Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I disappeared for a while and I did not write you since February when I was traveling. I remember I said that my next letter would be reflections about my trip. However, these reflections took longer. Some plans I had were turned upside down due to the pandemic situation and I naturally fell into frustration. So I had to work internally before writing you.

HpS - O.K. but this is also a hospital, not just a theater!! 🙂 !

In these last months, my focus was introspection. Why do I act like this? Why do I feel this emotion? For example, in the past I used to be very shy. Why? Am I really shy? Now, I realized that's not a real characteristic of me. And many other questions. At university, I took an anthropology course and the part of existentialism really caught my attention. I consider that, before delving into a spiritual and more transcendental knowledge, one must work with the gross and psychic aspects. If you don't know you, how is your nature, why do you have those thoughts or feelings... so, you won't be able to know Krishna or perform spiritual practices with true significance.

HpS - This process is sublime also! https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sublime

That means that Lord Chaitanya tastes hogs, dogs, camels and asses and to see the Rasa-lila!!!! Wow! From the most gross to the most subtle. Beyond the purified mind of a Buddha even! Of course, with that light house in mind, like a free vacation for one week in Hawaii, then we have to go back and work on the gross level, psychological level, EXACTLY as you are desciribing, but remembering the high goal we are seeking, and if we can engage in devotional service, eg. chanting our rounds without introspection, that is better than not chanting and trying to develop introspection (Yoga), but chanting DEVELOPING an introspective mood is the best.

Is this correct? Let us see what The Peruvian Teacher says ....

Recently, I'm a little apart from Krishna consciousness because I observed situations that I didn't like or dissapointed me. However, I don't feel bad, because I know I'm in my process. I have a lot of working on myself... and it may take me lives working on it. But the best thing is that I've recognized and started it.

My last reflection is that I believe and I really feel with all my being that everybody has a dharma or a purpose in his/her life. I am happy to realize this and that my realization is not because of fanaticism or simply because "it should be like this". I experienced on myself that Krishna or God or the Universe really gives you clues on what you should do to follow your way in order to achieve the purpose of your life. If you understand this, you won't feel anxiety neither frustration.

That's all for now! I will continue with my process of introspection in the next months.

Happy Janmastami!

Rukmini dd

HpS - We hope you can chant 16 nice introspective rounds and follow the four principles to give clarity for the introspection. You only take birth in Peru if you were intested in introspection (and potatos) in previous life.

You think you weren't a Monk in you last life???

Hare Krishna Maharaja

Please accept my sincere obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

It gladdens me to greet you. I write in response to your instruction to my letter on marriage. I deeply appreciate your comments.

You tell me that taking initiation before marriage is better, I understand.

I tell you, a year ago I wanted to ask my authority in Chile (Prabhu Amara) for recommendations to ask for formal shelter and it was denied to me for the following reasons:

1- I did not fulfill ekadasi on two occasions.

2- I had a discussion with a devotee of the board of directors because I defended a pigeon that was being mistreated and he felt offended (that situation was settled on good terms).

3- The board of directors advised me to maintain more communication with you before taking shelter.

At that time I had been living as Brahmacarini in the temple of Santiago for four months and seriously participating in ISKCON for 3 years. Also, I’ve been following your preaching for two years now. You inspire me to have a desire to advance steadily by taking seriously my devotional vows and shelter in Srila Prabhupada.

Currently I have improved my sadhana and live outside the temple, I study Bhakti Sastri and seriously adhere to all the regulative principles.

I am clear that I must have a high standard to aspire to be your servant, these years I have made an effort to achieve that, that is why I did not communicate with you before, since I failed a lot in chanting my rounds. However, that has improved, every day I feel more inspiration thanks to the fact that I am doing mangala arati with you (more often).

I work and have many occupations during the day, but I try to keep moving forward and chant good rounds.

I ask you, how can I hope to take formal shelter from you? It would be a great blessing for me.

I appreciate and await your comments.

Your would-be servant

Petti Michelena (Stefani Salazar Michelena)

HpS - Have you read - "http://www.jayarama.us/kd/guru-tattva.txt" Are you chanting 16-rounds/day, now??? If yes, for how long? So many details in this link. Wating for your timely response.

AGTSP!!!

People ask us how to send donations?

Well, if it is Prasadam, then mail it to HpSwami 2129 Stratford Rd,; Murfreesboro, TN 37129; USA. Also can send checks to NIOS there also.

If you want to send transfer to our account then we have find out from our NIOS Treasurer how he wants to handle it.

HK, PAMHO, AGTSP 

How are you Gurudeva? How is your health? Glad hear your voice every day on the calls. Kindly take care of your health Gurudeva.

HpS - ASA --- AgtSP! Paoho. "This body does not get diseases, this body is a disease", they say SP said. You, me, everyone, is suffering mental and physical distess at all time. If not then there would be not material happiness!!!

O.K. 😎

Best use of a bad bargain - The donkey, Brother Ass, is getting old. We are learning that he is a very efficient vehicle at this point, but very sensitive. We are learning and adjusting, consolidating and finishing our work. Not taking on any new projects.

Please write here to the Blog using the protocols mentioned n the KAPI DHVAJA. We have a lot to discuss!!! Thank you.

Hare Krishna,

Please accept my humble obeiscances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

On 23rd March, a public curfew was announced by Hon. Prime Minister of India, which was extended further as Lockdown and is still continuing today- on 16th May. Tomorrow, further notices are expected regarding it. Till now as many as 85,940 Corona cases have been registered officially while death toll stands at 2,752. No transportation is allowed with exception of some necessary items like – grocery, vegetables, milks etc. Almost all industries, commercial firms, trains, airplanes are closed. In order to facilitate the students and labours locked down in others state 15 special trains are running since 1st May. So, overall life is standstill for most of the people.

In temples, visitors are not allowed. However, devotees are utilizing this opportunity for outreach. Famous ex-Indian Cricket Team Captain Mr. Saurav Ganguly is supporting ISKCON Kolkata to feed 10,000 people prasadam every day.

Link- https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/coronavirus-covid19-relief-sourav-ganguly-iskcon-kolkata/article31257030.ece

Similarly, ISKCON Delhi has been supporting government by providing prasadam for lacks of people everyday. Delhi Chief Minister appreciated his work of ISKCON.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/divine-service/article31384031.ece

Devotees in general are utilizing this time for increasing their sadhana and also conducting online classes practically everyday and discussing Krishna-katha. Now, in this lockdown, no one is able to put excuses like- ‘I am busy’, and hence participation has increased. Also, regular devotees are becoming more fixed up in their individual sadhana, since there is no travelling. From devotees point of view, I feel this lockdown has helped many to become more serious in their individual sadhana. Also there are ample opportunity to undergo different e-cources being conducted by different temples and thus deepen their understanding of bhakti.

Devotees are taking this opportunity in positive spirit. Of course amongst most miserable are those who are addicted to intoxication and not getting anything in this tough situation. The crime has reduced to practically nil in India while ‘in-house’ quarrels are in rise than ever.

I have been in Haldia since last 2 months. It’s a small village near the oil-refinary factory of Haldia. These days have offered me wonderful opportunity to go deeper in my own sadhana. I am able to regularize my sadhana and increase it. Devotees here organized a yagya on Sri Nrisimha Chaturdashi for protection from Lord. It’s just unimaginable to be in such a situation. 

Your servant,

Purushottam Keshav Das

HpS - Jaya!!! Please send an update like this here!

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and your great service unto him.

Yes, Maharaj, I can continue as the corresponding secretary. Yes, I saw the webpage, and my information is given correctly there on the web page.

I apologize I could not communicate with you over the email and monkeywarrior blog, but I will again keep in communication with you over that blog. Life has changed so much after the COVID-19 epidemic. All the classes shifted to online. We thought that might reduce work load, but it actually increased it because now all submissions are emailed to us and we have to grade them all from home. Now, we can get no help from teaching assistants.

As you asked, what I teach, I am doing research and teaching artificial intelligence and machine learning because I am in computer science department. At one point, I am interested in showing to the world that all artificial intelligence programs and robots are actually just programs running and being executed, but they do not have a will power of their own. Thus they are not actually living. I know because this is what I do for a profession.

For now, I feel so overwhelmed with all the work and I hope and pray to again perform more service unto you Guru Maharaj and obtain your holy association once more in ISKCON Houston.

Your servant,

Aja Govinda das

HpS - AGTSP!!!!! As we said in the Yahoo letter, Krsna will never, never, never, punish us for putting our Japa first. If we die because we are chanting 16-good rounds, lose our job, then that is because Krsna wants it for us! He has better plan of us.

More and more tests, changes, will come in life. Every time put your 16/4 first and you will become more and more potent, alive, in every aspect, life after life!!

Take birth in Nabadvipa with Nimai!

Your help in NIOS is super essential.