New Gokula Dhama, Auckland, New Zealand

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

We here at New Gokula-dhama are not a very scholarly crew. Our efforts to please you are mottled with many imperfections. So we are a little shy to offer our homage to you. We know it will be inadequate.

We perceive in you a great ocean of wisdom, experience and compassion. These virtues originate in Sri Krsna and are transmitted to you via the completely pure disciplic chain. Empowered in this way with the Lord's own potency, you are salvaging our ruined lives. Before your appearance in the West we had not met one in whom we could place our trust. Disillusioned with parents, politicians and educators who seemed intent on riding their sinking ship to the bottom of the sea, we were searching a way out.

Scores of psuedo-religionists, psychedelic philosophers and damnation day clubs offered us the other side of the same coin. "Zero out… annihilate yourself….merging brings relief," they proclaimed.

Mukti, bhukti, which way to go?
The twisted banyon or the great zero?

Then one day from India you came,
Bearing the mercy of the holy name.

Your glance so calm against this storm,
Giving peace to the battle worn.

An elegant swan from the Vedic ocean
Preaching the nectar of pure devotion.

You are the gateway to Godhead and by accepting our services you have afforded us the opportunity to enter the all-blissful world of Krsna.

You are beyond the gamut of our mundane minds and thus we are stymied in our efforts to glorify you. Sincerely we plead to remain always your humble servants and hope that you will accept this as an encomium in itself.

With our heads at your feet,
We submit this humble offering.