Letters to the editor

Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to his beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.

I am ashamed to write you dear Gurudeva. wanted to tell him that I could not leave  Nama aparadha, only pray for your mercy, becaouse if you dont give me your merci ¿as I can sing in Nama bahasa?, but the time just out of my hands and I can not sing purely.  I'm trying be nista, but my anharta nivriti this confused me, now i cant see the goal of my spiritual live, only you are my salvation,

Please no other hope in my life I beg you tell me ¿what is the medicine for this material disease that is choking me? I'm feeling alone and do not want more refuge, only I trust you, I can not find true peace in the material world but I cant get out my consciousness there.

I'm going crazy Gurudeva, I can not be devote and do not want to chew bones,¿ how I can accept all his blessings in my life?, I am be unable to spread this Krsna consciousness,and I feel great anxiety to think that I not have any qualifications to serve in his mission to satisfy his spiritual master alone I feel like a burden to you, I could not follow his Instruction to distribute 500 big books to a famous library, how do I do?. 

but one thing I am sure is that you are the reazon why I'm still alive.

your donky V. Kumara Dasa

HpS - Hare Krsna.   Thank you for your letter. Be a good devotee and chant Hare Krsna. That is about all we can say. There is no specific medicine for general symptoms. Are you chanting 16-rounds a day?

­­­10.14.16

Dear Maharaja Hanumat Presaka Swami,

please accept my humble obeisance’s, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

As requested a synopsis of my current observations of reported opinions on ISKCON’s managing affairs. Am submitting as is for Kartik is upon us and feel this needs to be delivered prior. Apologies for late response, Seva has been overwhelming, as usual, which is could be another write in its self.

  
Have recently discovered some controversial articles dealing with Srila Prabhupada’s “Body”,
Our ISKCON institution seems to occasionally have a bit of sand mixed in the sweet rice,  even while the milk is boiling.

The first article I caught was his grace Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s (BVKS) Vyasa puja offering. His reflecting of observations and negative recognition in his efforts to please Srila Prabhupada seemed saddened. Although I’ve only glimpsed his book he referred to, I can understand his perspective as a Sannyasi and how that might be taken by others. “What is the difficulty?” as his grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami coined… guess the difficulty is individual interpretations.

As far as I can tell BVKS is most sincere in his work and was a bit hurt by the offended reactions to his work. When discretion and denial are at a fine line it must take great wisdom to know the difference, not for the weak. Maharaja is not necessarily outspoken but more direct in sharing Srila Prabhupada’s practicalities. He also reveals some apprehensive and duplicity of GBC management thus insuring controversy and distancing in his Vyasa-puja offering. It’s confirmed with BVKS’ current efforts Kali-yuga is working and is dangerous as ever, he remains faithful and secure, surrendering again to his Spiritual Master. Now how the rest of the devotee’s feel is another story. Let’s hope Maharaja’s example will pervade beyond words and bring better service out of this.
http://bvks.com/reader/articles/vyasa_puja_offering_to_srila_prabhupada_2016/

HpS - ASA --- I never got the chance to look at Majaraja's book. I have read some of this biographys and come in contact with him personally during several events.  We saw a lot of popular reactions to his book being banned from ISKCON gift stores and ISKCON official events. We don't know the details.

From our limited point of view, Maharaja can be a little rough in his presentation at times, but his courage in presenting truth makes that a very, very tolerable feature.

In the end he changed the cover of his book and GBC raised its ban, no?

Prthu Maharaja and Indra in the Sixth Canto!

Thank you.

More!!!
The second article is dated, 2006, is about the Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI) by Jayo Das Prabhu. It deals in relations to financial appropriations and the diverse leadership with standings of dispute on BI’s preaching management leaning on scientific academic recognition and less effort on specific promulgating.

Some conflicts in financing with BBT and Temples also have eroded with this situation, especially with Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI). Seems something so important to Srila Prabhupada and should be a bit more high-profile and monitored.
 

Original quotes from Srila Prabhupada in the late 70’s was $10K a month was allocated to BI (printed in “Ocean of Mercy” by HH M. Bhakti Caru Swami), from what I’ve gleaned that is no longer the case. Promoting  valid Vedic philosophy to significant people seems what his devine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta had in mind, why is deviancy so easily allowed? Obviously the first problem is in management not “managing and/or monitoring”. Is this out of political indifference, uncomfortable bedfellows or just turning a blind eye? Hard to tell sometimes and seems to have been swept under the rug time being. The BI department doesn’t get the same headlines as others, yet it is a most beneficial project for ultimate recognized promulgation. Sure there will be more to come if the existing devotee scientists keep vigilant.

https://www.scribd.com/document/57075074/HG-Jayo-Das-on-BI-and-GBC
 

The third clincher is in video format form Prabhu Krishna Kirti (PKK) and is quite informative on aspects of current mentalities in management versus past precedence’s. Also interesting is PKK’s re-cap on BVKS’ Mothers & Masters along with reminders of past foundational purposes. Some firm stances on existing Vaisnava guidelines.

PKK also has a various charts and documentations of evolved thought and structured mentalities, the process of “modern social evolution” thus far, along with the GBC’s progressions too. PKK has done his homework and is very thorough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sTZnzy-XTY

The standards set by Srila Prabhupada are impeccable for time, place & circumstance. Such adjustments are not for a common man, yet as individuals we each have to make choices too. Not to get lost on simple queries of daily activities that is mundane maintenance, to grasp the grand picture of sadhana and self-realization, even when there are agitations of the bodily and mental platform. As Vaisesika Prabhu mentioned in his book “Family Business” in the chapter “Thoughtfulness Principle” that there are “unchangeable principles” and “adjustable details”.

Seems this is where the Guru is further needed, to reveal what priorities are needed to gain strength in our daily practices so as not to get overwhelmed by the external proclivities, false and true. Best trick is having a regulated life-style that complements our abilities in bhakti-yoga, if this isn’t done the pursuant of sadhana is very difficult even with proper instructions. So, it seems the first land-mark for strong faith will be a regulated schedule of devotional practice

Being a 3^rd party late comer to this fine ISKCON movement there’s been a lot of water under the bridge. Poison conspiracies, Ritviks’, court cases with cloned ISKCON devotees… the list goes on. Since as a fence-sitting “servant-in-training” my opinion is limited and not that important, regardless when the foundation is weak we must repair it, of course getting authorization to repair is another story. Be nice to do something significant for our 50th year here. Another difficulty in this age of Kali is that truth and honesty are suffering so much it makes it difficult to grasp what the truth is; one can spend more time researching than actually solving a problem.

In full, we should always avoid false premise on un-confirmed opinions, we should also minimize harsh and overtly critical commentaries while keeping honest rapport in expressing our observations verbal or written. Keeping open dialogue may bring further clarity in the depths of sadhana bhakti, ultimately we still must walk the walk to get results.

Thank you for your valuable time Maharaja!

Your servant in training,

ccd

Hare Krsna!

It is 9.28PM.  NGD is across the room doing his computer work. Manjari, youngest daughter, has retired for the night. M. Matsya DD, wife, left for India four days ago, Dr. and Mrs. Desai, one day ago.

So much work today organizing the tour of Chicago etc. It is going ahead. Even if you do man-to-man on the street, short, one-time contact, you still develop your skill over time. So, we are developing our book distribution over time.

Took bicycle to the Good Will store to look for better brief case and better Yogi pants. Also for the exercise and to see if we could meet anybody. We got a new briefcase last week for $2.00.

Grhasthas meditate on their cars and houses, Sannyasis and B'caris on their shoes and luggage.

Listened to Bh. Prabhupada-vrata Swami give Hawaii class today, then we give tommorrow.

Our computer reached Gopinatha Das and he is starting to research the problem. This loaner is identical model, but has a free-ware version of the Office programs, so we have to struggle to make it work. Was 90-degrees today.

Main thing is this Damodara vrata of eating once a day. It has been one-million times good for our life and health and consciousness, but we get great impetous to do it because we would have to tell you all that we failed if didn't do it. Thank you?

Anybody else doing Damodara vratas?

We do authorised austerities. Then we learn from that.. Karma yoga to Jnana yoga.

Lots of NIOS, MOE, ASA work.
Letters up to 1-week, 1-day.

How much of your work is based up your belly?  How much comes from your heart?

hare krsna maharaj,
PAMHO, AGTSP,
thank you very much for picking up our call  two weeks back while we were in bus. we were able to hear you a little bit, but even that  was satiating to us ?

can you answer this question again, why does mind wants to follow rules and get agitated when it is not able to follow them ? why some times it does not want to follow rules ?

HpS - Hare Krsna!   I don't exactly understand.   It sounds like a very specific question, no?  Of course the basic answer is in NOI, Text One: The mind likes to be attached to certain plans, "avirodha priti", and when this is blocked, then "yukta virodha krodha", anger results. That is just the way the mind is, like the sky is blue and grass is green.

So: http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/2/6/34

Is some enlightement?  Some times it does not like to follow them: NOI 7 - It is in jauniced state, doesn't like sugar.

you also said.. just chant be happy ? how can be  happy by just chanting until unless he has purified himself or chanting offenselessly.

HpS - Prabhupada says that. Chant Hare Krsna and be happy, become happy. Jesus Christ said pray to God and become happy. Prabhupada explains that this is like telling someone who is suffering from bad disease, coughing up blood, go to the hospital, you will be cured.

It is true but you have to approach the Reception in the Hospital. Fill out the forms, talk with a doctor, have tests....   But the basic principle is go to the hospital. So in the begining our chanting makes us pious, "srnvatam sva katha Krsna, punya sravana...", material distress dimishes, things start to become auspicius...   prema, happy in being able to offer something really tangible to Krsna's efforts.

trying to hang on
harsh

HpS - http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/6/40.  You have been hanging on for so long that there can be no doubt about good results.  Everyone is different!   We hope to see some tangible results soon.

Can you contact Acharya ratna Das, Temple President in Kolkata and tell him we will be in India from 1 January t to 15th February and of course we want to work with him and the Kolkatta yatra.  We tried Texting, Calling and writing to him. We think now we will be in Kolkatta from 10th January to 17th. Does he have any suggestions about how we can help them??

Hare Krisna, dear Gurudeva. Please, accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I hope you're fine in all aspects. We are fine by Krisna's Mery in our new stage as parents.

I had a very dificult time by administrative issues and bad relationships with some devotees for that. Whe somebody fall down in offenses his spiritual life falls down with him. But step by step I'm going up, I'm stronger before and I'm giving value that it give it. I'm selecting better my friedships in Krisna's conciousness and I'm protecting to open my mind needlesly. You told my onetime ago I had to get association with devotees with similar nature, and I'm learning to do it, taking skelter in senior devotees as Yadunandana Swami.

We're in Madrid's Temple administration. The proyect is going on weel, growing with new devotees, new initiations. We don't stop. Very intensive but happy. We remoleled the ashram in July. It looks new.

Manu is 5 moths old, but he is very big, entusiastic.

Well. When do you come to Spain again? Do you need something to come? If you need something, please tell me if you think I can help you.

Thank you for all, for your gretting in my birthday last Oct 3th. Please forgive my offenses.

You humble and ethernal servant, Dandava Das.

HpS - Hare Krsna!!  It has been so long since we heard from you!   Yes, learning how to deal with politics in ISKCON is essential.  We have to deal with incredible politics if we want to participate in the different parties. Balarama leads one group of cowherd boys and they have competitions with Krsna's followers, but they only do it to increase the understanding of how to serve Krsna.

Prabhupada used to push Tama-krsna to fight with him on philosophical points. Then when he fought with Karmis it was simple.

We wanted to visit Spain on our trip to or from India: Start of Januar or middle of February, but the cost kept coming back as high, high, high.

We got our ticket round-trip to India from Houston for only $785. That is about $200 less than the cheapest that could be expected. No matter what happens we will set some priorityu and come at come time on a separate trip from USA.  Krsna will make it clear what he wants.

Sananda Devi Dasi is doing a lot of work on this Psychology and the Sacred Sankirtan.

Real nice baby! ..... !...