Cita-nandan dasa

Respected Guru Maharaja,

Hare Krsna!

Please accept my respectful humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

Guru Maharaja, for this year’s festival of the holy name, you choose Rupa Gosvami and his instructions as the theme. We started hearing the FOHN lectures in our morning calls. Just before that, separately, we decided to read Sri Upadesamrta and Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu in our small morning group reading. We also celebrated Srila Rupa Gosvami’s disappearance day on 19^th August. To me it seemed that Krsna has arranged things so that we can connect with Srila Rupa Gosvami and take his shelter. 

Guru Maharaja, in recently reading Nectar of Devotion with fellow devotees, we read in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.74-75

guru-padasraya tasmat krsnadiksadi siksanam

visrambhena guroh seva sadhuvartmanuvartanam

sad-dharma-prccha …

“(1) accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master, (2) becoming initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge devotional service from him, (3) obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion, (4) following in the footsteps of great acaryas (teachers) under the direction of the spiritual master, (5) inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”

Srila Rupa Gosvami further writes in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.83 

asyas tatra pravesaya dvaratve ‘pyanga vinsateh

trayam pradhanam evoktam gurupadasrayadikam

“Out of the twenty, the first three – namely, accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, taking initiation from him and serving him with respect and reverence – are the most important.”

I feel very fortunate that by some causeless mercy of the acaryas in parampara coming through you, I am able to understand:

1. a) that our real identity is that of a soul, eternal servant of Krsna,
2. b) that the goal of this human form of life is to perform krsna-bhakti, and
3. c) what is the authentic method of executing process of bhakti, starting from guru-padasraya.

We all are fortunate to not just understand this theoretically, but by Krsna’s mercy we got YOU in our life as Krsna’s representative so that 

1. We can take your shelter (guru-padasraya),
2. take initiation from you (take siksa and diksa),
3. serve you with respect (guru-seva),
4. follow in your footsteps (sadhu vartma anuvartanam), and

5) inquire from you about bhakti (sad-dharma-prccha).

Guru Maharaja, I am grateful to you that you are instrumental in connecting us with Krsna and with our glorious parampara. You have been putting enormous efforts in helping devotees to cultivate uttama-bhakti through your classes and personal guidance. This world has not seen a time in the recent past, where a small virus has impacted almost every human being on this planet. Although everything seemed to be halted, you kept inspiring devotees through your untiring classes and personal guidance. It is very clear how you spend hours preparing for and meditating about each class that you give. The festival of holy name classes were specially very inspiring to not remain indifferent towards Krsna and His Holy Name. 

Guru Maharaja, I am very tiny and feeble in my attempts to execute your instructions, but I have faith that if I keep trying one day, I will be successful, just like a young child learning to walk. When child starts to walk the only thing, they experience is falling down again and again. But by the help and support of a nurturing adult, gradually they start walking on their own and eventually start running. The capacity to walk is innate in everyone. Similarly, I trust that if I keep trying, despite all the challenges and failures, I will be able to move forward, even if only a few inches.

Please forgive me for my shortcomings and mistakes. I am grateful that you are so non-judgmental, and that despite my failures and shortcomings, you have accepted me and have showered your blessings in abundance. 

Your servant,

Cita-nandan dasa