Letters to the editor

Querido Gurudeva por favor acepte mis reverencias, estamos reportandonos después de su visita a México, una vez mas muchas gracias por aceptar estar presente en la ceremonia de matrimonio nos sentimos muy afortunados y bendecidos....Amara Prabhu y yo estamos tratando de ponernos más serios respecto a la adoración de la deidad en casa y yo retome mi servicio en el pujari los sábados por la mañana en el templo, tratamos de que Lilavara escuché lo más posible el maha mantra.

HpS - ASA -- It is very nice to do service in the Temple. It gives nice contrast to see the standard in your house.

Hace ya una semana nos regalaron una Govardan Shila , y quiero pedirle permiso para adorarla, Amara Prabhu hablo con su maestro espiritual SS Guru Prasad Swami y el le autorizó adorarla, pero yo quiero saber que piensa Usted respecto a que yo lo haga de la misma manera, me siento sin ninguna cualif icación para hacerlo y no quiero hacer nada sin su autorización. 

Su aspirante a sirviente Saranagati Dasi

HpS - Adorar Govardhana Sila es muy serio. If the Sila is offended there can be great loss of money, debts, legal problems and death in the family. If you have clean character; nice rounds, strict principles, then it is very easy. It is like having a child in the family. You can't feed him when you want to. It is not a toy!    Ooof!  But is can also be very, very, very nice and natural if your character is good, if you are a lady and gentleman.

All Gloris to Sri Guruji Maharaja and Gouranga Mahaprabhu

Radha Krsna Ki Jay and Goura Bhakta Vrnda Ki Jay

Dandavat Pranam, Guruji Swami Maharaja!

HpS - ASA --  Sri Sri Sri Sri Manipuri Bhakta-vrnda, Ki Jai!!

Please accept my humble obeisances unto Shree Guruji's padmacharan that I had read Guruji's letter with asirbad and informed to all bhaktas and matagis. Now, I have to complete the reading of the book "Maya : The Divine energy of the Supreme" written by Bhakti Purusattam Swami. As Guruji already told me that Maya has two forms : Yoga -maya (Radharani) and Maha-maya (Druga). After reading this book I have some ideas of what is Material World and how we could cross this deep and vast material ocean. In every relegious books of ISKCON, it is clearly mentioned that Guru is the only means to relief from this material world. Under His guidance, we should surrender to Guruji and Krsna. According to our degree of surrendering and service to Krsna we can become a true or pure bhakta. It is the only means.

HpS - Lord Nityananda, Balarama, is the original Guru. all others are His representatives. Lord Jesus Christ did austerities for 40-days then the Devil came and personally tempted him into evil, bu he resisted, but he did not start his preaching. He traveled to where Saint John, the Baptist, (Diksa) was giving Diksa to many many people. When Jesus approached him for Diksa, John could see that he was Shakti-avesa avatar and told Jesus that he was not qualified to give him Diksa, that he, John, was not qualified to touch his shoes.
Jesus said, 'Yes, it is a fact, but so that everything is correct, it must be done.' So even Lord Jesus Christ accepted a Diksa guru.

I am answering Guruji's questions. My best time for chanting is after santhya prayer : after returning from office. In the morning after mangal arati at home, three rounds are compulsory. Guru bandana, Siksha Astakama, five sloka of Brahma Sanhita, All Slokas of NOI, the eight names of Gosvamis, eilght names of Mahantas, eight names of Sakhis, Manjaris, eight names of sevas, eight names of dress of a sanyasis, eight names of directions, eight names of Yoga.

I am going every Sunday at Thoubal Mandir not Imphal. Our team contributes one Sunday's prasadam of the bhaktas. Shortly we will start sankirtana before starting the normal programmes of the Ashram.

From time to time, please advice us to increase our spiritual knowledge.

Yours fallen servant

Yamunesvara Das.

Further, I want to know Gurudeva,  how we can be a medium adhikari (bhakta) from a kaniska adhikari?  

Before this book I had read Shree Shree Premacandrka of Nartotam Thakur Pranit translated in to Manipur by S. Gouramani Sharma. In this book the three characters of Shri Lokanath Goswami, Shri Nivas Acharya and  Shyamananda Prabhu. The bhakti marga darshan of prabhu Narotam Das. This book is realy a book of  bhakti seva of Krsna. It is very helpful to me.

HpS - Yes, seems like very nice book!!!   You become Madhyama adhikari by doing the same thing that you do as a Kanistha adhikari, but with more purified senses, mind, heart. NOI Text 7 > NOI Text 8.   At second initiation we are just becoming Madhyama adhikari. Do you have regular Deity worship at home?  What schedule?  Details??

HARE KRSNA, DEAR GURUDEVA,

PAOHO, AGTSP!, AGT YOU!

HpS-ASA - Some few, few, few glories to us. We eat to many organic popsicles.

AT THE MOMENT MY MIND FIGHTS TO GET STEADY AND USED TO THE NEW SITUATION, THIS JOB IT´S A BIT WEIRD.

AS I HAVE TO DO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY.

MY BOSS ASKED ME WHAT DO I LIKE TO DO, SO I SAID I PREFER ENTERTAINMENT AND RECEPTION, RATHER THAN WAITRESS, BUT THERE IS A BIG CHANCE I WILL HAVE TO SERVE MEAT AND ALCOHOL AT ONE POINT (THIS WORRIES ME A LOT). ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE WILL TRY TO AVOID THIS AS MUCH AS POSIBLE (THAT WAS NICE).

HpS-ASA -- !!!!!  Read http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/7/37  !!!!      What do you think!???

I WILL WRITTE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS PROYECT TOMORROW AS YOU ASKED ME TO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ATTENTION, I KNOW I AM SUPPOSED TO SERVE YOU, BUT I FEEL MANY TIMES IT HAPPENS THE OTHER WAY ROUND ( I WANT THIS TO CHANGE!)

YOUR DISCIPLE (ON PROCESS) SANANDA DD

HpS - We look to your other letter!  But cited text is heavy!!!!!

Dear Maharaja

PAMHO. AGTSP. All glories to your service.

Firstly I must apologise. I was having trouble with my Internet connection while attempting to post my last letter (first world problems) and posted several versions of the same letter. I was not getting any conformation so I was concerned that the letter would not arrive. The last attempt I just copy-pasted the body of a word document and forgot to add formalities. I am very sorry for the disturbance.

HpS - ASA - Hain't no disturbanz, Mate!

HpS - AGTSP paoho.  Thank you! Have you seen our clip on YouTube of the last big program?

Yes. I have also subscribed to the NIOS channel. You didn’t appear in the 10 minute video?

HpS - ASA -- Radhika says enough.

HpS- When should we come? September??

I think September would be great. September takes up a good part of the second semester but we must be aware that Sat 23^rd Sep – Tue 3^rd Oct is mid semester break so generally Universities are rather quiet at this time. Maybe we should aim for the first 3 weeks of September?

HpS - ASA -- Durga Puja is Sept 26th.
Rama-vijaya is 30th.
Bengal is on holiday until 30th, I think.
So, 29th August, Radhastami in Hawaii, 3rd September in Australia, Vamana-dvadasi and three more BIG holidays.    Hmmmm?????  Any comments from anyone????

HpS- Once you have some Participants, Organizers, who are a little interested we can talk to them personally and see what their interests are.

Yes. I’m currently gathering contact details of the organisers and will forward them shortly_.

_{HpS-ASA -- If possible just meet some people personally and introduce yourself, and then give them the link to the Peru conference and then if they want more we can have a conference call etc.}

HpS - We could do a Tour with the same theme the whole way. Academic program and cultural program, distribute. Also, Conference on Cultivation of the Human Spirit is also good, Light of the Bhagavata.

Distribution TLC. NOI.

This all sounds great. Excitement is developing here awaiting your visit. 

HpS- Krsna has two dogs, no?

Yes I heard this twice last week. I didn’t know that before. Bonney the Bulldog is a great devotee. She does Japa with me everyday.

Your Servant

Dhruvananda Das

HpS-ASA -- As far as we can understand we have to keep ourselves pure: rounds, regs, Sadhana; the Govinda sends innocent people for us to enlighten; and they have to be patient to listen to us >>=====>SANKIRTAN.
Go to Dog Shows and WIN!

RR
Remembrances of Das Raktaka
One time we were in Fazilka with RD, his home town. It was small. You could pass from one side to the other just by walking in 20-minutes. He took us to the Hanuman Temple. It is the biggest temple there. Maybe three stories to the flag. He told us that they were very, very poor when he was a child. Exiles from the civil war in Pakistan. He would go on Tuesday night as a little child with friends. That is the special day of worshiping Hanuman. Many people would come that night and the would beg Maha-prasad. In the morning he would have a big bag of it and his Mother and Brothers and Sisters would try to con him into sharing it with them, but he was very greedy and kept most of it for himself.

Hare Krishna Maharaj,

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

Following is the summary of 1.2.5 and 1.2.12 as discussed on Sunday.

Verse summaries:

V6:

• Answer to 1st question 
• Devotional service to Krishna 
• Pravrtti marga is inferior, diseased condition, temporary, illusory, Progress is obstructed
• Nivrtti marga is Pure, superior, progressive
• Devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted

V7:

• Service leads to knowledge and detachment
• Bhakti is simple but sublime
• Knowledge means difference between matter and soul
• Grace of the almighty will give us Bhakti

V8:

• Duties must result in attachment to the Lord
• Materialists are very selfish
• Material duties that do not result in attachment to the Lord are like cleaning the cage of the bird

V9:

• Religion is not meant for material gain. 

V10:

• We should not desire senses gratification but only desire healthy life to execute self realization.

V11:

• 3 features of absolute truth: Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. Example: Sunshine, sun globe and sun god
• Krishna has superior, inferior and marginal energies.

V12:

• Four categories of human beings are Karmis, jnanis, yogis and devotees. 
• Devotional service is the best means to realize the absolute truth. 
• In the second-class position, the devotee can see four principles in the devotional line, namely the Personality of Godhead, His devotees, the ignorant and the envious.
• Take guidance from first class devotee to become first class

Next week's syllabus is 1.2.13 to 1.2.20.

Your servant,

Sundari Radhika dd.

ASA - Thank you, Mataji, Boise Kids, Suta Goswami is challenging us that we must be in ecstacy at every moment.

Hare krsna gurudev

AGTSP

please accept my humble pranams at your lotus feet. 

HpS - ASA - Lettuce feet.

It was really nice to have your association in Manipur and vraj. I learned a lot from you. I am a control freak but by your association I have learning to relax a bit. I also learned the need to respect all vaishnavas and be humane in my dealings.

HpS - It was also very nice for us!!  Thank you..

Gurudev you had told that the personal servants fall down mostly because of offence towards guru. I think I must have committed so many offences especially after you left. Please forgive me for that and again kindly allow me to serve you.

HpS - Your conduct was good while we were together.

Since last 3 weeks my sadhana has been very irregular and very bad. I was moving from different places and staying with people who were not really devotees... My sadhana suffered due to bad association and my personal laziness and stupid mind. I started convincing myself that I am young so I can take things slowly.

HpS - Just like Maharaja Parikshit.

My mind almost won one day and was on the verge of breaking the regs.     ...XYZ... 

But I realized my mistake. I spoke with H. G. Mukunda Datta prabhu and am praying.

Hearing your voice in startmeeting.

Didn't feel like saying anything there as I was feeling very guilty.  But now again I have started being strict with myself.

Rounds are OK.....Prasadam is a issue but I am eating simple again. So hopefully within few days again I will be able to control better. Started hearing Srila Prabhupada classes on my laptop. 

Unfortunately I cannot dedicate whole day to krsna as in Kerela the reason for coming was to join coaching for post graduation entrance exams for next year. The mood is very passionate and almost ignorance here. 2000+ young doctors, studying almost 14+hours to Crack the exams.  The teachers also promote the passion inside us by giving motivational speeches during our sessions of med education. I desperately need your mercy so that I can survive. Please tell me how i can make my heart receive your grace.

HpS - Get up early and get your rounds done (well). Once you do that then you will be able to see you day in proper perspective. Maybe you will decide you should leave your body in six months. Maybe you will decide that you don't have to be in the top 10%. Maybe you will see great opportinities to start an enormous program to develope KC in the medical industry.

Prahalad narasimha prabhu reminded me to wake up early and chant my rounds and morning  program [good advice].. So my current spiritual goal is to do that and my deity worship. Nitai and Nimai seva is the only constant thing that I was able to do sincerely during my fall down from the standards.

HpS: They depend on you. You are Their Mother and Father!

On the other hand since last 2 weeks. I spoke to 150 plus people In a siva ratri festival in a small village of South India. (glories of holy name and lord siva for 20 mins).. Visited the ancient udupi krsna temple and guruvayoor temple in Kerela. On Gaura Purnima got a surprise to visit a iskcon center and meet a very nice senior devotee who runs the center. My heart is still not able to move on as I feel down because of my fall down.

HpS - ASA -- As you describe it, it was not a technical falldown but a slouch. In any case. It is not as important if we fall down or don't, as how we GET BACK UP again!  With vigor!

But I hope again if I am strict with myself I can get back on track in no time. I am chanting my rounds but my mind is still little disturbed. ...XyZ... 

I will like to join in the startmeeting program on TLC. 

Please forgive me. I am trying again.

Hare krsna.

Your servant.

Rituraj krsna das 

HPS - Yes,,, Read the Introduction to the TLC and talk about it with your class mates. Write ot the Blog with your thoughts about it!!