VYASA PUJA 2025: Maitreya Rsi Dasa

The 17th of August 2025 marked the auspicious appearance day of our divine spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Here at the B.L.I.S.S temple, devotees wrote heartfelt offerings to him. Here is the offering by His Grace Maitreya Rsi Dasa.

Maitreya Rsi Dasa armed with Mrdanga and the Holy Name in the streets of London

I do not have any love for you. I was late writing this vyasa puja offering. I could have meditated on it, crafted it very carefully, and glorified you with choice words and intricate poetry. Unfortunately, I am not a very good disciple. In fact, almost every year I forget that I have to write these offerings. It’s embarrassing, to say the least. But you are, somehow, my spiritual master. It’s quite confusing how the most powerful and important spiritual master this material cosmic manifestation has ever known accepted me as a disciple. Equally, if not more confusing is how you continue to guide and inspire me.

Although my position is lamentable, it is also a nice opportunity to see your wonderful characteristic of causeless and boundless mercy. The more I practice Krishna consciousness, the more it seems that I’m less and less qualified to sit at your feet every year and offer these homages of pretension. But you continually accept whatever little service any fallen soul can give, and you give back more than we can hold.

It is said that a disciple cannot repay the debt to his spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada, I am not capable of even understanding the vastness of my debt to you, what to speak of being able to pay it off. You take the most wretched of creatures and give them the highest status of life. You give them the ultimate happiness.

You have most businessmen scratching their heads: you give everything to us, we enjoy the topmost benefit of love of Krishna, eternal existence, and deliverance from the cycle of birth and death, all in exchange for what? For living a happier life in Krishna consciousness, where we simply chant, dance, take prasadam, and induce others to do the same. Why have you offered us this? For money? for fame? For getting some servants? No: you do it because you love us, and because you love Krishna. What a deal. A deal so good a sane man would feel stupid saying no. Please keep me a sane man, Srila Prabhupada.