ISKCON-London Community's 2014 Vyasa Puja Offerings by ISKCON-London

The Most Blessed Event The appearance day of our beloved Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

The copy rights for the Tributes presented in this book remain with their respective authors. Quotes from books, lectures, letters and conversations by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. We wish to gratefully ack nowledge the BBT for use of photographs, verses and purports from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. A ll such materials are © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. © 2014 Radha-K rishna Temple, ISKCON-London, Inc.

TRIBUTES

c o n te n t s

ŚRĪ V YĀSA-PŪJĀ

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Meaning of Vyāsa-Pūjā

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ISKCON-London

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Prayers To Our Beloved Spiritual Master Śrīla Prabhupāda ISKCON-London Mentors Bhakta Aashish Sharma

Akarsini Radhika devi dasi Bhagavatanand dasa

Bhava Bhakti devi dasi Mentee Group

Bhava Bhakti dd & Jai Nitai dasa’s London Grihastha Mentee Group Bhaktin Bhavna Panchal Devaki devi dasi

Gaura Kishore dasa & Saumya-radhika dd Mentee Group Bhakta Jay Suthar

Bhaktin Kayla Brooks

Bhaktin Lakshmi Jaiswal

Bhakta Liutauras Mezanskas Madhvi devi dasi

Maha Nrsingha dasa, Param Sundari dd & Bhaktin Lila Manjari Manjari-bhava dasi

Mathuranath dasa & Bhaktin Yuba Nimaicandra dasa Bhaktin Radha

Bhakta Rishi Lal

Sacinandana Karuna dasa Satyanarayan dasa

Sita Thakurani dasi

Bhaktin Sonal Patel

Vrajkishori devi dasi 5

- - V YASA -PUJ A MEANING OF

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The spiritual master is the representative of Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva is the original guru, or spiritual master because he compiled and disseminated the Vedic knowledge. Therefore, according to the Vedic system, on the birthday of the spiritual master the disciples conduct the ceremony called Vyāsa-pūjā, or guru-pūjā. As part of the Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony, the disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada offer heartfelt homage to him by writing about his glories. Hearing the glories of the bonafide spiritual master has the same effect as hearing the glories of Lord Krishna. The hearer becomes purified and awakens his dormant Krishna consciousness. Lord Krishna Himself instructs Arjuna, “My dear Partha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee” (Ādi Purāṇa) and “Just try to hear the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” (Bhagavad-gītā 4.34). It is clear from these statements that one must approach Krishna through His devotee, or in other words, that one should accept a spiritual master. In the system of bhakti-yoga, the first duty is to accept a devotee as spiritual master and then to render service unto him. This book is a compilation of the glorification of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupāda by his devotees on the occasion of his 118th Vyāsa-pūjā. 2

PRAYERS TO OUR BELOVED SPIRITUAL MASTER

S PI R ITUA L M A S T ER - S RI L A P R A B H U PA D A

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nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhaya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. namas te sārasvate-deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścāt ya-deśa-tāriṇe Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism. oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

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ISKCON-London

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept our most humble and respectful obeisances. All glories to you and this amazing ISKCON movement that is spreading like wildfire across the globe. Another year has passed and sometimes it is hard to keep up with all that is happening in our small corner of the world. Over the last year we have seen here in London some amazing 5

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progress in the areas of community development, team building and focus on a new Temple for Their Most Beautiful Lordships. Last year we initiated a project to focus on trying to fulfil your vision for London Srila Prabhupada. We know how important this was to you. It is our strong desire that your most beloved deities Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara be situated in a facility that is befitting. We truly want to please you and the whole parampara. We started a petition to acquire land in Regent’s Park and are working on designs for something special - something more than just a Temple Srila Prabhupada. We want to erect a Holy Place of transcendental pastimes that will attract unlimited souls to the service of the Lord and bring together devotees in order to deepen the loving exchanges and their faith in Guru and Krishna. Srila Prabhupada we are in need of your clear mercy and guidance. Please help us to become pure instruments of your divine will and desire. Please help us to co-operate together in order to satisfy you and Their Lordships. We simply want to become your humble and surrendered servants. All glories to you Srila Prabhupada! Your Servants, The Devotees at ISKCON-London

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ISKCON-London Mentors Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories unto you. All glories unto Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. You came to the west to purify us of the disease of impersonalism and voidism and in so doing you have given us the true gift of life in having the opportunity to serve the servants of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. You are an ocean of mercy, you distributed love for Krishna without discrimination and gave us the practical means to remain engaged in the service of Guru and Gauranga via ISKCON. The path of devotion is often challenging and as the years go by we are tested at every turn on our journey but by taking shelter in your instructions and under the protection of ISKCON there is great hope for success. As the years roll by we can only marvel at how expertly you managed to take care of an entire movement with thousands 7

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of followers and hundreds of temples and yet still find time to both write your purports and share your personal realisations with so many. We feel unqualified to act as guides to anyone and therefore only pray that you give us the intelligence to serve in this way and not become bottlenecks in the f low of your mercy and strive to remain engaged in assisting your servants. Through your personal example you showed us how each and every devotee is important and how important it is to take care of Krishna’s devotees. We pray that you shower us with but a drop of your mercy so that we can also in some small way try and preserve your legacy and help to build a strong community based on personal love and care. May we continue to learn to serve, pray and love one another in a mood of cooperation at your divine lotus feet. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Your servants, ISKCON-L ondon Mentors

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Bhakta

Aashish Sharma Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace. If it were not for your compassion and intervention, I would just be another lost soul wandering aimlessly from life to life with no idea I was ‘asleep’ and how I was going round and round from happiness to distress. With absolutely no idea of the insignificance of my material life and that something wonderful and beyond words was hidden away from me since time immemorial. You gave us a message from the Spiritual World. That there is another world, beyond this, that is free from birth, disease, old age and death. That place is free from all the anxieties and sufferings of the material world. That place is free from the vices of material life, namely: lust, anger, greed, env y, pride and illusion. But that is only the basics! You told us that there is a Supreme 9

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Person and he is waiting for us to turn towards Him. There is a whole new life in Vaikuntha where relationships are eternal and completely satisfying. That place is called Vaikuntha. Vaikuntha means ‘free from anxiety’. Even the name itself sounds wonderful as, time and again, I ref lect on the meaning of the word Vaikuntha and how it is in such a stark contrast to the world we live in today and the material world in general. On your Appearance Day, I ref lect on your eternal message that you have given us and its importance. I also ref lect on your personal sacrifice you endured to spread this message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The first verse of the Sri Siksastakam ref lects your mission statement which is namely to spread the rays of the benediction moon to benedict humanity. Srila Prabhupada, please help me on my journey in spiritual life. Without your mercy, nothing is possible. Your fallen servant, Aashish Sharma

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Akarsini Radhika devi dasi

Dearest Srila Prabhupada, my beloved grand-father and saviour, Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet, the most secure shelter! In your talk for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja Vyasa Puja, on February 1936, you said: “Actual performance of service to the Absolute under the guidance of the acar ya is the only vehicle by which we can assimilate the transcendental knowledge” In our case, you are the acarya and the vehicle by which we can assimilate transcendental knowledge; without your Bhaktivedanta purports, we would just f loat in the vast ocean of ignorance thinking to be wise and doomed to stay in this material world. Your books, your life, your disciples, your ISKCON are holding the victory f lag against maya. Your generals are taking strategic 11

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positions to spread Krishna’s glories and the Holy Name is taking His way to enter in the ears and hearts of all the living entities. This is happening only because Krishna is fulfilling your desire to bring all the living entities of this world back to Him. Please I beg you, to give me the blessing to be part of the distribution of Krishna’s glories and to be part of expanding your transcendental ecstasy which increases whenever somebody is attracted to devotional service. I bow down at your lotus feet with full respect and, heart in hands, I pray to always remain at the transcendental sparkling dust of your lotus feet, under the shelter of HH Jayapataka Swami, my spiritual father. Your grateful grand-daughter, Akarsini Radhika devi dasi

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Bhagavatanand dasa

Dear Srila Prabhupada, You are famous all over the world as His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. By your mercy devotees wear Vaishnava clothes and chant Hare Krishna. This year, we visited Magha Mela in Allahabad where you lived for long time. After taking a dip in Ganga Yamuna sangam, we visited the ghat where Lord Caitanya taught Rupa Goswami the Nectar of Devotion. The local Brahman told us it was not Nectar of Devotion, it was Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. No explanation from me was acceptable. I went to local Gaudiya Math established by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami. There were only three devotees handling the entire Math. I tried to talk to him about you. Srila Prabhupada title only applies to Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati, he informed us. His opinion does

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not alter the fact that you successfully brought the message of Lord Caitanya to the western world. From Nectar of Devotion, I understand that sadhu sanga, bhagavat sravana, nama kirtan, mathuravas and arch vigraha seva are absolute must for progress in spiritual life. From your books I understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Your first rule is always remember Vishnu or Krishna and second is never to forget Him. This order is firmly nailed into my head by my Guru Maharaja HH Bhakti Vikas Swami. I love serving Radha-Londonisvara, Jagganatha Baladeva, Subhadra and Caitanya Nitai. Please bless me that I worship Them always so that I do not have to enter into the cycle of birth and death. Please always let me bathe in your mercy. Your grand-son disciple, Bhagavatanand dasa 14

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Bhava Bhakti devi dasi

Mentee Group Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories unto you! All glories unto Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara! Your books, instructions and lectures have made Lord Krishna so accessible to us. Please bless us so that we develop love of God in our hearts and share that love to our Godbrothers, Godsisters and everyone around us. Thank you for giving us everything. We are fortunate to be part of the ISKCON-London Mentorship community and please bless us that we make the best use of this valuable opportunity to progress in spiritual life.

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Please bless this community care project we are part of - the ISKCON-London Mentorship System - to continue to f lourish. May many more people become fortunate and happy amongst a diverse, loving and united community - with a family spirit. Thank you dear Srila Prabhupada for continuing to keep us engaged in your most-wonderful ISKCON movement, each year bringing new services and opportunity for spiritual growth. Thank you for your unlimited mercy you give us through many ways, inspiring us to stay in the movement and never leave, with faith that if we follow your instructions, our lives will be perfect. “Just see how people are suffering”. O Srila Prabhupada you personally see and feel the suffering of the fallen conditioned souls, caught up in the clutches of maya’s web, entangled and helpless. May we also feel that acute suffering and pain and so in this way develop an earnest desire to reach out to all conditioned souls and soothe their aching hearts and minds with the cooling rays of your wonderful books. Thank you dear Srila Prabhupada for providing auspiciousness in our lives and creating a unified family centred about the blissful service of your beloved Lordships - Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. Your servants, Bhava Bhakti devi dasi’s Mentee Group

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Bhava Bhakti devi dasi & Jai Nitai dasa’s

London Grihastha Mentee Group

Dear Srila Prabhupada. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories unto you. All glories unto Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara! Thank you for creating ISKCON and allowing us to participate in the sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya. You are the commander in chief of the sankirtan movement and we turn to you for guidance, instructions and mercy just as a child is dependent on its mother. We pray we can always be engaged in the service of Radha and Krishna by serving Their devotees - please allow us to remain sheltered by ISKCON for our remaining days in this material world. 17

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This life you have revealed to us of chanting, dancing and feasting is both ecstatic and sublime. What fortunate souls we are that we have been awarded this wonderful benediction of devotional service and sadhu sanga this is the real wealth in life! We humbly aspire to be the servant of your servants for this life and beyond. Thank you dear Srila Prabhupada. Your servants, Bhava Bhakti devi dasi and Jai Nitai dasa’s London Grihastha Mentee Group

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Bhaktin

Bhavna Panchal Dear Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. My heart felt appreciations to you whom without your blessings in the form of your organisation, books and lectures, my knowledge of Lord Krishna would be very incomplete. Your presence is still felt in everything that you have given us. My obeisances unto you. Hare Krishna! Thank you. Your servant, Bhavna Panchal

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Devaki devi dasi

Dearest Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances at your most-auspicious lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. Another year has passed by and I could write at length the challenges and tests that have come my way as well as the wonderful moments that I have been blessed with but, through ref lection, the essence is that I’m so very grateful for your presence in my life. What would my life be like without you in the form of your instructions, your books, your disciples and devotees and my aspiring service to your mission? My life would be meaningless. These help me so much to deal with the challenges and tests that come as well as to see your mercy behind all the wonderful moments. You are always present showering me with your mercy but my fallen condition is that I am hardly appreciative of it nor do I greedily take much advantage of the opportunities you provide to make rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness. Yet you are ever patient, blessing me with nice association, service to the mission, and inspiration to keep moving in Krishna Consciousness.

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Srila Prabhupada, please bless me so I can continue to serve your mission under the shelter of Their most-beautiful Lordships, Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, with love and devotion. Thank you for the sweetness you have given me in allowing me to be an instrument in engaging devotees in your service. It is always so inspiring seeing devotees experiencing pleasure in your service and being grateful for being able to do so.

Thank you also for giving me sincere devotees to serve together with. Please continue to give me these blessings as it provides me with much inspiration. I have taken on a lot of responsibility this past year with more coming up and am in much need of your mercy so I can carry out nicely these services you have given me. I also need your mercy so I can also give more time and attention to my own health and devotional practices as it is this that will allow me

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to continue to serve in the long-term. As well as asking for your mercy, I also beg for your forgiveness for the offences I have made over the past year. Finally, please also bless us, the community at ISKCON-London, in this 45th Anniversary Year of the installation of Sri Sri RadhaLondonisvara, so we can serve nicely together in cooperation and grow in our services to your mission in London and bring many more souls at your lotus feet. Please let us always keep you and Their Lordships at the centre of everything we do. If you so desire, please also let us make significant progress this year in our efforts to have a new Temple befitting for Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, the mostvaluable, most- precious jewels in London. Your servant, Devaki devi dasi

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Gaura Kishore dasa & Saumya-radhika devi dasi’s

Mentee Group

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories unto you. Countless times we have wondered… How did you establish and manage an empire of Krsna conscious devotees, at the age of 70? How could you make it possible? Almost immediately, the following verse comes to mind: yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi and thus we come to realise that the mercy of the Lord and your spiritual master, was always upon you at every moment in your life. You took Their shelter and obtained special benediction to establish 108 temples around the globe and spread the glories of the Supreme Lord. These temples you established and the beautiful deities you installed have become an oasis of spiritual nectar and the very essence of our lives. 23

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As the years go by, we have come to deeply appreciate that your staunch faith in both Krishna and in the instructions of your beloved Guru Maharaja made the impossible possible. Who would have ever thought that people from all over the world would accept a charming blue cowherd boy as the Supreme Personality of Godhead? By your unlimited compassion, you turned people who were rolling in the muck of sinful activities and material enjoyment into great saints. Your books are still miraculously lighting the path of so many who are lost in the darkness of material existence. In fact, recently we have been studying Srimad Bhagavatam together and have been marvelling at how expert you are in providing clear explanations on such complex subject matter. These books are treasure chests filled with jewels of your personal ecstasies and by continuing to take shelter of them we hope to develop spiritual depth thus providing us with a solid foundation to face maya’s tests. Srila Prabhupada, you are really a genius otherwise who else can engage the restless, egoistic, quarrelsome, spiritually lazy people of kali yuga in the loving service of the Lord twenty-four

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hours a day. Thank you for coming down to this material world. It must have been very painful for you from your beloved Lords. Your wonderful pastimes and deeds have enabled us to meditate on the Lord’s personal form and thus develop loving relationships with Him. We are forever indebted to you O Master. We just beg that you please kindly use us in the mission of Lord Gauranga as you deem fit and we humbly beg to always be engaged in service to all the devotees who serve you. By serving them, we hope to please you and show our love to you! Finally, we ask you to please guide us in helping to make your dream true of having a grand place for the pastimes our beloved Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. Please bless us so that we can continue to cooperate together on this project and others as well. Your servants, Gaura Kishore dasa and Saumya-radhika devi dasi Mentee Group

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Bhakta

Jay Suthar Dear Srila Prabhupada, On the auspicious occasion of Vyasa Puja the appearance day of your divine grace, please accept my prostrated obeisance at your lotus feet. May Your glories be proclaimed throughout the three worlds. With great respect and affection, I bow at your feet. Please accept me as your servant. Although I am unqualified, I will attempt to offer some praise to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my eternal spiritual master, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Who is the best of all gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. Who is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvate Thakura, Srila Rupa Goswami and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is described like a bumblebee always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda. Dear Srila Prabhupada, while writing this offering, I have been forced to remember so many of the offenses that I have 26

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committed to you and to so many of your devotees in their kindhearted association over the years. I would like to sincerely apologise to you and all the Vaisnavas that I have offended throughout my proud attempt at devotional service. Although I am dull, overly proud on doing trivial amount of service, please allow me to remain somewhere near your lotus feet, so that in the future I might have the chance to be a little useful to you. Thank you Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your unlimited kindness and patience. Thank you for the many amazing jewels that you have imparted us in the form of your books, recordings, and other instructions. Thank you for distributing the sweet nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of Bhagavadgita all over the world. Thank you for teaching us to see God every where and to see all things through the eyes of the scripture. Thank you for teaching us to show mercy and kindness to all creatures. Thank you for always speaking about Lord Krsna and for introducing us to the unlimited glories of the Personality of Godhead.

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Thank you for introducing us to the path back to Godhead, with practical instructions how to get there. Thank you for teaching us all knowledge on all subjects, both spiritual and material. Thank you for introducing us to Deity worship, Vedic culture and Bhakti yoga system. Thank you for giving us Mahaprabhus’ Prasad; the chanting of the beautiful holy names and the sankirtan movement to bring back all fallen souls to the consciousness of constantly remembering their love for Lord Krsna. Though we are completely unqualified, thank you for your spiritual, philosophical purports, which empowered us to preach the glories of the Lord and distribute His mercy every where. Thank you for Krsna prasada in all of its forms. Thank you for this vibrant, loving Krsnacentered family in London that attracts all conditioned souls to pure devotional service. Please continue to give them strength, determination,

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and intelligence to go on boldly, responsibly and actively in their devotional practice the way you intended it to be. Please bless us to serve you eternally, Srila Prabhupada. Our desire is to become a better servant of Your Divine Grace, your compassionate followers, your merciful devotees and perhaps one day to see your smile. You are our shining light, our inspiration and support. Wherever your words are spoken and remembered, minds are illuminated - you hold the shining lamp of knowledge. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada. You are still present with all of us through these blissful transcendental sound vibrations. You live forever by your divine instructions. May this speckle of a follower of yours live with you. By your grace, I want to be more conscious of my motives and purify them more and more, so that I am ultimately acting only out of concern and compassion for myself and others. I do have a long way to go, perhaps lifetimes, but thanks to you and your sincere followers, I have been reminded to my true identity, I feel some wisdom, hope and encouragement. I beg also to become more grateful for your causeless acceptance, forgiveness and kindness upon this diseased soul. Your eternally grateful servant, Bhakta Jay Suthar

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Bhaktin

Kayla Brooks Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories unto you. I came across the ISKCON organisation in 2008, Since then little by little, Guided by your writings And faith in the scriptures, You have guided my life, Day in, day out, Your writings, Have brought me solace in times Of troubles, I can never repay you, For the light you have brought to my life and above all, Thank you, For having brought Lord Krishna and Radharani, In my life!! Haribol. Your servant, Kayla Brooks

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Bhaktin

Lakshmi Jaiswal Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja. You really have changed the lives of so many souls, more than we could have ever imagined. You preserved Vedic knowledge and made it so accessible. You have given us philosophy that we can trust because you presented it as it as and gave so much detail so we are seeing the potency of it. Thank you so much. Please bless us so that we can serve and please you and Lord Krishna in the right mood. Your servant, Lakshmi Jaiswal

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Bhakta

Liutauras Mezanskas Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories unto you. I am so thankful to Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani for Their mercy that they let a warrior like Srila Prabhupada to enter such a dangerous, dark battlefield as the western world full of lost souls. I am so thankful to Srila Prabhupada for a such heroic, filled with love fighting for saving souls from running in one single direction to hell. And because of his mercy, my soul has also been awakened and I had a chance to touch his arms arsenal but having no capability to fight, I still have a chance to become a proper tool to be used by Vaishnavas. My humble obeisances. Your servant, Liutauras Mezanskas

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Madhvi devi dasi

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe nir viśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścāt ya-deśa-tāriṇe

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you. Prabhupada, you came in my life as an angel and well-wisher at the time when my husband and I were thinking about our children’s future and our lost culture. You came to remind us about our forgotten culture and to westerners what they were lacking i.e. make them understand who the God was and His importance in our life. And to answer common question everyone is looking for real happiness and peace. Srila Prabhupada, you just followed your Guru’s instruction and came to the west to awaken dormant love for Krishna. You became a loving father to everyone regardless of race, and in short time of twelve years, you constantly engaged yourself in service of Krishna helping and guiding anyone who came across and showed them meaning of life, gave a torch of light.

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Prabhupada, you didn’t try to convert anyone but showed them deeper meaning and understanding of the word religion. Prabhupada, you did what no one else done before - making teachings accessible to those who spoke the most common language on earth i.e. English language and later translated it in different languages of the world. To do this, you travelled constantly, delivering the knowledge personally and guiding the lives of those who decided to follow. Prabhupada, you are still alive in your books and vani which guides us and will guide coming generations. You established an institution called ISKCON and gave us a big umbrella on our head. I cannot even imagine what would be our life without you, Srila Prabhupada. We are indebted to you, Srila Prabhupada. List and last now it’s ours and generation ahead’s turn to think how we can help to keep your mission going and don’t have any more hiccups when few sannyasis and senior devotees who are still present leave this earth planet. Association of sadhu sanga is very important. Don’t miss the golden opportunity having association of sadhus and devotees. To do this, we need cooperation among ourselves and helping weak members is very important. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya. Your servant of the servants and unworthy grand-daughter, Madhvi devi dasi

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Maha Nrsingha dasa,

Param Sundari devi dasi & Bhaktin

Lila Manjari Dear Srila Prabhupada, Dandavat Pranams, Another year has passed and our realisations and conviction of your contribution to our existence have become more firm. Prabhupada, You gave us life – Gave us beautiful darshan of most-merciful: Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra Maharani, Giri Govardhana and Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai. Gave us sweet holy names of Krishna Gave us books with sweet nectarean pastimes of Krishna and His devotees Gave us association of your devotees.

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Gave us unlimited variety of Krishna prasadam. You gave us reason to live and essentially everything we need to go back to Godhead in this lifetime but we are so unfortunate that we are not able to take full benefit of this and are stuck in this petty existence. On this most auspicious day of your appearance, we pray at your lotus feet that we value and make most of what you have given to us!!! This year, we saw the passing of two dear devotees (Hrisikesh Prabhu and Nirmala Bhakti Mataji) closely and one thing that was common there your presence!!! in the form of tape chanting Hare Krishna. Please let it be like that for us while we are living and when we are leaving. With regards to our services here as mentor, festival co-ordinator, broadcast services and pujari services, they are running only because of your desire and blessings of your servants, please keep us engaged and let us be of some use to you in a small way. Your servants. Maha Nrsingha dasa, Param Sundari devi dasi and Bhaktin Lila Manjari

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Manjari-bhava dasi

Dearest Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to the dust at your lotus feet. You have showered upon me much mercy this year through your dear son and my spiritual master, Indradyumna Swami. One thing that has stuck out for me this year Srila Prabhupada was just a few weeks ago, whilst serving at the Woodstock festival in Poland, how powerful this philosophy is that you so kindly introduced to us. I saw drunkards being entranced by the Holy Names! I was fortunate to see the magic of the Holy Names working on all the people who encountered Them. People were shouting ‘Radhe Radhe’!! And when a kirtan finished, they were chanting, ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ due to their enthusiasm for the kirtan to continue!

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Not only that, but the environment of Woodstock, with its drunkards, peace loving hippies, made me think of how you yourself came to the West. You, however came alone and single handedly transformed the hearts of all who were fortunate to meet you. These people seemed open and were eager to chant and dance with us. Many ladies, and men also, tried to learn the steps the devotees were doing whereas others just swayed from side to side, taking in the nectar. It was an exciting place to be! It also increased my faith in this process. The devotees engaged in this tour are amazing! They have surrendered everything for their spiritual master. When will that day be mine, where I can forsake everything? I thank you for giving us this opportunity to take to Krsna Consciousness. I pray for your guidance and blessings that we may be of use to you in this wonderful movement. That we may be an instrument in your hands. I pray that we may lose attachment for material desires and gain attachment to serve you always. Your insignificant servant, Manjari-bhava dasi

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Mathuranath dasa & Bhaktin

Yuba

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept our humble obeisances to your lotus feet. All glories to your Krishna Consciousness movement. Dear Srila Prabhupada, it is our greatest fortune to observe your divine Appearance Day. Although we are totally unqualified to sing your glories, we tiny particles are trying our humble effort. Please forgive us for our unlimited offences in this effort. Dear Srila Prabhupada, you have made a house, ISKCON, where the whole world can reside peacefully. You fulfilled the prophecy of Lord Caitanya, within a span of glorious 11 years, even at such an advanced age. Your books are the guidance for upcoming generations. Every day, your books are distributed in every nook and corner of the world, and you are reclaiming the fallen souls by your transcendental books. Your pastimes are so sweet and inspiring, when we read them in Lilamrta we feel inspired and encouraged. Dear Srila Prabhupada, we were completely dipped in the dark well of nescience. But somehow the other by your mercy, via 39

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your followers, we were nicely picked up and shown the reality, through the torch of knowledge. Those days, we used to think enjoying life through eating, sleeping, mating and defending is the sole purpose of life. Our mind was so dull that we could not still understand the reality, even reading your books, but you arranged to send your followers to pick us up and make understand the goal of life. Dear Srila Prabhupada, now we are completely happy and feel protected under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna that you provided to us. Even though we cannot repay you even a fraction, now, we feel it is our turn to distribute your gift to the mankind of the whole world. Please enable us so that we can serve you by distributing your transcendental gift to wandering souls. We are completely unfit to be a soldier of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Army. We are less intelligent to be in your spiritual war of reclaiming Krishna bhuliya jiba. But we have only hope of being a rif le to kill the evil mentality of the people of whom you desire. Let your disciple and our Guru Maharaja use his intelligence to target rif le and kill the evil mentality of wandering souls. Simply, let us be the rif le and bullets in your transcendental war. Dear Srila Prabhupada, please shower your causeless mercy upon us, although we are not entitled to. By your blessing only, we can follow you in the proper mood. Your insignificant servants, Mathuranath dasa and Bhaktin Yuba

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Nimaicandra dasa

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories unto your lotus feet. First of all I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to you for not having written an offering to you in the last couple of years. Although I have always had the desire, my mind has swayed me into believing I was too busy and then before I knew it your Vyasa Puja arrives and I had not written anything. However, in many of your purports, you warn me of my mind and how dangerous it can be and yet still everyday I fall into

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the web of my mind. I know the way to overcome the mind is by strengthening the intelligence and I pray to you to please bless me so the when I read your books, the knowledge penetrates my heart and helps me in overcoming the various obstacles that the material world throws in my direction. Secondly, I would like to thank you for everything you have set up and provided so that today I have the opportunity to come closer to Krishna. I have always had an appreciation for what you were able to achieve before you left this material world in your physical presence. Recently I am also realising more and more that you have not left us and are still present amongst us through your books, lectures and your deity form. This is continually empowering the devotees in the same way as perhaps when you were physically present. Just this year, I was unable to attend the London Rathayatra and felt a little disheartened but soon realising that there are Rathayatras also taking place around the country like Birmingham, Leicester, Crawley and all places that I can get to fairly easily. We attended the Leicester festival in the end and felt such joy to have been able to make it. This was only possible because of your empowerment for devotees to open temples in other places so that there is even more opportunity to come closer to Krishna. Through devotees, I have been hearing about HH Indradyumna Swami and his Poland festival, where many devotees have been working tirelessly so that they can give Krishna to others who are lost in the darkness of this age but because of your devotees,

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they have an opportunity to hear the holy name. This is only possible because of the example you set in distributing the holy name freely and mercifully. Currently, devotees are all working together in co-operation to prepare for the joyous occasion of Sri Krishna Janmastami and by your mercy I am able to serve a little at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Externally, I feel quite tired, yet I am so excited to return back to the Manor so I can engage in more services and not lose the bliss I am feeling internally. I have also noticed how everyone and anyone is working in co-operation and how all other material designations are being put aside simply by having the same goal and that is to arrange a wonderful festival and remind people that life is worthless if living without Krishna. This would not be possible without the many instructions you have given us. These are just a few examples where I feel overwhelmed by what you have given us and continue to give us everyday and am grateful eternally to you. Finally, please bless me and my family that we continue to remain in your shelter and become more Krishna conscious each day. Your servant, Nimaicandra dasa

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Bhaktin

Radha Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. On the occasion of the Appearance Day of the Founder and Acharya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, I would like to express my love to you in a few words. Your birth was perhaps transcendental. Your love and devotion to Lord Krishna blossomed at a very young age. Your efforts in spreading the knowledge about Krishna Consciousness not only in India but through out the world were phenomenal. Your preachings sound very real and original. The Hare Krishna maha mantra that you practiced and propagated is just amazing. I wish that through your blessings this spirit will live on and continue for generations to come. I thank ISKCON-London for giving me this wonderful opportunity and hope that the e-book that you would like to bring out will be a huge success. With best wishes, Bhaktin Radha - Hyderabad, India

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Bhakta

Rishi Lal My dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace. On this auspicious day, I’m attempting to write something and offer it at your lotus feet. Even though I know I am the most fallen, I am still writing, thinking myself very puffed. I want to take this opportunity to show my gratitude and by bowing down again and again for if it wasn’t for your mercy on us, the Western world would still be full of mlecchas. You took your spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s instructions very seriously and took it upon yourself to translate the Vedic literature into the English language. While in India, you conceived, wrote, edited, and typed the manuscript for the Back to Godhead magazine, while also writing the first three Cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. At an advanced age you left the shores of India in the Jaladuta and arrived in America, the land of the free and the home of

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the brave. These words only looked good on paper as it had no meaning in reality to the people of America. Even though you went through difficulties, your faith in Lord Krishna only got stronger and you were determined to spread Lord Caitanya’s mission on the order of your beloved spiritual master and spiritualise the western world and give them the holy name. Dear Srila Prabhupada, when I see the Krishna consciousness movement has spread all over the world, I am struck with wonder on how it was possible, but then I realise I am too contaminated and degraded to understand. A jiva after millions of births gets the body of a human, so no time should be wasted in this material world trying to please our material desires. Your books are spiritually inspiring and gradually purifying many hearts. I therefore beg again and again for your causeless mercy so I may cleanse my heart which is so degraded. Srila Prabhupada, when I see and speak to devotees I realise how much of a fool I am for thinking highly of myself, full of false ego. I am the lowest of them all, the most fallen. I therefore beg again and again for your causeless mercy. Your most fallen servant of the servant of the servant, Rishi Lal

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Sacinandana Karuna dasa

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. It is described that there are twenty-six transcendental qualities of the pure devotee and you no doubt have manifested them all in your transcendental pastimes on earth for the benefit of human society. Please accept my humble attempt to glorify your unique kindness to all living entities by illustrating anecdotes from your life. By your personal dealings, devotees became enlivened and inspired, and many of your followers recall your personal kindness to them through to this day. For the wider ISKCON world your kindness continues to live through your institution through you instruction - we can show our love for you most by how we co-operate with one another. This type of cooperation can only exist on the foundation of genuine kindness and trust which can be learned by your example. Your transcendental kindness existed before the establishment of ISKCON. When you first landed in America and stayed with the Agrawal family as a guest you personally cooked and served

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them Krishna prasadam as an intimate family member. Then in the early days of establishing ISKCON you would single handedly chant at Washington Square Park, NYC, and cook and distribute prasadam to the hippies, who were the untouchables of their day. You captured the hearts of a few boys who began to assist you. Gradually your early disciples learned all the devotional arts under your personal care and guidance. Skills such as playing instruments, dancing in kirtan, cooking, serving the deity, dressing, even dealing with money and materialists, were taught personally by you according to perfect Vedic pretext. You would even pose as Yadurani and others painted Krishna’s pastimes. It was your constant endeavour to engage devotees in Krishna’s service and give them your personal association as much as possible. While your God brothers presumed you were reduced to associating with low class persons, you maintained unbreakable faith in the holy name and remnants of the Lord’s prasadam. Thus by your personal association you purified the hippies and engaged them in your service. It is explained that to come in

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contact with a pure devotee is as rare as a turtle rising for air in an ocean, and surfacing through a hole cut out of a f loating piece of log. Such was their good fortune in meeting you. You quoted from Srimad Bhagavatam, that when a saintly person leaves, assembled devotees should follow the vehicle until it’s out of sight. And, as you travelled around the world, you enjoyed the association of your disciples so much so, that you encouraged them to be with you at the airport until the last moment. Hearing about your airport darshans is always emotionally moving and they hold a special place in the hearts of devotees who were fortunate enough to be with you. On the other hand onlookers at the worlds airports were unable to tap into the bubble of bliss you created with your presence. As ISKCON grew quickly in India, you brought over chosen disciples to live in the austere rural conditions of Juhu, Mayapur and Vrindavan. Still, you maintained an even more austere position than them without deviating from your strict daily routine, setting the example for them and providing them with the nourishment of your personal association. One’s kindness is put to the test in his dealings with enemies, and your glorious battle with

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Mr N. for Hare Krishna Land is well known. You were never discourteous with your opponents nor spoke ill of them. Being equipoised, you are convinced in your position as an instrument of the Lord and always take shelter of Krishna in whatever situations you face, accepting them as an extension of His divine mercy. Your kindness extends beyond the human race as on numerous occasions, when even an insect was found in your room, you would instruct an attending devotee to chant Hare Krishna to it before setting it free, blessing that soul with eternal benefit! Who else could have taught the world simply and by personal example, the meaning of equal vision (Bhagavad Gita 5.8). For many years, you maintained an open door policy allowing guests to visit you at their will. One time a well-dressed gentleman visited you and you discussed sex life being for the cats and dogs. The man liked you but had no qualms about his liking sex to the extent he was satisfied being labelled a dog. Understanding that he could not accept sound philosophy, you offered him a rasagula. Being well dressed, he resisted the juicy sweet ball but you insisted for the sake of his spiritual progress, so he accepted, and you encouraged him to eat it before you. To satisfy you he took a small bite and the sugar juice began

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dripping up his sleeve. He had no choice but to scoff the whole thing as devotees watched him slowly cover himself in the syrup dripping from his mouth, down his suit, onto his starched shirt, onto his polished shoes. By the end of the ordeal his outlook changed and ashamedly, he requested another rasagula. His heart was melted and he couldn’t care less about his suit. Such was your impact of your kindness. In 1967, a disciple who had fallen away came to visit you. At the same time you had just been handed an advance copy of the first Teachings of Lord Caitanya book. After loving inspecting the book you worked so hard on, you handed it over to the disciple who was never to be seen ever again. This extent of your kindness left devotees stunned. In writing this offering, it occurred to me that your kindness to all living entities is not limited to your physical presence. By your unlimited compassion, you conquered the entire globe with Krishna consciousness, yet by your kindness you have left sufficient opportunities to engage generations of devotees in the same loving spirit to push forward the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All glories to Your Divine Grace! Your menial servant, Sacinandana Karuna dasa

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Satyanarayan dasa

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Srila Prabhupada, it is very difficult to put in words what you have given to me, my family and the whole world. Which is priceless.

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Even though I am from cultural background, but coming to this western country, having wrong association, spiritually I lost everything, but with Krishna’s mercy coming in contact with Hare Krishna devotees, I started chanting sixteen rounds every day. Srila Prabhupada, you made me a human being by giving four regulative principles to follow. Thank you very much Srila Prabhupada. I am practicing Krishna Consciousness by hearing Lord Krishna’s pastimes, glorifying Krishna’s name in kirtan, chanting, serving Deities, and honouring prasadam etc. I cannot buy neither from market nor from supermarket. Any negative things I did in my life before 1989, it’s due to my ignorance, and anything positive I have done after 1989, is only because of your mercy Srila Prabhupada. You received Krishna from your Guru Maharaja and left your family to give Krishna to the whole world, So that the whole world can live under one roof of Krishna Consciousness. This way you became Jagad Guru. Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupada ki jaya. Your servant of the servants, Satyanarayan dasa

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Sita Thakurani dasi

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. This is my 40th very small Vyasa Puja offering to you, and this time I would like to thank you for the books you have translated and left for us. Now there are so many books, so many sincere devotees writing about Krishna and Lord Caitanya. However, a couple of years ago I realised that I didn’t need any other books but yours, for the more I read them, the sweeter they become, and the closer they make me feel to you and to Lord Caitanya and to Krishna. I still may not understand everything you wrote, but I know it is pure nectar indeed. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada! Haribol! Your servant, Sita Thakurani dasi

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Bhaktin

Sonal Patel nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe nir viśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścāt ya-deśa-tāriṇe

Dearest Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to your lotus feet. It is summer now - there are many attractive f lowers blooming and forming a most colourful display. Nature is beautiful and communicates unique messages to us. Around this time last year, I was watering the garden and my father emphatically said, “No no, you can’t water it like that!” and I questioned him, “Why not?” to which he replied: “Because you are watering the weeds, you should only water the roots of the f lowers.” This year, like every year, is always an unfolding journey: where I am learning about the science of self realisation, as expounded by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, and seeing it through my practical interactions with others, and through strengthening

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the lens of my mind, by this higher spiritual knowledge. On celebrating this most auspicious day of your appearance, Srila Prabhupada, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for being an ever constant, most irreplaceable, invaluable, trustworthy guide and inspiration - through ALL my ups and downs and life experiences. Your guidance and inspiration is felt especially through your wonderful books. Your books are like a communication channel, connecting our hearts to the hearts of Sri Sri RadhaLondonisvara, and to the hearts of each other - our family, friends, colleagues and in fact anyone and everyone - because you share in your books the path of self less service and share success principles for dynamic, meaningful, long-lasting relationships, based on effective mutual understanding. Your presence is also strongly felt by the friendship of many

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people in my life, who sincerely follow the Lord’s teachings, through the way you have presented them, for our easy learning and practical application. These devotees are amazing people, whose enthusiasm, intelligence, warmth, dedication, character and devotion - is so immense and powerful, that it is transforming the hearts, confidence and willpower of people struggling with difficulties and of those who are searching for genuine ways to make their lives more exciting, fulfilling and adventurous. Your books vividly and gloriously bring to life: the lives of the Lord’s incarnations and great personalities, to enlighten us on: what type of words, thoughts and actions water the roots of spiritual potential every day, so that colourful f lower-like experiences grow at each moment? And what type of words, thoughts and actions water the weeds of selfishness? As you explained in a Nectar of Devotion class – spiritual life is not some hazy idea – it is crystal clear. Therefore now I understand a deeper meaning of why my father told me to water the roots of f lowers and not weeds. 57

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In further appreciation of you Srila Prabhupada, I would like to share some personal highlights for me at ISKCON-London this past year. This is because it is due to YOUR compassionately coming from India to the West in 1965, to share the teachings of Bhakti Yoga - with everyone and anyone who is willing to accept this magnanimous gift - that we have this wonderful spiritual hub in London in the first place: One highlight has been working with an innovative team of individuals, to hold Open Days at ISKCON-London. Please bless us that we may be able to continue to offer this wonderful opportunity to others: to learn and experience the joys of bhakti yoga, mantra meditation and the power of kirtan – calling out the names of the Divine. A second highlight has been that for the sixth year running, I have been warmly and personally cared for within the ladies group in ISKCON-London’s Mentorship System. Real friendship challenges a person to “experience the magic of working outside their comfort zone” and this is exactly what I am inspired to do, with the support of, and by seeing the personal, real exemplary lives of such remarkable encouraging friends. Please bless this community care project to continue to f lourish, and make many more people fortunate and happy. A third highlight has been the devotional service opportunities I have kindly been given. Please forgive my mistakes and shortcomings in performing these services and thank you for sending many people to help me improve. I aspire to be grateful

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for these services and execute them to the high standards they are worthy of and require. Please bless me with the ability to do this. In closing Srila Prabhupada, I read ESSENTIAL words from a Srimad Bhagavatam class you gave in Bombay 17 April, 1976: “Not that because he has become Krishna conscious…he is unable to do anything of this material world. No. One who is Krishna conscious, he is conscious of everything and he knows how to deal with them. That is called daksa [expert]”. These words are a potent reminder to all of us living in this world: to be in it, but not of it - to use our intelligence, resources, material facilities, technology and cutting edge progress for a higher spiritual purpose. That is the vision and practical contribution of an EXPERT person. As you have taught us, this EXPERT approach, of centring life on following the teachings of the Lord, can factually succeed in uniting people from different backgrounds, different religions, difference nationalities and communities and different economic and social statuses. Thank you Srila Prabhupada, for making this secret of success widely available to the whole world, to take advantage of TOGETHER as a diverse global community -with great enthusiasm! Your servant, Bhaktin Sonal

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Vrajkishori devi dasi Dearest Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. Srila Prabhupada, I am grateful to you for giving me the Hare Krishna mantra, the association of which does not make me lonely whether I am alone in the house or amidst of thousand wedding guests. My community is such that certain etiquette has to be maintained and I have no choice but attend. But the maha mantra protects me from being impressed or being infected. Srila Prabhupada, I have been on book distribution, prasadam distribution, harinams and served as a cook for deities. Some services which I would love to perform are not available to me. I end up getting services I never considered performing. The other day, I was simply walking along the road with no intention of

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preaching. A friendly lady stopped me to say Hare Krishna. I politely asked her to remind me of her name. She told me we were not acquainted. She simply stopped to talk to me as I was wearing tilak. From the ten people who deride me for following you, there is one person enquiring and ready to listen to your philosophy. That pleasure cannot be purchased from in any shop. I pray to Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara to always keep me at your feet and force me to read your books. Your grand-daughter disciple, Vrajkishori devi dasi