Letters to the editor

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!! All glories to Guru Maharaj !! Please accept our humble obeisences at Your lotus feet.

HpS - ASA - Lettuce feet! AGTSP

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

We discussed with HH Haridas Goswami Maharaj and few senior devotees of ISKCON, Manipur about Guru Maharaj's visit from 12th March to 22nd March. As suggested by Guru Maharaj we are organizing a programme at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the same venue where Guru Maharaj spoke on Science, Psyche and Spirituality last time. This will be a part of our Medical Society conference (MESOCON 2019). We would like to request Guru Maharaj to suggest a topic for the presentation. The audience will be Medical fraternity comprising of a variety of specialities. This will be on 16th of March.

HpS - Again, all we can suggest is "Science, Psyche and Spirituality - The Encounter of the Best of the Western Psychology Tradition and the Mysticism of Eternal India"

Then we plan for kirtan and a class ( Guru Maharaj's choice) at Toubul on 17th. Daily temple programme , we have SB classes. As suggested we wish to have intensive classes on NOI daily. Kindly suggest how best this can be done.

1. Copies of the Book.
2. Good translator.
3. Song Book - Gauranga Bolita Habe..., O He, Vaisnava Thakura... Krsnot-kirtana gana...

We also plan for a local TV programme with Guru Maharaj and HH Bhakti Ananda Haridas Goswami Maharaj . We have requested Sadhubhushan Das Prabhu to make the necessary arrangements which he gladly agreed. And...here is the special one....initiation ceremony on Gaura Purnima (21st March). Some of us wish to be initiated and if Guru Maharaj agree we would like to inform Eknath Prabhuji to submit the list to Guru Maharaj. Eknath Prabhuji wants the email id of Guru Maharaj. Which id would be most appropriate?

HpS - [email protected]

As in every year, we are going to have the Holika bonfire on 21st March. Once the topics are finalised we would send the final programme to Guru Maharaj as soon as possible. We request Guru Maharaj's advice and suggestions.

Waiting eagerly for Guru Maharaj's reply.

Your ignorant servant always,

Sarada Gaurangi DD

HpS - We saw ...mani Das here in Mayapura! We have no suggestion other than full morning program with SB. Then Krsna will give us good daily intelligence. We plan on taking the time in Manipura to answer a lot of mail and Annual Disciple Reports so we need some access to internet. I think Sadhu Das is arranging.

Thank you. Now we go to Mangala arati at SP Samadhi.

Querido Gurudev: Pamho. Gloria a Srila Prabhupada y sus seguidores fieles.

Me alegra escuchar la noticia de que piensa venir a España en Abril. Me he tomado la libertad de hablar con Mónica ( la jefa del Departamento de Antropología de la Universidad Complutense) para poder hacer un programa con los alumnos. Hemos quedado que cuando sepa las fechas volveremos a hablar para poder concretar.

Tambien quería informarle que el dia 07 de Enero celebramos su Vyasa Puja en el Templo de Madrid. Fue un programa sencillo pero muy emotivo. Pude apreciar la humildad de todos los devotos y la importancia de glorificar al guru de forma sincera (por supuesto también a Prabhupada). Asistieron Bhakta Gino y su esposa, Dandava y familia, Krisna Kirtan y familia, Mathura Mani y mi propia familia. Tambien asistieron otros devotos y devotas que no forman parte de los discipulos.

Bueno no quiero alargar la carta así que esperando se encuentre bien de salud y sus noticias de su viaje a España

se despide

su sirviente

Jayanta das

P.D. No tengo fotos del Vyasa Puja. Bhakta Gino hizo un video.

HpS - TlgaSP. Si vamos a España, nova a pasar antes de Mayo esta bien? 🙂

On Monday, February 25, 2019, Nitya-ananda Das, Temple President, ISKCON Dallas, wrote:

Hare Krsna, dear Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Your Divine Grace and Srila Prabhupada.

I pray this meets you well.

Please accept this email letter as an invitation on behalf of our (the Dallas Fort Worth Hare Krsna community) presiding Deities, Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji, Their Associates and devotees. We are so very honored to request your presence at our Festival of Joy, Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Festival, that will be held on Saturday, March 30th, 2019.

You are welcome to also give the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta class the next morning on Sunday. That afternoon, we will schedule a panel of speakers at the Sunday Feast program at 5pm, with you as one of the speakers. The other speakers are likely to be HH Giriraja Swami and HH Rtadhvaja Swami. The theme will be about devotees coming together to chant (including reading Srimad Bhagavatam aloud, daily), feast and dance our way Back to Godhead.

We understand you will travel to Houston on Monday, April 1st and you're welcome to give the Srimad Bhagavatam class that morning.

Hare Krsna! Thank you!

Your servants' humble servant,

Nityananda dasa

Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji Dhama

-----------------------

ASA Answered:

Hare Krsna, Prabhu,

AGTSP, paoho,

Long time, no see, hear!!!

We're in room 103 of the Gada building in Sridhama Mayapura.

We would love to visit Dallas for the Rathyatra etc.

We just have to co-ordinate our work and transportation with Radha-krsna Das, Hari-lila Das et al.

Copy of this letter to them and our Blog.

HpS

P.S. Any comments from Bloggers?

TO - Radha-krsna, Hari-lila, Srivasa Pt, Bali-mardana Das et al.

Hare Krsna, AGTSP

Esteemed North American Sastric Education Development Leaders, Paoho,

Here we are in Room 103 of the Gada building in Sri Dhama Mayapura. It is 1.51PM. We are walking around a headache. It is cool and overcast. For 71-years old our health is good, which is to say death is staring us in the face but we are diminishing in a balanced fashion.

We have 15-rounds done and are chanting HK/HR right now!!!

How are you?

We had a lot of Bali-mardana and Anantarupa Das' association in the MOE education symposium. It finished yesterday, was very, very, hard work, three days, for 24-hours a day but good results. Now we will have four days break and the SGGS meetings start. Of course, break means Spanish classes, Latin American GBC Meetings, disciple counseling, but also time to wander around the campus and chant.

In the middle of all of these things, that we guess are also facing you, we come back to the basic principle of Sastric education for us which is that chanting Maha-mantra at the feet of Srila Prabhupada within the core of our heart is the best service, and then to reach that level, and as a result of that austerity, to preach, read his books.

Preach - Read His Books

How?  To read His Books???

He instructs - Daily Srimad Bhagavatam class.

Do we all have that habit?

Have we learned that habit?

Only if we have learned it can we teach it and that is the essence of BhS, BhVai et al?

Correct? ?   ?        ?

While traveling we usually attend the local class

as teacher or student. Today Vaisesika Das gave

class and there were maybe 1000 devotees in the Temple room.

It was nice hearing him. It was 9th Canto, history of Parasurama. We want more depth in the classes. We want more realization of the context of the verses within the SB's structure. We want more realization of the practical application of the verses.

Hmmm. Many challenges arise in our minds, but the basic principle of devotional service, everyday going to class, seems to be the most important, the fastest way to a solution.

TEACH HABITS BEFORE CONTENT?

So, waiting for you thoughts.

We will be back in Houston from the 27th March to the 3rd of April, and then Boise from the 8th - 15th of April.

HpS - ASA. 

Dear Maharaja,

Koti koti dandvat pranams _ó___

AGTSP

It has been many months since speaking with you in this forum. Still reflecting on Art the Sacred a lot, and getting much from it. What great fortune I have. Impossible to repay.

HpS ASA - AgtSP. Paoho. We quote your presentation a lot. Sorry one week to answer. Travel and squeezing in letters. Sad not to get your association.

.........................

For the last three months I have been studying World Religions. Learning lots for interfaith communication, and strengthening my own logic and under-standing. Two very successful essays submitted. 

Essay 1:

Who is driving this chariot? 

The self in the Upanishads and Buddhism. 

Link: https://essenceseekers.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/who-is-driving-this-chariot/

Very high mark,and I received a personal message form the unit chair.

  “Dhruva - as the unit chair, I have committed myself to second mark essays on the block for either a fail or a first class, as is obviously the case here. No commitment was really required, though, because this was a joy to read. 

  “For my part, I am not at all qualified to render any kind of determination as to the viability or success of your argument - I am not a scholar of either Buddhism or the Upanishadic tradition. But there is no question in my mind that this is a brilliant piece of reasoning backed by a very significant grasp of the traditions in question. 

  “So in truth I stopped by to say - this is a great piece of philosophy. I certainly hope you can see a way to continue working as a philosopher. My very best to you either way.”

~ Prof. Jon Roffe (Deakin University)

HpS - wonderful. I guess you have taken the mercy of Lord Chaitanya. More!

Such nice appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada’s education is so potent that even a low-life street kid like me can attract the admiration of university professors!

All because of your kindness and mercy upon me and my family. Thank you. So much education and inspiration I receive from your online lectures. 

Essay number 2.

The Point of Suffering: Queen Kunti and Job

Link: https://essenceseekers.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/the-purpose-of-suffering-queen-kunti-and-job/

Still waiting for results on essay 2.

.......................

Essay get 100-200 reads on my blog. 

CC Madhya 7.128

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa

āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”

BG 10.10

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ

bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam

dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ

yena mām upayānti te

"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."

.......................

HG Atul Krsna prabhu has been relaying some MOE stories. Such a treat. 

Prabhu spent three weeks in our home over Xmas. Viasnava sanga ki jai!!!

We wish we could be in the holy dham with you. Second best is chanting because Prabhupada said we are together when we chant the holy names. Third best is parikramA videos on the YouTube. 

.......................

Suryani has started Gurukula, official, kindergarten... two weeks ago. She is very happy. This morning, whole family went to mongala aroti and milked Krishna’s cows at the New Govardhana Goshala.

.........................

I realised that intellectual understanding of God is maximum maha tattva. Now I follow the Six Goswamis to find Krishna. Therefore, deity seva in home is improving significantly. 

How bad did the six Goswamis want to see Krishna???

They went and excavated a whole village for Radha and Krishna to appear!!!

Krsna’s form is never without His name, His associated, His paraphernalia, His qualities, His places of pastimes, etc, therefore if I constantly offer Him His paraphernalia and hear about His pastimes, I will surly get to see His beautiful tri-bhanga vigrahar someday. 

BG 8.14

ananya-cetāḥ satataṁ

yo māṁ smarati nityaśaḥ

tasyāhaṁ su-labhaḥ pārtha

nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ

"For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pṛthā, because of his constant engagement in devotional service."

................

Maharaja, thank you so much for showing the way back to Goloka, the centre of the lotus. 

Please give me/us more seva.

Your aspiring servants Dhruvananda D, Dhanesvari DD, Suryani DD & Sarasvati DD.

HpS - It is typhoon in Mayapura blocking travel to Mangala Arati. Thank you for the very, very inspiring news. The Japa? Krsna book? Our Hello to the family!

Respected Hanumatpreshaka Maharaj

Dandavats. Jaya Prabhupada.

Having your association at Govardhan Eco-village a fortnight ago was immensely stimulating, intellectually and spiritually.

You embody an ocean of information, insight and vigor that is eager to flood the head and heart of anyone who is perceptive enough to receive.

Hearing about your pioneering outreach in South America was inspiring.

I seek your blessings to do my small part in our glorious movement.

Your servant,

Chaitanya Charan das

HpS - It was maybe more stimulating for us. Thank you. Sorry so slow to answer, continuous travel. What is your Sankirtan area, method, community?