Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Mahārāja, All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Please accept my humble obeisances.

CC Ādi 1.35, purport

Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.

My understanding of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s statement, where he cites Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, is that a sincere seeker who is ready to accept a spiritual master should not do so on the basis of hereditary succession (birth, dynasty, nationality), customary or social conventions, or ecclesiastical and institutional procedures.

It seems to me that accepting a guru is an intimate and deeply personal spiritual relationship, founded on realization, qualification, and genuine guidance in Kṛṣṇa-bhakti — not merely on social structure or organizational authorization.

At the same time, within ISKCON there is a formal institutional process by which one is recommended, evaluated, and approved to act as a dīkṣā-guru. This creates some uncertainty in my mind about how to reconcile that structured procedure with the principle that accepting a spiritual master should not be based on ecclesiastical conventions.

From this question, several other challenges seem to arise. One example is whether a jīva-ātmā in a female body could act as an initiating spiritual master.

That is my specific doubt here. Since I try to follow Śrīla Prabhupāda’s words carefully and faithfully, I would very much appreciate your comments and guidance on this matter.

Thank you!

In an attempt to be your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS - AgtSP.

What comes to our mind is that a baby should not accept milk from a nanny goat.

In the beginning it is not so much of an intimate relationship, no?

Somebody is offering us a ripple and the result is good.

We take Prabhupada at path-pradarsika Guru and become intimate enough to get Baptized by him.

He does not require blind faith.

As long as he is advancing us, we agree to follow the process.

Then we see him from the level of Brahman, then paramatma, then bhagavan, then brajabasi

Narada muni can direct us to Radha kunda but cannot go there.

The institution is like Nanda Maharaja's village.

They are formalities but not without meaning.

When proper even the institutional authorities know that these are roles they play and behind them are there personal friendships and dealings in the community.

O. K.?

One step forward?

The Gopis Attracted by the Flute of Krsna?

Dear Guru Maharaja, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances.

Here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/16158/ you write

"We see so, so, so many problems in ISKCON. This is natural, no? "

We hear that there are difficulties within ISKCON. Perhaps that is natural in any growing spiritual society — but still, it raises questions.

Would you be willing to share what you see as some of the main challenges at present? How do they affect you personally? How do they affect the members of ISKCON and its overall mission?

I would also be grateful to hear your reflections on how you respond to such issues. Do you see any constructive ways forward or possible solutions?

Any thoughts you feel inspired to share on this topic would be deeply appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time and guidance.

Trying to become your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS - AgtSP! Paoho. Thank you for this letter and we see there are previous ones. We are trying to get to them also.

We heard from Srila Prabhupada's lips when he was in San Francisco, Berkeley, in 1975 when a reporter asked him if there were problems in his temples.

Srila Prabhupada responded, "This is the material world. There are problems everywhere".

Even when KRSNA!!! was personally present in Vrndavana!!! demons such as Keshi were coming and their loud whinnying was so terrifying that it caused some of the girls to have miscarriages!

Krsna in Vrndavana!

Not a seven year devotee as Temple President in some modern ISKCON city!

Yet, if the Temple is within the basic standard set by Srila Prabhupada then all the problems are under Krsna's personal control for His lila and Gaura lile, Sankirtan.

We have to find what role we are playing in Gaura lila.

Krsna asked Bhisma deva to not stop any Adharma that happened in the game of dice, no?

Bhisma thought is was a catastrophe what they were doing to Draupadi and was read to draw his sword and personally defend, but then he restrained himself with great effort and felt that Bhagavan was playing His game and I have to understand my part.

In the first stage they will laugh at us.

In the second stage they will attack you.

In the third stage, where we are now on a global level, they will take you seriously and start to expect serious, practical, mature advice and see practical examples from us.

Challenge now is not surviving poverty and ignomity. Problem now is surviving honor and power!

O.K.?

Going to chant three more of our 25 rounds and then Gaura arati and BG class.

100-people coming??!

Good luck!!

Hare Krishna, beloved Gurudeva. AGTSP, PAMHO

I am writing with a sincere and respectful question that has been on my mind for some time. Recently, I have noticed that many devotees are still expressing interest in receiving first initiation from you. Some of them are even approaching other devotees in hopes of obtaining a recommendation.

At the same time, I clearly remember that you have mentioned on several occasions that you would not be giving further initiations. Because of this, there seems to be some confusion among the devotees.

With great respect, I would like to ask whether your position remains the same regarding first initiation, or if there has been any change. I only ask so that we may properly understand your desire and avoid any misunderstanding or unnecessary expectations among the devotees.

Please forgive me if this question is inappropriate in any way. I simply wish to serve your instructions faithfully.

Your servant,

CMDD

HpSwami - Hare Krsna. It is currently still the same. Anyone who performs a ritual sacrifice for Krsna takes Karmic reaction from the participants.

At our age we were just becoming to affected by that so we stopped.

In general, and seemingly from our medical help, our health and strength have become strong enough to travel as we are doing and we even think of initiating again, but sober analysis of the results immediately impairs us.

Makes us smile.

It would be nice if some of our disciples would start initiating.

O. K.?

Dear Guru Mahārāja,

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I would like to share an understanding and also a confusion that has been coming to me while reading some purports in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and I would be grateful for your guidance.

In one purport (SB 1.15.10), Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that after Draupadī fell at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord decided that all the wives of Duḥśāsana and his associates would have their hair loosened as a result of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and that, in other words, all the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duḥśāsana’s insulting a great devotee of the Lord.

In another purport (SB 1.15.15), Śrīla Prabhupāda states:

“…the Lord conducted the Battle of Kurukṣetra according to His own plan. He wanted that battle to establish Yudhiṣṭhira as the Emperor of this planet, and to facilitate this transcendental business He killed all who were on the opposite party by His omnipotent will.”

I do not have a problem with what is said in the purports themselves. My difficulty is understanding the relationship between such explanations. At times, it appears that one specific cause is presented as the reason for the Lord’s actions, while elsewhere another distinct purpose is emphasized.

From my limited understanding, it seems natural that Kṛṣṇa’s actions would have multiple motives simultaneously—protecting devotees, fulfilling vows and prayers, establishing dharma, and arranging His own līlā. Yet when a purport presents one reason in a very exclusive way, and another purport elsewhere presents a different reason, I find it difficult to reconcile them without feeling some tension.

This sometimes gives me the impression—though I may be mistaken—that the descriptions are very sharp and singular, rather than balanced, even though the reality of Kṛṣṇa’s will must be multifaceted.

I am not questioning the authority of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purports. Rather, I am trying to understand how to read them properly. Should such statements be understood as emphasizing one dominant aspect within a particular narrative or devotional context, rather than as an exhaustive explanation of all causes? Or is there another way I should be approaching these passages so that this apparent exclusivity does not disturb my clarity?

Moreover, I am sharing this as it is something I have encountered not only here but also occasionally in other contexts/purports, although I do not have further references at hand.

Thank you very much for your patience and guidance.

Your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS ASA - AgtSP! Paoho...

Second seems like a general action that includes the specific action in first?

Battery of chaste women just one reason for two.

Okay?🙂

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble Obeisances at your divine lotus feet.

HpS - AgtSP!!!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to the most auspicious appearance day of your Holiness.

Guru Maharaja, by your merciful glance this insignificant soul has got a chance to begin its spiritual life and been a part of monkey family. In this 3 years of my Krsna Consciousness life, i have achieved a lot and realized a lot. All the auspicious moment what has come to my life it has come by your causeless mercy.

On this most auspicious day i humbly beg you to continue to shower your blessings on me to make me instrument in serving Srila Prabhupada's mission. Please forgive my offences and give me intelligence to carry

on my spiritual life under your Holiness's shelter.

Aspiring to be your humble servant

Vanara-rani Anjana DD

HpS - Hare Krsna!!! AgtSP. Where are you all now?????

Srila Prabhupada is like any great sage mentioned in Chinese history. He lives in a different world, no?

Hare Krishna Maharaja

Please accept my obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.

Thank you for your reply.

The truth is, I don't feel well because my sadhana is in such a bad state, since Srila Prabhupada instructs us to get up at 4:00 AM and do Manga Arati and finish the rounds. It's very difficult for me to get up at that hour, but 95% of the time I chant all my rounds in the morning.

On the other hand, I don't adhere to the principle of cleanliness, since I find it difficult to maintain celibacy. I try hard, but I slip up from time to time.

I await your good advice.

Thank you.

Your servant, Rama Krishna Devi Dasi

HpS - In, agtSP, BG Krsna says that one who does good is never overcome by evil.

A dog went to Puri with the Nadiya vasis.

He was not chanting on beads.

Lord understood his sincerity and limitations and gave him prasad and I think sent him to better body!