Tehran

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept our humble obeisances millions of times in the dust of your lotus feet. Our beloved master, father, guide and best friend, you have now completed your perfect pastime of delivering countless souls from the darkness of illusion. You have expanded your service and returned to your eternal lila, leaving us saddened by your personal absence. But by your genius you have left us so much to do, so many instructions, books, and great goals to achieve, that we can still feel your presence through our busy endeavors to spread Krsna consciousness. Your personal example, however, has left a permanent impression in our hearts from which to continue to draw our inspiration to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We are only beginning to find out a little bit of what you mean to us. Please bless us forever with your remembrance. We are exasperated by your separation. How we would love to give you a guided tour of our insignificant projects and catch the nectar drops of criticism or kindly appreciation from your lotus lips. We want to wash your lotus feet and to offer you all kinds of prasada, especially the local fruits which you always loved. We remember with pleasure the encouragement and example you gave us for our preaching work during your visits to Iran. How patiently you were spending so many hours interviewing our Muslim friends, revealing the art of how to preach according to time and circumstance. Now there are so many more interested people, and we always imagine what it would be like to introduce them to you and to have you charm them into performing devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada, always resonating in our intelligence are the two themes you always stressed for our program here. One of these is the universality of the bhakti cult as the culmination of all religious systems. You encouraged and praised the Islamic chanting of Allah on tasbikh (Japa beads) and the public chanting of the azan from the mosques at sunrise, noon and sunset. On morning walks you extolled the simple piety of the common people, their dress and their courtesy. Never did you write them off as hopeless or as demons. You painted for us a broad and compassionate picture of the people surrounding us, giving us confidence that they could and would understand our message if we were determined and patient. You made us see and appreciate the value of the traditional social and political systems practiced here, rather than rejecting entirely the people, religion, government and culture, as we tend to do. Now we hope to preach in this way, always fixed on our goal of delivering the pure message of Lord Caitanya.

The other theme which you emphasized for us was simple but important for the genuine growth of our movement. It is, as was taught to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita,

"Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." To make the great men around us truly great and to set an example for them in Krsna consciousness is our specific desire here in Tehran. In order to accommodate this preaching mode, our devotees, with your approval, hold positions in society or engage in regular work. We beg your special protection because we must forego the protection of Vaisnava dress and continual devotee association. We cannot falter or deviate from the principles of Krsna consciousness, as a small mistake will carry great costs in this preaching field. Our results, though still small, are the respect, appreciation and participation of older, influential and responsible people in society. This is your desire-to present Krsna consciousness to the intelligent class of men. They can put it into effect for everyone's benefit. A man can cause an avalanche of love of God. You have shown us the right stone: the intelligent and the leaders. And by your example you have shown us how to move it.

We hope to take your example and, fulfilling your desire, inject transcendental knowledge deep into the power structure of modern society. Giving personal inspiration in God consciousness to political leaders; professionals and businessmen is one of the most important functions for brahmanas in forming a basis for helping all living entities in general. Our Krsna conscious philosophy will someday be the cultural, political and economic basis of mature and civilized communities and nations. We look forward with enthusiasm to the day when we can show this to you, Srila Prabhupada, as a token of our gratitude to you. How compassionate you are. It is beyond our comprehension. You have given us Krsna's service, and we now only want your pleasure. Please bless us with the strength to carry on your work.

Your humble servants,