Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Gurudeva

PAMHO.AGTSP.

I hope you are in good health. My question is about Bhakti Vaibhava Degree. What institution accredited this course? What are the requirements to be an Examiner of Bhakti Vaibhava?

One of the functions  of the educational  Commission is to ensure that devotees read the BG and SBhg. One idea for doing this is that the readings are included in the tests. I think a devotee of the first initiation must have already read the BG and devotee to the second initiation must have read the canto 1, 2 of SBG and Nectar of Devotion  then a reading program could bring him close to Krsna.

Many Thanks Gurudeva. (forgive my bad english)

Abhinanda das

Toda gloria a Srila Prabhupada!!!

Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias querido Gurudev!!!

HpS - Jaya!!!!       MUCHAS GRACIAS estas noticias. No esta fijado. Pienso bajar a S. America no mas antes de 15 Deciembre y pasar por Mexico, Peru, Argentina, fin de Enero en Chile. 11 Enero es 'Vyasa Puja'. Muchas peticiones pasar lo en Chile. Despues Lima, Mexico, HOUSTON, INDIA Febrero - Mayo.

Que piensa?    Cuando regresa a Argentina los 18-Sankirtaneros?

Los sankirtanesro piensan regresar para la Argentina el dia 2 de Enero y en el viaje de vuelta algunos se quedan en Cordoba y San Luis  visitando a familiares y descanzando, despues cerca del 8 o 9 de enero llegarn a Buenos Aires todos, ya que es el mes donde el templo siempre se vacia para visitar seres queridos o descanzar un poco.

Mi propuesta es, que de venir Usted a Argentina  y en el templo esten los devotos para recibirlo y asistir a sus clases lo mejor seria que viniese despues de su visita a Chile. A la vez no entiendo si esta confirmado su Vyasa Puja en Chile o si lo esta dejando abiero, como una posibilidad para acerlo tambien aqui en Argentina, Ahi su fecha en Argentina Cambiaria y tambien su llegada a Chile, de ser asi nosostros ya deberiamos comenzar con la organizacion.

A Su servicio Adi Yajña Das

HpS - ASA -  Desculpa la demurra responder, pero puede ver la presion de nuestras viajes. En primero lugar es el diagolo con los psicologos de Peru. Vamos a ver como adelanta esta esfuerza.  Pero antes de todo es Jara y Mrtyu. Nuestra cuerpo, ojos, todo es desintegrando. No tenemos mucho mas tiempo en es zona.

Muy claro su communicacion. Otras cosas fijados:

Necesitamos noticias de Vrsabhanu y Ambaris Das si vamos a presentar algo en Cordoba con psycologos.

Symposium de Educacion, fin de Enero en Chile (Esperamos noticia de ellos del evento y fecha.

ILS en India​ como 28 Febrero hasta 4 Marzo. Llegar a India como una semana antes (21 Febrero)

Pienso V'puja no esta fijado. Ya depende en el calendario de viajes mas detallado.

Pero que hace Vd hasta Deciembre?

hare krsna maharaj. pamho.agtsp.
hope you have complete your trip in Peru.
I will write another letter to you regarding book publishing/distributing efforts in Mumbai.
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I remember once you said, if i contribute to this blog, it would be good help to you. Hence I am writing on a topic which I think is very much relevant for many blog readers ( it was for me atleast).
i am also writing this because as a Sannyasi I think it is uncomfortable for you to write on this topic in detail.
Whatever I am writing HH HpS you can modify them at his will.

My Background and qualification to write any suggestion on this matter:
I have been  watching and hearing illicit sex from the age of 16 years (currently i am 30), but now I have stopped it completely. Due to this problem i married, but i preferred to  have a kid. My struggle for last 10 years has  given me tangible results, though i could have easily obtained more if i would been just a little more austere and sincere.

To whom this points are meant for:  Anybody in this world suffering from this disease, but I would restrain it to any one in touch with ISKCON and not able to follow one of the regulative principle of illicit sex. I expect boys to have suffering more from this disease. Hence this suggestions will be less relevant to girls (but not irrelevant) 

definition: illicit sex- there are many concepts but broadlym they fit in [a] sex outside marriage [b] sex without desiring producing KC kids.
In my understanding i stick to defnition mentioned in NOI 1 as it is definitely what Srila Prabhupada wants 

"In a similar manner, the urges of the genitals, the sex impulse, can be controlled when not used unnecessarily. The genitals should be used to beget a Kṛṣṇa conscious child, otherwise they should not be used. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement encourages marriage not for the satisfaction of the genitals but for the begetting of Kṛṣṇa conscious children. As soon as the children are a little grown up, they are sent to our gurukula school, where they are trained to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees. Many such Kṛṣṇa conscious children are required, and one who is capable of bringing forth Kṛṣṇa conscious offspring is allowed to utilize his genitals".

 suggestions
1. Please stick to above definition of NOI-1, even if you can not follow it. We should not change our goals just because we can not acheive it or think it is diffiult to acheive it.

2. Honesty is the first step in improving., So if you are indulging in illicit sex, please accept it. And pray to vaisnavas, Guru Parampara and Krsna to recover from this evil disease.

3.Stick  to canto 1 and 2 in SB. in 2.2.12 (SB ) it is
" So purification means getting free gradually from sex desire, and this is attained by meditation on the person of the Lord as described herein, beginning from the feet. One should not try to go upwards artificially without seeing for himself how much he has been released from the sex desire".

4. Accept this at face value "illicit sex casue violence (physical/verbal)" it is not pleasure but only pain as Krsna is absent from it. 

5. Dont watch/hear any illicit material as it violates both definitions. If you are single  and can not follow such defintion then in my understanding one should accept his fallen condition and get married. If you are already married then its better to produce kids, then indulging in such activities. I have done some reasearch on moral harmful effects of this "ILLICIT INDUSTRY", its living hell.

6. Many men think we dont have income to support Kids and we can not control our desire, hence they indulge in this activity violating real definition and justify themselves by definition A. In my experience Kids help you to purify this desire. Practicaly speaking
      i. Kids take up lot of your time, hence you dont have resources to indulge in
      ii. If you keep on mediating that this Kids should be trained in KC, you will purify yourself ( even if you have      
          flashbacks due to sinful youth)
      iii. Kids give you higher enjoyment than enjoyment of genitals (even if you just think of your happiness than
           Krsna's).
Regarding less income or  resources ( hence the concept of over population): Its better to give children happy(happiness is state of mind not possession of assets) and moral home, rather than giving amenities and fees to pursue higher degree. Krsna wont let your child starve!!!!!

 7. Its strange one female doctor asked me to indulge in illcit sex (just violating definition NOI not defnition A )as it will reduce anger and improve relationship with my spouse. I tried it , but found it was wrong.  As written before ILLICIT SEX (according to NOI ) causes  violence. Lots of marital conflict between spouses can be reduced if we stick to NOI definition.
Its better to built relationship with spouse on higher platform( god, guru, temple, nation, community,kid ) than just animalist genital level.

8. If your wife thinks she needs to work instead of begitting kids. As a caring husband please tell her facts compassionately. Its natural for women to have and play with kids (even Materialistic agrees with it). If she is working to support you, tell her to relax then you(man) take this task at hand.  You put your trust in Krsna & Guru Parampara, they will be happy with such honest endeavor.
Another reason women prefer to work outside is self-esteem. They feel satisfied in work outside. This is primarily because the husband mistreats her or treat her just like maidservant, cook and nanny. This is wrong, she is doing great service to Krsna and man kind by JUST taking care of kids and home. Praise her austerity genuinely and see SB guidelines how to treat wife.

9. Many men think they dont themselves dont need sex , but their wife does, so they indulge in it. In my understanding women can be happy in peaceful home,with a respecting and caring husband, and basic mateiral comforts.  If she does not get these then her sex desire might be more. Secondly if she is really (lusty), then tell her, there are no free lunches in this material world (atleast be a Karmi).  The price for having sex is to care of Kid for atelast 20 years.

9.  Outside  you will see many women (advertisement or workplace) dressed inappropriately. Have compassion on them as they are being misled that way to be happy is to flaunt one self and have wealth.

10. These are general guidelines, one may need to adjust details personally 

thank you Maharaj for reading- I hope this helps me follow the definition of NOI-1 more strcitly.

 regards,
passionate horse

Hare Krsna respected Gurudeva:

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada 

Please accept my humble obeisances

I am using a nick name due to I really need privacy,  i understand that you as a sanyassi needs protection, I mean not having alone talks with women, but i will not comfortable to talk my personal things in front of another men, and i am absolutely sure that ALL women think like me.....

I am wrting because I have at least 3 female friends that have the same experience that I had... and the 3 of us.. now are really sad and without utsahan really dissapointed, we can not feel the same as before... the point is that we do not feel protected... some so called  "prabhus" do not respected us... (while i am writing this i think i did not act also properly) , but in my case i was being lied...  I think that when we have a couple at least we deserve respect and I did not receive that, i believed all the things that he told me.. the 3 of us can not understand how fast they are in a new relationships

the 3 of us see machismo on this movement, we try to be transparent and sincere telling you what we did, the mistakes that we made, then we see "prabhus" doing abhishek in the temples and we feel betrayed, we do not see justice... we do not understand why krsna allows this to happen..

Our selfesteem is afected, we spent money in therapists, and the worst thing we do not feel the same as before, we do not have faith in the movement in the process, personally the 2 of us are not chanting rounds , we see many many devotees who drifted apart from the movement.. and now we can understand why

personally i would like to take some time and drift apart some time to heal... because i am really affected.. i do not want to continue if i do not feel the same i do not want to be hypocrit and being in a place in which i do not feel comfortable or supported

i know that you have lots of problems that are caused for some of us, who do not deserve you as a Guru, but at this point i guess that you are just a friend of us...which is an honor for us

i can say that you are the only person in iskcon who i respect and trust... now i feel not comfortable doing something that does not complete me... I feel really sad because i can not believe that this bad experience is taking away the little advancement that i did.. nehabikramo nato sti....also i remembered that you said in one class that sp said "once you come to krsna you will never get away".... please do not let me go

please forgive all my offenses

your eternal servant

sadmonkey

HpS - ASA - We just spent 15-minutes writing an answer to your good letter and then the computer lost it all. We try again.  First, in the highest sense this movment although for Life Members who may be eatiing chicken and drinking beer, is really only for the paramahamsas (NOI). That means that we never ask ANYTHING from Krsna. NOTHING, because we realize it is a super, super insult. He is already 16-times more conscious of our suffering than we are. He took a vow that everyone of the people who tried to desnude Draupadi would see their own wives with their hair open as widows.
So, forget your personal distress. What does Krsna need. Obvious. He needs sacrifice. 16-good rounds, and then immediately you are back at 100%!   "Ooops, I forgot Krsna".

Yes, I make mistakes, the President makes mistakes, but also disciples don't tell us that they are breaking principles or even if they do they refuse our advice and still go on acting as Brahmanas. We are dealing with these problems right now with arguments about who should be iniciated or not.

This is all preparation f​or the next drama. There are many universes and Krsna needs Draupadis for all of them. Are you strong enough to play that role. Can you keep your vows and also see how Krsna is using you in the midst of catastrophy. Of course when we fall down from our side how can we put all the blame on Krsna for the reaction. We have to become stronger from both our correct austerities and the mistakes we make.

The real question is not whether Draupadi will have to face public humiliation or not but whether she will be able to keep the 99-saris or not, no?

Joking, but very serious sub-text. Can you laugh in the face of Maya and pick up the pieces and go ahead never giving up on Krsna?

Hare Krsna Maharaja!

AGTSP!

I wish your days are perfect.

Tomorrow is Balarama Purnima, and this last days I have had thinking a lot about my vrata for Janmastami. Being honest, I think I should reconsider my votes. Since my last letter, I´ve being chanting sixteen rounds, prasadam, but is difficult for me follow all the vratas. The only I can say to Krsna-Balarama and to You is that I will try my best, but I will be strict with my sixteen rounds.

I think I will go to say this to Balarama, for Janmastami.

Thanks you very much for all.

Hare Krsna Maharaja.

My best wishes.

Budanath.

HpS - ASA - AGTSP....  Make a vow that you know you can keep for one month, until Radhastami. Do it for Radharani. She needs your help. Illicit sex can be reduced by worshipping the Deity. Buying nice clothes for Radha and Krsna.  Intoxicating by offering nice Bhoga to Krsna..

Hare Krsna querido Gurudeva!

Acepte mis respetuosas reverencias!

Todas las glorias Srila Pabhupada!

Me acabo de comunicar con Omkara Prabhu (vía Facebook) y me dijo que después de tomar todas las opiniones, la Junta de Chosica ha decidido darle recomendación a Karuna Mayi, pero “NO” a Sita Lalita, que ella puede esperar 6 meses, hasta que Usted vuelva. Le pregunte acerca de los devotos de Wilson que estaban presentando la objeción, pero no tuve una respuesta clara. Solo de la decisión de ellos. Le pedí que me diera argumentos válidos, porque no? Yo le di muchos argumentos válidos, pero ellos solo dicen PENSAMOS QUE AHORA NO, no hay argumentos. Con todo respeto Gurudeva, pienso que hay especulación y actitud caprichosa de parte de la Junta de Templo. Sita Lalita cumple los requisitos de Iskcon (un año de iniciada, Bhakti Sastri, 16 rondas diarias, 4 principios desde que nació, servicio a Sus Señorías desde muy niña) Ellos hablan de compromiso como algo nuevo, pero nosotros no entendemos ese concepto, porque nuestro compromiso con Radha Madana Vihari siempre fue nuestro presente. En estos 15 años, ellos (la Junta) muy poco han estado en los programas de templo, predica, Harinam, festivales, etc. Como van a saber qué hacemos nosotros, si no están?

Gurudeva analizando la vida de Sita Lalita dd. Es su justo derecho tomar segunda iniciación en Janamastami junto con su hermano y madre. Veo especulación y capricho de parte de las Autoridades. Usted me dijo que puedo acudir a las autoridades siguientes, a Srila Prabhupada y a Sri Sri Radha Madana Vihari. Le pido autorización para poner por escrito un reclamo formal ante mi Gurudeva (usted) RGB, GBC, SP, GN. RMV, SRLH. Al servicio de su buen consejo.

                          Su inútil sirviente Anandamaya das.

HpS - Ya internet. In Tarapoto, no. Esta asunto de iniciaciones es muy, muy bien complicado para nosotros.          Ha Ha Hare!       Esperamos hablar esta noche con Vd.     Manteniendo una posicion simple de feliz Conciencia de Krsna tengo una comprehension bastante bueno que hacer, yo pienso.