Letters to the editor

Querido Gurumaharaja:

Por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias! 

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada! 

Muchas veces escribo cartas para Usted pero al final decido no enviarlas y las guardo. 

Hace 24 años aproximadamente le escribí una carta que aun recuerdo muy bien, decía: 

Querido Gurumaharaja 

Por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias! 

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada! 

Sigo haciendo servicio en el restaurante Govinda de Miraflores pero por los horarios del servicio, a pesar que vivo en el templo no puedo escuchar las clases de Srimad Bhagavatam y Bhagavad Gita , pero el día de mi cumpleaños la administradora del restaurante me regaló una grabadora, así que tengo muchos cassette de clases de Ud y cada vez que puedo en el servicio escucho Sus clases con audífonos.  

Tengo la duda si es suficiente escuchar las clases en cassette para mi conocimiento de la filosofía. 

Terminé la carta pero estuve pensando ... quizás no es una pregunta importante e inteligente y no debo molestar a Gurumaharaja, así que doble la carta y la puse entre las páginas de un libro ( unos capítulos del primer canto del SB).

Pasaron algunas semanas y un día las autoridades del templo dijeron: llegaron cartas para las discípulas de SS. Hanumatpresaka Swami, había una carta para mi!!! escrita a puño y letra de Gurumaharaja pues en ese entonces no usábamos el internet.  

Al leer la carta además de otras misericordiosas instrucciones Gurumaharaja decía: "no es suficiente escuchar clases en cassette tienes que tratar de escuchar cada día en las clases y también debes leer los libros"

... yo no envíe mi carta pero me llegó la respuesta :)

Bendigame por favor para observar fielmente esa instrucción lo mejor que pueda. 

Todas las glorias a Gurumaharaja!! 

SS. Hanumatpresaka Swami!!! 

 Nuestro refugio eterno. 

Su eterna aspirante a sirviente 

Asta Sakhi dd. 

HpS - ASA --- Somos tontos! Esperamos Krsna es adjustando todos los errores realiza nosotros en papel de guru, sannyasis, ser humano!!!! nos vemos pronto.

ASA - Sigue una carta del gran viajera Yugala Kishora dasi!!! No tiempo ya leer pero pasando. Que pasa Yugala???

Peregrinaje por Vrndavan y sus peligros

Todos los deseos se hacen realidad en Vrndavana. Por arreglos de la divina providencia encontré a latinas viviendo en Vrndavana, escuche decir que Vrndavana es para devotos puros, seguramente estas personas que son tan bondadosas llegarán a serlo. Estas dos amigas en especial, son mis protectoras y acompañantes, Krsna las puso en mi camino. Con ellas realizamos la mayoría de parikram a templos principales. Después de casi dos meses en el dham, empiezo hacer caminatas en solitario, y recuerdo que utilizar el cuerpo en ir a lugares sagrados es también un servicio para Krsna. Después de ir acompañada a Vrndavana Parikram, decidí ir sola a los templo, por ese recorrido. Un día decidimos ir al templo de Radha Raman, pasamos el Yamuna, pero el templo cierra por intervalos cortos, entonces por evitar a monos y posible lluvia pensamos ir antes a templo Radha Gokulananda, en el camino preguntamos y un Vrajavasi muy amable nos llevó, pero también estaba cerrado. Vrajavasi nos quiso mostrar otro templo, a pesar de todas las advertencias de no hablar en la calle con vrajavasis, lo seguimos con un ojo muy alerta, algo me decía que debía irme, muy cerca había un templo lindo con una vista increíble del Yamuna y templos cercanos. A veces se utiliza el título de vrajavasi para tener libertad de actuar, así que en más de una ocasión esta persona me quiso dar la mano, le dije que la etiqueta en ISKCON era diferente, no contacto, en un momento su actitud de que “vrajavasi no hay problema” que decidí irme, manifestando mi incomodidad porque me empezó a tomar foto e intento tocarme la cabeza, me retiré aludiendo que era una mujer casada. Lo cual no es del todo falso, las madres solteras vemos a Krsna como nuestro todo, nuestro esposo y Él me estaba protegiendo, sin ser grosera me retiré en paz y rápido. Cuando le conté a mi amiga, me advirtió los peligros de hablar con vrajavasis varones, respetarlos pero desde la distancia, que las extranjeras somos el blanco de ellos, que en los parikram los líderes siempre advierten, que cosas terribles a veces ocurre a matajis por no ser estrictas en esta instrucción de no hablar con desconocidos. Mi integridad estuvo en peligro por un instante, por no seguir esa instrucción. Al final llegué al templo y pude ver a Radha Raman, mi protector, olvide rápidamente el impase, más no por ello, la lección enseñada.

Gurudeva me encanta Vrndavan, ya vienen los parikran de kartika y más devotas amigas, estoy muy agradecida, hasta estoy empezando un estudio gratiuto del Caitanya C. con P. Mukunda, el líder del pujari, un devoto ejemplar. Krsna hace realidad todos mis sueños hasta traductora tengo, estoy muy feliz, me encanta el templo Krsna Balarama es muy inspirador, quiero llorar de la emoción, cada día cada hora es simplemente maravilloso en Vrndavan. 

Por favor deme sus bendiciones para que se me revele el santo dham y para siempre estar protegida de cualquier mal.

Su hija que lo adora:

Yugala Kishora Dasi

(El león solitario)

URGENT: Re-Scheduling Visit to the Chile on-fire – Nov-Dic 2019

Dear gurudev,

We had an urgent god brother meeting this Saturday, everyone of them in the pictured uploaded here in this blog post. The conclusion is that the social movement, and its violence and other bad things connected with, is arriving to the end at least the most violent part.

The president of this country, Sebastia Piñera, had decided to fire out all the ministers, and today Sunday finished the curfew in the nights as well. So it seem the thing are becomen better, stable.

Of course, the understandable social protests will continue but the trend now is the massively instead the violence. Actually, 1,3 million people marched on the last Friday 25^th, “la más grande de Chile” in the last 32 years. I was there and was amazing to see too much people in this pacific way. There are a lot information about a farce from the government to give the impression that everything is out of control, and the should suppress strongly and as fast as possible.

Anyway, your disciples Lalita Madhava and Manjulali opened the restaurant every day in the temple the whole last week, for instance.

Now, considering that you already change the tickets, our new proposal of your travel to Chile considering:

-         Your security

-         To still avoid the worst days of protest.

-         Ensure your participation in the 15^th November confirmed colloquium where you are already considered in the program (you can check the program here: http://bit.ly/prcoloquiouc191115 ).

-         Considering the tickets already purchased it, mainly the travel to Lima to México at December 10^th.

-         The available tickets in Latam Airlines (we could buy the tickets immediately after your confirmation).

-         The programs already organized here.

Are the following

Proposal 1:

To avoid Cordoba, and just to get a ticket

BSAS > SANTIAGO - November 14^th.

SANTIAGO > BSAS > December 6^th

BSAS > LIMA. December 8th.

$205 USD

Proposal 2:

Include Cordoba, and in this case, would be

CÓRDOBA > SANTIAGO - November 14^th.

SANTIAGO > LIMA – December 8^th.

$520 USD

First of all, the primary reason because we are requesting to come to Chile is the main role that you have already in the “COLOQUIO Filosofía y Religión - Lo Ecológico y lo Sagrado” organized by the Aesthetic Institute, Claudia Lira and her colleague, María Elvira Ríos for the friday 15th, about we talked already here in the blog.

Definitelly, the will do it.

Your presence will be strategic because, beside the event itself, they want to introduce us the heads of the “Centro de Estudios Religiosos” to talk about organize together with NIOS the larger event of 2020. I think that We could talk even about money with them, then.

The plan idea is to have a meeting with the “Universidad Metropolitana de la Ciencia de la Educación”, where we suppose we would organize the Education and the Sacred this year. Now, would be just one day due the movement here.

Of course, you have a powerful impact in this community of devotees also, and this is the vital thing that everyone is asking for.

I’m attaching like photo the schedule proposed more visually,

Hare Krishna gurudev, Thank you for your effort and interest to come

Jagad Guru Das

HpS - ASA - AGTSP. So, we read this immediately and then we have been in correspondence with Rati, Parasurama, Ambo, Arjuna, ART et al and now we have the ticket from Cordoba to Santiago on the 13tth and we are thinking best to get a ticket from Santiago to Lima on the 3rd December.

Is O.K.? Our respects to Amara, Dhatri et al.

todas las glorias a Goura Nitay

todas las gloriasa Srila Prabhupadas

Hare krishna Guru .M comienzo mi reporte explicando que a pesar de las dificultades que están pasando en el país sigo firme en mi servicio, canto mis rondas a las 3 20 de la mañana aunque a veces por cansancio me despierto a las 4 trato que no se repita muy seguido hago la técnica del vaso de agua y el reloj lejos de mi para poder levantarme de inmediato , ademas de dormir temprano . Hace tiempo me di cuenta que siempre estoy pensando en muchas cosas a la vez siento que es bueno en algunas cosas por ej, para crear e mis cuentos ,collage, decorar etc .. donde mi imaginación sirve y dejo que la creatividad se manifieste pero en otras ocasiones me perjudica porque me distraigo y pierdo tiempo ,entonces tome la determinación de cambiar este habito . lo que estoy haciendo es hacer una cosa a la vez concentrada y ha resultado . soy feliz por esto .sigo leyendo , estudiando bhakti sastri además tomare el curso de discípulos con p Laksmana ya que solo he hecho el curso de bhakta . con estas dificultades en el país estoy trabajando no muy seguido pero me ha servido para estar en casa junto a mi familia . y por ultimo guru .m sigo los domingos con mi servicio en el templo además de una donación mensual .

se despide su humilde sirvienta Raman reti devi dasi

-=-=-

All glories to Goura Nitay

All glories Srila Prabhupadas

Hare Krishna Guru M; I begin my report explaining that despite the difficulties that are happening in the country I remain firm in my service,

HpS - Jaya. That will spread out like a light and make the actions in the country productive.

I sing my rounds at 3 20 in the morning although sometimes due to fatigue I wake up at 4 treatment that I do not Repeat very often I do the technique of the glass of water and the clock away from me to get up immediately, besides sleeping early.

Some time ago I realized that I am always thinking about many things at the same time I feel that it is good in some things for example, to create my stories, collage, decorate etc ... where my imagination serves and I let creativity manifest itself but in Other times it hurts me because I get distracted and waste time, so I decided to change this habit.

What I am doing is doing one thing at a time and concentrated.

I am happy for this.

I continue reading, studying bhakti sastri and I will also take the course of disciples with p Laksmana since I have only done the bhakta course. With these difficulties in the country I am working not very often but it has helped me to be at home with my family. and finally guru .m I continue on Sundays with my temple service in addition to a monthly donation.

his humble servant says goodbye Raman ret devi dasi

HpS ASA -- Is good, but we want more! Do what you are doing but give it more depth. You have to start accepting disciples, personal students, with the help, approval of your family, Yatra, everyone.

See you in three weeks!

Hare Krishna Gurudev,

Please accept My humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

I'm sorry for the situation in Chile. I hope devotees are doing fine and that they are able to cope with the situation using SP teachings.

HpS - Hare Krsna. AgtSP. Paoho. So nice to hear from you! Maharaja Pariksit took the pending bite from the Snake Bird as a benediction. https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/19/4/. Of course we see the immediate problems and are not callous to them, but we see the broad spiritual perspective as the most prominent!

Such a good fortune that you return to Argentina so soon.

Shonu + Bernardo, guau!!

I hope we can speak in person!! I want to ask you an advice about what I'm feeling. Being so much involved in administration turns me very mental and is affecting my Japa. Sometimes is very difficult to focus in Hare Krishna maha mantra. Also teaching at university increases this situation. I'm thinking whether is worthy being in such an environment. I hope I could speak with Radhika Raman Prabhu about this situation.

HpS - Yes, he has given good presentations on this for our Ministry of Education Symposia.

How to get taste and focus in Holy Name? Sometimes although I attend Mangala Aratik I can not chant my rounds properly.

Thank you Gurudev,

At your service,

Nikunja Bihari das.

HpS - I think it is something very specific. I would suggest that if we don't attend Mangala arati then our attencion would be even worse. I chant mechanical rounds sometimes but I see that even on a physical level it purifies and empowers my body to act well during the day. Also it is good exercise for the mind. Discuss this Chapter with devotees, make a report here for benefit of all of us: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/28/

Yes, so, nice to see everyone so soon!!!!

Suggestions for the Ministry of Education, Board of Examiners.

AgtSP  Paoho. After the Noida meetings we were intransit in Spain with very strong program at the university of Madrid's "Center for the Science of Religion" with Yadu Maharaja, then 12-hours in the airplane from Madrid to Lima. Here has been this symposium on "Education and the Sacred". Radhika-ramana Das came and brought his whole family, President of the oldest university in the Western hemisphere, San Marcos, United Nations Committee members etc.

Very good opportunity and great necessity for showing our educational heritage and actual application.

In the middle of all this chaos we have been constantly chewing the basic strategy for the BOEX that we were getting while in NOIDA etc.  Of course we have been discussing it again and again with Prof. Radhika, Montessori, Waldorf, Jesuit.

From this perspective it seems that a good way to go ahead with the Bh Vai etc would be to develop an automated, online, multiple choice, evaluation system for each Canto. Of course the computer can adjust the test interms of the applicants answers and language, nation etc. With good multiple choice questions we could really get some good evaluation of the applicants.

Then, for each Canto there we could offer a series of essay questions with details of what the answers should include and of course readers could be collecting their notes as they go.

These then would be examined by qualified Examiners. A basic standard could be that the applicants come to a center such as Houston once a year etc. and then they are given like 3 out of the 15 essay questions to present orally during one hour before the Examiner(s) and hopefully a broader audience. The Examiners can ask relevant questions, all videotaped and the evaluation done.

So, what we are proposing as an immediate goal is an automated online evaluation system along with essays and notes that the student would present orally with questions from qualified Examiners.

= = = = = = = 

The Boex would need to qualify the Examiners. Of course, a lot of the Teacher Qualifications would apply. Might even make it a requirement that Bh. Vedanta students have to examine and evaluate a certain number of Bh. Vai candidates as a requirement for their Bh. Ved. diploma.

= = = = = =

Simple qualifications for taking the examination, again like th California Bar examination. As we discussed maybe three letters of recommendation from ISKCON authorities et al. Of course, developing a good questionaire for the Recomenders to answer. A good relationship with them. Candidate not sanctioned by the Office of Child Protection. Notification by the BOEX of all those who are applying to take the Examination a few months before the exam with special letter to the Temples, Yatra, wherein they are claiming to be associated.

= = = = = =

Of course, this would just be something that we could roll out within a practical time frame and it would be know that we want help to develop a broader system.

= = = == =

We feel that developing teachers and teaching centers should be seen as a related job. Not exactly under the authority of the BOEX. Of course, many BOEX members could, would be involved in this institution also. What we would suggest is that the evaluation system be always available to the teachers, schools, and be fluid relation with them. Many teachers might naturally be evaluators. This seems to fall in line a lot with what we were discussing in NOIDA that many people may be able to teach the Bhagavata, so encourage that, and facing a practical system of evaluation would give them sufficient institutional requirements to standardize their work.

What the BOEX could implement immediately would be that in the online evaluation there could be a question did you study, graduate from one of the following Sastric Studies institutes and they could select one from the list of the ones registered from us and then we could publish the success rate in passing the exam of the different institutes.

Eg. Vihe 85% success passing first time, MI 87%, Vidyapitha, 91%, ISKCON Timbuktoo 61%.

Did you pass the California Bar Examination?

Yes first time.

Did you study with an institution?

Yes.

Was it a university, did you get a Doctor of Jurisprudence Diploma?

No, it was more specialized with focus on the diploma.

Oh (Pooh! Pooh!).

I graduated with Doctor of Juris. from Stanford, Bolt Hall at U. C. Berkeley! (Puff! Puff!)

Oh, you must have got a lot good professional contacts!

Yes.

O.K. These are our thoughts now.

We could go through the Cantos pretty well and get good esay questions and multiple choice questions. One essay might be, "Give us 25-new questions".