Indira-sakti dd / answering your questions
😊🙏🙇🏻♀️
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Hare Krishna, dear Gurudeva. Please accept my most respectful obeisances at your merciful feet.
HPS - ASA - Our respects to your lotus feet or hooves, whatever they may be in your Siddha deha also.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You!! Jaya Radhe! Jaya Krishna! Jaya Vrindavana dham!
Dear and respected Gurudeva,
How are you?
HpS - We are all in the cycle of death and birth, no?
In present moment you can see from the other two Blog Posts from today. That we are very stimulated with our immeditiate Sankirtan and association in Spain, Madrid.
Now we will go for a walk around the neighborhood with Parampadam Das, then at 6.30PM, strong program a sankirtan center here at Espiritu Santo!
We are getting ready to return to USA.
I sincerely hope that everything related to Sankirtana is going very well and that these days of Ayurvedic treatment are helping you feel much better and regain your strength and well-being.
I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the many sacrifices you make by traveling so extensively in the service of Srila Prabhupada. You are an inspiring example of dedication and service, from whom we all have so much to learn.
I pray to Srimati Radharani to always envelop you in Her mantle of love and protection, and to bless you with good health, strength, and spiritual well-being.
In the letter I wrote to you a month ago, you raised two questions. I would like to answer them clearly, without being long-winded or taking up too much of your valuable time. So, I will begin by addressing your first question:
HPS: “I think you had some challenges in carrying on, but you did, and it has made you stronger spiritually?”
Writing this response has led me to reflect on everything that has happened, and indeed, we have experienced many challenges, both externally and internally, but yes, we have certainly grown stronger spiritually, Gurudeva.
A few years ago, many changes took place in our lives. We had become accustomed to living in our little home under ideal devotional circumstances, but we suddenly found ourselves in a materially more developed environment that was nevertheless very different from what we had known. Because Gandharva’s only brother came very close to leaving his body due to a serious health condition, we had to move into his home in San Borja to live with him and his two dogs.
All these changes led me to reflect that, although it is wonderful to serve Krishna under ideal circumstances, the real question is to what extent we are able—and willing—to continue serving Him when we are faced with adversity.
ASA - Srila Prabhupada said, they say, that death is the sum total of all possible bad experiences, so whatever situations we are in it is great opportunity to prepare for death. We should be so ready for death that it is like doing Ekadasi each fortnight.
At the same time, we were also very very affected by internal conflicts within ISKCON Peru, as well as by the difficult situations that have, for quite some time, been generating mistrust and contributing to the fragmentation of the community.
During that period, you would sometimes appear in my dreams, asking me about my service and showing me that you were protecting me from afar. This gave me a profound feeling of being cared for and protected.
As material conditions allowed, we were able to pursue further studies: Gandharva completed a master's degree in cultural management, and I earned a bachelor's degree in strategic design. We both hope to use this knowledge for ISKCON.
At some point, and just for your mercy, we were able to find a more spiritual perspective. After all, although these problems are real and serious, they are ultimately MATERIAL. Malati Devi Dasi, who was in Lima in March of this year, said during one of her classes: “We cannot allow material problems to stop Lord Caitanya’s movement.”
And in my heart—or perhaps it was my mind, or Paramatma speaking to me—I felt that my own spiritual progress should not be allowed to be halted by material problems either.
HpS/ASA - Jaya Prabhu!
Your personified visit in March gave us the final encouragement we needed. Through your instructions and blessings, we were able to resume active service in ISKCON—with no judgment toward anyone, and with the sole purpose of follow your instructions, serving Krishna, the Vaishnavas, and the new devotees whom He sends to the temples.
To summarize our answer to the question we were faced with: YES, we are willing to serve Krsna even in the midst of adversity, when circumstances are far from ideal, and even while recognizing that we lack many of the necessary qualities and still have so much to learn.
In this world, which seems to be increasingly falling apart under the weight of widespread corruption and conflict, there is no better path, nor any more meaningful activity, than devotional service.
ASA - The more it falls apart, the more chance there is for us to rebuild it from the foundation, no?
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I wish to express my deepest gratitude to you, Gurudeva, for I know that true spiritual realizations can only be attained through the grace of the spiritual master. We always remember you and hold you close in our hearts with deep affection. We feel that you, too, remember us, bless us, and protect us, for you are a Vaishnava Thakura.
Therefore, despite my shortcomings and weaknesses, and even though I sometimes falter, I strive each day to faithfully follow my sadhana and to continue advancing in my spiritual studies and in my service within ISKCON.
Striving hard to become your disciple one day (and eagerly looking forward to your upcoming visit)
Indira-sakti dd
🥹🙏🙇🏻♀️
🌼 🌼 🌼👣 🌼 🌼 🌼
HpS - Thank you all.
Headed for a walk. Maybe you all can come with us.
