Raṇadhir Dāsa Brahmacārī

So bereft of vision am I that still, to me, my spiritual master appears approachable and lovable. So conceited am I that still I have the nerve to address one so exalted as the personal representative of Lord Sri Krsna. By what inconceivable mercy has such a contaminated soul come into contact with the spotlessly pure devotee? How can Krsna continue to allow me to offer such contaminated service, with such pride, to the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Maharaja, who is offering the rarest, finest and most wonderful gift to the entire world with such complete grace and incredible humility?

He is an infinite reservoir of purity who can accept the offenses of so many jackals without becoming contaminated Himself. His mercy is so wise and so deep that He can accept contact with anyone, enlisting whatever crude energy they have and engaging it in the service if the Lord, offering it with love and devotion to Krsna, for us. And He is so indefatigably kind and so unflinchingly strong that He is single-handedly dragging so many reluctant and leaded souls back to home.

So Krsna in His perfect wisdom has given us this one brilliant radiant personage, to who no one else can even hold a candle, and there can be no doubt in the sincere seeker's heart and mind that He is the jagatguru and intimate servitor of Krsna. And Srila Prabhupada, in His perfect wisdom, has given us the one mantra, the wonderful Hare Krsna mantra, which alone can counteract the influence of the Age of Kali, and which alone can deliver the fallen soul to the highest position in the spiritual sky, the supreme abode of Sri Krsna. The one teacher is unmistakable, and the message is so clear, direct and simple, and yet we are refusing to appreciate such a holy sage for His real value, and we are so reluctant to embrace the yuga-dharma, the chanting of Hare Krsna, the holy name which is our only salvation in this age. By Krsna's mercy, there is only one path and one guide for us, and both are so glaringly obvious that if we fail to accept Srila Prabhupada as our spiritual master and devote our entire being in His service, chanting constantly the holy name under His sublime instruction, we are guilty of total blindness to, willful ignorance of, and utter disregard for, the most majestic and beautiful sight in the entire universe, His Divine Loving Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Ranadhir Dasa Brahmacari

(ISKCON New Vrndavana)