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.
