Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna gurudeva. AgtSP pamho

I want to convey what he answered me: "Telll him that I am happy to accept you now that he has given his blessings."

thank you so much ,

bhktn Belén 

HpS - ASA - Very nice.    A G T S P !

Of course, "Devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy. Its substance is practical activity." (NoI 3)  So the foreground is doing the work for the satisfaction of Radha and Krsna and then internally we develop our internal life with our confidential friends and eventually our personal private life with Krsna. Prabhupada chastised Atreya Rsi Das when he told him, "Oh, Prabhupada, Krsna is so far away. I just want to worship you!".

Prabhupad told him that that was Mayavada philosophy. Unless we see Guru as representative of Krsna it is impersonalism. Of course, Guru, Prabhupada, devotees can be such strong representatives of Krsna that they also inspire Prema bhakti, but that is Uddipana, vibhava. Prema bhakti in terms of Krsna.

All Glories to Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara
All Glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitay
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Please Dear Gurudev, accept my humble obeisances
First of all, this report with questions about the congress ends huge. I know that is no the idea, but, i'm sure that with your always essential answers we can do a service much better and we don't bother you too much after this.

·After your last reply we have had two god brothers meetings and the followers news came from it.

· The devotees here are very enthusiastic with the idea to manage this symposia. So, according with our talking with Param Padam and you, the final date for the “I Latin American Congress on Education in ISKCON” is Friday 30th January to Sunday 1st ,ie, your last weekend in Chile.

The updates now:

1) Name and Generals Points

Just for the time I thought quickly in a slogan to accompany the title, and even put the slogan larger than the original title, namely, I Latin American Congress on Education in ISKCON, and is:

“Experiencias y Propuestas en el arte de cultivar el espíritu.”

We thought that this slogan may help to give a general guideline due is the first congress, so in that way we can at least, guide this international meeting, first of all, to the details about what`s really happening right now on the education in ISKCON in this far region of the world, sharing experiences and according these experiences; what is the general proposal for improve, and everything and always in a unity spirit.

But, now I think that it could be a little ambiguous, not too much tangible. So, what do you think about the slogan idea?, Maybe you can propose other one.

HpS - ASA --- AGTSP! O.K. Date is on our Calendar. What about ISKCON and Education: The Oldest Educational System in the World, Meets the Newest Educational Challenges in America.

2) Financial Issues:

Due the enthusiasm of devotees like Priyasakhi, Sri Pati, Raga Sindhu and others, arise different good ideas to get money for bring here the suitable exhibitors and lecturers. For examples, music concert, festival, prasadam, and even, caps and t-shirts. Actually, Raga Sindhu did a budget already with the tickets of the speakers, is more or less USD 3000.

On the other hand, i'm curious with one sentence of your last reply to me: “We can even get outside participation and sponsors because Education in ISKCON is a Premier Program for Global Perspectives in Education..” With outside participation you are referring to other devotees communities or to non-devotees institutions, like enterprises and foundations???? Premier Program for Global perspectives in Education... “in the world”, you say? Excuse me gurudev, I did'n understand that part. But, I agree with the idea to get sponsors.

HpS - ASA - I am not sure exactly what I meant, but as we develop we could ask people like the GBC to suggest sponsors for some of the expenses. In Texas we charged $50 for each participant and gave Becas, Scholarships for poor people.

Finally, in relation with this point. We could see the fees in the North American Symoposio (NAS) were $51, so, our question is: We should reply this system; to ask fees and give a CD with all conferences?. May be $40 here. My other question: Is the same price to the tele-conference participants, international visitors and local devotees? The prasada were included?

HpS - ASA - Aaaah!  We are thinking the same way. Prasadam and accomodations were separate, so teleconference and gross presence were the same fees.

3) Speakers:

[Suggestions withheld until they are contacted]

In relation to speakers we have some proposals and questions:

• The titles and topics of their conferences should be suggest by us or is their decision?

• Is possible to have for this Congress some of the speakers from the last NAS in Houston? With Ambarish we talked that there is a special interest in Urmila, and his [her] experience with school children. Is possible that she can visit Chile in that time?. Or Sesa Prabhu or Prana das?

• Also, i'm starting a contact with IES (Iskcon Educational Services ies.iskcon.org) from London to other teleconference if is possible. They have a experience in formal education but, maybe the devotees from Canada also can.

• What is your opinion, considering that the topics will cover all educational level, pre-school, et al, to Invite some leader in Education from the Adventist church, famous here for their vegetarianism and to win the chorus contests and other arts. In just one presentation we can know more deeply their success experience (www.educacionadventista.cl) and some of the legal issues to install a school here.

1. Other Points

• In relation with your question: Also, so many people can attend if it is done well by tele-conferencing. Are you familiar with that in Santiago? Honestly, we are not familiar with tele-conference system here. Just webex thank Param Padam and you, Starmeeting thank you, and the new and improved hangouts from Google, and a little ustream. Is just that.

• I designed two ads. One of them is for webs, lika a banner to put in iskcondesiretree webpage, and other local ISKCON websides. The other one is bigger and include the faces of some speakers. (I'm sending the last one poster to your mail now because like I told you, we don't want post publicly the names and either pictures of the speakers yet. Also, I will send in that mail a tentative general program).

• Mainly the publicity of this event will be on internet but we are thinking other methods like to send physical invitations to the congregations from other temples in the region.

• Excuse us guru maharaj for our over dependence of you, clearly we are a third class of disciple :'( .

Finally, and on complete other hand: in relation with the external programs (between 26-29 january). It will be two, and our dear and kind Rodrigo is responsible. We had a good interchange of ideas and information in the last meeting, the last sunday. But we will notify you about that after this Congress issues.

Thank you very much for your patience, time and attention.

My eternal reverences to you dear gurudev,

Jagad Guru Das

                      HpS - AGTSP paoho. How is the Brother/Godbrother. San Carlos????
From our Experience in doing this with BSDamodara Swami, BI et al.

1. Make a formal Organizing Committee. I nominate you as the Working Chairman and local GBC as Honorary Chairman.

2. Get a responsible Communications Secretary that you can work with.

3. Get a Treasurer.

4. Get and Advisory Board. I recommend us, Param-padam and anyone else who agrees to help.

5. I would focus on the theme of a) Identifying who "we" are and "what are our personal passions in education", b) How we can communicate effectively eg. letters, blogs, web-page, periodicals, meetings and c) make a calendar for planning a better meeting next year.

We only have a little time for this first event, so we should only try to do a little: Meet each other, make ways to effectively communicate. Plan the next meeting with more details.

Friday evening - Reception. Get to know each other.

Saturday morning - lectures

Saturday Afternoon- Workshops

Saturday Evening - Entertainment

Sunday morning - Closure.   This is one model.

We can present "Philosophy of Education: Basic Goals and Methods".

Have summary of local, regional and international education realities in ISKCON.

If outside people want to come or are needed then O.K. Other wise, next time.

Next time Thurday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Is O.K?
In Peru Laksmana agraja Das is President of NIMSAR and Candramukhi Devi Dasi is very active. Patraka Das can get you in touch with both of them.

You need three major presenters and three workshop leaders and many people who can make short, 5-minute presentations and ask questions. Record it well. Edit it a little bit, get it out and start planning next year.

HpS - ASA - AGSTP This letter is one month old!!

Hare krishna maharaj! Please accept my humble obiansces. All the glories to SRila Prabhupada!

Maharaj, I have read the steps to follow to become your diciple or in a first instannce take refugee. It is very clear thank you! 

I wanted to tell you a little bit of my back ground , as i have told you before maharaj my husband and I teach yoga,  we come from an impersonal school, Bihar School of Yoga . I studied there and lived there some months learning yoga  teqniques ( pranayama, concentration, kriya yoga, shatkarmas ) and also took initiation in that school some years ago. since i meet krishna conciusness I have not been to these school again insted I started going to Mayapur.

First of all i wanted to know if there is any problem , any inconvenient regarding that point for me to take initiation with you and follow your instruction Maharaj.

    HpS - AGTSP!! How are you now? No, there is no problem taking initiation in ISKCON, but we have not heard from you for a month. How are you?

As i have continued growing i have reached fortunately bhakti yoga and as ive learned in Bhagavad gita a yogui can continue in the yoga ladder up to bhakti yoga if he wants to serve the supreme personality of godhead. And that is the only thing i want to do now, serve krishna and all his expansions. What i have learned in yoga is very helpfulll for my japa practice and for my sadhana  but now I know there is much more, there is Krishna!!! 

   HpS - Yes! The Hatha Yoga can be very useful for Japa and Sadhana. There is no loss. Of course we hear it that all of the "zeros" we have before, get a "one" in front as soon as we can connect our life to Krsna. Now you can use your Hatha yoga for Krsna!

Regarding my sadhana Maharaj for 6 years I have been waking up at 4:30 and doing all my yoga practices but since i meet krishna conciusness ai changed my sadhana , i still prqctice pranayama , shatkarmas and asana since it  helps me to stay focused in Krishna while doing my rounds and be able to sit confortably. since one year now I have been waking up at 4:30 , chanting 16 rounds with no day exception,  following the four principles.

HpS - Wow! You can be Srila Prabhupada's disciple now! You have to take like a "Disciple Course". I hear it is nice and simple, and then recommendation from Temple President. Nice to be an Refugiado for six months to get final ideas clear about who everybody is and what there role is!

Regarding mangalarati  since i came back from Mayapur I have been waking up the deities  and Tulasi maharani and then chanting 16 rounds near  her. 

In mayapur I went to bhagavatam class every day , here in argentina i listen to classes on the internet. and follow the reading. 

My questions is Maharaj is it ok to preform mangalarati at home?

ASA - Certainly.

Is there something else i should be doing at homr to make it better ? Like chanting the Nrishimhadev pranam ? , sri guru pranam? Is it ok for me to listen the bhagavatam classes from Mayapur tv ?

ASA - Yes to everything. Of course, with local Temple you can make friends with more advanced devotees and get so much advice from them. BG 10.10-11 also.

I will do the bhakti bhaivava course but first i have to finish bhakti sastri ! Iam hoping next year to do it in mayapur! 

I do not have the posibility at this moment of going to the temple every morning since i give clases at the time of bhagavatam class , but i do have a regular practice at home . I have learned to have dicipline in my sadhana.

is there anything else I could do or is it ok how Iam doing now ? Is there something more i could be doing at home ? 

Regarding the service , I will talk soon in this days with Maharari prabhu , the temple president here to start doing a fixed service . 

Is that ok Maharaj ? 

Maharaj, i Also I wanted to ask you if you will be in Peru or in India or in argentina in between december and march 2015 ? 

Because I would like Maharaj if it is posible to be able to meet you in person and maybe I can arrange the ways to be sometime where you will be . 

thank you for everything Maharaj, i feel really fortunate for you to be answering my letters. I apologize for any ofense i could have commited in my writtings.

Today we are having a kirtan at home for five hours  ! We are celebrating 2 years of kirtan at home ! So we are doing sll the preparations and hopefully many devotes are coming! 

Hare krishna Maharaj, I hope you are very well !! My sincere best wishes!

your servant 

Alexa

HpS - What is happening? Sorry taking so long to answer but you see we got innundated with this USA tour and after two weeks back we are beginning to catch up.

Hare Krisna, Dear Gurudeva. Please, accept my humble obeisances. AGTSP.

Thank you very much for your words about our lost child and others things.

What's the problem? The problem is the lack of faith. Lack of faith to be the Krisna's Hand on top of everything. Sometime I haven't any faith, other time I have a little, but I can see something. I have to continue ... where? why?.

Sometimes I don't know, only walking trying to follow to Srila Prabhupada, you, Yadunandana Swami, other devotees, the principles, the 16 or more enthusiastic rounds ... maybe Krishna .... ¿?

Kala, effort and many Krisna's mercy by the Guru.

I only hope to do it well for you, Srila Prabhupada and Krisna.

The Ratha Yatra was fantastic. I write down the link of the Temple's Facebook page with the photo album:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.702392639844511.1073741838.585687358181707&type=3

Thank you again for your words.

Your humble servant, Dandava Das

HpS - AGTSP.  In the beginning we maybe follow because we get some special mercy and get some high experiences, we have some clear intelligence and then we follow because we have some logical understanding.

As we go on with the help of a Guru like Srila Prabhupada we get more experiences and more logic and the soul actually directly wakes up.

We are getting settled here. It is two weeks now since we got back from this USA tour. Then we had our Annual NIOS Symposium and 12-hour Kirtan. Now we join the Celebrate Nashville Festival Oct 4th. After that we plan to focus on writing for Carl Jung then South America in January and first two weeks of February.
We'll look at the Link!!

Dear Swamiji,

PAMHO, AGTSP! I'm spending 2 weeks traveling in the Philippines to see temples and meet devotees. Cebu is nice, only a preaching center now that is run by a family. They hold a Sunday feast and about 15 college students attend. I went this past Sunday and was asked to give the class. I chose Bhagavad Gita (2.26). Gaura Nitai really inspired me. I will leave friday for Manila temple. Everyday I see clearly how Krishna is arranging my life in every way.

HpS - Very nice. I bet you meet some people in route too! Have some books to give them!!!!