Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Maharaja:

All the glories to Sri Sri Radha Krishna

All the glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you

Please accept my humble obeisances

I sent this letter in August, I think it got lost, so I´m resending it.

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I have two new services, both about preaching, one is on Sunday Feast, when we finish the kirtan we seat with the visitors to take prasadam and speak about our filosophy, but the main point is to know them, that they feel appreciated, make friends. The experience that I am getting is so nice, I'm so happy that I can do this. People share with me their experience of spiritual seeking, thoughts and feellings, they make really good questions, they want to know more about Krsna. It´s really inspiring.

The other service, we are making a proyect for young devotees, we want inspire them, and accompany them in their spiritual process. At first it could be a meeting a month with kirtan, class and prasadam, we dont have a name for the program, any suggestion?

ASA - Spring, Primaver, Goloka.

A devotee told us that we can contact with devotees who made this kind of program before for advice, and it is essential make it fun always. Any commentary, suggestion or advice will be great!

ASA - Hmmm. Not directly.

I am living in the temple since 8 months ago, it have being so purifying, i feel my chant deeper, my love for the devotees is bigger, and i feel more attach to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. The first time that I came to the temple i didn´t pay attention to the deities at all, with the time I noticed that the devotees went in front of the altar and stay long time, I didn´t get it, what so much time? Then I noticed that they were praying. I didn´t know how to do that and I didn´t understand that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda were there themselfs. One day I realize that and it was like: wooow the Lord is in front of me!

Now, I can see them every day, I usually pray for being better to make a better service, because I know that my anarthas are obstaculizing my service, I tell them that I want a entire life of service, the news about my life, I know that they already know but it is so nice doing it. The other day I asked about help with bhakti sastri, because sometimes I am lasy to do the homework, and I´m not so smart, but definitly I want to do it. I feel it like everyday relationship. Sometimes I miss and think about them.

I have a new cellphone, so I can connect to gotomeeting for the class, and I´m reading SB every day, I´m trying to adjust to the better way.

That´s all for now, what can I do for Srila Prabhupada and you?

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Now it´s october and we have been doing the program for the young people, they asked about to do it twice a month, it is so nice, i like when i see them so happilly hearing about Krsna, the first program was a little bit caotic, because we didn´t know how to work in group, we were five devotees organizing, and now we are three, it´s more practical for the meetings and leading the program. I´m learning how to do it, how to do a presentation, a class, fun actities.

I´m preaching on wednesday too, after the kirtan. I invite people to the youth program after the kirtan, on friday´s harinama, and sunday feast. I send invitation through whatsapp, facebook and by email.

We made a list of the topics we want to talk about, the first ones were Soul, and Prakriti.

Once I told you that I want to distribute books, but i´m afraid of. i went to harinama and i asked a devotee to show me how to do it, so did it, it was really beatifull, i really want to know how to do it, so i´m seeing videos about sankirtan, and asking other devotees how to do it. One of them told me that for book distribution is main thing having a strong sadhana.

Mahavishnu Swami Maharaja is coming and we are going to rent a bus to go to harinama, distribute prasadam and books, i´m so exciting!

I try to conect to gotomeeting everyday while i´m at work, my boss let me use earphones but i have to work, sew, answer the phone, receive people. It is so nice when i can hear you clarily, so inspiring, my godbrothers too, fantastic! You know so much, i don´t know anything but i´m learning from you.

My health is going bad, it makes me feel so sad sometimes, once i prayed to deities to get better, and i thought that almost my prayers are about asking for help, i hope once on my life i want to give them a love prayer. 

Yours in Srila Prabhupada´s service

Kirtida Devi Dasi

Pic 1: Altar on Radhastami <3

Pic 2 and 3: Jóvenes en Conciencia de Krishna, we named the program like this

Pic 4: Bhaktin Cecilia and me with a weird tomato :)

HpS - Hare Krsna. This letter came while we were traveling in Peru and Chile! How are you now? Are you in the same material body or another or in only in your spiritual body?????

Guess we get to BsAs like April, May, June..??

All Glories to A.C. Prabhupada, Sripada Maharaja and Sri Guruji Maharaja.

Gouranga Mahaprsbhu Ki Jay, Radha Krsna Ki Jay and Goura Bhakta Brinda Ki Jay.

Dandabat Pranam,

Please accept my humble obeisances unto Guruji Maharaja that as I had already mentioned in my previous letter that I had started reading Bhagabatam Chapter 10 from Krsna Janmastami regularly one or more slokas along with BRS. In th 10.1.30 Kansas,the son of King Ugrasena and on 31-32 Devaki's father King Devaka. What is this ? Are Kangas and Devaka same father or not and how Devaki became brother and Sister?

HpS - This letter came while we were traveling and could not answer it. As we remember Maharaja Ugrasena's friend was Maharaja Devaka. He didn't have any children so M. Ugrasena gave him Devaki to raise as his daughter although she was biologically his daughter. Very generous person.

Please give me asirbad of knowing Krsna Katha and Krsna Prema.

Yours fallen servant.

Yamunesvara Das

Hari Bolo. See you in a few weeks.

Hare Krisna, por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias mi querido Guru Deva espero que se encuentre bien.

Doy gracias a Krisna por haberle conocido, por su gran inspiración en conciencia de Krisna.

16 rondas, 4 principios, GBC HRida Caitanya Prabhu, Prema Murti Prabhu.

intentando ser su eterno sirviente Jagamohan Das

HpS - Gracias. Pone esta en canal de "Reports" aqui en el Blog POR FAVOR!!!! Super!

Toda gloria a Srila Prabhupada

Por favor, acepte mis humildes y respetuosas reverencias

Hare Krishna Maharaja Hanumatpresaka Swami:

16 rondas diarias desde primera iniciación y 18 rondas diarias hace unos tres años aproximadamente.

ASA - !

Sigo los 4 prinicipios regulativos, gracias a Srila Prabhupada

Mi autoridad es Prabhu Karuna Krishna de ISKCON CHOSICA, Hanuman Prabhu del BBT.

Seguimos proveyendo de libros a los templos y algunos sankirtaneros.

Seguimos en Bhakti Vriksha.

Su sirviente

Caturatma das

HpS - Jaya!!!! Vd es estandard para muchos de nostros. Vamanos. Mas cartas! DTC.

Hare krsna gurudev.

All glories to Srila prabhupada.

I don't know I feel completely lost . From every angle in my life everything is going bad . My faith is no more strong . I like Krsna Consciousness but I don't feel inspired to do anything. I feel clinically depressed and am getting nightmares. In dreams I have visions that our connection is also broken (that is strengthened by the article I read in Guru Tattva that a guru cannot act as diksha guru when disciple stops following). I am still trying to follow the regulative principles mostly (I drink coffee to get energy

ASA - Jaya. AGTSP! We wonder what happened to you! We are very happy to hear from you, but as a medical man isn't it a fact that the 'energy' we get from coffee, caffeine, is from artificially whipping the liver? The result is some temporary low class energy, but with permanent damage to the liver.

). My friends who are not devotees are in better condition both materially and spiritually. I am bitter from inside and feel rotten.

ASA - If you didn't have any goodness in your life you would not "feel rotten" you would just "be rotten". Only if you got a perspective of what is good can you see bad.

Everyday I pray that from today I will do better ..but that today never comes.

ASA - We pray the same. We are stronger in the morning because it is the mode of goodness and we have good association, but as the day progresses we get hit by the same problems, but... we do make progress every day. Not as much as we wished but something. For example, you can chant one more Maha-mantra today than you did yesterday... Boing! bONg... bing.... eternal progress!

I have been a failure in both spiritual and material life . I have resigned from work few months back and don't want to work now for few months.

Sometimes I get visions or feeling that even my death will be tragic and full of suffering with lot of pain and diseases. I feel scared ..if this is how Krsna will reciprocate in my latter days then suicide seems better....And suicide seems more logical and easy way to end this life. Its like I have something in my control because everything else is not. I was talking with a patient he gave me this perspective. As I see my life going I feel after few years I wont be left with any friends or contacts ...and as it seems our connection is also broken (from the dream) I don't feel inspired to do anything . I need to know one thing Maharaj are my offences that serious that you have given me up. One devotee adviced me to directly ask you and get clarification regarding this dream that I had.

HpS - You are and eternal servant of Krsna. You have an eternal, beautiful, blissful body and more friends than you can barely handle. Nothing you can ever do will ever change that. You get sucked...

S U C K E D

S U C K E D

S U C K E D by your attachments into the mud along with the rest of us frogs, but you are still pure, like a diamond in the mud.

The Guru-tattva on line is clear and real and nice. As you describe your condition of course we cannot be functioning as you Diksa Guru. You are not acting on the standard of a Diksa disciple. It is like trying to put gasoline into a bicycle, but, as it says, we are very happy to function in a relationship as Patha-pradarshika, Vartmana-pradarshika Guru and get you back on the path again.

O.K? That can be our relationship? We are always pushing to have a relationship with you. As I said we wonder where you have gone. People ask about you. Krsna pushes you in dreams.

SB is FULL of falldowns. Which kind are you, me, having now, but it is also full of people who corrected the situation and got back to work.

Jaya! O.K. You will let us function as Siksa-guru?

Krsna never forgets even little service I read and he reciprocates .... but I do not know the things happening with me little difficult to understand . I accept that it is completely my fault and I am being punished for my actions but how long more will I be punished for things that is in my nature.

ASA - Until you change your nature. Haw! Haw! Hare! (smiley faces aren't working)

I was reading an article where mother Teresa had mentioned about her loss of faith (externally she was praying but internally she was lost , book name "come be my light") is this some strange stage of bhakti at all. Please help me understand.

HpS - I don't know the details. Can hardly know the details. We are exchanging letters like once a year at this pace!! Write more, every month. Every couple of weeks to start.

I do hope to meet you for few days when you reach on 23rd January 2019.

HpS - When were? Got to have plans!

If possible please do not publish this article for everyone as I don't feel ready to reveal myself (maybe if you can change my name) but it's upto you Gurudev.

HpS - If we don't publish it how can you get an answer? Beyond that don't feel so bad! You are in a LOT better condition than most ISKCON devotees, most of our "disciples".

Sorry for the long letter but I am not feeling strong enough to keep everything to myself and needed to get your opinion .

HpS - ASA -- Well we gave it. About time you wrote! Waiting for your answer to our question.

Hare Krishna .

Dandavat pranam.

Hare Krishna Gurudev!

Please accept my humblest obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupad!

It has been a while since I’ve written to you. I apologize for being so distracted with mundane life which consists mostly of work/further study and temples only on Sunday.

HpS - ASA --- Haw! Haw! Haw! AgtSP. Paoho. It has been months for us to answer this letter. We are also are occupied, but these things are not mundane. The battle of Kuruksetra was not mundane, no?

My morning program routine has fizzled out but I’m trying to bring it up back again.

ASA (Tom Brown/Buck White) - Do it or suffer the consequences! Actually everything will improve if you have a good morning program. You will get much more monkey (money!).

Reading also stopped for a period but I’m trying to bring it back in,

HpS - Sanga!!! Get partners!

. . . even if a chapter before bed.

ASA - Or the Lila-amrta during breakfast...

Rounds have been terrible both quality and quantity wise. I’ve been in denial about this but I don’t remember the last time I struggled this much. Yesterday I figured because it was Krishnas bday-they’d magically get better- but not so much, even with fasting and constant chanting/kirtan – I feel distant. But there is still much mercy! I was lucky to get darshan from 3 diff temples on Janmastmi (pics below!)

Please send some mercy gurudev to help me out of this miserable slump. This past weekend I traveled to Houston for KirtanFest – I was in the temple room one quiet afternoon in front of SS Radha NilaMadhav chanting japa and suddenly my eyes watered up. It felt very cathartic and I felt very hopeful that I’m not a gone-case. 

In regards to other ‘phases’ of life- the idea of finding someone is still floating.

I was talking to this one Indian guy who also is God-conscious (he is Sikh). I’ve talked about Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, and the reasons behind the 4 principles- and he understands/accepts it. But deep-down, I don’t think it will go anywhere because I’m realizing that this is a lifestyle which doesn’t offer much room for compromise. He isn’t Vegetarian (but is attempting to be) … so I figured even if this doesn’t work out- maybe he’ll have made some positive change in his life at the end of this. Is this an appropriate thought? I’ve prayed to Krishna but He might have other plans – or I need to develop patience. Or like you said much earlier on- ask Radharani to share haha.

That’s mostly what has been happening. Please guide me gurudev on what mindset I should cultivate and not be so distracted with mundane work life and also to transcend these human/ sense gratification thoughts. How can I get my mood of chanting back? How can I reinvigorate my relationship with Krishna again and make it not feel so distant?

Please keep me engaged and sheltered gurudev. Sorry for slipping- I know I’ve been letting myself down the most. I’m always learning how strong maya really is and how hard it is to control these fleeting thoughts.

Thank you for your mercy.

Your fallen [still attempting to be] servant,

Sugopi dd

HpS - Well, what's the report now? Almost for certain you have made progress. I have the same challenges. We go forward, one way or another. Being kicked in the posterior by Maya or running toward the big, ripe, orange carrot in the sky, Goloka (cows love carrots).

What is the news?

Always do the best you can do. Or course getting up early and getting our rounds done is a super focus.

Waiting for your news.