in cont. from here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/15917/
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Have you read the ISKCON Deity worship book?
Yes, years ago. I vaguely remember from the book what we already discussed about the lamp offering to Damodara.
HpS/ASA - 👦 🐵 🐷 🎰 naman isvaram sat cit ananda rupam...
cont. from here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/15910/
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Dear Guru Maharaja,
All glories to His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Thank you for your guidance on the confidential nature of Bhagavad-gītā and giving it (Him - Krishna) to the world.
In my conversations with people who, at the moment, are not conscious that they are Krishna bhaktas, I try to speak without giving the impression that I “know more” than others. When a discussion naturally touches on spiritual or sattvic topics, and I sense genuine interest—especially through questions—I share sincerely and fully. It seems a small way to help open hearts in the mood of bhakti.
Any advice on keeping this balance—sharing knowledge while respecting receptivity—would be deeply appreciated. I remember many moons ago, you said that preaching means 80% hearing - who are the people, what are their interests, etc.
HpS/ASA - What comes to your mind is that listening to people with your ears, mind and heart is the essence of preaching to us.
Hear them properly and then you will respond properly automaticament if you are pure from Full Morning Program, three Gayatris sandhyas etc.
Then there are some people who want to know
that you know more than them.
Otherwise, why talk to you.
Of course, one of the first things that we should know more than others
is that we are their servants
and that is one of the first things that they should experience that we know. Seems you know this, no?
Your servant,
Namacarya Dās
Hare Krsna, Beloved Gurudeva:
AGTSP, pamho
Thank you so much for your daily enthusiasm.
Recently, it was the feast day of a Peruvian saint, "Saint Martin de Porres", also known as the saint of the broom. He said that when we sweep, we should think about sweeping away our sins. It is said that he managed to get a dog, a cat, and a mouse to eat from the same plate.
What I didn't know was that He and Saint Rose of Lima were friends. saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ
We are all called to holiness, but Maya is so powerful that she knows our weaknesses and uses them to tempt us. That is why association is so important.
The other day at Mass, the priest said it was a blessing to have a church nearby. And I realized all the blessings I have.
I saw a letter that caught my attention on the blog about your upcoming arrival in Lima. Some of us weren't aware of these arrangements, like Palika, etc. But I assure you that we will all do our best to ensure that you and the devotees have the best experience sharing the teachings of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.
I hope that my sister, Ulysses and Zeus can have darshan from You.
See you at Japa joe
Your eternal servant
CMDD
HpS - Is this one good? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66zUY8UZn4M&pp=ygUJYXZlIG1hcmlh
Yadu Swami is trying to buy the Madrid-Santiago-Lima tickets right now. Then we can fix the dates. Basically arriving like a week before Rama navami and staying for a week???
PAMHO AGTSP! All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
HK Maharaj! How are you?
HpS/ASA - Probably the same, agtSP, as you and all of our readers. Suffering from this gross and subtle body, but trying to catch the mercy of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON formula as the day goes around!
Well in a short reply to your last email, I’m from Argentina and frankly speaking because of the legal process I’m dealing with my child’s mother (who’s a former ISKCON devotee), I feel that most of local devotees will spill the beans if I do reveal them my mind. Are there any devotees, even from abroad, that you really trust with whom I can get related with?
thank you very much in advance!!
Federico
HpS/ASA - How do you want to relate? Read Krsna book together? Family and job matters, like Arjuna and the Battle of Kuruksetra?
ND > My comments are highlighted.
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6 hours ago by Namacarya das in Personal Sadhana Reports
What follows is not “absolute truth.”
The Absolute Truth is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā.
These are my impressions — what Kṛṣṇa has allowed me to comprehend through personal experience, reflection, and, to some degree, sincere practice.
Skipping the basic teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā leads to superficiality and often results in what is called spiritual bypassing — avoiding genuine inner work and unresolved emotions under the pretext of “spiritual life.”
ASA - Maybe like not making a foundation for a building?
ND > Yes. In other words, what is the good use of the luxurious and many-story building if the foundations are weak and will crumble soon?
HpS/ASA - Seems so!
The past, whatever it was, should be accepted. It is not an obstacle but a starting point.
Now, the focus should be deep, careful, slow, and deliberate study:
first the Bhagavad-gītā, then the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, followed by the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Nectar of Devotion, and other essential works.
ASA - Yet, the Bhaktivedanta Purports include the previous books in the list, no? So if we start with the most advanced, eg. KRSNA book then Srila Prabhupada will teach us BG also, no?
ND > Yes, and refer us to BG to inspire us to study it.
Different people are reading to join at different levels, no?
ND > I am not sure I understand what you mean. Do you mean that different people with different spiritual qualities join and they will choose to read different books? If you mean this, yes and a little comment that even though a person is highly spiritually qualified, will read BG from that perspective and enjoy ananda.
HpS/ASA - Yes!
Eg. Fred can appreciate the KRSNA book but needs the BG instruction included to fill out his fundamentally good BG knowledge from previous lives.
ND > Yes.
Every person has their psychophysical nature (svabhāva). That nature should not be denied in the practice of bhakti — at least not in the early and middle stages.
Spiritual growth comes through gradual transformation, not through forced suppression of one’s inherent tendencies.
ASA - Yet, we can do some suppression, no? Just say, "No" to chocolate!!!! Some suppression is natural, but cultivating the higher taste as you suggest is real basis.
ND > Yes, resisting the temptation to eat some kind of “food” items is needed. However, there is no need to resist being a doctor, singer, cleaner, lawyer, etc., for Krsna, and according to Krsna’s desire. Arjuna as a warrior, Dhruva and Prahlada as kings... Still, on some super humane level, a person can also neglect his/her svabhava and do what Krsna told him/her.
Bhakti is not lived by negating the world, but by purifying one’s relationship with it.
ASA - 🐷 can we join your school??? Wonderful.
ND > Hehehe. 😊
The Mayura Academy is trying to share how to dance for Krsna’s pleasure :-) Put your "wings" in the air, sway softly in the kirtana rhythm while putting one foot in front of the other.
Bhakti-sādhakas should live according to their natural duty (dharma):
Such a life develops a genuine sense of responsibility.
When such devotees gather, they do not seek titles or recognition. Their association becomes a natural setting for talking and singing about Kṛṣṇa and His energies.
In that atmosphere, there is no need for unnecessary hierarchy.
Respect arises spontaneously — from maturity and mutual appreciation, not from titles or formal power.
In such a community, bhakti becomes a living reality, not an organizational system.
ASA - Srila Prabhupad comments that there is no difference between the grhasta fully engaged in KC and the man in the renounced order of life, but because of more formal austerities the Sannyasi is given more FORMAl respect.
Is the same, no?
ND > I remember Mother Urmila saying that austerities were stronger (in a way), at least then, as a grihasta than as vanaprastha. As grihasta, there was cooking, cleaning, taking care of children + Sadhana, The bedding at home was simple. As a vanaprashta, there is always someone cooking nice dishes for her and the beds are better than in her past period of life. Of course, there are more things to all this, but just as an example in and of today’s modern world. There are sannyasis with a house, a flat (one, two and even three) and grihastas who do not own the apartment.
HpS/ASA - Yes, Gopa kumar in the Brhad Bhagavata Amrta comments that Sannyasa can come to mean eating nice food and not having to work hard.
Danger in every Ashrama.
Srila Prabhupad told Sudama Swami that it is the duty of Temple and Grhasthas to offer big, big prasad to the Sannyasi and it is duty of Sannyasi to take little, little. In this way there is an ongoing competition.
The formalities then seem like formalities with pleasant meaning.
Arjuna did not change his occupation or his clothes.
He changed his consciousness, mentality, and intention.
That is the essence of bhakti-yoga: inner transformation within the life one already lives.
Spirituality is not an escape from the world but a change in how we relate to it.
In this way, progress becomes organic, natural, and clear — not forced, but alive.
Material problems will always exist, but with a proper inner attitude they become opportunities for learning and growth.
HpS - Wow! Yes. Super.
Titikṣā — forbearance — is a divine quality, but it must be understood correctly.
If someone can humbly tolerate injustice (to oneself), that is noble.
But if someone cannot, that is not a lack of spirituality.
There must be (is) a way to express pain and suffering.
Forbearance must not become an excuse for allowing abuse — whether personal, social, or institutional.
ASA - NoI 3 - Enthusiasm is more important than tolerance. We must be enthusiastic about our tolerance because we see it is getting good results?
ND > If I understand properly you are saying, “Try to be tolerant but with divine inspiration and realisation”.
HpS/ASA - Enthusiasm is defined as action executed in KC with intelligence. So, we can adopt, patience, not doing somethings as a positive action to some degree with intelligence. We should first, be enthusiastic, even in our patience.
Especially within religious organizations, where “tolerance” is too often used as a shield for those in power.
When the idea of “spiritual tolerance” is misunderstood, it may turn into passive acceptance of wrongdoing instead of compassionate correction. Misusing the principle of tolerance and patience to excuse harmful acts creates space where abuse can persist.
True tolerance does not only mean being a doormat; it means staying composed and clear while truth and justice are being expressed.
It is easy to be “tolerant” when everyone pampers and praises us.
But real tolerance is tested only in adversity — and then it requires both strength and wisdom, not mere passivity.
ND : End of this letter's comments. Thank you!
HpS/ASA - Bad head ache. 4.33PM.
Turn off all functions and chant.
Honor Prasadam.
Thank you.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Has your understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness changed in any way over time?
I mean in any aspect — from one period of your life to another — whether in perspective, emphasis, or conclusions.
HpS - AGTSP. I did not, really have a clear understanding of how Srila Prabhupada was using the words. Then I learned how to say iskcon in hindi.
anar astrika sri krsna, bhavan amrta sanga.
Bhavan amrta is the way Consciousness is translated, so now we take it, pretty much, that Srila Prabhupada means the concept of bhava when he says Krsna Consciousness. Then we have the whole technical perspective of the word from NoD Etc!
Similarly, has your view or consideration of ISKCON changed in any way through the years?
HpS - Yes. Main point is that we understand there is the ISKCON that is the institution, like the village of Nanda Maharaja. Then there is the ISKCON that is a community of friends, like the Gopis have their friends amongst their institutional relations with family, chief of police etc, in Nanda's village. SB 10.47.63. and finally there is the ISKCON that is just each individual and their personal, direct experience, of their connection with the Founder Acharya.
If the answers to these questions are yes, could you please explain how?
I realize these may be quite personal questions to share publicly. As always, when writing here on the Monkey Warrior blog, I deeply appreciate any exchange you choose to offer. And if you prefer not to comment, I completely understand.
Thank you very much.
Your servant,
Namacarya Dās
HpS - Your Blog posts are always an example of dignified social culture. You be blessed with a very cultured country and have a cultured wife and family!
Correct?