Letters to the editor

asa[e] - guru-tattva, hpswami . vaidhi bhakti, mind control

Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

We were hoping that we would get answer of reports.

HpS - 😟 Yes! We have been struggling with our own laziness and limited ability, and seem to be making some progress to toward that goal. That is why we deny having lotus feet. We hope to be one of many avenues to our Guru, ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada.

We pray that you are getting his association through his books, disciples, the Lord in the Heart, and by using us, even though a limited tool.

Even though we know that you are on the journey towards spontaneous bhakti, though maybe not manifest. Its better to assume as you wrote in Guru-Tattva.txt

We will just summarize, we are sticking to four rules strictly, and some manage to chant.

we also did not want to write because their nothing is inspiring to reads, same problem, same issue, even more aggravating.

HpS - "Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity (the dadāti principle)." https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/4/#bb5907

You can always post the maha-mantra. you can even use different colors etc.

Monkey and Piggy will read it to our ASA Deitys!

our mind rambling is of no help. however on 25 March 2024, the way you checked our chanting,

ASA - Was what? ❓ Impertinent, useful, confussing? Did your mind wander from the rest of the sentence?

..our four rules are intact, Japa has dwindled over 4 months especially in quality, we are maintaing four rules by subtle enjoymets [enjoyments], of history, interviews etc.

ASA - 🐵 send us some of the nice links. We can, must, see KRSNA in our passions. Eg. Krsna says that He is the ability in man, among men he is the monarch. so reading Ramayana is perfect but reading about great historical figures has its utility. Merit. for us fallen 🐶.

we some how implement the idea that communicating with you very essential.

we our getting bogged down, on thought of our VAD situation, basic prasad, sudden crying, adrenaline rush etc.

ASA - Tell us about it! We are still at about C+ in honoring Prasadam. Yet, this is Kaliyuga, so maybe all we can hope for is B+.

Some days we get A scores.

we now prominsing to chant one breath one mantra, for at least 24 minutes. and then chant 16 rounds somehow.

HpS/ASA - I think that may cause hyper-ventilation. Try as many Mantras as you can on one breath. Maybe even a few after your lungs are empty.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/28/9/#bb26345

we dont know how to maintain even out [our] body....... somehow we think that your Holiness has seen something that he has given inti[ti]ation.

HpS - You passed the test. 🙂 For 1st initiation.

on the other hand we have got introduced to Saint whom we have been hearing , who focuses on Nama-Japa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CNldKCGK80&t=29s

We are finding him more helpful than IKSCON [ISKCON?] execpt [except] you.

HpS/ASA - He speaks in a "funny" language!!! Does he say the Name of Krsna?

Yeah, IKSCON, is kind of a perverted form of ISKCON. Then there are not perverted, but just neophyte forms of ISKCON eg. ISKCON Life Membership Programs.

They can be nice. They can be neophyte pure devotees, but they are not required to follow the standard of Srila Prabhupada's initiated disciples.

I don't know if I will disappoint you.

HpS - I am constantly disappointing our Guru, Srila Prabhupada, but he does praise us for some things we do.

What percentage of people in our social/psychological group of Indians follow the four principles?

Chant any Japa, under the authority of Saint like Srila Prabhupada?

We recommend readers to Hear : Self Love worskhops my H. G. Mahatama Prabhu other workshop https://mahatmadas.com/workshops-courses-devotees/

we are determined not to disappoint you.

trying to [be] Hayagriva Avatar Das

HpS - We have been friends for many years. Hope we continue forever. Going to your next letter.

Thank you!!!!

🌴 :teee

🌴.. 🌴

HpS/ASA - Esteemed PRP - Krsna Krsna . . . Hare Hare.

Did you see our message to the Houston Cine Development Group?

I talked with Abhaya about a week ago and he said that Saranga was busy with 16,108 festival projets but he would talk with him.

Of course, we want to develop this work either in Texas or Tennessee etc. and hope that we can get your mercy in the work.

We have a very active worker coming to settle here 3rd of April. Sri Hari Das, retiring as Dean of Engineering at big Indian University.

Even before that we can start looking at certificates in motion picture design at the local university.

Thank you.

[3/19/2024] PRP - Hare Krsna, Maestro!

Yes, I read your message. Thank you for giving me this update. I feel happy that my proposal will be developed either way, and we can continue to work on the aspects that will make this project more productive to you.

Haribol!

[3/26/2024] Pablo Rivasplata: Hare Krsna Maestro

My mind is already there. Today, I started to check for film schools in Tennessee universities. Will let you know my findings:

https://www.memphis.edu/communication/undergraduate/ug_fvp.php

In the paper, this is the one that called my attention because it blends communications with filmmaking.

Then I found these three other options to consider:

1. https://as.vanderbilt.edu/cinema-media-arts/
2. https://www.belmont.edu/academics/majors-programs/motion-pictures/
3. https://www.nfi.edu

HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna! Thank you. I am editing and posting these WhatsApp chats onto our ASA - Blog page.

If you can post in this Blog, it will speed up any work institutional work that we can do with Anjana Suta Academy (ASA).

Of course, ASA is very esoteric: HpS, Monkey, Piggy et al, but let us start with what we have.

Specifically, geographically, ASA is based in Nashville Metroplex. More specifically, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Within bicycle distance is MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University).

Please investigate their curriculum, prestige and personel???

Thank you for any mercy you can give us.

All glories to Sri Sri Guru And Gauranga!

PAMHO AGTSP!

Hare Krishna Maharaj:

How r u? I’ve been trying to recover my lost Twitter account in order to follow you there, but I wasn’t lucky so I will create a new one and check regularly your posts.

hps/asa 🐵

Although I’m watching your classes regularly. Usually I’m busy when you give live classes, so I search upon YouTube and check some old ones.

First of all I would like to thank you, it’s been 2 days since I don’t smoke. I’m still eating during night time so I’ll try to fix that in a near future, trying to make gradual changes.

My sadhana, luckily, in some ways is better than before, I’m performing a morning program with a short Kirtan, offering a fruit, water, flower petals and an incense to my deities, and chanting 10 rounds.

HpS/ASA - 👍

Also I’m taking more care of the house cleaning and order, and walking almost every day to complete the rounds during the late afternoon.

I’m about to restart English classes, so I’m quite happy about that and I keep attending to an English conversation club where I have some friends and acquaintances.

I’d been praying to Krishna for help to quit smoking, and now that I’ve been better I feel so grateful. Some lyrics of Christian songs came to my mind, in which the author said that He is faithful.

HpS - Prabhupada said the intoxication, like tobacco, marjuana, goes away as we learn to honor Prasadam properly.

Make progress.

I’ve been going through some other difficulties with the mother of my child, and we’re dealing the issue with lawyers. I don’t think might be useful to tell you the details, but summarizing she’s neglecting my daughter’s health and wellbeing, so I please request if you just could pray for a happy ending, that would be of so much help for me.

HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna. Krsna Krsna. Hare Hare. /// Hare Rama. Hare Rama. Rama Rama. Hare Hare.

Thank you infinitely once again Maharaj!

HK! Dandavats!

Federico

HpS - Thank you!!!

Hare Krsna, Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, pamho.

I hope this meets you well.

HpS/ASA - Same to you, agtSP!!! Especially spiritually well!

There have been episodes in my life that astrology helped me understand.

HpS - Seems like same for me.

And it also serves to be prepared. I have been studying that during March there are important movements in the sky and that is why I wanted to share it on the Blog

From the 16th to the 30th there are accumulation of planets between Aquarius Pisces and Aries.

It means that there are lots of air, water and fire energy but lack of earth. So that there is an energy imbalance.

Mercury, the planet of communication, is in a bad position and this increases as we approach the date of the first eclipse of the year.

On March 25th there is going to be a partial lunar eclipse in Virgo at 11 degrees

Let's recall that Eclipses occur when the sun and moon align with rahu and ketu

The best shelter as always is the holy names, but if we can diminish our material activities on the day of the eclipse that will be superb.

HpS - Thank you! Any astrologers whom you take as teachers?

As devotees it seems that there is nothing inauspicious. We just have to learn how to use the lack of earth.

Dress according to our age.

Yet, if we cannot do this yet, we should avoid the demonic and grasp the daivic as you suggest!

Thank you.

CMDD's report: I work from Monday to Sunday but the good thing is that there are just 2 days that I have to commute to work the rest of the days I have virtual classes. Nevertheless, sometimes it is a little bit demanding

HpS - Very demanding!

I try to join the FMS most of the days, 16R and 4P are ok.

I go to the church every Sunday is right in front of my house. My sister joins me. I haven't gone to any temple recently. That is something that I miss a lot

Thanks Gurudeva hope to visit you soon

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

HpS - Is your sister going to join us in Nabadvipa in her next birth??

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,

  Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

HpS - Lettuce feet.

  All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

HpS - !!!

  All glories to Guru parampara.

  Gurudev, I was thinking what will happen once you left [leave] this material world.

  And then how we have to continue spiritual journey further and meet your 

  expectations.

  So thought to seek couple of points with you:

  1. What we have to follow once you left this world. Means, do we need to follow

    any karma kand activities.

HpS - Maybe some rituals. Eg. Nitai-gaurasundara Das is the offical Executor of Our Last Will and Testament. There we have asked to have our body cremated and the ashes put in the Yamuna or Ganges.

There seem to be nice devotees in ISKCON to do these simply.

In general it seems nice to have photo of departed devotee in front of us and chant Hare Krsna. Maybe photo at Sunday Feast and offer Maha-prasadam.

  2. Do we need to follow any thing specific as per Srila Prabhupada's guidelines.

HpS - Same as above.

  Please guide.  

Your dependent,

Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - In general, we can always be connected by our participation in Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan.

We hope we can develop those relations more and more. This Blog is good tool for that, no?

Thank you!!!

asa[e] ISKCON, three levels.

Dear Guru Maharaja, Hare Krsna!

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I watched more than a few of your talks in Houston. Not all, as there were many of them, and were not listed by name. So between all the other lectures by different devotees, I tried to find yours and listen. Thank you and all the devotees who made the lectures available online.

If you allow, I would like to comment and ask about what you wrote here:

https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/14793/

Somebody said: “Thank you so much for mentioning the three levels of Iskcon, I'm interested to know about that!😃

You answered: HpS/ASA - Look for "Gopis Attracted by the Sound of the Flute" chapter title in the KRSNA book. Tell us what you find there.

——————

I read the chapter.

My observations follow…

Different gopis talk about Krsna and Balarama and Their connection to different personalities (cows, peacocks, birds(sages), clouds, Giriraja, deer, Yamuna, etc.). Each gopi shares something about Krsna. 

There are aborigine women in Vraja. It looks (from my memory of hearing elsewhere) like they are not from Krsna’s village. Interesting is that one meaning of aborigine is original inhabitants. 

Gopis talk about Krsna and what they remember, i.e. they had a direct experience of Krsna as seeing Him. In other words, they did not need to hear and then talk about what they heard but experienced Him face to face. 

Whoever heard the sound of Krsna’s flute was captivated. The flute’s sound extended to all corners of the universe. Does it mean that around 5000 years ago, everybody present in the world heard the flute? If yes, why in another sentence is said that sages took the form of birds in Vrindavana to be able to hear the flute?

HpS - What, agtSP, comes to our mind is that we are always existing in Bhur Bhuvah and Svar. It is like being in the movie theater. We have our immediate sensual environment, but it is limited to what we are seeing and hearing on the screen. We are not conscious of who is sitting next to us.

So, the sound of Krsna's flute is really available to everyone at all three levels, but some are absorbed in the Bhumandala so they need to focus, take birth, in hearing it there.

Calve’s mouth got stuck to the cow's nipples and could not suck milk and tears were coming from their eyes. They knew how to embrace Krsna heart to heart!

Please, could you share the three levels of ISKCON and how they connect to this beautiful and magical chapter?

HpS/ASA - I think I answered this in another letter, but cannot find it. So, this time I am tagging it Category B.

1st level is that the Gopis are good citizens of Nanda Maharaja's village. They milk cows, bargain over the price of their milk products, pay their taxes, voice their opinions about the management etc.

Of course, this is all done with service attitude.

So, we should all have the same relationship to ISKCON as an institution and of course at this level management structure, GBC, is prominent.

We should do our jobs and expect the GBC to do theirs.

2nd level of ISKCON is that it is a group of friends. Gopis heard the sound of Krsna's flute, and externally continued with their institutional, household activities, but began to start having confidential words about the situation, sound of the flute... with their friends.

So, we may have a very close friend who is GBC, Sannyasi, PhD etc but we are Temple cleaners. We act with each other in our Institutional perspective but have confidential relationship.

3rd Level is that each one remembered her direct experience of her relationship with KRSNA. Eg. "Oh, Krsna, composed that song to make me laugh when we were alone last night as arranged by Srimati Radha making garlands for next Surya puja."

When she remembers that she cannot even be completely coherent in your friendly relations, level two.

So, we all have to have a direct, personal relationship with Srila Prabhupada. It may be through so many media, such as his books, other devotees, within our heart, but it is there. It informs us about how to execute levels one and two.

I remember that I had read KRSNA book for one year. Then came to Temple and maybe visited for another year, and then moved in.

At one point I was walking to my outside work up a hill trying to sort out all the chaos of living in the Temple etc.

Then I had this realization that it did not matter if everyone else was crazy, I was going to serve Srila Prabhupada, and I knew enough about what he exactly wanted me to do.

He wanted me to chant 16-good rounds.

He wanted me to make my best contribution to his Sankirtan.

He wanted me to support his institution, make compensations for shortcomings of my superiors etc.

I felt that Prabhupada was aware of my determination and accepted it.

Stopping to meditate on Srila Prabhupada's murti, picture, stimulates this perspective. It also makes me humble in appreciating the superior connection that other disciples have with my Guru and how he is happy when I take advantage of that to approach him.

O.K.?

Thank you very much!

Your servant Namacarya Das