Hare Krishna Maharaja, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances; All glories to his divine grace, Srila Prabhupada; All glories to your devotional service. I trust that all is well with you in your own devotional service to Srila Prabhupada. Often I think of you, wishing that I could be in your association. Yesterday, Friday, I was able to attend the Srimad Bhagavatam class from Hawaii for the first time in over a month, and you were giving class. I chose to just listen quietly, rather than annoy you with some blatant interruption just to say hello.
Since the beginning of this year I have been visiting the prison where Chandra prabhu works, giving Bhagavad gita classes every other f week. Because many inmates choose to leave at some point during the class, the prison authorities have chosen to exclude them from attending, as mandated in the prison protocol for all visiting religious programs. The result has been a small handful of inmates who are seriously wanting to study Bhagavad gita in a systematic order. To this end I have decided to teach the Bhagavad gita using the study guide from Bhakti Shastri.
I was hoping that you would approve of my actions, even though I myself have not accomplished the study guide and received a degree in Bhakti Shastra. If you feel that it is inappropriate for me to take this action, then I am at a loss as to how to procede, because these inmates are very eager to begin their study, and for me to obtain a degree in Bhakti Shastri would take time. So do you think it appropriate for me to begin teaching Bhagavad gita using the Bhakti Shastri manual, even if only in some unofficial manner?
ASA -Yes! Sure!!
After all, I would think that more important than the certification of education is the education itself and the spreading of transcendental knowledge whenever and wherever possible, regardless of formalities.
I don't wish to sound arrogant or independently rebellious in light of Iskcon's protocol for Bhakti Shastri, but I just want to make sure that I have some shelter if I begin this service in some informal manner. Anticipating your reply: Hare Krishna.
Yls, Bbd
HpS - Its nice to hear from you. We will be in Boise in just a few weeks. Our www.jayarama.us/kd/cal.htm is always updated.
The only thing about formalities is if the inmates want a ISKCON certificate. Of course the real examination is the time of death.
