Letters to the editor

🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva,

HpS - AgtSP!!!

So I finished reading "The Gopis attracted by the Flute", and now I will try to relate that to the three levels of Iskcon.

When I think about ISKCON, I think that Srila Prabhupada has given us a house in which we can all live. He is serving Krsna, and here in ISKCON we can all serve Krsna together.

The chapter mostly describes everyone's relationship with Krsna. I think of sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana.

But the challenge is that there is no mention of ISKCON in this chapter. So, I can ask, "Who am I?", "Who is my spiritual master?", "Who is Srila Prabhupada?", and "Who is Krsna?". And then, "What is my relationship to all of these people, and the Supreme person?"

Is this is the link, everyone taking the role of servant?

Srila Prabhupada has given us this great opportunity to explore our service options. Then, after obtaining the actual service position to the spiritual master, we can prepare ourselves to not just leave the bodily concept, but to actually leave the body, right? Out of his infinite kindness, the spiritual master is here-- guiding and enlightening us-- with the torchlight of knowledge. Aren't we always connected through serving his instructions?

I noted a few sentences in the passage:

"... while looking toward Krsna playing His flute, (the gopis) saw the reddish kunkuma on the ground and immediately smeared it on their faces...In this way they became fully satisfied, although they were not satisfied when their lovers touched their breasts. All material lusty desires can be immediately satisfied if one comes in contact with Krsna Consciousness."

What this means to me is that the relationships with people here in the material world are not ultimately satisfying. True satisfaction only comes in relating to Krsna. When the calves were drinking milk, they stopped feeding, struck as though dumb. The sage-like birds appeared only to hear the flute. The deer perked up their ears to hear the flute sound.

So I can only guess that the three levels of ISKCON are 1) exploring the service relationship to Krsna through Srila Prabhupada as the pre-eminent siksa guru; 2) serving the spiritual master who is serving Srila Prabhupada; and 3) then after serving the instructions of the spiritual master in this material world, we get to leave it and serve the servant of the servant in the spiritual world, while simultaneously being with there with Krsna.

Then we might also get a chance to hear His flute!



What do you think Guru Maharaja? Am I even close?

Your servant,

Jaya-hari das

HpS/ASA - For us:

1. The Gopis are all good citizens of Nanda Maharaja's village, the Institution. They pay taxes, haggle over the sales price of their milk products. Point out problems in the administration and try to help correct them.
2. They have their circle of friends quite independent of the King's heirarchy. The King's closest friend may be his cook! In the institution we need to develop our friendships based upon NoI.
3. They all directly experience a personal relationship with Krsna (through so many transparent via media). We have to have a DIRECT EXPERIENCE of Srila Prabhupada's thoughts about us, instructions for us etc.

O.K.

Institution

Friends.

Prabhupada!

Hare Krsna! Querido Guru Maharaja, por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias

¡Todas las Glorias sean a Srila Prabhupada y a todos sus fieles seguidores!🙇🌺

Orando siempre para que su energía se encuentre estable y sea favorable a su sankirtana,🙏

me disculpo por importunarlo, no había querido escribir para evitar cargas innecesarias a su vista. Ahora, me permito hacerlo porque durante FMS usted sugirió que le hiciéramos algunas preguntas en el blog…

1- Una pregunta que surgió fue: ¿Krsna y Radharani tienen mascotas?

Recuerdo que hace algún tiempo usted dio una clase titulada "¿Krsna tiene un perro?"

En aquel entonces no teníamos buen equipo de grabación por lo que no quedó registrada, si a usted le parece bien, seríamos muy felices de poder escuchar más sobre este tema.

2- En relación al Tava Pache Pache: 

A) Usted menciona que “En una ocasión repaso el NOI, anotó todo lo que Srila Prabhupada dice sobre ISKCON y luego lo presentó como una ofrenda de Vyasa-Puja” … No hemos logrado encontrarla. Por favor, podría mencionar ¿De qué año es esta ofrenda? ¿O quizá compartirla con sus sirvientes? Muchas gracias. 

B) También menciona que “Está tratando de escribir un ensayo titulado ´Bachelor Beans´” Sobre como cocinar, ofrecer y honrar prasadam”… humildemente quisiera consultar sobre este ensayo, pues tengo algunos problemas para controlar la lengua así que seguramente será de gran ayuda para su sirviente. 😊

3- Cambiando de tema, en su respuesta a mi carta anterior, usted dijo: "¿¡Tienes deidades de Gaura-Nitai!? Son hijos naturales de los devotos. Habla con Ellos sobre todo."

Respuesta: Sí, ellos son mis compañeros desde hace varios años… Intentamos complacerlos, atenderlos, hablamos con ellos y, me avergüenza decirlo, pero en ocasiones presentamos algunas quejas ante ellos… frecuentemente me parece "escuchar en el corazón" sus respuestas (algunas veces me reprenden)... y regularmente algo o alguien lo confirma… Por supuesto, creo que es posible que solo sea producto de mi especulación, pero también meditamos en que solo la infinita misericordia sin causa de Srila Prabhupada, de Usted y de los vaisnavas podría hacer posible esos intercambios.

Gurudeva, luego de su respuesta, medité mucho en la relación Madre-Hijos y también medite en mi relación con mis Señores, concluí que tengo mucho por aprender para servirlos como mis hijos, quisiera amarlos más y demostrarles ese amor como lo hacen las buenas madres. Yo, por el contrario, muchas veces abuso de su misericordia, tal como una madre que acude a sus hijos mayores en busca de guía y protección. Así que puede ver, lo mucho que tengo que mejorar, pero también observé detenidamente un poco del carácter particular de nuestros Señores ¡ellos tienen formas insospechadas para manifestar su infinita misericordia sin causa, incluso para un corazón de piedra como el mío!.

Muchas gracias por su misericordiosa guía Guru Maharaja, gracias por aclarar nuestra verdadera posición y empujarnos a avanzar desde ahí.

Eternamente agradecida y siempre a sus órdenes.

Su aspirante a Discípula

Karuna-Sakti Devi Dasi

PD: Envío algunas fotos de hoy de Nuestros amorosos Señores, yo misma confeccione su ropita, pelucas, coronas y joyería, suelo ser muy simple para alternar colores, así que ruego que ellos estén complacidos. 

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Hare Krsna! Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories be to Srila Prabhupada and all his faithful followers! 🙇🌺

Always praying that his energy is stable and favorable to his sankirtana, 🙏

I apologize for bothering him,

ASA - 😲

No bother!!!

I had not wanted to write to avoid unnecessary burdens in his sight. Now, I allow myself to do so because during FMS you suggested that we ask you some questions on the Blog…

1- A question that arose was: Do Krishna and Radharani have pets?

I remember that some time ago you gave a class titled "Krsna has a dog?"

At that time we did not have good recording equipment so it was not recorded, if it is okay with you, we would be very happy to hear more about this topic.

ASA - 🐵

🐖

🐖

🐖

On our Calendar!

2- In relation to Tava Pache Pache:

A) You mention that “I once went through the NOI, wrote down everything that Srila Prabhupada says about ISKCON and then presented it as a Vyasa-Puja offering”… We have not been able to find it. Please could you mention what year is this offering from? Or perhaps share it with your servants? Thank you so much.

ASA - Oooof! If you could not find it, then we certainly can't. Isn't too hard of a project for a young man to do. Look for all the citations eg, "ISKCON", "this movement". It is very nice fundamental understanding of our Institution.

B) He also mentions that “He is trying to write an essay titled 'Bachelor Beans' “On how to cook, offer and honor prasadam”... I would humbly like to ask you about this essay, since I have some problems controlling my tongue so it will surely be of great help for his servant. 😊

ASA - This would fit into the ASA[e], Anjana Suta Academy Encyclopedia. Maybe ASA Carnival can have a meeting and develop the Encyclopedia.

3- Changing the subject, in your response to my previous letter, you said: "Do you have Gaura-Nitai deities!? They are natural children of the devotees. Talk to Them about everything."

 Answer: Yes, they have been my colleagues for several years... We try to please them, serve them, we talk to them and, I am ashamed to say, but sometimes we present some complaints to them... I often seem to "listen in my heart" to their responses (sometimes rebuke me)... and regularly something or someone confirms it... Of course, I think it is possible that it is just a product of my speculation, but we also meditate that only the infinite causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada, of You and of the Vaisnavas could make those exchanges possible.

ASA - We think so. Basically when reach level of 2nd initiation can begin to respect our intitution.

Gurudeva, after your answer, I meditated a lot on the Mother-Children relationship and I also meditated on my relationship with my Lords, I concluded that I have a lot to learn to serve them as my children, I would like to love them more and show them that love as good mothers do. . I, on the other hand, often abuse her mercy, just like a mother who turns to her older children for guidance and protection. So you can see how much I have to improve, but I also carefully observed a little of the particular character of our Lords. They have unsuspected ways to manifest their infinite causeless mercy, even for a heart of stone like mine!

Thank you very much for your merciful guidance Guru Maharaja, thank you for clarifying our true position and pushing us to move forward from there.

Eternally grateful and always at his command.

Your aspiring Disciple

Karuna-Sakti Devi Dasi

 PS: I am sending some photos today of Our loving Lords, I made their clothes, wigs, crowns and jewelry myself, I am usually very simple in alternating colors, so I pray that they are pleased.

HpS - Wonderful! In Catholic church they have little deities of Mary, Jesus, Saints on the altar with clothes?

They need nice altar with sides, roof! Pray for it to come!

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Please accept my obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I am sorry about your dental problem, I hope that upon receipt of this letter the pain has subsided.

HpS - It seemed like loud noise, high pitched noise. Body resonates and control of other organs is lost, but now is almost gone.

A question Gurudeva, soon I want to make a piece of furniture for my altar.

I have a murti of Hanuman that belonged to Rodrigo Piceros, the poet. My question is:

Can I put Hanuman on my altar?

HpS/ASA - Yes!

Thank you Gurudeva

my obeisances

Your servant

Piyari Mohan das

HpS - Sorry took two weeks to answer!

Yes, put Hanuman on altar with Krsna and Gopis. He likes Vrndavana.

Next letter.:>>>

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva!✨🌟🌟✨

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!🔅✨🔅

Thank you so much for mentioning the three levels of Iskcon, I'm interested to know about that!😃

HpS/ASA - Look for "Gopis Attracted by the Sound of the Flute" chapter title in the KRSNA book. Tell us what you find there.

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I had an idea about Sankirtan...🍇🍇

I was thinking about writing a book about

the transformation from

matter [ial attachment] to spirit [ual attachment],

and then I was wondering, what about a zine??🥥🪴

Basically this idea is

to take Srila Prabhupada's teachings, as spoken by him,

and as spoken by you,

and transform that from a book into a zine... complete with art from His Holiness Hanumatpresaka Swami, Bhakta Angel, Jaya-hari das, and anyone that wanted to contribute.🌵🌵🪴

HpS/ASA - So, first, agtSP, we make a book and then from that a [maga]zine??

Seems like a more common method is to start with a series of magazines, with articles and then collect them into a book.

Hmmm.

What about doing a first issue of a magazine, see how it circulates, what is the response, and then plan from there?

I think it has very good Sankirtan possibility

I could add Hanumatpresaka Swami's poems, recipes and sayings, and favorite books as well if he would allow?🚎🚎

There could possibly be occasional pages for WW9, piggy's parting pearls, "my ol grandpappy used to say", some kind of activity page, and whatever else it develops into. 🍀

It will most likely have the advertisements for upcoming programs like Taco Tuesday and Soulebrate Sunday here in Houston.🥑

My goal is to become a transcendental madman...(cough cough), I mean mailman for anyone who wants this, but maybe the coffee shop crowd is a good place to start?🚎🤺🛸

Because I'm not a very "tech-y" person, maybe this could be a quarterly edition? With possibilities for increasing production?🧘

It might be mostly photo-copied or hand drawn pages. ⭐🐒🐒🌟 I have a book scanner, too.🪷

The idea was that I could distribute Srila Prabhupada's books to interested people using this as a gift to attract people to the table, or to donate for the book on the street...🔥

I could also try to "sell" it wherever zines are sold ..🔅

I think it might be very similar to the kapi dhvaja!! And if H. H. Hanumatpresaka Swami allows, then it could even use the art from the Kapi Dhvaja?🔥🔥

Or, if this turns into a continuation of the Kapi Dhvaja then of course I could print it monthly and try to somehow get it online...🐖🐖 (But if that is the case then i need a lot of help...)

What do you think Gurudeva?

Your aspiring monkey,

Jaya-hari das

HpS - I read everything twice. And what we would suggest is try and make 1st issue and see the reaction.

👍

Respected Gurumaharaja, please accept my obeisances at Your immaculate lotus feet

🙏

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!

HpSwami - We, agtSP, are still struggling with eating too much cheese. Think we have un-hybrid Carnation feet at the best.

AgtSP

I am fortunate to communicate with mother Jambabati and she wants to know if the offering she made for her Vyasa Puja arrived. 

She also wants to know if she received her report from Sadana. 

She told me that wants to know if she has had the mercy that her offering has reached her. She has this concern because last year she did not receive a response either. 

She also told me that apparently she plays something on the keyboard that causes her offering to be deleted and that's why she doesn't know if it arrived or not.

HpS - AgtSP. thank you for helping her with the communication. we feel very sad not to be in touch with her.

Looking at the Report List on the Blog, she is not there. 😕

Also, don't remember downloading her offering from the Personal Sadhana posts!!

Maybe you can collect them and forward to us here.

In general, we were doing five classes a week in Houston Temple, so that there was not time to read the Reports or Vyasapuja Offerings, but they are safe. We hope to look at them now that we are here in Murfreesboro, but... right now, after four days here we are writing with headache, eyestrain and wobbling desk.

Yet, we got water, light, heat, WiFi, car, association of devotees, and class schedule is much reduced.

Packing and travel where five days of intense work! 😅

Guess you, Franco, Gopal, me, Mataji ... we are all in similar situations.

KRSNA is like the sun! 🌅

Thank you. 👍

Thank you very much dear Gurudeva🙏💗trying to serve:

Radha Japa Prati Jalpa Devi Dasi

P.S. Her tryptic of her gaura nitai deities is always on our altar.

Hare Krishna Maharaja, PAMHO AGTSP!

The picture below is an original painting of Sri Advaitacarya, released by 14th generation of his family, still living. It is believed to be made about 500 years ago.

HpS - Amazing. Where did you get it??