Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna dear Maharaj!

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Please accept my humble obeisances!

Thank you for your reply. I loved it. I very much appreciate the time you spend to reply to each and every message of not only mine, but all of your disciples'. I know gurus have quite the eventful life - never much time to rest, always doing service.

We just attended the Sacred Sounds festival here in the New Govardhan farm. It is a big Kirtan retreat with HH BB Govinda Swami, HH Indradyumna Swami, HG Akincana Krsna Prabhu, HG Balaram Tirtha Prabhu and his wife, HG Dhanya Mataji, as well as our local Brisbane Kirtaniya, HG Janardan prabhu. It was amazing. Just Kirtan and more Kirtan. Also HH Govinda Swami was giving beautiful lectures on the Brihad Bhagavatamrita.

ASA - Oink! Whoop! E=MC*2!!

The festival went for 4 days, during the Easter break. It was simply amazing. And on the Sunday night, the Kirtan was beyond ecstatic; HH Govinda Swami taught us a phrase the African devotees taught him (you must rap it quite quickly) - There ain't no party like the Kirtan party cus' the Kirtan party don't stop. And the Kirtan just kept on going on from there. They would finish the Kirtan and then again, Maharaj would repeat this phrase and Kirtan would begin again.

In your last message, you asked if my father had any news. Somehow it struck me today actually and I would like to share it with you. I can't remember the exact date now, but it was after his passing, perhaps last year or the year before. I was attending Saturday feast and I was standing outside the door during Arati. And all of a sudden, for about a second, I saw him, dancing in the Kirtan so cheerfully. As a spiritual being (if I recall correctly). This is the only incident where my father has 'come' to my dream, or reality, in this case. Rather than me remembering pastimes in my dreams.

HpS - We miss him so much. Well later we will meet. There must be a Fazilka in Goloka. 😀

And it just occurred to me today that, what if he was dancing to somehow tell me to keep on dancing in Kirtan and never stop. At least, that's what I can take from it. Actually, before I never used to dance in Kirtan. Or at least enthusiastically. I believe I started during my father's time, but more so after his passing. I took everything a little more seriously after that. And now, I am always trying to dance in Kirtan. I cannot not dance in Kirtan now. It's almost like a disease. I have to dance hehe. So now that I really think about it, perhaps that vision of my father dancing was some sort of a sign. And if not, I will still continue to dance just as I saw him doing.

ASA - They say that Srila Prabhupada said, that he could tell how advanced we were by how much we liked to dance FOR KRSNA. Of course, we have to push ourselves because we are Learning to Love KRSNA, like learning the piano or tennis.

Besides that, I cannot think of any questions that I need to ask you as of now 😆

.

Oh, I just remembered another pastime that I may share with you. I was reading the Krsna book. This is while my father is still alive. For years I was reading it, and I never finished... I would start and I would be going very well, and then I would not read it for the next 6 months plus and then I would have to restart the book. This became a cycle and happened quite a few times. And I would always promise Papa that I would finish it 'this year' or by 'this time'. And so, he would always joke with me by mockingly saying, "Papa, I promise with you, I will finish the Krsna book by the year 2000 and such and such." And as my memory serves me, he jokingly said by the end of 2020 one time, if not any longer 😂

. But now, I have read the most without restarting and am almost done. Another 200 pages to go and I will have fulfilled my promise.

HpS - Aaaah! I warn you there is a surprise benediction written at the end.

After I complete this book, I was thinking I would start either the Bhagavad Gita or the Mahabharata. But I think I better begin with the Bhagavad Gita, the essence of our philosophy.

Anyway, thank you for letting me share these pastimes with you Maharaj. And thank you for always showering your mercy upon my fallen self. I very much appreciate it. I wish that you may visit Brisbane sometime this year. Please!!

I hope your health is in best condition.

Your fallen servant,

Lakshmi

HpS - Any interesting things about the Yatra. How is the school? Any friends?

Dear Maharaj,

PAMHO

AGTSP

Hare Krishna,

It's been just over a week since returning from Boise and having your, Radha-Bunkbhari, SP, and devotees darshan. Thank you very much for you association Maharaj, we hope we were able to do some service and not be to much of a nuscience. We hope to grow into a capable devotee/disciple and serve nicely.

ASA - Us also!

As of right now moving to Boise isn't happening, we are trying to concentrate on our family financial situation at the moment and some other things. So we will see what Krsna arranges. Focusing on Operation SOS, then we wont have to speculate, gamble. BOOM! No blind faith, its condemned! Work on what we have now.

Operation SOS

Since our return we are doing daily (except Saturday) SB with my mother. I call her each day at 7:10am and we go to about 7:40am.

HpS - SUper! Have fun. Read and discuss as you like! Of course, some artificial forces, but you know that is necessary for learning any sport.

You have inspired us to do SB study with someone instead of only listening to SP SB lectures. Its been really nice and already we are seeing some advancement. We have made some little adjustments on how we go about using the time and it's working nicely. Then each Saturday we will be joining your Gotomeeting SB class!

HpS - We see you. . . <-

FMP -getting up at 3:30am PST, MA, Guru-astaka, 16 rounds. We are praying to Guru & Gauranga for nice rounds and the ability to chant Hare Krishna MM without offenses. We are experiencing ups and downs but in general progress is there. 4 regs are going strong. Ideas are flowing so rapidly about Sankirtan activities, but we are working on slowing down and take one step at a time. K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid), Op SOS first.

If we may please, We would like to ask the blessing of your disciples Maharaj, we humble request they bless us that we may also become a disciple of Your Holiness. Please bless us that we may do some nice service in your honor, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhpada's honor and find our service in Lord Chaitanya's Sankirtan movement.

Operation SOF

Kids are reading 15 mins daily from a SP book they choose. They read knowing they are going to teach me what they read each day. This is from your encouragement to read as if we are going to teach what we read. I was trying to get the kids up for MA for a time being but it seems to me that will have to wait until Alicia is consistently attending. That's ok (note to self 😁)

Alicia - we are reading 15 mins each evening. She chose what we would read and she chose CC 😳. We just received CC at this past Guara Purnima. I was a little hesitant to start off with something so big but I didn't want to discourage so we are going with the flow. It's going nicely. Right now besides that we are just trying to be encouraging her about rounds and getting up to chant them in the morning before work, maybe MA.

HpS - CC is super, but maybe a little to much cosmology in the beginning. Don't hesitate to skip the first few chapters and come to Lord Caitanya's birth...

Please please forgive us our any offense we made while in Boise or any offenses other wise.

Haribol!

Your aspiring to aspire servent,

Bhakta Natha, Big Foot, Nathen

PS: Weed whipers Ki Jaya! 😆

HpS - SOrry it has taken so long to answer this letter. We will talk more about this in today's DTC.

¡TGSP!

PAMHO, Hare Krsna Querido Guru Maharaj, estamos siguiendo el sadhana, las 16 rondas y 4 principios y la atención a las deidades y salagramas silas, ahora pintamos a govardhana todos los días con tilaka y le ponemos flores, ellos comen lo que cocinamos; en las mañanas frutas, dulces de kiwicha y su baño y untamos con guee, hacemos gaura artik algunas veces. tulasi está hermosa.

ASA - Wow!

Estamos distribuyendo libros en las universidades y los institutos pedagógicos con mi tía paterna llamada Ángela, en la ciudad de Huancavelica a ella le gusta mucho hablar con los jóvenes, ella se levanta temprano y canta 6 rondas y aveces 16 rondas, es semivegetariana, y pienso ¿Porqué con tantos años conociendo la conciencia de krsna no se ha iniciado?

HpS - Hace 10-anyos despues de Srila Prabhupada encontra a BH. Siddhanta Sarasvatri antes de iniciacion. Cada persona es diferent, no?

Hay mucha gente favorable, que ayuda al movimiento, y tienen tan buenas cualidades y hasta inclusive podrían desenvolverse mejor que uno en el sankirtana, yo me siento muy feliz distribuyendo libros y me reencuentro conmigo misma, y he pensado que es un servicio que pienso hacerlo por el resto de mi vida, ahora estoy sacando los documentos de la universidad todo está marchando bien, el informe de mis prácticas y la tesis, probablemente expondré de aquí a un mes, pienso trabajar pero nunca dejar de hacer sankirtana.

HpS - Doctorado para Sankirtan.

Quería contarle sobre Milagros es una señorita de 50 años que tiene un local comercial y quiere poner un restaurante vegetariano, y trabajar con devotos, le dije que le ayudaría a formar y a que marche su negocio, ella es buena, vegetariana, es impersonal, pero quiere que se distribuya prasadam, estamos ahí viendo como va las cosas.

Guru Maharaj aveces tengo la necesidad de viajar, quizás sea mi mente, estoy viendo la probabilidad de viajar a Bolivia y hacer sankirtana en asociación de Madre Anadi adi Govinda, ella es muy amiga mía hasta que pueda encontrar un trabajo en mi profesión o salga el negocio de Milagros. También quisiera viajar a India, tengo el deseo intenso pero aveces tengo temor de cometer ofensas y no estar preparada, me pregunto gurudev; ¿Cómo saber cuando uno está listo para ir a india?, siento que si voy no querré volver al Perú.

HpS - Cada persona es diferente, pero es importante ir con un, unos, devotos quien ha ido antes. Ellos puden evaluar si Vd esta lista. Claro, si puede vivir en el Ashrama de ISKCON Peru, puede vivir en el Ashrama de ISKCON Vrndavana.

Seguimos con nuestra lectura del Bagavatam con mi buen [Muy Buen] esposo Gadai, tercer canto segunda parte, donde kardama muni va al reencuentro con visnu, y visnu le dá instrucciones para que se case con Devahuti.

HpS - Le gusta ser un sannyasi, ir a india y no volver, pero visnu lo dijo que tiene poco apego se purifica, no?

Guru maharaj en verdad quisiera hablar con Ud. porque al parecer según mi carta astrológica me sale que tengo posibilidades de vivir fuera del país, no lo sé quizás hablando con Ud. pueda aclarar estas dudas que tengo, quiero estudiar inglés e italiano, Gadai y su familia están sacando su doble nacionalidad italiana, nos gusta la idéa porque está más cerca para ir al santo dham y quedarse en un momento por ayá, porque siento que eso es el objetivo final de mi vida.

HpS - Si, puede ser bueno. Adelanta pasa por pasa. Segura que la proxima pasa es bueno antes de dejar la tierra anteriort.

Esperando volverlo a ver pronto querido Guru maharaj, gracias por tanta misericordia para con nosotros, Ud y Srila Prabhupada son nuestro mejor ejemplo de vida a seguir. no tenemos mucha asociación de devotos en Huancayo, pero conversamos con amigos devotos del extranjero, que son muy buenos.

Tratando de seguir sus instrucciones.

Nadiya Nivasi Dasi

HpS - Nos vemos super pronto.

¡¡¡Ohe Vaishnava Thakura!!!

🌼

🌼

🌼

…diya pada-chaya, sodho he amaya

tomara carana dhori…

😊

🌻

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva🌻

Please accept my respectful obeisances

¡All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you are very well, always blessed and protected by the immense love of

Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.

HpS - ASA - We also hope so!!

¿How are you Gurudeva?

ASA - Dying, fighting to do something practical for Srila Prabhupada, just like you!

We are very excited and counting the days waiting for your return to Peru.

We are very happy, as Gandharva told you, here again at ISKCON Chosica, animated, determined and above all full of gratitude for the many blessings who come from You, Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.

About us: As I told you at Abhirama's prabhu house, the last 2 years, (and well... probably the coming years too) were full of uncertainty and trials, in addition to many health problems (a small kidney stone, etc.) But finally, all that led us to strengthen our desire to serve, we saw how arid life can be turned away from the devotees, away from the service to His Lordships and we understood how important it is to develop little humility (to start). Thanks only to your mercy Gurudeva, today we are so encouraged and determined to continue in the process, although sometimes it is very difficult, we realize that it is the best thing that could have happened to us and the only thing that really makes us happy.

Studies: I have taken up the study of Bhakti Sastri with prabhu Laksmana, so again I am feeling the revolutionary effect of reading the words of Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, which is not only generating the changes I was looking forward to so much, but it makes me feel a few centimeters closer to Him, which finally makes my heart feel fullfilled. It also means to strengthen the relationship with Srila Prabhupada, which fills us with love for him, for his sacrifice, his instructions and his disciples. I ask you please, bless me with enough intelligence and determination to be able to get the proper understanding and stand firm in the systematic study.

Books: About that Gurudeva, when I read the Krishna Book, some time ago, you told me that other pastimes could appear when you read it again. Could that also happen with other books? So when I go back to reading The Pastimes of Sri Jagannatha, I can swear there are things that were not there the last time I read it. It's very strange and fun!

HpS - Yes, the books do seem to expand when we are not looking.... it is a fact.

In other hand, finally I was able to graduate! (Graphic Designer) 🎓

and in these next months to receive my degree, which allows me to have access to study in other universities directly, I wanted to study pedagogy.

HpS - Super. Even one of Ravana's 10-heads was for Teaching.

Chant: I'm trying hard, not only to sing the 16 rounds every day, but to sing better. There have been some days (not always) in which I have been negligent with my rounds, but I have designed a special space in my house (photos, phrases, mantras) to focus and concentrate to chant my rounds there, and I am keeping a daily japa. (I have my moon in Capricorn!🐏

a strong mind and those things are helping me to route it 🙈

HpS - If don't finish your rounds one day then catch up the next day. Keep track of how many rounds you have not finished and always catch up sometime.

Principles: We are fulfilling the 4 principles Gurudeva, we are resuming healthy habits and Prabhu Hari Purana das, an Ayurvedic doctor, is helping us. In the eagerness to recover health, we realize how super important is the modality of goodness in everything.

Service: Gandharva and I are serving at Radha Madan Vihari’s kitchen on Saturdays, to prepare the Raja Bhoga and on Sundays at 7 and 9pm. Vindhyavali mataji and Adhoksaya prabhu are instructing us about cooking, we would like to learn more, so we look forward to the school of Brahmanas. All the devotees inspire us A LOT, even though they suffer from illnesses, or any kind of problems, they are there, firm in their service. Jay!

At home: attention continues to Sri Jagannath Baladeva Subhadra and Sri Nrisimhadeva. 2 food offerings per day and one puja and kirtan on Raja Bhoga. At night, pijamas, bed, a little lullaby and massage on His feets <3

Arte Vihari: I have advanced very slowly Gurudeva, due to health problems, I made efforts to maintain the minimum essential, sadhana, offerings, happy husband lunch box, and the house. Now I already installed a small workshop in our room to make it more practical.

HpS - Big market in USA we think! Here are our thoughts!!!! https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/10195/

Preach: Gandharva is giving Introduction to Bhakti Yoga classes to Carla and Sandra (students of the art school where Gandharva teaches) and also to my older sister Patty ( she wrote to the blog a few months ago, I think it was during your travel time.)

They are very nice and sweet people, and they are happy to come to Chosica every two weeks to take their clases, they are very philosophical and ask many questions. We have become good friends. Also, they are very inspired, we feel very enthusiastic and, Carla and Sandra participated in your Vyasapuja at Jana Pavana prabhu's house. Carla helped us to make Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana and Sandra brought a basket of mangoes and raisins for you.

Sorry I could not write before Guru Maharaja, I feel very bad for that, but I will try to make small reports more often.

ekaki amara, nahi paya bala,

hari-nama-sankirtane

tumi kripa kori ', sraddha-bindu diya,

deho 'krishna-nama-dhane

Millions thanks for so much mercy Gurudeva,

please, allow us to be eternally your servants

Indira-Sakti Devi dasi

HpS - Yes, short reports often is for the Blog. News od Chosica, a different kind of city.

Hare Krsna Maharaj. Pamho. AGTSP.

You are the soul whose purity is purifying us.

HpS - We are asses whom Srila Prabhupada has sacrificed a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make a half-way useful telephone for his words.

We are trying to read sb 25 pages per day.

ASA - That's a lot! Try to do it for some time eg. one, two weeks and see the result?

What we can do multiple comparison from sb

Like allegories. Analogies. Comparison and development of prayers.

Speakers motive and prayers.

So we think it will be nice if we have a journal/ periodical especially on analysis of sb.

As sb is the heart of library. The more v analysis more v know it.

HpS - Ana-lysis, breaking down by cutting (?) is Jnana approach. It is VERY good, but the test is how it leads us to more advanced stage of Jnana which is Dhyana, smaranam. Sravanam, kirtanam, smaranama and that leads to Prema!! Under-standing, analysis is the first step in Smaranama comtemplation.

In this way we can engage the whole world ,literature, poetry, etc.

HpS - Yes, Jnana goes to Dhyana, poetry.

1.3.43

Personally i prefer bhagvatam analysis than deity analysis.

I hope I can be manager/ editor of this journal/ periodical/ magazine.

Can u give your views on same?

🐎

HpS - Start by writing for another Journa eg. Kapi Dhvaja, Blog, Viplavah.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada...please accept my humble obeisances.

This is a copy of a re-write I just did. It was sent to my brother Craig recently after my Fathers passing (more on that later...so much to say). Also sent copies to others in our family for a hopeful Soul nurturing.

After sharing this story, I found out that Craig just divorced his wife of 40 years. Sacrifice in vanity is dangerous, am not sure if he'll even converse with me, he's become as reclusive as my middle brother that he despises. Glad the devotee's are in my life, we don't have time for this.

It's been a week since Dad left, still in mourning. Have been getting more and more stories coming through my heart, words keep coming to me in new symbolism. Japa takes real focus for it seems there are many more things I need to say. Tulsi-Mala save me!!

Ok, here's our Sacrifice;

HpS - Yes, there are so many impressions from our family stored in our heart, Buddhi, that will come out at the time of death unless we deal with them now!

There was a family in a small Mountain Village and one of their children was sick, so they called a Doctor to check what was wrong. The Doctor examined the child and said the fever is from gangrene, we need to remove 2 fingers. The Mother was objecting, the Doctor said,” If we don’t sacrifice the fingers the arm will be next”. Her husband looked at her and they understood.

After this all was fine and the family decided to visit a relative in the city. After an arduous journey they made it to their relatives, even though there were some quarrels going on in the neighborhoods. The family greeted one another with great joy and they all were reminiscing… when noises were heard coming from the outside neighborhood, sounds of explosions, shouting and rioting.

The family all gathered in the hidden cellar and quietly waited. Sounds of footsteps of thugs walking above their heads was heard, they were very still. The Mother was holding her baby in her lap, the child sensed the fear and was attempting to cry. Everyone gazed, the Mother looked back in terror and she saw that another sacrifice had to be made; with tears in her eyes she suffocated her own child.

Hours later a battalion of the Army came and vanquished the invaders and some peace was restored. The family fled, while other parts of the city were still in siege. Returning to their home they had great relief and nurtured one other through what happened

As the weeks went, the battle in the city still was on, the villagers safe in the Mountains continued life warily. Then one night a village guard observed a couple of invaders trying to sneak-in, taking careful aim the guard put an arrow through one, but the other fled to tell his leader. The news spread quickly and the Lord’s garrison immediately came to the village. They told the villagers their town is the only thing keeping the Invaders from entering into the heart of the country, they must be stopped!

The family and the rest of the villagers knew another sacrifice must be made. Taking their eldest and strongest son’s they gave them to the Lord’s army, then despondently departed for higher ground. A tumultuous fight began as the rogue invaders starting entering the village. Arrows and cannonballs were flying everywhere, along with swords clashing and fires raging . The remaining soldiers and villagers finally succeeded, though there was nothing left of the village, the sacrifice had saved the country.

The Mountain family who had lost a baby now had lost their son’s and their village was decimated. The Mother was so distraught she collapsed and died, the Father was in shock losing his wife and decided to see the Lord of the Land. He took his last child and quickly went to the Lord’s castle. Hearing what happened the Lord offered him anything in his kingdom, he knew his sacrifice, whatever the Father needed he would give.

Sobbing the man cried, “I need my wife, I need my children, I need my village, what is left in the World for me?” The Lord sensed his great quandary and sadness. The King knew he needed greater help. Taking the Father and his child he brought them to a grand hall and in there were many citizens, families and even hurt people from his own village. They were all joyously serving one another with food, sustenance and love. The Lord’s Queen came up to the Father and bowed. Astonished the Father asked the Queen, “How did all these people become so happy?”

The Queen smiled at her Husband and then gently placed her hand on the Fathers Heart and said, “They sacrificed the World and regained their Soul”.

All sacrifices bring knowledge, never stop giving, never give up on your Soul.

Thank you for your valuable time Maharaja, All glories to your service!

HpS - Pretty telling. It is in Chanakya Pandita, no? If we save our soul we have done our best to save everyone's soul. That is the nature of the soul.