Vyasa Puja Offering from Chaturatma Dasa:
“2006 Vyasa Puja Offering – Community”
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Namo om visnu padaya krsna prestaya bhutale
Srimtate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine
Namaste saraswati deve gauravani pracarine
Nervisesa sunyavadi pascatsya desa tarine
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet, which traversed this globe to offer a torch of light in this world of darkness.
Standing before you and making a report on local activities was something you liked your disciples to do. With great humility we present our report to you.
Sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva sastre koy
Lava matra sadhu sange sarva siddhi hoy
All the sastras recommend the association of devotees. For by such association one will attain all perfection.
So many wonderful devotees have come to reside here in New Raman Reti, Alachua Florida. You personally visited this area once and described it as “a most remote corner of the world far away from Sri Mayapura.” In our confused state of life we think our residence and place of birth to be the center of the universe. You have reminded us by this statement that the real center of the world is Sri Mayapura. Thus, before most of us came here, even before many of us were born, you instructed us not to be mislead by pride of ones place of birth or residence.
Yet this verse from Chaitanya Caritamrta reminds us that the association of a devotee is most important. To that end one may become satisfied living here, “in this remote corner of the world”. Here we have 3 full generations of your followers living and executing Krsna consciousness. There are currently over 350 families practicing the principles that you have given us in your divine Bhaktivedanta purports and your life of example. We are regularly maintaining a strict daily temple program, mangal aroti, tulsi puja, japa, greeting of the deities, guru puja and Srimad Bhagavatam class. And because it is up to the standard as instructed by you participation is increasing with great enthusiasm. In addition, we have several schools enthusing and encouraging children of all ages to take to this purifying process of Krsna Consciousness. This lays the groundwork for sadhu sanga in the future.
You often stated that example is better than precept. Here we have many senior grihasta disciples following your instructions. Husbands and wives who have faithfully been executing your instructions together for 20, 25 years and more. Raising children on your instruction, being responsible members of the vaisnava community. Staying engaged in your service in spite of the obstacles that family life can bring. These senior followers of yours are thus not ordinary householders, but they are also those sadhus whose association is recommended.
Your second generation here has taken strong steps to fulfill your mission as well. Spearheading the need to train the next generation after them, they have developed a wonderful mentoring program. These young men and women take a younger devotee child under the wing and guide them, befriend them and help lead them down the path toward Krsna. These relationships solidify the foundation of devotional service that you envisioned for generations to come. Neither of these two successive generations had your personal association but by associating with your instructions, your books and your disciples, they have developed the desire to push forward this Krsna consciousness movement. They have thus assured future generations of sadhus to associate with.
The central focus of this community is Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Laksmi Nrsimha. We have over 50 brahmanas that carefully follow your instructions of developing a wonderful deity program here. These men and women have faithfully adhered to your principles of brahminical cleanliness and purity. As a result the deity worship here is most beautiful and we are confident would please your grace very much. As a result many sadhus come to visit here and are feel the result of such service.
How are all these programs going on? Are these all brahmana families imported from India to the west to carry out your mission? No indeed! These are ordinary boys and girls, men and women, but and save for one thing—your sublime mercy! While we may appear to be ordinary citizens indeed we are actually your vaikuntha people. Being inspired by your service, your determination, your love for guru and Krsna we have imbibed the same from you. These devotees have taken your mercy, your instructions, your blessings and forged forward to make a community that is a testament to your greatness. A proclamation of your desire to see the whole world become Krsna consciousness. A confirmation of the power of “sadhu sanga”. This is the real beauty of our community.
On this, your Vyasa-puja, we offer this service, this attitude, this entire community as a gift at your lotus feet and beg most humbly for your mercy to continue to serve you generation after generation.
Your humble servants at New Raman Reti Dhama, Alachua Florida