Madanmohan dasa
Respected Maharaja,
Hare Krsna! Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you and Prabhupada!
Maharaja, on the auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja celebration, I want to offer the following words as an offering to you.
brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 19.151]
We have heard this verse and also recited it umpteen number of times. But our realization of how fortunate we are to receive the mercy of guru and Krsna becomes deeper and deeper as we continue to practice sincerely and seriously.
In Bhagavad-gita 7.3 Sri Krsna says:
manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah
To find someone who truly realizes Krsna is very very rare. And it is even more rare to obtain his association in a spiritual master—disciple relationship. And it is very very rare to realize how great a fortune one has received. To appreciate how good a fortune I have to have you as my spiritual master requires serious and sincere practice on my part for a long time.
Many people know the philosophy. Out of those who know the philosophy, only some of them practice it. Out of those who know and practice the philosophy, only a rare personality develops true Vaisnava qualities twenty-six in number. Seeing your wonderful qualities I sincerely consider it to be a great fortune to associate with you both personally and through your vani in the form of live and recorded lectures.
Because of you I have learnt practically the importance of not committing Vaisnava aparadha. Not only you repeat the instruction to not commit offenses many times in different contexts, you live a life that is totally free from any aparadha whatsoever. This latter aspect is very effective in touching one’s heart and making him accept an aparadha-free life. Without this, Krsna bhakti can never enter our heart.
Another of your qualities that is very heart touching for me is your constant tireless endeavor to please Krsna. Your easily approachable quality is also very heart touching. By dint of your humility and tolerance you make us feel comfortable so that we can take baby steps (yet truly significant and life-changing steps) towards the highest goal of human birth.
On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja, I pray to Lord Nrsimha to give you very good health for many many years so that many many people can benefit immensely by associating with you.
Please forgive my offenses.
Your aspiring servant,
Madanmohana dasa