Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna, Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Shraddha is the first level in the development of Bhakti. What I want to know from Gurudev is that how can one enhance one's Shraddha to the point that it becomes unaffected by any externalities?

HpS - ASA -- Thank you so much for this letter... AGTSP!!!!! paoho....

Nectar of Instruction (NOI) - 7, paragraph starting, "The conclusion is..", Srila Prabhupada paraphrases the verse "adau sraddha, sadhu sanga...", with all the stages. This is one of the most principle verses in all of SP's books! Study it. Learn the stages. Find your stage. See BG 4.10 purport for the Sanskrit!

Then in NOI-5 SP cites, "Sraddhavan jana...". This verse points out that every one of the different levels: Sraddha, sadhu sanga, bhajana kriya..." etc, are just different levels of Sraddha. Sraddha is another name for Bhakti. When our Sraddha is unaffected by externals it is at the Nistha stage, no? Read the NOI-7 text above to see how to get to that stage. Of course the basic principle is chant 16-enthusiastic rounds per day, and follow the 4-principles strictly, under SP's authority. All the details are in NOI in the first level.... Then SB, CC, NOD!! Asking devotee Bhagavatas.

We can advance in devotional life only through Krsna's and guru's mercy. What makes one worthy of mercy?

HpS - If we had to be "worthy" then it would not be "mercy", it would be "earned". We get the mercy by accepting it when Krsna sends it. He sends a boat to take us out of our flooded house, but we are too vain and proud, and expect a helicopter with red cushions. Look for the mercy that Krsna is sending, and then TRY to accept it. Maybe is is austerity. Maybe it is resting.... Beyond that, yes, we can try to become qualified to earn the mercy. Apply the process to the best of our ability.

Vedas have to learnt through aural reception from self realised souls. One also has to do self study at home. So how can one approach that?

ASA - Attend classes with devotees. Discuss Srila Prabhupada's books with them for an hour or so in the morning and evening and then do, an hour or so of your own private study, association, with Srila Prabhupada.

We read CC before Mangala arati online but don't discuss it, just share our screen, Then we tweet our location and study question.

Then we read ISO etc in Spanish with devotees on line after Mangala arati with some comments. Then 6.30-7.30AM pepare SB class and writing projects, 7.30-8.30AM Class with devotees. Evening program. You develop your program based upon your association, service.

A Vaisnava is one who is compassionate, empathetic, kind,humble, peaceful and very tolerant. In today's world, how can one develop these qualities but at the same time not become a doormat to other opportunistic people?

HpS - By recognizing who is a demon and who is an innocent person. Avoid the demons (Aikido) and teach the innocent! Of course these two will be mixed in the same bodies usually.

Gurudev, in Bg 18.66,Krsna says to Arjuna to abandon all varieties of religion. This is explained in the purport but couldn't gain a proper understanding of it. Please explain what does "all varieties of religion"mean.

ASA - Conventional social duties eg Good Mother, Good Police man, Good Artisan.

Also what is complete surrender?

HpS - We smile and say, "As much as you can." . . . Just surrender to Krsna as much as you can, as much as you can't, then try to cultivate Dhyana, Jnana, and Karma. Chant your rounds, do your service with attention (Dhayana), understanding. logic and intelligence (Jnana), according to the rules (Karma)

Cc Madhya Lila 22.62,Text 62. "By rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā. What do 'all subsidiary activities' mean?

ASA - Same as above: Venerated public duties (Karma), Janana and yoga. Hanuman didn't make much of a plan or collect special tools when he went to Lanka to find Sita. He just said, "Jaya Rama!", and jumped. Of course he is Hanuman. Maybe we should pack a GPS.

Gurudev, I am 3 months into this journey, so still a novice.

HpS - We are over 40-years and still neophyte in many ways. Also, we are attracted because we have been doing this is a previous life, thus we take birth in a certain community.

Spiritual life has captured all my interest and attention. I am fascinated by every aspect of devotional life and also would love to be a part of it. I want to take initiation as soon as possible and can't wait to embark on this path of transcendence.

Your humble servant wants to know your advice on how I should go about in making this big step.

A guru is the representative of God and Guru will take us back to Godhead. Seeking a spiritual master is the most important step in self realisation. How can we choose a spiritual master and how to seek him? How can one muster up the courage to have complete dependence on Krsna.

HpS - Is an unlimited topic. Balarama is the orignal Guru and He is every expanding. Read NOI-5. That will help a lot. I am trying to function as Vartmana praparsika Siksa guru, now, show you the path, then some one initiates you according to the rituals and that is Diksa guru. Now you are a Matriculated student. Then there is more Siksa (advice, but now it is how to travel the path). If you engage in whatever practical devotional service that you know you should do, then all the knowledge about how to progress will be revealed.

Lastly,Gurudev, spiritual path has been 'a road not taken' among my near and dear ones. So I sometimes feel a little bit uneasy and oddly different following an unconventional path although I completely trust the whole process. Please shed some light on how to develop nishtha with respect to the said concern.

HpS - Look at the example of Arjuna, Prahlada, Vibhisana, they all had to adjust their association, reject family members, accept others, to progress in spiritual life. It is not new. It is the common confrontation!

Thank you, Gurudev.Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.AGTSP

Your insignificant servant

Nilanda Ningthoujam from Manipur

HpS - Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Chandra, Ki Jai. Please write again after you have some time to apply these discussions. Respectst to all in Manipura.

Hare Krishna Maharaj pamho agtsp.

yes Sr I am that same Jorge who spent 5 months at the manor doing the Bhakti sastri studies.

I am in Barcelona right now, things are ugly Here; but I am okay chanting the holy name.

more than 20 days locked.

I am connecting with my dear friends from Oslo Norway we Chant japa on Skype.

hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare

hare Rama hare Rama Rama Rama hare hare

I don’t really have to much to say just staying home trying to remember the lord.

thank you so much Maharaj

Hare Krishna

HpS - AgtSP! Paoho. So sorry little slow to answer. You must be a very experienced devotee after so many years associating with Srila Prabhupada. It seems like we look at different schools and consider different careers.

Law, Medicine, Engineering... This university, that university; price, location, faculty, cost. Then we even ask the professor if we can sit in on his class for free and he says sure.

Then.... We decide... O. K. I will matriculate in this university, in this career. That is Diksa. I pay my fees and get my "C"s and at the end of 4-yours they promise that I will a professional Engineer.

Hare Krishna querido Maharaja. PAMHR. TLGASP.

Disculpe la confusión. Mi nombre es Diego. Vivo en Canarias. Nos conocimos la semana del 15 al 21 de septiembre 2019 en Madrid porque viajé expresamente para conocerlo. Estuvimos juntos en Nueva Vrajamandala. Yo le pregunté sobre Paramadvaiti y Vrinda porque llevaba 13 años sirviéndole. Antes de servir a Paramadvaiti yo le conocí, hace 14 años, en Brihuega también. Y en aquel momento ya me robó el corazón. Por eso desde la primera carta le he pedido que me de refugio a Sus pies de loto, en ISKCON, tal y como Srila Prabhupada nos enseña.

Fuimos a la conferencia en la Universidad Complutense el 20 de septiembre. Pero yo no fui con usted a visitar al director. Imagino que eso fue con Marcos.

Aunque siempre muy agradecido poder servirle en algo.

Tengo 35 años, soy fisioterapeuta y osteópata, y estoy casado con una madre que también sirvió a Paramadvaiti durante 9 años, se llama Paula. Vivimos en La Gomera, Canarias.

Adjunto fotos.

A Su servicio,

Diego.

HpS - Hare Krsna. Muchas gracias su car ta ta!! Desculpa demura! Somos estupidos y tratamos balancear nuestras tareas!!!! Espero su conneccion con Krsna por tan mucho via-medias transparentes (y semi-transparentes) son bueno! Wake-up. That is our focus. We have so much service to do for Krsna!!!!!

We give class for Chile tonight. We hope to be of some use to you in your service.

Hare Krsna Dear Maharaj,

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!

Please Accept My Humble Obeisances!

Thank you so much for your everlasting wisdom and knowledge. I am very grateful. I always love your responses. You just know what to say.

HpS - AGTSP!!!! 🙄

Family is good!! Everyone is enjoying quarantine life. Devaki and I have been jamming guitar a lot lately. I think I am improving slowly. I can play many songs now, not perfectly, but you can understand. I just figured out how to play Jaya Jagannath today. It's so fun.

HpS - 21st Century Bhajan Band!

I am trying to improve my chanting. I did a nice Japa walk today. I think this is the best way. To productively do something while chanting. Is it okay to chant while driving?

ASA - Awk! Chant always, but the 16-rounds with the primary focus. If you chant on beads while driving, DON'T have them in your bead bag.

Directly know two devotees in accidents because of that. Hang them around your neck and then you can drop them quickly if you have to use your right hand quickly to negotiate your vehicle through a pack of wild Australian rhinocerous.

I drop my sister off to work and I chant while driving :0 I hope this is not bad. I know many devotees who do. Perhaps it is not the most focused method...

HpS - Chant, praying for ability to chant better!

I don't have a burning desire to become rich hahah. Although it'd be nice to have money to buy what I need. Although usually what I need, Krsna always provides. If I had so much money I think I could open a restaurant. Or even a temple. And perhaps I design it.. hahah. Who knows?? Or perhaps it's best I don't come in contact with too much good so that I don't lose faith or become greedy or corrupt. Although I don't think I will. But we never know...

ASA - "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely, and all great men have almost always been bad men", Lord Acton. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton)

Only Krsna knows. Hopefully he will guide me to my path very soon.

HpS - We hope so. You are too good of a person to waste in less important stuff.

Enrollments are open uni and I will need to apply soon before they close for the next semester. Otherwise, to be honest, I think I can figure out a lifestyle without completing a degree. I mean I have a diploma in business already and I have enough common sense for things. But to satisfy my mother and I guess the norms of society I should study something.

HpS - Try some theater classes. Psychology 1A B, Psychology third year - Perception. Look for good teachers and take whatever classes they are offering, not important the subject.

Although, everyone tells me we need to be properly educated, with a degree. That's okay. I'll figure things out. Sorry for always whinging. Please forgive me. I am just thinking out loud.

Thank you again for always guiding me. I'm sorry for always bothering you.

Hare Krsna.

Your servant,

Lakshmi

HpS - Et al! Thank you! Our respects to:

Your Papa,

Mama,

The Bhima, The Little Sister

Uncle, Aunt... The Dhruva/Dhanevari!!

hare krsna gurudev por favor acepte mis reverencias . continuamos en asuncion-Paraguay . nuestro programa de distribucion de prasadam esta mejorando . vamos al templo los fines de seman y fe lunes a sabado hacemos mangalartik en casa , lectura de SB. Canto 1 , cap. 8 la muerte de Bishmadeva. Cantando las rondad a cada día un poco de harinam y libros por las calles en diciembre . aca celebramos su Vyasapuja junto con nilacala candra y vijay govinda . muchad gracias por mantenerme inspirado y ocupado en servicio. Tenemos planes para predicar mas este año . nos gustaria invitarlo este año por favor Gurudev . hay 2 ciudades y en cada una de ellas hay opcion para conferencias en universidades . en television tambien . estaremos felices de organizarle y recibirlo. Perdone mis ofensas Gurudev . su eterno sirviente Rohini Kumar Das .

HpS - Thank you!!! Of course, this is delayed in answer for our travels. Look for more current news from you. Your association is so nice! All your Sankirtan is so nice. We focus on Argentina 1-15 May. Maybe we can integrate work in Uruguay at that time!!!

Dear Guru Maharaja:

All glories to Sri Sri Radha Krsna

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you

Please accept my humble obeisances

Immeasurable, is the word I choose to describe my gratitude to you, to your instructions, to your service. Undoubtedly, the debt to the spiritual master is priceless, but I plan to dedicate my life to trying to settle it. No one ever gave me what you have given me, such a high purpose to live for, the determination to want to serve Srila Prabhupada under any circumstances, in addition to such a loving and patient guide in my spiritual life that makes me feel that I am blooming. Day after day you encourage me to serve the mission of Lord Caitanya, and instill in me a deep desire to want to improve my service.

When I see him singing the holy names, dancing in ecstasy, singing and playing musical instruments I feel very happy, happy that you are my spiritual master, of being able to serve you and of being part of this sankirtan movement.

Thanks to you, I remember every day the ultimate goal of life, Krsna prema. I have no doubt that under your guidance I will achieve that goal.

I celebrate the glorious day of its appearance with great enthusiasm, the joy that its existence causes me has no comparison.

Your servant

Kirtida Devi Dasi

HpS - Thank you!!! AgtSP!!!!!!! paoho. Send some current news to the Blog using the KDPC listed in the current Kapi Dhvaja (Letters to the Editor). Thank you. We cannot be in Chile physically, but now we are focusing on it electronically!!!!!