Letters to the editor

Maharaj,

It's been a long while since I last wrote to you, I still occasionally think back to when I last saw you and declared I was going to enlist into the U.S. Army and you wanted me to send you a letter sometime about it.

I graduate my final training here at Ft. Sam in San Antonio, TX here in just 6 days as a medic/health care specialist. It's been a bit of a ride and I'm definitely happy I decided to join because all the benefits, education and opportunity for funding for more education in the future makes sense, but regretful because I had many opportunities to stay a vegeterian but neglected it in hopes I'd just bounce back to it after I leave the Army. But I see now that the lord has given me many, many opportunities to stay vegeterian that I've neglected. Yes.. I can feel that Karma coming to hit me later on.

HpS - ASA --- Yesssss....  those poor creatures have been murdered with aims at satisfying your demands for consumption.    It is terrible. .....-[;[[ _____

Sometimes I still question if I made the right choice, but It also seems like all roads led to this at my life. It really isn't so bad in comparison to the comforts of a civilian lifestyle. Everyone has good and bad days. My biggest regret is not signing up 4 years ago at age 17 instead of waiting until now, I feel like I made a big error not doing so. Alongside the present I feel like theres a seperate/multiple timelines of Reilly Grindles that made different, better choices than the Reilly typing this letter out to you now.

I have to ask a question though Maharaj, it seems that at many/sometimes I often have ill luck fall on me in terms of my actions and character affecting others. The most painful thing for me is always coming up negatively on the radar among my peers, being the one that sticks out because of a small error or forgetting something no matter how hard I might attempt to lay-low. Is this my sinful karma manifesting? However since It's been so bad I've been bowing my head to lord Narayana daily to ask for assistance in this and even making the attempt to go to Catholic church every Sunday just to give respect and thanks to the Lord. Bowing my head to the lord gives me a good sense of calm and hope and often has helped me. In some ways I feel this is a gentle reminder not to forget the lord, even if I signed off to submit to the army life.

I've been assigned to an aviation airbase outside of Seoul in South Korea as my first duty station for 12 months with the 2nd Infantry Division. I was pretty surprised when I found out I was heading to Korea, let alone an aviation unit. Pretty fortunate luck and a chance to travel again for a while, I'll do my best to make the best of it, especially education wise.  I definitely don't have plans for any troublemaking! I will miss being able to visit Boise and family for that year though. Hopefully I'll have a few days after graduation to stay in Boise and maybe even come by and say hello to everyone at the Temple before I go. The future seems uncertain, but I pray that all my actions somehow lead me closer down the road to being a better servant of the lord's servants by all the experience, education and learned lessons, (however painful). Prayer and medicine go hand-in-hand like water and sunshine. I also hope your health is well and again want to say thanks for all your mercy, tolerance and wisdom.

Your Servant,

(Pvt.) Reilly G.

HpS - ASA -- Go to strict vegetarian diet. Don't cause the death and suffering of these creatures.  Teach others to do the same so that Krsna does not suffer seeing these people suffer. https://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/7/37

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humblest obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. All glories to your lotus feet.

HpS - AGTSP.  We are making a little progress towards having lotus feet. Our efforts are small because our evil lusty desires for good food and good drink are strong.

I hope this letter meets you in above-average health. It’s been a few days of fasting with Janamastami, SP appearance and  ekadasi yesterday. It’s funny how much I think of grains during those days even though the mind feels so much lighter and cleaner and efficient.  Habits are hard to break.

ASA - Yes, deep and subtle. We purify our heart but then we must need the proper association to keep it engaged in its new found light atmosphere.

I had been in a dry spell a few weeks back where work was pretty much consuming my life. I was unable to keep up my rounds and basically lost all sense of self under the pressure and demands of management roles. It took a couple of punches from maya and the soothing salve of senior devotees to put in perspective  that Krishna is above all else.

That He is stronger than my stresses at work and I should not become a slave. I feel like I knew  that and it was in my “long-term” knowledge bank but what use is it when I can’t apply it at the appropriate times. Yesterday and the weekends, I took some time to chant early in the morning (like you always say…get up early and finish your rounds…)  and I journaled to Krishna. I wrote out all my thoughts and worries and concerns and it all seems to become miniscule in front of God.

I also had been thinking of you a lot (especially  during Prabhupad’s appearance day) but couldn’t bring myself to write as I had been neglecting your instructions.  I wanted to take a moment and just say I’m so sorry for doing so and am forever indebted for your mercy. Your instructions are so simple and I can feel the power when I follow them properly. I got distracted during this point of my life, and realize the beauty in living simply. Every day is a battlefield at work- for the most part because im one of the few females in this tech field. A lot of what I say gets overlooked on the daily and my subordinates don’t follow orders well. I think the biggest blow was to my ego and I am actively trying to be aware and not let that affect me.

Every morning I offer incense, flowers, candles, ghee lamps to the deities and you. Weekends I prepare something nice. Today, they had raspberry scones, banana bread, zuchinni noodles with basil, and cheesecake muffins (my sister likes to bake for them). I start off my day with them and beg for blessings. Im sure Krishna is teaching me to get outside my comfort zone and preparing me for something much bigger. I hope to keep this tiny flame of devotion alive and with your grace, keep it sheltered from being extinguished by external forces (work, health, family, etc.)

Also, if you have any plans of visiting the NorthEast area (DC, Richmond, etc.) please let me be of service. I eagerly await your darshan. 

I beg for your forgiveness and simultaneously, for your shelter and strength.  Please keep me engaged and sheltered at your feet.

Thank you for you causeless mercy.                                       

Your insignificant and struggling servant,

Sugopi dd

HpS - Hare Krsna. Very strange, we just finished talking with you in the FEP on line.
When we have a FMP, then our Daily Sankirtan becomes more fun. We understand that our only business is distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. Quantity is nice but so also is quality. Distribute books to people that you know well, even after just three minutes of contact.

We look for more letters from you.  How is your father's spiritual life, purification?    You should know, or now calculate how many rounds you failed to chant and then make them up later.

Dear Maharaja,

PAMHO, AGTSP.

Yes harinam is Friday evenings. We can attend Harinam instead of the Radhe Chai Bar. I have spoken with the owner and he says "As you please". I think harinam is better idea for a few reasons.

1. Radhe Chai Bar normally has yoga class on Friday evening,

2. It's not a temple connection so hard to find people to promote the event and

3. KKS will do program there on Sunday evening so all efforst will be assined to KKS program there.

Harinam Melbourne is a must see. Maybe KKS will join the harinam also. Epic.

Can I please have you meal requirments and times?

ASA - Prasadam!    We offer Lord Nrsmhadeva Fruit and milk in the morning, maybe nutz, and then Peas-porridge ie. oatmeal, splitpeas or pnuts, few almonds, carrots, salt and pepper for lunch, and hot milk and maybe banana or potatoe or carrot after everything (4.30PM?   8.30PM??).

For sure flags,   f l a g s in the Hari-nama, no?

Ys

Dhruvananda Das

Hare Krishna Gurudev! 

 Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad!

I hope this message finds you well. 

Through the sheer will of Krishna's grace-- I have [wild] plans to go to Braj during Kartik for the first time (Krishna willing!)

Of course, nothing good comes easy. The place I was going to stay fell through. I was inquiring whether you'd know of any contacts (maybe any of my godsisters) that would have the option of renting out/sharing a room for 2 weeks.  Any news or info would be more than helpful!

Thank you for your mercy!
 

Your fallen servant,

Sugopi dd 

HpS - Copy of this letter to Tungavidya Devi Dasi. See stays with her daughter and son-in-law in a little hacienda that they made in Radha-kunda. She is Mejicana.  Very nice, smart person. We had mobile numbers from January for here as +91 817197110, +91 9897657891.

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva

AGTSP PAMHO

I hope U are fine. Thank U for always enlighten us !!!

We went to Chosik for Radhastami. We had in our heart your instruction." Make Radhastami useful"

I arrived and on pujari's door there were listed all the devotees who were supposed to make all the services.. My name was not there, but anyway I entered with the intention of at least wash the parafernalia. As soon as I entered devotees engaged me in service.. artik at 4:30pm, sandhya artik, abhishek, we dressed the deities on their pijamas... and of course we washed the dishes..

Palika arrived.. yugala all our friends ... I stayed in chosik until the other day in Kanupandit's house along with yugala.

One devotee donated a new vehicle for Productos Naturales Govinda

It was a great festival

Hope U enjoy the pictures

Thank U very much

See U in FMP

Your eternal servant

Candramukhi dd

HpS-ASA  --  AgtSP..  Paoho..  How many people was Radharani able to reach because all of Her friends put Her in the spotlight?   She is in great distress in separation from Krsna. She wants to see that thousands of people are visiting Krsna's temple. She wants to enthuse the Bhakti in their hearts. A little help on Radhastami and She can reach more and more.
Thank you.

Vandiye Sri Pada-padma Vrsabahnu nandini.

Hare Krsna!

AGTSP Paoho.
We suffer so much from being surrounded by materially attached devotees.
Ha!    Ha!   Ha!     We are some!
We just have to look in the mirror and see maybe the biggest hypocrit in ISKCON.
How to deal with each other?
Keep good association with Srila Prabhupada and follow the process.

Today we had Full Morning Program. The process and association was great. Mitravinda Devi Dasi has depth in her Kirtan.
Reading Science of Self Realization with them is really purifying.

We got our rounds done early than ever before.
We gave class to Hawaii Sanga with meant reading, reading, reading Srila Prabhuapada's books.

We offered too much Pnut-butter and Jam to Lord Nrsmhadeva and ate it all and so we had to sleep a little more than necessary, but this world is TOUGH. Fighting the Witch is tough, but we are making progress.

O.K. Time to go to NGD's house for our walk and talk.

Grrrrrrr!      Hare Krsna!
FEP.