Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna Gurudeva!
Please accept my humble obeisances. Jay Srila Prabhupada!
The reason for write this letter is to tell you a little what has happened in all these months regarding my devotional service and other activities.
1-
A few months ago I finished university, studying the master's degree has been a very good experience. In July I presented my final work "The beginning of the concept of bhakti yoga in Hinduism" The note was an 8/10 I think that if I had more time I could have obtained better marks but for doing the work in one month I am happy.
Having this degree allows me to have access to curse [course] a PhD. However, I don’t have the idea of to do this, since this type of study requires specialization in something very specific and I am not clear on what subject I would like to investigate. For the moment I have started to study Sanskrit and in October I will start bhakti vaibhava. I hope to start PhD in a few years but it is not something that I want to do in a short period of time.
Since August I am living in New Vrajamandala. My service is to cook for Sri Sri Radha Govinda Chandra, Sri Sri Gour Nitai and Sri Sri Laxmi Nrisimhadeva. I make breakfasts and also all Mangal sweets. On Saturdays and Sundays I travel to Madrid. My services in Madrid are: worship of deities, Kirtan Pizza, cook for the party of Sundays and a little administration. I am happy with this routine because it allows me to combine the tranquility of the farm with the activity of Madrid. I am also developing with Janardana Das a Youtube channel where we will upload didactic videos (with animations) where different spiritual themes will be explain.
2-
After finishing university, I felt a new phase of my life beginning. It has been four very good years in Madrid and I have learned many things. There have also been very hard times especially this last year. Being able to fulfill all the responsibilities of the temple and university has been very difficult but it is also motivating to have been able to pass the test.
On your last visit, we talked about my change of ashram and in July I considered that it was a good time to start a new stage, so I changed the color of my clothes to white. My reflection on this experience is as follows. I feel that I have a nature quite compatible with the monastic life and I am happy living in that way, but here in Spain there aren’t others devotees of my own age who was inclined to this type of life. Many times I felt alone because the devotees with I live daily are grihasthas and psychologically I felt alone and it was difficult to keep myself in that position. I considered two options: Go to a country where I could have more association with brahmacharis of my age or adapt my personal situation to continue in Spain. I decided that I want to stay in Spain I believe that it is my duty to help develop in one way or another the Krishna consciousness in my country. I think that there are great possibilities and I also feel great affection for the devotees, family and friends with I share my life. Now I am 25 years old and deciding to lead a monastic life from these years for me mean closing the door definitively to the possibility of family, economy, marriage, etc. Now I am not fully prepared to adopt a life and position of renunciation. I do not see my decision as a failure and I hope to be able to pass through the different ashrams in order to cultivate a true and sincere spirit of complete renunciation of the material world and absolute attachment to Sri Krishna. I have faith in the process of Krishna consciousness and I hope that one day my mind my intelligence and heart will be absolutely surrendered to Srila Prabhupada and Gour Nitai. I feel a little stupid for not being able to make this jump of faith and surrender to Krishna but I consider an obligation with you and myself to be honest and not try to hide the position in which I am. Regardless of what happens in the future makes me very happy to try to advance in spiritual life and have the great luck to associate with you and with so many incredible devotees. The devotees are the best of ISKCON!!!
In the medium term (1 or 2 years) I have in mind to develop the way to have some economic income, fortunately within my professional field in Spain (social education) there is enough work and I do not think it is difficult to find something.
Since August I am also having some contact with a devotee who lives in Valencia. She studies arts at the University of Valencia and helps in a constant way in the programs of preaching in Valencia. She is 18 years old. 16 rounds and 4 principles ok. She is very intelligent, highly appreciates the books of Srila Prabhupada and very interested in the role of the woman in the varna ashrama dharma (her view is traditional point of view). She is from Russian origin but she has been living in Spain since she was 5 years old.
3-
On your last visit, we talked about the possibility that I could travel where you are to share a period of time. This is something I would love to be able to do sometime during the summer or autumn of 2018. I would like to know if it is possible to spend with you a period of 1 or 2 months. I think that for that time I could have + - 1250 Euros to be able to dedicate to this trip. Of course, in case that is possible I would adapt to the conditions and circumstances that you tell to me.
4-
16 rounds
4 Regs ok
Mangalaratik ok (the mind deceives me and many times, I arrive 10 minutes late. I have to work on this)
I'm having some problems singing the gayatris mid-day and afternoon, I hope I can solve it.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Your servant Mantri Rama Das.
HpS - Jaya! Very nice. Only thing is that it is good to be Brahmacari or Grhasta. B'cari wearing white is not clear what is the standard. Then Maya sneaks in and you go for a walk to the beach with your associate and ... . . . . Did plan anything bad but, Maya is very clever.
What do you think.
Talk to devotees, Grhasthas about arranging marriage relationship. Check charts, talk with many people from her side, your side: Jaya Sri Rama!!!
