Letters to the editor

<cite>Hare Krsna dear Gurudeva, All glories to Srila Prabhupada our savior </cite>

<cite>Please Accept my humble obeisances</cite>

<cite>Hope your health is ok.</cite>

<cite>HpS - Best use of a bad bargain! AGTSP!    Paoho.   No reason to impede the rot. As the body rots it becomes the basis of new bodys.</cite>

<cite>Well after some time i’m back in the blog…</cite>

<cite>In some days i will be admitted in the hospital for health reasons so it’s good to write now. Well, body needs some readjustment… (It is the 8th time only this year, each time takes about 2 or 3 weeks)… i’m taking this situation as a learning. Depression is part of our days lately. I don’t know exactly what is the learning but at the end Everything Krsna does is PERFECT even if we don’t understand.</cite>

<cite>HpS - Depression. That means our energy in depressed. Not even enough energy to push the corners of our mouth up, smile, but as soon as I smile my heart responds, Ha!  Ha!   Ha!
Incompetent as we are. No matter how small and with no matter how little energy we have, with a smile and a light heart we can brachiate after Krsna with others to help.</cite>

<cite>This year was very tough in all circumstances, specially in spiritual life…chanting is getting very difficult but we keep trying to do it… when the mind is thinking in others things (we realized how attached to our body we are) is more difficult to concentrate in chanting… So chanting, worship and reading is ok but we want to do it in a better consciousness.</cite>

<cite>HpS - So do the Gopis!   Ha!   Ha!   Ha!</cite>

<cite>Due to this situation i had to leave my job and i hope to back again next year to work in the school and study at the university. We tried to do many things but the body told us to slow down. We want to help a lot but better to start doing it with ourself first.</cite>

<cite>We want to tell you many things but we are trying to keep this short so we can send more letters to the blog…</cite>

<cite>Maybe next letter from THE CAPSULE (hospital)</cite>

<cite>Thanks a lot for all your help and support</cite>

<cite>Your useless servant</cite>

<cite>Patraka Das</cite>

<cite>HpS - Maybe we tortured frogs in our last life and this is the reaction we are getting. Maharaja Bharata became a deer, but Visnu is supreme, not Siva nor Brahma, so do not look at destruction. Look at what eternal service you can develop.</cite>

<cite>Waiting for your next report.</cite>

What do you think of this:

_____________________________________

(Sannyasa) Suburban Bobba

by Guy Gismo PhD, Anjana Suta Academy  (www.jayarama.us)

Urban Monk: Exploring Karma, Consciousness, and the Divine by Gadadhara Pandit Dasa; Amazon.com

We are concerned with serving Krsna:

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema 'sādhya' kabhu naya
   śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya  (CC 2.22.107).

It is our normal life. For that, we need to become immortal. If we are going to die and then become sheep, turkeys, pig-keepers, then how will we be Krsna conscious. Srila Prabhupada may not be able to hang on to us unless we get free from so many strong material attachments like … breathing air. He may lose contact with us and we may plunge again into the 8,400,000 species of life for all eternity or for an aeon.

This is sannyasa:

Nyasa - renouncing.
San-nyasa - completely renouncing.

It is like Vanaprastha Ashrama and then Sannyasa Ashrama. You give up gross sex with a woman and then you give up even joking with women.

Of course, our ISKCON Sannyasis are trying to do this. Yes, they take Sannyasa for the fame, easy life, peace, but they also do it also for the right purpose, to get free from Samsara for their benefit, for benefit of society and for … the benefit of Krsna (Yasoda-nandana).

How can we do that in the modern world??

The Lives and Challenges of Vaishnava Sannyasis in Modernity by Yadunandana Swami https://blservices.com/product/sannyasis-in-modernity/

Gadhadhara Das, in the book cited above, talks about being an Urban Monk, but Srila Prabhupada’s mission is to deliver the Western world and most of that also requires going into the Suburbs where our congregational base lives, Suburban Monk.

How do we host an ISKCON Sannyasi in the Suburbs? Help him do his work of seeking liberation, exalted devotional service and leading us to the same platform?

Discussing the cause of his fall-down H. H. Satsvarupa Das Goswami comments that he broke the first rule of Sannyasa, being alone with a woman.

“There are so many rules and regulations to be followed in the renounced order of life. Most important of all, a sannyāsī is strictly forbidden to have any intimate relationship with a woman. He is even forbidden to talk with a woman in a secluded place. Lord Caitanya was an ideal sannyāsī, and when He was at Purī His feminine devotees could not even come near to offer their respects. They were advised to bow down from a distant place.

This is not a sign of hatred for women as a class, but it is a stricture imposed on the sannyāsī not to have close connections with women.

One has to follow the rules and regulations of a particular status of life in order to purify his existence.” BG 16.1-3 (p).

Ladies should not talk to Sannyasis unless their husband, father, grown-up sons or brothers are present.

SM: Ooof! That is not practical!

It is with some effort and the result is wonderful for all.

SM: Did Prabhupada follow that with Sally Agrawaal in Butler, Pennsylvania? He came from the YMCA where he was staying and cooked lunch before Mr. Agrawaal came home. Didn’t he talk with her alone, in a “secluded place”.

UG: Yes, there are reports of some instances like this, but we find so many times Srila Prabhupada was very strict about not being alone even for regular discussion with respectable ladies. Maybe he was in the same open room while they put flower vases in place. Maybe he answered questions simply but did not initiate or extend conversation.

These are our, Prof. G. Gismo, Anjana Suta Academy, realizations, standards, an line authorized.

SM: What if I have to talk with a visiting Sannyasi about something. Can I call him?

Make a conference call with your son. Text him with a copy to your husband.

If a Sannyasi is staying in your house and you the Dude has to go to work and leave him alone in the house with the ladies, then you offer to drop him off at the library. Understand that as a host you must have a male devotee, gentleman come and keep him company if you will be out of the house.

How can we help him in his Sannyasa?  By taking advantage of his association.

Why do universities exist? So teachers can learn.

Plan on taking Sannyasa. Understand that your comfortable Suburban environment is temporary. It is a step on the way to Vanaprastha and that is a step on the way to Sannyasa.

We may think, “Oh, I am a devotee, why do I need to undergo these formalities, Sannyasa, civil widow?” The answer is that they are formalities but not without meaning. We may have deep personal commitment between a man and a woman but still they should get formally, religiously, married.

This is a good basis, no?

Question: What does your, Uncle Gismo, PhD mean.

UG: Doctor of Phalocracia. Study it with us and we will award you the same title.

SP: You are half mad, no?

UG: Yes, but… Lord Caitanya said that one can understand Srimad Bhagavatam only when he becomes a madman like him. Of course, there are many madmen, but we want to become madmen like Lord Caitanya.

Controlling the tongue, belly and genitals.
A Sannyasi who is traveling has to eat, engage his tongue and belly, in many different places. Srila Prabhupada was a “miser” but he took the expense of traveling with a personal (even female (with male secretary)) cook, no? Once we had lunch at five different ISKCON restaurants in Mexico City before we came to Houston. We were completely sick! All of the food was Sattvic but it was all different, different consciousness. Ask your guest what he wants to offer to his Deities. Don’t offer what you think he would like, which often may be opulent, or special food that you think you would like.

Often people will cook special preparations for a Sannyasi or any special guest rather than the simple food they take daily. You don’t cook these special preps every day so many times they aren’t cooked that well and if he is eating special, opulent food daily the Sannyasi will get sick and die very soon and become a street dog.

What does he want? Does he want to cook? Let him. Invite him.

Ask him what he wants. So many times we see that people ask XYZ what this Sannyasi eats and get the wrong information. Ask him.

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.

All of us going with Srila Prabhupada to see Krsna.

Want more news, express your views? Visit us and our Blog at www.JayaRama.US.

Oink!   Wiggle, Wiggle!

Buck White here!

Can you write when you are hungry?  Are all of your essays, just your stomach talking?

Eat for you heart, eat for your soul,
   What about eating does your stomach know?

Words are like little sounds: Click! Click!   They Srila Prabhupada's feet in Braja do surround.
If you are a human or a hound, keep your nose to the ground (of Braja) and you will quickly hear Krsna's flute making a bewildering sound.

Then with the guidance of Subal et al, your chances to offer your special service will abound, on the ground, all around, with nice sound.

For how many life times we are writing these poems?  For how many lifetimes are we reading yours as they come to our homes?

We live in the dust at Srila Prabhupada's feet. We hope your messages there we will meet as we scavenge for p-nuts and raisins quite sweet.

Any service for us?

Hare Krsna, Prabhus,

Paoho.  AGTSP. Prof. Guy Gismo, here (Uncle Gismo).

For all of you Bachelors reading, you can always offer Macaroni and Velveta cheese to your Lord Nrsmha deity.

Also, if you are eating while you are typing (well, low class, but it does happen) and you get honey on your computer keys and they stick. Then, usually you can pry them up from the side and they will pop off and then you can clean the key and then push the key back in place. We say usually but maybe it will wreck your computer.

That's Science, always and element of risk.

Haré krsna  Gurudev acepte mis reverencias por favor.

Fue muy grato poder verlo en Perú , ahora y estoy nuevamente en ciudad del este - Paraguay, intentamos mantenernos firmes con nuestro sadhana , rondas y apoyando los programas de predica en el templo.

Soy el encargado de la cocina en el restaurante , en noviembre tendremos la visita de S.S mahavisnu swami junto a los harinam ruci . Con sus bendiciones espero llegar está vez al Santo dham posiblemente en febrero del 2018.

Su eterno sirviente Rohini kumar das.

HpS - Please excuse (tranlate.google.com) the delay in answering. We were traveling in INdia and Australia!  Still in the restaurant?  Doing catering?  Books on display for sale?  Classes, discussion groups, for readers?    Kirtan?

When does Maharaja come?

Plans for India more fixed?   Who is the Devotee of the Month in your Yatra!

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! 

Please accept my humble obeisances. 

It has been estimatedly a month since we have had had your association in Brisbane, but it feels like it has been such a long time. I wish you come again very soon. Brisbane needs more inspiring people to visit. I know my father would have been very excited for your visit. I think it was by his plan, and of course Lord Krishna's, that you came. 

As you said, you wanted me to write to you, so here I am, writing. I would like to ask you some questions and hope that you may enlighten me.

ASA - Esteemed Readers, this is Laksmi, Daughter of Raktaka Das and Acyuta-priya Devi Dasi, very intense person, writing.

ASA - Laksmi. Just reading this letter we are feeling very sad that we are not in Brisbane with everyone. We shall meet again.

1. How do we concentrate our minds when we chant? For example, when I am chanting, my mind runs wild. As much as I would like to think of Krsna or concentrate on the Mantra, other things seem to enter my mind; I will be thinking about what homework I haven't completed and so on ;) Of course, it takes time to develop such a stage of chanting. I am just wondering what I can do to simply enhance the quality of my chanting.

HpS - Everyone is different. It is like asking, "What is a healthy diety for me?" Basic principles are to follow the four principles strictly. That gives WONDERFUL baiss for a peacful mind. Then the full morning program. Get up early and chant as many rounds (all!) as you can early. Have a little Arati for your Deities, Kirtan, and read Srila Prabhupada's books, best with other devotees. Then should be easier to concentrate. Always chant with meaning! Pray! I want to see my, Poppa, again!  Dear Radha, I want to meet your Krsna!  Rama (Balarama), I want to get free from greed and just do something permament for others.....

2. Similarly, while we are performing some devotional service, in what mood should we be performing it? Obviously, in a loving mood and want for serving Lord Krsna, but sometimes, even without our knowledge, we will perfrom actions, for example, singing, dancing, cooking, etc. in the mode of passion or goodness. I believe the mode of goodness is better than the mode of passion, but a devotee of Krsna does not aim to be in the mode of goodness, rather something higher. So how do we attain this attitude towards our service? 

HpS - In the beginning we may be doing it out of fear, I don't want to go to hell, this is devotional service in the mode of ignorance but it helps us advance. Then in the mode of passion we want things! Relationships. O.K.  It is purifying. Then in the mode of goodness we act because we know it is the right thing to do. It will take us to our original spontaneous service. Try to do your service because you want to see Krsna, your Deities, Temple Deities, happy. Smiling at you!  SB has thousands of pages of advice about this.

Actually, another devotee from our Brisbane Yatra had passed away in Vrndavan one week ago. Her Grace Braja Vallabhi, 23, was a disciple of HH Indradyumna Swami. She was the youth administrator for the Brisbane youth and she always organised the bus tours around Australia. She was actually planning one for China mid-next year. Around two months ago, she planned a trip with us to New Govardhan for 3 days - it was very fun and inspiring. Her passing came as a shock to everyone, as did it our father's. Srimati Radharani seems quite interested in our Brisbane community.. It simply goes to show how real everything in Prabhupada's books is, despite the constant doubts that it recieves. 

I may shamefully admit that even I sometimes am not 100% certain in my faith. But I do indeed feel that nothing is pleasurable in the material world other than engaging in Krsna Consciousness - there is simply too much sufferring. Ironically, for many suffering seems to be the deterrent of faith, while for others, it seems to be the inspiration. I guess then that's why I am here and not up there, due to my lack of faith. Thus, I am trying to consolidate my faith as much as possible, which is why I am thinking of taking initiation soon, for it will serve as good spiritual guidance that I lack. 

I try to engage myself as much as possible, even trying to preach at school, despite my absence of knowledge and realisation to do so. But when we have a friendly debate, sometimes they would raise some concerns that I don't know the right responses to. They may argue, if there is a God, then why do good people suffer?

HpS - Al Capone thought he was a good guy. When they sent him to prison he said, "Look what the are doing to me!   All I ever want to do was just make some clubs where a guy could come for a good meal, meet friends, have some pretty girls around, and look what they are doing to me!

-Well you killed a lot of guys, Al.

Yeah, well they deserved it!"

So, if we look at the "good" people then why are they killing helpless animals when there is enough cheese pizza, minestroni soup and fresh gree salad?  Why are they drinking and smokng unless their life is making them unhappy.

Or Why is there so much evil in the World? I would unconvincingly give them an answer, something along the lines of karma - that everyone reaps the benefits/detriements of their actions. And then they may argue further by saying that they have not gotten any good, just bad.

HpS - Take a look at what people go through in Africa or these genocides in Europe and you will cry. You have it pretty good, Mama, Brother, then the point why is it that you are so greedy. Take what the good Lord has given you and use it and then see what results. Of course, if people DON'T want to hear then they have to see. Took the whole Maha-bharata to convice Duryodhana he had a few faults in his character.

Anyway, I may go on forever :) Please shower your mercy upon me so that I may take everything more seriously and progress in my spiritual life. 

I hope that your health is in good condition and I hope to recieve your response soon. 

Hare Krsna! 

Yours servant, 
Lakshmi Devi Dasi (Raktak's daughter :)) 

HpS - ASA -- Who are some of the kids in your school? Any of them nice? Is there somebody you envy? Why?   Teachers are all turkeys or are the all swans?