Letters to the editor

asa[e] guru tattva; disciple falls from vows.

Dear Gurudeva,

PAMHO. AGTSP.

I am writing this letter to tell you that I am losing myself spiritually. For several weeks I have not been keeping fully the promise I made to you of chanting 16 good rounds and the Gayatri mantras, and I feel very, very bad.

You always say that if one is not keeping the vow, you are not his/her spiritual master anymore, and I understand that.

HpS - As Diksa Guru, but if you or someone in this position wants, then we can try to function as Siksa guru, Patha-pradarshika guru, again. That is Guru who tries to get us on the formal path, the vows and promises.

Of course, Srila Prabhupada is doing this for all of us through so many media.

It is only my fault. I ask your forgiveness for having failed you and Srila Prabhupada. It is clear that I am not up to the standard. Please, I hope you don’t think that I am getting lost by engaging in sense enjoyment, I mean, more than some weeks ago. Truly, that is not the case.

I have simply complicated a little more my life with my new personal situation. At the same time, I am getting older and I have less material strength, and it seems also less spiritual strength. The daily life of a worker woman who lives alone with two children and several bills to pay at the end of the month consumes a lot of hours and energy.

I have the feeling of sinking into a spiral that swallows me and pushes me away from the devotees. Sometimes I think am a burden for the devotees: Jayanta is better living in Brihuega and the devotees who live around here are only interested on when Jayanta can come to have a lecture and a sat sanga meeting.

And I totally understand it. I am only good at my job, driving and some sports.

I would like to thank you for all these years in which, through your great mercy, you have allowed me to remain close to you and benefit from your association, knowledge, and realizations.

I am deeply, deeply sorry for not being up to the level of you, your spiritual master, or your disciples. What frightens me most is that I don’t know if I will ever be able to be. But I am going to keep trying. This soul is fighting.

If you allow me, I would like to continue connecting, whenever I can, to Japa Joe, FMP, and the Sunday classes. Also, whenever needed and if you consider it appropriate, please count on me to help with NIOS.

I am sorry to have to write you such a letter.

I hope you are in good health.

An aspirant hoping to be able to serve you again.

HpS - As usual you are a heroine and leader for so many people. How many people are in the same position and have not taken the brave and honest steps to write here.

Thank you.

Can we act as your Siksa guru?

Vartmana, Patha, pradarsika guru?

Of course, Krsna does not forget all the effort you have made.

It is like taking the rope He is offering from the shore and pulling us closer. Eventually we get to the point that even though we still go under the water, our feet now hit the bottom and we can use that to push ourselves up, as well as take the pull from his rope.

Later we will be 50% out of the water.

Yet in all cases we hold onto the rope. Even 50% of the rivers current can carry us away.

Of course, the rope is 16/4 with enthusiasm.

If we lose the connection we are headed back to the Samsara of the river flow. Again, it is different for one who has chanted than one who has not.

If we have the strength and intelligence to go to work etc. then we have the strength and intelligence to chant some Japa and follow principles to some practical extent.

No whiskey.

No betting on horse races.

0--0

Keep track of how many rounds you owe Krsna.

Take a vow to chant a certain number of rounds daily that you know you can do for a certain period. Eg. "I will chant four rounds per day until Christmas".

Then see the result.

Then take a vow to chant fixed number, more or less, during the next period.

At least one round every year on Janmastami? 😆

This is what Srila Prabhupad and we guess Rupa Goswami recommend in the NoD.

Sangat sanjayate kamah.

Our desires develop from the company we keep.

If you are giving so much help to Nimai the Great and Sarasvati the Charming, then why aren't they chanting with you?

Has Jayanta Das moved full time to Brihuega?

Does he not help with the care of the minor children?

Are the two of you enacting your Spanish lila of Sancho and Teresa?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo7VlD66ISM

HpS/ASA - No, agtSP, content in the letter!

Would like very much to hear from you.

Thank you.

Hare Krishna Gurudeva, please accept my obeisances.

Gurudeva, I have no problem with the ISKCON authorities, nor am I very close to them.

My service is outside the temples. I currently hold no authority, but I was thinking of taking Maharaj Yadunandana Swami as my Siksha guru. What do you think?

HpS/ASA - Seems very fine. ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada's body, no? So, we should see the the Head, Shoulders, Arms, Belly, Legs are as healthy as possible.

My service is outside the temples: cooking for my deities, chanting 16 rounds, reciting the Srimad Bhagavatam, observing the Ekadasis, chanting the Gayatri, and worshipping my household deities.

HpS - Your attitude seems great. Just work to become a part of the institutional Sankirtan more and more. You must protect the GBC. You are their Mother!

My father's name is Hugo Morales; he is 71 years old. He is a retired math teacher. He is currently not working but owns some properties in Peru that he rents out and runs a small business with my mother-in-law.

My father has known ISKCON since 1994. His friend, who was also a vegetarian at the time, introduced him to it. From then on, my father always taught his family and friends about Krishna consciousness. Thanks to my father, I was able to read Srila Prabhupada's books. He taught me to sing the Yapa chant, to cook, and to worship in our small temple at home.

Nadiya Nivasi Dasi

HpS/ASA - You are such a fortunate person. Become a devotee on the level of Narada Muni by the grace of Lord Nityananda and our Founder Acharya!

Come with us to the Next Letter! ➡

Hare Krsna, Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, pamho

Thank you so much for your daily enthusiasm.

Recently, it was the feast day of a Peruvian saint, "Saint Martin de Porres", also known as the saint of the broom. He said that when we sweep, we should think about sweeping away our sins. It is said that he managed to get a dog, a cat, and a mouse to eat from the same plate.

What I didn't know was that He and Saint Rose of Lima were friends. saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ 

We are all called to holiness, but Maya is so powerful that she knows our weaknesses and uses them to tempt us. That is why association is so important.

The other day at Mass, the priest said it was a blessing to have a church nearby. And I realized all the blessings I have.

I saw a letter that caught my attention on the blog about your upcoming arrival in Lima. Some of us weren't aware of these arrangements, like Palika, etc. But I assure you that we will all do our best to ensure that you and the devotees have the best experience sharing the teachings of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.

I hope that my sister, Ulysses and Zeus can have darshan from You.

See you at Japa joe

Your eternal servant

CMDD

HpS - Is this one good? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66zUY8UZn4M&pp=ygUJYXZlIG1hcmlh

Yadu Swami is trying to buy the Madrid-Santiago-Lima tickets right now. Then we can fix the dates. Basically arriving like a week before Rama navami and staying for a week???

PAMHO AGTSP! All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!

HK Maharaj! How are you?

HpS/ASA - Probably the same, agtSP, as you and all of our readers. Suffering from this gross and subtle body, but trying to catch the mercy of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON formula as the day goes around!

Well in a short reply to your last email, I’m from Argentina and frankly speaking because of the legal process I’m dealing with my child’s mother (who’s a former ISKCON devotee), I feel that most of local devotees will spill the beans if I do reveal them my mind. Are there any devotees, even from abroad, that you really trust with whom I can get related with?

thank you very much in advance!!

Federico

HpS/ASA - How do you want to relate? Read Krsna book together? Family and job matters, like Arjuna and the Battle of Kuruksetra?

Hare Krishna, honorable Maharaj HpS🙏🏾

All glories to Goura Nitay

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.  

Please accept my humble obeisances.

First of all, thank you for your response to my first letter introducing myself to you. I apologize for the length of the letter; I felt inspired and wrote too much, I am really sorry 😓

HpS - Do, not, agtSP, remember the exact letter, but usually when letters are to long for our long tailed secretary to deal with he just lets the sender know and asks for more bite sized posts.

Thank you!!

🙂

Yes, I have been following your morning programs daily for a couple of weeks. Every day I cannot miss the opportunity to have your association and devotees' All is such inspiring and positive for my spiritual life.  I love that time 🐵

The best hours of the day for me are during the japa Joe and FMS programs because I feel very inspired to chant the 16 rounds and to finish these in the morning.

After my rounds I get a clearer mind and determined to accomplish my daily tasks at home, taking care of my mom, who is still recovering from their wrist surgery. My sadhana helps me to get a nice motivation during the hole day... do my service and daily activities with a good mindset.  Thank you, Maharaj, for being my guide.

I make many mistakes when chanting my rounds; many times when I chant by myself, my mind goes from one thought to another, these ones are not related to Krishna... but since I have started to follow your programs, I can see some changes, it's more easy to focus my attention on listening to you chant and repeating the holy names by myself following you. This technique helps me a lot.  Thank you so much for your help daily.

Maharaj, I would like to ask you, what should I think about while I am chanting the Holy Name of the Lord? Should I look at an image of Him or should I just listen attentively without thinking about anything?  I have this doubt. Thank you very much in advance for your answer 🙏🏾 Thank you for everything you do for us.

HpS - Srila Prabhupada, as we remember, comments that for the basic sixteen rounds, for sure, we should just focus on chanting and hearing attentively. of course, adopting place, posture, breath, may help this, but we should remember that we only adopt other things as help us focus on just hear the HOLY NAMES.

From Them...... form, character, associates, pastimes will follow.

We can chant in the mood of the Siksatakam, especially 'ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram...' is we cannot just chant, sit anyhow, breath anyhow.

Also, I want to tell you that I have a big fear about death and diseases, since I have a family history of physical illnesses. I usually hear that Maya is stronger and that no one is safe in the movement. I just want to remain stable in performing my daily sadhana and I trust more in the Supreme Lord.

HpS - Proves you are a wiseman. This must not be your first life as a philosopher like Socrates.

Sometimes I believe that I am trying to surrender to Him, but these fears arise—how could I remove them from my mind? Please, help 🙏🏾

HpS - You mention several. If you go on chanting Hare Krsna and reading the SB you will get answers to all of them, more and more.

Here is nice link to some practical suggestions. We have taken some to heart!!

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/9/27/#bb15339

Yes, Maharaj, I live in Lima, and I am attending to Temple of Parama Karuna Goura Nitay at ISKCON Lima center for Wednesday and Sunday programs.

HpS - Miraflores, or Wilson, or other???

The devotees in charge have entrusted me to do service like pujari for the Goura Arati of every Wednesday, this is Krishna's mercy.

As I mentioned in the previous letter, since February of this year I started doing garland service at temple of Lima Center, and from the last 7 weeks I have started this new service in pujari. I am very enthusiastic for doing my best in this new service😊

Since february of 2024 I have been visiting the Miraflores Temple for following the programs, fortunately actually I have daily association with devotees in the Temple because I am working in the store of the temple part time and I participate every Harinam saturday's. It's really amazing every Saturday doing Harinam in Miraflores. Many people like our chanting and energetic dance... they feel attracted to Holy names; it's a nice service. Thanks, Supreme Lord!!

The motivation to improve my sadhana was to offer a good service to the Deities. Maharaj, everything was aligned for me; Krishna and SP was helping me every day. I see their guidance. For example, he devotees I frequently associate with told me about your Mangala Arati program, and here I am very enthusiastic because of your inspiring association🙏🏾

The Supreme Lord has guided me to You. Thanks Krishna who allows me to join every day at your programs, I am learning to be more disciplined, taking seriously the spiritual life. Thank you, Maharaj and all devotees who join daily. I feel more confident; I must confess that discipline was a weak point for me during the last years... Now, I am surprised about my determination in order to get a stronger sadhana, and all is because sadhu sangha... for that reason this time (morning programs) is the best part of my day.

You have a lot of kindness, mercy and a good sense of humor. Thank you so much, Maharaj, for your daily guidance 🙏🏾

Thanks too for recommending that I read canto 1 of the SB, 4-6. I am going to read the very interesting conversations between Narada Muni and Srila Vyasadeva. I am very interested in reading them 🤓

About the Chosica Temple, they have very nice programs with static kirtans. I went to the Chosica Temple for the first time for this year's Radhastami, at the end of August. I was fascinated by Sri Sri Radha Madan Vihari Deities 💖

🙇🏾‍♀.  

Yes, Maharaj, there are mature devotees in the temple who present very inspiring classes every sunday. I know Prabhu Laksman Agraja Das, who is my teacher, his wife Mataji Raman Reti Devi Dasi, Mataji Mitravinda Devi Dasi, Prabhu Ramasundarya Das, and other brahmanas. They are dedicated to spreading Krishna consciousness and excellent devotees. Also, I often listen to the Sunday classes online. Chosica is located 3 hours by bus from my home.

Hare Krishna, dearest Maharaj, thank you very much once again for your daily spiritual support in the morning programs. As you say, they give us the strength to face the day's problems. You give us priceless teachings every day 😊I'm very thankful.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.

All glories to you 🙇🏾‍♀️

Your servant,

Annie from Lima 🐷

PAMHO at your lotus feet, Maharaj 🙇🏾‍♀️

HpS - Thank you.

We had to start scanning the last half of the letter, because it was too much for us.

Take devotees and spiritual brothers, sons etc as practical.