Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja!

Please accept my danvadat pranams at your feet.

HpS - Hmmm! That may be rather exaggerated!! 🙂 All glories to Srila Prabhupada! We are maybe 75% his servants and 25% beasts.

My last entry to the blog detailed some less than ideal news about the state of my sadhana & if you asked the Lord to help me, i was helped in a very surprising way.

HpS - ASA -- My goodness, how exciting!!! What will he say, "Next!". This is a fun letter.

Cecilia and I had a home invasion robbery in the middle of May. Thankfully everything such as my car, all my tools, and the higher value electronics were all insured, so aside from the car the claim process went without a hitch. We replaced our doorbell with a ‘ring’ doorbell that a has a feature where you can view crime or attempted crime footage captured by neighbors within a 2-3mi radius & there is footage being shared from our neighborhood every day, every night. One detail i found most surprising about the robbery- ive over-collected a lot of music equipment, and somehow, there was not one thing taken that i had any real attachment to whatsoever! 😮

HpS - Isn't amazing!! We really usually only need very simple tools to do our service.... Then we integrate with other craftsmen and their ability to get the whole job done. Achintya bheda abheda tatttva. Very exciting. Hope you are better adapted to dealing with thieves, though!!!!

I know with no doubt that I love the Lord & wish to follow and walk with those who seek him, but as outlined in my message to you last year, I could fall so far below the standard i vowed to keep that i could hardly expect that i was paying forward enough of the blessings and mercy bestowed on me to please my benefactors or inspire others significantly. Since 2008 i have been consistently swinging back and forth like a pendulum, from making a great effort towards spiritual life and when i reach the point of diminishing returns, and creating problems without simple solutions, slide back down into pointless short term sense gratification. Id use drinking and smoking as a placebo to simply forget or postpone dealing with issues that i could not find a simple way to solve & like someone with shattered passenger window, cover it with plastic and tape, or catching a flat tire, keep rolling forward now on the spare tire, than rather use discipline and intelligence to look more honestly at my own part in how these problems come upon me.

I believe the Lord wishes for something better for me than a beer before bhakti shastri or a smoke after a stressful & hectic day. Once again id find myself to the back wall of that dead-end again.. i give up the nonsense for some time, trying to clear my conscience with the Lord but knowing in the back of my mind its only a matter of time til ill be finding myself running the wrong way again.

HpS - Yeah, but https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/2/40/!!! We go up and down day to day, week to week, but in the long run whatever we can do for Krsna makes our long term trajectory upward.

One significant way that i hope this time is different... Is after being issued my firearm safety certificate- i know that at this point an error in judgement can have serious consequences for myself and those around me. Up until we had a repeat violent felon with no regard for rights, safety, or lives of others enter our home looking to victimize us, I always though that having a firearm safety certificate was more of a liability than a necessity.

I am very very grateful to the Lord’s mercy in delivering a wake-up call to me by someone else’s negligent behavior rather than face the consequences of my own (although i would never physically harm anyone who was not gravely threatening myself or others).

They say people never change, but i also believe in miracles, because on more than one occasion the Lord and/or his servants have cared enough to turn a great loss into a complete restoration in my life. When things get tough now i dont feel like i have any business turning back because as mentioned the certificate that i have can have terrible consequences unless used safely and responsibly by someone who is not impaired with tendencies toward an error of judgement.

I also signed a lease to my own place in oakland again. The altar i have at home now is in our bedroom and so i cant really worship there before 7-8am & so now that will change. And im hoping to be able to take part in the morning program at the Berkeley temple more often.

Please let me know if i may be able to help with some minor repairs or other service in Murfreesboro soon or after travel is safer. Very open to suggestions on how i could become more fixed up/better devotee. In need of training and guidance. Since the robbery Always completing my rounds and for a while now, doing good with my regs aside from a caffeine drink or tea here and there.

thanks very much for your guidance and mercy,

Hare Krishna

your hopefully less troubling disciple,

Loka Bandhu Rama Dasa

HpS - Hare Krsna. Thank you for the letter. Why not set short term goals for Sadhana, Japa, put them here and then report the result. What is Cecilia doing? Got a Nunchuka certificate?

Hare Krishna maharaja, le ofrezco mis humildes reverencias, todas las glorias sean a Srila Prabhupada, ojala se encuentre bien, con respecto a la pregunta que hizo en el reporte anterior, pues si estoy asistiendo a las clases, pero de manera virtual por medio de guías que no tienen mucho sentido de existir, ya que mas que enseñar solo están ahí para que los profesores se ganen el sustento, pasando a otro punto gracias a su consejo ahora canto entre 10 a 12 rondas todos los días e intento llegar a las 12 todos los días, sigue siendo algo complicado, pero cuando me acostumbre podre seguir aumentando rondas hasta que llegue el punto en el que pueda tomar refugio en sus pies de loto.

Debo agradecer a el Prabhu Panca Tattva Das por enseñarme como funciona el sistema de comunicación en este blog, ya que no sabia de que manera responder a sus preguntas, si era a través del mismo informe que por el que me pregunto.

Sin mas que añadir me despido y espero que este mal que es el cuerpo no interfiera con nuestro avance espiritual.

Hari Bolo Maharaja

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Hare Krishna Maharaja, I offer my humble obeisances, all glories be to Srila Prabhupada,

I hope he is well, with respect to the question he asked in the previous report, because if I am attending classes, but virtually through guides that do not make much sense of existing, since more than teaching they are only there for the teachers to earn a living,

moving to another point thanks to their advice now I sing between 10 to 12 rounds every day and I try to arrive at 12 every day,

it is still somewhat complicated, but when I get used to it I can keep increasing rounds until I get to the point where I can take refuge at his lotus feet.

I must thank Prabhu Panca Tattva Das for showing me how the communication system works in this blog, since I did not know how to answer your questions,

if it was through the same report that I was wondering about.

Without further ado I say goodbye and I hope that this evil that is the body does not interfere with our spiritual advancement.

Hari Bolo Maharaja

HpS - As we wake up to the value of the Holy Names we will chant them all the time!!!!!! Much essential work to be done. Other soldiers are trying to fight without us and screaming at us to wake up!!!

Respects to your big family of devotees.

Hare Krishna Maharaj!

Hope this message finds you well!

. . . . Happy belated Janamastami, SP Appearance Day! And Early Radhaastami!

ASA - - - '@'pop~ AGTSP!

I have a couple of big (material) news. I bought a condo so now I will begin suffering with the perks of home ownership.

. . . . . Of course, it’s Krishnas home so I will do my best to keep devotees coming and going. We just did 'vastu puja' on Saturday and house energy feels better.

ASA - Lots of Prasdam for the Vastu purusa??

We also got a puppy and named him Bhoomi. He listens to Kirtan and falls asleep.

ASA -- Iskcon Brahmacari!!

We are teaching him to bow in front of the altar. He helps with the loneliness and bouts of mild depression I sink into. I know Krishna’s hanging in there with me too but it’s hard to see and feel Him at times.

ASA - In Bhagavad Gita 19.21 Krsna says, "Amongst friends during Pandemics I am dogs who's names begin with "B"".

Also trying to keep thinking of SP but that relationship doesn’t feel tangible.

HpS - Get a BIG pidture of Srila Prabhupada and put it in front of where you work, eat...

Always struggling but always trying. I keep in touch with Trivikram Das in Chile and offered him a chance to come to the US to try working. Association with god-siblings is always revitalizing.

I hope your health, literature projects, solaris, iskcon education work, and virtual sangas are always flourishing! Thank you for your mercy gurudev.

Your struggling servant,

Sugopi devi dasi

---

ASA - What kind of work are you doing? Do you have your OWN Deities? Do They eat well and have nice baths (even in the mind, offering drops of water in the Acamana cup as paraphernalia), go for rides in the Sunshine?

What is your Daddy doing? He seem like he should be working on some project meant to conquer the world (with love)?

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Todas las glorias a Usted gurudeva.

por favor acepte mis reverencias

espero se encuentre bien de salud.

por acá las cosas en Argentina estan alocadas a causa de la pandemia. seguimos encerrados, en cuarentena.

ASA - Como bujos en sus cuevas?

yo salgo a trabajar y regreso al encierro. en un punto fue beneficioso, mejore muchísimo mi sadhana. como le comenté en mi carta anterior, estoy haciendo servicio en krsna west. estoy muy feliz y entusiasmada. hay mucha gente nueva cantando rondas y leyendo a Prabhupada con nosotros.

por la mañana bien temprano me conecto a cantar rondas con Madhu y los devotos de chile, cuando puedo me quedo a clase de Bhagavatam. a veces la maternidad no me permite darme esos tiempos para la clase, entonces cuando no puedo, me quedo leyendo sola. se que no es lo mismo, pero asi no pierdo el ritmo de lectura.

ASA - Es como arroz y dahl. Amobos son necesario en proporcion, no?

estoy cursando bhakti sastri de manera virtual con Param padam, y además estoy estudiando instructorado en yoga infantil. ocupando la mente y el cuerpo.

estuve hablando con Hridayananda das goswami por cuestiones de Krsna West y le pedí fuera mi siksa guru, usted esta de acuerdo con esto gurudeva?

HpS - Si, tengo mi pequeno comprehension de su posicion, y el es mi Siksa guru de esta modo. Por ejemplo, aun entre las Brajavasis, no toma Siksa de todos de la misma manera. No pregunta como desarrollar asuntos de amor conjugal de los pastorcillos de vacas.

Como Diksa guru mi consejo siempre es elegir Siksa gurus solamente en terminos de como su Siksa aumentar nuestra realizacion de 16/4. O. K/?

16 rondas diarias. principios bien. tratando de transformar lujuria en amor (es difícil, cada día es una lucha contra la lujuria).

ASA - La bruja continua hasta que estamos 100% limpio. Jaya, Bruja Negra!

extrañando la asociación con los devotos, estar en un kirtan bailando y cantando.

ahora la vida es virtual. amor en separación.

dejo foto del dia de la iniciación, 7/7/19 en buenos aires, y de mi hija govinda lila.

HpS - Super.

intentando servirlo siempre,

līlā-sukhī dd.

Todas las glorias a Goura Nitay

Todas las gloria a Srila Prabhupada

Hare krishna Gurudev: Comienzo mi reporte contando que los seminarios sirven mucho para mi predica personal, con las chicas del jardín y otros.

los temas siempre son variados he interesantes,

como cantar una buena japa,

(lo importante de hacerlo temprano,

con una buena postura,

técnica de respiración para lograr la concentración, etc..) ,

[][] los seis síntomas de amor (intercambio de regalos, Prasada para tener buenas relaciones personales)

][][] y liderazgo, comunicación (tener las herramientas para solucionar problemas o gestionar en forma adecuada proyectos de predica) este viernes cada participante explicó una receta de cocina (pastel de papa, torta, helado, halava de zanahoria 🥕 mote con husillo etc...)

...

...

. . . estuvo muy entretenido y aprendimos recetas nuevas para ofrecer a Krsna.

El año pasado

hice el curso de dicipulos

y me quedó muy claro

la importancia de Srila Prabhupada

en nuestro avance espiritual.

además de aprender cosas técnicas de iskcon .

Con todos estos cursos, seminarios confirmo que el conocimiento es crucial para incrementar nuestra fe en krishna, --[con entusiasmo y en la compañía de devotos]--

Muchas gracias por su inspiración para mejorar y ayudar en la predica. Se despide su sirviente Raman Reti devi dasi

Hare Krishna, dear gurudev. Pamho, AGTSP!

About a year ago I was summoned to be part of the legal board of ISKCON Peru. You told [HpS/ASA - Suggested! 😎] me to try it for a year. Well, a year has passed and nothing happened. Therefore, as you encouraged me to help a little in that area, I now ask your permission to decline.

HpS-ASA - You also seemed to push it a little and try to get some reaction from the President etc. Ooof! We can't give up on the Institution, but if one way doesn't work, then as friends of each other and servants of Srila Prabhupada we have to try another way. Srila Prabhupada tried for years to get The League of Devotees et al.

So, if you think it is best to resign, at this point I certainly bow to your ideas, but with this attitude that with whatever ability and nature we have we will never stop trying to expand ISKCON not only as a community of friends, but also as a formal institution. O.K.?

In reality, administration was never my true service, it was always education, for that I have trained outside and inside ISKCON. In civil life I got a master's degree, I only need the thesis that was frustrated with the pandemic. I'm not sure yet about the PhD. Within ISKCON I have taken practically all the courses they have. I am now taking Teachers Trainnig III. Whenever there is an opportunity, I study. I consider myself an eternal student and an eternal teacher. Everything I learn I share with my students. I have a Bhakti sastri group, another of Pada padma and one of the Disciples Course. I also have seminars every Friday. And I listen as much as I can to your lectures and the lectures of other devotees from whom I learn a lot.

So, I'm going to do my thing. Personally, I believe that the solution to the ISKCON problems, whatever it may be, I do not believe that it will be solved by the administrative area and I say it with knowledge of the facts. The solutions will be given by a concerted force from the various areas of ISKCON, which seems quite far from reaching, cohesion, cooperation, unity in diversity. You are very optimistic, I am not. However, I have not stopped fighting, I always do what I can, but the area where I can help a little is in the educational area. I already have experience of when I enter administration I do not help at all. What's more, I create more inconveniences. That is why I am declining the position assigned to me. In any case, it was never legalized. I think other devotees will do much better.

With my girlfriend [Fiancee], Raman reti devi dasi, we [and I] are very excited doing Sankirtan projects. We want to do different things. Distribution of prasadam, Food for Life and also with gourmet prasadam for the wealthier classes. We plan to do bhajans in the open air and whatever we can. Make contact with the Municipality of Chosica or some NGO to do bigger programs, if Krishna allows it. Actually what we always think is to start something and Krishna will decide if it becomes big or we continue on a simple platform. We will live a "high thinking life." That is our moto.

I always wanted to preach in schools and educational and cultural institutions, let's see how things are presented. I also want to dabble in universities, but again, I will put my effort and Krishna will show me where to go.

My asrama situation I would describe as a process from grhasta to vanaprasta. We will do charity and serve together in the temple 2 days a week in the morning, apart from everything described. Really, I have seriously thought about this, I think Raman retir will be a big boost in my life. She is very determined, very organized and will not let me slack. Now, when I don't feel like it, I just watch Netlix with a pint of chocolate ice cream and oatmeal cookies. With her I will be very inspired to do service. "Women are the inspiration of men and in that sense they are better [stronger] than men" S.P. [https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/9/27/#bb15340 ]

Thanks, gurudev, for all your inspiration. I learn a lot from you. For me it is an honor and a pride to be your disciple. I am always trying to follow your discipline. Your instructions are my soul and my life, really. I'm not perfect, but I try my best.

What strikes me about all this is that I am not a blind follower. I don't do things just because you say them, but I really feel them important and they coincide with what I think. I don't really understand this feeling, maybe it's my big ego, but I feel happy. Happy to have met you, happy to have accepted me as your disciple, happy to be in this great institution, happy to have the friendship of so many wonderful devotees, happy to have Srila Prabhupada, happy to be who I am, happy to have found a devotee who is going to help me become a better person, happy to belong to Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement, happy to have Prabhupada's books, happy to be able to offer Krishna wonderful prasadam, happy to be alive here and now. And when it is my turn to leave, I will be happy because I will go to another place to continue doing what makes me happy.

Your servant,

Laksmana-agraja das

HpS - Oh, Many Happy One! Thank you for your letter. You must be a great fool also, because I agree with so much of your analysis of the situation, plans etc.

Well maybe several fools can reach some intelligence.

I agree with all you are saying. We made our point above also.

Only thing I thin might be different is that I think from my intelligence and from what I have heard from others eg. Hector, Jagad-guru (CNN) et al, that a very likely scenario is that we will not go back to normal. Krsna may allow an antivirus for the Karuna virus, but then peoplel will not trust the industrialization model as much as before. Of course, the solution is to start to return to the Vedic model of mostly self sufficient villages that link to the county, nation, world in a practical sense.

So your Sankirtan plans may want to look in that direction. Maybe your should become teacher/counselor for the Mayor of Chosika (A Different Kind of City). Next letter.

Picture of Happy Dogs attached.

Write with the breaking news!!