Lila devi dasi
My dearest father, Romapada Swami Maharaja,
Please accept my humble and sincerest obeisances.
All glory to you, all glory to Srila Prabhupada!
Starting to write this prayer to you in front of the computer my heart was full of emotions, a thousand words, and I didn’t know where to start? Thinking of you every day, my heart is filled with infinite warmth and strength. In particular, during these two years, during the special period of the epidemic. Every time I see the anxiety and panic of people around me, I feel pity, and I often feel the strong protection that you, the parampara and Krsna have given me. A sense of inner security and happiness arises spontaneously.
At this time, I can’t help but want to tell you about a special experience in March this year. Due to the epidemic, the school was forced to suspend classes just after term started, opened the online teaching mode, and required the teacher to eat and live in the school, not to go home. In order to avoid the spread of the epidemic, the government has taken extreme measures, which have made many teachers daunted. None of them want to live in school. However, the online class had to be carried out on the school’s teaching equipment, which made our school leaders very embarrassed. The leaders asked me to stay in the school in a pleading tone, I did not hesitate to agree. I thought of teachings of Bhagavad-gita that you taught, that each of us should do our duty and be willing to give. Cultivate the ability and mindset to be a servant. At that time of crisis, I thought of working as loving service, honing my qualities of asceticism, patience, devotion, and acceptance. Since initiation, I no longer fear and worry, and I have firmly remembered your words in my heart: “You are not alone, Lord Krsna is with you all the time…”
I overcame many inconveniences and moved the kitchen utensils and altar of the house into a large office, and I lived alone on the first floor, thinking of you every day and praying to you, so that you always appeared on behalf of Krsna when I needed. I know I can’t do anything without your mercy! Under your kind protection during that unforgettable time, I completed the daily sadhana, the many services of the education and training system and the teaching tasks for the students of the school in peace, quietness and efficiency. I insisted on doing prasadam in the office every day and sometimes distribute it to my colleagues. What makes me happiest is, I can take some time every day to walk in the school’s big playground, exercise, and feel infinite freedom, security, happiness and joy compared to those who are locked up in the cage at home. Doesn’t all of this stem from your perfect blessing?
What surprised me the most was that our school was the largest school in the city, with the largest number of students from diverse countries, and the probability of infection was also very large but no one was infected! The devotees said that it was I who distributed prasadam throughout the years, so that this school was benevolently protected. I was particularly grateful for the great power of prasadam, and thanked the Lord for granting me the ability and opportunity to serve.
I call your name and the name of Krsna every day, and you have given me such perfect protection. It gave me the courage and strength to overcome difficulties, and gave me a more patient, tolerant and peaceful heart. Every time I think of serving everyone with love, I can please you and please Krsna, and my heart is full of joyful energy.
Today, on the occasion of your birthday, on behalf of the devotees of the education and training system, I deeply worship the dust of your lotus feet, and under your far-sighted and wise guidance the training system has been running for more than three years. At present, this system is constantly improving and growing, and it has fulfilled the desire of nearly a thousand devotees to learn the basics, many people have benefited greatly and are grateful. I am also one of the biggest beneficiaries. I have always been responsible for serving the students of bhakti-sastri. The students are humble, sincere, hardworking, united and cooperative, showing many of the excellent qualities of Vaisnava. The teachers are under your kind guidance, conscientious and tireless. Since the start of education and training system, devotees feel that spiritual learning has a home. Krsna also sent a group of shrewd and capable souls, who were full of vitality and tirelessly experiencing the joy of classical learning, purification and attracted to Krsna. None of this would have happened without you, without the all-out efforts of Lalita Sakhi. It is because of your deep love for the classics that awakens our enthusiasm for studying the classics, I rely on you completely, I have the opportunity to do a little insignificant service, without you, what can I do?
Seeing your peaceful, joyful and kind face on the screen every week, hearing your sonorous voice, listening to your fascinating explanation, I am very happy. I can not express the feeling of missing you, admiration and gratitude, I know that your teachings and kindness accompany me every day, I remember it and I try to practice it. With your kindness, on the road of loving service all difficulties will be solved. I know I am not qualified to be your daughter, but I will pray that Krsna will give me more purification, firm faith, excellent qualities, strive to do more and more sincere service, please you, and strive for incomparably glorious qualification – to become your qualified spiritual daughter!
The letter is short but contains a long affection, only sincere service is the best reward for you, once again deeply worship you, my dearest and dearest father.
Always love you, always love Krsna.
Your insignificant and unqualified daughter,
Lila devi dasi