Nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-deas-tarine
Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sr-gurave namah
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
How can I say say Thank you enough? It's not possible. Out of your great compassion for us you have taken countless other souls from the ignorance of birth in this material world, given us rebirth, retrained us to focus our lives to try and please Krishna, and taught us everything we need to know to make this lifetime successful by advancing in Krishna consciousness.
Our reciprocation, our love for you, will be shown by how we co-operate that's what you told us before you departed this mortal world. And how have we scored in that regard? Very poorly, I have to say, with deep regret.
On reflection I have come to realise that vaisnava sanga is very different from material association. In material life, if we don't get on with someone, if we don't like them or we don't agree with them, we can shun their association. But shunning our godbrothers and godsisters is not an option. If there are issues, we must seriously attend to somehow or other trying to resolve whatever the issues might be, and to always keep the door open to(as you say)work cooperatively.
But of course we can lead a horse to water, but we cannot make it drink. Not everyone cares about your wishes. So I have found my circle of association has factionalised, even amongst Prabhupadanugas The situation is not good.
So on this day I pray to you, Srila Prabhupupada, to kindly help me remember that I must deal with the sore spots in my field of devotee association. Our collective failure to do so is hampering your transcendental mission most dreadfully and this pains us all very much. We are both the perpetrators and the victims of being remiss in these matters.
He reasons ill who says that vaisnavas die
whilst thou art living still in sound.
The vaisnavas die to live,
and living; spread the Holy Name around
Such a vaisnava, Srila Prabhupuda, is you - Your Divine Grace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unlimited causeless mercy.
Your aspiring disciple
Shyamasundara dasa
