Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna, Dear Maharaj, 

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. 

Please Accept my Humble Obeisances. 

First of all, I would like to apologise for my procrastination and lack of communication with you. I always think about the things I want to tell and ask you, but I never get around to actually acting upon it and this is my fault for being too lazy. Please forgive my disregard in this manner. I am forever indebted to you. 

HpS - Hare Krsna! Are you the daughter of Raktaka Das??? We forget you from just your log in name! Maybe it will be revealed in your letter.

Welcome to the ASA Blog.

It has been too long I don’t even know where to begin. 

HpS - Hari Bolo!

How are you Maharaj? How is your health? I am following you on Twitter and there is a Facebook page that updates on your schedule and activities. You authored a book? That is awesome.

HpS - As the Kapi Dhvaja says, and posts here in the Blog, we are suspecting that we will be in this body for about two more years. At heart we seem to be making progress in eternal purification by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Nityananda.

Thank you for being so compassionate and funny and awesome. We love you. 

How was your Vyasapuja? 

HpS - Nice. We really had a chance for all of us to glorifiy Srila Vyasadeva, Parampara and our individual positions in it.

Peru.

We filmed a small video, our family, and sent it through one of papa’s god sisters. Same as the previous year. We hope you received them well and we appreciate everything you do and the time you always give to hear us.  

HpS --- Awwww. I think we saw them. Dhruva did it, no?

In regards to myself, I have been slacking in my sadhana. I have not been chanting so consistently and I really want to change this. I know if it’s something I want to do, I just have to do it, rather than talk and pretend like I want to do it. But sometimes I just find it hard to motivate myself. A couple of years ago, I was so on top of it and chanting even before midnight to at least finish my rounds. Now, I may say, “oh, I can just do it the next day” and so on. I’m trying to find a strong base for me so that I can desire to chant and love doing it, not begrudgingly. 

HpS - Good attitude. Any progress you make in chanting is eternal. Right now let us chant one Maha-mantra.... !!!! !!! ! ! !! ! ! !.

We made progress. There is NOTHING that we can do that is better than chanting HKHKKKHHHRHRRRHH. Sankirtan, health, social re sponsi bility, wealth..... all will improve at the maximum pace.

On this note, I also have a question in regards to chanting that I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while.

I’d been told that one should not chant the Pancatattva Mantra on the Big Krsna Bead. I tried to research a little bit about it. The thing is, I also only recently finished Chant and Be Happy (which is an awesome introductory book actually) and at the end it is said that the Krsna bead should not be chanted on. I think I have found this elsewhere as well and many devotees follow this. 

I cannot remember who taught me to chant (probably Papa), but for practically my entire life, I have chanted the Pancatattva mantra on the Krsna bead and I’m sure my father would’ve said if it was wrong if he’d seen me do it. I asked my mother and she said she does not do so. 

I found my papa’s old videos on YouTube and in the “how to chant” video, he says one can chant the Pancatattva mantra on the Big Krsna bead.

I know my papa only preaches what he knows to be correct and bonafide, but in many other places and instances, it says one should not chant anything on it. My uncle also confirmed this. 

May you please shed some light on this? And is it offensive to have chanted on the Krsna bead? Or is it a small technicality I should not worry myself over? Is it okay to chant the Pancatattva mantra on the Krnsa bead?

HpS - As far as I, in my limited knowledge, know. We should not chant on the KRSNA bead. I even try to avoid touching it as much as I can. I chant the PT mahamantra by itself without necessarily touching any beads.

Maybe your esteemed father just had a wrong impression.

That's what I know.

You may have noticed, I seem to be the most technical person and I like to be accurate where I can and follow the regulations nicely. 

Please guide me. 

I have had many other questions also and I will get to them later perhaps, in the next message. Before this one will get too long. 

On another note in regards to me, I am still studying graphic design. I am taking it slow (3 units per semester rather than the usual 4-full time) and so I may have 2-3 years left. It’s okay. Not exactly the best, but much better than business and I’m learning a lot. I can serve Krsna in many ways with some skills. I have designed a really cool t-shirt on the Adobe programs. I will upload an image of it. It can be very sattvic and fun I think.

I have been working at Spotlight (a craft/art/fabric/all-round kind of store) casually for almost 2 years now. So far, it’s okay. They pay well and it’s good to have extra paisa. The first day actually I wanted to quit because I felt the colleagues were quite mean and the boss was a little scary but I calmed down and here we are now. I am buying lots of fabric always and have been sewing a bit lately too. 

So far I’m also lucky that they haven’t kicked me out as our family is not vaccinated. My mother isn’t too keen on it and didn’t want us to get it. Also my auntie’s family. My uncle had to leave Govindas due to this unfortunately. What a time we live in. 

The only thing I’m most sad about is the travel restrictions. I am missing India so much and would also love to visit Baku but we may have to wait a couple years till we will be able to do that, Krsna willing.

I really hope you will be able to visit Australia at some point soon. We already have 3 Maharaj’s coming to Brisbane in the next month. We are in dire need of your mercy and we miss your association. 

Last year I started reading the Bhagavad Gita. This is very shameful but better late than never.. Anyway, I am almost done now and I’m quite excited to read Srimad Bhagavatam and other books. Sometimes what is written can be very confusing for my little mundane brain to understand, but I persist. I really am bewildered by the fact that I was born into this movement and I may find it difficult to understand, whereas people who have never heard of it, read it, and they completely accept everything. It amazes me and I commend all the devotees. 

I’m simply trying to understand all the philosophy for myself. Rather than accepting it blindly and following without understanding it or without any faith. I want to have that revelation where I see, “WOW, this is really it.” It may take me years or lifetimes to come to that conclusion. But I’m hoping it will be sooner. 

I am receiving so much mercy from Guru and Gauranga and the devotees. That - I have no doubts about. 

I am doing Tulasi Seva here. I have been now for at least a year at the temple. Usually about once a week where I can, I go and cut all the manjaris. I’ve recently also started to make Manjari Garlands from them too. It is such a nice, peaceful service and I really enjoy it. I will definitely keep at it. At home too, I cut all the manjaris. Sometimes it can take a couple of hours. Tulasi just flourishes. 

Anyway, 

I have practically now written enough for an essay hahah. I will stop here and tell you more next time. 

Lastly though, I have a question. 

This following part was from the previous year’s Vyasapuja and so I’m just copying my question from there. 

We would like to wish you well on this most auspicious day of your appearance. We are very happy that you are always serving Srila Prabhupada and his mission and delivering the devotees. I have wanted to double check on which exact day it is. I read on your blog that it’s on the appearance day of Locana Das Thakur, 2 days before Jive Goswami disappearance. And so, according to our time here, that makes your appearance on the 14^th of January, Vedic time. Google bhagvan (as papa used to say) says it’s on the 12^th of January, 1948. 

So, what is the day? Vedic and Non-Vedic days. We would like to know so we can celebrate properly. 

HpS - Locana Das Thakura's day!

JAI GURUJI!!! 

I wish to tell you more and more but I will save it for later. And I’m really keen to ask you a question that is most exciting. I will wait. 

Thank you for everything always Maharaj, your mercy is unlimited. 

Please accept my not so humble Obeisances. (I heard this in a class lately. Maybe we aren’t offering our ‘humble’ obeisances)

Your servant, 

Lakshmi

HpS - Well, how's the Bhima?? Any dreams about your esteemed father? Has Silky had any children yet?

Hare Krsna Gurudev

All Glories to Sri Sri Goura Nitai

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

All Glories to you

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Dear Gurudev, I have sent you a Whatsapp and you asked me to send here the message.

I want to tell you that's I'm pregnant [with child😁], and we want to share with you this family's success, were so happy with this notice. And ask to you and all compassionate Vaisnavas give blessings to this new life which is growing here.

I cannot visit you in Peru because of that, and some others reasons.

HpS - Not an ordinary person? Who is coming? Bhakti siddhata Sarasvati!!

My spiritual life is a little erratic right now, looking for balance.

Opening the altar every day

Chanting some rounds.

Hearing your and vaisnava's classes in ASA Carnaval.

Begining to read Srimad Bhagavatam.

Thanks for your time and for always be an inspiration for me.

Your little servant.

Rati Manjari DD.

HpS - Be generous. Let your baby hear 16-nice rounds daily and take very nice Prasad.

Is funny. Now more trapped in Krsna concsciousness.

Dear Guru Maharaja, Hare Krishna!

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I was asked to participate in a study from a philosophical/sociological university about [as] a follower of religion/faith/spiritual path that is from [an] other religions [religion] than the main one in the country.

I gladly agreed and answered their questions. It was nice to have the opportunity to talk about Krsna consciousness openly, and moreover to ponder about some deeper issues in connection to it.

HpS-ASA - So very nice to hear from you!! I hope you will tolerate our tardiness in answer your blog post. Part of the reason is the pressure from movie production, travel.

We see, and several informed devotees that we contact also see, that it seems more and more, Iskcon, the Hare Krsnas, are being accepted professionally.

It is like you are working on planning the development of some national project and you ask one of the people you are working with, "So, Nicole, you belong to the Mormon church, no?". Nicole answers yes and may make an enquiry about your religion, and you both leave it at that for the time being.

We have established the basic moral standard of the person we are working with, their basic philosophical perspective.

So, more and more people are informed enough to ask, "So, Mr. Nama acharya, you are a Hare Krsna, no?", and they mean it in a respectful and with even practical curiosity.

It seems that more and more we have to know our tradition in good detail in science, politics, family relations, economics, dinning!!!

On our Sunday and Saturday devotee gatherings, I shared about anarthas that are carried into bhakti yoga as a luggage and how they are masked because they seem like "watering the bhakti creeper" but are, to some extent, watering the weed(s). Specifically, the self-righteousness/arrogance/conceit/vanity one. In the presentation I tried to keep myself on the topic, not going to open more of them so that there is enough time to have a focused discussion. It looks that was accepted. Nobody threw rotten vegetables at me.

HpS - Very, very, very nice topic for initiated devotees, no?!!

Blog I read regularly almost every day.

ASA - 😮 Brown and White make up such a fright, with their words of mush and chaos.

We still have a roof upon our heads and a warm room (and water) and warm prasadam food. Thankful for that.

HpS - Yes, here people really feel the threat of a nuclear war right on their doorstep.

The general populace that I meet is not so bad people, though interesting how humans are weird to be killing so many animals which are sentient beings that feel pain, and the killers are ignorant about that.

HpS - They hide the slaughter-houses, no? Also, the package it like it is Burfi or something, no?

Of course, until not long ago, people accepted that black-skinned people are to be kept only as slaves, and it was a big struggle to change that perception.

We are turning 50 in a few months - if that has to mean something in our insane life.

HpS - We heard, read, that Srila Prabhupada said that 30-years is the end of the physical energy in the body and that 50-years is the end for mental strength, that maybe you can push it to fifty-five. That is good because then we have to rely more on our intellectual strength.

Occupation, apart from the main one of trying to become a Krishnaite, is still in school as a teaching assistant for kids with disabilities and the renting (and managing and cleaning and repairing, and ...) of family apartments. Nirgata is continuing with her Iyengar yoga classes. Parents are 86 now and need some assistance too.

HpS - Always funny, Mataji's name translated into Spanish! 😊

Our respects to her. She must be a saint to put up with you.

So, all in all, it looks like we are still alive.

HpS - Furthermore, on the path of becoming a preacher on the level of Narada Muni!!

AgtSP! AgttGP.

Your servant

Namacarya Das

TLGASP

PAMHO

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

Por favor acepte mis más humildes reverencias.

Mi nombre es Macarena (Maca Chile, me conecto a los programas de gotomeeting) tengo 37 años,

ASA - Yes, we have seen you there so, so regularly. Your association is very nice. Thank you.

me he desenvuelto en el área de Educación con la profesión de Psicopedagoga y Educadora Diferencial durante 12 años. Siempre me ha gustado apoyar en la educación en el área psicoemocional y espiritual. Desde pequeña he estado ligada al mundo católico y cristiano por mi familia, haciendo diferentes servicios, actualmente coordino la misa de niños los días Domingos y dentro de la semana en grupos de oración, ya que siempre me ha llamado la atención la vida de Jesús y otros santos en especial Francisco de Asís, Madre Teresa de Calcuta y muchos otros.

También conscientemente estoy llevando los 4 principios, cantando al menos una ronda al día y haciendo servicio una vez a la semana repartiendo Prasadam a personas en situación de calle. También en la medida de lo posible realizo Sankirtana (libros). Y participo en grupo de whatsapp llamo Asa Deportes iniciado por Arjuna Das, donde por medio del deporte, contacto con la naturaleza, treking, ciclismo y paseos, se generan relaciones de amistad e intercambio de experiencias entre múltiples personas. Estoy en contacto con las madres Priyasaki, Sruti Priya, también con los devotos Arjuna Das, Prabhu Yamuna y Carlos Rold.

He tenido el honor de participar en Magal Arti y en clases de SB en el templo de Iskcon Chile. Mi interés más grande es descubrir cómo poder aportar en la Educación de Iskcon desde mi profesión de Psicopedagoga.

ASA - That is very nice. Kali yuga is so chaotic that some times we can not be systematically engaged in devotional service according to our normal civil function: Karma Yoga.

Yet, there is one very great benedicition: Just by chanting Krsna's Name in all circumstance we can see how to contribute.

Hope you get enthusiasm to chant more rounds, ultimately 16-for desire of Srila Prabhupada.

TLGASP 

PAMRR

HK Maharaja 



Muchas gracias se despide 

Macarena ( Maca Chile)

All Glories To Sri Sri Gour Nitay!

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All Glories to You!

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances, I am Danistha devi dasi from Santiago, Chile. Yesterday I read again this paragraph

(...) Los planes son grandes enemigos del Maha-mantra. Planea cantar Hare-Krishna. De otra forma solo rechaza cualquier plan. El Maha-mantra hará los planes que esto necesite. Hay un futuro? Hay un pasado? Son reconocidos como pensamientos. Dejen que el Maha-mantra los reúna como a Él le gusta...encuentra a Srimati Radharani. Ella quiere danzar con Sus Amigas para Krsna y Sus Amigos, pero no lo puede hacer porque a sido raptada por ese bribón de Ravana...

Lee el libro de Krsna 1008 veces...(...)

Del libro "Desde Rusia con amor" de Hanumatpresaka Swami.

and I have a cuestion, why You wrote that Ravana kidnaped Radharani, if Radharani is in Krishna lila, and Ravana in Ramayana?, Sita is Laksmi Devi right?, but also in some way Radharani, right?, Ravana is the same personality that Someone in Krishna Lila?

Thank You so much Guru Maharaja, I hope You are Well,

Your servant,

Danistha devi dasi.

HpS - I don't know what I wrote so long ago!! Yet, as you say Sita is an expansion of Radha. In Vrndavana there is a place, Kamya van, and there Radha and Krsna and all Their friends play Rama lila, forever! Maybe Sridama, Her brother, becomes Ravana and kidnaps Her.

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

I have enjoyed your lectures on Jung and the ways in which Jungian philosophy dovetails with Krishna Consciousness. My question is about Lord Jagannath and how Jung might see him in terms of Archetypes, integration of the shadow, or any of his other core concepts. I am a counselor working with non devotee families and I am always looking for ways to communicate Vaishnavism with the psyche. I would be grateful for any opportunities for service to you.

Your humble servant,

Akincana Bhakta Dasa

HpS - I don't know. Lord Jagannatha is a very specific Lila-avatar. There is Ranchor in another place in India. He is part of the lila of Lord running away from the battle field.

If Jung new more details he might see Lord from his perspective.

What have you read of Jung???