Lila Manjari devi dasi

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

My dear and respected Guru Maharaja,

Hare Krsna! Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As ISKCON marches past 50 years, I have been developing a growing appreciation for the disciples of Srila Prabhupada. I have been wondering about what kind of surrender and spiritual strength Srila Prabhupada’s disciples must have had to build temples, publish books, distribute hundreds of books, spread Krsna consciousness in places where Krsna’s name was unheard-of, and maintain their own sadhana. In their humility, they often admit that they made many mistakes.

However, as I am fumbling with my own sadhana and insignificant services in the comfort of facilities that they gave me – the beautiful temples and books – I cannot stop feeling how much sacrifice they made. They surrendered everything to Krsna – their youthful energy, their careers, their belongings, and their worldly relationships. And what kind of reciprocation they might have felt from Krsna?!
Certainly, it must have been an incredible era of their dedication to Srila Prabhupada and the reciprocation they must have experienced from Krsna.

I desire to know them more and seek their blessings to continue with a heart of sincerity that is pleasing to Guru and Krsna.

Your aspiring servant,
Lila Manjari devi dasi