Dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I have lost my voice and I am not in a position to speak. It will take few more
days for me to recover my voice. Hence, I am submitting this written offering
which will be read by HH Bhakti Anugrah Janardan Swami Maharaj.

Srila Prabhupada was a Vaikuntha man who appeared to help realize Lord
Chaitanya’s prediction that in every town and village of the world the holy
name will be spread.
Prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama,
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

Once a journalist asked Srila Prabhupada that who will succeed him after his
death. Srila Prabhupada replied, “I will never die. I will always be present
through my instructions in the books”. Srila Prabhupada dedicated his first
canto of Srimad Bhagvatam to HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur
where he says, “He lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower
lives with him”.

Srila Prabhupada! you will always be present because you will always be
preaching through your books, tapes & videos. We are so fortunate that we have
Srila Prabhupada’s vani in the form of audios & videos. Most of the temples
play either audio or video lecture of Srila Prabhupada at least once a week.

Book distribution has been continuously increasing in India. Your books have
been appreciated more and more by the scholars and the devotees. Bhagavad
Gita As It Is, is available in almost every Indian language and all the major
foreign languages. Millions of books have been distributed so far.

By Your causeless mercy preaching in India is spreading fast. Now we have

91 - Temples
82 - Preaching centers
149 - Extension centers
273 - Outposts
Total of 595 centers

Today, we see that all classes of people are taking to Krishna Consciousness.
ISKCON is focusing on preaching to the educated youth and the response is
very positive.

You are a real Acharya who preached the real message. You never compromised
on spiritual principles. You are extremely compassionate to all the living
entities.
Your pastimes are unlimited. Many devotees have written books describing your
transcendental pastimes.

Once in June 1968, Srila Prabhupada had lectured at a Christian school in

Montreal. As usual after the lecture Srila Prabhupada would ask for the
questions. One Indian man Mr. Mukherjee who used to meet Srila Prabhupada
regularly, began to criticize Srila Prabhupada in the presence of students and
teachers. Srila Prabhupada tolerated the insult and kept quiet. Srila Prabhupada
was undisturbed even though devotees were very disturbed.

In 1968, Srila Prabhupada stayed in Montreal for 3 months as he was waiting

for his US green card. Before leaving Montreal Srila Prabhupada called me to
bring Mr. Mukherjee to see him. I asked Srila Prabhupada, “why you are calling
this man who insulted you in the public”. Srila Prabhupada replied, “I must
have caused some harm to this man in my previous birth for which he took
revenge”. Srila Prabhupada blessed him before leaving Montreal. This pastime
reveals Srila Prabhupada’s tolerance and compassion towards conditioned souls.

Once the devotees in New York were pleading with Srila Prabhupada that he
should take rest in the ISKCON farm nearby. Srila Prabhupada looked at them
and said, “please don’t take away my privilege to struggle for Krishna”. Even
when Srila Prabhupada’s health was not so good he never stopped preaching
and the translation work.

We should always remember Srila Prabhupada’s concern as how the movement

will be managed in the future. We have this famous quote of Srila Prabhupada,
“Your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate to keep this
institution together after I am gone.”

On this auspicious day I want to apologize to Srila Prabhupada for all my

offences over the years and beg him for his transcendental mercy.

Your insignificant servant

Gopal Krishna Goswami