HARE KRISHNA, Dear Maharaj Hanumatpresaka Swami 🙏🏾PAMHO AGTSP
My name is Annie, I am from Trujillo - Peru, but I have been living in Lima for years for my studies. I finished my professional degree here, found a job while I was studying, had a good job after completing my degree in Communication Sciences, had money because I worked very hard, had a "good" life, had friends, a stable boyfriend but it didn't work out—he was not vegetarian.
I traveled some times and even visited some countries in Europe, enjoyed life at the end of my twenties but always felt something was missing, I was never happy despite having "everything".
My life gradually started to lose its direction 6 years ago, I felt suspended in the air not knowing where to go, so I dedicated myself to seeking the spiritual precisely because of that inner emptiness that nothing could fill. I went to seek God through various paths: the Rosicrucians, Gnosis, pranic energy, the meditation of 'we are all one', Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Pachamama... I was always searching for Him.
From my Catholic upbringing, in a catholic school, I always felt that GOD was very distant of me, like something unattainable.
I live with my mom and my uncle, and for as long as I can remember, I have always seen her with some illness. I have no brothers or sisters; my dad abandoned us when I was 6 or 7 years old. My memories of him are always fights and shouting. Thank God my father figure was my uncle, my mom's brother, who always supported both of us and continues to support us, he is unmarried. Now they are both elderly, and it is my duty to support them and take care of them.
Yoga came into my life when I was 16 years old, and I am grateful because since that time I have been a vegetarian. It has already been 20 years from that christmas time when I finally decided never to eat dead animals; time passed very quickly... The Gran Fraternidad Universal guided me spiritually, and I am thankful to have reached that point. It was a disciplined journey physically, but the philosophy didn't captivate me; perhaps it was not my time—I was young and had to study at the university a professional career.
Later, during the five years of university, I continued practicing my physical exercise routines and pranayama, but upon finding a job and with my studies, I decided to stop the physical practice but not vegetarianism. I just thought of the poor animals, and that encouraged me to continue abstaining from anything related to an animal. I am still vegetarian; it has been a little over 20 years, well actually to be honest I just eat only prasadam.
Then, to get better job opportunities, I studied a master's in marketing, got a stable job, but the pandemic came and I lost my job. With no money and no hope, I turned back to spirituality through meditation, discovered Kriya Yoga, and focused on formally preparing myself as a Hatha Yoga teacher in 2022.
HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna!!! Thank you for this letter, but we will start scanning rather than reading details, as we have limited time and resources. Is nice to hear about your sincere spiritual journey. The only thing that I think I had differently was reading Science Fiction authors and nice Godmother.
I found glimpses of peace, mental control, and devotion to the divine but with a focus on the whole, thanks to the practices of asanas and pranayamas. I really enjoyed returning to Hatha Yoga, and at that time I truly explored the philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga and started following its vows and practices.
I decided to take my path of celibacy 6 years ago after that I broke up with my boyfriend, mostly for my own well-being, to preserve my sexual energy. I didn't do it thinking about God; it was more a decision thinking about myself, but I maintained it without problems, and I feel good being celibate.
That same year, in the summer of 2019, I met a devotee of the Supreme Lord. He invited us to hold a BG festival, and we met weekly in different parks in Miraflores. He is from Chosica, Prabhu Ramasundarya Das, dedicated to his service in preaching, sankirtan, and fire ceremonies. He was my Siksa Guru because he spoke to me about Krishna for the first time, shared prasadam with us, and I even bought my BG from him but later put it away and never read it, just small texts during the festivals.
Later, I stayed committed, listening to Prabhu's classes even during the pandemic via Zoom, but then I lost the connection, then he invited me to the agnihotra ceremony in 2023. During that sacrifice, I met a friend who told me about the temple in Miraflores, and we went for the first time in February 2024.
I will never forget the Lord Nityananda's festival. From the moment I saw the Deities, I loved the temple, the people, and the atmosphere. I didn't stop attending the Saturday programs; I went regularly until I started connecting more with the devotees, and they told me to do service. In April, I started once a week helping as a kitchen assistant with M. Adi Lila Devi Dasi, washing pots and cutting vegetables. It was a very beautiful stage. Later, they offered me to help in the store located on the first floor of the Miraflores temple, and I accepted. I was unemployed and my mother was ill.
I had a lot of association with devotees, and they told me about the courses to understand Vaishnava philosophy. I took the introductory Bhakti course in August last year with Prabhu Laksman Agraja Das, an excellent devotee, teacher, and person.
Then I continued deepening my spiritual practice; I used to chant rounds between 4 and 6, I wasn’t very consistent. Later, I met other devotees in the courses, they gave me their tips, I set out to improve, and I maintained my sadhana at 10 rounds in February this year. I kept it for a few months, and only in August did I increase to 12. Until a month ago, I reached 14, and since following their programs, I am already at 16. I find great inspiration in the Japa Joe program and the Mangala Arati program; I have been participating daily for about a week.
In February of this year I started studying with Prabhu Laksman Agraja Das Bhakti Sastri because I liked so much what he taught us last year in the introductory course that it was really too little for my inquisitive spirit and my desire to understand every detail.
In the group there is only one bhakta and me, who am a bhaktina; the others are taking the course to receive the second initiation. I am not thinking about that; I kept striving to read every book and dissect every part until I to be able to understand. We have read the ISO, the NOI, and now we are on chapter 16 of the BG.
Reading in a group and with the magnificent guidance of Professor Laksman is a great motivation to continue studying. The course is wonderful, I am very grateful to you, Maharaj because I know that you fought for us to have this course in Peru.
I appreciate everything you have done in my country, what a pity I didn’t know you before, when you used to come frequently to Chosica. I understand that I had to go through all those paths to reach Krishna Consciousness, and to know you and your wonderful and priceless guidance.
Now I understand that more than understanding with my mind, I must surrender to the Lord, and He will give me the necessary intelligence. The first thing I needed was greater discipline to properly fulfill my sadhana, and thanks to the program, your association, and the devotees, I am getting up at 3:30 am to start my rounds and finish them in the morning.
I started an unofficial service at the Miraflores temple in the kitchen in April 2024, but then I moved to attend to the store they have. I receive a small payment, but it helps me with my basic expenses; I have a part-time shift. I started there in September 2024, but due to my mom's illnesses, I have had to leave it for periods when she underwent surgery last May and this year from June to August when she fractured her hand. Now I am there daily, and I enjoy it because I can preach to the people who come in and talk to them about His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.
By taking the discipleship course with Professor Laksman in july 2025, I was able to understand the greatness of SP, His mercy, and His desire to fulfill His master's mission. Every day I feel more admiration for SP and all His mission; this encourages me to faithfully follow His principles and continue reading His books to be a good devotee.
I need to confess that since I started following your program, Maharaj, I feel more motivated to properly develop my sadhana, to study the readings you do each day. I also have a lot of energy to fulfill my duties at home with my mother, my activities at the temple, and to perform my service as a pujari at the temple in Lima of Parama Karuna Goura Nitay. By the mercy of the Lord, I was able to start doing garland service in February of this year and continued until June, but when my mother had that accident where she broke her hand, I had to leave my regular service. However, I resumed in October, the month of Kartika, as a pujari.
I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me by the devotees of the temple of Their Lordships Parama Karuna Goura Nitay to be able to perform direct service to the deities. You cannot imagine how excited and happy I was the first time I performed the puja on Wednesday, September 29, when M. Isvari DD instructed me on how to serve. It is a happiness that cannot be compared with money or travel; it is something transcendental.
I sincerely thank you for reading my message and for your daily guidance in the Japa Joe and Mangala Arati programs. I feel very blessed and happy when I participate in the programs.
Please dear Maharaj, give me your blessings to be steady in my service, do my best to please Lord Krishna. I want to be a good devotee and help SP in His Mission. Sankirtan Jñajña ki jay
Eternally thankful with you and your disciples, my venerable and hightly respected Maharaj
Your servant,
AGTSP AGTHPS
PAMHO TO YOUR LOTTUS FEET.
Annie A. 🐦
from Lima, Peru
P.S. I love using emojis
HpS - You are in the daily online programs, no?
Is so nice to hear these details of your life. Is like the conversations between Narada Muni and Srila Vyasadeva SB 1.4-6.
Does the Temple in Chosica have regular programs with different mature devotees presenting classes etc.
Do you live in Lima now?
