Vrndavana dasa and Amrta-keli devi dasi

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine

Our dear and respected spiritual master and eternal father,

Hare Krsna! Please accept our humble obeisances in the dust of Your most merciful Lotus Feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace and all glories to Your dearmost Srila Prabhupada!

As we begin to write this offering, our hearts overflow with gratitude for this treasured relationship with You, Guru Maharaja. For the past decade, Your profound teachings and compassionate presence have enriched our lives beyond measure. We are deeply thankful for gracing us with Your loving guidance and unwavering shelter.

On Janmastami day in 2014, we visited the ISKCON Naperville temple for the first time, seemingly by chance (or perhaps by Krsna’s causeless loving arrangement). It was there that we had the profound fortune of meeting Your Holiness at the book table, where You were distributing Krsna books and graciously signing them. As You signed our book, You asked our elder son, “What is your name?” When he replied, “Nanda Kisora” your immediate reaction – marked by surprise and happiness – left a lasting impression on us. I still remember the enchanting smile You bestowed upon him and us. Little did we know at that moment that Your merciful glance and warm smile were not mere coincidences but a divine intervention, guiding us from our relentless pursuit of superficial happiness towards the true purpose of life.

We often wondered how it was possible for people like us, with seemingly little to no piety or qualifications, to come in contact with and serve such an exemplary personality as Your Holiness; and be able to practice loving devotional service to Lord Krsna. The illuminating answer from the sastra reveals that such encounters are not the result of our own merits but are manifestations of divine mercy and grace.

“O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.3 Translation]

“guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija”

“By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a fortunate person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” [CC Madhya 19.151 Translation]

Gurudev!
jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai, tomara karuna-sara

 “If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of.” [Gurudeva krpa-bindu diya, from Saranagati, Songs of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura]

I (Amrta-keli dasi) deeply admire Your profound attachment to Srila Prabhupada and how You are completely absorbed when listening to his recordings. I aspire to cultivate a drop of that devotion, intensity, and absorption in my own hearing from You. Kindly bestow such a blessing on this struggling soul, Guru Maharaja.

I am immensely grateful for your patience and kindness in answering my “how-to” questions, recognizing the tiny spark of sincerity in my desire to become a worthy disciple and a better instrument in your hands. You acknowledge my struggle with unsteadiness and encourage me to “Accept and Progress.” Thanks to Your relentless mercy, guidance, and encouragement; I am beginning to see some movement in my heart and a shift in my practice of bhakti. It’s moving from a self-centered and performance-driven focus to one centered around the pleasure of guru and Krsna – a tiny glimpse of “bhajaniya-parama-purusa-sukha-matra-sva-sukhatvam” [Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.10 Purport]. Although I have a very long way to go to realize this fully, I pray at Your lotus feet to continue on this beautiful journey and to never be deterred by any challenges that may arise along the way. Please bless me to deepen my conviction and to center all my devotional and material activities, and aspirations around this sacred goal.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve You and the devotees through the retreats here in Naperville. Despite our own shortcomings and lack of qualifications, your willingness to engage us in this service highlights the privilege we have to contribute in any capacity. Through this service, we are not only experiencing the joy of serving the devotees but also developing a profound appreciation for Your meticulous attention to detail, Your practical yet Krsna-conscious approach to challenges, and Your thoughtfulness in engaging devotees according to their individual strengths and abilities.

Kindly forgive us for any offenses we may have committed at Your Lotus Feet, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Please bless us to become more effective and devoted instruments in Your service, so that we may assist You in serving Srila Prabhupada. We pray for deepening our attachment to Your service, Your instructions, and Your lotus feet; and through that, bring pleasure to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundara.

With heartfelt gratitude…. Your insignificant servants,
Amrta-keli devi dasi and Vrndavana dasa