from Gaura Mani Das – United States, Matteson

Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya-karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate indradyumna-swamin iti namine
namah prabhupada-priya dasaya jagannatha-yatrananda murtaye bhakta-sukhaya krishnot-kirtanena narasimhena rakshitaya namah

om ajnana-timirandhasya-jananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaha

jaya sri krsna caitanya, prabhu nityananda, sri advaita, gadadhara, sri vasadi, gaura bhakta vrinda

vancha-kalpataru bhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namaha

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

I am honored and humbled to make this offering on such an auspicious occasion. To whoever made this possible, I thank you.

Srila Gurudeva, there is no greater love, than the love a spiritual master has for the disciple. Why do I say that? I know most mothers would disagree with me on this conclusion I have come to. A lot of fathers would disagree also. Let me explain.

The touch of your hands and feet, the light in your eyes, or the smile on your face stun my being, my soul. I cannot move! Not to mention the sound of your voice in my presence; your voice makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I am happy to hear it and sad because it has been a long time coming and you will be gone again soon.

I have always thought that if you love someone, you want to be with them as much as you can. You have gently taught me what I have always been afraid of, love in separation. Oh, what a feeling. Oh, what a gift. What this pesky mind tells me is a lie. There is no separation between us. Chant and be happy!

The reason your love is so strong is because you are the embodiment of Mother Radharani and the Father Nityananda Rama. So mother’s love and father’s love combined is the best of all love. Who can argue that?

You are my spiritual father and I am your spiritual child. You dove into the ocean of material existence and kept me from drowning, as any parent would. As my spiritual mother you gave me bhakti. And then you saved me from myself, my physical body, that had been trapping and drowning me over and over again, lifetime after lifetime. The spirit is unseen by those whose eyes have not been anointed with love. “I love, therefore I am.” I love you, Srila Gurudeva.

May I in some way please you with my efforts to serve you and follow your lead without question. I have full faith in you, and want you to have full faith in me as your child. As you may remember when I first heard your voice, I was hooked on you. It was as if Krishna was playing His flute attracting the cows.

Thank you and Happy Birthday my lord and master lifetime after lifetime.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Dandavat pranams, Gaura Mani Das