Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaj, 

Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your divine lotus feet, here and in Goloka!

HpS - We only have lettuce feet. Trying to improve. You are probably more advanced devotee than we are. We are just trying to do a job for Srila Prabhupada, mostly inspired by him rather than our own sincerity!!

I know I just posted my offering to you in the spirit of your auspicious appearance day, and I do not wish to flood your blog! However, I was hoping to ask you for some advice regarding a potential preaching endeavor coming up soon here in Boise, ID… 

You may remember a couple American yogis here in Boise who own their own yoga studio, Satyavani Gayatri and Michael Bittner?

HpS - Yes, we have some recollection of them.

Satyavani used to come at least every week if not multiple times a week in the morning for Srimad Bhagavatam class with Ananta Rupa Prabhu, myself and/or others. She is getting pretty busy with her yoga studio entitled ZenSpot Institute: Vedic & Taoist Studies and hasn’t had time lately for Bhagavatam in the morning. But her business is expanding and she has asked me to teach a “Nectar of Instructions” course at her institute this April of 2020. Because last winter, by Ananta Rupa Prabhu’s request, I had led a NOI class at the temple and some of Satyavani’s students attended them regularly, I felt confident and told her that I was interested, so we planned the dates. She shared with me how she would charge students $299 for a 6-week course. She needs me to create a personal profile so people know who I am and also I will be given 40% of the proceeds from the students.

Maharaj, I feel torn a bit for two reasons. Firstly, I don’t feel completely qualified to create a profile and teach professionally. Secondly, I would be getting paid for teaching Krishna Consciousness.

The first issue: Materially speaking my qualifications are skim. I only have an Associates Degree of General Science from BSU and I am just a housewife working for the Hare Krishna Temple. I have only finished two of the four Bhakti Sastri books (of which 1 of them is the Nectar of Instructions). I haven’t taken a teacher’s training qualifying me to teach the course, "professionally/institutionally". What impressive profile do I have? Am I really qualified?

HpS - Just explain what you have said and then include your daily austerities and for how long you have been doing them and the formal degrees you have taken in ISKCON, what they mean.

The second issue: Maharaj, the proposal is that out of the $300 per student, 60% would go to ZenSpot Institute, and 40% would be given to me. Now if there were even just 5 attendees that is $1,200 of which $600 would go to me, and $900 to ZenSpot. My question is, as an initiated devotee housewife, how should I handle the $600 given to me? Should I give 50%, $300, to the Temple, like Rupa Goswami has recommended?

I feel like giving 50% would be the correct thing to do. And at the same time, I may be in an interesting position because most of the money my husband, Nitisara das, and I make goes towards paying bills, keeping a roof under [over?] our heads, and buying bhoga we offer to Krsna. We buy a lot of bhoga to make nice offerings for Krsna. When Rupa Goswami says 50%, does that mean 50% of gross or, of net profit, after one has paid the bills?

HpS - Here is a citation from NOI!  https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/4/#bb5913. Here Srila Prabhupada seems to equate "income" with "accumulated earnings". what you keep after operating expenses.

I am teaching Krishna Consciousness, so shouldn’t this be a free service? But what about book distributors who make a living off distributing books? What is your opinion and instructions about such a life?

HpS - As we understand, Srila Prabhupada said that devotees in the Temple who get Prasada, roof, dhotis, etc, but are Ghrasthas can keep 15% of their collection to pay for their Ashrama expenses. So it is okay, service.

A yogini making a life teaching yoga/bhakti sastri material?

Thank you for your precious time, Maharaj. Any feedback to steer the boat will be of use.

Your aspiring servant, 

Anadi Radha dasi.

HpS - $300 for 6-weeks. How many hours/week? $180 for six weeks. Maybe talk with Ananta rupa Das. If there are more students they maybe your fees could be less, because the basic costs could be divided between students. Maybe suggest that the Center charge for its costs, then you ask for donations to cover your basic costs and time and whatever else they students want to give to use for your preaching programs, like the Bhakti Yoga Center etc/

The Boeing 777 has two engines.

Each one produces about 130,000 pounds of thrust.

We got a seat on one (the 777, not one of the engines). It was about to take off. Chocks-off, Push-back, Rotate.

Guess it rotated at about 140 mph.

Then Bertram Russell, the Duck, who was sitting on my right, asked the Baboon on his right if he minded if he smoked. The Baboon said, "Yes", it disturbed him greatly. He could not breath properly!

Bertram said that he also did not smoke, that it was the same with his breathing, but he wanted to know if the Baboon was a clean fellow.

"Oh", said the Boon, "Good question. Glad you asked".

They then began to take off their shoes and sit up in Ardha-cakra-asana and chant.

Hare Krsna.

Hare Krsna. . . .

Hare Krsna.

Hare Krsna. . . Hare Rama.... Hare Rama.... and the plane went faster and faster.

"Do you know where you are going", asked Duck?

"Well, of course," said Boon, "don't you"?

"No, not really", said Duck, "we are just following the Anjana Suta Academy instructions given in their Blog".

Oh, said, Boon. What do they say?

Boil some potatoes, add 1/3-cup of p-nut butter and three tablespoons of oats, and boil-it, -D.

Then - B?

Let it cool a little and offer it to Lord Nrsmhadeva, -D

Then - B

If He leaves any remnants, we honor them and get amazing, feathered, magnificent powers, to spread the Sankirtan movement of Srila Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Everyone will go to Krsna and be able to convince others to go there also, Goloka, His planet. For example, take for example, we live in a place called Moo Freeze Burro. We get up by 4AM and sit by the riverside and chant the sacred, 15th century, Bengali, Guru astakam and dance in ecstasy before our altar to God. - D

Isn't it cold -B?

No, it is inside a building, the river is an electronic river. Then we read the KRSNA book or other BBT books and then we go out and Krsna sends innocent people to hear the Gospel of Sri Caitanya! Hari Bolo!

Recently one lady came over from the Boy's and Girl's Club across the hollow and asked if we could come and talk about God to all the Staff and Kids. We said, "Yeah", and went back with her and told them that when God came to India about 5,000 years ago, He showed His very intimate abode, forest.

Yeah, He has shown His abode, like heaven, in the Koran or Bible where He is called Visnu, but there He has to be THE KING and everybody goes, "Uuuu! Aaaaa!" and bows to Him and can't understand that it is Love that attracts Him and not respect.

"What is love, " asked one of the Kids.

"Well, says I (Bertram Duck), you can experience it your self. I'll chant a Mantra, Hymn, that I got from my Bishop, Guru, you listen, and then you chant it, and I'll listen. That way we can share the picture.

"A mantra, a hymn, is like a picture made of sound, You just listen and then you can see God, Krsna's, own abode.

So, we chanted for about one hour and then somebody had a question, "What do the words mean"?

-D, "Hare" is "Oh, Hara". She is like Quan Yen, Mary. She is the merciful Mother who connects us to the Father, "Krsna", and "Rama" is the Logos, Teacher, Guru, who connects us to God.

-K, what is the difference, if they both connect you to God?

-D, one is like the Mother and the other is like the Brother. They both know the Father, but they are just different ways to love Him.

-K, Oh. Some of us go home now. Can we teach the Mantra to our family?

-D, Yes,

-K, Thank you. See you soon??

-D, Yes, yes, we are just in the trailer home across the dell.

-D, so that's how it happens. The Boy's and Girl's Club, the old shopping mall across the street.

Hmmm! Hrrrrrng! Clack...

They all chant'n Hare Krsna, and never look'n back.

============-=-==============-=-===========

Uncle Gismo - Imagine your neighborhood all becoming devotees. Don't think it won't happen! Don't think it won't happen!!!

Querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte mis reverencias!

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Madre Gopi Radha encontró en el cuarto de su casa la revista Sthapatyam, recordamos que la estuvimos llevando a los programas de predica. 

Se la debemos enviar o para quién es? 

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente

Asta Sakhi dd

HpS - ASA --- Hare Krsna!!! AGTSP. pfanrh. Desculpa la demurra respondiendo a cartas. Despues de volver a nuestra Campamiento Base estuvimos con energia super, super, bajo. Eso es normal. three-four months in viaje. Pero aparece que estamos recuperando y tenemos un ano mas de esta modo de Sankirtan.

Posible El Aristasena Das puede tomar carga de la Stapatyam para la predica con las artistas y universidades. No para distrubuir, pero para mostrar el tipo de trabajo que hacemos NIOS.

Ya programa en casa de Nitai gaura sundara Das. Esperamos mas energia y mas Sankirtan pronto. Gracias!!! Super exito en todos su programas de Sankirtan!!!!!!!!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!! All glories to Guru Maharaj HH Hanumat Presaka Swami Maharaj!

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj!

Please accept our humble obeisances at Your sweet lotus feet.

HpS - Where did I put them!??? They must be in Goloka!

Happy Vyasa Puja dear Guru Maharaj,

HpS - Happy we hope for Vyasa!

We are sending some pics taken at the Sri Radha Damodara temple , Toubul on the 72nd vyasa puja of HH Hanumat Presaka Swami Maharaj. Please accept our humble offerings dear Guru maharaj. Sending you pics of the offerings...glorification by HG Radhacharan Prabhu, HG Banamali Prabhu and our godbrothers and godsisters.

Distributed NOI , Message of Bhagavad (in local language), Mahaprasadam ....nice kirtan by HG Gadadhar Prabhu.

Your servant always,

Sarada Gaurangi DD

HpS - We lookat pictures!!! Very nice!! Many nice cakes!! We pass them on to Krsna!!!! Krsna-kakes! Krsna and His friends run in the forest!! Then they are so hungry!!!!!

Chant Hare Krsna under the authority of Srila Prabhupada!



Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva AGTSP PAMHO

Yesterday we went to Chosica to celebrate your Sri Vyasa Puja.

My personal experience: I was in charge of the Raja Bhoga Artik. As soon as I entered to the altar Lord Caitanya dropped one Champa that He was carrying. I really loved that moment. Yasoda dd helped me.

HpS - Yulisa, Yahaira, .. ? Who is the third??

There were 130 preparations. All the guests went back home really happy. Even Ulysses and my cats got a portion Maha prasadam 😃🐵

All were very committed to the service. Neverheless we have to improve a lot. I guess that we need a kind of board who take charge of the things between the Godbrothers. On the other hand I have the feeling that there are lots of jealousy and machismo ha ha ha.

HpS - Those with the Greatest Machismo are the easiest to control, no?

I got a new Japa bag in order to inspire me to chant jajjajajajajaj. I need to have something fancy in order to get inspiration. As you always say Everybody is different.

HpS - ASA -- But Monkey and Piggy have decided that you-all are VERY DIFFERENT. Always keep looking for special jewelry for Radha rani!! Distribute the remnants as Prasadam.

Please bless us with your association

See U soon

Trying to be your disciple

Chandramukhi dd

HpS - Hare Krsna. 2.42PM. We are sooooo tired!!! Why is that??? TB: Because you have been traveling like a young man for three months, idiot. Relax. Recharge your "cell phone" one more time then get a new one!!!!! https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/6/27/

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP PAMHO

I saw the celebration of your Sri Vyasa Puja it was great I wish I were there.

HpS - It was great and I was glad to be there and I also wish I wasn't there. We are not substitutes for Srila Prabhupada but we are also not unrelated to him. We do represent him! We should push, push, push our representative ability!!!!!!

Gurudeva on Christmas I received terrible news My University is going to be closed.

HpS - That is great!!!! Now we can just sit down and chant Hare Krsna and live on whatever little Prasadam Srila Prabhupada sends us. He took Tamal krsna Goswami to another body, because he needed him!

The SUNEDU, that is an University audit body, determined that my University, Alas Peruanas, must closed. They have standards that we do not passed. Anyway I was been working there since 2003. I feel devastated. More than 60 000 students need to go to other University.

UAP had a very bad administration, there were a lot of corruption involved. I am looking for a job. Or maybe start my own business. This year I lost many important things for me. I do not what my father do in this situation.

I do not know what Krsna's plan is.

HpS - Get up early and listen to everyone sing about how great He is!!! Have you faced the fact that you will die, with no strength or resources. It will happen. So let us accept it, then see what association Krsna sends us.

I have always wanted to move to Nova Gokula and live there. That place attracts me more than India.

I really miss the feeling of relief and joyful that I had when I traveled with you

Well it is all that I have to inform you.

See U at FMP

I have insomnia

Trying to be your disciple

Chandramukhi dd

HpS - Lord Caitanya had insomnia! He would grind His face against the wall and chant Hare Krsna! This is a movie. It is not real life. You cannot starve to death in a movie. Hare Krsna!!!! Let us see what amazing things will happen next!!