Toronto

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet."

"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are so kindly teaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are so full of impersonalism and voidism."

"I was born in the darkness of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

"O Lord, no one can understand Your transcendental pastimes, which appear to be human and are so misleading." (Bhag. 1.8.29) Lord Krsna-explains in the Bhagavad-gita, janma karma ca me divyam, that both His birth and activities are transcendental. But few could appreciate His appearance under the influence of yogamaya. Arjuna explains that even he didn't appreciate Krsna's appearance.

"I have in the past addressed You as 'O Krsna, O Yadava, O my friend,' without knowing Your glories. ... I have dishonored You many times.... Please excuse me for all my offenses." Similarly, Srila Prabhupada, your appearance and disappearance are transcendental. How many times did we offend you, covered by maya's influence? Please forgive us for all our offenses.

"The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord on account of his being the most confidential servant of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and is followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bonafide representative of Sri Hari, Krsna."

How many times did we fall asleep at your feet while you spoke Srimad-Bhagavatam? Why didn't we take full advantage of your personal association just as if we were with Lord Caitanya or Lord Krsna? We just couldn't understand your greatness. I don't think we will ever know your greatness; not even in millions of years. You are renowned throughout the three worlds as the greatest preacher of Krsna consciousness. Ebe yasa ghusuk tri-bhuvana: "Your fame is spread all over the three worlds." If the Christians had the shoes that Christ had walked in, the clothes he wore, the bed on which he slept, tapes of his "Sermon on the Mount," how treasured they would be. How fortunate we are that you have given us all these and more, including Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta and Bhagavad-gita As It Is, what to speak of your personal association. When you left, we were initially thinking that there would be no hope for us without your personal presence. Now, by your grace, everything you have given us has taken on a new transcendental meaning. You have mentioned so many times that you are nondifferent from your books and nondifferent from your instructions, but we could not understand. Now that you have left, these transcendental items are coming alive with new meaning and enlivening us to push on your mission. By your mercy, this is all happening to make us more serious. Every time we see your picture, look at your shoes, hear your lotus voice, chant your glories, associate with your devotees, worship your Deities, offer our obeisances, and preach your mission, our love for you increases.

The feelings of separation are undoubtedly painful for us, but because these feelings are for you, Srila Prabhupada, there is a specific transcendental effect which pacifies the heart. That is the way this movement will go on. It is a truly transcendental movement, and you are Krsna's bona fide representative. Feelings of separation are also sources of transcendental bliss, and they are never comparable to contaminated material sentiment.

There are so many "new religions" that appeared in the sixties along with ISKCON. Gradually they will all die out because they are simply cheating processes. But this Hare Krsna movement will go on because of you, Prabhupada. You are Krsna's pure devotee and the true savior of the world. You have injected this movement with your transcendental potency in order to take over the whole world for Krsna and smash agnosticism and atheism. Actually, this movement is a manifestation of your pure desire to serve your spiritual master and Lord Caitanya. It is nondifferent from yourself. It will continue to spread its influence all over the universe. If we remain ISKCON men, we will never lose your precious association. If we are actually sincere disciples, we will never give up your service, no matter what happens in the future years of Kali-yuga. That will be the real test of our understanding of the teachings and mercy you have shown us.

What ordinary preacher could have done what you did? You made Krsna a household word throughout the world in twelve short years. You spread His glories to every town and village. Prabhupada, we cannot appreciate your inconceivable mercy upon us. You traveled the whole world and made even the most remote areas into places of pilgrimage.

We recently visited the Toronto airport, and while recollecting your arrival in 1976 and seeing the places where your lotus feet had walked, we wanted to offer full dandavats. We are so fortunate that out of billions and billions of conditioned souls rotting in this universe, you, who are so exalted, have chosen us, who are so fallen, as your disciples to carry on your mission and spread Krsna consciousness.

You have given us the opportunity to receive the highest mercy, krsna-prema. We can never repay you. But simply let us serve you birth after birth in this ISKCON movement. Let us, as your disciples, take your instructions as our life and soul, worship them and carry them out for the rest of our existence.

Let us cooperate to serve your mission. Take us. Make us your humble servants. All glories to your disciples, our Godbrothers and Godsisters. All glories to your movement, ISKCON. All glories to you, Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for never leaving us alone.

Your eternal servants at New Remuna Dhama.