Gopāla Kṛṣṇa dāsa adhikārī

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in the Caitanya-caritamrta that "the living entities are wandering throughout the universe; some are being elevated to the upper planets and some are going down in 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 or Krsna." (Cc. Madhya19.151) So how fortunate I am to have become your disciple. Prior to meeting you, I was wandering in the dark forest of illusion, not knowing the important mission of this human form of life. Now you have very kindly explained the mission, and it is my responsibility as your disciple, to rigidly follow your instructions for the rest of my life. Only this will please you.

In the Gita Lord Krsna says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg 15.15]: "By all the Vedas I am to be known." Many of thousands of people are reading the Vedas, but only a few are understanding the real meaning of the Vedas. Gurudeva, if it wasn't for you, I would not have understood the meaning either. You do not concoct anything; but merely repeat what the Supreme Lord and the previous acaryas have said. This is the secret of your success. A disciple's duty is to merely repeat what he has heard from his spiritual master. Then the preaching will have spiritual strength.

Any person who wants to render devotional service must accept a genuine spiritual master. The spiritual master is the transparent via medium to God. Therefore, the sastras enjoin:

"Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and he must be able to convince others of these conclusions." (Bhag. 11.3.21) Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura advises that "it is only by the mercy of the spiritual master that one receives the mercy of Krsna." So I must always follow your instructions to be eligible for your mercy.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead said:

"One day in every town and village I will be known by my name." (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126) Gurudeva, you are not an ordinary entity. You have appeared just to make Lord Caitanya's prediction come true. You have been defined as the ocean of mercy, the friend of he poor and the lord and master of the devotees. O Gurudeva, please may I never forget to pray for your mercy and may I always remember your lotus feet and divine instructions.

Your fallen servant,

Gopala Krsna dasa adhikari

GBC-India, U.S.S.R.