Hello Gurumaharaja,
Please accept my humblest obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I just came across a collection of pictures of the history of ISKCON Peru on facebook, and it thought you might be interested to see. It made a good reason to write to you. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Historia-Iskcon-Per%C3%BA-Fotograf%C3%ADas/224911294250471?sk=photos
Another thing i want to share with you is a collection of three bhajans sung by your sannyas guru Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami that a friend gave me. I think they are very sweet, oldskool. Maybe you like them. Link to the rar file: http://www.mediafire.com/?4cy4u406x7vc12m It also had this recording, but i don't know if it is him: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6dg0xqowzzrzh5r
What else to say, nothing new under the sun but lots of tribulations and mental adjustments to make. Chanting not always so absorbed as could be, but 16/4 going well. Phew! Feel blessed and cared for from many sides! Also, thank you SO much for giving me the instruction to read CC. I haven't started yet as i am still reading Uddhava gita, which is such nectar that i can't trade it in for CC just yet! Guru aparadha <img alt="smiley" src="http://www.hps.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.gif" title="smiley" /> It is the edition with Srila Visvanath Cakravarti and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's comments, and they are very, very merciful and gentle.
Sorry to read of your bodily discomforts, but i like to read how you deal with them and your other challenges. Ever inspiring! May it not bother you too much and good luck with your San Francsisco activities in serving Srila Prabhupada.
Aspiring to serve you, and preparing u ntil the day comes,
Richard van Dijck
HpS - Ahhh! AGTSP paoho. We will put the links on our desk top and look at them. We all thank you! Have you become a brain surgeon? How are you keeping busy!??
Dear Maharaj:
Pamho. AgtSP. Hare Krsna!
1. First off, thank you for your referral to Sri Kara das. I found him quite pleasant and very well informed. He also told me of his prior associat with the BI in the East Bay. I look forward to developing a nice association with him. Again, thanks!
2. I discussed with him my findings regarding Gaura Purnima dates and he agrees there is a real problem. Moreover, he doesn't even use the GBC Vaishnava calendar finding it full of errors including Ekadasi dates. He also told me that he doesn't even know where to begin to address these issues inside Iskcon GBC.
3. He also recommends an educational program regarding Vedic (Hindu) astrology for Iskcon/Gaudiya Vaishnava Krsna devotees. I certainly agree that an educational program is needed for the proper study of Vedic astronomy which should include Hindu astrology.
4. Nonetheless, I'm ready to start with appropriate GBC individuals responsible for the Vaisnava calendar. Let's start with the top and give a power person I can talk with.
5. Also, regarding the Zodiac and the 5th Canto. Yes, of course, they are listed but this topic requires some discussion which I will postpone to a future post.
Yhs, Saranga Thakura das
Hanuman Ki Jaya!
HpS - ASA - Jaya. We hope that your moments of Peace and Clarity are expanding more and more. They are very nice. How is the Japa vrata.
READERS: Saranga Thakura Das, anu das, anu das, is in Alaska and fighting with super physical health problems.
Saranga - I don't know so much about the GBC astrology community. The person who comes to mind is Prahlad-ananda Swami. Of course, these are super, Super, SUPER, S U P E R, busy people so you have to approach them as you are in this letter, with the motivational necessity of your interests shinning in the forefront.
prahladananda swami <[email protected]>
AGT Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga
AGTSP PAMHO
Accept my Dandavats Dear Guru Maharaja!!!
In your last visit to chile you mentioned that for 3 or 4 devotees who had Shelter on You but somehow or other they lose (i.e. breakin principles or movin away of sadhu sanga) it would be necessary to write a new commitment. and now they come back to the process but slowly and My questions are : Do they be treated as a devotee in Prabhupada´s asraya stage? or in the Guru Asraya Stage??? all my questions are in the Case they want to take a future initiation.
HpS - ASA - AGTSP pamho. In the Upadesamrta etc. Srila Prabhupada makes distinction between Hari-nama Diksa (1st initition) and Gayatri Diksa (2nd initiation). Everything else, Aspirant, are things created by GBC and individual Gurus. I only use, and as far as I know officially, the GBC only use Aspirant, which means that one has to be following properly for six months. Then they can become official Aspirant. If they follow for six months more they take first initiation. The designations that you mention are I think ones that Jayapataka Maharaja uses.
Sorry for taking your Your precious time for this enqueries. And thank you for your advice and Enlightment.
your servant
Om Kesavaya Dasa
AGTSri Guru y Sri Gauranga
TLGSP PAMHR
Querido Guru Maharaja por favor acepte mis reverencias a sus pies de Loto!!!
En su ultima visita a Chile, hubieron 3 o 4 devotos que tenias refugio formal en UD. pero de una u otra manera la perdieron para ellos es necesario re tomar los votos otra vez. mis preguntas son:Ellos deben ser considerados como en la etapa Guru Asraya??? o en Prabhupada Asraya??? en el caso de que ellos quieran tomar futura Iniciación de Ud o de otro Guru Iniciador.
Mis disculpas por hacerle erder su tiempo y muchas gracias por su consejo e iluminacion en este tema.
su sirviente
Om Kesavaya Dasa
HpS - Thank you for your precious time, association in Japa Joe workshop. What are you doing? Studying in secular world, becoming a millionaire? Selling books!
Dear Maharaj:
Pamho. AgtSP.
1. Actually, every 32.5 months (2.8 years) to keep the two in sync. The Vedic method of calculation is quite old and pre-dates contact with the Greeks which intoduced the sign of the Zodiac and methods to calculated the estimated positions of the planets. I don't think too many devotees ( or people) know this fact. The point is that the Vedic method of 28 nakshastras is perfect all by itself but using signs of the Zodiac is easier to visualize and not a bad place to start, especially for us Westerners.
2. I have not yet contacted any Vedic atrologers but will take this next step with Srikaradas. However, please send me your current email address so that I can keep you in the loop. I really want to keep you in the loop, so that it adds more credibililty to the discussion.
3. Thanks Maharaj very much for taking this matter seriously. Over time, it will become obvious to each person that looks at it.
YHS, Saranga Thakur
Haribolo!
HpS - Jaya! Just send copies of the letters you send and receive from Sri Kari Das to the Blog here. The signs of the Zodiac are in the SB, Canto Five, no?