On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Sriman Gopinatha Das from Houston wrote:
On Monday, January 18, 2021, 12:00:13 PM CST, Desai, Apurva <[email protected]> wrote:
Hare Krishna your Highness,
Please accept my humble dandvat pranam. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
Thank you very much for the letter dated January 5th. I greatly appreciate that you took out time and wrote letter to insignificant person like me. I am deeply touched. The last time when you called I have been thinking of writing to you and wanted to know how are you doing and If anything I can do? I know Lord Krishna is always very close to you and you must be getting his personal associations, but my little brain keeps on doubting. Again, I am so happy to receive your handwritten letter and the prasadam as well. Thank you very much. If I can be of any service, please let me know. Twice I thought of driving up to Nashville to get your association. I am not making it up but seriously thought of it. As you may know I am operated twice and my health is compromised. So thought of driving instead of flying. Travel restriction is a challenge now a days. Anyway but I am at your service.
HpS - I did not know of your health. Interesting news. We both have our Donkey maintenance. What is your Donkey's problem? We all seem to have the good prospect of being Sankirtan partners in Srila Prabhupada's party eternally, no?
[Gopinatha] I had Cancer in 2003 and three years later Tumor. Only because of Vaisnava blessings and Lord Krishna’s mercy I am allowed to stay in this body little longer.
I am not good at writing letter but I am going to make an attempt. Please forgive my offences if I make errors in addressing and writing letter to highly elevated Vaisnava.
This past year was really challenging for the world, except maha-bhagavads like you. This Chinese virus have really turn the lives of entire human population upside down. For most part no one knew when will it end. People around us and around the world continue to get infected and many lives are lost. There was no partiality, rich or poor, young or old, no country was spared. And it is still going on. Economic uncertainty is upending lives of many. And we are living through a period of significant tension and tremendous stress.
HpS - Hmmm. We think that it is really Koruna virus. So much mercy from Krsna. He sees that humans are destroying the, their, planet, so he is shutting down this industrialization. We still will have hi-tech, but it will not be the basic part of our lives. We will relocate to village life and then if there is a virus, we just tell the Count of the County and he says, thank you. Glad to hear you want to be quaranteened, sending one ton of beans and rice. Let me know if you need anything else.
Then after two weeks the village is clean.
[Gopinatha Das] Yes you are correct. ECO friendly Village life is all needed. In the name of advancement planet is getting destroyed.
The only good side that I can see is people are sort of becoming god conscious. Under stress people were not open to hearing philosophies but are taking good interest in listening to Krishna katha. Since we are connected with ISKCON, I see so many kathas, talks and above all virtual Parikramas. And many took advantage including myself. From my side, we listened nine processes of Bhakti, offered by New York Bhakti center. That was very nicely organized program. They picked so many nice and well-advanced speakers. Then virtual Mayapur Parikrama, followed 84 kosh, Vrindavan Parikrama by HG Lal Govind Prabhu and HH Radha Raman Swami. GBC strategic planning committee has offered Vrindavan Praikrama too. Then came Sri Jagannath Puri Parikrama. Apart from that I listen on YouTube some katha by HG Chandra Govind prabhu, HG Ambrish Prabhu. All of this along with Chanting only kept us together. At temple during total lock down, we continue regular services to our Sri Sri Radha Nila-Madhava. I set up two computers at temple, and programed them, so it plays all aartis, kirtan and classes at fixed times. So we do not have to arrange for any devotee to come to temple for singing. This is all done to protect devotees. Devotees close to temple kept up with dressing, cooking and aartis. We are still operating very carefully and allowing just enough devotees to perform direct deity services.
HpS - Super!
I feel like GBC as whole could have taken up major roll and arranged classes daily by Maharajs as per different time zones, using zoom meetings. That could helped congregation stay connected with temple. They also could have arranged virtual trips by advance vaisnavas to temples. Well opposing argument can be, COVID is sort of dump on us without any advanced planning, so can not blame anybody. I really felt very sorry when HH Bhakti Caru maharaj got infected and then left us. This was very low point for me. He did not come here for site seeing or personal vacation. He came for preaching and felt that he was not protected. There are so many other devotees also left us because of Covid. Like economic correction is stock market, this is also kind of correction to control human population. That is what I conclude.
HpS - Can we share this letter on the Blog with no name, just A Temple Man's News. <img src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f642.png" alt="Emoji" height="16" width="16"> You can edit it a little as you like. Very seriously, please.
[Gopinatha Das] I am good with it. I am not sure what us acceptable on blog but you can edit that suits the audience.
Maharaj with your permission, likes to ask couple of questions. In Caitanya Bhagavad, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to different merchants shops, like Sweet Shop, Milk man, Garment Maker and many such places and took items from them and also stated what if he can not pay back. Still everyone offered what he asked. I feel like where was I, why Mahaprabhu did not come to my place? How lucky were those shop keepers? When will that day come, when I can offer some service to Caitanya Mahaprabhu?
HpS - ASA - I would say, in your very next lifetime.
[Gopinatha Das] I will need lots of blessings
And next is, when Sandipani Rishi ask for his dead son as guru Dakshin, and Lord Krishna and Balram went and got him back. And mother Devaki asked Lord Krishna about her first 6 sons. So the question is, who were these first six sons of mother Devaki? Were they Lord Brahma’s sons, who were cursed by Lord Brahma or were sons of some demon? Then there are 6 or 7 brothers of Bhishmadev, who were killed by mother Ganga? Who were they is their last life?
HpS - I don't know all the details. I remember that the six murdered children of Devaki were like sons of Kamsa in a previous life time that were cursed to be killed by Kamsa or some thing like that, and like you say Ganga's kids were sages cursed for criticising Lord Brahma. I don't know too many details, but they got super purification.
Now that vaccine is available for all 66 and older. I hope you took the vaccine. I took mine about two weeks ago and next dose is on 27th. Not sure if this is ultimate cure, but still use mask and keep 6 ft distance as plan B.
HpS - My doctor, Amit Singh, was Gurukula boy when I was visiting Vancouver. He says that now it is 75 years and older here, then 65-years and older in February. So, I will take it then. Then maybe go to Peru for one year and start a Artist-Potatoe Farm. Back to USA for some months, then go to leave body in Radha-kunda? Plan.
[Gopinatha Das] This is what I am most worried about. As per American reliability lab, human body is designed to last for 127 years. So going to Peru is fine. But no to Radha-Kunda.
<img src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f920.png" alt="Emoji" height="16" width="16"> Hope your family is well!
[Gopinatha Das] Yes by your blessings
I was thinking to make use of technology. There is OBS streaming software. We can record and stream at the same time. I am sure you must be familiar with it. I think I have loaded OBS on your computers. With your permission like to suggest. As you travel every year to different places, you can still do the same but virtually. When you travel every day you usually give two class. One in morning and one evening. You can record classes and post one Bhagavatam class in morning and 2nd class in evening on your YouTube channel. To listen, one clicks the link or go to YouTube. If one has subscribed to channel, then they get notification when new classes are posted. With this you can keep up with your planned travel and places you visit can get your association. And everyone who have subscribed to your channel, can travel with you. This is just my thought of staying connected.
HpS - Let us talk about this with the computer in front of us. We have youtube channell - ASA audio-visual.
[Gopinatha Das] Sure I will get Giri on line as well. He is the best.
Good idea of beach house during off season. Many of Hotels offer $159 for 3 to 7 days deals. All we need is to drive or fly. Few years back I took one such offer. And every morning and evening chanted on beach. Now a days I read Krishna book, Caitanya Bhagavad.
I do remember the evening walks with you and HG Nitai Guarsundar prabhu and his friends. I enjoyed your company. Weather got to be much colder now. Here it is cold too. I go for walk in afternoon. And while walking I listen to HH Amal Bhakta maharaj’s audio narrations of book. Maharaj, can I buy a washing machine for you? Why do you hand wash?
HpS - Is fine. Just three pieces of cloth. Much more efficient, good exercise.
[Gopinatha Das] But your time is very valuable.
Thank you maharaj for your association. I like the pictures that you drew. I need to get you a small computer that supports stylus pen. So you can draw electronically. By the way I was reading your Blogs and I see you mentioned eyes are weak. Should I get you bigger monitor and a docking station? So it is easy on your eyes. And for itching I can send some skin cream. It could be because of dry skin. In winter it is common.
HpS - Now the technology and medical program is fine. This computer is O.K. Again, we can talk, no? You sent us a stylus pen. I wonder where it is?!! Seems it should work on the current comupter. Real trechnology is just chanting all the time. SB 10.47.63
[Gopinatha Das] I will send stylus pen.
Again please forgive me as I may have offended you by writing and making suggestions. Let me know if any of this is offensive in anyway and I will try to avoid in feature.
Looking forward to see you soon.
Yours in service,
Gopinath das
HpS - Again, there is so much discussion here that many others want to hear, so can we edit a little. We can use a pseudonym if you like or just you name. No offense, thank you!
[Gopinatha Das] I am good posting. You can edit any way you feel suitable.
