Tokyo

On the occasion of your appearance on this planet,
The most auspicious event in the three worlds,
Vyasa Pūja, 1973

Our eternal master, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada.

One must understand the rarity of the pure devotee and furthermore, the rarity of obtaining his association. Even to the great sages and demigods God Himself is inaccessible, for the layers of this material creation are indeed very subtle. Furthermore He is the Absolute Will in Himself, free to appear and disappear as He pleases. He holds the right of unapproachability by the infinitesimal individual's will. He Himself is totally without obligation to the whole that He has willed to exist.

But inaccessible as He is (vedesu durlabham) even by the most secret knowledge, He is always known to the pure devotee. It is not that God is prejudiced. He is freely offering the knowledge in His direct words; Vedas, Vedanta-sūtra and Bhagavad-gita are visible to all men. But in spite of the gift, we, being enthralled by maya, are apt to create our own conditional meanings. To totally escape this conditioning is very difficult indeed. So it is accepting this knowledge that will bestow on us the meaning of the scripture as it is and will lead us to the supreme dhama.

The process is just to accept authoritative sources, or parampara, directly manifested as the guru who is fixed in that final goal. Simply because we have continually refused to accept any authority other than our own is the guru rarely visible and generally ignored. However, we must declare that we have found such a person, worshipable by all, in Your Divine Grace. We need not speculate on how or why we have been so fortunate to receive this opportunity to meet, take faith in and even attempt to follow you. Somehow we have been found, and by steady practice of an infallible process we have comprehended the absolute principle you teach. To one who surrenders unto you, who are none other than a direct representative of Krsna, the Vedic knowledge becomes self-evident.

You taught us not only the distinction between the ephemeral pleasure of samsara and the absolute bliss of svarūpa siddhi, our constitutional position in the param-dhama, but also, more rare, the ultimate name of God, Krsna, the ultimate form of God, His qualities, His activities and His entourage. You taught us our own individuality and our relationship to Krsna. And you taught us the means to achieve that end. Knowledge of Krsna is the ultimate of all study, raja-vidya. Nothing more remains to be taught or learned. You taught as acarya, straight, without deviation, self-interest or flattery. From your position of realized knowledge and faith, and by your invaluable example, you persuaded us of the actual existence of Krsna.

Krsna, by His mercy, is in all of us. But in you He is shining through at every moment. Seeing the ultimate Krsna at all times, you have surpassed all demigods, sages, vedic scholars and yogis. Just by your pure unalloyed love and devotion to Krsna, Krsna has become obliged to reveal Himself. You are truly mahatma. You alone could have planted the seed of bhakti, the opportunity of the highest perfection, in our barren but nevertheless hankering hearts.

Your mercy alone, giving the yuga-dharma of Sri Caitanya, has enabled even the most fallen of Kali-yuga to retread the road towards Godhead. Your mercy alone has relieved us of our insurmountable sins. Your mercy alone has extinguished the samsara or material existence. Your mercy alone has permitted approach to Krsna and has given us a taste of the true nectar. Without your mercy we now have nothing of value.

Krsna is with you at all times. It is a fact which few people will understand. But we know it is true. You are truly the most dear to Krsna. We know that you are leading us to the Supreme God. But what can we do, with no qualifications, no good quality except the mercy that you bestow on us? We only pray that you accept the praises and services we give you and forgive all the faults.

Your unworthy servants.