Padmanabha dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

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

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to you for giving me spiritual shelter.

Maharaja Nimi glorifies the Nava Yogendras by saying: “For the conditioned souls, the human body is most difficult to achieve, and it can be lost at any moment. But I think that even those who have achieved human life rarely gain the association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuntha.” [SB 11.2.29]

For an insignificant and unqualified soul like me, your mercy alone enables me to follow the path of bhakti. 

My first meeting with you was Krsna’s godsend. Hearing your lectures and associating with all the wonderful Vaisnavas during yatras helped me understand to some extent the depth of Srila Prabhupada’s books. A new life began for me. 

By hearing the Festival of Holy Name lectures, I am beginning to appreciate the significance and potency of the maha-mantra. Srila Jiva Gosvami mentions in Bhakti-sandarbha, yo mantrah sa guruh saksat: “One should understand that the mantra one has received from the guru is identical with the guru” [Anuccheda 237.8]. I can feel the presence of Guru while chanting although I am far away.

Seeking your blessings to be able to carry out your instructions always,

I remain in your service,
Padmanabha dasa