Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Gurudeva.

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

You say that the body is a disease, I ask Your Lordships to always protect it, and that despite adversity, you are as always, enthusiastic in your sankirtan.

HpS - Protect our disease? 🙂

Yet, our Lordships can use it for a tool in this world, no?

Thank you.

The last time I wrote to you was when I was in Brazil, since then I have been painting a lot. At the request of devotees I was even able to paint Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra on the kitchen wall of the Ciudad del Este temple in Paraguay before traveling to the Bahamas.

ASA - 😯

Wonderful! How many people will see Them and be happy?!

Now I'm in the Bahamas working, Sita Lalita (my daughter) has also been here for a while, and she found a job for me. We live nearby but we see each other once a week on our day off…

We are going to be here for a while, maybe in the future we can settle somewhere, we are evaluating where to establish a base, and if we can travel from time to time...

I continue with my daily sadhana 16 rounds, 4 principles, gayatris, S.B, I make a bhoga offering for Krsna - Balarama - Giriraja, and Nrsimhadeva for photos…

On Saturdays I do a Manasa puja to Nrsimhadeva and also sing His mantras on the recommendation of the astrologer.

I continue working with my mind, when I look inside I usually don't like what I see, I hope to be a better person soon.

HpS - Some of this craziness will continue until Bhava, completely mad for Krsna, but even now we can tolerate it if we are engaged in service, no?

In October 2024, during my vacation, I hope to be able to see you again in India (I hope) and perform practical service for you, perhaps cook for you as before.

HpS - 🙂

We hope to see everyone in Nabadvipa in our next life time with Nimai!

Gurudeva, I have a question. Is suffering necessary for our spiritual advancement? A while ago you asked me if I wanted to be like Kunti or Draupadi. Despite all the hardships they went through, they never stopped taking refuge in Krsna.

HpS - We are sick and the bitter medicine is making us better. We are happy to take the bitter medicine.

When we are advanced the suffering is very wonderful. Separation of Sita, Visnu-priya, from their husbands was very intense, wonderful. They obtained a connection with them even more intense than they were with Them.

On spiritual platform the suffering enhances the enjoyment eg. meeting, and we actually enjoy both at the same time.

Someone we love has big moral problems! We may think, this had to come. It can happen to me just as well. Now they can get free from this attachment forever.

Here I send you some photos of the paintings I made, because you asked me for them in the response to my previous letter.

HpS - Thank you!!! They are wonderful! 👍 👍 👍

❗

How is Mrs. Sita-lalita Devi Dasi?

Please forgive my offenses.

May Krishna, Balarama and Giriraja always protect you.

           karuna Mayi devi dasi.

                            kmdd 🐒

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Hare Krsna Gurudeva.

Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias, Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada. 

Usted dice que el cuerpo es una enfermedad, ruego a Sus Señorías que siempre lo proteja, y que a pesar de las adversidades, Usted se encuentre como siempre, entusiasta en su sankirtan.

La última vez que le escribí fué cuando estaba en Brasil, desde entonces estuve pintando mucho, por pedidos de los devotos incluso pude pintar Jagannath, Baladeva y Subhadra en la pared de la cocina del templo de Ciudad del Este en Paraguay antes de viajar a Bahamas. 

Ahora estoy en Bahamas trabajando, aquí también está Sita Lalita (mi hija) ya hace un tiempo, y ella encontró un trabajo para mí. Vivimos cerca pero nos vemos una vez a la semana en nuestro día libre…

Vamos a estar un tiempo aquí, quizás a futuro podamos establecernos en algún lugar, estamos evaluando dónde establecer un base, y si se puede viajar de vez en cuando…

Yo continuo con mi sadhana diario 16 rondas, 4 principios, gayatris, S.B, hago una ofrenda de bhoga para Krsna - Balarama - Giriraja, y Nrsimhadeva por fotos… 

Los sábados hago un manasa puja a Nrsimhadeva y tambien canto sus mantras por recomendación del astrólogo. 

Sigo trabajando con mi mente, cuando miro hacia adentro no me suele gustar lo que veo, espero ser mejor persona pronto. 

En octubre 2024, en mis vacaciones espero poder volver a verlo en India (espero) y realizar servicio práctico para Usted, quizás cocinarle como antes. 

Gurudeva, tengo una pregunta. ¿Es necesario el sufrimiento para nuestro avance espiritual? Usted hace un tiempo me preguntó, si quería ser como Kunti o Draupadi. Ellas a pesar de todas las penurias que pasaron, nunca dejaron de refugiarse en Krsna.

Aquí le envío algunas fotos de las pinturas que hice, porque usted me las pidió en la respuesta a mi carta anterior.

Por favor perdona mis ofensas.

Que krsna, Balarama y Giriraja siempre lo protejan.

              karuna Mayi devi dasi.

                           kmdd 🐒

Por favor acepte mis Dandavats Praṇāmas Gurvdeva.

Espero que ese 75% de salud halla aumentado, mi salud está bien.

No he dejado de cantar, aunque sigo debiendo Los 3 días, osea 48 rondas, espero ponerme al corriente.

Por la misericordia de Śrī Kṛṣṇa llegaron a casa las Deidades que tanto deseaba, son Śrī Rādhā-Syamasundara de metal. Estoy adorandolas desde hace 4 días, investigue como purificar manos y boca para tocarlas y hago Mangala ārātika y las duermo por la tarde -noche, aunque les falta ropa y parafernalia.

Encontré un trabajo que me ha permitido juntar dinero para poner luces al altar y mejorarlo, así como adquirir las Deidades, aunque me absorbe tiempo, por tal motivo ya no puedo ir al templo tanto como antes, pero seguimos adorando en casa.

Estaba tomando mi curso de Gurv- discípulo con Prabhu Vanamali pero me quitaron el internet y se me descompuso el celular casi el mismo día, y ya no lo pude seguir las pasadas semanas, ya le había comentado, recién tengo otra vez ambas cosas (teléfono e internet), sigo viendo las clases de Yadunandana Svāmī Mahārāja que son extaticas.

Me preguntó UD. Sobre mi relación con las autoridades del templo:

Creo debe ser buena, aunque no he podido explicar a Prabhu Vanamali por qué no seguí tomando el Curso, pero nunca he ofendido o fallado al Devoto, lo conozco desde que el era bhakta y nos llevamos bien, con Madre Anurhada también la relación es buena y de respeto, y con mis demás hermanos creo que hay aprecio y cariño.

Madre Astashaki creo está preocupada porque a veces voy a la Gauḍīya Matha, porque allí lo jalan a uno a iniciase muy fácil, pero yo tengo bien firme mi amor por UD. No tengo ninguna duda, soy su Sirviente eterno, por eso me cualifico para servir a Yadunandana Svāmī Mahārāja.

En Gauḍīya Matha tengo asociados Vaiṣṇavas favorables que conozco de hace 23 años, asistían a ISKCON Rādhā-Mādhana-Gopāla y luego se fueron con Vanna Gosvāmī Mahārāja, a veces voy a su restaurante o a sus festivales, pero no me interesa iniciarme en ningún lugar que no sea la familia Prabhupādanuga de UD. Mahārāja.

Por otro lado hay un Devoto mayor que yo, se llama Ambarish, me pidió quedarse en mi casa unos días, accedí por ser Devoto mayor pero ya estando instalado me comentó que lo corrieron del templo por tocar maliciosamente a madre Anurādhā, aunque dice es un malentendido, ya estaba en casa, así que lo deje quedarse, pero no sé si sea bueno. Indíqueme que hacer Mahārāja por favor.

He estado viendo sus filmes.

Que son muy extáticos y amenos.

Gracias por tanto servicio y amor Mahārāja.

En mi corazón siempre está UD.

Que Kṛṣṇa le de mucha más Luz.

Todas las Glorias a Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Gaurā Premanande!!!!

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Please accept my Gurvdeva Praṇāmas Dandavats.

I hope that 75% health has increased, my health is fine.

I haven't stopped singing, although I still owe the 3 days, that is 48 rounds, I hope to catch up.

HpS - AgtSP! Bhadra vardana Das B'cari suggested to us to catch up four rounds every day for a few days.

By the mercy of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Deities that he so desired came home, they are Śrī Rādhā-Syamasundara made of metal.

I have been worshiping them for 4 days,

I researched how to purify hands and mouth to touch them and I do Mangala ārātika and I put them to sleep in the afternoon - night, although they lack clothes and paraphernalia.

HpS - Sounds nice! Love, cleanliness, punctuality, paraphernalia and detailed rituals.

I found a job that has allowed me to raise money to put lights on the altar and improve it, as well as acquire the Deities, although it takes up my time, for this reason I can no longer go to the temple as much as before, but we continue worshiping at home.

HpS - Listen to people you contact during work and then use the answer to Arjuna's question, https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/10/17/, to preach to them!

😎 🌈 🌬

I was taking my Guru-disciple course with Prabhu Vanamali but they cut off my internet and my cell phone broke down almost the same day, and I couldn't follow it for the past few weeks, I had already told you, I just have both things again (phone and internet), I keep watching Yadunandana Svāmī Mahārāja's classes that are ecstatic.

You asked me. About my relationship with the temple authorities:

I think it must be good, although I have not been able to explain to Prabhu Vanamali why I did not continue taking the Course, but I have never offended or failed the Devotee, I have known him since he was a Bhakta and we get along well, with Mother Anurhada the relationship is also good and respect, and with my other brothers I think there is appreciation and affection.

HpS - Perfect. Iskcon means friendships before politics, no?

Mother Astashaki, I think she is worried because sometimes I go to the Gauḍīya Matha, because there they pull you to start very easily, but I have very firm love for you. I have no doubt, I am his eternal Servant, that is why I qualify to serve Yadunandana Svāmī Mahārāja.

In Gauḍīya Matha I have favorable Vaiṣṇava associates whom I have known for 23 years, they attended ISKCON Rādhā-Mādhana-Gopāla and then went with Vanna Gosvāmī Mahārāja, sometimes I go to their restaurant or their festivals, but I am not interested in getting initiated anywhere not be the Prabhupādanuga family of UD. Mahārāja.

HpS - Yes, we should respect all kinds of devotees such as Muslim, Christian, Ramanuja Acharya, Vrnda et al. Yet as you say, we have to learn to distinguish in which school we want to matriculate.

On the other hand, there is a Devotee older than me, his name is Ambarish, he asked me to stay at my house for a few days, I agreed because he was an older Devotee, but once I was installed he told me that they kicked him out of the temple for maliciously touching mother Anurādhā, although he says he is a misunderstanding, he was already home, so I let him stay, but I don't know if it's good. Please tell me what to do Mahārāja.

HpS - I don't know the devotee or the details!!!

I've been watching your films. Which are very ecstatic and enjoyable.

ASA/HpS - We are technical advisor, and member of the ASA Sankirtan party, but they are Diarys of Tom Brown, Director is Raul, Director of Photography is Pablo, Producer is Abhirama th Das. Unit director for Spain is Ambarisha Das (Argentina) and Vrsabhanu nandini Devi Dasi!! Adi rasa, Sita lalita, Prema murti .... So many even more important!

🐷 🐶 🐵 🐰 👨 👩 🦁 😺 🐐 🐮 🔬

Thank you for so much service and love Mahārāja.

HpS - We are a 👹 that Srila Prabhupada has made into a little bit useful, but arrogant,instrument.

AgtSP!

You are always in my heart.

May Kṛṣṇa give you much more Light.

All Glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Gaurā Premanande!!!!

asa[e] - piggy's parting pearls

Hare Krsna beloved Gurudeva AGTSP PAMHO

I hope this meets You in very good health.

HpS - Actually we are, agtSP, probably just like you. Suffering from the waves of Maya and not yet strong enough to completely avoid being pulled by them, but does seem that every day we get better!

Thank you.

Gurudeva. I was recalling that once You said that You put one quite [quote] from TOM BROWN, and one of the participants said oh Tom Brown is SO quise [wise]

May You be so kind and share here with us some quotes from Tom Brown, Buck White and maybe Uncle Gismo?

Thanks in advance

Ys

CMDD

ASA - We think, agtSP, that Piggy has been collecting them in "Piggy's Parting Pearls". Some them are so fabulously outrageous that they really fit Abraham Lincoln's comment:

"If you remain silent people will think you are a fool, but if you speak you remove all doubt."

At the end of a PPTX presentation on 'Hamlet and Arjuna', maybe the first, at a university in Chile. We needed a citation to finish the show.

So, we included a slide with a quote from Tom Brown, "Those who do not hear the lessons of history will be forced to repeat them". One very respected professor noted down the quote and we were terrified that they would ask us who Tom Brown was. We were sure someone said, that but could not remember who.

Piggy as Treasurer, Administrator:

• What you don't know you cannot reveal under torture.
• Eliminate the middle man.
• Never wake up a big dog with a short stick.
• Ask people to write their name, not sign their name, because their signature will probably be incomprehensible.

TB:

Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely", but even though that is a very, very, very respected phrase, most people don't know the next line he wrote, "Therefore almost all powerful men have been bad men".

See - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,

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

I received following requests for home programs:

• December 22nd Friday evening -Cypress home program 24 mins away

ASA/T. Brown, Secrtary 🐵 - Thank you many! Fridays we were going to focus on this Bhaktivedanta Library Seminar [bls]. We just updates the ASA Calendar to include it: https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/14513/

That would be Friday nights. Seems Home Programs are best on Saturday afternoons, so, we would want to suggest that we could do this program later on Saturday afternoon.

• January 7th Saturday evening- Uptown home program 15 mins away

ASA 🐵 - According to our calendar January 7th is Sunday! Saturday 6th is open, but in afternoon not evening.

• January 26th Friday evening Cypress home program. 25 minutes away.

ASA 🐒 - Same as in first suggestion. Friday for BVS. Home programs Saturday afternoons? Is good rhythm?

Also there is a request that you go for breakfast to a devotee's home on any Sunday. It is less than a minute walk from your Ashram.

ASA 🐘 Seems O.K.!

Please let me know if you approve these requests as is or any adjustments need to be made.

Your servant

Srinivasacarya Dasa

HpS - Thank you!!!!!

🌴

.. 🌴. . . ..🌴.

2023 Dec Ember 13

We, agtSP, are adding 💡 the Bhaktivedanta Library Seminar (BLS) series.

DEC

- Every Tu/Th in December = Hp Swami, 7.30AM, Local SB Class

💡 -Every Fr = ASA, 7.30PM, Bhaktivedanta Library Seminar (BLS), 7.30PM, Promo Card Attached.

17/su = Odana sasti - winter cloth for Lord Jagannatha; anniversary harinama and sannyasa diksa for HpSwami.

19/tu = hld <india; RRD et al visit NmDh

22/fr = ekadasi; advent of BG.

24/su = hps-sunday festival lecture [BG]

25/mo = avirbhava lord jesus christ

26/tu = purnima [1.2]

30/sa = v. narain > M'boro; dis. srila bhakti siddhanta sarasvati thakur prabhupada!

JAN

5-7/fr-su = Luz del Bhagavata, Cultivo del Espiritu Humano.

6/sa = Epiphany, The Three Kings, Wisemen come to see Baby Jesus.

11/th = Vyasa puja [Espanyol] de hp swami en, online y en casa de srinivasa das y familia.

12/fr = Gala Release of DTC(UT) Spain; anniversary of NIOS; birth day of brother ass.

13/sa = Vyasa puja [English]Hp Swami in, Iskcon Houston Temple

26-28/fr-su = iskcon disciple course by rkd

FEB

17/Sa = Gala Release of DTC[UT] India

20/tu = Varaha dvadasi

21/we = Nityananda trayodasi

Expect to Travel to Nashville for Gaura-purnima.

Hare Krsna, Dear Gurudeva.

Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am always aware of your preaching activities on delayed Facebook, your reports, the blog and the FMP to which I always connect, it saved me some times that it saves me time and service in the temple...

I continue to worship Krsna Balaram and Govardhan wherever we are, sometimes there are greater eases and sometimes there are great austerities... But they continue to travel with us until now... Maya is becoming more subtle and the anarthas continue to emerge, sure of past lives... But by his and Srila Prabhupada's mercy we can still hold on to our 20Rs, 4Ps, Gayatris, MA, and especially the daily reading of the SB daily. In the temple in association with the devotees it is always less difficult…

And we have traveled from Brazil to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and we continue to support the program (pujari - classes - festivals) at different times with Agnideva Prabhu, Bhakti Sundar Goswami and now with Bhakti Bhusana Swami, with whom we have come to Asunción, the capital of Paraguay (5 hours from Ciudad del Este).

In Ciudad del Este we were doing a course for Bhaktas integrating Kirtan Yoga, the Vaisnava etiquette, introduction to the Vedic Vaisnava philosophy and the disciples course. Now we will be in Asunción for a while and apparently some more students are going to join... so we will do it online, on Wednesday afternoons - nights.

A few weeks ago I asked him if he could tell us a little more about santa-rasa, because it is difficult for us to understand that relationship with Krsna. Sometimes we don't know how to explain in detail that kind of relationship with Krsna. You told me to make the formal request here on the blog… Maybe we can organize a class to talk about that topic? Alright? Do you have any suggestion? Date ? Schedule?

HpS/ASA - AgtSP!!! Paoho. Thank you for your letter. In general how is family, KmDD, Sita...?

asa[e] - Yoga-ladder; Santa-rasa

Santa-rasa is in NoI, maybe end of Text 8. It is appreciation of God, God is Great! Prabhupada says in Braja it is like flute in Krsna's hand, garland, cows. They all appreciate Krsna. Think he is wonderful, but are not moved to active service.

We think it is like Darsana arati when the curtains open and we are just appreciating the beauty and splendor of the Deity with the Govinda song playing, but that can just go on and on and on forever..... !

It is like Maha-visnu loka as we understand.

SP says that some people don't actually accept it as a real Rasa, but he continues that whatever it is, it is the basis of all the other Rasa. It is included successively in Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya, Madhurya rasa. Their is no one more fixed in Santa rasa than the Gopis, no? When the start to think of Krsna, the always think of His lotus feet, but of course, they develop into a more intimate utility for those feet than others.

How is the translation team of the book, Waves of Devotion going?

Thanks to the mercy of Nrshimhananda Prabhu (servant of Bhakti Bhusana Swami), I was able to get a virtual full version in Spanish. So you can review it… I will send it to WhatsApp…

HpS - Thank you. This is the copy that Purnamasi Devi Dasi, ArtDas et al have been working on?

We downloaded it and went through it briefly. It looks very nice but REALLY needs a Preface to the Spanish Translation: Approved by Dhanurdara Swami, translated by...

We have a ticket purchased for February 12 to the Holy Dham... We are coordinating with Gaura Gadadhar Devi Dasi and her husband, and other devotees, it is also possible that we will meet Parama Karuna, and that we can join the Bhakti Marga Maharaj program... We want to look for the way to stay a good time there in the Dham…

Please give me your permission and blessings to be able to enter, and stay there for a while, and if you go in the middle of 2024, to be able to accompany you and serve you.

HpS/ASA - Pray, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, that you can enter Sri Vrndavana Dhama! Will require use of all your austerities and association. Hare Krsna, Hare Rama! We put date on our Red Book Calendar. February 13th is Sarasvati Puja and a million other events!

Hare Krsna. Hare Rama.

I hope Nrshimhadeva continues to protect you as before.

ASA - Thank you! Hope we serve Him with more ability!

I'm going to make it urgent because of the Waves of Devotion issue...

Your foolish wannabe servant, AmD.

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Hare Krsna Querido Gurudeva.

Por favor acepta mis humildes y respetuosas reverencias, todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.

Siempre estoy al tanto de tus actividades de prédica por facebook diferido, tus reportes, del blog y del FMP al que me conecto siempre, salvó algunas veces que me gana el tiempo y el servicio en el templo…

Sigo adorando a Krsna Balaram y a Govardhan en dónde estemos, a veces hay mayores facilidades y a veces hay grandes austeridades… Pero siguen viajando con nosotros hasta ahora… Maya cada vez es más sutil y los anarthas siguen aflorando, seguro de vidas pasadas…. Pero por su misericordia y de Srila Prabhupada podemos aún aferrarnos a nuestras 20R, 4P, Gayatris, MA, y especialmente a la lectura diaria del SB a diario. En el templo en asociación con los devotos siempre es menos difícil…

Y hemos viajado de Brasil a Ciudad del Este en Paraguay y seguimos apoyando al programa (pujari - clases - festivales) en diferentes momentos con Agnideva Prabhu, Bhakti Sundar Goswami y ahora con Bhakti Bhusana Swami, con quién hemos venido a Asunción, la capital de Paraguay (a 5 horas de Ciudad del Este).

En Ciudad del Este estuvimos haciendo un curso para Bhaktas integrando Kirtan Yoga, la etiqueta Vaisnava, introducción a la filosofía Vedica Vaisnava y el curso de discípulos. Ahora estaremos un tiempo en Asunción y al parecer se van a integrar algunos alumnos más… entonces lo haremos online, los miércoles por la tarde - noche.

Hace unas semanas le pedí que pudiera hablarnos un poco más de santa rasa, porque se nos hace difícil entender esa relación con Krsna. A veces no sabemos cómo explicar en detalle ese tipo de relación con Krsna. Usted me dijo que haga el pedido formal aquí en el blog… Quizás podamos organizar una clase para hablar sobre ese tema? Está bien? Tiene alguna sugerencia? Fecha ? Horario?

Cómo va el equipo de traducción del libro: Olas de la devoción? 

Gracias a la misericordia de Nrshimhananda Prabhu (sirviente de Bhakti Bhusana Swami), pude conseguir una versión completa virtual en español. Para que puedan revisarla… Se la enviaré al WhatsApp…

Tenemos un pasaje comprado para el 12 de febrero al Santo Dham… Estamos coordinando con Gaura Gadadhar y su esposo, y otros devotos, además es posible que nos encontremos con Parama Karuna, y que podamos integrarnos al programa de Bhakti Marga Maharaj… Queremos buscar la manera de quedarnos un buen tiempo allá en el Dham… 

Por favor dame tu permiso y bendiciones para poder entrar, y quedarme un tiempo allá, y si Usted va a mitad del 2024, poder acompañarlo y servirlo. 

 Espero que Nrshimhadeva te siga protegiendo como hasta ahora.

Voy a ponerlo urgente por el tema de Olas de la devoción…

Tu tonto aspirante a sirviente, AmD.