Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Gurumaharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances
All gflories to Srila Prabhupada !!

I have not written you for some time, this year my letters have not been very frequent and I apologize for that. This year has been important in many aspects: issues such as the role of men and women in marriage, false renunciation, celibacy and control of the senses, devotional service in grhastha asrama and mundane work, surrendering and other matters have been murky, but now they have become more understandable. 

The artificiality with which we assume these commitments were very negative and brought confusion and pain for a while. On one hand, we are very ignorant in certain subjects, on the other, there is a lot of information out there and does not always come from devotees who have realized positively these issues.

There are also no well-established programs of devotee care or counseling for couples. Many of us live our process in isolation. Indira sakti and I want to be devotees and little by little we have gone finding answers to our doubts. Thank God, by reading your letters again and again, by reading the books of Srila Prabhupada and by hearing classes of exemplary devotees on the Internet we could find gold. Today we are better, the component of happiness in our process it seems to bloom discreetly, at last.

HpS - So, lets develop nice educational programs for Grhasthas.

On the other hand, I think I have found the service that best fits me in the present conjuncture of the yatra. For 8 months we have been serving the deity in Wilson's pujari and it has been a great experience. There's a lot what to learn. We really like to wake them up because the deities are more eloquent at that time, it is also a silent, intimate and solitary service, although very intense. Japa seems firm. My readings are kept systematically; in addition to Bhakti sastri with LAD, we are translating and studying  the study guide of Gauranga Priya Prabhu.

Also I am reading the complete work of the Prabhupada Lilamrta and scientific dissemination texts like Emergence by Steven Johnson that is about the theory of self-organization or about how to develop massive complex behavior from individual,  simple behaviors (ants? neurons? cities?)

HpS - Ha! Ha!  But Rome was started by two complex individuals, no?

In relation to  service, we have been gathering with  Karuna Krsna prabhu and Yugala Kisora mataji  for the coordination on education but we have not been able to do much. It seems that the National Board does not think that Yugala mother and I should be part of this commission, they would prefer other devotees more close to them. 
Working with prabhu Karuna Krsna. For now, under KKD instruction, we are working on a intellectual level, writing articles related to educational development issues. KKD is working on topics related to VAD and I prepare an article on the mechanics of learning, entitled "Learning to learn". When it's ready, I'll sent it to you so  you can kindly give me your opinion, Gurudeva.

I say goodbye with optimism because the problems are getting solved, maybe not at the pace we want, but we are improving.

I take advantage of the circumstance to ask you a question: Krsna seems permanently to expand His experience of pleasure, however, he is completely self-satisfied. Where does that longing for pleasure come from, or rather, how can being full satisfied give rise to a desire?

HpS - I think it was Goethe who said, "In desire I lack all fulfillment, and in fulfillment I lack all desire", but with Krsna let us say that part of His complete satisfaction is the knowledge that He still has desires. It is so satisfying to finish the job but then know that another job is just now coming. It is a matter of tasteful arrangments of desire and satisfaction that would be  hard to accomodate in a purely Euclidean Space, so maybe we have to include Polar Geometry as well. Ha!  Ha!    (Or even higher spaces lile Braja).

I hope your health is improving, Gurudeva.
I hope to see you soon.

Your servant
Gandharva dasa

ASA - Yeah!    You discuss so many things that we cannot respond to all of them. Even half of them. Write more often in smaller portions.
In general it seem good that your conclusion is to still be working with SRILA PRABHUPADA's Iskcon. Make it your own personal responsibility.

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada

Por favor acepte mis reverencias

La semana pasada comenzé dos grupos Bhakti vriksha. En el Callao, en casa de Prabhu Abhiram y en Chorrillos, en casa de Prabhu Gandharva. La intención es unir a los devotos y ver la manera de predicar Conciencia de Krishna. 

El curso de Introducción de Bhakti yoga esta planeado para que termine en Febrero, a la vez ellos también están realizando servicio de guirnaldas en el templo y tambien dos devotas desean aspirar a un maestro espiritual. Los alumnos que tengo son constantes y estoy tratando de acercarme más a ellos

Aprovechando mis vacaciones, estoy asistiendo 4 veces a la semana al templo de wilson para el mangala artik, a la vez que aprovecho la asociación de los devotos

Gracias por su constante inspiración

Jagat Pavitram Das

(LIMA - PERU)

HpS - Muy bien. Si, Bh. Vrksa es super sistema y por que no ampliando hasta hay seis Bh. Vrksa in Callao en entonces un Centro Permanente!

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj, por favor reciba nuestras respetuosas reverencias, seguimos en sankirtana aquí en la ciudad de Huancayo. El día martes estoy viajando a la ciudad de Huancavelica por 5 dias, para hacer sankirtana con Prabhu Adveita Takur, de ahí volvemos a Huancayo.

Por otro lado estamos muy tristes por lo que paso con madre Amparo Hernandez, seguimos muy de serca lo que paso con la madre, por telefono mi esposa le ayudo emocionalmente y moralmente, nos encargamos de comunicar a la Junta Nacional, a lo cual contamos con la ayuda de Prabhu Caturatma.

Prabhu Rupa Gosai viajo desde la ciudad de Arequipa para ver y ayudar a la madre y a su pequeño hijo.

Nos sentimos muy indignados con los devotos de ISKCON - CUSCO y sus respectivas autoridades, pues en ningún momento le ayudaron a la madre, ni siquiera fueron a verla al hospital. Cuando nos comunicamos con algunos devotos de Cusco y pedimos ayuda para la madre, lo único que se recibió fue la indiferencia en todo sentido. Ellos dicen que la madre Amparo y el devoto Amala Karuna siempre tenían problemas y que intentaron ayudarles. En un momento dijeron que la madre no tenia cáncer, que mentía, pero hay evidencias con documentos del Hospital de que la madre si tenia cáncer y de que nunca mintió.

Prabhu Raguvaran siendo su padre nunca se manifestó.

Todo esto es muy indignante e inhumano, pues hasta donde se sabe la madre Amparo quiere participar y ser parte de ISKCON,  ser iniciada por usted, también participo del curso de discípulos con Prabhu Laksmana Agraha.

No sabemos si es Karma. No sabemos por que pasan estas cosas, lo único que sabemos es que hay mucha insensibilidad e indiferencia en ISKCON – PERÚ.

Prabhu Laksmana (discípulo de Prahladananda Swami) se comunico con la ministra de la protección a la mujer en ISKCON y la ministra le dará la ayuda necesaria a la madre.

Por estas cosas que pasan a veces quisiéramos dejar ISKCON, pero por Srila Prabhupada, sus Gurus, y algunos muy buenos devotos no lo hacemos.

Esperamos que esto mejore por el bien del Sankirtana. Que Nrisimha lo proteja Guru Maharaj. Hare Krsna.

Gadai Gauranga Das

Nadiya Nivasi Dasi.

HpS - Jaya! TlgaSP. Pfanrh. Claro, soy de aqui, 3,000 miles distancia de Cuzco. Pero estamos esforzando vizitar aun que es fuerte presion en nuestra cuerpo: frio, altura, viaje...   pero eso es nuestra deber. Como un ano pasado introduzcan estas sanciones contra Amparo y Amara. Yo estaba preguntado de como tres devotos mayores de la historia, y despues cartas de Amparo contra Amala, y Amala contra Amparo. Ser Presidente de un templo de ISKCON es muchas veces mucho critica y no mucho felizidad. Yo lo hizo. Por ejemplo, Vd. y Gadai quedando en Cuzco y tomando responsibilidad para ISKCON Cuzco. El Presidente actual no tiene mas abilidad, recursos de Vds, pero es tomando esta responsibilidad.

Pegando mujers nunca es acceptable.

Ella es SUPER estable, cada dia en Mangala arati, clase, Japa,  "on-line" con nosotros. Estamos esforzando con Mathuresa Das como ella puede entrar en la comunidad otra vez, pero eso es nuestra perspectivo de 3,000 miles.

Muchas gracias hablar con ella.

Si puede ser assesor para ella it would be good, sera bueno tambien.

Hare Krsna!

AGTSP  ... Paoho..... Brown here!

We died and have gone to heaven, or somewhere like it. We answered all the mail up to three days old and only have like two letters left from our travels to India.

Our stupid car still has the same problem with the security system (won't unlock to start the engine very well) after getting it towed 35-miles to Franklin and paying $232 for a new battery. They said that was the only problem, but as soon as we go it here. The same problem.   Oooo!

But we will go ahead with whatever we have. If we have to abandon it as a $3000 mistake, O.K. We can see that now. Sometimes Krsna sends us lots of money and we have to make decision about it. Lao Tzu said that the emperor should conduct the affairs of state the same way that one should fry a small fish. We can fry small almonds. Don't waste money. Worry about making good decisions, but realize that every endeavor is covered with fault.
I know one big devotee. Big in his professional situation also. You know him too most likely. He disagreed with some of the ways his Temple President was running things, but he said that inspite of all of that he made decisions about big money matters and took responsibility. That takes guts, he said.

It is like that. So cold outside that we can't even really go into the other parts of the mobile home except for service, but warm in or little 15x15 foot cave.

We get lonely, bored, but we are also thankful for the chance to be alone. Traveling we get a lot of pressure, attention. In Mayapura maybe 600-people will pay their obeisances to us daily. Awk!   We try to reciprocate with them. We eat too many  pnuts and bananas (and jam), but we are improving, much less jam.

How are you?

We attended the:

ABC,

Saturday Morning,

SB,

Bhaktivedanta Curriculim Development,

Workshop

and it was nice.  So, nice. Seems like it will improve, in spite of our hypocrisy. Srivasa Pandita Das, Upendra ....

Then we did a power point show, Trash, that you can find by looking in the ASA Archives in the folder Trash as trash171209.pptx. That means 2017 december 9th. That one was about Kant.

Then we did another one that turned into the Syamantaka Jewel which is in the same place with the same address but a longer extension that indicates the time.

Wellllll. Is 5.08PM now. Sun has been gone since 4.30PM. Got several problems for tomorrow. Unless we connect with NGD (He has to go to the mental hospital most weekends also) we will just submerge in World Classical Literature with a little chanting of the Maha-Mantra, but will be BACK UP AND FIGHTING TOMORROW MORNING.

Hare Krsna.  Hare Krsna.

There is no doubt about it, many or most of our disciples are more advanced than we are, but the competition is not over yet.

Ha!   Ha!  Hare!

Lord Nrsmha deva is very kind to be our friend for so many years.

The process is good. It works. Our little Bhakti grows.

See you soon.

Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna!!   Fool Evening Program.

Haré Krishna dear gurudeva please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada

thank you very much for your answer

ASA - Two Months ago!   Sorry for delay. Traveling to India.

...is just  i needed, you are the main force for me, 

now I have been given the great opportunity to travel through South America doing Harinama and sankirtan with Mahavisnu Swami until December and the temple authorities agree

I feel that I am very white I need inspiration.

ASA - White???   Green, maybe?  Means fresh, new, inexperienced.

Please, I ask for your blessings in order to distribute thousands of books.

HpS - Hare Krsna!!!!!  It may help a little bit, but need blessing of other ISKCON members more.

you are my own life

HpS - You are very kind!  What has happened since this letter?  You had a big fall down and have been eating chocolate every month?  You have been instructed to take Sannyasa??

his servant Vrajndra kumara das

ASA - Your servants!!!!!   HpS, TB, BW et al. Try to make people ito book distributors.

Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaja ! AGTSP ! PAMHO

I hope you are in good health at the time of receiving this letter.

HpS - ASA - Our health or Brother Asses health?  We had not thought about it but Brother Ass does not have stomach pain, hip pain or heart arrhytmia today but has put on a little weight and eyes are certainly fading and deep respiration requires some little attention.

Oink!    It is good. It is very good. Soon this well used body will dissolve and the parts recycled into another body. Where will be go? We think that we may take birth as an ugly, greedy, little fat girl in ISKCON with a complexion like crudded milk, with stupid selfish character, an alcoholic mother and father etc. Hope they endorse home schooling and our mother lays off Whiskey Sours while we are in embryo and we can find the KRSNA book as soon as we are able to see pictures!

I'm writing to tell you that last saturday, december 2nd, we had a wonderful Ratha Yatra Festival here in Santiago de Chile!

ASA - Lucky, Rascal!

A few days before, I went to the airpoirt with the Iskcon Chile Team for HH Maha Visnu Swami and Harinam Ruci. They are really amazing ! They came out chanting Hare Krishna, playing Mrdangas and Kartalas, involving all the people in the airport and everyone was happy and participating in the chanting!

ASA - Did you also chant to receive them?   Flags?!

Since the beginning they was [were] a source of inspiration for all of us. I was able to accompany them to 3 Harinam by the morning, before Bhagavatam class, It was really pure nectar! Even we all get [got] into a school[s] and everybody there was happy and no any gard [guard] make some problem for us !! and the school's children started that day chanting Hare Krishna !!

The Festival day I was working helping to the production team since early morning. I've got a chevrolet van so was very useful the whole day. It's called Bhaktimobile and has done many service this year in each festival... in its next lifetime will be a Ferrari  XD

ASA - Maybe a golden chariot in Dvaraka or even better a bull cart in Braja.

Saturday midday, Santiago's main street was closed and the Lord's Chariot passed dazzling. Many devotees dancing and chanting and many new people came to the starting point and many new people joined as the chariot moved. HH Maha Visnu Swami leading the Kirtan. The police escorting. Many many people pulling the strings [ropes] and making advancing the Chariot of Lord Jaghanatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Srila Prabhupada !  

Aprox 2 hours after starting all we came to one of the most important and central parks in Santiago [what name????], there was the stage and the stand with Prasadama, books, yoga and ayurveda, etc. Many people who were in transit there were staying a while to participate. 9 pm festival was over.

ASA - And all the devotes dead! 

Everyone back in the Temple was with the energy so high, still chanting and dancing with the devotees of Harinam Ruci, they really never stop! [Not Dead] When I returned home almost midnight, I just could not sleep, but I was very happy. 

The governor and the team of the municipal office were very satisfied with all the work of ISKCON Chile. They said want to do more things with us. Also mass media.

I send some pictures. 

Please, Guru Maharaja, forgive all the mistakes that this foolish human being makes in the communication to you.

ASA - Hey, Dude, you keep writing like this we'll give you the ASA Pullitzer prize for journalism!   Are we right, everyone??

HARE KRISHNA !!!!!!
Your aspiring disciple and servant,
Carlos Rold

(The boy in the Maharaja picture is the oldest Visvanatha's son)

ASA - Oink!   Oink!!     Whoop!     WHoop!       Next write about a Sunday Festival in Santiago. Distribute this letter locally.