Krsnarcana devi dasi

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine

Dear Srila Romapada Swami,

Srila Prabhupada writes: “The Lord is unlimited, and no one can know Him completely, but one’s advancement in the transcendental loving service of the Lord can make one eligible to know the Lord.” He continues: “One can know the Supreme Truth if one has unflinching faith in the spiritual master as well as in the Lord”. [Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.32 purport].  So, Srila Prabhupada has given us the underlying conditions that allow one to know the Lord: (1) advancement in the transcendental loving service of the Lord; (2) unflinching faith in the spiritual master and (3) in the Lord.

Three decades ago, Srila Romapada Swami, you had directed me and Subala to serve as resident devotees in the Towaco Temple. The service I was to provide as per Laksmi Nrsimha dasa‘s request was to form and teach in a Sunday educational program for the children of that community.  The same repeated itself in two more locations. My focus became increasingly to have children come together so that they can communicate, question, and co-operate with one another while inquiring more deeply into Krsna conscious philosophical concepts. In this way they would have the factual space to make sense of what they’re doing through increased understanding from a communal philosophical inquiry.

This path of bhakti, Srila Prabhupada points out (Conversations with Srila Prabhupada Vol 4, London 1973) is transcendental for it does not depend on the qualities of material nature. The same public service shifted to lectures for adults armed with the same theoretical underpinning of inquiring more deeply into the philosophical concept on hand each time. This path of bhakti has remained open naturally due to connection with you, Srila Romapada Swami and due to the kindness of the Deities allowing to move forward in the transcendental service of the Lord.

Narada Muni looks at two factors in one’s achieving bhakti: “one achieves bhakti by hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord’s special qualities, even while engaged in the ordinary activities of life in this world” [Narada-bhakti-sutra 3.37].  He then brings the spotlight onto the main factor: “Primarily, however, one develops bhakti by the mercy of great souls, or by a small drop of the Lord’s mercy.” [Narada-bhakti-sutra 3.38].  I understand that I have received this gift from you Srila Romapada Swami, the great soul/sadhu (defined as one who has unflinching faith in Krsna, the Supreme Person) for it is you who have taught me how to become a devotee, a worshiper and sincere servitor of the Lord.  Srila Prabhupada makes a comparison: “without the attentive service of his parents a child cannot grow to manhood, similarly, without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service” [Cc. Adi 1.46, purport]. Srila Prabhupada writes, “The conclusion is that to get the help of a bonafide spiritual master means to receive the direct help of the Lord Himself” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9. 36].

Your servant,
Krsnarcana devi dasi