Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Dear Maharaja,

PAMHO, AGTSP!

We read that you have a fever, I hope your improvement.

ASA - We though we answered this letter a few days ago. We cannot find that posted answer with a quick look so here it is again!  Thank you!!!
We have "hay fever", allergy. NGD has it so bad he had to leave working at his hospital to lie down. We are under control but sneezing. 

I just realized that Lad had not asked for a formal permission to use the name ASA. Please apologize for the lack of formality, Lad forgets certain details.

Here in this letter, we request for permission to use the name of ASA.

SS Hanumat Presaka Swami (ASA)

PAMHO. AGTSP!

I am writing to you to express that we are an educational Team interested in developing Vaisnava education in Peru. And we would like to have the support and advice of ASA on educational issues.

Our Mission - Vision is very simple and specific, we specifically want to develop the courses Bhakti Sastri, Bhakti Vaibhava and the whole saga of the study of bhakti, we seek specialization.

For this reason, we ask for your permission to use the educational material of ASA and also to call us ASA- Peru. We are committed to developing close communication with Asa and the respective authorities.

The educational group consists of eight people, who will be teachers of courses:

Laksmana agraja d, Candramukhi dd, Lila sakti dd, Isvari dd, Abhinanda d, Tarangaksi dd, Rupa gosay d.

The structure of the organization is linear and autonomous, there will only be 3 Coordinators of 3 areas (Academic, Courses, Procedures and communication) that will work with the National Board.

We have sent our service proposal to the National Board and we will await a response

We look forward to qualifying and being accepted into ASA.

I will be waiting for your response and thank you for your consideration

Lord Nrsimhadeva protect you

ys Isvari dd

ASA-SUAC, Secretary, Buck White - Thank you for your letter. These are formalities but not without meaning, like wedding ceremony or initiation ceremony!

1. Do not us the the name ASA in a formal sense until you have approval from the ASA-SUAC (Anjana Suta Academy - Supreme Undifferentiated Absolute Commando) with includes: Tom Brown (Monkey), Buck White, Guy (Uncle) Gismo, PhD, Prof. H. H. Robinson (Hanumatpresaka Swami) and a bunch of other mixed Dudes.

2. Submit a Request for Banch Affiliation with ASA here. The devotees in Mexico should do the same. ASA is a Branch of ISKCON. Our GBC Secretary currently is Tamohara Das and our head-quarters are in Murfreesboro, TN 37129, USA.

Our Mission (from Preface of NOI) is to qualifiy ourselves to help Lord Caitanya in His mission of giving the science of Krsna to humanity (an animality) at large by studying the literature left by the six Goswamis. NOI constitutes first instructions.

Branches must have a President (and Vice-Presidents with different areas if desired), a Secretary and a Treasurer. Secretary must post a Report regularly in the Blog (every fortnight can be good). Then we can work out details.

O.K?

Management should be by consensus and then can be formalized by a vote of members.

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj

Dandavat Pranam unto your lotus feet.

HpS - AGTSP!!   Our lettuce feet. We are still in the process of purification also.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu.

Dear Guru Maharaj,

On behalf of my father your disciple Krsna Swaroop Das, I beg for apology for his not being able to communicate with you frequently through this blog as he is not comfortable in handling techy stuff. He remembers you and prays unto your lotus feet everyday.

HpS - We are so happy to hear about him and youer Ashrama and community. Maybe he could write a few words about his Sadhana and Sankirtan and you could pass them.

Guru Maharaj I pray and beg to seek some answer for a question which has been a topic of confusion. As it is well known to everyone that Krsna, the Supreme Lord is omniscient and we as tiny fragments of Him have a freewill; a minute independence to choose. So does Krsna know "EXACTLY" what our choice will be???(say for example what I am going to eat in the morning 10 years from now on Jan 1st,2027). To me, it feels that the way Krsna "knows" is that He doesnot necessarily know all the details but as He knows our nature so chipping in a way He can narrow down to the most likely choice. i.e He does not know in the way 2+2 gives 4. But some devotees they argue that Krsna knows EXACTLY (all details with no room for other possibilities) what my choice will be everytime. This idea of theirs seems to me that it makes us like robots with no freewill at all. I feel there should be some (at least a tiny little) uncertainty (probabilistic way) associated with God's way of knowing things as we are also individuals with a separate identity and a freedom to choose. Some devotees even argue that the answer to this question is subjective i.e the answer depends on the individual's level of understanding. To me it seems like an excuse to avoid being caught wrong.

Please be merciful to me to explain and clarify this subject matter and let me know if I am wrong and kindly correct me. 

Dandavat pranam unto your lotus feet.

Hope it meets you in good health.

Expecting your merciful association.

Your fallen servant

Bishal

HpS - ASA -- Hare Krsna!   Very ancient, very contemporary and very important question. After our summary of our thoughts there is a list of references. I think you can find them all at www.jayarama.us/archives/abc-ndx.docx. We will post this answer in the Archives in our asa-encyclopdeia.

The soul is sat-cit-ananda, so it has free-will. It can do fun, interesting, things that even Krsna doesn't expect. The Gopis are full of unpredictable, intense, emotional states that even they can't predict, nor Krsna, but happy surprises.

Krsna, Krsna's Devotee and Devotional Service (Purnamasi Devi?) all come together and dance and no one can quite figure out who is in control.

We are growing. We can grow faster or slower. That is our choice. Krsna, us, no one knows our potential.

In the material world in the mode of ignorance we are forced to act. Our actions are predictable. Of course, one might be in the mode of goodness in his senses and mind and be in the mode of ignorance in his intellignce, heart, like a Buddhist, Mayavadi monk who is clean, honest, generous, but at heart is fixed in the conception that he will become the supreme, original, transcendental being, God. This is really stupid.

In the mode of passion there are some choices but the impulse act in a certain way is very strong.

In the mode of goodness we can actually make choices. Of course, they are being given by Mayadevi under the order of Krsna, so they may be material options, smoke the cigarette, don't smoke it. Then we set in motion ignorant, passionate or good reactions.

Maharaja Nrga, 10th canto, Krsna book, did lots of materially pious activities and he surmises that that led him to transcendental thought. Why not?  God creates this world so that by dealing with matter, plastic dolls, correctly we can come to deal with real babies.

Of course, Krsna has His free-will also. If we act submissively, friendly, under the modes of nature then He can give us transcendental choices or not.

O.K?

As far a the concepts of "chance, random events" occur in science, we find that the concepts are not clear. We heard that Bertram Russell, the Nobel Laureate, said that the concept of Chance is the most important concept in the 20th Century, because no one has he slightest idea what it means.
What is the etymology of the word?
A chance event is one whose cause can Absolutely not be Known, no?   Does such an event exist?   We have to have Blind Faith (see purport to BG 4.34) in this Axiom, Postulate.

If we accept this Godly entity, Chance, then the result is a philosophy of "neti-neti", no Not this, not this.  What is the Absolute Truth? It is not this, not this, not this; Absoute Ignorace, a Saiva, Nihilist or Mayavadi conclusion.

O.K?    Big topic.

===============================================

www.jayarama.us/archives/abc-ndx.docx
Free-will:
   allows chance to understand one’s relationship with God, SB 4.25.26 p
   allows one to change guna and karma in present life, SB 5.1.14 p
   in human life provides opportunity to get out of repeated birth and death, SB 1.16.9 p
   in material existence, SB 2.9.2
   of liberated souls, SB 1.6.37
   So even in the material nature there is a chance of an independent choice by the living entity, and according to his choice the material energy offers him different varieties of material bodies, SB 2.9.2,
   “The living entities are given freedom to make their choice…”, SB 2.7.49

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

I received file of TLC in Spanish from BBT.  Once it will be ready imported I will put in online and let you know.

Still working on new version of vedabase.com, currently finishing importing of all SP letters. And today preparing slideshow presentation for one devotee who will use it on following Sunday feast program in Turkey.

Also today we will have meeting with manager of BBT Turkey who seems to be enthusiast about having Turkish books available on vedabase.com.

New version for public will launch on day of Guru (Vyasa) Purnima / Srila Sanatana Gosvami (8th July 2017).

HpS - ASA -- Incredible!!!   Is there a good 'Hello' page for people on different levels who may know nothing about Srila Prabhupada's books and a way to buy them?

[Btw, it will be birthday of vedabase.com as it was also launch on Guru/Vyasapurnima.]

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha das

ASA - Happy birthday Vedabase.com,    Happy birthday Veabase.com, Happy birthday Veabase.com, Happy birthday to you! !!!   !      How many candles will there be on the cake. We can have a cyber-cake competition. Cyber gifts.

[One question [little confidential [Is vedabase.com a Ghrhasta, Sannyasi, B'cari or Vanaprastha?   Is it s B'cari or a B'carini. Should we offer Saris or Dhoti's for it's birthday.  Hmmmm.]]

Dandavats!!     Any suggestions for our travel in India?????

What do you think of the Vanipedia?

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

After reading few letter from Nanuk, I have to say it seems like text generated by spam bots.

Those bots download all text from website, analyse what words or connection of words are used mosts (PAMHO, Maharaja, Hare Krishna, ....), then generate article from Wikipedia or other sites on what he things will be relevant to this page and add most used words from this site (PAMHO, ...).

May I block Nanuk user?  There is possible danger that he will insert some link to virus soon or later.

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha das

HpS - AGTSP paoho... What about asking him a questions that a Spam-bot could not answer?   This is exciting, like Terminator Seven our something.

Are you a Spambot Nanuk?

Prahlada Nrsmha Das, do you have any other tests?  I guess he could have himself sniffed by dogs?

In any case, you are the boss, if there is danger to the Blog then we all respect your decisions!!

hare krsna maharaj, PAMHO, AGTSP

its incredible to see that your grace puts so much effort to help others irrespective  of  their evolution level.

ASA - Whoop!   Whoop!    Oink!   Oink!

I am actuall mentally numb to write anything due to my own stupid behavior.

ASA - Numbki!

But SPOG arranged for circumstance leaving us no work on internet, so we thought its better to  write to Blog.

ASA - Supreme Personality of Blog-head.

It was surprising to see in node 7865  by Abhimanyu ji from Chile.

" Yes, if we artificially push Vaidhi bhakti, Japa for example, weeds can grow with the creeper and it can result in many crazy things.. I knew several cases of where people stole the tape of Prabhupada chanting the Gayatri mantra and listened to it and then went crazy."

Can you kindly tell us more  about " artificially pushing Vaidhi"...and how it can water the weeds.  Where does Srila Prabhupada write about it?

ASA - http://www.vedabase.com/en/cc/madhya/19/158   . . .   Is O.K?     Daksa worship the one true God, but he also wanted to hold the the Great King's Rod!

...till now our own assessment was we are just being little lazy/ unintelligent in pursuing Vaidhi bhakti. But your answer seems to direct about something else.

As you are our  guru (not Diksha guru) can you please tell us what rules/angas according to you are not artificial for us?

HpS - We don't live with you so much to give detailed advice, our mis-fortune, but finding a devotee who you can read and share your experiences with is one that we can all do, no?  We just read what they are reading each day at the Boise Temple and then Text our little thoughts, then look for a bigger Sanga once a week.

Of course, as much as we chant HKHKKKHHHRHRRRHH we are always making progress, First thing our of your mouth each morning HKHKKKHHHRHRHRRHH! 

horse victim upastha vegam

ASA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta         One thing leads to another. Seek the root of the sin. Then you can apply the Mantra, and the whole tree will be clean again.
If we are sincere for a long time, it means that our attachments are deep. Some of them are rooted in our ontological rejection of Krsna. Those are DEEEEEEEp!      NOI 7!
Usually our sins at this stage are not, something that has to be rejected. They are attachments based upon something valid. We just have to figure our what it is.

One devotee we know. She was always agitated sexually but following the principles. Them she had one more child, the one who seemed to be waiting to be her daughter, and she was never agitated after that.

What is the real cause of our sin?

Are we suppressing a real power?

Hare Krsna Dear Maharaja.

PAMHO. AGTSP!

I hope your body is in good health.

HpS - ASA -- Ha!    HA!    HA R E!     This body IS a disease, but now is manageable for Sankirtan!    Thank you.  Hope yours and your families also.

I share the following concerns with you if you can give me your generous opinion,

1.-We are all told to sing 16 enthusiastic and sincere rounds. I comment this to a devotee (initiated) by encouraging her to sing his rounds, But he told me: I do not feel encouraged to sing, I have done it as an obligation but I feel that this is not right, one must sing of his own free will and not feel obligated. Before leaving, the devotee told me that he read the SBG and that he liked it better than singing japa. I did not say more to disturb him, I just asked him to try to sing 2 to 3 rounds.

HpS - Child does not like to go to school. Wants to play, but parents and teachers oblige him. NOI 7. Of course, this can be done in such a way that it is great fun, but usually some element of fear or greed is pushing us to chant our rounds in the beginning.

This made me think the following: In life many times we do things by obligation if we want something we are forced to perform an action to get it by just thinking or meditating we will not get it (unless it is krsna). Even chanting japa is part of the process of meditating on Krsna.

On the other hand, there are psychological tendencies and pedagogues that say that things should not be forced to do so but should be encouraged to do so, however in Eastern cultures (China, Japan, Korea). It is said that: Discipline precedes the intelligence and for this reason, the discipline was given much importance; Differentiated what is "your will" with "what is your duty".

ASA - Again NOI 7 says so much about this, no?   In sports it is the same thing. We force ourselves to practice believing it will become fun later.

I am not an expert in psychology but I think that many things are being confused and some are taking new trends to justify their lack of discipline, I see that there is a tendency to skip or to obviate the processes and call that spontaneous service.

I do not know what the middle term is here, would there be a psychological damage to say that the rounds are obligatory for an initiated devotee? (Also looking for ways to lift their enthusiasm).

HpS - ASA - Prabhupada says that artificial repression can be worse than the disease, but...   we don't force anybody to become initiated. That is a voluntary thing. Of course, ISKCON institution is not perfect, and there may be force in certain social or subtle ways, but seems that any sincere person can avoid that and then will be making their own choice if they want to chant 16 rounds for the rest of their life.
Even then you can stop and accept the reactions of breaking your promise. It is very clear. NOI 7 -8. So many places, Learning Piano, Tennis, natural attraction usually comes from some formal practice.

2.- At the moment I see a great increase of feminism in the society (there are also cases in Iskcon), the women have obtained many things that they consider freedom and now they want more and more, but also have arisen negative things of all this that do not want to see or to admit.

Particularly I do not like to speak of machismo or feminism, for me it is to identify me more with the body, however I have seen and I see the dangerous thing of not taking care of the "psychology" of the woman and of some way it is notorious the problems that also are being generated in ISKCON.

I think that perhaps these issues should be addressed not only at the GBC level but at the level of Spiritual Masters.

HpS - ASA -- Yes, but there is so much in the SB about this, no?   Right in the begnning we see several points about feminine mentality of Draupadi when Asvattama kills her sons. Of course, The Battle of the Sexes goes on forever, Radharani and Her friends, versus Krsna and His Friends. So, it is also very much fun and sarisfying dealing with problems in terms of properly understanding feminine and masculine needs of the person and their body.

Any items in specific about this??

Sri Nrsimhadeva protect you.

with affection

ys and spiritual niece

Isvari dd

HpS - ASA --- Thank you very much!!    Hope you all can join the Seattle Conference with lots of benefit.