Letters to the editor

A Devotee and Scientist Asks:

Hare Krishna 

HH Hanumat Preshaka Swami had to leave immediately after his discourse today, and we couldn't get to ask a question

I'm hoping someone on this forum may be able to help

We learn that truth has the attributes of 

1. Being independent...whether majority believes or disagrees with it, truth remains the truth. It doesn't need anything like proof, etc. to exist

2. Being eternal... truth is unchanging. It stays the same irrespective of time, place, or circumstances 

3. Being universal... it is applicable to everyone, everything, everywhere 

4. Being inimitable....truth cannot be manufactured

With this in mind, why is something like faith required to understand/realize truth?

After all, faith can make one accept lies to be the truth & vice versa

There are more basal things like hunger, which doesn't require anything external like faith or person to tell us we're hungry.... so why is it that for something sublime like truth, which is independent anyway, we rely on a shaky thing like faith?

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Hanumatpresaka Swami (Professor H. H. Robinson)

Such and excellent and also very fundamental question. We also have been attentive to this personally, and also in our dealings in science, even in discourses with even Nobel Laureattes.

Of course, this is the general area of Epistemology, How do we Know.

Ontology has been described as, What we can Know.

Praxiology as, What we do about It.

Yes, the word Faith has been denigrated by modern materialistic people as being Blind Faith, but this is condemned by Srila Prabhupada, and our Caitanya, Bengali, Vaisnava community. For example, it is directly declared in purport to BG As It Is 4.34.

"In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned."

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/4/34/

It is a big topic with lots written on the subject.

I would say the way Srila Prabhupada uses the word faith is a translation of the word "sraddha". In his sense he is using it like saying the Old Jeeves is a very faithful servant.

We may know something but we don't apply it. We are unfaithful.

In some ways it is the same as the word 'Bhakti' or 'Love'.

Then it becomes pretty easy, no?

If we say that the Truth cannot be known without Love, Respect, then it becomes easier approach the problem of faith and knowledge.

One class of "Scientists" take Science as dominating the material energy. Forcing her to reveal her confidential secrets and forcing her to gratify our masculine desires.

😟

In The Voice of Experience Dr. R. D. Laing gives some just astonishing quotations, statements, about this perspective in science.

Does reality have a moral and ethical component, or is it just impersonal truth that can be accessed equally by demons and atheists, or gods and heroes?

PhD means Teacher of Love of Wisdom. So if you are a PhD in physics you don't have to teach your students anything, no information or rational processes. You just have to teach them to LOVE Truth!!!

Does a prominent Research Scientist leading a large and respected team in some cutting edge area of science have'Faith' in the hypothesis they are now pursuing?

Arjuna surrendered to Krsna in BG 2, but he had lots of doubts after that.

Diksa means that you don't bring up artificial doubts to try to avoid surrender.

Diksa means that we agree to go on asking practical questions as long as the Guru keeps on supplying practical answers from empirical, logical, mystical (intuitive), resources.

No blind faith is required.

We are approaching BG with a hypothesis and testing it.

One nice question for confirmed scientific materialists is:

Do you have axiomatic faith in the postulates of Euclid? 😠

Of course, they do.

We don't have faith in the postulates of Euclid because we can see red, blue and green, empirical knowledge.

As far a rational understand goes. In science it is synonimous with Mathematics.

You can't even have enumeration without Euclids postulates, what to speak of counting, arithmetric, geometry, calculus.

Its a broad topic.

I think it was Galileo whom when asked why they BELIEVED in the postulates of mathematics, responded that because they FELT right.

Vedas say that ultimately everything is RASA.

The final evidence is Rasa.

Science is based upon a fine taste that drives us on to being more and more committed.

O.K.

Some of our ideas.

Sri Hari Das,, hps, ngd Met

From 9.30 to 10.15AM.

Saturday 20th Feb.

Tom Brown was the Acting Secretary. 🐵 🐒

🚩 ngd will drive by the Jackson Heights Mall and look for a phone number for Property Management and rental enquiries.

hps arrives at nios/asa Base Camp at 902 hillcrest (across the street from the JHM) on 26th february and SHD about the same time. They will both Camp there and reconnoiter the situation.

If His Divine Grace permits,

NIOS will lease a Store Front in the Mall for:

1. Full Morning Service (Holy Orders).
2. Dance and Marshall Arts classes. 💃 👯 💃
3. Language Classes. 🎏
4. Saturday//Sunday, Festival Events.
5. Evening Events.
6. Cultural Center for ISKCON Gujurati Community.
7. Yoga events for MTS University students and faculty.
8. Launching Pad for Rural Campus.

• SHD investigate buying/renting house(s) in The Boro for whole family. Eg Hillcrest Dr. often has low income, nice, house rentals and sales. Do you want to rent a a house there and then buy a plot in the Campus Development?

NgD suggests that Subhadra-mayi can teach at the Campus.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Hare Krishna Maharaja!

Please accept my respectful obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

In the previous letter, I mentioned that it was by "his mercy" that I was able to make it to mangal, and by "his mercy" that I was able to go on the altar to throw flowers on Radha Kalachandji.

I have read many posts that devotees say "his" to refer to H. H. Hanumatpresaka Swami, and that was my intention too!

Thank you! I just wanted to clarify that!

HpS - But also by the mercy of Temple President, Lord Nitayanand Das, no? So many people helping us develop OUR service in different capacities! 🐵 🐷 🐮 🐸 🐶 👨 👧 🐈

I also came up with this poem for you--

Like tears in the rain

Mangal without you isn't the same

Twirling your cane

Freeing us from mortal pain

For Krsna let's re-yolk

And all go to Golok!

Aspiring to be a monkey,

Jaya Hari das

Thank you for the Maha-art each morning!!!!

5.38PM. Sunset. Going to Bathe, Gayatri, visit Saranga thakura Das's home for a Nrsmha Yajna at 6.30PM and go to Temple for Gaura arati and BLS on Rama at 7.30PM.

We see several more letters with titles DTC. It is good orientation for us. I guess we can send some back to Peru, some to Mexico, distribute some here. Keep some for later distribution here... and we can bring some to Spain (ISKCON Czech Republic) or send them!

If you will still have any and would be not making you any uncomfort I hope to meet you in Spain.

HpS - How do you get the left side grey line in front of the paragraph??? We got emos by keystrokes going!

How is the Beta, Kappa, Delta, Gama... version!???

Coming slower than I planned (that's my always wrong time estimates). But I am happy with progress. Will finish reading history remake today. Next thing will be most likely search.

We can schedule some date and time which suits you as it will be great honor to have you as first user of the new version. And I could still change something based on your desires before launching it for public.

HpS - We might be able to help a little bit but 🐵 and 🐷 would have many suggestions right away!

Uncle Gismo notes that there is a 🔬 but now Robot emoji!

Your son is Prahlada????

Wife at one moment wanted to name him Prahlad, but on end his legal name is Balarám and during name giving he got Balarám Nitai das.

HpS - Maybe he will be the next Maharaja Parishit and make the world One Planet Under Krsna with his capitol in Czech Republic! 😤

He will take over the Theta version???

Time will tell. I would be happy, but if astrology reading was correct he would be more connected with art. He is already drawing on walls 😀

HpS - Of course they do that in mental hospitals also. 😆 Maybe he will become as great a cartoonist as charles schulz!

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha das

HpS - Even if our body does not go to Spain. We will certainly send boxes, DTCs etc!

Dear Maharaj,

PAMHO AGTSP!

Adding question here on blog on your request: Maharaj, do you suggest we move to Nashville now, or should I complete metal weapon training for another 6 months and then we move 🙏🏻.

your servant,

SM DD

HpS - AgtSP. Please accept out humble obeisances and well wishes!!

Thank you for your question here, and any inconvenience in having to wait for a week for an answer.

95% of three hundred V-puja guests gone home!

Our NIOS Campus Development Committee = HpS, NgD and ShD will meet for the second time, tomorrow.

So far we all have interest but I am focusing on first meeting, getting a place to meet, for full morning service in Murfreesboro or so.

I put the common Sadhana as the basis of physical locations before land and buildings, but they are related.

NgD home might be nice, but problem is they are often taking care of their grand daughter = Heroes!

Then there is possibility we could rotate between different houses on different days of the week in The Boro. Other possibility is renting a place in the Mall across the street from our 902 Hillcrest building.

Without progress in this facility we would be pushed to go on to Spain, New Vraja Mandala, and anyone who wants could follow!

Then Radha kunda (follow us)

.... and Nabadvipa is another universe with Nimai!! (Follow us)?

So.... first I would think that Sri Hari Das might want to see what is the situation for a few weeks, month(s) before making a move to Tennessee. Houston or Austin might be better????

Although we see Nashville as prime place for ISKCON Teacher Training College etc.

How much longer to finish your studies?

Few months?

We can't give any more help than the above information.

What does ShD and AGD et al think?

HpS/ASA - Thank you! AgtSP. paoho. We scanned your excellent report but cannot read it in detail because so many.

We are collecting them into a Word File and hope to read them later and comment.

We have your departure date for India in our Calendar and hope that you meet many nice people sent by Krsna on the way and you can enlighten them.

Send news from the Dhama.

HK Gurudeva, Pamho, tlgaSP!!!

I was at the Vyasapuja meeting on Zoom... Wow how many displays of love from my brothers and sisters... I can remember when we were few and how fortunate we were to have so many moments of partnership and service.

This year we have continued with the services of the year 2022, pujari, education, preaching, and support for our authorities in the temples where we have passed. I still have a year and a half of purification left, in this long period of rahu that lasts 18 years...

After 2025, my Jupiter period begins, according to astrologers, the most auspicious moment for me... I never gave so much value to astrology until events that had already warned me came to pass... Now I am being more careful. ..

I am going to India and I will try to stay there for a while, I am praying to Krsna Balaram and Govardhan to be able to achieve this, even if it is a few years. I will try to find a way to continue serving you in Vani... Maybe one day I can be more useful... I need your blessings please...

I feel like you somehow lost faith in me as a disciple, or that you were disappointed, maybe you expected more from me...

If that were the case, for now I do not feel capable of changing all that... A mistake of mine was always not "playing the trumpet" or telling you about the services I did... But I have always remained in service trying to fulfill my vows and your specific instructions, even in my worst moments. And if it's worth anything, in those worst moments, I was always with you, I never left you, I clung to the vani, and that kept me alive... Now that better moments are coming, I will try to continue maintaining that.

But I still can't mature to communicate more with you on your blog and tell you all the services I do, or how enthusiastic I can be in my day... I still can't get over that false ego of reporting everything, because I feel like I'm bragging if I do... I hope you understand me.

However, this past year has been better than all the previous ones despite everything... Because there was a lot of learning and the trials, errors and failures made me grow a little...

But I must confess that Vani is hard for me. That I have felt your physical absence like never before, that I miss you very much, and that I would like to be by your side and be able to serve you in some way... Every disciple would like to do something great for his guru... Maybe a few lucky ones will achieve it. .. I don't know if I want to do that, much less promise you... That's not my dream, I just would like to be able to serve you in vapu again. But if it's a matter of promises, the only thing I can continue to promise you is that I will continue to hold your lotus feet... I know that you are going to take me to Srila Prabhupada... I would even be willing to go with you wherever you are going to serve Srila Prabhupada... All that remains for me is to show you that you can count on me...

Please forgive me my offenses... You foolish wannabe servant... AmD

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HK Gurudeva, Pamho, tlgaSP!!!

Estuve en la reunión de Vyasapuja por Zoom... Wow cuántas muestras de amor de mis hermanos y hermanas...

Puedo recordar cuando éramos pocos y lo afortunados que fuimos al tener tantos momentos de asociación y servicio.

Esté año hemos continuado con los servicios del año 2022, pujari, educación, prédica, y apoyo a nuestras autoridades en los templos por dónde hemos pasado. Aún me queda año y medio de purificación, en este largo periodo de rahu que dura 18 años...

Después del 2025, empieza mi periodo de Júpiter, según los astrólogos, el momento más auspicioso para mí... Nunca le di tanto valor a la astrología hasta que se cumplieron acontecimientos que ya me habían advertido... Ahora estoy siendo más cuidadoso...

Estoy yendo a India e intentaré quedarme un tiempo allá, estoy orando a Krsna Balaram y a Govardhan para poder lograrlo, aunque sea unos años. Trataré de encontrar la manera de poder seguir sirviendote en Vani... Quizás algún día pueda ser más útil... Necesito tus bendiciones por favor...

Siento que de alguna manera perdiste la fe en mí como discípulo, o que te decepcionaste, quizás esperabas más de mí...

Sí así fuera, por ahora no me siento capaz de poder cambiar todo eso... Un error mío siempre fue no "tocar trompeta" o contarte los servicios que hacía... Pero siempre me he mantenido en servicio tratando de cumplir mis votos y tus instrucciones específicas, incluso en mis peores momentos. Y si de algo sirve, en esos peores momentos, siempre estuve contigo, nunca te dejé, me aferre al vani, y eso me mantuvo vivo... Ahora que se vienen mejores momentos, trataré de seguir manteniendo eso.

Pero aún no puedo madurar el comunicarme más contigo en tu blog y contarte todo los servicios que hago, o lo entusiasta que puedo estar en mi día día... Aún no puedo superar ese ego falso de reportar todo, porque siento que estoy alardeando si lo hago... Espero que me entiendas.

Sin embargo este año que pasó ha sido mejor que todos los anteriores a pesar de todo... Porque hubo mucho aprendizaje y las pruebas, los errores y los fracasos me hicieron crecer un poquito...

Pero debo confesar que el Vani es duro para mí. Que he sentido como nunca tu ausencia física, que te extraño mucho, y qué me gustaría estar a tu lado y poder servirte de alguna manera... Todo discípulo quisiera hacer algo grandioso para su guru... Quizás algunos cuantos afortunados lo logren... Yo no sé si quiero hacer eso, menos prometertelo... Ese no es mi sueño, yo solo quisiera poder servirte en vapu nuevamente.

Pero si es cuestión de promesas, lo único que puedo seguir prometiendote es que voy a seguir agarrando tus pies de loto... Se que me vas a llevar con Srila Prabhupada... Incluso estaría dispuesto a ir contigo donde vayas a servir a Srila Prabhupada... Todo lo que me queda es poder demostrarte que puedes contar conmigo...



Por favor perdóname mis ofensas... Tú tonto aspirante a sirviente... AmD

Perdóname por poner urgente...