Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Hanumat Presaka Swami!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

It's Bhaktin Marta, Jara Mara Hari Das's wife.

HpS - ASA -- AGTSP...   Yes, we were very honored to meet you in Madrid. JMHari Das is very fortunate person.

Hope you are feeling fine in all aspects.

HpS - The last trip was from Radhadesa to Murfreesboro. We got up at 1.30AM which is 7.30PM, 26th May, in M'freesboro, and we arrived at 2.30PM the 28th of May. That is ... 43-hours of travel!   The flight from Brussels was delayed by 6-hours because their radar crashed. Then we got to Newark, USA and no connecting flight, no hotel ...  So we didn't lie down to sleep for 43-hours, but we felt pretty comfortable the whole time. Weak, but we are recovering. Hare Krsna.

It was a big pleasure to share your association in Madrid's Temple. Thank you very much for your visit. Also thank you for opening this communication channel, this is really helpful for all us.

ASA - Oink! (Buck White)

I would like to ask you for some advice. I am sorry I didn't take the opportunity to ask you in Madrid, so I'm writing you now and telling you a bit about my situation. I'm trying to resume, hope to not bore you.

I'm into Krsna consciousness since two years ago. Despite difficulties I feel enthusiast with the process and also very grateful. I never thought I could feel happy like this.

I was born in Barcelona in 1979, no brothers or sisters, divorced parents, living with my father, no religious education, complicated childhood and adolescence. I studied architecture in the university. I enjoyed the studies but didn’t enjoy working as an architect after many years trying different architecture offices. My modus vivendi was unhealthy. Anxious, stressed! After a while I decided to change the scenario, I quit working as an architect, got a job in an organic food store, studied veterinary assistant. Then I moved into a little village in Cantabria (North of Spain) and got a job as a vet assistant, surrounded by very nice atmosphere, getting in deep touch with Nature, feeling impressed about how amazing and perfect Nature is. Happiness, Peace! 

During this process I met Jara Mara Hari Das in the vet hospital. We became good friends, he gave me Prabhupada's "The Science of Self-Realisation". I was satisfied and released by reading it, since then I'm trying to become a good devotee. I feel eternal compromise towards Jara Mara Hari Das for showing me the way. Today we are happily married and living in Madrid's Temple sharing home with Mataji's Ashram.

Now, four regs, complete morning program almost everyday. I'm chanting rounds everyday but not everyday I am chanting sixteen rounds. I am chanting Japa in the Temple with devotees for an hour. After that I'm chanting while working in the flower shop or while running in the park, no japa then, not counting either. I'm not reading much. I enjoy listening Srimad Bhagatam classes, listening devotees talking about Krsna. I enjoy Bhajan and Kirtan in front of Gaura Nitai. My favourite Prasadam is fruit. I enjoy taking care of Tulasi  and all other plants in Temple, home and shop. I also enjoy being part of this spreading Krsna's Consciousness movement. I'm trying to develop Love for Krsna, also unconditional Love towards others, towards life in general.

I've had many realisations since I'm in Krsna's Consciousness (thank you all!) but also some difficulties.

Main difficulty is to discern between false ego and self-esteem or genuine need. Or, how to realise we are not this body and this emotions, while being responsibles for ourselves in this material world. Or, how to identify what is spiritual and what is material since we are spiritual souls living in a material world.

Also, how to never forget to place Krsna in the center and how to do it.

Thank you very much!

Your servant,

Bhaktin Marta

HpS - ASA - AGTSP.  Thank you for the wonderful report. JMHari Das told us some of these things also. To take to KC so quickly you must have been a Nun or some such thing in your last or a previous life. Your questions, challenges, to come to the standard Sadhana requested by Srila Prabhupada are normal. It is like saying, "I have moved to the moon and things are different here.". Yes, there are so many things different in KC from material consciousness, so it takes time to adjust to living in a different world. For that there are so many books that Srila Prabhupada has given, and devotees who have learned from those books, Srila Prabhupada's lips, his personal actions, and those who have learned from those who have personally heard or seen him, but I personally heard him say that he would never die, he would live forever in his books.

So, what about reading everyday. Even with one or two study partners for obtaining practical knowledge? As you become purified you will be able to distinguish the impulses of the Supersoul from the false ego, also.

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP

PAMHO

I hope U are fine Gurudeva, I saw some pictures from you in Spain from Bhadra vardhana U look GOOD ¡¡¡¡ I can say even younger than before JAYA ¡¡¡

Gurudeva thank U for your letter on may 14th.. when U tell me that I do not have to doubt and that it is better to die chanting HK/HR.. You told me to give you a report after 5 days.. so sorry GM I delayed a little bit. I was not feeling so good, but even if I was not feeling so good  I complete my rounds and even chant my delay rounds¡¡¡

I have learned a lot.. the mind can be your best friend or our worst enemy¡¡ The problem was I did not take shelter on the Holy Names.. also my false ego is HUGE, I MUST have in my heart that U told me once... IN KC we respect even an ant ¡¡¡ I did not act like a second initiation devotee.. MAYA defeated me :( buuuu , but it just a second battle of many many others that is not the final war. Also I have serious problems of communication I am trying to work on it.

 I have no job, I am taking some time to rest and try to heal my heart. Palikda dd is helping me in finding a job, my friends family and specially U are helping me a lot. I am going out today on SANKIRTAN ¡¡¡ with Madhumati dd (I hope SP gives us His mercy)

As always GM I do not want to pretend to be a fake cmdd U know all my faults. In the last 3 months I did not act as a proper second initiated devotee I offended many many devotees first U, so please with my head onto your lotus feet please kindly forgive me, and help me that others also forgive me. The only thing GM is that with all my limitations I tried to do my best, but without the shelter of my rounds obviously it was impossible. At this point I just want to be iur disciple again, I am raising for mangala artik, studying SB again... etc...

I am sad extremely sad GM I can not lie to U, but happy at the same time for your eternal shelter. So I will do all my best so when U come in August encounter with an aceptable CMDD, I hope to be a good tool  in your eternal sankirtan. I have learned that without 16/4 it is impossible to act properly LESSON LEARNED 

Sorry for this poor report...

Trying to be iur disciple

CMDD

HpS - ASA ---  If 15% of the people in the world were as good as you it would be heaven on earth. Seems that maybe you have fought 157-rounds with The Witch and lost two. Once we are chanting we are connected to Krsna. He has a plan for your service you can't even begin to imagine!   Everything that happens while we are chanting properly becomes a part of that.
Returning from Argentina with a BIG bag of gold. Now you can help everyone much more if you want to .

Respected Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. Just now I read that you have expressed your appreciations for the services offered by the different devotees in Delhi, thank you so much for that, it would act like a big booster in their devotional enthusiasm.

HpS - Hmmm!   AGTSP.  We did not express enough our gratitude for their contribution. I think their enthusiasm comes more from their Prabhupada Krpa than our efforts.
 

Guruji! is it possible that can you kindly put in your newsletter or in this monkey warrior blog about your movements in Delhi, how many professors came,

HpS - About 25. Several retired and active Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors from Varanasi, Delhi, Simhla etc. We paid air fares for seven from Kolkata.

Where did they stay and what was their overall thought about ISKCON, did they get any prasad-

HpS - They stayed in the ISKCON Guest house. Several were already ISKCON Life Members. Many first time at ISKCON Project in Delhi. They all found the accomodations, dinning in Govinda's Restaurant, Campus, Devotees very nice. The ISKCON devotee: Mohan rupa, Vrajendranandana, Yuddhisthira Govinda, found them very intense schilars. They said that their evaluation for our NIOS preaching programs went up by 400%.

how was Doctor Samresh Bandopadhyaya

HpS - He is very intelligent. Practical. Of course we were all a little passoinate at times. As usually he worked harder than anyone, but like us he had serious energy loss by the end of the program. He came with his good wife, Nandini Bandyppadhyaya and it we here first time in Vrndavana.

and did you actually get the opportunity to see the President of India,

HpS - No. We had to organize the program on very, very, very short term notice, but it did stimulate us to see all of our contacts with Pranabha Mukherjee, Radhanatha Singh (Home Minister), President of ICCR, USA Ambassador et al. In the end Mukundakam Sharma, former Justice Supreme Court, released the book.
Almost nobody from outside came. It was Monday at 4.30PM.  No other hall was available at that time. We advertised as best we could. Temple expected better crowd from our efforts, but is very special subject and short notice etc. I was very happy. We did your best and hall had nice decorations, boquets and nice souvenirs for all, nice Progamme and pamphlet. Everyone was very, very impressed with the book and made nice academic presentations.

Did you give any Bhagvatam class in Delhi or Vrindavan

HpS - Class in Delhi first day we arrived. They asked us later but it was just too much. Every minute was needed to organize the Release.

And where did you stay in Vrindavan. I saw one photo of yours with Dr.Samresh, and I think it is Radha Kund.

HpS - ASA - Cakori Radha, Radha-carana and Tunga-vidya Devi Dasis and Sri Hari Das arranged for us to stay in the MVT rooms. SHD daughter, Sataksi, arrange a quick but very, very professional Odissa dance program in the Temple that night. It was hot but so, so nice to be in Vraja. We read Vrndavana dhama mahimamrta to Professor and his wife and everyone on the way to Vraja. Left Delhi at 3PM and got to Vraja by 5.30PM. New superfast road.
Next morning we left for Radha-kunda by 6AM and had very nice tour led by Giri-dhari Das. The back to Delhi.
There is nothing more merciful than the dust of Vrndavana Dhama.....

Thanks a lot. yours servant, Raktak Das

HpS - Thank you. Excellent questions. You should really start working as a Journalist immediately. I think everyone agrees. Do five interviews with devotees and send the news here to the Blog. Start with the Radha-Gopinatha Pujari in Sydney(?).