Seva Questions

4 years, 9 months ago by Germán Vegas in Personal Sadhana Reports

Hare Krna dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept our humble obeisances

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

I am writing to ask you a question regarding the worship service. In SB 4.27.24, Srila Prabhupada mentions: "A devotee follows the principles of pāñcarātrika-vidhi as well as bhāgavata-vidhi. Bhāgavata-vidhi includes preaching work - śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ - the hearing and chanting of the glories of the Lord Viṣṇu, the Lord Viṣṇu Supreme Personality of Godhead. The pāñcarātrika-vidhi includes arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam. " In his commentary, the process of pāda-sevanam is not mentioned. I have heard from you that a neophyte devotee performs the first three processes, the madhyama devotee the next three, and the first-class devotee the last three.

Is the worship service (at home or temple) whether puja, Salagram Silas bath or other seva, considered pāda-sevanam or arcanaṁ?

HpS - AGTSP paoho. Our knowledge in these areas is not so great. You can ask other devotees! In general if they are installed dieties and saligrama sila we would understand it to be arcana, but if they are just your own unistalled statues or pictures, then I would inderstand it to be Pada sevanam. Of course, the relationship with a pictures eg. Lord Nrsmhadeva by your door to whom you pray upon coming and going, can be more intense than someone may have through the formal externally satvik procedures of workshipping installed deities.

Being a neophyte devotee, should I perform my worship service emphasizing meditation (smaranam) because I am at that level?

HpS - Technically if we have taken second initiation we are Madhyama adhikaris. The worship of the deity as described above is a specific process. I can be, and is, combined with other processes eg. you have to kirtanam, chant, prayers while you are doing it. Of course, smaranam is very natural for the prayers, Holy Names and, and, and, the Form of the deity.

What is the difference between pāda-sevanam and arcanaṁ?

HpS - As dscribed above, as we understand, PS is doing service for Krsna eg. buy things. cleaning His house. Making money for Him, going to His temple, but arcanam is the formal ritualistic diety worship.

Do the processes of pāñcarātrika-vidhi require higher qualifications than a brahmana?

HpS - As far as I know some of them can be performed by non-intiated people who might be helping or becoming Second Diksa devotees, and others would be aimed at Goswami level devotees.

Thank you very much in advance

Your servant Gandharva das

HpS - Hare Krsna.

Priya Sakhi dd ¡“Nitai-Gauranga”!

4 years, 9 months ago by priyasakhi in Personal Sadhana Reports

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaja.

Favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias.

Todas las glorias sean para Srila Prabhupada!

Estimado Guru Maharaja. Espero que se encuentre pleno en el servicio a Sri Nrsimhadeva.

Acá todo sigue más o menos igual.

16 rondas diarias 98%

Gayatri 85%

Principios 98%

Estudiando Bhakti Vaibhava (1°canto cap. 8-11)

HpS - 8 = Prayers of QUeen Kunti and Uttara saved, 9 = Bhisma, 10, 11 = [?] Krsna departs for Dvaraka and Arrives??

Seguimos con el curso Bhakti Sastri (facilitadora). Hoy terminamos el Sri Isopanisad y en 3 semanas comenzamos con Upadesamrta.

ASA - Jaya! Om purnam adah purnam idam....

También comenzaremos un 3° curso para Discípulos online en octubre (facilitadora).

Estamos abriendo una Escuela Virtual llamada Atma Kula (la verdad no sabemos si el concepto se entiende, pues no sabemos sánscrito, pero podemos cambiarlo en el futuro).

HpS - It seems nice. Guru kula - Guru's Place. Atma kula = Self's place. ??

Comenzaremos (lunes 14) con una charla de Ayurveda, y luego abriremos un curso (ayurveda) de 3 meses para los interesados. Queremos dar talleres y cursos. *Si tiene alguna sugerencia para ésta escuela virtual, estaremos muy agradecidos🙏

HpS - Seems like many programs. Do you do them alone? Who helps?

Mi familia está bien. Los niños avanzando con sus tareas escolares y con los pasatiempos de Krsna.

Jagannatha estudiando BvB, y realizando su servicio en la administración.

..................................

Tengo 2 preguntas Gurudev:

1.¿Quién habló el Sri Isopanisad?

HpS - Aparece Svayam bhuva Manu. Es en mencionado despues en al Bhagavatam, yo pienso. Canto Tres cuando el renuncia todo despues de pasa Devahuta a Kardama.

2.Los Gurus, discípulos de SP están dejando el cuerpo. En unos años más muchos de ustedes no estarán físicamente. ¿qué podemos hacer quienes "probablemente" nos quedemos por más tiempo sirviendo en ISKCON? ¿Quiénes serán nuestros guías? ¿Quiénes liderarán ISKCON en el futuro?

HpS - Prabhupada esta personalmente presente en sus libros. Puede preguntar de el paramatma y los deidades del temple. puede hablar con 5 mas buen devotos. Muy bien. Va sentir claro.

Muchas gracias Guru Maharaja por tanto servicio, por tantas horas de escritura, clases, estudio, converaciones, respuestas, bendiciones y oraciones, Gracias por tantos buenos deseos, instrucciones, por todas Sus reprimendas.

Esperamos mantenernos siempre en servicio y mejorar poco a poco.

Su aspirante a sirviente

Priya Sakhi Devi Dasi

HpS - !!!!!! Gracias a Vd. Aparece que vd esta realizando la vida religioso para algunas vidas anterior tambien.

Todo respectos al Jagannatha. Tiene que entrenar su succesor, no?

Nitai-Gauranga: Esoteric (sex with universe)

4 years, 9 months ago by harsh_horse in Personal Sadhana Reports

Hari Bol Esteemed Soldier, Kneeling Pranam,

its 3am, we just wrote virat purusa letter.

but we were contemplating on your lectures. and then were dancing (thinking that krsna is fighting in front of us).

then seemed somebody recorded it, we got angry , no one can see me whem i am with krsna, person can assume i having good time with him.

--- then i remember your lecture, where you quoted a philosophy "my guru is having sex with universe".

my thoughts were on similar lines, i wanted to be enjoyed not enjoyer.


secondly can we write such letters, not much official sankirtana...

lets get awarded in the closet

HpS - Hare Krsna!!!!! You seem to be coming to a lyrical form of expression. That is very good. "Everyone should be allowed to talk to himself, just so long as he proves to be amusing", Some French Guy

Nitai Gouranga ! (jayanta)

4 years, 9 months ago by jayanta in Personal Sadhana Reports

Hare Krisna Gurudev: Pamho.

Seguimos sus noticias a través del blog y vemos que su sentido del humor permanece intacto. Eso nos alegra bastante.

Por aquí hemos empezado el calendario escolar. Así que hemos retomado los Sat Sangas presenciales.

Estamos en el camino de mejorar nuestra conexión con sadhus, sastra y guru Acarya Prabhupada. Estamos escuchando de forma regular una o dos clases diarias de Bhaktivedanta Swami. Eso mejora la conexión con Paramatma.

HpS - Jaya! At one point I think I listened to all the recorded lectures and room conversations. Of course, how much did it penetrate, but is possible to read all the books for the important points and then go deeper into those that seem more relevant to our Sankirtan (life after life).

Algunas veces somos beneficiados por Abhiram prabhu con algo de servicio.

Sin grandes novedades se despide su sirviente

Jayanta das.

P.D. Escribiré otra carta siguiendo el debate establecido por Laksmana A. prabhu sobre administradores iskconianos en kali yuga.

HpS - Jaya!!! Managing a religious institution in Kali-yuga!

JGD SCL Report September 2020 (not urgent at all)

4 years, 9 months ago by jagad.guru.das in Personal Sadhana Reports

All Glories to Sri Sri Radha Govinda

All Glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada


Please accept my try of humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.

HpS - The only lotus feet I hope to 'have' are Srila Prabhupada's and that by the mercy of you and all the ISKCON devotees.


Pandemia Reflexiva


On May 31st we had the third Pandemia Reflexiva, lead by Humberto Maturana and Ximena Davila. I was the moderator.


The special guest was Ricardo Lagos Escobar, former president of this country. An 82 years old and passionate guy. The other guest was a young entrepreneur that create an app to help children who anonymously denounce bullying inside their schools and help the education communities.


In the tests, Lagos seems friendly and with long speeches. The other clarifies to him that is more a conversation.


The record of 900 people at the same time watching.


He has a journalist with him and in twitter, the people accuse him to talk too much and no listen (15 minutes, is supposed 8 each in the first round). The same judge to Ximena Davila, so the people request more participation from the moderator, me. And Ximena told me that on air.


Anyway, an interesting experience.


The fourth is supposed would be with Brasil, a lot of people from there in the virtual room and I gave LIVE the idea.


The subtitle of the next one is suggested by Maturana: "God needs a clown". They are between the most famous and social critic comedian of the country. Our producer still suggests your name. I don't want the pressure anybody. 


Anyways, I'm thinking that your listening proficiency in Spanish is very good now but yeah, the problem is keeping it for one hour maybe. The other thing is a translator should be necessary besides me, someone with a big heart, capable of streaming emotions and strong voice.

HpS - Sounds beyond our range of communication. Humor is very culturally bound and we don't know the culture well enough!

My role is to be the interaction between people from chat and other "conversants". The last question that night was from Vicente. He said: "I have 11 years old, and I'm enjoying this with my mom, my question was Why we are visible and how to be happy?" 


I think that your presence always would be a contribution to the people, always because is evident the Prabhupada empowerment in you.

HpS - We would like to participate but again the Spanish language dialog format seems impractical. Also maybe a long program for us. We would be exhausted for two days, maybe. Of course it is good to be exhausted for Krsna. Why else do we put gas in our tank.

Professional simultaneous translator?

Personal things

We are chanting 16 rounds every single day and following the principles. We are feeling that we are arriving closer at the platform of a civilized human been thank your help.

We are trying to understand Srila Prabhupada more and more. 

HpS - ASA -- Us also!

Since last part of July, and following your advice of first is PEOPLE, and then, the PROJECTS. we have meetings every Monday (we will stop the next three Mondays of September) with a marriage couple of devotee with two teenager children. They are more intelligent than us, with masteries in university in bioethical and more emotional intelligence I think. They share practical knowledge about how we build values and moral codes as humans. Good association.

HpS - !

Since May, Tuesday and Thursday we started reading sessions of Srimad Bhagavatam, we are almost 4 months and we are just in the first 20 verses of the first chapter of the first canto, we are just 4 devotees. Since 26th July we started a TLC study, we are 6 there, they are very happy with the invitation. B.Sastri with Laksmana Tuesday night, Saturday NOD with Dhatri group and attending B.Gita "conversatorios" on Friday led by Visvanath. Aravinda das requested to me and other the three devotees, to be journalists in a new program to interview missioners online.

HpS - Super. You can do the same thing with the same people in Goloka. You can be green parrots.

We are discovering that we don't like to sleep too much but is supposedly bad for our health, and yeah, it seems is true. So my challenge now is going to the bed earlier. When I did it, is a whole other experience.

Finally, we are seriously considering going the country land with my father. The positive side is that my father would be with someone in his last years, is much better place for children and it would means a better use for money. But it seems that in my job they don't want to fire me. My idea is work from distance, three or two days a week. Maybe it's too much requirement considering my karma 😅

HpS - Sounds good. Come to Santiago Tuesday morning and leave Friday afternoon or something like that?

So, We are hoping to develop buddhi yogam tam to make a good decision and to be brave enough to do something about it when we have it.

Thank you... eternally to you, your kindness and personal presence all the time is a crucial part of our spiritual life. And we are getting ready to continue in this way if still, this body gets the eight years old. (80-years old?)

Hare Krishna.


Your servant, Jagad Guru Das.


What next?

Hare Krishna Respected Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeiscances.

HpS - AGTSP!!!!! Like fresh air hearing from you. Mera bharata mahan hay!

I am very grateful for the reply, you offered in "https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/11516/"

Thank you so much for the answer. I am sorry, for troubling you with 'gmail letters.

How do we deal with these situations in ISKCON where people take advantage of the institution to increment their own personal prestige, wealth and prosperity. I think you have some idea of the particular details of this within our Indian perspective.

HpS - Are we ready to die for Srila Prabhupada? Yes, in many ways. Of course, we have a lot more to learn about this "we". Many subtle attachments "we" have to understand and kill yet. That is first. Understand what your relationship to Srila Prabhupada, our Founder-Achaya is. Then make friendship with other followers of Srila Prabhupada and then 3rd deal with ISKCON, the institution, in terms of practical decision.

There is a French phrase: No, man can sink so low that some dog, or some woman will not love him. So, there will always be value for us and our friends to use with the institution.

Who are your friends? I am one!!!!! Anybody else?

Devotees here, in Kutam, Ranchi are currently not under ISKCON management. However, they have full blessings and supports from HH Bhakti Raghav Swami Maharaja. On 9th September he offered online initiation to around 30 devotees. Maharaja has plans to shift here after the lockdown ends. Here, they have made a library, collecting books on Vedas etc from Varanasi. They plan to make it a big library with as many Vaishnava literatures as possible. Currently all Vedas, Puranas and many other scriptures are available.

These devotees also run a small gurukula, where students are given both Vedic and modern education. There were 80 students, but after lockdown, currently 20 have come back. Education, accommodation and prasadam and completely free. They have been offered land by many different people and soon, at least 5 more new gurukulas in different parts of India will start. The special focus would be about training Ksatriyas, as HH Bahkti Raghav Swami Maharaja desires.

I relished doing small service to Gomata. I learned at least some aspect of go-seva and I understood one thing- Gomata is very personal in dealing.

Another thing- I have registered for an online M.A. (Sanskrit) through IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University). Let's see how things move ahead.


Thank you Maharaja for being a great source of inspiration in my spiritual life. Please forgive me for my shortcomings and expertise in fault finding.

Your aspiring servant,

Purushottam Keshav Das

HpS --- What is a doctor but a fault finder!!! Fault finders are some of the most important people in the society, no???? Who are your ISKCON friends?