Vrndavana dasa and Amrta-keli 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 and respected Guru Maharaja,

Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of Your Lotus Feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Dear Guru Maharaja, we feel very happy and fortunate to have your shelter and so much of your personal association during this uncertain pandemic period. The pandemic actually turned out to be a boon by your association. Our need for shelter was fulfilled in your association. Dealing with the difficult situations has become manageable, due to your presence in our lives. In these difficult times, by your example, you have shown how to deal with difficulties: “by immersing oneself in the Holy Name and Srimad-Bhagavatam“. We cannot fathom your absorption and faith (in Holy Name and Srimad-Bhagavatam) and your qualities (enthusiasm and fearlessness). We can only see some glimpses of them: You are continuously speaking and sharing Srimad-Bhagavatam enthusiastically, in the form of regular classes, many times repeatedly. You have been travelling relentlessly, even during the pandemic, to give your association to devotees. This is the evidence of your enthusiasm and fearlessness to spread the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

Vrndavana dasa’s Offering:

Festival of Holy Name retreat helped me to recalibrate my consciousness for chanting and helped me to focus on hearing.

Your presentation on Vedic Cosmology based on Srimad-Bhagavatam, really stood out for me. Your presentation addressed my need for understanding scriptures and gave me motivation to study Srimad-Bhagavatam.

You have kindly sown the seed of empathic communication by unpacking Bhagavad-gita 17.15, during Gita-nagari retreats. Also, you have provided a fence and watering the seed in the form of devotee association and reading groups. I can see significant changes in my attitude and consciousness as I’m learning and trying to practice empathic communication skills as presented by His Holiness Bir Krsna Maharaja. This journey is also helping me to develop good devotee relationships and fulfill my need for community and interdependence.

Amrta-keli devi dasi Offering:

Dear Guru Maharaja, the past year has been challenging for me with many internal struggles in addition to the uncertainty and fear of the pandemic. But your personal association, reciprocation and instructions; along with the association of caring devotees who remind me of those blessings, gave me the strength to endure those challenges. I don’t know how to express my gratitude to you for your continued encouragement and blessings, in spite of many reservations and shortcomings on my part to follow your teachings and instructions. Time and again your unimaginable acceptance touches my heart and propels me to deepen my shelter.

Seeing your absorption and how you relish Srimad-Bhagavatam gave inspiration to cultivate a drop of such absorption in my sastra study. By having such intention for my study, I feel it is opening up the heart to the wonderful blessings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Your unwavering dedication and faith in Srila Prabhupada is something that keeps me amazed and inspires me to go out of my conditional surrender to a more holistic and heartfelt surrender.

Guru Maharaja, we seek forgiveness for our mistakes and shortcomings. We pray for your mercy and request you to please keep us under the shelter of your lotus feet.

Aspiring to be your humble servants,
Vrndavana dasa and Amrta-keli devi dāsi