Boston

Within this brahmanḍa or material sky there are billions of universes floating from the pores of Sri Maha-Visnu. Within each universe there are, again, billions of planets containing varied atmospheres and gradations of living conditions. These planets provide accommodating space for the limitless living entities who, having forgotten their original relationship with Krsna, are wandering from one situation to another through 8,400,000 species of life, in search of happiness. Filling up the entire brahmanḍa with life, these living entities, described as measuring one ten-thousandth to top of a tip of a hair, can be divided into two groups, the nonmoving (plants, trees and stones) and the moving (birds, aquatics, and animals). Among all of these billions of living entities only a very small portion are said to be human beings. And among those who are considered human, most fall into the category of the uncivilized, due to their aversion or ignorance of the codes governing religious life enunciated in the Vedas. We are then left with a very small remaining portion of human beings who are recognized as civilized because of their adherence to the Vedic principles. Of these, almost one-half are simply following in a superficial way, while committing all kinds of sinful activities. Among the half who are truly following the Vedas, most are interested in the karma-kanḍa section and are aspiring to enjoy the results of their good works and pious activities. Out of many thousands of such sincere fruitive workers, perhaps one becomes wise and realizes the futility of his endeavor. Out of many millions of such wise men one may actually become liberated from the karmic cycle. And out of many millions of such liberated souls, who compromise the minutest portion of the total aggregate of living beings existing within this material world, a pure devotee of Lord Krsna is very difficult to find. Therefore, on this most auspicious day of the appearance of our spiritual master, Om Visnu-pada Paramahamsa Paravrajakacarya Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, it is impossible for us to properly express our gratitude or fathom our unique fortune that out of all the trillions of uncountable creatures in existence, somehow or other, we have been blessed by the holy association of the living representative of Srila Vyasadeva, the original compiler of all transcendental knowledge, coming down in the preceptorial line originating with Lord Sri Krsna Himself. Such an authorized spiritual master is the rarest, most valuable gem to be found in all the three worlds. It is only by the brilliance of his flawless desire to act solely for the satisfaction of Lord Krsna that the entire human civilization can be delivered from all anxieties arising from the frustration of lusty desires.

Within the hearts of the conditioned souls there are hundreds and thousands of lusty desires for enjoyment in this material world. Being driven by these desires they are taking one body after another in an attempt to achieve satisfaction. However, because of the very nature of this material world, which Krsna declares to be duḥkhalayam asasvatam, a temporary place, full of miseries, the stage of satisfaction is never reached. They are thus becoming disappointed and fearful In the end death comes and they are forced to accept another material body, tightly bound up in a vast network of unlimited anxieties.

Sometimes one such illusioned living being foolishly approaches some so-called great personality, who has become expert in the fields of karma, jnana, or yoga, to get some kind of relief. However, because such men have no knowledge of the eternal spiritual identity beyond this temporary body, and are bereft of a relationship with God, their instructions do not give him ultimate satisfaction. We have practical experience of this in the modern world. At present, the major portion of the human energy has been expended on vicious works with the aim of achieving a higher grade of sense gratification. This we have done. We have also invented innumerable philosophies and so-called "paths" by which we are trying to enhance our human experience. Yet, people are wondering why there is so much unhappiness and disunity and they have created many different "isms" in an attempt to deal with the situation. Unfortunately all such "isms" have helped only to intensify and not to diminish the problems of life. The leaders of the world, being blind to the knowledge of the self, can only give symptomatic treatment and cannot understand the root cause of the dissatisfaction which plagues all of us. That was described by Ramananda Raya to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya asked Ramananda Raya: "Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?" Ramananda Raya replied, "Apart from separation from the devotees of Krsna I know of no other unbearable unhappiness." In the light of this statement, we can understand that the present dissatisfaction experienced on all levels of our present social structure is not due to the government, crime, politics, economics, men, women, etc. Neither will it be mitigated by artificial methods for the so-called improvement of our living conditions. The real fact is that as long as any civilization or society is bereft of the association of the most confidential servitor of the Supreme Lord, Sri Gurudeva, there can never be even a moment of true happiness for anyone. We therefore long for the day when the bona fide acarya, Srila Prabhupada, will be recognized and sought after by the present world leaders for the absolute guidance required in order to progress. According to science's law of thermodynamics, a complex system, if left to itself, tends towards chaos and disintegration. Similarly any world organization which neglects the absolute direction of Lord Sri Krsna, the Vedas and the bona fide spiritual master will ultimately destroy itself. Modern day philosophers, politicians, social workers and all other theoreticians must give up their limited empiric endeavors which will never turn back the rising tide of degradation, either individually or collectively, and surrender, at once, to the lotus feet of the Guru. The spiritual master brings with him the won ingredient which, when added, will make the human endeavor meaningful and ultimately successful. That ingredient is devotional service to the Supreme Lord Krsna. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this is explained: "The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self." In another place it is declared, "Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Lord must be considered dead although he is breathing." We therefore offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, whose glorious appearance in this dead world is giving all living beings new hope for life. All glories, all glories to Srila Prabhupada, the Supreme Personality of servitor Godhead, who is as worshipable as Lord Krsna Himself! In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 1.45) it is declared, "According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Krsna. Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees." Millions of obeisances again and again to Srila Prabhupada, who is an ocean of compassion upon the fallen souls of the Western world. He is always situated in spiritual happiness, yet he also experiences unhappiness. He is unhappy to see the sufferings of others. Therefore, he is benedicting the entire world with his causeless mercy and delivering all living beings.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, please accept our humble obeisances. We pray unto your lotus feet to please bestow upon us just one drop of your mercy, so that we may have no desire within our heart that is apart from yours. Purify us of all traces of self-motivation. Then, accepting your order as our life and soul, perhaps we may be of some small assistance in your tireless endeavor to shower the cooling moonlike rays of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda upon the suffering humanity. This alone will bring about ultimate relief of all miseries brought about by our "causeless unwillingness to serve and love the Supreme."

Srila Prabhupada, "Krsna is yours. You have the power to give Him to me. I am simply running behind you shouting, 'Krsna, Krsna'"

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

The devotees of Boston ISKCON