Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna! Please accept my obeisances, AGTSP!

Dear Maharaja, life was much simpler and it has only grown more complicated as I enter adulthood. This last year was so bizzare, Prahlad commiting suicide had a large impact on me and then a few months later my sister died from cancer, that was certainly the hardest experience of my life to go through. On her death bed I gave her my Tulsi neckbeads, put Radha Kunda water on her head, chanted with her and played Srila Prabhupada japa.  My family members really had no clue how to help her move on from this body and for once they saw me in a new light, as I was the only one that was able to hold it together. 

By spring time I started a small business of growing food/bulk buying dried fruits, nuts and selling it at the Sunday Feast, farmers markets, grocery stores. There were many difficulties in this endeavour, and I was not making much money doing it, however this certainly can be profitable if things are organized better.

In August I started working off the farm at a grocery store, now I am in the midst of switching jobs to be a greenhouse manager at a local community center. 

I have been trying to pursue a partnership with Alyssa since last winter. It has been up and down, sometimes inspiring and devotionally inclined, most times a struggle.

I feel that my spiritual life as declined tremendously, yet I never stop hoping and praying that I will rise above these lower modes, addictions, and bad habits etc. ASAP. Sometimes I feel a great catastrophe will soon befall my life due to the great ignorance that holds me back from God.  I really only want to be a devotee and to serve in the mission of respiritualizing human society. Lately I have felt the urge to runaway and go to India or to become your travel companion, my heart aches with lonliness and confusion, and I believe something has to change soon.

As far as internet preaching goes, my page is up to nearly 2000 followers, I have been doing regular live streams still. About 5 people have taken things very seriously and started attending their local temple and practicing.  Probably 20 or so others are very close but still on the fence. 

Here are some pictures to show You what I've been up to.

HpS - Running away to India or anything else is not much solution. What you are doing seems reasonable. Just have to push...

push

push  to do mo rounds betta!  Make vow!!!!   Declare it here!  Eg. I will chant. 6-rounds a day minimum, 15,,  for two weeks. Something you know you can do then do it.  The Yuga dharma. The way up can be very quick!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOCcSmP_t8U&t=776s     From 12.00 minutes

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!!

Hare Krsna Gurudev, reciba mis respetuosas reverencias, bueno, como siempre seguimos aqui en Huancayo - Perú,

HpS - Ya esta Vd. Alcalde?

...como siempre las pruebas que hay, y como siempre luchando por pasar las pruebas de la bruja maya.

HpS - Y el progresso es eterno!

En la carta anterior me hizo esta pregunta:

Su restaurante, snack, atraya nuevo gente? Clients regular?

Si, hay gente nueva, también hay clientes regulares, la mayoria de gente es vuelve vegetariana por salud, también algunos son enfermos, pues a dos cuadras hay un Hospital, algunos interezados en los libros de Srila Prabhupada y en saber más sobre la conciencia de Krsna. Bueno, el efecto es mucho menor que salir a las calles con los libros de Srila Prabhupada.

HpS - Si, pero si podemos mantener es bueno. Prasadam, prasadam, prasadam, sus corazones se cambian.  Y tambien puede cultivar la gente que encuentran en la calle en el Snack, no?

En mi experiencia propia hay más oportunidad de encontrarce con gente interezada cuando se sale de Sankirtan, la experiencia en ese instante es muy diferente y la energia también, el Sankirtan Yajña para esta era de Kali, obviamente no es un sueño, es la realidad.

HpS - Si, es bueno hombre a hombre en la calle. Hay mucho mas gente, no? Pero cada persona tiene su abilidad y naturaleza. Buscando nuestra posicion en la ejercito de Sri Gauranga.

Por otro lado, la salud esta algo estable, bueno igual todos vamos a Morir, asi que mejor Morir haciendo Sankirtan.

Nuestro Sadhana es regular, Mangal Arik 5 am, Gaura artik los miercoles y sabados, cuatro principios regulativos, 16 rondas de yapa, Gayatris, algunas veces fallando al medio dia pero recuperando en las tardes 6 pm, lectura de Srimad-Bhagavatam canto2, Krsna Book en las noches, solo nos falta la leche caliente, jejeje.

HpS - Cuales capitulos en el libro Krsna, Canto 2?

La base de sankirtan que estamos haciendo en los terrenos, esta entrando a la recta final, esperamos por la misericordia de Sri Nityananda que todo salga bien en estos dos meses de septiembre y octubre.

Quizá un sankirtana viajero para fines de Octubre, (Ayacucho, Cusco, Puno, Bolivia, Arequipa). Esperamos se concrete este Sankirtan viajero.  LIBROS, LIBROS, LIBROS....

Bueno Guru Maharaj me despido, gracias por todo, Hare Krsna!!!

Gadai Gauranga Das

ASA - Sankirtan viajero con ????

Querido Gurumaharaja:
Por favor acepte mis reverencias!
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada! 
Ayer, 19 de Septiembre, un sismo de 7.1 grados movió fuertemente a México. Esta vez Ciudad de México resultó  afectado. 
El Templo y las Deidades están bien, se está organizando Food for life.
La comunidad de vaisnavas se están  reportando sin daños.  Hemos preguntado y parece que los monos de ASA Mex se encuentran también ilesos.

​​​ A las 11:00 del 19/09/17 se activó la alarma del simulacro conmemorando 32 años del terremoto de 1985, dos horas después la pesadilla se repitió una vez más para México! 

Más de 200 muertos hasta el momento, aún hay gente atrapada en los escombros,  muchos edificios colapsaron incluyendo una escuela con niños. 
No tenemos televisión, pero nos informamos por las redes sociales. 

Aún estamos con el trauma pero agradecidos con Sri Nrsimhadeva; desde el cuarto piso del edificio sin oportunidad de salir pensé  "llegó el momento de partir Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna!!!! " ... pero seguimos vivos! Y el edificio resistió sin daños en esta ocasión. 
Prabhu Manash Ranjan también se encuentra bien. 

Estaré reportando cualquier novedad si Sri Krishna nos permite. 

Sus bendiciones por favor. 
Su eterna aspirante a sirviente 
Asta Sakhi dd.

HpS-ASA --  Hare Krsna!   Require tan fuerte agitacion exterior de Krsna para producir un poco movimiento en nuestras corazones dan duros.  Esforazamos cantar mas. Hay un disaster en Goloka par nuestra absentia. 

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!!!

Dear Gurudeva:

All glories to Sri Sri Radha Krishna

All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you

Please accept my most humble obeisances

Every sunday I go to Temple´s kitchen to help, I talked with the devotee in charge and I said him that I want to learn to cook, He´s teaching me. Sometimes the kitchen is really hard, but I love that place, the devotees and what we are doing, I think I found my place.

Sankirtan is getting better, last week I distributed some books at work, my co-workers were so glad, even my boss called me to his office to know more about the books.

My first question is about Sankirtan, we always talk about preaching with the example, how can I preach something about I don´t have a realization? I know I´m not this body, but I don´t act like that, how am I going to talk about that?

HpS - You can just tell people what you are actually experiencing. Maybe the Bhagavatam gives you peace when you read it. Maybe you think the contents are very rational and as far as you apply them they have helped you understand that you are not your body. Maybe you have had some special mercy from Guru and Krsna and you can tell them about that experience. Just consider what you know and tell them that. You can just be a post-man, deliver the $1,000,000 check., They are more intelligent than us. We can think that they will get more out of the books than us.  Make friends.

Second question: How can we have a realization about our only occupation is devotional service and leave fruitive activities?
HpS - By gradually seeing, experimenting, investigating Srila Prabhupada and then we trust what he says is true. Then we try to just serve Krsna and it works. Everything else improves!

Situation: Sometimes, not all time, I feel emotionally really bad, when It happens I think: I want to get out of here, Krishna Conciousness is the only way! Then I think: what´s my motor [motive], serve to Krishna or leave this world?

HpS: We want to get out of "this" world, mud, so we can serve Krsna!   Become attached to Krsna and detached from Maya.

You are my everyday inspiration, my mom used to say me: sos la luz de mis ojos. Gurudeva, usted es la luz de mis ojos.

HpS - We are very bad representatives of Srila Prabhupada, but he can give us some use by his mercy!!

To serve you
Bhaktin Carol

HpS - ASA -- News of the Yatra?  Who, when, where, what!!!

Hari Bolo!

We just finished revising the Art and the Sacred, Packing our Luggage, PPTX. It is at www.jayarama.us/archives/art-sacred/luggage.pptx  with contributions of Oscar, Dr. Kalyan, Dr. Dolores Chavez et al.

Last turn to contribute (in this Set?)!