From Vilasa Manjari – Australia, Sydney

Dearest Srila Gurudeva,
Happy birthday! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In the past few months, I’ve been meditating on your words in a homage you wrote to Srila Prabhupada in the late eighties. It was the first homage that I heard from you, it touched my heart then and I’ve always remembered it when I’m faced with challenges. It’s so simple and heartfelt and it always brings into my mind a picture of your genuine love and dedication to serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada. This missionary spirit and your faith in the holy name, has carried you through seemingly insurmountable obstacles and I believe this spirit is one of the most precious gifts you have given to your spiritual sons and daughters. Your prayer has become my strength too.
“This year, in wake of a disaster that claimed a friend
And brought the walls crumbling down,
I took up my staff and looked to the road,
Hoping to find you again.”
In my 35 years in ISKCON, there’s been plenty of good times and bad, but this year, I found myself questioning ‘Why am I still in ISKCON?’ I wanted to just take the Hare Krsna mantra and run! When I search deep in my heart, I remember your words, I remember your missionary spirit, your compassion and your love for sharing Krsna consciousness with others. I hear you say “What is ISKCON without the missionary spirit?” and I hear Srila Prabhupada say “ISKCON is wherever you are chanting Hare Krsna” and I find strength to pick myself up and keep going.
I don’t want to ever be separate from the essence of this mission. It’s not the walls of a temple that feel like home to me, but anyplace where I am serving your mission, is home to me.
“To gain your favor I gave up all that I owned
And tried to renounce my pride,
And ever more cautious of women and fame,
I traveled far and wide.”
I pray at your lotus feet Srila Gurudeva, for the intelligence and humility to see how the obstacles on the path are freeing me, changing me, to be a better instrument in your service.
“In forests and cities, villages and towns,
Repeating your words I roamed,
Witnessing your mercy, as kind as you are,
In delivering the fallen and poor.”
I’m still engaged in book distribution, and in outreach and reading groups. And for me, just as you express in your prayer, I find happiness in seeing this mercy being shared, and best of all, it keeps my restless mind happy and satisfied on the path. This year, I’ve sent books to prisons and to little libraries, and I’ve helped to organise training and support for devotees around the country doing book distribution.
“In happiness and distress, in heat and cold
I want to keep fighting on,
Delivering your message, as you asked me to,
While I’m e
nthusiastic, youthful, and strong.”
I’m not exactly youthful and strong anymore, I’ve been (medically) semi-retired from teaching following a car crash four years ago. And this has given me the gift of time. I pray for your blessings to use this phase of my life to increase my chanting, hearing and reading. I have bought a van and I plan to take ‘van’ aprashta and travel to different parts of the country and be a helping hand to the devotees engaged in book distribution.
These words of yours are etched in my heart and I pray they will always stay there and keep me strong:
“So on this day, so full of grace,
Please hear my fervent prayer:
Within my heart, beyond what’s dark
There’s a shining love for you.
So guide me right, keep me in the fight,
And away from maya’s glare,
And when all is done, and the battle’s won,
Take me home to be with you again!”
Thank you, Srila Gurudeva,
Your eternal servant, Vilasa Manjari devi dasi