Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It's only thanks to the mercy of Lord Caitanya that I met you this month in Nueva Vraja Mandala and after one week I asked you for shelter.

In answer to your request, here I'll summarize my spiritual biography.

HpS - ASA -- It was also very nice to meet you. Excuse us for being a little slow, two weeks, to answer this letter. We have been in little tumolt after trip to Spain.

In 2006, I started practicing Hatha Yoga and meditation. In 2009 I met in Granada (Spain) Swami Purohit from Delhi (http://www.swamipurohit.com/), and I started a trainning with him, consisting in a course of one day and a half every month, that year I become vegetarian. The porpouse of his training is to purify you consciousness and connect you with your soul, to arrive to enlightment. Each month he gave us a sadhana that we should do every day, consisting in meditation, japa (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya), and differents raja yoga and kriya yoga exercices, to open each chakra, and to purify our physical and subtle body, it took about 2 hours per day, what I did every single day without interruption.

In 2013, I did my first trip to India, to Arunachala (Thiruvannamalay) for sadhana in an ashram (Ramana Maharishi) with Swami Purohit, in which I had my first spiritual experience. I started feeling the energy in the right part of the chest moving around and from the base of the spine to the crown, and I saw light within, I experienced deep joy, peace, and love. When I told it to Swami Purohit asking him what did it means, he explained me that it was the begining of enlightment, what is called the spiritual heart (paramatma). Of course this is nothing, once you have experienced the ocean of Love and Mercy of Lord Caitanya. I only tell you this to let you know that I am so fallen that only after 5 years of practicing austerities, thanks to the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya, the path to Krishna Consciousness was opened for me.

In july 2014 I completed de Advanced yoga and meditation course, level II. When I did the second trip to India, in 2014, I went first to Anandamayi maa ashram (the saintly woman of Bengala, daugther of vaisnavas), and the chief of the International center for foreiners, a devotee of Lord Krishna, recommended me and my spiritual brother and sister to go to Vrindaban and he gave us blessings to go there. And we did. I was a strong experience that I have when I arrived to Radha Ramana and Radha Damodara temple.

In 2015, thanks to a devotee, I went to the “kindness festival” for 2 weeks, organized by Audaria Dhama das (Oleg Torsunov), and there I met wonderful devotees and a sannyasi (Valmiki das) that inspired me to start chanting Maha Mantra read Bhagavad Gita, 3 times without comments and later with Srila Prabhupada comments, what I did. A devotee gifted me with maha prasadam of Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Maharaja, and that nigth I had a mystical experience during my night meditation after going to bed.

In 2016, one year later of meeting in Moscow a devotee (Lalana is her nick name) of ISKCON before the festival, she told me I should write a book for women, so I wrote a book called “Conocimiento Vedico para mujeres y no solo para mujeres”, self editing, 90 copies sold. It was my first service.

In January 2017, I met Ekadrsti and Yasoda in Alicante, who made me engage more in Krishna Consciousness. Then last august I went to Vrindaban again, and at that time I started changing 16 rounds every day, without interruption. I did 4 times parikrama arround Vrindavan, one arround Govardhan, Radha and Syama kunda, and visited Gokul, Ramanreti, Varsana, Raval, Mathura, and other sacred places touched by the lotus feet of the Lord.

The first day doing parikrama around Vrindaban, I had a very strong spiritual experience in Caitanya Baitaka, the resting place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when Maharaja Parijatak put on my neck the garland that was in the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhú (Maha Maha Prasad), inmediatly I stared to cry like a baby, and while he was telling me the story of Gaurary Mukta, I couldn’t stop crying, I felt so much pure love coming from him that I, without thinking, fell at his feet, but he said, no no, it’s not me, is the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Few days later, I asked him for advice to Maharaja Parijatak, what to do in order to prepare myself for future inication. He answered that first I should purify my existence, and in order to do it, I should sing 32 rounds every day during 40 days, starting 12 october (or 16th) and also read every day Bhagavad Gita, and I did it, but I failed 3 days. I have also read Mahabharata, Ramayana, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Drama of Lord Jagannatha, Nectar of Insctruction, Fisrt Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and part of the Second.

Later I did Introduction to Bhakti Yoga with Nityananda prabhú, and this 2 weeks before I met You, I did the course for disciples with Yadunandana Swami, who suggested me to come back in april in order to meet you. From the first day I meet you, I started to think about asking you for taking shalter, and after talk with Yadunandana Swami I did. Now I pray to the Lord to let me see you as soon as possible, to be able to serve you.

Although I am a fallen soul, you accepted me only because you are full of mercy.I commit myself to keep on following the four principles with determination and enthusiasm.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Bhaktin Maria

Note: Please excuse me if I made any mistake telling you some things that are not relevant. And sorry for a so long letter.

HpS - ASA == Wow!   After reading this I feel that maybe I should ask you for shelter. Of course, we are most likely doing these things for several life times. One does not become a fixed Yogini like this at just the drop of a hat, but in any case, ISKCON, Gaudiya Vaisnavism, is a wonderful tradition. We might really look at it as the pinnacle of yoga and religious experience. Of course, that means that it is greedy to take any benefit that is offered by and serve any other yoga tradition.

Welcome to this Blog. It is a great community.

How can we serve you?    Of course, you already have so many counselors and friends in ISKCON, especially Yadu Swami, but if we can serve formally as Diksa Guru, we would try to do that.

Have you read our description of our understanding of Diksa guru at http://www.jayarama.us/peru/archivos/guru-tattva-es.txt?

Any questions or comments about this?

Please write every now and then with your yoga news and the news of the other yogis in Spain etc!

Thank you . . . 

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Esteemed Prof. Juan Dejo, Swami Yadunandana
By this letter let us introduce you too each other and introduce the idea for an excellent project.

Prof. Dejo, Yadu Swami has been a very good friend of ours, and the whole world, for many years. He is Spanish and became involved with ISKCON and this tradition of Bengali, Caitanya, Vaisnavism many years ago. He has been very actively involved with education in ISKCON and a celibate monk for about 40-years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadunandana_Swami

He recently published an excellent academic study on monastic tradition in our Bengali heritage and now it has been suggested by some very senior academics that a super excellent book would be a study on the contrasts and comparisons between Bengali (Caitanya) Vaisnava and Jesuit Monastic Traditions.

The very strong consensus has been that this would be enthusiastically received by academics but maybe even more so by many common people.

To our understanding the natural human situation is for a substantial number of men not to marry. This has been evidenced in European Christian heritage and of course in Asia.

Happy life, and very useful life.

I could write about this a great deal but here would just like to offer this suggestion and see what you all think about this.

Yadu Swami, We had the honor of meeting Prof. Juan Dejo S.J., Director de la Escuela de Posgrado de la Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, through the 2016 conference on Psychology and the Sacred that we co-sposored in Peru. I understand that he is very respected educator and administrator in the Peruvian community.

How many young men would decide to pass their lives as Monastics after reading such a book of history and modern reality!

Hare Krishna Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Following is the summary of 1.3.6-1.3.8 as discussed on Sunday.

V6:

This example suggests that one must first acquire the qualifications of a brahmaṇa, not simply by birth but also by quality, and then one can undergo the process of Brahman realization.

V7:

The incarnation of the boar was to take the earth out of Pluto’s region of filthy matter. Picking up something from a filthy place is done by a boar, and the all-powerful Personality of Godhead displayed this wonder to the asuras, who had hidden the earth in such a filthy place.

V8:

The great Ṛṣi Narada, who is an empowered incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, propagates devotional service all over the universe. 

Your servant,

Sundari Radhika dd.

HpS - ASA --- Thank you.   Are there daily classes on these verses still???   Guess they stopped while ARD was traveling?   Tonight is the BhVai workshop.   He was also making the point that book knowledge is not sufficient to be a Brahman. That would be a Pandita as the way we heard. SB 3.29.31-32 are very nice in describing these relations.

This is our means of conquest. Please lead us!

Dear Maharaja,

PAMHO AGTSP

New dates will be fine.  We haven't set anything in stone here yet so we are flexable. Most important is your energy to preach. We will not promote an intense scedhule while you are here either. Calculated and effective. Weather will be nice so if you like you can rest and visit some quite beaches while you are here. 

Your servant

Crocodile Dundee Das

HpS - Hare Krsna!  Mate!   So nice to hear from you.   Then we just have to get the answer from Hawaii. Then start to get the tickets.  It is the right time to visit India also, because the program planned for Peru will be June-July, so we can see the Indian participants  enough time before to co-ordinate writing and performing art's projects.

Are you back on the ISKCON plantation?   Big snakes?     Cooking for Jazz festivals.

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!!!

Querido Gurudeva por favor acepte Usted mis humildes reverencias.

Hoy conversé con M.Yugala K, sobre las acciones que está realizando para el desarrollo educativo en ISKCON Perú. En especial se refirió al Bhakti Sastri. Gurudeva, usted dejó las funciones de Examinador Bhakti Sastri? y este cargo ha sido propuesto a P. Maturesh, quien ha aceptado. Mataji está tratando de integrar a los devotos que podrían promover el tema educativo y entonces me convoca a continuar en la Administración del Bhakti Sastri. 

Gurudeva, siempre he estado en la disposición de realizar este servicio de administración bajo Su autoridad y ahora me preguntan si tengo la disposición de hacerlo bajo la autoridad de P. Maturesh. Gurumaharaja, por favor, podría usted darme su opinión al respecto? sólo después de oir su opinión podré de palabra y acción responder a M. Yugala.

Siempre estoy conversando con usted en mi corazón, y hoy estoy feliz de hacerlo también.

Hare Krsna Rama.

Su discípula Rohini dd.

HpS - TlgaSP!    pfanrh.   Hace mucho tiempo no oir de Vd!     Yes, I am no longer the Examiner for the Bh. Sastri diploma en Peru. I sent a letter to the Board of Examiners, Bhakta Rupa Das with a copy to everyone.

As I understand, Maturesa Das has agreed to be the Official in Peru or Bolivia, but this has not been submitted to the Board of Examiners.  Bhakta-rupa Das wrote to me that they only had you listed as an official in Peru and the Program Administrator.

So, as far as I know, there is no one in Peru now authorized to submit requests for Diplomas from the Baord of Examiners, but the local authorities can fix someone who will be integrated with their perspectives. In any case we love to hear of peoples realizations from the Sastras here in this Blog.

Thank you.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!! All glories to Guru Maharaj HPS,

Dandavat Pranam Guru Maharaj,

Kindly accept my humble obeisances at your sweet lotus feet [ASA - lettuce feet].

I had been wondering the past few days whether my letter reached Guru Maharaj or not.....a little anxious ...but all the while leaving everything to Krishna. Oh yes!! Yesterday I did pray to Hanumanji on his birthday...please!! please!! would You please let me hear from Guru Maharaj!! Today, during my break time at the hospital, as I was going through the 5th volume of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, I received this beautiful reply...and I am feeling so happy and abundantly blessed!Thank you so much. Guru Maharaj ki jai!!

Last Sunday, we started our Kirtan from Govindaji Mandir and had to pass through a number of meat shops mostly run by Muslims. I am sorry for specifying the community . To my surprise, all of them accepted the little prasadam offered to them. An elderly Muslim gentleman even gave his blessings....it was simply amazing!! On some earlier occasions, I have found them refusing  Krishna prasadam and we had to patiently explain to them .....feel very hurt when some of them still refused after all our efforts. Same with some of our Christian followers. Kindly give us Your blessings Guru maharaj.

Banamali Prabhu leads the group most of the time. He has prepared pamplets for distribution . All of us are too busy and too absorbed in the Kirtan that we forget to take snaps. This Sunday I will try my best to take some snaps and upload them ASAP.

Oh....one more thing , Guru Maharaj....which books will be best for distribution during Nagarkirtan? Usually...I carry some spiritual items...like incense sticks, Stickers, Chandan, lockets.....besides, of course, the Prasadam.

Thank you so much Guru Maharaj,

I remain,

Your humble servant...forever seeking guidance and protection,

Sarada Gaurangi Devi Dasi.

HpS - Hare Krsna!!!   Thank you for your wonderful news from the wonderful land of Manipur!!!!   I don't know what books are available.  Of course, some small books that people might consider looking at quickly and then taking. "Krsna, the reservoir of pleasure", in English is very nice. Prabhupada said that we can even photocopy certain purports that we like and distribute them. Ask people to take them, help with a small donation for our printer if they can and then if they like them just contact you and you can give them more for their friends and contacts.

Are you working??  Do you have any contact with Sriman Yamjnesvara Das in Thoubal?   How is Brahmacari, Sadhu Das??