Letters to the editor

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

Last week we had the good fortune of receiving your TPP composition book in the mail. Thank you very, very much for sending this precious gift. We find it a wonderful look inside the mind of Hanumatpresaka Swami, with the many pearls of wisdom that you share with us disciples written down in a jolly package. It is a priceless gift, and i offer you my gratitude.

This is the score of my bookdistribution last july, for your and Srila Prabhupada's pleasure:  1 maha, 10 big, 8 medium, 3 small.
    HpS - ASA - Did you keep contact with any of the people. Is super report!!

Then i wish to inquire on your thoughts on the following. I wish to publish an updated version of On Chanting Hare Krishna, in Dutch languat. It is my intention to gather donations from local devotees, and make this a free publication, not one to throw away after reading, but softbound and 30+ pages. So it will be slightly different than bigger than the original, with articles about: SP, Mahamantra, ISKCON, who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, kirtan yoga, what ISKCON can offer als alternative lifestyle, and finally, the synthesis between science and religion. There is a request to Kadamba Kanana Swami, born in Holland, to write a foreword. If you consider yourself a good person to write an article about the synthesis between science and religion, would you want to do that? It does not have to be very extensive, an introduction will do. Or if you have any suggestions, i will be pleased to hear them. I gather your focus is more on education these days, which personally i consider more of an internal ISKCON affair. Please correct me if i'm wrong.
HpS - I think all the material would be copyrighted by the BBT, no? You would have to do it under licence to them, no? I think someone like Aja-govinda Das or another of the devotees with PhD in science should write about the scientific basis of chanting. We could talk with them by phone etc.

Now you American tour has started, i wish you happy travels. May you touch the hearts and minds of many devotees, and that it will be reciprocal.

With kind regards,
Your junior disciple,
Raghava Pandita dasa.

HpS - ASA --- AGTSP  Hey, how is the family? Temple????

Your Holiness,

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

I desired to write articles on the interface of science and spirituality and you were very kind to me to recommend that I write to you on this website. I do apologize again for my delay and also thank you for giving me a second chance.  With your consent, I will now proceed to render some service.

I  pay my prostrated obeisances to Maharaja again. Then I pay my prostrated obeisances to Srila Prabhupada. Then I pay my obeisances to all the spiritual masters in the line of disciplic succession.  Finally I pay my obeisances to Vraja Kishore and Vraja Kishori. With the dust of the lotus feet of all of them on my head, I try to render some service, however meager may it be.

HpS - ASA - AGTSP paoho. This is a little bit esoteric Blog for our ASA members. At www.jayarama.us you can get more description of ASA. You are in Chicago Temple? We talked with Nityananda-pran Das about visiting there.

Richard Dawkins has written many books. I must accept that I do not know how much of an impact he has had on the people of the world. Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to defeat atheists and their arguments against the existence of God.  From the little I have seen on the internet and in my interaction with people, Mr Dawkins is considered a prominent atheist. Thus I have decided to study his book, “the God Delusion” and present before people his arguments and how they could be misleading. So I propose to submit some articles with the aforesaid goal in mind. The first article is given below.

HpS - Have you read the "Dawkin's Delusion"?  Alister McGrath was the Head Theologian at Oxford, no?

The Dawkins Delusion

Reference taken from:

Book: The God Delusion

Publisher: Black Swan, paperback edition

Page number:138

"However statistically improbable the entity you seek to explain by invoking a designer, the designer himself has got to be at least as improbable." The above quotation is found in the book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, page no: 138.This is the first and foremost argument that Richard Dawkins gives us in chapter four entitled “why there is almost certainly no God”. His argument is (I am just rephrasing) as follows:

It is very improbable that life evolved, unassisted by God. Thus, the existence of God, must be at least as improbable as the evolution of life because life happens to be designed by God Himself. Thus the existence of God is very improbable. Thus there is almost certainly no God.

This argument has impressed a lot of people all over the world and is one of Dawkins’ most amazing arguments, going by how he has ‘freed’ people from the God ‘delusion’ with this masterstroke. However much as I would like to agree with Dawkins, (because free sex and meat become easy to enjoy…, or so it seems…) I have to raise my hand and ask a meek question.

This form of reasoning seems flawed for the following reasons:

If God is allowed to exist then it is He who is causing life to evolve the way it has (if there was any evolution).  If you see a watch and know that  the watchmaker (who can see) exists, then what is the probability that the watch was designed by the watchmaker ? At least very high. Then we do not worry about the various permutations and combinations involved in the construction of the watch.  We know with great certainty that the watch was constructed by the watchmaker and there is little doubt about it.

If God is not allowed to exist then life has evolved due to a blind, random process. If you see a watch this time and know that there exists no watchmaker it is only then that you wonder about the permuatations and combinations of the various arrangements in the watch and wonder how the watch came into existence, unassisted by a watchmaker. It is only then that you wonder how the watch came into existence from clay and mud etc. It is only then that you calculate the probability of the watch coming into existence.

You cannot say there is God, yet He has nothing to do with the evolution of life, and that because life evolved by a blind process, whose probability is very low, the probability of God’s existence is also low.

Either life evolved due to the will of God or due to a blind process.  It is difficult to see, how both have simulateously taken place.

Let's say you see a building. What is the probability that the building came about as a result of a hurricane during which matter got amalgamated to produce the building ?. Very Low. What is the probability that the building was built by an engineer? Very high. Now will you say that because it is very improbable that the building was assembled during a hurricane, that the poor enginner who built the building has a similar low probability of existing?  Compare this example to an analogous setting where you can replace the engineer with God, the building, with life and the hurricane with evolution, and you will understand the point I am trying to make. 

If Mr Dawkins feels that the Darwinian evolution has a very low probability of happening, then he should maybe question his own understanding that life had to evolve that way, rather than catch hold of a theists collar and insist that the theist’s Creator has a very small probability of existing. Rather it is the theist who can point out to Mr Dawkins that since it is very unlikely that life evolved, maybe it just didn’t happen.

HpS - ASA - The wiki-pedia gives a nice list of refutations, comments on Dawkin's book, no?

The argument that you listed above seems very very strange. "Very little chance that a watch was created by chance, therefore very little chance that God was created by chance." O.K. then then natural conclusion is that neither God nor the watch was created by Chance. That seems very simple, natural way to investigate.

Bertram Russel commented (we hear) that the most important concept in the 20th century is the concept of chance, because no one has the slightest idea what it means.

A chance or random event is an event the outcome of which cannot be predicted.

Doe such an event exist???? Who has demostrated this.

We look up the etymology of "Chance" and it just means the dice fell out of the cup. Seems again to be a very strange idea on which to base you investigation. The same as Vedic, "neti neti", no? Not this, not this, but some people do NOT want to know. They prefer ignorance in the hope of "free sex and hot meat". Guess they are headed to become amoeba. The amoeba can enjoy these two with his whole body, not just his tongue, no?

Thank you!

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Please, accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Gurudeva, as you request, here is NIMSAR's original first report to the Peruvian National Board and its translation.

REPORTE TRIMESTRAL DE NIMSAR N°001

30 DE JUNIO DEL 2014

Estimados miembros de la Junta Nacional del yatra de Perú.

Reciban, por favor, nuestras humildes reverencias.

¡Todas las glorias a SrilaPrabhupada!

Oramos a Krishna para que encuentren bien de salud espiritual y corporal.

Como nos comprometimos en la carta de presentación de NIMSAR del 14 de Junio del año en curso, aquí les presentamos nuestro primer informe trimestral.

1.COMUNICACIÓN Y PROTOCOLO

NIMSAR les enviará estos informes a través del secretario, quien según nuestros estatutos, se encarga de la comunicación con las autoridades a todo nivel, después de consultar el contenido con el Directorio.

Les pediríamos, por favor, que nos informaran a quién tenemos que dirigirnos específicamente para que la comunicación entre NIMSAR y la Junta Nacional sea fluida. También quisiéramos saber en qué plazo tendríamos las respuestas a nuestros informes, para de esa manera saber si estamos procediendo adecuadamente, y qué tenemos que hacer para mejorar nuestro servicio. Así mismo, les agradeceríamos que nos contesten formalmente, lo más pronto posible, la carta de presentación de NIMSAR, la cual adjuntamos a este primer reporte.

2.LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA

Nuestra Junta Directiva está conformada por:

Laksmana-agraja: Presidente

BhaktaGérman: Secretario

Isvaridevidasi: Tesorera.

Esta Junta Directiva estará en ejercicio hasta mediados de Agosto del 2014.

3.ESTADO FINANCIERO

Los reportes trimestrales incluirán el estado financiero de NIMSAR. Por ahora sólo diremos que estamos en una etapa de reorganización y daremos un informe completo para el siguiente reporte a fines de Setiembre de presente año.

4.PROGRAMAS

Cómo esbozamos en la carta de presentación, los programas en curso son el Bhaktisastri y el BhaktiVaibhava.

Profesores de estos cursos son: Patraka das, Yugalakisoredevidasi, Candramukhidevidasi y Laksmana-agraja das.

El curriculumBhaktisastri lo administra NIMSAR, SS HanumatpresakaSwami es el examinador oficial de ISKCON y la administradora es Rohinidevidasi. 

El programa piloto de Introducción al Bhakti- yoga lo está dirigiendo Laksmana-agraja das con 6 alumnos presenciales en Chosica y tres alumnos semi-presenciales, uno en Cuzco, otro en Chiclayo y otro en Arequipa.

5.CURSO DE SÁNCRITO

Como lo anunciamos en su momento, el curso de sánscrito viene siendo implementado por un grupo piloto conformado por Patraka das, Abhinanda das, Isvaridevidasi, Gouragadadharadasi y bhakta Germán Vegas. Este es un programa de GolokaEducation, con quienes mantenemos constante comunicación. NIMSAR apoya a GolokaEducation en la traducción del material didáctico a la realidad hispanoparlante, en la investigación del mercado, en el entrenamiento de profesores, etc. El programa estará a disposición del público a partir del próximo año.

NIMSAR participará en el Symposium Norteamericano de Educación de ISKCON del 24 al 26 de Julio por video conferencia. En su momento enviaremos la invitación con los detalles para todos los devotos interesados en el tema.

Finalmente, reiteramos nuestro compromiso con la Educación en ISKCON, bajo sus Siete Propósitos que estableció SrilaPrabhupada.

Esperando su pronta respuesta, se despiden sus sirvientes,

NIMSAR 

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NIMSAR QUARTERLY REPORT N°001

JUNE 30th 2014

Dear members of the National Board of Peru yatra.

Receive, please, our humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We pray to Krishna for your spiritual and body health.

As we committed in our letter of June 14, we present to you our first quarterly report.

1. COMMUNICATION AND PROTOCOL

NIMSAR will send these reports through our secretary, who according to our bylaws is responsible for communication with the authorities at all level. Along with the president, after consultation with the Directory Board, he prepares the documents to be sent.

We would ask, please, to inform us whom will be thelink between NIMSAR and the National Board in order to achieve a fluidcommunication. We would also like to know how soon you will respond to our reports, so we know that we are proceeding properly, and what should we do to improve our service. Also, we ask you to please answer as soon as possible the letter attached to this first report.

2. BOARD

Our Board is comprised of:

Laksmana-Agraja: President

Bhakta Gérman: Secretary

Isvari devi dasi: Treasurer.

This Board will be in effect until mid-August 2014.

3. STATEMENT

Quarterly reports will include the financial statements of NIMSAR. For now we'll just say that we are in a period of reorganization and we will send a full report next time in late September this year.

4. PROGRAMS

How we outlined in the letter, ongoing programs are Bhakti-sastri and Bhakti-vaibhava.

The teachers of these courses are: Patraka das, Yugala kisore devi dasi, Candramukhi devi dasi and Laksmana-Agraja-das.

TheBhakti-sastri curriculum is managed by NIMSAR; HH Hanumatpresaka Swami is the official examiner of ISKCON and is Rohini devi dasi is the manager.

The pilot program Introduction to Bhakti-yoga is headed by Laksmana-Agraja das with 7live students in Chosica and three semi-presential students, one in Cuzco, one in Chiclayo and one in Arequipa.

5. SANSKRIT COURSE

As announced in due time, the course of Sanskrit has been implemented by a pilot group consisting in Patraka das, Abhinanda das, Isvari devi dasi, Gouragadadhara dasi and bhakta Germán Vegas. This is a Goloka Education program, with whom we maintain constant communication. NIMSAR supports Goloka Education in the translation of the Spanish-speaking teaching material, market research, teachers training, etc. The program will be publicly available on next year.

NIMSAR will participate in the North American Symposium on Education in ISKCON from 24 to 26 July through video conference system. At the time the invitation will be sent with the details to all devotees interested in the subject.

Finally, we remain committed to education in ISKCON, under the Seven Purposes established by Srila Prabhupada.

Waiting for your prompt response, your servants,

NIMSAR

Awaiting for your comments and hoping you're in good health

Your Servant

Bhakta Germán

Secretary of NIMSAR

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ASA- AGTSP paoho.  Was there and answer from the National Counsel?

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva

Please, accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I'm sending you the requested letter, given by Laksmana-agraja prabhu to Jayapataka Swami Maharaja during his visit to Lima in june. 

CARTA DE PRESENTACIÓN DE NIMSAR AL GBC REGIONAL

Su Santidad JayapatakaMaharaja, devotos miembros de la Junta Nacional, devotos líderes.

Reciban, por favor, nuestras humildes reverencias.

Todas las glorias a SrilaPrabhupada!

La siguiente carta es una presentación de NIMSAR como entidad educativa reconocida en  ISKCON Perú.

DEFINICIÓN

NIMSAR es el nombre actual para Instituto Naimisaranya (India) y fue elegido como nuestro nombre para su significado educativo y cultural. Somos una institución educativa y cultural que comenzó a operar en 2008, bajo la guía de nuestro asesor Su Santidad Hanumatpresaka Swami. Nimsar es una rama oficial de la Anjana Suta Academy de Hanumatpresaka Swami (ASA), que tiene su sede en Nashville, Tennesse y trabajamos en conjunto con Su Gracia Tamohara Das como representante del GBC local. Ambas instituciones dan  la bienvenida a todos los devotos que quieran participar y compartir nuestra visión y misión.

MISIÓN

“Somos una opción educativa para ISKCON andino: Perú - Bolivia- Ecuador y otros.

Brindamos herramientas para el desarrollo espiritual, personal y comunitario”  rezan nuestros estatutos. Es decir, presentamos una perspectiva educativa dentro de todos los esfuerzos que hay en este ámbito.

ADMINISTRACIÓN

La máxima autoridad dentro de NIMSAR es el directorio, quien toma las decisiones y da la perspectiva de desarrollo de los programas. Contamos con una Junta de Consejo que nos asesora al respecto y la Junta Directiva es quien ejecuta los acuerdos. Todo esto funciona bajo la autoridad del GBC local.

En el futuro enviaremos reportes trimestrales sobre nuestras actividades.

PROGRAMAS ACTUALES

Actualmente NIMSAR desarrolla y administra el programa Bhaktisastri en Perú y otros lugares como sede oficial aprobada por el GBC y el Ministerio de Educación de ISKCON.

NIMSAR también está desarrollando el programa BhaktiVaibhava siguiendo los cánones oficiales de la administración en San José, California, mientras espera su aprobación oficial.

PROGRAMAS PILOTO

MINSAR está colaborando con GolokaEducation en la traducción del material de estudio del curso de Sánscrito para los tres primeros años de primaria. También está desarrollando el entrenamiento de profesores, el material educativo y el currículum para dictar el curso el 2015. Nuestra investigación incluye un análisis del mercado y la demanda. Este proyecto puede ser el primer paso para una escuela primaria en cooperación con GolokaEducation.

NIMSAR está también desarrollando el curso de Introducción al Bhakti-yoga en Chosica como programa piloto. Éste incluye teoría y práctica, couching y diversos test para ayudar a la persona en su desarrollo personal y comunitario. El curso de discípulos está integrado a este programa de un año que pretende entrenar a los devotos nuevos de manera integral. Para el 2015 el curso será parte de nuestra currícula.

PROYECTOS DE PROGRAMAS

Dentro de la currícula de NIMSAR estamos proyectando la inclusión del curso de adoración, el curso de Comunicaciones, el curso de Administración y Liderazgo, y un curso de entrenamiento para profesores. Estos cursos empezarán a implementarse el 2015.

Finalmente, queremos agregar que NIMSAR está deseoso de colaborar con la educación de ISKCON en la región. Para lo cual vamos a participar de las reuniones internacionales sobre educación, continuar nuestra preparación como grupo educativo, seguir nuestras investigaciones sobre el tema, para cualificarnos y dar un servicio de calidad a los devotos interesados en su formación.

Siempre bajo la guía de SrilaPrabhupada, nuestras autoridades locales y regionales y el asesoramiento de SS HanumatresakaSwami miembro del comité ejecutivo del Ministerio de Educación de ISKCON.

Sus sirvientes,

NIMSAR (Presidente: Laksmana-agraja das. E-mail [email protected]. Telf.984677968)

Chosica, 14 de Junio del 2014.

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NIMSAR’S PRESENTATION LETTER TO THE REGIONAL GBC

His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja, member devotees of the National Board, leading devotees.

Receive, please, our humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The following letter is presented by NIMSAR as an educational institution recognized by ISKCON Peru.

DEFINITION

NIMSAR is the current, local name for Naimisaranya (India) and was chosen as our name for its educational and cultural significance. We are an educational institution which started to operate in 2008, under the guidance of our senior advisor His Holiness Hanumatpresaka Swami. Nimsar is an offical branch of Hanumatpresaka Swami's Anjana Suta Academy (ASA) which is based in Nashville, Tennesse and we are working with His Grace Tamohara Das as representative of the local GBC. Both institutions welcome all devotees who want to participate and share our vision and mission.

OUR MISSION

"We are an educational option for ISKCON Andes: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and others. We provide tools for spiritual, personal and community development” our bylaws say. This means, we offer an educational perspective in all efforts existing in this region.

MANAGEMENT

The highest authority within NIMSAR is the Directory Board, which makes decisions and gives the perspective of program development. We have an Advisory Board that gives us advice and the Directory Board runs the agreements. Everything is under the authority of the local GBC.

In the future we will be sending quarterly reports on our activities.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Currently NIMSAR develops and manages the Bhakti-sastri program in Peru and elsewhere as the official headquarters approved by the GBC and ISKCON Ministry of Education.

NIMSAR is also developing the Bhakti-vaibhava program following the official requirements of San Jose, California management, while awaiting formal approval.

PILOT PROGRAMS

NIMSAR is collaborating with Goloka Education in the translation of the Sanskrit course didactic material for the first three years of primary school. It is also developing teacher training, educational materials and the curriculum to be taught in 2015. Our research includes market analysis and his demand. This project may be the first step to a primary school in cooperation with Goloka Education.

NIMSAR is also developing the Introduction to Bhakti-yoga course in Chosica as a pilot program. This includes theory and practice, couching and severalexams to help the person in their personal and community development. The Disciple’s course is integrated in this one-year program that aims to train new devotees holistically. By 2015 this course will be part of our curriculum.

PROGRAMS IN PROJECT

Within the NIMSAR’s curriculum we are projecting the inclusion of the Worship course, Communications course, the Management and Leadership course and a training course for teachers. These courses will be implemented by 2015.

Finally, we add that NIMSAR is eager to collaborate with ISKCON education in the region. To which we will participate in international meetings on education, follow our preparation as an educational group, continue our research on the subject, to improve our qualifications and give quality service to all devotees interested in their training.

Always under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada, our local and regional authorities and the advice of HH Hanumatpresaka Swami as executive committee member of ISKCON’s Ministry of Education.

Your servants, NIMSAR (President: Laksmana-agraja das. E-mail [email protected]. Telf.984677968)

Chosica, june 14th 2014.

I hope you're in very good health

Your servant

Bhakta Germán

Secretary of NIMSAR

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ASA - Jaya. It looks very, very nice. Professional devotional service (BG Chapter Two)!! Adelante

Todas las glorias a Sri Sri Guru y Gauranga!!

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!

Estamos aqui en el seminario de maharaj Dhamvantari sirviendolo cada dia!! cantando, bailando, tomando Prasadan, y cocinando pizzas para Prabhupada y los devotos los viernes en las tardes y cocinamos los domingos para el festival! y en mis horas libres estamos pintando y dibujando cosas muy lindas para Radha Govinda!es muy extatico el servicio aqui! salimos a Sankirtana una semana por mes para cubrir la despensas mensuales... es muy tranquilo y nectario! Mi corazon se siente cada vez en paz! cada dia nos estamos levantado a mangalaratik, cantando nuestras rondas y siguiendo los 4 principios!! cada dia mejorando un poco mas!!!estoy sintiendo un poco de nostalgia por mi nombre antiguo Syama Kunda... :( estoy apegado a el todavia....como esta su salud?  bueno eso es todo...acepme mis humildes reverencias

su eterno sirviente Syamananda Pandit das (syama kunda das) 

PD: Cual es la posibilidad de que usted reciba una invitacion del presidente de la iskcon para venir al templo de Campina Grande y ud venir?

HpS - ASA - Moo Cha Cha Cha's gracias sus noticias. En Goloka va recbir tercero nombre. Ha!   Ha!   Ha!

Puede ver nuestra intarario en Blog, "Calendar Develment", no?

Espero ver Maharaja en Cordoba en Enero!

Hare Krshna Maharaja,

Please accept my respectful obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you are fine. Happy to hear that the Educational Symposium in Houston was successful.

Sorry for my late answer.

Our life is a mess nowadays and we also didn't have internet connection for a while.

What about joining the Mayapure Institute program??? We are trying to post our materials in our archives.

You suggested me to join the Mayapur Institute BhVaibhava program. I didn't find find online BhVB course on their website and unfortunately i'm unable right now to go to Mayapur :(

Namacharya Das in Croatia is part of the program in California. Maybe you and he can start a program in Europe! 

I talked to Namacharya Prabhu and he said he was extremely busy nowadays but after finishing his BhVB course he could help in it. Actually i don't understand clearly how could we start a program in Europe... what would be our role/task?

Thank you very much for your association!

Your servant,

Sri Radhe devi dasi

HpS - ASA - Jaya! Maybe Draupadi and Kunti Devi's lives were worse mess!   This is Kali-yuga, no? Get up early and get your rounds done, then, carve out a little space in the mess and get in touch with a few Sankirtan partners, make a few practical plans and have a good day, no?

This BhVai program is in the pioneer stage. You could get a few study partners from anywhere and do it. That might turn into a formal diploma, but the actual study is the real diploma. Become qualified to play with Krsna! What about B.V. College in Radha desa????

Thank you so much for your news and Battle of Kuruksetra. Reverences to your family.