from Sri Radha Caran Das – India, Jaipur

Dear Srila Gurudev,

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

The day of Vyasa Puja is very special for a disciple. It gives the disciple a chance to express his love for his spiritual master through writing his offering. The spiritual master enlightens the disciple through light of proper understanding of Vedic knowledge. This is confirmed in Bhagavad Gita’s verse [4.35]:

yaj jñātvā na punar moham evaṁ yāsyasi pāṇḍava yena bhūtānyaśheṣheṇa drakṣhyasyātmanyatho mayi

“Following this path and having achieved enlightenment from a Guru, O Arjun, you will no longer fall into delusion. In the light of that knowledge, you will see that all living beings are but parts of the Supreme, and are within me.”

Srila Gurudev, we want to serve you by all means, and this serves is the only key for purifying the mind. When you become happy with our service, then we will become eligible to accept real happiness that you are carrying in your heart. It is written in Upanishad: “āchāryavān puruṣho vedaḥ — only through a Guru can you understand the Vedas.”

Now you are sharing your understanding with us through your webinars. You described five limbs of devotional service so beautifully. You elaborated the importance of all holy places, and told us the glory of Vrindavan in each of your webinars during lockdown. We were depressed at the beginning of the lockdown. But you announced, that you will be giving classes on transcendental topics on alternate days during each week. And it brought us solace. We also understood, that this time is very important for us, for we can to look within, and give some quality time for chanting and reading.

Srila Gurudev, you always told that Krsna is present in Hare Krsna Maha-mantra in the form of transcendental vibration, and the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad Gita are also manifestations of Lord Krsna. When you initiated me, you gave me the maha-mantra for sound association with the Lord, and your lectures are giving me the association with the Lord in His other form. It all is possible due to your kindness and mercy, since you accepted me in your service.

Srila Gurudev, you guide us and instruct us to follow the path of our parampara acaryas like: Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Narottam Das Thakur. We have got to know about them only because of you. You told us to memorise the acarya’s prayers to glorify Lord Krsna and his pastimes with Srimati Radhika, and other gopis. You said, that we can learn verses from Bhagavad Gita while in the lockdown, and now following your all instructions, we remain busy the whole day.

It is said, that guru — is an external manifestation of Krsna Himself. And it is confirmed by Narada Muni’s statement: “yo vidvan sa gurur harih”. So, I always want to assist you in your preaching activities. I have full faith in you.

Srila Gurudev, you are determined to serve and to follow your guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, in heaven or in hell in order to spread Krsna Consciousness movement. And so am I, I am also determined to serve you anywhere and everywhere. Please, grant me this eternal service to you.

Forever your servant, Sri Radha Caran Das