from Gaurangi Dasi – United Kingdom, Watford

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your Divine Grace.

You are so lovely and you always find a way to brighten up the day. You’re so innovative in your service yet so loyal and always keep to the core teachings Srila Prabhupada gave you, doing it in a perfectly balanced and practical way.

In the late 80s when ISKCON was going through a not very popular phase of zonal acaryas division, you went to the Amazon jungle and brought back this most amazing preaching story ever. When the East broke down due to the loss of its strong leader, you picked up the pieces and gave shelter to those who wanted and needed it, engaging them in the most gorgeous Laksmi Nrsimha tour. You always find a way to serve, to selflessly care for others, and to make the world just a bit better for all.

And now it is no different. In March the world went into lockdown, and fear and confusion took over. Here in our UK community we lost a few too many to that dreadful virus, so many in critical state, so many sick. The heroes shined through, like they always do in difficult times. We had our brave Food for Life soldiers giving prasadam to all those in need and looking after all the sick devotees, our Niti among them. A few of my brave sisters are working in health services, Gopa Kishori and Lila… so proud of them. I was/am hiding behind the telephone line doing my little bit for the NHS, translating for those infected that have to stay at home and just wait for this to go away, some in pain, some can’t breathe. The worst was telling a mother that she might not be able to say goodbye to her only daughter who had deteriorated within days in hospital.

Yes it’s tough but at least we have you. By Krsna’s grace you stayed back in Vrindavan and found a way to reach out to us and brighten up our days. In all that panic you were/are a constant light, a window of hope and the voice of reason. A voice that reassures us of reality, which can be used to improve our chanting and prayers. Oh those webinars! A kind reminder that this is the time to dive in deep, to chant with feeling, and to take shelter. All those journeys to holy places, the forests of Vrindavan! And the three days of Nrsimhadeva seminars — I still smile at Hiranyakashipu’s last four words “Ach, och, Your nails!” Those are my pearls of joy and wisdom. What would I do without them, without you! Thank you.

Very recently I was sent a very precious treasure. Govinda Caran Prabhu in USA stumbled across an old Diary chapter from the year 2001. In there you wrote about a dream you had on the Siberian train. To my astonishment and joy I was part of that dream. In short, yourself, Varanayaka and I found a treasure buried by some thieves and we were going to use it to fund the Polish tour, but Varanayaka thought it might be too dangerous… because maybe, just maybe the thieves will find you! As if they would! I have never seen that chapter; perhaps I was not ready to understand its meaning. You dreamt of treasure because you were worried about raising funds for the Polish tour, because the fundraising team of twenty got reduced to only two — you and dear Rasamayi. I left my service. Whatever excuse I had, that does not change the fact that I left you with that burden and I never said I am sorry. So I hope it is not too late, after nineteen years (!) to say, with all my heart, I am sorry and I pray that whatever little service I commit to do, I will remain steady. Thank you for never giving up, for staying so determined and for always being so kind and just truly wonderful.

Your grateful servant, Gaurangi Dasi