My dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your most sacred lotus feet.

I’m in Kaunas, Lithuania. It’s Friday, April 15, 2005. This is the cut-off date for submitting this year’s homage for your Vyasa Puja book. My back is against the wall. I must either write and submit it now or it will not make it into the book. I’m just starting to recover from a heavy bout with fever and bronchitis that hit me two days ago when I arrived here to preach for several days to the wonderful devotees at your ISKCON Kaunas center. Encouraging my recovery, the weather has turned from gray to sunny. It’s the first warm, pleasant day I’ve seen since I arrived in the Baltic region over two weeks ago.

Srila Prabhupada, I wouldn’t trade this life you have given me for any other. I know I am the most undeserving and the most unqualified, but yet, somehow or other, you have empowered me to act as your representative. You have facilitated my traveling far and wide for spreading your supremely glorious teachings and for encouraging and being encouraged by your dedicated followers. I never dreamed that such a sublime life could be experienced anywhere within this miserable world. Now by your sublime grace it has become a living reality.

I bow forever at your lotus feet in humble gratitude,

Your followers at ISKCON Austin (ISKCON Cyberspace), Texas, USA.
(written by Sankarshan Das Adhikari)