Letters to the editor

Gauranga, Hanumat Preshak Swami.

Reverencias y gloriasa Srila Prabhupada!.

Here in ISKCON Santiago Chile🇨🇱 We have gone from Carona lockdown to Maha Carona lockdown.

Vasudeva Datta Prabhu was not feeling well so he went to the hospital. There he caught Carona and brought her back to the Temple. Bhakta Sebastian did not have a good reaction with Carona and now he and Vasudeva Datta Prabhu are in the hospital.

The medicos cuarentenada the temple and we cannot leave for anything. Before this development the temple was functioning on some level with morning programs a bakery and book distribution on line.

Your discipulo Piyari Mohan Prabhu is shining throughout the crisis. Piyari Mohan attends the full morning program and with the absence of Vasudeva Datta Prabhu, has been responsible for everything.

It reminds me of the old days when all the devotees were in their early twenties. The American army sends lieutenants straight out of officers training school, to become platoon leaders in a war zone. This forces them to grow up quickly.

We are taking the situation one day at a time with nothing sure in the future. Our little group of 4 men and 2 ladies do lots of Hare Krishna Kirtan and prayers.

Sus, Mishra Bhagavan Dasa

HpS - Thank you M. Bhagavan Das.

Were you expecting this when you went to Chile??? The Pandavas were in exile for 14-years, but not a moment was wasted. Duryodhana told his father, 'At night, when I try to sleep, I can feel them close to me, alone in the forest, cold, lying on the ground, to sleep, always becoming stronger, stronger!"

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What is the picture next to the Temple room door to the outside?

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada

Todas las Glorias a UD, querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte nuestras humildes reverencias (familiares)

Esperamos que se encuentre bien...

El boletín ya esta (en ingles y español) en el grupo de Facebook aqui

https://www.facebook.com/groups/166681160058275/

"...but really is it worth translating at all??? Who is reading it????? "

PTRK ==>> Si!!! Es muy importante y valioso para muchos devotos poder leer el boletín en ESPAÑOL! (El grupo esta creciendo... somos casi 700 miembros)

Gracias por la paciencia

Equipo de Traductores

(Pat-Truck Das & M. Antuanette)

On Monday, June 15, 2020, 12:55:50 AM CDT, Ramananda ACBSP

Maharaja,

Since you are in one place and not traveling, would you consider switching from simply doing a Bhag verse on Thursdays to do a bhakti-sastri course instead? If anyone is expert in bhakti-sastri it’s you. Do you think that would be possible?

Your servant,

Ramananda dasa

HpS - ASA --- AGTSP! paoho... Sorry it took some time to answer, which I think in itself is an answer to both of us.

We don't have the mental strength to do it.

We are good for giving advice and strategy now. Maybe intellectual strength.

Who wants to learn Bh Sastri there???

On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 06:37:07 PM CDT, Gopa-swami dasa <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Hanumatpresaka Swami maharaja,

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

I trust this will find you well and under the care of Krsna.

My name is Gopa-swami dasa, disciple of H. H. Guru Prasad Swami. Thanks to the service rendered by your disciples in Mexico—especially of M. Asta Sakhi devi dasi—I learned you were writing some books and about your *Solaris* journal, both addressed to the academic public; i. e., researchers, teaching staff, and graduate/undergraduate students.

I studied Architecture, Biblical Sciences and Religion Philosophy, and I’m an experienced editor and orthotypographer (orthotypography is the “orthography” of the composition of all typographic elements and the space). I got in contact with M. Asta Sakhi devi dasi to humbly offer you my small abilities to serve your print preaching works.

P. Abhirama Thakura dasa sent me a WhatsApp message last week. After having a telephone conversation, he kindly sent me some files for *Solaris* to work with.

I worked during the past days in developing an editorial design proposal—please see the attached files. The service he has done is immense! I found several opportunity areas. Following is my proposal. (I am copying P. Abhirama Thakura dasa for his knowledge and consideration too.)

I. COVER

Every publication requires the language to be in tune with the message. In the same way, graphical elements and illustration must have the appropriate mood (“talante,” in Spanish). An inadequate mood result in a feeling or perception of imposture: “Hmm, this does not seem to be what it claims to be.” In this regard, I’m suggesting a more sober logo with an articulated message (please see “Solaris proposal - cover.pdf”). Additionally, the proposed design has the intention to be read as a predicate:

(a) “Solar is Intercultural journal.”

(b) “Solar is Contributions for a new culture.”

(c) “Solar is Revista intercultural.”

(d) “Solar is Contribuciones para una nueva cultura.”

“Solar is” are not two words; it is only one, Solaris, but very subtly separated by a thin space and a different colour tone. The current issue number has also been added to stand out for quick identification.

To have a cleanly articulated message, other texts have been placed at the bottom, where the information can be unobtrusively consulted.

I also suggest the Spanish word “aportes” to be substituted with “contribuciones”, because:

(a) it is used only in the region (“aportaciones” is more common internationally);

(b) but “contribuciones” is a more direct and proper word for “contributions,” and to describe what the reader will find inside: contributions, papers, opinion articles.

(The image in the cover serves as an example. It is a diagram out of many by Ramon Llull, elaborated in the Middle Ages for helping memorize theological and philosophical concepts. The “S” in the center is in perfect tune with the journal mood.)

II. CONTENT

1. General design

(a) Every article would have its own cover. It is common practice photocopying articles. Therefore, the following pages also show in its feet relevant data of article, author, and source, even if it is only partially copied. (Please see “Solaris proposal - content a.pdf” and “Solaris proposal - content b.pdf”, in two pages view.)

(b) A Creative Commons notice has also been added, to specify that the article can be shared but not commercially, always mentioning authorship.

(c) Good layout practices establish incremental margins—instead of constant—following the order inside-upper-outside-bottom.

(d) The first page of the article—always on ODD number page—should present the abstract and keywords in both Spanish and English, as well as the Creative Commons Copyright.

2. Colour

I would not suggest using four inks for interiors: it is more expensive and it is not justified. In my opinion, it is even detrimental to the mood of the journal to add photos at the beginning of each article—often with no reference to its content. For just a few four-colour pages, the whole sheet must be printed in four colours! ($$$).

To reduce costs and improve the overall appearance, I would suggest instead:

(a) using just two colours for interiors: black (in different shadings) for the main text, and sepia to emphasize citations and to pleasantly distinguish them from the body text (see attached files).

(b) avoiding illustrations other than those offered or required by the contributor, one colour or duotones.

3. Fonts and size

I would strongly suggest using only one font for the articles and in the same size. I suggest to use the font “Noto,” both in its serif and sans-serif type faces, because:

(a) It has an excellent readability.

(b) It is a professional font, with an amazing range of typographical characteristics and glyphs. It can render all diacritics needed to transliterate Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and every language of the world.

(c) It has an unparalleled range of weights: from “very thin” to “extra black,” which should address any typographical need. (Please see a small sample of the Noto font in “Solaris proposal - lettering.pdf”)

(d) It is FREE. I have no knowledge of another font so complete and well designed.

There are of course, many other details that should be specified to produce orthotypographically correct publishings, but I would like to hear first if this proposal is acceptable to you and the editorial committee, so I could proceed to elaborate editorial guidelines.

I would also feel greatly blessed if I could elaborate one of your books. My spiritual master, H. H. Guru Prasad Swami, often asks us, His disciples, to participate with preaching spirit in keeping in its highest potency the work of Srila Prabhupada.

Additionally, I could also contribute with theological and hermeneutical essays.

Please consider if these editorial suggestions may be useful, and let me know how to proceed.

Your humble servant,

—

Gopa-swami dasa [GPS]

HpS - ASA - Most of these suggestions you have to work out with Abhirama thakura Das and Prof. Miguel Polo who is our general editor. They are of course super experienced in academic publications as you also.

Please write to our Blog. We cannot handle Yahoo mail. We were getting 500/month, but now that we post in the Blog others can read and don't write. Thank you so much.  Solaris

On Sunday, June 21, 2020, 04:56:18 PM CDT, Ramacarya Das <[email protected]> wrote:

Hare Krishna Maharaj Ji

Please Accept My Humble Obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,

I would like to introduce myself to you. I met you for the first time 2003-04 in a small university town called Pullman, WA (Washington State University). I was going to college there and supporting a preaching program led by a bengali devotee named Alok Da. 

HpS - I remember him. He was giving alcohol to rats etc!! What happened to him???

At that time, devotees from Boise temple such as Radhika Raman Prabhu & Gopal hari prabhu would come with other devotees to help us with Janamastami festivals. Maharaja you also visited Pullman once or twice and I had a home program with you at our apartment. At that time I was very new to KC.  

After finishing my college I was in Columbus, OH for 3-years & Dallas TX for 5 years. During this time I met you again in Dallas, it might be the year 2010-11. Since 2013 I have been living in St. Louis, MO and actively supporting the old Krsna Balrama temple. Once again I was very happy to hear your voice during our symposium. I am very excited to take up this service and support you as needed.

Once COVID-19 stuff is over and if you prefer kindly visit St. Louis, MO. We will be happy to host you and organize home programs here. Currently on every Sunday we are doing Zoom life Sunday feast lecture. I would like to request if you can give a lecture next week Sunday or any other Sunday as your schedule permits. Kindly let me know.

Your Servant,

Ramacarya Das

HpS - 28th might work, but later dates might be easier to organize.  Are you streaming or posting your lectures to Youtube?  I hear it is easy through Zoom, and then our fiends and mumblers can also join.

Please communicate via our Blog. We can't handle Yahoomail!!

Thank you,

Super best wishes for your Sankirtan.

Hare Krishna Maharaja, por favor acepte mis reverencias.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Le escribo con el fin de presentarme, ya que si usted me lo permite me gustaría tomar refugio en usted como mi maestro espiritual.

Mi nombre es Geraldine Valdivia Urra, actualmente vivo en Antofagasta, Chile.

Conocí el movimiento de conciencia de Krishna en el año 2015, mi primer encuentro cercano fue en el congreso de eduación que se dió ese año a las afueras de Santiago. En ese congreso lo conocí a usted y comencé a aprender de usted.

A lo largo de estos años he estado avanzando de manera muy paulatina en el estudio del Bhagavad Gita y El Srimad Bhagavatam, y en el canto de mis rondas, debido a mi apego al disfrute de los sentidos. Sin embargo, el año 2019 fue un año muy duro para mi, y esto logró acercarme más fuertemente a Krishna.

Actualmente me encuentro siguiendo mis 4 principios, y cantando 16 rondas diariamente. Tengo un servicio fijo en un colectivo de devotas, organizado para el cuidado de nuestra comunidad de devotas y devotos de ISKCON Chile. Específicamente, me encuentro en el departamento de comunicaciones, encargada de la búsqueda de artículos, literatura, entrevista, edición y confección de publicaciones para redes sociales.

Además, me encuentro tomando algunos cursos, como el curso de Guru-discípulo con madre Priya Sakhi Devi Dasi, curso de Bhagavad Gita con S.G. Nityananda Prabhu, y participando de un programa de capacitación vaisnavi de la Secretaria de la mujer de Iskcon Brasil.

También asisto regularmente a su programa completo de la mañana y atenta de asistir a las clases en español que usted da a través de Gotomeeting.

Soy una devota muy neófita pero con el deseo de avanzar hasta desarrollar amor puro por Krishna.

Reitero mis reverencias, y agradezco infinitamente todas sus enseñanzas.

Hara Krishna.

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Hare Krishna Maharaja, please accept my obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I am writing to introduce myself, for if you will allow me I would like to take refuge in you as my spiritual master.

HpS - All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

My name is Geraldine Valdivia Urra, I currently live in Antofagasta, Chile.

I met the Krishna consciousness movement in 2015, my first close encounter was at the education congress that took place that year on the outskirts of Santiago. At that congress I met you and started learning from you.

Throughout these years I have been progressing very slowly in the study of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, and in the singing of my rounds, due to my attachment to the enjoyment of the senses. However, 2019 was a very tough year for me, and this brought me closer to Krishna.

I am currently following my 4 principles, and singing 16 rounds daily. I have a fixed service in a group of devotees, organized for the care of our community of devotees and devotees of ISKCON Chile. Specifically, I am in the communications department, in charge of searching for articles, literature, interviews, editing and preparing publications for social networks.

Also, I find myself taking some courses, like the Guru-disciple course with mother Priya Sakhi Devi Dasi, Bhagavad Gita course with S.G. Nityananda Prabhu, and participating in a Vaisnavi training program of the Iskcon Brazil Women's Secretary.

I also regularly attend your full morning program and look forward to attending the Spanish classes you give through Gotomeeting.

I am a very neophyte devotee but with the desire to advance to develop pure love for Krishna.

I reiterate my obeisances, and I am infinitely grateful for all her teachings.

Hare Krishna.

HpS - We just want to serve you, Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON, Krsna!!! Have you read http://www.jayarama.us/kd/guru-tattva.txt ? Spanish version is at http://www.jayarama.us/peru/archivos/guru-tattva-es.txt , maybe older version.

This gives our idea of what service we can offer! Only thing is how your are waking up, and your Friend is waiting.