Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

HpS - AgtSP! "Gurudeva", hmmm? ❓I can function as Patha-pradarsika siksa guru, giving advice to get back to platform of initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada! Doing 16-nice rounds and following 4-principles strictly?

Please accept my obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Gurudeva, I want to apologize to you (again) and to my godbrothers, as several of them have been affected by some letters that I have sent to the blog. Recently one of them let me know of his annoyance.

HpS - Oooh? What annoyed him? Your letters didn't seem more annoying than our prayers to Srila Prabhupada?

I have not written with the aim of generating conflict or discord. This is simply due to my clumsiness, lack of intelligence, and my misinterpretation of your instructions.

For example, I interpreted that you wanted to give me a second initiation, how I also misinterpreted your instructions on administrative matters, etc.

Another thing that has happened to me is that I take your jokes as if these words were serious or as if they were instructions.

HpS - Yes, that happens sometimes. We will try to be more literal, but it is hard for us. Nitai-gaura-sundara Das' father, big Hindi scholar, wrote an epic poem about Hanuman, 'Sancar-mochat'. He said that it would be hard for us to keep from jumping around physically and mentally if Guru gave us a name following Hanuman. He was a monkey, always jumping and joking.

My stupidity has not allowed me to discern, I keep making mistakes, since I am a conditioned soul.

However, my desire is to serve, there is no other intention, of that I am sure.

your servant

Piyari Mohan das

PS: In the last letter (https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/13972/)

You told me the following:

So, you must learn how to engage your body, words and mind in Krsna's service. Direct experiments with Yoga might be a natural part of your work, just as Anandamaya Devi Dasi or Jaya-prema Devi Dasi in their letters might be involved with children and mothers or aunts.

my question is:

Do you mean that I should experiment with Yoga in the sense that I should practice Hatha Yoga exercises?

HpS - Get advice from local devotees, Brahmanas, and then you might experiment with all aspects of Patanjali's yoga: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation in terms of using your propensities in Rupa Goswami's yoga.

It is a personal tendency, not for the Temple so much, but for dovetailing our passions with Bhakti-yoga.

I hope you can make retribution for offenses to Vaisnavas, get situated so that they don't occur again, and seems that first initiation may be enough, safe postion, to become a pure devotee.

Thank you.

Now we prepare for local FES (Full Evening Service).

cont. from here : https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/13964/

ND: My words for this time are written down in italics dark blue.

Dear Guru Maharaja, Hare Krishna.

PAMHO AGTSP

In my regular reading, i.e. I was not searching for a quote on the topic, I read this:

The executive head must always be alert to the safety of the prajās, both man and animal, and inquire whether a particular living being is harassed at any place by another living being. The harassing living being must at once be caught and put to death, as shown by Mahārāja Parīkṣit. >>> SB 1.17.10-11, from the purport

---

[Not advocating death sentence here, and not against it, according to time, place and circumstances.]

Food for thought. Replace ‘executive head’ for ‘GBC’ / leader, and ‘prajas’ for ‘all devotees serving under GBC / leader’.

In my arrogant understanding, harassment is one of the easy-to-detect symptom of a materially conditioned consciousness, personally and socially.

There is harassment everywhere, however as, a hopefully progressive, bhakti yoga sadhakas, the idea is to curb it down, personally and socially.

It fascinates me how Srila Prabhupada is uncompromising, direct and strict about how to deal with a person who is harassing someone else.

Any leader who has “prajas” should carefully attend to and be aware that there is no harassment in his community, or if there is, act accordingly / firmly.

More could be said, there are different aspects.

Your servant Namacarya Das

HpS/ASA - Thank you for this comment. Sorry took us almost two weeks to answer. Kapi Dhvaja, Blog posts, ASA Carnival on Face book etc, hope give some idea of the intense programs and travel last few weeks!

ND: I feel grateful and uplifted by being in the possibility to have an email/blog exchange with you. In my mind, I am still in a "snail" mail era - letters travel a few weeks over the globe to reach the destination. So, usually, I do not mind if there is no 'fast' reply or comment to what I write. Also, it gives me time to digest the content. Moreover, I try not to burden you with much of my thoughts, comments and general letters.

Am hoping it will get lighter when we get back to Nashville, but thinking that it may not. Now we have to learn to be continually absorbed in the association of devotees.

That is Vaikuntha, no? The ground, trees, everything is Krsna's devotees.

Jaya Jaya Harinama.

I think that replacing King for GBC is stimulating. I do it, but also we must see that the protection that a Brahmana gives is different than the protection that a Ksatriya gives, no?

ND: Strictly speaking, do the brahmanas give protection? It could be said, YES, by words (advice). 

GBC is Ksatriya spirited Brahmanas?

ND: Uhh, yes, maybe. In Kali yuga things are messed up. I am worried we (ISKCON, gaudiya devotees, etc) shy from protection of those who cannot protect themselves. All in the name of "I am not a ksatriya", or "it is your karma" 'understanding'.

Also, kind of harassment ... Kali was cutting of the legs of the bull and beating them. Emotional abuse may require a different punishment than death, no?

ND: Yes. That is my understanding. 

SP in the given purport does not make any distinction. I suppose he made a general statement. 

That is a challenge - SP often/sometimes writes generally with a strong direction so devotees use his words to coerce others in the direction of a written word. It is fine to use Acarya's words as a personal inspiration and it is another thing to coerce the surroundings into that.

Another point - I do not mean to offend. Following this discussion, what if we consider SP authority/"king" at the time when he was present, and how he dealt with harassing persons (i.e. those who were harassing others) and situations (verbal, emotional, physical harassment)? Did he emphasize the protection as he said in the purport? Yes? No? If not, why? If yes, how?

Namacarya Das

HpS 2023 04 17 ---- https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/9/30/, Nice perspective, no? One story seems nice. Guru-krpa Swami who was notorious for strong dealings with sub-ordinants et al, told us that one time in Hawaii Srila Prabhupada called him into his room like 9PM at night and then began to question him about his service, GBC work, organzing book distibution etc and chastising him in strong worlds.

He said that it was so intense that he began to tremble to hold back his tears

Then Srila Prabhupada looked at him and smiled, and said, "So now you know what it feels like to be on the other end of the stick". He said it was like a warm glow of sunshine in his heart. His harsh dealings in administration was so changed by the one experience, and he felt nothing but gratefulness for Srila Prabhupada banging on his head for some time.

So many stories of how Srila Prabhupada applied "protection". For me, the fundamental way he gave us protection was to give us knowledge of Hari kirtan as protection. Like Prahlada when harrassed by the agents of Mr. Kasipu.

Punishing devotees, Brahmanas is a very fine service! Yet, it is something someone who takes the power of GBC must do.

More.. !!

HpS - Thank you. More Chanting, More SB, More Knowledge. How is your Pa, Pa, Pa, Wife/Nirkula Devi Dasi, etal.

Dear Maharaja,

Please accept our humble obeisances.

. . . . All glories to your service.

. . . . . . . All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On behalf of my whole family, we would like to thank you for your association over the past few months.

HpS - On behalf of our whole family we want to say that it was our benefit! [Monkey, Piggy, Uncle Gismo et al]

The mystic mountains of North East India, the castles of Spain, the warmth of Mexico. It has been a truly life-changing experience for all of us—even for my father, who upon our return to Mayapur was deeply moved seeing the film of his grand daughter, Suryani, speaking the glories of Navapwid Dham during the children’s Gaura Purnima drama at Nueva Govardhan, Monterrey, Mexico 2023.

Speaking of Nueva Govardhan, to witness the inauguration in your association of such high potential project has been a great honor. The opportunities for families, community, varna-ashrama and sankirtan are inspiring.  We wish to see the project grow. With your guidance we hope to contribute. 

We apologise to all the nice devotees of Mexico City that we were unable to participate in the programs there. They looked wonderful and we hope to be able to contribute next time. 

By the time you get this electronic mail we would have spent at least one week back in Sri Dham Mayapur. After experiencing some serious jetlag, we are now finding our rhythm. 

We are also keeping in contact with friends we made on the journey, such as Gadadhara Gosai P. and his good wife Anandamaya M. as well as Govinda Pramodini M. and Bhakta Guillermo with the hope of developing more sankirtan.

Your servants,

Dhruvānanda Dasa, Dhanesvari DD, Suryani and Sarasvati

HpS - Jaya!!!! The same to you and more of it!!! We aren't traveling much more without a travel partner...

Swami Atul has a proposition for some very help you could do with these BhVedant diplomas.

'ows the elefant, mate?

🌺🍃Toda Gloria a Srila Prabhupada!!🍃🌺

🌺🍃Toda Gloria a Sri Sri Nitay Gourasundar!!🍃🌺

Gracias por su respuesta a mi carta anterior y gracias por su apreciación sobre mi persona. Soy muy muy afortunada de haberlo conocido! Espero que usted se encuentre muy bien.

Hace unos días atrás estuve muy estresada y escuché una de las últimas charlas que dió usted en México junto a Bhaktisundar Goswami y para mi sorpresa comenzaba usted diciendo "Yo estoy sufriendo en este mundo, usted está sufriendo en este mundo, todos estamos sufriendo en este mundo! Este mundo está diseñado asi!! " y naturalmente comencé a reir a carcajadas y volví a recordar lo perfecta que es esta vida si uno se propone volver a Krishna, de todos modos no salía de mi asombro de semejante "coincidencia" y esta risa natural alejo de mi mente ese estress. Hare Krishna!! Fue un cariño a mi mente y a mi corazón escucharlo hablar de como usted conoció a los devotos y a Srila Prabhupada!! Gracias!!!

Si mal no recuerdo hace unas cartas atrás le comenté que iba a abstenerme de comentar asuntos personales por el blog así que buscaré la forma de enviarle un mensaje por privado para contarle sobre mi vida. Como dije anteriormente hay practicantes de bhakti yoga que usan la información para fines que no son devocionales y prefiero mantener cierta "privacidad". Realmente lamento mucho que esto tenga que ser así, pero me han recomendado que lo haga y comprendí que eso es bueno.

Lo que si puedo comentarle por este medio es que estamos sumamentr perplejos sobre el narcisismo que se refleja en la sociedad en general y dentro de la sociedad de devotos también, claro está, y esta negación de querer vivir en la Verdad. Es por eso que nos estamos protegiendo de la gente manipuladora y perversa que quieren desviar a la gente de la Verdad. Por supuesto no soy una devota pura y tengo anarthas en mi corazón pero no soy tonta, como mencioné antes nos estamos cuidando Gurudev, gracias a los profesionales de la salud mental que nos han revelado todo este aspecto de la sociedad humana y nos brindan muchísimas herramientas para mantener lejos de nuestra vida a cualquier persona con malas intenciones.

Es increíble todo el trabajo que usted está haciendo para Srila Prabhupada, usted es asombroso! Gracias. Estamos en contacto.

Acepte mis reverencias a sus santos pies, me postro a sus santos pies.

A su servicio, Jahnava Devi dasi. 🥰

🌺🍃HARIBOL!!!🍃🌺

PD: Intentamos subir una foto de Nitay Gourasundar para su placer pero el sistema es muy lento, situación extraña en estos días donde todo es rápido!!! Haha!! Hare!!

=-=-=-=

.. . . . . . . All Glory to Srila Prabhupada!!

🌺🍃All Glory to Sri Sri Nitay Gourasundar!!🍃🌺

Thank you for your response to my previous letter and thank you for your appreciation of me. I am very very lucky to have known him! I hope you are very well.

A few days ago I was very stressed and I listened to one of the last talks that you gave in Mexico together with Bhaktisundar Goswami and to my surprise you began by saying "I am suffering in this world, you are suffering in this world, we are all suffering in this world! This world is designed like this!! "and naturally I began to laugh out loud and I remembered again how perfect this life is if one intends to return to Krishna, anyway I did not get over my astonishment at such a "coincidence" and this natural laughter away from my mind that stress. Hare Krishna!! It was warm to my mind and heart to hear you talk about how you met the devotees and Srila Prabhupada!! Thank you!!!

If I remember correctly, a few letters ago I told him that I was going to refrain from commenting on personal matters on the Blog, so I will find a way to send him a private message to tell him about my life.

ASA - Jaya. Has to include un hombre in the dialog because we are Sannyasis 😄 and we are really incompetent to deal with individual particulars because we are so far away from people by distance etc.

At least in general discuss "personal" things here. Then we can try to deal with some details withing that perspective. O.K.?

As I said earlier there are bhakti yoga practitioners who use the information for non-devotional purposes and I prefer to maintain some "privacy". I am really sorry that this has to be this way, but I have been recommended to do it and I understood that that is a good thing.

What I can tell you by this means is that we are extremely perplexed about the narcissism that is reflected in society in general and within the society of devotees as well, of course, and this denial of wanting to live in the Truth. That is why we are protecting ourselves from manipulative and evil people who want to lead people away from the Truth. Of course I am not a pure devotee and I have anarthas in my heart but I am not stupid, as I mentioned before we are taking care of ourselves Gurudev, thanks to the mental health professionals who have revealed all this aspect of human society to us and provide us with many tools to keep anyone with bad intentions away from our lives.

It is amazing all the work you are doing for Srila Prabhupada, you are amazing! Thank you. We are in contact.

Please accept my obeisances at your holy feet, I prostrate myself at your holy feet.

At your service, Jahnava Devi dasi.

HpS - Jaya! We have to apply NOI 5 very well, no? When NOI came out and we read NOI 5 etc, it helped us so much in revealing our mind to different kinds of devotees.

We are safest when we see ourselves as servants of EVERYBODY. Aaaah! Of course, that is paramahamsa stage and NoI 5 tells us how to apply it at the Madhyama-adhikari stage.

Hoping for your wisdom as always.

🌺🍃HARIBOL!!!🍃🌺

PS: We tried to upload a picture of Nitay Gourasundar for your pleasure but the system is very slow, strange situation in these days where everything is fast!!! Haha!! I will do!!

pamho, AgtSP!

I always experience that ISKCON is vrindavan, only at first it was difficult to understand what was my position in this holy place.

Y,s. Madhu.

HpS - ENTERING VRNDAVANA:

The land, the cows, the buffalos and trees,

Are all unlimited nectarean seas,

Of the most intense mellows of spiritual pain,

Something which only the most fortunate ever obtain.

SANNYASA DHARMA:

A book bag, a blanket, a bucket and beads,

Will satisfy all of your spiritual needs.

Dear GM,

PAMHO

AGTSP

I hope this meets you in as good health as possible. I am inspired by your ceaseless service to Srila Prabhupada and the devotees.

I am getting older and weaker while still hanging around in this wonderful world of life, consciousness, sukha/dukha, gunas, reverence for Sri Krsna, and hoping for glimmers of awareness of the SPoG along with the appreciation for his servants.

I have your Tava Pache Pache in an attempt to remind me of the fundamentals of practicing devotional service under your guidance.

In addition, I enjoy epistemology. I taught the IB Theory of Knowledge course for many years to help pre-university students think critically and consider the basis of knowledge. They did not often understand the value of these thinking skills until after attending university for a while, when they would reach out to me to share how these skills helped them.

Visiting my sons for a spell in the USA. Pictures attached.

I am disconnected from the Krsna consciousness movement and all the wonderful engagements so many devotees are doing in their communities, although I have not strayed far from the path of devotion.

If I can help you in some way, please share. Maybe I could catch up with you when you return to India??

I hope this meets you well,

YHS

tscd

HpS - ASA --- AGTSP! paoho. I can immediately remember your condo on the border of San Jose and whatever it was. Your excellent intellectual association in so many, many, many ways!!! For some reason we did not stay in touch after you went to Thailand.

Ooof! 😞

Yet, who cares!!! Hari bolo! We are all in the same boat. "Once they come to Krsna, they can never get away"!

So, so nice if you can help us, join our efforts.

The simplest way is to read the News bulletin, www.jayarama.us/news.htm, every new and full moon day,,,, and as directed in there, post and read posts on this Blog.

You have so much to post here.