Homages from ISKCON Centers

Homages from ISKCON Centers
Whatever we do in life will be tested at the time of death. Arjuna is very anxious to know of
those who are constantly engaged in Kåñëa consciousness. What should be their position at that
final moment? At the time of death all the bodily functions are disrupted, and the mind is not in
a proper condition. Thus disturbed by the bodily situation, one may not be able to remember
the Supreme Lord.
However, by your divine mercy and Lord Kåñëa’s grace, everything is possible, as Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja
states at Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 14.1: “Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute
if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. But if one does not remember
Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu I offer my respectful
obeisances.”
Therefore I pray to you, Çréla Prabhupäda: Please allow me to become a worthy recipient of your
divine mercy and realize what you state in your purport Bhagavad-gétä 18.57:
If one acts according to the direction of Kåñëa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the
representative of Kåñëa, then the result will be the same [as by hearing from Kåñëa directly, as
Arjuna did]. The Sanskrit word mat-paraù is very important in this verse. It indicates that one
has no goal in life save and except acting in Kåñëa consciousness just to satisfy Kåñëa. And while
working in that way, one should think of Kåñëa only: “I have been appointed to discharge this
particular duty by Kåñëa.” While acting in such a way, one naturally has to think of Kåñëa. This
is perfect Kåñëa consciousness.
In accordance with your above explanation and by your divine mercy, I have become convinced
that you and Lord Kåñëa have appointed me and my good wife to come to Las Vegas. Under your and
my beloved Guru Mahäräja’s guidance, we were to establish a preaching center and spread Lord Çré
Kåñëa’s glories as much as possible.
At the same time, I understood that it was Lord Çré Kåñëa’s plan to bring some devotee to Las Vegas.
If not I, someone else would have come and done the needful according to Lord Kåñëa’s desires.
I am very grateful, Çréla Prabhupäda, that you blessed my good wife and me with this greatly fortunate
privilege of playing a part in Lord Kåñëa’s plan to distribute His mercy in one of the most challenging
places in the world. It is a place known everywhere as the capital of the Mäyä’s kingdom. Indeed, Las
Vegas is popularly known as Sin City.
Lord Kåñëa’s wonderful arrangement of bringing us here ten years ago has brought me many blessings.
My recent experience in the hospital also allowed me to experience real spiritual care—friendship from
other devotees who were worried about my health and were praying to the Supreme Lord for my wellbeing
and protection. This incident helped me appreciate more the extraordinary qualities of Vaiñëava
association, qualities I realized are completely different from materialistic qualities in society today.
After I was released from the hospital, devotees were extremely caring, supportive, and helpful in
all temple services. This incident simultaneously showed me how your devotees are able to cooperate
as one ISKCON family in devotional service for your satisfaction and Lord Kåñëa’s glory.
Since then everything in the temple is more vibrant and moving forward even more dynamically than
before. By your inconceivable mercy, your May/June issue of Back to Godhead magazine published two
wonderful articles about our missionary activities here. The first appeared under the title “Las Vegas:
Kåñëa’s New Playground.” The second article was about a Las Vegas lady devotee whose lifelong search
for God ended in the most unexpected of places. It was entitled “I Found Kåñëa in Las Vegas.”
Only by your divine mercy did we have the excellent opportunity of holding the first-ever Rathayäträ
festival in Las Vegas last April. During this very auspicious festival we also celebrated the tenth
anniversary of your ISKCON Las Vegas center, on April 21 st . These two days of festivities were inaugurated
by a mahä-harinäma on the famous Las Vegas Strip, where the holy names of the Lord were chanted
for several hours.
Çréla Prabhupäda, please bless us all with your divine mercy so that we can continue spreading Lord
Çré Kåñëa’s glories in Las Vegas with great enthusiasm and determination. May we do this in the way you
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