nama om visnu-padaya Krishna-presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine 
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Again and again I offer my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. By your blessings, we gradually advance in Krishna consciousness, and thus we gradually advance in our ability to appreciate your perfection as an extraordinary pure devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. When we begin the process of Krishna consciousness, we understand you imperfectly, indeed immaturely.

Of course, even when we were young practitioners, you blessed us so we could grasp certain basic truths about visnu-tattva, guru-tattva, etc. But a young beginner tends to think and act with a zealous enthusiasm that protects his or her tender young creeper. As one’s faith grows stronger, one becomes more thoughtful and wise.

I have often experienced that as we mature in spiritual life we transcend our immature notions of the Guru and Krishna. As in all stages of bhakti-yoga, there is danger here. One may foolishly believe that one’s own immature vision of you, Srila Prabhupada, was your actual nature, and thus in rejecting one’s own youthful fanaticism, one may tragically, disastrously criticize you.

I do not hesitate in declaring that you were, and are, a perfect loving servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. All your actions are perfect because they are all performed in perfect Krishna consciousness. My humble prayer on this glorious day is that you give us the knowledge and strength to serve you properly, to understand you well enough to represent you as you would be represented.

In the hope of one day transcending my glaring imperfections, I remain
Your servant,
Hridayananda das Goswami
2000