Letters to the editor

Haré Krsna Gurú Maharaj,

Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We are completely elated by your recent lecture on book distribution Guru Maharaj! So many gems and highlights to glean on. My most favorite is your encouragement towards the organizers to incorporate Brahman participation to encourage and sustain the management and devotee community infrastructure.

Would it be ok to ask the Brahmans in the community who are the most talented at lecturing to have a regular program?

HpS - Sure!

There are various programs going on right now, but I would like to organize a program just for the whole devotee community to participate in and be inspired by.

HpS - All I know about is our regular ASA programs. They are not so great but they exist. Others??? http://www.vidyapitha.in/ ? Mooo!

I wanted to give an update that we had a successful Gita Jayanti with over 20 children (which included 8 regular Sunday school children) reciting well pronounced BG verses during the 5 hour program.

HpS - ASA ---- https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/47/63/ !!!!!

Also, the Sunday school distributed over 200 sweets to congregation and City Of Lights women and children’s shelter for the 5th Prasadam bake sale. Each year it funds new Srimad Bhagavatam activity books for the Boise Sunday school program.

ASA - Stop! Stop! It is too much ecstacy! We will have to leave our body.

Here is the Facebook link Guru Maharaj for the regular Sunday darshan from 12-2.https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007255276109&_rdr Also we will broadcast darshan on New Years for the annual Japathon from 10-6.

I am struggling with the papa pequeño now becoming the size of a melon! I am trying to beat exhaustion and getting a cold this last week.

Attending the MA and Japa program has become more difficult but I am still trying to regularly attend the LA MA and chant before the kids wake up. Chanting from 8-10 pm is my second backup once the kids go to bed. Trying to divide my rounds into segments during weeks like this to still make sure all of my rounds are completed.

HpS - Wonder woman kills all the evil Nazis and saves the world! Thank you!!!! Just hang in there and do your best. Krsna will help (a lot!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_nclUG-0SQ Even a dog can take part in this movement and dance in ecstacy!!!

You are pioneering a path that many will follow.

It seems like it will be amazing.

When you get tired just say, "Oh, my God, Krsna! That's all I can do! Help!" and He will hit send the Tinkerbell to put your to rest for awhile and have Mickey Mouse, the Sorcerer's Apprentice to fill the buckets. I am joking a little bit, but I really ahve experienced this.

I tried to curb my deep Christmas samskara spending spree by spending 40 Percent on homemade gifts for devotees and coworkers, Christmas cards with Radhanath Swami quotes, deity paraphernalia, and Radha Krsna Gaura Nitai Nirsimha dolls for the girls. Somehow a materialist side of me came out which I would like to control more? I have rarely had extra money in my life so far, so I am trying to put it towards saving for our house essentials for the new property and not spending frivously but saving.

I cooked a Sunday feast by myself (Malai kofta) for distribution to 25 guests and devotees this last Sunday and this seems to dovetail some spending desires.

Please let me know if you have any advice of how I can suppress/dovetail ego building tendencies that come with having a profession and Lakshmi.

HpS - Just do what you are doing. Bhisma deva said that we can save money by avoiding bad association.

I am very fearful of it changing me as a devotee and how to cultivate humility. How did Maharaj Parikshit cultivate this mood so seamlessly ? How do great devotees like you Guru Maharaj and Radhika Raman, who are so intelligent but also have so much humility cultivate this quality?

TB - Krsna sends advice through devotees and the heart but if we ignore that then He sends strong impetous from the environment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIRE0FSvrw8) that we can't ignore the message. We just have to accept all this mercy.

Thsnkyou (!) so much for tolerating my meanderings. I would like to go through your Blog, newsletter, and Wandering Miscreantd archives Guru Maharaj to start extracting your Poetry to create a compilation if you will allow me to engage in this service. Please let me know how I may be able to find your poetry/prose. Is there a way to find archived newsletters? Can I search your blog posts in the monkey warrior?

Your lowly aspiring servant,

Kamagayatri devi dasi

HpS - Maybe some of the stuff that TB/BW post on Twitter???

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?