Hare Krishna Maharaj!
Pamho! AgtSP!
Thank you for your response on the last letter. I’m engaging in war with my mind every day to get some discipline established. Its tough but doable [to some degree.] Trying to not eat at night so I can wake up in the mornings. Morning programs are nice (best on the rainy days). Will also try to make more FEPS (the notifications are so short notice!)
Somehow managed to get accommodations in Vraja—close to ISKCON temple. I will be splitting the room with another nice girl from the UK. Krishna is kind. Any recommendations of things to do that aren’t mainstream (of course govardhan, Parikrama, offering ghee lamps, etc…but anything off the beaten path …that Brajvasis do?)
ASA - When you get their just look for new friends at the Temple. When two thieves meet upon the road they need no introduction, they know each other by sight.
Go to the English Gita class in the evenings.
Get some one to take you to the "Old" Radha Govinda Temple. It is the one Rupa Goswami built. Just sit in a corner and chant and try to imagine what is was like at Janmaastami 500-years ago.
Chant Hare Krsna and wander around with a girl friend. You might meet a Gopi. You might not come back.
Get vdm.docx from our ASA Archives. It is worth $25,000,000. Read it slowly while you are in Vraja.
You asked about father’s spiritual purification. I’m not sure if you’ve known, but my dad’s a Shiva devotee… he still worships Krishna and Vishnu and everything…and he’s encouraging about my spiritual practice but often sees it as a ‘diluted’ version as compared to traditional Hinduism (then again he doesn’t read so I can’t hold his opinions in high regard) …and he also has been chewing tobacco since his days in the air force and it’s a habit he’s tried to quit so many times but now just accepted it and basically justifies it saying Shiva does it so it’s okay (which is total hogwash in my opinion). He also fasts on Ekadasis and Mondays (yet still chews the tobacco so I doubt there’s progress there…)
So I can’t really gauge his spiritual trajectory. But it is because of him that I had an ‘inkling’ of spiritual practice from a young age. He’d encourage my sister and I to fast and participate in aarti early mornings and make offerings to the Lord. The tobacco issue is something we’ve beaten to a pulp. No change. I honestly don’t have any expectations either. I just need to be grateful for what’s been provided to me by them. I have friends whose families are very discouraging about Krishna consciousness and am fortunate not to be on that boat.
I doubt I willl cross paths with you in India, but I do wish you the smoothest journey, free of complications.
Please keep shining your grace and mercy Gurudev.
Thank you for your mercy.
Your struggling servant,
Sugopi dd
(P.S. Purnima darshan attached!)
HpS - Well, get an India SIM card after you arrive and maybe we will see each other. Best preaching is example.
