Respetado Maharaj Ji,
Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias. Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.
Gracias tanto por su asociación en el templo de Iskcon Pune, Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari.
Maharaj Ji, hizo llegar el devoto disponible en línea - en el teléfono, por favor hágamelo saber, muchas gracias.
Voy a estar agradecido por el mismo, gracias
Su sirviente,
narayandas
HpS - AGTSP. I cant understand what you are saying!! Good English translation??
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I hope Krsna is making your roads smooth and your flightpaths straight.
HpS - ASA -- The progress of the loving affairs of the Prince and Princess of Braja is crooked, like the progress of a snake.
I'm sorry for taking so long to reply. Life is a little boggling as usual, I'm still trying to process all the experiences I had in India, and trying to figure out how to translate that into my service here in Devi dhama. I'm just praying for the strength and the intelligence to serve your good self and Svavasa prabhu and Srila Prabhupada nicely. I'm very grateful that we could spend so much time together in the dhama and I was reflecting a bit on our meetings, thinking of how I can improve my service. I'm thinking I need to be more astute at anticipating what is required.
I was asking you for service, but when the bulbs were burning out in your apartment, I didn't think to go to the front desk to ask someone to fix it, but then I saw Chakori mataji pick right up on it later. There is always some service to be done if we are attentive it seems.
When I asked for some parting pearls, you gave me the instruction not to throw pearls at swine, so I was trying to figure out whether that was the instruction itself or just a polite way of saying you didn't want to give me an instruction yet.
ASA - Ha! Ha! Ha! Maybe we were the swine trying to cast our rubbish at you and thinking it was pearls.
Either way, I'll try to be more careful about overextending myself, wasting books or giving mundane charity; (or in general trying to be the 'best friend of everyone') and meanwhile I hope I will also become more qualified as a disciple.
I was meditating on so many discussions I had about sankirtan with so many great souls in Mayapur and Vrndavan. In particular I was very inspired by one Bhakti Vrksha seminar I attended in Mayapur. Over the years I've seen that everywhere I go, I meet people who have our books, read them, and like them; and yet so few come forward to surrender. When sowing seeds in a field, one may expect a few plants to just come up on their own; but nonetheless it's well understood that to get a substantial yield it's necessary to actually tend the crop. Similarly, in preaching occasionally we get a few rare souls who drop everything to join the brahmacari ashram, but what about everyone else? There are temples, of course, but the range of temples is extremely limited geographically, and it can be easy to get 'lost in the crowd.' This is where I see tremendous potential for the Bhakti Vrksha format to spread and strengthen Vaisnava communities. At our last Sankirtana meeting I was just discussing with Svavasa prabhu about trying to start something like this in LA, where there is practically limitless scope for expansion if we were able to penetrate into local neighborhood communities. He seemed pretty receptive to the idea, so it looks like we will explore this more in the future.
ASA - Jaya. Of course, the exact system will vary from community to community, but the basic principle is building things on people, no: Who wants to do this?
In the meantime, I am on tskp in ISV. We had darshan of HG Vaisesika prabhu yesterday evening and picked up a copy of his new book. We are heading north, and looks like we will be able to meet you up in Boise.
HpS - ASA -- Boise, New Biharvan, broiling in the Nectar of Radha-Shyama antics.
Aside from that, I'm increasing my rounds again for the first time in years, and doing lots of paintings for people as gifts based on photos of India. I'm pushing aside much of my regular (nonessential) sadhana in order to cram for Bhakti shastri exam at the end of this trip. I'm reviewing maybe 4-500 BG slokas which I've grouped into thematic sections and I'm frantic I won't be anywhere near complete by the end of this trip, but I'm just trying to depend on Krsna. I still try to make a little room to practice mrdanga and guitar because it calms my mind. My party and I look forward to seeing you in Boise, Krsna willing.
Your servant,
Ekāśma Dāsa
HpS - ASA -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna!!!!!!!
See you in a moment.
Before all, I salute you with a deep respect, all the glories to you, all my obeisances to you, to Srila Prabhupada and, also, to all devotees of our Lord, Sri Krsna. I ask you, Guru Maharaj, beforehand, to forgive me for any mistake or offense I could do... I'm just a neophyte, a very very fallen one.
I hope you remember me, this is the third time I write to you, my name is Carlos, I'm from Santiago of Chile. I'm Visvanath's brother in law. We had a first talk 2 years ago, an interview for a magazine, in the cultural center of the government palace. This year we had others brief conversations into the ISKCON Congress in Chile.
HpS - ASA - Yes, we remember you! You are a genius. You will get the Noble Prize for Journalism!
A few weeks ago, you gave me a first instruction through this blog : "...write again after a few weeks more of following Srila Prabhupada..." Later you gave me a second instruction: "... write us a story about Krsna here..."
So, I have written a brief monographic essay in which I intend fulfill both instructions. Before, I want to clarify that I am just a simple charlatan who, thanks to your mercy, Guru Maharaj, is trying to communicate what you order to me. Here I go:
THE DREAM OF SRILA PRABHUPADA
Srila Prabhupada is the person because of whom and his mercy we all are recovering the memory about who we really are. He is the spiritual master of anyone who has connected in the west world with Krsna Consciousness, and also of many many people in India and east.
My feeling is that every genuine aspiring to devotee of the Lord that has known Krsna Consciousness in the west or thanks to the invaluable and eternal legacy of Srila Prabhupada, should answer each day the following question for self: how can I please Srila Prabhupada and his followers? By the same way and understanding that we are fallen, so fallen that we don't even know why we're stuck in this material world, so fallen that we can't realize that most of the time we're acting like servants of maya more than servants of Krsna, we must ask ourselves everyday: why Krsna has given me so much mercy if I really do not deserve it?
I feel that anyone who yearns to become a servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna must respect and revere the legacy of Srila Prabhupada, above all. Also, I think many gurus from other gaudiyas can get some success and recognition worldwide preaching today. This is so wonderful and it is exclusively thanks to the work done by Srila Prabhupada during the last 12 years of his existence on this transitory earth. He paved the way, he opened the hearts of the world and the future generations over the next thousands of years, this is irrefutable.
Humbleness: Srila Prabhupada wanted that his followers can have the mercy of Krsna and success in their lives and be happy. He never presented himself as the guru of the group, but as a servant. Once said "... I have not done anything magical, Krsna Consciousness is present in all of us, but we must make it live again ..."
Srila Prabhupada said that his american disciples can save the USA country, that mission was in their hands, he gave them the method, but they should execute it. I apply that phrase to us, aspiring devotees disseminated around the world, we have got the same mission, because what was happening in USA still happening today around the world, it's what globalization is, process that should be called "americanization", because they have sold the "american dream" to the whole world. So, we must replace that "american dream" for the "dream of Srila Prabhupada", this is the only dream that will make us wake up.
Srila Prabhupada's ambition was to replace the mundane literature for transcendental one. At least, every house should have a literary work about Krsna Consciousness, he argued, because if someone read only one page, their life would be directed towards perfection.
He saw everything into Krsna Consciousness and with the eyes of the Scriptures.
Then now I will share some of his teachings that have been very usefull to me over the past few months:
... ASA - Hoop! After this is too much for one Blog letter. Send it in smaller parts! What we read above is very nice!!! Very challenging for us.
All blessings to you, your disciples and any people around you...
Your aspiring disciple and servant,
Carlos Rold.
HARE KRSNA !!!!!
Guru-Lila (Part 2)
Rama-Giridhari Prabhu's home is there in a multi-storied building, he stays on 4th floor with his good wife and the parents, he made arrangements for us to stay on 2nd floor, we were in an apartment whose owner, another devotee, had gone to Vrindavan, so his apartment was fully available for us to use. The best room was given to Guruji, but as you know, he has no attachment for any luxury, he is haapy in any condition. And I was staying in the room next to him, so only two of us. Guruji took bath and put on clean clothes, and then we went two stories up to the home of RG Prabhu. There and then, RG Prabhu introduced guruji to his parents and his good wife was also there. Guruji had some herbal drink there with little sweets. Remember, guruji is eating once a day his main meal, then, in the evening, sometimes, he has some milk or little fruit, came back to our residence, and rest.
19th March 2016-Ekadashi-I woke-up at 3'o' clock, but guruji was already up, probably 01am or even before that, he is on the way to becoming Goswami, conquering the habit of eating and sleeping, glories. We went upstairs to RG's home for Mangal Arti, rang the bell, but no response. We came down, did mangal arti at our place, Guruji sang Sansaar Daavaanal and I sang Nrisingha prayer and then chanting of our rounds. Later, we went to RG's Office at 1st floor and there, guruji gave class on one of the very famous Bhagvatam verse starying with Aho Bakiyam stan Kaalkutam, and had Ekadashi prasad, came back to our place. Afternoon, RG Prabhu took us to his Goloka Education office and there was some program, Guruji gave lecture in English and I had the good fortune to do some Hindi translation, there was some sago pakoda prasadam and I don't think that guruji took any, but as you know, I am lusty for prasadam and I did not miss the opportunity. In the evening, another program on ground floor of another building near our residence, guruji's lecture was very much loved by the people and it was translated again, and no need to mention that there was nice Ekadashi prasadam which guruji did not honour, but on behalf of guruji, his disciple did, all glories to Guruji! and came back and rest and the day is over.
Photo description :-Guruji honouring Ekadashi Prasad, Rama Giridhari Prabhu honouring prasad, Guruji making funny face knowingly while I take his photo, another photo of guruji and two photoes at Goloka Education Office with the staff members and sitting next to Guru, the parents of RG Prabhu
Hare Krishna Maharaj!
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad!
I am glad you are settling down for a bit and hope you are recovering from all your travels. I was listening to a lecture of yours from Radhadesh from 2011 and wanted to discuss the psychological aspect of something.
So of course, one of the goals of yoga is to control the mind. But today, there is almost an excuse for everything. For instance, ADHD has become a diagnosis for the fleeting attention span of the brain. I would like to know what you think of such a “diagnosis” and what you suggest to control it besides medication.
HpS - I don't know enough about this to give precise analysis. From what I know, there are many cases in modern Psychiatry where giving a name to a syndrome is not really identitifying the situation. As long as there is no idea of a person controling the Buddhi and then the Manas, there cannot be much good understanding of how the Brain works.
Maybe some neurological problem, maybe Buddhi or Manas or Atma problem. We would have to dig to find the answer.
The other part of the lecture talked about addiction and rehab programs that keep one clean have a spiritual basis. I was intrigued by this statement because there is a particular person who is super spiritual but can’t give up chewing tobacco (Indian bodied- old army habit). He chants, does full fledged aarti multiple times a day, fasts every ekadasi (but still takes the tobacco on ekadasI) and I’m just wondering what could be done to help him…if he is in fact very spiritual, this addiction shouldn’t be so strong, should it?
ASA - Again, don't know details so cannot give detailed answer, but you may have three little weeds are all two inches tall but as you start to dig up the root you find that one is two inces deep, one 15-inches deep and one OVER 24-inches deep. Some gross attachments are based upon deep psychic attachments.
It would be really cool to get your view on this.
ASA - Whoop! WHoop! Oink! Oink! C=2pi x D!
Thanks again and hope you are recuperating well in Nashville! Thank you for causeless mercy!
Your aspiring servant,
Sarita
HpS - ASA - Who is your Temple President. Think we got a letter for you to be initiated!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his sankirtana !!!
Hare Krishna Gurudeva, please accept my obeisances again and again.
Thank you very much for the previous letter, and we returned it to the siva linga, with great respect, I am now worshiping my personal deities, reading vastu sastra (feng shui) and cooking for sankirtan devotees; Gadai P. and P. Adveita, I like seeing them happy when they take prasadam, is a service that I always wanted to do it, feel it feels serve the sankirtan and good foot still limping a bit, we hope to be better for another week and go dancing in the streets and try to help find her Krishna Radhe.
with respect to menbresia it is like a permit that grants ISKCON centers nama hatha, then I wanted to know if that's important to or can only be as a Gauranga Club, like you. once told us.
In conclusion, Club Gauranga need a document, permit or authorization Iskcon?
Here in the land there is plenty of space, and we hope to build him a house when you. Visit Huancayo.
Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva, Gadai sends greetings
Nadiya Nivasi Dasi.
HpS - ASA -- AGTSP! As Grhasthas you can open a center, but you cannot call it a formal ISKCON center. O.K? Just keep good communication with local GBC, President, Senior devotees and ask them if they have any administratvie needs for you to take care of.
Hope the Nadiya-vasi Dasi is dancing in the streets soon also!!!