Letters to the editor

Querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte mis reverencias.

¡Todas las glorias a Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Muchas gracias por su santa asociación.

Respecto a la conexión online por la aparición y celebración de Vyasa-puja de Locana das Ṭhākura, y SS Hanumatpresaka Swami y el parampara. También habrá un humor festivo en Occidente por el nacimiento de Jesús esos días.

Envío los cálculos de tiempos con el reciente cambio, regresamos al horario normal. Este año anunciaron la eliminación del horario de verano.

24 de Diciembre:

5:30 pm de India

23 de Diciembre:

6:00 am Ciudad de México

7:00 am Lima

Muchas gracias por su misericordia Gurumaharaja.

Alguna ofrenda de bhoga en particular para el parampara?

HpS - Thank you for the information about the exact timings!

Menu for Vyasapuja we would request no Soya, Toffu etc.

Traditional Mexican dishes are usually wonderful.

Arroz, frijoles, tortillas de maiz.... tamales, tostadas etc.

O.K.?

Por otro lado, el templo ha empezado la planeación de la celebración majestuosa del 50 aniversario de la instalación de las Deidades, parece ser que se realizará justamente durante su visita a Ciudad de México. Estaremos enviando mayores informes conforme haya avances.

HpS - Super! Jaya Sri Rama!

También leímos que existe la posibilidad de volver a visitar México en Agosto del 2023.

¡Es una posibilidad maravillosa!

Talves podamos lograr que esa visita se centre más cerca de Ciudad de México en esa ocasión, por ahora tratamos de aprovechar lo mejor posible los 6 días de visita en el mes de Marzo para beneficio de todos y con sus bendiciones podemos continuar en Agosto.

Sus Señorías Radha Madana Gopal son especialmente poderosas, con Ellas he realizado que realmente Krsna es quien controla y mantiene el universo entero, desde nuestro entendimiento a Isvara podemos ir avanzando poco a poco.

Muchas gracias Gurumaharaja.

Por favor disculpe nuestras ofensas.

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente

Asta Sakhi dd

HpS - Tan pronto que es posible es importante dejar nuestras mascaras, disfraces, y salir de esta cine, y volver a ayudar con la oganizacion de los festivales de Radha-Krsna in Goloka, no?

Es bueno si eso es nuestra ultima respiracion del aire material, no?

Hare Krishna His Devine Grace Hanumatpresake Swami

All glories to srilia Prabhupada

All glories to the vishnavas

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Let me first say is what a Honor to have this privilege of being able to have your association and follow your glorious activities that inspire and encourage everyone.

Trying to keep up with all that materializes in your programs leaves me wondering how much more productive I need to be.

Myself I'm still serving in San Diego and now have the good fortune of dressing the deity's, I'm most fortunate in this regards.

I love the intamacy of serving there lordships.

I also do fruit offerings, back up services.puja to Tulsi, Prabhupada and noon Arti and fill in on alter when needed.

I'm the Gardener which is my therapy and in southern California something is always blooming.

I'm thinking of ashram life how important it is to always have that shelter.most important in the nectar of instruction.

My consideration is I'm basically a dead man walking and the fear of being a burden is a concern of mine.there's no room in the front ashram and the other is for vary young Brahmacaris.

Los Angeles has nice facilities and awesome devotees.i just love the natural beauty of San Diego.

Either way it's Krsnas call and I'm seeing what his wishes are.

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! First, it is great to ge these detailed reports. Very great. Like nectar. Yet, please fill in the formal report by clicking the "Report" button on the option ribbon above.

Second, what about working with the authorities and starting another B'cari Ashrama. Temple could contribute part of the cost. It could be you and one other person first. Then even six unrelated people in an apartment, house near the Temple?

Gainesville Temple has similar arrangment.

I follow your calendar and see you'll be back in Radha kund in March. I'd love to go there and serve while I'm still able to.

HpS - Now the Calendar is:

November 30th - January 9th = Near Radha-kunda.

9 - 24 = GEV, Imphal, Silchar, Agartala (Bombay then Northeast India).

24 - 22 February = Spain

22 - March 4 = Houston

4 - 3 April = Mexico (Monterrey, Mexico City)

3 - ??? = Houston, Nashville(?), August Mexico (??), India (???)

2024 November Go to Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan. (???)

Not sure how you handle everyone's conflicts it'd be a daunting task. I try not being that needy person and perfer giving so I'll spare you your time and gave you a glimpse of where I'm at.and wish I was doing more.

If there's any insights on any aspect of my life that need attention please direct me what needs to be done.

Eternally you're servant

Mani Bandhani das

HpS///ASA- Your words are nectar.

Take the helm, sailor! 😁

Again, go to the Report link above and fill in the short form there also!

Querido Gurumaharaja

Por favor acepte mis reverencias.

¡Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Muchas gracias por la inspiración en el servicio al gran capitán de este gran barco llamado ISKCON. 

Recordamos haber leído de parte de Usted una inspiración de Prabodhananda Sarasvati con palabras de aprecio y amor dirigidos a ISKCON, nos llevó a la inspiración de seguir trabajando en un movimiento que despierta la conciencia dormida por el hechizo de maya pero quizá administrativamente va despacio, a entender un poco su propia lucha y nos motivó el deseo de ser el neófito que desea avanzar en el proceso trascendental que Śrīla Prabhupāda describe en sus libros, mediante su guía y la asociación de los vaisnavas. Muchas gracias por inspirarnos cada día, somos muy afortunados!. 

Respecto, a la visita a Mexico, Marzo - Abril del 2023 

Cuando se incluyó algunos días para Ciudad de México algunos devotos de Chile se comunicaron, posteriormente he platicado con Priya Sakhi dd, sucede que a un grupo de vaisnavas se les facilita llegar a Ciudad de México para poder recibir la iniciación en el Templo de Sus Señorías Radha Madana Gopal, pregunté a las autoridades la posibilidad de una ceremonia de fuego en el festival de Ramanavami, informan que si usted está de acuerdo el Templo no tiene inconveniente. 

Candidatos de Chile 

Primera iniciación: 

•Diana Sánchez

•Estefanía Colella

Segunda Iniciación:

•Sripati Das

•Mandara Sakha Das

Candidato para segunda iniciación de Ciudad de México

•Laghubhagavatamrta das

Las autoridades han conversado y depositan su confianza en prabhu porque ha permanecido fijo en sus servicios en el templo desde que tomó la primera iniciación, en el 2009. 

Respecto a la predica externa en Ciudad de México, estamos platicando con algunos devotos interesados para poder presentar la propuesta en días posteriores. 

Vyasa-puja 2022

México 

24 de Diciembre (Aparición de Lochana Das Ṭhākura) en India?

En México es el día 23

Falta un poco más de un mes, de igual manera nos gustaría externar nuestro deseo de participar en algún evento online programado alrededor de estas fechas por favor. 

Muchas gracias por su misericordiosa atención.

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente

Asta Sakhi dd 

-=-=-=-

Dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept my obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you very much for the inspiration in serving the great captain of this great ship called ISKCON.

We remember having read from you an inspiration from Prabodhananda Sarasvati with words of appreciation and love addressed to ISKCON, it led us to the inspiration to continue working in a movement that awakens the consciousness asleep by the spell of maya but perhaps administratively it is going slowly, to understand a little about his own struggle and we were motivated by the desire to be the neophyte who wants to advance in the transcendental process that Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his books, through his guidance and the association of the Vaisnavas. Thank you very much for inspiring us every day, we are very lucky!

Regarding the visit to Mexico, March - April 2023

When a few days for Mexico City were included, some devotees from Chile communicated, later I have talked with Priya Sakhi dd, it happens that a group of Vaisnavas find it easier to reach Mexico City to receive initiation in the Temple of Their Lordships Radha Madana Gopal, I asked the authorities about the possibility of a fire ceremony on the Ramanavami festival, they inform that if you agree the Temple has no objection.

HpS - Thank you for your association. Thanks to the M. Ranjana Das et al.

Seems good to us.

Chilean Candidates

First initiation:

•Diana Sanchez

• Stephanie Colella

Second Initiation:

•Sripati Das

•Mandara Sakha Das

Candidate for second initiation from Mexico City

•Laghubhagavatamrta das

The authorities have spoken and place their trust in prabhu because he has remained fixed in his services in the temple since he took the first empowerment, in 2009.

ASA - Seems nice. but we need formal letters from ISKCON authorities.

Regarding the external preaching in Mexico City, we are talking with some interested devotees to be able to present the proposal in later days.

HpS - O.K. We can even work on it from Houston and Monterey when we are there.

Vyasa-puja 2022

Mexico

December 24 (Appearance of Lochana Das Ṭhākura) in India?

In Mexico it is the 23rd

HpS/ASA - We will base on India date. Guess Mexico is 10.30-hours earlier, so lot of 23rd December there will be 24th December in India.

There is a little more than a month to go, in the same way we would like to express our desire to participate in an online event scheduled around these dates please.

HpS/ASA - Yes, I guess we can do live programs in the Krsna Balarama temple in the morning and afternoon, and then online programs in the evening from home.

7AM Mexico should be 5.30PM in India.

Good plan?

Can make some recordings.

Thank you very much for your merciful attention.

Your eternal would-be servant

asta sakhi dd

ASA - Same from us, Tom Brown and Buck White!

"Hare Krishna maharaj,

Regarding Mumbai to Govardhan Eco Village January 10th, I arrive in Mumbai 9th evening and will be waiting for you at airport, 11:35am on 10th Jan. sorry I made rushed mistake in blog post. I have correct dates here. Thank you."

ASA- Thank you! So important to double check ✔ this stuff, no?

Dear maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to your service. 

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This post is to share my current travel plans and projects over the coming months.

1.      HDG Bhaktisvaurpa Damodara Swami Maharaja vyasapuja and possible education symposium, Radha Kunda November 29^th 2022. 

I have booked travel tickets and accommodation to arrive in Radha Kund evening of 26^th November and return to Mayapur 1^st December 2022.

The assignment you gave me for this symposium was put forward some ideas on how the NIOS and the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre (BRC) along with other affiliates can expand the kirtan of Sri Krishna Caitanya. I interviewd HG Hari Suari prabhu and learnt the amazing history of the BRC. I have some ideas, most of which others are probably also having. Maybe hearing them from me, this wild, youthful outsider, might kickstart something.

If symposium is no longer viable, I will cancel/postpone the above plans. 

ASA -- HK//HHR. Always welcome, but if you can save some money then maybe cancel this trip because S. Rudra broke leg and cannot come.

Also, if do come think you could stay with us.

We can talk on phone.

2.      My family and I will travel to Vrindavan for your Vyasapuja 19^th – 27^th December. 

3.      January 2023, my tickets are booked. I will meet you at Mumbai airport morning of the 11^th after which we spend the next few days at Govardhan Eco Village until we fly together to Imphal, Manipur. Programs in Manipur and Assam until the 24^thwhen we return to Delhi. 

ASA - Awwwk. We checked with Vistara, and our flight is Tuesday 10th, not 11th! Flight 927 (?) arrives 11.35am Mumbai.

I hope we didn't publish this incorrectly. We make mistakes, so best to confirm general info specifically with us.

4.      26^th January 2023, we fly to Madrid, Spain together. I am developing some ideas to contribute and research with HH Yadhunandan Swami.

ASA - Yes, flight for both of us was changed from 25th to 26th January.

There are more plans for February-March, but I will leave it at this for the blog for now. 

Your servant

Dhruvaananda Das

HpS/ASA - Many thanks!

[11/1, 6:41 PM] ABC Prabhu, Swami or Mataji wrote: Jaya Mahārāja 

My obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada 

I found out today via Gadadhara Gosai that you will be coming to Mexico in March. Wonderful for us, most welcome expectations. Had I known that you were in the Vrndavana area I would have tried to come and see you. I left Vrndavana three days ago as I am meeting with the some India leaders about their incensed feelings about Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus. 

My Sankirtan could be better but for my remaining two and fraction years as an ISKCON active committee member I doubt it will improve much, until that’s over with, still trying!

Your servant, ABC Swami, Prabhu, Mataji

[11/2, 10:34 AM] HPSwami - Prof. HHR: Thank you so much. 

Personally we don't like the term 'Vaisnavi'. It seems to have been introduced a few years ago and it seems to be offensive, like putting a material designation on the Vaisnava.

Kind of like 'atma' and 'atmi'.

We looked at the Vedabase.io for the term and it gives maybe twenty-five citations in books.

Like 18 of those are references to the Goddess Kali.

So if we say someone in ISKCON is a great ´Vaisnavi´, we cringe because the general reference would be 'She is a big Mayadevi´

😳

Then it mentions the prostitute who tried to seduce Hari Das Thakura became a Vaisnavi.

Then Diti who wanted to kill her sisters children became a Vaisnavi.

Smt. Indira Gandhi should become a Vaisnavi.

Srila Prabhupada's very esteemed sister (who was cooking food that was maybe too strong for him) was a Vaisnavi.

🙂

Yet, it says that Sikhi Mahiti's sister, who was one of Lord Caitanya's 4-1/2 most intimate associates was a Vaisnavi!

💪💪💪

So, we see real contrast in using the term, seems you can be calling the Mataji everything from a witch to the most elevated Vaisnava in creation.

🤔

What do you think?

We don't mind our personal perspectives being circulated and discussed, because we are certainly open for hearing the personal reflections of others. We know that our personal opinions are not always right.