't follow his orders then there is no chance of becoming cured.</p>
<p class="p7">Our disease is that we are accepting this material existence as real, but by the instructions of the <i>guru</i> we can become cured and taste real existence manifested in our eternal loving relationship with the Lord. But for that experience full surrender unto the spiritual master's instructions is required. <i>Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädaù </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span>. By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Prabhupäda, unfortunate as we are, we don't care for your instructions, but instead we are always looking for sense gratification in the material world. When will we become like Çréla Rüpa and Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé? Although being very advanced they considered themselves to be the most fallen, and taking a straw in their mouth they fully surrendered at the lotus feet of their spiritual master, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. That is the behavior of a perfect disciple. Please engage us in your service although we will never attain such qualities as they did. Maybe, gradually we will get purified so that you can bless us with <i>bhaktisakti</i>. Then we could do some minor service for you, namely carry on your message. Gurudeva, we are fools. We are diseased but we reject the help of a physician. How can there be any hope for us? You give us gold but we prefer to take dirt. It is just your mercy that you do not throw us away, although it is a waste of time to care for us.</p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants at ISKCON Germany</p>
<p class="p49">Harikeça Svämé / Ajätaçatru däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëé Suta däsa brahmacäré / Çacénandana däsa brahmacäré / Saritpati däsa brahmacäré / Sucandra däsa brahmacäré / Taponidhi däsa brahmacäré / Urangama däsa brahmacäré / Urdvaga däsa brahmacäré / Våndäranya däsa brahmacäré / Yädavamani däsa brahmacäré / Akhila däsa brahmacäré / Akñara däsa brahmacäré / Ananta deva däsa brahmacäré / Açoka Kumära däsa brahmacäré / Añöaratha däsa brahmacäré / Avinäça Candra däsa brahmacäré / Bharata däsa brahmacäré / Gaìgädhara däsa brahmacäré / Gopeça däsa brahmacäré / Haàsa däsa brahmacäré / Haraka däsa brahmacäré / Kämadhenu däsa brahmacäré / Kåpäräma däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëaksetra däsa brahmacäré / Madhuha däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Räma däsa brahmacäré / Manidhära däsa brahmacäré / Nikhilänanda däsa brahmacäré / Niñpäpa däsa brahmacäré / Pävanesana däsa brahmacäré / Phalguna däsa brahmacäré / Premacandra däsa brahmacäré / Purujit däsa brahmacäré / Ratnagarbha däsa brahmacäré / Håtpati däsa / Viruddha-çakti däsa / Ätmavidyä däsa adhikäré / Vibhiñana däsa adhikäré / Aya däsa adhikäré / Cakravarté däsa adhikäré / Divyadhäma däsa adhikäré / Gaura Kiçora däsa adhikäré / Jayagaura däsa adhikäré / Mahärati däsa adhikäré / Påthu däsa adhikäré / Vedavyäsa däsa adhikäré / Harernämänanda däsa adhikäré / Asaìga-devé däsé / Dénaçarana-devé däsé / Girväëé-devé däsé / Ekädäsé-devé däsé / Ekänti-devé däsé / Hrémati-devé däsé / Indirä-devé däsé / Kaïcani-devé däsé / Maëimaïjari-devé däsé / Mådani-devé däsé / Parama-devé däsé / Rambhoru-devé däsé / Reëukädevé däsé / Rohiëé-devé däsé / Saumyarüpa-devé däsé / Umä-devé däsé / Revaté-devé däsé / Çilpakärëé-devé däsé / Bhakta Alfred / Bhakta Helmut / Bhakta Born / Bhakta Detlef / Bhakta Nico / Bhakta Olivier</p>
<p class="p11">Guadalajara</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Guadalajara</b></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is the bona fide representative and personal friend of the Supreme Lord, and by his mercy we can also become dear to the Lord. And because the spiritual master is the representative of the Supreme Lord, he must be honored as such. Therefore, each and every day, each and every hour, each and every moment we must remember the lotus feet of our spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda. That is the meaning of advancement in spiritual life.</p>
<p class="p7">Factually, before Çréla Prabhupäda came to the west, none of us knew about Kåñëa, none of us knew that the Supreme Lord is a person and has pastimes, that He has friends and a residence, and that each one of us can go back to home and play with Him. That information has only been given by our spiritual master. He has given us spiritual life, and without Çréla Prabhupäda no one can find spiritual life. Therefore, there is no way to repay what he has given.</p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in the Vedic literature that when one approaches the spiritual master to acquire knowledge from him, one has to give something in return. That is called <i>dakñinä</i> </p>
<p class="p7">But <i>dakñinä</i> does not mean just a quantity of money. The only <i>dakñinä</i> which is acceptable is one's life.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda has given his life to spread this movement of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and has given up all the comforts of Våndävana to come teach us about Kåñëa. The only thing he asks is that we finish our sense gratification and chant Hare Kåñëa. Therefore, let us offer our lives unto the lotus feet of our divine master. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p49">Madana Manohara däsa brahmacäré / Vraja Väsé däsa brahmacäré / Urjeçvari däsa brahmacäré / Kñetra Svarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Jïäna Çakti däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Jagannätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Luis / Bhakta Alfredo / Bhakta Gustavo / Bhakta Mario / Bhakta Hector / Bhakta Salvador / Räma-Govinda däsa adhikäré / Adhokñaja däsa adhikäré / Sanat Kumära däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Enrique / Girisutä-devé däsé / Mandäkiné Gaìga-devé<b> </b>däsé / Mathurä-devé däsé / Bhaktin Adriana / Bhaktin Rosalba / Bhaktin Victoria / Bhaktin Delia / Bhaktin Martha / Bhaktin Alicia</p>
<p class="p11">Guatemala City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Guatemala City</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my humble obeisances unto his lotus feet." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my humble obeisances to my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa because he has taken shelter at His lotus feet."</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, your mercy like our fortune is inconceivably unlimited. Really we have no qualification to be worthy of the dust of your lotus feet; neither do we have in our stock any truly pious activity. Therefore, it is just because of our inconceivable good luck (which is due, indeed, to the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa), that our way was met with yours, and it is only because of your infinite causeless mercy that you kindly have picked us up from the filthy bog of sinful life; therefore, on this most auspicious day, we bow to your lotus feet and we implore you:</p>
<p class="p7">Please O our eternal father, O our lord and master birth after birth, don't allow that we become bewildered and captivated by the illusory energy (<i>mäyä</i>) of the Lord, in such a way that we forget the constant service to your lotus feet. We do not dare even to ask you that you remove the reactions of our sinful activities; simply we are begging that you allow us to develop a strong attachment to the service of your divine lotus feet and the ability to remember our eternal indebtedness to you,</p>
<p class="p7">Let all the universe sing the glories of <i>patita-pävana</i>, our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">Your fallen servants<b> </b>of Guatemala Temple:</p>
<p class="p49">Prabhu däsa brahmacäré / Kalpataru däsa brahmacäré / Arture Mazariegos Prabhu / Harinämänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Carlos</p>
<p class="p11">Guyana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Guyana</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. This is<b> </b>our<b> </b>humble effort for Vyäsa-Püjä.</p>
<p class="p6"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda BENEDICTS EVERYONE</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda! the sage among so-called human society.<br>
Teaches everyone to serve Rädhä Kåñëa Deity.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! the only true saint on this planet,<br>
Draws everyone to serve Kåñëa as iron is pulled by some magnet.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! the supreme revolutionist of the Absolute Truth,<br>
Awakens everyone sleeping in </i>mäyä<i> with his lotuslike boot.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! the best example of a pure devotee,<br>
Reaches everyone beyond the Mäyävädés' concept of becoming one with</i><b><i> </i></b><i>the </i>brahma-jyotir<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda the real mahätmäjé among the fake </i>mahätmäs<i> or </i>durätmäs<i>,<br>
Explains to everyone the relationship between the </i>ätmä<i> and </i>Paramätmä<i>.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! Kåñëa's most exalted servant at the present moment,<br>
Stops everyone from learning how to lament.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda! the real defamer of the modern scientist, religionist,<br>
political activist, communist, democratist, the gross materialist, and</i><b><i> </i></b><i>the atheist,<br>
Tells everyone not to follow those miscreants that pose themselves</i><b><i> </i></b><i>as real educationalists.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda! the foremost authority on Vedic culture,<br>
Gives everyone a chance to stop acting like a vulture.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! who can change the world from darkness to light,<br>
Helps everyone meditate on Kåñëa all day and all night.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda! the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead,<br>
Allows everyone to return to Goloka Våndävana to live forever</i><b><i> </i></b><i>instead.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! teaches us about Lord Caitanyadeva,<br>
Enthuses everyone to chant Hare Kåñëa.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda instructs us to take </i>Kåñëa-prasäda<i>,<br>
Encourages everyone to become Kåñëa consciously mad.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! travels from his country to others,<br>
Just to instruct everyone that the cow is one of our mothers.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda! turns </i>caëòälas<i> into Vaiñëavas,<br>
Defeats everyone, stops them from becoming big, big asuras.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! the bona fide spiritual master,<br>
Heals everyone that is covered by material nature's plaster.<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda! the founder </i>äcärya<i>,<br>
Takes everyone out of the bondage of </i>mäyä<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Siddhajana däsa / Bhütädi däsa / Sarüttama däsa / Bhakta Jairam Singh / Bhakta Suresh Candra / Bhakta Murigal / Bakula-devé däsé / Bhaktin Shirley / Bhaktin Pulmatie</p>
<p class="p11">Honk Kong</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honk Kong</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nala-veëu-çaras-tanba-kuça-kécaka-gahvaram<br>
eka evätiyäto 'ham adräkñaà vipinaà mahat<br>
ghoraà pratibhayäkäraà vyälolüka-çiväjiram</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I then passed alone through many forests of bamboo, sharp grass, weeds and caves, which were very difficult to go through alone. I visited deep, dark and dangerously fearful forests, which were the play yards of snakes, owls and jackals." <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>1.6.13)</span></p>
<p class="p7">The duty of the <i>parivräjakäcärya</i> (mendicant) is to travel everywhere and enlighten the inhabitants of the earth with the message of God. You, Çréla Prabhupäda, because you took the order of your spiritual master as your life and soul, left your blissful <i>bhajana-kuöira</i> (place of prayer) in Våndävana, the serene land of Lord Kåñëa's birth and pastimes, and at an age when ordinary men do not venture forth from their sitting rooms and front porches, came alone to the deep, dark and dangerously fearful concrete forests of the naked city.</p>
<p class="p7">O swanlike one, since that blessed beginning in New York you have been miraculously snatching countless conditioned souls from jackallike lives, dousing the raging forest fire of material existence with showers of your mercy and nectarous wisdom. Unto such a spiritual master I offer my obeisances again and again and again and again.</p>
<p class="p7">On this holy occasion of the anniversary of your appearance, our prayer is to be blessed with one dram from your fountain of courage, one drop from your sea of conviction, one speck of dust from your ever-traveling lotus feet. May we not fear the weeds and caves, strange and dangerous places, but push on and on, following in your unfailing footsteps, to inundate with love of Kåñëa, every town and village.</p>
<p class="p49">Lomaça Åñi däsa / Yaçomaté-suta däsa adhikaré / Nitya-lélä Sakhi-devé däsé / Bhakta Gulab</p>
<p class="p11">Honolulu</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Honolulu</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our obeisances and prayers of gratitude at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tvaà sad-gurur naù paramaà ca daivataà<br>
yasyänuvåttyä kåtino babhüvima</i></p>
<p class="p7">"You are our spiritual master and supreme worshipable deity. By following in your footsteps we have become successful in every respect." <span class="s3">(<i>Bhäg. </i>1.11.7)</span></p>
<p class="p7">Certainly now that you have taken us on as your disciples, we must be the most fortunate few persons on this earth, which lies so helplessly besieged by the awesome forces of the age. If we can just hold fast to your mercy, you have assured us we will always remain without a doubt saved. Please, then, tell us again day after day, reminding us as we need to be reminded, of the simple formula Kåñëa has given: <i>man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 18.65]</span>. As you have explained, Kåñëa is asking only four things. "Always think of Me," by being always engaged in hearing and chanting.</p>
<p class="p7">"Become My devotee," by accepting the association of devotees and maintaining without fail the basic principles. "Worship Me," both as the Deity in the temple by regular service and as the Lord of sacrifice by striving to spread His glories all over the world. And "Offer your homage unto Me," continuing to acknowledge Kåñëa's kindness even within the most trying difficulty.</p>
<p class="p7">Perhaps you are even a little satisfied with our most weakhearted efforts to serve. Please, therefore, continue to rain your undeserved blessings on us. Defeat all our unnecessary diversions and set us straight more and more on this supreme perfectional path.</p>
<p class="p7">Your humble servants of lSKCON Hawaii.</p>
<p class="p11">Houston</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Houston</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ceto-darpaëa-märjanaà bhava-mahä-dävägni-nirväpaëaà<br>
çreyaù-kairava-candrikä-vitaraëaà vidyä-vadhü-jévanam<br>
änandämbudhi-vardhanaà prati-padaà pürëämåtäsvädanaà<br>
sarvätma-snapanaà paraà vijayate çré-kåñëa-saìkértanam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çikñäñöaka</i> <i>1</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"All glories to the Çré Kåñëa <i>Saìkértana</i>, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This <i>Saìkértana</i> movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious."<br>
</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our respectful and humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Your transcendental appearance is a display of Çré Kåñëa's grace upon all conditioned souls. He has sent you<b> </b>to<b> </b>mercifully distribute the <i>bhakti-latä</i>, the creeper of devotional service. Without this creeper of devotional service all living entities are bound to transmigrate from one species to another and from one planet to another, never finding real happiness. You have given us all the opportunity to return home, back<b> </b>to<b> </b>Godhead.</p>
<p class="p7">Such a matchless gift cannot be repaid. However, we must enthusiastically attempt to repay you even though we may always be unable. Our repayment is to follow exactly as you have directed, chant sixteen <i>good</i> rounds, follow the four regulative principles and preach this message of Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">We understand that to please you is the perfection of our lives. Our fervent prayer to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, is that you give us the ability<b> </b>to<b> </b>recollect that we are your eternal servants and meant to engage all of<b> </b>our<b> </b>senses in your service.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants, Houston Yatra</p>
<p class="p49">Lakñmé Näräyaëa däsa / Jyotir däsa / Siddhavidyä däsa / Sulocana däsa / Dharmabhävana däsa / Dudgapana däsa / Brähmaëya däsa / Paçupati däsa / Bhüñaya däsa / Räsaprada däsa / Våndävana däsa / Brahmänanda Puri däsa / Bhagavän Äcärya däsa / Brahnatiñtha däsa / Subruta däsa / Bhakti John / Icchänati-devé däsé / Bhakti-devé däsé / Citta Çakti-devé däsé / Cinmaya-devé däsé / Sulocana-devé däsé / Devaräja-devé däsé / Sarveçvaré-devé<b> </b>däsé / Bhaktin Lisa / Kértana / Våndävana / Daçaratha / Gaura Çakti / Kedaranätha / Meyäcärya / Rädhikä</p>
<p class="p11">Kåñëa-Balarama TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Kåñëa-Balarama TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearest Father,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen and worthless obeisances at your sacred lotus feet. We are certainly incapable of saying anything poetic, and any attempt to praise you will be marred by our filthy consciousness, our words remain the mumbling of fools.</p>
<p class="p7">We are facing the burning of <i>saàsära</i>. <i>Mäyä</i> is dancing before our senses and you and Kåñëa are calling us to come home. We are running towards your shelter. Father, but we are crippled, and we are always falling down and getting lost on the path you tell us to follow. Dark clouds of illusion are surrounding us and death like a fierce dog is closing in on our so-called youth. O Father! We are terrified of this material world. It is the worst nightmare; we are crying. Lost in the forest of illusion we fall again and again, but there is no time to count our bruises and lament. We are running toward you begging for shelter; we are running with you in defeating the atheism of the world, spreading the brilliance of Kåñëa consciousness, and we are running for you in the performance of our prescribed <i>dharmas</i> trying to please you—our most wonderful and divine <i>guru-mahäräja</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda! We are your servants, souls surrendered unto you, now and forever. Kindly tell us what to do. We remain,</p>
<p class="p7"><i>A group of fools,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Manu Thäkura däsa brahmacäré / Girivanadhäri däsa brahmacäré / Tribüvanätha däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa-Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Viñëu Datta däsa brahmacäré </p>
<p class="p11">Laguna Beach</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Laguna Beach</b></p>
<p class="p7">Unless one is recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead by one's devotional service, the human form of life is wasted. A devotee must therefore know how to render service unto Kåñëa and thus be recognized by Him. It is explained in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> that one should serve both the spiritual master and Kåñëa simultaneously to progress in Kåñëa consciousness. Service rendered to Kåñëa under the direction of the spiritual master is bona fide service because the spiritual master is the manifested representative of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Çré Hari [Kåñëa]." <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span> Therefore, when one satisfies the spiritual master he satisfies Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">O beloved Gurudeva, by your mercy we can now understand that everyone on this planet is enamored by the illusory satisfaction of sense gratification. Being fully engaged in illusory activities they are reluctant to take to the Kåñëa consciousness movement because they are unaware of the benefits of surrendering to Kåñëa and so they are subjected to various miserable conditions of material existence. They are foolishly attached to so-called society, friendship and love, which simply produce different kinds of miserable conditions. Everyone, both man and woman, is attached to this material existence and is engaged in cheating one another in a great society of the cheaters and the cheated.</p>
<p class="p7">Modern society encourages people to become careless about spiritual realization, so everyone is full of anxieties thinking, "What is to be done? What is next?" And because they are strongly bound by material desires they continue to remain in craziness.</p>
<p class="p7">It is indeed very difficult to get out of the material entanglement but somehow or other we were favored by Kåñëa. By His mercy only we were given the opportunity to associate with a pure devotee like Your Divine Grace.</p>
<p class="p7">We can therefore conclude that we must be specifically favored by Kåñëa, otherwise how is it we are becoming Kåñëa conscious and are engaging in the preaching work of this sublime Vaiñëava philosophy?</p>
<p class="p7">Your unworthy servants, the community of New Jhärikhaëòa</p>
<p class="p11">Lima</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Lima</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>To remember<br>
Not autumn springs,<br>
Wonderful waterfalls gleam<br>
Nor sunset beams</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But<br>
to remember<br>
You<br>
Savior of our heart<br>
Graceful knight<br>
Whose words have broken<br>
With sädhu sword<br>
The nightlikefog of<br>
Mäyä's dark</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>To remember</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You<br>
And not forget again<br>
We pray.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Jagajévana däsa / Payonidhi däsa / Prahlädanätha däsa / Rädhä-madana-mohana däsa / Arkamitra däsa / Väsudeva-paräyaëa däsa / Däru Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Aldo / Bhakta Eduardo / Bhakta Jose / Bhakta Aries / Mahänandé-devé däsé / Madre Cristina / Madre Miriam / Madre Ana</p>
<p class="p11">London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London (Bhaktivedanta Manor)</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>GURUDEVA</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>1. No modernistic soup you brew; <br>
Your precepts taught of yore:<br>
Eternal tenets, tested true, <br>
Confirmed by Vedic law.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>2. A stirring Gospel, time-intact, <br>
Awaking dormant ways:<br>
"Twixt loved and lover sleeps a pact <br>
Inherent for all days."</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>3. Corruptive cheats, who strangle truth, <br>
Have crippled mosque and church; <br>
But Truth has held Himself aloof, <br>
Avoiding vain research.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>4. The truth is but for those sincere <br>
Who turn their hearts to you, <br>
evealed to those of earnest ear; <br>
But they are far and few.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>5. Although the truth resounds aloud, <br>
Throughout the globe declared,<br>
The brainless booby, puffed too proud, <br>
From death is never spared.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>6. O woe to him who turns you down <br>
And disregards your word:<br>
He's lost, alas, a luckless clown,<br>
By lust alone bestirred.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>7. The simple truth is pure and plain:<br>
Çré Kåñëa is our Lord.<br>
One needs but chant His holy name,<br>
His mercy down is poured.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>8. We're not these skin-and-boney bags,<br>
But are the souls within; <br>
Yet, brandishing false fleshy flags,<br>
We flap in squalid sin.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>9. Repent your wicked ways, O man! <br>
Surrender at his feet!<br>
Remold your life to suit his plan,<br>
And progress you will meet.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>10. Don shining hope! Doff dull despair! <br>
Bear japa beads in hand!<br>
Ascend with care the narrow stair<br>
To greet the promised land!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>11. Be led by him along the way<br>
That saints and sages trod!<br>
Enjoy the gradual dawn of day,<br>
O brilliant son of God!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>12. Attract those trapped in groggy world<br>
To leap along behind!<br>
Triumphant banners fly unfurled.<br>
True life and freedom find!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>13. Pay homage unto him, all men!<br>
Uphold his noble cause!<br>
His Grace Divine will 'light on them<br>
Who strive to keep his laws.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>14</i><b><i>.</i></b><i> Although I'm chanting Kåñëa's name,<br>
I cannot gain a taste.<br>
O master, bless me with a grain,<br>
Lest human life I waste.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>15. Redeem me from this wave-tossed world,<br>
Where I am but a slave,<br>
By surging sensual urges hurled.<br>
O save me, Gurudeva.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dearmost worshipable, most glorious Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble <i>daëòavats</i> at your holy lotus feet. We are your most fallen disciples. We have no intelligence to understand the full import of your desires, or your greatness-still, by your grace, we wish to glorify you.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair<br>
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù<br>
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka 7</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">You are the most intimate associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and yet you have so kindly come here. You left the holy <i>dhäma</i> of Våndävana to associate with us, who are too low even to be classified amongst the untouchables in the <i>varëäçrama</i> system.</p>
<p class="p7">You have taught us the missing secret of life, which is practically unknown in this demoniac culture in which we have taken birth.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Ahaà brahmäsmi</i>—I am not this body, I am spirit soul. What is the business of the spirit soul? <i>Jivera 'svarüpa' haya, kåñnera 'nitya-</i>däsa'—our eternal occupation is to engage in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i> sei sarva-vedera 'abhidheya' näma<br>
sädhana-bhakti haite haya premera udgama</i></p>
<p class="p7">"By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of God. This is called <i>abhidheya</i>," <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi-lélä </i>7.142)</span> You have so mercifully taught us the most confidential of all knowledge, the activity of the eternal spirit soul in the spiritual world.</p>
<p class="p7">Now we are actually coming to life, by your grace. Before we met with your mercy, we were engaged in so many activities, all more or less entangling, and mostly degrading and impious. Now we can understand that, although we had such a high opinion of ourselves, although we were so firmly convinced of our positions as lords of material nature, actually we were not even exhibiting symptoms of life.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>jévaï chavo bhägavatäìghri-reëuà<br>
na jätu martyo 'bhilabheta yas tu<br>
çré-viñëu-padyä manujas tulasyäù<br>
çvasaï chavo yas tu na veda gandham</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of a pure devotee of the Lord upon his head certainly is a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the fragrance of the <i>tulasé</i> leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing." (<i>Bhag.</i> <i>2.3.23</i>).</p>
<p class="p7">Real life does not exist outside the approved path of devotional service, beginning with <i>çravaëaà kértanaà viñnoù</i>. We are experiencing that we are actually becoming enlivened by this process of devotional service. Without devotional service, under your instructions, our breathing is no better than the pulsing of bellows. Actually, our every living gesture and activity is simply by your mercy. We are made of your mercy. <i>Tomära karunä-sära.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Anything performed outside the scope of your instructions is simply conditioned activity under the influence of the three modes of material nature.</p>
<p class="p7">Your dearly beloved Çré Kåñëa, who can attract millions of Cupids, who is enlivening the cows and the senses, and who is the Lord of the <i>gopés</i>, is known as Bhagavän, the possessor of all opulence. We can clearly see that you are also exhibiting these opulences by His grace. Who else is so wealthy that he owns large properties in major cities all over the world, as well as farms, gorgeous <i>mandiras</i> and prosperous businesses? Who else is so beautiful that people all over the world will weep and dance in ecstasy to see him? Who else is so influential that he can purify the polluted atmosphere of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of the human beings? Who is so all-knowing that he can determine what is right action in every sphere of human activity? Who is so powerful that he can defeat the greatest philosophers, politicians, and religionists? And who is so renounced that he can live surrounded by such opulence, and still sleep two or four hours a day, and dedicate his life and soul to the ultimate welfare of all? Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you are so famous that at every moment, as the sun takes his course, somewhere on the planet someone is bowing and reciting prayers in your praise. Your appearance is epoch-making, and your characteristics and mission are described in the Vedic scriptures. <i>Vede gäy yähära carito</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">We regret that our devotion and love for you is hardly more than skin-deep, hardly more than sentiment. You have said that when you write your translations and purports, you are thinking that this is to be a guide for the next ten thousand years. On the other hand, we find it difficult to maintain enthusiasm for more than forty-eight hours the continuous <i>kirtana</i> which you requested.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, we are like children. You are actually protecting us and nourishing us with the milk of the Vedic wisdom. We are as helplessly dependent on you as a naked baby is dependent on the mother. You are our real parent and guardian, for your protection is infallible.</p>
<p class="p7">You have written that this chanting of Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is like the genuine cry of the baby for the mother. You have awakened us to our desperate plight and taught us to cry.</p>
<p class="p7">This process of devotional service is so sublime, so simple, so direct and so profound. We have only to abide strictly by your instructions, to have full faith in the chanting of the holy name. We humbly pray that you will continue to shower us with your mercy, so that we can make our lives successful, by your grace.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Jagat Guru Svämé / Jayatértha däsa adhikäré / Vicitravérya däsa adhikäré / Jaya Lakñmaëa däsa adhikäré / Puraïjana däsa adhikäré / Janakaräja däsa adhikäré / Jïäna däsa adhikäré / Ädi Kartä däsa adhikäré / Bhaja Hari däsa adhikäré / Hare Kåñëa däsa adhikäré / Raghuvéra däsa brahmacäré / Advaitäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Iläpati däsa brahmacäré / Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Jananandana däsa brahmacäré / Muktyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kulaçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Amita däsa brahmacäré / Bhaumadeva däsa brahmacäré / Citraketu däsa brahmacäré / Dänavéra däsa brahmacäré / Giri Govardhana däsa / Vérabhadra däsa / Kalyapaëi däsa / Gokulänanda däsa / Kåpämaya däsa / Kåñëa däsa / Vaàçévadana däsa / Påtivépati däsa / Räsa Maëdala däsa / Bhogänanda däsa / Daëdakäraëya däsa / Satänanda däsa / Dharaëé Dhära däsa / Ätmadana däsa / Rasa Rasika / Tértha Kära / Akhaëdädi / Raghuvaha / Medhävé / Satyaväk / Tulasé Priya / Yäga Yaïga / Çastra Cakñus / Tony Tasi / Christos / Bhagavad<b> </b>Bhakta / Wynn / Doug / Nick / Stuart / Kieran / Shamus / Grahma / Tyäga Tony / Ned / Bhäva Bill / Pänòu<b> </b>Paul / Andy / Chris / Bhakta Andrew / Bhakta Jim / Alberto / lan / John / Maïjvalé-devé däsé / Padma-devé däsé / Jagannätha Éçvari-devé däsé / Jagattama-devé däsé / Kamaläïgi-devé däsé / Rädha-Gokulänanda-devé däsé / Håtkamälaya-devé däsé / Veëurati-devé däsé / Jalasthita-devé däsé / Jagadhätri-devé däsé / Aïjana-devé däsé / Nandalala-devé däsé / Yuvati-devé däsé / Çacé-devé däsé / Vasana-devé däsé / Rämya-devé däsé / Rucira-devé däsé / Çrékäma-devé däsé / Räsalélä-devé däsé / Éçvari-devé däsé / Jänaké-devé däsé / Gokularäëi-devé däsé / Añöasakhi-devé däsé / Våndä-devé däsé / Lélävati-devé däsé / Subhadrä-devé däsé / Devaké-devé däsé / Sävitré-devé däsé / Kåñëaïga-devé däsé / Bhaktin Diane / Bhaktin Claire / Bhaktin Anita / Bhaktin Liz / Bhaktin Joanne / Bhaktin Susan / Bhaktin Sally / Maeve / Vaiñëava Carana / Kértana Rasa / Yaçoda / Yamunä / Rädhäkuëòa / Rukmiëé / Subhadrä / Prahläda / Baladeva</p>
<p class="p11">London (Bury Place)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>London (Bury Place)</b></p>
<p class="p87"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya<br>
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena<br>
tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You chant Kåñëa 's glories to spread His fame<br>
to cleanse our hearts and make us sane<br>
Endeavouring, determined, you never relent<br>
You know the Lord, it's by Him you've been sent.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Constantly engaged in serving the Lord<br>
Your love can never from Him be called<br>
In this whole creation there is no space<br>
for you there's nothing but His lotus face.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Resolute in purpose, your aim is one<br>
to make us all happy, you 're never done<br>
You're the self-realized soul who never sits still<br>
with no personal desire, but the Lord's to fulfill.</i></p>
<p class="p17">Çré Bhagavad-gétä <i>is proof of its own<br>
like the sun with no shadow you've vividly shown<br>
You are the proof, O Prabhupada, lord of my sight<br>
I challenge the man who can match your might!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Analyze carefully and make your test<br>
Where is the solution to disease and death?<br>
Just apply your logic to my guru<br>
His mercy you'll find gives eternal youth.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Devoted to Kåñëa, you never lament<br>
You joyfully work. "It's for service we're meant!"<br>
Person </i>bhägavata<i>, there's no fault in you<br>
You demonstrate this knowledge and show us it's true.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>To write about you is to become purified<br>
Remember your feet and in you confide<br>
This day of yours is your mercy as well<br>
Boundless your love, you've saved us from hell.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda.</i></p>
<p class="p49">Rohiëénandana däsa adhikäré / Oàkära däsa brahmacäré / Raïcora däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Andy / Säkñé Gopäla däsa brahmacäré / Peter / Yaçoda Duläla däsa brahmacäré / Léläçakti-devé däsé / Mataìga däsa brahmacäré / Rädhäpriya-devé däsé / Citraketu däsa brahmacäré / Devamaya-devé däsé / Nélamaëi däsa brahmacäré / Kuïjamändana-devé däsé / Sarva Sargara däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëaveça-devé däsé / Yajïäìga däsa brahmacäré / Arcä-devé däsé / Ätmätma däsa brahmacäré / Kalaìgana-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Los Angeles</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Los Angeles</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">To properly glorify your qualities and pastimes is as difficult as glorifying Kåñëa. Kåñëa is unlimited and unpredictable, and being fully surrendered to Him, you have the same features. There is no way we can ever repay you, either now or at any time in the future. You have given us everything; we have given you nothing but trouble.</p>
<p class="p7">In Mäyäpur, you have built a transcendental city to cool our hearts and minds and give us the peace which escapes all living entities in the creation. While we walked happily to the Gaìga, you lay sick in your room, bearing the sinful reactions of millions of sinful lives of your disciples. The next day, you initiated over two hundred more. Who can possibly begin to understand your selflessness?</p>
<p class="p7">In Jagannätha Puré, some <i>paëòitas</i> chanted beautiful prayers for you in glorification of Lord Jagannätha. With tears in your eyes, you told them, "I only want that these American boys can see Lord Jagannätha." You never stop thinking of our welfare. We have done nothing to deserve your mercy. It is causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Despite all difficulties you never give up preaching about Kåñëa.<b> </b>One<b> </b>night in Mäyäpur, despite a crippling illness, you preached to us about determination in devotional service. You cited the example of Jaöäyu, the vulture who was killed while trying to stop Rävaëa from kidnapping Sétä. You explained that although Jaöäyu was unable to save Sétä, this does not mean that he was unsuccessful. Because he endeavored to the best of his ability to serve Lord Rämacandra, he was successful, even though he failed to achieve the result. You are thus teaching us to follow your example of ceaselessly fighting for Kåñëa, ignoring all obstacles.</p>
<p class="p7">Your doctor came to see you due to the severity of your illness. His purpose was to order you not to speak, so you could regain your energy. When he arrived in your room, you immediately took the opportunity to preach to him about Kåñëa consciousness. <i>No force within this material world is powerful enough to stop your preaching.</i></p>
<p class="p7">As we reluctantly left your association in Mäyäpur to go to Våndävana, we heard another amazing example of your tenacity. Your illness was so severe that you were unable to move. You commented that your father had died of the selfsame disease. We were all terrified, and we didn't know what to do. Then we heard your final comment. You started making plans for a preaching tour. We couldn't believe it. Later on in Våndävana, one devotee was standing on the roof of the guest house, watching you as you sat in great pain on the roof of your house. To his amazement, you spent one full hour attempting to lift up your microphone. You then proceeded to translate the Tenth Canto. On another occasion you stated that you will go on preaching until your last breath.</p>
<p class="p7">You have given up everything to make the world Krsna conscious. You alone are powerful enough to manifest the will of Caitanya Mahäprabhu in this world.</p>
<p class="p7">We can only lie in the dust of your feet and pray for your mercy. Please give us the ability to follow your instructions. Please empower us to act in such a way as to help you in your service, rather than hinder you. Your mercy is already manifested unlimitedly. Please empower us to accept it.</p>
<p class="p7">Your disciples in New Dvärakä</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Resident Sanyäsés</b></p>
<p class="p49">Satsvarüpa däsa<b> </b>Gosvämé-GBC, BTG Editor-in-Chief / Rameçvara Svämi-GBC, BBT Trustee</p>
<p class="p7"><b>BBT (ISKCON Press)</b></p>
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<p class="p7"><b>BBT (Order Department)</b></p>
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<p class="p7"><b>Spiritual Sky</b></p>
<p class="p49">Rñabhadeva däsa / Bhakta Rüpa däsa / Läla-Kåñëa däsa / Mithilädhésa däsa / Jiteçvara däsa / Kuvera däsa / Gajapati däsa / Yadunandana däsa / Mahäjana däsa / Jagannätha däsa / Gadädhara Paëòita däsa / Upendranätha däsa / John Matlick / Kirtidä-devé däsé / Måganetri-devé däsé / Dakñinä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>First American Theistic Exhibit (F.A.T.E.)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Bharadräja däsa / Ädideva däsa / Locana däsa / Prabhupäda däsa / Vämanajana däsa / Cakradhara däsa / Ameyätmä däsa / Bhaktisiddhänta däsa / Catur-Vyüha däsa / Tirthärthé däsa / Rämaräjya däsa / Viläsa-Vigraha däsa / Tulasé-Pati däsa / Kaunteya däsa / Vidagdha däsa / Räsanätha däsa / Pitä däsa / Jana-Jévana däsa / Dayäla Nitäi däsa / Çéläditi-devé däsé / Madhyamä-devé däsé / Mädhavé-devé däsé / Padmahara-devé däsé / Våndädevi-dasi / Dharmada-devé däsé / Vidarbha-Kanyä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Temple</b></p>
<p class="p49">Rämaëya däsa / Stutya däsa / Väëinätha däsa / Janajanmädi däsa / Bhakta Jose Manuel / Bhakta Joaquin / Bhakta Mark / Bhakta Wayne / Bhakta Frank / Bhakta Charles / Bhakta Niñkriyä / Gopäla Bhaööa däsa / Bhakta Jim / Mükunda däsa / Bhakta Ray / Babhruvähanä däsa / Bhakta George / Lalitänätha däsa / Bhakta Martin / Stambha däsa / Bhakta Bill / Gopavåndapäla däsa / Bhakta Max / Gurüttama däsa / Bhakta Jerry / Rädhä-pati däsa / Bhakta Willian / Bhävänanda däsa / Caitanya-devé däsé / Kavidatta däsa / Müla-Prakåti-devé däsé / Carma-Mürti däsa / Léläçakti-devé däsé / Kåñëa Kértana däsa / Gauré-devé däsé / Laìkävijaya däsa / Bhakta Priya-devé däsé / Mahädeva däsa / Labaìgalaöéka-devé däsé / Jayaçacénätha däsa / Samapriya-devé däsé / Puñpadanta däsa / Narataki-devé däsé / Priyätmaja däsa / Ratneçvaré-devé däsé / Tridhäma däsa / Vallabhé-devé däsé / Satyasena däsa / Puñté-devé däsé / Dattäreya däsa / Matsya-devé däsé / Puñpalocana däsa / Dakñiëävaré-devé däsé / Janasvämé däsa / Kaïcanbäla-devé däsé / Vaàçé-mohana däsa / Vraja-sakhi-devé däsé / Anaìga-maïjaré-devé däsé / Madhusüdana däsa / Väräëasé-devé däsé / Sureça däsa / Jalaçäyé-devé däsé / Rabindranätha däsa / Kasturikä-devé däsé / Mahäräja däsa / Krodhasamani-devé däsé / Karandhara däsa / Hari-püjä-devé däsé / Bhäskara däsa / Mahäsiné-devé däsé / Dayänidhi däsa / Näga-patné-devé däsé / Yuddhamänyu däsa / Vihäriné-devé däsé / Mahäbhärata däsa / Çré Lekhä-devé däsé / Mäyä Çacé däsa / Phaliné-devé däsé / Rädhikä Prasäda däsa / Dikñävaté-devé däsé / Nalinékaëöha däsa / Vegavaté-devé däsé / Bähulavana däsa / Muëipatné-devé däsé / Éçäna däsa / Reëukä-devé däsé / Ménaketana Rämadäsa däsa / Ujvalla Prada-devé däsé / Kértiräja däsa / Navina-devé däsé / Jagannätha Suta däsa / Rädhikä-sakhi-devé däsé / Çré Govinda däsa / Jagariëé-devé däsé / Jagatniväsa däsa / Lalananami-devé däsé / Jagat-Sakhä däsa / Kåñëa Viläsiné-devé däsé / Garuòa Paëòita däsa / Rukmiëé -devé däsé / Çrutaçravä däsa / Vidyä-devé däsé / Jaganmayé-devé däsé / Mérä Bäi / Bhramé-devé däsé / Yogamäyä-devé däsé / Jayänanda / Yogamäla-devé däsé / Lakñmé / Suprada-devé däsé / Jähnavé / Kuìkuma-devé däsé / Candrakänti / Çaraë-devé däsé / Rägalekhä / Mänasa-candra / Rukmiëé / Pärvaté-devé däsé / Dharma Patné / Gurukula Students / Härdjïa-devé däsé / Rädhä-çakti / Govinda Mayé / Änanda Cinmayé-devé däsé / Bhaktivärdhana / Hitakäraëa / Revaté-devé däsé / Gopäla Kåñëa / Nimäi / Rukmavaté-devé däsé / Kåñëa Kumära / Raçmé / Antardhyäna-devé däsé / Mandäkiné / Govinda / Däntä-devé däsé / Nimäi / Rukmiëé / Oàkara-devé däsé / Vaijayanté / Çrédämä / Devamätä-devé däsé / Jaòa Bharata / Yamala / Jévana-devé däsé / Candrävali / Arjuna / Naraveça-devé däsé / Dvärakädhéçä / Baladeva / Çubhra-devé däsé / Rüpa Manohara / Bhakta Rüpa / Bhränté-devé däsé / Rukmiëé / Gulab / Bhadrä-devé däsé / Gopäla Bhaööa / Janmäñöamé / Çatadharé-devé däsé / Éçvara Puré / Lélä / Rasamaïjaré-devé däsé / Kåñëa-Prema / Ratha / Naradevé-devé däsé / Tulasyänanda / Nandiné / Vikraminé-devé däsé / Dhanvantari / Yamunä / Kåñëa Priyä-devé däsé / Kåñëa Caitanya / Nägapatné / Kåñëa-devé däsé / Sanätana / Dayänidhi / Virmala-devé däsé / Sétä / Dhéra / Jitämåta-devé däsé / Lakñmaëa / Kåñëa / Sandiné-devé däsé / Sarasvaté / Nimäi Candra / Lélämaïjaré-devé däsé / Katyäyané / Rädhäñöamé / Çaìkaré-devé däsé / Nämäcärya Haridäsa / Sundaré / Saradi-devé däsé / Cittahari / Draupadé / Kaìkä-devé däsé / Nimäi Candra / Gändhäré / Maïjaré-devé däsé / Sundaré / Änanda / Mahämaïjaré-devé däsé / Gauracandra / Bhakta / Sukhadha-devé däsé / Maëòalébhadra / Bhakti / Lokalélä-devé däsé / Kåñëa nanda / Cakra / Vaikuëöha-devé däsé / Gopälananda / Kåñëa Kathä / Sävitré-devé däsé / Lalitä / Garuòa / Candra-devé däsé / Rädha Våndävana / Sämba / Bhaktin Laurie / Jagajévana / Sammohiné / Bhaktin Patty / Çyämasundara / Yudhiñöhira / Bhaktin Myla / Harä / Ananta Çeña / Bhaktin Shirley / Çiromaëé / Çivajvära / Gauraväëé / Dämodara Priyä-devé däsé / Jänaké / Kämeçé-devé däsé / Gaura Kiçora / Ätmabhü / Nitäi / Håñékeça / Jayadharma / Subala / Arjuna / Çubhaviläsa / Ätmä / Ananta / Kunté / Citralekhä / Jagannätha Prasäda / Janärdana / Kiçoré / Madana-mohana / Sudarçana / Kälindé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Gurukula Teachers</b></p>
<p class="p49">Dvärakänätha däsa adhikäré / Tryadhéça däsa adhikäré / Tuñöi-devé däsé / Vinoda Väëé-devé däsé / Vaikuëöha Mürti-devé däsé / Sväti-devé däsé / Ujjvala-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Mauritius</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mauritius</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">To the unbinding one, free from the taxes of this law-made world, to the swan-like mendicant who begs and gives divine beverage of love of God. Unto him, we salute unto him, we bow down in respect, as the reed bends in the wind.</p>
<p class="p7">O messenger of the truth, your fame bounds no limits! Like a soldier, you go to fight this world, and knowledge is spread everywhere by your strength. Your weapon is mercy and your gift is causeless. You are the cause of mercy, for you are the proof of God. Kåñëa is your slogan, Kåñëa is everything, with that faith you have knocked at the door of our heart. "Wake up, wake up! Kåñëa is waiting" ... but we say "happy" is this world, and of death we laugh. Irony is our game and agony the result.</p>
<p class="p7">You came in this world to save us all, master, but ungrateful we are; we do not respect your kindness. We like to glorify the greatness of your deeds, but we are lazy and blind. We like to pray for grace for us, to be guided on the way.</p>
<p class="p7">O Prabhupäda, you are our lord and master, the very life of our soul; we are children bereft of all knowledge, why unto us, that love has been given? How wonderful, master, that by grace we have been chosen. O master, king of our heart, please tell us, who are you, master? We are degraded and low but still proud of ourselves, please let us grasp your lotus feet. Praying for inspiration, we like to respect you, O lord, O king of this world, master of all, can we become your servants?</p>
<p class="p7">Dear Çréla Prabhupäda, in the <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> (<i>Ädi-lélä</i> 1.45) it is said:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees”.</p>
<p class="p7">When will we be able to realize that you actually are non-different from Kåñëa? When will we be able to appreciate what you have given us? When will we be able to fulfill your desires? When will we stop committing offenses at your lotus-like feet?</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, these are questions which we have been asking ourselves so many times. Especially they come to our miserable minds whenever you have to suffer from our offenses, like early this year in Mäyäpur. At such moments we feel ourselves the most wretched persons in the creation, knowing full well that our offensive, neglectful and selfish service is causing you suffering. You have come like a loving father to deliver and save the lost children, but we, your eternal sons and daughters, pay only little attention to your instructions of how to come back home. We are so puffed up that sometimes we even make up our own plans to save ourselves. But like the frog in the well, we'll simply be eaten up by the snake.</p>
<p class="p7">We remember one day at the Ganges in Mäyäpur, your secretary was reading notes from a diary. Someone was asking you: "Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, be merciful unto me!" Immediately you replied: "You<b> </b>be<b> </b>merciful unto me."</p>
<p class="p7">You have given your mercy freely to everyone in innumerable ways—actually you are mercy personified—there is no need to keep asking for it. But have you ever received our "mercy"? The moment we can understand that we also have to be merciful towards you—by following your orders, by preaching purely, by doing our duties without selfish motivation—at that time we'll be of some assistance in your mission of changing the demoniac face of the world.</p>
<p class="p7">Until that moment, however, we will have to simply pray to be able to remain fixed in the dust of your lotus feet. Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, don't kick us away! There is no meaning to life without you! You are the only hope for us! Without you there is no chance of becoming pure. Therefore, we pray that some day we may understand your exalted position as the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead and be able to act accordingly, and in this way our offenses might stop and this may let you complete your mission to benedict every living being with Kåñëa consciousness. May this be our desire on this most auspicious day of the year.</p>
<p class="p7">Your worthless disciples, ISKCON Mauritius center</p>
<p class="p49">Kapila däsa / Çaìkäça däsa / Çré-niketana däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Mäyäpur</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mäyäpur</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>All glories unto you dear Çréla Prabhupäda!<br>
On Vyäsa-püjä-this holy of holy days!<br>
A messenger descended from the Lord's abode, <br>
Dispersing ignorance's darkness like sun's rays.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Weaponless, yet armed with guru's order,<br>
Dear Prabhupäda has crossed the raging sea. <br>
No one imagined what he would bring-<br>
From birth and death his mercy sets us free.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Falsely proud due to their scientific gropings<br>
Scientists fool people with hope upon false hope,<br>
Not even knowing the goal for which we're living. <br>
Prabhupäda's true science gives real light and hope!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Great Närada Muni, cursed to be ever on the move; <br>
Likewise Prabhupäda remains his true descendant.<br>
With hundred palatial temples to stay around the world <br>
He's always reaching, touring—nowhere a resident.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Mother forces son to go to school each day.<br>
Mother's "force" is welfare lest son's life go astray. <br>
Childlike India imitates void Western culture,<br>
Prabhupäda cries and battles to preserve the Vedic way.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Gauòéya Maöha has split and shattered.<br>
Losing love and trust's fate we all can see.<br>
Let's unitedly serve dear Prabhupäda!<br>
No halting ISKCON's march-except internally!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda struggling hard eleven years<br>
That there may be "American Kåñëa's".<br>
Now "Hare Kåñëa Bona fide," the Judge proclaimed.<br>
Now our turn to fulfill Prabhupäda's wishes.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Mrdanga 's "big &amp; small," Prabhupäda plays them all!<br>
BOOKS—55 million printed—a miracle!<br>
"Now double this year's sale!"—let all learn Kåñëa's tale.<br>
With Prabhupäda we'll overcome all obstacles!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Lord Gauräìga's message will save the world! <br>
In "every town and village" His name will be sung!<br>
The prediction must come true—It is His will!<br>
And Prabhupäda's the one founder let it be rung!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Now at Mäyäpur—the center of all that be<br>
Trying humbly to fulfill the </i>äcärya's<i> dream.<br>
May the entire world all know and love<br>
Lord Caitanya, who's giving freely </i>Kåñëa-prema<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Prabhupäda's our life and soul!<br>
His lotus feet the refuge of mind and heart.<br>
Fixing his service as our only goal-<br>
We pray that from his order we'll not depart.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p88"><b>ALL GLORIES TO <br>
HIS DIVINE GRACE ÇRÉ ÇRÉMAD<br>
A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPÄDA<br>
PARIVRÄJAKÄCÄRYA-PARAMAHAÀSA,<br>
OUR BELOVED SPIRITUAL MASTER! <br>
</b></p>
<p class="p7">The Çré Mäyäpur Dhäma-väsé's of Çré Mäyäpur Candrodaya Mandira (The Temple of the rising of Çré Caitanya Candra—the moon of Çré Mäyäpur Dhäma)</p>
<p class="p49">Jayapataka Svämé / Tapamaya däsa brahmacäré / Nistula däsa brahmacäré / Bhävänanda Gosvämé / Parisevana däsa brahmacäré / Çravänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kñéracora Gopénätha Svämé / Subhäga däsa brahmacäré / Änanda Svarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Païcaratna däsa brahmacäré / Çambhu däsa brahmacäré / Ania Rüpa däsa brahmacäré / Räghava Paëòita däsa brahmacäré / Sudhérakåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Viçvanätha / Nitäi Candra däsa brahmacäré / Akiïcana Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Mukunda / Nadéya däsa brahmacäré / Prabhava däsa brahmacäré / Çunila / Satyanäräyaëa däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkaranätha däsa brahmacäré / Kanai / Veìkaöa däsa brahmacäré / Çaçibhüñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Baläi / Sattvika däsa brahmacäré / Haladhära däsa brahmacäré / Çyämaläla / Mathurä Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Golälaya däsa brahmacäré / Svapan No. 2 / Hemäìga däsa brahmacäré / Gaura Vigraha däsa brahmacäré / Prabhir / Jananiväsa däsa brahmacäré / Ananta Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Çrutirüpa-devé däsé / Paìkajäìghri däsa brahmacäré / Nitya Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Mädri-devé däsé / Puñkara däsa brahmacäré / Phoni nayaka däsa brahmacäré / Våndävana-devé däsé / Bhagavatämåta däsa brahmacäré / Govinda / Hari Sthari-devé däsé / Kaëva däsa brahmacäré / Gopäla / Kåñëa rüpa-devé däsé / Dayäsana däsa brahmacäré / Surajit / Çuciräëé-devé däsé / Urukrama däsa brahmacäré / Saçanta / Snehalatä-devé däsé / Kaviräja däsa brahmacäré / Vijaya Kåñëa / Kiçori vallabha-devé däsé / Godruma däsa brahmacäré / Çréjaya / Hari Sthänu-devé däsé / Dakña däsa brahmacäré / Praçänta / Prasüti-devé däsé / Durgama däsa brahmacäré / Bhäskara / Viçälakñi-devé däsé / Tatpura däsa brahmacäré / Nimäi No.1 / Gopäla-devé däsé / Laguidi däsa brahmacäré / Nimäi No. 2 / Äditya-devé däsé / Anirdeçavapu däsa brahmacäré / Nikhila / Gopépriya-devé däsé / Rasika däsa brahmacäré / Nikhila No. 2 / Nandhié-devé däsé / Marutpati däsa brahmacäré / Nikhila No. 3 / Yamunä Ma-devé däsé / Nareçvara däsa brahmacäré / Ratan No. 1 / Haridäsa Ma-devé däsé / Ädiguru däsa brahmacäré / Ratan No. 2 / Malaté-devé däsé / Navadvépa Pati däsa brahmacäré / Tapan / Riya Ma-devé däsé / Gejendra däsa brahmacäré / Savapan / Phula Malar-devé däsé / Gauräìga Nityänanda däsa brahmacäré / Naridäsa / Renu valla-devé däsé / Väëénatha däsa brahmacäré / Gauradäsa / Uton Stré / Sukhämåta däsa brahmacäré / Dilépa / Uñä / Brahmapada däsa brahmacäré / Dilépa No. 2 / Sumitra / Prakäçänta däsa brahmacäré / Samir / Sepali / Dhéraçänta däsa brahmacäré / Viñnupäda / Lakñmé / Caitanya däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkara No. 1 / Guara-devé däsé / Abhiräma däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkara No. 2 / Çästré / Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Himäàçu / Depod / Hiraëya Garbha däsa brahmacäré / Centu / Ashim / Änankadundubhi däsa brahmacäré / Subala / Jhulana / Girimakeha däsa brahmacäré / Anatkumära / Sinor / Çyämasudaränanda däsa brahmacäré / Gauräìga / Rita / Muräri Hari däsa brahmacäré / Niraïjana / Angeli / Gadädhara däsa brahmacäré / Sadänanda / Pürëimä / Viñnudäsa däsa brahmacäré / Aruëaläla / Shani / Viçvanätha däsa brahmacäré / Raìgaläla / Maïju Räëé / Jaladhära däsa brahmacäré / Acintya / Sundara / Atula Candra däsa brahmacäré / Arjuna / Yamunä / Sukharaïjana Mullick / Yudhiñthira / Tulasé / Nikhila / Rameça / Prabian / Sailen / Jagendra däsa / Kamala Kåñëa</p>
<p class="p11">Melbourne</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Melbourne</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. Your position of <i>äcäryadeva</i> is to be constantly glorified, because you are the direct representative and most intimate confidential servitor of Their Lordships Çré Çré Radha-Kåñëa. It is stated in <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>guru kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe<br>
guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe</i></p>
<p class="p16">“According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees” [<i>Ädi</i> 1.45].</p>
<p class="p7">By accepting the instructions of such a spiritual master and applying them with unflinching faith, one is assured of crossing this dangerous ocean of material nescience and becoming firmly situated in the eternal sphere of spiritual varieties that constitute the <i>jéva</i> soul's <i>sanätana</i> <i>dhärma</i>. One cannot possibly hope for advancement on this path without the guidance and blessings of the pure devotee of the Lord. <i>Guru Kåñëa prasäde paya bhakti-latä-béja</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</span>. The combined mercy of both guru and Kåñëa is required to be situated safely beyond reach of the influence<b> </b>of<b> </b>the <i>mäyä</i> potency. <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> <span class="s3">[11.3.21]</span> implores:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>tasmäd guruà prapadyeta jijïäsuù çreya uttamam<br>
çäbde pare ca niñëätaà brahmaëy upaçamäçrayam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and must be able to convince others of these conclusions." </p>
<p class="p7">Through your books, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are revealing to this estranged world a vast wealth of Vedic knowledge which can actually benefit the conditioned soul and ease him out of his deplorable material predicament. To this end, Çréla Prabhupäda, you have devoted your transcendental energies—your mercy shines like the new sunrise dissipating the darkness. In the <i>Väyu Puräëa</i> an <i>äcärya</i> is defined as one who knows the import of Vedic literatures, explains the purpose of the <i>Vedas</i>, abides by their rules and regulations and teaches his disciples to act in the same way.</p>
<p class="p7">We are not praying for you to shower your mercy, Çréla Prabhupäda—that has already been done by your compassionate grace, for you are <i>jagad-guru</i>. Rather, we beg for the strength, determination and enthusiasm to gather this mercy from our lowly positions and to assist you in the glorious mission of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya <i>näma</i>-s<i>aìkértana</i> as you benedict the entire world.</p>
<p class="p7">We beg to remain eternally at your lotus feet, with the dust of all Vaiñëavas on our heads.</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants at Çré Melbourne Mahäprabhu Mandira</p>
<p class="p49">Balaräma däsa brahmacäré / Gaura-Maëòala Bhumi däsa brahmacäré / Viçvahetu däsa brahmacäré / Anupämadäsa brahmacäré / Prabhu däsa brahmacäré / Ätmäräma däsa brahmacäré / Alalanätha däsa brahmacäré / Gopinätha Äcärya däsa brahmacäré / Jagadätma däsa brahmacäré / Ädi-Puruña däsa brahmacäré / Båhaspati däsa brahmacäré / Gauragopäla däsa brahmacäré / Gaëeça däsa adhikäré / Kürma däsa adhikäré / Våña däsa adhikäré / Rämaçaraëa däsa adhikäré / Ugraçravä däsa adhikäré / Jayaçila däsa adhikäré / Amogha däsa adhikäré / Nakula däsa adhikäré / Kåpäkara däsa adhikäré / Añta-siddhi däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Clayton / Bhakta Greg / Bhakta Chad / Bhakta Will / Bhakta Patrick / Bhakta Ken / Bhakta Mark / Yayanté-devé däsé / Rägätmikä-devé däsé / Nétigata-devé däsé / Mahädevé-devé däsé / Matidä-devé däsé / Hari-devé däsé / Vimala-devé däsé / Çrélekha-devé däsé / Jïäna-rnürti-devé däsé / Aparäjita-devé däsé / Guëavraté-devé däsé / Mekhalä-devé däsé / Räma-devé däsé / Satyarüpa-devé däsé / Atétaguëa-devé däsé / Parämåta-devé däsé / Jayälu-devé däsé / Bhaktin Eleanor / Bhaktin Jackie</p>
<p class="p11">Mexico City</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mexico City</b></p>
<p class="p7">To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the protector of the devotees and dearest servant of Lord Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, O spiritual master, by whom we are relieved of the material suffering. Such suffering is so painful to the heart and difficult to surpass that it is impossible without your kind help. Therefore, in this, your yearly homage, we are making an offering unto you—our heart, our intelligence, and our endeavors—we offer everything unto you. We have accepted you as our lord and, therefore, everything belongs to you.</p>
<p class="p7">People who are not able to see your work in this world are too much covered by enviousness and their knowledge has no value. However, as the eternal time elapses, more and more persons will accept your certain and impressive victory in giving Kåñëa consciousness to this insane and frantic, empty society.</p>
<p class="p7">Let all people hear your glories, your name, of your unlimited mercy. Let them know of your faultless character, of your spotless fame. Let them chant the holy names Hare Kåñëa, Hare Räma, and thus become Kåñëa conscious, sane and honest persons, who accept this <i>bhagavat-prasäda</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">Please Çréla Prabhupäda, allow us to make this endeavor: to distribute your books and attain your mercy. Allow us to serve you birth after birth and take shelter in the sanctity of the dust of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen disciples of MEXICO YATRA</i></p>
<p class="p49">Kratu däsa / Bhakta Juan / Ugradaàstra däsa / Rocana-devé däsé / Räma Svarupa däsa / Bhakta Fernando / Sudarçana däsa / Ädityeça däsa / Bhakta Felipe / Bhakta Francisco / Bhakta Octavio / Nandapraëa däsa / Bhakta Luis / Bhakta Pedro / Stréyé-devé däsé / Tadkäri-devé däsé / Bhakta Jorge / Bhakta Fermin / Ojasviné-devé däsé / Sändépani-devé däsé / Bhakta Victor / Jaladoça-devé däsé / Väsudeva Präëa / Karmäsakñi-devé däsé / Bhakta Isack / Silvia / Bhakta Miguei / Mahäpuëya-devé däsé / Bhakta Çaunaka / Maricela / Bhakta Miguei / Veronica / Bhaktin Draupadé / Maria de Jesus / Bhakta Eduardo / Carmen / Bhaktin Subhadrä / Carudha däsa / Bhakta Jaime / Bhakta Alberto / Bhaktin Araceli / Cäëòé däsa / Bhakta Fernando / Mother Blanca / Dvijahari däsa / Saträjit däsa / Bhakta Guillermo / Bhakta Gerardo / Acaleçvara däsa / Maitreya däsa / Märgasira däsa / Sadanava däsa / Kåpälu däsa / Madhväcärya däsa / Bhakta Augustin / Vrajendra Kumära däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Mexico TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mexico TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">My dear father and spiritual master, please let me offer my most humble and insignificant obeisances unto your merciful lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the only sure shelter for a fallen soul. The causeless mercy of Çré Çré Radha-Kåñëa is manifested in this ghastly material world through your munificent personality, by whom all conditioned souls are given, without discrimination, the chance to be free of the clutches of the material existence by chanting the holy names of the Lord: Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare / Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.</p>
<p class="p7">By chanting the holy names of the Lord under your protection, O pure devotee of the Lord, the most fallen among the fallen ones can qualify himself to realize the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa</p>
<p class="p6"><i>janma karma ca me divyam evaà yo vetti tattvataù<br>
tyaktvä dehaà punar janma naiti mäm eti so 'rjuna</i></p>
<p class="p7">"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." <span class="s3">(Bg. 4.9)</span></p>
<p class="p7">O my dear master, I am always lonely and bewildered, walking on the abyss-brink. Kindly be merciful unto me and don't let me throw myself headlong into it. Make me your eternal servant.</p>
<p class="p7">YAJÏYNO VAI VIÇËU TSKP MEXICO</p>
<p class="p49">Viraha Prakäça Svämé / Kñiti Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Advayajïäna däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Daniel</p>
<p class="p11">Miami</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Miami</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your fathomless glories are so unlimited that in all of our attempts to appreciate them, we simply feel like frogs sitting in a well trying to appreciate the vastness of the unlimited ocean.</p>
<p class="p7">Since time immemorial we have been suffering within this material world, revolving on the unending wheel of birth and death. Driven by our insatiable and perverted desires, we have never even begun to find the first trace of relief from our continued misery. Now, by your inconceivable mercy, you have appeared to free us from this holocaust and deliver us back to home, back to Godhead. Your message of loving devotion is so simple and clear, but somehow or other, we are still foolishly attempting to hold on to this alien world and resist your divine instructions. Still, by your grace you are so expertly disentangling us who are so wretched and insincere and you are accepting our most fallen service. Undoubtedly you are the greatest servant of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu as all of your desires and actions have proven. You are completely devoid of any personal aspiration, and by knowing the will of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu you have completely absorbed yourself in that mood of unlimited compassion upon all of the fallen souls.</p>
<p class="p7">We can now only pray to you for your continued association, because without it we would remain eternally illusioned in this prison house of material existence. May we pray to you eternally for your continued mercy and the shade of your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7">New Naimiñäraëya Forest Devotee Roster</p>
<p class="p49">Narahari däsa / Rädhava däsa / Mahä Såìga däsa / Nandana Äcärya däsa / Laìgaganeça däsa / Kåñëa Mürti däsa / Dharma däsa / Rädhä Liìgana däsa / Raghunätha Puré däsa / Tejaù Prakäça däsa / Duradharça däsa / Grahila däsa / Rädhäçyäma däsa / Païcagauòa däsa / Viçvavåkña däsa / Candränana däsa / Nitäi Caraëa däsa / Tattvadarça däsa / Räghaveça däsa / Rudradeva däsa / Ramagopäla däsa / Paramparä däsa / Çrémaya däsa / Bhakta Stan / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Chuck / Bhakta David / Bhakta Bruce / Bhakta Willie / Bhakta Japhy / Bhakta James / Madana Mohana däsa / Våndävaneçvaré-devé däsé / Padma-devé däsé / Mahä Varäha däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Alina / Bharga däsa adhikäré / Léläsakhi-devé däsé / Jayadeva däsa adhikäré / Bhaktin Peggy / Prema Rüpa däsa adhikäré / Govinda Priyä däsa adhikäré / Dikñä-devé däsé / Suvrata däsa adhikäré / Sukhada-devé däsé / Rämadäsa däsa adhikäré / Janakanandiné-devé däsé / Narataka Gopäla-devé däsé / Aëòa Rüpa-devé däsé / Dhéra-devé däsé / Bhaktin Joan / Bhaktin Fern / Bhaktin Terri / Parameçvara däsa / Rädhä Maïjari-devé däsé / Rämacandra däsa / Kälindé-devé däsé / Revaté-devé däsé / Gauräìga däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Minneapolis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Minneapolis</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">A short while ago you came to America with one desire: to try<b> </b>to<b> </b>spread the Kåñëa consciousness movement of Lord Caitanya in the Western world. Empowered by the divine instructions of your <i>guru-mahäräja</i>, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé, you left a nice calm residence in Våndävana to cross the dangerous oceans and humbly approach the people of New York to take up the Hare Kåñëa chanting process. Now twelve years later you have so many disciples and temples not only in America but all around the world. This is indeed wonderful proof of your purity and spiritual strength.</p>
<p class="p7">We are continuing in the service of Lord Kåñëa under your guidance, knowing well that by your authority this Kåñëa consciousness movement will go to every town and village around the world, and it will be the only cure for this materially infected society. Although we may fall and stumble in our attempts to help you, like a young child helping his father, please forgive us for our clumsiness and continue showering your mercy upon us, for that mercy is like nectar and tastes very sweet even to<b> </b>the<b> </b>lame.</p>
<p class="p7">We thank you for the opportunity to worship your appearance, for this will be a landmark in history as the appearance of the savior of the world. We continually worship your lotus feet which are the only way by which one can obtain pure devotional service. These lotus feet are glorified in all the three worlds and are worshipable by great personalities like Lord Brahmä. Indeed the soothing shelter of your lotus feet is the path of topmost perfection to the spiritual abode of Goloka Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">Only by the mercy of the greatest <i>avatära,</i> Lord Caitanya, could it have been possible to obtain the association of the greatest <i>äcärya</i>. Please be merciful unto us although we are offensive fools. Please keep your lotus feet always manifest in the core of our hearts.</p>
<p class="p7">Minneapolis Yatra</p>
<p class="p49">Çivaräma däsa brahmacäré / Çukra däsa brahmacäré / Bhüdeva däsa brahmacäré / Triyogé däsa brahmacäré / Cakré däsa brahmacäré / Tattvavit däsa brahmacäré / Yajïahotra däsa brahmacäré / Nätha däsa brahmacäré / Dharmapräna däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktavatsala däsa adhikäré / Varäha däsa adhikäré / Paçupati-devé däsé / Saìga-devé däsé / Mådapriya-devé däsé / Nåsiàha-devé däsé / Çyämavallabha-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Mombasa, Nairobi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Mombasa, Nairobi</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>1. Çréla Prabhupäda your words are all<br>
Steering us from </i>mäyä<i> lest we fall,<br>
Our lives are meant for serving you<br>
Through thick and thin we'll still serve you,<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda the savior for all.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>2. The only strength that we can have<br>
Depends on the attention we pay and have,<br>
If we neglect your words of advice<br>
We shall fall to sin and vice,<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda, we will now behave.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>3. The nectar flowing from your lotus feet<br>
Is cool and soothing like honey sweet,<br>
Our duty is to hand this nectar out<br>
Freeing everyone from all their doubts,<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda we'll serve your feet.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>4. We pray that Kåñëa will give us<br>
The sound intelligence to remind us,<br>
That only by your glance<br>
Can we break loose and dance,<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda, your words we trust.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>5. Your books reveal the truth without doubt<br>
Revealing the demons with a strong clout,<br>
Your books are our friends<br>
For they'll save us in the end.<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda destroyer of doubt.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>6. You are preaching here in this dark place<br>
To a most demoniac and uncivilized race,<br>
You are the greatest preacher of all<br>
For your mercy reaches here and stops the fall,<br>
Jaya Çréla Prabhupäda you are king of all race.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>My dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you, O spiritual master, because you are so patiently spoon-feeding us who are like envious adolescents, the nectar from the unfathomable ocean of the mercy of Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. When will we stop spitting out good fortune for the germs of material activity and instead surrender to "the ecstasy of intoxication by excessive drinking of the strong and tasty wine of the love of Lord Hari."</p>
<p class="p7">"My lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</span> The Supreme Lord is not only within your heart, most blessed Çréla Prabhupäda, but as it is stated in <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i> <span class="s3">(<i>Ädi</i>. 1.61)</span>, you are identical with the Lord because you are constantly engaged in His service.</p>
<p class="p7">Let me take shelter of those devotees who are most expert at pleasing you by their constant service and let me beg from them a special favor—to be able to write something suitable to offer unto your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7">PRABHU-DATTA DEÇA</p>
<p class="p7">(Place of residence given by the Lord) <i>Antya</i> 4.144</p>
<p class="p17"><i>My heart's not in it anymore.<br>
I'll not approach even one more door.<br>
These cars are filled with lusty whores.<br>
Strong desires which number crores.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>It's just beginning to get cold,<br>
The wind is biting, the motel room's old.<br>
These men are new, they can't be told.<br>
I'm quite ashamed for books not sold.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>I'm leading these men but I need a guide,<br>
I need a shelter, I want to hide.<br>
Please help me Prabhupada, don't let me slide.<br>
Where to turn with your consciousness fried?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Phone to Memphis. Dhåñöadyumna's there,<br>
he'll help me find a shelter here.<br>
He read Eighth Canto across that wire<br>
And began my path to the devotional fire.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>"I'm falling," I said. "A wife," he suggested.<br>
"Mahäräja!" I remarked, a little disgusted.<br>
"A leader of men must be fixed up.<br>
If not, your orange robes, you'll have to give up."</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Maybe he's right, I thought walking away,<br>
Checking for coins and a little dismayed.<br>
How can I make it, at least let me try.<br>
O Prabhupäda, can this be the only reply?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your answer came later in the form of a change<br>
Tamäla Kåñëa suggested leaving 'home on the range.'<br>
"Start packing today you're Africa bound."<br>
Now I know without doubting his decision was sound.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The example was set by Çré Rüpa and Sanätana,<br>
Leaving home to preach in Våndävana.<br>
That land was their home for the work of the Lord.<br>
To follow them's done by these orders of yours:</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Preach anywhere and everywhere this message sublime,<br>
Chant 'Hare Kåñëa' and fall in Caitanya's line.<br>
Distribute the name anyway anytime<br>
They'll benefit even by one single line.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Give them </i>prasäda<i> and teach them to play.<br>
Dancing and chanting and some even stay<br>
To work and chant more. Please come every day.<br>
When working for Kåñëa there's unlimited pay.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The men who stay here now chant sixteen rounds.<br>
With their progress increasing by leaps and bounds,<br>
They're tasting the nectar, and where is it found?<br>
In your books and </i>prasäda<i> and that tumultuous sound.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Nairobi devotees:</p>
<p class="p49">Brahmänanda Svämé (Co-GBC) / Cyavana Svämé / Ajämila däsa brahmacäré / Pärtha däsa brahmacäré / Jänakénätha däsa brahmacäré / Tribhaìgananda däsa brahmacäré / Hasyänanda däsa brahmacäré / Ajämila däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Martin / Bhakta Anthony / Bhakta Charles Cheto / Bhakta Andrew / Çucidevé-däsé / Yaçasvani-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Initiated Life Members</b></p>
<p class="p49">Räsalélä-devé däsé / Rädhikä-devé däsé / Sanätana däsa / Naradeva däsa / Dr.Shah</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Africa T.S.K.P.</b></p>
<p class="p49">Jalakära-devé däsé / Gauri-devé däsé / Paëòita-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Mombasa devotees</b></p>
<p class="p49">Nava Yogéndra Svämé / Mähavérya däsa brahmacäré / Sarvavit däsa brahmacäré / Arjuna prabhu / Änandamaya prabhu</p>
<p class="p7"><b>African Day Students</b></p>
<p class="p49">Charles Cheto / Samuel Sirari / Sammy Onyancha / Emmanuel Gatarayiha / James Makondio / Stephen Sarawel</p>
<p class="p11">Montreal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Montreal</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Beloved Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your lotus feet. On this holy day of your most auspicious appearance, we fall in the dust at your lotus feet and beg for the ability to properly glorify your divine and magnanimous character. You are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, freely bestowing your causeless mercy upon the unqualified and ungrateful conditioned souls of Kali-yuga. By your grace the entire material universe is awakening from an age-long sleep of godless ignorance to the joyous and eternal sound of Lord Caitanya's <i>harer näma-saìkértana</i>. We are amongst the most fallen of living entities and yet, somehow or other, by your causeless mercy, you have glanced in our direction, and now our lives have become successful. Who can properly describe the glories of your causeless mercy?</p>
<p class="p7">In the Eleventh Canto of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> it is stated by the Supreme Lord Kåñëa Himself:</p>
<p class="p7">"My dear Uddhava, the spiritual master must be accepted not only as my representative, but as My very self. He must never be considered on the same level with an ordinary human being. One should never be envious of the spiritual master, as one may be envious of an ordinary man. The spiritual master should always be seen as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by serving the spiritual master, one is able to serve all the demigods."</p>
<p class="p7">Who but you, Çréla Prabhupäda, would deliver such low-born <i>mlecchas</i> and <i>yavanas</i> as ourselves, and turn us into Vaiñëavas, devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Çré Kåñëa?</p>
<p class="p7">It is by your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, that we are tasting the nectar of devotional service to Çré Govinda, the sweet transcendental cowherd boy of Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, every day we are bathing and dressing the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His <i>arcä-vigraha</i> form, which is nondifferent from Kåñëa Himself.</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are travelling to the holy places such as Mäyäpur, Våndävana, and Mathurä, although we have no qualifications. And by your grace we are visiting Çré Rädha-Kuëòa, whose glories are unlimited, and which is unobtainable even by great sages such as Närada and Sanaka. When has the world seen such mercy as yours?</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are giving up our grossly sinful activities such as meat-eating, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex life, and instead we are learning to practice the rules and regulations of <i>vaidhi-bhakti</i>, under your expert guidance.</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are beginning to understand who we are, and we are also beginning to help others understand who they are.</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are beginning to understand who is God and who is not God. And by your grace we are praying to Him, instead of defaming Him.</p>
<p class="p7">By your grace alone, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are all going back home, back to Godhead. But most of all, by your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, you have given us your association and instructions. Now, Çréla Prabhupäda, by your grace, please bless us with the desire and ability to give these priceless gifts to each and every single conditioned soul in the material world.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to your lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda. May you please enjoy lasting good health.</p>
<p class="p7">With love from all the devotees of ISKCON Montreal</p>
<p class="p49">Nandikeçvara däsa adhikäré / Bhaståhari däsa adhikäré / Hanumän däsa adhikäré / Mäyäpursasa däsa adhikäré / Ravindra däsa adhikäré / Satyajitdäsa adhikäré / Praghoña däsa adhikäré / Keçiçatru däsa adhikäré / Aprakåta däsa adhikäré / Priyabhakta däsa brahmacäré / Priyabandhu däsa brahmacäré / Ghoña Thäkura däsa brahmacäré / Vyapaka däsa brahmacäré / Jitarati däsa brahmacäré / Tanohara däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Govinda däsa brahmacäré / Paranagara däsa brahmacäré / Sadapuñta däsa brahmacäré / Dayaiji däsa brahmacäré / Vidyaraja däsa brahmacäré / Amarastavya däsa brahmacäré / Éçävatara däsa brahmacäré / Kulaçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Padmapaëi däsa brahmacäré / Gururäja däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Armand / Bhakta Rene / Bhakta Pierre / Mandaré-devé däsé / Jyotiräditya-devé däsé / Mäyävati-devé däsé / Medhya-devé däsé / Sarada-devé däsé / Sayomayi-devé däsé / Mikhileçvari-devé däsé / Bhakti-devé däsé / Kleçäìgibhakti-devé däsé / Daya-devé däsé / Siddhi-devé däsé / Bhaktin Daniel / Bhaktin Giselle / Bhaktin Joanne / Bhaktin Marie-Paul / Bhaktin Josee / Bhaktin Lyne / Bhaktin Marielle / Subhadrä / Rädhäräëé / Sanätané / Sanätana / Bhaktivedänta / Gaìgämayé / Yamunämayé / Mohiné / Sétäräëé / Rädhikä / Nimäi </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Friends</b></p>
<p class="p49">Anil / Samir and family / Mothers Janie, Jackie, Dickie, and family / Bruce prabhu</p>
<p class="p11">New Delhi</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Delhi</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Prabhupäda<br>
You have come with grace divine<br>
Us lost, forgotten souls to find.<br>
Giving love, warm and tender<br>
Showing the way to sweet surrender.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Prabhupäda<br>
Kicked hard by mäyä, puffed-up and proud<br>
This thought of surrender we never allowed. <br>
Joyful debtors we will always be<br>
Your menial servants eternally.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Prabhupäda<br>
You have given us life, you have given us hope <br>
Completely helpless, we could never cope<br>
With odds so great, a course so long.<br>
Only your grace can make us strong.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Prabhupäda<br>
Our mission now is clear<br>
There is no longer need for fear.<br>
Legs for the lame man, eyes for the blind<br>
This you have given us because you're so kind.</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande paramänanda-mädhavam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Although we are dumb and lame we are still shameless in our fallen condition. O Prabhupäda, we have no appreciation of your boundless glories. Your transcendental attributes are innumerable and unfathomable and to describe them all would be impossible. Nevertheless, we are trying to say something about your glorious qualities and activities as an offering on this Guru-püjä day. We offer this to you for our purification and to express our humble gratitude for your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">These descriptions of ourselves as lame and dumb may appear to be poetic over-exaggerations to some, but actually we are dumb in that we are unable to speak anything of value. Before meeting Your Grace we could only make croaking sounds, possessing useless tongues exactly like the frogs—<i>jihväsati därdurikeva</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> <i>2.3.20</i>]</span>. In a fool's paradise one fool will speak all nonsense in order to impress other fools with his so-called learning. So, that is one thing. But to speak something meaningful requires that one hear perfect instructions from the realized soul.<b> </b>By receiving instructions from you through your books, even the dumb can make eloquent speeches. This is due to your causeless mercy. Similarly we are also lame in that before receiving your mercy we could not accomplish anything beneficial. Before receiving your causeless mercy we were doing only harm to ourselves and others. With drugs, liquor and cigarettes, etc., we were destroying ourselves. And by meat-eating and the other sinful habits of illicit sex and gambling, we were causing so much pain to others. Our position was actually hopeless. We did<b> </b>not know the goal of life nor did we know how to achieve it. We did not know the consequences of sinful life nor did we know about the highest reward for practicing devotional service in Kåñëa consciousness. Thus we did not know how to get out of material life.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>vidyäà cävidyäà ca yas tad vedobhayaà saha<br>
avidyayä måtyuà tértvä vidyayämåtam açnute</i></p>
<p class="p7">"Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality." (<i>Çré Éçopaniñad</i> <i>11</i>) But, by your powerful preaching, you have made us aware of both.</p>
<p class="p7">Western society is concerned with the body, and consequently we were always hankering and lamenting. Whether we liked that situation or not, we had to accept it. We were lame, unable to help ourselves and others, but you have engaged us in the highest welfare work: namely spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and rescuing the conditioned souls from the clutches of <i>mäyä</i></p>
<p class="p7">Out of compassion for our suffering condition you have given the matchless gift of Lord Caitanya's divine love which we, unfortunately, take for granted. Our condition is like a delirious patient who is suffering from a severe illness. Not even recognizing the doctor as his friend due to madness, he fights with the doctor and tries to resist the medicine. But, as the doctor goes on administering the cure, so you also continue to show your mercy even though we are constantly offending your lotus feet. Thus you are showing us the real meaning of compassion.</p>
<p class="p7">As you more than once cited, <i>açocyän anvaçocas tvaà prajïä-vädäàç ca bhäñase.</i> "While speaking learned words you are lamenting for what is not worthy of grief." Because of blindness people are following blind leaders who don't know the real aim of life. They are unnecessarily lamenting on the basis of the body. However, you are lamenting for what is actually worthy of grief. You are sorry for the suffering conditions of repeated birth and death. As you continue preaching regardless of your health, we can see your deep concern for all of us. We were previously taking this world to be everything, but by your association, gradually we are understanding that your lotus feet are everything.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>näma-çreñöhaà manum api çacé-putram atra svarüpaà<br>
rüpaà tasyägrajam uru-puréà mäthuréà goñöhavätém<br>
rädhä-kuëòaà giri-varam aho rädhikä-mädhaväçäà<br>
präpto yasya prathita-kåpayä çré-guruà taà nato ’smi</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of my spiritual master by whose causeless mercy I have received the supreme holy name, the divine mantra, the service of the son of Çacémätä, the association of Svarüpa Dämodara, Rüpa Gosvämé, and his older brother Sanätana Gosvämé, the supreme abode of Mathurä, the blissful abode of Våndävana, the divine Rädhä Kuëòa and Govardhana Hill and the desire within my heart for the loving service of Çré Rädhikä and Mädhava in Våndävana." On this most auspicious day of your appearance we must thank you again and again for these matchless gifts. Although we are unqualified to serve you, we are simply praying that we may remain engaged at your lotus feet eternally.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">ISKCON New Delhi devotees:</p>
<p class="p49">Bhagavad-äçräya däsa / Bhümipati däsa / Tainiläkärttika däsa / Rädhä Mohana däsa / Sürya Prasäda däsa / Kåñëagopäla däsa / Uçika däsa / Mahämäna däsa / Dénädhyätma däsa / Rasänanda däsa / Patatriräja däsa</p>
<p class="p11">New Orleans</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Orleans</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">We here at New Orleans Yaträ humbly pray for the intelligence and the strength to serve your divine self, Çréla Prabhupäda, in a simple and offenseless way. Please be merciful unto us.</p>
<p class="p7">Lord Brahmä's majestic position as creator of the vast cosmic manifestation certainly must be respected by every single entity. Çiva's potency is so intense that simply by his dancing the entire universe is devastated. The king of the demigods Indradeva rides his celestial elephant-carrier Airävata. Armed with his powerful thunderbolts he can easily knock off the peaks of the greatest mountains. Vivasvän the sun-god lights and heats the extensive expansions of space as he smoothly makes his route in his effulgent chariot. The goddess of fortune Lakñmé-devé is so enticing that just to have her association even the most reputed gentleman will engage in the most abominable activities. See him madly struggling to have her under his control, although he's actually under hers.</p>
<p class="p7">There are thirty-three million demigods and they are deputed by KÅÑËA to see that the universe is properly facilitated. Their positions of control are far superior to the other innumerable conditioned souls. Yet all of them are trapped in temporary bodies stuck within the thick coverings of the universe.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! All these demigods are great masters but they all bow down to your lotus feet. Çré Guru, you are the sum total of all the demigods, capable of delivering anyone within the fourteen planetary systems. Therefore we offer you our most respectful obeisances and beg you to keep us with you.</p>
<p class="p7">Most beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, you have told us the secrets of time and space. Everyone is puzzled at the idea of life beyond, but you are showing us everything, taking us everywhere. The universal activities are so amazing and wonderful that simply by investigating these cosmic affairs one becomes aghast. But actually it's all a dream... a colossal phantasmagoria, <i>bhütvä bhütvä praléyate </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 8.19].</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>ä-brahma-bhuvanäl lokäù<br>
punar ävartino 'rjuna<br>
mäm upetya tu kaunteya<br>
punar janma na vidyate<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> <i>8.16</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place, but one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunté, never takes birth again.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Jayate jagad-guru! </i>Your glories are sung throughout the three worlds. You have saved us from this painful Ferris wheel-like transmigration of one body to the next, one planet to the next. Whether we are high or low, happy or distressed, in this body or that, it doesn't matter because it's all hellish. Our position now is that we are most thankful and forever indebted to you for taking us off this universal merry-go-round.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-<br>
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam<br>
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya<br>
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a raincloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master who is an ocean of auspicious qualities." <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 1]</span></p>
<p class="p7">O master, we've tried and tried and tried like imbeciles to enjoy the miragelike variegatedness of this great manifestation. We've been through it all in this lifetime and in so many millions of lifetimes before. Now finally disgusted and exhausted we are through trying. You are so munificent that you were right there just when we needed you, just when we wanted you. By your causeless mercy our cosmic dream is over. You have awakened us to the reality of KÅÑËA. <i>Väsudevaù sarvam iti</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 7.19]</span>. There is nothing else.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Brahmäëòa bhramite kona bhägyavän jéva</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Madhya </i>19.151]</span>. While wandering throughout the universe in so many species of life, if one is very fortunate he gets the seed of the creeper of devotion by the mercy of KÅÑËA and <i>guru</i>.</p>
<p class="p7">Without you, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are lost. Please help us to hang on to your lotus feet. Praying for just one drop of your ocean of mercy, repeatedly we fall at your lotus feet. Jaya Prabhupäda!!!</p>
<p class="p49">Änanda däsa brahmacäré / Vaàçémohana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rick / Guëaväsa däsa brahmacäré / Vedänta-kåt däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rick / Jïänanatha däsa brahmacäré / Raìganätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ed / Cärupa däsa brahmacäré / Våkodara däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Tim Jvarajit däsa brahmacäré / Muralémanohara däsa / Mr. Jack Prabhu Käläkñara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Jim / Çanti-devé däsé Paramätmä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta David / Premamayé-devé däsé Räsaviläsa däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Don / Kanyä Kumäré-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">New Vrindaban</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New Vrindaban</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Representative of Kåñëa's mercy<br>
our dear friend you strive to help us remember.<br>
Your purity opens us to this eternal fire<br>
of sacrifice to the Lord, then increasing<br>
like a ray of light expanding never ceasing.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>This energy is yours to rule<br>
for you are Kåñëa's ruled in sublime affection.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Gurudeva of compassion<br>
fulfilling the desire of the Supreme Truth<br>
your words are like jewels of effulgent fire<br>
scattering the jackals of matter<br>
that devour the breath of the soul.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O master<br>
walking on this once barren land<br>
holy dust, now holy dhäma<br>
teaching us to live in simplicity<br>
to see Kåñëa everywhere in a</i><b><i> </i></b><i>special way<br>
for there is magic in His dealings.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By your grace one gets Kåñëa<br>
delivering Rädhä Våndävana Candra<br>
for our eyes and hearts to focus on<br>
capturing the inmates with Their beauty.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Only by your grace, because you have captured Him<br>
a friend to this art of eternal </i>rasa<i>,<br>
Can we surrender enough to hold<br>
a second of this masterpiece?</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>When will you come and bless</i><b><i> </i></b><i>us<br>
by living in your palace, Çréla Prabhupäda?<br>
It is a creation of your heart<br>
for us to offer ours.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>If you stay for one night<br>
or a million years<br>
this palace, these souls<br>
are eternally yours<br>
to glorify the most beautiful<br>
cowherd boy of Våndävana.</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>-Inmates of New Vrindaban</b></p>
<p class="p11">New York</p>
<p class="p10"><b>New York</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">With the morning sunshine streaming onto the veranda in Mäyäpur, you declared that place to be Vaikuëöha. "Where else can one always hear Hare Kåñëa?" you said. When asked about your health, you said, "I am not feeling very well these days. Actually I am not fit to even be here." Yet actually you were the only one qualified to be there. The only intelligent man is one who considers his own material intelligence to be useless and submissively accepts that knowledge emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the via media of the <i>paramparä</i>. You are completely transcendental yet display the humility befitting one of the countless fallen conditioned living entities embarrassingly caught in the material existence.</p>
<p class="p7">You criticize the scientists and educators who ever-so-humbly recommend themselves to be lords and masters of all knowledge, although they are devoid of the most basic understanding of the process of self-realization. You say that we do not even need to argue with them about any points of religion, since we can defeat them on the basis of the most simple principles of mechanical engineering. With all their wrenches, graphs, dials, and sophisticated modern equipment, they cannot meet your challenge to just repair a broken machine, namely, a dead body, so that it will get up and walk and speak again. In that way you challenge them and show that their knowledge is nothing but rascaldom and show that the real means of accepting knowledge is related directly by the perfect seer of all things, Lord Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">You said that one should be like Sanätana Goswämé and approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all humility, acknowledging one's own lack of realization of one's original spiritual identity.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>äpanära hitähita kichui nä jäni!<br>
grämya-vyavahäre paëòita, täi satya mäni<br>
kåpä kari' yadi more kariyächa uddhära<br>
äpana-kåpäte kaha 'kartavya' ämära<br>
'ke ämi', 'kene ämäya järe täpa-traya'<br>
ihä nähi jäni—'kemane hita haya'<br>
'sädhya'-'sädhana'-tattva puchite nä jäni<br>
kåpä kari' saba tattva kaha ta' äpani"</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I do not know what is beneficial for me and what is detrimental. Nonetheless, in ordinary dealings people consider me a learned scholar, and I am also thinking of myself as such. Out of Your causeless mercy, You have delivered me from the materialistic path. Now, by the same causeless mercy, please tell me what my duty is. Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be benefited? Actually I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and process for obtaining it. Being merciful upon me, please explain all these truths." <span class="s3">(<i>Madhya-lélä</i> 20.100-103)</span> Sanätana Gosvämé was the most exalted devotee of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and was qualified by humility, knowledge, and purity. You are just like Sanätana in all these qualities, yet you possess even more bountiful mercy. When Caitanya Mahäprabhu ordered Candraçekhara to go outside his door and greet the devotee standing there and bring him in for an audience, Candraçekhara Äcärya could not even recognize Sanätana as anything more than a "Muslim mendicant." But due to Sanätana's great devotion, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu seated him in an elevated place right next to Himself and embraced him, recognizing him as the greatest of all Vaiñëavas present.</p>
<p class="p7">Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is called <i>mahä-vadänya-avatära</i>, the most merciful. You, the devotee of Lord Kåñëa, are more merciful than Kåñëa Himself. Although Sanätana Gosvämé was qualified to some degree by his transcendental characteristics, we have no such qualification. We are refugees from a sinful world where animal slaughter is a way of life, speculation is an honored principle, illicit sex life is an economic convenience, and intoxication is the only solace. Yet somehow or other you are willing to give us shelter and take us into the association of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">We are so weak in our ability to execute the principles of <i>bhakti-yoga</i> that we are very easily influenced by the material energy, and therefore we are called marginal, or <i>tatastha-çakti.</i> We are like that uncertain area between the seawater and the dry sand on the beach, which is sometimes moistened or even drenched by the waves of the ocean of material existence, and which sometimes gleams in the bright midday sunlight of uncontaminated spiritual existence. We are affected by the demands and designs of materialistic persons and have the tendency to fall prey to their wiles—sometimes grossly and sometimes more subtly—by allowing ourselves to become influenced by the preaching of atheistic, demoniac scientists, politicians, and philosophers of the modern age. Although you are preaching only on the platform of perfect realization and can perfectly describe the sure means of escaping the pounding waves of material existence, we still become affected by the mundane intellectuals and scholars who try to rationalize everything and see this Kåñëa consciousness movement as just one more tiny eruption in the placid continuum of social awareness. But you, Çréla Prabhupäda, are able to discern the real truth and therefore, being uninfluenced by such rascals, always instruct us in the art of pure Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">You purify our cluttered minds and filthy hearts—preaching like your Guru Mahäräja, Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Kåñëa Himself—on how to take up the bow on the battlefield and fight at the divine behest. When we might think to make concessions or accommodations to the social conventions of the material world, you encourage us to fight, to give up attachments to fathers, sons, mothers, cousin-brothers, and teachers in order to execute the will of the Supreme Lord. Although we want to cling to our material existence, you cut us away and instead put us in the association of Arjuna on the battlefield, kneeling before Lord Kåñëa, bearing His chastisement and taking up the fight. In material life there is nothing but degradation and ignominy, couched within birth, death, old age, and painful disease. But you are giving us the glory of the fight rather than the placid indolence found in dying old dogs.</p>
<p class="p7">According to <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>, the farther west one travels the more demoniac the people become. We are so far away from Mäyäpur and the abode of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, lost in the far reaches of the West, and therefore we are more demoniac than even the infamous Jagai and Mädhäi, who were so degraded as to even offend the most merciful Nityänanda Prabhu. Yet still you are saving us and guiding us back to the spiritual world. No one could sing of your glories enough; no one can offer you enough homage. You have descended swanlike in the Western world, at ease even in the most hellish conditions provided by Kåñëa's most expert assistant, Mäyädevé herself. Because you are never forgetful of Kåñëa, you give the only constructive knowledge and the only real help. Without you our lives are useless, tormented, and hopeless; but serving you, we can aspire for the spiritual world. Unlike Sanätana, who admitted his ignorance and begged for instruction in the science of the self (<i>ätma-vidyä</i>), we are interested only in showing our pitiful expertise in perfecting our material sense gratification. Yet still you gently chide us, entreating, "When will you let me set you free?"</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you alone know Kåñëa's plans and what is within our hearts. We will wander aimlessly if we do not have your command. Please do with us as you will.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your servants at ISKCON New York,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Ädi Keçava Svämé / Sudämä Gosvämé / Aïjana däsa brahmacäré / Agrahya däsa brahmacäré / Ajitänanda däsa brahmacäré / Äcärya Ratna däsa brahmacäré / Açeña däsa brahmacäré / Bhüdhära däsa brahmacäré / Bhågupati däsa brahmacäré / Båhadbhänu däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktivinoda däsa brahmacäré / Bhaktijana däsa brahmacäré / Baddha Hari däsa brahmacäré / Bhümipati däsa brahmacäré / Bhütavan däsa brahmacäré / Daçaratha Suta däsa brahmacäré / Dénaçaraëa däsa brahmacäré / Dravaëäkña däsa brahmacäré / Divya Léla däsa brahmacäré / Giriçreñöha däsa brahmacäré / Gajahanta däsa brahmacäré / Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Gavam Guru däsa brahmacäré / Håñékeça däsa brahmacäré / Haàsarüpa däsa brahmacäré / Indriyeça däsa brahmacäré / Jévadhära däsa brahmacäré / Jïänaguhya däsa brahmacäré / Kapéndra däsa brahmacäré / Käçéräma däsa brahmacäré / Kavidatta däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëatkértana däsa brahmacäré / Kåtäkåta däsa brahmacäré / Léläpuruñottama däsa brahmacäré / Lokamaìgala däsa brahmacäré / Mäyeçvara däsa brahmacäré / Nitäi Gauracandra däsa brahmacäré / Paravidha däsa brahmacäré / Praghoña däsa brahmacäré / Preraka däsa brahmacäré / Püånämåta däsa brahmacäré / Puñkaräkña däsa brahmacäré / Rajendranätha däsa brahmacäré / Rägaputra däsa brahmacäré / Raghupati däsa brahmacäré / Romapäda däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëé Suta däsa brahmacäré / Romabhadra däsa brahmacäré / Subuddhi däsa brahmacäré / Sadäcära däsa brahmacäré / Çanké däsa brahmacäré / Saïjaya däsa brahmacäré / Särvabhauma däsa brahmacäré / Sanätana Dharma däsa brahmacäré / Trilokeçvara däsa brahmacäré / Urjasvat däsa brahmacäré / Viçvatomukha däsa brahmacäré / Vipra däsa brahmacäré / Vérendra däsa brahmacäré / Viñëu Gadä däsa brahmacäré / Vyäsaputra däsa brahmacäré / Varüthapa däsa brahmacäré / Vaiçañeka däsa brahmacäré / Vakreçvara Pandita däsa brahmacäré / Vidyäbhüñaëa däsa brahmacäré / Yadugaìguli däsa brahmacäré / Adarñi däsa adhikäré / Antima däsa adhikäré / Hari däsa adhikäré / Jaya Gaurasundara däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa Caitanya däsa adhikäré / Lohitäkña däsa adhikäré / Nayaëäbhiräma däsa adhikäré / Nanda Kiçora däsa adhikäré / Prahläda Priya däsa adhikäré / Puru däsa adhikäré / Prajäpati däsa adhikäré / ÇréRäma däsa adhikäré / Traidäsa däsa adhikäré / Våndävana däsa adhikäré / Våndävanacandra däsa adhikäré / Yogeçvara däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Andrew / Bhakta Angelo / Bhakta Bob / Bhakta Carlos / Bhakta Eddie / Bhakta Joe / Bhakta Joel / Bhakta Lewis / Bhakta Lewis / Bhakta Leroy / Bhakta Lance / Bhakta Lou / Bhakta Matt / Bhakta Maha Mike / Bhakta Michael / Bhakta Napolean / Bhakta Paul / Bhakta Rich / Bhakta Scott / Bhakta Walter Sr. / Bhakta Walter<b> </b>Jr.<b> / </b>Peter Hawkins / Alarka-devé däsé / Jämbavaté-devé däsé / Jähnavé-devé däsé / Lokadevé-devé däsé / Merumälä-devé däsé / Nitya-devé däsé / Pramada-devé däsé / Pürëaçakti-devé däsé / Ramädevé däsé / Revaté-devé däsé / Rasajïa-devé däsé / Çravaëéya-devé däsé / Çatarüpä-devé däsé / Léläsmåti-devé däsé / Çyämagha-devé däsé / Vrajamaëòala-devé däsé / Jyotirmayé-devé däsé / Niraïjana-devé däsé / Acyutapriya-devé däsé / Éça-devé däsé / Kamalatikä-devé däsé / Mitravåtti-devé däsé / Çélävaté-devé däsé / Hari Näma-devé däsé / Bhaktin Autumn / Bhaktin Beth / Bhaktin Doris / Bhaktin Elli / Bhaktin Kathy / Bhaktin Maureen / Bhaktin Sheila / Bhaktin Teri / Bhaktin Cheryl / Bhaktin Joyce / Bhaktin Nancy / Cintämaëi / Nimäi Mädhava / Caitanya Priya / Tamala / Kunté / Nimäi Çaraëa / Çrémad-Bhägavatam / Badaräyana</p>
<p class="p7">Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p49">Apürva däsa adhikäré / Lakñmé Nrsiàhadeva däsa brahmacäré / Puruñärtha däsa brahmacäré / Yamunäpriya däsa brahmacäré / Kamaliné-devé däsé / Mürtivandya-devé däs / Nanda-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11"><b>Niöai Gaura Traveling World Saìkértana Party (</b>Kolhapur (India)</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Niöai Gaura Traveling World Saìkértana Party (Kolhapur (India)</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Vyäsa-püjä offering by the devotees of the bullock cart Saìkértana at the lotus feet of Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p8"><br></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please kindly accept my most prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. Unlimited glories to you. Your Divine Grace. The only reason I am in this unwanted existence is that I have misused the minute independence given to me by Kåñëa. I have been trying my best to lord over the material world from time immemorial. But each time the Lord's external energy, <i>mäyä</i>, was kicking me. And the Lord ultimately made me <i>bhägyavän</i>, fortunate, and has brought me to your lotus feet. You are the external manifestation of Paramätmä, and you are the representative of the Lord. Now I am totally at your mercy. And now I do not know anyone else except you as my lord and the controller of all my wanderings.</p>
<p class="p7">Once upon a time I was situated on the spiritual planet where the predominating Deity is the Lord Himself. And now once again I am situated on the ISKCON planet, where you are the predominating deity. But unfortunately I am the same person with the same age-old propensity of being independent. So now at this stage I repeatedly pray at your lotus feet—O vice-lord, be kind enough to take my minute independence away. Do not offer me the choice but your service, I have no power to discriminate and do not have any understanding of my own self interest, <i>na te viduù svärtha-gatià hi viñëum</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 7.5.31]</span>. So I beg that you make me your slave eternally and do not allow me to speculate or make plans of my own. I fell down from the spiritual sky and now your mercy manifestation ISKCON has picked me up. But if I fall down from the ISKCON planet there is no other hope for me. Let all my own plans go to hell. Let only your plans and work get done. Let only your desire get fulfilled. And as an obedient slave let your desire become my desire.</p>
<p class="p7">O Çréla Prabhupäda, please fulfill this, the only desire of mine, and no more.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Always praying this</i>,<b> </b>We eternally remain your servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Lokanätha Svämé / Ätmatattva / Jagat Vicitra däsa brahmacäré Kåñëadäsa Vaidya däsa brahmacäré / Abhayäçraya däsa brahmacäré / Lélä Kamala däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa Prema däsa brahmacäré / Puré däsa brahmacäré / Ravi däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëétanaya däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Viläsa</p>
<p class="p11">Ottawa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Ottawa</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our eternal obeisances at your divine lotus feet, Çréla Prabhupäda, where even the most fallen of sinful beings can be accepted by your overwhelming compassion.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, although we seldom have personal association with you, still you are giving us your association through your writings and teachings, and in these books we find, your presence. Every word you speak is so full of devotional inspiration that even the most sinful of people can be enlivened to engage in devotional service to Lord Kåñëa. Now we simply have to perfect the art<b> </b>of<b> </b>hearing from you.</p>
<p class="p7">We find that the more we associate ourselves with you through your books and devotional service through your grace, the more we want others to also come and hear your every word. And as they realize your exalted position as spiritual master of the universe and take to your lotus feet as their only possible shelter, we all become joyful to see you increasingly glorified. Your Divine Grace should be worshiped by every sane human being, and it is our duty to see that this happens. We find that as people read your books, their understanding and appreciation for you increases and so does ours. So we shall attempt to spread Kåñëa consciousness to all corners by your instruction and permission with increased book distribution. We hope that you shall derive some amount of pleasure from our meager offerings at your feet.</p>
<p class="p7">Please, Çréla Prabhupäda, allow us the intelligence to appreciate our position as your eternal servants and in this mood continue working very honestly and hard to distribute the highest knowledge to all humanity in the form of your books. Kindly permit us to continue trying to please you through our service, as imperfect as it may be. We beg to remain your humble servants.</p>
<p class="p7">The disciples of your Ottawa center,</p>
<p class="p49">Gaura däsa brahmacäré / Rüpa Viläsa däsa adhikäré / Väruëé-devé däsé Lakñménätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Denis / Mitravindä-devé däsé / Nirantara däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Robert / Bhaktin Sue Kåñëadäsa däsa adhikäré / Paurëamäsé-devé däsé / Bhaktin Diane</p>
<p class="p11">Paris</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Paris</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p7">We offer our respectful obeisances unto our spiritual master. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is so dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter of the Lord's lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our respectful obeisances unto you, O servant of Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western world from voidism and impersonalism. <span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>çré-guru-carana-padma, kevala bhakati-sadma,<br>
bando mui sävadhäna mate<br>
jähära prasäde bhäi, e bhava toriyä jäi,<br>
krñëa-präpti hoy jähä häte</i></p>
<p class="p7">"The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa." <span class="s3">[<i>Guru-vandanä</i> 1]<br>
</span></p>
<p class="p7">It is impossible to describe just how exalted is the position of the spiritual master. We must first seriously understand how small and insignificant we are and, upon understanding this, surrender completely to our beloved spiritual master. Only at this time do our lives become of value.</p>
<p class="p7">All glories to you, Çréla Prabhupäda, because you have come to save the entire world. Sanätana Gosvämé humbly submitted to Lord Caitanya that, "People consider me to be a very wise man, but I do not know who I am, where I come from, or where I shall go after death." This is exactly our position because we also did not have any knowledge of our real nature. Your spiritual master, His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, said that this material world is not a fit place for a gentleman. Anybody in this world, trapped within a material body, has to suffer the threefold miseries in different forms of distress until such time that he reaches the point of complete surrender to the bona fide spiritual master.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"I was born in the darkness of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master." <span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Only by your grace can one become freed from this false conception of identifying with the material body. We were all so proud of this miserable body, worshiping it and giving it our complete attention, without knowing that it is just a bag of stool, blood, urine, mucus and bile. There is nothing glamorous about it at all.</p>
<p class="p7">By your causeless mercy you have come to deliver the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga, so we can rightfully say that you are <i>suhådaà sarva-bhütänäm</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 5.29]</span>, or the friend of all living entities, who can deliver us from all material miseries. In this age of Kali, the qualities of mercifulness, truthfulness, cleanliness and austerity are almost lost and it would have been impossible for any of us to become freed from the clutches of <i>mäyä</i> if you had not come to save us. By your causeless mercy you have made us the most fortunate by creating ISKCON so that we can have <i>sädhu-saìga</i> to protect us from <i>mäyä</i>.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>sädhu-saìga-kåpä kimvä kåñëera kåpäya<br>
kämädi 'duùsaìga' chäòi' çuddha-bhakti päya</i></p>
<p class="p7">"One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of the Vaiñëava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Kåñëa. On that platform one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted persons. Thus one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service." <span class="s3">(<i>Madhya</i> 24.97) </span>The <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> (3.23.56) states:</p>
<p class="p6"><i>neha yat karma dharmäya na virägäya kalpate<br>
na tértha-pada-seväyai jévann api måto hi saù</i></p>
<p class="p7">"A person whose work does not lead him to spiritual life, a person whose spiritual rituals do not lead him to renunciation or a person situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered as a dead man in spite of the fact that he is living." So, the ultimate aim of the human form of life is found in the unalloyed devotional service to the Lord, and this goal we have to reach in this very life. It is only by your grace that one can reach this perfection, and on this day of Vyäsa-püjä we all bow down at your lotus feet and pray to obtain your mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">You are the perfect <i>äcärya</i> because your very life shows us that pure devotional service cannot be checked by any material conditions. In any condition, whether it be advanced age or temporary illness, you have proved that pure devotional service is directly under the protection of Kåñëa's divine energy.</p>
<p class="p7">By your example we must now have faith in your instructions, and it is the duty of every one of us to follow in your footsteps. </p>
<p class="p7"><b>ALL GLORIES TO YOU, Çréla Prabhupäda!</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants at Paris ISKCON</i></p>
<p class="p7"><b>Traveling Saìkértana</b> </p>
<p class="p49">Påthu Putra Mahäräja / Çré Hari däsa brahmacäré / Caitanya Nitäi däsa brahmacäré / Indradyumna däsa adhikäré / Jagadväsé däsa brahmacäré / Jagatçreñtha däsa brahmacäré / Gopasvämé däsa brahmacäré / Rämadäsa brahmacäré / Bhéma däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Nåsiàha Pävana deva däsa / Rädhikä Ramaëa däsa brahmacäré / Bhütabhävana däsa brahmacäré / Indriya däsa brahmacäré / Sahadeva däsa brahmacäré / Keçinäçana däsa brahmacäré / Jagadänanda däsa brahmacäré / Prasannätmä däsa brahmacäré / Räsada däsa brahmacäré / Sahasramürdana däsa brahmacäré / Adhiçekhara däsa adhikäré / Caraëämbuja däsa brahmacäré / Akhileçvara däsa brahmacäré / Amala Puräëa däsa brahmacäré / Ariñöarasaëa däsa brahmacäré / Gabhérätma däsa brahmacäré / Küöastha däsa brahmacäré / Mahäbala däsa brahmacäré / Äditi-devé däsé Daëòa / Keçi-devé däsé / Jagatkérti-devé däsé / Çré Vidya-devé däsé / Bhakta Amale Bhakta / Manavi Guëamayi-devé däsé / Jéva-devé däsé / Malaté-devé däsé / Çitalä-devé däsé / Bhakta Julia </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Paris Temple</b> </p>
<p class="p49">Ädiräja däsa brahmacäré / Vrajisama däsa brahmacäré / Caitanya Bhägavata däsa brahmacäré / Mahänama däsa brahmacäré / Ärädhya-devé däsé / Damadäminé-devé däsé / Déneçvara-devé däsé / Gopänandiné-devé däsé / Krataçreñöha-devé däsé / Mahämedhä-devé däsé / Navalaìga-devé däsé / Bhaktin Brigitte / Bhaktin Leonor / Bhaktin Michele / Bhaktin Rosa Alba / Abhinanda däsa adhikäré / Arcanänanda däsa adhikäré / Dayämåga däsa adhikäré / Hariviläsa däsa adhikäré / Éçvara däsa adhikäré / Janapräëa däsa adhikäré / Paraçuräma däsa adhikäré / Svayambhur däsa adhikäré / Pärijäta-devé däsé / Mahimäbhüñaëa-devé<b> </b>däsé / Atétagamana-devé däsé / Nitäi Gaura / Räsavihari / Rädhä Govinda / Bhaktin Anne-Marie / Sophie / Narakantaka däsa brahmacäré / Pétaväsa däsa / Svarüpänanda däsa / Våñakåti däsa / Bhakta Andre / Bhakta Antonio / Bhakta David / Bhakta Stephan </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Paris Farm, New Mäyäpur</b> </p>
<p class="p49">Gaura däsa brahmacäré / Haribolänanda däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëa Baladeva däsa brahmacäré / Mahävidyä däsa brahmacäré / Parätmä däsa brahmacäré / Çadäçivapriya däsa brahmacäré / Çälagräma däsa brahmacäré / Sudarçsana däsa brahmacäré / Valyavapu däsa brahmacäré / Joy Prabhu / Raghunätha / Vaiñëava / Bhakti Dhanna / Bhakti Kiçoré / Bhaktin Sarah / Devaké / Käla / Käminé / Kunté / Lalitä / Maïjaré / Satyä / Vedäìga däsa brahmacäré / Élavati-devé däsé / Avyaya däsa adhikäré / Aditi-devé däsé / Acintyarüpa däsa adhikäré / Kunté-devé däsé / Kåtäjya däsa adhikäré / Jagat Kérté-devé däsé / Indradyumna däsa adhikäré / Annäda-devé däsé / Viñëuräta däsa adhikäré / Gaìgämayé-devé däsé / Bhagavän däsa adhikäré / Garuòé-devé däsé / Sädhujäya däsa adhikäré / Jyeñtha-devé däsé / Éçvara däsa adhikäré / Merumäla-devé däsé / Çivätmaka däsa adhikäré / Paëdita-devé däsé / Viçvambhara däsa adhikäré / Sahasräkñé-devé däsé / Umäpati däsa adhikäré / Çétalä-devé däsé / Jayakula däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Andre / Janardradhé däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Denis / Prabhava Vigraha däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Francois / Hayaya däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Freddy / Viçeña-devé däsé / Bhakta Herve / Govardhana-devé däsé / Bhakta Richard / Cakriëé-devé däsé / Bhakta Seege / Kåpämayé-devé däs / Bhakta Thierry / Uñämati-devé däsé / Bhakta Mirian / Kåñëa Bhäminé-devé däsé / Bhakta Paule / Draupadé-devé däsé / Bhakta Kértana / Haripriyä-devé däsé / Bhakta Suta / Pralambahari-devé däsé / Caitanya / Kiçoré-devé däsé / Dhruvänanda / Çatarüpä-devé däsé / Hanumän</p>
<p class="p11">Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Philadelphia</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Please accept our most fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. When you arrived in Philadelphia in the summer of 1975, we drove you from the airport in a hired Cadillac limousine; this was noted by an envious reporter, who later challenged you: "Why did you ride in a Cadillac limousine from the airport?" You replied: "My disciples have provided me with this, limousine, but actually, it is not at all good enough. They have not done very well by me. <i>Säkñäd dharitvena samasta-çästrair uktas thatä bhavyata eva sadbhiù</i>," <span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 7]</span> you quoted. "The spiritual master is to be worshiped on an equal level with God. Because the spiritual master is the most confidential servant of God and is therefore very dear to him, he receives the same honor that is paid to the Supreme Lord. God rides in a chariot of gold, so my disciples should have provided a golden car for me. This Cadillac is not at all sufficient.”</p>
<p class="p7">The reporter sat there speechless, but the devotees from Philadelphia were feeling ashamed. How far short we fall in every way! It's true: you do deserve a car of gold. No service we perform, no praise we offer, no surrender we proffer, comes even respectably close to what, by rights, ought to be given to you. We had even been feeling somewhat proud of the hired Cadillac limousine; so often, indeed, we have found ourselves thinking, "Now I have performed some real service for Çréla Prabhupäda," or "Now I have really surrendered to His Divine Grace," or similar inglorious notions.</p>
<p class="p7">But how can we ever render unto you the service that we owe? Our debt cannot be discharged, except by further borrowing. We have discovered that when we attempt some service, unless we obtain your mercy, we cannot properly perform it. Without your grace, we always fail. Thus we simply become increasingly entangled in the network of indebtedness, and we cannot escape your grip; thus we remain forever your bound servants.</p>
<p class="p7">Neither are we able to mint with our dull and earthy tongues the sterling and golden words that piled in heaps still would not exhaust the value of your priceless worth.</p>
<p class="p7">Forever indebted, perpetually embarrassed, we cannot pay the<b> </b>price<b> </b>for your matchless gifts.</p>
<p class="p7">But still we can dream... that one day will come when the bedazzled crowds at the airport will see you mount a car of burnished gold, flaming like the sun, surrounded by throngs of purified chanters, chanting your glories in exquisite verse. The golden chariot shall carry you down a road inlaid with gems, over a carpet of stemless fragrant flowers. Rows of flowering trees will line the way, forming a perfumed canopy overhead, and there will be lakes of sweet-smelling water like nectar, with jeweled bathing places. Flocks of birds will pour out their songs in ecstasy, and the shining silk banners, proclaiming your glories, shall sway in the cool, scented breezes.</p>
<p class="p7">In this we only could hope to begin to receive you properly. And what would the reporters have to say then?</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servants in</i> Philadelphia</p>
<p class="p49">Ravindra Svarüpa däsa / Sudäsa / Mahäçakti däsa / Raghunätha däsa däsa / Brahmänanda Puré däsa / Viööhaleçara däsa / Devänanda Paëòita däsa / Bhübhåt däsa / Pravräcärya däsa / Jaya Mädhava däsa / Jaya Baladeva däsa / Hari Muräri däsa / Rädhänätha däsa / Guru-karuëa däsa / Jévanätha däsa / Saudämani-devé däsé / Devayäni-devé däsé / Havridhani-devé däsé / Bhaktavaçya-devé däsé / Lalitämåta-devé däsé / Mallika-devé däsé / Bhakta John / Bhakta Jim / Bhakta Dan / Bhakta Steve / Bhakta Ron / Bhakta Brett / Bhaktin Sandy / Bhaktin Shirley</p>
<p class="p11">Pittsburgh</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Pittsburgh</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">It is stated in your <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>: Out of many millions of living entities wandering throughout the creation of Lord Brahmä, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with the bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kåñëa. By the mercy of both Kåñëa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">Somehow or other you have chosen us as your disciples, Çréla Prabhupäda. Even though we have no qualifications and our hearts are covered with deep layers of material dust, still you so patiently guide us on the path back to Godhead. Our conditioning and association in this material world had us convinced that intoxication, illicit sex life, eating animal flesh and gambling would give us the highest taste. This taste cannot be found anywhere in this material world. No amount of money, fame or learning can have it. Only by the grace of the pure devotee of the Lord can one be given the highest state—Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Our thank you seems so insincere and insignificant, Çréla Prabhupäda. We can only pray to Kåñëa to please keep us eternally engaged in your service for only by your grace, Çréla Prabhupäda, can we escape the miserable condition of repeated birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Dharmätmä däsa adhikäré / Gopälasyapriyä-devé däsé / Acintyaçakti-devé / däsé Dämodara däsa adhikäré / Pradhänagopikä-devé däsé / Karyätéta-devé däsé Mahä-devé-devé däsé / Sükñmarüpiëé-devé däsé / Premaka-devé däsé / Rägätmikä-devé däsé / Sukalina-devé däsé / Manasviné-devé däsé / Lajjavaté-devé däsé / Maëkumäré-devé däsé / Dvijapriya-devé däsé Mahärha-devé däsé / Kåñëa-mayé-devé däsé / Vrajamaëòala-devé däsé / Vedamäta-devé däsé / Nirmala-devé däsé / Mother Robin</p>
<p class="p11">Portland</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Portland</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">A long with all our wonderful Godbrothers throughout the world, we, the residents of New Maëipura Dhäma, prostrate ourselves in the dust of your lotus feet, begging for your mercy and inspiration to assist you in pushing on the great s<i>aìkértana</i> movement of Lord Caitanya. O divine master, please forgive all our offenses, rectify our faults and remove the snake of envy from our hearts. O merciful Gurudeva, please bestow upon us enthusiasm, determination, and patience, the jewels of pure devotion. Infuse us with your compassion, O beloved Çréla Prabhupäda, for this is the loving quality of the true Vaiñëava. Shower upon us, O ocean of mercy, the spirit of cooperation that we may most effectively spread this most important movement. O <i>siàha-guru</i>, most of all give us the strength and courage to continue on against all obstacles in this dangerous age of Kali. Please don't let us fall, O merciful spiritual master. Outside of serving you, there is nothing else to do with our lives. Now we surrender unto you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Please give us the shelter of your lotus feet!</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Begging to remain your servants</i> in New Manipura</p>
<p class="p49">Déna Bandhu däsa adhikäré / Antara däsa adhikäré / Bhägavatäcärya däsa adhikäré / Çukadeva däsa adhikäré / Girijaräta däsa adhikäré / Pati däsa adhikäré / Vibhu däsa adhikäré / Anantätmä däsa brahmacäré / Ekanéyasvabhäva däsa brahmacäré / Kaviräja däsa brahmacäré / Jyoténdra däsa brahmacäré / Rämyaka däsa brahmacäré / Çyämasundara däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Tom / Bhakta Bill / Bhakta Steve / Akuti-devé däsé / Çréda-devé däsé / Kusumapita-devé däsé / Jagamohiné-devé däsé / Çrémati-devé däsé / Meru-devé däsé / Paliné-devé däsé / Abhaya-devé däsé / Janmaçünya-devé däsé / Mälädhäri-devé däsé / Bhaktin Wanda / Gopälänandiné / Närada Muni / Kåçäìgi / Rämänuja / Bhéma / Mädhurya / Lélä / Néla Mädhava / Jagadéça / Naimiñäraëya / Bhaktin Jenny </p>
<p class="p11">Port Royal</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Port Royal</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda,</p>
<p class="p7">Of all your qualities, I would like to praise your ability<b> </b>to<b> </b>look at the world and genuinely appreciate the good in it. Generally, devotees are swanlike because they want to serve Kåñëa. This service to Kåñëa is the essence of life. The swan has the ability to extract the essence, the milk, from a mixture of milk and water. So I can see, Çréla Prabhupäda, that you are <i>paramahaàsa</i>, the supreme swanlike devotee.</p>
<p class="p7">You are traveling through this material planet, simply extracting its essence, the eternal relationship of service between the people and Kåñëa. You have explained that "Kåñëa is so kind and favorable that if a servitor is accused even of great offenses, Kåñëa does not take this into consideration. He simply considers the service that is rendered by His devotee." You are obviously acting on Kåñëa's behalf in this matter, and by your example, you are giving us a taste of real love, the only foundation on which we can build our Kåñëa consciousness.</p>
<p class="p7">Love is manifested in the desire to serve the beloved. That is your teaching, the essence of spiritual life. <i>Jévera 'svarüpa' haya—kåñëera 'nitya däsa</i>'<i> </i><span class="s3">[<i>Madhya</i> 20.108]</span>. Never mind our crowlike tendencies, if we can just get firmly fixed up in some service to your lotus feet, we will be rightly situated.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants,</i> New<b> </b>Varñaëa Farm</p>
<p class="p49">Paramänanda däsa / Satyabhämä-devé däsé / Premänanda däsa / Madhavendra Puré däsa / Jähnavä-devé däsé / Devakénandana däsa / Kamra-devé däsé / Keçava däsa / Éçvara Puré däsa / Gaurahari däsa / Praphulla Mukhé-devé däsé / Siddha Bäbä däsa / Arjuna däsa / Vämanadeva däsa / Indirä-devé däsé / Jagannätha däsa / Våndä-devé däsé / Bhurijana däsa / Jagattariëé-devé däsé / Våndävana Lélä-devé däsé / Darpaha däsa / Locana Padma-devé däsé / Pratyatoña däsa / Urmila-devé däsé / Mädhava däsa / Steve Prabhu / Kathä Ruci-devé<b> </b>däsé<b> </b>/<b> </b>Candra-devé däsé / Kauliné-devé däsé / Rämacandra däsa / Vidyänanda däsa / Vedätma däsa / Vyäsäsana däsa / Viñëuyasa däsa / Sarvapama däsa / Gudakeça däsa / Kåñëotkértana däsa / Bhakta Viçvareta däsa / Viçvakarmä däsa / Yudhiñöhira däsa</p>
<p class="p11">Potomac</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Potomac</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Oh, compassionate Guru<br>
More welcome than the</i><b><i> </i></b><i>sun<br>
Shine upon our hearts<br>
Till our ignorance is</i><b><i> </i></b><i>done.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your words have such power<br>
They free men who truly hear <br>
From scientific serfdom<br>
Ignorance and fear.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are the impetus,<br>
Enthusing us-Go on<br>
Increasing the flood<br>
Of </i>Çré-Kåñëa-saìkértana<i>.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Please never leave us<br>
Bereft of your strong embrace <br>
Our lives have no meaning <br>
Minus Your Divine Grace.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>We beg to offer our assembled lives<br>
like straws before your holy feet.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your disciples at New Hastinäpura</p>
<p class="p11">Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Puerto Rico</b></p>
<p class="p12"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p12"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Even as I sit to write<br>
these words<br>
under the evening light<br>
the mind puts up a tremendous fight.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>It concocts the paltry conception<br>
of possibly gaining recognition<br>
for a masterful poetic creation.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>No matter the activity performed<br>
the mind is incessantly torn <br>
apart<br>
by these impure desires.<br>
It seeks, like a miser, to be adorned<br>
With the glass jewels of fame, adoration<br>
and distinction.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>These three baubles I don't admire<br>
but their presence arouses that impelling desire<br>
to be crowned as Éçvara.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Coronated as "I am" (in existence) apart from Kåñëa<br>
and attempting to establish this fact<br>
this false king (the mind) tries to preserve what<br>
he has<br>
and independently carry what he lacks.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But that burden of illusion is great<br>
and my feet are slipping under the heavy weight.<br>
The only thing which can change this fate<br>
is the mercy-stick of support<br>
from Çré Gurudeva.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda,<br>
with your smiling lotus face<br>
and swanlike grace<br>
you extend that rod<br>
with a reassuring nod<br>
and encourage all to take hold.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your unlimited mercy one cannot estimate<br>
yet this is but one of your unlimited traits<br>
of many that you possess.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Çréla Prabhupäda<br>
I'm simply praying<br>
despite the asslike braying<br>
of this untamed mind<br>
that I may hear your words<br>
with an open ear<br>
and lock them in this leaden heart<br>
then instead of speculation<br>
draw on the truth you impart<br>
that Kåñëa is God<br>
and I His servant.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Your eternal servants at Puerto Rico</p>
<p class="p49">Lakñmi Nåsàha däsa brahmacäré / Karëapüra däsa brahmacäré / Puruñärtha däsa brahmacäré / Haridäsa däsa brahmacäré / Yamunä Priya däsa brahmacäré / Viprahita däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Fernando / Bhakta Santos / Apürva däsa adhikäré / Kamaliné-devé däsé / Siri Singh Caitanya däsa / Nanda-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara TSKP</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p12"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p12"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are the General Directing the fight<br>
Revealing the Godhead<br>
Destroying mäyäs' might.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Like Arjuna, we fear the battle call<br>
We hesitate—we tremble—we fall.<br>
Like Lord Kåñëa, you lift us up by your instruction<br>
You chastise—you enlighten you save us from destruction.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Remembering the cowherd boys, fearless we march<br>
Into the Aghasurine cities and towns<br>
Defying their 'fishy bad smells' and<br>
Skyscraper fangs touching the clouds.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Armed with your books, forward we thrust<br>
Deep into mäyä's kingdom,<br>
Illusions dispelled, the conditioned souls<br>
Experience real freedom.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Mäyä advanced through the godless technological race<br>
Her gleam and glitter turn men's eyes from God's grace <br>
Fouling the air, poisoning rivers and lakes<br>
The scientists are modern Käliya snakes.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And with your strong words<br>
You kick on their heads<br>
Replacing their venom<br>
With nectar instead.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Master! O Lord! <br>
Please show us the arts <br>
Of chanting and dancing<br>
And purifying our hearts!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>"Jaya Prabhupäda" and "Hare Kåñëa"<br>
These our battle cry! Pray to remember<br>
Your lotus feet when we die.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>And in your monumental plan<br>
To create a new history<br>
Remember your words—"Without a hard struggle—<br>
What is the chance for a glorious Victory."<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, all glories to you. How can I glorify you adequately? Only by your mercy will it be possible for me to begin. Like Haridäsa Thäkura, you are an ocean of transcendental qualities. Like Väsudeva Datta, your compassion knows no bounds as you are prepared to bear the sins of the universe and go to hell for Lord Çré Caitanya. As Vakreçvara Paëòita danced all night, you once danced for Lord Jagannätha's entire festival in London, giving the Lord and all your devotees great joy. Just to hear this is wonderful. Who can estimate your fame? It is spread all over the three worlds. Like Rüpa and Sanätana, you are increasing the limits of the ocean of love of Godhead. Tirelessly preaching like no one else, you are never-endingly speaking of Lord Caitanya's mission, inspiring all of your devotees to preach this <i>näma-saìkértana</i>. O Çréla Prabhupäda, so great you are, you have saved the world with your Bhaktivedanta purports.</p>
<p class="p7">You are my heart, my life and soul. My morning rising is by your call of service to the transcendental Lord Çré Kåñëa. Morning bath, <i>viñëu</i>-<i>tilaka</i>, saffron robes, <i>Gayatré</i>, thousands of Godbrothers, <i>japa</i> and <i>maìgala</i>-<i>ärätrika</i> are all from you; priceless gifts of service and association you have bestowed. The Deities and Their <i>prasäda</i>, more than we can eat, and a first-class transcendental home; you have offered all this. What I could not have dreamed of in eternity, what would have been impossible for me to conceive of with this mundane mind, into this ISKCON Kåñëa consciousness I have gained entrance by your grace. You are His Divine Grace, the mercy incarnation of Kåñëa, and this movement is a manifestation of your pure, uncontaminated desire to please Çré Gaurasundara.</p>
<p class="p7">This mission, your life and soul and every breath, is pure nectar, simply sublime and full of transcendental ecstasy. To take part as your assistant birth after birth—let that be my only desire. By assisting your preaching I can taste the highest bliss and know who are Rädhä and Kåñëa—your youthful loving couple for whom you've given up this world in madness. You are Their Lordship's eternal servitor and topmost devotee, and for this I have the proof. For Them you have come here and saved me and all of us. You are making everyone a Vaiñëava. Who can resist you? It is not possible. You have defeated everyone. You have taught the world real science, the best economy, perfect government and better business. You are the greatest cook, the best musician and sweetest vocalist. Even Närada and Vyäsadeva sing your glories. You are the greatest author, greatest devotee, greatest spiritual master of all time, yet more humble than a blade of grass. Tolerating my offenses, always encouraging me, O Çréla Prabhupäda, I am your dog. I cannot begin to glorify you yet you have allowed me to write some words. I love you, Çréla Prabhupäda, please let me distribute your books wherever you see fit. You are my guide, my master, and my life is all your mercy. I am falling at your lotus feet, please consider my plea. You are my only shelter, what can I do? I am appealing to you and you will not turn me away. You have given me this <i>sannyäsa</i> order of life, now again I promise you, I make this vow, eternally I am your menial servant.</p>
<p class="p7">Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories to you!</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çré Çré Radha Damodara Traveling Saìkértana Party</b></p>
<p class="p49">Tripuräri Svämé / Dhåñöadyumna Svämé</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Çré Çré Coöa Gaura Nitäi TSKP</b></p>
<p class="p49">Sura däsa brahmacäré / Kaiki däsa brahmacäré / Bhuvaneçvara däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. l: Çré Çré Rädhä-Damodara</b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>(Cincinnati Preaching Center, Louisville Preaching Center)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Kavicandra däsa adhikäré / Gauräìga däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Muni däsa brahmacäré / Rämäcärya däsa brahmacäré / Coöa Haridäsa däsa brahmacäré / Goloka däsa brahmacäré / Bhagavän Äcärya däsa brahmacäré / Aindra däsa brahmacäré <b>/ </b>Vrajendranandana däsa brahmacäré / Prahlädänanda däsa brahmacäré / Ratnabähu däsa brahmacäré / Jéva Pävana däsa brahmacäré / Mukunda Datta däsa brahmacäré / Dayala däsa brahmacäré </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 2: Çré Çré Nimäi Nitäi </b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>(Indianapolis Preaching Center, Milwaukee Preaching Center, Madison Preaching Center)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Gopéjanavallabha däsa brahmacäré / Jïäpaka däsa brahmacäré / Mahädeva däsa brahmacäré / Räsaräja däsa brahmacäré / Dhruva däsa brahmacäré / Çaìkara Paëddita däsa brahmacäré / Uddhava däsa brahmacäré / Raghunandana däsa brahmacäré / Pürëacandra däsa brahmacäré / Çréla däsa brahmacäré / Räya Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Lokasvämé däsa brahmacäré / Keçiha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus</b> <b>No. 3: Çré Çré Gaura</b> <b>Nitai (Durham Preaching Center)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Janärdana däsa brahmacäré / Çästivara däsa brahmacäré / Datta däsa brahmacäré / Anüttama däsa brahmacäré / Pyari Mohana däsa brahmacäré / Govinda Datta däsa brahmacäré / Caturvyüha däsa brahmacäré / Pärtha Mitra däsa brahmacäré / Räìgajé däsa brahmacäré / Märkaëòeya däsa brahmacäré / Kundara däsa brahmacäré / Çaçvata däsa brahmacäré </p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus</b> <b>No. 4: Çré Çré Nitai Gauracandra </b></p>
<p class="p7">(<b>El Paso Preaching Center, Memphis Preaching Center)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Brahmä däsa brahmacäré / Rasätala däsa brahmacäré / Sunanda däsa brahmacäré / Dåñya Kåñëa däsa brahmacäré / Dhåñöa däsa brahmacäré / Naikätmä däsa brahmacäré / Häsyagrämé däsa brahmacäré / Puñpagopäla däsa brahmacäré / Tattvavada däsa brahmacäré / Viçva däsa brahmacäré / Nakula Brahmacäré däsa brahmacäré / Räja Vidyä däsa brahmacäré / Madhuhära däsa brahmacäré / Gaìga Näräyana däsa brahmacäré / Caitanya Candra däsa brahmacäré / Rasaprada däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Charlie / Bhakta Mark</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Bus No. 5: Çré Çré Nitai Caitanya Candra </b></p>
<p class="p7"><b>(Kansas City Preaching Center)</b></p>
<p class="p49">Keçava Bharati däsa adhikäré / Subuddhi Räya däsa brahmacäré / Mahä Mantra däsa brahmacäré / Atendriya däsa brahmacäré / Gopäläcärya däsa brahmacäré / Påthuçrava däsa brahmacäré / Muktanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhadräìga däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Bob / Jagéçvara Åñi däsa brahmacäré / Cakrédäsa brahmacäré / Vyäsapada däsa brahmacäré / Båhadbhanu däsa brahmacäré / Dravanäkña däsa brahmacäré / Vaikuëöha Devadäsa brahmacäré / Giridhäré däsa brahmacäré / Subuddhi däsa brahmacäré / Varüthapa däsa brahmacäré / Rägaputra däsa brahmacari / Gaëapati däsa brahmacäré / Rohiëé Suta däsa brahmacäré / Rajendranätha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p11">Rome</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Rome</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Narottama däsa Thäkura says that the spiritual master is <i>karuëä-sindhu,</i> an ocean of mercy. You are an unlimited ocean of mercy, and there is no person more glorious than you in all the three worlds. Out of compassion you have come into this world of fallen souls to bring us back to Godhead, although we don't have any qualities. Just as the sun can extract water even from stool and transform it into pure drops of rain, you extracted us from our stoollike lives full of sinful activities and impersonalism and elevated us to a position enviable even by the demigods. It is said that even great <i>devas</i> desire to take birth as devotees in this movement, and you, with your mercy, have transformed such fallen souls like us into devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! As the sunlight is more potent when it goes through a lens, in the same way Kåñëa's mercy is greater when it goes through you. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is glorified because He saved Jagäi and Mädhäi, whose activities were just like childish pranks in comparison with our abominable sins. Caitanya Mahäprabhu has saved with His mercy Jagäi and Mädhäi, but that same mercy, filtered through you, has increased millions of times, therefore you are now saving hundreds of thousands of Jagäis and Mädhäis.</p>
<p class="p7">In <i>Kåñëa Book</i> there is a description of autumn in which it explains how the earth becomes luxuriant after the rainy season. Likewise, the devotees, after joining the Kåñëa consciousness movement, become bright and look like they're coming directly from Vaikuëöha. But just like the earth becomes dry during the summer season, we also become dry and lose our qualities if we forget your instruction, because these qualities are not ours but are only a reflection of some of your unlimited qualities.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yogyatä-vicäre, kichu nähi päi,<br>
tomära karuëä-sära<br>
karuëä nä hoile, käìdiyä käìdiyä,<br>
präëa nä räkhibo ära</i></p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! As the lotus flower grows in the mud but is never touched by it, you stay in the mud of this material world but you are never contaminated. Your lotus eyes see always Kåñëa, your lotus lips chant always Kåñëa's glories, your lotus hands are always engaged in Kåñëa's service, your lotus feet dance always for the Lord, and your lotus mind is always fixed on the Lord. When Kåñëa plays His flute, the waves of the Yamunä carry lotus flowers to His feet. In the same way, your mind always brings thoughts of love to Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ohe! vaiñëava öhäkura, doyära sägara,<br>
e däse karuëä kori’<br>
diyä pada-chäyä, çodho he ämäya,<br>
tomära caraëa dhori</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, our only hope is to get hold of your lotus feet; we cannot do anything else but pray to always have your mercy and be able to follow in your footsteps. <i>Mäyä's</i> attacks are so strong that we can fall down any day. Gurudeva, give us a drop of your mercy so that we can resist <i>mäyä's</i> attacks. Make our ears constantly full of your instructions and inundated with Kåñëa's pastimes so that they will not be attracted by the whispers of <i>mäyä</i>. Please, enter into our rebellious minds and make them full of thoughts about Kåñëa so that they will not be attracted by the waves of desires. Impress your holy image in our eyes so that they will not be attracted by <i>mäyä's</i> winkings. Give us the strength to engage our hands in chanting the <i>japa-mälä</i> that you have given us and in performing devotional activities, otherwise these hands will be engaged in caressing <i>mäyä</i>. Give us the enthusiasm so that our legs will be always engaged in dancing in front of the Deities (which are manifested due to your mercy) and for running from one person to another in order to distribute your books so that our legs will not be engaged in running after <i>mäyä</i>. Give us a drop of your mercy so that our tongue can really taste the transcendental sound of the <i>maha-mäntra</i> and the nectarean flavor of <i>prasäda</i>. In this way we will lose the desire to taste the garbage of the material world. Give us the strength to engage all our energies in distributing your books. By doing this we will not waste our energies foolishly in sense gratification.</p>
<p class="p6"><i>nämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-sarva-çaktis<br>
taträrpitä niyamitaù smaraëe na kälaù<br>
etädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan mamäpi<br>
durdaivam édåçam ihäjani nänurägaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çikñäñöaka 2</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Kåñëa and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them."</p>
<p class="p7">You are always deeply absorbed in tasting the ecstasy of chanting the glories of Lord Caitanya, so we just pray to you to allow us to taste one drop of the ocean of bliss you constantly feel, so that we can keep chanting the holy name <i>Yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi</i>: without your blessing we are completely lost and helpless. Without you we would still go here and there barking like dogs searching for some illusory, ephemeral pleasure: we would still be in the stool like hogs,<b> </b>thinking ourselves happy.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! Without your presence the three worlds would be completely empty. We invoke your merciful glance upon us: please give us the strength to follow you and to push on this Saìkértana movement.</p>
<p class="p7">Gurudeva! We have no words to describe your glories. Çréla Prabhupäda, the more we serve you, the more we realize your greatness and also our insignificance.</p>
<p class="p7">From Rome, the very same empire of ignorance and vice, your disciples prostrate themselves at your lotus feet, calling for your protection, O emperor of gentleness, king of self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge and piety. You are the emperor of the real world of bliss, please help us to get out of this realm of mäyä.</p>
<p class="p49">Päïcajanya däsa adhikäré / Çré Giridhäri däsa adhikäré / Yavanaha däsa adhikäré / Hetu däsa adhikäré / Tridaëòé däsa adhikäré / Jivanänanda däsa adhikäré / Somaka däsa brahmacäré / Dhenupälaka däsa brahmacäré / Bhütika däsa brahmacäré / Dayänidhi däsa brahmacäré / Måtyuhära däsa brahmacäré / Suptavigraha däsa brahmacäré / Madhusevita däsa brahmacäré / Mänasätéta däsa brahmacäré / Satyaräja däsa brahmacäré / Durgama däsa brahmacäré / Vaibhava däsa brahmacäré / Citräka däsa brahmacäré / Manonätha däsa brahmacäré / Candraçekhara däsa brahmacäré / Päpaha däsa brahmacäré / Päëòuputra däsa brahmacäré / Mahäcandra däsa brahmacäré / Caitanyapäda däsa brahmacäré / Svastika däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Stefano / Bhakta Hayden / Bhakta Gianni / Bhakta Piero / Bhakta Michele / Bhakta Leonardo / Bhakta Saro / Bhakta Marco / Bhakta Giampiero / Bhakta Fabrizio / Bhakta Manfred / Bhakta Sabino / Bhakta Sergio / Bhakta Gianni / Bhakta Santiago / Bhakta Franco / Bhakta Pietro / Bhakta George / Bhakta Giorgio / Bhojiné-devé däsé / Pürëamåta-devé däsé / Citrarüpini-devé däsé / Vanadevé-devé däsé / Yogänandakäri-devé däsé / Ali Kåñëa-devé däsé / Vicitraväsiné-devé däsé / Amohamoha-devé däsé / Nandirüpakä-devé däsé / Artiha-devé däsé / Bhaktin Lola / Bhaktin Barbara / Bhaktin Susi / Bhaktin Luana / Bhaktin Bruna / Hari-kértana / Coletta / Devaki </p>
<p class="p11">San Diego</p>
<p class="p10"><b>San Diego</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">While observing how all the countless species of life herein are being so greatly pained by this duality of the material world, we have begun to appreciate how many millions of lifetimes of suffering we have spent transmigrating from body to body in this miserable place.</p>
<p class="p7">Having finally collapsed at your lotus feet, we are realizing how essential is the association of your devotees, without whom we would continue to seek reciprocation with the living dead.</p>
<p class="p7">... and your service, bereft of which we'd be perpetually drained by the demands of our senses, and engulfed in the concoctions of our devious minds.</p>
<p class="p7">... and your books, without which we'd have no more to utter than sound vibrations which had previously driven us all crazy.</p>
<p class="p7">Dearmost Çréla Prabhupäda, anything of value that we think, feel, or do is only because of your unlimited mercy upon us.</p>
<p class="p7">We realize, also, that any expression of thanks is but a mere fragment of the gratitude we should actually be feeling. Therefore, we must also beg forgiveness for our innumerable offenses that are keeping us from properly appreciating our relationship with you. And we pray that some-day we may become true <i>bhaktas</i> at your lotus feet, and help fulfill your most cherished desire to reunite the people of the world at the lotus feet of your most beloved Lord, Çré Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your most fallen servants,</i> San Diego Yäträ</p>
<p class="p11">Santa Cruz, Bolivia</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santa Cruz, Bolivia</b></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is the eternal associate of the Supreme Lord, Kåñëa, and by his causeless mercy only is one able to embark upon the path of devotional service. A moment's association with you, Çréla Prabhupäda, can cancel out the miseries of unending births in <i>saàsära</i>, and so I am only praying that one so foolish and fallen as I can come to know you, if but for only a moment. I long to have eyes anointed with the pure love necessary to see you. And when I come to know you, then I will also know Kåñëa because you are always situated at His lotus feet. Please let me go with you, for I want to serve you always, whether you are present before me or we are separated in love. You are my eternal spiritual master, the eternal companion of my soul, and my only refuge in this chaos of material existence. I beg to kick this grotesque, distorted false ego to pieces and cry to serve you in sincerity. But for you, life is nothing more than an unending, screaming nightmare existence. Please engage me eternally and thus keep me always near you.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your eternal servants </i>at Santa Cruz, Bolivia</p>
<p class="p11">Santiago</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santiago</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The debtor born of parents—obliged to those who have given him life. Material obligations in family, friendship, society, and love tie him, fry him, gag and bind him. And he dies! Drowned in the obligation ocean. <i>Brahmäëda bhramite—</i>frustrated, wandering fool. <i>Kona bhägyavän jéva—</i>then by good fortune he is born again. <i>Guru Kåñëa-prasäde päya</i>. His father teaches him to walk and talk, to live and love, and in so doing gives the most marvelous gift, something always wanted, wondrous gift of light—<i>Bhakti-latä-béja—</i>KÅÑËA. The gift is real, the obligation too. What do we owe to him who has given us reality? Where is repayment's refuge? "Take the gift," he says, "<i>accept</i> the gift," he says, "that is how to repay me." Here is an eternal, blissful debt we can never repay; but let us dedicate our eternal existence to the task—the endless obligation that makes the debtor a saintly son.</p>
<p class="p49">Jagajévana däsa / Atulänanda däsa / Japänanda däsa / Mathurä-maëòala däsa / Çacésuia däsa / Bhakta Juan Carlos / Bhakta Juan Antonio / Bhakta Cano / Bhakta Pepe / Bhakta Alvaro / Bhakta Femando / Madre Susana / Madre Raquel / Madre Jeannete / Madre Valeria</p>
<p class="p11">Santo Domingo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Santo Domingo</b></p>
<p class="p7">"Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation." <span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 11.3.21]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">We beg you to accept our prostrate obeisances<b> </b>at<b> </b>your divine lotus feet. O divine lord and beloved master, we don't know how to honor you properly; we pray you to excuse this incapacity. Please give<b> </b>us<b> </b>the power to properly honor all living beings. Please give us the power to understand your supreme glories.</p>
<p class="p7">Dear spiritual father, we are devoid of all strength and intelligence. We are very low and fallen. How can such persons honor and explain the qualities of a great <i>paramahaàsa</i> and sublime Vaiñëava like you? But somehow or other we have gained shelter at your divine lotus feet, due to your great mercy upon all the conditioned souls.</p>
<p class="p7">O venerable Vaiñëava, we beg to remain in your service,</p>
<p class="p7">Your servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Rädhä-çaraëa däsa brahmacäré / Ménäkñé däsa brahmacäré / Amala Harinäma däsa brahmacäré / Viprahita däsa brahmacäré / Bér Candra däsa brahmacäré / Jyotsna däsa brahmacäré / Lalita Govinda däsa brahmacäré / Viçvadeva däsa brahmacäré / Rocismän däsa brahmacäré / Prayäga Pävana däsa brahmacäré / Nemicakra däsa brahmacäré / Vadéräja däsa adhikäré / Bhakta Dhimas / Bhakta Ramon / Bhakta Guelo / Bhakta Enrique / Véräya-devé däsé / Pranada-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Sao Paulo</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sao Paulo</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">On the occasion of this Vyäsa-püja day, we desire to declare our complete dependence upon your transcendental mercy. The whole world was waiting for you. War, famine, and constant burning desires for love were ravaging the poor conditioned souls. But, now you have come. Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the greatest of all masters. You are the greatest of kings, poets and scholars. You are the greatest of generals. Your opulences have no limit. You give us shelter though we are filled with the bad qualities of anger, greed and envy. Without you our bodies become useless. We are simply animallike servants of illusion, accepting death again and again.</p>
<p class="p7">Please engage this insignificant soul in the service of Rädha and Kåñëa. After being tortured for an eternity by the witch <i>Mäyä</i>, we have finally accepted you as the captain of our ship. These bodies are yours. Let us help expand your mercy everywhere through the inadequate work of our own hands. Çréla Prabhupäda, we pray that you will be very strong and healthy as you surcharge this dark world with your transcendental energies. We want to give up our selfishness and serve you in cooperation. Please allow us to realize that by accepting the shelter of your lotus feet and worshiping you by preaching Kåñëa consciousness under the direction of the GBC and <i>sannyäsis</i>, we are perfectly situated in <i>your</i> service. In this spirit we can continue to help you spread this movement, and Lord Caitanya's name will be glorified in every town and village.</p>
<p class="p7">In Våndävana you were living in one house before you moved into the Rädhä Dämodara temple. The landlord showed us the spot where you sat, chanting Hare Kåñëa and seeing the transcendental form of the Lord. At that time, in the Western world no one knew of Lord Caitanya, what to speak of following His instructions. Now, by your mercy, in almost every major city of the world, the conditioned souls can follow in your lotus footsteps by sitting before the Deity and chanting Hare Kåñëa. Thus you have expanded Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">Please give us the strength to follow your bold example. O Gurudeva, purify our sinful hearts as we struggle to preach Kåñëa consciousness in this dark material world. By your mercy the hearts of the living entities who have all fallen under the influence of so many ism's will be conquered.</p>
<p class="p7">The devotees of ISKCON Sao Paulo</p>
<p class="p49">Pramäëa Svämé / Bhakta Heitor / Acyuta däsa / Bhakta Miguel / Prapanna däsa / Bhakta Guilhermo / Alanätha däsa / Bhakta Lourival / Lokasäkñé / Bhakta Sebastiao / Jagat Bharata däsa / Bhakta Tarso / Éçvara däsa / Bhakta Adailton / Guruvagni däsa / Bhakta Antonio / Virocana däsa / Bhakta David / Aradhya däsa / Bhakta Cicero / Ugraha däsa / Bhakta Augusto / Jagat Vicitra däsa / Bhakta Romel / Devaçreñöha däsa / Bhakta Alemaozinho / Paëéndra däsa / Bhakta Edson / Prakäçänanda däsa / Bhakta Vicente / Maä Käla / Bhakta Hasso / Käraëa Käraëa däsa / Bhakta Hugo / Vyäsa däsa / Rägabhümi-devé däsé / Munipriya däsa / Mahäyogeçvara-devé däsé / Paraìgacit däsa / Nairväëi-devé däsé / Kåñëa-kñora däsa / Rasäsuna-devé däsé / Gokula Sattva däsa / Deva-devé däsé / Durasada däsa / Mürti-devé däsé / Lélananda däsa / Muktihetu-devé däsé / Trilocana däsa / Çréëkala-devé däsé / Paramahaàsa däsa / Dhänya-devé däsé / Jagat väsé däsa / Änanda Mürti-devé däsé / Sahasranäma däsa / Saubhägya-devé däsé / Caitanya Svarüpa däsa / Räsaväsini-devé däsé / Kaivalya Svarüpa däsa / Madhusvara-devé däsé / Käçé Miçra däsa / Paramä Çakti-devé däsé / Kuladeva däsa / Bhaktin Laura / Ratnanidhi däsa / Bhaktin Liciet / Bhakta Wanderley / Bhakta Socorro / Bhakta Marcello / Bhaktin Graciela / Bhakta Rabello / Bhaktin Flavia / Bhakta Edmundo / Bhaktin Ana / Bhakta Jose / Bhaktin Niceia / Bhakta Ademar / Bhaktin Gloria / Bhakta Francisco / Bhaktin Luiza / Bhakta Edmilson / Bhaktin Valdete / Bhakta Adalberto / Bhaktin Monica / Bhakta Paulo / Bhaktin Cintia / Bhakta Americo / Puräëärka / Bhakta Caspar / Maëòali Bhadra / Bhakta Daniel / Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Sameul / Sarasvaté / Bhakta Nelson / Närada Muni / Bhakta Cacho / Yamunä / Bhakta Rubens / Näräyaëa / Bhakta Diego</p>
<p class="p11">Seattle</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Seattle</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda:</i></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, we feel that you are our real father because you have given us spiritual birth. The shelter of your lotus feet is protection for us against the hellish existence of material life. By your ideal example and your patient and kind instruction you are teaching us everything. You are teaching us how to eat, how to clean ourselves, how to sleep, how to pass stool, how to dress, and most of all you are teaching us how to love. Çréla Prabhupäda, we are your children, and it is by your mercy that we exist. You are taking us gently by the hand as helpless babes in the lap of <i>mäyä</i> and teaching us to walk naturally in Kåñëa consciousness. It is painful and frustrating for us, and we fall down, but you help us up with encouraging words. Prabhupäda, we are afraid that if you take away your helping hand now we will simply fall on our faces and not be able to get up. Please do not leave us like this!</p>
<p class="p7">Actually, we can understand that the relationship with the spiritual master is eternal and that he is always with his sincere disciple whether he remains on this earthly plane or not. The spiritual master lives not in a body but in his instructions. No one can say, Prabhupäda, that you have not given us in your books all the instructions necessary for us to go back to home, back to Godhead. Prabhupäda, we pray that we can somehow grow up and mature quickly so that we can follow these instructions without being such a burden to you!</p>
<p class="p7">Your menial servants of Seattle Yäträ,</p>
<p class="p49">Bäla Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Bruce / Jéva-devé däsé / Karauëäkñi-devé däsé / Bharata däsa / Madhumaté-devé däsé / Candra Känti-devé däsé / Dhasarati-devé däsé / Häsyapriya däsa / Strétamä-devé däsé / Candrahäsa-devé däsé / Rudräëé-devé däsé / Kåñëa candra däsa / Mokña-devé däsé / Karla-pati-devé däsé / Cyämapriya-devé däsé / Kürmarüpa däsa / Kåçäìgi-devé däsé / Suräìgi-devé däsé / Vedavaté-devé däsé / Rocana däsa / Mekahalä-devé däsé / Padyävalé-devé däsé / Påçnigarbha-devé däsé / Çukadeva däsa / Bhaktimaté-devé däsé / Parata-para-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Stavyadeva däsa / Devaké-devé däsé / Klamahara-devé däsé / Gopanandiné-devé däsé / Bhakta Phil / Kilimbä-devé däsé / Pavané-devé däsé / Dhariné-devé däsé / Bhakta Tom / Tamra-devé däsé / Jévanauñadhi-devé däsé / Sadhvé-devé däsé / Bhakta Kato / Kåñëadevatä-devé däsé / Svähna-devé däsé / Bhaktin Shirley</p>
<p class="p11">South Africa</p>
<p class="p10"><b>South Africa</b></p>
<p class="p89"><i>All glories to His All-merciful Divine Grace Oà Viñnupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya Añöottara Çata Çré-Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Mahäräja Prabhupäda!!!</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our dear lord and master, we offer our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Your Divine Grace has been sent to every corner of this planet in order to save the poor conditioned souls from the miseries of <i>mäyä</i>. In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> it is described how Kali was banished to live in places where gold is hoarded. Here in South Africa this is the largest industry. They are all working like <i>müòhas</i> to acquire this yellow stool. Perhaps in no other country on the planet do these lost souls labor under the bodily conception of life to the degree that they do in South Africa. Those with different color bodies have to live in separate areas, go to different schools, ride in separate buses, sit on different park benches; the list is almost endless. Baffled by <i>mäyä</i>, frustrated at every step by illusion, they desperately take shelter of intoxication and sense gratification.</p>
<p class="p7">Yet even this capital of Kali on the furthest edge of the dark continent has been benedicted by the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace. When you visited South Africa, thousands came to the program to hear the ambrosial nectar and transcendental knowledge presented by Your Divine Grace, and we pray that you may bless us with another such visit. Out of your endless compassion, countless numbers of lost souls have been drawn into the net of your mercy by reading Your Divine Grace's writings, tasting the <i>prasäda</i> offered to the Lord, becoming life members of ISKCON, and hearing and chanting the names of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">We, your unqualified and undistinguished servants, know that there is no way for us to repay the blessings you have heaped upon us. For the most part, we are simply the sitting places of lust, envy, greed and all bad qualities. By your mercy only we have been raised out of darkness, delusion and suffering and shown the light of transcendental knowledge. Therefore on this Vyäsa-püjä day we beg you to accept this insignificant offering, even though we are so selfish and full of envy.</p>
<p class="p7">May we always remain your humble servants,</p>
<p class="p49">Tulasé däsa / Yamunä Jévana däsa / Léla-devé däsé / Balabhadra däsa / Caitanya Caraëa däsa / Ratnaraïjiné-devé däsé / Gokulendra däsa / Jayänteya däsa / Bhaktin Tara / Pärtha Särathi däsa / Bhakta Balan / Bhaktin Deolinda / Raïjahit däsa / Bhakta Danny / Bhaktin Frances / Rukma däsa / Bhakta Henry / Abhaya Caraëa devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">St. Louis</p>
<p class="p10"><b>St. Louis</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Our dearest Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master delivers his devotees. "One should know the <i>äcärya</i> as Myself and never disrespect him in any way." The bona fide spiritual master always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this test he is known to be a direct manifestation of the Lord and a genuine representative of Çré Nityananda Prabhu.</p>
<p class="p7">When the deluded spirit soul enters the material world to make his feeble attempt to reject Kåñëa, the compassionate Supreme Lord in the form of Balaräma or Nityänanda expands Himself through various forms down to the Supersoul within the heart. This Baladeva-Nitäi is known as the original spiritual master; as the guru within the heart, <i>caitya-guru</i>, He attempts to guide the living entity back to the spiritual world. But when the soul becomes eternally addicted to material sense enjoyment, the impartial Supersoul fulfills his unlimited material desires according to his <i>karma</i>, and the soul can no longer directly hear the Supersoul asking him to go back to home. For these <i>nitya-baddha</i> souls, however, Balaräma again manifests Himself in the external form of the bona fide guru. The <i>äcärya</i>, or pure devotee, has a different position from the Supersoul in that he can interfere with the conditioned soul who is misusing his marginal independence to reject Kåñëa. The spiritual master is not sworn to impartiality like the Supersoul.</p>
<p class="p7">Only out of His immense compassion does the Personality of Godhead reveal Himself as the spiritual master. He is the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. It is worthwhile to take shelter of such a steady devotee, who is called <i>äçraya-vigraha</i>, or the manifestation or form of the Lord of whom one must take shelter. This is also confirmed by Çréla Viçvanatha Cakravarté Thäkura: by the mercy of the spiritual master, one receives the benediction of Kåñëa.</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you explain in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> that it is Närada Muni only who can deliver the path of <i>bhakti</i>-<i>yoga</i>: <i>nära</i> means the Supreme Lord and <i>da</i> means one who can deliver. But you are the bona fide <i>äcärya</i> in the succession from Närada: therefore now it is you only who can deliver Kåñëa to the fallen soul.</p>
<p class="p7">Everyone in this horrible place is afflicted with the jaundice of <i>avidyä</i>, ignorance, and they cannot find the sweet taste of real spiritual happiness. But you have brought the sweet, transcendental sugar candy from Goloka in the form of Kåñëa's name, form, qualities, pastimes and devotional service, and as the supreme doctor, you are trying to spoon-feed this medicine to all the fallen souls in order to cure their diseased condition. That sweet taste is found in its pure form in the great sound incarnations of God like <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, <i>Çré Caitanya-caritämåta</i> and <i>Çrémad Bhagavad-gitä</i>. So under the order of your spiritual master, you are dedicating your life to translating these books and explaining them to the entire universe.</p>
<p class="p7">In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam </i>you explain that these transcendental sounds vibrating on your tongue are directly the saffron dust particles coming from the Lord's lotus feet. You also explain that the dust of the lotus feet of the spiritual master is his instructions, and that these instructions should be the life and soul of the disciple. So every day we are singing: <i>guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriyä aikya är nä koriho mane</i> <i>äçä—</i>our only wish is to have our consciousness purified by the words emanating from your lotus mouth. Therefore we must surrender to all of your instructions to make this wish completely true. Now we are foolishly taking instruction from our minds, whose message is the sum total of all the bogus gurus that we've followed since time immemorial (<i>mano-rathenäsati dhävato bahiù, </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 5.18.12]</span>). But you explain our real duty in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>: "One must accept a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession, and under his direction, one must then engage his three propensities, namely his body, mind and words. The body should be engaged in physical activity under the order of the master, the mind should think of Kåñëa incessantly, and one's words should be engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord. If one is thus engaged in the loving service of the Lord, one's life is successful." In this way you are always canvassing on Kåñëa's behalf—<i>man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bg</i>. 18.65]</span><i>.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Caitanya preached <i>prema pumartho mahän </i><span class="s3">[<i>Caitanya-manjusa</i>]</span>—the goal of human life is to develop pure love for God. And in Detroit you said, "<i>Guru-Kåñëa-prasäde päya bhakti-latä-béja</i>: And to approach guru means just to beg Kåñëa from Him." But we do not know what to ask from you. You are the desire tree which can give your disciple whatever he wants. But we are so fallen that we are asking for broken glass instead of the real gem that you possess: pure, unalloyed devotional service. Associating with you through your instructions, <i>väëé</i>, gives us the vision by which we can leave the dark forest of material enjoyment and obtain the Lord's shelter.<b> </b>In the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>, you explain that a devotee who follows the instructions of the Lord approaches Him (<i>mäm eti</i>), and as a spiritual person, such a devotee returns to the Personality of Godhead and plays and dances with Him. So actually surrendering to all of your instructions makes us eligible for more and more mercy from <i>Kåñëa-yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädaù. </i><span class="s3">[<i>Gurv-añöaka</i> 8]</span></p>
<p class="p7">The disciple must be eager to follow the spiritual master's orders. "To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."<span class="s3"><i> </i>[<i>Bg</i>. 10.10] </span>This is very practical. A teacher instructs the student if the student is capable of taking more and more instructions. Otherwise, in spite of being instructed by the teacher, the student cannot make strides in his understanding. This indicates that Kåñëa is prepared to give <i>bhakti</i>-<i>yoga</i> to everyone, but one must be capable of receiving it. That is the secret. So every day we are singing: <i>çré-guru-caraëe rati</i>—attachment to your lotus feet is the perfection of life. We must become steadfast in our determination to follow every instruction you have given us.</p>
<p class="p7">You always try to enliven us about Kåñëa, which increases our desire to serve you, because serving you is the only way to reach that Supreme Lord. You explain this in the <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>: "If one seriously accepts the lotus feet of the Lord, he is purified by the grace of the Lord and by the grace of the Lord's servant. One who is brought under the lotus feet of the Lord by the endeavor of the Lord's servant, the spiritual master, is certainly immediately purified, however lowborn he may be. He becomes eligible to return home, back to Godhead. This is the sign of associating with great devotees. A devotee takes instruction from a liberated soul and is thus overwhelmed with ecstasy from transcendental pleasure."</p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, you explain in the <i>Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu</i> that association with a pure devotee can have two effects. If it is properly executed, even a <i>mleccha</i> can be elevated to the platform of <i>paramahaàsa</i>. But if offenses are committed against a pure devotee, then one's attachment to Kåñëa can be reduced to practically nothing. So we are begging that you sanction our feeble attempt to follow your instructions. Please don't let us fall away from your service because of our offenses. If you examine us, you will find no good qualities. Your mercy is all that we are made of. If you are not merciful unto us, we can only cry hopelessly.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your fallen servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Mäkhanaläla däsa adhikäré / Durlabha Darçana däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ken Präëa däsa brahmacäré / Guruvagmi däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Hare Jagad-dhätä däsa brahmacäré / Sarva Devamäyä däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Rick / Caturätmä däsa brahmacäré / Jéva-pati däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Ken / Bhéma däsa brahmacäré / Akrüranätha däsa brahmacäré / Tilaka-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Sydney</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Sydney</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O Çréla Prabhupäda, on this blessed day<br>
Our humble obeisances unto you we pay<br>
And with folded hands we fervently pray<br>
For Kåñëa to protect you always.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>For your mission is surely the greatest of all<br>
To rescue those souls who've decided to fall<br>
From Kåñëa's service to follow mäyä's call<br>
And take birth in this horrible place.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>This material world is a deep dark well<br>
Where everyone gradually is gliding to hell<br>
Where sight, sound, touch, taste and smell<br>
Are our masters so impersonal and cruel.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You have appeared to give us direction<br>
How to become free from this hellish connection<br>
From material life you are giving us protection<br>
We were drowning in this material pool!</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your compassion for us is unflinching and sweet<br>
Where would we be without your lotus feet?<br>
Simply no better than dogs in the street<br>
Looking for shelter somewhere.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>So you have come to show us the way<br>
How to perfect our human life in every way<br>
To approach the goal and never sway<br>
This is your mercy so rare.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Many are the gurus who come to steal our wealth<br>
They say "give me money, I'll give you better sex and good health'<br>
But rare is that guru who can actually help<br>
Our miserable material condition.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>So many gurus have come and gone<br>
They may juggle some words but what have they done?<br>
Some magic tricks perhaps, but factually no one<br>
Has been found to improve his position.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>But since Your Divine Grace has come to save the West<br>
So many people have by your mercy been blessed<br>
With the strength to conquer Mäyädevé's test<br>
And advance in spiritual life.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By your preaching work, destroying the Kali-yuga dream<br>
You are deprogramming the world from dirty brain to clean <br>
You are the greatest revolutionary the world has ever seen <br>
Uprooting Kali's quarrel and strife.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Certainly no one but you has been so assured<br>
That the diseased condition of the world can be cured<br>
So many troubles for this end you've endured<br>
To save the world from disaster.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You are jagad-guru, the savior of all<br>
Mercifully spreading hari-näma you walk so tall<br>
Çréla Prabhupäda, you are the greatest and we are small.<br>
Please eternally remain our lord and master.</i></p>
<p class="p7">Jaya Gurudeva, Çréla Prabhupäda!</p>
<p class="p49">Yaçomaténandana däsa brahmacäré / Dvaipäyana däsa adhikäré / Räsaräëé-devé däsé / Karëämåta däsa brahmacäré / Räma däsa adhikäré / Guëavrati-devé däsé / Jagad Vasu däsa brahmacäré / Girirüpadhäré däsa adhikäré / Lakñmaëä-devé däsé / Gaura Keçava däsa brahmacäré / Mahotsava däsa adhikäré / Çailaväsiné-devé däsé / Puruña däsa brahmacäré / Kåpäkära däsa adhikäré / Jitaçakti-devé däsé / Sarväkña däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Robert / Atétaguëä-devé däsé / Jïäna Samudra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Robert / Çré Lekhä-devé däsé / Alalanätha däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Chad / Aparäjita-devé däsé / Ätmäräma däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Tom / Jaleyu-devé däsé / Jayadharma däsa adhikäré / Atri-devé däsé / Bhaktin Jackie / Gaëeça däsa adhikäré / Kämarüopa-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11"> <b>Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p10"><b> Toronto</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine</i></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>mükaà karoti väcälaà paìguà laìghayate girim<br>
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande paramänanda-mädhavam<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhävärtha-dépikä</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">"By the mercy of the guru even a dumb man can become the greatest orator and even a lame man can cross over mountains."</p>
<p class="p7">You tell the story of the wild tiger in the jungle who was harassing the members of an <i>äçrama</i> as they travelled to and from the temple on the jungle path. In an attempt to appease the hungry beast, the head of the <i>äçrama</i> placed a large bowl of milk out for the tiger each day without fail. As time passed, the satisfied animal, being freed from the anxiety of having to search out his own food, began to think to himself, "Yes, this man loves me," so he could understand the motive of the <i>äçrama</i> head and did not bother the devotees any more.</p>
<p class="p7">Similarly, each day you give us such beautiful <i>prasäda</i> and ask for nothing in return. Surely one day our dull, animallike intelligence will realize, "Yes, this person loves us," and we will serve your lotus feet with grateful enthusiasm.</p>
<p class="p7">Kåñëa and the <i>dhäma</i> of Goloka are not our real goal. Just to become your real disciples and to relish your pastimes is the direction given in the Vedas (<i>Padma Puräëa</i>):</p>
<p class="p6"><i>ärädhanänäà sarveñäà viñëor ärädhanaà param<br>
tasmät parataraà devi tadéyänäà samarcanam</i></p>
<p class="p7">Lord Çiva tells Pärvati that of all types of worship, worship of Viñëu is the highest, but higher still is the worship of His devotees.</p>
<p class="p7">The light of the Vedas will reveal you to this darkened world; the Hare Kåñëa movement is but a facet of your character. The <i>Vedas</i> sing your glories and all pure devotees throughout all creation realize your exalted position. Your fame is not to be limited to this small planet, and your power is given by Kåñëa Himself. Your accepting us as disciples is an obvious display of your causeless mercy.</p>
<p class="p7">Let us realize that our position is only through the flow of your unceasing compassion upon us and all souls.</p>
<p class="p7">Oh, Çréla Prabhupäda, give us the strength to bow our heads in the path of your universal march of all beings back to Godhead.</p>
<p class="p49">Viçvakarmä däsa adhikäré / Ayodhyäpati däsa adhikäré / Kåpäsindhu däsa adhikäré / Tärakanätha däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa-kathä däsa adhikäré / Kaàsahanta däsa adhikäré / Girijadhava däsa adhikäré / Drupada däsa adhikäré / Trilokanätha däsa adhikäré / Divyänanda däsa adhikäré / Kärttikeya däsa adhikäré / Akiïcana däsa adhikäré / Vallabha Caitanya däsa adhikäré / Garuòa Vahanadäsa adhikäré / Çubhaviläsa däsa adhikäré / Rameça Lala däsa adhikäré / Gaudéya / Çauré däsa<b> </b>adhikäré / Bhakta Ray / Manohara Patel / Bhakta Prakäça / Praharaëa-devé<b> </b>däsé / Çré Käré-devé däsé / Atigarvita-devé däsé / Maliné-devé däsé / Anala-devé däsé / Loka Dåñöi-devé<b> </b>däsé / Rudräëé-devé däsé / Pratima-devé däsé / Kñéracora-devé däsé / Manohara-devé däsé / Mohiné-devé däsé / Lalitä-devé däsé / Léläçuka-devé däsé / Kåñëa Karuëä-devé däsé / Äçälatä-devé däsé / Kamala Läla-devé däsé / Subuddhi-devé däsé / Bhaktin Pärvati / Kalpana Patel / Bhaktin Sharon / Lakñmanä / Çré Gändhäré / Draupadé / Bhaktivinoda / Léläçuka / Nitäi / Sudämä / Ménäkñé / Indreça / Yugalapériti / Sanätana / Rüpa / Kåñëa-devé däsé / Çré Rädhä-devé däsé</p>
<p class="p11">Trinidad</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Trinidad</b></p>
<p class="p6"><i>oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä<br>
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Gautaméya-tantra</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br>
çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine<br>
</i><span class="s3">[<i>Çréla Prabhupäda Praëati</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p6"><i>namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br>
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe</i></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">Our merciful lord, we are trying to the best of our ability to glorify your divine mercy, which is impossible due to a lack of purity. We cannot perfectly glorify thee, but because of your potency, by endeavoring, one day we will become purified. The only thing we can say is what you taught us. You are so magnanimous that the only way you can be satisfied is by your own benevolent activities, which involve delivering souls from the clutches of <i>mäyä</i>, which is a matchless gift for which we can never repay thee. Thinking to repay our beloved master and lord is <i>vinoda-pätra</i> (joking).</p>
<p class="p7">Please allow us to serve you eternally, and kindly accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your Most Fallen Servants </i>at ISKCON Trinidad</p>
<p class="p49">Kirtaniya däsa brahmacäré / Devendränuja däsa brahmacäré / Tadakaha däsa brahmacäré / Vajranätha däsa brahmacäré / Sevänanda däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Robert / Jämätä-devé däsé / Tärkñya däsa adhikäré / Varna däsa adhikäré / Niñkiïcanadäsa adhikäré / Hari deva däsa adhikäré / Kåñëa Çaraëa däsa brahmacäré / Gopati däsa brahmacäré / Väsuki däsa brahmacäré / Tattva-darñiné-devé däsé / Lélärati-devé däsé / Mahendräëé-devé däsé / Mokñada-devé däsé / Bhaktin Ivy / Rachel</p>
<p class="p11">Vancouver</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Vancouver</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>O merciful Prabhupada, your eyes they can heal,<br>
Taking hard-hearted souls, and making them feel.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your mace is your mercy, soothing and warm,<br>
Your love is our guidelight through mäyä's dark storm.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Your heart, it contains the Lord's loving grace,<br>
His smile you partake of, face to face.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>You've given us hope, as the ship was going down,<br>
With you as our captain, we surely won't drown.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>The guru, the </i>çastra<i>, the </i>sädhu<i>, it's said,<br>
Without your pure kindness, we would surely be</i><b><i> </i></b><i>dead.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Devotional service, the ultimate goal,<br>
The need of the world, the need of the soul.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Bestowed upon freely, without legislation,<br>
Pure love of Kåñëa, life's destination.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>To kindle a fire of freedom and light,<br>
You say we must stand, prepared always to fight.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>By never retreating from what seemed defeat,<br>
We're learning to serve at your two lotus feet.<br>
</i></p>
<p class="p7">Once upon a time, long, long ago, some very foolish children of a very rich father decided to run away from home. And although the father knew of the plans of the children and although he was hurt to hear of their scheme, still he allowed them to do as they had planned. And so they left.</p>
<p class="p7">On the first day of their journey they were robbed of their intelligence by the thief of lust. On the second day they began to feel weak from lack of the food of spiritual knowledge. On the third day the mud and dirt from the road became caked on their clothes and covered their qualities of kindness, humility and compassion. On the fourth day they were beaten and disheartened by the rogues of false theories and mental speculation. On the fifth day they contracted the disease of sense gratification and because of this they could no longer remember where they had come from, nor who they were. On the sixth day they could understand that they had somehow gotten lost in the forest and on the seventh day the cold rains of selfishness and greed began to pour incessantly upon them, soaking their clothes, and the winds of envy and false pride chilled them to the bone and burned their faces. </p>
<p class="p7">It was in the dark, rainy night of that seventh day that a gentleman appeared before the children. He carried with him a candle, and seeing the pitiable condition of the children he took compassion on them and brought them home with him.</p>
<p class="p7">Not desiring anything in return, the gentleman first of all discarded the filthy wet clothing of the children, bathed them, gave them clean, warm clothing, and began to cook for them and feed them daily. In this way the gentleman began to nourish the children back to health, and when they became well enough to understand, he explained to them what had happened and that he had been sent by their father to retrieve them. Upon hearing this the children became joyful, and along with the gentleman they all began to make the happy journey back home.</p>
<p class="p7">My dear Çréla Prabhupäda, you have retrieved us from this horrible material world and have given us devotional service to Kåñëa. We simply pray that you will allow us to express our gratitude to you by letting us assist you in your mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya. Just as the sun floods the world with its rays, so you are flooding the world with your transcendental qualities. It is our greatest honor if we are allowed to share in this inundation,</p>
<p class="p12"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda</b></p>
<p class="p17"><i>No mortal can surpass you<br>
No man can stand a chance<br>
You've given us the emerald road<br>
The step to deliverance.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>What mercy lies within you<br>
Your kindness knows no bounds <br>
You've given us the complete shelter <br>
In transcendental grounds.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Such strong determination<br>
With loving ties is laced<br>
You've given us the highest power <br>
A transcendental taste.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>So thoughtful and so pensive<br>
As how to carry on<br>
You've given us that royal order <br>
To please Madana Mohana.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>Most pleasing is your talking<br>
Breaking down those gloomy walls<br>
You've given us eternal light<br>
We march down mäyä's halls.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>With only Kåñëa's guidance<br>
You 're captain of this ship <br>
You've given us a place to</i><b><i> </i></b><i>ride</i><b><i> <br>
</i></b><i>Guaranteed a one-way trip.</i></p>
<p class="p17"><i>How giving is your nature<br>
A quality of few<br>
You've given us your very life <br>
What can we give to you ?</i></p>
<p class="p7">The devotees of Vancouver Yäträ</p>
<p class="p11">Våndävana</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Våndävana</b></p>
<p class="p7"><i>Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,</i></p>
<p class="p7">I am sitting in the very rooms you resided in and started our movement in, hearing the same bells you heard, writing this in the same spot in which you wrote and translated the immortal <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i> (bringing the higher world of Kåñëa to the lower world of matter), and seeing the formidable jewellike form of Rüpa Gosvämé's <i>samädhi</i>, steady and encouraging. Your old stove stands in the corner, and I retaste the <i>prasäda</i> you cooked for us back in 1966. What a trick! Who would have thought that you could bring order and responsibility to those Kali-yugites, dedicated to chaos and irresponsibility.</p>
<p class="p7">I sit and stare, and the blank page stares back at me. It is again the time to write a Vyäsa-püjä homage, though it should be done at every moment. How do I glorify you, who are so unlimitedly glorious? It is hardly expressed in a few thousand words, and I cannot aptly put my overwhelming feelings for you down on paper (just as I must desist from adding a humble, self-effacing statement to all others herein, since I cannot begin to deface what is already so low that it is uncriticizable). It is you who give us the taste for the spiritual. I am not so serious, but love for you keeps me plodding along, and I pray that all of us may continue<b> </b>to<b> </b>back you with fuller conviction as you still show us the way back home.</p>
<p class="p7">In these rooms I see advertisements for your first three volumes of <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>; I see "League of Devotees" pamphlets; I see "De's Pain Liniment." I see old membership books, chemistry beakers, bookstore distribution lists, etc. I see all the services we are presently engaged in, and you have already done them. I think I should just recount some of the examples of your preaching in Våndävana, since this is being written on behalf of the Våndävana devotees. This will be my glorification<b> </b>to<b> </b>your limitless, wonderful qualities.</p>
<p class="p7">Once I awaited your arrival in New Delhi airport. You requested me to arrange a car to go to Våndävana. "Våndävana doesn't mean buying a ticket. It is an attitude, a way of accepting the special mercy of the <i>dhäma</i>." You were not only arranging the ticket but taking me through the gate yourself.</p>
<p class="p7">I thought that if I could choose the highest pleasure—spiritual or mundane-of all the unending pleasures available, that pleasure would be to be with you in Våndävana. The purest devotee and the purest place combined. Now the desire is being fulfilled.</p>
<p class="p7">Vestiges of sentiment and romanticism still needing to be dispelled from our brains and cut by your sword of correctness lay waiting to be smote down like untrained soldiers.</p>
<p class="p7">Before having come into your direct contact,<b> </b>we read books of so-called spirituality, ideas with no applicable basis. The books spoke of a neophyte disciple waiting before the door of his <i>guru</i> with quiet determination, while excessive heat and cold attacked the beatific devotee. After three days of patient austerity, the gate opens, the <i>guru</i> stands there, and the neophyte becomes a disciple. But you saw that we cannot even stand in one place for five minutes. So you engaged us in Kåñëa's service. Another of these books told of a disciple's not eating for many days. But you saw how we grow restless if we don't eat, so you fed us <i>Kåñëa</i>-prasäda. You in fact teach us the perfect balance of sanctity and acuity, of work and play, of <i>bhajana</i> and preaching, of action and inaction, of devotion and preaching, of <i>päïcarätrika</i> and <i>bhagavad-viddhi. </i>And so with the idea of the highest pleasure of you and Våndävana together, I anticipate your arrival in Delhi's Palam airport.</p>
<p class="p7">There are only two of us to greet you, but you accept our garlands and sandalwood and rosewater with a grace that makes us bashful, as if the whole of the world were there greeting you. The Ambassador car pulls up, and we await some words. You hand me your (at the time) small white satchel, which you carry our movement around in; but still you say nothing. You glide into the front seat, and we get into the back with your traveling secretary.</p>
<p class="p7">Exchanging whispered news of devotees and activities around the world, we talk in low, subdued voices, so as not to disturb you. Minutes pass like hours as we await your transcendental words, some instruction, some acknowledgement. But transcendental as you are, you remain silent. I have another realization: there is no need for you to acknowledge or appease us. By now our society has begun to establish itself as it should be-catering to your mood, not ours. If you want to be silent, that is correct, and we should not expect or push anything else. And so from that time on, whenever meeting with you I let you establish the mood, not me. If you want to joke, I joke; if you want to chastise, I bow my head remorsefully; if you want to talk business, I talk business; if you want to talk philosophy, I talk philosophy.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember in Calcutta once when being sent on a special mission I came in and stated with importance, wanting glorification, "I am going now," and you simply turned and walked into the bathroom.</p>
<p class="p7">Yet in the car we still anticipate some divine instruction, some words of wisdom-anything-as you in all your natural beauty sit relaxed in the front seat. At a red stoplight, the Indian version of the Hell's Angels roll up next to your open window. You turn your head slightly and say "Hare Kåñëa," and the young grease-ball says "Hare Kåñëa" back. He jabbers to his friends, and they jabber back, and they turn into Gandharvas and young innocents by your grace. We still await, murmering the <i>maha-mantra</i> silently.</p>
<p class="p7">We glide to the outskirts of New Delhi on the way to Våndävana. Your voice of authority and patience finally breaks the vacuous silence. You say, "Cement.”</p>
<p class="p7">Another realization—here again all those romantic books about perfumed saints and do—nothing <i>sädhus</i> vanish like bubbles popping in the air. The practical application of devotion instead.</p>
<p class="p7">You point to a large water tower and say, "We should build one like that in Våndävana." We are on the way to finalize all the arrangements of a piece of land given to us by the grace of Çrémati Rädhäräné, after the promises of court jesters, kings, mice and men all failed. You had sent me to Våndävana to scout land and for already-built temples. We narrowed down our choice to this piece of land in holy Ramaëa Reti ("enjoyable sands").</p>
<p class="p7">When we arrived in holy Våndävana, your ever-bright eyes became even brighter. We are staying at Saraf Bhavan, and you set up camp on the top floor, like a field general. The floor consists of six small side rooms around a long hall, and we are preparing for the next few days of amazing events.</p>
<p class="p7">Somehow or other, without any advertising or announcements, your old friends, Godbrothers, officials, etc., start showing up. Summoned by some silent nonunderstandable means, they begin to appear—like silent natures out of jungle thickets, an enigma to the common covered man.</p>
<p class="p7">We first arrange for a ground-breaking ceremony with the ex-owner of the land in Ramaëa Reti, the present site of our Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira, while in the next room another dissatisfied person, who wanted the same piece of property, waits. Police and retired members of parliament appear, and you talk to them, and they convince the agitator that any thoughts of getting the piece of land are in vain. One Gosvämé, hardly able to see, led by his son, comes from Rädhä Dämodara, while his archrivals—two other Gosvämés-arrive simultaneously. You spring up from your seat faster than a speeding bullet and put the enemies in different rooms to avoid their fighting (although they live in the same temple compound, they haven't spoken to one another for years). You satisfy each one of them separately; they each take you as an ally, and you discuss and draw up papers which arrange our stay at some rooms at the top of Rädhä Dämodara Temple. Your secretary is simultaneously drawing up the contract for accepting the Ramaëa Reti property and the contract for the rooms at Dämodara.</p>
<p class="p7">Some bäbäjis (in their off-white cloth) and your slightly bearded Godbrothers arrive, and you at once host them and then feed them amidst all the other agreements and arrangements. You are like the great ringmaster we used to see as children, running the whole show, the central attraction, training all—a dancing bear in one ring, a tightrope-walker in another ring, and the lions in another ring—you continue to control from your seat this great transcendental circus in this most transcendental arena, Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember one time a dog charged at you, snarling, looking like Çälva or the Keçé demon charging Lord Kåñëa. You raised your stick and said, "Come on." The dog stopped short, you gestured slightly with your stick, and the dog sat down, still growling. Then you threatened again, and he lay down and whimpered. When we rounded the block for the second time, the whole performance was repeated, but the third time we saw that the dog was your servant and friend; he was tamed. I thought of him as my companion or Godbrother, remembering how you similarly trained us all.</p>
<p class="p7">You then explained how "Beware of the dog" was a symptom of modern false civilization, where one may walk down the street peacefully and from behind a large closed gate the dog barks at you, "Don't come here"; each gate separating one man's property from the other man's property, no one sharing, no spiritual center.</p>
<p class="p7">I was beginning to learn by your example the balance between practical hard work for Kåñëa and temple devotions which sanctify that hard work. In Kåñëa consciousness there is no room for dry rituals. "Necessity is the mother of invention," you told, and I could see that "devotee" means whatever Kåñëa wants, that's all. We are His toys. The sincerity of the offering is the essence, not the wealth. "Anyone in any part of the world may offer a fruit, a flower, some water, to Lord Kåñëa, and He will accept," you taught. And so you engage us to work hard, day and night, for Lord Kåñëa. "We should not waste a moment," you recently wrote me in a letter. "Take my example, not a moment is wasted. The <i>karmés</i> sit in the park and say, 'My son-in-law said this, etc.' "</p>
<p class="p7">The next day I came to see you, and some more transcendental instructions were taking place between you and Subala däsa:<br>
</p>
<p class="p28"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda:</b> You do not like to live with the devotees?</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Subala:</b> No.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda:</b> Why is that?</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Subala:</b> They gossip and talk nonsense.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda:</b> Then you must change the gossip into transcendental talks. So many people come to me with nonsensical talks, and I transform them into transcendental talks.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Subala:</b> We are always fighting.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda:</b> You must consider it to be your fault. If each thinks that way, there cannot be fighting. If someone calls me "Prabhu," and I think I am master, that is wrong.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Subala:</b> I just want to stay in Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p25"><b>Çréla Prabhupäda:</b> It is better that you give Våndävana to others. If I did not leave Våndävana, you would not know Våndävana. Rather you should go out and preach and come back and build a skyscraper (pronounced "scrapper").<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">The next day on the morning walk, we saw many devotees, <i>sädhus</i>, etc., as regular as <i>ärätrika</i>, who came to you to pay respects (they are so regular you can set your watch by them). We started to walk towards Ramaëa Reti. You tell how the nimba tree is medicinal. We see women picking up cow dung, and you say, "Everything is used in India. That is proper."</p>
<p class="p7">I say, "Cow dung is purer than other dungs; it does not attract as many flies." You smile mischievously and say, "Oh, you have done research?" Then you say, "Therefore this is proof that cow dung is antiseptic." I say, "Yes," and you order me to study nature, for that will reveal many truths of the <i>Bhägavatam</i>. Especially this is true in Våndävana.</p>
<p class="p7">"Living in Våndävana is like lying on the lap of Kåñëa," you say, but later you qualify that "Kåñëa is not loitering in Loi Bazaar." And over the years you come and go, you come to speed up the construction of the temple, you taste the water, you stand and count the bags of cement used. You question in much detail. "How much is the price of ata (flour)?" I say Rs. 1.60 a kilo, and you split up all the prices to how much an average devotee can eat. For instance, "a devotee eats one quarter of a kilo of rice. The rice costs Rs. 1.80, so a devotee eats one quarter of that. Therefore Rs. .45 is spent per man on rice." And you break up all the items, including spices, wood for cooking, and still you cut down on the amount we are spending to feed the devotees. One of the items, a vegetable, you ask what is the cost per kilo. I say, "60 paisa." You tell the story of "damn cheap babu."</p>
<p class="p7">The foreign babu comes and gets the local prices and says, "damn cheap, damn cheap" while he is being charged twice the amount as the local residents. "Sixty paisa," you say. "It should cost 30 paisa." I quip that those are the prices in 1953. (I remember seeing your account book in your rooms at Rädhä Dämodara and how much you would spend, and you would account for everything.) You then say, "Do it that cheaply anyway," and we do it by your empowered potency. You ask not only the price of vegetables, but the cost of cement, steel, as well as the timings of the Frontier Mail, the Toofan Express and the Punjab Mail Trains. You expect me to know all the local residents, and you introduce me to them as they come to see you.</p>
<p class="p7">You initiated me into the vast etiquette and intrigues of Våndävana society, and sometimes send me on seemingly impossible missions, like the time you sent me to borrow three crores of rupees (Rs. 30,000,000) from the home minister of India, to be paid back in foreign exchange, or the time you sent me to ask the American ambassador to India to allow us to live in one of his houses free, or when a king wanted Rs. 50,000,000 for his palace and you told me to say that since we are <i>brähmaëas</i> and you are king, you must give to <i>brähmaëas</i>. If we see all these things in the transcendental light, they are not outrageous; rather, it is the mundane darkness that is outrageous.</p>
<p class="p7">I remember the time we were walking on the banks of the Yamunä, the full moon still in the morning sky. You point with your cane to the moon and say, "They say the moon is dust. Why are those sands [pointing to the Yamunä] not shining and those sands [pointing to the moon] shining? If it is reflection of the sun as they (the scientists] claim, then the sun is there—why are those [the moon's] sands shining and those [the Yamunä's sands] not?" The moon-talks intrigue us all as we press close to one another to hear you.</p>
<p class="p7">Sometimes we walk through the back alleys of this vast wonderland. Your cane rings on the red stones. You decided to reside one night again in your old rooms, and four of us are fortunate enough to accompany you, sleep in a heap in your kitchen to keep warm, in the post-Kartika night chill.</p>
<p class="p7">Slowly the Kåñëa-Balaräma construction begins, a well is dug, but the water is salt. But then another, producing sweet water blessed by Balaräma, awes the neighbors, who all have salt water. The construction rolls on slowly, a string of endless obstacles, no money, no materials. You push us harder; you come yourself and solve everything. You come and live at Sethjé's house nearby, a pandal cover is erected to fuel your preaching fire, and you speak how the true <i>bhakta</i> is the only unmotivated <i>yogé</i>, whereas <i>jïänés</i>, yogés and <i>karma</i>-<i>yogés</i> all are tarnished by motivated liberation-wishes.</p>
<p class="p7">During another mass pilgrimage the devotees stay at Lakñmé Räëé Kuïja, and you deliver the famous Nectar of Devotion series of lectures at Rädhä Dämodara Temple. After the lectures, devotees and guests all squeeze into your small rooms.</p>
<p class="p7">You talk to me many times about <i>vairägya</i>, how we should give up material attachments. You also teach tolerance. I asked you whether it is sometimes very hot or cold in Våndävana to test how much one loves Kåñëa by staying here, and you answered, "Yes, sometimes Kåñëa tests that way." Titikñä must be developed.</p>
<p class="p7">Your house is finally being completed. I remember the frantic rush to put everything in order for your first viewing; the floor and your newly varnished desk dried literally thirty seconds before you walked in.<b> </b>Of course this is not unique, as probably every temple in the movement has experienced this same rush before your arrival and how miraculously everything comes together almost the same instant as you step your lotus feet inside.</p>
<p class="p7">Your old Godbrothers come, and you host them in your new rooms, along with the late afternoon stream of guests from every part of India. You sit back relaxed and talk to them, enlighten them, until night comes and the bright stars appear in the Våndävana sky. Again your magnanimity is all-embracing. I remember one night you say to me, "Let's go to some temples. Can you arrange? What time is their <i>darçana</i>?” Later you tell me, "<i>Darçana</i> does not mean for you to see the Deity, but rather for the Deity to see you." I arrange a car; by that time the news has leaked out, in the unexplainable way of our Kåñëa conscious grapevine-communications, more speedy than any modern telecommunication system, and suddenly I am being petitioned, lobbied, cajoled, begged and ordered that I take everyone along. You get in the front seat along with the driver and then you motion to one devotee "Come on," and as the front seat is filled, you say, "There is room in back, come on," and the back seat is filled by the pillars and big guns of our Kåñëa consciousness movement. A stack of GBC's and <i>sannyäsés</i> squash in the back seat. After it is filled, Gargamuni Maharaja shows up, and you say, "Come on, come on," and so he squeezes in the already saturated back seat. As the car is ready to limp off, Païca Draviòa Mahäräja comes ambling along with his <i>daëòa</i>, eager to join, and we can't refuse him. He lays across all of us, with his hands and legs hanging out the window. You ask, "Where to first? Where to next?" and my muffled reply comes from under the Vaiñëava bodies. When we reach Govinda temple, you walk out majestically, and we pile out, like the clowns in a circus, all getting out of the small car. During the morning walks, we sit down by the side of the road, and you teach the whole <i>varëa</i> and <i>äçrama</i> system.</p>
<p class="p7">Your personal friendliness knows no bounds. Like a kind father, you instructed me to invite all the <i>gosvämés</i> and special people of Våndävana to our first Vyäsa-püjä ceremony at Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira. It was gloriously decorated, and many special guests came. We had just finished washing your lotus feet. I was drying your lotus toes one by one by one, and you looked at me and asked, "Have you invited such and such?" As I worked very hard to make everything nice for you, I readily said, "Yes, he told me he would be a little late," and you looked pleased. After we bathed and dried your feet, the senior devotees began to offer flowers and offer <i>daëòavats</i> (prostrating themselves) three times. As I was offering <i>daëòavats</i> for the second time, you called me again. I thought, "Uh oh, who did I forget to invite?" Çréla Prabhupäda always catches all of our mistakes, and I leaned close to you. Instead of asking anything, you simply took your fingers and so kindly ruffled my <i>çikha</i> and the top of my head. All the devotees crowding around cried, "Ahhh!" in one well-wisher's voice. I felt my years of service again rewarded. You are so Kåñëa conscious that every time your finger extends, your lips open, your eyes look, or your eyebrows twitch, it is great preaching. I begin to become astounded at how much of your precious time you have given to us. Recently going in to see you in your new rooms in Bombay, I say, "I don't want to take too much of your precious time." You reply, "No, no, you can come any time, and also bring some honey." You then ask, "How do you like these rooms?" I say, "They are wonderful because you are in them now, but if you were in another place, they too would be wonderful. Because of Your Divine Grace they are a <i>tértha</i>.'" <i>Térthékurvanti térthäni </i><span class="s3">[<i>Bhäg.</i> 1.13.10]</span>, you corrected my pronunciation and said, "Yes, one who keeps Kåñëa always, one who remembers Kåñëa-</p>
<p class="p6"><i>yoginäm api sarveñäà mad-gatenäntar-ätmanä<br>
çraddhävän bhajate yo mäà sa me yuktatamo mataù<br>
</i><span class="s3"> [<i>Bg.</i> <i>6.47</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7">-that place becomes Kåñëa conscious." Then we both at the same time, as if by magic, said: <i>man-manä bhava mad-bhaktaù</i>. <span class="s3">[<i>Bg.</i> 9.34]</span></p>
<p class="p7">Each minute with you is the fulfillment of a dream, a special event, and you have given the treasure-house of many hours. (You have changed our vocabulary, so we talk like you.) We gesture like you and give the same answers to questions as you do, and we try to preach like you. We embrace the <i>paramparä</i> not out of duty but because we are attracted to your way of doing things. Your defense of Kåñëa is boundless, and we watch in awe at your untiring strength as everyone except simple devotees are exposed to be fools and rascals. A simple proof of your changing us is that the word 'duty' was unknown and unused in our upbringing. No one taught us a sense of duty because no one knows what or whom to serve. The whole system of <i>dharma</i> and duty has become a practical engraved truth to many now, as you have brought duty to us, and even though the things from the ancient Vedas at first seemed unattractive, they are now a way of life.</p>
<p class="p7">These truths shown by your example that have changed so many lives are wonderfully unique and obviously graced by Lord Kåñëa. The general society may not understand us, but they have to recognize us. A judge recently in court stated that we are bona fide, which in itself is a great step for what was an unknown teaching just eleven years ago. It took Moses, Muhammad and Jesus Christ much longer to establish their teachings as bona fide in the courts of law. Now it is our duty to change the scientists, who are the modern <i>smarta-brähmaëas</i> and high priests of today. You tell me, "Our movement is sublime, the books are sublime, and Kåñëa is supplying everything. Now go out in Poland and Russia and arrange for meetings with the scientists." I say, "Communist scientists?" You say, "Why not? Two plus two equals four both for the communists and capitalists. It is not that because I am communist I can say two plus two equals five."</p>
<p class="p7">"You must convince them of this Kåñëa consciousness. I predict that Russians will become first-class theists." I said, "Yes, because there are less sense objects to distract them." "They will view my books carefully. They have respect for Indian culture and the Sanskrit texts. The Jagäs and Mädhäis will change. Even Välméki was dacoit and changed, so you go and arrange everything."</p>
<p class="p7">One of your greatest gifts is your great understanding of every situation in perfect perspective. They (the lawyers in New York) wanted to end the "brainwashing" litigations, but instead you wanted to extend them for fourteen years, using your books as evidence. "Exhibit A- <i>Bhagavad-gétä</i>" Only you can come up with the most remarkable ideas, using each situation in its best capacity to give Kåñëa consciousness to everyone. Where we are short-sighted you see all sides of each situation and apply it. So many times I have watched as we, your disciples, have wanted to condemn, but you see and explain the other point of view. This fairness, according to time and circumstance, must be learned. You have said about someone we were criticizing, "He is not to be blamed; he was taught what he knows, as you have been taught what you know, so rather than blame him, rectify his teachings."</p>
<p class="p7">For example, one day as we were shooing away ducks in our path, we said, "You rascals," but you calmly replied, "As you are thinking they are rascals, they are thinking you are rascals." So you always teach that preaching means seeing from the perspective of Lord Kåñëa's viewpoint and attracting others also to Kåñëa's Vedic version. We owe our gratitude to you only. What I feel when in your association-that strength, that determination, that enthusiasm, that ecstasy-is an unequalled feeling, for only you are the great touchstone of deliverance. I pray that we all can remember these feelings and remain steady in our devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">Våndävana devotees</p>
<p class="p49">Akñayänanda Svämé / Räghavendra däsa / Çré Padambuja däsa / Lakahita-devé däsé / Gurudäsa Svämé / Yaçodäläla däsa / Bhaktivärdhana däsa / Rädhä Kuëòa-devé däsé / Vrajendra Kumära däsa / Tértharäja däsa / Goloka Väsiné-devé däsé / Käma Gäyatré-devé däsé / Kuöicaka däsa / Tamäla Kärttika däsa / Mohiné Sakti-devé däsé / Lalitäìgi-devé däsé / Mr. Bhartarya / Kailäsa Candra däsa / Antaradhyäna-devé däsé / Çrématé-devé däsé / Dhéranäyaka däsa / Daçaratha Suta däsa / Manéñä-devé däsé / Yugala Périti-devé däsé / Raghupati Präëa däsa / Äçraya däsa / Kåñëa-devé däsé / Nitäi-devé däsé / Anéha däsa / Kamala Näräyaëa däsa / Raìgavaté-devé däsé / Çacématä-devé däsé / Turéya däsa / Brahmänandajé / Särädi-devé däsé / Nélamäyä däsa / Anila däsa / Visäliné-devé däsé / Çruti Sagara däsa brahmacäré / Prabhäsa däsa / Rajmal Janwasiya / Çaktimaté-devé däsé / Dhanvantari däsa brahmacäré / Jévadayä däsa / Åkñaräja däsa / Çaradéya-devé däsé / Kailäsa Candra däsa brahmacäré / Jaya Govinda däsa / Puruñottama däsa / Bhavatärini-devé däsé / Paradheya däsa brahmacäré / Sac-cid-änanda däsa / Rädhä Govinda däsa / Neelam / Asita däsa brahmacäré / Taruëa Kåñëa däsa / Bhakta Nityänanda / Våndävana Éçvaré / Jaya Gauräìga däsa / Bhakta Jaya Räma / Gokulänanda / Véçäla däsa / Bhakta Jaya Näräyana / Vrajaräëé / Umäpati däsa adhikäré / Bhümipati däsa / Bhakta Sudarçana / Nipuëa / Çré Garbha däsa adhikäré / Vibhu Caitanya däsa / Bhakta Vrajendra Kumära / Amåta / Kértiräja däsa adhikäré / Mathurädéna däsa / Bhakta Çiva Mürti / Sundararüpa däsa adhikäré / Élävati däsa adhikäré Sita / Puëòarékanätha däsa / Viñëudäsa / Rajendranandana / Sétä / Sundaramürti däsa / Rämadäsa Abhiräma däsa / Lakñmémaëi-devé däsé </p>
<p class="p11">Våndävana Gurukula</p>
<p class="p10"><b>Våndävana Gurukula</b></p>
<p class="p7">Çréla Prabhupäda, my dear and eternal Gurudeva, please accept my prostrated obeisances unto your lotus feet. At this time I would like to offer you my gratitude and respect. You have so kindly come, engaged in the Lord's mission, and picked me up out of a swamp of sinful activities and shown me the way to the clear and refreshing waters of devotional service. Only by Your Divine Grace have I been given this opportunity to salvage my useless life and make it into something valuable, something full of meaning. You are speaking the pure words of the Supreme Lord without personal interpretation, and thus you are empowered to change my life into one of submissive service unto Çré Kåñëa. You are my only connection with the Lord. Without you there would have been no possibility of my even knowing who Kåñëa is, what to speak of being given the opportunity to become purified and offer intimate and pleasing service unto Him. Of course due to my many offenses, I am very far from the standard of pure devotional service. But because of your shining and perfect example, I know of it, and by your mercy, someday in this lifetime I hope to achieve your mercy. Please forgive me for being deaf and blind in my attempts to hear your instructions submissively and to see how you want me to act. It is due only to my lack of intelligence that I do not fully understand the absolute necessity of giving up my material attachments and becoming Kåñëa conscious right now. If only I can realize that my eternal identity is that of being your surrendered servant, then the perfection of my life will be attained. I pray unto you, Çréla Prabhupäda; please give me the desire to surrender my whole existence, my mind, my words, my deeds, and all that I possess, unto you for your satisfaction. I fall at your lotus feet trying to make a sincere attempt to please you by becoming Kåñëa conscious. Please tolerate my offensive nature. Let me stay under your shelter and please don't kick me away.</p>
<p class="p7"><i>Your insignificant servants,</i></p>
<p class="p49">Jagadéça däsa adhikäré / Oàkara Nätha Sharma / Dhanurdhära däsa brahmacäré / Smarahari däsa / Pralambaha däsa brahmacäré / Vakreçvara däsa brahmacäré / Käliya Kåñëa däsa / Ekendra däsa brahmacäré / Bhakta Vatsala däsa brahmacäré / Dhérodatta däsa brahmacäré / Kåñëadäsa / Dvärakädhéça däsa brahmacäré / Maëihära däsa brahmacäré / Märkaëòeya däsa brahmacäré / Keçava däsa / Dhéroddhata däsa / Trivikrama däsa / Rajendranandana<b> </b>däsé / Dvadevadäsa däsa brahmacäré / Kapiladeva däsa brahmacäré / Våndävana däsa brahmacäré / Lélä-smaraëa däsa brahmacäré / Deva deva däsa brahmacäré / Madana däsa brahmacäré / Katyäyana däsa brahmacäré / Raghunätha däsa brahmacäré</p>
<p class="p9">The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä by Kértanänanda Swami</p>
<p class="p21"><b>The Meaning of Vyäsa-püjä by Kértanänanda Swami</b></p>
<p class="p7">Vyäsa-püjä, worship of the spiritual master, is not some modern invention. It has existed since history began. Çréla Vyäsa is the incarnation of Godhead who compiled the <i>Vedas</i> over five thousand years ago. So “Vyäsa-püjä” refers to worshiping the bona fide <i>guru</i> who is following in disciplic succession from Çréla Vyäsadeva.</p>
<p class="p7">People sometimes question why the spiritual master who appears as an ordinary human being is worshiped in the same way as we worship the Supreme Lord Himself. This is not very difficult to understand even by material example. For instance, the viceroy or representative of the king is given all respects that are due to the king. Sometimes presentations are even made to him when in fact they are meant for the king, but he never keeps such gifts for himself, nor does he consider that since all these people are honoring him that he has become as good as the king. He always remains the king’s obedient servant.</p>
<p class="p7">Similarly, the spiritual master is the most obedient servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa. He never thinks that his disciples are worshiping him. He is simply accepting it all on behalf of Kåñëa. As far as the disciple is concerned, he has no other means of approaching Kåñëa save and except through the medium of the bona fide spiritual master. Çréla Viñvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, a great <i>äcärya </i>in the line of Çri Caitanya Mahäprabhu, has written, “By the mercy of the spiritual master, one receives the benediction of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, no one can make any advancement.” Therefore, all respect, worship and humble service are due to the spiritual master, who is addressed as “His Divine Grace”, because without his help no one can become free from the cycle of repeated birth and death.</p>
<p class="p7">Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, has practically demonstrated the potency of a bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In twelve short years he preached all over the world to people who had never heard of Kåñëa. Now, in every continent of the glove there are temples filled with devotees chanting Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare and following the rules and regulations of devotional service.</p>
<p class="p7">In appreciation of his divine work, his disciples have compiled these humble offerings in an attempt to glorify their eternal well-wisher, His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7">—Kértanänanda Swami</p>
<p class="p9">Introduction</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Introduction</b></p>
<p class="p18"><b>“WHO IS A GREAT SOUL?”</b></p>
<p class="p53"><br></p>
<p class="p7">The life of a great soul should be approached humbly. We cannot assess his activities as we would those of an ordinary man. But who is a great soul? The communists will argue that Karl Marx was a great soul for his speculation on how to distribute wealth to the economically oppressed masses. Or one may consider Mahatma Gandhi to be a great soul. (The Sanskrit work <i>mahätmä</i> means “great soul”. But what is the criterion for becoming a <i>mahätmä, </i>aside from granting someone the name “Mahatma” by rubber stamp?) The enthusiasts of action and nationalism may want to say Caesar or Napoleon was a <i>mahätmä. </i>The humanists will say some of the great classical composers, painters, and literary authors were great souls. And there are so many famous saints of the East as well as the West. And there are many famous philosophers, scientists, and humanitarians. Certainly one of the important criteria for deciding on greatness is the contribution of work which is beneficial for all humanity. From the Vedic literature, the person who is a pure representative of God is declared to be the most auspicious personality for the world. The atheist or agnostic humanist will disagree unless we define worship of God according to their mundane interpretation as “attainment of political freedom,” “worship of the poor,” “worship of art,” “philosophical speculation,” etc. But the Vedic literature pursues the definition of <i>mahätmä </i>as the servant of God by giving us absolute information of the Personality of Godhead. Knowledge of the Godhead is then seen as valuable beyond comparison to all else, and therefore he who has realized this science of God and works to distribute it to the world is the real <i>mahätmä.</i> If we study the relative contributions, we will see that the world help offered by the distribution of God consciousness is the highest humanitarian welfare activity. But even those who would declare themselves as servants of God will have to qualify according to standard criteria. According to the <i>Bhagavad-gétä </i><span class="s3">[<i>7.3</i>]</span>, “Out of many thousands among men one may endeavor for perfection, and out of those who have reached perfection, hardly one can actually know the Personality of Godhead.” In the sixteenth century Rüpa Gosvämi rendered the following praise unto the greatest of all <i>bhaktas</i> (pure devotees), Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who appeared in India at that time: </p>
<p class="p6"><i>namo mahä-vadänyäya<br>
kåñëa-prema-pradäya te<br>
kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-<br>
nämne gaura-tviñe namaù<br>
</i> <span class="s3">[<i>Madhya 19.53</i>]</span></p>
<p class="p7"> “O most munificent incarnation, I offer my obeisances unto You, who are freely distributing what was never given to humanity before, pure love of Kåñëa.” Thus while the worldly and the theological atheists claim that God is dead, and while the impersonalist meditator would tell us that the highest realization of the Absolute contains no personal existence, the pure devotee nevertheless immediately delivers knowledge of God. And what is rarer still, pure love of God, to all who will receive Him.</p>
<p class="p7">The <i>Caitanya-carit</i>ä<i>m</i>å<i>ta</i> invites those who would contest humanitarian activities of the pure devotee of God: “If you are indeed interested in logic and argument, kindly apply to the mercy of Çri Caitanya Mahäprabhu. If you do so, you will find it to be strikingly wonderful.” <span class="s3">[<i>Ädi</i> 8.15]</span> The crucial superiority of God conscious humanitarian activities is that they are based on the spirit soul, which is eternal. Everyone else is engaged in humanitarian activities on the basis of the body, but the material body is ultimately subject to destruction, whereas the spirit soul is eternal. The pure devotee’s philanthropic activities are performed in connection with the eternal soul. However one tries to benefit the body, it will be destroyed, and he will have to accept another body according to his present activities. If one considers the body to be all in all, his intelligence is not very advanced. Thus the pure devotee, without neglecting the necessities of the body, imparts spiritual advancement to purify the existential condition of humanity.</p>
<p class="p7">To distribute real good necessitates knowing the actual interest of the living being. According to the <i>Bhagavad-gétä, </i>all suffering is stemming from a basic ignorance of the self as no more than the temporary body. In the <i>Gétä, </i>Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, tells His bewildered disciples Arjuna that the real self, ä<i>tm</i>ä, is permanent, while the body is always changing. Even within one lifetime one experiences the transmigration of self from body to body. One is born as a baby then later takes the body of youth, then old age and finally death. But throughout these changes on experiences his identity to be the same “I”. As he changes bodies in this life, so at the time of death the ä<i>tm</i>ä, which is eternal, does not die with the body but takes another body. One who cannot understand this basic principle of transmigration, who takes the body as the self, is ignorant of the very <i>ABC</i> of existence and cannot help anyone.</p>
<p class="p7">The constitutional position of the living being is eternity, bliss, and knowledge. He has come to the material world out of a misuse of his free will and a mistaken notion that he can be happy in temporary existence. The nature of material life, sometimes described as survival of the fittest, is to forget one’s spiritual nature and the supremacy of God and to attempt for supremacy in a field where happiness or even survival is impossible. The real goal of human life is to realize one’s spiritual nature and to make an end to all the sufferings by returning to the life of eternity, bliss, and knowledge. When the whole society is based on this goal, the one’s life is truly auspicious, and without ultimate self-realization as the goal, various attempts at liberation from the worldly disorders will be failures. Persons who have no experience of spiritual life will remain trying to make stop-gap solutions in a world which is by nature miserable and temporary. But when a pure devotee, not simply by speaking theory but by actual deliverance of the process of love of God, delivers the people of the world and brings them to the original state of eternity, bliss, and knowledge even while in this material world, then we must recognize him as the one and only <i>mahätmä</i>. His contribution is beyond the bodily intellectual plane. And it is very difficult to find such a person in this world. As stated in the Ç<i>r</i>é<i>mad-Bh</i>ä<i>gavatam</i> (6.14.4), “Only a few desire liberation from the material world. Among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, country, wife, and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare. O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, only one may be found as a devotee of Lord Kåñëa. Such devotees who are fully peaceful are extremely rare.”</p>
<p class="p7">Distribution of love of God is sometimes seen as an emotional affair for the less intelligent, but this view is completely superficial. The science of <i>bhakti</i>, distribution of devotional service to God, when distributed by a <i>mahätmä</i> is at once sublime and easy. It is sublime for those pure devotees who are realizing direction association with God, and yet it is easy for the people in general who can be brought at once to the threshold of the house of <i>bhakti</i>. To achieve contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a great science, but it is open to all living beings, regardless of education or social or economic class. All corollary spiritual and material ends can be seen to follow the pure and scientific execution of <i>bhakti</i>. Pure <i>bhakti</i> is also expressed in the first great commandment of Lord Jesus Christ: “To love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, thy whole mind, and thy whole soul.” Only if mankind can be brought to this first point, by the pure devotees, can they realize the second commandment of Jesus: “And the second is like unto it, ‘Love thy neighbor as thy self.’”</p>
<p class="p7">The special feature of the pure devotee is that his work is entirely selfless, because he works entirely for the pleasure of God. Everyone else acts in this world to maintain family or paraphernalia with some self-interest and personal gratification. The gratification may be concentrated, or it may be extended. One may be out to become famous himself or to become a great enjoyer, or he may wish to extend material benefits to his family or to humanity at large. But all these are still on the platform of selfish bodily interest. The criterion of perfection is to act in God consciousness and not with a view to enjoying the fruits of work, either locally, nationally or internationally. To act in God consciousness is the duty of every living entity, because we are all constitutionally parts and parcels of the Supreme. It is only the atheistic propaganda which has turned men to think that they are dead-end material entities unto themselves, and that there is no good except working futilely at objectives within this material life. The greatest disservice has been rendered by those who have turned men away from their natural connection with God, who is readily seen as the proprietor of everything in the universe. As the limbs of the body constitutionally work for the satisfaction of the whole body, so the living entity who acts for the satisfaction of the Supreme Whole is the perfect, selfless worker. Even among religionists, the <i>yogés</i> and impersonal philosophers, although acting on a level more elevated than the ordinary worker, are still not without self-interest. Either they desire to become liberated in the impersonal spiritual existence, or they desire to cease material activities in order to gain mystic perfections for the satisfaction of the personal self. But a pure devotee (the skeptic asks, “Where does such purity exist?”), acting in God consciousness, works for the satisfaction of the whole without self-interest. He has no desire for self-satisfaction. His criterion of success is the satisfaction of Kåñëa. Thus Lord Caitanya prays, “O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers, but what I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth.” <span class="s3">[<i>Çikñäñöaka</i> 4]</span> Working in this pure consciousness and with the potent possession of love of God, such a worker can actually deliver anyone to the highest happiness. It is therefore stated in the Vedic scriptures that even a moment’s association with a pure devotee can grant one all success. An unfortunate person will doubt that such purity exists or whether a devotee has the ability to give God consciousness to the masses. But one who actually meets a pure devotee can be given these highest gifts from him and will realize it without a doubt. Although they are very rare, such great souls have walked the earth throughout history. To hear of their activities is very beneficial, but it must be done with true understanding and not in the mood of psychological analysis or faultfinding, which we may apply to an ordinary person.</p>
<p class="p9">Prabhupada Nectar</p>
<p class="p21"><b>Prabhupada Nectar</b></p>
<p class="p7">We all know Çréla Prabhupäda was <i>mahätm</i>ä<i>. </i>We have faith in him. We like to hear a philosophical discourse proving Çréla Prabhupäda in intellectual language. And it will benefit our preaching to know the <i>çästric</i> references; how he is <i>çaktyäveça-avatära</i>, how he has a spiritual body, and how his knowledge is never imperfect. It will strengthen us to know these things. As Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja has said, one should not avoid argumentative logic in defense of Kåñëa and His devotees. But that is not the only way we know he was a pure devotee. We know because we were with him and saw what he did; because he entered our hearts ad planted the seed of the devotional that is still growing for each of us. I am not saying the new disciples to Kåñëa consciousness cannot know this. In fact, by the feelings-in-separation (<i>vipralambha</i>) of his disciples in <i>paramparä</i>, new <i>bhaktas</i> today are knowing Çréla Prabhupäda just as sweet, sometimes sweeter, than those who were on the planet at the same time he was. It is a fact, association with Çréla Prabhupäda is growing sweeter, and we are realizing his presence even more, day by day, by the power of devotional service in disciplic succession. His Holiness Kértanänanda Swami helped me realize this when I spoke to him and confided that I had so much intimate association with Çréla Prabhupäda in the beginning, in 1966, but later my physical intimacy diminished. He said, “But now you are more closely with Prabhupäda with every breath than you were even then.” I happily admitted it was a fact. Although I very proudly consider it my greatest personal fortune that I was there in 1966, it is a fact I was then less Prabhupäda conscious and less Kåñëa conscious than I am now. So it is also a fact that new devotees, the disciples of his disciples, may find themselves bathing in more Prabhupäda <i>kathä</i> and relishing his inspiration as grandfather <i>guru</i> even more than anyone has before. (Wasn’t Kåñëa däsa Kaviräja relishing Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu only after His disappearance by hearing from Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé and reading the notebooks of Muräri Gupta and Svarüpa Dämodara, and reading Våndävana däsa Öhäkura’s <i>Caitanya-bh</i>ä<i>gavata</i>?) My point is, let us keep the subject matter of Çréla Prabhupäda alive and foremost. It will not die with the present generation of disciples. “he reasons ill who says that Vaiñëavas die when thou art living still in sound. The Vaiñëavas die to live and living try to spread the holy name around.” So as an introduction to these 1978 Vyäsa-püjä homages to Çréla Prabhupäda, I would like to churn a little of the ocean of Prabhupäda nectar. Why? Because it is a great transcendental happiness. Because we love him and because those who do not know will derive the greatest benefit. To remember and glorify the Vaiñëava is to glorify Kåñëa Himself.</p>
<p class="p7">His disciples and his disciples’ disciples know he was <i>mahätmä</i>. we are as certain of this as we are certain we have found the truth when we read the pages of the <i>Bhagavad-g</i>é<i>t</i>ä<i> As It Is.</i> We know by knowledge, by service, and by faith. And what is that faith born of? It is the causeless mercy of the devotee and the Lord. And the faith is also coming from the Supersoul in our hearts, rewarding us for past accidental service or our past devotional acts. “Be with Prabhupäda,” the Lord dictates in our hearts. “Know him; approach him; he is a great soul. You can surrender unto him. He will impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” And by what we hear and learn about Kåñëa we are able to defeat all doubtful speculation, atheism, and illicit desire. We are given strength to preach the <i>saìkértana</i> movement of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Let us now hear how others knew him.</p>
<p class="p7">In Navadvépa, last March, I approached Çréla Prabhupäda’s associate over many years, Näräyana Mahäräja, and he told me many pastimes about Çréla Prabhupäda. After about an hour, I then asked him what he thought of the plan of a biography.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Satsvarüpa däsa Goswami: </b>The disciples are pretty much wanting to hear the compilation of his actual life activities, not just his ideas. Is that all right? Like <i>Caitanya-caritämåta</i>?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Näräyana Mahäräja:</b> Yes, you can do that also. You can do.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SG:</b> Is it all right to get the impression from his leading disciples to tell his story?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>NM:</b> Yes, I think it will be not proper to go into detail with worldly stories, all these things.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SG: </b>Even during his <i>sannyäsa</i> and his preaching activities, are they considered worldly?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>NM: </b>That should be written, but not worldly things.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SG:</b> Let’s say, like he was saying, that Sväméjé went to the park and played on the <i>karatälas</i> …</p>
<p class="p7"><b>NM:</b> This thing should be done.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SG:</b> Or even more intimate, but still spiritual.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>NM: </b>How he preached, how he converted, how he persisted, and how he brought all you. This should be done. His mercy should be expressed, how was his mercy. How he loved all wise, and everything. He did not love you for your physical feature or beautifulness or anything. He loved you only to attach you to Kåñëa, bring you to Kåñëa, the lotus feet of Kåñëa. You are flowers, you are as flowers, and he took you all in his <i>aïjali</i> and put on the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa. Ordinary man does not get any of this flower, but ordinary flower. So putting you as flowers, he gets you as a flower at the feet of Lord Kåñëa he worshiped with you. It was his mercy on us.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Now, as before a grand fire <i>yajïa, </i>devotees are offering their oblations of memories of His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda. For if ever a person deserved commemorative praise, it is he. We shall fail to express most of his actual greatness or dearness to Kåñëa. But as Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja says, “Although the sky of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s pastimes is unlimited, we can try to fly as high as we are able.” Çréla Prabhupäda himself sometimes remembered how he came here on the order of his Guru Mahäräja at such personal risk at seventy years old with no money to speak of, suffering two heart attacks on a one-month-and-ten-day ocean voyage. What was it like then in New York when he was all alone? He recalled some of it for the devotees when he visited New York in 1976. he was driving in a car to go for a morning walk, the car went past Seventy-second Street, where he had stayed for some time, all alone, in 1965, and the following dialogue took place:</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Tamäla Kåñëa Gosvami:</b> This is Seventy-second Street, Prabhupäda.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Yes, I know.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>You were going to show us that building?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> It is on the corner of Amsterdam and Seventy-second Street.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>That means the next street.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>This is Amsterdam?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG:</b> No, Columbus Avenue. The next is Amsterdam.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>There is 100<span class="s7">th</span>.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>That’s the building, Prabhupäda?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> Yes.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee:</b> It says Watergate. Watergate Hotel.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Which floor did you live on?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>And I was trying to purchase one house here.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Which floor did you live on, Çréla Prabhupäda?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>I think the third floor. And there was an electrician, he was my friend, one Jewish gentleman.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>And you would walk on this street?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Yes, there is one building with temperature. Oh, here is Broadway. I was taking bath in this station sometimes. I would take in the station. I think this building is new. I was going to Dr. Misra’s apartment for cooking.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG:</b> What street did he live on?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> He? Seventy-eight, Riverside Corner. Yes, I was purchasing my goods from this store.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>West End Superette.</p>
<p class="p7">P<b>rabhupäda:</b> The were charging a little chili powder, twenty-five cents. In India it may be one anna.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>You were purchasing here?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Yes, because I was going to cook my food there, so whatever I needed I used to …</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>How come you didn’t cook your food where you were living?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> Eh? There was no place.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>What was it like there?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>It was an office. That building is meant for office, not for residential.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>You rented a room there?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Yes. I was paying seventy-two dollars a month.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>And where did you sleep? Was there a bed?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> No bed there, where I was living. There was toilet and water, but no bath and no cooking.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>Did you have to go there to bathe also?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> Yes, I was taking in the building there.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Where did you … did you sleep on the floor?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> Yes, I had little platform, so on that platform.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>You are the most bold person in the whole world.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee:</b> We will never be able to do what you have done.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>There alone I was doing, and then gradually one or two boys began to come.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Did any of them come up here who are still with you now?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> No.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Only when you went downtown did permanent men come?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda:</b> Yes.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>That’s amazing. How long were your there, Prabhupäda?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Here? About six months. Then when my things were stolen, when one boy was coming whose name was Paul Murray, he invited me, “You come to my loft.” He took me to the Bowery Street.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG:</b> You must have felt very bad when your things were stolen.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda: </b>Yes, I had little disappointment, but some friends, they offered me, “Oh, never mind, you take my typewriter.” Somebody, “You take my tape recorder.”</p>
<p class="p7"><b>TKG: </b>Things were very easy then?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Devotee: </b>Not easy.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Surabhi Svämé met a man in the Vancouver temple who met Prabhupäda on a park bench in 1965 in Prabhupäda’s first days in New York. There must have been hundreds and thousands who contacts Çréla Prabhupäda in some way, and certainly their lives are benefited more by that association than by any other event in their lives.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Surabhi Svämé:</b> So how did you meet him? He approached you, or you approached him?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man: </b>Well, I sat on the bench with him because I saw that he had a <i>dhot</i>é<i>. </i>I know now, but I didn’t know what it was then. But a quite unusual dress. And I usually sat on that bench that he sat on like that. And then he had a special quality about him that was very dignified.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SS: </b>Sitting straight?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man:</b> Oh, yes. And he was a very old man, and I didn’t speak right to him, right along. But then I didn’t think he would speak English, the way he dressed. Yet he spoke very nice English. Very well, English.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SS:</b> so what did he tell to you? Did you start to speak to him, or he spoke to you first?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man:</b> Well, I actually spoke to him. I asked him if he was from India. And he said yes, he had just come from India. This was a few days here; a day here. I think it was a day before. He was saying he was coming by boat. Long trip.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SS: </b>What else did he say the first day you met him?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man: </b>The first thing off the bat, he starts speaking spiritual things right away. “there are the temples here. We have temples.” Like that.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SS: </b>Where, in India?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man: </b>No. “We have temples here,” he said. “But it is not the time yet to open them, to enter them. We have temples, we have farms.” Then he mentioned books. He said, “there are a lot of books. Yet they are not open yet. They are not read yet. There is a time that is separating.”</p>
<p class="p7"><b>SS:</b> He mentioned books? He mentioned farms? He mentioned temples?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Man: </b>Temples, books, farms … I think that’s it. He kept on mentioning more to that effect.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">In 1966, one boy met His Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda and was given full manifestation of his mercy. He went away, but came back years later and is now a very nice devotee named Prabhupäda däsa. Here is his memory.</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda däsa: </b>One time I simply expressed how much I was in difficulty and how much I was not even able to maintain myself, and how much I wanted some help and wanted some shelter. That particular time was pretty much the climax of the whole period for me; then Çréla Prabhupäda personally offered me a <i>dhoté </i>and told me, he said, “Please join us. We’ll solve all your problems.”</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Puru däsa:</b> He handed you a <i>dhoté</i> ?</p>
<p class="p7"><b>Prabhupäda däsa:</b> Yes, he handed me a <i>dhoté</i>. I didn’t quite take it up. I was embarrassed. The idea of putting on a <i>dhoté </i>seemed extremely strange to me, very foreign. I was embarrassed. And I also was obviously not quite ready. Even though the offer was made in such an attractive way by a pure devotee, I was so contaminated that I wasn’t quite able to. I was tempted, I was very much tempted, but I started backing up, looking at Çréla Prabhupäda, taking backward steps. And in a shuddering voice, I said, “I am not quite ready.” And then Çréla Prabhupäda walked after me, and I distinctly remember a tear in his eye. He said, “Please come back,” as I left.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Citsukhänanda remembers when Prabhupäda went to Mexico in 1972 and manifested his opulence of nonstop preaching and ecstatic mood.</p>
<p class="p7">As usual he was up since 1:30 A.M.; so he must have slept maybe an hour. I think he slept for an hour. From 1:00 to 2:00. And he began his work meditating on Kåñëa at that time. We were all just amazed. His lights were on in his room. And we went into the temple room and chanted <i>maëgala-ärati</i>, and after that Çréla Prabhupäda asked me again, “What will we do today?” I said, “Oh, we will go to Cuernavaca. We’ve arranged a whole plaza, the whole central plaza of Cuernavaca City. They’re giving it to us today for your lecture, with microphones and a bandstand and everything all ready for you to come.” He said, “Oh, this is very nice.” “And after that we will give a lecture at a hotel with prominent ladies and gentlemen. A very nice hotel, in Cuernavaca. And then we can go to Lakñmépriyä däsé’s house and take <i>prasädam</i>.” He said, “Yes, this is very nice.” So Çréla Prabhupäda gave a wonderful lecture and the whole city was ecstatic, and just then, before going to the hotel lecture, the plaza was filled with people, and we had a very ecstatic <i>kértana</i> and Çréla Prabhupäda was very, very happy to be able to speak to so many people. And the questions that the people were asking were very nice. Nothing more enlivening for Çréla Prabhupäda than to see someone who was trying to understand what he was speaking. So then we went to the hotel after, and there at the hotel Prabhupäda spoke to about sixty or seventy ladies and gentlemen, very nicely dressed, suits and ties, and a very special occasion in this luxurious hotel. And Çréla Prabhupäda began speaking Kåñëa consciousness as always – simple and nice. So from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 P.M. he had not taken a bite of food. A little water he had taken. He didn’t want anything. We offered him fruit and things, but he didn’t want. And we offered him to take some feast at Lakñmépriyä’s house, but he said, “No, I will go back to the temple.” And then we went back to the temple. At that time he had brought some servants with him when he came from Los Angeles. Now Çréla Prabhupäda was in his room and he was in great ecstasy. I didn’t get a chance to see it, but from what I understood from Pradyumna, he explained to me, “Prabhupäda’s in ecstasy right now in his room. His eyes are shining and his mouth is very bright.” And he said to them, “This is the way to be happy. Work all day for Kåñëa.” All he wanted was a hot cup of milk with around eight <i>purés</i> and a cup of sugar. He crushed the <i>purés</i> into the sugar and drank the milk. And he drank it with great joy and happiness and he said, “This is our life. To serve Kåñëa work all day for Kåñëa and take a little <i>prasäda</i> at night.” He said, “This is happiness. This is life.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Yaduvara remembers Çréla Prabhupäda in India:</p>
<p class="p7">In March 1972, we were in Calcutta for the first Mäyäpur festival. Everyone went to Mäyäpur. Prabhupäda stayed in a little grass hut, which still stands at the entrance as you go in, on the left-hand side of the gate. Prabhupäda liked that hut. He said, “You can build me the biggest palace, but still I would prefer to live here,” and he was very comfortable in that little hut. It was actually very cool. This is when Bob Cohen, who is now Brahmatértha, first me Prabhupäda, and his famous discussions are in the book <i>Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers</i>. Prabhupäda took a liking to him immediately, a very intelligent boy, and of course he later became a devotee, as well as his wife, who is now Bhakti däsé. Bob Cohen asked: “What do you mean by ‘separated energies’?” Prabhupäda had a glass of milk at that time. He said, “Just like this milk. It is the separate energy of the cow.” All of us were struck with wonder at the simplicity of the perfect example Prabhupäda immediately presented. At that time there was the cornerstone-laying ceremony. Before the cornerstone was laid there was a hole dug, and the ceremony was performed and a little golden Ananta with a jewel was put in the pit. I remember going up to Prabhupäda’s room before. I wanted to photograph that Ananta before He went underneath the ground. So Prabhupäda took the Ananta made of gold from where he had it. Somehow or other he produced it, and as he brought it out, the jewel on His head was glittering. Prabhupäda held it, and it was a wonderful sight.<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">Kaïcanabälä-devé däsé remembers Çréla Prabhupäda in Våndävana:</p>
<p class="p7">“I always wanted to see His Divine Grace in India, Våndävana-dhäma, as that is his real home, where Çré Kåñëa appeared, and Çréla Prabhupäda’s own room in Rädhä-Dämodara temple, where he translated the first three volumes of Canto One, <i>Çrémad-Bhägavatam</i>. It was ecstatic and overwhelming to finally see this, catching such sublime and transcendental mood. Çréla Prabhupäda looked so natural, sitting peaceful on his <i>vyäsäsana</i> or under the <i>tamäla</i> tree in the courtyard of Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira. And his sacred room in Rädhä-Dämodara Temple was exquisite, where you could really catch the essence of Prabhupäda’s presence. It was a simple, petite room, but so beautiful.”<br>
</p>
<p class="p7">And I have sat before His Holiness Çrédhara Mahäräja in his <i>mandira</i> in Navadvépa-dhäma and heard him speak, moved with ecstasy, describing our Çréla Prabhupäda, his Godbrother.</p>
<p class="p7">Çrédhara Mahäräja: “I would be immensely proud of his activities, and I heard also that many prominent members of the Gauòéya Mission, they appreciated very much, greatly appreciated. It is a wonderful thing and superhuman that he has done. Success, in such a small span of time. Indeed, it is some divine power works through him only. Then it is possible. Special, divine power worked within him. So much success is otherwise not possible. That is our conception and confidence. Astounding, not only astonishing but astounding. What began, he has pushed it to the greatest extent. Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura also prophesied, also Mahäprabhu , that “In no time the day will come when Western intellectuals will also flock under the banner of Mahäprabhu.” It is Mahäprabhu’s teachings, it is so plain and so grave and so natural that people will recognize the greatness. Prabhupäda Bhaktisiddhänta also sent his disciples several times in that way to the West, but most unexpectedly after his departure, this one disciple became very successful, most gloriously, and we are all proud of that, very much proud. Hare Kåñëa, Gaura Hari.”</p>
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