Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances and gratitude

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It has been more than a month since my last letter to you and your always instructive, nourishing and precise reply.

There is a commitment from my side to endeavor in developing a frequent communication with you and not get lost as before. Yet, it is a work in progress not because of lack of desire and need, rather weak determination.

I do think of you and talk with you in mind everyday; however that is not enough. There must be a concrete communication to get proper spiritual nourishment and upliftment to grow.

I beg you, Sir, for your help and mercy,

if you desire and bless us,

spiritual strength will be manifested in me.

HpS - You can see we put in some carriage returns. . . We can only hope to be of use to you in your endeavor to one day dance with Krsna and that, that will be practical impetus to write here. If we get water from the well we go to it, no?

I come to you, crawling but I want to run to your lotus feet and remain there forever.

HpS/ASA --- We haven't experienced any lotus feet yet. We must smile and hope to see them also! So, we realize that it is very import to indicate to people that we may be not much more than a traffic signal in the process of getting to Guru-Gauranga. Srila Prabhupada may be a map, a experienced traveler on the road, so we give our full blessings for people to go to him. Except where the traffic signa is appropriate.

It is contradictory, many times we experience a intense sentiment of guilt for not taking appropriate association of your holiness, and fear to lose your precious association and at the same time I do know that you kindly are always available, your lotus feet are always accessible ( your compassion, guidance, loving care, mercy, teachings, your indispensable help and protection). There is a strong need to grow, mature and not be a burden for you; becoming an useful disciple of your; thus, please you. Now I am realizing that I can not do it without you.

HpS - Jayatirtha Das was visiting from Los Angeles because for a few weeks we had no Temple President in Berkeley. He was one of Prabhupada's MOST prominent disciples. Then he went back and then a letter came for him from Srila Prabhupada in India.

I called him and asked if I should forward it by mail to him, and he responded with a little panic, "No, open it immediately and read it to me!".

I did that and it had some very interesting instructions from SP, then Srila Prabhupada finished by saying, "You cannot exist without my mercy...", and it made us gulp, and pause because it was so strong, but then the next phrase changed everything, "and I cannot exist without your mercy. This mutual respect, this mutual love IS Krsna consciousness"!

So, we all need each other! Radharani would die if She didn't get the association of her cousin, Candravali. They LOVE to quarrel.

This time, we report you about my sadhana. By your mercy, and Krsna's, my japa chanting in average is constant ( daily 16 rounds, with some downs but more ups), we do not experience taste for chanting yet, but there is a sincere desire to have the desire to chant the Holy Name, attentively and taste for chanting. We beg for your blessings to enable us to endeavor in that mood and attract your and Krsna's mercy more and more.

My temple Mangalartik attendance has been poor in consistency, sorry for that, I will work on that, starting from tomorrow Tuesday 24/11/2020.

Our SB classes attendance is better, with additional listening SB classes from different devotees, some preferences for your classes (when we have access to the recordings),

• Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami,
• Bhakti Vijnana Swami,
• Sacinandana Swami,
• Bhurijana prabhu,
• Radhanath Swami and from his good disciples;
• Radhika Raman prabhu's series of lecture at Vaisesika prabhu's community, so on.

I do not have much communication with Devamrta maharaj, except when he gives classes here in the temple similarly with Aniruddha prabhu, the communication with him is just at the level of management - basic. I did try to pursuit a Siksha relationship but it did not work ( my respect and appreciation to him).

Her Grace Rambhoru Mataji (organiser of ISKCON Karuna Care program) kindly is giving us her guidance, she lives in Washington DC and organizes different training programs, Compassionate care for devotees and non-devotees, kind of chaplaincy. I got inspired by her to get involved in Devotee Care program, and get some training.

Last year I completed the course at the university, the Psychology degree at Macquarie University in Sydney, and I enrolled in a Master degree coarse in Counseling and Psychotherapy at Australian Collège of Applied Psychology but, I stopped it temporarily.

It is quite demanding, being in the temple as full time devotee it is very challenging for me to complete the assignments on time at the level that it is required.

Moreover it is not proper for me to compromise my sadhana and health either. I thought in taking one subject-unit per semester, it would take long to complete the course, what is your advice on this regard?

HpS - ??? I don't know the details, but the one course a semester seems the best. Congratulations, Mataji on you academic achievement. Living in the Temple and accomplishing these academic degrees at the same time seems give a lot of expectations that what you learned was with a good KC perspective.

Currently, I have been having some difficulties in my temple service at pujari. Mainly, the way, how I dress up the Lordships is on check, the temple authority (Aniruddha Prabhu's wife) she set a deity dressing standard based on tradition that she would like to maintain.

For her, the Lordships look in Vrindavan mood whenever I dress up Them,( mataji is not happy with my service) and that is not align with awe and reverence Laksmi Narayan mood that Srila Prabhupada instructed.

I wonder what actually Srila Prabhupada means with Laksmi Narayan mood in Deity worship?. I do respect and appreciate Acintya Rupa mataji (Aniruddha prabhu's wife) and i am traying to follow her guidelines which are very constraining for me; however, it is painful for me to see how the Lorships look, knowing that we could do and offer better quality of service, not just the basic ( following the authority is important, but blind following is condemned).

For another side, we got the understanding that many devotees feel inspired and appreciate how The Lordship looked when I used to dress up Them before.

So I did consider it as an opportunity for me to be engaged in an indirect preaching service to devotees.

It made me feel useful in Srila Prabhupada mission.

Now I am questioning myself about how i can contribute effectively in Srila Prabhupada's mission. I do not have clear and proper view how to be useful and it is a strong need to do it.

I would like to understand Krsna's plans for me.

I thought that Deity worship is the service that can help me to develop Love for Krsna, be properly situated according my nature.

HpS - One time Jayatirtha Das was in a war with one of the ladies how to dress Rukmini Dvakadisha in Los Angeles Temple. Big Temple. Three-hundred devotees within five blocks, and the controversy about how to dress Radha and Krsna was brought to Srila Prabhupada. He just raised his hands and laughed, and said, this is a matter of personal taste, I will not get involved!

So, that is one perspective, but maybe there is something else in Mataji's decision.

Second, point is that Radharani has to tolerate how Candrabali serves Krsna sometimes. It makes Her so... !!... angry.... Hmmmmmmmmf!!!! but there is no choice. Still She does not lose Her enthusiasm to serve Krsna. She understands the mentality of Candravali and then uses that in Her service.

Also, https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/8/17/11/ ... very relevant history? This text followed by the others. The whole pastime.

In a previous communication with you, via gotomeeting, i asked you about the Waves of Devotion book translating service. You instructed me to write you on the blog. Here we are Sir. I wonder if there is any specific requirement for doing that service. I thought of a team of devotees doing it, and if you allow me i can do my best doing that service to please you. please let me know how can i serve you with that project and perhaps, you prefer me to serve you in other services as well.

Please engage me in your service, that will motivate and push me to keep in constant communication with you all.

HpS - I think Anandamaya Das said that some of it was already translated and he had a soft copy of the first part. Maybe that was for BhSastri. Can you contact him. I asked him about the transalation of the rest but never heard from him again. It is really a very, very important book for us to understand NOD, then so many obstacles are quickly removed. We need a KC country. When the Pandavas married Draupadi they did not just get a nice wife, they also got full use of her father's kingdom. Maharaja Drapada. What is we had one KC country! ? Lots of work to do!

As always, this is becoming too lengthy and i was not able to convey the complete message. it seems that there is another reason to write to you very soon.

Thank you for your patient, compassion and care dear Gurumaharaj. Please forgive me for my stupidity and offences.

We humble pray to Sri Nrisimha deva to bless and protect you. Jay Srila Prabhupada!! Jay Sri Ram!!

your useless disciple

Madhumanjari dd

HpS - We wonder if there is also a "amla-manjari"? Thank you. (www.spokensanskrit.org). Now we join the regular 8PM local Kirtan/Class!!

My Dear Maharaja!

Hare Krishna! Pranams! Namaste! This is Gaurav Mittal. I hope you remember me. It has been almost 9 years since I had last conversation with you. I read your blog quite regularly.

HpS - Honestly I think about you pretty often!! How's the wife and family? How is your self relization.

Suppose we see object like table outside. Is there really table outside as we see it? When light hits the retina, special cells called photoreceptors turn the light into electrical signals.

ASA - Rods and cones. We studied psychology, perception in the university. We think that we have a smart ass!

These electrical signals travel from the retina through the optic nerve to the brain. Then the brain turns the signals into the images we see.

HpS - Oooop! WIthout the Paramatma, Atma, and Mind (Which uses the brain, no?) they would not be 'turned', no?

Object outside is interpretation of those electrical signals in one specific way. Can there be another way to interpret those electrical signals?

ASA - Sure!!! Look up optical illusions on the internet and you'll see how we see things differently again and again based upon the senses, the mind, the intelligence, the soul....

Can those electrical signal convey true reality? Where does object truly exist? It only exists inside in mind in form of image, perceptions and sensations projected onto mind. If we look deeply, we will find that independent existence of object outside is just a belief. Object independently existing outside is convenient, consistent and practical belief.

ASA - Social convention, toys maintained by the SUpersould for the noisy children.

In terms of reality, we can be sure of only one thing. That awareness or consciousness in which object appears exists.

ASA - Rene Descartes: Cogito ergo sum, no?

That awareness / consciousness is our real unchanging Self. Unfortunately, we identify unchanging self with objects due to illusion of maya. True Self (ATMA) is eternal, seer, witness, without any change, beyond time and space. Time and space are mental constructs and ATMA is beyond these mental constructs.

ASA - This is Brahman realization, no? Then Paramatma, I can realize that I have relation with a Super-self, Paramatma, Collective sub-conscious.... intuition, insight.

Bhagavatam describes this mental filtering of true reality as illusion. Few verses which describe it:

SB 11/7/7: My dear Uddhava, the material universe that you perceive through your mind, speech, eyes, ears and other senses is an illusory creation that one imagines to be real due to the influence of māyā. In fact, you should know that all of the objects of the material senses are temporary.

SB 11/23/49: Persons who identify with this body, which is simply the product of the material mind, are blinded in their intelligence, thinking in terms of “I” and “mine.” Because of their illusion of “this is I, but that is someone else,” they wander in endless darkness.

Different experiences like pain, pleasures etc are in the mind and I am totally distinct from mind. They don't even touch me. This is beautifully described in Bhagavatam.

SB 11/23/56: The false ego gives shape to illusory material existence and thus experiences material happiness and distress. The spirit soul, however, is transcendental to material nature; he can never actually be affected by material happiness and distress in any place, under any circumstance or by the agency of any person. A person who understands this has nothing whatsoever to fear from the material creation.

Upadhi means to appropriate some other quality as oneself. There is awareness and there are objects which awareness (atma) is aware of. There is seer (Atma) and seen (objects). I (the seer) has appropriated objects (not self) as self. Rupa Gosvami says - sarvo upadhi vinirmukta - devotional service starts by not appropriating these upadhi - which means to rest in ATMA and not accept body and mind as belonging to self (mine) or as self (me).

The chapter SB 12/5 is final instruction of Sukadeva Gosvami and chapter is also titled - "Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s Final Instructions to Mahārāja Parīkṣit".

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/12/5/

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/11/23/

I wanted to find out your understanding on Bhagavatam 12/5 and Uddhava Gita especially chapter Bhagavatam 11/23. I hope you can share your understanding.

Thank you very much.

Dandavat Pranams,

Gaurav Mittal

HpS - Thank you!!! We kind of gave our idea above and discussing a whole chapter, SB 12.5, here would be hard, but after considering our comments, maybe there is some subsequent ideas, verse, from the Uddhava Gita!!!

Dear Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada!

I pray this email finds you in good health.

HpS - ASA -- Ha! Ha! Hare! When ever we hear that we always remember hearing that Srila Prabhupada said that this body does not get diseases, this body is a disease. Our eyes hurt, our breathing is little tough, we've lost two teeth (maybe we can find them later), we want a different posture, our mind is going ... but ... we have your association!!!!!!

Maharaj, my name is Satya-sara das. I used to live in Seattle and serve Sri Sri Radha Nila Madhava temple. HG Pandavavijay Prabhu introduced me to you in Seattle almost 13 years ago and I attended many of your classes and got an opportunity to serve your holiness personally one time. Few years ago my wife and I have moved to Austin and by the causeless mercy of Vaishnvas, we are able to preach in Austin and we are seeing Srila Prabhupada’s loving reciprocation – we have approximately 100 people attending our programs regularly, we have preaching program in UT Austin, where 20 western students are attending our mantra meditation and BG class on a weekly basis. We also distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books every week.

HpS/ASA - Super man and Lois Lane!!!! Amazing!! AgtSP and Lord Nityananda and your efforts.

By Srila Prabhupada’s and Vaishnava’s mercy, under the guidance of Nityananda Prabhu, our GBC, we founded a preaching center 14 months ago where we all congregate regularly to hold temple programs including Sunday love feast.

We came to know from HG Rasikendra Prabhu that you will be able to give classes online and shower your mercy on us. We expressed our intense desire to have your holy association for our congregation members in Austin. Hence Prabhu connected me to you in the email.

Maharaj, I am holding a straw in my mouth and very humbly praying to you to give your holy association to us. Your divine association will give boost to our congregation to go further in our Krishna consciousness.

Could you please consider our request and shower your mercy on us, Maharaj?

Thank you very much for considering our request.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 Your servant,

Satya-sara das

. . . 1348 (cell phone)

HpS - We also respond with a straw in our mouth... Foto attached. I seems like a great opportunity. We have a disciple, Ajaya-govinda Das somewhere near Austin. He is university professor, Indian, married. When would be the class? Are the audience brain surgeons, train engineers, CIA agents, Hare Krsna's??? What should we discuss? Internet? Can we invite others from ASA??? Thank you!!

Hare Krishna Dear Gurumaharaja,

P

A

M

H

O

You can write without spaces between paragraphs now.

Sorry for delay. We are planning to move to new house in half December, so I am not much on computers.

Test1

Test2

Test3 - empty line after this

Test 4

In like 2 week ago you mentioned using special category in different ways. Can I call or write to you on Whatsapp to speak about your desires around blog. If yes, what time in what timezone is good for you?

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha das

HpS - Oh! Such a little change, but so, so nice for our ASCI Art!!! We are in Houston time. We still haven't bought Audi, but we are trying to keep Mercedes running!

Tomorrow, Sunday, we have call with Harsh, and maybe Vaisesika Das, and.... it is purr knee ma, so we will publish the Kapi Dhvaja, or as Monkey says, sometimes, "Stand back fools, unless you want to die, the 'Kapi Dhvaja' is about to fly". Raktaka Das really liked that. He read it to all the Sanga in Trans-yamuna.

We hope to see him again soon.

Maybe he is an ISKCON buffalo in a rich ISKCON devotees house in Punjab.

So ... Monday? We are free after 9AM (Nashville time). When is good for you!!?

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Jay Sita-Ram, Laksman, Hanuman

Please accept my safe obeisances dear guruji

Thank you very much for reading my words

We are in good health, still saved from the virus

Together with manjulali DD we have been distributing prasadam door to door since March due to Covid. (maybe that's why ISKCON doesn't want us in their ranks)

Since March, neither the previous nor the current administration has communicated with us to find out if we are fired or not allowed to continue serving the restaurant.

HpS - ASA -- ! 😮 !

We still cannot legally formalize our relationship. because of the difficult hours for marriage here in the country.

HpS - Krsna knows your committment.

Sad days and hopeful days, without doing service to the deities in the temple, but all our sacrifice is for you and Krishna.

HpS - All we can do is to try to pass it on to Krsna. He is certainly a good general who does not wast the efforts of any soldiers.

We still want to be good devotees ☺️

The music, preparing a second recording, a meera Bhai bhajan (instrumental with video).

HpS - Yadunandana Swami organized a colloquia with one Professor friend for the students while we were teaching in Radha desa, Belgium He was pretty good expert, maybe 55 years. He said that many more Bhajans were written by Mira bhai after se died than when she was alive. Ha! Ha! People used her name. As we know, Srila Prabhupada liked her, but little hard to present her rigidly yet as entertainment and to reach certain people seems O.K.

Studying carnatic (southern Indian) music on the mandolin, an instrument designed in Chennai to play Indian music.

Waiting I still considered myself his student

At your safe service

Lalita Madhava Das 

HpS - So very nice to hear from you! I have to quote from Bhima after he killed Dhusasana, ripped open his chest and 'drank his blood' and then them covered his corpse with a cloth with Draupadi and said, "Farewell cousin, we were not born to be happy!".

Yet we can be happy under the shelter of Krsna if we realize the purpose of this world!

More News!! Kapi Dhvaja SUnday.

Pamho, agtsp.

Dear Guru Maharaj,

I am disciple of HH Bhakti charu Guru maharaj.

I needed to take enough guidance as a part of my spiritual life. So thought to write this letter.

Maharaj fear has been a integral part of my life. So internally I am not progressing or may be I am little puzzled. From childhood still today, I have been survived our of abuse, threat and surrounding taught me many lesson.

In 2015 year we took some hurried decision that for we are repenting now. How I would tolerate and convince my mind to tolerate? We purchased a flat for thinking that we can have our material shelter to protect my wife, who is from a Vaishnav background. My parents threatened her. We were not allowed to go home without paying and expending a lot for a party. Worst was they thought to give us in police custody. I could not tolerate and took that decision to purchase a housing in loan EMI. We have tolerated each single day pain for achieving this. But we could not stay here due to my transferable job.

We are requesting our brother to stay freely and take care, he is not agreed, though he is wasting parents and my earning money staying in Bhubaneswar rented house with friends. Due to not staying there in flat, it is being infected by termites and many problems. We are hopeless how we can compensate if not how we can convince ourself to tolerate.

Each time this representation is killing me.

Plz suggest something for my affirmation, which I can carry forward to obey.

Yours servant,

Diptamurti Das

HpS - Hare Krsna! Very nice to meet you Diptamurti Das. I am not giving suggestion that I have not tried again and again in very painful situations!!! Risked my lie following this solution. Of course it is declaration of Sastra also: Chant Hare Krsna, and Krsns will give you intelligence how to deal with the world. He did not give Arjuna and special weapons. He gave him transcendental intelligence.

Yes, Abhimanyu had to die early in the battle, but there was a reason behind it. Especially if you are approaching Srila Prabhupada, Bh. Caru Swami et al, then you have some sincere consciousness and you should know that Krsna is watching you and as things happen look to them as arrangement by Krsna for you. If He wants you to leave this body like M. Pariksit, then it is time to go and He will protect you.

For any detailed advice you have to talk with people who know you and your situation in detail.

Thank you.

See you soon.