Letters to the editor

Dear Maharaj,

Hare Krishna PAMHO AGTSP! AGTY!

Maharaj I am writing to give some updates on our journey to find our service in Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan movement, Sadhana Report and to ask of you something.

We recently held the first Festival of Gratitude (piggy backing off the Thanksgiving holiday with the extended weekend) here in Boise. The Festival of Gratitude's mission is have an event that will increase devotees appreciation/gratitude for Srila Prabhupada and the process he has given us. With that increased appreciation devotees will be more enthusiastic to follow the process SP has given us and share it with others.

The theme of the festival is the 5 most potent devotional services; Deity, Devotee, Nam, Dham, Bhagavatam. Our focus was a nice Krsna Katha seminar on one of the 5 devotional services, nice Prasdam and nice Kirtan. We where very fortunate that Radhaka Raman Prabhu appreciated the spirit of the event and agreed to give his seminar on the Glories (Appreciation) of Srimad Bhagavatam.

We started Thursday with a huge Thanksgiving day Prasdam feast. Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari had all homemade tofurky, nutloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed veggies with cheese sauce, fruit salad, pumpkin pie, cherry pie and apple pie.

HpS - Only God could survive that! Guess the rest of us can just look at it and offer our small service.

There was also cranberry sauce with paneer, candied yams, banana nut muffins, stuffing, pasta with cheese, celery with cream cheese or peanut butter and a few other dishes. I will attach a picture of the lay out the devotees took Prasdam from below.

Friday and Saturday we started the day with Guru puja and Srimad Bhagavatam classes given by Anantarupa Prabhuji with emphasis on appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. Then after breakfast Prasdam, Radhaka Raman Prabhu gave his seminar from 10:30am until 1:00pm. Even though it was 2.5 hours it seemed like 45 mins. It was such a wonderful seminar. I myself have recommitted to reading and studying SB and I know other devotees where also inspired. It was an amazing seminar.

Then in evening we had 2.5 - 3.5 hours of Kirtan and Dinner Prasdam. Saturday we finished with a family fun night and had Root beer floats, popcorn, reading from Gratitude tree and Srimad Bhagavatam charades. My wife, Alicia, did the kids program that went on during the seminar and that program was based on appreciating SP.

The kids and her initiated the gratitude tree which tree had some branches, then people wrote on a leaf about what they are thankful for and then tied the leafs to the tree. They encouraged the adults to write their own leafs. It was nice, there is also a picture of it below.

She also designed the shirts we gave as gifts to devotees, you will see a picture below of the sweatshirts. We gave sweatshirts to Anantarupa, Radhaka Raman, Anadi Radha as extra special gifts for helping so much with the festival. Also something very nice was that throughout the whole festival Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari, Jaganatha, Baladev, Subadra, Guara-Nitai, Laxsmi-Narsimha and Srila Prabhupada all got nice fresh garlands (also pictured below). Normally everyday except Sunday only Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari and SP get flower garlands.

We learned a lot from this science experiment, we learned more about ourselves in our abilities and weaknesses, what we could do better next time and how we can improve our organization. All to help improve our offering to SP. The devotees appreciated the festival, they encouraged us to continue the project and we agree its something we should continue. Anadi Radha Mataji, Nitisara Prabhu's wife, put a extreme amount of effort in to this festival and although it was almost too much she agrees that its something we should continue again next year.

We also were contacted by ISKCON News for an interview about the festival and did about an hour interview with them. Anantarupa Prabhji was pleased, he says Krishna was pleased because we had unexpected guest come to the festival and we were requested to do the interview. Radhaka Raman Prabhu was also pleased and was very encouraging to us.

Mahraj, is there any instructions you have on the Festival? What can I/we do better to please SP? What is my service in serving SP's sankirtan movement?

HpS - Hare Krsna. AGTSP. I don't think there is much we can say. It is so complete. I think it will expand automatically if you do it again. Maybe only a little focus on the four principles and sixteen rounds. Chanting Japa together. Seems super human to us.

Maharaj, I have been instructed by Srinvasacharya Prabhu to write and ask you to except me as a disciple soon as you will allow. He knows my heart in desiring to be your disciple. He gives his blessing and said to tell you that he believes I am ready for initiation. He said to ask if I maybe initiated in Huston while you are in the USA here in December for you Vyasa Puja celebration.

For more then one year I have been following the 4 regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds each day, getting up before 4 am (currently 3:30am), attending mangala arati and reading SP books (currently I am on 1.9.46 SB in my personal reading of SB). I have been begging Srila Prabhupada for his mercy to please except me into his family, please allow me to do some service and to please let me be formally initiated. I also have been reading your blog and KD regularly. Ananturupa Prabhji says that he will give me a letter of recommendation when and if you have given word that I maybe initiated. Srinivas said he would give me the disciples course whenever necessary so that I maybe initiated.

Maharaj, Will you please allow me to be your disciple and take diksa Harinam initiation from you? If you will accept me when may I take initiation? I will take care of the formalities needed like the TP letter and disciple course. I will fly to wherever necessary. Srinivas Prabhu also encouraged me in getting initiated as soon as I can, citing the story of the devotee who was to get initiated but his spiritual master left his body just before getting initiated.

Please bless me Maharaj that I may do some service for Srila Prabhupda and yourself, please bless me that I may become an exceptable offering to lie down at Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Nathen

HpS - If you have the Disciple Course and letter from Ananta-rupa Das then initiation seems fine. If you want to come to Houston we could do it then, but it might be rather quick to do it. Other option is to send your beads and then Anantarupa Das can organize the program there and we can be present by Skype etc. Other is wait until we visit West Coast, Boise, in January or February.

It is a formality, not without meaning, but the sacrifices you describe are the performance that has won Krsna, no? Respects to your good family!

Hare krishna dear guru majharaja, PAMHO AGTSP! I am eager to see you, I´ve got some questions about the Guru and Acarya, Who is the real guru?, Some gurus accept Vyasa Puja for them because they are gurus, even feet washing, then why you said that Vyasa Puja should be directed to the acarya if you are also guru? Others do not say that as far as I know. More questions when I see you. I have read that one devotee is making you strong and smart questioning about this theme. Don´t you absorve the karma when a fallen sanyasi or someone who has officialy fallen, chanted on your japa of diksha initiation?

Your fallen disciple, Jagat Bandhu Jagannatha Swami dasa Mexico, City, by the way, things are getting clear among god sisters.

HpS - Yes, we can talk of Guru tattva in Mexico. Basically Srila Prabhupada is Founder Acharya for you, me, everyone in ISKCON, no? Then he left over one-hundred volumes of instruction so why should we be confused, no?

Basic principle is chant Hare Krsna and be happy.

Hare Krishna Maharaja, por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias, todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.

Le envié una carta have un par de días, pero no estoy segura si llego, ya que cuando reviso en my letters, no aparece nada, solo dice letter unpublished.

su sirvienta,

Haresvari Dd (JPS)

HpS - viajando. casi imposible responder a cartas. hay explicacion in the Kapi Dhvaja. Su URGENT letter fue perdido cuando trata de enviar a abhirama das!!! Lea la Letters to the Editor in the Kapi Dhvaja como comunicar con nuestra ser caido!

Dear Maharaja, I’d preferred if you don’t post this letter to the public 🙏

HpS - Wow! I started to read the letter and then saw how long it is. I am just a small human being. In this Blog I get like 150 letters a month and hours of personal meeting while traveling. So I can help a little, but communication with ladies has to be in the association of nice men. Will send you letter to Abhirama Das in Peru for his cooperation.

Personally it is not joke. I have been in very tough situations and just chant Hare Krsna, Hare Rama sincerely real gives a practical solution.



Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaj

Please Accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to Prabhupada.

 Guru Maharaj as you mentioned in the previous letter about the recommendation letter from the temple president, we spoke to Nithyananda Prabhu. He mentioned that he will give me the recommendation letter. I have mailed him the details and am waiting for his reply. I am in India now and I am unable to contact him. Srinatha just got back to Dallas from India and will talk to Nithyananda Prabhu.

Guru Maharaj, I have attached a copy of the ISKCON Disciples Course Certificate.

Guru Maharaj I am following the four regulative principles and chanting my rounds. In India sometimes it becomes difficult to maintain your sadhana, but I am trying my level best.

This time we visited Srirangam and got a blissful Darshan. We also got to see Jaganath deities which were made by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay in Srirangam. Guru Maharaj this happened only because of your causeless mercy and blessings. 

It is very difficult to maintain Bhakti here without the association of the devotees. Life feels meaningless without dressing our deties at home and serving Tulasi Maharani and Sri Radha Kalachandji. Wishing to come to Dallas as soon as possible and continue my seva. I will be back on 18th December

Guru Maharaj please give me an opportunity to serve you.

Eagerly waiting to see you, get your association and get initiated as early as you think is right.

Hare Krishna

HpS - Thank you!! The letter is essential. Also, in the end the whole ISKCON movement may come down to one thing. Are you connected to Srila Prabhupda or not? Are you chanting 16-rounds daily and following the four principles. Of course, Radharani Herself will personally help you do this if you make this choice. O.K. Going to be a hero in the battle of Kurushetra? Draupadi will say, "She's a real lady!"?

Dear HPS. Hare Krishna from Sacramento, California. AGTSP.

If you remember when you were in Sacramento I did this recording link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkT5JnZufgE

HpS - AGTSP! It is always very freaky when we see ourselves in videos!

Thank you for your replies. Now I need some things clarified according to what I have read, so I am quoting your replies from the other conversation.[https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/10619/]

ASA - Yes. The Six Goswami's would meet and discuss philosophy, strategy, no?

HPS: As far as I know Jayathirtha chanted on my beads, Bhakta Das recommended me for first initiation and Nita Das chose my name. Whose disciple am I. Ha! Ha! Ha Ray!!

Question: This means that Srila Prabhupada authorized his senior disciples to do your initiation on Srila Prabhupada's behalf. Does this also mean you had a "rittik initiation" [ritvik] – representative of the acarya"?

HpS 2109 Dec 1 (191201) - The problem for us is that we have never seen Srila Prabhupada us this word Ritvik one time in any Purport, so we don't see it as a word with any depth. I am a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Anybody who is intiated by his disciple is his disciple. They are also diciples of Narottama Das Thaura and Lord Caitanya. Disciple means one who follows the discipline. Prabhupada's comment.

Who is your Diksa guru? I would say that I am the diksa guru in connection with Prabhupada. If I fall down from my connection with Srila Prabhupada or I just die at 76-yers old, there is no need to take Diksa again. You were connected to Srila Prabhupada, no?

HpS ._. Answered above, no? We are not opposed to people having as much direct relationship as they can with Srila Prabhupada. We are just trying to act as one channel. If that involves be a link in the formality of initiation. O.K. If that involves explaining the books O.K. but our only desire is to just be a transparent via media to Srila Prabhupad and Krsna.

Question: So HPS as an official ISKCON Guru, is following the same system of initiation on behalf of the Acarya? So the initiate is actually a disciple of Srila Prabhupada as per the letter below and HPS is just doing the formalities, explaining the books, inspiring, setting a good example, etc.. and most importantly connecting the initiate to Srila Prabhupada? I want to know what is the consciousness or mentality of HPS!

Or HPS thinks that person HPS is initiating on behalf of Srila Prabhupada is HPS disciple, meaning that HPS is initiating and HPS is the authority, not Srila Prabhupada? You get it..where I am going with this..very subtle.

For example: if HPS says something that contradicts Srila Prabhupada's version, we can accept Srila Prabhupada's version (error on side of caution) and neglect HPS version..

HpS - Certainly, but trnad api sunicena... we try to discuss it with HpS and so often he says, "Oh, wow, thank you!".

Srila Prabhupada uses the word my disciple over 89 times in his letters, so him being the Acarya he can claim because without him I won't be here. but the officiating person cannot claim because he has no rights, he is acting under order.

HpS - One thing, as far as I know Prabhupada never authorized the letters to be published. There is even a letter to Brahmananda where Prabhupada says not to distribute his letters unless they are specifically for wide distribution, but Hansadutta Das, one of my principal, Siksa gurus, got a hold of them and published them so I guess the BBT had to follow. I like reading letters, but I belong to the Jayadvaita Swami school which puts the in a different category from Bhaktivedanta Purports.

Then, I don't understand your reasoning very well. From one perspective we can say that Srila Prabhupada has no authority of his own either. He is just acting under the aurhority of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta.... back to Krsna is the original Guru.

I like Sridhara Swami's comment... Trnad api sunicena... amanina manadena... our goal is not have as few Guru's as possible, but as many, to see everyone as our Guru, but... the proper style.

I can be a Madhyama adhikari and accept disciples but unless I do it in connection with Srila Prabhupada it has no meaning. Of course, we only accept people as disciples, students, who have a clear idea of who is Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON and who are we. BG 10.10-11. The Paramatma is Guru... That doesn't change with the fire sacrifice.

O.K.???

Regarding Guru Nanak:

"Common man should accept the ācāryas. They must follow. Ācāryopāsanam. Just like in India the Sikhs, they follow Guru Nanak. So Guru Nanak says, "Yes, Kṛṣṇa, incarnation of God." So they should accept, that's all. Not that every Sikh is expected to be unlimited as Guru Nanak. That is not expected. But they should follow Guru Nanak. Then they will understand. Guru Nanak says, "Kṛṣṇa is incarnation of God." The all the Sikhs should accept, "Yes, Kṛṣṇa is..." Then it is all right. It is not expected that every Sikh will understand Kṛṣṇa. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]."

HpS - Thank you!!

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Letter to: All G.B.C., All Temple Presidents—

Vrindaban

9 July, 1977

77-07-09

To All G.B.C., and Temple Presidents

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the

GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada

indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as

"rittik" [ritvik] – representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing

initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so

far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:

His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami

His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami

His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami

His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami

His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami

His Holiness Hansadutta Swami

His Holiness Ramesvara Swami

His Holiness Harikesa Swami

His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari

His Grace Jayatirtha dasa Adhikari

In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada

recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada

has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send

2

recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven

representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the

recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated

disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of

second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada

has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as

His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these

representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the

fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly

initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or

her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated

Disciples" book.

Hoping this finds you all well.

Your servant,

Tamala Krsna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

HpS - Thank you again. For me it is simple. I am following Srila Prabhupada and I am going back to play with Krsna and anybody following me following Srila Prabhupada will also go back. Back to your service in the Sankirtan movment at any level and it will all become very clear.

Photo of us attached.