Sundara Krsna dasa
Most Respected Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
After nearly twenty-four years of hearing from your lotus mouth, this year you formally gave me shelter at your lotus feet with the name Sundara Krsna dasa. You took personal trouble to get me in touch with the devotees to organize my initiation. I got the great blessing by you speaking some kind words encouraging me in front of the Chicago congregation. There is no way I can repay you for your love and kindness.
brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” [Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 19.151]
As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.17.27, acaryam mam vijaniyan – Krsna incarnates Himself as a pure spiritual master to guide sincere souls back to Godhead. In my case, I do not see any reason to consider myself as sincere – but still out of your causeless mercy and compassion you have given shelter at your lotus feet. I pray for your mercy that I may honestly cultivate devotional service so as to please you.
The last few years have been very challenging to the preachers of Krsna consciousness. Due to the virus situation, there are so many restrictions to freely move around. In your advanced age, you still travel to speak to the devotees in different parts of the country and make yourself available to questions online. It is truly amazing how a pure devotee is undisturbed in any situation and continues to execute devotional service. I pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to give you protection during these exceptional times.
You are like a rain cloud that can gather high volumes of water from the huge oceanic Vaisnava literature and spread it to all the conditioned souls. Your realizations are so high and so advanced that every lecture brings amazement and wonder to all the hearers. Your very presence brings enthusiasm and joy to learned devotees and also to the newcomers.
From Dhruva Maharaja’s teachings to Lord Krsna’s pastimes to the Ramayana – the list is endless in how much you have covered in just one year. It will take us lifetimes to understand the nuances of topics you have discussed. Yet you are so approachable and so simple – you freely encourage devotees and overlook their inadequacies. Any sensible person will not leave your shelter once he receives it! Just like Prahlada Maharaja says to Lord Nrsimha –
“Your servant Nārada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.28]
Personally, for me, the last few years has been the practice of trying to accept myself – an important lesson I learnt from you from your lectures of Dhruva Maharaja. Past misgivings and disturbances gradually subside in the presence of realized knowledge when there is faith that one is a spirit soul separate from the material existence. You make pure devotional service crystal clear. Your association allows devotees to follow the process without fear, attachment or aversion with singular focus of developing attachment to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet.
The pure spiritual masters in line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are His confidential associates. By following their footsteps, one gradually enters the pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu! The pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu are so audarya (benevolent) they even eclipse the madhurya pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna! My prayer is to always be part of the sankirtana movement as a servant of the servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
This year also marks the 125th birth year of Srila Prabhupada. The advancement of the Krsna consciousness movement throughout the world is so amazing! It is very encouraging to see so many projects come alive, so many happy new devotees joining hands to serve Krsna! The process is so simple – everybody makes progress just by associating with the movement! Vaisnavas are happy to see the fallen souls become fortunate! param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam!
Your fallen servant,
Sundara Krsna dasa