Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and to his faithful and truthful followers such as yourself.

 HpS/ASA - We have a some distance to go before we can say that we are completely faithful to all of Srila Prabhupada's instructions eg. Bathing three times daily and applying Tilak, avoiding completely hearing mundane news etc.

It has been several months since I last reported on the blog. Because of that silence, someone might say, “It seems that Manuel monkey has distracted himself in some leafy tree in Pogo Park” But that is not the case. I am always very attentive to your sankirtana. My ears, my hands, my tail, and mainly my heart stay alert, trying to receive your mercy and to be of useful in the seva.

Thank you so much for giving us delicious bananas of bhakti every day in the FMP and a transcendental feast every Sunday in the ASA Workshops.

Allow me, then, to offer you a brief report on the editorial fruits that have already ripened and those that are still developing on the branches of the NIOS publications tree:

I) Book for the 40th Anniversary of Grupo Integro: It has already been published. Your greeting letter in both English and Spanish appears inside, and the NIOS logo is included in the credits.

HpS - Didn't NIOS pay to receive some copies???

II) Educating Krishna’s Children: This is the Spanish version of Mother Aruddha’s book. It is fully typeset. The interior layout and the cover have already been approved by Radhika Raman Prabhu and his mother. We expect the printed copies to be ready during the first week of December. This book is beautiful and helpful for parents and caregivers, as well as for anyone who needs to remember that Krishna is mischievous and joyful, and that raising and educating Krishna-conscious children can be delightful and in fact it is a very valuable service for the pleasure of Guru and Gauranga. The translation was done by Mother Purnamasi, and the layout and design by ARTd. Do you have any suggestions?

HpS - No. Wonderful to hear. Hope it can be made readily available in Spanish community. Create a revolution. Be presented in Santiago in February/March.

III) WOD (Waves of Devotion in Spanish): It is currently 80% typeset, but we cannot complete it as a part of the English edition’s typography is still missing. ARTd spoke with Dhanurdhara Swami, who said he would contact the disciple responsible for the editing of his books, but that has not happened yet. ARTd will try one more time to contact Maharaja. Do you have any suggestions?

HpS - Send a copy of the letter to Maharaja to us. We may even see him personally when we are in Radha kunda.

IV) SOLARIS No. 9: It is in the midst of the layout process. In addition to the Spanish articles, this issue includes four articles in English. (Our goal is that each issue can contain between 30% and 50% of its content in English.)

One more point: ARTd has been talking to Hector, Miguel, Oscar, Raul, Pablo, and Walter to prepare a NIOS-Perú proposal for the academic Sankirtana during your stay in Lima. (they have a group meeting next Thursday Nov 20th). He is coordinating activities with Laksmana-agraha to organize with ISKCON to host events on Varna-asrama dharma and Guru-tattva. He is also talking with mothers and devotees such as Candra-mukhi, Palika, Mitravinda, Nitya-kisori, Gita-Govinda, Gandharva, Ray Ramananda, and others; they are all very happy about your arrival. So, starting next week, I will send you a report and a proposal from NIOS-Peru for the academic Sankirtana and activities with ISKCON. All of this, of course, considering that you are now making this trip as emeritus professor. 

Radhika Raman, his mother, and other scholars from Latin America will also attend on certain days during that period.

We are happy that, Krishna willing, we will have your auspicious association next March along with Tom Brown, Buck White, and the entire ASA team.

That is all for now. HARE KRISHNA, Bhakta Manuel.

HpS/ASA - As per our conversation, you will take charge of organizing the online Vyasapuja on the 20th December in the morning.

We will post that under a separate post also.

Thank you.

This is all such substantial work.

We hope that other groups in Latin America will also make such great reports.

Of course, they should all be also released at the Third Latin American Congress in Santiago, no?

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frutos que Maduran:

Reporte de las Publicaciones de NIOS en el Perú

Hare Krishna. Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada y a sus seguidores fieles y veraces como usted.

Hace varios meses que no me reporto en el blog. Quizá, por ese silencio, alguien podría decir: “Parece que el mono Manuel está entretenido en algún árbol frondoso del parque Pogo”. Pero no es así. Siempre estoy pendiente de su sankirtana. Mis orejas, mis manos, mi cola y, sobre todo, mi corazón están atentos para tratar de recibir su misericordia y ser útil en el seva. Muchas Gracias por regalarnos todos los días deliciosos plátanos de bhakti en el FMP y un banquete trascendental todos los domingos en los Talleres de ASA.

Permítame entonces, esta vez, hacer un pequeño reporte sobre los frutos editoriales que ya maduraron y los que todavía están en la rama, madurando, en el árbol de las publicaciones de NIOS:

I) Libro por los 40 años del Grupo Íntegro: Ya se publicó. En los interiores está su carta-saludo en inglés y español, y en los créditos aparece el logo de NIOS.

II) La Educación en el hogar de los niños de Krishna: Esta es la versión en español del libro de la madre Aruddha. Ya está totalmente diagramado. Los interiores y la carátula han sido aprobados por Radhika Raman Prabhu y su mamá. Esperamos que la primera semana de diciembre ya estén impresos. Este libro es bonito y útil para padres, madres y para quienes necesiten recordar que Krishna es travieso y divertido, y que criar y educar a los hijos conscientes de Krishna puede ser algo alegre y, de hecho, un valioso servicio para el placer de Guru y Gauranga. La traducción la hizo la madre Purnamasi, y la diagramación y el diseño, ARTd. ¿Alguna sugerencia?

III) WOD (Waves of Devotion en español): Ya está diagramado al 80%, pero no podemos finalizarlo porque nos falta una parte de la tipografía de la versión en inglés. ARTd habló con Dhanurdhara Swami, y él dijo que lo iba a conectar con su discípulo encargado de la edición de sus libros, pero aún no sucede. ARTd intentará una vez más comunicarse con Maharaja. ¿Alguna sugerencia?

IV) SOLARIS No. 9: Está en plena danza de diagramación. Aparte de los artículos en español, esta vez tenemos cuatro artículos en inglés. (La meta es que, en cada número, entre el 30% y 50% del contenido esté en inglés).

Un punto más: Para hacer una propuesta de NIOS-Perú para el Sankirtana académico durante tu estadía en Lima ARTd ha estado conversando con Héctor, Miguel, Óscar, Raúl, Pablo y Walter (tienen una reunión grupal el jueves 20). Con Laksmana-agraha está coordinando actividades con ISKCON para realizar eventos sobre el Varna-asrama dharma y el Guru-tattva. Y también está conversando con madres y devotos como Candra-mukhi, Palika, Mitravinda, Nitya-kisori, Gita-Govinda, Gandharva, Ray Ramananda y otros, todos están muy contentos con su llegada. Entonces, comenzando la próxima semana le enviaré un reporte y una propuesta de NIOS-Perú para el sankirtana académico y actividades con ISKCON. Todo esto, considerando, por supuesto, que ahora usted realiza este viaje como profesor emérito.

Radhika Raman, su mamá y otros académicos de Latinoamérica estarán presentes, algunos días, para esas fechas.

Estamos felices de que, Krishna mediante, en marzo tendremos su auspiciosa asociación junto con Tom Brown, Buck White y todo el equipo ASA.

Eso es todo por ahora. HARE KRISHNA, Bhakta Manuel.

Hare Krishna, honorable Maharaj, H. H. HpS 🙏🏾

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

PAMHO

to your lotus feet 🐵

Thank you for your MERCY every single day...

These questions are about sunday classes.

Upendra Prabhu talked about Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, chapter 17. Thanks for his comments.

I have some doubts about this lecture.

In the harinamas, when we go out into the streets, I have seen people get excited and dance, but there are others (few afortunately) who completely reject the Holy name. Why are animals more receptive to the chanting of the Maha Mantra? They are living entities are supposed to be more savage and less evolved than us.

HpS - First, animals and humans are both influenced more by Lord Caitanya than us.

Even with Lord Caitanya it may be that some animals, like some humans, respond.

Spiritually bad animals, like spiritually bad people, do not.

O.K.

Holy Names can directly touch the soul, by pass the Karma, gross body.

Why does this happen, Maharaj? Are animals nobler and more receptive to accept the holy name?

HpS - Usually they are less receptive, and trees worse, but the Holy Names from Sri Gauranga and deep power.

Maybe Human beings may pretend that they do not like it, but deep down, the holy name will gradually cleanse their hearts?

Just as the people who listened to Caitanya Mahaprabhu and became Vaishnavas because Krishna is the Supreme personality of God, completely pure, were present. However, when we go out on Harinama, if we fail to captivate anyone after our journey, does this mean that we are not purifed enough, that is, we are not performing a correct sadhana? Or is it the karma of the people that prevents the chanting from reaching their hearts?

We know Lord Caitanya is the most merciful Lord to the fallen souls and the poor ones, yet there are people who reject him. Is His mercy the same for them, or would they have to surrender and ask for His forgiveness first?

HpS/ASA - In general, our experience is that different people in different communities, countries, respond differently. USA people are more mechanistic. Japanese people have been more inclined to hear from Monks with trust.

Yes, it seems we can improve our chanting!

I can directly see how this can happen.

Yet, there is certainly an effect on them by hearing the Name, even consciously or unconsciously, and certainly when presented by devotees following Srila Prabhupada's instructions.

I have another question about the relationships with relatives.

It is said about service to the Lord that by performing it we are nourishing the source and everything else will be nourished; however, I had a conversation with a very Catholic person, and it made me wonder as well. For example, if I serve to a sick person, a relative or another person who needs anything, in this way I am serving Krishna and offering my service to Him, does that service have the same value as, for example, serving the Deities?

this question arises because my family, my closest ones, do not understand devotional service. They believe that by going to the temple and attending to the Deities or in my house when they see me offering flowers, incienses, bhoga to my Deities, so I am neglecting my relationships with family members. They are convinced my priority is just adoring Krishna and go to the Temple.

How should I manage this kind of topics with my family? Thank you for your guidance, Maharaj, your time and patience 🙇🏽‍♀

HpS - As far as I know, there are identical questions in the Bible, Koran etc.

If we follow the process given by an authorized Acharya like Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya, the Prophet Mohammed, Lord Jesus Christ, then our spiritual understanding will gradually wake up, just like someone awakening from sleep and dreams.

Then we will see the position of God and all of His children.

We can serve our relatives for selfish motives.

We can worship the icons in the temple for selfish motives,

or we can see how the fingers, hands and arms are related to the whole body and serve them in proper perspective.

Some one is scraped in a travel accident and their is some mild blood flow. Yes, we should clean and dress the wound, but that is silly if they are suffocating to death.

We want to serve God and His family, and as we wake up we can see how they are related.

Half awake, we should keep a full morning and evening Temple program etc. and serve all of our brother and sisters in the world during the day time.

Many more details, but that seems like some basic thoughts.

O.K.?

Your silly but very thankful servant,

AGTSP

AGTHPS

Annie from Lima 🐦

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaja, por favor reciba mis respetuosas reverencias.

Guru Maharaja, mi mudanza a la ciudad de Tarapoto solo duro aproximadamente dos meses y medio, ahora estoy nuevamente por Huancayo, al parecer estaré nuevamente por aquí, y quizás sea por corto tiempo, después no sé que pasará.

Hago planes, pero al parecer hay una fuerza sobrehumana que los cambia, debe ser el Señor Supremo Sri Caitanya. No lo sé.

A Huancayo llego su SS. Bhakti Arjava Priti Vardhana Swami Maharaja con su sirviente Prabhu Jaya Prahlada.

Su Santidad estuvo una semana en Huancayo, en el templo de madre Laksmirani, Maharaja dio entrevistas en las radios locales y algunos canales de televisión de la región, también dio conferencias en unos auditorios, y gracias a Srila Prabhupada tuve la misericordia de tomar su santa asociación y servirlo.

A Maharaja y a su sirviente les gusta cocinar y nos enseñaron algunas recetas, fue una experiencia muy bonita e increíble. Maharaja fue muy misericordioso con nosotros y muy tolerante con nuestras deficiencias.

Aquí le comparto algunas fotos.

Bueno Guru Maharaja, me despido y que el Señor Nrsimha lo proteja siempre.

Hare Krsna.

Gadai Gauranga Das

-0-0-0-

All Glory to Srila Prabhupada!!

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja, please accept my respectful obeisances.

Guru Maharaja, my move to the city of Tarapoto only lasted about two and a half months. Now I'm back in Huancayo, and it seems I'll be here again, perhaps for a short time. After that, I don't know what will happen.

I make plans, but it seems there's a superhuman force that changes them. It must be the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya. I don't know.

His Holiness Bhakti Arjava Priti Vardhana Swami Maharaja arrived in Huancayo with his servant Prabhu Jaya Prahlada.

His Holiness spent a week in Huancayo at the temple of Mother Lakshmirani. Maharaja gave interviews on local radio stations and some regional television channels. He also gave lectures in auditoriums, and thanks to Srila Prabhupada, I had the grace to enter into his holy association and serve him.

Maharaja and his servant love to cook and taught us some recipes. It was a very beautiful and incredible experience. Maharaja was very merciful to us and very forgiving of our shortcomings.

Here are some photos.

Well, Guru Maharaja, I bid you farewell, and may Lord Nrsimha always protect you.

Hare Krishna.

Gadai Gauranga Das

HpS - Jaya! I have never heard Maharaja's name or pastimes before. Where is he from? Is he ISKCON Sannyasi?

Thank you for the news. In any case Srila Prabhupada spent a lifetime in preparation, so maybe we will have to spend twenty life times in preparation, but in any case we are already experiencing the development in Bhakti Yoga that is promised.

HpS/ASA - No, agtSP, content in the letter!

Would like very much to hear from you.

Thank you.

Diary of a Dreaming Creature

It 😎 is at 5.11PM. Sunset was some time ago, here in ISKCON Houston.

Very nice letter from Miguel, Terkadamba Devi Dasi, Dallas, but should take a break now for our eyes etc.

Been pretty good day.

1. Japa Joe 📿🐵
2. Full Morning Program in the Temple ⛪
3. Meeting with:
4. Atul Krsna Das on the Bhakti-sarva-bhauma diploma.
5. Tandavika Das about Guru-puja in Nashville.
6. Rest and Reading. Mail.
7. Preparing for meeting with Uncle Gismo and H. G. Gopinatha Das from Hewlitt-Packard this evening.
8. FEP

Thank you for your association. Sankirtan!

💪💪💪🐵🐷

Please adored Gurumaharaja accept my humble obeisanced to Sweet dust of Your lotus feet🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🙏🙏💖🌷🌹🌷💐🌻🌹🌷💐🌻🎵🎶

HpS/ASA - We feel really unhappy when people talk about "the sweet dust of our lotus feet". It seem kind of like what a lady might feel like if her husband washed her feat in public and sprinkled the water on his head and the head of others. 😆

In Vaikuntha I guess we all have lotus feet (or lotus hooves) but here they are maybe just venerable as chaste ladies, austere Sannyasis, no?

AgtSP!!!

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!!!🙇🏻‍♀️🙏💐🌻🌹🌷🌻💐💖

HpS/ASA - 👦 🐒 🐖 Jaya! !

All glories To You Gurudeva!!!🙏🙏🙏🎵🎶🙇🏻‍♀️💐🌻🌹🌷🌹🌻💐🌻💐🌷💐🌹🌻💐🌷💖

We have been concerned about your throat for a long time, and we are very happy to be allowed to talk about this on the blog. How can we help? ... I always think that a little tea with honey and perhaps ginger would help... but I really don't know what is good for your dosha.

If any well-intentioned disciple knows what is best for you, it would be so good if they could help you so that this stops once and for all. It is very painful to think that your throat might be hurting from the inflammation caused by making that sound that helps you continue speaking.

I think—please correct me if I am wrong, beloved Gurudev—that although, as disciples, we cannot advise you, and that is taken as offensive, there is also the example of the gopis, who did not care about going to hell if they had to give the dust of their lotus feet to cure Krishna's headache. And... even though we may not be advanced or pure like Them, I think it's normal to feel pain if you see the most beloved person in the world suffering, and you know how to help, but... for fear of offending, you don't help.

So... I sincerely hope that some devotee who knows how to reduce the swelling in a throat that's draining... water? from Her lotus nose, can help stop this and allow you to have some peace of mind, at least about this.

Please forgive me if I've caused any offense... I've long wished this could finally stop bothering you.

On the other hand, it's so lovely and inspiring to see my brothers and sisters wanting to follow SDG Srila Prabhupada so well! My deepest respect to all! I hope we can all understand how to improve our service and relationship with You. Better and better, clearer and clearer...!!! Jaya Gurudeva! Your class was so wonderful; it was exactly what I needed to hear.

Always aspiring to serve the dust of her fantastic lotus feet;

Japa Prati Jalpa Radha Devi Dasi

HpS/ASA - Very nice ayurvedic doctor here, Ananta isvara Das. South Indian Brahmana boy.

Very, very nice.

I hope that he and Nikunja and others can all be in touch.

Maybe a Latin American Tour.

We have some specific medicine, daily: Chaywan Prash, specifically blended for our nature. Is very strong.

Other than that our throat, eyes, ears, skin, heart are all under systemic care that seems to be the best remedy.

Of course, when we get up in the morning we have to wake up everything, so there is some coughing to clear the throat.

In general, it is o.k. Weaker that ten years ago, but still functional.

I hope to get a new one when this one is finished!!!

Thank you!!!

I think you speak for many people.