Rasamrta dasa and Lilavati devi dasi

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

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

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Vyasa-puja is such a wonderful opportunity to connect with you in a very special way, starting with writing this heartfelt offering of gratitude to you for so many wonderful gifts you have given me, very lovingly. I always wonder, Guru Maharaja, what can a pure devotee give? Because, materially speaking he has nothing. But still he gives so much and touches the hearts of so many people all over the world, so much so, that those people give their hearts to his mission, the mission of Lord Caitanya. How is it possible? By your mercy, I am more and more realizing that it is possible by one’s connection with Guru and Krsna. He is simply trying to serve Guru and Krsna by serving everyone, as a guide, as a spiritual master and an ever well-wishing friend. It is no wonder that I feel ever grateful to you for everything, starting with this devotional life. My life before coming in contact with you has been of very poor quality; always insecure, unhappy, filled with quarrel and hypocrisy. But you have given me this wonderful gift of Krsna consciousness, a life filled with security and happiness. However, I have to learn to value what you have given. On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I beg for this very understanding by which I somehow receive these wonderful gifts into my heart and realize their value.

This year, Guru Maharaja, is very special for me because you formally accepted me as your insignificant servant. I have no qualification whatsoever, but for some reason, you have always been very kind to me. I am ever grateful to you for accepting me formally and giving me a link to our disciplic succession and Krsna Himself. Please give me the strength to become worthy of this mercy. At the same time, please give me the strength to not become proud, having received this mercy.

Another gift that you have given me is the gift of training in Krsna consciousness. I am very grateful to you for this gift. There was a time when I did not appreciate the value of this training, rather, I would want to do some external service. But in retrospect, it makes so much sense. Without training, how can one do any service to Krsna? Krsna consciousness is simple, as Srila Prabhupada has rightly said. However, one’s baggage in the form of material conceptions makes Krsna consciousness confusing and difficult. But this training helps to see everything in proper perspective and everything becomes clear. And you have given so many wonderful resources to take guidance from, when things are not clear. I am very grateful to you, Guru Maharaja, for this training.

This year, I have been meditating a lot on the principle of self-honesty and self-acceptance which, you spent a lot of time in Gita Nagari last year. I am very grateful for this understanding you have given, to be honest with oneself. And by accepting myself where I am, I am noticing that I am really progressing. It is like a paradox. Accepting where I am, sounds like I am accepting defeat or I am accepting that I am a failure. But truly speaking, by accepting where I am, I am really feeling that I am moving forward. By applying this instruction of yours, the quality of my Krsna consciousness has totally changed for good. Previously, I would not believe that Krsna consciousness if a joyful process because it was not joyful for me, as I was trying to be something that I was not. But by applying this principle of acceptance I have gained so much. Krsna consciousness now truly feels a joyful process. By this acceptance (although still is ongoing), I am able to move forward in so many aspects of my Krsna consciousness, particularly, reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books. I am ever grateful to you for this understanding you have given me both through retreats and personal instructions.

This summer, we have traveled through Europe and wherever we went, we stayed at ISKCON temples. What was really great about it was we knew no one there but everywhere we went, we felt like home, a home away from home. Devotees were very friendly and loving. Even though, they spoke a different language – French, Italian etc., yet, there was a common language, the language of Krsna consciousness, the language of devotional service. It was very easy to communicate in this language and it was so nice. How could this have been done without the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and the mercy of his loving disciples who are maintaining Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada truly built a home where the whole world could live and you and your godbrothers are very wonderfully maintaining and expanding this home so nicely. Thank you so much, Guru Maharaja.

These are but a small token of your mercy. I have always received so many gifts from you, Guru Maharaja. I hope and pray that someday I could do something to contribute towards your mission to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On this most auspicious day of your appearance, please give me the spiritual strength to follow your instructions carefully and receive these gifts within my heart, because only by receiving fully will I be able to give someday.

Thank you very much Guru Maharaja,

Your aspiring servant,
Rasāmrta dasa
Lilavati devi dasi’s Offering: