Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Gurudeva, I'm writing this letter to you because my heart is broken. On Sunday, March 31, a great friend of my daughter, Trinidad Bunster, 20 years old, the same age as my daughter, abruptly left the body. They had been friends since childhood and companions at school and in scouts. I always treated Trinidad like a daughter and she had a lot of association with me because she lived near us and the girls spent a lot of time together. She became a vegetarian by association with my daughter, she ate Prasadam many times, she always asked me things and took Srila Prabhupada's books.

It was in a car accident, there were two girls and two boys, the boy driving was drunk and speeding, they were probably all under the influence of alcohol. The crash was against a grove of trees at 1 am and Trinidad was ejected through the windshield and died instantly. The other girl, Agustina, finally left the body at 7 am.

Once Trinidad's mother called me on the phone to ask for guidance because the relationship between them was not good, the father was far away and apparently he had very little communication with his daughters, the mother also said "Trinidad told me that she would love to have a father like you are with your daughter.”

I want to ask you, please Gurudeva, to intercede for Trinidad to Sri Sri Radha Krishna and to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Gauranga Nityananda so that she becomes a devotee in her next life. I know that you can communicate directly with Srila Prabhupada, please Gurudeva, ask Srila Prabhupada for Trinidad so that she becomes a devotee in her next life, please Gurudeva, I pray to you, I beg you.

Gurudeva, I ask you to forgive me if this request is not appropriate or is not the properly way, if there is I don't know how it is, I just let myself be guided by my heart, and I know that I'm offensive by nature, but I'm rehabilitating myself, Gurudeva, thanks to your mercy and Srila Prabhupada.

I want to ask you some questions that I know are complex, but if you know anything about it according to the information we have in the Sacred Scriptures and in the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, in cases like that of Trinidad who left the body instantly and She wasn't a devotee but she is very favorable, ate prasadam many times, asked questions and took with her some Prabhupada's books; I know that the soul leaves the gross body and remains within the subtle body and continues on this world for some time and she is always with Paramatma; what could have happened to her soul at the time of leaving the body?, Have the Yamadutas come to look for her immediately or the Vishnudutas or perhaps some ancestor to assist her?, When approximately does the soul take new birth in cases like this?, What is the most important thing we should do and know in these situations?, How can I help her from where I'm now to where she is now?

Please Gurudeva, I apologize again if the way I ask you these questions is not appropriate, but my heart is broken, even knowing that we are not this body and that life is eternal, it hurts me a lot and It's hard to understand or assimilate, I want to be able to help Trinidad and maybe her family. On the day of the funeral I gave a Bhagavad Gita to her younger sister who is 18 years old, she accepted it moved and with great gratitude.

On Monday, and like every Monday, I had to make garlands for Sri Sri Gaura Nitay and Srila Prabhupada, I made them with a photo of Trinidad behind me and constantly asking to my Eternal Lord for that soul very dear to me. On the day of the funeral I told this to her mother and showed her the garlands in action decorating Sri Sri Gaura Nitay; I told to the father that Trinidad was like a daughter to me, he responded "I know."

Abhirama Thakur Das called me on Wednesday am to ask me something related to H.H. Bhakti Bhusana Swami and his visit to Sri Sri Gaura Nitay Santiago de Chile Mandir, and he told me that on the seventh day I can do a bounded and simple Sraddha ceremony that consists of offering a Prasadam to a photo of Trinidad and then putting that Prasadam in a bag and throwing it into the river or the sea.

Gurudeva, I'm sending to you a photo of Trinidad.

Soon I will send to you another letter regarding my personal process. Thank you very much for everything, Gurudeva, this year marked 10 years since I met you, the first time I saw you, on January 21, 2014 was when I did that interview with you for Mundo Nuevo Magazine at the Government Palace of Chile, into a special interviews room, with a lot of your disciples and wellwishers, the day I met also my dearest godbrother Rodrigo Hernández Piceros who made the video recording, we liked each other that same day. And the first impression I had about you after the interview was that you are the most intelligent and humble person I have ever met in my entire life. I had already interviewed very interesting and important people from Chile and even other countries. A few months earlier I produced a conversation/interview event at Centro Cultural de Las Condes with special and main guest Don Humberto Maturana, the important internationally recognized Chilean scientist and philosopher who at that same time was holding meetings with you and he was even a spectator and guest of honor at one of your conferences that you gave in the Centro Cultural Casa Pablo Neruda, I was also at that conference. And coming back to our first interview, after almost 3 hours of conversation you went to give your conference in the main auditorium of the Palace, a very big event with very important people in the audience; since then my life is no longer the same, you gave me an opportunity to understand God and serve Srila Prabhupada; today my greatest desire is to be your eternal servant, please Gurudeva, use me in your service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cscq66Ec8qc&t=60s

Srila Prabhupada always said that this material world is a terrible place; everything he said and everything he did is the absolute truth for me.

Thank you very much Gurudeva, please accept my humble and respectful obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!

All glories to H.H. Hanumatpresaka Swami!!!

Your aspiring servant,

Carlos from Iskcon Chile.

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. Paoho. Of course, Krsna is attentive to anyone who is trying to follow His devotee. You are trying to follow Srila Prabhupada, 16/4 etc.

So, the basic answer is that she has gone up

She was aware of the relationship that you had to her, the consciousness in that relationship, the Bhava,

Krsna is helping her.

Where is she?

Where is the car?

Same answer, so many details involved that would take time to find out.

Keep her picture where you can see it.

Chant some Japa for her.

If she is very close, she will experience it and it will help here even more.

Offer Mahaprasada to the picture.

Observe celebration on anniversary of her changing body.

Maybe you will have contact with her in dreams!

She has gone up and many opportunities and being presented to her.

Thank you.

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, pamho

I promised to share pictures about my birthday.

My very dear Palika dd made my cake, very delicious with a lots of affection. My friend Lisset Graham who is university professor as well was amazed by the prasadam. She is very supportive and intelligent.

I am most of the time exhausted by my job, but I love to teach. I went to Siva ratri (Gita Asram) a really nice festival.

I have to confess that I was too overwhelmed the last 2 months that I missed to Ekadasis. I ate grains without thinking I was so sorry. For one I did the fast the next day but the other I missed it completely. But I did Papamcani EKadasi.

P Baladeva is visiting us. But honestly I doubt that he can do something to change the situation un Iskcon Perú. In the future maybe Iskcon Perú is going to be divided in two groups. Kurukshetra !!!!

I bought a new crown for my Radhika. We can use rings in order to use them as crowns for our deities

Today is eclipse. Time for introspection

Reciting mantras is very auspicioso. Specially Maha Mantra Hare Krsna

Thanks a bunch Gurudeva

See you in FMS

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

Hare Krishna, Maharaja and devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Guru and Gauranga.

This is a Blog Post for next Sunday morning ~ Srimad Bhagavatam workshop on weekly reading on Sri Caitanya Caritamrta . On coming Sunday (April 7, 2024), we will start reading CHAPTER SEVEN: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India. Thank you.

It is the mercy of Maharaja, to engage everyone in reading books of Srila Prabhupada.

YS

Upendra dasa

oink.... whoop.... gronk!...... . . Brack.

we are dead... such a full, full day with some efforts to receive Sri Hari Das properly.

we Tweeted some of the endeavors and results.

now we join Sri Sri Radha Natabara Sang and Take Rest.

or maybe the other way around.

🐶 😺 🐵

🎰 🔬

Dear Guru Maharaj ji

Please accept our humble obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

We pray that our dear Guru Maharaj soon recovers his physical health fully.

ASA - There is no physical health, no? Body is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, is born, grows, diminishes and dies, no?

Only good body is a dead [forever body} no???

❓

...his children still need their Guru to support them to stand , run, and eventually fly on their own.gh

HpS - 🙂 - How long you been initiated???? At 24-years you should become Goswami. 💪

We've had a very adventurous February.

Almost a whole month Tirtha yatra in South India,....

Kolkata to Trichurapally to Madhurai, to Srirangam to Rameshwaram to Chennai to Kurnool to Ahobilam to Tirupati.

ASA - ❗

My wife in Ahobilam climbed the Narsimha Stambha in her flipflops.

Whereas I with bandaged feet managed to climb half way to base camp.

In Karnool we joined a group of 10 devotee friends , and performed Kirtan for the 2 day grand wedding celebrations of the daughter of a senior minister of Andhra Pradesh.

I think there were about 5000 guests.

HpS - 💥 Maya does not like that!

Whilst relieved to be back in

Sridham Mayapur,

I had to dive straight back into my seva...

As the chairman of the board for the joint masterplan for Mayapur Institute,

Mayapur Academy and the

Kirtan Academy....whilst tempted to resign...almost every day 😊, I have

not yet succeeded...letters of Srila Prabhupada to his disciples, very patiently teaching the very basics of almost everything , shows me what it really means to be comitted to serving ones own Guru,

...so I think with your blessings, I will continue...for now.

ASA 🐶 Dog bless you! Remember that unless you have your own First Aid clear you can't do much for anyone else, no?

My wife also resumed her regular seva at

Srila Prabhupadas Bhajan Kutir and At

Radha Madhavas deity department, along with

daily distribution of Narsimha Devs maha Kheer Prasad.

By your mercy

I received my Bhakti Vaibhava on 9th March, and

will now attempt a 4 years, Bhakti Vedanta course.

I also hope to

complete Teachers training in May and then

Start to teach at the Mayapur Institute.

With all the celebrations over ...atleast.for now...

There is now possibility of attending Mangal Arti in a normal manner.

Summertime for many is the time to escape the heat....

but for us it offers an opportunity to try and perform our sadhana more deeply.

Dear Guru Maharaj, we pray for your good health.

Forever indebted for your causeless mercy and affection.

Your servants

From Sridham Mayapur

Gaura Gadadhar Devi Dasi

And Vira Gopal Das 🙏

HpS - ASA --- Hare Krsna. Hare Rama!! Hare Krsna. Hare Rama!!!!

This news is worth 1-million dollars to all of us.

"tava kathamrtam..."

Hare Krishna Maharaja, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances;

all glories to our Iskcon Founder acharya, Srila Prabhupada;

all glories to your good self, for your exemplary devotional service.

I have been thinking of you often, wondering about your health, worried that you would leave us soon: recalling the years of kindness you have shown my wife and I.

HpS - ASA --- AgtSP. Radha and Krsna have to leave in the morning!

How I wish I could do some meaningful service to you. I have noted your instruction in your reply to my last letter to "not give up on the Boise temple." It is on my mind often: more than I care to admit. I confess that it's hard to be hopeful about a community that has pushed me away more than once; a community that I have no trust in, and yet still I choose to live here because of my comfortable living situation. I would like to think that things can change, but I don't see how: given the persistence of current realities that dominate the mood here. Still, your words are good enough for me to keep an open mind.

HpS - Krsna didn't give up on Dur Yodhana! He even arranged for him to harrass Draupadi so that he could see himself as he really was!

I'm still hoping for Bhakta Riley's comments!!!

I joined Lord Chaitanaya's movement as a young man at 26 years of age; now I'm 73. I wonder about the devotees who joined in my days. A couple of godbrothers who were initiated alongside with me have passed away [gone ahead?]since.

The thought of their passing sometimes brings tears to my eyes, when I dwell on it. I recall often how when we were younger we used to try and preach about old age and the sufferings that often come with it. We tried to speak with realizations on the matter, although we were all young men and women. Now of course old age is a practical reality for us: and a pending reality for the next generation. I sometimes recall Srila Prabhpada's words in the Lilamrita as he lay on his deathbed, "Don't think this won't happen to you."

Although I have been fortunate to remain in the practice of devotional service for all these years, I am not able to comprehend how.

HpS - Guru krpa!!?

How did I apply myself to rising early, taking cold showers, participating in a full morning sadhana for hours on end, day after day after day, all these years?

I thought that living outside the temple as a householder

would certainly make my sadhana easier.

But applying a standard that resembles the temple routine

when living outside outside the commune is not any easier.

It's so easy to get lazy, make excuses, find fault,

ASA - It seems that San Andreas had a big fault!?

...and let other matters take priority over our sadhana

because no one is looking.

The list of excuses for being careless just goes on and on. And I confess I have slipped into that mess more than I care to admit.

.... asa

During my japa I sometimes reflect on how Krishna's mercy is incredible, that He allows

me to somehow or other keep up the struggle to

hold on to my sadhana. There is

great comfort at such moments. I have

no doubts

that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead;I have no doubts about

Srila Prabhupada;

I have no regrets about

coming to Krishna consciousness and

making the decision to be a devotee.

But I cannot deny the existence of material desires in my heart, the attachments that dominate my daily realities, the many offenses I am guilty of,

ASA - Maybe you and Mataji can be Chand Kazi in your next life time and we can be your Constables.

Naaaa. tooo much work.... better... you can be a Bhattacharya in Nabadvipa and Nimai and His gang can keep coming to our school!?!!

and the sinful karma that still haunts my efforts to take devotional service seriously.

What am I going to do?

Even after so many years of practice I am as wicked and as attached as ever.

ASA - Is that a citations from "Gopinatha" by Bhaktivinode Thakura!!!?

When I dwell on it deeply, it brings tears to my eyes: how Krishna still holds on to me regardless.

It is only by good fortune that my rounds are all accomplished by 8AM, before the rest of my daily affairs, at least 95% of the time. The early morning hours are quiet, the world is asleep and it is easier for me to apply myself because of the peacefulness that comes with the early morning hours. I am reminded of how Krishna states in Bhagavad gita "The time of awakening for the devotee is night for the conditioned souls." And yet, in spite of such favorable moments, my mind is ever so restless, stubborn and resistant, making it impossible for me to concentrate on the task at hand: japa. Arjuna had good cause to point it out in the 6th chapter. Practical experience of how our minds are rebellious confirms his attitude.

My morning online Bhagavatam classes are still happening, and posted on my youtube channel. You will note how I have a big imagination, thinking that someone out there will really care to hear anything I have to say. Thus far I have no audience, except for my wife, and once in a while Mother Tammy. Fortunately, I am able to take in association with the Bhagavatam classes from Hawaii most mornings. Sometimes my wife and I do some reading from the CC in the evenings. There are evening classes from Hawaii on Bhagavad gita that I attend twice a week, and I hold Bhagavad gita classes every Tuesday evenings.

There is so much more that I would like to do, and that I can do if I could be more sincere and more determined in my heart: such as posting stories from the Mahabharata online. But I still have to work for our worldly livelihood, and I don't always have the strength to do more at the end of the day. Somtimes I am so moded-out that I just don't want to: such is my reality as a so-called devotee. It's no wonder my devotional life is a mess. How in the world did I manage to remain a devotee all of these years?

I have to conclude that it is only by the mercy of guru and Gauranga, the mercy of compassionate devotees like your good self, that my wife and I have somehow or other survived all these years of struggle in Krishna consciousnes. There is no other explanation that makes sense or will suffice: Hare Krishna.

Your lowly servant,

Balabhadra dasa

HpS - ASA ---- Many devotee have fallen into walking behind Johnny Walker. I can only suggest what I do: Build your character more and more, as much as you can and always be eager for any preaching opportunity. It maybe a lifetime in preparation, no? So what... there is no other option.

A good General is not going to waste even a 75% sincere corporal.!!

Next lettter???? ?

Thank you!!!