My Dear Devotees,

Jaya Srila Prabhupada. I wish each and every one of you a most ecstatic, profound, life transforming Gaura Purnima.

Personally, even though it is Friday evening here in Los Angeles, I was just able to attend the morning program at Sridhama Mayapura through Mayapur TV. I participated in the greeting of the Nrsimha-Prahlada Deity, Sri Panca-tattva, and finally Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, with the Gopis.

I also attended Srila Prabhupada’s guru-puja, and additional kirtana. This brought me many memories and many realizations. I thought of the verse from the song Nitai Pada Kamala: ahankare matta haiya nitai pada pasariya.”Being maddened by false ego, I forgot the lotus feet of Lord Nitayananda.”

It is so easy for us to become absorbed in our respective external designations, even when that designation is ‘big spiritual leader.’ In fact, we must always remember that whatever our external position, we are always tiny servants of the servant of Krishna.

Again, I wish you all a most rewarding Gaura Purnima. Srila Prabhupada used to tell his leaders to take advantage of this day to ‘chalk out a plan’ for our service in the coming Caitanya year. So this day is a unique opportunity to deeply meditate on how we hope to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
Gaura Purnima
March 19, 2011