Letters to the editor

HK, AGTSP, PAMHO,

Dear Gurudeva,

Same old, same old, as they say. Nothing particularly exciting to add, except that existence feels more like waiting to complete a jail sentence in this realm than anything else. Evil always seems to pervade over good in every corner of this world.

One may wonder: Is what we were promised in the sastras truly delivered, fully developed, or attained (for the lack of a better term), or is it all a fantastic hoax? Humbly, I reiterate the question from my previous report that remained unanswered:

HpS - AgtSP. Previous report?? Did not see it! 😲

So, nice to hear from you.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/lob/28/

"The devotees of the Lord, therefore, make the best use of the bad bargain by utilizing the temporary creation in the service of the Lord."

We are in a prison. There is chance for psycho-therapy, occupational training, family counseling. We want to get out, but right now this is the best place for us. We become ready for the spiritual world. Not dumped back into prison again after three months out because of our violent nature and inability to make money nicely.

We can even become psychologists and guards!

I would like to ask about CC Madhya 22.158, regarding siddha-rūpeṇa. I've read a brilliant article by Vraja Kishor Prabhu on Madhurya Kadambini titled Why Our Japa Still Stinks, where he suggests a logical progression to improve Japa by using the eight steps of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra as a template. The immediate goal would be to finally reach some substantial improvement in concentration, thus leading to nishta-bhajan (Dhyana and Samadhi). The author emphasizes that after Pratyahara, or trying to leave behind the "false" identity to stop distracting thoughts successfully, it is crucial to fill that gap with a "real" identity fit and ready to serve Krsna in a particular way, embracing this role internally, Dharana. Even if, at the beginning, it is a faceless character, chanting from such a role is what allows more depth while chanting.

Of course, this seems to be a very personal practice, but this devotee insists that if we think we are not qualified for it, we shoot ourselves in the foot. What is your advice on this matter? What do you suggest as reading/practice to start working towards that step? Is any specific approach facilitated by the spiritual master, or does it all fall into a homogeneous, holistic, general instruction?

ei nivedana dhara, sakhira anugata koro, seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi

Thank you very much for giving me shelter, Dear Gurudeva.

Respectfully and affectionately,

Your servant,

Etasa Krsna Das

HpS - Preparing for Friday night class. Stomach ache. 90-degrees Fahrenheit. 🙂

Same as you, no?

We think about above a lot.

We remember Srila Prabhupada says, that for every stage in the Astanga yoga system, there is a corresponding stage in the Bhakti yoga system.

In our practice it seems so.

Above description of stages in contrast seems fine. We see little different but not means we are better.

Don't remember exact list from SP of the comparisons.

Eg. we take Pratyahara as the change when we stop letting the drum play us and we play the drum.

In the beginning it is very gratifying to the senses to beat the drum in regular strong strikes. It is sense gratification.

Because it is dovetailed with Hari kirtan it is like Nama-bhasa. It liberates us. We like the freedom.

Yet, we are not withdrawing from the external sensual experience and hearing the meaning of the Mantra or trying to use the percussion to ornament, illuminate, the Mantra. When that happens, even though it may not be ecstatic for the senses, we feel ecstasy, satisfaction in illuminating the meaning, punctuation, for the Mantra.

We take it to a deeper level.

Of course, the senses begin to like this position more than their blind, juvenile, gratification with no depth.

O.K.?

Is one idea.

Chanting and Dancing obviously handle aZana and prAnayAma, no?

Four principles, Tri-sandhyas ~= Yama, Niyama.

When you come to Goswami ... ? .... nistha/ruci... you start Raganuga Bhakti. Goswami, male, female, eunich, must be very intuitive: Gita = jitAtmana prasAntasya paramAtma samAhita, Intro to NoI = Once one becomes goswami everything else about how to advance will be automatically revealed.

So, our use of Srila P's books becomes more intuitive, not so regulated and linear, German, when we reach goswami - Pratyahara/dharana/dhyana.

Also, not like quantum jumps - You are Nistha! or you are Ruci!

More like a Bell Curve.

I might be little bit of neophyte, mostly Nistha, beginning Ruci and sometimes Prema (once every five years).

O.K.?

If we want to discuss more we should organize a colloquia, no? 🙂

References: To Dance in the Downpour of Devotion: A Summary Study of Madhurya Kadambini by Vraja Kishor.

Picture: The Book of Hours at the University of Chicago

AgtSP. Paoho.

As mentioned we are hoping to visit Manipura during the end of September and beginning of October with devotees from Spain.

How is the political situation?

Can it be predicted for the above date?

❓❓❓

Do devotees from Spain need a special entry permit?

Thank you.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Guru Maharaj HH Hanumat Presaka Swami Maharaj. Please accept our humble obeisances at Your sweet lotus feet.

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj

Please forgive me for this late, late reply. Even after Guru Maharaj came to my dream, the adidaivik klesa won't spare. Floods, no power ...fortunately our Vrindadevi survived. Sorry Guru Maharaj.

On ' Snan Yatra' , Guru Maharaj gave a transcendental class for all of us . Everyone enjoyed the nectarean words of our Guru Maharaj, few who could not join listened to the recording which Rituraj Krsna Prabhu shared and we are so happy with the recordings too.

As we are celebrating Rathyatra( amidst a lot of restrictions) , may we hear a class on the following

1. Significance of Rath yatra

2. Pastimes of Sri Jagannath

3. How to celebrate Rath yatra?

Daily we sing the Jagannath astakam. Mataji Joybi would like to offer her service of singing the Jagannath astakam for you Guru Maharaj. Would you please allow Mataji to offer her prayers at the end of the class?

The whole group is dying to hear more and more from Guru Maharaj. We would be immensely blessed if Guru Maharaj can take classes for us. We will keep praying to Sri Nityananda for Your grace dear Guru Maharaj.

Forgive us for all our offenses, we are all beginners.....we keep trying our best with Your mercy. Please chastise us for any wrong doings.

Sharing some pics Guru Maharaj.

We wait eagerly for tomorrow's class at 6.30pm IST.

Your insignificant servant,

Sarad Gaurangi DD

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. What platform can we use for the teleconferencing? That was what crashed the program last time.

Hoping we can test the connection before the class. [Like one week before 🙂

]

Topics are very nice.

Thank you.

Is an honor to speak to Manipuri devotees.

We will try to get Rturaja Das to go to work on this immediately.

Is 8AM for us.

🐵

🐵

🐒

Sunday Morning Srimad Bhagavatam Workshop will continue reading Chapter Eight: Talks Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya, verse 8.294 onwards.

We should be able to finish Chapter 8. It took us about 3 months to complete this Nectarian chapter.

Thank you to H. G. Mitravinda Mataji for doing translation for class on July 7, 2024.

I am always thankful to Lakshman Prabu for always being there to help with translation.

It is the mercy of Maharaja, to engage everyone in reading books of Srila Prabhupada.

YS

Upendra dasa

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,

Please accept our most humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha

kripa-sindhubhya eva cha

patitanam pavanebhyo

vaishnavebhyo namo namaha

Today was the Rathayatra, 4th of July parade [in Boise, Idaho]!!

Amidst devotee family, your presence at many festivals was remembered.

HpS/ASA - We built the first Boise Rathayatra cart along with Lokannatha Das et al.!

We were not sure how we would be able to travel an hour from the new ashram in Idaho City with deities and pull the smaller Ratha.

Krsna made arrangements and the cart was waiting.

Three sets of personal small Jaganatha family deities were in the Ratha and kids did the arati with full heart.

Jahnavi pulled the cart with her ksatriya spirit.

The congregation and community were able to be engaged and happy. The spiritual world did open up for a moment where we felt connected to everyone’s sincere efforts and paratmatmas.

The other night we watched the peacock special: Krishnas, Gurus, Karma etc. that featured Malati Prabhu, Bhagavan Prabhu, and other early Srila Prabhupada disciples discussing New Vrindavan and former Kirtananda Maharaj.

I think it’s hard to be a devotee like Malati Prabhu and you, Gurudev because you have stayed in ISKCON despite everything and seen so much.

I want to express more but I’m fearful. I think in my situation I am following the NOI principal of keeping my general distance (because I know I am at least an aspiring kanishta) so I do not not affect others.

I am finding that having a few sincere relationships with devotees and congregation mothers really is enough association.

I am working on how I associate and how I can contribute more with my association.

In small communities it’s hard to not feel very alone.

I remember when you advised your disciple that it is hard to be brahmanical and be in management.

I was candid with management last fall about disrespect I noticed that was going on towards the Vaishnavas.

Now I am pushed out and ignored and told not to approach them without a mediator (not by all management but a few individuals).

The tension is hard.

I do feel very emotional to the point of feeling physically sick when I go to the temple.

Would you suggest asking a mediator to work through these kind of issues Gurudev? I can tell my ego just wants to ignore and forget.

HpS - Thank you for this nice letter. Babies fall on their... backsides... so many times when they are beginning to walk, but they get up again and try to do it. It is so much greater to walk than crawl.

1. Gradually you learn how to walk and only fall down once every few months, rather than every few paces.
2. Maybe we are jerks and do deserve the chastisement we get from institutional managers and we need to thank Krsna for this opportunity to improve.
3. Maybe they are just projecting their fears and anger on us and we need to avoid their attacts and try to help them.
4. Maybe they were try to praise us and we just misunderstood their criticism.

When in doubt the Holy Names will sort it out!

Chant and talk with devotees close to the situation?

Thank you so much for tolerating the general way I am expressing the issue and my feelings.

Janardhan Swami said recently that our kids are our deities. Its hard to financially get by and do a lot of service right now. I am still chanting my rounds, and listening or reading/discussing scriptures with the kids. We’ve been focusing on listening to SB 9th canto Rama Lila pastimes and Lord Caitanya’s childhood pastimes the last 6 months. We will start the 10th canto and a unit on Krsna this summer. We seek your blessings with this endeavor because our body doesn’t seem to have a lot of energy to give these days. But preaching helps inspire us to do our Sadhana.

We have completed 2 project/art/drama based units on these pastimes with a general attendance of 6-10 kids in person and online. I try to stay absorbed in repeating these pastimes until I can appreciate how valuable and jewel like these Lilas are. Sometimes listening and re-listening seems to help us reflect on how we can qualify ourself to truly appreciate what is being given to us.

HpS - 👍

Such powerful medicine!

Murari Prabhu is busy tilling the land because it is a lot of river rock, and sand but he has managed to create garden areas despite desert terrain. Prabhu is chanting/doing puja and taking care of the kids while I work. I am full time taking care of the new teen in the house as well.

I’ve noticed that keeping a connection through whatever means possible with him had become an important service.

They need a lot of emotional shelter in such a confusing developmental stage.

When your well wishing gift and instruction was received 3 months ago we fully took shelter of your blessing and really tried to meditate on it.

Thank you so much Gurudev and please forgive us for not writing sooner. Moving with 6 people and acclimating to this little mountain town/forest and trying to build up our Sadhana and strength again was a lot.

Your gift made us feel like you believed in us and our ability to stay connected to Krsna.

We’ve tried our best to follow your instruction of writing about Krsna. If it’s ok, we would like to send you some disjointed prose short stories in a part two sequel to this letter.

HpS/ASA - 🐵 👍 👍

Always running behind you Gurudev eager to qualify ourself to serve you and Srila Prabhupada.

Tava pache pache!!

Your lowly servant,

Kamagayatri dd

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj.

Please accept my respectful obeisance and gratitude.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Pray this finds you well, and healthy in every aspect (as much it can be).

It was very inspiring, enlightening, and touching reading Balabhadra Prabhu's letter. I couldn't help, but some tears came out, it was out of appreciation for Balabhadra Prabhu's greatness and humility, being vulnerable, revealing his mind (oh Krishna, it is a precious gift, a Vaisnava treasure that he kindly is sharing with all of us).

My humble prayers to Krishna, may Sri Krishna reveal more and more of the sweetness of His heart to Balabhadra Prabhu and then, he can keep sharing with us, so we can chew that nectar too. Jai Srila Prabhupada!!

On the other hand, I wanted to let you know that finally, I got a ticket to Spain ( Sep 8th -Nov.25th) and then India (Nov 26th - Dec 30th), with your blessings may this plan take place..

HpS - We, agtSP, always remember a citation from the KRSNA book where Srila Prabhupada says that great devotees, like Narada Muni, go from different Holy Places to others and in route they meet and deliver many innocent people. So, while traveling ✈✈ ☁ expect Krsna to send innocent people. Have literature. Peanut prasadam.

1. We have to be pure: 16/4/FMS.
2. Krsna will send innocent, curious, people.
3. They have to be tolerant of mistakes in our preaching to understand what is the real situation of this material world.

There is another issue that I humbly request your guidance and blessings. My younger sister (Madhan Priya) who has been away from Krishna Consciousness, has shown some interest in reconnecting with devotees despite the challenges of her current circumstances; to encourage her and help her to reconnect with devotees, I am thinking of inviting her to visit Spain and spend some time with devotees while I will be there, and if you consider this appropriate, I could try to help her to do so and ask authorization to [from] H. H. Yadhunandana Swami for her to stay on the farm too. Maybe this can be an opportunity for her to regain faith and trust in devotees and Krishna Consciousness. Is this okay Gurumaharaj?

HpS/ASA - We don't know the details of the situation, but in general I think the New Vraja Mandala Yatra is great!!!

The only thing is that they have limited space to accommodate people so you have to be careful about that!

For yourself and her self, no?

I think Yugala kishora Dasi and Yasoda from Peru are coordinating that.

My parents passed away long ago and I haven't seen my siblings for almost 20 years, it seems that I won't be able to visit Peru soon, so if I can help to spark a bit of my siblings' spirituality and connection with Krishna, it would be a good fortune. I want to ask for your authorization to invite Madhan Priya to Spain and perhaps India if you consider it appropriate.

HpS - Again we don't know the details of the travel, her character etc. but in general it seems like a fine idea.

Ladies need to be a little tough and adventuresome to travel and stay in different places but some girls are like that, love it.

My Mother was that kind of person.

Thank you Gurumaharaj.

Ys,

Madhumanjari dd

HpS - Thank you!!! We pray that you can get free from all of your 'vasanas' from this life and previous lives. You seem to have been involved in Vedic culture for several life times.