Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna, TB,

Tom Brown, Secretary ASA - HAre Krsna, Hayagriva A. D. AgtSP!!!

We were telling a student the concept of soul, it taking shelter of sperm, then fertilizing with egg in ovum etc.

All this was done to tell difference between dead body and living body.

Then the question of multiple babies arised , there we got stuck, questions like are there soul in eggs, then the process of non identical, identical twins arose, which has got very nice explaination from the medical science, which bolsters the perspective that we are lump of matters.

so can TB or HpS put light soul theory of fertilization and twins reproduction especially from embryology perspective.

yet to accept with faith that the soul exist to serve Krsna.

TB/ASA - We all don't know too much about embryology and persepctive of Sankhya.

In all cases it seems pretty simple. Get a sponsor for a house and then architect, craftsment etc start to build. Two houses on the same lot, or maybe two bothers whose wives decide they like the other wive's houise and so a second identical house starts on the same lot.

Rare but seems simple.

Is O.K.?

Hare Krishna, all glories to Srila Prabhupada, my obeisances to you, GM. My previous letter didn't send; browser problems. How are you? I read something on the Blog. Thank you always for your updates.

About me, I made a brief summary: I was living in Bariloche, Patagonia, and I hope to return soon. I came to Buenos Aires to study. I graduated as a flight attendant, and I'm studying languages, but English never sticks in my brain. I also had my first Chinese class, french and german are no the way todo, I always choose difficult things, like my mind, which suffers a lot. I think and demand a lot of myself; I never stop feeling happiness in my activities, but I always feel like something is missing, and my thirty years limit me; I think I'm too attached. I'm also a ceramicist (pottery?) it's my current job, but I enjoy it so much, and it's so therapeutic, that I don't feel like it's work.

I spent six months in Mexico visiting my sister Malati and her family; everything was so beautiful and pleasant, and they were so kind. Guru Maharaja, I ask for your blessings to help me continue and to lower the ego within me.

I always wish you well and the company of the devotees and Srila Prabhupada. Excuse my bad english, your crazy Servant

Ter kadamba devi dasi

HpS - How long, agtSP, has it been since we had a chance to communicate? !!

Did you restring our Japa beads when they broke?

How are you parents?

Gone to Goloka?

Multi-billionaire brain surgeon and famous French fashio designer?

Hare Krishna, Maharaja

Please accept my obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you

I had a somewhat intriguing experience and I want to clarify this situation that is causing me a lot of confusion.

While dancing before the deity, I visualized myself as a gopi or girl in the spirit world.

One night, while thinking that perhaps I was a gopi, I felt as if “Krishna” came and wanted to have physical relations with me.

This “entity,” I don’t know what kind of entity it is, had such relations with me, just as if it were a person. My body was agitated but now that I remember it, I feel disgusted by this situation. It’s like a kind of rape, I don’t know.

This was a real thing, not a dream. In fact, I was writing while it was happening, as if this being were speaking to me through my mind.

I didn't see anything, I didn't hear anything, but I felt it.

Now I'm stable, back to normal, but it's still there, bothering me sometimes. But I no longer believe in "that gopi who has physical relations with Krishna."

Do you think this was a ghost or some other kind of entity?

Thank you.

Your servant, Rama Krishna Dasi

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. I do not know. The material energy is unlimited.

When we are engaged in Sankirtan with Srila Prabhupada, in the company of his nice, disciples, then we have a good perspective on reality and can make some practical judgement about our subtle and gross experiences.

Adjust your life so that you can have such Kirtan association morning and evening daily.

There are Bhutas, Pretas, Yaska, Rakshasa, Vininayaksas, so many subtle beings.

It is just like a rat trying to understand the variety of people, cats, dogs, horses, pythons etc that there are in the world and then having experiences with them.

There is not limit to how much your can become fixed in your original K. C. experience.

Learn who you are now, build your character and preach.

Hare Krsna, Gurudeva.

Obeisances.

Obviously we try to see Guru Parampara System (GPS) behind you so AGTSP, AGT-GPS.

HpS/ASA - Of course, we feel successful when we have been able to be a window to Srila Prabhupada.

Please tell us what he says to you.

We generally don't stay physically with ISKCON devotees. However when we are working with so called non ISKCONites, we say that in India there is so much confusion who is God, what He wants etc, it was our fortune to come in touch with Srila Prabhupada books, and then came you and first initiation.

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja.

We remind ourself of your mercy by this verse, we do feel pacified, small progress is eternal, correct, progress.

HpS - We seem to be making a small contribution to the whole process, yet it was by the mercy of our Mother, Godmother, and the USA after World War Two that we had our first start in spiritual development.

Then it seems very much from previoius life we took up the work again.

After that, it was Srila Prabhupada who gave us this extra ordinary initiation into Bhagavata Dharma, God as a person.

Specific to India, he is presenting nothing other than the Vedic proposition, the amplification of the Acharyas.

Of course, at any time, in the material world, that is amazing!

in letter 15915 you wrote -"We cannot give too much help!"--well this could direct indication of you might be tired of us, and leaving us to our stubborness/ egoism of not following your instruction but our mind....

so on that line we ask you ..

How can we serve you eternally?

How can we serve you currently ?

four rules intact as never before.

getting up everyday before sun rise ,

current focus is on this tamasic/rajasic body and not so bogged down that four rules break.

you have given us lessons for eternity.

Obeisances

Hayagriva Avatar Das

HpS/ASA - We do not feel tired of your association.

It has always been cause of humility for us since the first day we met you and Mataji after the lecture in Gaziabad.

Any news from her and The Aniruddha?

Are you still teaching at Varanasi?

Getting up early and getting your rounds done, with as much alacrity and enthusiasm as you can apply, and following the four regulative principles as strictly as possible is the very best service for us and Srila Prabhupada.

It is like planting a mango tree and nurtering it.

All wonderful things will come from that.

Seed, sprout, seedling, sappling, tree, sprouts, buds, flowers, green mangos, ripe mangos, trade some mangos for bananas/coconuts/pants and shirt..

Is good idea?

asa[e] guru tattva; disciple falls from vows.

Dear Gurudeva,

PAMHO. AGTSP.

I am writing this letter to tell you that I am losing myself spiritually. For several weeks I have not been keeping fully the promise I made to you of chanting 16 good rounds and the Gayatri mantras, and I feel very, very bad.

You always say that if one is not keeping the vow, you are not his/her spiritual master anymore, and I understand that.

HpS - As Diksa Guru, but if you or someone in this position wants, then we can try to function as Siksa guru, Patha-pradarshika guru, again. That is Guru who tries to get us on the formal path, the vows and promises.

Of course, Srila Prabhupada is doing this for all of us through so many media.

It is only my fault. I ask your forgiveness for having failed you and Srila Prabhupada. It is clear that I am not up to the standard. Please, I hope you don’t think that I am getting lost by engaging in sense enjoyment, I mean, more than some weeks ago. Truly, that is not the case.

I have simply complicated a little more my life with my new personal situation. At the same time, I am getting older and I have less material strength, and it seems also less spiritual strength. The daily life of a worker woman who lives alone with two children and several bills to pay at the end of the month consumes a lot of hours and energy.

I have the feeling of sinking into a spiral that swallows me and pushes me away from the devotees. Sometimes I think am a burden for the devotees: Jayanta is better living in Brihuega and the devotees who live around here are only interested on when Jayanta can come to have a lecture and a sat sanga meeting.

And I totally understand it. I am only good at my job, driving and some sports.

I would like to thank you for all these years in which, through your great mercy, you have allowed me to remain close to you and benefit from your association, knowledge, and realizations.

I am deeply, deeply sorry for not being up to the level of you, your spiritual master, or your disciples. What frightens me most is that I don’t know if I will ever be able to be. But I am going to keep trying. This soul is fighting.

If you allow me, I would like to continue connecting, whenever I can, to Japa Joe, FMP, and the Sunday classes. Also, whenever needed and if you consider it appropriate, please count on me to help with NIOS.

I am sorry to have to write you such a letter.

I hope you are in good health.

An aspirant hoping to be able to serve you again.

HpS - As usual you are a heroine and leader for so many people. How many people are in the same position and have not taken the brave and honest steps to write here.

Thank you.

Can we act as your Siksa guru?

Vartmana, Patha, pradarsika guru?

Of course, Krsna does not forget all the effort you have made.

It is like taking the rope He is offering from the shore and pulling us closer. Eventually we get to the point that even though we still go under the water, our feet now hit the bottom and we can use that to push ourselves up, as well as take the pull from his rope.

Later we will be 50% out of the water.

Yet in all cases we hold onto the rope. Even 50% of the rivers current can carry us away.

Of course, the rope is 16/4 with enthusiasm.

If we lose the connection we are headed back to the Samsara of the river flow. Again, it is different for one who has chanted than one who has not.

If we have the strength and intelligence to go to work etc. then we have the strength and intelligence to chant some Japa and follow principles to some practical extent.

No whiskey.

No betting on horse races.

0--0

Keep track of how many rounds you owe Krsna.

Take a vow to chant a certain number of rounds daily that you know you can do for a certain period. Eg. "I will chant four rounds per day until Christmas".

Then see the result.

Then take a vow to chant fixed number, more or less, during the next period.

At least one round every year on Janmastami? 😆

This is what Srila Prabhupad and we guess Rupa Goswami recommend in the NoD.

Sangat sanjayate kamah.

Our desires develop from the company we keep.

If you are giving so much help to Nimai the Great and Sarasvati the Charming, then why aren't they chanting with you?

Has Jayanta Das moved full time to Brihuega?

Does he not help with the care of the minor children?

Are the two of you enacting your Spanish lila of Sancho and Teresa?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo7VlD66ISM

Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and to his faithful and truthful followers such as yourself.

 HpS/ASA - We have a some distance to go before we can say that we are completely faithful to all of Srila Prabhupada's instructions eg. Bathing three times daily and applying Tilak, avoiding completely hearing mundane news etc.

It has been several months since I last reported on the blog. Because of that silence, someone might say, “It seems that Manuel monkey has distracted himself in some leafy tree in Pogo Park” But that is not the case. I am always very attentive to your sankirtana. My ears, my hands, my tail, and mainly my heart stay alert, trying to receive your mercy and to be of useful in the seva.

Thank you so much for giving us delicious bananas of bhakti every day in the FMP and a transcendental feast every Sunday in the ASA Workshops.

Allow me, then, to offer you a brief report on the editorial fruits that have already ripened and those that are still developing on the branches of the NIOS publications tree:

I) Book for the 40th Anniversary of Grupo Integro: It has already been published. Your greeting letter in both English and Spanish appears inside, and the NIOS logo is included in the credits.

HpS - Didn't NIOS pay to receive some copies???

II) Educating Krishna’s Children: This is the Spanish version of Mother Aruddha’s book. It is fully typeset. The interior layout and the cover have already been approved by Radhika Raman Prabhu and his mother. We expect the printed copies to be ready during the first week of December. This book is beautiful and helpful for parents and caregivers, as well as for anyone who needs to remember that Krishna is mischievous and joyful, and that raising and educating Krishna-conscious children can be delightful and in fact it is a very valuable service for the pleasure of Guru and Gauranga. The translation was done by Mother Purnamasi, and the layout and design by ARTd. Do you have any suggestions?

HpS - No. Wonderful to hear. Hope it can be made readily available in Spanish community. Create a revolution. Be presented in Santiago in February/March.

III) WOD (Waves of Devotion in Spanish): It is currently 80% typeset, but we cannot complete it as a part of the English edition’s typography is still missing. ARTd spoke with Dhanurdhara Swami, who said he would contact the disciple responsible for the editing of his books, but that has not happened yet. ARTd will try one more time to contact Maharaja. Do you have any suggestions?

HpS - Send a copy of the letter to Maharaja to us. We may even see him personally when we are in Radha kunda.

IV) SOLARIS No. 9: It is in the midst of the layout process. In addition to the Spanish articles, this issue includes four articles in English. (Our goal is that each issue can contain between 30% and 50% of its content in English.)

One more point: ARTd has been talking to Hector, Miguel, Oscar, Raul, Pablo, and Walter to prepare a NIOS-Perú proposal for the academic Sankirtana during your stay in Lima. (they have a group meeting next Thursday Nov 20th). He is coordinating activities with Laksmana-agraha to organize with ISKCON to host events on Varna-asrama dharma and Guru-tattva. He is also talking with mothers and devotees such as Candra-mukhi, Palika, Mitravinda, Nitya-kisori, Gita-Govinda, Gandharva, Ray Ramananda, and others; they are all very happy about your arrival. So, starting next week, I will send you a report and a proposal from NIOS-Peru for the academic Sankirtana and activities with ISKCON. All of this, of course, considering that you are now making this trip as emeritus professor. 

Radhika Raman, his mother, and other scholars from Latin America will also attend on certain days during that period.

We are happy that, Krishna willing, we will have your auspicious association next March along with Tom Brown, Buck White, and the entire ASA team.

That is all for now. HARE KRISHNA, Bhakta Manuel.

HpS/ASA - As per our conversation, you will take charge of organizing the online Vyasapuja on the 20th December in the morning.

We will post that under a separate post also.

Thank you.

This is all such substantial work.

We hope that other groups in Latin America will also make such great reports.

Of course, they should all be also released at the Third Latin American Congress in Santiago, no?

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Frutos que Maduran:

Reporte de las Publicaciones de NIOS en el Perú

Hare Krishna. Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada y a sus seguidores fieles y veraces como usted.

Hace varios meses que no me reporto en el blog. Quizá, por ese silencio, alguien podría decir: “Parece que el mono Manuel está entretenido en algún árbol frondoso del parque Pogo”. Pero no es así. Siempre estoy pendiente de su sankirtana. Mis orejas, mis manos, mi cola y, sobre todo, mi corazón están atentos para tratar de recibir su misericordia y ser útil en el seva. Muchas Gracias por regalarnos todos los días deliciosos plátanos de bhakti en el FMP y un banquete trascendental todos los domingos en los Talleres de ASA.

Permítame entonces, esta vez, hacer un pequeño reporte sobre los frutos editoriales que ya maduraron y los que todavía están en la rama, madurando, en el árbol de las publicaciones de NIOS:

I) Libro por los 40 años del Grupo Íntegro: Ya se publicó. En los interiores está su carta-saludo en inglés y español, y en los créditos aparece el logo de NIOS.

II) La Educación en el hogar de los niños de Krishna: Esta es la versión en español del libro de la madre Aruddha. Ya está totalmente diagramado. Los interiores y la carátula han sido aprobados por Radhika Raman Prabhu y su mamá. Esperamos que la primera semana de diciembre ya estén impresos. Este libro es bonito y útil para padres, madres y para quienes necesiten recordar que Krishna es travieso y divertido, y que criar y educar a los hijos conscientes de Krishna puede ser algo alegre y, de hecho, un valioso servicio para el placer de Guru y Gauranga. La traducción la hizo la madre Purnamasi, y la diagramación y el diseño, ARTd. ¿Alguna sugerencia?

III) WOD (Waves of Devotion en español): Ya está diagramado al 80%, pero no podemos finalizarlo porque nos falta una parte de la tipografía de la versión en inglés. ARTd habló con Dhanurdhara Swami, y él dijo que lo iba a conectar con su discípulo encargado de la edición de sus libros, pero aún no sucede. ARTd intentará una vez más comunicarse con Maharaja. ¿Alguna sugerencia?

IV) SOLARIS No. 9: Está en plena danza de diagramación. Aparte de los artículos en español, esta vez tenemos cuatro artículos en inglés. (La meta es que, en cada número, entre el 30% y 50% del contenido esté en inglés).

Un punto más: Para hacer una propuesta de NIOS-Perú para el Sankirtana académico durante tu estadía en Lima ARTd ha estado conversando con Héctor, Miguel, Óscar, Raúl, Pablo y Walter (tienen una reunión grupal el jueves 20). Con Laksmana-agraha está coordinando actividades con ISKCON para realizar eventos sobre el Varna-asrama dharma y el Guru-tattva. Y también está conversando con madres y devotos como Candra-mukhi, Palika, Mitravinda, Nitya-kisori, Gita-Govinda, Gandharva, Ray Ramananda y otros, todos están muy contentos con su llegada. Entonces, comenzando la próxima semana le enviaré un reporte y una propuesta de NIOS-Perú para el sankirtana académico y actividades con ISKCON. Todo esto, considerando, por supuesto, que ahora usted realiza este viaje como profesor emérito.

Radhika Raman, su mamá y otros académicos de Latinoamérica estarán presentes, algunos días, para esas fechas.

Estamos felices de que, Krishna mediante, en marzo tendremos su auspiciosa asociación junto con Tom Brown, Buck White y todo el equipo ASA.

Eso es todo por ahora. HARE KRISHNA, Bhakta Manuel.