Hare Krishna Gurudeva, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. 

Thinking about you a lot and your upcoming travels. I am wanting to travel with you and wanting to travel blind…but knowing I must serve you more and more in the vani sense. Sometimes it feels as though you are physically present in our morning program. I’m finding over and over again that anytime I feel discouraged, depressed, no enthusiasm..all that needs to be done is to cry out in the Guruastikam song then like magic or mysticism some enthusiasm comes in and I feel connected again(and japa improves like a symbiotic relationship). Sometimes it’s as if you are dancing in front of me. Each verse iconographic and a world of discovery. It’s sobering and blissful simultaneously. I’m committed to this experiment and we are not missing a single morning. Sometimes it works at home but mostly it is most potent at the temple(The rugged ignorant individual in me doesn’t like this!). But more then just relief from suffering it is the perspective.

Slowly slowly losing this taste for wanting to be a great man/bad man. Some intelligence is telling me to just secretly be a good disciple.  

“Day by day, stone by stone

Build your secret slowly

Day by day, you'll grow too

You'll know heaven's glory”

-Little Church inspired by Saint Francis

It’s an amazing thing, Gurumaharaja..every single Thursday program and so many conversations at work and in the street Carl Jung is mentioned. And when I simply repeat some things I’ve heard from you, their eyes light up.

Another possible bridge we are experimenting with is this book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We have started a new series on it for our Thursday program. Each chapter or agreement has been a wonderful jumping off point to basic Bhakti topics and specificity Nectar Of Instruction. Seems like 80 percent of people here either have read the book or have wanted to read it. I got it when I was a teenager and it may have helped me come to KC. Very famous book. Curious if you know it or know his other book Beyond Fear. Who were these Toltec people and what was their relation to Vedic culture? Is a question that keeps coming up. 

Lastly, many politics and changes in infrastructure in our temple and in the US government. Our temple’s government has been shut down in a way as well. But it’s going in a good direction and this has raised a lot of questions for me personally: Do we need both conservative and liberal devotees for a healthy spiritual  community? And should the two aspects be balanced within us? Like Prabhupada talks about the razors edge.. and can we put smarta Brahmins, consrervitives, and more dictative speakers all in the same general category and then Avadhutas, liberals and provocative speakers all in the same general category as well? And are these two mentalities eternal?  

Thank you for all the enlivening classes recently. The redwood tree that is Houston temple is a great inspiration for our Boise bonsai tree temple. The squirrel moving the stone is just as important to Lord Ram as the big boulders the monkeys carry?  

Your aspiring servant, 

Nitisara Das 

HpSwami ASA 🐒- Lord Nityananda and Srila Advaita Acharya engage in mock joyful arguments about conservative and liberal attitudes.

Srila Prabhupada comments that there have always been these two attitudes: Avadhuta and Smarta, and they have never understood each other and they never will.

Yet their conflicts stimulate each other and they love each other like anything.

Yes, in the drama, there are no small parts, just small actors!

Realize Boise is the center of the universe.

Will look at above book.

See you soon.

Respects to all?

in cont. from here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/15917/

---

Have you read the ISKCON Deity worship book?

Yes, years ago. I vaguely remember from the book what we already discussed about the lamp offering to Damodara.

HpS/ASA - 👦 🐵 🐷 🎰 naman isvaram sat cit ananda rupam...

cont. from here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/15910/

-----------------------

Dear Guru Maharaja,

All glories to His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Thank you for your guidance on the confidential nature of Bhagavad-gītā and giving it (Him - Krishna) to the world.

In my conversations with people who, at the moment, are not conscious that they are Krishna bhaktas, I try to speak without giving the impression that I “know more” than others. When a discussion naturally touches on spiritual or sattvic topics, and I sense genuine interest—especially through questions—I share sincerely and fully. It seems a small way to help open hearts in the mood of bhakti.

Any advice on keeping this balance—sharing knowledge while respecting receptivity—would be deeply appreciated. I remember many moons ago, you said that preaching means 80% hearing - who are the people, what are their interests, etc.

HpS/ASA - What comes to your mind is that listening to people with your ears, mind and heart is the essence of preaching to us.

Hear them properly and then you will respond properly automaticament if you are pure from Full Morning Program, three Gayatris sandhyas etc.

Then there are some people who want to know

that you know more than them.

Otherwise, why talk to you.

Of course, one of the first things that we should know more than others

is that we are their servants

and that is one of the first things that they should experience that we know. Seems you know this, no?



Your servant,

Namacarya Dās

ND > My comments are highlighted.

-----

Personal Notes on a, Hopefully, Mature Approach to Bhakti-yoga

6 hours ago by Namacarya das in Personal Sadhana Reports

Personal Notes on a, Hopefully, Mature Approach to Bhakti-yoga

What follows is not “absolute truth.”

The Absolute Truth is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā.

These are my impressions — what Kṛṣṇa has allowed me to comprehend through personal experience, reflection, and, to some degree, sincere practice.

1. Foundational Understanding

Skipping the basic teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā leads to superficiality and often results in what is called spiritual bypassing — avoiding genuine inner work and unresolved emotions under the pretext of “spiritual life.”

ASA - Maybe like not making a foundation for a building?

ND > Yes. In other words, what is the good use of the luxurious and many-story building if the foundations are weak and will crumble soon?

HpS/ASA - Seems so!

The past, whatever it was, should be accepted. It is not an obstacle but a starting point.

Now, the focus should be deep, careful, slow, and deliberate study:

first the Bhagavad-gītā, then the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, followed by the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Nectar of Devotion, and other essential works.

ASA - Yet, the Bhaktivedanta Purports include the previous books in the list, no? So if we start with the most advanced, eg. KRSNA book then Srila Prabhupada will teach us BG also, no?

ND > Yes, and refer us to BG to inspire us to study it.

Different people are reading to join at different levels, no?

ND > I am not sure I understand what you mean. Do you mean that different people with different spiritual qualities join and they will choose to read different books? If you mean this, yes and a little comment that even though a person is highly spiritually qualified, will read BG from that perspective and enjoy ananda.

HpS/ASA - Yes!

Eg. Fred can appreciate the KRSNA book but needs the BG instruction included to fill out his fundamentally good BG knowledge from previous lives.

ND > Yes.

Every person has their psychophysical nature (svabhāva). That nature should not be denied in the practice of bhakti — at least not in the early and middle stages.

Spiritual growth comes through gradual transformation, not through forced suppression of one’s inherent tendencies.

ASA - Yet, we can do some suppression, no? Just say, "No" to chocolate!!!! Some suppression is natural, but cultivating the higher taste as you suggest is real basis.

ND > Yes, resisting the temptation to eat some kind of “food” items is needed. However, there is no need to resist being a doctor, singer, cleaner, lawyer, etc., for Krsna, and according to Krsna’s desire. Arjuna as a warrior, Dhruva and Prahlada as kings... Still, on some super humane level, a person can also neglect his/her svabhava and do what Krsna told him/her.

Bhakti is not lived by negating the world, but by purifying one’s relationship with it.

ASA - 🐷 can we join your school??? Wonderful.

ND > Hehehe. 😊

The Mayura Academy is trying to share how to dance for Krsna’s pleasure :-) Put your "wings" in the air, sway softly in the kirtana rhythm while putting one foot in front of the other.

2. Responsibility and Everyday Life

Bhakti-sādhakas should live according to their natural duty (dharma):

• working, earning honestly, and contributing to society,
• not living indulgently, but also not artificially renouncing comfort,
• being educated and financially independent — not dependent on parents, institutions (including ISKCON), or anyone else.

Such a life develops a genuine sense of responsibility.

When such devotees gather, they do not seek titles or recognition. Their association becomes a natural setting for talking and singing about Kṛṣṇa and His energies.

In that atmosphere, there is no need for unnecessary hierarchy.

Respect arises spontaneously — from maturity and mutual appreciation, not from titles or formal power.

In such a community, bhakti becomes a living reality, not an organizational system.

ASA - Srila Prabhupad comments that there is no difference between the grhasta fully engaged in KC and the man in the renounced order of life, but because of more formal austerities the Sannyasi is given more FORMAl respect.

Is the same, no?

ND > I remember Mother Urmila saying that austerities were stronger (in a way), at least then, as a grihasta than as vanaprastha. As grihasta, there was cooking, cleaning, taking care of children + Sadhana, The bedding at home was simple. As a vanaprashta, there is always someone cooking nice dishes for her and the beds are better than in her past period of life. Of course, there are more things to all this, but just as an example in and of today’s modern world. There are sannyasis with a house, a flat (one, two and even three) and grihastas who do not own the apartment. 

HpS/ASA - Yes, Gopa kumar in the Brhad Bhagavata Amrta comments that Sannyasa can come to mean eating nice food and not having to work hard.

Danger in every Ashrama.

Srila Prabhupad told Sudama Swami that it is the duty of Temple and Grhasthas to offer big, big prasad to the Sannyasi and it is duty of Sannyasi to take little, little. In this way there is an ongoing competition.

The formalities then seem like formalities with pleasant meaning.

3. Arjuna as an Example

Arjuna did not change his occupation or his clothes.

He changed his consciousness, mentality, and intention.

That is the essence of bhakti-yoga: inner transformation within the life one already lives.

Spirituality is not an escape from the world but a change in how we relate to it.

In this way, progress becomes organic, natural, and clear — not forced, but alive.

Material problems will always exist, but with a proper inner attitude they become opportunities for learning and growth.

HpS - Wow! Yes. Super.

4. Tolerance and Boundaries

Titikṣā — forbearance — is a divine quality, but it must be understood correctly.

If someone can humbly tolerate injustice (to oneself), that is noble.

But if someone cannot, that is not a lack of spirituality.

There must be (is) a way to express pain and suffering.

Forbearance must not become an excuse for allowing abuse — whether personal, social, or institutional.

ASA - NoI 3 - Enthusiasm is more important than tolerance. We must be enthusiastic about our tolerance because we see it is getting good results?

ND > If I understand properly you are saying, “Try to be tolerant but with divine inspiration and realisation”. 

HpS/ASA - Enthusiasm is defined as action executed in KC with intelligence. So, we can adopt, patience, not doing somethings as a positive action to some degree with intelligence. We should first, be enthusiastic, even in our patience.

Especially within religious organizations, where “tolerance” is too often used as a shield for those in power.

When the idea of “spiritual tolerance” is misunderstood, it may turn into passive acceptance of wrongdoing instead of compassionate correction. Misusing the principle of tolerance and patience to excuse harmful acts creates space where abuse can persist.

True tolerance does not only mean being a doormat; it means staying composed and clear while truth and justice are being expressed.

It is easy to be “tolerant” when everyone pampers and praises us.

But real tolerance is tested only in adversity — and then it requires both strength and wisdom, not mere passivity.

ND : End of this letter's comments. Thank you!

HpS/ASA - Bad head ache. 4.33PM.

Turn off all functions and chant.

Honor Prasadam.

Thank you.



Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Has your understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness changed in any way over time?

I mean in any aspect — from one period of your life to another — whether in perspective, emphasis, or conclusions.

HpS - AGTSP. I did not, really have a clear understanding of how Srila Prabhupada was using the words. Then I learned how to say iskcon in hindi.

anar astrika sri krsna, bhavan amrta sanga.

Bhavan amrta is the way Consciousness is translated, so now we take it, pretty much, that Srila Prabhupada means the concept of bhava when he says Krsna Consciousness. Then we have the whole technical perspective of the word from NoD Etc!

Similarly, has your view or consideration of ISKCON changed in any way through the years?

HpS - Yes. Main point is that we understand there is the ISKCON that is the institution, like the village of Nanda Maharaja. Then there is the ISKCON that is a community of friends, like the Gopis have their friends amongst their institutional relations with family, chief of police etc, in Nanda's village. SB 10.47.63. and finally there is the ISKCON that is just each individual and their personal, direct experience, of their connection with the Founder Acharya.

 If the answers to these questions are yes, could you please explain how?

I realize these may be quite personal questions to share publicly. As always, when writing here on the Monkey Warrior blog, I deeply appreciate any exchange you choose to offer. And if you prefer not to comment, I completely understand.

Thank you very much.

Your servant,

Namacarya Dās

HpS - Your Blog posts are always an example of dignified social culture. You be blessed with a very cultured country and have a cultured wife and family!

Correct?

Hare Krsna, Dear Gurudev,

 Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

HpS - Rather, agtSP, swollen, burning, itching feet.

 All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 All glories to Guru parampara.

ASA - ❗

 Gurudev, Advanced spiritual practitioners are always in trance. They live, talk, eat, sleep but

always in trance.

HpS - Yes, we are somewhere in between advanced and neophyte. Mostly neophyte right now. You association is keep us from trying to satisfy our senses, but if we finish that, then it is a fact we would chant and dance for a while.

Then try to honor Prasada very well.... then look for some recreation. for our sense.

Actual advanced practitioners always enjoy the advancement and they just

keep continue the same. They don't have any desire left, like - dead body. 

HpS - Dead body. Non moving car, unless Krsna wants to use it. Then he enlivens the car, body, puppet and the Pure Devotee, uses it like a puppet for Sankirtan. Zooom. Zooom. Zooom!

 If they want to bring down their own nature then only they come down otherwise they

won't like to come down. 

HpS - If Krsna wants them to enter the Bahiranga Shakti.

 They realized the true nature of soul. They see material world with advance eye.

Your dependent,

Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - This is like NoI 6, no?

Problem with ooozing sores all over the whole body is that they generate so much noise in the nervous system. Screaming and that interrupts the chanting and dancing.

If we are engaged in dancing, cooking and dancing, singing and dancing, decorating and dancin... then we are not really in the material world, no?

Krsna has intense desires for His work in the material world. So, we can really help.

Just as same as spiritual world.

Radharani descends as Visnupriya?

It is even more intense separation than Goloka from Nimai?????

Hari Bolo!

Thank you [all]. 6.15PM.

About to die.

Will chant and dance and take some liquid.

"You are not tire, you're thirsty", can't remember who wrote the essay.

yet, monkey added, "you're not thirsty, you're suffocating!"

Take a deep breath and you may not need food, or water.

Hari Bolo!