Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Beloved Gurudeva,

Hare Rama, esteemed K. B. Das et al.

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Thank you so much for being a straight pathway to Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet. Your vani accompanies me all the time, and is a huge help for everyday endeavors.

HpS - Hopefully we are at least 77% clear pathway to Srila Prabhupada and we certainly beg you to find other ways to reach him also Eg. Books, Other ISKCONdevotees.

You summarize all of them in "Get up early and get your rounds done", and I say to myself what else do you need?. After all this time I can realize that your potency comes from your flawless sadhana, FMP, FEP, reading and chanting everyday, you are an exemplary disciple of Srila Prabhupada and you were able to overcome successfully every obstacle that appeared in your spiritual practice within Iskcon.

HpS - We are struggling to honor Prasada properly but SP indicated that even for him it was a challenge. He took the expense to travel with a cook so that he would have consistent Bhoga.

I’m so unfortunate that although I know this I can not practice it everyday. It scares me, but I can not do nothing but keep trying and praying for the mercy of Guru parampara.

HpS - No! Every day make a little improvement. Eg. We pushed our bed back five inches so that now it touches the wall. Now we sit up straighter and chant better.

Every day make some progress in solving your problems, no?

When I returned home, after Europe, I found out I had to leave my workplace. The owner did not renew the rent. That put me in a huge stress, had to find another place in 30 days. On August another facial palsy arose, like the one I had in 2011 before going to India. Took me three weeks to recover my face, but the mind is cancala!!

On Janmastami I found a new place, smaller, simpler. I saw it as Krishna's plan to myself, a new phase in my life.

I envision my life entering a more steady phase. Last four years were expansion, bigger asrama, work projects, and a new baby girl. Now I just want to maintain everything and chant Hare Krisna, read, preach, play, serve devotees.

My desire is to enter more in a harinam mood, theater and puppet shows, less rational, more heart.

I felt like I had a lot of dhal and rice, but no chapatis.

HpS - Jaya!

Wife and children are ok, my sons are good guys, respectful, with a service attitude. My wife is so happy with her daughter. I feel Krisna is giving me a good opportunity to work with this family attachment.

HpS - What happened to your, her, dog? Went to better body?

This health problem created havoc in my personal sadhana. I could sense a depressed mood when I couldn't chant. SP is right. In kali yuga, the only thing worthy is Sadhu sanga and Krisna katha. Living with devotees saved my spiritual practice. Now I'm struggling to recover good japa, FMP.

I'm in charge of the pujari on wednesdays. I continue giving classes at university. I'm not lecturing until I strengthen my spiritual practice. I realized there hasn't been a single week in which I didn't give out a SP book. My work is a great opportunity to witness how everybody is suffering in different ways in this material world. Is an everyday reminder and great opportunity to preach.

Two weeks ago we went to a yoga festival. Almost a thousand yoguis from argentina. Adi Yajña Prabhu gave a very nice lecture about yoga, then there was a wonderful kirtan and we distributed 155 books, 16 BG, 1 noi, 2 first canto of SB, 1 SP biography and many more. Photos attached.

This is pretty much what happened with my life these last months.

We purchased tickets to go visit you in mexico. We will be there from 3 to 11th of march.

Is amazing that you are reading this letter while you are near Radha Kunda, here at New Govardhan AQI is 18, perfect, but not as many senior vaishnavas as where you are!!

It will be great meeting you after your India tour!!

Thank you Gurudev, for being such a bright light house,

Struggling to become your disciple,

Nikunja Bihari das.

ASA // Thank you your lucid letter. Your descriptions of the whole situation seem so accurate.

You seem to be a person who walks a tight rope. Doing a lot of precise work.

A little slip and you have face palsy etc.

More chapatis seems to be the answer.

Put Mexico dates on our Calendar.

Try to coordinate with devotees there, Gadadhara Das et al about village development - Monterrey / Mar de Platanos.

How is Pancha tattva Das' Pizzeria?

Next letter.

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Hare Krishna Amado Gurudeva,

Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias,

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada,

Muchas gracias por ser un camino directo a los pies de loto de Srila Prabhupada. Su vani me acompaña todo el tiempo y es de gran ayuda para los esfuerzos diarios. Las resumes todas en "Levántate temprano y canta tus rondas", y me digo ¿qué más necesitas?. Después de todo este tiempo puedo darme cuenta que su potencia proviene de su impecable sadhana, FMP, FEP, lectura y canto todos los días, eres un discípulo ejemplar de Srila Prabhupada y fuiste capaz de superar con éxito cada obstáculo que apareció en su práctica espiritual dentro de Iskcon . Soy tan desafortunado que, aunque sé esto, no puedo practicarlo todos los días. Me asusta, pero no puedo hacer nada más que seguir intentándolo y orando por la misericordia de Guru parampara.

Cuando regresé a casa, después de Europa, descubrí que tenía que dejar mi lugar de trabajo. El propietario no renovó el alquiler. Eso me puso en un gran estrés, tenía que encontrar otro lugar en 30 días. En agosto surgió otra parálisis facial, como la que tuve en 2011 antes de ir a la India. Tardé tres semanas en recuperar la cara, pero la mente está cancala!!

En Janmastami encontré un lugar nuevo, más pequeño, más simple. Lo vi como el plan de Krishna para mí, una nueva fase en mi vida.

Me imagino mi vida entrando en una fase más constante. Los últimos cuatro años fueron expansión, asrama más grande, proyectos de trabajo y una nueva niña. Ahora solo quiero mantener todo y cantar Hare Krisna, leer, predicar, jugar, servir a los devotos. Mi deseo es entrar más en un estado de ánimo harinam, teatro y títeres, menos racional, más corazón. Sentí que tenía mucho dhal y arroz, pero nada de chapatis.

Esposa e hijos están bien, mis hijos son buenos muchachos, respetuosos, con actitud de servicio. Mi esposa está muy feliz con su hija. Siento que Krisna me está dando una buena oportunidad de trabajar con este apego familiar.

Este problema de salud creó estragos en mi sadhana personal. Podía sentir un estado de ánimo deprimido cuando no podía cantar. SP tiene razón. En kali yuga, lo único digno es Sadhu sanga y Krisna katha. Vivir con devotos salvó mi práctica espiritual. Ahora estoy luchando por recuperar la buena japa, FMP.

Estoy a cargo del pujari los miércoles. Sigo dando clases en la universidad. No daré conferencias hasta que fortalezca mi práctica espiritual. Me di cuenta de que no ha habido una sola semana en la que no haya entregado un libro de SP. Mi trabajo es una gran oportunidad para presenciar cómo todos sufren de diferentes maneras en este mundo material. Es un recordatorio diario y una gran oportunidad para predicar.

Hace dos semanas fuimos a un festival de yoga. Casi mil yoguis de argentina. Adi Yajña Prabhu dio una muy buena conferencia sobre yoga, luego hubo un maravilloso kirtan y distribuimos 155 libros, 16 BG, 1 noi, 2 primer canto de SB, 1 biografía SP y muchos más. Fotos adjuntas.

Esto es más o menos lo que sucedió con mi vida estos últimos meses.

Compramos boletos para ir a visitarte a México. Estaremos allí del 3 al 11 de marzo. ¡Es increíble que esté leyendo esta carta mientras está cerca de Radha Kunda, aquí en New Govardhan AQI es 18, perfecto, pero no tantos vaishnavas mayores como donde está! ¡Será genial encontrarlo después de su gira por India!

Gracias Gurudev, por ser un faro tan brillante,

Luchando por convertirme en su discípulo,

Nikunja Bihari das.

Dear Maharaj,

PAMHO AGTSP!

Thank you Maharaj. I will endeavor to avoid biting interactions.

Something amazing happened yesterday, read a very old chat with my husband. I saw how harsh my response was to his shortcomings. I was trained for 25 yrs to be with a very different kind of man. Felt like a ballerina paired with a dancer still training. I felt constant stress over his shortcomings. My shocked interactions with him were neither because he’s bad or I was bad. But it definitely took a long time to readjust my expectations (and now second shock, being thrown away so heartlessly). Today I’d never respond that way because I’ve accepted it’s reality and especially seeing how damaging it felt to him to feel inadequate. I apologized again to him yesterday. He accepted but still feels ‘he’s not right for me, can’t make me happy’. Anyhow, let’s see where Krsna leads us. As soon as I imagine him and I being together and the world falls silent, I feel this veil of insecurity or uneasiness due to his lack of commitment spiritually.

Bhrigu Naadi this year told me if my husband doesn’t return by Diwali, not to hang on. Someone new will come (they came and left also). And Agastya Naadi from 10 yrs ago told me there will be seperation, then by mercy of guru and Krsna, you will overcome, you have to change your attitude and then there will be no marital problems.

Excited to see what Krsna has in mind for us 🙏. In some ways we want new person because the relationship will feel more natural. But then we feel duty bound to our husband, in a way like can’t leave him and go enjoy a nice life.

I also have a few questions:

1) what service should I engage this life in?

2) I feel a desire to do BS, BV etc study NOD under your direction. Is this something should pursue? Are there any lecture recordings for these courses?

Thank you so much for this shelter. It’s so much more natural. So much empowerment 🙏, strength. I can’t express enough gratitude.

your servant,

Yajnaseni DD

HpS-ASA

AgtSP!!!

Paoho.

Take second initiation.

If you don't, get some nice conversations with your brother.

🙂

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga

All glories to the sankirtan of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

Please accept my humble obeisances dear Gurudev, I have not written to you for a while, I have been involved with cultivation and construction.

At home there is a thorny tree with small purple flowers. A beautiful red hummingbird always comes to drink the nectar from these flowers, and I think of Hanumat Presaka Swami, no matter how hard the wood is and how thorny the wood is, the hummingbird finds the like little flowers and absorbs the nectar.

HpS - AGTSP! We still have a tendency to enjoy some of the flowers of Tama and Raja guna.... but it seems to be under control and diminishing!

Likewise with us, no matter how hard-hearted we have been by time, you are an expert in searching for nectar. I have been a bit perplexed by the actions of some devotees, but is it Kali Yuga? I too have had unfortunate attitudes.

HpS - Could be many things. Ie. Doctor sees that a man is coughing. Could be many causes. NoI 6 talks about how even a pure devotee may seem to have material faults from an external, material, point of view.

I tell him [you] that I am building the dining hall with an altar for Jaganath, Baladeva and Subhadra. Gopal gets up every morning and goes to hug Jaganath who is currently in the half-finished workshop, and honestly it is the best motivation in Krsna consciousness, seeing my son developing spontaneous love for Jaganatha makes me very happy, really You're going to need it because this world is getting darker and harsher.

HpS - Yes, it is Krsna's kindness to SQUEEZE us out of our material mess.

I want to tell you that I cultivated Tulasi Devi, and little by little they are germinating, and it makes me happy to see the magic of Krsna in each episode of my life, what more can you ask for in life? May a pure devotee of the Lord manifest in my humble home? I have neglected my rounds a bit, that's why I'm going to put the batteries, because I feel that the rounds and the books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, they are the only thing that will take care of my mental and emotional health. Radha JPJ, she almost left her body in a bus accident near home too, so I feel that Krsna warns us about the harshness of this world. We were listening with Gopal to some of His [your, Srila P'pada] classes in Spain, the last one about Abhimanyu, and it is a mystery how Krsna tested his pure devotees like Arjuna, how his sons were killed, his mother Devaki and his father Vasudeva, it is really a mystery. In general terms I continue working at home and soon I will have the workshop in a decent state to be able to work and collect a little better.

I also want to finish Jaganatha's dining room and altar to make some nice mangalartiks and maybe invite devotees, I always fondly remember mangalartiks with Gunagrahi das Goswami, or with you and I feel it was a gift to the heart and great fortune. have shared that bliss. I feel very lucky, the truth is, as His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja says, Krsna consciousness is the greatest adventure... I feel like I don't have much to tell. My life is a bit routine and simple, but happy. PRIVATE Gurudev, if it were possible, I ask that what follows be only for you.

HpS/ASA - O.K. unless you are confessing to robbing a bank or something. Ha! Ha! Ha!

. . .

HpS - Your comments are something that I experience precisely in my spiritual life also.

NoI 5 is so, so nice. It helped me so much when the NoI was published and I could read that text.

Hare Krishna!

Please forgive any offense committed in this letter inadvertently.

My best wishes for you, eternally grateful: bhakta frank

Dear Maharaj,

PAMHO AGTSP!

You asked us to read: https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/preface/#bb5771. The direction I’m getting in my heart after trying my best to follow SP’s discipline is I should try to not stir or provoke situation of police involvement/court as that will bring us near the divorce process. However, I also feel if we do not have any presence there, he will get more settled and so will she in the illusion that this marriage is over. I tried to nicely deal with him, he’s arguing, we will kill him. So if I try to peacefully obtain this house key/access, I should maybe just show up there. If I fail, perhaps I should embrace it like Krsna accepted rejection as Shanti doot by Duryodhana. If he attacks then I will have to act to protect, again not endangering the marriage. This might get tricky to keep everyone peaceful and prevent eruptions. Both my father and my husband’s family and gf all want a boil down. I’m close, but I feel better to postpone inauspicious acts.

I have a follow up question to your answer that Yudhisthira’s desire to uphold dharma also lost to Duryodhana: doesn't Krsna protect vow of His devotees? Bhakta Vatsala?

ASA - Hare Krsna. The greatest asset that we can have is an enlightened service attitude. If Krsna can protect that and augment it then we have to greatest gift.

If we have a service attitude toward belicose family members then we are satisfied in any situation. We have come to help everyone.

Follow up for: ‘should not argue with fool’: he turns a simple request for house key into argument. In favour of not accelerating divorce, I’m considering postponing asking for my rights to my things and house key to a later point of higher clarity. Maybe for now I can compromise having my dance dress and order new documents and book tickets.

Ys,

Yajnaseni DD

ASA - As Sannyasis and B'caris we don't get involved in the details of these things, so we can't give detailed advice.

Chant Hare Krsna and try to do things with the company of several family members and responsible people.

Draupadi won.

Hare Krsna querido Guru Maharaja

Por favor acepte mis rendidas reverencias

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada y a su trascendental Sankirtana

Todas las Glorias a Usted, que nos involucra en esta maravillosa revolución espiritual.

Orando por que su salud sea buena y favorable para su Sankirtana, agradezco su misericordioso refugio, instrucción y guía. Hay muchas cosas que quisiera comentarle, pero por ahora, escribo para preguntar sobre el siguiente asunto:

Aproximadamente hace 2 años, su sirviente comenzó a tomar cursos en línea con SS Yadunandana Swami (en promedio hemos tenido clases, tres días por semana) así que, paulatinamente hemos observado como las instrucciones de Maharaja nos han impulsado a mejorar nuestra comunicación y conexión con usted, con Srila Prabhupada y con su legado (ISKCON). También me impulsan a refrendar mis votos de iniciación, a fortalecer mi Sadhana, a conocerme mejor, a asociarme profundamente con diferentes vaisnavas y conectarme desde nuevas formas con el trascendental Sankirtana de Srila Prabhupada. Me siento muy agradecida y afortunada por su misericordiosa guía.

Gurudeva, a través de las instrucciones de Su Santidad, hemos encontrado un puente claro y solido para mejorar nuestro servicio devocional, nuestra relación con los vaisnavas, con él, con usted y con Srila Prabhupada.

Por lo anterior y si no es demasiado atrevimiento, respetuosamente quisiera preguntarle ¿Me permite, formalmente, recibir la guía (Siksa) de Su Santidad?

Muchas gracias querido Gurudeva, le ruego por favor me disculpe por cualquier ofensa que pudiera haber cometido y quedo a sus órdenes.

Su eterna aspirante a sirviente

Karuna-Sakti Devi Dasi 

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Hare Krsna dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my deepest obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and his transcendental Sankirtana

All Glories to You for involving us in this wonderful spiritual revolution.

Praying for your good health and favorable for your Sankirtana, I thank you for your merciful shelter, instruction and guidance. There are many things I would like to tell you, but for now, I am writing to ask about the following matter:

About 2 years ago, your servant started taking online courses with HH Yadunandana Swami (on average we have had classes three days a week) so gradually we have seen how Maharaja's instructions have prompted us to improve our communication and connection with you, with Srila Prabhupada and with his legacy (ISKCON). They also encourage me to endorse my initiation vows, to strengthen my Sadhana, to know myself better, to associate deeply with different Vaisnavas and to connect in new ways with the transcendental Sankirtana of Srila Prabhupada. I feel very grateful and fortunate for your merciful guidance.

Gurudeva, through the instructions of his Holiness, we have found a clear and solid bridge to improve our devotional service, our relationship with the Vaisnavas, with him, with you and with Srila Prabhupada.

Due to the above and if it is not too daring, I would respectfully ask you, do you allow me, formally, to receive the guidance (Siksa) of Holiness from him?

Thank you very much dear Gurudeva, please forgive me for any offense I may have committed and I remain at his orders.

Your eternal would-be servant

Karuna Sakti Devi Dasi

HpS- AGTSP. Very nice to hear from you.

Yadunandana Swami is our Siksa guru, so of course, we encourage everyone to take shelter of him in perspective of Srila Prabhupada.

As far as we understand Siksa guru is not a formality. It is informal but absolute.

Diksa relationship is the one that is formal.

Like the Monks, Nuns, who advise you, in contrast to the Priest that marries you.

Of course, the Priest that marries you, Diksa guru, is often a principal Siksa guru to.

O.K.?

Save a thousand people!

Toda Gloria a Sri Sri Goura Nityananda!

Toda Gloria a Srila Prabhupada!

Toda Gloria a usted Gurudev!

Espero que se encuentre muy bien Gurudev, quiero contarle que debido a cambios profundamente importantes en mi vida en estos últimos tres años prácticamente no hemos estado en las redes sociales incluido este blog, excepto haciendo publicaciones sobre las lecturas de los libros de SP. Comprendimos que esta vida es muy valiosa y a pesar de estar en un movimiento espiritual fidedigno y autorizado debemos mantener cierta información fuera de la vida pública ya que hay personas que aún no están preparadas para ser confidenciales y usar estos medios para reflexionar y lamentablemente en muchos casos ocurre lo opuesto y luego unos descubre que no hay buenas intenciones detrás de muchos practicantes de bhakti yoga incluidas autoridades nacionales.

Entiendo que la mayoría de nosotros estamos en un nivel muy bajo de conciencia y debemos protegernos.

Gurudev quiero contarle que por la misericordia del Señor Krishna, Srila Prabhupada y usted estamos bien de salud física, creemos que mentalmente estamos bastante equilibrados y lúcidos. A pesar de los altos y bajos en nuestra práctica espiritual estamos convencidos al 108% de que habernos encontrado con Srila Prabhupada en esta vida es una oportunidad que no tiene precio...invaluable, es por eso que cada día oramos para mantenernos conscientes del valor del Maha Mantra Hare Krishna y todo su poder y misericordia. La poca inteligencia que tenemos sin duda la desarrollamos gracias a Srila Prabhupada y los maestros espirituales fidedignos. Estamos profundamente agradecidos y bastante animados y alegres para seguir haciendo frente al karma que debemos depurar. Siempre que es posible distribuimos libros e intentamos hablar con la gente sobre la importancia de volver a prestarle atención a la vida espiritual. No es fácil.

Lamentamos tener un cuerpo femenino porque hay muchas cosas que deseo contarle y se que sus palabras y experiencia me ayudarían a comprender distintas situaciones más profundamente así que estamos sacando provecho de sus clases y las clases de otros maestros espirituales, gracias.

Gurudev acepte mis respetos y reverencias a sus santos pies, gracias por todo su amor incondicional, lo saluda su discípula Jahnava Devi dasi.

Haribol!

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All Glory to Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda!

All Glory to Srila Prabhupada!

All Glory to you Gurudev!

I hope you are doing well Gurudev, I want to tell you that due to profoundly important changes in my life in these last three years we have hardly been on social media including this blog, except making posts about SP book readings. We understood that this life is very valuable and despite being in a reliable and authorized spiritual movement we must keep certain information out of public life since there are people who are not yet prepared to be confidential and use these means to reflect and unfortunately in many cases the opposite happens and then some discover that there are no good intentions behind many practitioners of bhakti yoga including national authorities.

I understand that most of us are at a very low level of consciousness and we must protect ourselves.

HpS/ASA- Yes! NoI 5. In the Sunday Feast class with 100 people we ask questions in a general sense. Then after that maybe 12-people come around the speaker for little more confidential talks.

Of course, it is open to everyone, but those 12-people have a certain type of consciousness.

This Blog is like that.

That level of confidential.

Then, if very personal can arrange just one or two people.

Gurudev I want to tell you that by the mercy of Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and you, we are in good physical health, we believe that mentally we are quite balanced and lucid. Despite the ups and downs in our spiritual practice we are 108% convinced that having met Srila Prabhupada in this life is a priceless opportunity...invaluable, that is why we pray every day to remain aware of the value of the Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna, and all his power and mercy. What little intelligence we have we certainly developed thanks to Srila Prabhupada and bona fide spiritual masters. We are deeply grateful and quite encouraged and happy to continue facing the karma that we must clear.

Whenever possible we distribute books and try to talk to people about the importance of paying attention to the spiritual life again. Is not easy.

HpS//ASA - Yes! Yet, even a little result is eternal, "nehabikramo naso sti.."

We are sorry that we have a female body because there are many things that I want to tell you and I know that your words and experience would help me understand different situations more deeply so we are taking advantage of your classes and the classes of other spiritual teachers,

HpS - "Victory comes from good advice, and good advice comes from many counselors", Cankhya Pandita.

thank you.

Gurudev accept my respects and obeisances at his holy feet, thank you for all his unconditional love, his disciple Jahnava Devi dasi salutes you.

Haribol!

HpS - Thank you. Hope to get more and more of your association in Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan