Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Gurudev.

Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to you.

Gurudev. I hope you are well, bringing the good news to Rāma that the ring is now in Sīta's hand.

Gurudev, I have several things to tell you. I don't want to take away your time and energy. That's why sometimes I don't write, and also because there is no relevant news.

First of all, I'm very anxious because I'm going to see you. I planned this trip 100% to be able to see you. If you were going to China or Mars I was going to try to go. But, by your mercy, it seems that I will visit the Holy Dhama, although I am not qualified at all. I am sinful and do not have a single drop of devotion. I am one of your newest initiated disciples, so I did not have much personal relationship with you, which makes me humble, since I am insignificant in all senses of life. That is why I am very anxious to be able to prostrate myself personally at the feet of my spiritual master, who is your beautiful and great person.

HpS - Trnad api sunicena. When we are fully awake we realize how we are servants of everyone.

Now, especially, we are servants of Srila Prabhupada. He is our Guru. He wrote the book KRSNA The SPOG.

He is the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.

He also founded the BBT.

He lives forever in his books.

On the other hand, Gurudev, I remember that you once said that a disciple of yours realized, after 10 years of being your disciple, that "my guru is not my psychologist."

This was recorded in my memory and I try to take the relationship with you in a mature way and taking advantage of the fortune of having you, to ask you relevant questions about spiritual life, and to be able to do some service dedicated to you (BG 4.34).

HpS/ASA - AgtSP!

However, Gurudev, I want to ask you: What is success? Sometimes, I feel like I'm a failure in every way.

HpS - Success is ever expanding. The Gopis are successful in giving some novel delight to Krsna, but then is knowledge potency expands and He understands it.

Continuous, delightful competition between his Ananda and Cit zAktis.

Success is being able to chant Hare Krsna//Hare Rama.

If you can chant SKC, PNA... and follow it with HK//HR right now, you life is successful. Continue with that success and it will dictate to you how to make further progress.

🙂

My spiritual life is mediocre, I sing the 16 rounds but without enthusiasm and with many offenses. Yes I follow the 4 principles strictly. I don't have many spiritual realizations. I fail to have substantial friendly relations with the yatra devotees. I also fail to study the Scriptures seriously. I am not consistent in getting up early in the morning... I only distribute some books of Srila Prabhupada, and with that, I try to mentally convince myself that I am doing something for you and for him, but it is insignificant since I am not doing it with pure consciousness.

HpS - How do you know this?

How do you know the metal you have is not gold, unless you know what is gold.

So, you must have some higher consciousness.

Focus on getting up early and getting your rounds' done,

With enthusiasm

ie. meditating on the goal and and the path.

💥

In the material sphere, I also feel that it is a failure. I am 43 years old and within what materialistic society rewards as "success", I have none of that... No worldly love, no money, no worldly prestige, no children... nothing....

HpS/ASA - https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/8/26/ 🙂

So? what sustains me? What should I do with my life, Gurudev?

HpS - Bible:

Look yee upon the Lilies of the field. Neither do they sow, nor do they reap, but I tell you, Solomon in all his splendor was not so arrayed.

If even a little sparrow falls, your father who is in heaven knows of this. Then do you not think that you, who are so much greater than these little beasts, are not being constantly observed by your Father who is in Heaven.

We can be eternal Sankirtan partners in Srila Prabhupada's party.

Act so that people can get help from you in reawaking their unique service, in the Sankirtan party, for Krsna.

Radha Krsna.

I know you don't know the details, but I wanted to ask you and ask for a few words.

Thanks Gurudev.

I love you very much.

I aspire to be your servant and be part of your entourage.

Deva Vrata das

..............

Hare Krsna Gurudev.

Por favor acepte mis humildes y respetuosas reverencias.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.

Todas las glorias a usted.

Gurudev. Espero que te encuentres bien, llevándole las buenas nuevas a Rāma de que el anillo ya está en mano de Sīta.

Gurudev, tenga varias cosas para comentarte. No quiero quitarte tiempo y energía. es por eso que a veces no escribo, y también porque no hay noticias relevantes.

En primer lugar, estoy muy ansioso porque voy a verte. este viaje lo planifiqué 100% para poder verte. Si ibas a China o a Marte iba a tratar de ir. Pero, por tu misericordia, parece que visitaré el Santo Dhama, aunque no estoy cualificado para nada. Soy pecaminoso y no tengo ni una gota de devoción.

Soy uno de tus discípulos iniciados más nuevos, por lo cual no tuve mucha relación personal contigo, lo cual me vuelve humilde, ya que soy insignificante en todos los sentidos de la vida. Por eso estoy muy anssioso por poder postrarme personalmente a los pies de mi maestro espiritual, que es tu bella y grandiosa persona.

por otro lado, Gurudev, recuerdo que una vez dijiste qie un discípulo tuyo se dio cuenta, luego de 10 años de ser tu discípulo, que "mi guru no es mi psicólogo". Esto quedó grabado en mi memoria y trato de tomar la relación contigo de una manera madura y aprovechando la fortuna de tenerte, para hacerte preguntas relevantes y la vida espiritual, y poder hacer algúm servicio dedicado a tí (BG 4.34).

Sin embargo, Gurudev, quiero preguntarte: ¿Qué es el éxito?

A veces, siento que soy un fracaso en todas los aspectos.

Mi vida espiritual es mediocre, canto las 16 rondas pero sin entusiasmo y con muchas ofensas. Sí sigo los 4 principios estrictamente. No tengo muchas realizaciones espirituales. No logro tener relaciones sustanciales de amistad con los devotos de yatra. Tampoco logro estudiar seriamente las Escrituras. No soy constante en levantarme temprano a la mañana...

Solo distribuyo algunos libros de Srila Prabhupada, y con eso, trato de convencerme mentalmente de que estoy haciendo algo para ti y para él, pero es insignificante ya que no lo hago con al conciencia pura.

En el ambito material, también siento que es un fracaso. Tengo 43 años y dentro de lo que la sociedad materialista premia como "éxito", yo no tengo nada de eso... Ni amor mundano, ni dinero, ni prestigio mundanos, ni hijos... nada....

entonces? qué me sostiene? Que debo hacer con mi vida, Gurudev?

Sé que no sabes los detalles, pero quería preguntarte y pedirte unas palabras.

Gracias Gurudev. 

Te quiero mucho.

Aspiro a ser tu sirviente y formar parte de tu séquito.

Deva Vrata das

HpS/ASA - O.K.?

🐵 🐒 🐒🐒

Hare krsna Gurudeva por favor acepte mis reverencias.

AGTSP

orando siempre por que se encuentre bien de salud en esta ocasión queremos invitarle a New Vrindaban a su regreso de España por el tiempo que usted desee. También podemos celebrar su Vyasapuja acá en NV .

le hago esta invitación a nombre de Gopi Radha DD , Saranagati y su sirviente Rohini kumar das.

HpS/ASA - We hope to hear the news that your Sankirtan, New Vrndavana Sankirtan, has achieved real intense spiritual clarity in its eternal participation in Srila Prabhupada's eternal Sankirtan.

https://vedabase.io/es/library/kb/

¡Hare Krsna! Querido Guru Maharaja, por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias 🙇

y todo mi afecto.

Todas las Glorias sean a nuestro muy misericordioso Fundador Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada y todas las Glorias sean a Sus fieles seguidores.🌻

Gurudeva, muchas gracias por su incansable servicio, ejemplo e inspiración, en la ejecución del Servicio devocional. Gracias por empujarnos a mantenernos en este trascendental ejército de Srila Prabhupada.

Solo por vuestra misericordia sin causa, nos mantenemos firmes 16 rondas diarias (mínimo) - 4 principios, Mangala Ararika regular (fallamos 2 o tres veces al mes), servicio humilde en el templo (una vez por semana), mantengo asociación con agradables vaisnavas🙂

, atención (y relación) con nuestras Señorías, Kirtan y Lectura-estudio diario de los significados Bhaktivedanta.

Felizmente continuamos estudiando Bhakti Vaibhava, bajo la magnífica guía de SS Yadunandana Swami, en compañía de compañeros muy eruditos como Jayanta prabhu. Recientemente realizamos la evaluación de la primera sección del 3er canto del Srimad Bhagavatam. Pude darme cuenta, de que por la misericordia sin causa de Sri Guru, las experiencias vividas, nos han empujado a apreciar de manera más profunda los significados Bhaktivedanta, también pude observar de cerca algunos aspectos en los que debo y deseo trabajar. 🤓

La misericordia de Srila Prabhupada se expande a través de su trascendental legado; sus significados Bhaktivedanta, Su ISKCON y por supuesto Sus fieles seguidores. ¡Se lo debo todo!, de no ser por su misericordia ¿Qué clase de vida animalesca llevaría?🙏

Cambiando de tema: Continúo trabajando (poco) en auditoria interna, con buenos amigos que cuidan de mí. Y, como es normal, la salud de este cuerpo sigue deteriorándose, después del más reciente estudio decidí detener todos los procedimientos invasivos, porque el tratamiento ha sido peor que la enfermedad. Así que mantendré los tratamientos más leves y haré lo que esté de mi parte para no ser negligente con el cuidado de este burrito.

Muchas gracias Gurudeva, por su misericordia sin causa (que representa la de Srila Prabhupada y la de Nuestras Señorías) me siento una persona muy afortunada, la única manera que tengo para demostrar mi gratitud es vivir conforme a vuestras instrucciones y tratar de comunicar conciencia de Krsna a todos quienes conozco (Claro, hasta donde puedo entender). Sé que falló con frecuencia, que soy un estudiante torpe y que frecuentemente abuso de su misericordia, le ruego me disculpe… Por favor, bendígame para que algún día pueda ser un soldado útil en esta trascendental misión.

Siempre a sus órdenes

Su aspirante a discípula

Karuna-Sakti Devi Dasi

-0-0-0-

Hare Krishna! Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances 🙇 and all my affection.

All Glories be to our very merciful Founder Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and all Glories be to the faithful followers of him.🌻

Gurudeva, thank you very much for your tireless service, example and inspiration in the performance of Devotional Service. Thank you for pushing us to stay in this transcendental army of Srila Prabhupada.

HpS - We are 99.9999% puppets. Srila Prabhupada, Krsna, are pulling the strings.

Only by your causeless mercy, we stand firm 16 rounds daily (minimum) - 4 principles, regular Mangala Ararika (we fail 2-3 times a month), humble temple service (once a week), maintain association with nice Vaisnavas 🙂

ASA - NoI 1 --- You can make disciples all over the world!! Do it. Accept people who come to you for shelter.

, attention (and relationship) with our Lordships, Kirtan and daily reading-study of Bhaktivedanta meanings.

We happily continued studying Bhakti Vaibhava, under the magnificent guidance of HH Yadunandana Swami, in the company of very learned companions like Jayanta prabhu.

HpS - ASA - We will be with them in a few weeks, no?

We recently conducted the evaluation of the first section of the 3rd canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. I was able to realize that through the causeless mercy of Sri Guru, the experiences we have lived have pushed us to appreciate the Bhaktivedanta meanings more deeply.

I was also able to closely observe some aspects that I must and wish to work on. 🤓

HpS - Our relationship with Srila Prabhupada, his books, certainly changes more and more. Becomes very individual. You have to develop your own way of understanding, reciting them.

Srila Prabhupada's mercy expands through his transcendental legacy; the meanings of him Bhaktivedanta, the ISKCON of him and of course the faithful followers of him. I owe him everything! If it weren't for his mercy, what kind of animalistic life would I lead?

HpS - You are fortunate. I would be living an amoeba life. 🐛

Changing the subject: I continue to work (a little) in internal audit, with good friends who take care of me. And, as is normal, the health of this body continues to deteriorate, after the most recent study I decided to stop all invasive procedures, because the treatment has been worse than the disease. So I'll keep the treatments lighter and do my part to not be negligent in caring for this burrito.

HpS - Use the donkey Krsna has given you well. Then when it is not useful let it be recycled to make new bodies, and transfer to the next body Krsna sends. Maybe a Mercedes of Lamborginig or ... just come out in your Vaikuntha, Goloka body and laugh and sing!

Really would be nice to hear that you have died a happy death.

Thank you very much Gurudeva, for your causeless mercy (which represents that of Srila Prabhupada and that of Our Lordships) I feel like a very lucky person, the only way I have to demonstrate my gratitude is to live according to your instructions and try to communicate awareness of Krsna to everyone I know (Of course, as far as I can understand). I know that I failed frequently, that I am a clumsy student and that I frequently abuse his mercy, I beg your pardon... Please bless me so that one day I can be a useful soldier in this momentous mission.

Always at your service

His would-be disciple

Karuna-Sakti Devi Dasi

HpS / ASA - Super!!! Now we go to Friday night FES. Thank you!!!! See you soon.

HK, AGTSP, PAMHO,

Dear Gurudeva,

Same old, same old, as they say. Nothing particularly exciting to add, except that existence feels more like waiting to complete a jail sentence in this realm than anything else. Evil always seems to pervade over good in every corner of this world.

One may wonder: Is what we were promised in the sastras truly delivered, fully developed, or attained (for the lack of a better term), or is it all a fantastic hoax? Humbly, I reiterate the question from my previous report that remained unanswered:

HpS - AgtSP. Previous report?? Did not see it! 😲

So, nice to hear from you.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/lob/28/

"The devotees of the Lord, therefore, make the best use of the bad bargain by utilizing the temporary creation in the service of the Lord."

We are in a prison. There is chance for psycho-therapy, occupational training, family counseling. We want to get out, but right now this is the best place for us. We become ready for the spiritual world. Not dumped back into prison again after three months out because of our violent nature and inability to make money nicely.

We can even become psychologists and guards!

I would like to ask about CC Madhya 22.158, regarding siddha-rūpeṇa. I've read a brilliant article by Vraja Kishor Prabhu on Madhurya Kadambini titled Why Our Japa Still Stinks, where he suggests a logical progression to improve Japa by using the eight steps of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra as a template. The immediate goal would be to finally reach some substantial improvement in concentration, thus leading to nishta-bhajan (Dhyana and Samadhi). The author emphasizes that after Pratyahara, or trying to leave behind the "false" identity to stop distracting thoughts successfully, it is crucial to fill that gap with a "real" identity fit and ready to serve Krsna in a particular way, embracing this role internally, Dharana. Even if, at the beginning, it is a faceless character, chanting from such a role is what allows more depth while chanting.

Of course, this seems to be a very personal practice, but this devotee insists that if we think we are not qualified for it, we shoot ourselves in the foot. What is your advice on this matter? What do you suggest as reading/practice to start working towards that step? Is any specific approach facilitated by the spiritual master, or does it all fall into a homogeneous, holistic, general instruction?

ei nivedana dhara, sakhira anugata koro, seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi

Thank you very much for giving me shelter, Dear Gurudeva.

Respectfully and affectionately,

Your servant,

Etasa Krsna Das

HpS - Preparing for Friday night class. Stomach ache. 90-degrees Fahrenheit. 🙂

Same as you, no?

We think about above a lot.

We remember Srila Prabhupada says, that for every stage in the Astanga yoga system, there is a corresponding stage in the Bhakti yoga system.

In our practice it seems so.

Above description of stages in contrast seems fine. We see little different but not means we are better.

Don't remember exact list from SP of the comparisons.

Eg. we take Pratyahara as the change when we stop letting the drum play us and we play the drum.

In the beginning it is very gratifying to the senses to beat the drum in regular strong strikes. It is sense gratification.

Because it is dovetailed with Hari kirtan it is like Nama-bhasa. It liberates us. We like the freedom.

Yet, we are not withdrawing from the external sensual experience and hearing the meaning of the Mantra or trying to use the percussion to ornament, illuminate, the Mantra. When that happens, even though it may not be ecstatic for the senses, we feel ecstasy, satisfaction in illuminating the meaning, punctuation, for the Mantra.

We take it to a deeper level.

Of course, the senses begin to like this position more than their blind, juvenile, gratification with no depth.

O.K.?

Is one idea.

Chanting and Dancing obviously handle aZana and prAnayAma, no?

Four principles, Tri-sandhyas ~= Yama, Niyama.

When you come to Goswami ... ? .... nistha/ruci... you start Raganuga Bhakti. Goswami, male, female, eunich, must be very intuitive: Gita = jitAtmana prasAntasya paramAtma samAhita, Intro to NoI = Once one becomes goswami everything else about how to advance will be automatically revealed.

So, our use of Srila P's books becomes more intuitive, not so regulated and linear, German, when we reach goswami - Pratyahara/dharana/dhyana.

Also, not like quantum jumps - You are Nistha! or you are Ruci!

More like a Bell Curve.

I might be little bit of neophyte, mostly Nistha, beginning Ruci and sometimes Prema (once every five years).

O.K.?

If we want to discuss more we should organize a colloquia, no? 🙂

References: To Dance in the Downpour of Devotion: A Summary Study of Madhurya Kadambini by Vraja Kishor.

Picture: The Book of Hours at the University of Chicago

Sunday Morning Srimad Bhagavatam Workshop will continue reading Chapter Eight: Talks Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya, verse 8.294 onwards.

We should be able to finish Chapter 8. It took us about 3 months to complete this Nectarian chapter.

Thank you to H. G. Mitravinda Mataji for doing translation for class on July 7, 2024.

I am always thankful to Lakshman Prabu for always being there to help with translation.

It is the mercy of Maharaja, to engage everyone in reading books of Srila Prabhupada.

YS

Upendra dasa

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,

Please accept our most humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha

kripa-sindhubhya eva cha

patitanam pavanebhyo

vaishnavebhyo namo namaha

Today was the Rathayatra, 4th of July parade [in Boise, Idaho]!!

Amidst devotee family, your presence at many festivals was remembered.

HpS/ASA - We built the first Boise Rathayatra cart along with Lokannatha Das et al.!

We were not sure how we would be able to travel an hour from the new ashram in Idaho City with deities and pull the smaller Ratha.

Krsna made arrangements and the cart was waiting.

Three sets of personal small Jaganatha family deities were in the Ratha and kids did the arati with full heart.

Jahnavi pulled the cart with her ksatriya spirit.

The congregation and community were able to be engaged and happy. The spiritual world did open up for a moment where we felt connected to everyone’s sincere efforts and paratmatmas.

The other night we watched the peacock special: Krishnas, Gurus, Karma etc. that featured Malati Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, and other early Srila Prabhupada disciples discussing New Vrindavan and former Kirtananda Maharaj.

I think it’s hard to be a devotee like Malati Prabhu and you, Gurudev because you have stayed in ISKCON despite everything and seen so much.

I want to express more but I’m fearful. I think in my situation I am following the NOI principal of keeping my general distance (because I know I am at least an aspiring kanishta) so I do not not affect others.

I am finding that having a few sincere relationships with devotees and congregation mothers really is enough association.

I am working on how I associate and how I can contribute more with my association.

In small communities it’s hard to not feel very alone.

I remember when you advised your disciple that it is hard to be brahmanical and be in management.

I was candid with management last fall about disrespect I noticed that was going on towards the Vaishnavas.

Now I am pushed out and ignored and told not to approach them without a mediator (not by all management but a few individuals).

The tension is hard.

I do feel very emotional to the point of feeling physically sick when I go to the temple.

Would you suggest asking a mediator to work through these kind of issues Gurudev? I can tell my ego just wants to ignore and forget.

HpS - Thank you for this nice letter. Babies fall on their... backsides... so many times when they are beginning to walk, but they get up again and try to do it. It is so much greater to walk than crawl.

1. Gradually you learn how to walk and only fall down once every few months, rather than every few paces.
2. Maybe we are jerks and do deserve the chastisement we get from institutional managers and we need to thank Krsna for this opportunity to improve.
3. Maybe they are just projecting their fears and anger on us and we need to avoid their attacts and try to help them.
4. Maybe they were try to praise us and we just misunderstood their criticism.

When in doubt the Holy Names will sort it out!

Chant and talk with devotees close to the situation?

Thank you so much for tolerating the general way I am expressing the issue and my feelings.

Janardhan Swami said recently that our kids are our deities. Its hard to financially get by and do a lot of service right now. I am still chanting my rounds, and listening or reading/discussing scriptures with the kids. We’ve been focusing on listening to SB 9th canto Rama Lila pastimes and Lord Caitanya’s childhood pastimes the last 6 months. We will start the 10th canto and a unit on Krsna this summer. We seek your blessings with this endeavor because our body doesn’t seem to have a lot of energy to give these days. But preaching helps inspire us to do our Sadhana.

We have completed 2 project/art/drama based units on these pastimes with a general attendance of 6-10 kids in person and online. I try to stay absorbed in repeating these pastimes until I can appreciate how valuable and jewel like these Lilas are. Sometimes listening and re-listening seems to help us reflect on how we can qualify ourself to truly appreciate what is being given to us.

HpS - 👍

Such powerful medicine!

Murari Prabhu is busy tilling the land because it is a lot of river rock, and sand but he has managed to create garden areas despite desert terrain. Prabhu is chanting/doing puja and taking care of the kids while I work. I am full time taking care of the new teen in the house as well.

I’ve noticed that keeping a connection through whatever means possible with him had become an important service.

They need a lot of emotional shelter in such a confusing developmental stage.

When your well wishing gift and instruction was received 3 months ago we fully took shelter of your blessing and really tried to meditate on it.

Thank you so much Gurudev and please forgive us for not writing sooner. Moving with 6 people and acclimating to this little mountain town/forest and trying to build up our Sadhana and strength again was a lot.

Your gift made us feel like you believed in us and our ability to stay connected to Krsna.

We’ve tried our best to follow your instruction of writing about Krsna. If it’s ok, we would like to send you some disjointed prose short stories in a part two sequel to this letter.

HpS/ASA - 🐵 👍 👍

Always running behind you Gurudev eager to qualify ourself to serve you and Srila Prabhupada.

Tava pache pache!!

Your lowly servant,

Kamagayatri dd