—Chandan Acharya

Even as I work, even as I engage in devotional service to His Divine Grace, Maya leers at me enticing me: "Why am I doing this? What do I gain? Why should I tire myself? Why don't I just pack up and return to the 'easy' life I led before I ever heard of 'Hare Krishna'?" How this uncontrollable mind wanders.

But when Maya seems to have conquered all, and when my unsteady mind begins to consider surrender, I grasp my last resort and ultimate weapon. I ask myself: "How could I ever continue to exist without anymore association-no matter how seemingly insignificant-of my Prabhupada? How could I dream of surviving another day with the knowledge that I would no longer see His Sunshine Face and that I would be deprived of the warmth of His generous smile? How could I ever dream of leaving the Lotus Feet of my Spiritual Master to Whom I owe my eternal existence?"

How cruel but foolish Maya is to attempt to separate me from my Guru Maharaj Who has succored me from the deepest recesses of ignorance and depravity.

This useless slave offers his worthless obeisances to such Spiritual Master. Bande Guroh Sri Charanaravindam.

-Chandan Acharya
(ISKCON-New York)