| Divya
Lila Rani dasi
Dearest Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my respectful
obeisances. All glories unto onto you, on this most auspicious day I wish to make
a small offering and thank you for everything you have done for me. I am unfortunately
not very eloquent, and am unable to not only appropriately honour your inconceivable
glories, but also cannot express the depth my gratitude to you.
This year
I moved out of home to an environment that is very much isolated in many respects.
Being alone for the first time in my life has given me the opportunity to reflect,
and one realisation I had was that being away from my own family and being away
from the temple felt so much alike that it really put the understanding of this
Krsna consciousness movement being a family into perspective. The main function
of a family is to support the individual members with in the group while it simultaneously
brings the entire unit together, thus building its strength. Arguments and varied
opinions exist in every family although generally these disagreements are set
aside when unity is required to achieve a common goal. This movement ISKCON, that
you have so tenderly nurtured, is, as we know in many ways comparable to a family.
United by a common goal we all aspire to set aside our differences and plough
on to achieve the greater goals that ultimately result in the perfection of life.
In this way we extend this family's wings as far and wide as possible so that
everyone may take shelter under it. In mundane families, it can be seen
that despite the struggle, commitment to the family ultimately achieves the best
results. The family is successful and continues to grow with each new member being
satisfied and inspired to make their best contribution to the unit. The same way,
when devotees are satisfied in the movement they too become inspired to carry
out your mission, as they want to extend the good fortune they received to everybody
they can. All families have their rough patches just as the movement also has
undergone phases of some disruption. However it is clear that ultimately the fate
of this family can be moulded for the better or worse by each and every one of
us. After living under the shelter of your family I am slowly coming to understand
just how precious each and every devotee is. No matter where they are at, the
great loss we face when a devotee or anyone who shows interest is neglected and
decides to leave, is a misfortune not comparable to much else. In a family, the
other members put in great amounts of energy in trying to convince a drifting
member to stay. The same way I understand, unless vigorous attempts are made for
the care and understanding of every devotee possible, then the vision we all hope
to have of ISCKON may not be as easy or achievable as we may hope. None
the less, Srila Prabhupada, through your kind mercy, there are so many wonderful
devotees that reach out and touch the hearts of others everyday and I am eternally
thankful to you, as although you may not be physically present on the planet,
I am still able to appreciate you to whatever extent my hard heart allows me,
through the association of these wonderful devotees. I cannot thank you enough
for your kindness and hope that one day I might be able to do something for you
that may bring even the littlest of smiles to your face.
Your Spiritual
granddaughter
Divya Lila Rani dasi
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