Radhanath Swami: My Dear Family of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My heart is with you today in my dearest home of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir.
Together, over the years, we have served the mission Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. From the very beginning we wished to offer Srila Prabhupada a united, loving family of Vaisnavas who are empowered by hearing, chanting and rendering selfless service to Krishna and each other.
In the past thirty years Krishna has blessed us with countless gifts. We passed through truly ecstatic times, and times of painful challenges. It is the nature of life that with every moment comes a test of our sincerity. As a community we strive to keep our consciousness connected to the highest goal: to please Radha Gopinath. All of our difficulties can be resolved, by Sri Radharani’s grace, if we harmonize our personal ambitions and opinions with that higher goal.
Each of us is being called to put the community’s social and spiritual needs as our most sacred priority. We call this devotee care. When we stand together as a community in the light of Krishna’s grace, we can expand our devotional family throughout India and the world.
The treasure of pure Bhakti is accessible when each and every one of us takes it as a sacred responsibility to awaken love in each other’s hearts by our dedicated sadhana, exemplary character and selfless service.
Thirty years ago, few devotees began this project in a small, dark, dilapidated room.
Please see what all of you have done! That little seed has grown into magnificent temples like Radha Gopinath Mandir in Chowpatty Mumbai, Radha Vrindabanchandra Mandir in Pune, Radha Madan Gopal Mandir in Nasik, Radha Govinda Mandir in Nigdi and Radha Gokulananda Mandir in Belgaum, Radha Vrindaban Vihari Mandir in Wada, as well as thriving centers throughout Maharastra, congregations of tens of thousands, and hundreds living in brahmacari ashams,.
Please see what all of you have done! Thousands of hearts are being transformed at the spiritual world of Bhaktivedanta Hospital where devotees of various backgrounds serve together. Pilgrims are coming from all over India and the world to Govardhan Eco-Village to experience our Vrindaban Forest, natural farming, environmental projects, the Bhaktivedanta Vidya Pitha, the Govardhan School of Yoga, Ayurveda Center, Goshalla, animal sanctuary and our very dear Gurukula.
Please see what all of you have done! Gopals Garden is giving knowledge, character and shelter to generations of our children. Gopals Fun School is charming the hearts of small children and parents alike. Over the years the ISKCON Youth Forum and the numerous centers at the colleges have inspired thousands of students with wisdom of the highest purpose of life. Several of our devotees have become renowned authors and educators, and are invited around the world. We now have our own publishing house springing from Tulasi Books and the Haribol natural foods line.
Please see what you have done! The Prayag Project is growing and will hopefully give refuge for laks (hundreds of thousands) of villagers by offering the services of Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati for the spiritual, social and educational upliftment of the villages. Annamrita is distributing prasadam, sanctified food, to hundreds of thousands of impoverished school children every day.
Please see what all of you have done! ISKCON Desire Tree is illuminating the world with Hari Katha and Hari Kirtan in an unprecedented, masterful way and our book distributors are in the top five temples for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books almost every year.
Please see what all of you have done! Our Yatras have always been at the heart of our community and I pray they will continue to be. The Yatras began with about twenty people and gradually evolved to thousands and thousands and thousands. Our yatra teams organize accommodations, security, medical facilities, trains, buses, boats, lectures, kirtans, sound systems and inconceivable feasts cooked in astonishing make shift kitchens praised by National Geographic.
All of these projects and many more are the fruits of the incredible devoted efforts of the counselors and their counselees in the ever expanding counselor system and the selfless, dedicated sacrifices of our brahmacaris, as well as the loving mothers and fathers who constantly nourish their families with Krishna’s grace.
Please behold the infinite beauty of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Who are lovingly cared for by the dedicated pujaris, cooks, dress-makers, and helpers. They are surrounded by sweet kirtan, devotional, erudite Srimad Bhagavatam classes and by our guest reception team who graciously receive our congregation and guests from all over the world.
Let us be humbled and grateful to be included as little puppets in Krishna’ hands. Let us spend this day appreciating each other.
Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath are casting Their merciful glance upon every one of you. I am forever grateful to each of you. Srila Prabhupada has given this fallen soul the intimate blessing of your association. I offer my heartfelt prayers to Srila Prabhupada and our Beloved Acaryas to shower their blessings and grace upon you.
I am forever honored and grateful to be your servant.
Radhanath Swami