Hare Krishna Maharaj.

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Happy Gaura Purnima!

After the Gaura Purnima, I started on the continuation of Bhakti Sastri studies. Thank you so much for notes! They're such a treasure for me. By your mercy, trying with some small efforts to understand Srila Prabhupada's books. In one of our BVs, one prabhu was mentioning that as we become the servant of the servant of the servant, staying at the bottom most rung is beneficial. The essence of sastras is more condensed and ripened as it gets passed down from the upper levels.

HpS - ASA - AGTSP  paoho.  Yes, this is what we understand also.  This is the position that Radharani is seeking. So there is a competion with Her to get the last word in becoming the servant of the servant, but we don't have to give up!   She's only Radharani!  Doesn't mean we can't compete with Her to be Her servant in serving Krsna!  (Maybe a long hard game though!).

Your guidelines and notes are just the condensed nectar of Srila Prabhupada's nectar to me. I'm doing my sadhana regularly but have a long way in getting the mercy of the holy name. By Mahaprabhu's mercy, will need to pay more attention and cry out genuinely. Kindly bestow a drop of your mercy that I continue my sadhana and studies sincerely.

HpS - ASA - If we had even a drop we would give it to you.   {S p l a s h !}

Was reading your Gaura Purnima letter to your siblings, gave me some goosebumps! It inspired me to step back and actually introspect.  Ofcourse, you're all the chosen souls,

HpS - Hansadutta Prabhu commented one time, very firmly, "Prabhupada made his Generals out of mud!"

but does coming from a different religion gives the deeper realization before even the first step of faith (adau sraddha)? As we were told while growing up, all I knew was Krishna as one of the Vishnu Avatars and Vishnu as the all powerful Lord. I could just believe in Krishna as the Supreme when my association with devotees grew deeper and then the studies that gives the firm evidence that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. With my small brain, I definitely did not have the analytical power to think much or reason. Many times we see Srila Prabhupada mentioning nothing should be accepted just by sentiment.  This is probably the situation for many with Indian background.

HpS - AGTSP       I think so many people, including Sarva-bhauma Bhattacharya, Prabhodananda Sarasvati, Gopal bhatta Goswami, had to "change" there religion to follow Lord Caitanya.  Improve there religion.   It seem like a natural stepping stone.   Actually we have to change our religion all the time, no?   We have to refine our principles.  Give up the lower practices and concepts as we advance. We don't like this, "niyama-agraha", but we have to do it.

Our prayers to the Lordships to protect all you wonderful servants of Srila Prabhupada and for myself to remain an humble follower of your footsteps.

Thanks Maharaj.
your humble servant
gayathri 
(Chicago)

HpS - ASA -  Jaya! Yugala-kishore!    Who are prominent devotees there in Chicago?