Home base: Śrī Māyāpur Chandrodaya Mandir
Camp: New Delhi
On the auspicious Pāṇḍava Nirjalā Ekādaśī, I was discharged from ILBS hospital and I am at my local residence in Delhi at present taking treatment for the various health issues I have and going to the hospital every alternate day for dialysis. I had an operation on my arm to create a fistula to help with dialysis and until the stitches are taken out, they said I should not go to Mayapur. I receive updates from Jayapataka Swami App and JPS Media on how devotees are praying and making various offerings for my health and I want to thank them all. I am very grateful for getting another chance to serve Śrīla Prabhupāda.
In 1976, when I was in Māyāpur, I received a letter from Śrīla Prabhupāda where he wrote: “I think that you are working too hard. Your illness is the result of too hard work. Remain in Māyāpur. Take rest as much as necessary. And work through your assistants. And chant Hare Kṛṣṇa” (Letter to Jayapataka from Hyderabad, 761204). But then he also told me that, as a sannyāsī, I should travel and preach. At that time the assistants were mainly my godbrothers. But now I have my disciples who are assisting me to fulfill the instructions that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me. I have secretariates for each of the instructions that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me. So, even when I was in the hospital, I heard and saw various reports sent to me by my secretariates.
In November 1977, just before his physical departure from this world, Śrīla Prabhupāda founded The Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust (BSCT) and he asked us to develop Gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi. Recently, as part of developing Gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi, a stage was constructed in Śāntipur and a new kitchen was built in Phuliyā, at the Śrīpāṭha of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. And we also assisted in the new temple construction of Haṃsa Vāhan temple. Gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi is much bigger than Navadvīpa.
I was remembering the song by Śrīla Narottama Ṭhākura:
“śrī-gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi, jebā jāne cintāmaṇi, tāra hoy braja-bhūme bāsa”
“If one simply understands that the land of Navadvīpa is not different from Vṛndāvana, then he actually lives in Vṛndāvana.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me many instructions. He told me that he wanted me to expand the propagation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness unlimitedly. JPS Media is helping me to reach many people through social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. They also publish short videos and posters almost daily. Also, Syāma Rasika dāsa and Pāṇḍava dāsa, they publish many videos of mine on YouTube.
This month I received many video reports from disciples. Although going through so many bodily discomforts, seeing those reports I was very blissful. Along with other preaching reports, I also received a very inspiring report on a school run by my disciples in Madurai. Amrtesa Madhava das and Sangini Madhavi devi dasi who are doctors by profession, they started a school called “Jai Prabhupada Sikshalaya” in 2021 under the guidance of other senior devotees. It is very inspiring to see how the curriculum is developed based on the vision of Srila Prabhupada and teachings based on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and the school is also registered under the National Institute of Open Schooling ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdTuS1BtKzA ).
Śrīla Prabhupāda, at the age of 70, went to the USA to spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya. He faced many challenges, but he tolerated all those and took on the mission of saving the souls who are burning in this material world due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. So, we are a goṣṭhy-ānandī movement. Every devotee should feel a very strong commitment to helping Śrīla Prabhupāda expand this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement. We are so much indebted to Śrīla Prabhupāda. Although we can never fully repay him, the only way of showing our desire to repay the debt is to be Kṛṣṇa conscious and try to make others Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Recently, the GBC team asked each GBC to update their profile and when I checked mine, I found that it is mentioned that Śrīla Prabhupāda told me “I have given you the kingdom of God. Now develop it and enjoy it.” And I found that the same is mentioned in various other places also. But I want to clarify that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me the instruction to develop Māyāpur dhāma, but he never said "enjoy it."
Two days ago, we celebrated Pānīhāṭi chiḍā-dahi festival. Normally, I would be at ISKCON Atlanta New Pānīhāṭi dhāma for the Pānīhāṭi festival. But this year, due to my health, I could not travel but I was there virtually. Śrīla Prabhupāda named ISKCON Atlanta as New Pānīhāṭi dhāma. However, the devotees there did not know what this Pānīhāṭi Festival was. Since I was in India, I knew it and so I went there and started the Pānīhāṭi Festival. And my dear godbrother Śrīla Bhakti Cāru Swami used to observe the festival in Pānīhāṭi dhāma near Kolkata. I went with Śrīla Prabhupāda to Pānīhāṭi dhāma three times and Śrīla Prabhupāda had said that in front of the banyan tree there, we should construct a temple for Nitāi-Gaura. Prabhupāda also said to have a Māyāpur-Kolkata boat service with a stop at Pānīhāṭi mid-way for a snack of chiḍā-dahi.
Yesterday on Snāna Yātrā, I had darśan of Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā, Sudarśan in Rājapur on Mayapur. TV. After the bathing, Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick and He gives darśan only on Ratha Yātrā. Snāna Pūrṇimā commemorates the appearance day of Lord Jagannātha. Yesterday after dialysis, on my way back, I visited Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā, Sudarśan temple in Santi Kunj which is near my residence. I was supposed to go to ISKCON Dwāraka. But since I did not have my driver, I couldn’t go.
Some of my disciples write to me that they have difficulty chanting 16 rounds daily. Since I had a stroke in 2008, my right side doesn’t fully cooperate. So I have to chant with my left hand, and I use a clicker or chanting machine. Also, while doing physiotherapy and other exercises, I chant and keep track of that. I promised Śrīla Prabhupāda that I would atleast chant 16 rounds of 108 mantras each. That is 1,728 times. Even when I am in the hospital, every day I chant. Most days, more than 16 rounds.
I am happy that I am able to reach many of my disciples through my e-care program. It is my desire to connect to each and every disciple and help them to advance in their spiritual life and ultimately help them go back to Godhead in this lifetime.
This material world sometimes gives us happiness, and sometimes sadness, but the happiness we get from serving Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. Since my stroke, I have had many physical challenges. But since I try to spread the holy name, I don’t feel unhappy; I feel happy. “ānander sīmā nāi” (there is no limit to spiritual bliss). I hope you all have unlimited spiritual happiness by practicing bhakti yoga.
I hope this finds you in good health and blissful Krsna consciousness.
Your well-wisher always,
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