Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudeva

Por favor acepte nuestras humildes reverencias.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prahupada!!!

Este es nuestro reporte de Pasankusa Ekadasi a Rama Ekadasi.

“Diario de dos criaturas viajeras”

Mono Swami...

[ASA/TB-BW - El es Monoteista o Monista?]

...aún esta en Arequipa, nosotros en el Cusco, estuvimos en casa de Bibhatsu Arjuna unos días y otros en casa de Sergio y Sita, luego hemos estado en el Valle Sagrado, Calca, Lamay... Muy bonitos lugares... Viajar es bonito, pero algunas veces es muy austero, como todo, tiene sus pros y contras... Hemos tenido una dura prueba con Karuna cuando estábamos en Lamay, pero hemos podido superarla, hace mucho, mucho que situaciones asi no se presentaban en nuestras vidas. Así que hemos asumido viajar un poco menos y menos austeridades, por un tiempo.  

HpS - Srila Prabhupada said that Sannyasa is a difficult situation, but for one who accomplishes it correctly, returning back home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed. Vanaprastha is preparation for Sannyasa. The wife can travel with husband as servant, and we see incredible examples of Ladies like Gandhari and Arci and Puranjan, but often it is too difficult so she stays with adult children. It is just as difficult for a lady as a man, but different. It is like committing suicide! Yet, we equally realize that our eternal life is waking up. Maybe we won't accomplish it all in one lifetime. Why do I have a lot of Sannyasa karma? Was I a good devotee lik Karuna-mayi Devi Dasi in my last life???

Estamos cantando nuestras 16 rondas, siguiendo los principios, y haciendo Kirtan y Harinam donde podamos.

HpS - ASA ---- Incredible! Vds son la mas gran activo de Peru!

Finalmente hemos dejado a Nrishimhadeva con Bibhatsu y ahora solo estamos con Krsna Balarama y Giriraj a quienes adoramos junto a Srila Prabhupada y a Usted en nuestra puja diaria.

HpS - !

Nos duele mucho no tener siempre internet a la mano para conectarnos, especialmente a las clases... Por ahora estamos solo en los FMP los días martes y compartimos con Parama Karuna, y posiblemente con Sita, que canto el martes que pasó... Por la tarde - noche en el FEP compartimos con aquellos que este inspirados y se comuniquen con nosotros, sino hay nadie, somos muy felices de participar... 

Se nos acabaron los libros, así que ahora les hablamos de Krsna a todos, especialmente a los hijos, devotos y personas con los que nos cruzamos... En una feria en Calca conocimos a muy buenas personas, algunos interesados en conocer un poco nuestra filosofía, asi que sin libros, solo le enviamos el link del Veda Base... libros virtuales... Quizás Catur pueda enviarnos unos libros desde lima...

Hablamos de Grhastha Asrahm en casa de Anansraya prabhu en Santa Ana un barrio colonial, de los más antiguos aquí en Cusco donde habían organizado un programa bonito de Nama Hatta.

El primer día de Kartika dimos la clase en el templo de Cusco, y pudimos ofrecer un prasadam familiar a los devotos... Ahora vamos este domingo para Govardhana Puja, llevaremos a Giriraj, y hablaremos un poco sobre las glorias de Haridasa Varya Govardhana.. “Con las bendiciones del Guru, hasta un mudo puede volverse un predicador elocuente” . Siempre esperamos sus bendiciones, sin ellas difícil mantenernos...

Karuna habla poco y yo soy un poco aburrido, ojala Mono Swami este por acá y escriba algo el siguiente reporte...

Sus Aspirantes a sirvientes AmD – KmDD.

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudeva

Please accept our humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prahupada !!!

This is our report from Pasankusa Ekadasi to Rama Ekadasi.

HpS - ¡Hay muchos devotos en ISKCON que han bajado las armas y abandonado la lucha, pero escuchándote están entusiasmados de volver a levantarlos! Todos debemos ayudarnos unos a otros.

Eso es bueno? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qfns_aLrNY

"Diary of two traveling creatures"

Monkey Swami is still in Arequipa, we in Cusco, we were at Bibhatsu Arjuna's house for a few days and others at Sergio and Sita's house, then we have been in the Sacred Valley, Calca, Lamay ... Very beautiful places ... Travel It is beautiful, but sometimes it is very austere, like everything else, it has its pros and cons ... We had a tough test with Karuna when we were in Lamay, but we have been able to overcome it, long, long ago that situations like this did not arise in our lives. So we've assumed a little less travel and less austerities, for a while.

We are chanting our 16 rounds, following the principles, and doing Kirtan and Harinam where we can. We have finally left Nrishimhadeva with Bibhatsu and now we are only with Krsna Balarama and Giriraj whom we worship together with Srila Prabhupada and You in our daily puja.

It hurts us a lot not to always have the internet at hand to connect, especially to classes ... For now we are only at the FMP on Tuesdays and we share with Parama Karuna, and possibly with Sita, who I sang last Tuesday ... In the afternoon - night at the FEP we share with those who are inspired and communicate with us, if there is no one, we are very happy to participate ...

We ran out of books, so now we talk about Krsna to everyone, especially to the children, devotees and people we come across ... At a fair in Calca we met very good people, some interested in knowing a little about us. philosophy, so without books, we only send you the link of the Veda Base ... virtual books ... Maybe Catur can send us some books from Lima ...

We talked about Grhastha Asrahm at Anansraya prabhu's house in Santa Ana, a colonial neighborhood, one of the oldest here in Cusco where they had organized a nice Nama Hatta program.

The first day of Kartika we gave the class in the temple of Cusco, and we were able to offer a family prasadam to the devotees ... Now we are going this Sunday for Govardhana Puja, we will take Giriraj, and we will talk a little about the glories of Haridasa Varya Govardhana. "With the blessings of the Guru, even a mute person can become an eloquent preacher." We always await your blessings, without them it is difficult to maintain ourselves ...

Karuna talks little and I'm a bit bored, hopefully Monkey Swami is here and write something in the following report ...

Your Aspiring Servants AmD - KmDD.

https://youtu.be/dWP-X_bRBio 

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

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

I have been chanting 16 rounds regularly and have been following the regulative principles. I mentioned in the last letter that i am serving the Atlanta temple by helping them with the monthly Newsletter. I am still doing that maharaj. I am also attending the local bhakti vriksha every friday on Zoom. We are also doing daily Damodar arti on Zoom in our BV.

HpS - Incredible!!

I am also trying to read Srimad Bhagavatam for 15 to 30 minutes everyday and i am currently in the second chapter of 3rd Canto guru maharaj.

HpS - We also!!

I have also passed the ISKCON disciple course. I am attaching the certificate. I am currently waiting for the recommendation letter from ISKCON Atlanta. Because i have been in Atlanta fo just under a year and haven't had much chance to serve the temple directly because of Covid, the temple authorities have asked for a couple of letters of my record of service from previous temples. I have requested those letters from the Chennai temple and the Connecticut temple as those are the two centers under which i have served in the past.

Once i get them, i'll forward them to the Atlanta temple and then subsequently receive the recommendation letter. I am hoping this should happen in the next 15 to 30 days, hopefully.

Tulsi maharani is also growing nicely maharaj.

Your servant

Sriram Arunachalam

HpS - Awk!!! We don't remember previous Blog posts from you. We are either becoming senile or becoming overwhelmed by Asta-sattvika Bhava. Can send links for previous letters. Most important thing is that Krsna knows all these things and He is the original Guru!! Only observation is that we have to have this hour in the morning and evening for SB/BG. Of course it may be 15-minutes of NOD + 15-minutes of CC etc, but it is one of the requirements of Bhakti Yoga. If we don't have this habit then it is like a diet of rice, beans and bread with no beans or something. We will continue with it for a few years and then die. We will continue in Bh. Yoga w/o the full program and then quite and say, "Oh. I treied that and it didn't work for me..". Very sad!! It is a science!

What do you think?

TLGSP, TLGHPS, PAMHR

El tiempo ha avanzado muy rápido.

HpS - ASA -- A veces, no?? 😊

Henry van Dyke (1852 – 1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman.

FOR KATRINA'S SUN-DIAL, IN HER GARDEN OF YADDO -  "Hours fly,  Flowers die, New days, New ways, Pass by, Love stays.

       *      *      *

           Time is

 Too Slow for those who Wait,

 Too Swift for those who Fear,

 Too Long for those who Grieve,

 Too Short for those who Rejoice;

     But for those who Love, Really Love, Time is eternity."

... Adaptacion de Grupo de los 60s, "Beautiful Day".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_20U1xqKnk [1.08 - 2.38 minutos].

Krsna ha provisto más de lo que necesitamos y continuamente damos gracias por esto. Angirasa (ACBSPD) y yo tenemos el plan de alcanzarlo en Vraja Dham a finales del 2022. Yo sé que, por sus bendiciones, podemos lograrlo. Y quizás el Santo Dham acepte que ingresemos como almas caídas.

HpS - 😪 Cuidado, una vez entra en Vraja, nunca va a ser capaz salir.

Por otra parte, con respecto a la organización del Vyasa Puja, algunos de nosotros vivimos lejos del templo: Prabhu Sacinandana (Marina y niñas) en Cuautla, Morelos; GopiRadha y Prabhu Vidagda en Tepoztlán, Morelos; Prabhu Jagat Bandhu en Xochimilco y yo en Toluca, Estado de México.

Por otra parte, el Templo no lanza ninguna invitación general, debido a las restricciones de 25 a 30 personas dentro de las instalaciones. Por estas condiciones de la pandemia, hemos decidido realizar la celebración en una casa amplia, como la de Jagat Bandhu (votaron más por esta opción), con las medidas sanitarias. Mandaremos los reportes y fotos de las ofrendas a Prabhu Jana Pavana. En caso de que las autoridades sanitarias no permitan las reuniones, entonces, realizaremos las ofrendas en cada casa e igualmente mandaremos los reportes. Con respecto, al Pushpanjali marcado para el miércoles 13 de enero de 7 a 8 pm, es seguro que nos vayamos a conectar (lo mismo para el sábado 16 de enero). Yo sé que tenemos muchos defectos, pero estamos entusiasmados con esta celebración, de alguna manera, Krsna ha permitido, por su protección y por su benevolencia, que atravesemos estos tiempos de la pandemia. Si no fuera por sus programas y misericordia (FMP_clases_conferencias), creo que ya estaríamos mentalmente dañados.

Todos los discípulos y aspirantes han sido invitados. Algunos se han estado adaptando a los distintos equipos y consideramos que se han agrupado, según sus afinidades a los distintos servicios. Esperamos glorificarlo de una manera apropiada.

Muchas gracias, Gurudeva, Hare Krsna.

Su inútil sirviente

Lalita Gopi DD

HpS - Super. Si hay mas noticias de modos conectar por internet, muy bien!! Tenemos todos ser guru!! "Yare dekha, tare kaha..."! Respects a the Angirasa (ACBSPD). Muy feliz oir de el.

AGTSP, AGTHPS, PAMHO

Time has moved very fast. Krsna has provided more than we need, and we continually give thanks for this. Angirasa (ACBSPD) and I have a plan to reach you in Vraja Dham by the end of 2022, I know that by your blessings we can achieve it. And perhaps the Holy Dham will accept that we enter as fallen souls.

On the other hand, regarding the organization of the Vyasa Puja, some of us live far from the temple: Prabhu Sacinandana (Marina and girls) in Cuautla, Morelos; GopiRadha and Prabhu Vidagda in Tepoztlán, Morelos; Prabhu Jagat Bandhu in Xochimilco and I in Toluca, State of Mexico.

By the way, Temple authorities don’t issue (or publish) any general invitation (such as Srila Prabhupada´s disappearance), due to the restrictions of 25 to 30 people within the installations. Due to these conditions of the pandemic, we have decided to hold the celebration in a spacious house, like Jagat Bandhu's (they voted more for this option), with sanitary measures. We will send the reports and photos of the offerings to Prabhu Jana Pavana. In case that Sanitary authorities do not allow the meetings, then, we will make the offerings in each house and we will also send these reports. Regarding the Pushpanjali scheduled for Wednesday, January 13 from 7 to 8 pm, we are sure we might be connected (the same for Saturday , January 16^th) . I know we have many faults, but we are excited about this celebration, somehow Krsna has allowed us go through these times of the pandemic with His protection and His benevolence. If it weren't for your programs and mercy (FMP_clases_conferences), I think we would already be mentally ill.

All disciples and aspirants have been invited. Some have been adapting to the different teams and we consider that they have been grouped, according to their affinities to the different services. We hope to glorify it in a proper way.

Thank you very much Gurudeva. Hare Krsna

Your useless servant

Lalita Gopi DD

An attempted re-write on classic values.

Just getting started on these, need the therapy. Any high minded critique is very welcome!

-0-0-0-

There was...

.... a family in a small Mountain Village and one of their children was sick, so they called the Doctor to see what was wrong. The Doctor examined the child and said the fever is from gangrene, hidden between these 2 fingers, we’ll have to remove them. The Mother was objecting, the Doctor said,” If we don’t sacrifice the fingers the arm will be next”. Her husband looked at her and they understood, “fingers to save an arm.”

After this, all was fine and the family decided to visit relatives in the Valley. After an arduous journey, they made it to their relatives’ town. Even though there were some quarrels going on in the neighborhoods, the family greeted one another with great joy.

They all were reminiscing when noises were heard coming from the outside neighborhood, sounds of explosions, shouting and rioting!

The family all gathered in the hidden cellar below the house and quietly waited. Sounds of the thug's footsteps were heard on the floor above them... they were very still. The Mother was holding her baby in her lap; the child sensed the fear and was attempting to cry. Everyone gazed, the Mother looked back in terror and with tears in her eyes she suffocated her own child, a “child to save the family”

Hours later a battalion of the Army came and vanquished the invaders and some peace was restored. The family fled, while other parts of the city were still under siege. Returning to their home they had great relief and nurtured one other through what happened. As the weeks went by, the battle in the city still was on, the villagers safe in the Mountains continued life warily.

Then one night a village guard observed a couple of invaders trying to sneak-in, taking careful aim the guard put an arrow through one, but the other fled to tell his leader. The news spread quickly and the Lord’s garrison immediately came to the village. They told the villagers their town is the only thing keeping the Invaders from entering into the heart of the country, they must be stopped!

The family knew another sacrifice had to be made. Taking their eldest son’s they gave them to the Lord’s army, then despondently departed for higher ground. A tumultuous fight began as the rogue invaders starting entering the village. Arrows and cannonballs were flying everywhere, along with swords clashing and fires raging. The remaining soldiers and villagers finally succeeded, though there was nothing left of the village, “the village to save the country”

The Mountain family had lost a baby, had lost their son’s, and their village. The Mother was so distraught she collapsed and died. The Father was in shock from losing his wife and decided to see the Lord of the Land and went to his castle. Hearing what happened the Lord offered the father anything in his kingdom, he knew his sacrifice.

Sobbing the man cried, “I need my wife, I need my children, I need my village, what is left in the World for me?” The Lord sensed his great quandary and sadness.

Taking the Father he brought him to a grand hall, there were citizens, families and hurt people from his own village. They were all happily serving one another with food, sustenance and love. The Lord’s Queen came up to the Father and bowed. Astonished the Father asked the Queen, “How did all these people become so joyous?” Smiling at her husband the Queen, touched the father's Heart, saying... they’ve got their Souls back. “Sacrifice the World and regain our Soul.”

🙌

Hare Krsna.

AgtSP//// paoho//// We have had an empty heart all day. In the morning it was so pronounced we could not even join the SB class. We had to just lie still and chant and try to hold on to Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet to keep from floating off into the sky.

Of course, we can take shelter of the stimulus of things like our bicycle or favorite smells, but these won't last if they have not deep connection.

It was like Dhrtarastra, Duryodhana et al who were thriving on misdeeds only, and their final destruction was inevitably coming.

Also, it seems to be that today is the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. It really drains our energy, no?

We actually only have energy to act, in the Sankirtan movement, from Krsna.

🙂 🙂 🙂

Hari bolo.



Lokannatha Das is the Director of the Purnima Puppet Theater. We traveled with him and the other members all across the USA for several years. We have very similar mentality. He has been base in ISKCON Berkeley, California, for several decades.