Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Guru-Maharāj,

PAMHO. AGTSP!

I refer to your last instruction regarding the preaching centre in Vienna, Austria.

I just spoke on the phone at length with Vrajajana dās Adhikary in Vienna (Temple President), regarding my offer to perform service there indefinitely.

He explained that presently they are doing the minimum programme consisting of Sunday Feast, Wednesday BG class and Harinam. It sounds as though the location and amenities are adequate for me to stay there full-time and that there is scope for more regular programmes.

My offer was to help whichever way I can to support the existing programmes and expand it where possible.

To this end, we have agreed that I shall stay there for at least a couple of weeks as of Monday, 28 November 2022 and then discuss more permanent preaching plans thereafter.

I await your blessings to the foregoing proposal, so that I may pursue it with full enthusiasm.

Your servant,

Janārdan-hari dās.

HpS/ASA - From half the planet away and thus very little knowledge, we think that it seems fine.

Why not start one evening program a week like Wednesday of Thursday.

Then, later if things get hot, add a full Saturday morning program for intermediate level devotees.

Focus on how people can get a taste od chanting Maha-mantra and teaching SB.

🌴🌴🦆🌴

Querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte mis reverencias.

¡Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Muchas gracias por la inspiración en el servicio al gran capitán de este gran barco llamado ISKCON. 

Recordamos haber leído de parte de Usted una inspiración de Prabodhananda Sarasvati con palabras de aprecio y amor dirigidos a ISKCON, nos llevó a la inspiración de seguir trabajando en un movimiento que despierta la conciencia dormida por el hechizo de maya pero quizá administrativamente va despacio, a entender un poco su propia lucha y nos motivó el deseo de ser el neófito que desea avanzar en el proceso trascendental que Śrīla Prabhupāda describe en sus libros, mediante su guía y la asociación de los vaisnavas. Muchas gracias por inspirarnos cada día, somos muy afortunados!. 

Respecto, a la visita a Mexico, Marzo - Abril del 2023 

Cuando se incluyó algunos días para Ciudad de México algunos devotos de Chile se comunicaron, posteriormente he platicado con Priya Sakhi dd, sucede que a un grupo de vaisnavas se les facilita llegar a Ciudad de México para poder recibir la iniciación en el Templo de Sus Señorías Radha Madana Gopal, pregunté a las autoridades la posibilidad de una ceremonia de fuego en el festival de Ramanavami, informan que si usted está de acuerdo el Templo no tiene inconveniente. 

Candidatos de Chile 

Primera iniciación: 

•Diana Sánchez

•Estefanía Colella

Segunda Iniciación:

•Sripati Das

•Mandara Sakha Das

Candidato para segunda iniciación de Ciudad de México

•Laghubhagavatamrta das

Las autoridades han conversado y depositan su confianza en prabhu porque ha permanecido fijo en sus servicios en el templo desde que tomó la primera iniciación, en el 2009. 

Respecto a la predica externa en Ciudad de México, estamos platicando con algunos devotos interesados para poder presentar la propuesta en días posteriores. 

Vyasa-puja 2022

México 

24 de Diciembre (Aparición de Lochana Das Ṭhākura) en India?

En México es el día 23

Falta un poco más de un mes, de igual manera nos gustaría externar nuestro deseo de participar en algún evento online programado alrededor de estas fechas por favor. 

Muchas gracias por su misericordiosa atención.

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente

Asta Sakhi dd 

-=-=-=-

Dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept my obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you very much for the inspiration in serving the great captain of this great ship called ISKCON.

We remember having read from you an inspiration from Prabodhananda Sarasvati with words of appreciation and love addressed to ISKCON, it led us to the inspiration to continue working in a movement that awakens the consciousness asleep by the spell of maya but perhaps administratively it is going slowly, to understand a little about his own struggle and we were motivated by the desire to be the neophyte who wants to advance in the transcendental process that Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his books, through his guidance and the association of the Vaisnavas. Thank you very much for inspiring us every day, we are very lucky!

Regarding the visit to Mexico, March - April 2023

When a few days for Mexico City were included, some devotees from Chile communicated, later I have talked with Priya Sakhi dd, it happens that a group of Vaisnavas find it easier to reach Mexico City to receive initiation in the Temple of Their Lordships Radha Madana Gopal, I asked the authorities about the possibility of a fire ceremony on the Ramanavami festival, they inform that if you agree the Temple has no objection.

HpS - Thank you for your association. Thanks to the M. Ranjana Das et al.

Seems good to us.

Chilean Candidates

First initiation:

•Diana Sanchez

• Stephanie Colella

Second Initiation:

•Sripati Das

•Mandara Sakha Das

Candidate for second initiation from Mexico City

•Laghubhagavatamrta das

The authorities have spoken and place their trust in prabhu because he has remained fixed in his services in the temple since he took the first empowerment, in 2009.

ASA - Seems nice. but we need formal letters from ISKCON authorities.

Regarding the external preaching in Mexico City, we are talking with some interested devotees to be able to present the proposal in later days.

HpS - O.K. We can even work on it from Houston and Monterey when we are there.

Vyasa-puja 2022

Mexico

December 24 (Appearance of Lochana Das Ṭhākura) in India?

In Mexico it is the 23rd

HpS/ASA - We will base on India date. Guess Mexico is 10.30-hours earlier, so lot of 23rd December there will be 24th December in India.

There is a little more than a month to go, in the same way we would like to express our desire to participate in an online event scheduled around these dates please.

HpS/ASA - Yes, I guess we can do live programs in the Krsna Balarama temple in the morning and afternoon, and then online programs in the evening from home.

7AM Mexico should be 5.30PM in India.

Good plan?

Can make some recordings.

Thank you very much for your merciful attention.

Your eternal would-be servant

asta sakhi dd

ASA - Same from us, Tom Brown and Buck White!

"Hare Krishna maharaj,

Regarding Mumbai to Govardhan Eco Village January 10th, I arrive in Mumbai 9th evening and will be waiting for you at airport, 11:35am on 10th Jan. sorry I made rushed mistake in blog post. I have correct dates here. Thank you."

ASA- Thank you! So important to double check ✔ this stuff, no?

Dear maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to your service. 

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This post is to share my current travel plans and projects over the coming months.

1.      HDG Bhaktisvaurpa Damodara Swami Maharaja vyasapuja and possible education symposium, Radha Kunda November 29^th 2022. 

I have booked travel tickets and accommodation to arrive in Radha Kund evening of 26^th November and return to Mayapur 1^st December 2022.

The assignment you gave me for this symposium was put forward some ideas on how the NIOS and the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre (BRC) along with other affiliates can expand the kirtan of Sri Krishna Caitanya. I interviewd HG Hari Suari prabhu and learnt the amazing history of the BRC. I have some ideas, most of which others are probably also having. Maybe hearing them from me, this wild, youthful outsider, might kickstart something.

If symposium is no longer viable, I will cancel/postpone the above plans. 

ASA -- HK//HHR. Always welcome, but if you can save some money then maybe cancel this trip because S. Rudra broke leg and cannot come.

Also, if do come think you could stay with us.

We can talk on phone.

2.      My family and I will travel to Vrindavan for your Vyasapuja 19^th – 27^th December. 

3.      January 2023, my tickets are booked. I will meet you at Mumbai airport morning of the 11^th after which we spend the next few days at Govardhan Eco Village until we fly together to Imphal, Manipur. Programs in Manipur and Assam until the 24^thwhen we return to Delhi. 

ASA - Awwwk. We checked with Vistara, and our flight is Tuesday 10th, not 11th! Flight 927 (?) arrives 11.35am Mumbai.

I hope we didn't publish this incorrectly. We make mistakes, so best to confirm general info specifically with us.

4.      26^th January 2023, we fly to Madrid, Spain together. I am developing some ideas to contribute and research with HH Yadhunandan Swami.

ASA - Yes, flight for both of us was changed from 25th to 26th January.

There are more plans for February-March, but I will leave it at this for the blog for now. 

Your servant

Dhruvaananda Das

HpS/ASA - Many thanks!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga

All glories to the sankirtan of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

Please accept my humble obeisances dear Gurudev, I have not written to you for a while, I have been involved with cultivation and construction.

At home there is a thorny tree with small purple flowers. A beautiful red hummingbird always comes to drink the nectar from these flowers, and I think of Hanumat Presaka Swami, no matter how hard the wood is and how thorny the wood is, the hummingbird finds the like little flowers and absorbs the nectar.

HpS - AGTSP! We still have a tendency to enjoy some of the flowers of Tama and Raja guna.... but it seems to be under control and diminishing!

Likewise with us, no matter how hard-hearted we have been by time, you are an expert in searching for nectar. I have been a bit perplexed by the actions of some devotees, but is it Kali Yuga? I too have had unfortunate attitudes.

HpS - Could be many things. Ie. Doctor sees that a man is coughing. Could be many causes. NoI 6 talks about how even a pure devotee may seem to have material faults from an external, material, point of view.

I tell him [you] that I am building the dining hall with an altar for Jaganath, Baladeva and Subhadra. Gopal gets up every morning and goes to hug Jaganath who is currently in the half-finished workshop, and honestly it is the best motivation in Krsna consciousness, seeing my son developing spontaneous love for Jaganatha makes me very happy, really You're going to need it because this world is getting darker and harsher.

HpS - Yes, it is Krsna's kindness to SQUEEZE us out of our material mess.

I want to tell you that I cultivated Tulasi Devi, and little by little they are germinating, and it makes me happy to see the magic of Krsna in each episode of my life, what more can you ask for in life? May a pure devotee of the Lord manifest in my humble home? I have neglected my rounds a bit, that's why I'm going to put the batteries, because I feel that the rounds and the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, they are the only thing that will take care of my mental and emotional health. Radha JPJ, she almost left her body in a bus accident near home too, so I feel that Krsna warns us about the harshness of this world. We were listening with Gopal to some of His [your, Srila P'pada] classes in Spain, the last one about Abhimanyu, and it is a mystery how Krsna tested his pure devotees like Arjuna, how his sons were killed, his mother Devaki and his father Vasudeva, it is really a mystery. In general terms I continue working at home and soon I will have the workshop in a decent state to be able to work and collect a little better.

I also want to finish Jaganatha's dining room and altar to make some nice mangalartiks and maybe invite devotees, I always fondly remember mangalartiks with Gunagrahi das Goswami, or with you and I feel it was a gift to the heart and great fortune. have shared that bliss. I feel very lucky, the truth is, as His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja says, Krsna consciousness is the greatest adventure... I feel like I don't have much to tell. My life is a bit routine and simple, but happy. PRIVATE Gurudev, if it were possible, I ask that what follows be only for you.

HpS/ASA - O.K. unless you are confessing to robbing a bank or something. Ha! Ha! Ha!

. . .

HpS - Your comments are something that I experience precisely in my spiritual life also.

NoI 5 is so, so nice. It helped me so much when the NoI was published and I could read that text.

Hare Krishna!

Please forgive any offense committed in this letter inadvertently.

My best wishes for you, eternally grateful: bhakta frank

Dear Maharaj,

PAMHO AGTSP

Yes Maharaj. At that time I was taking guidance under the one ISKCON Guru's Sanga-siksa system. He told me to follow my parents. For consultation with Sadhu, I spoke to my parents and siksha guru (arranged by them and disciple of HH RNS), all told to jump on this marriage opportunity brought by my siksha guru despite everything. And sastra says only Kshatriya women can choose their own husband/parents have right to decide spouse.

I sensed many problematic situations will come from this marriage or maybe my fear manifested them. But I also knew being vowed to solve them will result in much spiritual growth. My friends, intuition and astrologers said don’t do it: His affairs will give you sanyas life. I put my hands up and said if this is what you want Krsna, so be it.

I definitely have grown. 4yrs ago I couldn’t imagine tolerating this. I had to face a lot of internal demons: pride, inferiority complex of cowife, loneliness, attachment to conventional grhasta life, insecurity, uncertainity, anxiety, false shelter etc. I am working to mold my life closer to SP’s discipline and thus becoming more internally satiated with my personal, spiritual and material goals.

Earlier, every interaction with my husband would bite me like this many hooded serpant and I’d get fevers, and insomnia. But since you gave us shelter, we have developed some immunity to this poison and this have better sadhana. And most importantly this problem has brought our heart so much closer to yours 🙏. Serendipity. And perhaps the good is slowly revealing itself.

Your servant,

Yajnaseni DD

HpS - ASA - Thank you for giving some lucid explanation of your experiences. I think that others are getting perspectives on their own lives.

Madhyama Adhikari

1. Loves Krsna.
2. Makes friends with devotees.
3. Preaches to the innocent.
4. Avoids the demons.

Of course, most of us are a mixture of qualities 2-4.

So, best thing in our stage is to become expert at avoiding being bitten. See the neurotic attachment of people kicking in and overwhelming their intelligence, and jumping out of their line of fire.

Eg. "Thanks, Prabhu, love to talk about that. I'll be right back!"