Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I hope you receive this in good health and spirit.

HpS - Only by Guru krpa! Other wise we should have died at about 65.

I've read in your updates about your physical struggles, and since my body is also giving me trouble with ageing, i can appreciate it more. I admire your strength in maintaining your purpose. Please find below a general update.

Tom Brown - Please find attached a photo of General Ape.

We are still a family, two daughters 8 and 5, doing relatively well. Surroundings are below average, kids education and development above average. Physically going through challenges. No strength of determination to chant 16 but i do 5 or 8. Listen to classes and audio SB or CC, read with children (Hanuman / Ramayana, Krishna Book for Children, right now Dr Edith Best's Learning English books with spiritual stories, and with the eldest we always read the "Golden Book" Srimad Bhagavatam First Canto for children before sleeping.) We listen to devotional music at home, but not all the time. Plus the children are half Russian, so that also gets attention.

TB - Top half? Bottom half?

I have devotee friends with whom i meet regularly and others with whom i call. We visit home programs, and we organise kirtan events occasionally, also in connection with ISKCON Amsterdam. Occasionally a book goes out (i carry them with me on walks). So it's still going steady, but at the same time i don't meet my vows with chanting. Some days i don't have the time or the mental (+ spiritual) energy, and some days i just relax.

My favourite days are when i have insomnia and get down to chant in the middle of the night, because the rounds are usually the best, but sometimes it is too much and i just have insomnia and no strength to chant. To chant while undergoing mental or physical challenges is really next level chanting. I never quite managed to pull that off.

HpS - Just lie on your back with your eyes half open and your beads in your hand and chant: Haw!

Ray!

Krish!

Na! .... Realizing that EVERYTHING in the three worlds will the maximum benefit from yhou sacrifice.

As for internal matters, i experience progress in seeing Krishna in everything and everything in Krishna.

TB - !

That's basically my life in a nutshell. Basically i do believe that Sri Sri Radha Gopinath or Sri Sri Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra still accept me because i do feel connected, but finding myself a wayward disciple because of the above, i don't feel very much part of our monkeywarrior yatra. I seek your blessings in finding a siksa guru with whom i can physically associate.

HpS - Me too! Krsna is so, so, so, so kind, no? https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/2/23/

Before i forget it, you mentioned Journey to the West, and i've read Monkey (the Arthur Waley Edition), and it was such a fabulous story!! A good reason to burn incense.

ASA - And be celibate, and only drink monastic wine, and be vegetarian, and try to get an as you like it cudgel. Then you could become the Duke of Amsterdam and set things in more order.

Still with mixed feelings of dedication and fear of rejection,

Your aspiring servant,

Raghava Pandit das

HpS - Hey, could be a L O T worse. You seem to be on the right path. As you get older and your daughters marry young men just like you, you will get a lot of impetous for Sannyasa life. You wife will be pleased with that and your daughters will fight over with whom see stays.

Work on getting more energy. How to honor Prasadam better. Does your donkey need more Pasta?

Start your own business.

Don't work for others.

¡Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias.

Ya falta únicamente dos semanas para la celebración del Sri Vyasa-puja, por favor nos puede decir cuál es su recomendación de ofrendas de alimentos por favor. 

Alguna o algunas preparaciones en particular que podamos ofrecer con amor y devoción? 

Muchas gracias por ocuparnos en el trascendental servicio al Guruparampara en una de las actividades que más complace al Señor Supremo y a sus devotos.

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente

Asta Sakhi dd

HpS - Realmente ofrecemos todo al Señor Nrsmha Deva. Le gusta el caldo de hinojo y guisantes. Cuece las semillas y los guisantes en agua un rato con un poco de sal y luego extrae el caldo y ofrécelos con naranjas, yogur, para el desayuno.

Utilice las semillas y los guisantes que le quedan a Kitri en la tarde. P.ej. agregue avena y zanahorias y un poco de mantequilla o aceite de oliva.

Por la noche batata al horno con mantequilla.

Por supuesto, siempre le gusta la pizza con ensalada verde fresca y sopa minestrone.

Le gusta la pasta.

Pastel.

Sorbete de jugo de naranja congelado mezclado con leche.

Etc. Le gusta lo que quiere cocinar con amor.

Pregúntale a Rupanuga qué cocinar.

Hare Krsna Maharaj, PAMHO, AGTSP,

Banaras Hindu University has opened two centers

i. center of vedic science. (cvsbhu.in)

The CVS includes eight divisions for the exploration of different dimension of Vedic knowledge in modern world.

Divisions are Vedic Literature, Sciences of Rituals and Consciousness, Vedic Linguistics, Phonetics and Etymology, Vedic Medical Sciences, Psychology & Yogic Sciences, Vedic Mathematics, Astronomy and Padartha Vijnana, Vedic Agricultural, Environmental Sciences and Management, Vedic Architecture and Science of Engineering with 64 Technical Arts, Vedic law & Practice and Division of Editing, Translation and Publication.

ii. Bharatiya Adhyana Kendra -for social sciences.

Is there any way NIOS can collaborate with such endeavors ?

regards,

unbriddled horse

HpS - I don't know details, but it is possible. It is so big. Do you know anybody there? We have Sankhya; Psychology; Science, Psyche and Spirituality: The Encounter of Carl Jung with the Mysticism of Ancient India; Hamlet and Arjuna - Two Princes.

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, PAMHO

Happy Anniversary ¡¡¡ Our Smaranam today was about HH Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Goswami and your very good self. We have so much mercy to our disposal and me at least not taking advantage of it.

HpS - Nor I of the mercy in this movement, yet Lord Nityananda is pushing the spoon inour mouth.

This year I mostly take many courses in order to enhance my teaching at college.

I want to make this as an offer to You. This last is from Oxford Education ECDT: European Certification for Digital Teaching. I thought I will just get a merit certificate, but by the mercy of Krsna I got distinction.

Tom Brown - Distinguished from whom? ? ? Will they build a statue of you in a Designer Academic Gown sitting with your hand resting our your hand, digits? What does Digital Teaching mean?

Nowadays I am working on tackling maya haha.

TB - Ooof! Big woman. Russian weight lifter.

By tuesday I will end my activities in one university I hope to have more time in order to develop my hearing and chanting.

HpS - ... and writing for the many projects we have. We should make a movie.

In January I will give classes to Rukmini, she is preparing for CAE: Certificate for Advanced English. She will come home. Please I humbly request your blessings.

HpS - Very nice. She needs a fairy godmother. You would be good at that.

Maybe we can work on reading comprehension with the Srimad Bhagavatam.

TB: Pregnancy of Diti in the evening, no?

Jaya Gurudeva

See you tomorrow at FMP

HpS - Unless someone bombs the radio station!

If I take birth again, will I be a woman and marry a Jehovah's Witness and drink coffee and eat omelettes? Ooof! I hope I can be an ISKCON devotee and take more advantage of the opportunities eg. Play sports with Krsna get raped (swept of my feet) by Krsna.

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

HpS - Trying to be your servant!!

Hare Krishna!

Dear guru maharaj,

Please accept my dandavat pranams.

All glories to Srila Prabhupad.

Regarding your suggestion "Why don't you write? Interview people. Make comments on modern world? Krsna will give you opportunities."

The more I am getting older, I am realizing what a dumb headed fool I am.

HpS - Awww! That was Socrate's realization. He is pretty famous guy.

I was thinking that if I try to open my mouth, my foolishness is revealed. I honestly don't have any skills, guru maharaj, and kind of simpleton.

Even my chanting is mechanical and I have to walk or do something else physically so that I don't fall asleep.

I don't have slightest determination guru maharaj.

HpS - I can't believe that or your would not be bathing and smell bad.

Probably one of the most disqualified that you have as a disciple.

HpS - No!!! There was one worse! What was his name?? I forget. 😁 He only bathed once a week.

I am very much attached to money and other things. If I talk about Krishna consciousness, I would sound like a hypocrite.

your aspirig servant

Nc das

HpS - Why are you attached to money? Write for the Blog. How much money is enough in the modern world? Dollar amount with explanation? What would you want with the money?

Hare Krsna Srila Gurudev

Dandavat pranam at your lotus feet [lettuce feet].

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna,

Hope you are in good health and spirit.

HpS - Ha! Ha! Hare! A doctor asking if we are in good health. Body always has some ache, no?

This year we are missing your physical association in India. Every year since last few years it was a routine to travel with you and learn, but due to covid pandemic we are missing your vapu.

HpS - It has e-vapu-rated, no? Krsna is pushing us to another level. You need to become a Big Professor, Doctor, with a Big House et al.

On the sadhana front . My Kartik vrat was very nice . 16 rounds , 4 regulative principles intact with mangal aarti on regular basis ( lots of improvement needed ) , hearing classes on internet .

HpS - ! ! ! We are embarrassed by your sincerity. We will try to be as sincere as you. Eg. lot for a five year old to do 16-rounds. So, when they do, we feel he is much better devotee than us.

I took a 4 hours seminar on deity worship rituals and Pancha- anga puja on a day before Kartik rasa .Also did the Practical demonstration and vaishnava homa on rasa purnima for satisfaction of Nitai and Nimai as taught by H.G.Mukunda Datta Prabhu during my stay in vrindavan .

HpS - Soooooo o o o ! Nice. You purify the three worlds.

Need to read the Bhagawatam properly now .

Sri Narasimha Dev installation and Nitai Nimai birthday was done with great joy and very nice prasadam on Rasa purnima . It was a nice program and opportunity to preach . I have noticed that I am good in preaching through deity worship and related samskaras .

At one time I can preach /talk only to two or three people that also in more conservative lines. That keeps my own self also in line .

When I try to do it for larger groups I exhaust myself and it affects me negatively .I am better with few people only.

HpS - So was Karl Marx. He was good writer but not good in big groups, but he became rather famous, no?

In this regard I will also like to request you for re - initiation into gayatri mantra diksha , if you allow .This time the mood is suitable , I have given it a lot of thought before requesting this time .

HpS - Following everything for one year? All the Japa? Would be super for you if you can keep the work.

My preaching efforts as I have noticed are more on brahminical lines in the place that I currently stay.

I need to work on my self confidence . I feel like I have underestimated my abilities to change myself and also influence like minded people . With chanting good rounds I feel like I can help myself and also others .

HpS - Yes, confidence comes from hearing evaluation of other: Krsna, Guru and innocent people who hear us.

All in all everything is very positive currently by Krsna's mercy on both material and spiritual life .

Next month I plan to go to Sridham Mayapur and puri dham.

On mokshada ekadasi I have been invited to do a small puja and preaching in a local family home .

HpS - !!

On material academic front my masters program is going good .

My parents are also chanting little bit.

Back home ----Father is retiring from job next month . He had a stent put in his heart .They convey their pranams at your lotus feet.

HpS - My respects to them!!! A photo of them attached?

Hopefully if they become devotees then they can receive initiation someday .Main problem I feel is the fish :( being Bengali they find it difficult to leave it .

They have reduced eating fish but still they do eat .

HpS - Learn to cook "somebody" else, no?

Srila Gurudev , hope you visit India soon . Missing the mangal aarti with you in Mayapur .

Hare krsna

Rturaj Krsna Das

Shillong , meghalaya

P.S. pictures attached

HpS - We miss India also. It is India. It is more alive. The West is very mechanical. Every thing is so "lifelike". Let's answer some more letters. Come with us.

Your situation seems very nice. As long as you are chanting HK you are making progress and little by little you become transcendentally fixed.

Let's do it in one lifetime Don't come back again as a beautiful woman, and become a famous European opera star.