from Kaishori Sindhu Dasi – United Kingdom, Crawley

Dearest Srila Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances on this most auspicious occasion. Аll glories to Srila Prabhupada — the saviour of the whole world!

Vyavasāyātmikā — this is probably one of my favourite words from the Bhagavad Gita — because of how it sounds and also what it means. Srila Prabhupada translates it in two ways: “resolute in Krsna Consciousness“ and as “fixed in determination“. Both have this inherent meaning of being resolved, determined, and I like to think of it as meaning having a “single-pointed vision“.

This is exactly what you have, Srila Gurudeva — vyavasāyātmikā buddhir. In everything that you do — from the beginning of your journey in Krsna Consciousness — to this day during the lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic. You have never wavered from this. They say consistency is the hardest thing in seeing anything through. Because of our fickle and restless minds — we get excited about doing something one day, follow it through for a week or so, then lose that enthusiasm; struggle for maintenance, and before we know it, that excitement is a thing of the past. This fluctuating nature of our minds and our determinations is what sees us start many things, but finish very few of them.

But you, Srila Gurudeva, have not only started many things, but seen them all through to completion. In every project and endeavour that you embark upon for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, you have this “single-pointed- vision“ — making that particular offering of yours, your only focus for the time being — giving your best to make sure it becomes the best to offer to Srila Prabhupada. It’s a rarity to see this quality at play in the world today and we are so lucky that we get to see this quality present in you. And it is not just in the big preaching endeavours that we see your “single-pointed-vision“ — we see it in the personal dealings that you have with people — whether it is a young seeker who has wandered into Krsna’s Village of Peace in Woodstock or it’s one of your disciples who is going through a rough time — you give all those you come into contact with, your undivided attention — because you know that there is no replacement for love and care in this world. And so lucky are we, that we get to be recipients of this love and care from you.

You have this quality of “single-pointed-vision“ because of your faith in the words of your spiritual master. I recently heard in a class that when Srila Prabhupada was asked by his disciples what was the most important verse in the Vedic scriptures, Prabhupada replied with this:

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” [Svetasvatara Upanisad, 6.23].

Because of your implicit faith in Srila Prabhupada, you understand the imports of the Vedas, and are able to pass them onto us. Thank you for teaching us not only with your words but more importantly your example as well.

Praying to always be reaching out to receive your mercy.

Always in your debt, Kaisori Sindhu Dasi