Sie sind auf Seite 1von 165

\ Vxxut| y

f|itt c}t
September 29, 2009

The Divine Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master

His Holiness

Srila Bir Krsna das Goswami

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Srila Bir Krishna das Goswami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. I offer my respectful obeisances to my swan-like spiritual master, who is very dear to Srila Prabhupada because he is faithfully repeating his message with great purity and determination

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah


I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my prostrated obeisances all your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace! You have made it apparent that the methodology for reaching the highest goal (krsna-prema) is quite easy. One does not have to execute severe austerities, become an eloquent scholar, run to all the holy places, perform all the different sacrifices, etc. The only requirement is take shelter of the sound vibration that emanates from the mouth of pure devotees. rahuganaitat tapasa na yati na cejyaya nirvapanad grhad va na chandasa naiva jalagni-suryair vina mahat-pada-rajo-bhisekam My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy (brahmacarya), strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vanaprastha, accepting sannyasa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.12.12) In the Krsna consciousness movement we are so fortunate to have you present with us in sound vibration. As Bhaktivinoda Thakura states: He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die, When thou art living still in sound! The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try To spread the holy name around. Modern technological devices have been devised by Krsna to help us continue to associate with you twenty-four hours a day. We can listen to your talks and transcendental chanting and thus become just as much enlivened as when you were physically present before us. In fact, as we mature in devotional service, our appreciation of you grows with time. When I read your books or listen to your classes and chanting, I feel as if I have been transported directly to Krsnaloka, and my enthusiasm to serve, preach, and chant increases exponentially.

Your Divine Grace comments in this regard: The transcendental vibration from the mouth of a pure devotee is so powerful that it can revive the living entitys memory of his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. [Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25, purport] Also, Narottama Dasa Thakura tells us: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrindavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Haris holy names. My prayer is that you will eternally engage in me in your service and eternally allow me to hear the transcendental sound emanating from your lotus mouth. Maharaja Prthu prays in the same way to the Lord: My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee. [Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25] I am eternally grateful for the mercy you have shown me in allowing me to hear from you and serve you. Please, Srila Prabhupada, let this never end. Your servant,

Bir Krishna das Goswami

samsara-davanala-lidha-lokatranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities. mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gitavaditra-madyan-manaso rasena romanca-kampasru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-caranaravindam Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nanasrngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato pi vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasadasvadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan krtvaiva trptim bhajatah sadaiva vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food (analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked). When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

sri-radhika-madhavayor aparamadhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam pratiksanasvadana-lolupasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. nikunja-juno rati-keli-siddhyai ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya tatrati-daksyad ati-vallabhasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari (Krsna). yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi dhyayam stuvams tasya yasas trisandhyam vande guroh sri-caranaravindam By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsana. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

SRI GURU VANDANA From "Prema-bhakti-candrika" sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma, bando mui savadhana mate jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai, krsna-prapti hoy jaha ha'te The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna. guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati, je prasade pure sarva asa My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires. cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei, divya-jnan hrde prokasito prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasa jate vede gay jahara carito He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character. sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu, lokanath lokera jivana ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada-chaya, ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.

All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda

Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari

Dear Bir Krishna Goswami, Please accept my dumb dabotts. Intelligent people can offer pure dandabatts. Others, crippled by weak devotion and envy, can only attempt to offer dumb dabotts. But there is a little sincerity even in these botts. Over the last few weeks I have really been appreciating your classes and your unswerving devotional example. This Sundays class also opened my eyes a bit more so that I could see your sweet devotional mood in regard to the building of this temple. I became aware that the temple came about, not because of any over endeavor in the consciousness of being the doer, but out of your constant adherence to the instructions of Srila Prabhupadaout of your continuous obedience to his orders to perform the morning program, worship the Deities, chanting rounds strictly, etc. Because of this purity, Krishna desired to come in His deity form many years ago, and now He is providing you with the wherewithal to build a huge temple for their Lordships. I hope that with the construction of this new temple, more of the residents of Hillsborough and neighboring cities will become aware of Krishna consciousness, and come to take shelter of Radha Golokananda, Srila Prabhupadas teachings, and your good self. We have the right formula to make everyone happy. I hope you may have a long life, and I pray that I may continue to be in a position to receive so much inspiration from your lectures and your example. Your servant,

Locana das Adhikary


New Goloka, NC

Dear Srila Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada who kindly continues to teach me under your care. Whenever Krsna sends me difficult tests and the pressure gets a bit too much, I'm in the habit of writing to Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and Srila Prabhupada for shelter from Maya, guidance and strength to carry Their desires in my life. Sometimes, the ropes of Mother Nature get so tight around my neck that I also have to ask you for help by letting you read those letters...and you always respond like Srila Prabhupada would have. I know this because Krsna is supplementing your response by directing me to appropriate verses in His most merciful perfect guiding books. That's why, when you responded: "tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam hrd-vag-vapurvir vidadhan namas te jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak " My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation , for it has become his rightful claim. I also read it in Bhagavad Gita ch 12 verse 13 &14 and in the Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 ch 14 verse 8...(what an enlightening purport!)!!! It greatly helped me to realize how much my elder brothers have sacrificed (and are still doing so) to help their younger siblings to understand and practice Srila Prabhupada's teachings. And you Srila Gurudeva, have founded New Goloka for the purpose of engaging us in the practical devotional service of Radha Golokananda. And here, you are maintaining Srila Prabhupada's spirit by teaching by example and precept as much as we can receive his perfect teachings. You give us regulated and very well dosed medicine like a careful and vigilant gardener. Not all plants will live and sometimes I wonder if I will ... But by the mercy of the Holy Name and Srila Prabhupada's books and your personal guidance on how to apply his advice according to time and circumstances, I have great hope that I'll at least keep trying ... Thank you sooooo much for all your encouragement and support. I don't know what I would do without you! Your servant,

Sadhvi dasi
New Goloka, NC

Hare Krishna, Maharaja! Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your devotional service. I am delighted to be able to offer you a humble appreciation for your 60th birthday observance. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has arranged our connection. It is by His grace and the grace of Srila Prabhupada's disciples that our paths have crossed. We have had several Governing Board Commissioners over the past 38 years. You began this service at New Talavana in a humble way, once even arriving on Greyhound for a visit. To this day you continue to work and play in a humble demeanor. You do your best to facilitate the devotee's needs to be Krishna conscious. Lecturing, offering seminars on subject matters to improve our selves, singing for Mongal Artik and performing guru puja. You walk and chant japa, attend meetings and go to devotee homes. Practically speaking you bring your own nourishment and accept whatever humble additions we add to it. Always clean at least we generally get to do your laundry. You're always ready to speak to guests; their philosophical adherence doesn't matter. You'll intellectually converse, and surely help them see a clearer vision. Yet, out of love for Giridhari and His devotees you undertake work to finance facilities to benefit the most needy devotees; and devotees in general, instead of building a place for your comfort. Learning technology you completely utilize it in the service of Guru and Gauranga, even arranging to collect contributions for God's service with an electronic Hundi, donation, box. Thank you, Guru Maharaja, for being here for us in good times or bad. Duty bound and vigilant you always respond to the crisis at hand. Unafraid of duality you steam forward promoting Krishna consciousness around the world. Thank you for taking the trouble and time to oversee things in New Orleans and New Talavana. May Srimati Radharani reward you with more and more Krishna prema for your selfless service to all the devotees, the Lord's archa vigraha, and the acarya's mission. Hare Krishna! Your servants in the eternal service of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga,

Yogindra vandana das Adhikari / Maharani Tulasi devi dasi and family
Temple President ISKCON Mississippi, USA

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. By your mercy our Suva yatra has flourished from a tin shack temple to a magnificent three million dollar temple and a community of Vaisnavas who are endeavoring to find meaningful, Krsna conscious relationship with each other. But your mercy knows no bounds when Your Divine Grace avails yourself to spend time with us twice a year! Your presence makes everyone light hearted and jolly with each other. No other time of the year is the same as when you are present with us. Thank you Guru Maharaj for this kindness. Without you this yatra would have been much less. Most importantly, it is only by your pure Krsna conscious dealings with everyone in our yatra that everyone is suitably engaged in Krsna conscious activities. You have been able to remove our confusions. You have made us more forgiving, hence more respectful and appreciative of others wants and needs. You flew in mediators for lessons in Krsna consciousness to uplift those of us who play leading roles in our yatra. You keep on recommending exalted Vaisnavas to our shores who give us the mercy of their association by which we find ourselves closer to jagad guru Srila Prabhupada. Hence, by your constant guidance, our yatra has become richer and sweeter. By your association and kripa we are able to see the Krsna conscious sun rising over the horizon, spreading its soothing rays across, as if very soon it will shower upon everyone in our small nation of Fiji and engulf everyone in full Krsna consciousness. We pray to Krsna that you continue to be our super guide and mentor for many many more years to come and that we continue to celebrate your Vyasa puja in a grand style in Fiji for the next sixty years. Happy sixtieth vyasa puja, Guru Maharaj. Long live Guru Maharaj! Your servants in the service of Sri Sri Radha Golokabihari,

Acaryanidhi Das Lalita Krsna Devi Dasi Gaura Priya Devi Dasi Bhakta Ashreet Padarath Bhakta Rajiv Akash Padarath Bhakta Pawan Padarath

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine All glories to Srila Gurudev! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Dearest Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Thank you for guiding this fallen servant once again as we observe your Vyasa pooja. Without your spiritual enlightenment my life was filled with darkness. You have opened my eyes with the best of wisdom. I pray for your association life after life. Your servant,

Acyuta Das
Labasa,Fiji

My dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Gurudeva. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. C.C . Antya 6 . 307 The meeting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sanathana das Goswami il diy gosi samarpil 'govardhane' guj-ml diy dil 'rdhik-carane' SYNONYMS il diy by offering this stone; gosi r Caitanya Mahprabhu; samarpil offered; govardhane a place near Govardhana Hill;guj-ml diy by offering the garland of small conchshells; dil offered; rdhik-carane shelter at the lotus feet of rmat Rdhrn.

TRANSLATION By offering me the govardhana-il, r Caitanya Mahprabhu has offered me a place near Govardhana Hill, and by offering me the garland of conchshells, He has offered me shelter at the lotus feet of rmat Rdhrn. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda Opening second door in your life with Sri Radha Giridhari is very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada show with his example leaving India and coming to the West, following spiritual masters order, it was not easy, alone, only with Krsna in the form of books. Now you follow Prabhupadas example coming to Balkan with Sri Radha Giridhari. For sure you prefer to spend more time in Govardhan, at the same time you are fully dedicated to Srila Prabhupadas mission and coming to Balkan instead. You are nice example how to follow the spiritual masters instructions with determination, even if everything fall apart. No matter what happens around you, you stay focused on your personal goal. With this Croatia Summer Camp opening second door and be determined to do only what Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra want me to do, even if it will be full of difficulties, obsticles, problems, challenges, promise to be determined in serving Srila Gurudeva. Your insignificant servant,

Adi Lila dd
New Goloka, NC

My dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your appearance day. The last two years I missed the deadline for sending the Vyasa-puja offering. And now, the festive day of your appearance is coming near! I am very glad that I am a member of your spiritual family! Every day I feel greater gratitude for your concern for us, your disciples, what inspires me that I also take care of other devotees around me. Recently I changed the place of residing and many devotees ask me here about you, and I do know almost anything about you. I love you very much, but I always write you about my problems, concerns and I never ask about you, how you are, what kind of concerns you have? Your huge spiritual strength comes from your determination to follow the instructions of your spiritual master, from your faith in the process of Krishna consciousness and austerities and that you go straight towards the goal, back home to God without any hesitation! Your causeless mercy is that you bring us also back to Krishna through your suggestions, instructions and teachings. In your lectures you sometimes talk about yourself. I have only a few lectures which I listen and am very much inspired when you say that from the very beginning, when you came in contact with the devotees, chant your 16 rounds regularly, without postponing even when sick or have other obstacles. I would like to be like you are! I often think about our talks, when you asked me about my plans for the future. I had some ideas and wishes, which were not auspicious for my age, but I had them. During darshan you drew my attention on the details and hidden traps I did not think of and after that conversation I could simply let this wish go and the need for the realization of those ideas extinguished in me. Your mystical power and support helped me to overcome my attachments. I never wrote you about how much I am thankful to you for protecting me from distress and disaster, which would happen if I would follow my mind. My life is too short to repay you for all that! Please forgive me for not being qualified to glorify you magnificently as you deserve. I am very fallen and foolish. I can only pray for your mercy, to guide me also further, to instruct me also in the future, to teach me and purify, to keep me at your lotus feet! My dear Gurudeva! I pray for you every day to Sri Sri Radha Syama, to protect you so that you remain with us for a long time, that you are healthy and satisfied! Happy birthday to you! Eternally your thankful servant,

Alambika dd
Hungary

om ajnana timirandhsya jnananjana salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. To my beloved Spiritual Master, On this auspicious day, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. You are so merciful Gurudeva to accept me, who is such a fallen disciple of yours. You have so much compassion beyond comparison and all I do is complain. I am not fully surrendered but still your mercy falls like rain. I am so unqualified Gurudeva to make an offering for you, but just by the help of your mercy on me I managed to write one. As enlightening as the sun in the sky you are removing my illusion and taking all my ignorance and putting an end to my confusion. O master of mind your are most nearest and dearest to Krishna. Please give me powers to follow your footsteps faithfully and also let me have more control over my mind. Last but not least, thank you so much Gurudeva for allowing me to engage my worthless self in your loving service. Your most unworthy servant,

Anand Svarup das


Suva, Fiji Islands

My Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories unto you, on this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja. Over the couple of years since you have taken me under you shelter, I have come to rely on you greatly. Gurudeva, you are my inspiration. I derive great sense of security knowing that you are here to guide me, and give me advice when Im lost. Your words are encouraging, and your actions are even more so. You serve Srila Prabhupada with so much faith, using all your resources in propagating his divine mission. This is a clear indication of what a great personality you are. My perfection of life will be to serve you with a splinter of such faith and determination. Thank you so much for the wonderful trip to India, especially your japa retreat at Govardhan. I am very grateful for all that you showed us. Your presence made the whole Yatra more auspicious. Gurudeva, on your Vyasa Puja, you are yet more merciful. I pray to you that you may allow me to serve you and that we get to associate with you even more. Happy Vyasa Puja. Your humble servant,

Anuradha devi dasi


Auckland, New Zealand

Dear Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisiancess! All glories to Hid Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada! All glories to You! On this special day, I would like to offer you all the service I have done for the devotees, for Panca Tattva, Prabhupada and Krishna. Its not a lot, but its the only thing I can give you as deep gratitude for all the help and inspiration you have given me in my spiritual and daily life. Whatever spiritual service or improvement I have done, its all been done by your mercy and inspiration. I know that I am not a first class disciple, maybe not even 10th class, Ii am sorry. But I carry certain feelings of love, gratitude and admiration toward you, because of your qualities and behavior. You are there for me when I need you (like Krishna). You are answering my letters in max two days, sometime even in 1 hour. That fulfils my need for security and acceptance, my need for opening my mind to somebody who cares about me. Yes, you are showing me, by your actions, that you really care for me, like a father, who will always help me and wants the best for me. Your instructions are inspiring, you know where I am (on which level of consciousness), what am I able to do and you never push me over my limitations. I am happy in Krishna consciousness, serving as much as I can at this moment, thanks to you, being so kind, compassionate and caring. Krishna is really merciful, by giving me your lotus feet for a spiritual shelter. I can not ask for more. Gurudeva, you have so many wonderful qualities and I really appreciate them. Just being what you are, you contribute to so many of us. I am happy to have your association. I wish you all the best for your birthday. With love and respect, Your servant,

Apsara devi dasi


Ljubljana, Slovenija, New Yoga Pith

All Glories to Gurudev, for if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to go on. Each day that I am a devotee I am glad that Gurudev is there for me as well as the devotees as he works to preach Krishna to everyone. May Krishna bless him for being there. I am glad to take initiation from him as well as being a devotee. For I never leave, meaning that I will always be a devotee of Krishna no matter what. There is no other life other than being a devotee of Krishna . I only wish that I was there for the appearance day of Gurudev. I just wish that more people would be devotee of Krishna.

Aroti Devi Dasi


Milwaukee, Wisconsin

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine Hare Krishna, Dearest Gurudev, All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you Gurudev. Please accept our humble obeisance's at your lotus feet. Today on your Vyas Puja we would like to wish you a very happy Vyas Puja Gurudev. May Lord Narshima Dev always protect you and keep us in your association. Dear Gurudev, with your presence we feel so happy and blessed by Krishna. Your classes are so full of nectar, which makes us realize the main purpose for us in this material world. Gurudev, you are so faithful in carrying out Srila Prabhupadas instructions. Please bless us always with your association so that we are able to continue with devotee association and provide our service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Golokabhihari and Srila Praphupada. Looking forward for your Vyas Puja in Fiji. Aspiring to be your servant always, The most fallen soul,

Artika
Suva, Fiji

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to all Vaisnavas. Your great knowledge of spiritual existence and of Lord Shri Krishna and understanding of that knowledge is giving shelter of every living entity having luck to be in your presence. Sharpens of spiritual inteligence as well as being merciful to fallen souls, makes You shine like a morning sun bringing light thus ending the darkness of the night in a gentile way. But most of all, Your kind heart can transform hearts of those who associate with You and in this way glories of Lord Shri Krishna and His servants are continuosly spreading all over the universe like a fire, liberating misleaded souls. O Gurudeva, bestower of loving service to Shri Giriraja, let this soul here be of some use, to be a servant of the servant of the servant of You or at least not to be an obstacle on the path of loving service to the Lord. Just with Your kind, calm and peaceful smile or word, my heart is liberated from all disterss, and with this in mind, service rendered to You, is full of joy. Following Your instructions is bringing me every day closer to You. Please accept my humble obeisances. Trying to be Your servant,

Baladeva dasa
Slovenija

Dear Gurudeva, It is so blissful remembering you, Gurudeva, how intensive to recapture the moments, your words, and the times we passed together under your care. Now I try to rake in words these feelings which overwhelm me by thinking of your mercy and understanding. I want to say so much hundreds and thousands of words have I deleted already that I wrote on various subject matters at the end to remain of all the panegyric inundation a simple thanks, for all you do for me. I thank you for all the subtle tenderness and understanding with which you take care of me and help me at the most needy moments. I wish I would be a better servant to you, I really do, but I have to go according to my nature without repressions, without self-deception, without unnecessary compromises. I am a particle of dust blown in the wind, but happy when I think of you, about how many times you helped me through the hardest times of my life and still being here and helping. This is a wonderful thing to know that somebody is there for me without exploiting or taking advantage of my wretched situation. Daily I remember your causeless mercy in my sacred brahmanical prayer. It is inconceivably amazing, Gurudeva, that you are so intuitive and always know the moment, when we fallen souls need you the most and by an instance you are there to our help. Like one year ago, when I got divorced and you came to me down in Mississippi to sooth my pain, to chill my anger, to set a direct guidance of what not to be done most of all! and to give me your blessing on my way further on. I learn of these examples, I still remember every word you said, those seemingly flit questions that stay on my mind for daily meditation although Im just a human-animal and a nobody in the immensity of the universe. I came back to Transylvania right after divorce to study what I needed to know after all, this is my fate, my war, my miserable existence that I have to live it through whatever Krsna might have for me. Krsna is merciful to me just as you are, takes care that Ill meet my challenge, and everything becomes an experience for the future in which I can understand others through myself without being judgmental or hypocrite or bigot or forceful maybe this is how life becomes more tolerable? Some times I imagine that I am Balarama, who goes on pilgrimage while the great war at Kurukshetra is on, but the further I try to get from it, the deeper I find myself in this constant combat, while I see you there in the middle of the two sides in a chariot, speaking undeniable truth and my hair stands on end when I endeavor to decipher the depths of your potentials. Although some times I think I start to feel some of your satisfaction that you might have when you govern all those unfortunate, nay, fortunate souls gathered around your lotus feet for I am in the material world (some times I almost forget about the aging body), and often Im somewhat surprised when it comes around to remember your words. Now, Im about to start my 3rd semester and Im really trying to move out of this miserable part of Transylvania where seven months a year is snow and the cultural ignorance is so dark that yet no devotee could stay for longer time here (or maybe they hide somewhere from these meat devouring human demons that I couldnt see them), and to go to Budapest where I have a bigger possibility to associate with devotees. Besides this, I think I can study some better subjects then Romanian language and literature of what Ill have no use anywhere else in the world except Romania, but where I wouldnt stay longer then I have to! For this Im asking your prayers and blessings that I might accomplish something I enjoy in this life. In continue, I give thanks to Krsna that He gave me a guide like you, and who knows, one day I might even be able to give back to Prabhupada a particle of what Ive received from you.

Hare Krsna, Nitai-Gaura! Gurudeva ki jaya! Your unworthy servant dasanudasa,

Balarama Avadhuta
Koronka

Hare Krsna Gurudev, I hope you have a wonderful 60th Vyasa puja! Your faithful servant,

Balarama
New Goloka, NC

Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. This is my first Vyasa puja offering. Sometimes I regretted that I didn't meet you before. But everything depends on Krishna. Let me tell you a great news that I'm very happy since I met you and thank you very much for that. Thank you for your blessings, good wishes, for answering my letters so fast and for broadcasting live. I will consider myself frivolous if I will write something extremely poetic now, and therefore I will be clear. I'm thankful for being your disciple and I'll put all my efforts to be a good channel to become conscious of Krishna. Dearest Maharaja, best wishes,

Your Barbara
Zagreb, Croatia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I want to say how much your deep instructions which You spread on this planet mean to me. First I would like to mention that you want with your mercy encompass the devotees on all levels from those at the very beginning of the spiritual path, as well as those who are already strongly justified in Krishna consciousness. You have a vision of ISKCON in the future. You act in a direction that leads to that in the future, indeed the majority of people understand Krishna consciousness and not just individuals. I also would like to emphasis the way You present the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. In Your discussions You always present the essence, as is the case that in a practical way You present how to focus on the consciousness of the Holy Name and that the emotions in this are very important. A lot is said, but You always mention the essence. You don't repeat only what others say, but You want to present so that the majority may actually accept and flourish. At the end, however, I really wish to stress that Your Mercy is accessible to all, we just have to connect. And You do just to serve Your spiritual master and Krishna. Thank you. Your servant,

Bhanu das
Slovenia

My dear Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to You and Srila Prabhupada! For the glorious day of Your Vyasa puja I would like to thank You for everything that You do for me. Every mail that I have gotten from You was full of encouragement and it gave joy to my heart. Your advice was never difficult to apply to every day life. Every darshan with You was a holiday for my heart. Some of my anarthas have gone away easily after Your blessings. It was enough to recognize them and to ask You what to do. You always knew how to change me in a better way. You taught me how to be tolerant, careful and more compassionate with others. You never put pressure on me or criticize me, instead You tell me what is wrong in the way of consideration. By that reason the relationship with You is so light, relaxed and joyful. It is easy to be fond of You and follow Your advice in spiritual life. Your great energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Your gentle eyes are full of carefulness and encouragement. By Your mercy You helped me to get the intelligence to understand and enjoy reading Krishna lilas. In difficult times Your warm heartfelt words put away the black clouds of the frightened materialistic world. You words are like sunshine and Your association purifies like the sun. I am so happy to have met You in this world and I promise to follow You faithfully. With love, Your servant,

Bhavatarini devi dasi


Croatia

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace on this most auspicious day of your appearance! Guru Maharaj, we most sincerely thank you for your causeless mercy upon us by giving shelter at your divine lotus feet after the disappearance of Srila Gurudeva. We hardly had chance to serve Srila Gurudeva in Fiji because we were neophyte devotees and lived far from main centres. However, you have given us that opportunity in abundance and we no longer feel that way anymore. Thank you once again for giving us second initiation. This has enabled us to remain in Srila Prabhupadas wonderful society of great Vaisnavas who are helping and guiding us to serve Guru and Gauranga and the Vaisnavas with love and devotion. We totally depend on your guidance, support and mercy in our spiritual journey because this is the only way we can attain pure devotional service. Please help us to get rid of our anarthas which are rooted in our hearts and follow your instructions closely so that we are able to chant the holy names of the Lord attentively and without offences. By your mercy, Anuradha and we were able to make our first pilgrimage trip to the land of Sri Krsna and Srimati Radharani. It was a wonderful experience. We were so fortunate that you personally took us for the tour of the Vraj Dhama, narrating sweet pastimes of Radha and Krsna. Thank you for looking after us like a loving and caring father who is always concerned about the welfare of his children. Definitely, we are eternally indebted to you. It was really a spiritually uplifting trip and we look forward to another one in the future. Guru Maharaj, you are doing so much for fallen souls like us, travelling around the world, enduring so many difficulties to ensure we become pure devotees of the Lord. You are a real servant of Srila Prabhupada, following in his footsteps. On this very special day, we pray to Sri Sri Radhe-Syamsundar to give you good health so that you continue to serve Srila Prabhupada and Lord Gauranga in their divine mission. We are anxiously looking forward to your holy association and darshan in October. Happy 60th Vyas Puja Day!! Begging to be your eternal servants,

Bilvamangala das Krsodari devi dasi


Auckland, New Zealand

My Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your auspicious appearance day! Over the years, I have come to appreciate all your sincere service to your Spiritual Master and to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. A few months ago, you bought a beautiful vyasasana for Srila Prabhupada. And for Sri Sri Radha Golokananda, you got a first class simhasana. I'm sure that your wonderful service is very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Gurudeva, I would like to thank you for your repeated example of setting a high standard of strict sadhana, and of supporting the temple and the devotees. I also appreciate that you are instructing all of us on how to keep our bodies healthy for Krsna's service (especially on good dietary practices). Please continue to give me your shelter and guidance always. Thank you for all your tolerance and difficulties. Your aspiring servant,

Caitanya dasi
New Goloka, NC

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I am so fortunate to have you as my Guru maharaja! Every day that realization comes to me. Your smile lights up the daytime even and certainly any room. Your laughter comes from the spiritual world to this miserable material plane and gives me hope to have one day your spiritual vision and realization. Please pray for me to Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda and to Sri-Sri Radha-Kunjabihari that I may one day be worthy of Their service. I have the desire to leave my body before you leave yours, as I cannot imagine living in a world without your presence. Please pray to the Deities to grant this wish. Your classes are enlivening and enlightening. I listen to them while you are travelling to keep in touch with you. You are always showing your kindness and compassion to the devotees. Please bless me to become as you are and be happy eternally. Hare Krishna! Your aspiring servant,

Mother Cintamani dasi


New Goloka, NC

Dear Gurudev, Hare Krishna! Please accept my most humble obeisances! All glories to you and to Srila Prabhupada! On this most auspicious day of your appearance, I want to offer my best wishes to you and try to glorify your divine personality. I wish I could tell something which would be appropriate for this very special day, as well as pleasing to you. Unfortunately, I am so entangled by Krishna s illusory energy, so I cannot find the right words to actually glorify you in the best possible way. I can only beg for your mercy to help me to find the right way to develop my relationship with you, to understand at least a little of your devotion to the Lord and your compassion towards me and my fallen condition. In order to glorify the spiritual master, one should be able to see his special position in the life of his disciple, his unlimited mercy and patience by which he accepts everything the disciple offers to him, even though it is often almost nothing. In my case, what can I offer to you? My burden of karma, the stupid mind full of illusion, and my unwillingnes to actually really surrender to you and Krishna. Even though you know that very well, you are kindly accepting me and treat me as if I am someone worthy of attention and care, and you are allowing me to approach you with all the dirty things both in my mind and in my heart. Often we glorify the spiritual master for his exalted position, devotion and surrender to Lord Krishna. That is of course his glory, but in my opinion, nothing could be possibly more glorified but his patience and love he is giving to his disciple. This is the real manifestation of his love for the Supreme Lord. You are perfectly carrying on the mission our beloved Srila Prabhupada has started when he came to the Western world by all his love and compassion to give us something we even didnt want to receive, the matchless gift of Krishna consciousness. So, what more can I say to you? I feel that each and every word of mine is just simply a phrase, devoid of real emotion and understanding. But at the same time I am thankful to Krishna for giving me the opportunity to address you no matter how imperfect it could be, since this attempt is the only way to try to make contact with you and Him, begging to become eligible to cross the horrible ocean of birth and death one day. Hoping for the day when Ill be able to receive your unlimited mercy, Your very fallen disciple,

Daivi Sakti dd

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine My dearest spiritual Father, First, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Vyasa Puja! There are not enough words in my vocabulary to give you the praise and gratification that you so much deserve. All I can offer you is some heart-felt thoughts and feelings that dwell inside me, and hope that you understand and accept them. Just the other day, I watched from my computer on u-stream, as you carefully, lovingly, served your beautiful Lordships, Radha Kunjabihari. I could not help but notice and admire how much devotion you have in your heart for Them, as I have witnessed the same with our Sri Sri RahaGolokananda. Believe me, it really shows, so much so, I could not control the emotions that were building up inside of me. I pray that some day in this lifetime I could have so much devotion. There are so many things I admire about you, my Father, so I will just try to touch base on just a few. It is simply amazing to me how disciplined you are both in sadhana and taking care of your health, both with diet and exercise. I pray one day to have the willpower to do this, as well, because when we have good sadhana and we take better care of ourselves, I feel, at least for myself, we are more happy and peaceful, with more than enough energy to serve Krishna, you, devotees and others. With your help, I am also coming to realize that it is ok to take some time for myself to do these things. Before I always thought it was selfish to put my needs ahead of others. I am beginning to understand by fulfilling some of my needs, I am actually a better person and still can help others, too. I would like to thank you for being here for me. Your continued guidance, advice, and willingness to listen has been a tremendous comfort during the last seven years. Your words have enabled me to continue, when I thought I was at the endbut I am still here going strong. because of you. I know I can make itThanks for your confidence. I do want to share one thing.I pray to Krishna a lot about certain things and what seems to be the main point, Dont worry, be patient, everything is alright. Hmmseems I have also heard these words from you.. See the connection? Krishna, Spiritual master, and disciple. Please forgive my offenses. I pray you have a wonderful Vyasa Puja. Always remember we love you! Guru deva, ki jaya! Love, your eternal servant and daughter,

Damodara Priya dd
New Goloka, NC

Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Hare Krishna! Please accept my obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your appearance! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I am unable to count all the ways that you have positively affected my life with your kind and merciful association, but it is a fact I have changed on so many levels since having been given the shelter of your lotus feet and this has in turn touched my various family members. Each year we reflect on the occurrences and realizations that have occurred and one thing to note is how much more deeply I feel connected with you, my spiritual master, and how I know with great certainty that I wish to eternally be in your association and engaged in your service. The shelter of Krishna's pure devotee is such an amazing thing and my heart aches for those conditioned souls who have not yet found such a treasure. I pray to be empowered to effectively assist you with your various projects and to always remember just how fortunate is that soul who has been given the gift of your shelter. I miss you... Burning in pain, while I sit here, trying so hard to act for your pleasure. To do what you wish, and always remember, and never forget. But it is so hard when lacking community. Where is this society, this glorious assembly of Vaisnavas? Where are they? Where am I? I must hold tightly to your lotus feet, your merciful instructions, for they will maintain me and have thus far, in spite of illusion. Please reassure me. Help me to know its okay and the path is straight and sure; though it seems like mere treading, waiting for the lifting hand that never comes...

Petty weakness of heart, please don't betray me once again. I must reach the goal must become cleansed of lifetimes of dirty desire. I beg of you, father please remain with me. I cannot journey alone will not be able to continue on without your merciful glance. Helpless and small always showing in the end when the facade shattered reveals the truth. The insignificance, yet sameness. Please lend to me O Krishna, the strength of one thousand men determination of an army to reach You, finally reach You, in spite of myself. Thank you so very much, your eternal servant,

Danakeli dasi
Georgia

Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you and your service. All glories to this auspicious day. A couple of years ago I was feeling pretty hopeless in my spiritual life - my son was now walking, talking a bit and napping a whole lot less. Getting my rounds done was not a priority and I felt horrible about it. Instead of talking with you about it, I let the shame push me further and further away. You had started coming every year to visit and would soon be there. One morning, after you had arrived, you looked at me while talking to a few of us and told me that my children should be my priority and that japa could wait until my children were older. You said that Krishna consciousness should be a happy thing, not a guilt and shame thing. I started to say that I had made a vow and you cut in and told me that the vow was to you and now you are telling me that it's okay. I did my best to hold back tears - that was the first time in many years that I felt unashamed for being where I'm at as a devotee and gave me hope and renewed inspiration for my future in Krishna consciousness. I struggle everyday with my spiritual life, but that struggle doesn't feel hopeless anymore. I know the day will come when I will again have the opportunity to chant all my japa and read Prabhupada's books. I just have to be patient and strong in my service to you, my service of being a good mother to my children. Thank you Srila Gurudeva. Your servant,

Dhanistha devi dasi

My dear beloved Gurudev, Bir Krishna Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am very happy that I can congratulate You on Your Vyasa puja with best wishes for Your health and a long life. May You also further be our dearest, most merciful and eternal Guru who leads us on the way of liberation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna. You, dear Gurudev, give everything of You to teach us, to take us out from tama guna, to open our eyes and to give us intelligence to advance quicker. Without You, so merciful and unique, this would not be possible. I pray to dear Krishna every day and thank Him that He gave me such great, self-realized and the best Guru for me. Dear Gurudev, please accept once more my cordial best wishes for Your Vyasa Puja. Your eternal servant begs you not to forget her and for blessings and mercy, Your devoted,

Dhira d.d.
Serbia

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. This is very auspicious day for the whole planet and especially for us disciples. I am very happy that I am your disciple and that I belong to that family so that we can celebrate this holy day. We will not all be together in one place but I hope that in our meditations on you we will all be together and with united forces we will try to please you and try to change this suffering planet a bit. Once I asked you how a disciple can please you the most and you answer that when a disciple is making spiritual advancement that is very pleasing to you. I am afraid that recently I didnt please you very much but I hope that in the future I will be able to do that. Actually I havent had connect with you much recently and I can see how much I am losing but I will try to change that. For us there is no hope in this kingdom of Maya and I can understand how your presence is precious. I can see the importance of the Spiritual Master and how important it is for a person to have one. Even in ISKCON some people dont have a spiritual master and I am very happy that I am the part of your family. Krsna said in Bhagavad Gita 7.13. tribhir guna mayir bhavair ebhih sarvam idam jagat mohitam nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam Deluded by the three modes ( goodness, passion and ignorance) the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible. If you dont help us, for us there is no hope. I wish you all the best, long life and lots of preaching. Your humble servant,

Dhirodatta das
Belgrade, Serbia

namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bir krishna dasa goswamin iti namine namo hamsa-nikashaya prabhupada-priyaya te su-dridha-shuddhi-nishthabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Gurudeva, The only thing I can say to You are the words "Thank You". Thank You for Your instructions, thank You for Your advice and most of all thank You for Your mercy. It is just amazing how You are able to see anything through a Krishna conscious point of view. Living and working in this material world is very difficult. We all have so much doubts and questions. I am very fortunate that You are so merciful to guide me. Dear Gurudeva, I won't write a long letter, just these two simple words, but they come straight from my heart: Thank You. Hare Krishna, Your eternal servant,

Dina Bandhu dasa


Belgium

Dear Gurumaharaj, namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Please accept our most humble obeisances unto your divine lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa puja. Srila Gurudeva, you are Krishnas most faithful representative and without your mercy we will not be able to progress on the path of bhakti. With your busy schedule you have always taken time out to pray for our family, especially when we needed so much support. This really inspired us to progress and render more service towards Krishnas service. It is impossible for us to repay you Gurumaharaj for what you have done, but I do hope to become a better disciple one day and surrender completely onto your lotus feet. Dear Gurumaharaj, we beg you to forgive and guide us for any offences that we may have knowingly or unwillingly committed while serving you. Happy Vyasa puja Gurumaharaj and we request if you can be in NZ for your next Vp. Your Servant,

Draupadi devi dasi


Auckland, NZ

Dear Bir Krishna Maharaja, Please accept my respectful greetings! By the inspiration of my son, Gopinath, I wanted to wish you a happy 60th anniversary. It is always difficult for me to think of anything to say in these kinds of special offerings, but my son assured me that some small and positive words are better than not to say anything at all. I havent seen you very much even though you have visited Finland, but I always remember you as joyful, funny, musical and as someone who is easy to approach. I also want to thank you for being so merciful to our dear son, Gopinath. Best regards,

Eeva Ilves
Finland

My dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this most special day of your appearance. All glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you Srila Prabhupadas loving disciple! With all my heart I would like to congratulate you for your 60th birthday!!! We expect to celebrate many more of your appearance days, at least as you once said, till Your 108th birthday. Bhakti is a relationship between master and servant. The servants duty is to serve the master, and the master supplies whatever the servant needs. You are a perfect servant of Srila Prabhupada and Govardhana. In dept to you, Radha Giridhari are supplying you with everything you need. Consequently you will easily fulfil all your goals. It is impossible to find the right words that would praise and thank your exalted personality properly from my frog-like perspective. But what I realised is that your love for devotees is infinite. I can easily cry when I think about your care. I am considering myself as your immature and latent disciple that is regularly receiving rains of your causeless love. A few months ago I received a refreshing shower of your care, when you decided to give me away as my father at the Vedic marriage. When you found out that my biological father or brother would not be present at the ceremony, you immediately decided that you would play the role of my father. In this way I felt extremely peaceful. Having the presence of Your Holiness and Radha Giridhari everything was most auspicious. From being without a father by your mercy I received the best dad I could ever imagine. The opportunity to have your causeless association and guidance deeply enlivens and fulfils me. You are relishing the nectar of Krishna consciousness and through you we can also get some crumbs of nectar. If one takes advantage of the Krishna consciousness movement, one can surely understand God perfectly and completely. Bless me so that I can voluntary accept prescribed so called difficulties of life and be happy, since our devotion for Krishna is natural. An insignificant servant of your servants, Gandharvika dasi Slovenia

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. It was Janmastami day and I was at home lamenting that I couldnt be at the temple cooking for Radha Gopinatha and that I was going to miss most of the festival because theres too many people there and its too much for Gokul. I would only be there for about two hours in the late afternoon before he would become overwhelmed. But mostly I was lamenting that I would miss my favourite, the midnight arati, as I have for the past three years. I was on the computer checking my emails and doing the daily computer chores I have, when I decided to have a look at Facebook. I saw a post that you would be broadcasting the midnight arati from New Goloka. Excitedly, I went to UStream but I was about four hours too early. I waited impatiently for those four hours marvelling at my good fortune to be able to attend the midnight arati at home in the middle of the day. Finally the four hours were up and there you were, offering arati to Radha Golokananda, and while I watched, I realised the level of care and commitment you have to your disciples and well wishers. Even while youre so busy, you ensure that people like me who cant be there still get to be there. I was humbled and entered into a new level of appreciation for your presence in my life. Im always inspired by your compassion Gurudeva, and I hope that one day I can manifest compassion on the same level as you. Your aspiring servant,

Gandharvika devi dasi


Australia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisance unto your divine feet. We came to this world with hopes to enjoy. The position of Krishna we tried to destroy, experiencing birth, death, old age and disease being kicked by the threefold miseries. Love and best wishes go out to you today and every day you travel the world finding souls to save , just as the sun floods, the world with its rays ,you have flood the world with transcendental qualities. Srila Gurudeva, we like all your qualities, things you do, the way you guide us, especially your preaching style, you make us laugh. Your disciple,

Ganga and Mayapur das


Fiji

Todas Las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!Todas las Glorias a Sri Jagannatha, Sri Baladeva ySrimati Subhadra! Todas las Glorias a Govardhan Silas! nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Trinad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniya sada harih [Sri Sri Siksastaka 3]
Uno debe cantar el santo nombre del Seor en un estado mental humilde, considerndose ms bajo que la hojarasca de la calle; uno debe ser ms tolerante que un rbol, estar desprovisto de todo sentimiento de vanidad y estar dispuesto a ofrecer pleno respeto a los dems. En tal estado mental uno puede cantar el santo nombre del Seor constantemente. Querido Gurudeva, Acepte por favor nuestras humildes reverencias al polvo de sus pies de loto en la celebracin de su Vyasapuja. Cuando el maestro espiritual nos da iniciacin, no se trata de posicin ni de reconocimiento social o de un espectculo vano de simples mortales, es por la misericordia del guru que podemos degustar el nctar del Santo Nombre del Seor en nuestros labios y as regular entonces nuestra conciencia. En esta era de Kali Yuga, para nosotros los nefitos es difcil alcanzar un estado mental humilde pues siempre existe algn deseo de poder, y este deseo no permite escuchar, ni avanzar en la vida espiritual. La primaca de los deseos de la mente sobre los del alma, nos aleja del camino de la verdad absoluta y llegamos a olvidar nuestra verdadera posicin como sirvientes de Srila Prabhupada. Se nos olvidan el das, dasi y dasanudas. Osamos pensar haber ganado un lugar dentro de los pasatiempos de Krishna, cuando lo que hemos obtenido es el poder cantar el Santo Nombre del Seor y el servicio devocional. Ofrecemos nuestras respetuosas reverencias a Srila Prabhupada, a nuestro maestro espiritual y rogamos a sus pies de loto su misericordia para poder controlar los deseos de la mente, de esta manera convertirnos en Vaishnavas y no ponernos en el peligro de obtener una posicin en la cual olvidemos el objetivo del servicio devocional puro e incondicional y tener presente siempre, que el servicio a Krishna como a sus devotos puros, es el objetivo principal de nuestras vidas. Por siempre bhaktas,

Garuda dasa & Tulasi Carana devi dasi


Guadalajara, Mxico

My dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you! I beg your pardon, I have not words how let to tell you; Thank You for your mercy!

Gaura das
Ljubljana, Slovenija EU

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to you! I am so fortunate that I got the chance to be your disciple and feel like putting on an evil grin when my friends get jealous of me because I have you as my spiritual master. They feel jealous and I feel lucky. I lucked out! And they missed out! They will say," Oh, Bir Krsna Maharaj! He's so nice." and I am like, "yep! and so cool!" "And that's who my spiritual master is. So come take shelter of him!" I love how you say in your class, "We won't mention any names" referring to a specific someone and then you blurt out who it is...so, I won't mention any names but specifically, my sister is very jealous that I have you as my spiritual master! When you give instruction, you give very practical, very real instruction that I can use in my daily life. And the best part is that now daily I get a little drop of your instructions through your Thought of the Day. Thank you! Another genius quality of yours! You instructed, "One who helps others reside in Vrindavan by supplying them food, clothes, and residence, accumulates a million more times the piety than one who resides there, because one who resides there delivers only himself, whereas one who helps others reside there delivers himself as well as those that he helps."- Sataka 1, text 73, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakur (from Srila Gurudeva's facebook, July 23, 2009) This instruction is my meditation. Please come to Vraj so that I can be engaged in your service! Please come soon so that I can be enlivened by your laughter! Please come again and again so that we can see you and feel ecstasy from your deep devotion to Sri Giriraj and Srimati Radharani! Please always keep me at your lotus feet. Please forgive my offenses. I pray that I may be of service to you. Your servants,

Param, Gaura Mani, Kishori, Kana and Radhe

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Sri Radha Giridhari, all glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on the auspicious day of your appearence. Gurudeva, I first had your darshan at the airport and at that first darshan I decided to take initiation from you. Few years later you initiated me although I was so fallen and accepted me as a servant of yours. In Guru Vandana, it is at stated that the spiritual master is the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow at yor lotues feet with awe and reverence. It is due to your blessing that I'm able to serve your godbrothers who visit Fiji. Your visit to Fiji inspires me and makes me think how I'm gong to serve my spiritual master. You are concerned about every devotee and are always there to assist us in any way you can. sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana srngaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato pi vande guroh sri-caranaravindam The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. You are always engaged in the service of Sri Govardhan. Your love and devotion towards Them can not be explained. By your mercy and blessing we are also able to serve Sri Radha Giridhari and Sri Radha Goloka Bihari. Ohe! vaisnaba thakura, please continue to guide me and keep me under the shelter of your lotus feet so that I can continue my service and attain the prema and taste of the holy name. On this auspicious day of your divine appearance I pray Sri Govardhan to keep you under Their shelter and your love towards them develops more and more. May Lord Nrsingha Deva protect you and give you good health so that you can continue preaching the message of Lord Gaura to each and every soul. Srila Gurudeva Vyasa Puja Ki Jai Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai Your most fallen servant,

Gokula Bandhu Das

Hare Krsna Gurudeva, Congratulation to your 60 years brithday. Please accept my humble respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to Ssrila Gurudeva. Gurudeva, many thanks for giving me your blessing, my life in Krishna consciousness is turning to the bright side. Without your causeless mercy, I would still be living in darkness. There are many good incidents that have give me courage to advance in Krishna consciousness. I thank you so much. I bow down to the dust from your lotus feet again and again. Your insignificant servant,

Gokulananda dasa
Sweden

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Gurudev, Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to your beloved and glorious spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. For some time now I am thinking and meditating about the most important quality of a Vaisnava and that is that he has the sincere wish to surrender to Krishna. It is said that all other twenty five qualities are developing naturally if a person gets just this one quality. So, this is my hope, because I got such a wonderful inspiration for surrender in You. I saw how you are determined in your sadhana and in giving satisfaction to Srila Prabhupada by vigorously preaching his message. I saw how patient you are with devotees, giving them so much of your valuable time and energy. I heard so much of your nice lectures in which the main point is that by the surrender to Krishna we can achieve all perfection. I saw how much you care for your disciples in the full sense of the word, which means that you are worried for there whole wellbeing. And I also see that I can not really SEE! without your kind help and the kind help of a devotees surrounding me, so what can I say more than: Thank you so much for your exemplary life in Krishna consciousness. In hope I would become surrendered and kind like you, Your servant,

Gokulendra das
Sri Sri Gaura Nitai temple, Zagreb, Croatia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humblest obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace! As I sit here and recall my good fortune, I realized that Im entering my 20th year of life associated with You- and through You, Srila Prabhupadas family. After all this time, Im still amazed by Your incredible patience and dedication to Your Guru Maharajas mission. Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live, and You are perfectly following that mood by constantly creating and cultivating deeper and more meaningful familial relationships amongst devotees. We all have that intrinsic need to belong and to have family ties, and I am no different. Recently, You told me, Where will you go? This is your home. It may seem like such a small, innocuous statement, but by acknowledging this, Srila Gurudeva, Youve put into perspective for me how truly safe and loved I am in Your branch of Srila Prabhupadas family. However, because You are so loved and appreciated throughout the entire international community of devotees, I feel the same warmth even wherever I may travel. So, on this most Auspicious Day of Your Miraculous Appearance in this world, I simply want to deeply thank You for the immense contribution Youve made in my life. In the past, when Ive thought of what it is Ive had to thank You for, I would always think of the great philosophical understanding with which we are blessed in the society of Krishna consciousness, and the amazing, aesthetic culture that attracts the minds of everyone. But this year, as I reflect on a more personal level, I realize that the greatest gift Youve given to me is the sense that I am not alone in this awful world. This world is like a holocaust, constantly trying to bleed more love, more justice, and more sense out of everyone here. In such a horrible place, Youve created an oasis of tranquility just by Your example and instructions. Yes, Youve built New Goloka with Your own hands, along with other devotees, but the real home that Youve created is with Your deep love for Srila Prabhupada that You are always sharing with the rest of the suffering souls in this world. We beg to become, someday Your servant and adherent,

Gopal das
New Goloka, NC

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet. On this 60th celebration of your birth, I want to thank you for being solid as a rock. Your steadiness and commitment to Srila Prabhupada are a shining light. The longer I am in this Krishna consciousness movement, the more aware I am of Mayadevi, lurking all over, covering up great souls everywhere, but she never seems to get hold of you!! May you continue to be our rock, our salvation for 60 more years. Your daughter and servant,

Gopal Nandini dasi


Prabhupada Village, NC

Dear most Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I hope this special day of celebration of your appearance is meaningful and full of joyful reciprocation - for all the love, devotion and compassion that you have offered to so many over the years. I hope you and Radha Kunjabhihari are well, and having fun in Fiji! We miss having you here in person, but prayerfully ask that the separation only bring us closer to serving you from the heart. Recently we were speaking about deepening devotional life and you responded to my inquiry, to just chant nicely to deepen the chanting. When inquiring further about how to do this, you openly offered more instructions. At first I was excited then became despondent, as I understood my lack in qualifications to serve you, the devotees, and the holy names. You have offered beautiful droplets of jeweled mercy before my eyes, ears, and heart. Not being qualified I have only been able to look in astonishment at the magnanimity of these precious gems like the harmonium, your Deities, and the holy names. I have become aware that these droplets of mercy are actually dynamic, alive, and active and even though I have limitations, they do not. And thus even a moment in the association of a pure devotee has such a transcendental impact on the impure soul. Your gift is that you are able to pull with exacting pressure those who come in contact with you. This gift allows those struggling individuals who have the desire, the room to establish and explore their much-needed autonomy, as well as their unique individual contribution for and relationship with Krishna. No matter what you do externally instructing guru, GBC member, servant of Srila Prabhupada traveling around the world, or in serving the Divine Couple at the seat of every action, thought and word is transcendental compassion and love, and the instructions for others to find this same place! I have recently been able to realize the import of your association, albeit minimally. In one interaction over concern about how Krishnas money be spent in observing the situation I was able to understand that you dont waste one word or action. That every time you speak, even when to others, there is an instruction to be received/heard personally. Everything you say and share from attending the morning program, interacting with the devotees great and small, to taking care of your Deities is an instruction, a map, for realizing the ultimate goal of practicing Krishna consciousness. In this regard I beg for the realization of what it means to be humble in service to others, and unflinching in moving forward. I desire that your smiling lotus feet eternally reside in my heart, that I somehow become able to fully surrender reflecting your mood and follow in your footsteps internally and externally. In essence to become qualified to serve with devotion always under your instruction and shelter. With deep respect and affection please accept our endless obeisances at your dear most lotus feet. The dust of which is the only nourishment we desire to be attached! Your aspiring servant,

Gopi dasi
New Goloka, NC

Dear Srila Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Sixty years of your life has past now in your present incarnation in the material world. My humble attempt was to try to collect some glimpses from your glorious missionary work and put them into a form of a song again. Kindly forgive me if by mistake there is some misinformation or even offensive statements in it, for I am simply your foolish servant who tries to find a way to express the glories his spiritual master. Sixty years ago in 1949 shooting at the world you appeared for preparation time. Raised in the academic world still in thoughts of your own. Developing different skills for the purpose yet to be known. Inquiring different religionists about the ultimate truth. Their answers neither satisfied nor gave unbeatable proof. Your continuous searching led to the Supreme Lords conviction. He gave you the topmost Guru with the knowledge and devotion. For the certain shock of your mother, you soon joined this odd faith. Convinced about Prabhupadas saintliness, [you] dedicated your life to him. Hankering back to Godhead made you chanting through out the nights. You were ready to leave this world at once and to waste no more time. Lord Krsna mercifully spared your life and kept you on the mission for travelling, preaching, BBT also book distribution. Expanding the preaching field to Fiji, Europe and South-America, you renounced this world in -78 by the help of the bliss of the heart. (Chorus) Youre a swanlike person Bhagavata, you always see the best side of everyone. Vira! Like a hero you try to rescue all those who struggle and are almost gone. Vira! Representative of Srila Vyasadeva, for us youre like the brilliant light of the sun. Vira! Stay another sixty years and more, without you the mission of our lives is undone. Vira! Let me always see your lotus face. Let me follow your instructions without a fail. Serving you is the greatest treasure in life I will ever gain. Only you can free me from material pain. You found an untouched territory, invited the Lord to come. Radha-Golokanandas mercy you got New Goloka as your home. You set an easy stepping stone in the iron age of quarrel, empathic communication to reduce the icy mental cover. Your constant loving devotion has awoken the Lords appeal. He chose as Radha-Kunjabihari for your companion to appear. By the Lords amazing gratitude you got shelter at Govardhan. Your incessant service attitudes an example for us all.

(Chorus) Your humble and unworthy servant,

Gopinatha dasa
Finland

Dear Gurudeva, This past year has been rough in many ways. Dealing with Nimais past and future surgeries is a great source of anxiety. When we told you of his condition, your e-mail response made it clear that you had spent some time researching it. This, along with your prayers for him and asking to be updated on his surgery made us feel supported and cared about. I also lost my job this year. You e-mailed me when my companys bankruptcy and takeover was in the news. Your concern again made me feel supported and cared about. Thank you for your support and concern, Your servant,

Govinda Gopal das


Seattle, WA

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Your Divine Grace. All Glories to the most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja. Gurudev, on this very special day, I would like to express my sincere gratitude unto your lotus feet for giving us the most rare opportunity to serve Your Divine Grace in the holy dham. We consider ourselves to be most fortunate since you gave this very rare opportunity to us. I always knew that we should take Guru's association in the dhams to get full benefit, and I always desired that, but Gurudev, your mercy on us was such that you gave us the pleasure of even serving you. We both were the most unqualified, we had no idea what to do, but like greedy kids we grabbed the opportunity. Every day spent with you was so special Gurudev, and the memories of early morning Govardhan Prikrama was the highlight of the trip. Due to circumstances, I might not be able to do that again any time soon, but Gurudev, those memories will remain in my heart for a very long time. Gurudev, you took care of us like kids. You were concerned about little things to keep us comfortable, like if we were happy with the beddings, the pillow. If we had enough blankets, enough prasadam to eat, you even took the noisy heater and gave us the good one so that we could get a good night sleep. And while we were leaving, you reminded us to thank Govardhan, for allowing us to stay at His feet. This shows that you take care of your spiritual children, not only spiritually, but also materially Gurudev. You are the best father any child can have, although you have so many children to take care of, you do it perfectly. How can we thank you enough for all you do for us Gurudev? I am sure we committed numerous offenses in trying to serve you and Radha Giridhari, but you kept forgiving us Gurudev, and instead of chastising, you always encouraged us. Your devotion to the holy dham was an eye opener to us, as we could have never appreciated the holy dham if we did not see it with your eyes. Gurudev, on this very special day, I thank Sri Sri Radha Giridhari for giving me the knowledge to take shelter of your lotus feet. With your association I am fully convinced Gurudev, that if I just serve Your Divine Grace with all my heart, I will get Krishna's attention. Thank you Gurudev, for praying to Krishna for us. I am running out of words to express my gratitude Gurudev.........I beg you to please keep us engaged in your service life after life. Your most fallen daughter,

Govindamohini devi dasi


Sydney, Australia

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine I offer my respectful obeisances to my swan-like spiritual master, who is very dear to Srila Prabhupada because he is faithfully repeating his message with great purity and determination. My Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances unto your divine lotus feet which always circle the globe preaching the holy names, glories, and fame of Lord Hari and Srila Prabhupada. On this auspicious day of your Maha Vyasa-Puja, I would like to thank you for all the guidance, love, and mercy that you have always bestowed upon this foolish disciple of yours. I do know that my foolish words stand no chance when it comes to pleasing a pure and glorious Vaishnava such as you. I still remember meeting you for the first time. For some personal reason I discontinued going to the temple when I was 15 years old. I was still chanting at that time and was in touch with one of the local devotees back then who was also a child and a very good friend. Unfortunately I was unaware at that time that H.H Tamal Krishna Maharaja left his body. In 2003 after I turned 20, I accidentally met my devotee friend. We talked for a few minutes at the Hare Krishna vegetarian restaurant in Suva. He informed me that now they have a new GBC named H.H. Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaja and suggested that I visit him at the temple for his 25th Sannyasa celebration. I rejected at once out of my ignorance and foolishness. Then I went back home and was preparing for my evening classes, then I got ready in my karmi clothes and was heading for my classes, all of a sudden that young devotee's words (now Sanatana Prabhu) struck my mind, it actually changed my mind so I skipped classes and decided to see who this new GBC guru was with my own two eyes. After my arrival to the temple, I noticed that it was packed and that all the devotees were nicely dressed in dhotis, etc. I already missed your lecture class that evening. Then you started distributing prasadam cake to everyone. Then I decided to join the line of devotees who were waiting to offer their obeisances to you and then receive the prasadam from your lotus hands. Finally I got a chance to look at you from a very close distance. Then I offered my obeisances and received that prasadam cake from your hands, for me it was not just a prasadam cake, I would compare that piece of cake with the nectar that came out of Lord Dhanvantri's jar at the time of ocean churning. You filled my life again with bliss and Krishna-Prema. A couple of months later that year, the very next day after the Govardhana-puja, you blessed and initiated me with the name Haldhara dasa. It was the most happy moment of my life. Not taking so much of your time, I would just like to thank you for everything you did for me. Allowing me to serve you each time you come to Los Angeles, even though you greatly leave me embarrassed since I always feel that I haven't done enough from my end. I thank you for

that wonderful prasadam you cooked once at H.H. Hridayananda Goswami Maharaja's house in 2005 and I was shocked to see you cook for the first time. How can I ever forget that nectar I honored which was cooked by your own hands. The taste of that Maha-Amrita is still in my mouth. The plain vegetable soup with flame cooked oatmeal bread (chapati style). Maybe it was one of my extremely good karmas from the past that paid off in such a blissful way. Thank you for always keeping this rascal, fallen, and foolish soul under the shelter of your lotus feet. Thank you for allowing me to serve you even though your stay over in Los Angeles is only for a couple of hours. I always enjoy driving you around etc. Even Los Angeles feels like Vrindavana to me whenever I am with you here. My dear Glorious Master, may I always be your eternal servant life after life. May I always stay under the shelter of the dust of your lotus feet. May you always bestow your love, mercy, friendship, and parenting upon me. Your Forever Eternal Servant,

Haldhara dasa
Los Angeles

Querido Srila Bir Krsna Maharaja, Acepte por favor mis respetuosas reverencias. Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada. Muchsimas felicidades en este auspicioso da y muchsimas gracias por su inmaculado ejemplo de rendicin al servicio de Sri Guru y Gauranga, ojal que este mundo pueda festejar muchsimos aos ms este venerable da donde un alma tan excelsa como lo es Usted, apareci para asistir incondicionalmente a Srila Prabhupada. En verdad muchas gracias por todo el bien que est haciendo a la humanidad. Su sirvientes de Len Guanajuato,

Govinda dd Govardhan das Madhavi dd Iksvaku das


Mexico

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Rather than say, "You are so great!, you are this, you are that," which is static language and doesn't necessarily connect us, I will tell what you have done and how it has impacted me. You have remained in your position as a guru for two and a half decades. This has given me stability and trust and also fulfilled my need for honoring agreements (on both sides) and has allowed me to grow up in Krishna consciousness. You have given me the very means to conquest in life and this has made me exceedingly happy and excited. Actually, come to think about it, what have you not given me? Just by fulfilling the role of a guru you have given me everything. One day I hope to know you personally, also. Please break the mountain of impersonalism within my heart and allow me to know you personally. Your servant,

Jagadguru das
New Goloka, NC

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace. namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bir krishna dasa goswamin iti namine namo hamsa-nikashaya prabhupada-priyaya te su-dridha-shuddhi-nishthabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine I offer my respectful obeisances to my swan-like spiritual master, who is very dear to Srila Prabhupada because he is faithfully repeating his message with great purity and determination. I happened to recently come across a quote from Bhaktivinode Thakur's "Jaive Dharma," "....A diseased person cannot cure himself. He must be under the care of a physician. Just as the anger of a diseased person is pardonable, the improper behavior of the ignorant should also be excused. This attitude is known as mercy. The ignorant have many misconceptions, such as faith in karma-kanda, occasional inclination toward jnana, worshiping the Deity with ulterior motives, faith in yoga, indifference toward the association of pure Vaisnavas, attachment to varnasrama, and many other things. By association, mercy and good instructions, these misconceptions can be dispelled and the kanistha-adhikari can quickly become a madhyamaadhikari suddha-bhakta." The first step for us conditioned souls is to realize that we are in a diseased condition. The second step is to look for a bona fide spiritual master who can provide the remedy. This is the process as handed down by Krishna. We cannot make up some other process just because we disagree with the doctor or don't like the taste of the medicine. The conditioned souls have many misconceptions of what a spiritual master should be and what he or she should do for them. However, the qualities of a spiritual master are clearly explained in the scriptures. The spiritual master's mission is to make at least one soul into a pure devotee. The power of a spiritual master is measured by how many other suddha-bhaktas he or she is able to create. Therefore we can best glorify the spiritual master by quickly rising to at least the platform of madhyama-adhikari. This stage can quickly be attained by sincere hearing and chanting. Lord Chaitanya gave us this process of chanting the Lord's name as the only method for cleaning the mirror of the heart. As it worked for Ajamila, it can certainly work for us. We simply have to be diligent in avoiding offenses to the Holy Names and to the assembly of Vaishnavas. Personally, I have become very expert in ritualistic chanting and embracing the ten offenses. I KNOW better, but still I do not DO better. Why is that? It must have something to do with my attitude towards Krishna and the devotees. After so many years, I am still at the beta version of a devotee. Therefore, I need the mercy of the spiritual master and sadhus if I am to advance at all.

Dear Srila Gurudeva, thank you for showing me the path of enlightenment. I will try in the upcoming year to chant better rounds and listen more to your classes and instructions. I will try to read more from Srila Prabhupada's books. Though externally I may appear to be a hard and sour fringy, internally there is a soft and sweet tootsie roll center. In this way, I hope to be present and able to recognize your pure devotees when they arrive. your servant,

Jagannath dasa
New Goloka, NC

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Dear Gurudev, We offer our humble obeisance's at the very dust of your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja. Thank you for giving us shelter at your lotus feet Gurudev, even though we are not worthy of such kindness and mercy from you. We really appreciate your blessings and guidance in our spiritual life. Whenever you visit Auckland, it really boosts our energy to advance in our spiritual life, it is really pleasing to physically see you and associate with you Gurudev. We would pray for your good health and many more visits to Auckland, NZ. Thank you so much Gurudev for accepting us as your children. We wish you a very wonderful Vyasa Puja Gurudev. Best Wishes from your Fallen Servants,

Jaggattarini dd and Krishan Mani


Auckland, New Zealand

To our beloved GuruMy obeisances to you. All glory, all glory to Sri Sri Radha Golokananda! All glory to Srila Prabhupada! All glory to you on this auspicious day commemorating your 60th year. As milestones are reached, it is common to reflect on the significant moments gone by. Looking back twenty years--what a special time it was. We were there to celebrate your 40th year and acknowledge the gifts that had been given to us. You created a place where you could give personal guidance and training to your new students. I was one of those fortunate souls who had the opportunity to reside in your ashram and receive such guidance; eleven years of continued spiritual support (who can estimate the value of such a gift?). With years of personal guidance, we were able to internalize spiritual wisdom and solidify our relationship to Lord Sri Krishna. "Full moons", you would always say..."Prabhupada wanted us to be just like full moons". Living in your ashram we had the opportunity to become like full moons. Your efforts were not in vain. Because of all the time and effort you took to personally train the many sincere souls who Krishna sent your way, there are full moons--still shining bright. On this memorable Vyasa-puja day, we honor Sri Vyasadeva by honoring his representatives who continue to instill spiritual knowledge into the hearts of all those who are willing to receive. We are forever grateful. Your disciple,

Jahnavi dd
Quite Mountain Sanctuary, NY

mantra guru ara yata siksa-guru-gana tanhara carana age kariye vandana "I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of the initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters." First and foremost I must give due recognition and gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for having changed my existence. Although I came in contact with His Divine Grace only in his vani form, it was enough for me to be inspired to take up his mission. I am eternally grateful to you, Srila Prabhupada. I offer my obeisances to the disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and in turn to their disciples - my diksa and siksa gurus, by who's mercy this fool was able to somehow taste the drops of the ocean of nectar. Maharaja, you opened a new door in Krishna consciousness for me. Leadership with a human face, compassion leading to progress and long term commitment and goals. It is unfortunate for us to be separated from your sanga by distance and laziness. But our appreciation of your presence and guardianship is there nonetheless. On this auspicious day of Vyasa Puja, disciples, followers and riff raffs of bhakti such as myself salute you. We do not possess qualification to glorify you properly, nor will you, as top most Vaisanva accept such honey dipped glorifications personally. But do live many years for our sake, explore modern technology and use of it in KC, and give people the wonderful gift of shelter under the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. God Bless you. Mazeltov,

Janaka Mahajana Das


New Vrindavan

Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! When I was teenager I regularly wrote my homework the very last day, or better say - night. And now is the same, last moments to write something. I should feel shameful, and I fell. But I admit it openly and yet also feel free of anxiety that You will say hard words about it. It is really amazing how much sadhus have patience with their disciples. It is really amazing what a great task they are putting on their back to help the fallen souls in their spiritual progress. By accepting disciples they accept great responsibilities which are hard even to imagine. And add to that so many different conflicts and unpredictable problems in growing society has to be dealt. And You are trying hard to do all that, engaged very, very intensively. Well, although in Your lectures You always add light and humorous words to entertain us, I feel that I should really try my best to improve. When I think about just a little part of the responsibilities You have accepted I feel stunned. At least I will try my best not to be a part of your burden. Let me be useful, and let me try to be always a part of the solution, not the problem. Let me try hard to improve and I hope that one day I will be able to glorify You by doing something for You in this wonderful harinam-sankirtan mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your fallen servant,

Jananivasa das
Zagreb ,Croatia

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances and respects. All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada! On this special Vyasa-puja celebration I am challenged to think what you mean to me personally at this particular time and occasion. Instead of repeating well known facts, the most personally inspiring fact about you is how your life is a teaching. To me, your life and example is about change: how to respond in a proactive way to the challenges of the world. In a way, which transforms problems into opportunities to serve and please Krishna. When I became first aware of your devotional qualifications, I also thought that probably Krishna will give you gradually more and bigger responsibilities, as He likes to use His dedicated servants in order to achieve His purposes in this world. Therefore I thought that there will be a day when you will have less time to spend in giving physical association. With some sadness, this then also turned into a source of inspiration to me. The world is about change. Either externally, leading gradually to the disintegration of the present material vehicle, or internally, leading to spiritual growth. In order to respond properly to the challenges of life, it is important to be proactive and make plans, set priorities etc. Any leader will do this. The special quality that you have as a spiritual leader is to remain open to Krishna's priorities. So when I perceive you changing your priorities according to Krishna's desire, understanding that probably I will see you less physically, this is also a very important lesson on a personal level. Without imitation I can take your example to my heart and likewise seek to settle my own priorities and try to tune into Krishna's plan. Recently you talked to us about the importance of providing proper Krishna-conscious environment to our children. I could find a parallel with your own life, assuming new ways of serving Krishna and spending your time and energy according to new schemes. Thus your teaching and personal example became one in a dynamic way. I would also have to think how much time I want to spend for what even though the different ways all seem in some ways defensible from the philosophical point of view. Your hinting at what should be a priority for me was supported by your own example of deciding what would be at the moment most important in your service. By your example I was encouraged to make some necessary changes. Change is not always comfortable, yet it is necessary. Otherwise I would remain stagnant like water without a current. You are like a river, whereas always fixed in your dedication to serve Krishna and Srila Prabhupada just like a river is always fixed in its course, at the same time constantly flowing and thus remaining ever fresh and pure. So I realized that purity means dynamic change and growth and I could see this quality in you.

At the same time, while assuming more responsibilities, the one outstanding quality that for me is personally very important and encouraging is your simplicity. By this I mean that you don't play any role of a super-hero of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. You are always yourself. This enables you to act as Krishna desires and dictates. You are not hindered in your devotional life by what others might think. I need to work on this personally, it is very difficult to remain simple. But I am inspired to follow your example and try to find my own personal application of the universal Vaishnava principles. Thank you Gurudeva for showing the way in a very personal and anything but boring manner! Your servant,

Jayananda das

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Happy Appearance Day! You are in my thoughts today and everyday! I am inspired by your conscious awareness of your needs and the needs of others! I am grateful and truly admire how open your life is to the view of others. Just yesterday I and several others at the Krsna Camp watched you bathe your Deities- Radha Kunja Bihari. I felt truly connected to you and Sri Radha Krsna at that moment. I also felt very content. My need for trust and confidence in spiritual life was renewed by being in your presence at that moment. I long to keep this memory in my mind and heart. Thank you. As your disciple, my desire and objective in life is to continue to serve you life after life. Please continue to engage me in Lord Chaitanya's service. Thank you. Your daughter and servant,

Jayasri devi dasi


New Goloka, NC

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Srila Bir Krishna das Goswami Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances Guru Maharaja. On behalf of my wife and I, we would like to send you best wishes on the occasion of the sixtieth day of your appearance. From memory we can remember hearing a lecture (recorded) by your person where you speak about Vyasa-puja offerings in which you express the fact that of course you already know about your own transcendental qualities however you would certainly like hearing about how your work in spreading Krishna consciousness has assisted other conditioned souls. As such, we will endeavor to elucidate such as it relates to our particular situation herein. At the time of this writing I am now twenty-seven years of age, however I had the benefit of coming into contact with devotees (your disciples) from New Goloka Dham as far back as sixteen years old (may have been fifteen.) Being a teenager at the time growing up in the lowerincome areas of the Triangle area my educational and social opportunities were limited however someone approached me (your disciple) and opened my eyes to a whole new world, the world of the Vedic literatures, filled with such potency and richness of substance that I was instantly overcome looking into the beautiful face of Maha-Visnu on the cover of the Sri Isopanisad. Through the years and through various trials and tribulations it always interested me that your disciples were so constant and not like ordinary people. Through the years I have met various people however it always amazed me how I could bring back memories of New Goloka and the devotees and see their faces within my minds eye in minute detail. When I was seventeen I joined the U.S. Navy for a brief period and I remember walking into the Raleigh airport with several other young men headed toward the flight to boot camp and seeing several matajis from the temple distributing books near the door. They expressed a real concern for me when I told them where I was going and gave me an entire bag of prasadam cookies which I ate on the airplane. At various times throughout my life when I wanted to go to the temple there would be arrangements, when I did not have a car a nice Indian devotee from the area would drive me out. When I lived in Pennsylvania and became attached to you while doing service at the Philadelphia temple what occurred but the appearance of a wonderful disciple of yours named Ananda who did everything within her power to assist me in having your association. In retrospect I can see just how much my life has been enriched by your work and exposure to the Vedic literatures. What to speak of my wife, who is now having some of the happiest times I have seen her have since our marriage because of the enriching potency of Krishna consciousness - without your effort and sacrifice we may have never been privy to the light that has lighted the world, the transcendental form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Where we once saw

limitations, you have opened our eyes to the limitless and where there was once fear you have induced fearlessness. We intend to show you our fealty in ever more graduated and kinetic levels and will seek to show you our faith by our works in every circumstance. Please accept our humble obeisances, salutes and sincere appreciation. Your Servants,

Joshua Sutter Jillian Hoy


Lexington, SC

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. I feel blessed and most fortunate that you have given me shelter. Hearing your lectures and seeing videos with you is not only very inspiring and helping me understanding the process of Krishna-bhakti more and more, but it instills within me the desire to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Your dedication to serving Prabhupadas ISKCON and your quest to help it develop into what Prabhupada envisioned is endearing my heart. I have wasted so much time in recent years and though I'm still in maya and too affected by its glimmer, at least I can say that the holy name and hearing the philosophy of Krishna consciousness has now taken a much more important role in my life. I attribute this to your kindness. You made me change and brought me back on track. I want my direction in life to be one of putting your desires in the forefront of everything else. Cricket or Krishna? Well I can truthfully say that the former has taken a much more subdued role and I'm gradually losing the taste. Just see the power of the pure devotee of the Lord! I aspire to understand your mood and mission more and more and the perfection of my life will be to want nothing else than assist you in serving Srila Prabhupada in spreading the sankirtan mission. To root out any selfish desires and think, plan and work only with the purpose of making you pleased with my endeavors. I know there is a long way to go, but I have confidence that it will be possible by your grace. Kindly bless me with your mercy and fulfill my desires of serving you! May this day be filled with your glories! Begging to be worthy of becoming your servant,

Kamsahanta das
Copenhagen

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine To our dearest spiritual father Srila Bir Krsna Goswami, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. On this most auspicious occasion of the celebration of your 60th Vyasa-pjuja, please accept our most humble and respectful obisances in the dust of your lotus feet. Dear Guru Maharaja, when we think of your tireless travel to the fallen souls like us, we wonder how Lord Krishna gives the energy to you so that you can give this wonderful gift to the world. It is so nice to know you are the giver of the mercy from Krishna. All glories to you from your servants,

Kesava das and Satja-devi dasi

Dear Father, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. It is very nice to be engaged in devotional service by you. I was thinking that I'd probably be floating along not being able to render personal direct service to Sri Govardhan if it hadn't been for you. How fortunate am I to have found a spiritual guide who is situated so close to Krsna. My sincere prayer to you is to 1.Please engage me in your service. 2.Please allow me to help in your service to Their Lordships. 3. Please be merciful to my family so that they may make spiritual progress in leaps and bounds. I thank you very much for your presence in my life and pray to be ever engaged in serving you. I'm looking forward to having more time in the future to be able to better serve you and your mission. with love,

Kisori devi dasi


Brisbane, Australia

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Hare Krishna, I offer my respectful obesiances unto you lotus feet. Gurumaharaj, you are so great. Last year when you came to Suva, Fiji, you asked me a question and I answered it and you presented me with a Bhagvad Gita and from that day I became vegetarian. Thank you so much. Happy Vyasa Puja to you. Your disciple,

Koyal Kelvina
Suva, Fiji Islands

Dear Gurudev! Where do I get words from to describe you? How do I show my appreciation for what you have done for me? There are simply no words to do that. You have given life to a fallen soul like me, taking me under your shelter and guiding me. You have given me your hand and picked me up when I was down. I always look forward to seeing your smiling face, your never ending humor and jokes. I'm so grateful to have you as my Guru. Please continue to shower your blessings upon me as I will need them in my everyday life to serve you and serve Krishna. Please accept this little offering and Happy 60th Vyasa Puja! Your humble servant,

Krishna Balaram Das


Auckland, New Zealand

Hare Krishna dear Gurudev!!! Please accept my humble obeissances. All glories to You. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Happy Vyasa Puja Day!!! Lucky is the one who in this life has a friend like You and help from the person like You. I will try to express my gratitude in several short sentences. On numerous occasions I have found myself in the situation of total meaningless and complete subordination to material nature, and by asking You to help and asking for You opinion I would get the sense of belonging and see the meaning of my existence. And who knows what I would do and how many unnecessary steps I would make if it werent for You. Your words sooth me and they help me. I felt truly great help from words like these: Sounds like you are really exhausted! When You have written this sentence to me, I was very thankful and pleased because at that moment I was certain that You understood me. This sentence was enough so I could consciously move on with my life knowing and feeling that You are always beside me. On this occasion I will quote several more sentences, very significant for me: The main thing is be careful to only do what you can do practically. You need time to rest, chant, and take care of your other needs during the day. Even though you may want to do many things, you should be careful to not try and do too much. If it wasnt for You and Your words, who knows where I would have been. You have helped me a lot to understand the real picture of myself and my possibilities. We all have so many desires, but are they worthy enough so that while realizing those we become unhappy because we are hurting ourselves and others, because we cant at that moment worry about our sadhana, our family and those who are closest to us. Of course, nothing is more valuable than that. Thanks to the Lord, there are many, many examples like these, leading thoughts that make each day and each hour of this life more beautiful. One more time, thank You for all the care and love that You are giving to us. I am so happy to be a member of Your great family. Lots of greetings from Maharatha and Lana. Hare Krishna, your servant,

Krishna Jivani dd
Serbia

Dear Srila Guru Dev, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your divine appearance day. I am trying to appreciate your divine qualities which really inspire me all the time, though I am not qualified to glorify Lord Krishna's special devotee with my limited ability. I always see you in a very happy mood though you deal with many serious matters. You never become upset or negative. You are always eager to do more and more service for Srila Prabhupada. Now you are going to open a school at Govardhan that is very inspiring for all of us. Your austerity is also teaching us many lessons that one should renounce anything to maintain health to serve Krishna more and more, even cooked food. Sri Sri Radha Golokananda are very special Deities and you are Their dear most devotee, so kindly forgive me for all my offenses. Thank you very much. Your servant,

Krishna Priya Dasi


New Goloka dham, NC

Dear Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your service to Srila Prabhupada! Sometimes it is so hard for me to stay awake for the entire morning program. There are so many late nights because of family needs, so staying awake and aware throughout the next morning program can be really challenging at times. But when you are here and I see your devotion to the Lord and to your spiritual master, I get so much strength and joy that the tiredness disappears until after the program. Your attraction for Govardhan is like a bright fire, warming all the devotees hearts. I love how you care for your Govardhan deities and how Radha Golokananda reciprocate with your intense devotion to Them by doing things like inspiring people to fund the new temple! I remain in awe of the length and breadth of your memory of scripture. I struggle to remember simple things in English, so your recall is amazing to me. More importantly, though, is the depth of your understanding and how you apply the perfect verse to any situation and enlighten your listeners. You've been blessed with a wonderful voice for kirtan and bhajan, you've been blessed with a brilliant mind, but it seems to me that your firm determination to serve Krishna is from your own will. Would that we all used our minute independence in such a glorious way. When you are gone from New Goloka, it is not the same. It's like someone unplugged the Christmas tree! All the devotees just wait and wait for your return. We always await the return of the great soul who founded the temple we love and who brings us Krishna. Thank you Maharaja. Your servant,

Krishna rati dasi


New Goloka, NC

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Your Divine Grace. Each year I grow happier and more content to have found a safe haven under your care and guidance. Your wisdom is so full and your devotion so constant. There is no other light than yours that I would rather follow. The other day I picked up a small keepsake from my days at New Goloka. It was little piece of black plastic, the remains of an Ironman watch you once gave me while I was chanting japa in the woods. Someone had told you that I lost my watch. Anyone who knew me at the time could tell you, this was a big deal, because I lived and breathed by my watch, meticulously charting my days into dozens of time fragments for japa, reading, taking prasadam, doing homework, etc. You must have noticed my dedication to self-regulation and wanted to encourage it. So, like the loving father and teacher that you are, you went to the store and bought me another watch. I have a present for you, you said, and handed it to me. At the time, I was overjoyed to have gotten a present from you. I worshiped you the way only children worship, with floods of emotion and not quite as much thought or reason. But since that time, my appreciation for that small gift and for all that you are to me has grown. Gurudeva, I have complete faith in you. Your instructions are always practical and tangible, based on not only your own experience, but enriched by your dedication to learning from others. You are a genuinely pure and humble Vaishnava. Your every breath is taken in the service of Srila Prabhupada. You are a true philanthropist, because you seek to end the suffering of every living entity with whom you come in contact, by enlightening them as to their real goal in life. You have more love for us than we can ever understand. The little girl to whom you gave that watch wants to shout, I love you too, Gurudeva! And this grownup girl wants to say, I believe in you, Gurudeva. I dont know exactly where your beautiful mission in the service of Srila Prabhupada will lead you, but wherever it is, I want to follow. Your eternal servant and daughter,

Krishnaa devi dasi


Boston, MA

Hare Krishna, All glories to Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you. Congratulations on your Appearance Day! Thank you for all the advice you`ve given during the last few years. It`s been really helpful. I also want to thank you for your regular visits to Helsinki. You always give a feeling of happiness and inspire to make everyday life more spiritual! Thank you for helping me to see Krishna in my life. I wish you good health.

Kristiina, Krisangi`s sister


Finland

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for your consistent service to Srila Prabhupada's movement and the individuals in it. There is so much work to do and you are willing to do it, voluntarily. You set a very steady example for the rest of us to follow. Also what I really appreciate is your patience with children, now being a mother myself I appreciate it even more. A little squeak here or there doesn't stir you away from speaking about the glories of Krishna, not only does this tolerance on your part give us mothers and children a chance to hear more in class (unless of course the child has a temper tantrum or actually leaves the temple room) but it is a sign of your extraordinary ability to be able to concentrate on your thoughts despite what is happening around you. This must be coming from your concentrated japa, otherwise how would this amount of concentration be possible? Thank you again, Gurudeva for setting us such a good example with your personal behavior. Your servant and daughter,

Krsangi devi dasi


New Goloka, NC

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Srila Gurudeva. Srila Gurudev Ki Jai, Srila Gurudev Ki Jai, Srila Gurudev Ki Jai My Dear Gurudev, On this most auspicious day of yours, please accept our most humble obeisance onto your lotus feet again and again. We hope and pray that you are very well and healthy. Srila Gurudev, the Vedas tell us that if one wants to make advancement in spiritual life, it is important to accept a spiritual master. And because of our association with material desires one after another, we were falling into the blind well full of ignorance, BUT Srila Gurudev, you kindly accepted us as your disciple and instructed us how to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. Therefore our first duty is to serve and glorify you. Srila Gurudev, You always teach by example. Gurudev, you are always repeating your Spiritual Masters (Srila Prabhupadas) words and you are His perfect disciple by rendering humble service to Him. Srila Gurudev, you are always engaged in the worship of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and Radha Kunjabihari. Gurudev, we always remember you and always pray to Srimati Radharani & Lord Sri Krishna to always be with you and bless so that you shower your mercy upon the fallen souls like us and our family. Because only through your mercy Gurudev, one receives the benediction of Lord Sri Krishna. Once again Gurudev, thank you very much for accepting us as your disciples. The fallen children of yours,

Krsna candra das Ratnalekha devi dasi


Wellington, New Zealand

My dear Bir Krishna Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace! Sometimes we have to do with questions that follow us for a long time. They may be important for understanding certain points in our spiritual life, but still remain unanswered. That is up to the day when, inquiring from the right person, we finally get the elucidating answers. Thank you for being that person for me. You answered a few questions that were essential to my spiritual life. All in all, I thank you for the opportunity of approaching you through service and inquiry. Service allows to give the best in me to you and Krsna, while inquiry gave me the benefit of deep instructions and insight for a meaningful life. I would like to thank you for making it clear to me, among many other points, of the role played in spiritual life by krpa and sadhana, and the importance of krpa, without which not even sadhana can really work. Wishing you all the best on your Vyasa-puja day, health and happiness, and hoping to be able to serve you and inquire from you, Your servant,

Krsna Ragini devi dasi


Romania

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. All glories to Govardhana and Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari. All glories to you on this most auspicious occasion of your 60th Vyasa puja celebration!!! This year you will be in Fiji and I will be in India so I will not be personally present at the wonderful event and celebration. It seems that the years have passed by very quickly. You were twenty nine when I first had the opportunity to have your association in Miami. You have been a stable guide for me in my devotional service. I am very thankful to you for all of the guidance and shelter that you gave me in my youthful days of Krsna consciousness. I can see by your example that devotional service is not a stagnant process but one that is ever unfolding like a beautiful lotus flower. I have seen your service expand and your devotion to serve Srila Prabhupada grow. I have always been inspired by your love and practical service for Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. Now Govardhana has come into your life in the form of your dear-most Deities Radha Kunjabihari and They are inspiring you to serve the residents of the Dhama. Two of the most important qualities of a pure devotee are tolerance and compassion. You have shown yourself to continue to be enthusiastic even under difficult circumstances and to always remain faithful to Srila Prabhupada. Your compassion to help those who don't have a voice, so to speak, is certainly pleasing to Lord Krishna. I pray that your Govardhana project progresses rapidly. Recently on the airplane ride to India I was listening to your classes. I realized that one of the first important instructions that you ever gave me was that real association was hearing and taking to heart the instructions and to act upon them. There is a tendency in this material world to become too familiar when we have the association of great devotees and not appreciate the opportunity that Krishna is giving us to serve and make spiritual advancement. I beg your forgiveness for not acting in a proper way always in my every day interactions with you. It is certainly not my intention. In Brazil they have a saying that you feel like someone has sawed the floor out from under you. That is how I feel if I think I have offended you. You are a great spiritual personality and I am very thankful to have your association. I pray that I can assist you. May you have a long and happy life serving Srila Prabhupada. I look forward to seeing you at Govardana and by your mercy have the opportunity to enter the spiritual world! Your servant,

Krsnapriya (HDG)
New Goloka, NC

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to your lotus feet. namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine I would like to send these heartfelt greetings to you on your appearance day. I would also like to thank you for your steadfast and shining example in your sadhana; your amazing knowledge of and utilization of shastra; your care for devotees and the movement and your dedication to Srila Prabhupada. It is wonderful to count myself among those who are blessed to meet you and associate with you. So I am very happy that you were born to help us reconnect with Krishna. And I am thankful, very thankful to call you my Guru Maharaja. And I think you are really really cool. Your servant in Michigan,

Krsnasraya das

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada. Todas las glorias a usted Srila Gurudeva en su gran celebracin de su Vyasa Puja. Mi querido y amado Guru Maharaj este dia es muy hermoso porque podemos glorificar su bendita existencia ampliamente. Quisiera ser breve porque tiene usted que leer muchas ofrendas de tantos discpulos en el mundo. Yo le quiero decir que adems de tener inspiracin espiritual a travs de sus canciones en donde me ensea a cantar el maha mantra Hare Krishna, yo he estado leyendo sus Thoughts of the day todos son inspiradores, pero realmente sent mucho alivio, en aquel que usted nos dice:

We have no karma., Srila Prabhupada didnt considered astrology be so significant because for a devotee lines change on his palm every time we chant and dance even the unfavorable stars becomes favorable. Al leer esto desaparecieron totalmente todas las preocupaciones que tena sobre mi destino y el de los dems seres vivientes y empec a cantar mis rondas con mucho ms entusiasmo que antes. Tambin he estado leyendo todos sus Blogs que son realmente iluminadores para avanzar en la vida spiritual y los conservo en mi computadora . Especialmente recuerdo este: Vaisnavas relationship, cuando usted describe muy bellamente la recepcin que le dieron a Jayapataka Maharaj Mayapur, y que el mismo derram lagrimas de emocin, fu tan lleno de bakti que tambien me hizo llorar al momento de leerlo, fue tan hermosa la escena que me pude imaginar que yo estaba ah presente mirndolo a usted junto a sus hermanos espirituales en esa recepcin. Pude ver en ustedes a grandes devotos puros, todos perfectos concientes de Krishna en un gran momento espiritual. Nunca olvidar este Blog Gurudeva, porque su relato fue tan poderoso que me hizo viajar en el tiempo a ese lugar y en meditacin les ofrec ptalos de flores. Le doy gracias al Supremo Seor Krishna que invent la internet porque as a travs de la distancia y el tiempo yo puedo asociarme siempre con usted a travs de sus divinas enseanzas en todo momento. Por tanto, le al Seor Supremo Krishna que lo colme de bendiciones y de salud en este su maravilloso 60th Vyasa puja y que le permita a usted seguir dndonos su misericordia sin causa por muchos aos mas. - As a little present please accept aromatic roses to your merciful lotus feet and my humble dandavats. Su muy insignificante aspirante a sirviente,

Kurma das
Mexico

nama om visnupadaya krishna prestaya bhutale srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyayate sudridha sudhi nistabhyam tasya vakya nuvadine Querido Guru maharaja: Por favor acepte mis humildes y respetuosas reverencias a sus pies de loto. Hoy es una fecha muy muy especial, su Vyasapuja cumpliendo su 60 aniversario en este mundo material ocupado en la misin de Srila Prabhupada, en el que uno tiene la oportunidad de expresarle lo que hay dentro de nuestro corazn hacia usted. Estoy muy agradecida con Sri Krishna. Por darme la oportunidad de aspirar a su servicio Gurudeva y por otro lado el realizar cuanto me falta para mejorar., hacer algo bueno de este cuerpo en esta vida para su servicio, cada que pasa mas el tiempo me doy cuenta que tan desprovista estoy de buenas cualidades no encuentro mucho que ofrecerle. Me apena el pensar como es que soy su discpula, como pudo tener Usted Gurudeva tal misericordia para con esta jiva, me falta tanto que se me hace tarde para adquirir una mejor conciencia, sobre todo conciencia del Guru, ms entrega, mas bhakti, el cualificarme; Krishna por favor aydame a bien utilizar este cuerpo y ser de utilidad a mi Padre Eterno. Pero soy tan lenta Gurudeva, gracias por su gran paciencia, a veces ni siquiera la tengo hacia m misma, me muero por ofrecerle tantas cosas que aun no tengo, solo s que me separa el tiempo, pido a Krishna no olvidar esta gran promesa de ayudarle en la misin sublime del bhakti. Por favor deme el deseo, la sinceridad y la seriedad para lograrlo, por favor Seor del Universo hazme una buena guerrera para el servicio de mi padre eterno. Seor tu eres el otorgador de todo lo que pueda ser otorgado, por favor permteme servir como mejor pueda en este cuerpo para as complacer a tu devoto puro, permteme seguir mejor los 9 procesos del bhakti, por favor dame el entusiasmo para el servicio de mi amado Gurudeva, pues se me va la vida y no la quiero ver pasar sin hacerla una ofrenda para mi Gur eterno. Por favor Govinda si peleare!, por favor Madhusudana, Seor Hrsikesa aydenme que sin su ayuda no pasar nada y estar muerta en vida bueno querido Gurudeva disculpe si no lo he podido complacer como debiera mi posicin an es tan baja que me falta comprender tantas cosas, principalmente comprender la gran deuda que tengo con Usted. Solo me queda decirle gracias, gracias, gracias por el cario sin igual que le tiene a sus discpulos y a Srila Prabhupada. Espero verle pronto ansiamos su venida, Atte. y a sus pies, su aspirante a sirviente:

Lalita Kunda devi dasi


Len, Guanajuato Mexico

Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Guru means "heavy", heavy with knowledge. That you have this knowledge passed down to you by your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, is evident in your classes and instructions. You give us what we need with personal association and you tell us what we need to hear in classes and darsans; even when we do not wish to listen. I don't want to listen actually, as I think I know it all but you keep on telling. I have gained most of my instruction through the instructions you have given to others, when I was in Estonia with you. I wish I could have that time all over again so that I could listen more attentively, more soberly and commit them to memory for all time so that I would not keep forgetting. I say that not to point out my uselessness, but to point out that the instructions you give are sound, concrete and useful in the lives of your disciples. Heavy can also mean something else. I have had the heavy hand of the guru before and I am still awaiting it from you; anxiously and partly in fear. Not ordinary fear because I know this kind of heaviness is another form of the gurus mercy and it can help me wake up and snap to attention! I see though, that you have another kind of heaviness when you deal with me. This is a reflection of you not only as a guru but as a person; you are heavy with compassion and heavy with encouragement. I wonder at times why you don't just say "Get on with it! Stop wasting time. You are not ready yet, so get on with the business of getting ready!" Instead, you simply continue with your encouragement and this is a sign of your compassion. Maybe you would prefer to show exasperation? Perhaps you should- it might help me take devotional service more seriously...but I AM grateful that you instill belief in myself and abilities. Instill in me more faith in the process of Krsna consciousness as Srila Prabhupada has given it to us. I have faith that you see what I need, even if I don't and I appreciate that very much. I want to increase that faith so that I can be of use to you in your service to Krsna, in whatever way I can. I think your personal example in dealing with others, in all situations, is something I can take with me in life as a devotee and in my dealings with all. Disciples should learn such things from the guru; learn by his example and I know that by following your example, it can only be of benefit. When I reflect upon your preaching, to devotees and non-devotees alike, I think perhaps that your methods are seen to be un-orthordox at times- what is a guru's business with seminars on 'self improvement' or 'hypnotherapy'? I can only guess at some of the comments you have

been given over the years, it is all rather 'far out-cool' don't you think? I like that there are devotees like yourself that are not afraid to think outside the box and try something different; if it means it can bring more people to appreciate the philosophy and Srila Prabhupada, what to speak of bringing some of those people to take up the process more seriously! To conclude, I can only speak from what little I have experienced in terms of personal and written instructions from you. The sad fact is that I don't know much about what you do at all and I wish I did, as it leads to a feeling of being 'disconnected' in some way. However the positive side effect of this is that this also lends itself to increasing the desire for more; more instruction and association. And thats worth having! I take this as a good sign, on all accounts, as the increase of desire for service to your lotus feet can only be a good thing now, can't it? Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for being heavy in all these ways. Your servant,

Lalita-Gopinatha dasi
Copenhagen - DK

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to your beloved Spiritual Master. All glories to you, my beloved Spiritual Master. You are worthy of celebration and praise because you are purely representing Sri Krishna. Thank you for taking the time to read and internalize Srila Prabhupadas books, and for reviling to me that this is the first step in rekindling my eternal relationship with Sri Krishna. By repeating the pastimes of the Lord with such enthusiasm you have created a desire in my heart to also know these pastimes. It is this quest which brings me back to Prabhupada's books again and again, and it is always fueled when I hear you speaking of Sri Krishnas pastimes. Thank you, also for taking the time to learn and teach about interpersonal communication. By doing so, you have given me the tools to improve my service as a wife, mother, and friend. I pray to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai that I might be able to develop the heart of a devotee, so that one day I truly might be called, Your servant,

Lila Manjari
San Diego CA

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Gurudeva, Hare Krsna. Please accept my obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and Radha Kunjabihari. Thank you for accepting me as your disciple and showing me how to be a chaste disciple by your example. I am eternally indebted to you. I did not realize the fundamental challenges I would face from deeply embedded attachments in my attempt to pursue this path of Krishna consciousness, yet I am sure you knew the risk you were taking on accepting this soul and yet you still accepted me (and even insisted that I take second initiation). Because of your personal care and training, my fickle nature is subdued by real life experiences of being in your presence; hearing from you; worshiping Sri Sri Radha Golokananda; the weekly Gurupujas years ago and the many times I made double the amount of sweets than there were devotees to witness the fun of watching you throw prasada I hold onto these experiences as I attempt to climb out of the mire of illusion. The years are passing and I am facing a lot of the same lessons with very little progress. You are steady, a beacon of light cutting through the darkness of illusion, giving the same steady message and living example, to just follow the process that Srila Prabhupada has given and life becomes joyous and purposeful. I have the desire to contribute positively to others lives and I know that being a stronger disciple, following your instructions and example is the only way I can be successful. Please continue to bless me with your mercy Gurudeva. I am embarking on a new stage in my life and the most important piece of it is that I align myself, my thoughts and my actions as a positive representative of you. I feel like I am starting over from scratch but this time I have you, your strength and example to rely on. yogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai, tomara karuna-sara karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya prana na rakhibo ara When I examine myself I find nothing of value, therefore your mercy is essential to me. If you are not merciful I shall simply weep and weep, and I shall not maintain my life I am praying to Laxmi Nrsimha for your protection and safety, and for the protection of ISKCON that you tirelessly work to preserve and strengthen. Your ever aspiring servant,

Lilasuka dasi
New Goloka, NC

Srila Gurudeva~ Please accept my very humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you on this wonderful day! In January of this year, when I hatched the idea that this area and community might be a nice place to live, I came down to look for suitable housing for our family and to check out the temple and the devotee community. The plan was that either myself or my husband would get a job (as this area has much opportunity for livelihood in that respect), and to be near a temple to have devotee association and go to various temple programs. Krsna, however, had other plans.... I had been praying for a long, long time to Srila Prabhupada and to Radha and Krsna to send me a spiritual master. I had really no idea of who would take that role for me; I just figured that Krsna would send someone when He thought I was ready. One afternoon after I had been out with rental agents all morning, I thought I would stop by the temple to have prasadam and talk to some devotees. You were standing by the mailbox (which I now know isn't very often), and I waved and wondered who this nice Sannyasi was. A little later at lunch, you breezed though the guest house asking pointed questions to some of the devotees there, and I was thinking that you reminded me of some of the very upstanding Officers I had served under while in the military. The next morning when I was supposed to leave, I only had a late morning appointment to visit a place, so I made a point to attend mangal arati. You were there greeting the Deities, singing very nicely at that early hour. I then had the opportunity to hear you chanting while I was chanting, so very sweet that time of morning. Then, during Guru puja, my heart was melted when you so lovingly placed the garland of flowers on Srila Prabhupada. You took so much care in making sure the garland was comfortable and sat just so on his form. Tears came to my eyes, and at that moment I knew you were who I had been praying for, my very own spiritual master. Later that morning, I had the opportunity to have darshan with you. When we began conversing, it seemed like an old relationship was being revived, that you were so familiar to me even though we had just formally met. You were so warm and encouraging, given me free reign to grow food and flowers for the temple and for our own business purposes. I still cannot believe that after one short meeting you so freely gave of yourself and the temple resources to me, a virtually unknown person. Later that afternoon, only by the grace of Krsna, I secured a place within walking distance of the temple and began contemplating the exciting future in the New Goloka community. I couldn't wait to move here, and counted the moments anxiously while praying to the Lord for His blessings. Now that we are here, it feels like home to all of us. So much service in the garden, at the temple, in the Vaisnava community....it's like a dream come true for me. My kids love it here, love all of the devotees, love you. My husband is very happy, finally doing exactly what he wants to do by serving you and the Lord. And I am very happy to have finally found my place in life after many, many years of searching, and I am ecstatic to have such a loving, caring, and practical spiritual guide. I know for certain that regardless of what the world throws at me, or

what sort of material misery is in store, I can navigate the rough seas of Maya with my captain, my beloved spiritual guide, my ever well-wisher. Recently, I helped a dear soul move from another temple community back to New Goloka. I was feeling so much separation from you and Sri Sri Radha Golokananda while I was away, and practically flew back here in record time. As we neared the temple, I saw you, out by the mailbox again, just as I had seen you for the very first time. I was washed by a wave of relief, for I knew without any doubt I was truly home. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me feel this way, dear Srila Gurudeva. I am forever indebted to you, and will spend the rest of my life doing whatever you wish with the hopes that I will please you for eternity. Your humble servant,

Lisa
New Goloka, NC

SRILA GURU MAHARAJA KI JAY! namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine Dearest Srila Guru Maharaja, I offer my most humble obeisance at the dust of your lotus feet. Vyasa puja is a very special day in the life of a disciple. No matter how much one tries to glorify the guru, it is not enough. By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without mercy of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master. I thank you very much with all my heart Guru Maharaj for the wonderful inspiration you have given us. You have become our guide and well-wisher on the path of devotional service and by your wonderful example of surrender to Srila Praphupadas mission. I am not very qualified Guru Maharaj, just give your shelter and mercy. Your Servant,

Lolaksih devi dasi


Fiji

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupda y a sus devotos. Disculpe de antemano mi inexperiencia en esto y espero hacer una ofrenda digna de usted. Por su gran misericordia me encuentro en la etapa ms feliz de mi vida, a pesar de los obstculos que nunca faltan, pero con sus bendiciones ni se sienten. Mi querido Govinda, T has prometido que Tu devoto nunca puede ser vencido. Yo creo en esa promesa, y, por lo tanto, en cualquier tribulacin que me encuentre simplemente recuerdo Tu promesa, y as puedo vivir. Drupadi Ahora es hora de poner en prctica todo lo aprendido en el Bhakti Sastri, y le digo con todo mi corazn que fue un verdadero placer servir y seguir sirviendo a los devotos de su gran maestro espiritual Srila Prabhupada, ahora ms que nunca le estoy ms agradecida pues sin su enorme misericordia de venir a occidente no estara en tantos proyectos tan lindos como el que me encuentro actualmente, estoy encargada de relaciones pblicas del Festival de la India que se realizar en Aguascalientes y Zacatecas, adems de que por encontrarme aqu en Aguascalientes soy la representante del templo de Mxico de ISCKON, pienso seguir sirvindolo, no hay ni un da que no piense en usted, en el curso cuando lemos el Nctar de la Devocin, pude entender el compromiso y el deleite que los devotos como usted se encuentran, varias veces salieron lagrimas de mis ojos por sentirme tan afortunada de que por su misericordia poda pertenecer a esta hermosa familia fundada por su maestro espiritual Srila Prabhupada. Es muy sorprendente que desde que vi a esta Personalidad de Dios, a quien lavan las lgrimas de mis ojos, tengo un temblor en el cuerpo, y l ha hecho que fracase en el ejercicio de mis deberes materiales. Desde que lo vi a l, no puedo permanecer tranquilamente en mi casa. Siempre deseo salir a buscarlo a l. Srila Rupa Gosvami Igualmente recuerdo con gran emocin un texto de la vivencias de los devotos con Srila Prabhupada donde l se despide de ellos en el aeropuerto y les dice que no tienen porque estar tristes que ahora su maestro espiritual es su abuelo y se encuentra en cada uno de ellos, sent algo maravilloso en pensar que cuando usted me de mi iniciacin l ser mi abuelo, el se debe encontrar muy complacido con todos los discpulos como usted que siguen con sus instrucciones y las de su maestro espiritual, realizando Sankiran por todo el mundo, y yo espero poder contribuir en algo, En la etapa nefita de la devocin, debemos seguir todos los principios, regulados por la autoridad del maestro espiritual El maestro espiritual, como la manifestacin de Krishna es entonces necesario para dirigir al devoto en nombre de la Suprema Personalidad de Dios. Srila Prabhupada Yo me comprometo a seguir cumpliendo los principios devocionales, usted es paramatma en mi corazn, y es por eso que estoy a sus pies de loto mi muy querido maestro espiritual Bir Krishna das Goswami Su aspirante a sirviente,

Prabhu Lourdes Prado


Aguascalientes, Mexico

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to your untiring service and dedication to Srila Prabhupada! So many specific appreciations, over the years, weave a strong, whole fabric. What can I say now, specifically? Though it may sound boring because it isn't specific, the most important thing about you is your example of strong sadhana, your absolute faithfulness in chanting your japa with attention. Just to say that much is, well, the same... I wrote the same thing last year. But japa is made of the holy names, and the holy names contain the form, qualities, and pastimes of Krishna and are ever deeper, ever more beautiful and interesting, and to have someone with whom I feel such strong connection and friendship who is so faithful to the process of chanting the holy names -- that is valuable beyond power to describe. Thank you forever for that!! Also thank you for your example of always seeking to correct imbalances in our society, always trying to heal wounds and illness in the way we work together. If it were not for such bold and daring leadership, would we dare to seek that healing, or would we continue in frustrated complacency? Would we look and question the way we need to? Would we seek rightness in a positive way or continue to take refuge in comfortably bitter grumbling? And thank you for your jolly humor and your affectionate kindness. Thank you for always seeing your disciples in the most positive light, for being always interested and encouraging, and for being a real friend. I hope I can do something worthwhile in your service. I hope you are well and ecstatic in Krishna consciousness and have a wonderful Vyasapuja celebration! Your servant,

Madhava priya
Michigan

SRILA GURU MAHARAJA KI JAY! nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bir krishna dasa gosvamin iti namine nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhakti vedanta svamin iti namine Dearest Srila Guru Maharaja, Please accept our most humble obeisances and danvat pranama at the divine dust of your lotus feet with all the blessings of the three worlds, in this most auspicious occasion of Your Holiness Vyasa Puja of the year 2009. Srila Guru Maharaja, it is very difficult for me to express my thoughts of gratitude and thanks for your kind blessings and causeless mercy upon my family and me, for leading us out of the darkness of illusion of Maya devi. Without your divine mercy, we would still be struggling in the net of Maya devi and never would have approached the effulgence of Krishna consciousness. Millions and Millions of danvat pranama at the dust of your lotus feet for showing your spiritual torch light and pulling us out of the darkest region of the illusion of Maya devi. Rest assured Guru Maharaj, effulgence and the causeless mercy of your spiritual torch light is still shining brightly upon us and it will continue to shine brightly upon us forever. We will continue to serve your lotus feet forever by following your footsteps and instructions Srila Guru Maharaja, it is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrta (Madhya 19.151):bramand brahmite kono bhagyavan jiva guru krsna prasade paya bhakti-lata bija According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of Krsna and Guru, a very few living entities receive the bhakti-lata bija....... So, we such fallen souls fortunately received the causeless mercy of your divine lotus feet. We are really very very fortunate to be the disciples of such a humble guru maharaja who has taken his incarnation in this material world to release his disciples from the clutches of Maya. Thank you Guru Maharaj for appearing in this material world for us fallen souls. We cannot forget your painful and tireless efforts of visiting and attending to your disciples, the disciples of other Gurus and the disciples of His Holiness Tamal Krishna Gosvami Maharaja in Brisbane as well as in various other parts of the world, to arouse us all strongly to follow the principles of Krsna consciousness and to follow the footsteps of your guru, Srila Prabhupada. Finally Guru Maharaja, we are expecting your arrival in Brisbane so that we can worship your lotus feet on the auspicious occassion of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to my eternal well-wisher Srila Guru Maharaja His Holiness Bir Krishna Das Gosvami Maharaja. All glories to Guru Maharaja who is so dear to Krsna. All glories to Guru Maharaja who is the best of the

brahmanas and Vaisnavas. All glories to my most dear bona fide spiritual master Srila Guru Maharaja on the most auspicious occasion of his Vyasa Puja...... Hare Krsna! Your Most Fallen Servant,

Madhumangala dasa
Brisbane, AU

Dear Guru-maharaja, Please, accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to thank you very much for everything, as well as for giving me shelter as your student and faith for better advancement in my spiritual life. Your eternal servant,

Madri d.d.
Zagreb, Croatia

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine
Please accept my obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to thank you for patiently and compassionately encouraging us in the process of Krishna consciousness. Lately I've personally experienced many challenges in trying to execute devotional service, and your example as a father to us, friend to everyone and disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is what gives me strength and light with which I can continue my attempt to please you. I am very grateful that you still give us New Goloka residents, the chance of associating with you for a good part of the year. Even though we might not appreciate it as much as we should. Please forgive all my offenses due to my lack of etiquette, this is something I want to improved in the near future. Just wanted to let you know how much it is appreciated that you are willing to give yourself in order to help other to advance in Kc. It gives me much hope to be able to directly experience your guidance since in doing so you are giving us the tools with which we can overcome so many of the obstacles in devotional service. Like for example, personal care (sadana) and devotee care (relationship and interactions with devotees). I am a little slow on grasping all this, so I am very grateful for your patience. Praying to be of better service to you and Srila Prabhupada in the future, Your aspiring servant,

Mahamantra das
New Goloka, NC

Dearest Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you. Happy 60th Vyasa puja day! Gurumaharaj, we are very fortunate to have you as our spiritual master. This has been beautifully arranged and made possible by His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani. At this golden age of 60, common people love to spend time with their children and grand children but Guru Maharaj, you have sacrificed all these material association and love to serve your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. This makes you even dearer to Srila Prabhupada and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna and his eternal consort Srimati Radharani. Your enthusiasm and vigor to serve your spiritual master to save the conditioned souls is beyond comparison in the material world. On this very auspicious day, we pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Golokabihari, Lalita & Vishaka Sakhi, Sita, Ram, Lakshmana and Hanuman and Gaura Nitai and Nrshima Deva for your good health and long life. We look forward to have you at Suva temple for your Vyasa puja and our heartfelt thanks to you for choosing Fiji to celebrate your Vyasa puja. Your most insignificant servants,

Mahaprabhu das Kiran devi dasi


Suva, Fiji

My dear Srila Gurudeva, Thank you so much For Braj Mandal Parikrama! Been in Holy Dham with you Means my wish came true And for that rare opportunity I'm thankful to you endlessly By your mercy alone My faith has grown Remembrance of Parikrama Invoke better sadhana Your devotion to Govardhan Is so sublime and jubilant Wherever we went if it wasn't close to Govardhan you would lament Happy 60 years of youth to you No mater how hard we try We couldn't march nearby you With that positive attitude, happy, healthy, speedy and funny you could live more than 120 Sight of you brings up joy and to serve you means enjoy! Your servant,

Manjari Gopi devi dasi


Croatia

Dear Guru Deva, All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Please accept my obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. Thank you for being so merciful to me, allowing me to serve you and for tolerating my inadequacies. Thank you for giving me shelter as well as freedom to be myself & encouraging me to continue with the Gauranga campaign & indeed with a lot more enthusiasm. It makes me very happy when I give the Holy name of Gauranga to others. Thank you also for engaging me in service to Govardhana. Thank you for my better health. Since I met you my diet has improved & I exercise a lot more. I love your practical way of dealing with life & making things easy so all can follow. By your example and open heartedness you have made me come closer to loving Govardhana & given rise to desire in my heart to serve Srila Prabhupada as you are doing. May I always please you by sincere service. I cannot estimate my good fortune. Thank you Guru Deva. Hoping to serve you eternally.

Manoharini Radha devi dasi


United Kingdom

Dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada for attempting to get us all out of this impolite place! Congratulations on your 60th and thank you so much for the rare opportunity to serve you and for your appearance in this world to save us conditioned souls! If I am to accomplish nothing else than to serve you and the dear Vaisnavas then all success is achieved! Thanks to your endless flow of mercy my service to the devotees at the Columbus Temple has manifested and is expanding. Thank you so much for getting me back to normal! Your growing child in Krsna.

Markandeya Rsi Dasa


Albany, Ohio

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace! Happy 60th Appearance Day! Reflecting on this past year spent away from Govardhana and you, we feel a longing to go back there. Maybe if you put a word in for us to Govardhana, He will welcome us back. Meanwhile, we feel very grateful for your continued kindness and affection despite our foolishness. You manage to find the speck of good in a sea of faults. Thank you for feeding that good and being such a loving father. We are excited about your proposed project to serve the Govardhana Vasis. Maybe Krsna will let us help? Your servants,

Mayapurcandra das Campakalata devi dasi Padmavati devi dasi

Toda la gloria para Prabhupada. Toda la gloria para Radha Krsna. HARE KRSNA! Mi muy querido Gurudeva, En este dia tan especial deseo renovar mis votos hacia Krsna y cantar sus Santo Nombre! Le imploro a Krsna para que Usted con la bondad y conocimiento que lo han caracterizado nos siga guiando en el camino hacia El. Gracias por sus buenos deseos y pensamientos en una epoca dificil en mi vida. Su hija espiritual,

Mitravinda devi dasi


Bogota, Colombia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Hare Krishna. First of all I wish you all the best and good health in the future years of living in this body. And also a lot of good disciples and nice realizations. What inspired me most was your fatherly attitude on our wedding. We were two couples and one bride`s parents did not come. No even her brother, no one. I felt sad because of this and if I think none of my parents or relatives would be there I would probably feel very abandoned. But just few hours before the wedding when you heard that, you immediately offered yourself to be her father and give her away. Hearing this I felt great, I felt relief and I was so grateful knowing that you really care for us and that in the lonely moments you are there for us. For me this is a big inspiration in Krishna consciousness because I just need to know somebody cares for my feelings and wellbeing. Your presence on the wedding meant a lot to me. Although I still feel a little bitter knowing I should be the servant. I realized it was more your service to us that you came. Therefore I wish I could stop all my doubts and just serve you without desire for your service in return. Because I know anyway you are always there taking care for me.

Mohini Radha devi dasi


Slovenia

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to You and Srila Prabhupada! On Your divine day of Your appearance I would like to thank You from my heart for everything that You made for me and my spiritual life. When I got the shelter of Your lotus feet I gained steadiness, leadership, a role model and the opportunity for spiritual advancement. I have an aim to serve Krishna and go back to Godhead. On my way in the future I need Your valuable instructions and leadership because I wish my goals to be fulfilled under Your leadership. I wish You happiness and good health. Your humble servant,

Mrtyu Mrtyu das


Croatia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Hare Krishna! Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Happy Appearance Day!! It is so nice to be back in the New Goloka community! Seeing the wonderful service to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokananda continuing unabatedly is a direct testimonial to the devotional spirit you have inspired in so many devotees. With your constant travelling it appears you are as busy as ever in pushing forward Srila Prabhupada's movement. Your years of selfless service and assistance towards the devotees' spiritual lives is certainly worthy of unlimited praises. Those devotees who have taken shelter of your lotus feet have so much to be grateful for in light of your mercy and spiritual guidance. I pray to always remain one of those devotees. Your servant,

Muralidhara dasa
New Goloka, NC

My Dear Spiritual Father, Please accept my most respectful obeisancies. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on your most auspicious 60th Appearance Day. I have known you some ten years now and often I am thinking about all the changes that have happened during those years; changes in me, changes in you and changes in our relationship. When I first met you, personal relationship with you was the most important thing for me. I was yearning to sit at your feet and feel your love and care that kind of unconditional love I had been hankering for all my life. You gave me a lot of your personal association at the time when I most needed it. In your calling card you were titled as "spiritual therapist", and you acted as such taking very expert care of the wounds I had got during my long journey in the material world. You taught me the very basics of what is most important in spirituality. You taught that all hankering is just hankering back to Krishna and all feelings of alienation in this world come because my soul is separated from Krishna. Nowadays I am not getting so much personal association of yours anymore but I know that there are many, many souls who need to have their turn, and happily I am letting them have it. What is more important for me now is to absorb hearing your teachings I am happy to have an on-line Guru! And very often, if I have some questions, I am getting them answered just by hearing your classes. Recently I have seen you absorbing more and more in your internal meditation and I am not on a level to follow you in that. Anyway, although I see that you have changed, it is not that kind of painful change that has happened in many relationships I once saw as meaningful. The difference is that the other relationships have been more or less material when the relationship with you was spiritual to begin with. It is more like maturing and definitely not turning to something unrecognizable you ever wanted to see. In many classes of yours you have been saying how love means a desire to serve and please without any other desire. Out of love you have done the greatest service to me by giving me your example and instructions how to live a happy life getting closer and closer to Krishna. Now I am living the happiest time in my life and noticing over and over again that the more I remember Krishna the happier I become. And there He is, a mischievous dark-skinned cowherd boy playing His flute, gradually melting the stone-like hearts of the conditioned souls. Many years ago a friend jokingly warned me that you would steal my heart. You did, but you stole it for Krishna. After all, He is the biggest thief like He is the biggest and the most in everything. I wish that I could somehow reciprocate all that love you are giving to me and develop unconditional love for you and Krishna. Your daughter and servant,

Nandarani devi dasi


Finland

My Dear Gurudev! Please accept my humble obeisances! And All Glories To Srila Prabhupada! My Dear Gurudev! Thank You Gurudev for giving me intiation! I am a little slow in understanding that I actually got initiation to the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Without having You as my Spiritual Master or Guru my taste for chanting Krishnas Holy Names wouldnt increase in such a way it has done and is doing. Now I can't live without hearing chanting and singing Krishnas Names and especially the Hare Krishna Maha mantra. I am totally addicted to Them. Srila Prabhupada is chanting the Hare Krishna Maha mantra 24 hours a day in my house, until the CD-player breaks and then I buy a new one and so on. The taste for chanting the Hare Krishna Maha mantra is coming entirely from You and Srila Prabhupada. I have no qualifications of my own. My only desire is to dive into the nectar of the Holy Names and chant sing and dance forever! In addition to this I also want to thank You so much for being such a funny guru. The material world is such a serious place to be in so I can't or don't like so much to hear serious things I like fun things like chanting Hare Krishna is super fun and hear You explain the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in a fun way! I am rolling on the floor sometimes holding my stomach from laughing too much! Thank You Srila Gurudev, a million times again and again ! I wish so much that I could be present for Your Vyasa Puja, it is breaking my heart so much that I am not there. Your servant,

Nandini devi dasi


Sweden

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept our most respectful humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. We are very very glad and fortunate that you are our Guru. We have noticed that there is no other personality more loving and caring than you. No matter where you are, you always have us in your mind and heart. What else can a disciple aspire for? To have your special mercy means Lord Krishna is pleased with us. Please continue to bless us and we pray to Lord Krishna that we remain your servants birth after birth. Devotional service to Lord Krishna is very difficult. Lord Krishna can award us everything except His pure devotion. But He is obliged and very easily available through your mercy. Please take our prayers to Lord Krishna so that He grants us the power to preach His Holy Names. Srila Gurudeva, we are firmly convinced that Lord Krishna will accept us since we have got shelter unto your lotus feet. After getting your mercy we dont want to miss this golden opportunity to revive our lost Krishna consciousness. It is very difficult on our own to achieve Lord Krishnas mercy, so please help us. Please continue to bless us since we have no hope except your lotus feet. On this special occasion of your Vyasa puja, we pray to Lord Krsna for your very healthy and long life to continue to give us your association and continue to spread the Holy Name in every town and village. Srila Gurudevas Vyasa puja Ki Jai. Your most fallen servants,

Nar-Narayan Das Utkantvati Radha


Labasa, Fiji Islands

Dear Srila Bir Krishna Maharaj, Hare Krishna. Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. On the auspicious day of your appearance, we pray to Lord Krishna to bestow His mercy upon you, so that you will be able to lead many people into the spiritual and devotional path and to free themselves from the cycle of birth and death. Your dedication and persistent preaching in places all over the globe to spread the glories of Lord Krishna are truly exemplary. You travel to far places like Fiji simply to spread Krishna consciousness. The only hope that can save people from the evil effects of the age of Kali, is to take shelter of a Guru like you who has completely dedicated his life for spreading Krishna consciousness. We are very fortunate to have you as our spiritual master. Many a time, we have observed that by the power of your eloquent expression of the message of Lord Krishna, people including the first time listeners get inspired, become very attached to Lord Krishna, and begin chanting the Hare Krishna MahamantraHare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Very Sincerely Yours,

Narottama Das (Chakrapani Basavaraju) Nagaratnam Adilakshmi Sridhar (Syamananda Das)


Gaithersburg, MD

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine My dear spiritual father Srila Gurudev, Please accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories unto Your Divine Grace. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Gurudev on this very special day of your Vyasa puja I would like to thank you. I would like to thank you for your mercy that you have bestowed upon us, especially the cherished unforgetable moments in Govardhan when you engaged us and allowed us to try and serve you. You are self sufficient in every way a person can be but never the less you accepted to vanquish our karma by allowing us to serve you in Govardhan. For that priceless opportunity I thank you Srila Gurudev. Me and Govindamohini still talk about the time we spent with you and those are the most special memories we have together, which was in your constant association. We still remember how you used to crack jokes and we still laugh when we remember them Gurudev. Your sense of humor and your jokes are like antidepressant pills for us. Whenever we talk about that we still laugh at them. Gurudev, with your association during Vraja parikrama, I have learnt how to appreciate the holy dham and with your mood to serve the dham, I have become more inclined to serve you. Seeing your devotion to the holy land of Govardhan, I pray to Radha Giridhari that I on my own I have no knowledge to serve Govardhan, but if I am able to serve you my spiritual father, I might get a little mercy form Radha Giridhari. Thank you Gurudev for allowing me to have so much of your association, and thank you for allowing us serve you. I am your most unqualified son Gurudev, and I am not saying this to sound humble, I seriously am, and I know you know that, but you still give me the opportunity to touch your lotus feet and massage them. How can I ever find the right words to appreciate how much mercy you have bestowed upon me Gurudev. I offer unto you all respects and thank you again and again for your association and mercy. I beg for the genuine humility and pure motives required to be your effective servant. All glories to Your Divine Grace! Happy Vyasa pooja! Your servant,

Navadwipa das
Sydney

Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to this most auspicious day, the blessed Sri Vyasa Puja. This time every year I sit down to try and somehow put to words what you mean to me, what having your mercy in our lives has done for me and how I wish and pray that I will be able to serve you pleasingly. And this time every year my emotions cloud my mind and I lose the ability to articulate what it is I want and need to say to you. Gurudeva, I do not know how to glorify you as I do not have enough words to do so, so I am following the footsteps to great Acaryas and offering the following prayer at your lotus feet, radha-sammukha-samsaktim sakhi-sanga-nivasinim tvam aham satatam vande madhavashraya-vigraham "O spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimate Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krishna." For now I pray at your divine lotus feet to always have your shelter despite my entire shortfall. Thank you for being there when I need you. Thank you for always answering questions and clearing my doubts. Thank you for the nice seminars you give and inspiring us to serve Sri Giri Govardhan. I am looking forward to more of these seminars and nectarian Vraj lila Sri Shyamsundarji. I look forward to serve you more and more. Please bless me so that I can follow your instructions and become a worthy servant of yours. I pray to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Golokabihari ji to bless you with a long life so that you can continue spreading the mission of Srila Prabhupada and flooding the world with Krishna Prem. May lord Nrsimha Deva Protect you and grant you good health. Praying to be your eternal servant,

Neela Madhava Das

My Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you too. Recently I have been reading Prabhupada Nectar where His Grace Kundali Prabhu glorifies his godbrother Visala das for his relationship with Srila Prabhupada. This reminds me of your blog in which you had mentioned earlier this year during the GBC meetings when His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja came for the first time from the hospital for the Mayapur festival after his severe health problems. When we went to India in 2007 with you and during one of the early morning walks of His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja with his disciples, I came in contact with him for the first time with a few other devotees from Fiji. As we came closer to him, we offered our obeisance and he blessed us all with his stick that he was carrying. After blessing us he said Bir Krishna right, astonished by his words we immediately said yes. I had a realization that what great a devotee he is that just by looking at us he could tell who our father was and how great you are that your Godbrothers can recognize your children amongst thousands. This shows your greatness and your great love for your Godbrother that we insignificant souls were recognized amongst thousands of devotees present there. Thank you very much Gurudeva for giving me an identity and opportunity to be blessed by your dear most friend and Godbrother, His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja. With these few words I beg you Gurudeva, to please always be merciful on this fallen child of yours so I am recognized by Krishna as well at the time of death and go back home back to Godhead. Your servant,

Nityananda das
Sri Sri Radha Golokbihari Temple Suva, Fiji Islands

nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu- tale srimate bir krishna das goswami iti namine Dearest Srila Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisance unto your lotus feet on this most auspicious day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Srila Gurudeva. Gurudev, your compassion has really attracted us. You know the characteristic of each and every disciple of yours and you deal with them accordingly. Your compassionate approach makes us feel at ease. We know that we are not what you want us to be but you have always been very sensitive and humble in your approach and this is a typical example of a real Vaisnava. Though we always forget to communicate with you Maharaj, you always keep us in your prayers and are always thinking of our well- being. You always try to engage us in the service of Gauranga Prabhu however we are so unfortunate that we do not understand and see our own benefit in your instructions. You always looked upon us to serve Srila Prabhupad but we are so unfortunate that we are entangled in illusion and have not been able to serve sincerely. Srila Gurudev, we are the most fallen souls and seek your blessing to progress in spiritual life. Please guide us so that our whole family becomes preachers of the holy name. We beg to remain your servant forever and pray to Gauranga Prabhu for your good health and protection. All glories to Srila Gurudev on this most auspicious 60th Vyasa- pooja !! Srila Bir Krishna Das Goswami Guru Maharaj Ki Jai!!! Your most fallen servants,

Kunti devi dasi Pandu das Adhikari & family


Nadi, Fiji

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to you and your Vyasa-puja day! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. At the time you became the GBC of Serbia I was in a very peculiar situation. Although I had everything and was firm in my devotional practice, I missed something. Due to different circumstances I felt so lonely and lost as a dog without a master, although I had a big family, children, a diksa guru, many siksa gurus. It was the time when attachments became a burden and ached, when I could clearly see the nature of family and friendly relationships, when I wished to be free and to fully surrender myself to Krishna, but did not know how. Whatever I tried, it did not succeed. I did not know where to turn, what was the right thing to do. I had the mercy to organize your first visit to Serbia and to travel with you around, as you wanted to visit the devotees in every main town. During that period of time and our conversation, you started to put many things of my life in a right perspective. Not knowing me at all, you told me that I had to stay in Serbia as it was the place most auspicious for my spiritual advancement. You told that it was very important that I take the second initiation, although I could not obtain it from my Guru Maharaja at that time. When I told you that I wished it, you asked me from whom I would take it. Without thinking twice I answered: "From you." Whenever I think about that moment I ask myself how did that happen so quickly. But after that, many things happened so quickly. On your next visit you initiated me in the sacred Gayatri mantra and gave me the service for my entire life. You told me to travel and to take care of the devotees as I take care of my own children. You repeated to me again and again to be like a mother to all, to be a friend of all, to give my heart to the devotees, to always be thinking of how to benefit others, to serve and encourage the Vaisnavas - that that will please you and Krishna very much. After that, you initiated my daughter-in-law, Krishna Jivani dd, on your next visit my mother, Dhira dd, next time you gave second initiation to Krishna Jivani and you stole the heart of my elder son Maharatha and have been engaging and taking care of him as if he is your own son. You engaged us all in your service and gave us shelter we all needed so much. Whenever you come, we can experience the shower of your mercy, you instruct us, correct us, purify our hearts, give us transcendental knowledge and engage us more and more in your service. Whatever difficulty and pain we go through in this process, we have firm faith that it is for our benefit, that this will purify and teach us and that you, your and Krishna's wish to help us is behind everything. Remembering that, everything is easier to tolerate, as we know that you are guiding us towards the ultimate goal of life, which cannot be cheaply reached. I am amazed and very, very thankful to you Gurudeva. Sometimes I think, whether I am really enough thankful to you. The main way to show you that is to follow your instruction and engage myself more in your service, to do that what will please you. I try to travel more, to associate with the devotees, to help them in every way I can, to give my heart to them and to think always of their benefit. However, the real help comes when we see ourselves in the right perspective, when we are aware in every moment that we are servants and that you are our master, that you are the one who helps, encourages, takes care, loves and saves other living entities. To the degree we are purified and surrendered, we can serve as an instrument in your hands.

On whichever position we are now, we know that you will compassionately continue to elevate and guide us towards our goal, pure devotional service to the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara. Thank you Gurudeva very much. We wish you a long healthy life and many dedicated disciples who will serve as perfect instruments in fulfilling your desires and mission for the satisfaction of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. Your servant,

Paramesvari Radha devi dasi


Serbia

Dear Bir Krishna, Many happy returns of your 60th birthday! I hope this meets you in a good health. Thank you very much for all your good advice when I have tried to study Krishna consciousness. I highly appreciate you, your advice and your prayers. Thank you also for my daughters, my son-in-law and my grandson. Hare Krishna! With my best regards,

Pirjo Puukari
Finland

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Happy 60th Birthday and all glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance. Thank you Gurudeva, for being a perfect example of how to practice Krishna consciousness. Thank you for showing me that by following Krishna consciousness we can be happy ALL the time (oh why did I doubt you!); and thank you for all your deeds and words which are meant for our benefit and are always so practical such as when you teach us to look out for our needs when we have problems.

But I especially thank you for your words in regards to being observers of the modes of material nature internally. You say that if we are feeling a certain way, you tell us to not take it so seriously but to say "Oh, that is just the mode of ignorance affecting me," or "that is just the mode of passion affecting me," or "that is just the mode of goodness affecting me!" That means that we have to utilize something called the intelligence, buddhi. This is from a lecture in Suva in 2006, these words have really helped me in my daily battle with the 2 dogs in the mind. And even when I struggle day to day in this material world, I feel your presence saving me from danger when I am weak. I aim to imbibe your instructions more fully in the future and appreciate the mercy you are showering upon this struggling soul. Thank you once again Gurudeva and I wish that you may have many more celebrations of your Vyasa Puja so that you may continue to carry on the mission of your spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Your aspiring servant,

Prananatha das
Australia

Dear Gurudev, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. At your auspicious appearance day, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve you! I feel so sheltered and secure through my service to you. Just the thought that I am your eternal servant situates me in the right place of being an eternal servant of Krishna. I beg you to keep me in this shelter of service. Please kindly forgive my offences. I am so thankful that you tolerate me. Thank you so much for allowing me to worship Sri Sri Radha Golokananda and have Their sweet, loving association, bringing me closer to where I belong. Thank you so much for bringing Govardhan into my life! As your Sri Sri Radha Golokananda are the sweetest deities, your Radha Kunjabihari and Giriraj are that sweetness condensed! My heart is dancing when I see Their joyful smiles and when I can do some service for Them! Thank you so much for bringing Vrindavana closer to me! The stories you tell us, the photos from your pilgrimages you share with us, your Govardhana silas, all of them allow me to be right there, too. It gives me so much hope! Thank you so much for always be there for me and for your kind, supportive guidance! The path of pure devotion and surrender sometimes seems to be covered with insurmountable obstacles, but I trust that by your mercy I can proceed, even though so unqualified. Please give me the strength. Your servant,

Prema manjari dasi


New Goloka, NC

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine All glories to Srila Gurudev!! Please accept my humble obseisances on the lotus feet of my spiritual master. Vyasa Puja means the day we celebrate the appearance of the spiritual master into this world. Being a disciple, it is an honor for me to write a few words about my Gurudev. This year marks the 60th appearance day celebration of Srila Gurudeva. It will be a proud moment for the disciples as well as the well-wishers since his Vyasa puja celebration will be in Fiji. He is one who has shown me a path with the torchlight of knowledge. Gurudeva, please always guide me eternally. Yours daughter,

Premavilasa devi dasi


Fiji

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada. Todas las glorias a Bir Krishna das Goswami. Mi querido Gurudeva, Prmitame ofrecer mis humildes reverencias a sus pies de loto y desearle felicidad en conciencia de Krishna en este da de su gloriosa aparicin . Usted aparece un da como hoy solo para el beneficio de las almas cadas de este mundo material, usted no tiene nada que ver con los placeres y sufrimientos de este mundo material ya que su divina conciencia no es terrenal sino totalmente espiritual por el servicio constante a los pies de loto de Krishna. Pero quien soy yo para tratar de alabar su personalidad, usted es un alma que viene directamente de vaikunta , un alma eternamente liberada y yo un bajo mlecha. Sintase complacido mi querido Gurudeva en su propia gloria en su propia personalidad trascendental. Le agradezco infinitamente Gurudeva por haberme permitido servir su divinos pies de loto; porque sin este apoyo maravilloso que clase de actividades pecaminosa estaria ejecutando , comedor de carne , relacin ilcita con mujeres , bebedor de acohol para tratar de encontrar un poco de "felicidad" la cual nunca iba a lograr, lo que si estoy seguro de haber logrado un pase directo al infierno. En este mundo sin la asociacin de un devoto puro la vida no tiene ningun valor. Una persona podra ser muy erudita, ser muy rica muy hermosa pero si no sirve los pies de loto de un sirviente de Krishna entonces su vida es totalmente intil y carece de todo valor ; en cambio una persona de posicion humilde , un sudra , si tiene la gran fortuna de asociarse con un devoto puro y le sirve con humildad ; entonces su vida tendr un exito total y al final de su vida regresar a casa de vuelta al hogar de vuelta a Diospara vivir una vida eterna de bienaventuranza espiritual. Por eso es mi gran deuda con usted mi querido Gurudeva la cual es eterna y no creo poder saldar. Le pido su bendicin para que yo pueda servir a sus pies de loto vida tras vida. Prmitame postrarme a sus pies de loto en su Vyasa puja. Su insignificante sirviente,

Prithu dasa
Mexico

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to my bellowed Spiritual Master Bir Krsna Goswami. I hope this day of your 60th year appearance day will become one of there most lucky days in Gurudeva`s life and all of us disciples can take part in this. We have found you as our Guru, and now are you our super adviser in find there truth. And we ask you and you tell us what to do. So all we have to do is to follow you and in time we find the truth. Your Servant,

Pundarika das
Denmark

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine
My Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Lord Caitanyas mission is going ahead just as Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas had foreseen, and you, Srila Gurudeva, are here to make sure that their desires are carried out. My admiration is for your dedication to Srila Prabhupadas lotus feet, to his mission in this world. Guru Maharaja, thank you very much for allowing us to have your association in Sri Vrindavan dham and Govardhana at the beginning of this year. It was the most blissful experience for us all. Going through the struggle of material existence, I have only one hope, one light, one shelter, Your Divine Grace. You are the most wonderful personality in my life and you are the perfect Acarya. Thank you for bestowing a drop of your mercy by allowing Govardhana Sila to reside on our altar through your prema-bhakti, He is my matajis best friend and she serves him affectionately. Please always remind us of our purpose and duty in this world. Thank you for always inspiring me to do devotional service and guiding me to the correct path. I am forever indebted to you. Your loving daughter,

Radha Manjari dasi


Auckland, New Zealand

Dear Gurudeva, om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurava namah I was born in the darkest of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowlegde. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. Nine years ago taking vows with fear and anxiety. Now heart little easier bows with more love and humility. Have broadened sight outside own life to see more others and how they feel. Not forgetting those who are near they are certainly very dear. Isolation is over and worn realizing this one feels new-born. Places like Radha-kunda has touched the heart, desire to serve there makes one smart. Serving you there in the most holy place has really been your wonderful grace. "I leave you with these Sikstaka-prayers" is echoing in my ears, this advice has been companion for some years. Thanking once again everything you have been giving. The time you have spent on me has made life worth of living.

Wishing you loving and beautiful birthday also with the words by Narottama das Thakura, Sri Prarthana: inhare kariya jaya chadana na jaya sadhu-kripa bina ara hanika upaya "Even I can cure my blindness and defeat the maya-hangman, I cannot become free from material illusion without the mercy of the saintly devotees." your servant,

Radha-kunda dasi + birthday greetings from Savitri


Finland

Our Dear Guru Maharaj, Happy Vyasa Pooja. We, Raghunath Das and Radha Govinda Devi Dasi, humbly offer our full obeisances unto your lotus feet. Thanks for all your mercy and guidance in our devotional service. Through your kripa we were able to have some spiritual advancement. Very much thank you for all your supporting documents for our US migration interview. We are planning to serve at your temple for few months or may be a year before we move to the work field. We are ready to depart for US in a few weeks time. His Holiness Sri Bir Krishna Goswami Guru Maharaj ki Jay.. Your Servant/Disciple,

Raghunath Das and Radha Govinda Devi Dasi


Fiji

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humblest obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your Divine Grace! Happy Appearance Day! Once again I want to express my gratitude for your mercy and grace. You have opened up the way for me to experience true spiritual life, and you have given me the greatest of all gifts, a servant relationship to my Guru and Krishna! This year has been marked by several spiritual milestones for me, and on this special day I thought I would share them with you: By Your mercy, Ive completed my first year- and started my second- as an initiated disciple. By Your strength that Youve shared with me, Ive faithfully kept my vows. By Your humble example, Im gradually realizing my own relationship to Krishna as His eternal servant. By Your irrepressible, enthusiastic encouragement, Ive rapidly grown in confidence in preaching. By Your erudite example, Ive been enlivened to read the Srimad Bhagavatam, and Ive now started the Caitanya Caritamrita. By Your giving me direction, Ive increased my attempts to serve my Guru and Krishna. By Your sharing Srila Prabhupadas awesome accomplishments of spreading Krishna consciousness everywhere, Ive been given the great opportunity to visit the Washington DC temple, and the New Vrindavan (West Virginia) temple. This is just a partial list; its just a start on a very long journey. But my hope is to continue growing rapidly in efficiency and effectiveness so as to be of greater service to You. That is why I am so grateful for Your compassion and Your care, Your guidance, and Your leadership. Lastly, please allow me to beg Your pardon for any and all offenses, for I know that I have a lot to learn about discipleship. So thank You for being my true friend and spiritual guide to me. And in the meanwhile I ask for your continued protection and care, and that You continue to show me what I must do to be pleasing to You and Krishna. Your servant,

Ramachandra das Brahmacari


NC

Hare Krishna
Dear Sri Sri Sri His Divine Grace, Tridandi Goswami Srila Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaj: All glories to Sri Radha-Golokananda, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and all Vaishnava acaryas. om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah I offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master, Srila Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaj, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge. I am very happy to submit this short note of appreciation on the happy occasion of your appearance day. We appreciate your dedicated service to Lord Radha-Golokananda. We thank you for your spiritual guidance to me and my family members here and in India. Please accept our respectful obeisances. Following busy and hectic schedules, you are kindly preaching Vaishnava devotional philosophy and spreading the message of Lord Caitanya for delivering many devotees in many parts of this world. Your explanations of the pastimes of Sri Krishna and the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are helping us to progress well in the path of Krishna consciousness. Our visit to New Goloka and the surrounding areas bring us peace, spiritual bliss, and spiritual enlightenment. You chant the holy name sincerely, dance in ecstasy, sing with devotion, and play musical instruments harmoniously. You are indeed a spiritually advanced soul. We thank you for your service to Lord Radha-Golokananda and your guidance to your disciples. By your mercy, we are able to progress spiritually. You are very merciful and freely distributing the Hare Krishna mahamantra to all qualified disciples. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasti eva gatir anyatha In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way. Therefore, we must chant the following mahamantra, recommended in the Brahmanda Purana, Agni Purana, and Kalisantarana Upanisad. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare We commend you and your sincere efforts in spreading the message of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. May Lord Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani show Their mercy and support your goal of spreading the Hari Nama sankirtan in the whole world. My family members and I offer our humble and respectful congratulations and best wishes to you on this happy occasion of your appearance day. We all wish you unlimited spiritual happiness, good health, and divine enlightenment. Hari Bol. Your disciple and humble servants, Ramanuja das (Sekhara Rao Basavaraju) and Suvarna Greensboro, North Carolina

Latha Basavaraju and family

Dear Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to your divine appearance! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! It would have been nice if I was present here today to honor your Vyasa-puja, however we still feel your presence here in Brisbane. After the departure of our beloved spiritual master, HH Tamal Krishna Goswami, you came forward at once to take loving care of his disciples. This is your greatness, Maharaj. As you continued coming to Fiji, we were able to interact more and I came to know your personality further when you started coming to New Zealand. One thing which really struck me was that although being a sannyasi, you are a very practical person. Not everyone at your level, being a Guru, GBC, and Sannyasi, is able to adjust so well when dealing with different levels of people in the society. You have this wonderful quality, which summarizes all the other qualities of a Vaisnava, and I am really thankful that we have such a personality like you amongst us. I also relish every moment when you come and visit different homes. Along with your other wonderful qualities, your compassion towards other living beings stands out. I really appreciate the home visits as not many people even get a chance to see a paramhamsa like you. One feedback I got from the home visits was that you are very approachable, and people can freely express themselves to you. This way they make rapid advancement in Krsna consciousness because their doubts are cleared. Thank you Maharaj, for engaging me in some little service during your India tours. I really enjoyed being with you and serving all the devotees. Both the tours, South India and Brajamandal, were really inspiring for me. I personally learnt quite a lot; the culture, etiquette, service mood, devotee interaction, and relationships, to name a few. During the tours you were always asking me if each and every devotee was well and happy. This I saw as true love of a guru for his disciples. When you initially asked me to organize the tour, I was thinking how this would be possible as I had never done such a thing before, especially in India. But then I remembered Srila Gurudevas statement, that; along with the instruction of the spiritual master comes his blessings to successfully execute the order. This gave me the strength to carry out this service because I knew that your blessings are always with me. The most cherished of all moments for me in India was when you took us to your japa spot at Govardhana after the morning class on chanting the holy name. I was sitting by Govardhana and chanting, and thought that this is the perfection of life.chanting with the spiritual master at Govardhana. I think that this was the best japa session I ever had, so thank you again, Maharaj. I pray for your blessings so that I can get an eternal residence at Govardhana. I would also like to thank you for looking after my family. My wife Svaha, son Nagesh, and I, are greatly indebted to you for your mercy and guidance. We are very fortunate to have someone like you Maharaj, as our siksa-guru, because you are actually following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada without any personal motives. On this most auspicious day of your divine appearance, I pray that we can honour many more Vyasapujas, at least up to the age of 118. Happy Vyasa-puja Maharaj! I beg to remain your servant always

Ramanuja dasa (TKG)


Brisbane Australia

My dear Spiritual Master, Please accept my most respectful obeisances on this most auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja. namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine All glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada, in whose service you are constantly absorbed! When I first joined the temple, I thought that was the end of my material life. I imagined I would always live in the temple and cultivate my deep desire to become your pure servant. My life is incredibly different than I imagined at that time. In fact many times, that sweet and simple time seems like a dream. Yet I know that time spent directly under your care and engaged in the service of Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda, is protecting and carrying me through life now. I am grateful for the place that I am in now, for I am learning many skills that I would like to use in Krishna's service. I have many big things that I would like for Srila Prabhupada's movement. However all big accomplishments are built on a foundation of small things. In order to accomplish anything, I must be fixed in the basics of regularly chanting and hearing about Krishna and associating with advanced devotees. Srila Gurudeva, please help me to remember each and every day to put my sadhana first. Only then will I have any intelligence and potency to do something useful for you. I owe you so much and want to be able to give back to you in a meaningful way. Your daughter and aspiring servant,

Rangadevi dasi
New Goloka, NC

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisance. All glories to you and all glories to Srila Prabhupada! It is not too long ago since I met you, but so much happened in the past several years. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that I am where I am today. Being a mother is a very new experience, so different from being a daughter, friend, teacher or disciple... It's interesting how sentimental I became and so overwhelmed by the experience. My attachment to Nandulal is so strong, even in my dreams. I wish to feel that way for Krsna. We were really honored when you came to see us after Nandulal was born. He is so blessed to receive such a beautiful name from you. We feel so blessed and grateful, too. It feels really good to know that you are always there for us. Although you might be thousands of miles away, we can still count on your support. With Nandulal came a big responsibility. My spiritual standards suffered tremendously, but things are gradually getting better. I am inspired by your good example to persevere, no matter the difficulties. I miss the uninterrupted japa period and regular deity worship, but I know I need to make the best of what I have. Thank you for keeping a spot in your heart for us; we would be lost without it. Your servant,

Rasasundari dasi
New Goloka

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Dear Srila Gurudeva, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my most sincere obeisance at your lotus feet on this most glorious day for us of your appearance. On this most auspicious day I pray that I may never forget your mercy to my fallen soul. Please bless me to develop true humility and a service attitude to serve everyone, which qualifies me to be your disciple. Please forgive me for all the offenses that I commit to you and all other devotees. I wish you with all my heart all the best for this birthday and your sincere service for the Jagat Guru to Srila Prabhupas movement. Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada ki Jai. Yours in service, Your daughter,

Rati Manjari devi dasi


Fiji

Dear Maharaj, Please accept our most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet on this most blessed occasion of Your Sri Vyasa Puja. All glories to Your Holiness. All glories to Srila Pabhupada. It is said in the sastras, yanha haite Krsna-bhakti sei guru haya (CC. Madhya. 16.65) "One who awakens devotion to Krsna is certainly a spiritual master." As Lord Krishna says to Uddhava, "just with the dust in the path my devotee walked along, I purify all the planets". Maharaj you travel so much from place to place just to purify and liberate one and all. Maharaj, we are all completely immersed in the pool of sense gratification, but you have compassionately awakened our dormant love for the Supreme Lord through your wonderful association. Though we are not qualified to have your association and mercy, but by your merciful glance have raised us, especially me from the darkness of ignorance to come to the bright light of Krishna consciousness. I always cherish those moments, during the last year GBC meetings, your holiness trying to rejuvenate HH Jaypataka Swami health by "Laughing therapy", it was something very amazing to see Your Holiness doing all kinds of faces to please him and cure your god brother. Maharaj, your simplicity, your child like nature really touches me and all the devotees of Tirupati. Maharaj, these are all the few sparks (pearls) of your eternal endless glories that with our imperfect senses have picked from the shore of your ocean of compassion. Begging to remain as your servant in this life and life after life after life. Your Eternal Servant,

Revathi Raman dasa and the devotees of


ISKCON, TIRUPATI

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You. Dear Srila Gurudeva, Happy 60th Birthday. By your mercy we have been given this opportunity to learn so much more about Krishna consciousness. We are blessed to have such a Spiritual Master who has all the knowledge about this material and spiritual world and who is working so hard to take us out of this miserable world. Your wonderful qualities are infinite. Please bless us to follow in your footsteps because we have no other shelter in this world except your causeless mercy. Your Aspiring Servant,

Rickhil Prakash
Suva, Fiji

Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisances unto Your lotus feet!! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories unto You on Your Appearance Day!! Both my wife - Govinda Priya and I are very happy to have the opportunity to celebrate Your Appearance Day with so many wonderful devotees who are full of enthusiasm everyday. I always miss and remember the kirtan sessions with You Gurudev. Your kirtans are TRANSCENDENTAL. That is the right word for Your kirtans. It is just amazing to hear You sing and seeing the devotees dance in ecstasy. I can go on and on and on playing my guitar with You Gurudev till our fingers get sore. That is when we normally stop playing. You inspire, encourage and always find new ways to share KCON with everyone especially with youths. You always encourage them to make full use of modern technology including musical instruments for preaching. You inspire all age groups and Your ability to make them dance to any kirtan is just amazing. We feel so fortunate to have You as our Guru to guide us in our spiritual and material life. We wish to spend many more years hearing Your kirtans, learning how to become a surrendered servant of Guru and Krishna and serving You Gurudev. Wish You a Very Happy Vyas Puja!!! Your servants,

Roshen & Govinda Priya


New Zealand

Dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances on this most auspicious day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. I am greatly fortunate to have received your mercy and given the path of enlightenment. You have accepted this unworthy person as your disciple for which I am most thankful. In fact you have been so compassionate and merciful towards me that I dont have words to describe. You have always wanted to come to my home for prasadam and have given me the opportunity to learn to serve an exalted acharya like yourself. In doing so, my wife also received your extraordinary mercy and agreed to take initiation from you. We are most thankful for your blessings and your unconditional love for all of us. The service that you are rendering Srila Prabhupada is unique and most admirable. You constantly think of helping devotees and work on maintaining good relationship amongst all of us. Your seminars on empathic communication and your personal exchanges with devotees are examples of this. Your transcendental vision of pandithah samdarsinah---that is, love for all and hatred for none, exemplifies your exalted position. I vividly remember you telling us one morning that you love everyone regardless of whether they like or dislike you. You said that even if people harm you, you still love them. During your last visit to Suva, Fiji, you very eloquently spoke on compassion as a great quality of a Vaisanava. You opened the door of our dull minds and made us realize how important it is for us to help others, introducing them to Krsna consciousness. You told us that genuine compassion means to help others despite inconveniences of our own selves. You revealed to us very confidentially that you have accepted us as your disciples, not to receive service from us, but to help us become Krsna conscious. It is this genuine compassion that is inspiring you to coordinate a most glorious project in Govardhan to help the poorest of the poor people in providing prasadam and Vedic education. This marvelous project in the holy land is a great joy for me and many other devotees. You are very much concerned about the future of Srila Prabhupada's society and provide guidance to our youths and children to become future leaders. I remember during one visit to Suva when I was driving you to the airport, you spoke to me at length on the importance of training our children in Krsna consciousness. You told me that our leaders must realize that we must train our children adequately so that they are protected from bad influence of the materialistic society. You mentioned to me that by having a good training, our childrens program, we will be able to attract grahasthas to our temple since their lives are centered around their children. This way you are never short of good ideas for us and I am most grateful for your guidance. Please forgive me for not being able to fulfill your expectations.

Your love for us is never ending and like a very caring father you are always concerned about us. When you took us to India for the pilgrimage I very much experienced the overflow of love and compassion you have for all of us. I experienced the greatness of your personality as a very advanced pure devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srimati Radharani. You kept us fully engrossed in chanting and hearing and taking us to so many holy places. You made excellent arrangements for our prasadam and our accomodation. There were times when you did not eat but made sure there was prasadam for all of us. Your glories are unlimited and you are constantly engrossed in the service of Srila Prabhupada. I pray to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada that you have a very long and healthy life and I wish you a very happy 60th Vyasapooja appearance day. We beg to remain your servants eternally and please help us so that our lives are successful. Hare Krsna. Your servants,

Rupanuga das Radha karuna Devi dasi Varshana Manjari Rheshav


Suva, Fiji

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine My dearest Maharaj, Please Maharaj, accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to your most auspicious appearance day and all glories to Srila Prabhupada. Maharaj, please accept our wish of a very happy appearance day. On this special day I would like to share some of my thoughts/realization. Maharaj, I must admit that I am not very good at expressing my gratitude and appreciation in writing, but these expressions/thoughts are contained in a different form within me. I first met you at Anandas place and my first reaction was thanking Krsna for sending you to take care of us. Your introduction in our lives came at the right time as we were still feeling the painful separation from our beloved Gurudev. Lord Krsna is very merciful, he sent you and HH Janananda Maharaj to guide us. Lords mercy is there but I am the foolish one who does take advantage of associating with his representatives. Spiritual Masters are very merciful and it is said that they are more merciful than the Lord Himself and you have proven this point and just to give one example is your tireless travelling around the globe to give your personnel association to us. Thank you very much for your sacrifice Maharaj. If today, I find myself thinking about meeting the devotees, seeing Radha Gopinath, topics relating to Vyasa pooja, hearing nectar of your past times from your disciples and having parsadam then the Vyasa pooja day is very auspicious. Today (17/08/09) is Ekadasi and your last years Vyasa pooja was on Ekadasi this may be coincidence but to me both these days are auspicious. Once again thank you very much Maharaj for being with us and please continue to guide us. On this most auspicious day of your appearance we humbly pray to Lord Sri Krsna that you always remain in perfect health. Begging for the shelter of your lotus feet. Your Servants,

Sacinandana das Sarvadarshani devi dasi Krishan and Varsha


Sydney, Australia

My Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. I wish a very Happy Appearance Day. Guru Maharaja with your blessings only I can understand Krishna, I am so thankful to you that you have accepted me as your disciple and given me shelter at your lotus feet. I only pray to Lord Krishna to fill my heart with deep desire, strength and enthusiasm to serve your lotus feet and follow your instructions. Please forgive my mistakes that I have done knowingly unknowingly at your lotus feet I am at a very lower level. I always need your blessing. Your humble servant,

Sadhvi
Auckland, New Zealand

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah Dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisance at your divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all Glories to you Gurudeva. Gurudeva, when I was a teenager I had a thought in mind to help the people suffering around me in this world by fully dedicating my life. This was out of compassion for their sufferings due to poverty, stress and other material miseries. However, I did not know how exactly I would be able to do that. During my initial days at ISKCON, just when I started working, when I was not fully aware of ISKCONs mission and purpose, I volunteered to assist a society whose mission was to help people get stress relief via yoga and breathing practices. Well at that time I thought that this was it and I was fully convinced that this was how I could help the people get out of the material miseries. Gurudeva, by your mercy I somehow got to understand the essence of ISKCON in our lives and now I have understood how exactly I am suppose to help these people out of material miseries which is through the Mahamantra. Praying to Srimati Radharani for your best health and a very long healthy life. A very happy Vyasa Puja to you Gurudeva. Your disciple,

Sakhi Devi dasi


Suva, Fiji Islands

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine Dear Srila Gurudeva, Happy 60th Birthday Gurudeva. Once again that time has come when your disciples, wellwishers & godbrothers/sisters get an opportunity to glorify your wonderful qualities & also get your mercy to remain steady in Krishna consciousness. I very much admire your wonderful ability to remember things, your focus and dedication to serving Srila Prabhupadas mission despite so many difficulties, your caring nature for each & every soul despite them not reciprocating likewise. Srila Gurudeva, it is so wonderful to have you personally present in Fiji for this years Vyasa Puja. Please give me your blessing so that I serve you with full faith & dedication in every circumstance. Begging to remain a humble servant of all your servants,

Sanatana das
Fiji Islands

All Glories to Srila Prabhupad and Srila Gurudev. Please accept our humble obeisience at your lotus feet. Hare Krishna to all devotes. In Bhagavad-gita in the Eighteenth chapter Krishna has stated that: ya vai sadhana-sampattih purusartha-catustaye taya vina tad apnoti naro narayanasrayah One should not engage in different process of fruitive activity or cultivate knowledge by the mental speculative process. One who is devoted to the Supreme Personality can attain all the benefits derived from other yogic process, speculation, rituals, sacrifices, charities, etc... That is the specific benediction of devotional service. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama,Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare- a devote of the Lord can approach the supreme destination easily and happily, but this destination cannot be approached by any other process of religion. On this Vyasa Pooja celebration, we would like to wish each and everyone to take shelter of the supreme omnipotent Godhead, KRISHNA. Your humble servants,

Sandipani muni and Ratna Manjari


Australia

Dearest Gurudev, Please accept my dandavat obeisances. All glories to our beloved Srila Prabhupada. It is your unwavering faith in Srila Prabhupada that sets you apart from most in this world and cements our faith in you. Your love for him is evident in your every action and decision. Krsna so kindly brought you to his lotus feet in 1971 and by His mercy we are at your lotus feet now. On this most auspicious day of your appearance in this world, we celebrate your life. It is one of sacrifice, dedication, perseverance, tolerance, love, joy and laughter. We celebrate your love for Krsna and how that is reflected in your love for us. Your compassion and affection throughout all of these years has sustained our lives. You are so kind to care for each of us as a loving father. We only hope to be able to reciprocate with you in any and every way that is pleasing to you. Please bless us to be able to serve you and Krsna in this world and the next. Happiest 60th Birthday Srila Gurudev! Jaya Radha Kunjabihari! Your teeny servant and daughter,

Saranam dasi
Wilmington, NC

My dear Guru, Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write to you on your birthday. Thanks for accepting me into the army of your spiritual warriors, so clumsy and incapable to carry the rifle youve given to me or to use it properly. But your patience, tolerance, faith and trust are so strong that I blush before it and get initial strength to try again and again. You have appeared on the lotus like vyasasana after 17 years of my wondering all around the process. When youve heard moaning how I am no good aspiring devotee and have no love for Krishna, you have interrupted me and said: Ok, Ok, I am your guru, lets go on. It was said in such a rush that one could tell there is no place for moaning, but finally one should head for the action, because there are so many things waiting for us. And we have started. Almost 2 and a half years of learning, repeating, falling, raising, tests, creating, asking questions have passed But again and again your crystal purity and well-wishing mentality, the hope that everything can be better and succeed if I give you my hand, because your hand is always open for mine, it gives me the will and the strength to move from this place where Im stuck. Thank you for your prayers while I have been in the hospital with the cancer diagnosis. You wrote to me: I pray for you all the time. Krishna is definitely helping you to get closer to Him. And really, the miracle has happened. Thank you for using your time to come and visit us in Novi Sad two weeks before the camp, where you held wonderful lectures, associated with us, sang to us. Thank you for telling me that I can always write you about all the things and at any time, because you know that my taste for spiritual life is weak and Im hoping that by time it will become better and stronger. Thank you for the initiation whose significance and greatness I yet have to discover. I have gained so many sisters without which I wouldnt be able to live. Thank you for being next to me even when I dont hear you and dont see you, because your endless mercy has no borders and goes beyond the frames of the things we can perceive. Thank you for not telling me then: you must do this, you must do that. By you modesty, in which your actual greatness lies, by your deeds, actions, behavior you inspire me to follow you, step by step, in the pace I can achieve, without hurrying me on because you know I would have stumbled. You are my awakening, my first thought, my morning chanting. I wish you a long life filled with perfect health and an endless line of your obedient students that are following you. I wish you that in your carriage that you fly on, decorated with jewels for all your students in all the colors of the rainbow, you fly around the globe hundreds of times more, sharing all the gifts to your old and new students, those that even dont know that theyre waiting for you. Thank Krishna you exist and that you are my guru. Your servant,

Sashimuki dd
Novi Sad, Serbia

Dear Gurudeva Srila Shreepada, We beg to offer our most respectful dandavats unto the lotus feet of his Divine Grace Srila Bir Krishna Dasa Goswami and beg for the ability to properly glorify His Divine Grace and magnanimous character on this holy day--his most auspicious appearance. All glories to your wonderful New Goloka ISKCON movement, which is a branch of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's tree and the shelter for all fallen souls in the Kali-yuga. We bow down at your lotus feet and beg that by your mercy, we may continue to have the wonderful privilege of service within your society of devotees. You started small and each year, our community is growing and growing with more people coming who are eager to take part of this Krishna consciousness community that you have established. Thank you for finding so many different ways for all of us to be of some assistance in spreading the glories of the Holy Name. Srila Gurudeva, you were most humble and merciful to your sincere followers and also other devotees like us. We always noticed that your business is to bring the fallen souls to the spiritual platform and always guide them. Nowadays, we miss your association because you are traveling to other parts to spread the Holy Name so we waste much time and miss many opportunities to engage in your services. Please be kind to us and grant us more of your divine association. All glories to Srila Gurudeva on your auspicious appearance day! Your humble servants,

Satyavrat Dasa, Krishna Kumari Devi Dasi, and Family


New Goloka, N.C.

Dear Gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisances, at your Lotus feet! namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bir krishna dasa goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikashaya prabhupada-priyayate su-dridha-shuddhi-nishtabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine This year I am 10 years your disciple. The first darsan with you was so amazing. You where listening to me, like a real friend. I felt so good, so connected so free to speak. This experience I never had before. You answered all the questions I was carrying around for 20 years in only one first meeting. I can not remember what you said specifically, but I remember it was healing hope giving and enlightening. I was writing to you so many e-mails, when I was disturbed in my mind, so many problems, horrible e-mails. Often I thought oh my God, what I was writing. Anyone else would have rejected me. But you answered me with so much kindness and you know everything and the problem disappeared. Just now I got one realization. I had already prepared my offering, but now I want to write this one. On Srila Prabhupadas Vyasapuja I did not want to go to the temple. I thought it was too heavy there. But somehow I went and Brahma Muhurta asked me to speak up. I was afraid. I spoke about Prabhupadas love and kindness and I realized afterwards that everything I knew and said about the glories of Srila Prabhupada I knew from you. For me I thought Srila Prabhupada is too heavy, I did not like to listen to his lectures, I liked only his kirtans. Over the past 10 years I listened to you dear Gurudeva. You speak so much about Srila Prabhupada as a very loving and kind person. And if I think over now every word of yours seems to be dedicated to Srila Prabhupada and that has changed my heart. I listen a lot to Srila Prabhupada now. This morning when I was chanting I fixed my attention on Radha Golokananda and I realized that I love these Deities because you show Them to me with your eyes and your heart, there is no blocking or any heaviness in between, and I can see Srila Prabhupada like this too, warm and loving. For me this is very important. I often felt offensive to Srila Prabhupada. I feel without his mercy or better to say taking or getting his mercy, my striving for Krishna consciousness is not complete.

Dear Gurudeva, I know this is nothing new, we need a bone fide guru and he will give us Krishna, but such guru is very rare.

Dear Gurudeva, you are giving me Srila Prabhupada and Krishna after all I realized just now. Still I need your mercy more than anything else, you told me how to chant, how to understand Srila Prabhupadas books, and what are the weeds in the heart. I dont know anything except what you teach me. Dear Gurudeva, I am very thankful to you. Your aspiring servant,

Saumyarupa dd
New Radhakunda, Sweden

Dear Gurudev, namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Our deep gratitude to you for long With your mercy you water again and again the spiritual seedlings still so tender and young Like a tireless gardener Like the all giving father We grow with dauntlessness. It is difficult to say about your divine personality, but its your birthday and I would like to say, please Gurudev, falling at your lotus feet, I beg you on my knee, keep on coming to Fiji all the time and keep on blessing us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! Jay Gurudev. Your most unworthy daughter,

Shyama Manjari Devi Dasi (14yrs)


Labasa, Fiji

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine Dearest Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. I humbly glorify you on this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja. It has been so many years that you have given us that association and the path of devotional service. Gurudev, I am so lucky in Krsna consciouness that by your mercy everything has become successful. o he vaisnava thakura doyara sagara e dase koruna kori diya pada chaya sodho he amaya tomara carana dhori O venerable Vaisnava, O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. I hold on to your lotus feet. We pray to Srimati Radharani for your good health and safety. May Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada bless you in spreading the holy names of the Lord. HAPPY VYASA PUJA TO YOU SRILA GURUDEV Your most fallen servant,

Sudama Das
Labasa Fiji

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Dear Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to Your Divine Grace. Like a feather I was floating around with no ground to land on. I had the pleasure of floating but unfortunately no taste of belonging. It has been Krsnas arrangement that I came across you, Bir Krsna Maharaj and whose shelter I aspire for. The thought of getting initiated never came across my mind and I always postponed it as a secondary task. Mundane me walked off to acquire Krsna bhakti without a guru. Gurudev, you left a permanent mark on my thoughts. Your openness and easy approach had allowed me to shed my cacoon and gain the realization of having a guru, a guru who is not just a spiritual master but a friend, a father and a well wisher. I have been able to find all this in you Gurudev. Your humble approach to create a discussion on any topic either its spiritual, social, electronics or international relations captured my attention. I was still too shy and scared to approach you at first to ask about initiation and at this juncture Navdip Prabhu enlightened me about the principals of initiation and created an enthusiasm to know more about you Gurudev. While I was still in thoughts of getting initiated, I had a dream, a night before your Sannya anniversary. I dreamt that I was dead but with your kripa (mercy) Gurudev, I was brought back to life by you with a condition that my rebirth will be utilized to preach Krsna consciousness. This dream totally changed my direction of thoughts. I Googled for you (Bir Krsna Maharaj) on the web to get your email ID and wrote to you. Receiving a miraculous reply from you Gurudev, strengthened my thoughts and spiritual journey. It had brought dawn in my life here after. And this is it, with motivation from Govardhan Dasa Parbhu, and Viraj Krsna Dasa Prabhu I am ready to take spiritual shelter from you and prosper in my life in Krsnas service. Hare Krsna,

Sudesh & Radhika Prestons


Sydney, Australia

Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. Dear Srila Gurudeva, The one thing that completely sweeps me off my feet about you is to see your incredible love for Govardhan. It is absolutely breathtaking and tremendously inspirational seeing your love and devotion towards Govardhan. The way you serve Radha Giridhari is exceptionally remarkable. Watching you bathe, decorate and serve Radha Giridhari is a site to see. The concentration, focus, affection, reverence and delight I see in you whilst you are serving Radha Giridhari is utterly admirable. Travelling with you during the Braj Mandal Parikrama, I could see your constant hankering to be close to Govardhan and just being endlessly absorbed in chanting the holy names of the Lord there. I can see being close to Govardhan provides you a great level of satisfaction, contentment and joy. So on this very special occasion of your Vyaasa Pooja, I pray to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari to bless you with eternal love for Govardhan and help you fulfil Srila Prabhupadas mission. Your Inspired Servant,

Sudevi dasi
New Zealand

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. It was such a wonderful day 22 September, 2002 that you had come into our lives and blessed us by accepting us as your disciples. We are trying to be your sincere disciple by your grace which you had given us and keep on giving. Sometimes we are lazy and cannot continue service to the Lord. But however, we then again get enthusiasm from the association of vaisnavas and the photo we have in our house who is always looking at us gracefully. By your mercy, we had directed a drama on Lord Damodar lila with 8 scenes on Krishna Janamastami....where the main character Yasoda decided not to act two days before the drama because she was not in the mood of doing the drama. Fortunately by your mercy another disciple of yours agreed to rescue us. We managed to do the drama successfully. All the devotees & guests appreciated it by giving applause . We beg to remain at the dust of your lotus feet eternally. Aspiring to be your servants,

Sumukha das Manjumukhi devi dasi


Fiji

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! All Glories to Srila Gurudev! Dearest Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. On this great occasion of your Vyasa puja, I am remembering you and I would like to thank you for the care and affection and mercy you have given us to survive as a devotee in this miserable world. Due to your blessings I am able to lead a devotee life and you have opened my eyes from ignorance. I am such a fallen servant but yet you have accepted me as your disciple. I pray to Srimati Radharani for your long long life. I pray for your divine association and I pray that I am able to follow all your instructions 100% and always serve your lotus feet life after life. Jay Gurudev Jay Gurudev Gurudev! Jay Gurudev Jay Srila Gurudev! Your most fallen servant,

Sundari devi dasi


Labasa, Fiji

Our eternal well-wisher, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is so wonderful to have someone in our lives who is genuinely interested in helping us. You not only take care of our spiritual needs, you also consider our material tribulations. Your expert advice in any sphere of life reminds me of Srila Sanatana Goswami to whom people would go to find solutions to their problems. You are always trying new avenues to bring everyone under the shelter of Srila Prabhupadas house. You always invest so much energy in encouraging youths who are the future trustees of ISKCON. And it is exemplary the way you look after your health while using your body past its limit to serve the mission of your spiritual master. When I first heard about your visit to our place I had some reservations. I served out of duty and not with love. Gradually by more service my consciousness cleared somewhat. Wearing all the qualities of a Vaisnava you have endeared one more soul towards your lotus feet. Aspiring to always serve you with genuine affection, Svaha devi dasi (TKG) Brisbane , Australia

Dear Gurudeva, Please, accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You. I could write so many beautiful words about you, but nevertheless they can't describe all my respect and thankfulness I feel for you. I just would like to mention one moment in this year. It was in April on a special occasion. Your likeness appeared in front of me and accompanied me. It was the situation that I really can't describe with words but then I was sure that everything would be all right. Thank you once again for accepting me as your disciple and thank you for giving me your support and inspiration in Krishna consciousness.

Swamini d.d.
Slovenia

My Dear Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Your appearance day! namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine I offer my obeisance to my swan like spiritual master, who is very dear to Srila Prabhupada because he is faithfully repeating his message with great purity and determination! brahmanda brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service. (CC, Madya, 19.151). On this most auspicious day of Your appearance, and the most important day for me as Your aspiring servant, I would like to share a little insight Krishna mercifully revealed in my heart the last time I was in Sri Vrindavan Dham. Since the first time we met in Sarajevo, You have showered Your blessings, mercy, and compassion on me with great care and patience. Coming from a material background, I tried to rationalize Your compassionate guidance thinking that I was something special, and therefore got the opportunity to be in Your association. However, even though I was approaching our relationship in such a way at first, deep in my heart I understood that there is so much more to it. Over the time that I have tried to serve You, Krishna has opened my eyes more and gradually revealed what my actual position in relation to You is. It is not due to my knowledge or talents that I have deserved Your mercy, but it is the inconceivable love You have for Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Krishna, for which You have sacrificed Your life in saving ignorant souls like myself, that is guiding me on the path of perfection. How is this so? On the day I received harinam initiation, You have explained that the spiritual master and Sri Krishna have the same goal. The pure devotee has so much love for Krishna, and he is therefore trying to help the conditioned souls to re-awaken their loving relation to Sri Krishna as well. Srila Prabhupada has sacrificed everything for Krishna, and You have sacrificed everything for helping Srila Prabhupada in his service to his spiritual master. Therefore, there is no end to Your glories. You are guiding me spiritually, and taking care that I am always happy and enthusiastic in Krishna consciousness. I am admiring Your tolerance for all of Your disciples, and firm faith in Srila Prabhupada, Sri Krishna, and the process of devotional service. And, even though I feel connected to Sri Vrindavan Dham, being there without service for You is like visiting a long lost,

but empty home. I have seen that my Vrindavan, my true home, is when I perform direct service to You. Therefore, I am sorry that I am slow in my spiritual progress, I am sorry for being a pretender, and I am sorry that I am not running back home with open arms, fully embracing unconditional devotional service. But my empty heart is crying out once again: When will I serve my spiritual master selflessly? Your voice penetrates my heart, crushes the material conceptions inside, and brings in the light of hope and faith that the mercy of the spiritual master works despite the disciples mentality. All the beauty I know about devotional service I have seen flowing from Your heart. Dear Gurudev, You gave me completely everything I need to become a Krishna-bhakta, and I am indebted to You for eternity. I beg You to never lose hope that this fool will come to reciprocate to Your full satisfaction and surrender with words, mind, and heart to the confidential path to Krishna-prema... Thank You for giving me an eternal shelter at Govardhan by letting me worship my little Giriraj! All glories to Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You! Your little daughter,

Syama Sakhi devi dasi

namo om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bir krishna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa-nikashaya prabhupada-priyaya te su-dridha-shuddhi-nishthabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine namaste saraswati deve gaura-vani-pracharine nirvishesha-shunyavadi pashchatya-desha-tarine Dear Gurudeva, A very, very happy Vyasa puja to you and wish you many, many more happy Vyasa pujas in the years to come. Thank you for all you that you have done for me. Thanks a million for every single one of your blessings. How could I possibly thank you enough- for taking responsibility of my bad karma and giving me Lord Krishna in return? I am pretty sure that you would tell me, with your usual humor; just chant Hare Krishna, Haribol!!! The best of qualities about you is that you give us foolish souls the best of blessings with such compassion, patience and good natured humor and ask for nothing in return except to take shelter of Krishna and His names. Your jiva jago trick was the best thing that ever happened to me. My life has never been the same since, such a blessing, thank you so much. You woke me up (quite literally!) from this material life And so generously gave me Krishna and He comes so happily with His flute to sit on my lap in my dreams. I never fully understood that its been Krishna whom I was searching all this while. Thank you for making me understand this, and thanks a million for showing me the way. Thank you for all your support and understanding. Your words of encouragement are all I ever needed to grow. The opportunities in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji were such wonderful blessings because they gave me the opportunity to know you and your job much better. It was a bit tricky explaining to all, that I accepted a Hare Krishna guru out of the blue based on one dream alone why?, and what he does, and what was so special about him, I needed not knowI wasnt really sure .so thank you for your merciful association and the wonderful opportunity to find out for myself. I am still trying to find the best way to explain to people the extraordinary way, I learned from my Guru as to how to make a good pizza! Thank you for that too. Hare Krishna dear Gurudev please bless me so that I can serve you; serve Srila Prabhupada always, in all of my lives to come. With obeisances, Your servant,

Syamapriya dasi
Aust/NZ/Fiji

Dear, Guru Maharaj! Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupad! First I would like to thank You for all Your time that You are giving to us. You are traveling all around the world just for us, to put us on a right way. And all these blogs, and all Your time which You are spending on the internet, its again, all for us to help us on our spiritual way. I cant even imagine how many letters You are getting, from disciples and other devotees and You answer each of them. You are a real Krishna servant and we have to follow Your example if we want to accomplish a good purpose in this life. Im so grateful to be one of Your disciples and I will attempt to be helpful. Also, You did a lot with Empathic Communication and I know how much it helps me to make better relation with friends and better understanding of other people, devotees. Thank You once again for Your understanding, open minded, determination. Wish You a good health!

Taruni devi dasi


Serbia

My Dearest Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You! Mere words could never adequately nor eloquently express the love and gratitude I have for You. Thank you for giving me, an unknown and fallen soul, the opportunity to serve Krsna, You and the New Goloka community by taking over the garden. I pray at Your merciful lotus feet that You are pleased; for I know that if You are pleased, Sri Sri Radha Golokananda must also be pleased. Thank You for taking the time out of Your busy and hectic schedule to spend time with my family whenever You are home; You are so dear to all of us. Although I have taken only a few stumbling steps since You have entered my life, I feel that You have exponentially enabled me to make the journey in becoming a true devotee of the Lord. All glories and prayers to You on Your appearance day. Your Eternal Servant,

Tony
Hillsborough, NC

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada & Gurudeva. Your thought of the day is really inspiring on facebook. I look forward to the morning to see how you guide us through your thought. Thank you for listening & being there for me. Happy 60th Vyasa Puja.

Tulasi devi dasi


Sydney Australia

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Caintanya Mahaprabhu. When I first arrived with my family at New Goloka thirteen years ago, you came up from your cabin to great us and went to the temple room. Before entering you turned to us and said, Have you met Their Lordships yet? Theyre the ones who are really in charge here. Before coming here you had asked me what service I wanted to do and I had unhesitatingly replied, sew. And that is how it came to pass that I began my service to Your worshipable Lordships, Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda. Just as Srimati Radharani is the one who brings the devotee before Krsna to render service, you brought me before Their Lordships to render service. I am so grateful that you have given me this opportunity. My life has changed radically and I have had the opportunity to serve you by serving Your Lordships all through these many years. Thank you for blessing me with such a satisfying service, that has kept me focused and engaged, and allows me to bring others in to assist as well. It has been a moving experience to engage others in this service and to see them make advancement and become more attached to Their Lordships. It is inspiring to see just how in charge Sri-Sri RadhaGolokananda are in the lives of so many souls who come before Them and offer their hearts. Thank you and please bless me to continue serving Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda to my hearts content. Your servant,

Uttara Devi Dasi


New Goloka, NC

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga. Today is your special and most auspicious 60th Vyasa puja celebration. How can I glorify my very kind and compassionate spiritual master? Ill start off by saying how much I appreciate having darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari online, thank-you. I hope that I can develop as much love and dedication for Srimati Radharani and Krishna as you have for Them. They look so sweet and beautiful surrounded by tulasi manjaris and flowers. I sometimes think about how you tell us to always internalize out thoughts, to think whether what were thinking or doing is pleasing to Krishna. I admit that I dont always do that, its not always easy when one feels disturbed, but Im trying to get there, trying to work on my anarthas. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on facebook. Youre doing so much for Srila Prabhupadas mission helping devotees to help themselves and how to communicate with others through empathic communication, building a school and temple in Vrindavan dhama and your kind and friendly home visits (the devotees homes you visit really appreciate the opportunity to serve you and the devotees, I think the best part for them is your lively kirtans on guitar and how you can make Krsna consciousness sound so simple for householders). I pray that I can develop the same dedication and commitment in serving the Vaishnavas, guru and Krishna. Thank you for your association and inspiration in Vrindavan dhama in January this year, it made be really think seriously about what I want to do in my life and how I can put Krsna in the centre of everything I do and be happy. Thank you for being there for me through your words and instructions. Thank you for giving me some wonderful god-brothers and god-sisters. Madhavendra puri prabhu and Sadhvi mataji are so sincere in trying to serve you, and Govinda priya is always smiling and kind to the devotees. We can learn so much from devotees on how to serve the Vaishnavas and the spiritual master. Please accept my humble obeisances. Your insignificant daughter and servant,

Vaisnavi dd
New Varshan, Auckland, New Zealand

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj, I offer my respectful obesiances unto your lotus feet. Please accept my humble pranam. Gurudeva, you are so merciful. Last time when you came to my place for breakfast you said Vilashni I have to give more mercy to you because you are in a troubled condition. Its through your blessings that I am able to perform devotional services to the deities. Also I am able to cross beyond the obstacles in my material life. I wish to serve you better in the future. Please guide me in my spiritual life. Happy Vyas Puja to you Gurumaharaj. Your disciple,

Vilashni devi dasi


Suva, Fiji Islands

Dear Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. I am grateful to you for answering my questions and praying for me for the last many years. Life has changed for the good and hopeful since you prayed for me. I can never forget this. I simply wish to do as you say and do as you do. In your blog you wrote the following: "Now, I can glimpse the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the Pancatattva, the Vaisnavas, and Radha Giridhari in the changes my heart has gone through. Krishna consciousness is real, it works! One can transcend the modes of nature. One can dissolve the anarthas in the heart. The goal is tangible, and attainable." Abstract from enthusiasm without passion and gratefulness. I am almost half of your age and I have in front of me many years in Krishna consciousness. Here you write "The goal is tangible and attainable", and thats what gives me immense pleasure and hope and great enthusiasm to enter the coming years in my life, in my spiritual life. It tells me that if I simply follow the process of Krishna consciousness, teachings of Srila Prabhupad with great determination and with a pure sincere heart like you did and do, then I shall also achieve the goal and that HOPE is what you give me. Therefore please be merciful on me and give me just one drop of mercy. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations. jogyat-vicre, kichu nhi pi, tomra karu-sra karu n hoile, kndiy kndiy, pra n rkhibo ra If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life Your Fallen Servant,

Vipul
San Jose, Ca.

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine Dearest Guru-Maharaj, Please accept our most humble obeisances unto the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Your Divine Grace on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa-puja. The sastra injunction is that one must constantly glorify pure devotees but we are so unfortunate and fallen and dull minded that we never take the opportunity to do so. Despite all these, by your inconceivable mercy we are obliged to glorify you at least once a year on your Vyasa-puja tithi. Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. Guru-Maharaj, you have always been very merciful to us. You visit us here in Fiji at least 3 times every year to make sure that we are on track with our devotional service and that we continue to give Krishna consciousness to others who are not so fortunate. In my life so far, the most difficult thing I have encountered is travelling and adjusting to new places. At times I sit wondering how you could travel so much at the expense of your comfort and health. Then I realize that you own Krishna and for fulfilling the orders of Srila Prabhupada you take all these pains and discomforts to guide us and see us happy. Srimad Bhagavatam states that the greatest act of charity is to award fearlessness to the common man and we can see this manifest through you. Guru-Maharaj, it is true that it takes many lifetimes for one to glorify a pure devotee and words dont come easy to glorify your divine activities which in fact are beyond comprehension to our little and dull minds. As Lord Krishnas glories are unlimited, so is true for His pure representative like you. Please Maharaj, pardon us for the many mistakes we constantly commit in serving your instructions. We are your children and we pray to Sri Sri Radha Golokabihari that we remain so eternally under your divine protection. On this auspicious day, we pray to Lord Narsimhadeva for your long life and good health. Thank you so much for your physical presence yet again this year to celebrate your Vyasa-puja with us. We wish you many happy returns of the day and a happy fathers day. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! His Divine Grace Srila Bir Krishna Das Goswami Maharaj Vyasa-puja Mahotsav ki jaya! Your fallen children,

Vrajendra Suta das Atmasakti Devi dasi Baby Anandamay das


Tamavua, Fiji Islands

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. As Vyasa puja is getting near, it is so natural that everyone is thinking what they are grateful to their spiritual master for. I am no different. I am trying to go back a few years when my diksa guru left the earth. I felt completely lost and alone. I was like a child without a father. But luckily, Krsna sent You. You answer all my questions with great patience and clarify my doubts. You once told me I should just love Krsna. At that moment I felt as if the last piece of the puzzle was in its place. When You visited Split last time, You told me how that morning You spent the last drop of sandalwood oil for Giriraj and that same afternoon, without even knowing that You lacked oil, I gave You another one for Him. Thank You for allowing me to serve Giriraj then. Thank You for Your company and patience. Your servant,

Vrinda devi dasi


Split, Croatia

namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale srimate bir krsna das goswamin iti namine namo hamsa nikasaya prabhupada priyaya te su drdha suddhi nistabhyam tasya vakyanuvadine Querido Srila Gurudeva, Por favor acepte mis reverencias. Srila Gurudev, Quisiera glorificarlo como se merece, a usted que es misericordioso conmigo, que me permite escribirle esta insignificante ofrenda. Gracias Gurudeva por seguirme dando fuerza para seguir viniendo al templo a rendirle servicio a sus Seorias Sri Radha Golokananda. Lo extrano mucho regrese pronto. Feliz Vyasa Puja! le escribi: Su insignificante sirviente,

Vrindavanesvari dd
New Goloka, NC

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen