Dear Maharaj.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!

All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your appearance :)

Long long ago, I fell in to a well that seemed almost bottomless. The opening was so tiny, like a star in a dark sky.

Anyways, I wasn't alone- a beautiful woman lived there and she was ready to give me everything I wanted. So the years passed and I got all my desires fulfilled, still I always looked up at that shiny star, remembering the life I was starting to miss. 

Finally one day, I noticed something I had not seen there before: a rope ladder. It was bronze, and it looked like it had helped many out of the well in the past. And it was leading up, to that tiny star. I walked towards it, grabbed one rung. It was soft and gave me inspiration to see the light again. What was the sun like? What was that warmth like? I had forgotten but wanted to remember again. 

And so the journey began- one rung after another. It was exhilerating! As I kept climbing, I noticed that the ladder had little green creepers intertwined on its ropes- I wanted to see more!

Suddenly, I felt something grab my legs. I looked down only to see that beautiful woman's face look up at me with a mixture of surprise and sadness.

Where are you going, she said. 

To the star, I replied.

Don't leave me here. I can give you a better star, she supplicated.

I know this star. I came from there and there is no other star like it, I replied.

Turning around I resumed my flight but she still held on, adding some weight and discomfort to my ascend. It was difficult, almost painful but I knew that the end would be worth it. 

The rope held steady and did not break. It was strong like the wind and it almost pulled me on its own.

The tiny star kept getting bigger and bigger. So much was going through my mind. What would I do? What would say? Who would I see? I was almost there. And she kept pulling.

20 more rungs! 17. 13. 9. The breeze was warm. And the light golden.  5. 4. Were those voices?  3. They were laughing. 2. And a flute playing? 1...

the end?

your aspiring servant,

Bhaktin Rashmin

HpS - Jaya!   AgtSP!   paoho  Sounds like a Persian story!   So nice.  Take Maya with you.  She deserves a break!   She does such nice, thankless service!!!   We have your beads and new name in an envelope and ready to mail to Madhavendra Puri Prabhu.     Rashmin: Hello.     Krsna: Hi, how ya been?