The Most Blessed Event: Sri Vyasa-puja
by Vyasasan das
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
On this most blessed and auspicious day, the celebration of your appearance; Sri Vyasa-puja
Please let me offer my respectful obeisances:
om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, for you have opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
It is impossible to guarantee the authenticity of the emotions of a conditioned soul such as myself, but I think that I can honestly say, that in this lifetime, I have never loved anyone more than I love you.
And what is this love?
This love is simply the realization that in this life you are my dear most friend, my ever well wisher, my teacher and spiritual master, and above all my constant companion.
Yes my constant companion.
People, friends, family, loved ones have come and gone throughout the course of my life, but you have remained the one constant in my entire adult life.
Ever since I first meet you, when I first came in contact with you through your books and saw your picture and read your words. You have been the predominate deity in my life.
I can hardly imagine a day in my life that you were not there.
I remember the day that I heard the news that you had passed away. I was sitting at my desk with a picture of you in front of me. When I heard the news I cried and cried, but when I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked up, you were still there in the picture frame, in front of me on my desk. You were only gone for a brief moment. It was then I realized that you will always be there for me.
Although I may have at times left you, when I have failed to follow your instructions, it was with deep humility that I realized that you have never left me. A son may leave the shelter of his father, but he never ceases to be the son of that father. It is your causeless mercy that you remain ever faithful to your sincere disciples.
In one letter written to Janardana in 1968 Srila Prabhupada you had this to say:
…Anyone who comes to me for my help or wants to advance in Krishna Consciousness, and whom I initiate and accept as my disciple, I must pray for him and his welfare always…I write at the end of my letters to my disciples, “Your ever well-wisher”, and as such, I cannot become otherwise than being ever well-wisher of my disciples, even though he may leave me.
You have always been there for me, my ever well wisher.
Thank you Srila Prabhupada
Your insignificiant disciple
Vyasasan das