Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaja!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Please, accept my respectful obeisances...

Today you gave this following instruction through FMP: "send to the blog the menu you cook today to offer to Krishna"

Well, I'm living right now in a place without kitchen, so I offered apple and avocato. I send you a picture of my makeshift altar.

Thank you very much, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I was reading here in the blog some letters between you and Rodrigo, very deep feeling I felt... Some times I miss him...

What about me? Only problems, with my origin family, with my spiritual family, with my job, with people around... especially I've got conflicts with me or myself... I'm so tired... but it is so wierd because I can feel the Krishna's presence. I don't know what to do... so I just trying to get shelter in the Maha Mantra.

Your aspiring servant,

Carlos Rold.

HpS - Thank you. Thank you for your constant association, intelligence. Avacado. Can use a rice cooker. They work anywhere. Avacado and rice for Krsna!!

I am in a tornado of stuff too. Srila Prabhupada was in the same tornado preaching in Bombay with no money before he came to USA, but each evening after his Sankirtan he would recollect his intelligence, bathe, cook for Krsna, Sing for Krsna, Dance for Krsna, and take Krsna's Prasad!! Happy life.

Hare Krishna! I send you some drawings :)

HpS - We look for them.

Hare Krishna dear Hanumat Presaka swami! Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you still remember me. I'm sorry, I haven't written to you in so many months. In these months many things have happened, I have lived many experiences and achievements. I am in a time of many changes (I am 20 years old) and the truth is that I am living it intensely. In my spiritual practice I have realized how much I am attached to the material world. But that's good because it will be easier to work on it. Some time ago I listened to one of you who talked about the importance of working the bases. The control of the senses. This is very difficult for me, in the upadesamprite it is written that Sri Caitanya said that prasadam must be simple and not too tasty. This seems very difficult to me in the circle of devotees because prasadam is always very tasty and in large quantities. (This is also dangerous because the control of the senses begins with the control of the tongue). From what I've been able to observe, you give a lot of importance to this point and put it into practice. Could you tell me your experience in this matter, please?

HpS - AGTSP. Paoho. We are not 100% successful. Cook for Krsna, for Srila Prabhupada, much as possible then it will be easier to control the sense.

Something positive is that I feel that I have improved in japa singing, doing so has helped me a lot to read books that explain the nature of Krishna. Bhagavat Sandarbha came to my hands and I read the language of transcendence (a kind of vocabulary of philosophical concepts), I want to start reading Tattva Sandarbha, although it is in English and it is very dense, I really like it because it is very solid. . I am also reading Sri Caintanya and Raganuga Bhakti from OBL Kapoor. Is incredible.

I have discovered a 6th-century Sufi lover named Rabi'a. Once he ran down the street with a bucket of water in one hand and a torch of fire in the other. They asked him: where are you going? She replied: I will put out the fire of hell and set fire to paradise. Therefore, people cannot worship God for fear of hell or for the desire to enjoy paradise. They will love it for themselves. Without any other cause.

Right now I am in Alicante, in Krishna Cusine. We are here Keshava Bharati, Mantri Rama, Caitanya Lila and Janardana with their children. We are thoroughly cleaning the restaurant.

In September I will return to Valencia, to the university. I had a nice summer, I went to the Bhakti surf that Jaramara and Marta prayed in Cantabria, then took care of the garden in Nueva Vrajamandala and now here in Krishna Cuisine.

*Initiation:

You came to Spain in September, when we met last year, you said you could give me initiation in 6 months. It has been more than 1 year.

It makes me very happy to have you as a spiritual master, you really are a very special soul. You have a way of being that inspires me to follow you and Srila Prabhupada. Therefore, that is good.

Clean the mirror of the heart to love Krishna. Starting with the control of the senses that occupy them in devotional service. Escuchar y cantar. Escuchar y cantar. Attachment for the taste of devotional service.

I guess I have to send you the letter of recommendation. I will.

Thank you very much for your service. It helps me a lot.

I attached photographs of these last months ...

At your service, Arina :)

HpS - ASA --- Thank you for the letter. We feel that we are associating with a very great person, like you were a very elevated Monja in your previous life. Initiation will be at NVM. It is late but it still might be possible. If not, then when we return from India, middle of October.

You have to have been chanting 16-nice rounds and following the four principles strictly and associating with ISKCON institution for six months, one year.

Jaya! More news larer.

Reciba Ud. Mis repetuosas revererencias mi querido Guru Maharsh aqui en Lima continuando con mi Servicio Devocional y con mucho imteres a la respuesta que le dara a mi siguiente pregunta: Estuve leyendo el Libro PRABHUPADA de Su S.S Satuasuarupa Harash en especial el ultimo Capitulo Titulado LA ULTIMA INSTRUCCION ahi se señala algunas instrucciones pra la administracion y pra la vida cuidado de devotos. Mi pregunta es de las instrucciones que Srila Prabhupada a dado ¿Cual es la mas relevante? ¿De todas las instrucciones dadas para la conduccion administrativa y espiritual de ISCKON cuales serian las que se pueden aplicar en el contexto actual? ¿Cual es la manera de corregir o mejorar la adminitracion? Suplico que sea extenso en su respuesta y tambien pido perdon por cualquier ofensa cometida con mi pregunta ante Ud y Sri Krishna y Radaharani. Dandavats. Su Sirviente eterno VISALA DAS.

ASA - Me gustaría ser extenso y tal vez tengamos más tiempo para responder más tarde, pero si ve nuestras publicaciones, puede ver que estamos trabajando muy duro. Aún así, creo que puedo dar algo de ayuda.

Cuando estaba en San Francisco, Berkeley, un periodista le preguntó a Srila Prabhupada: "¿Qué pasará con tu movimiento cuando mueras?" y con gran fuerza respondió Srila Prabhupada, escuchamos esto de sus labios: "Nunca moriré. Viviré para siempre en mis libros".

Así que hay la mayor cantidad de instrucciones de importación. Tener una relación viva con Srila Prabhupada en sus libros. Administración significa organizar cosas para ayudar a los devotos a hacer esto.

Mañana y tarde sentados juntos y leyendo y discutiendo sus libros.

Corazón puro, buena inteligencia, toda la información vendrá.

NitayGouraPremanande!!! querido y siempre recordado Gurudev,

por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias,

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!!!

                                         disculpe la tardanza en escribirle, se me han presentado mas complicaciones en mi salud,(al parecer un tumor en la tiroides)........ el alzheimer de mi padre cada vez avanza mas, tiene momentos en que pierde la noción de la realidad, ...necesita mas cuidados del que le puedo dar yo, le gusta salir a pasear y visitar a sus amigos, pero, lo expone a los accidentes, casi no ve,  su glaucoma le ha avanzado,.... es inútil darle consejos, no me hace caso o se le olvidan las recomendaciones, sólo me queda encomendarlo al señor Nirshimha!!!! ....... estaba recordando la carta astrológica que me hicieron hace muchos años, cuando recién estaba conociendo Conciencia de Krishna,.... en ella me decían que tenia un pésimo Karma con mis parientes y la salud, y que todo esto se agudizaba aún mas en Perú, ....en esa carta astral me decían que por Karma estaré confinada a vivir en Perú (puro sufrimiento, un futuro oscuro y desolador) pero, a pesar de los malos presagios dichos en esa carta astral , me agarro de los Santos Nombres y el Sankirtan!!! deposito mi fé en la protección de Gouranga!! y en su instrucción querido Gurudev de estar en este lugar,,, eso apasigua mis miedos y temores..... me gusta soñar que estoy en Vrindaban puedo oler su aroma (es tan diferente al resto del planeta)    m. oyasvini d.d. me compartia toda su estadia en Mayapur (safaris, Parikramas, clases ....) y, recordaba el aroma de Mayapur .... cuando quiero relajarme y olvidar la vida material desastroza que llevo, recuerdo las aguas dulces del yamuna yo estoy allí bañándome recibiendo el sol en mi rostro..... y, realmente soy feliz......  agradecimiento eterno a ud. querido Gurudev, por otorgar tanta misericordia a esta insignificante sirvienta .....

HpS - ASA -- Hare Krsna, Jambavati Devi Dasi. Es muy agradable saber de ti. Ojalá pudiéramos responder más rápido, pero nuestro Sankirtan ha sido tan rápido como el tuyo, casi. Recibimos dolores de cabeza con demasiada computadora, pero su carta es una prioridad.

Todo lo que necesitas para terminar este drama es maldecir a la arrogante hija de un Brahmana para ser mordida por un pájaro serpiente.

Krishna Krishna Krishna Tenemos muy poca energía, pero KRSNA puede enviarla como quiera. Aquí o allá solo somos Sus herramientas. Ruego estar en su asociación en la fiesta de Sankirtan. ¡Tu vida es una verdadera demostración de Yoga para muchos de nosotros! ¡Canta un Maha-mantra para tu papá por nosotros!

Hare Krishna! Maharaja you mean much to me!

I really am inspired by you and I love the way you present Krishna Consciousness and connect so many topics back to this philosophy. I have tried to also follow your ways and promote Krishna Consciousness in this broad universal style.

From 2018 until now I have sort of distanced myself from devotees and the movement, there was a lot going on in my mind I needed to sort things out, re-calibrate my existence and find direction. I have a tendency to be a "people pleaser" and I noticed in temple settings I would lose my personality and morph into whatever the devotees around me wanted me to be.

I felt this wasn't right on my part and sometimes I felt taken advantage of. I also feel that in general many devotees are very sectarian and do not present Krishna Consciousness in a way that is attractive to new comers. Plenty of people visit the temple each week, very few stay or come back. I felt that there is a better way to connect with the public.

Partially this is why I have created a new image for myself, I have sort of positioned myself on the fringes of the movement so new people feel comfortable talking to me, I am very gentle with them and gain their trust before nudging them forward. I have noticed some benefits to this. In the last few years I helped to cultivate 20-30 new people about half of which are very serious, they are practicing more than myself. They are full time engaged in an ashram, traveling sankirtana or at their house. The other half are still at the very beginning stages but they are interested and it's only a matter of time until they fully jump in.

Although my practice has dwindled still I would talk with these young people and answer their questions or try and guide them to a temple or anything to help them, this somehow kept me engaged in devotional service from a distance.

I regret distancing myself from the movement and the fact that my sadhana went down to nearly 0, the only thing I managed to do is sometimes chant in my mind, listen to a kirtan, or just think about how glorious Srila Prabhupada is. I can't regret it too much though because I see now that life is not a straight line, there are many bumps and turns and this is what forms our character.

After my friend Prahlad commited suicide, my sister died of cancer, and my girlfriend of 5 years left me I had a lot to process. I just turned 28 yesterday and over the past month I have realized it is time to get back on track. I was doing a temporary job which had me traveling and staying in a hotel up by Chicago for a few weeks. While there I got to visit the temple and celebrate Balaram's appearance day, Janmastami etc. It was very refreshing to spend the night in the ashram, go to Mangal arti, and serve along side devotees. I remember how beautiful this movement is. So now I am doing much better than I had been. I chant on my beads and read each morning, I hear lectures and all of the old feelings and inspiration I once had are returning.

ASA - !!

For future plans I have come across a chance to work with some Russian devotees from the Sri Caitanya Saraswath Matha, they have a project in the arts district in downtown LA. They have these big domes where they host events, have artists display their work, they are attracting the young new age hippies, and subliminally planting higher consciousness into the mix. The project is called "Wisdome-LA" here is a link https://wisdome.la/

I don't really know what to do, but this seemed like something that would fit with my style and nature. As I get serious again I feel that this online preaching will take off and help connect many people with Krishna consciousness.

Hope you are well and thank you for all the wonderful things you are doing!

Hare Krishna, Dandavats

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

HpS - It is very nice to hear from you. Your results seem fantastic! Of course, the danger is SB 1.3, no? Last part. Vyasadeva got involved in preaching TOO indirectly and was not satisfied..... so, it is your fine line to draw!

More news as it grows! Daniel in the "City of the Angels"!