Please accept my humble obiesances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
namah om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudridha suddhi nistabyam tasya vakyanuvadine

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

(C.C Madhya 19.151)
“According to the thread of their karma, the living beings are wandering throughout many species of life in the universe. Among all such wandering souls, one for whom the fortune of spiritual merit has arisen by which devotion is facilitated, gains the seed of the creeper of devotion, by the graces of Guru and Krsna that seed is good faith.”

The seed of Krsna consciousness is the most valuable thing all of creation. “Everything good or bad belongs to Krsna, and I am His unconditional servitor.” I must try to live my life like this. He is absolute good, also His mercy is absolute. His love is absolute. He is the center of love. I must open my heart and accept such a seed. Krsna’s love is not afraid of any sacrifice so He can conquer even my heart, which is ever struggling to not surrender. I must be prepared to pay for this love that Krsna has shown me by giving me my guide to the keys of spiritual life. So what can I give? Everything belongs to Him, and I also belong to Him. I must admit that I am His. This is necessary to start and continue my spiritual trek back to His lotus feet.

My enemies in my spiritual life are my suspicion and hesitation. In the Gita it is said samsayatma-vinasyati. “The suspicious are doomed.” Time is passing me by and it is too valuable to be wasted in hesitation. This is my dilemma, my curse. If a general were to allow time for hesitation to enter his mind while sending his troops in to battle, then he would be sending them all to die a pointless death. But if I have a definite plan and engage the mind with the right amount of enthusiasm, then I can stand a chance with Maya. Along with this battle I must have reinforcements. These reinforcements are Guru, sadhu, and sastra. With the help of my spiritual master, saints, and the scriptures, I can beat and subdue the enemy that is within myself. I must depend on the mercy and the help of those who are dear to Lord Sri Krsna, His innermost friends, His devotees. They are my true friends. Without them I am consumed by my enemies: lust, greed, doubt, and suspicion. These are my insanity, my illusion that comes from living in a world of ignorance.

My struggle is to develop this love for Krsna. This love has nothing to do with this material world. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kama-preme dekho bhai, laksanete bheda nai, tabhukama prema nahi haya. “My brother, lust and love appear as one and the same yet love is never lust.” karma-mamsamaya kama, “Lust is only concerned with the flesh and blood, but prema is the cid-ananda-dhama- the abode of consciousness and blissfulness. I must strive for this love. I am in a low position so I must be firmly fixed on this love.

Jato-sraddho mat kathasu, nirvinnah sarvva-karmas veda-duhkhatmakan kaman, parity age py anisvarah (SB.11 20.27) “A person who has developed faith in narrations of My divine nature and pastimes may still for some time suffer the reactions to his worldly deeds. Although he perceives his addictions to worldly pleasure to be the essence of his misery, he is unable to abandon them” This is the position that I have fallen into. I know what is good and what is bad. But I keep falling again into the clutches of my mundane senses, though I try to fight it and feel remorse for it. ” For those who have stumbled and fallen upon the ground, that very ground is the only support by which they can arise once again. Likewise those who have offended You, O Lord, You alone are their only refuge.” Just as a child uses the ground to get back up, I too must proceed. I must also climb back up on my feet and not allow myself to fall into a world of deception. Such a world is the root of my suffering and will only make it harder on me, and those around me. To do this I must have proper vision to see, and this vision has been give to me by you, Srila Gurudeva. om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salskaya, caksur yena, tasmai sri-gurave namah. ” I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge, I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.” This vision is my key. It is my ability to finally overcome my attachment to this illusionary world, and finally surrender unto Krsna’s lotus feet completely.

So this is my offering, my promise to keep struggling, and to never give in to the ignorance that has me bound to this continuing life of suffering. This is all I have to offer, although I fear it will never be enough to repay the mercy that you have shown me.

Your humble disciple and son,

Acyutananda Dasa

Dear Gurudeva!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your lotus feet!

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasada
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam
vanda guroh sri-caranaravindam

“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At leas three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”

I find myself thinking much more of you as my eternal father.
What a sweetness this is, especially since my material father does not even have time for me, but you, as my real father, who showered so much love on all of your children. I try to remember you more every day, I started visiting your website almost every day.

On this special day of your Vyasa-Puja, I cannot be with you, but remember that in this year I took initiation from you and I am praying that every day you force me to do the right think in the right way for you. I beg that you please not give up on me, because I am nothing without you!

Dear Lord Jagannatha you have sent Your pure devotee, to teach and give me service to You.
Please Gurudeva, allow me to take full shelter of your lotus feet.

Please forgive me for all of my improper behavior.
Thank you again and again for your perfect direction and care.

Your servant, who is praying to remember you every moment in my life,

Adi-lila dd

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your appearance.

I wish to express my deep appreciation to you for undergoing so many difficulties so that conditioned souls such as myself can continue to have the opportunity to taste the bliss of Krishna consciousness. Gurudeva, you so aptly carry the baton of spiritual culture that your spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, has placed in your hand and I am deeply moved by your expertise in continuing this mission. Soothing and genteel, your words are bhavausadhi, medicine for the soul. You serve to remind all that we have the human form of life and our purpose as such is to realize ourselves by discovering the ultimate goal for which we are living—the goal of Krishna.
From the Purport to Code 8, Narada Bhaktisutra stated:

“If somebody is fortunate enough to find a pure devotee for his spiritual master, then that spiritual master by his causeless mercy imparts the knowledge of pure devotional service…only by the combined mercy of the Supreme Lord and the Spiritual Master.”

Dear Gurudeva, how fortunate and grateful I am to have found such a pure devotee by Lord Sri Krishna’s Divine Mercy.

On this day of your appearance and always, may I remain conscious of this fortunate mercy bestowed upon me. More importantly, may Lord Sri Krishna continue to empower you with the divine fortitude and strength to continue this most holy mission from Sri Guru and Gouranga.

His Holiness Bir Krishna Das Goswami Ki !!!!

aspiring to serve,

Bhakta Alan

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Another year has come and gone. I have a few months left until I graduate and get commissioned into the Air Force. Last week I was thinking about how much I have changed in the past couple of years and how, no matter what, you always supported me and continued to guide me.
I have a picture of you in my dorm room. It’s the one my mother took years ago, with your hand up in your old cabin, wearing bright tilak. When people ask me who that man with the stuff on his forehead is on my desk, I am always too lazy to explain how you are a guru in the Hare Krishna movement and how the mud is a symbol that your body is a temple of god, etc. I usually end up saying, “Well, he is a priest, but more like my father.”
Occasionally my sister and I occasionally get in raging arguments with the other cadets about how all males are beastly and interested in only one thing when it really comes down to it. We go off on a tirade about there not being a single male in the entire world with pure intentions. Then we always have to remind ourselves that there is one we are certain of, our beloved spiritual master.
I am stunned at your ability to forgive. No matter how grave the offense, how much your disciples hurt you, stab you in the heart and twist the knife, you always forgive them with the kindest words. I could never even aspire to be that forgiving, understanding, and kind. You are amazing.
I am truly fortunate to have had the gift of your company, mentoring, instructions, wisdom, kindness, and purity. Like I always say, I can never thank you enough, but the least I can do is remain – your ever faithful servant and daughter,
Amrta Keli dasi

namah om visnu padaya krsna preshthaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine

To my dearest eternal father,

Hare Krishna!

Please let me offer my most humble dandavats at the dust of your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your appearance. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada and all glories unto your divine grace for coming to this material world, just to liberate the most fallen conditioned souls like me, in order to fulfill your beloved spiritual master’s desire.

May this offering on this day of your all auspicious Vyasa puja celebration, through inadequate and imperfectly written bring transcendental pleasure to you.

Your most fallen servant,

Amsu Dasa
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

By spreading, nourishing and protecting Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtana
movement, it is clear that you are benefiting not just the devotees but the whole world.

When you give people the holy names you also offer many of them a
wholesomeness that much of this world has forgotten. With the rapid
progression of Kali Yuga, the people of our world are not just
forgetting to be God centered but they are also forgetting traditional values and regulated life. But you are so kindly bringing that back. The two most prominent things to me about new Goloka are 1) the concentrated and focused chanting of the Maha Mantra among attendants at morning program and 2) the happy and balanced children.

The chanting is our future and these children are our world’s future, and so it is very clear that you are doing excellent service for Krishna that must be very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada.

I can never forget that time in my spiritual youth when my life was free enough to put the chanting of holy names in the center of it. I can never forget that lifestyle that made chanting with sincerity easy. For this I am forever indebted to you and only hope and pray that you will accept as repayment my current preaching as I try to pass on the mercy you have given me.

Your servant,

Ananda dd

Hare Krishna Bir Krishna Maharaj,

I know that you will not know me, but I want to wish you happy birthday and use the chance to thank you for a wonderful conversation that I had with you in the temple of Hillerød, Denmark, about one and a half years ago.

Though my spiritual path is not only concentrating on Krishna consciousness any more it is still an important part of my life. I feel like the meeting with the devotees and you opened a very important door for me. I often listen to the beautiful CD that I got from you and it always calms me down and puts my mind in a good and safe place. I work hard to bring religion into practical life – and I truly wish that I would have the strength to be as righteous as you. But I guess it is not my task. Realizing that, it is just so wonderful for me to know that a man like you walks on this earth. I will always admire such a life.

From a distance happy birthday – and all the best to you.

Hare Krishna

Anja Schou, Copenhagen

All glories to Srila Bir Krishna das Goswami Gurudeva.

For without him I would not be here nor would I be a devotee of Krishna. Each day I chant Hare Krishna on my beads, and he is always there for his devotees to help them stay Krishna conscious. Even when he is far away he is there for us. I hope more people come to Krishna and may Krishna bless Bir Krishna Goswami and The ISKCON Devotees.
Your Servant,

Aroti Devi Dasi

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you and to Srila Prabhupada!

I found some quite ecstatic quotes from Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta:

“To avoid discouraging his tongue, Narada Muni gave it some practical advise: If you can’t adequately praise Krishna, then at least try to praise His devotees. If you can’t describe the devotees’ transcendental glories, then simply describe their activities. If you cannot describe everything about those activities, then just describe something. Even if you cannot speak with full realization, speak anyway. The attempt to say something will be all-auspicious.”

Narada Muni is a great example of positive thinking!
I remember your lecture in New Goloka, when you explained about positive thinking. That is a sign of a Krishna conscious person you said, he or she is always happy doing what Krishna wants. Krishna gives us all that we need, not always all that we want. You said also that surrendering to Krishna means that we do not allow our minds to the negativity scope.

I understand this to be the austerity of Bhakti Yoga process. It is more on the level of the mind than of the body. It is also an austerity of the mind to learn to work together with all the different devotees in this international society.

Another significant thing I found in Brhad Bhagavatamrta and from Srimad Bhagavatam was about helping others:

“Krishna was pleased with Vidura and Bhismadeva not only because of their own devotional service which was not that exceptional, but mainly because they served the Pandavas, protecting them from Duryodhana and other enemies. Vidura and Bhismadeva earned high esteem in the opinion of the Lord by giving shelter and affection to sons of Prtha when they were helpless.”

“O Uddhava, a saintly person is merciful and never injures others. Even if others are aggressive he is tolerant and forgiving toward all living entities. His strength and meaning of life come from the truth itself, he is free from all envy and jealousy, and his mind is equal in material happiness and distress. Thus he dedicates his time to work for the welfare of all others.”

This gives me great hope. I think you Gurudeva, are my closest example of both of these virtues. You are always satisfied and happy and you are always helping others. My own devotion is not that exceptional, but I might get the mercy of the Lord, if I manage to serve you and other devotees in some way.

I wish you a jolly Vyasa Puja celebration with all the nice devotees of New Goloka.

Thank You for all the instructions you have given me.

Your servant,

Astasakhi devi dasi

 
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my true and most humble obeisance in the dust of your lotus feet.
om ajñana-timirandhasya
jñanañjana- salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurave namah

On this most auspicious moment, let me take the opportunity and courage to write to you and tell you how much you mean to me.

When I (almost) daily recite the pranama I always ask myself, if it’s really true that the spiritual master takes the disciple from the darkness of ignorance, because I don’t feel like being taken out of my ignorance, and I think I’m just as stupid as ages ago – what to do, maybe its my nature to be like this, a simpleton? Rather, I see you as a light that shines before me dissipating the fear from my heart. But light, or knowledge, or whatever, I don’t know, thanks for being there for me. In my heart I wish I could be there for you more, or at least a little, than how I am.

There is so much I would tell you, and at the same time so little, for everything I think of, I realize you already know that and above. But, I know, thinking of you is sort of thinking “with” you – and there are many things I have to, and better, think about, and if I invoke you, I think is better.

Many times when I write on different subjects or for you directly, the tens of letters I never send you, you are with me in those phrases you told me in the past, which are with me in the present.

Like, there was a time in India, you were leaving and you told me that whatever I do to think if you would do that, – and for a fraction of a moment you stopped pondering – and than you said: “but, you do many things I would never do, good thing…just be careful.”
And whatever I do I remember your gentle words, and I’m trying not to mess up too much. You are with me in your words, and you are with me in person, and this gives me the strength and hope in those dark moments when the world, my world, feels like collapsing and there is only hopelessness in it. In these moments of rather wrath are you there for me and I cling on holding to you as my torch.

As time goes by I realize more and more what a powerful gift did you give me when I got initiated: the Holy Name. Sixteen rounds at least every day. Even though Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu tells how hard and undesirable is to chant the Holy Names, in time I got the feeling that meditating over the maha-mantra can be enjoyable – it’s a matter of looking at. Just how work rendered in devotional service is blissful. Otherwise work is just slavery, and the karma for greed. I guess, this is why devotees ask the spiritual master for more blessings, even though it means more duties, because of its spiritual bliss. For this am I asking you for more. Whatever you decide and give or take, it’s a gift of bliss to me.

This is how, somehow, mysteriously as to say, I managed to keep on chanting and never miss a day without at least sixteen rounds – since my initiation. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes is immensely hard to complete the task of daily routine – and again, I attribute this strength to you. The power emanating from the spiritual master! Because I’m seeing other people who try to meditate but there is no strength in them to progress and they give up without gain. And I know that without initiation the chanting of sixteen rounds is not possible (and many times even with initiation finds no grounds).

Gurudeva, I know, I’m not able to do too many things but I hope at least that I will maintain my promise to you, and this is the only thing I also humbly offer to you as my present, otherwise I have nothing, except with what Krsna blesses me with.

Now, on this most auspicious moment of your appearance celebration I’m wishing you the best from my heart.
Your unworthy servant,

Balarama dasa

 
Dear Srila Sripada,

Another year has passed of joyous moments, tragic events and the splendor and beauty that Krishna has surrounded us with.

With His guidance, all is possible; patience is the key. I am learning that in a very personal way since moving here to the Redwood Coast.

Sending you all good wishes and blessings for your special day,

Bethel Laborde (Lila suka’s mom)

 
Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace!
People think Disneyland is “Dreamland”. Everybody becomes so happy there. But I don’t think so because I used to work there. I used 2 1/2 hours one-way to get there everyday. Sometimes people have to wait for “Space Mountain” for 3 hours just to have a 5minute ride. Sometimes there are so many people in the park that people waiting to get in are turned away. It is not “Dreamland”.
One day I saw one10 year old boy crying so much because he was lost. We brought him to the lost child center. At the lost child center there is a very nice room with nice toys and videos and young matajis with big smiles. They try to make the children happy there.
In this world, everybody is like a lost children. They don’t know what real happiness is and real Dad and Mom. By your mercy, lucky children can come here to New Goloka and have your shelter. It’s like a spiritual “lost child center”.
Instead of Mickey and Minnie we have Radha-Krishna. Instead of Cinderella’s Palace Restaurant we have a big sunday feast. Instead of the World Bazaar we have New Goloka gift shop. Instead of Disney’s Electric Parade we have Harinam-Sankirtan. Instead of New Year Countdown Party we have Big Janmastami.
There is a small fire now, but it’s growing. Someday it will be very big.
You are a great person, much bigger than Walt Disney. You made this New Goloka Dhama.
Thank you very much & Happy Appearance Day!!!
Your servant,
Bhakta Vatsala das
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances on your sacred appearance day.

As I compose this offering, I receive with heartfelt gratitude each moment that I am graced by your divine guidance, protection, and mercy. Lord Krishna has truly blessed my soul, He has sent me you. With these words may I reaffirm my sacred vows to serve you life after life.

In a world of suffering, duplicity, and corruption, you remain an
exquisite model of integrity and faith. Through your unwavering devotion to Srila Prabhupada, you provide me with a living example of self-sacrifice that I may witness and learn to apply. In your tireless commitment to spreading Krishna Consciousness throughout the world, you embody compassion and remind me to see Krishna in all living beings. Through your patience and tolerance, through your smiles and your laughter, you help me to refocus my priorities and remember the humble purpose of my embodiment. Through your preaching and your chanting, you purify my heart and save my soul.

Forever in your service,

Bhakti devi dasi

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Bir Krishna Goswami!

I am most thankful and indebted for the honor of my association with you. During a most difficult and turbulent year I have always had you as an anchor.

Your acceptance of my devotion is foremost to me and on this day I ask that you receive my humble and sincere appreciation.

Bhakta Bob

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada, for without him I would not be here.

When I first came to Krsna consciousness four years ago, I never thought I’d be where I am today. I was lost and completely alone (or so it seemed). My faith in Krsna and His causeless mercy, however, allowed me to trust in His plan for me. That trust led me to the one person who can illuminate this world of darkness and ignorance and guide me back to Krsna. The Bhagavad-Gita tells us:

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

“Just approach the wise and bona fide spiritual master. Surrender unto him first and try to understand him by inquiries and service. Such a wise spiritual master will enlighten you with transcendental knowledge, for he has already known the Absolute Truth” (4.34).

Srila Gurudeva, to describe all of the ways you have helped me would not do justice to the amount of compassion, devotion and love you’ve shown me. You’ve given me wisdom, courage, truth and encouragement not only in my journey to become a devotee of Lord Krsna, but also in myself.

Through your teachings, you’ve also given me Prabhupada. I feel Prabhupada’s will being carried out through you, which is the greatest gift anyone could ever possibly offer to me. I don’t have much to offer to you, but what I do have is yours. I can only surrender completely under the shelter of your lotus feet and hope that I fulfill Krsna’s will for me. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna said to Lord Krsna, “Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me” (2.7). Oh Gurudeva, I am not worthy enough to ask anything of you, but I pray that my confused, yet surrendered soul can continue to receive your instruction. I am weak, but you have given me a gift that can and will make me strong.

I thank you, oh Guru Maharaja, for taking in a lost and naïve soul like mine and giving it hope for this life and the next. I only hope to carry out your will in all that I do.

Hare Krsna!

Your eternally faithful daughter and servant,

Brandi

 
nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
My querido maestro espiritual,
Por favor acepte mis rendidas reverencias al polvo des sus pies de loto.
Las escrituras vedicas senalan que la planta del servicio devocional es el tesoro mas preciado y dificil de obtener,pues hace conexion direrctamante con El Senor Krsna la Suprema Personalidad de Dios.
Somos concientes de que como discipulos suyos,hemos contraido una gran responsabilidad muy importante en relacion a tal servicio devocional que Usted tan misericordiaosamente nos ha dado la opurtunidad de iniciar.
Sin embargo por diversas situaciones particulares,muchos de nosotros absortos en nuestras actividades cotidianas no nos habiamos detenido a pensar cuidadosamente acerca de como desempenar nuestros deberes con el maestro espiritual de una manera mas adecuada.
La istruccion que hemos aprendido es que debemos seguir los 4 principios fundamentales y cantar 16 rondas diariamente.
Se nos ha ensenado de manera general que debemos servir al maestro espiritual pero muchas veces ignoramos exactamente como hacerlo.
En tal situacion no nos damos cuenta de que hemos caido en graves ofensas a sus pies de loto,pues nuestros ineficientes intentos de servicio dejan mucho que desear debido a que Usted es unico en su personalidad grandiosa,es muy necesario para nosotros conocer sus preferencias particulares en toda clase de detalles de los que solamente algunos de sus discipulos cercanos estan enterados.
Hemos detectado que muchas veces la causa de nuestras fallas en la coordinacion de servicios se debe a la falta de comunicacion entre nosotros como hermanos espirituales,Srila Prabhupada dijo que el exito de este movimiento dependeria de que tan exitoso fuese trabajar unidos
Srila Gurudeva a traves de esta Su humilde ofrenda permitame darle las gracias por su tolerancia que usted a mostrado commigo y las facilidades que me a otorgado sobre todo su ejemplo que me ha mostrado en su fe determinada,su sinceridad,su entrega a los pies de loto de Srila Prabhupada,y sus magnificas cualidades santas las cuales me empujan espiritualmente y obligan a sentirme responsable de esa manera ejecutar un pequeno servicio por insgnificante que sea.
Srila gurudeva por favor le ruego me bendiga mas para cumplir con la promesa de permanecer comos su eterna sirvienta.
Lo quiere mucho,
Caitanya dasi.

nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhuthale
srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine
nama hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudridha sudhi nistabyam tasyavakya nuvadine

Toda mi vida es poca para agradecerle y servirle todo lo que ha hecho
por mi.

Alguna vez yo le dije que yo iva a ser algo para que usted se sienta
orgullosa de mi y no se me ha olvidado.
Realmente estoy luchando para llevar acabo mi mision yo se que todavia nos falta mucho.
El paso importante ya lo hemos dado, y solamente nos falta mantenernos firmes y seguros yo en este dia tan glorioso le pido nuevamente la pureza necesaria para seguir adelante, cada dia se nos presentan obstaculos pero yo se que con su infinita misericordia de usted y de Prabhupada vamos a seguir por un buen camino yo no soy perfecta tengo mucho orgullo y eso es mi mayor obstaculo por eso en este dia le pido borre de mi esto que me quema el alma y comprension para todos los que diariamente conviven conmigo.

Gracias por todo.

Su humilde sirvienta,

Candarika devi dasi

 
To His Holiness Bir Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious day of your
appearance. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. All
glories to your Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda.

Gurudev!
krpa-bindu diya koro ei dase
trnapekha at hina
sakala sahane bala diya koro
nija mane sprha-hina

“Gurudeva!
Give this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, with no desire or aspiration.”

It was Fall 2001, I received a personal invitation from a great devotee
of yours, to come to her graduation in UNC Charlotte, but unfortunately I could not come. That Saturday mid-morning I had to go to Home Depot. I was wondering from aisle to aisle and what appears before my eyes was that man in saffron cloth, surrounded by a woman in white sari (Mother Krishna Priya) and other devotees, who appeared to be searching for something significant. I thought for a moment what is this man doing here at Home Depot – shopping? I looked up and it was you. Krishna sent you my way because He knew that I would miss the opportunity to see you. That day, because of you, brought me closer to Krishna.

Now, fall 2002, my hankering for Krishna gets even stronger. It wasn’t
enough for me to come here every other weekend. I wanted more of
Krishna. So I came begging for your mercy in how to be more close to Him. The idea of selling my house and transferring to school here was not an obstacle but it would take time, And you replied, “Do it right away.” Because of your mercy, your instruction will be satisfied. Please, o please, let me be your disciple. Thank you for engaging me in the service of Sri Sri Radha Golokanada. Hare Krishna!
Your insignificant servant,
Charito Charlotte, NC
Dear Bir Krsna Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obesiances. All glories to your lotus feet. All glories to Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda!
Although I don’t know you very well personally, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for bringing Krsna Consciousness to North Carolina. Without your very personal sacrifices, enduring hardships and austerities, the temple and community would never have been established, and we would not have even had the opportunity to know what we’ve been missing for life after life. Your mercy and compassion on all of our conditioned souls is very great, and I thank you again and again for them.
I have learned from your disciples what it means to have a spiritual master, a guru, more than a teacher, a very personal guide and father. You are always very involved, caring personally for the lives of your spiritual children and their families, and the other members of the New Goloka community. It is a very special blessing for all of us that you are so available and personally concerned for all the devotees.
I see you often with the children; Jayananda, Tilak, Kapila, Subhadra, Rasaraj, Balaram, and others. You are always interested in being careful for their well-being, and bringing them up as steady, fixed-up devotees in the service of Their Lordships. Your vision is extraordinary; from wilderness, to temple, to community of Vaisnavas with a Gurukula, and now to future generations. How very blessed we are to have your guidance!
I pray that we may all be always the servants of the servants of Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda, (with you leading kirtan!) life after life.
May this year bring blessings beyond measure.
Trying to be your servant,
Bhaktin Christi

 
varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

“O Lord, although you are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to you for liberation, nor eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any other boon. My only prayer is that your childhood pastimes may constantly appear in my mind. O Lord, I do not even want to know your feature of Paramatma. I simply wish that your childhood pastimes may ever be enacted in my heart.”

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Please bless me that I may attain pure devotional service and not even desire liberation from Sri Krishna. Please bless me that my whole desire be simply to render whatever service Their Lordships may want from me. Right now I am a liberation-monger, wanting to go back to the spiritual world and be with Radha-Golokananda eternally. But this is not the highest goal. The highest goal is to be like yourself and Srila Prabhupada, only desiring to serve Krishna in whatever capacity and with whatever talents He gives you.

Srimati Radharani is very pleased with you because you are preaching to the conditioned souls and turning Jagais and Madhais into Vaishnavas.
You are actually following in the footsteps of the gopis, not those who sit around reading the literature about Radha and Krishna’s intimate pastimes or imagine themselves to be gopis. So, if YOU mention me to Srimati Radharani, she will mention me to Sri Golokananda and He will accept me as His servant.

One day, Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda will talk to me, and I will see them laughing, joking, dancing and performing Their pastimes. I will see
Mother Yasoda chasing little Krishna through the courtyard of Nanda Maharaja and binding Him with ropes.

When, oh when, will that day be mine?
Well, work now, samadhi later.

Hare Krishna!
Your hopeful servant,
Mother Cintamani dasi

 
My Dearest Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda
You are infinitely kind and merciful to all who approach you, including those who shy from your magnitude.
You have entrusted each of us with duties that we are totally capable of as well as the strength to carry them out, if only we will surrender to your instruction and in earnest, make the attempt. It is a fact that no matter how much we meditate on your glories, we cannot find an end to the wondrous things you have done in your many years of service at Prabhupada’s lotus feet. It is only by Sri Krishna’s mercy that we have suddenly found ourselves at your lotus feet hoping ever more that our service will be pleasing to you.
I find myself owing so much to that merciful devotee who first gave me your address as well as that of another prominent sannyasi in ISKCON, and suggested that I contact one or both of you in my search for a spiritual master. It was Sri Krishna’s mercy that I never contacted the other sannyasi, for there is all perfection at your lotus feet dear Gurudeva. I pray to always have you ever increasingly present with in the confines of my heart, guiding my every step on the path back home to Sri Krishna’s pure loving service. I can never express my gratitude for your mercy except to continue onward in complete security knowing that we should do so “because Gurudeva said”.
Aspiring for your eternal service,
Danakeli dasi

 
Dear Bir Krsna Goswami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja day, I would like to beg you a favor. As my godbrother
Badahari once said to me years ago, ” You don’t have a very good track record over the years, in devotional service.” This statement hit the nail right on the head. Of course being the great soul he was, he was saying this without envy, so it was very easy for me to take. I knew he was totally correct in his assessment of me. In fact he was stating the fact in a very mild way. I am not a surrendered soul to my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. You however are. I do pray sometimes, usually because I’m in trouble, or because I want some fruitive result in my devotional service (if you can actually call it that). When I analyze my motivation, or lack of them in my life, I become disgusted. But apparently not enough, for I continue to go on my ignorant way year after year in the same muck of sense gratification and lethargy. According to Srila Prabhupada, “The disciple should give up his life also after the spiritual master departs if he cannot execute his order.” As far as I’m concerned I’ve pretty much failed Srila Prabhupada. Which brings me back to your good self. You, as far as my imperfect senses can tell, are possessed of all good qualities and have taken our Guru’s instructions fully to heart. You have been loyal and faithful to Srila Prabhupada. My prayers are not so heartfelt or sincere, so I’m going to ask you to please pray for me to your dear Lordships, to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Gauranga and Nitai. For I feel your prayers will be more effective than my own. Please ask Them if they will please help me to have a genuine desire to actually love Them, to not take things cheaply; and to have intense compassion and love for the living entities suffering in this material world. Please ask them for me, to help me develop a desire to want to give up my anarthas, so I can become a better father to my son, husband to my wife and good example for younger devotees. Thank you for being here and for being so kindhearted to this incorrigible corrupt living entity. May you live a long and healthy life so that we may continue to take advantage of your wonderful presence.

Srila Bir Krsna Goswami Maharaja ki, JAYA!

Drumila Dasa

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Holiness.

A year has gone by, yet it seems like yesterday when we had the last
Vyasa Puja. It was another period for me to put more effort in my service to you, but no matter how I try I am always far behind the mark.

Definitely your motion in Krishna’s service is so rapid that I am always left in wonder. You do remain a great inspiration to me in my spiritual life and I am greatly indebted to you for your concern about my well-being. It is with this in mind that I find myself rather useless as far as rendering service to you is concerned. However, I have not given up doing the little I can, hoping that one time…yes, one time, I will be able to satisfy you.

I can not forget the difficult period when His Holiness Tamal Krishna
Maharaj left this world. You always said he gave you much strength in your preaching mission. On my part I can only say that your source of inspiration is (indirectly) also where we get ours. We get the inspiration through your blessings. We also lament this untimely departure.

Thank you very much and may Lord Krishna bless you as you continue to show us the way back home.

Your servant,

Gargamuni Das

 
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!
Todas las glorias a la tracendental aparicion de Srila Gurudeva!

NAMA OM VISNU PADAYA KRISHNA PRESTAYA BHU-TALE
SRIMATE BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ITI NAMINE
NAMAS TE SARASVATI DEVE GOURA VANI PRACARINE
NIRVISESA SUNYAVADI PASCATYA DESA TARINE

NAMA OM VISNU PADAYA KRISHNA PRESTAYA BHU-TALE
SRIMATE BIR KRISHNA DAS GOSWAMI ITI NAMINE
NAMAHAMSA NIKASAYA PRABHUPADA PRIYAYATE
SUDRIDHA SUDHINASTIAM DEAM TASYA BAKIA NABADINE

BHALA HAILA, PAILE TUMI PARAMA-PURUSARTHA
TOMARA PREMETE AMI HAILAN KRTARTHA

” Es muy bueno, mi querido hijo, que hayas alcanzado la meta suprema de
la vida mediante el cultivo del amor de Dios. Con ello me has
complacido mucho, y te estoy sumamente agradecido”

Segun las escrituras reveladas, si un maestro espiritual puede
convertir siquiera a un alma en un devoto totalmente puro, se cumple su mision
en la vida. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura solia decir
siempre ” Si incluso a costa de todas las propiedades, templos y mathas que
tengo pudiera convertir siquiera a una persona en un devoto puro, mi
mision quedaria cumplida “. Sin embargo, es muy dificil entender la
ciencia de krishna, y muchisimo mas el cultivar amor de Dios. Por
consiguiente, si por la gracia del Senor Citanya Mahaprabhu y del maestro
espiritual un discipulo llega al nivel del servicio devocional puro, el
maestro espiritual se alegra mucho. El maestro espiritual no se siente
verdaderamente feliz si el discipulo le lleva dinero, pero cuando ve que el
discipulo esta siguiendo los principios regulativos y que esta
progresando en la vida espiritual, se contenta mucho y se siente agradecido con
ese discipulo adelantado.

Querido Gurudeva antes que festejar su gran aparicion creo que debo
festejar la importancia que su presencia significa para el mundo, sus
grandes actividades en beneficio de las almas condicionadas, su esfuerzo
por expandir la mision de Srila Prabhupada por todos los mundos, son
tan esenciales en su vida como lo fue para nuestro abuelo e iniciador de
este movimiento Srila prabhupada. Agradesco
a Srila Prabhupada su infinita misericordia por haber puesto su gracia
sobre nosotros para de esta manera beneficiarnos con su eterna
asociacion.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!
Jaya Jaya Gurudeva!

el mas inutil de sus sirvientes,

Garuda dasa

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Writing an offering for you is always very difficult. Mainly it is because of my desire for appreciation from others. I wish I could just write from the bottom of my heart and be sincere. I always find myself concerned of what others will think, but because of your desire that disciples write their offerings, I have to just try my best and follow your foremost instruction to me: “Don’t worry.”. And fortunately you find gold even from a filthy place. You accept an offering even from a rascal disciple like myself.
It seems that the more years I spend in Krishna-consciousness, the more anarthas I seem to develop. Of course I am very much trying to explain it to myself as “becoming more aware of the filthy things in my heart as I advance”, but to be honest, I have to say that some of the previous determination has gone away. I am simply finding myself to be more interested in the material world. But as I struggle along and try to hang onto your lotus feet, you also very much manifest your greatness and compassion. Never before I have felt your protection and shelter as strongly as I do now. I feel like it truly is only by your mercy that I am able to remain in Krishna’s service.
As many ISKCON leaders have had difficulties in the past and probably will have difficulties in the future, I have to admit that I have thought of the question “what if it would happen to me? What if one day I would have no guru, would I still be strong enough to be a devotee?” And the answer is no. I would not be able to do this without your shelter. I have chosen to trust you and you have given me so much that I will not be able to ever leave you, but it makes it very scary. Trust is not an easy thing. Therefore, I want to thank you for always being trustworthy and very strict in your sadhana. I think when it comes to sense of duty; you are the most reliable person I have ever met. There is actually no doubt in my mind that whatever comes, you will always stick with your father, Srila Prabhupada, and with your sons and daughters who constantly struggle to be able to continue in your service.
My prayer on this day is that some of your determination would also rub off on to me. I know I will never be qualified, nor can I ever have the same qualities as you, but if somehow you bless me to become loyal to you, I know all success will be there. And the last and foremost thing I wanted to say is: “Thank you for being my father!” I think I, along with all your other sons and daughters, am the most fortunate child ever born…
Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Gayatri dd

 
Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to you and your loving service.

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-Puja, I want most to offer you my thanks. Thank you for being a father, a grandfather, a leader, a counselor, a well-wisher, and a friend. Thank you for leading so many of us to Krsna and to happier lives. Thank you for loving our children and helping us to be better parents. Thank you for coming to my home and letting me serve you. This was one of the highlights of my year. Thank you for all your blessings bestowed on me, and my family. They help to get us through each and every day. I only wish we could have your association more. And I wish I could serve you better.

Your servant,

Gopal Nandini dasi

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

nama om visnupadaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das gosvamin iti namine
namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate su drddha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanu vadine

Everybody is looking for happiness. That is a fact. Nobody’s going to a pharmacy to get pills to get a good headache. We can see that even animals are attempting to protect themselves when they feel to be threatened by danger. They don’t want to suffer. Probably only a few people have realized that whatever external occasions we experience, the only thing that matters is what kind of an impulse it is giving us.

Once I was waiting for a train at the Mathura railway station in India. Suddenly one little boy approached me showing his hand to beg something. He was walking with his knees and the rest of his feet were broken and were just hanging along behind him. To my surprise he didn’t look very sad, but was actually smiling and his face was shining like anything. He was enthusiastic. It certainly seemed that his feet didn’t bother him too much. I was amazed. Where did he get his satisfaction?
He could really understand that one does not get the feeling of satisfaction from external things, but that the source of satisfaction is already inside of all of us. And here I am with my mind complaining about the anxiety of an ant.

Since you are trying to help me find this kind of internal satisfaction, a basic question rises in my mind: “When is it that I will be able to realize the goal of my spiritual practices?” Just as one doesn’t understand the importance of pure water unless there is a lack of it, one won’t be able to understand the importance of being a good devotee unless one has his own disciples. Please, Gurudeva, help me to become enthusiastic by your example.

Your servant,

Gopinatha das

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace on this most auspicious occasion! And all glories to Srila Prabhupada, who showcased your greatness and chastity to him for all the world to see.
Having been so deeply entrenched in the most materialistic society for the past year, I’ve had quite an opportunity to see the real qualities of materialists. And I’ve seen first-hand the great difference between those individuals strictly following Krishna consciousness, and those who don’t.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it states that, “All good qualities automatically develop within a devotee of Krishna, whereas any so-called good qualities of a non-devotee are temporary and ultimately false because those so-called qualities only come from the mental platform.”
Gurudeva, your disciples and friends prove that statement every day. The fact that I am still allowed to associate with you and yours, even in this fallen condition, is a prime example of ultimate patience, tolerance, and understanding.
And it is automatic. I don’t remember any devotees that I know ever having to take courses or read self-help books on how to love one another or treat others with respect and compassion. But these qualities are always present in every devotee that I’ve ever spoken with at New Goloka and those around the world who follow Srila Prabhupada’s teaching, especially coming through you, Srila Gurudeva.
You are the prime example of a Vraja-vasi. You take the milk of Srila Prabhupada’s teaching and deliver it in many forms such as your wonderful lectures in which you constantly quote Srila Prabhupada and the Vedic literatures. You deliver the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra to those fallen souls who have forgotten the yuga-dharma. And you allow others to assist you in your Krishna conscious activities, so that they get a taste for practical devotional service.
So although there are no proper words to express my gratitude, THANK YOU for creating this environment in which the “change of heart” is possible, even under adverse circumstances. I hope to remain eternally…

Your servant,
Gopal das

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
As I am thinking what to say, realizing my inability to find the right words to glorify such a great devotee like you, I suddenly open the Caitanya Caritamrita and see that the right words are already there. The verse I am reading is as follows: “One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the personality of Krishna. Lord Krishna manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord.” I find this verse very inspiring because it clearly states the great care and compassion that the Lord has for the bewildered souls. He appears internally as the Supersoul and externally as the spiritual master to guide us back home where we actually belong. In my own life, I experienced the loss of a vaishnava who is very dear to my heart, but I never experienced that the Lord was not taking care of me. Therefore I feel very grateful that I have been placed under your shelter. You are completely dedicated to the service of Srila Prabhupada, and as such, you teach us by your personal example and also through your inspiring lectures. Your instructions are always very practical and realistic. The way you take care of each devotee is very personal and full of love just like a parent for the helpless child.
It is impossible to repay you for everything you do for us. All I can do is pray that I may follow the example of the brahmana in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes that was studying the Bhagavad-gita although he was illiterate. People used to make fun of him, but when Lord Caitanya approached him, he explained that he was instructed by his guru to study Bhagavad-gita every day. He was unable to read, but still just by seeing the picture of Krishna as Arjuna’s chariot driver, tears would come to his eyes, and he would cry in ecstasy. Lord Caitanya embraced him because he had full faith in the instructions of his spiritual master. So in a similar way, I pray that I will always follow your instructions and thus attain the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
Thank you for all your kindness.
Your servant,
Govinda das
Please accept my humble obeisance.

I am fortunate to have your association and the warm care of Your Grace.

You are very compassionate towards fallen souls like me. You are always eager to help anyone in Krishna Consciousness in any circumstances.

You are always blissful and happy. Kindly make me also happy like you.

All my difficulties have disappeared ever since I have taken shelter of
Your Grace.

All glories to Srila Bir Krishna Das Goswami Maharaja.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Your aspiring servant,

Hemant

Srila Bir Krishna Das Goswami,
All glories to Radha-Golokanand. All glories to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His Associates. All glories to all vaishnav spiritual masters.
On this occasion of His Divine Grace, Srila Gurudev’s appearance day, we, along with our children, pray to Radha-Golokananda to give Your Honor, physical and spiritual strength and many more years on this earth planet to preach the message of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and distribute the love of God to the fallen souls like us.
Progress from a trailer abode of Radha-Golokananda in 1984 to the present temple premise, is a testimony to the efforts of pure devotees under the guidance of spiritual master, Srila Bir Krishna Maharajji. We feel the presence of Krishna here. With the association of pure devotees and by following the instructions of our spiritual masters, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Krishna, we have been trying to serve Krishna in a very insignificant way. The responsibility for our slow progress is entirely ours for the lack of efforts. However, we will continue to follow the instructions of our spiritual masters, and make progress, which otherwise is not possible without the mercy of our spiritual master.
Therefore, we seek your mercy.

Your well-wisher,
Indradyumana Das and Sarasvatidevi Dasi

 
Dear Bir Krishna Goswami,

Please accept my most humle obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this most auspicious day of your appearance I pray that Their Lordship Sri Sri Gaura Nitai will always inspire you in your great service to Srila Prabhupada. You are so merciful to let me take shelter by your lotus feet as your siksa disciple. Please bless me so that I will get the strength to accept your mercy, the mercy you always have toward everyone. You care for everybody’s spiritual life, and you do always have time to listen when that is needed.

All glories to your lotus feet. We show our love for Srila Prabhupada
by the way we are able to cooperate after his disappearance. May you, as a disciple of His Divine Grace give us the mercy to follow your good examples. I pray to Lord Narasimhadeva to always protect you my dear spiritual uncle, so that you can fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Your insignificant servant,

Isabhakti d.d. Denmark

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Your
Grace.

My concept of you changes as I advance in Krsna Consciousness. It’s offensive to try to understand or speculate about the mind of a vaisnava. But I can’t help thinking that there must be something extraordinary and wonderful going on. I see you chanting with utter absorption but I have no idea what that it like for you.

I respect you more and more for the risk you have taken to save people-just being a guru in Kali Yuga. More and more I am becoming terrified at the thought of being in your position as a guru. People are so disgruntled in this age. Even though you have done nothing wrong, at any one time there are a number of people who are unhappy with you. People have subtle expectations and all kinds of heavy psychological things that they will lay on you. Still I think you are unaffected on some level. My evidence for this is that one time you made a statement that if you have to suffer for someone, that is your loving exchange with the person. Some way that exchange is happening–consciousness affecting consciousness.

It’s heavy what you are doing. Thank you for doing it

Your servant,

Jagadguru das

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glory to Your Divine Grace. All glory to Srila Prabhupada. All glory to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha
Golokananda.

I would like to express heartfelt gratitude for all the guidance and training you have given to me throughout the years. By your mercy our preaching service is carrying on. Somehow so many souls are coming- so hungry for spiritual life- so eager to reconnect with Krishna- so willing to chant the Lord’s Holy Names. I marvel at the opportunities unfolding and flourishing before me…

How is this possible?

Only by your mercy- your faith in me, and your continued support have made this all possible.

So I bow myself before you and pray to become a pure instrument for you and for Srila Prabhupada.

Please bless me that this wish may be fulfilled…

Your servant,

Jahnavi dd

 
Leon, Gto. Mexico. 2002.
Querido Maestro espiritual.
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada. Todas las glorias a Bir Krsna Goswami. Por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias a sus pies de loto.
nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das goswamin itinamine

namahamsa nicasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudrida sudhi nistabhya tasya vakya nuvadine

Gurudeva, en mi corazon quisera ser un gran poeta y poder describir el dia mas hermoso, el dia que usted nacio. Grande es el dia de su Viasapuya, pues a mis ojos en este dia se alegra toda la creacion. Auspicioso es este dia en los tres mundos, pero mas afortunada es la tierra, bendecida por Krsna en el momento de su aparicion. Yo me siento el alma mas afortunada al tener como maestro a un alma tan rendida como lo es Bir Krsna Goswami.
Desde mi corazon mis oraciones se elevan a Krsna para que yo pueda seguirlo y servirlo con amor y devocion vida tras vida.

Humildemente, su eterna sirviente,

Jambavati dd

Jai Srila Gurudeva! vyasapuja 2002

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Krishna has arranged recently that I’m going through lots of old stuff and I found some of the cartoons you had me draw. I’ve never been an artist, but by your empowerment, I was able to draw cartoons. 🙂

And I found some pictures of you. Unloading yogurt. And is that hay in the temple room?!

I dreamed I came to visit Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and I couldn’t find Them anywhere. There were so many big opulent buildings and streets and pathways all along Dimmock’s Mill Road. I finally got to this huge new temple room and walked and walked and walked to get to the altar, and there They were; the size They are now, but on a huge altar in a huge Deity room.

Best wishes as always! I’m still here.

Your worthless servant,

Jamuna devi dasi

 
Dear Bir Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

nyasin dayalo tava pada-sangamat
ktarthata me ‘dya babhuva durlabha
sri-knapadabja-madhunmada ca sa
yatha tariyami duranta-sastim

“O merciful renunciant, today by the touch of your feet I have achieved an extremely rare gift, by which every desire of mine is now fulfilled. That gift is the intoxicating honey of Sri Krsna’s lotus feet. By tasting that honey I shall surmount the otherwise insurmountable ocean of birth and death.”

When I try to praise exalted Vaisnavas, and when I attempt to describe the glories of the Vaisnavas, I simply become tongue- tied and mute due to my envious snake-like nature.

This year was very special for me in many ways. And I can honestly say that my best moments and days in this year I have spend in your association. Your humor, practical and spiritual instructions, and view for spreading this mission of Lord Caitanyadeva are very much appreciated by this unqualified servant of yours. Hundreds of times I offer my prostrated dandavats to you and to ALL of your most fortunate disciples. I beg you to continue to shower the blessings upon me, because the mercy of the vaisnavas is all I am made of.

I wish you many long years to live, and many miles to travel for the sake of the service to the Spiritual Master.

Your servant,

Janaka Mahajana Dasa
Merciful Bir Krsna das Goswami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to thank you for giving me Prabhupada. Because when I see how enthusiastic you are serving your Guru, then Prabhupada is much closer to me and thanks to you I also have a relationship with Prabhupada.

I am lucky because Krsna is so merciful, giving me a super endless source of enthusiasm in you. It is so powerful because I myself could not do anything alone. Everything is because of mercy. Thanks to your example my motives and qualities are purified.

I pray to Krsna every day that it will be like this forever.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Your everservant,

Jayaradhe devi dasi

 
Dear Gurudeva

Please accept my obeisances at your feet always and especially on the day of your appearance. All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada!

This past year has been a time of a great change in my life. By analyzing the situation, I have concluded, that the changes are almost exclusively caused by my coming in contact with you. You have encouraged me in so many ways to seek new directions and sources of inspiration, that I have felt scared most of the time. However, in retrospect I have in each case concluded, that the changes have been very good for me, most of all by causing me to get rid of any ideas related to stagnation caused by hanging too tightly in my old paradigms about what is an ideal way to practice spiritual life. You have forced me to give up at least some part of the accumulated dust which has made my heart look like an old closet from Soviet Union time filled with old bureaucratic garbage rhetoric. In some ways I have felt that there is a Berlin wall within my heart, which you are kindly digging away and it hurts! Yet it is also the greatest fun at the same time.

By trying to follow your advice and suggestions, I have come to see that most unexpected things may take place, if one condition is fulfilled. On the background there must be the order and blessings of the spiritual master. I have previously known this theoretically, yet never experienced it in practice. I guess this is the real beginning of my spiritual life. You have accepted me as your disciple and also in a very real way fulfilled your part of the deal by giving your time, guidance and in instructions in such abundance! These have been accompanied by clever encouragement.

All I can do is to thank you with all sincerity and ask your blessings to be able to continue on this exciting and demanding path of trying to act according to your instructions.

You are so far from my previous stereotyped, perhaps also somewhat impersonally idealized ideas about what a spiritual master is or should be like. And despite this, now that I have come in contact with you, I cannot think of anything but that you are the best possible person to guide me towards the spiritual world. I am so happy for that now. I am
convinced that you have fully captured in your own unique way the
revolutionary spirit, with which Srila Prabhupada came and established Krishna Consciousness outside India and later in India as well. This spirit is a revolution against dogmatism, stagnation and party-spirit, which will appear in any society, even within those striving towards
Krishna-loka. I have seen, that you are constantly looking for and open
to new ways to spread Krishna-consciousness. This is very relevant for me, since I have been covered for so long by those enemies within. I have been more stagnant than any society. I am still, and I beg you to kindly help me to continue to struggle against such a tendency to grow
stale and old in my spiritual life.

For me it is inspiring to think of Krishna consciousness as a
revolutionary movement. Yet, more inspiring and significant still is the grass-root-level revolution that you have silently caused within my heart, by giving me new and fresh spiritual oxygen. You are doing this work constantly and tirelessly and it makes me wonder, how can you go
on like that. Again and again it is a proof for me that your driving force is to please your own spiritual master and other devotees. This is the real essence of spiritual revolution, to find ever new and creative ways to penetrate the artillery of the conditioned souls, which says “No new
ideas here, please ! Keep them out, next lifetime perhaps we’ll see.”
Of course, Krishna consciousness is the oldest idea, but as Lord Krishna is ever fresh and youthful, so are the ways to introduce and inspire conditioned souls to His service. It is my personal experience, that you are full of that youthful and ever-fresh spirit.

Thank you, dear Gurudeva, for so kindly sharing that spirit with me and with all the other spirit souls that come in contact with you.

Your servant,
Jayananda das

nama om vishnu padaya krishna prestaya bhutule
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my most sincere obeisances on this most glorious day of your appearance. Jaya! All glories, all glories, all glories to you, my dearmost spiritual master! Here is a little story for your pleasure.

Somehow or other, one day during the 51st year of Lord Brahma, sometime around noon, Lord Krishna descended to the earth planet as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the mood of Srimati Radharani
to taste the pleasure of Srimati Radharani’s love for Him. Well, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a plan. He was going to inundate the entire world with love of Krishna by inaugurating the Sri Sankirtana movement in every town and village. Lord Chaitanya gave His word that He would send someone to save the fallen souls and continue His Sankirtana movement in the age of Kali Yuga.

Well, Bhaktivinoda Thakur knew of this person and proclaimed that this messenger was on the way. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati also knew and on first meeting Abhay Charan De ordered him to preach this message of Love of Godhead to the impersonal and atheistic populations of the Western World. This messenger of Sri Mahaprabhu, known dearly as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, prayed to his guru that despite having no money, suffering heart attacks, and advancing in age that he may somehow or other touch the hearts of the young people of this Western World. As it so happens, Srila Prabhupada inspired one young singer to sing…to sing a song so beautiful it wooed the hearts of millions, a song in praise of his “Sweet Lord”.

Amongst the millions, one young student was captivated. Captivated by the song, the sweet tune of Hare Krishna. Captivated by the messenger, a distinguished and knowledgeable guru who was waiting with open
up-raised arms for these young wayward servants of Krishna to come home. Somehow or other this student was so very captivated that he threw all materialism away to take up this sweet chant of Hare Krishna. He knew he had found his purpose in life- to lovingly serve his dearmost spiritual master with every breath- in mind, word, and deed. The pursuits of this young sannyasi somehow or other took him to the backwoods of North Carolina. Amongst the pine trees and orange mud, he envisioned a temple where lost souls could eat prasadam, chant, and be free.

About 15 years down the road, somehow or other one particular lost soul came wandering into this temple. She had been praying. Praying for something she knew not quite what. She was given that sweet chant of
“Hare Krishna” and she saw the sannyasi, heard him speak, and her heart was captivated. And somehow or other having taken shelter of that sannyasi she is here amongst us today celebrating the glorious appearance of the sannyasi who was inspired by a song to seek out the messenger who was instructed by his guru to fulfill a prophecy given to the world by Love of God personified, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is none other than our “Sweet Lord” with three-fold bending form, blooming eyes like lotus petals playing on a flute- Sri Krishna.

Happy Appearance Day Srila Gurudeva! Life would be meaningless without you.

Your servant,

Jayasri dd

 
Dear Bir Krishna Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja!
Words cannot properly express the indebtedness I feel towards you. I am often amazed at how fortunate I am that I have come under your care. Krishna has certainly blessed this wretched and undeserving soul.
This last year has been devastating for all of us, having lost one of Krishna’s dear devotees. Although my beloved spiritual master is not physically present, I very much feel that he is still guiding and protecting me as he has always done.
In your presence, I am able to remember my spiritual master, and I am very thankful to you for this. You remind me of his hopes for me as his disciple – that I take Krishna consciousness seriously and to endeavor to go back home to Krishna.
Please allow me to stay under your shelter and guide me so that I may fulfill the desire of my spiritual master.
Praying to remain your servant,
Kalindi devi dasi

Dear Bir Krishna Maharaj,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I appreciate how you maintain the essence of Krishna Consciousness for yourself and inspire it in your followers and associates while so expertly taking advantage of, respecting, and working within, the existing cultural surroundings for everyone’s best spiritual benefit.

I am also comforted and inspired that, while your internal revelations and reciprocations clearly run deep, you maintain a demeanor that powerfully conveys that spiritual life is in no way to be taken cheaply.

In appreciation, and with my prayers for your good health and longevity in service to Srila Prabhupada, I remain

Your servant,

Kamra devi dasi

 
Dear Gurudev,
Happy Birthday!! Jaya Prabhupada! Jaya Gurudeva! Jaya Radha-Golokananda! Jaya Hanuman! Have a nice birthday!
Your servant,
Kapila das

 
Dear Srila Gurudev,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Golokananda.
It is almost nine years since we have taken shelter at your lotus feet to deliver us from the miseries of material life, Kali yuga specifically.
In the 12th Canto text 31 of Srimad Bhagavatam it is stated that, “Because of the bad qualities of the age of Kali, human beings will become shortsighted, unfortunate, gluttonous, lustful and poverty-stricken.”
As we progress deep into Kali yuga these symptoms will become more and more prominent. All of these symptoms, other sinful activities and their adverse reactions are already visible in this 5102 year of Kali – and looking at it, we do not have strength to live through the rest of the age.
We are extremely pleased to have you as our spiritual master. Your presence always feels like an oasis in this desert of Kali yuga and forever gives us hope of deliverance. We are looking forward to serving you lifetime after lifetime.
Your Humble Disciples,
Kardamamuni das Devahuti dasi Gaurang das Radhika dasi and Anuradha devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you!
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja, I thank Lord Krishna for giving me an opportunity to think of His pure devotee and worship him.
My respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Your servant,
Kesava dasa

 
Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada.

Another year has gone by and still I am struggling to get out of the swamp, while all along my extraordinary Guru is there beside me reaching out a limb for me to grab. You Srila Gurudeva, always remain fixed and undisturbed in Krishna consciousness. You are so giving, always kind and loving. You teach by your example. When you encounter obstacles, you are able to surmount them, quickly. I feel the purity of your consciousness. You know how to spiritually awaken this struggling soul. I have no words to even begin to tell you how extraordinary and wonderful you are, all I do know is just how very, very grateful and thankful I am, and how it is so fortunate to have this honor and privilege to have your extremely inspiring, wonderful association, especially when I don’t deserve it.

May you always be blessed to continue to carry out Srila Prabhupada’s
mission to all the souls.

Your struggling servant,

Kirtida

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you. I really want to thank you for everything that you have done for me, I feel it is difficult to put in words how much that is, but especially you have taught me steadiness and patience in the process and that by following strictly we will achieve our eternal love for Krishna.
By your blessings, practical help, trustworthiness, constant endeavor to please Srila Prabhupada, classes, advice and well-whishing thoughts you have been able to change me into a different person.
Intelligently you engage me in Sri Sri Radha Golokananda’s service and
They intelligently engage me in your service. After all I cannot approach
Them without you. When serving you, cooking for you and cleaning your house etc, I feel very much connected to Krishna and I am happy to be allowed to serve you like this. It is like a special gift that Krishna has given. I am very grateful that you are not deceiving us, even if I would rather want something else, you still always give me Krishna, either by your words, by your example or by having Krishna teach me a lesson.
I have seen how you are not expecting honor for yourself. For example sometimes you do menial service at the temple, also you give credit or praise to the devotees when they do something, small or big, for
Krishna. You encourage everyone to accept devotional service according to their capacity and even if people apparently say things about you that a common man would not appreciate, you are not effected, rather I see you follow Srila Prabhupada’s example and instructions, both in so called happiness and distress.
You have tried teaching me that we can only be happy when we give our hearts to Krishna. This is not an easy thing to learn though, but by seeing you do this in practical life gives me evidence that it works and is the best thing to do. Hopefully one day I will be able to follow in your footsteps in this regard.
Thank you again for allowing me to serve you and being so patient and kind towards me. Please bless me so that no matter where I will go I will never be bereft of your association or the association of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

Your aspiring servant and daughter,
Krsangi devi dasi
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.

I am so fortunate to be here with you today celebrating your appearance, more fortunate than I can begin to understand. Even among vaishnavas you stand out because of your exceptional purity and mercy. Your entire heart is with Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and Srila Prabhupada; we know this because your entire life is dedicated to the welfare of Their devotees.

In the material world, the conditioned souls are always searching for love, because that is our eternal nature, but the love we find is never without condition, never free from pain and anxiety. It cannot save us. It is your love, great and unwavering, that will save us if we will take your desires and instructions and hold them in our hearts and intelligence. Every moment that we let ourselves believe that we can save ourselves, find our own happiness by wading through the endless waves of mundane morality, desires, goals and affections that hourly arise and turnover in our minds from the constant battle of the material modes of nature, we cover ourselves in darkness and bring suffering into our once blissful hearts.

I am suffering in this material world, Srila Gurudeva, because I have forgotten that I have nothing here. I have only your instructions, your unconditional love and mercy to save me. For this I am your eternally indebted servant, a position far more wonderful than anything I could ever wish for. And although you have allowed me to be your servant, I have nothing to offer you, except that I am still here and I am not going away, for whatever direction maya pulls me, Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and yourself are so kind that you do not let me forget that you are always and forever my spiritual master and I am always

Your Servant,

Krsnaa devi dasi

Dear Bir Krsna das Goswami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to thank you from my heart for all the mercy that you have been giving me over this past year.

I am sorry that I do not have yet enough determination, to repay you the debt by helping you in your mission to Prabhupada.

I am happy that your lectures, instructions and personal example have helped me in my spiritual life.

I will still stay hoping, on your undeserved mercy, to get free from the
anarthas quicker, to be constantly engaged in serving you.

Your servant,

Krsnanandini dd

 
Dear Srila Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your appearance day.

I am very thankful to you for your divine mercy upon me by giving me shelter of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and Their sincere devotees, but at the same time I miss my husband, Gopal prabhu all the time who brought me here.

I pray to your lotus feet to forgive all the offenses that I commit to you and all other devotees.
Hare Krishna!

Your servant,

Krishna Priya dasi

 
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All
glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance.

Where to begin?
I would like to thank you for always setting such a wonderful example by your unmotivated devotional service to Srila Prabhupada. I remember years ago I was always amazed by your strictness with your sadhana, but now I can appreciate it even more and understand how unusual it is to actually be able to be so steady in devotional service. You are conservative and at the same time so radical in your ability to be flexible in order to push on Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

What can I even say?
Everyone can see how you are always traveling and giving your heart to all of the devotees and bringing them closer to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. Thank you for being so practical and having such a clear perspective on Krsna consciousness. Thank you for being so sane in this crazy material world.

This year I saw you pained in a way that I had never seen before over the separation of your close god brother, Srila Tamala Krsna Goswami. Your love for him and appreciation of his association gave me a glimpse of what are real vaisnava relationships. I saw you immediately reaching out to his disciples as a loving uncle.

As I write this offering you are actually in Fiji. I was thinking how by serving there, where Tamala Krsna Goswami had established Krsna consciousness, and helping his followers and friends, you are also associating with him again. Of course what can I begin to understand of great vaisnava’s whose only desires are to please Srila Prabhupada.

As far as myself, some how or other I was destined to come into your association so many years ago. I have seen how your devotional service is always growing. I have tried to be faithful and loyal in my service but still I can understand that I have not always been so easy to work with. Thank you for tolerating me and allowing me to have the shelter and protection of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda.

Please forgive me for all of my offenses.

Your insignificant servant,

Krsnapriya devi dasi

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

On the most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja I am offering you the most humble obeisances I can.

As my mind buries my face into the dust of your lotus feet, my soul sores to the sky calling out, ” all glories to the most merciful Srila Prabhupada, for he has given me my most glorious Srila Gurudeva!”

By your appearance on this day it has been made sacred. You have purely taken up the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Receiving knowledge of the absolute truth from Srila Prabhupada, who is in an unbroken line of teachers stemming from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you are carefully executing the process of Bhakti Yoga. Doing so with great patience, determination, enthusiasm, and sobriety, you have achieved the highest level of service, that is you have become qualified to make disciples all over the world, and just as Srila Prabhupada did for his disciples… you will guide us back home back to Godhead. You are our wonderful, super-excellent and fantastic direct representative of Krsna ,the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

On the anniversary of your appearance on earth to save the fallen conditioned souls it would only be proper to offer you all the beautiful, opulent and great things this planet holds! Shamefully I have no ability to offer you these things. I have very few things I can call my own, and none of them come close to the perfect gifts that you deserve, and that I desire to give you. So I apologize as I humbly offer you everything that I can…

Srila Gurudeva I offer you my untamed freewill, that by your expert skill, and gentle hand can be trained to dance at your command.

I offer you my body, although it is on loan from this material world, and beg you to forgive me for the damage that is done. Had I realized what a precious gift it was I would never have trashed it in the service of my senses. If I had more than one I would offer you the better but I have only this damaged one to give. Yet with your blessings, I am sure where it falls short, in time it will recover.

I offer you my soul with a promise attached, that as long as it is covered and contaminated by this material world, I’ll chant the Maha mantra, Krsna’s purifying names, and honor Krsna prasada so that it will become clean.

And Gurudeva, I saved this one for last because I needed it to offer you the rest… and that is my love and devotion given to you, Krsna’s direct representative eternally.

Begging always to remain

Your servant,

Bhaktin Leah

 
namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das gosvamin it namine
namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudrdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine

Dear Bir Krishna das Goswami,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this special day of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to you and your beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.

With great determination and deep devotion you are carrying Lord
Caitanya’s message, and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, to the fallen souls of this rotten material world. Due to your steadfast enthusiasm you inspire others to continue on the spiritual path of Krishna consciousness.

Maharaja, my devotion is like the Northern lights mystically appearing and flickering for a while to disappear again in the darkness of maya.
Without your “distribution of electricity” my sky would remain lightless. Your causeless mercy is the source for my devotional service. I depend on your caring attention in my spiritual life. Please accept my eternal thanks for being so merciful and patient with me.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

I wish my unstable and flickering devotion to Lord Krishna and Lord
Caitanya would change to brilliant sunshine one day. Then I would be able to serve you properly in the way you really deserve.

Your siksa-disciple and humble servant,

Mamata-mayi dasi

Dear Gurudev,
Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace!!! All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Some devotees have suggested to me that my husband should be my ultimate guide and authority. But, how can this be so? Srila Prabhupada did not tell married women to only consult with and take instructions from their husbands regarding spiritual affairs and to put the husband higher than their gurumaharaj. He even encouraged his own wife to take diksha from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (although she foolishly chose not to). It is very hard to find a good husband in this Kali yuga and even more difficult to find a bonafide guru such as yourself. We should all be so enthusiastic to have your association and to serve you nicely.
My husband and I both trust you completely to guide our family and would be struggling terribly if we did not have you anchoring us to this community. With your encouragement we are enthusiastic to stay here at New Goloka. Kapila is more attached to you than you may think and will hopefully be able to serve you nicely in the future.
Happy Appearance Day!!! Please forgive me for my offenses. Begging to remain….
Your aspiring servant,
Mandakini d.d.

Leon, Gto Mexico.
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.
nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das goswamin itinamine

namahamsa nicasaya prabhupada pradayate
sudrida sudhi nistabhyam tasya vakya nuvadine

Querido Gurudeva:

Doy gracias a Krsna por haber permitido que llegara una vez mas este dia tan importante, su Viasa Puya. Doy gracias a Krsna por haber permitido que un ser tan especial como usted viniera a este mundo material a iluminar y salvar a tantas personas tan necesitadas de amor y de entendimiento. Principalmentea mi, que soy la mas caida de todas ellas; y que solo por la misericordia sin causa de Krsna y por ser Usted la piedad encarnada en un alma es que me ha aceptado como su sirvienta. Por favor permitame pedirle sus bendiciones para poder continuar en Conciencia de Krsna, ya que por mi misma nunca podre cruzar este oceano de la existencia material. Y permitame tambien por favor postrarme a la sombra de sus pies de loto.

Su mas humilde sirvienta,

Manmohini dd

 
Hare Krsna

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Dear Srila Gurudeva, I am thankful to you that you accepted me as your disciple. I have no qualifications that you want me to have, please forgive my ignorance and please guide me in the path of spiritual life. I hope I will be able to listen to you when you want to preach to me about the glories of the Holy Name.

Your disciple,

Man Mohini

Dearest Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you on this most auspicious day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you so very much for blessing me with the faith that to really follow you and to try to repay my debt to you, I must develop your mood of kindness and under-take all kinds of risks to help the less fortunate understand the urgency of the human form of life. You have blessed me, and others, with a spiritual family who share this faith and have helped to nurture this small devotional creeper which would have otherwise wilted and perished by now. But, most importantly you have
blessed me with constant reminders that despite my insignificance I can still render service to you and the Vaisnavas, and that some day I too, can become pure enough to bring the same inspiration, hope, and faith
to others, just as you have done with me and many other souls. I continually aspire to serve you in this mood so that your mercy becomes more & more manifest in this contaminated souls heart and only by constant vigilance in this daily application of meditating on your
instruction will I be able to purify this heart giving me the strength to serve you more. Even thought we have many varieties of activities that we can do in devotional service, Krsna has given a specific opinion
in this regard. He states:

naham ijya-prajatibham
tapasopasamena-va
tusyeyam sarva-bhutatma
guru-susrusaya yatha
“I, the Soul of all beings, am not as satisfied by ritual worship,
brahminical initiation, penances or self-discipline as I am by faithful
service rendered to one’s spiritual master.”

Please help me to make this my life and soul, and never allow me to lose this most precious spiritual gift that you have given me!
Thank you very much!
Trying to be the Servant of your Servants!
Markandeya Rsi Dasa Brahmacari
All glories all glories to Bir Krishna Goswami.

Please accept this inadequate glorification of Your Holiness.
All glories to all of the thankless services you are performing.
All glories to all the love and compassion you are giving freely.
All glories to your laughter and humor.
All glories to your continuous and steady sadhana.
All glories to your enthusiasm with the children.
All glories to your endless tolerance.
All glories to all of your wonderful glories…

Mathura dasa

 
Hare Krishna!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to you Srila Bir Krishna!
Dear Gurudeva,
Please know that you are always present when I chant the Holy Names of Krishna, which I continue to do with love and devotion.
May Krishna always keeps you in good health and blesses your heart!
Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Mitravinda dasi

 
Dear Gurudev!

Please accept my humble obeisances!

Thank you very much for giving me shelter guidance and inspiration to finally leave this material place of constant illusions.

Your servant,

Mudrasya devi dasi.

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Hare Krishna! Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!!
Due to your blessings and encouragement our new house in Richmond has also become a spiritual oasis meant for spreading Krishna consciousness, and is already meeting with some success. Being spiritually trained in the temple under your guidance and assisting in the upkeep of the temple has greatly prepared me for maintaining a nice house and preaching center, though I still fall short in many ways. Actually, you are still continually training me in spiritual life as I listen to one of your classes practically every morning as I cook for the day. (I think Jayasri is even a little disturbed on those rare occasions when I am listening to someone else give class!) Your teachings are always very clear, simple, practical, and greatly appreciated.
I ask that you please accept our preaching activities as an ongoing offering to you.

Your servant,
Muralidhara dasa

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.
This is the first Vyasa-puja offering wherein I am addressing you as “Gurudeva”. Before this it was always just “Maharaja” and for a long time I wanted to keep it impersonal like that. Although it is an essential part of Krishna consciousness to develop a personal relationship both with Krishna and His devotees, often it would feel easier to place God in outer-space and keep distance from Him and anyone who might give some instructions – especially unwanted ones – in spiritual life.
By time I have learned to appreciate true personalism in you. When I see how carefully you are dealing with different persons, taking into account their different situations and circumstances (and the modes of nature they are affected by) it reminds me how I saw you cooking. You took part of the pasta out of the pot and examined it very closely. Then you even took off your eyeglasses to see better whether it was ready or not.
In a similar way you are cooking our hearts, but your recipe is devotional service, your pots are Vedic literature, your fire is love of God and your spices are your instructions. Some of us need low heat and some high while medium is good for others – and all the time you must stay attentive to notice when it is necessary to raise or reduce the heat so that no one would be burnt nor stay raw. Some of us are tasteless and need salt when pepper is needed for others. Sometimes you even have to take a knife and cut off some bad or rotten parts.
It takes a lot of time and patience to cook each of us nicely and arrange a feast for Krishna but you take the time and trouble to serve Him. A symptom of a devotee is that he is using all his time in devotional service being unwilling to waste a minute. I am always amazed to see how time is like expanding for you in such a way that you are able to do so much for Krishna.
I am pretty raw still and very far from a good disciple who would say, “Yes, Gurudeva”, for your every instruction – and do accordingly. However, you take it into account and sometimes I just notice afterwards that actually you are leading me all the time and only letting me keep an illusion (for a while) that I would be the chief cook here and the one to make all decisions. That is your real compassion; to see how spiritual souls are struggling, suffering and screaming in their conditioned state and then trick them to receive your mercy since in many cases they might be unwilling to accept it voluntarily, not knowing their own good.
The primary instruction you gave in my initiation was to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. I wish that I would always remember you and never forget you, since only through your instructions and example there is a chance to reach the goal – pure, personal relationship with God – or even desire to reach it.
I am only afraid that you have to keep cooking a long time. But, please do.
Desiring to desire to be your servant,
Nandarani devi dasi

 
GAITHERSBURG, MD October 2002
Dear Srila Bir Krishna Maharaj,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
We are all slowly progressing in the spiritual path by your blessings. You are working tirelessly to spread the glories of Lord Krishna and preach the Absolute truth. You are an exemplary Vaishnava saint.
As is evident from the recent demoniac and terrorist acts that destroyed so many innocent human lives, this age of kali is degrading exactly as was predicted in Srimad Bhagavatam. In the name of religion, people are acting irreligiously with demoniac mentality. The only hope, that can save people from this, is to take shelter of a Guru like you who has completely dedicated his life for spreading Krishna Consciousness. You place Krishna ahead of your health. It is certainly by Srila Prabhupad’s mercy and divine arrangement you are in a key leadership role in GBC to tackle the various problems. My brother told me that you have very wonderful devotees in Finland and other Scandinavian countries, who follow Krishna Consciousness very strictly because of your preaching power.
We are very fortunate to have you as our spiritual master. Many a time, we have observed that by the power of your eloquent expression of the message of Lord Krishna, people including the first time listeners become very attached to Lord Krishna.
On the auspicious day of your appearance, we pray Lord Krishna to bestow His mercy upon you.
Acharyam mam vijaniyam nava manyeta karhicit
na martya budhya’suyeta sarva devamayo guruh
Very Sincerely Yours,

Narottama Das (Chakrapani Basavaraju) Nagaratnam, Adilakshmi,
Sridhar (Syamananda das)
My father is a miracle man.

He is my father though he has never met my mother.

He is a tireless knight, fighting against fanaticism, and love is his sword.

He has hundreds of daughters and sons and still he always has time for
me.

I was living with a person who hated the idea of marriage. My mighty
father made him marry me although he lives on another continent and my husband has never even talked with him. My father is always giving me great advice how to deal with this person.

I was knocking and kicking and crying on Heaven’s door till he suddenly
came with sister Gayatri and opened it for me. Now I am walking in the light toward Krishna.

I thank Krishna that He still hasn’t taken away from us this noble
Gurudeva, who is very dear to Him.

Thank you for being there, Daddy!

Your silliest daughter,

Nata

Most dear Bir Krsna Maharaja!

Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet!
All glories to you!

All glories to you, so kind, gentle and merciful person!

Although I am not your disciple, I so wished to write a few lines for your birthday, your Vyasa-puja day. I hope that you don`t mind.

Still, I have not met you in person, but since we have written each other many letters since the month of January, I found out many things about you. And now I will write them with all my pleasure, and from the debt of my heart. That will be my little attempt to glorify you on this special day.

How I see you?

I thought a lot about this question, and now I am finding many nice answers!

First of all I see you like a wonderful siksa guru to me, that from every letter I found something that I could use in my spiritual life. Many times your letters and words came to me at the right moment, and I was always thankful to Krsna for having such mercy. Cause He allowed me to have such a nice relationship with such a great vaishnava, and that is you.

Many times I also thought and said to myself, ” He is the best uncle that I ever had, and just think of the moment that I will meet him soon, all my body becomes restless”. But also I bow down my head in shame and thought that I can`t really think of that on that way. Because I am so low, and do not deserve that at all. ” Who do you think that you are?- I asked myself. But you are continuously more and more kind to me.

Sometimes I also see you like a friend. It is also one of the relationships between Krsna and His dearmost disciples. Sometimes devotees like to be friends with Krsna, like cowheard boys when playing with Him in the Vrindavana forest. When you are giving me advice I see you like my dearmost friend.
Wonderful is that you want and wish to help every person, you are always giving your best. In the end of everyone of your letters ” Well wisher”-that is really you.

Your singing is so lovely, so I also see you like a great musician. “Hanuman” is the best of all.

A great manager, without you there would not be beautifully growing New Goloka , and beautiful Sri Sri Radha Golokananda.

A worker? From the very beginning you built the temple and what ever is needed to be done and fixed.

A pilgrim, who travels to India, and many other places, enlightening all the people with knowledge, and now also in my country the G.B.C. I never saw how you act like the G.B.C. but I guess that you will be here doing many things. Personally I think that with your kind heart you will bring devotees closer, to cooperate more. That you will come here often to Serbia and help us, and in the near future be in the opening of our Gaura Nitai temple.

Strange, but also a great cook. You are cooking one day a week for the devotees. It is unbelievable. But it is you, humble. It must be very tasty preparations, so that devotees let you to cook that one day.

To end, I see you like a wonderful person in which in every moment we can take shelter, like I have seen many examples. I remember many pictures with a lot of children in your lap, and many around you.

That is how I see you, my humble way to show you all gratitude for all you did for me.

Your humble and fallen servant,

bhn. Natalia from Serbia

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Some years ago I had the idea that I could make spiritual progress by my own strength and determination. As result of that attitude I was repeatedly frustrated in the face of different obstacles and difficulties in my spiritual life.

Until, by Krishna’s grace, once I had a dream that I was a small child and that you were feeding me by your own hand, just like a parent.
As I woke up in the morning and remembered the dream I realized what my problem was – I had forgotten that I was completely dependent on your mercy, just like a small child is fully dependent on the care of his parents. As I realized that, I felt the spiritual strength and confidence entering my heart again.

Many times you tell me that I am staunch, so I wanted to tell you through this incident that I indeed have no strength on my own.

On this most auspicious day I pray that I may never again forget my dependence on your mercy and that I may develop true humility and service attitude, which qualify one to receive that mercy.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this nice community and for tolerating my shortcomings.

I beg to always remain in your service,

Your insignificant servant & daughter,

Nitai-lila dd

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada and to Your Divine Grace.

Happy Appearance Day Srila Gurudeva. It looks like I will miss another
great feast! Missing you as always. Praying to see you in India 2003.

Your servant and forgotten son,

Nityananda dasa

Serious and astute, sober and grave,
Advancing my sloth, inspiring the courage to brave
Moments of weakness, and poorness of spirit
His life embodied in sound, He allows me to hear it

My Spiritual master, easy to befriend,
Yet firm to follow, austerity to lend
Fortitude beauty, so easily seen
Impossible to imitate, from so much to wean

Before I even call out. He has helped me ten times
If I would only remember His siksa in rhymes
Shadow His glory, with sentiment immature,
Neglecting the true path, He will weather and endure

Until His merciful thoughts, words, and speech,
Pierce through my darkness, within enlightening reach
And guide me to fortune, of internal balm,
Deafening my madness, with absolute calm

Amidst daily duties of frolicking folly,
I often miss the boat, the Sankirtana trolley
Overlooking the captain, the messages served
His most simple expressions, steeped in the deserved

Beckon my actions to be practical and sincere
And easily bypass, the nescience, and fear
Gradually evolve through pieties call
To the transcendent feet, of my Guru’s Lord of All

Panca Tattva dasa

Dear Bir Krishna das Goswami,

Congratulations and all the best for you. I hope you are and will be in good health.

Thank you very much for all the help you have given to me and for my family.

With best regards,

Pirjo Puukari (Krisangi’s mother)

 
My dear Spiritual master,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Holiness.

Today is not an ordinary day, it is your appearance day.
All glories to this day. It is a bright and good day, and we desire more of these kind of days. It is a day that we disciples can dedicate fully to being together with Your Holiness.

How I wish that this may become the most happy day for you, my spiritual master. You are a great personality, and I have still not learned to fully understand you. But I can take instructions from you, and follow the path that you are chalking out for me, my learned spiritual father.

All glories to you and all glories to Krishna. And thousands of thanks to Your Holiness and to Sri Krishna, for you both have let me cross the ocean between Europe and America and let me come here to this most auspicious festival.

My dear Bir Krishna das Goswami, I beg from you the blessing, that I may always be your servant, and I bow down at your lotus feet and pray for your mercy.

If I can get your mercy, I think that so many other things in this world will become insignificant for me.

All glories to His Holiness Bir Krishna das Goswami!

Your eternal servant,

Pundarika das

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you!

First of all I would like to thank you for your loving guidance during last year. Not considering my shortcomings or disqualifications you have encouraged and engaged me in devotional service with whatever good quality you have seen. You have taken care of me with father s patience and kindness.

You are always there for your disciples and for other well-wishers. In your care we feel very well accepted and protected. Your practical, down-to-earth, instructions are purifying and helping us to understand our real position as a servant of a servant of a servant of Lord Krishna.

Many times it seems that you are serving us, instead of us serving you. Our desires are “many-branched” but your desires are only meant to satisfy your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Gurudeva, you are the perfect example of a disciple who has dedicated his life to the spiritual master’s mission. As Srila Prabhupada says in a purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16:

“The servants of God come to propagate God consciousness, and intelligent people should co-operate with them in every respect. By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord. The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and are very dear to the Lord. The Lord declares in the BG 18.69 that no one is dearer to Him than one who risks everything to preach His glory.”

All glories to you Gurudeva!

Your servant,

Radha-kunda dasi

namo om visnu padaya krsna prsthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudrdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine
Dear Gurudeva.,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your divine appearance
day. All glories to You.

I know that I am completely unqualified to write an appropriate offering to you. My first offering should be something special, but now I have to admit that I do not know how to do it. Hence I will try to do it in a simple way though my nature is quite complicated.

Some time ago I gave four books of Srila Prabhupadas’ as a gift to a friend of mine. She is very interested in Krishna Consciousness and was very happy to receive the books. Later she wrote me that she wanted to give me some gift too and please me somehow. I contemplated about it and then replied that I don’t need anything but that I would be pleased if she did read the books, recommend them to others and follow the instructions Prabhupada is giving.

I was so happy that she took delight in Krishna Consciousness and wanted to practice it. At that moment I realized how I can please you. I felt it very clearly. You are pleased when I follow your instructions and by that the instructions of Srila Prabhupada too.

guru-mukha-padma-vakya
cittete koriya aikya
ar na koriho mane asa

After accepting me as your disciple I told you that, “I cannot realize this”, and you replied “You will realize this later”.

I would like to say thanks to you. But I also feel that it is not yet coming from the core of my heart though I desire to have that kind of feeling.

I pray to you ” ha ha prabhu koro daya deho more pada chaya…” and to Krishna “My dear Lord please grant me the gift of unlimited attachment to the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”
I wish to be able to say thanks with all my heart, a fervent weeping realized thanks.

Today I am starting to make a small attempt.

Oh Gurudeva, thank you for your causeless mercy. Thank you that I can be your disciple. Please forgive me my ignorance, my stumbling and falling. My devotion, obedience and attachment to you is a small plant, yet without blossoms but with small buds. I will tend and water it and by your mercy it will grow and grow. Dear Gurudeva, I will then offer the blossoms unto you.

Oh my dear Gurudeva, please contract the transcendental snare you have put around my neck more and more. Please tie this unqualified
show brahmacari at your lotus feet and don’t let him flee.

All glories to your divine lotus feet.

Your unqualified servant

Radha Madhava dasa

 
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my obeisances. All glories to your divine grace. Happy Birthday!!!
Another year has passed. Yet it seems like just yesterday I was still seven years old, flying kites with you in the field behind the pavilion. So much has changed since those days. My sister and I have grown up and moved away. We hardly ever see you. There is one thing that hasn’t changed-you. You have remained a constant source of security, advice, and hope. When I’m having a really bad day and think there is no hope for all the miserable excuses for human beings in the world, I just remember that you exist. Your shining example is a source of complete comfort.
If there is one thing that will never change, it’s that you are my father. No one person has taught me more than you. I know you will always be there. You are so amazingly forgiving of your disciples. Thank you for your kindness.
Your unworthy daughter,
Radhe

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my obeisances, and congratulations on your appearance day.

Thank you for your kind shelter and opportunity to be engaged in service according to my inclination.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

With Respect,

Rama Ranjana Das

 
Dear Guru Maharaja!
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet!
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!
On this very special day of your appearance please let me thank You for kindly providing me with spiritual shelter. I’m very much indebted to you. Lately, I was thinking about what a highly unusual thing has happened in my life and also about my good fortune, which caused it to happen somehow or other. Please, let me elaborate on this a little bit in expression of my gratitude.
We know that material life in forgetfulness of Lord Krishna is a disease. I’m very sick -Guru Maharaja, and you know this very well. And still, for some reasons you have accepted this very bad patient. What a motive could impel a physician to deliberately take to an obviously hopeless case? Curiosity? Well… indeed, there isn’t much interesting in the stock of my useless anarthas. Maybe, desire to become famous? It’s quite questionable fame to have such a monkey-follower like myself. Then what is it? I think I do know the answer. Compassion. Something extremely rarely encountered in this world. Out of this genuine compassion and eagerness to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire you do everything possible and impossible to cure this and many other unfortunate perplexed living entities and help them to become Vaisnavas.
How can I possibly repay my debt to you? I know I’m supposed to become a pleasing servant, but it takes heart to be one like this. You are my spiritual master, my guide, and my doctor. Please, bless me to have a heart, which would be capable of returning your love, a heart, which would be naturally inclined to serve you and serve Vaisnavas.
Thank you very much.
Your aspiring servant,

Rasikananda das

My dearest Maharaja,

I am offering my humble obeisances and deep affection at your lotus feet – from distance ie. from “far-away-Finland”. This distance is only material, so it should be easy to cross. But as a human being I am not always very good at these delicate spiritual things.

Your Holiness has helped me in some very subtle ways, how to behave like a mature person and still cherish the nature of cheerful and charming cowherd boy or gopi girl. Being transcendental means to have balance with these two dimensions.

I am so thankful that you have allowed me to see, or rather sense the existence of this deeper level. Although I cannot share all your feelings, drops of nectar are available in your presence. There is an eternal connection between all the servants of God. It doesn’t depend on where the body is situated. Still, I miss our conversations, I cannot tell you how much they mean to me. You accept me as I am. And my appreciation and love are always following you.

Happy appearance day Maharaja!

Please include me in your prayers.

Your worthless but sincere servant,

Rangadevi dd (Terhi Lemivaara)

 
namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
nama hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudridha suddhi nistabyam tasya vakyanuvadine
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my most respectful obeisances on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja. All glories to you! All glories to your beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada!
In the last few months I have been preparing to write this offering to you, meditating on your glorious qualities and my extreme good fortune in being able to observe them so closely. I was thinking how in many ways you resemble Srila Prabhupada. So much so, that I have heard other devotees say that after meeting you, they had the distinct experience of seeing or somehow coming in contact with Srila Prabhupada. I wondered, what is that specific quality that you possess? Is it the uncanny ability you seem to have to know what is going on in my mind and encourage or tease me accordingly? You are a master of speaking according to time place and circumstance. Is it your strict adherence to your sadhana and the principles of religion? Like Srila Prabhupada, you are very strict with your personal standards, yet tolerant of others, always trying to fan the spark of devotion and encourage us to come to a higher standard. Is it your utter concern not to waste any of Krishna’s energy? You yourself are always careful with Krishna’s money and time and fully expect (or at least pray) for us all to do the same. Is it your sense of personal integrity, responsibility, and determination to always set the best example? Being an exceptionally responsible person, you do not contemplate the possibility of disappointing those who take shelter of you. I can think of so many ways in which you act just like Prabhupada would. Yet if I had to pick just one way in which you most resemble His Divine Grace, I think it is actually your devotion to him. It was Srila Prabhupada’s devotion to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and his one-pointed determination to carry out his Guru Maharaja’s order that distinguished Prabhupada from all his Godbrothers. Similarly, it is your dedication to Srila Prabhupada, your desire to always do what would please him that makes you a leader amongst your Godbrothers and the absolute shelter for your disciples.
I really do not know how it is that I have had the good fortune to not only come in contact with such a person as you, but to receive so much personal instruction and guidance. There is no doubt that you are my father, both spiritually and materially. For you seem equally concerned to make sure that I am getting up in the morning and chanting my rounds, as you are that I am home before dark! Being very stubborn and rebellious by nature, and convinced of the superiority of my own intelligence, I made a lot of foolish decisions earlier in life. I was headed in a very precarious direction until I met you. You have really changed me. I am so grateful to you, for everything that I hold dear is coming from you. You have given me the Holy Names, a residence at the temple of the Lord, and most importantly a service to do for Srila Prabhupada’s mission. My whole life is based on your mercy. Srila Gurudeva, I have but one request and prayer to you on this day. Please help me to develop the strong spiritual intelligence and determination required to be your faithful servant. To feel strong, periodic emotions of gratitude and love is not so difficult for me, but I want to someday manifest a real devotion and dedication to you that does not waver through the course of time. Please help me to be as you are, that when others meet me, they have the distinct sense of also meeting my spiritual master.
Your aspiring servant,
Rangadevi dasi

 
Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Your Holiness on this auspicious day.

I sincerely pray to Sri Sri Radhagovindji, the presiding deities of
ISKCON Tirupati and Sri Sri Padmavathi Balaji of Tirumala to give you good health and long life, so that conditioned souls like me can take spiritual guidance from Your Holiness.

During my last meeting with Your Holiness in Mayapur 2002, I was really impressed by hearing your evening talk to the devotees present in your room; Your Holiness was explaining your concern for ISKCON devotees in general and especially those who are depending on you.
When Your Holiness was revealing your plans how to care for them and see that they practice bhakti yoga without any type of anxiety, it really touched me. All glories to Your Holiness.

We the devotees of Tirupati can never forget Your Holiness’ association, many times in our istagoshti’s we discuss your bhagavatam classes, your songs (especially the Hanuman song), your light heartedness, your love for the devotees.

My daughters are very fond of your singing and they keep practicing your tunes and they have learned to sing “Hanuman song”.

On this auspicious occasion I pray at your lotus feet to bless me, my family, and all the devotees of ISKCON Tirupati to advance in Krishna consciousness.

Your humble Servant,

Revati Raman Das

namah om vishnu padaya krishna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
namashamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayte
sudridhha sudhi nistabhyama tasya vakyanuvadine

Acepte mis repestuosas reverencias al polvo de sus pies de loto en este
día de su aparicón.

Estoy eternamente agradecida a Srila Prabhupada y a su santidad, por
su infinita misericordia de darme sus instrucciones y poder conocer ,
sin merecerlo, el servicio devocional hacia la Suprema Personalidad
de Dios, Sri Krishna.

Le pido a Srila Prabhupada y a Gurudeva me den sus bendiciones para
eschucharlos eternamente hablar acerca de la ciencia de Krishna y
pueda convertirme algún día en una devota sincera.
Su humilde sirvienta

Rukmini devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Hare Krishna.
I wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me, that you have accepted me, as your disciple and that you are always so concerned. I know that it is impossible to ever repay my dept to you but I want to do everything possible to please you and to get your mercy, because without that I could not make any progress in spiritual life. I also wish that I would one day really appreciate all what you have given me.

Your ever servant,
Rupa Manjari dd

Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Thank you so, so much for always accepting my head at your feet and always offering back blessings and guidance from Srila Prabhupada and Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda. Thank you again and again for having brought Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda to us and for guiding and supporting our service to Their lotus feet. I lived in at least 20 different temples before finally coming under the shelter of Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda’s lotus feet, and how could I not be very grateful? Of course it had a whole lot to do with your very patient mood, your ever-willingness to really hear others and to give very good advice inspired by your total loving surrender to Srila Pravhupada and Sri-Sri Radha -Golokananda.
With the assistance of your dedicated servants you have created and maintained such an inspiring model of a Krishna conscious temple and community that is bound to expand because everyone is encouraged to preach according to one’s interests and realizations. It is truly daivi-varnasrama. It is fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire to help bring mankind closer to Krishna’s lotus feet. Srila Prabhupada has made it clear again and again that I should keep assisting you in your service to his lotus feet, and I pray to be able to do so in a better way as the years go by.
But there is this horrible fear that keeps coming back again and again. It is a fear that one day I would be without your guidance. When Garuda Prabhu was reading your Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, I was deeply moved by it because I could easily relate. I just don’t know how long I have left to learn the essential lessons for becoming a truly devoted servant, but I can only depend on the good will of Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda and know that however They write the script of life will be perfect for all of us. Please continue to very mercifully guide me closer to Their lotus feet even when I resist or want to go the scenic road. One good thing about the scenic road is that by traveling on it, I become more and more convinced that Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda are my Lords and Masters and that having the opportunity to assist you in serving Srila Prabhupada is a great privilege. Thank you so much for guiding and protecting my growing up. Your very fallen servant, Sadhvi dasi
Dear Srila Gurudev,

Please accept my respectful obeisances at your feet. All glories to your tireless and loving service to Srila Prabhupada.

Your endless mercy and kindness for everyone you come in contact with is evident in these many offerings from your disciples and well-wishers. Some how even though you are constantly called on to fight for Prabhupada’s mission, you still have the time and carefulness to see to the lives and hearts of your disciples and friends. The Vedas describe how the pure devotee only thinks of Krishna and is constantly taking shelter of his spiritual master. These two qualities are so abundant in you that it is an inspiration to all to have your association. Your personal nature allows for such a wide variety of souls to come in contact with Krishna. In this way, you perfectly imbibe the mood of Srila Prabhupada, and the previous Saints and Acaryas.

After the unfortunate departure of His Holiness Srila Tamal Krsna Goswami Maharaj, it was clear that your heart was hurting in separation of such a wonderful Vaisnava. Despite your own pain, you persevered and thought of the pain of others and immediately traveled worldwide to console the devotees and help them to remain Krishna Conscious even in such a difficult time.

Each year it is more evident that your glories are endless, and that your dedication to spreading Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON movement all over the world is also unending. To think of how you are fulfilling the prophecy of the great Saint and Acarya Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and his exalted son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura is such an exciting thought. That you allow us all to come along in your mission and to come along back home back to Godhead is the greatest boon.

In reading the offerings, I was impressed by them all, as your disciples have so much love for you. One that sticks in my mind is from our old friend Jamuna dasi. She describes a dream that she had of the development of New Goloka Dhama and the beauty and expansion that is yet to come. She describes beautiful walkways and buildings leading to the temple of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. I sincerely pray that I may be an instrument in helping you to carry out this plan and see these dreams become a reality in glorifying Their Lordships.
Another offering is from Nitai Lila dasi. She described another dream where you were feeding her prasad and she was completely dependant on you. It is my sincere prayer that I may have this mood of a child, completely surrendered and dependant, who is always calling out for your mercy.

It is my great fortune that I have been able to do some little service for you in the past and I sincerely pray that I may continue to serve you throughout this lifetime and for many more to come. You are my hero and my true father and I am eternally grateful for your loving guidance and protection in my meager life.

You have made me the servant of those pure in heart, who have surrendered to the Lord, and who have received His loving Shelter, therefore I am…

Always your faithful servant,
Saranam dasi
p.s. I hope you like the cover!

 
Dear Srila Bir Krishna Maharaja,
Please accept out most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace, who is most merciful to mankind.
Before writing this offering, I reread your Vyasa Puja Book and reflected on some of the offerings written by your sincere followers. I am surprised by their devotion and embarrassed by my lack of it. Unlike me, these followers actually love you. There is not simply an offering of ” fruits and flowers”, but rather an expression of transcendental emotion experienced only by those deeply immersed in your service. To love you means to serve you by following your instructions. This is the difference between your sincere disciples and myself. They have dedicated their lives to your service where as I have only pretended to do so. So much time wasted and so many opportunities lost to engage wholeheartedly in your service.
You are so merciful to forgive my lack of good service to you. Please be kind to us and give us your divine association, so we can carry on your mission to preach Krishna consciousness.
All glories to Srila Bir Krishna Maharaja, on your auspicious appearance day.
Your humble servants,
Satyavratdasa & Krishnakumari devi dasi

 
namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
nama hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudridha suddhi nistabyam tasya vakyanuvadine
Querido padre espiritual:
Por favor acepte mis mas humildes reverencias a la sombra de sus pies
de loto. Gurudeva no tengo palabras para expresar y darle las gracias
por la misericordia tan grande que Krishna me ha dado al encontrar a
un Guru fidedigno. Soy tan neofita que no encuentro las palabras exactas
para glorificarle como usted se merece, solo puedo decir una y mil
veces gracias por darmela oportunidad de servir a sus divinos pies de loto.
Todas las Glorias a Srila a Srila Prabhupada!

Todas las glorias a Srila Gurudeva!

Su eterno sirviente

Satyabhama D.D.

 
My dear Spiritual Master,
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

namah om visnu padaya krishna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
nama hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priya yate
sudrdha sudhi nistabyam tasya vakyanuvadine

So many years I was trying to become Krishna conscious. I was thinking
myself very advanced in spiritual life, but actually that was nothing
more then false pride, even when I was struggling so hard to serve Krishna, my heart full of envy and all these other nasty things, I could not taste the sweetness of the Holy Name. I was often wondering where it was. All that Prabhupada was speaking about seems not to work, what was wrong? Yes of course we have to be patient and just go on.

It was as if I joined Prabhupada’s movement again, when I first meet you dear Gurudeva. Crystal clear you carried on Srila Prabhupada’s mission. You made Srila Prabhupada’s words true, “Krishna consciousness is wonderful, chant Hare Krishna and be happy.”

Dear Gurudeva, you so kindly and personally guide me in my spiritual life. You care for everything. What is there you have not cared for?
Your compassion and mercy are so great.

I am standing before you as an unworthy disciple, I wish I could help and serve you in your mission to please Srila Prabhupada. I wish I could properly and deeply understand your instructions, and act accordingly.

Your servant,

Saumyarupa dd

Dear Srila Bir Krishna Maharaj,

Please accept our most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja, we would like to thank you for being so kind on us in spite of not serving you properly. We deeply appreciate your kindness of helping out fallen souls like us. On this day we pray to Sri Sri Radha Golokananda to give you more strength and good health, so you spread message of Srila Prabhupada all around the world. We also pray that some way we would be able to assist you in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Please forgive us for our any offences unto your lotus feet and continuously help us on the path of devotional life.

Your servants,

Jaya Gopi devi dasi, Priti devi dasi, Sraddha

My dearest Father,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to you and to
Srila Prabhupada!

It felt like just a few days ago since your last birthday, but still a whole year has passed. I am so happy that you let us come this year too.
This past year has been quite tough. I do not know what I would have done without your support. Without your encouragement, your help, your care..

“you were my strength when I was weak
you were my voice when I couldn´t speak
you were my eyes when I couldn´t see
lifted me up when I couldn´t reach”

Sometimes when I was feeling really miserable the phone would ring. And I just knew it was you. You would just know when to call.
There are so many examples to show how you care about everyone. You are the only person I know, who does not distinguish between a new bhakta or a sannyasi – everyone is equally valuable in your eyes, because you have a spiritual vision.

Sometimes I am thinking about what I could do for you. I have so much to thank you for. Since I have nothing to offer you really, as I feel I am just taking and taking. And still, I am supposed to be the servant. You give so much of yourself to others, always working very hard to help others. Even though you do not expect any reward, your reward is very great because Srila Prabhupada and Krishna are so pleased with you.

“you, you light up my life, you light up my day,
you fill me with joy, you light up my world”…

Since I have gotten to know you I can not imagine how life would be without you. You are so present in everything and you are as a natural part of our daily life as the sun during the day. Thank you for being our sun!

“you bring the sun out, you warm my life up
you make the darkness go away
you light the stars up to light the night up
you make the darkness go away”

Once I had a dream where you told me to stop bothering you, but I
Cannot. If I would not have you I would go crazy in this world. You are my shelter in the rain, you are the healer of my pain… You are the greatest and kindest person I have ever known.

“did you ever know that you´re my hero?
you´re everything I would like to be
and I can fly higher than an eagle
when you are the wind beneath my wings”

I know that my letters throughout the year have not exactly been so filled with questions about spiritual topics, hm…but you never chastised me for writing the way I do. You have known that I have needed someone to just open up to and be myself and write about different things happening. So you have let me be myself with all my anger and disappointment about everything that has happened here. You never try to change people by force, your way of making people improve as devotees and human beings is to encourage and not by giving the club. You simply encourage and show with your own good example, and through that one feels inspired to try to improve.

“through the fire, through the limit through the wall
for chance to be with you I´d gladly risk it all”

You are an example to follow for everyone. No matter how hard I would try, I cannot find anything bad in you. Such a person is very rare and very dear to Krishna. Thank you very much for letting us be here with you and all the wonderful devotees. I wish you with all my heart all the best for this birthday and for all the other many birthdays to come!

Happy Birthday!

Your little daughter,

Srinitamba dd.
Five years ago you did not travel that much and the devotees were used to your constant presence. Two weeks in your absence was a disaster for most of us. The e-mail became more like a lifeline and receiving your response let us know that you are always in New Goloka.

Gradually over these years you are on the move more and more. To Scandinavia then off to Fiji. Krsna is calling and you are readily heeding His call. The fact that you are saving devotees spiritual lives and sticking your neck out for ISKCON leaves us amazed. Not because we doubt your abilities, but because you remain so humble and personal. Even when giving reports of your travels you speak as if you are simply a reporter for Srila Prabhupada. When in fact you are reporting and doing, going above and beyond the call of duty.

Hare Krsna! All glories to your service!

Your SERVANTS,

Subal, Mahamantra and Jayananda

 
nama on visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
Please accept our humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Sripada
On this very auspicious day of your “Vyasa Puja”, we would like to glorify your glories, which are unlimited. Though we don’t have any quality to glorify a pure devotee, we would like to get mercy by glorifying you, so that we can render our services unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.
This year when you visited our home in Cleveland, Ohio for my son’s birthday, we got a chance to take darshan of your lotus feet. At that time, you shared so many past times of yours with HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, which was incredible. I learned one thing from your pastimes, that we cannot advance in devotional practice/service if we do not get the right association, and in order to get the right association, one need have lots of patience and humility “trinadapi sunichena taror api sahisuna”. You have been so kind that you are allowing us to serve Krishna and Srila Prabhupada every year during Janmasthami. This year was our fourth year in a row to visit your temple “New Goloka” and participate in the festival during Janmasthami. Due to your unlimited blessings and association we have been continuously serving Srila Prabhupada and practicing devotional service. Though Cleveland, Ohio is a new place for us, due to your mercy we are able to organize devotional program at our house on all vaisnava festivals and invite friends / devotees for bhajan and prasadam, this was only possible by your blessings and encouragement. As you know, in July of this year His Highness the King of Puri visited our house with His family, then we had nice devotional program and prasadam, it was very blissful. By your mercy now we both are working in a fortune 500 company in a top level management position. My wife and myself are always engaged in devotional activities and preaching. We both feel very comfortable when we distribute prasadam and talk about Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s glories. All this is happening due to your mercy and regular advise. I can never forget how much you are protecting us during every phase of our lives. Without you it was completely impossible to proceed in our material and spiritual life. At every stage you have given us courage and blessings to move forward. We are both so grateful to have you as our Sikhsa Guru who is guiding us every time and showing us the light in darkness.
Though, we don’t have any quality to glorify your glories, still I want to because I feel satisfied in glorifying the pure devotee.
We have heard that, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate, “By engaging in Krsna’s service, one’s senses become pure, and if he engages his senses in serving the senses of Hrsikesa, that is pure bhakti.”
But without guru’s orders one cannot engage in Krsna’s service, as he knows how to engage the senses, so that the Lord may be pleased. So, we pay obeisances to your lotus feet and beg you to bless us, by giving mercy. By your blessing, we can render services to Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission and the previous acaryas, so that it will please you, Srila Prabhupada and our spiritual master HDG Jayapataka Swami
Your servant,
Sukhada das Subhadra Gopi devi dasi And baby Darsaan.

Dear Bir Krsna Goswami Maharaja,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We would like to thank you very much for your abundant blessings, good wishes and good actions for the well-being of everyone. Within our ISKCON society, you are an emblem of staunch adherence to Sadhu, Shastra and Guru to guide persons in developing their natural Krsna consciousness.

We are most grateful to you Maharaja for all your blessings to Lalita & Madireksana, Sanatan das, Mira, myself, and all our family. You are a kind Godbrother and we thank you for your protective spirit.

Your heart is filled with love for Krsna and compassion for everyone! You bravely preach pure Krsna consciousness everywhere, and this is a difficult task– in a world where it is so rare to find persons who really, really wants to become Krsna conscious.

May all success in every way always be yours! We pray to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krsna that you are always in the best of health, to fulfill your eternal goal of continuous, faithful service to His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Srila Prabhupada.

And as we can never repay Srila Prabhupada for all he has given us, also, we can never begin to repay you for all you have done to help us stay close to Srila Prabhupada’s service.

Our humble and heartfelt appreciation,

Your Godsister,

Mother Sucharya devi d.
& Mother Lalita
Mother Madireksana
Sriman Sanatan Prabhu
Mira Mckee and all the McKee family.

Dear Bir Krsna Maharaj,

I think you give very beautiful lectures. I find them so interesting, because they are very well presented. I also think that you are a great comedian.

This money ($51 from my work) is to help you support your great lectures and your great comical abilities.

Svakarthanam

 
Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

Happy Birthday!!

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen you.
And I really, really want to come and see you!

Your Servant,

Tilak dasa

 
Dear Srila Bir Krishna Maharaj,

Hare Krishna. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

On this celebration of your auspicious Vyasa Puja day we humbly acknowledge our deep gratitude to you for your kind association in cultivating the sublime method of Krishna consciousness given by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for this fallen age of Kali. Your dedication in service of Srila Prabhupada has remained exemplary for many.

Our heartfelt prayers to Lord Sri Krishna on this day to give you many many more Vyasa Puja days like this for the future to come.

Wishing you all the best now and forever.

Servant,

Thakor Topiwala

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please do accept my humble obeisances….

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah.

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance,…with the torch light of knowledge”

mukham karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande Sri Gurum dina taranam.

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of all the fallen souls, whose mercy turn the dumb in eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains”

namah om visnu padaya krsna preshthaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das gosowamin iti namine

“I offer my humble obeisances unto his Divine Grace Bir Krsna Goswami, who is dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet”
namah hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudrdha suddhi nisthabhyam tasya vakya nuvadine

“I offer my humble obeisance to my swan like spiritual master who is serving Srila Prabhupada with great faith and determination”

This material world has so very much to offer (allure) to the conditioned souls and because of our karma we are immediately enchanted and attracted by those reflections of promising and assuring solace of spiritual world that doesn’t really exist here in this material world but in perverted mirage, even though we think it to be perpetual and real. Let me beg to your lotus feet so that you kindly accept me every time I happen to forget my purpose of life and your causeless mercy makes me able to convey my best approach to the Supreme Personality of God Head, Sri Krsna, the most desired perfection in continuous service to
Your Holiness and the vaishnavas.

May I ask for your kind blessings what being benediction in my life will be able to help me understand the real nature of this material world and by being protected by Your Divine Grace I can amass all my strengths and courage to politely deny this so-called paradise (this material world) to be able to enter the spiritual world you belong to in whatever form and service you destine for me.

I have a life long desire to ever be considered as a very insignificant servant of yours, as days are passing by now, I have no doubts that by Your Holiness, you are the one who could engage me to even think of serving you and Krsna……..as your spiritual daughter I am begging you for this benediction on this most auspicious day that let me be granted attachment to your lotus feet on your discretion.

I am also begging to the Supreme Personality to allow me to feel free from the world of self desires that has totally been established on every thing that pleases me, myself and my senses, so that I soon realize that this sand castle is not what I have been given this human form of life this time for, rather for strengthening the faith in Him by being the devoted servant of your lotus feet, is the eternal true meaning and the only business of this second chance given by Your Holiness.

krsna se tomar krsna dite paro tomara sakati aachhe
aami to kangal krsna krsna boli dhaayi tabo pachhe pachhe

Oh my spiritual Master, you belong to Sri Krsna and Krsna is yours, I am following you and that will be my only mission because you the one who can give me Krsna! Please be merciful unto this daughter of yours so that I can remain in undisturbed and uninterrupted service of yours selflessly, because you are the one who is my father, mother, brother, sister, friend and beloved, whose true well wishes, blessings, love and affections shower in the form of mercy to enable me to develop taste in the Holy Name and service to the Vaishanvas, the most essential qualifications to attend Your lotus feet eternally.
Begging to remain your servant in Krsna Consciousness,
Tulasi Maharani devi dasi

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for accepting me as your spiritual daughter, it is wonderful to be a part of your family. Having your example in my life of how to be a saintly person, of how to follow the instructions of the spiritual master, how to care for all the fallen jives… Whenever I think about it, it makes me feel like I`m the luckiest person in all three worlds to have your association.

Your association is like a warm rain of really undeserved mercy. The way you never let go but keep pulling, you have a heart of gold.

Thank you for everything Gurudeva.

Please allow me to always serve you,

Your spiritual daughter and everservant,

Tulasi Manjari devi dasi

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my respectful obeisances in the dust of your lotus
feet. All glories to your divine grace on this most auspicious day of your
appearance. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Jaya Srila Gurudeva! Happy Appearance Day!

First I wrote a heavy serious sort of offering, having just read
some of Raghunath das Goswami’s prayers to his mind, reminding me of my many early years of personal training by you, and wondering (unfortunately) where it went…you know that song “Long time passing?”

BUT, then I remembered how you don’t like it when I speak
negatively, so I thought to be a bit lighter, maybe even a little humorous, since its YOUR appearance day.

So then PLAN B.
I thought I’d write from that song by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, “Ohe Vaisnava Thakura!” When I got to the last verse:
“I am simply running behind you, crying ‘Krishna Krishna!'” there is
SOME PROBLEM there-I’ve STOPPED running behind you crying “Krishna Krishna!” a FEW YEARS ago. Now I am just CRYING- just kidding! Now I am just SLEEPING!(which is worse?)

So THEN I thought I’d write you something from the story of Krishna and Balarama killing the ASS demons, because I’ve been going thru stubborn “You know what” period. But there is a PROBLEM there too, because instead of Krishna and Balarama whirling me around, and throwing me into trees, I get the great honor of Maya whirling me around and throwing me into a LOT of trees. That’s mercy too, but….uhh

Then I FINALLY settled with the story of Sivananda Sena and his dog. Somehow this dog got the mercy of this great pure Vaisnava. And inspite of whatever annoyances and troubles the dog would give, Sivananda Sena always looked after him, making sure he got shelter, prasadam remnants, boat fare etc. And what service could a dog do? Well actually he did do 3 MOST POTENT items. First, he must have gotten a lot of DUST from the feet of all the great devotees all over his body since he was walking with them on the dirt roads, and they wore no shoes, plus dogs are usually shorter than people. And not only all over his body, but you can IMAGINE this-you know how dogs’ tongues are always hanging out? Weeelll, he must have been swallowing a whole LOT of that SUPER potent dust all day. And all the while doing SANKIRTANA! Pretty good!

Then SECONDLY, all the devotees were bathing in the holy rivers EVERDAY, as so naturally the dog would go too. And just as naturally end up drinking a BUNCH of that double MAHA WATER! Thats
Also PRETTY good! And last, but not least-REMNANTS! Sivananda Sena personally fed Bhakta Dog prasadam remnants. Good goin’ there Bhakta Dog! Actually he did other services like hearing, since he was always right there, and we can sure believe that those great souls were always talking Krishna Krishna and Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda! He COULD have gotten BORED and left to go do some DOG STUFF. I mean he did have a good excuse, he really DID have a dog body. But anyways, he showed the topmost example of that old saying “LOYAL AS A DOG!” We should be so loyal as that so-called dog. He got Lord Caitanya’s direct personal audience and got REMNANT right from the Lord’s OWN hands and went back to Godhead! Can’t beat that!!

So Srila Gurudeva, I hope you were able to laugh some, rather than some heavy one on Raghunatha das Goswami preaching to his mind having a desire for honor and distinction, comparing it to a shameless prostitute who yearns to be famous. With a complete elaborate, eye opening breakdown by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. The solution given by them I think IS very appropriate for today’s occasion : “You SIMPLY have to SERVE the UNALLOYED devotees of the Lord. They ALONE can DRIVE out this prostitute and ENTHRONE pure love of Godhead within my heart…” “Their spiritual status is
INCOMPARABLE. They are GENERALS in Krishna’s army of devotees, and DIVINE rays from the Lord’s PLEASURE potency, or hladini sakti, ILLUMINATES their hearts. This potency, moreover, is easily TRANSFERED to other hearts, where it VANQUISHES all contaminations, and GENERATES transcendental love of Godhead. The pure Vaisnava devotees EMBRACE the DUST of their lotus
feet, their food REMNANTS, and their sacred INSTRUCTIONS, for these ALL have the transcendental potency of IMPREGNATING one’s heart with the divine hladini-sakti.”

Yes Srila Gurudeva! You ARE one of those GENERALS in Krishna’s/Srila Prabhupada’s army that Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura is speaking about. And yes! You ARE easily and freely transferring this potency to all our hearts, as we can all attest to. You simply ask in return to PLEASE just ALWAYS continue and just TRY the best we can to help others at the same time.

So Srila Gurudeva even though I bark a lot, you tolerate..however
I need to bark less and start feeling and caring again how much you want to save others. How pained you are over others’ endless sufferings. So if we want our hearts to be filled with that divine hladini-sakti-WELL!
That’s how we get it-CARING for others. What will please my spiritual master, what will please Lord Krishna. What will displease them… That is real service.

Thank you! (a sermon I guess…)

Your rascal servant,

mother Tulasi

My Dearest Guru Maharaja ,
Please accept my worthless obeisances at your lotus feet.
Each year at the approach of this magnificent occasion, it is extremely difficult to decide which of your many qualities to glorify. Clearly, if one tried to mention all of them, such an offering could not be contained in this book. This year I have chosen to focus on your astonishing level of tolerance. Many have remarked on this quality, but I have experienced it first hand. As I feel myself swallowed up more and more by material desires, material life, and material considerations, I know that I am becoming less and less useful to you. And when you actually requested a service of me, I was unable to do it in a timely fashion. Although finishing it took much longer than you wished, you never mentioned this fact; you simply encouraged me. So, to honor your quality of limitless tolerance, I would like to offer you the following ode:

How many times must I hear you repeat That searching for glory and fame Can never bring surcease from suffering As can chanting the Holy Name? How many times must I hear this from you Before my desires are tamed? The answer, my guru, is flowing in your heart., The answer is flowing in your heart. How many times do I need to be told That this body can only betray? How many deaths will it take ’til I learn That I, too, will die someday? How long will I need to hear you explain That my life is wasting away? The answer, my guru, is flowing in your heart., The answer is flowing in your heart. How hard a heart can one disciple have Before into that heart you can reach? How ill must some family members become Before I accept what you teach?
So, once again I stand before you today, And for your tolerance beseech. The answer, my guru, is flowing in your heart., The answer is flowing in your heart.

I remain your servant life after life, so that in one of them I may finally be of use,
Tungavidya devi dasi

 
Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada. Todas la glorias a Bir Krsna das Goswami.
namah om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine

namo hamsa nicasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudriha sudhi nistabhyam tasya vakya nuvadine
En este dia tan especial de su aparicion permitame darle mis sinceras felicitaciones y mis más humildes reverencias a sus pies de loto. No encuentro palabras para honrar a tan grande y rendida alma y ademas tan querida por Srila Prabhupada y por Krsna.
Amado padre espiritual, quiero decirle tantas cosas, pero mi alma sumida en la ignorancia, no me permite comprender la magnitud del regalo que Krsna y Srila Prabhupada me han dado en la misericordia de su persona. Quiero decirle que así como Krsna esta en en corazon de todos como Paramatma, Usted siempre esta en mis pensamientos. Gurudeva, quiero ser su sirviente vida tras vida. Espero que este dia de su Viasapuya sea radiante de felicidad y de buena salud en la compañia sin distancias de todos sus fieles discipulos que tanto le queremos.
Se despide de usted su humilde sirviente,
Urmila Devi Dasi

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
There are many qualities you posses that make me thankful that I have found shelter at your lotus feet. The most prominent, being your tireless dedication to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. You have molded your life to satisfy him, taken on tasks to protect and further his mission. No matter how difficult things are you do not abandon your service to him. You are dedicated and loyal towards him and being chaste and faithful to his instructions, you show us the way to remain on the path of devotional service. I pray to Krsna that one day I may take up this mood towards you and make a little advancement on this path.
Thank you for your service to your spiritual master. There would be no hope for any of us to leave this material world without ISKCON.
Your fallen daughter,
Uttara devi dasi
Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my worthless obeisances at your lotus feet!
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

namah om visnu-padaya krishna presthaya bhutale
srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine
namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada-priyayate
sudridha sudhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine

Dear Gurudev, now it is again time to celebrate the auspicious day of your appearance. When your-alike fully unto Krishna surrendered soul descends to the material world, it is to be understood that by sending His confidential companion Krishna personally wants to guide us conditioned living beings back to His devotional service. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita:
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

“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 Myself.”

It is not fact that the Lord appears only in Indian soil. He can manifest Himself anywhere and everywhere, and whenever He desires to appear. In each and every incarnation, He speaks as much about religion as can be understood by the particular people under their particular circumstances. But the mission is the same – to lead people to God consciousness and obedience to the principles of religion. Sometimes He descends personally, and sometimes He sends His bona fide representative in the form of His son, or servant, or Himself in some disguised form.”
(Purport of Srila Prabhupada)

Bona fide representative and pure devotee of Krishna can be distinguished from all the others, for he is carrying out all-inclusively the great mission of Srila Prabupada to establish Krishna consciousness in every direction, so that prediction of Lord Caitanya would come true.
Merely fully Krishna conscious, selfless person as you are dear Gurudeva, who sets aside his personal interests and needs, is able to elevate the fallen from the dark well of forgetfulness, and help us enliven our spiritual nature. Connection between the Lord and His pure devotee is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.4.68) wherein the Lord says:

sadhavo hrdayam mahyam
sadhunam hrdayam tv aham
mad-anyat te na jananti
naham tebhyo manag api

“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.”

Last June the undersigned and his brother Jaakko were fortunate enough to take part with you, dear Gurudeva, in an unforgettable concert tour in Estonia. Everyone who came to see your concerts had an unusual and ecstatic experience, what to speak those who traveled and performed music with you. Many people became convinced of Krishna consciousness when they heard your singing and saw your dancing. While we practiced our set I was surprised for you said, that we are actually going to play “heavy” music in this tour. But when you explained that we should be able to change our mood according to circumstances in order to preach to the people, I was very happy, for in this way you taught us how different things can be used in Krishna’s service.

Dear Gurudeva, regardless of that I am an obvious rascal and have not even the slightest comprehension how one should act in a human form of life, you have patiently tolerated and looked after me and kept me away from troubles. Domestic animals learn to work for theirs master because he is taking good care of them, so, it is to be hoped that one day also I am able to do something useful in spiritual life.
Your servant,
Venu Gopala das

My dear Srila Gurudeva, my beloved spiritual father and well-wisher,

Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your divine lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa – puja.

titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinah
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu bhusanah.

“The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.”

Tolerance: You are tolerance personified. (I’m thinking of all of us, your spiritual children, who all bring their individual independent rascal minds along, and you patiently deal with us and guide us on the right path back home as a loving, caring father)

Merciful: You are so merciful to all of us; you are helping us to get out of our ignorance by enlightening our dull brains with Krishna consciousness; you are giving us a higher taste by which we can surrender to Krishna.

Friendly: You are friendly to all living entities, regardless of their background, shortcomings or social class.

No enemies: How can anyone be an enemy to such a wonderful person who possesses all good qualities, who is equal to all, man and woman, big and small; who wishes well to all living entities?

Peaceful: For one who has the mercy of Krishna, there are no problems, because nothing can overpower such a person.

Abides by the scriptures: All that you are preaching, Gurudeva, is coming from the scriptures; you are not concocting your own philosophy. You are teaching us what your beloved spiritual master
Srila Prabhupada had taught you, and that’s why your preaching is so powerful. You are perfect in your field.

Sublime character: You are a bonafide representative of Sri Krishna, for your only concern is to reawaken the forgetful souls that you meet to
Krishna consciousness. Your heart is overflowing with compassion; you forget your own needs in order to help and comfort all of us; you are traveling around the world tirelessly to enliven us and help us in our devotional life; you are so responsible. Whoever comes under your care is a lucky soul. Srila Prabhupada must be very proud of you.

Where would I be without your loving care Gurudeva? I would be lost in maya’s insurmountable grip. When I read in the diary from your Europe trip this year your description of me as a great, empowered preacher, I was shocked because I don’t see myself great in any field. But I thought: “If this is the way my Gurudeva sees me, then I better do something about it.”

I am not at all a proud person, but I must confess that I am extremely proud of being a disciple of such a wonderful spiritual master as yourself. I feel myself very fortunate to be a member of your spiritual family, and I’m trying hard to aspire to be a worthy recipient of your mercy.

I am so happy that I can be here today and celebrate your appearance day together with all the nice vaisnavas.

Your eternal insignificant servant, who will always try to please you,

Visakha dd

 
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I have gone through many things during the last one and a half years, causing you also some worry. I feel that I had to go through these things to learn afterwards what is good for me. Sometimes one has to take some distance to see what things are ultimately good for one’s self, and who really honestly cares about one. Such was my case, I didn’t appreciate enough your loving care, until I experienced something else. Now, you have mercifully taken this lost one back to your care. I believe that a good guru will never leave his disciples although there may be separation. I consider you to be such a good spiritual master who never leaves his disciples, and now I have first hand experience of this. I want to thank you for all this caring and wish you a happy birthday.
Your servant,

Vraja-lila dasi

 
nama om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate bir krsma das goswamin iti namine
nama hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate
sudridha sudhi nistabyam tasya vaka nuvadine

Todas las glorias a mi maestro espiritual.

Gracias a su infinita misericordia que usted le da a esta alma
condicionada de estar presente en su vyasa puja y de leer esta
insignificante ofrenda .

Usted ha hecho mucho para mi y yo no le he correspondido sinceramente soy una ingrata.

Le pido me perdone para con esta alma condicionada .

Feliz vyasa puja

Sus insignificantes sirvientes,

vrindavand.dd.
balaram das
subhadra dasi
hanuman das

Dearest Bir Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada!

On this very auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-Puja Day 2002, it is my sincere prayer that the Queen of Devotional Service, Srimati Radharani, bless you with all facility and mercy to serve Srila Prabhupada,and Sri Krishna Bhagavan.

May the understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, guide your
Footsteps.
May the strength of your fervent desire to please your Guru, carry you that extra mile.
May the bliss of the ”Higher Taste”, light up the transcendental path.
May the deepened association of Krishna’s devotees, inspire you to new heights of bhakti.
You, dear Bir Krishna Maharaja, are a river of hope and it is very clear that you have had very good association, as you are an ocean of truthfulness, enthusiasm, piety, humility, cleanliness, renunciation, tolerance, gentleness and like King Midas, you have that special personal touch that becomes golden in the heart of the sincere, the struggling, and the misinformed.
Your sense of timing with humor, show the love and concern for devotees, no matter where Maya has them. This same transcendental visioning allows you to capture the adventures of Krishna’s pastimes, and bring the Vedas to life, and to Light!
You are surrendered as Srila Prabhupada’s servant and continue to
re-present that example, and that is what I am most grateful for, because that very inspiration has given me shelter, turning dysfunction, into realization and remembrance!

Thank you so very much for having such expansive wings, to include this flickering spirit soul, in your shelter!

Yours in service,

M.Yogarupini devi dasi