Letters to the editor

"By hearing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one is sure and certain to attain salvation and be transferred back home, back to Godhead. It is stated by Śukadeva Gosvāmī that as we hear the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, we gradually cut the knots of material contamination. Therefore, regardless of what one's position may be, if one desires the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His transcendental kingdom for eternity in blissful existence, one must hear about the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa and chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

The transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, are so powerful that simply by hearing, reading and memorizing this book, Kṛṣṇa, one is sure to be transferred to the spiritual world, which is ordinarily very difficult to achieve.

The description of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that it automatically gives us an impetus to study them repeatedly. The more we study the pastimes of the Lord, the more we become attached to Him. This very attachment to Kṛṣṇa makes one eligible to be transferred to His abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana."

https://vedabase.io/en/library/kb/90/#bb92802

I have two questions:

1. Could hearing (śravaṇam) be understood as including reading, at least in this particular context? I seem to recall that Śrīla Prabhupāda makes a relevant point somewhere in the First Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, where he discusses the relationship between hearing and reading. HpS - I think, agtSP, that read silently, read out loud alone, read to others are all forms of Sravanam, and that they are all good for everyone to do each one and all of them, no?
2. Could the wording give the impression that hearing, reading and memorizing the Kṛṣṇa book are, by themselves, sufficient qualifications for returning to the spiritual world? Would it be more precise to say that these processes cultivate attachment to Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇāsakti), and that it is this attachment that makes one eligible to attain His abode? HpS - I think SP is referring to Sravanam, Kirtanam, Smaranam, and if so, then these three are sufficient. If we perfect Smaranam, then no more Punar janma. Again, as I think I mentioned before, it may also be as we engage in SKS of the KRSNA book, then automatically, Arcanam, fighting battles, raising our family, Daivi Varna Ashram Dharma, will follow automatically, as a natural result.
3. I am also wondering how we should understand this in relation to the development of rāga and, ultimately, sthāyi-bhāva. In other words, is it important to distinguish between the process of hearing and studying Kṛṣṇa's pastimes and the spiritual qualification that develops through such engagement? HpS - Well.... it seems that it is like distinguishing the growth of the seed to the green mango but to remain focused on the proper watering of the root, hearing and chanting and remember, as the basis of the tree in its different developmental qualifications: seed, sprout, sampling, tree, flowers, buds, green mango.

Thank you!

In a try-out of being useful,

Namacarya Das

My answer down ⬇

Dear Guru Maharaja,

in continuation from here:

https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/16465/

••••••

Thank you for your reply. I understand that you are making a distinction between Śrīla Prabhupāda's books and his letters, considering letters to be less precise.

I also understand your reference to the gradation of completeness: Brahman as complete, Paramātmā as more complete, and Bhagavān as most complete. In this sense, the word complete can be understood within a particular context and does not necessarily mean the absolute or ultimate degree of completeness.

You also point out that this may be a characteristic of Śrīla Prabhupāda's rhetoric, and perhaps of his community.

I find this helpful, although I am still thinking about the implications (the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated), particularly when such expressions are used to describe individual devotees. Other devotees may naturally take these descriptions as precise statements about a person's spiritual attainment and consequently place considerable trust in that person.

You mentioned that you hope to write more later. I would be happy to hear anything further you might wish to share.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Your servant,

Namacarya Das anu das anu das

HpS - Any specific topics? Questions not dealt with the above post? Details, examples?

ND - I wonder whether this might be an overextension of the gradation of completeness used to describe the three aspects of the nondual Absolute Truth — Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān — to the spiritual qualification of an individual sādhaka, a practitioner of bhakti-yoga.

I am also aware that a similar gradation describes Kṛṣṇa's manifestations in Vaikuṇṭha, Mathurā, Dvārakā, and Vṛndāvana (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 20.398–401) in terms of pūrṇa, pūrṇatara, and pūrṇatama.

However, I wonder whether extending this theological framework to describe an individual sādhaka as completely Kṛṣṇa conscious is justified, or whether we (Srila Prabhupada) might be applying the concept beyond its intended context.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this distinction.

HpS - ASA -- Hare Krsna. Srila Prabhupada Tiro-bhava-mahotsava ki jai.

I think we would have to talk about this individually to go into any more specific detail than the general points discussed above, no?

This letter media is a little to slow, limited for more detail.

We remember one big Ista-gosthi in Saranagati, Vancouver Canada rural project, like 300-acres.

Fifty plus devotees present.

Hrdayananda Goswami was leading.

He commented at one point that Srila Prabhupada was seldom a lawyer in his writings, preaching. We thought about that and it seemed to be correct. SPs persepctive and the perspective of the SB seems to be that we will discuss the same topic again and again from different persepectives, contexts, personal idiom and then the concept and information will become very clear.

That we try to do it precisely in one pass seems to be the German mentality.

(I am grandson of German immigrants).

Dear Guru maharaja.

Please accept our respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

HpS/ASA - AgtSP!!!!! paoho....

We had a meeting today, and the devotees are very enthusiastic. We will send a report soon.

Govinda Pramodini dd shared the dates for purchasing tickets.

Houston to Mexico City - January 6

Mexico City to Monterrey - January 13

Monterrey to Houston - January 16

During the meeting, Prabhu Gadhadara Gosai made a request.

The Nueva Govardhana Farm respectfully and humbly requests an extension of our stay, as the community they cultivate and support often attends on weekends.

The proposal is to travel from Monterrey to Houston on Tuesday, January 19.

What do you think, Gurumaharaja?

We await your instructions.

Your servants in the mission of sankirtana 

Asta Sakhi dd 

Gadhadara Gosai das 

Govinda Pramodini dd

Akinchana Krsna das

HpS/ASA - Sounds fine for us. Rancor Krsna Das is doing the details of the tickets with great alacrity. "Rancor-krsna" means Krsna who ran away from the battlefield. I guess He also needed a travel agent! 🙂

GOSWAMIS OF ISKCON IN TRADITION AND MODERNITY.

Books Are The Basis

____________________

Querido Gurumaharaja.

Por favor acepte nuestras respetuosas reverencias.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada! 

El día de hoy tuvimos una reunión, los devotos están muy entusiastas, próximamente enviaremos un reporte.

Govinda Pramodini dd nos compartió las fechas para la compra de los tickets.

Houston a Ciudad de México - 6 Enero

Ciudad de México a Monterrey - 13 Enero

Monterrey a Houston - 16 Enero

Durante la reunión prabhu Gadhadara Gosai expresó un pedido.

La Finca Nueva Govardhana con respeto y humildad solicita por favor una extensión de estancia debido a que la comunidad que cultivan y apoyan suele asistir los fines de semana. 

La propuesta es viajar desde MONTERREY a HOUSTON el día Martes 19 por favor.

Qué opina Gurumaharaja? 

Quedamos atentos a sus instrucciones.

Sus servidores en la misión de sankirtana 

Asta Sakhi dd 

Gadhadara Gosai das 

Govinda Pramodini dd 

Akinchana Krsna das

Hare Krishna, Maharaja

Dandavats, pranams, AGTSP!

For November 15th class, Nikunja Bihari prabhu has graciously agreed to do seva of Spanish translation for Maharaja's class and reading notes of CC. 

Mitravinda mataji will help us with translation, if there are any problems with connection.

We will start reading from Madhya Lila 20.379 to 20.406 (end of chapter).

The class will be at 7: 30 am, Houson time.

Thank you.

HpS/ASA - Super. We, agtSP, can look at the above verses before the workshop starts!!!

Hare Krishna. Here in the Dominican Republic we finally have our permanent temple after renting for decades. We purchased a nice property in a very affluent part of the city. This was our first Govardan Puja celebration.

December 17 we will have Ratha Yatra.

Everyone please come.

YS Jaya Krishna Das

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! Paoho. Thank you so much JKD!! Nice photos.

We investigated:

"Round-trip fares from Miami (MIA) to Santo Domingo (SDQ) typically start around $231 to $292"

1. How far is Santo Domingo from the ocean?
2. Are Dominican and SD practical places for Vanaprastha devotees to live?
3. What place can Dominican play in Regional, Continental, Global ISKCON Sankirtan? Should it be part of a nine day Caribbean Sankirtan tour for Vanprastha and Sannyasi traveling Sankirtaneers?
4. Are there forest monkeys there?

Please, could you comment on the comments on the WOD book and the author she mentioned in the group?

I am copying it here. You may delete it if it is too much of a public exposure.

ASA - It is a nice topic. We will edit it for proper consideration in this forum. We hope some devotees can comment about the scope and character of this forum also.

We look at this Blog as an open forum, like what happens after a public Sunday Festival lecture.

Everyone can hear the topics in the Sunday Festival Lecture, so they may be more discreet, not specific names etc.

Then after the lecture to 200 people, maybe 20 come up to the Vyasa asana and then discuss the topics in a more confidential, although still not formally restricted, way.

Then finally, third level, someone may ask to have a few words in private with the speaker.

It is practical because without the Festival Lecture, Asana-sanga, the private discussions have to each one review all the matter covered in the previous two levels with every Private Discussion.

That's just not practical.

With only level three we were getting 500-letters/month.

With this Blog and YouTube and ASA Carnival we get 100-letters a month. 

Their words:

I would not recommend Waves of Devotion to anyone.

First of all, the upcoming study guides from Gauranga Darshan and from the Congregational Development Ministry are far superior.

Second of all, I just would be hesitant to recommend anything done by Dh. Sw. because of his being criticized as a child abuser. I think it's just best to retire that book. That book was very useful and helpful in its own time.

HpS/ASA - I have not seem Gauranga Darshana Das study guides, so I don't know how to offer an evaluation of them. Hope our ASA is able to review all this different Vaisnava literature and put it into a useful curriculum for our members and friends.

Of course, Srila Prabhupada comments in Chapter 90 that the KRSNA book alone is sufficient to be transferred to the spiritual world. Of course, that may mean that if you take to the KRSNA book as a basis it will automatically inspire you to read other books properly.

As far as I know there was never any conclusion by the GBC about complaints of Dhanurdhara Swami's child abuse. As far as I know it was never about sexual abuse, only about disciplinary abuse during his work as Gurukula manager in Vrndavana in the 1970s and maybe 80s.

I have seen him, even currently, appreciated by managers of Tamal Krsna Swami's ashrama in Govardhana, but I wish he had not formally left the GBC administration shelter. So, far I personally think that the GBC is as good as any other aspect of our ISKCON institution, and I should work with it as Srila Prabhupada's functional material incarnation.

Beyond that I see ISKCON as a community of friends, and finally I see ISKCON as institution directly managed by my personal friend and master, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and deal with it based upon his personal instructions and guidance.

So, I will continue to use WOD for our ASA Kartika study. Try to keep vital relations with H. H. Dandhura Swami, chose which booke to use for our December ASA/ABC studies and hope that we can help everyone advance in devotional service.

O.K.??