Edinburgh

O dear Srila Prabhupada,

Out of Lord Krsna's causeless mercy He has led us to be approached by you, and by your mercy you are making Krsna available to us. In the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, which you are giving us. Krsna instructs Arjuna: "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. A self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." (Bg. 4.34)

This offering is, therefore, just like the offering of a candle to the sun.

You are the representative of Srila Vyasadeva, who is the literary incarnation of God, and you are the unalloyed devotee of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whenever there is a decline in religious practice and a predominant rise in irreligion, the Supreme Lord advents Himself or send His bona fide representative. You are the bona fide representative of the Lord. Just as Sukadeva Gosvami, out of his great compassion for the gross materialists, spoke the Bhagavatam on the bank of the Ganges, so you, the servant of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, are coming in the wake of Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu to deliver the message of Bhagavatam and the chanting of the holy names to the Western countries.

Rūpa Gosvami has prayed:

You are distributing the devotional service of the Lord and bestowing love of God. By serving you, Srila Prabhupada, we are finding in our hearts a desire to hear about Krsna. By serving you, we are able to please Krsna more than if we were to serve Him directly, for no one is more dear to Krsna than you, who are risking everything for the lord. By hearing the message of Krsna from your lotus lips, our hearts are cleansed by Krsna Himself.

By your instructions you are giving us access to Krsna, for by regularly hearing the topics of the Lord, the loving service of the Lord is established. In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna explains:

Oh, Prabhupada, you are our only refuge! Without your grace there is no question of our advancement back home to Godhead. Only by your example can we find the strength to push on with this sahkirtana here in Scotland and therefore distribute Lord Caitanya's message in the form of your books, magazines, records, the holy names and the Lord's prasada. Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.