"My dear mind, why do contemplate leaving Prema-sarovara, this lake of liquid love, to wander throughout the world in search of material pleasure? Why leave this reservoir of prema, decorated with thousands of beautiful flowers, to find shelter in thorny bushes? Please meditate on the moonlike face of Srimate Radharani. You will find peace only by taking the shelter of the lotus feet of the daughter of King Vrsabhanu." 

[ Anonymous, written on a wall next to Prema-sarovara lake ]

prem sarovar chadi ke tu batake, hai kyom cit ki cahan mem yaha gemda gulab aneka khile, baithe kyom karIi ki chahan mem premI kahe prem ko pamth yahI, rahIbo kari sudhe subhyan mem man tohi mile vishram vahim, vrushabanu kishori ki payan mem

"Aho! When even highly elevated saints of firm resolve are unable to directly perceive You even slightly, isn't it astonishing that I who am lower than a worm have nevertheless entertained the desire that You might be visible before my eyes, shameless and brazen creature that I am."

"Aho! O Sovereign Empress and Emperor of Vrindavan. Is it my fault? After all, who is there who has not become inebriated to the point of ecstatic madness by the elegance of Your eternally fresh charm, an abundance of noble virtues of the highest excellence?"

[ Srila Rupa Goswami, Utkalika-vallari, texts 35,36 ]

This morning I woke up exausted from our previous night's festival in Surat. With 4 more to go in Gujarat - and many more throughout the world on the horizon - I took a deep breath and recited a prayer I remembered from childhood:

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint".

( Isaiah 40:31 )