Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj,

Mandara Sakha Das greets you from Chile.

I thank you for the opportunity to write to you and to be able to read the letters you write on this Blog.

HpS - It is a fundamental part of our life and Sankirtan!!

In the previous letter you asked for information about me to remember me. I will comment briefly. I have written little on this blog. I met you in 2009 when I was a psychology student, you gave a seminar at my University and I bought the book Science of Self-Realization. When I finished my studies I went to live in the temple of Santiago de Chile. After 2 years you gave me my first initiation on July 9, 2017 and allowed me to take brahmacarya. Then I was living in the temple of Buenos Aires in Argentina and I became associated with Adi Yajña Das, Panca Tattva Das and other Vaisnavas. In 2019 I returned to Chile and stopped living in temples because I had scoliosis and needed to lead a different kind of life to heal myself.

Then I paired up with a devotee, I got married in 2020 and to this day I do my best to be a good instrument of Krishna.

Currently, together with my wife Gaura Priya, we continue to do preaching activities by zoom. On Tuesdays and Fridays we do sadhana bhakti, where we chant the Hare Krishna maha mantra together, on Thursdays we teach basic topics of bhakti yoga and the Bhagavad Gita, on Sundays we teach Srimad Bhagavatam and later we plan to include a day for Krishna Book for our preaching community.

We were living in the south of Chile, so we did the activities online by zoom, but two months ago we returned to the city and we are doing face-to-face activities. These experiences have been very pleasant seeing how Krishna uses us as an instrument, I will leave you some photographs of it.

Since we returned to the city there have been many favorable circumstances, we have had more association and in fact today we start a fixed kitchen service in the temple two Saturdays a month, at least for now.

Guru Maharaj, I would also like to tell you that I am interested in taking a second initiation with you. Since I met Krishna Consciousness until today, I have been able to give real meaning to my life and gradually mature as an eternal servant.

I am currently 31 years old, I have had my hits and misses, but I have never let go of Srila Prabhupada's dhoti. Now, I would like to continue maturing further in the process, and ask for the possibility of receiving initiation in the year 2023. What do you think about that?

HpS - Thank you for the letter! Your persona is like 78% clear in our mind. I will look at th pictures. We are mixing your image with another devotee, but with the picture we should catch you on Bhuvar mandala.

Best Regards, my most sincere respect to you, thank you for existing.

HpS - In Braja we think that there is no inertia. Roads etc. move continually to be roads.

Look at the letter we just wrote to Parasurama Das. He also asks for second initiation and our answer to him seems to fit you also!

How long chanting/following 16/4?

Regular Brahma muhurta work?

PAMHO

AGTSP AGTSSGN

Dear Gurudev, I hope you are in good health and your sankirtan pleases to Srila Prabhupada and Goura Nitay.

It's been a while since we last spoke, but there's good news. 

My health is better, I finished my treatment, my job is going well.

I'm actually in the north of Chile, working in an electrical substations project

(we are building it), learning some things about Electric and Mechanic. 

A new world for an artist man, but it was a good experience.

I've returned to cook for the deities, twice a month, when I go to my home.

I'm going to cook for Janmastami, Srila Prabhupada and Radhastami too, Krishna is being very merciful 

and has given me those days off, like old times.

I took the Bhakti Sastri with Priyasakhi DD, we're in the second part of the BG, 

I got my black belt a few months ago, I don't have photos because I didn't participate in the ceremony, 

but as soon as I have some, I'll send it to you.

HpS - AGTSP!!! I hope you are also mastering the age old art of Run Fu.... Run For your life!

I wanted to ask you, do you think I should take a second initiation? 

HpS - Seems very nice to us. What do your friends and admnistratin think?

There is a possibility, but I would like to know your opinion.

Your Eternal servant, Parasurama Avatar Das. Santiago - Chile.

HpS - Are you in contact with Narayana Para Das in Buenos Aires? He also is winning competition in Judo.

Let us go to the next letter!

AGTSP. Paoho. Our integration with the Yatra here, devotees, Kirtan, Arca murtis (!), Prasadam, DTC-UT, has progressed. Are we improving our service every day?

Our eyes and brains are tired. 9.13PM here in the country.

Rested a little more today.

Have about five bug bites. Think they are a little viral and our body was somewhat exhausted from fighting them.

Every time we lead a Kirtan we feel is chance to chant from deeper and deeper.

O.K. Good night!

Hari Bolo.

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

please accept my obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Thank you for your prompt response, I hope you can soon receive the letter you asked me to do to clarify my situaton in the institution.

I have a few questions in my mind:

• I heard in one of your recent classes that one should not go beyond the Guru's instruction. I have already received different instructions from you and have tried to follow them. In relation to this, this question arises to me: What is the essential service to which I must dedicate myself to serve Srila Prabhupada in this life?

ASA - AgtSP! Of course, that is to chant Holy Names under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada's guidance. In term SP's guidance is clear: Chant Holy Names 16-rounds, while following 4-principles strictly. Chant them as Kirtan during Mangal arati etc.

Jaya! Hari bolo.

• In which Varna does the area of ​​communication fit? Brahmin, Kstariya?

ASA - ???? Even birds communicate? All four Varna's communicate but according to their natures.

Now questions about mental health

• I remember that in a class you commented that one of your disciples who works as a geriatric psychiatrist said that you shouldn't talk to your patients about ghosts. I have also repeatedly heard that in India they associate mental illness with the possession of ghosts. What is the relationship between mental illness and ghosts?

ASA - As far as we understand psychopathology is caused by disturbed prana, intellectual misunderstanding and/or agitation from ghosts or other similar subtle beings.

• Having a mental illness can interfere with the understanding of the stages of bhakti, I think, such as believing that you are advanced due to the symptoms you may have, such as confusing material madness with spiritual madness, it is complicated. What do you advise to be clear and not get confused on these issues?

HpS - Develop relationships with devotees that Krsna sends and follow the rules of Vaidhi Bhakti.

Keep a little history of your Bhoga offerings and send to us!

Your servant

Piyari Mohan das

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Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Por favor acepte mis reverencias

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada

Gracias por su pronta respuesta, deseo pronto pueda recibir la carta que me pidió hacer para aclarar mi situación en la institución.

Tengo unas preguntas en mi mente:

• Escuché en una de sus recientes clases que no hay que ir más allá de la instrucción del Guru. Ya he recibido diferentes instrucciones de su parte y he intentado seguirlas. En relación a esto me surge esta pregunta ¿Cuál es el servicio esencial al cual debo dedicarme para servir a Srila Prabhupada en esta vida? 

• ¿En qué Varna se adecua el área de la comunicación? ¿Brahmana, Kstariya?

Ahora preguntas sobre salud mental 

• Recuerdo que en una clase usted comentaba que uno de sus discípulos que trabaja como psiquiatra gereátrico decía que no había que hablarle a sus pacientes de fantasma. También reiteradas veces he escuchado que en la India asocian las enfermedades mentales con la posesión de fantasmas. ¿Qué relación tienen la enfermedad mental y los fantasmas?

• El tener una enfermedad mental puede interferir en la comprensión de las etapas del bhakti, eso creo, como por ejemplo creer que se está avanzado por los síntomas que se pueda tener, como confundir la locura material con la espiritual, es complicado. ¿Qué aconseja para estar claro y no confundirse en estos temas?

Su sirviente

Piyari Mohan das

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,

  Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

  All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

  All glories to Guru parampara.

  Saw your India schedule on google spreadsheet and it is looking very busy

until October 03, 2022.

  Please advise, where we can meet and HG Jibesh Das can get initiation. Once we receive

your comment will book tickets accordingly.

Your dependent,

Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - Thank you!!! Maybe to busy with things while in the first three weeks. Traveling with movie team and scientists, but after that we hope to be in Radha Kunda until January 25th. Good time to meet then, no? Of course, need to talk with Jibesh personally. Also, need letter of recommendation from ISKCON Temple President with whom he is working.

Still think that might be best for us to be Siksa guru but take Diksa from nice ISKCON devotee in his community.

Thank you.



Haribol también está usted por misericordia de Krisna que da brillo a todo lo que se hace en el servicio devocional a Sr Sr Radha y Krisna.

HpS - ASA --- Our photo attached. AgtSP!!!