Letters to the editor

Program Schedule

Day 1: 21^st July, 2016 

Chairman of this session: Ramgiridhari Dasa

Time

Event

Speaker

6:00 PM – 6:05 PM

 Invocation

Goswami Academy Children

6:05 PM – 6:10 PM

Reading from Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions

H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami

6:10 PM – 6:25 PM

Welcome Address

H.G. Shyamsunder Dasa

6:25 PM – 6:40 PM

Event Inauguration Address

H.G. Sesa Dasa

6:40 PM – 7:10 PM

Keynote Address

H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami

7:10 PM – 7:30 PM

Formal Introduction of all the participants

7:30 PM – 7:40 PM

Announcements & Other housekeeping agendas

Ramgiridhari Dasa

7:40 PM

Supper at Govinda’s Restaurant

NOTE:  All participants are requested to attend full morning program on all the days of the Education Conference.

Day 2: 22nd July, 2016:

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Srimad Bhagavatam Class by H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami 

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast

Morning Session: 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM

Chairman of the Session: H.H Hanumat Presak Swami

 Time

Event

Speaker

9:30 AM – 9:35 AM

 Invocation & Settling down

9:35 AM – 10:25 AM

Presentation: Fostering Greatness

H.G. Sesa Dasa

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM

Presentation: The Spiritual-Material Education Dichotomy

H.G. Sakshi Gopal Dasa

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Break

11:30 AM – 12:20 PM

Presentation: Opportunities & Challenges for Leaders in the field of Education

H.G. Nityananda Dasa

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

Announcements

Ramgiridhari Dasa

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Lunch at Govinda’s Restaurant & Rest

Morning Session: 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM -- Afternoon Session: 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM

Chairman of the Session: H.H Hanumat Presak Swami

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Group Discussion(s) – Challenges being faced in Education Initiatives

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Group Presentations & Discussions – Challenges being faced in Education Initiatives

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Snack Break

4:45 PM – 5:35 PM

Presentation: Growth Mindsets Amidst Challenges

H.G. Subhra Devi Dasi

5:35 PM – 6:25 PM

Presentation: Sunday School Curriculum

Ramgiridhari Dasa

6:25 PM – 6:30 PM

Announcements & Housekeeping Agenda

6:30 PM

Supper at Govinda’s Restaurant

Day 3: 23^rd July, 2016:

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Srimad Bhagavatam Class by H.G. Sesa Dasa

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast

Morning Session: 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM

Chairman of the Session: Ramgiridhari Dasa

 Time

Event

Speaker

9:30 AM – 9:35 AM

 Invocation & Settling down

9:35 AM – 10:25 AM

Key note Presentation

H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM

Presentation: Increasing your Capacity: Strategic Planning

H.G. Gopi Gita Devi Dasi

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Break

11:30 AM – 12:20 PM

Presentation: The Making of Synergy Learning Academy

H.G. Namapriya Devi Dasi

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

Announcements

Ramgiridhari Dasa

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Lunch at Govinda’s Restaurant & Rest

Afternoon Session: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Chairman of the Session: H.H Hanumat Presak Swami

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Group Discussion(s) – Strategic Planning for Education Projects

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Group Presentations & Discussions – Strategic Planning for Education Projects

4:30 PM – 4:40 PM

Snack Break

4:40 PM – 5:15 PM

Presentation: Creating Pathways

H.G. Hari Guru Dasa

5:15 PM – 5:50 PM

Presentation: Creating Education Resources

Ramgiridhari Dasa

5:50 PM – 6.25 PM

Presentation: Lil’ Krishna Kidz

H.G. Ananda Vrindavan Devi Dasi

6:25 PM – 6:45 PM

Summarizing the Action Items

H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami

6:45 PM – 6:55 PM

Closing Address by H.G. Sesa Dasa

6:55 PM – 7:00 PM

Vote of thanks by H.H. Hanumat Presak Swami

7:00 PM

Supper at Govinda’s Restaurant

Day 4: 24^th July, 2016

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Ramgiridhari Dasa

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast

NOTE: The conference formally concludes after breakfast.

Hare Krishna Maharaj

PAMHO. AGTSP!

I have just finished my final initiation exam, paperwork and have received my Letter of Recommendation from Ajita Prabhu (please see attachment). 

Govinda Caran Prabhu has confirmed that he will be able to conduct the initiation on Tuesday 19 July at approximately 9:30am-10am (Aust. time). We hope we can recieve name confirmation and any other details you wish to add via Govinda's email ([email protected]), by Monday 18 July evening Australian time. Otherwise we can postpone if necessary of course.

I have not asked for a Skype hook-up as I do not wish to add to your burdens, and am satisfied with the current arrangement. Thank you.

Lock and load, hari-haribol!

Your servant,

Jay.

HpS - Hare Krsna. Please excuse our delay.   As you know we were drowning in the Symposium and then the Five Cities tour in South America. It was very, very usefule, but the finale was 34-hours without laying down to sleep and then when we got to Houston, just as intense. Yesterday BAD chest pains. Doctor says, slow down or get a heart attack.

O.K.         Just put, "urgent" in the letter header and well answer very quickly.    The basic ISKCON rule, Brahminical rule, is that I should chant one round on your beads. Can you mail them to HpSwami; 2129 Stratford Rd.; Murfreesboro, TN 37129; USA?   We will be there August 1st, and stationed there until December. I was trying to avoid this but seems essential.

Hare Krsna.

We are about to explode. Maybe there were too many peas in our porridge today.   It is 5.49PM.   We have already had two or three pretty intense programs today and now we will have a birthday party for Abhi Thakura's good wife, Maria. Then we will go to the airport and chant rounds until midnight, fly to Mexico. There are about 25-devotees here and increasing. So often so many devotees want 'just one minute Maharaja' at the last minute, but really they want to explain their specific situation, often in great emotional detail, and then receive a solution.
Mangala ananda said recently, "After seven years I have realized that you are my Guru, not my psychologist".  If you have both it can be a very happy life (forever).

Hare Krsna.

What does Krsna want (to play)?   We can be the center of attention of hungry wolves, or people offering us money, or ... but really it is Krsna who is the center, so we can just relax and let him direct us as He likes.

Lao Tzu - One should conduct then affairs of the Empire in the same way a beggar would fry a small fish.

Hare Krsna.

Agt Guru and Gauranga!!!

Agt Srila Prabhupada!!

Hare Krsna Maharaja!

I´m Budanath das, from the little mountain.

I hope you are very good in all aspects

I have spent many days trying to write, but I can not find something to say that is not nonsense.

The other day on the 50th anniversary of Iskcon, I had the best day of my life.

A drop of nectar fell on me, and I had a very strong personal experience, that still hits me. Maybe it's silly

For some matter, time and space, on all the time, were canceled and it seemed that lived a sociable conversation, outside the logic, where at peak times, material image sparkled and was part of a conversation or reality that had nothing to do with what was seen, except for the presence of Paramatma.

In the plains, like today, Paramatma seemed to have a thousand faces and mouths, they observed objectively, but aware of everything

Something drives me to find this present, mystical, behind everything, including sensory logic

It was like looking back to childhood friends. No sense to use logic

There is only one way to repeat that experience, that ever-present reality ... 16 rounds, 4 principles, and service

It has given me great enthusiasm experience. Enthusiasm

I hope I can go mad for Krishna one day, or tomorrow, or today, and forget everything. I think that Krsna likes to ask that.

I try to be more regular writing, and especially reading

In a week I tell you that I have read and how long. Follow your tweets, blog, nectar

Lack done much in the kirtan, bhajans, festivals, devotees, pure souls. I will try to buy a Harmonium.

Thank you very much for everything

Tulasi is very well.

Yours, Budanath das.

Hare Krsna.

HpS - As I understand from Academic Psychological studies, many people have these 'psychotic' experiences, or 'religious' experiences, but they seem to be natural experiences. With the perspective of SB we can use them., Narada muni describes his experience in SB 1.6, no?

I have had experiences like this some times. As you say, by good regular Sadhana we can become quite purified quite rapidly and experience a more profound perception of the world.

Yes, we find that reading leads to writing, leads to trying to read systematically. Let us try to get Sita out of the clutches of Ravana. Let us try to get many the innocent souls out of this world. We have to look for them then...

Hare Krishna, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, please accept my obeisances Gurudeva.

Gurumaharaja I finished University since two weeks ago, ...

HpS - ASA --   Jaya!   You can use your education and title for Krsna.

... by the mercy of Sri Krishna I  finish a service that made my parents very happy, with that they give me their blessing to choose the way that I want to continue. Thanks Gurudeva, because was that during 5 years of college you accompany me with instructions, example and strength to have to Krsna and this is the best gift.

Then, after the Uníversity, me sick for first time of varicella, although I'm better, was very irritating, but this event has given me the opportunity to be with my daughters and remember Krishna consciousness a lot. Read and sing every day. Soon we will move to my Mom house the next week, I will miss live near yo the temple, was awesome. So we will  have a big oportunity immerse myself in spiritual life, philosophy and depth of Grihasta Ashrama.
Alexey my husband is already in Mumbai working in an office engineering, he is ok, but feels lonely, likes India but the bureaucracy is complicated, he awaits us in August, we will live a year in Mumbai, the girls and I expect to be in India our Sadhana could be more focus.

Gurudeva, I have some questions, What would be the proper way to ask Krishna determination and intelligence because  understand what is the Holy dham? Exist an exact preparation before going to India because for be ready? And finally and most important, Gurudeva believes that one day I could have your blessing for to go to the Holy dham pilgrimage? I feel very unqualified and unable to understand anything, but having his guide me feel cared and focus in understand the true and really importante essence to the dham.

HpS - ASA ---  Going to India is just like going to a different ISKCON country. Krsna consciousness is different in Germany than South America, but is the same fundamentally also. So, just going on with your ISKCON service will prepare you for visiting India. Of course, you can ask specific questions from devotees have gone there, but that is just normal.  Going to the Holy Dhama is the same. It is just the result of following the process and making gradual advancement.

I hope your visit to Mexico really happy Gurumaharaja.
Your aspiring servant
Satya Bhama dd
Hare Krishna

HpS - We will be there within 12-hours.

Dear Gurumaharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and yourself.

On this day let me take the opportunity to write you. After several little cycles in time have passed, and different transcendental themes on which i’ve pondered have gone by, i write this letter. At the end of every one of these little cycles i meditated on writing you, but every time these letters were unfinished. Usually because topics are hard to write down, and also asking for clearance about doubts and questions seemed useless because of the limits of writing. The main topic that has left me with questions is about my origin as a spirit soul, and basically about whether i have actually ever been with Krishna. Life and and the soul are certainly very wonderful.

Not a day goes by that i don’t think about you and our relationship, but these days i’m usually lamenting about my fallen situation. The sentence of that i’m fallen is quite hackneyed, but for me i think it fits the bill this time. For a respectful person it is better to die than to transgress his word, according to Maharaja Yudhistira. Why bother telling you again and again about my weakness of heart? Is it better to just quietly slip away or to let you know that i’m thinking about you oftenly, and how much i love our ISKCON, and that i cannot leave you because the shame in that is even greater than the one i’m feeling in this current state. Weakness of heart is the result of sinful attitude and offenses, so i was told. My efforts seem like those of an ant who helps building a bridge to Lanka, and perhaps our Lord will be pleased with me one day. I hope you will too, Gurudeva. You have shown mercy upon me by accepting me, while probably knowing the risks of that, but still you gave me your hand, to which i somehow did not hold on to. I’m still swimming in the current, waiting for the tide to turn that brings me back to the boat i wish to climb back in to. Yasya prasadan na gatih kutoh pi.

So much for the sad part. I know my devotional activities are not much and mainly self oriented, but i wish to tell you that i’ve finished Srila Prabhupada’s Lilamrita and am now reading the Mahabharata, with great transcendental pleasure. I feel myself very fortunate to read these histories and stories about Lord Krishna in Dwaraka and Arjuna and Dharmaraja. We also have some festivals to visit this summer, and a short retreat in Radhadesh coming up. While driving to work i listen to Amala Bhaktas Maharajas narration of Srimad Bhagavatam.

How are you yourself, Gurudeva? I pray that you are well and able to fulfill all ideas that you have for Srila Prabhupada’s service, not bothered by physical discomfort. All that is happening in South America under your direction is certainly wonderful. also, can you explain why the wonderful Druva Maharaja was able to go back to Godhead even though he unnecessarily killed so many yaksa’s? It is mentioned that he was on the spiritual platform but at the same time acted out of bodily identification for his assasined brother. How is that possible? Kuvera said those who were killed were not killed by Dhruva but by the time factor. This is difficult to grasp.

May this letter and inquiry not be a stereotypical disciple--spiritual master letter with a philosophical question in the end, though it may look like one. I dream of actually being able to maintain a simple life where i can sit down with sadhus and ask and discuss relevant questions. Until then i still wish to remain,

Your insignificant servant,

Raghava Pandita dasa.

HpS - Hare Krsna. The first focus is the service: 16-good rounds. If you can't do that, then fix some amount that you know you can do for a certain time and do it, even though your mind is crazy.  Then reevaluate the result and take another vow. A soon as we are fixed in this service we will be able to answer other questions very easily.,