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

In the last letter I asked you the next question:

“I have a question: If I feel that someone as close as a friend is a bad association, what should I do?”

HpS - Of course, the general answer is to try to help them, but the situations are full of details. That is why we have 18,000 verses in the SB and then other books. What should I do if a friend is sick? Answer that question and you have the answer to your question.
Send us this question and then you thoughts.

These are my thoughts:

In the first instance it is necessary to observe to know what the disease is, there are different types of diseases, physical, psychological, spiritual.

When a friend has the flu, we can make a soup, a tea, give them kleenex , the disease runs its course and we know that it will be cured with the proper treatment, the doctor will give an antibiotic, maybe something else.

When the illness is psychological, we can give them emotional support, make them feel comfortable, safe. A therapist has more adequate tools to treat it.

We try to help but we aren´t doctors, we are imbued with the material nature, which is the source of all our illnesses, especially the great illness that is not remembering Lord Krsna and our relationship with him.

Once in a dream I asked Srila Prabhupada how to throw off from our anarthas and he answered me: having a firm faith in the chanting of the holy names. I am sure that Srila Prabhupada himself was who answered me because I do not have the intelligence to generate such a response. That is the cure for our disease, we are all in treatment, we can help each other and be patient.

Being sincere I think that the association of this devotee can worsen my condition, my illness, I feel that I have to get away for my own good. And it is very sad.

HpS - We are just one little devotee. We feel that you are our Guru is the happy light of Krsna and Srila Prabhpupada. We act as Diksa-guru in ISKCON as a service. We hope we can be of some use to you with advice and we advice that you take advantage of so many Siksa gurus besides us. Tell us about the good guidance that you find in other ISKCON devotees, other Vaisnavas, even in nature.

Your advice is treasure for me.

I have some siksas and the fortune of saying that besides siksas are my friends, they have taught me with love and patience a lot of things, from how to offer bhoga, vaishnava etiquette, how to make a puja, to more confidential topics such as the love affairs between Radha and Krsna When I have any doubts, or ask for their opinions about something specific, some situation, they listen to me attentively, they talk to me about their own experiences, and they always clarify that they advise me from their perspective, that they do not have the last word, because different types of people can see each one from a different angle. They are enthusiastic, determined, humble, and inspire me with their example. When one sees that a devotee is always well disposed to the service is encouraging, I can say that it is contagious, even when they are tired from the long hours of service they do not lose enthusiasm.

I can say that experience makes a difference, all those years of service make their hearts shine, and I can see that this process of Krsna consciousness is actually effective.

Now I'm going to talk about my mom, from her I learned to be patient because not everything comes at the time we want, strong because sometimes the only thing left to do is resist, and how to be sweet. And above all things I inherited her faith and love for God. She remembers the Lord every day and thanks him for everything she has. She always has a notepad, where she writes addresses, telephone numbers, etc., and in the middle she also writes her prayers to God. A few weeks ago she told me: “I believe in Krsna, I know that your god is the same as mine, but I am still not ready to do everything you do for him”. Imagine my happiness.

I want to express my desire to take initiation when you come to Buenos Aires, I am in a very special moment in which I feel that I must take a more important step in my spiritual life and be able to serve you in a more formal way, I would like to take that commitment. I have the blessings of the devotees, I am about to give the initiation exam and follow the whole protocol of Iskcon in order to be initiated. I would like to know if you can give me your blessings to continue with this process of the exam and everything that implies the possibility of taking initiation.

HpS - Yes. Not only our blessings but our plea that it is all successful. We need EVERY soldier we can get a this point, every member of the choir that we can get.

I know that initiation is only beginning, my purpose in this life is to feel the love felt by the gopis for Sri Krsna.

HpS - Srila Prabhupada says that that is a very, very big aspiration, but..... by the mercy of Gaura Nitai, so much is possible.

Yours in Srila Prabhupada's service

Bhaktin Carol

Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

Please accept my respectful obeisances,

All the glories to Srila Prabhupada !!!

!!!

Well, I am writing after some weeks I said I was going to write. As I told You Gurudeva the day You knew I was not living with my parents, I would like to bring happier news, however, is what we have(now) and we dont want to develop a complaining attitud, besides also because we dont have anything to complain for.

Actually, there are many “I am sorry” and “I love you” waiting to be said by me.. We hope we can talk heartly from heart soon. Sadly, I disappointed them,  however, with Gurudeva and devotees advice and blessings we will improve somehow. . we still have hope.

 More than a year ago I have been meeting a guy whose name is Sergio. We met him when we were kids because he studied in the Gurukula but, just for a short  time. Then, after many years he became a friend to some of us in the temple and then became a close friend of mine (2016). Keeping his  Christian beliefs, he has been changing some of his habits (talking about our principles) with  sincere whishes to improve as a person, opened to accept more elevated truths.

We can talk more about him but our letter will expand a little bit more. Our concern is that my parents desagree, and we had some discussions about this situation last year. And I can understand their concern, we all have a different concern and well, they are my parents and they dont want me to suffer. For me is kind of difficult to explain this, I hope and even, I know that You Gurudeva will understand beyond my words.. and then, with your advice and opinion we will see clearer with real understanding.

I have felt very confused many times influenced by Maya...ups, curves, downs.. ups! and downs again.. as always.  So many questions about love and how it gets confused.. sentimentality, illusory.. possessive attitudes.  

As someone told me once.. I have no vision neither intelligence to see or even think correctly. I have heard so many ideas, thoughts, advice, all of them giving me their opinions according to their past experiences and understandings, one better than the othe

Now, I am staying with my grandparents. I am working on [in] a workshop in a school,  for kids who have behavior problems and we do dynamic games, art, drama, we sing and dance, we have a yoga routine and things like that. Their parents are so happy and I am too, we really like it.  

 Now we are living very exiting challenges, facing more struggles and we need to strive more and more and at the same time we really feel blessed with help.

Going to wilson or Chosica each time we can.

We pray to keep this attachment for Krsna Consciousness and devotees, hoping to receive any sincere good wish for the health of our hearts and minds. We are still trying to keep on chanting and following till the end, to finish our 16 (hopeful good) rounds daily (sadly we have some debts, however, is noot going to stay like that) and our four principles too.

At the moment, I have some options about studies. Personally, I would like to go back to Cusco and finish my studies in Fine Arts.. I have the option to start in July so I have time. I could also stay here and work and study art, maybe languages. Or just save money to travel to the Holy Dham,  India in the future while working here for some years.

Now we have talked about every important aspect in our lives that will define our future, our intention is not to bother You Gurudeva with our material issues, however, we really needed to write You about this, to understand and know what to do. 

Time flies and March is coming!, with joy we say “see You soon Gurudeva”. I am continuing with the trascription, kind of difficult but possible!. Que el Señor Nrsimhadeva lo proteja mucho. Hare Krsna!!!.

Su aspirante a sirvienta,

Sita Lalita Devi Dasi.

HpS - Hare Krsna. I don't know but I suspect it may have been a panic to write this letter, to expose a little bit of your personal life to others, but . . .  that is the purpose of ISKCON.    If we are too much alone with these powerful things then we will get hurt very, very, very deeply. Will become victims of The Witch and not be able to help Krsna in the fight and many people will slide, slide, slide past us back into the soup of Maya because we could not do our part properly.

On the other hand, if we reveal things in the improper way (NIO 4-6) to the wrong people then The Witch can get us that way also. This is a real war. No smaller parts for Sita-lalita Karuna-mayi, Ananda-maya, Bibhastu-arjuna, HpSwami, Karuna-krsna, Ganga-mayi, Chaitanya chandra, H. H. Jayapataka Swami ....    We have to go to Lord Caitanya's school to get a PhD in Bhakti-yoga.

Your letter is very, very well composed.

Shows years of hard work. We all, ISKCON Peru, ISKCON global, thank you. Some day you can go to Maya-pur to see Radha Madhava with your head up high.

SB 1.17.38 - Girls should be married by 16-years old. That is ideal, rare, difficult, but that is the ideal. Other arrangements are always going to be harder and take more effort.

Joking we can say that what you should do is take up your bow and arrows, pick up a big stick and go looking for a husband!  [See attached foto].  You can form a committe of other girls your age.

Some decent Dude who will do his responsibilties.

O.K. Take care of that. Got a husband, now I need kids.

O.K. Took care of that... just like Devahuti and Kardama muni. . . . Oh, my God?   I don't really know my husband, father, mother, kids at all!

I am just dealing with their minds (bodies), although they have nice minds ...  Krsna conscious minds in varying degrees.

SO....   Bhakti Yoga...   Sixteen nice rounds first on your list.  Minimum sixteen. Then all the rest of the stuff will fall in line.

http://www.vedabase.com/en/kb/58

O.K. Soldier!   Got your orders.   16-nice rounds minimum and report in one week of how many you are behind.
Go fight with The Evil One and win.

Hare Krishna dear Guru maharaja,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Please Accept my humbles obeisances.

I would like to tell you that after some months of realizing Garbhadhana samskara, my wife finally got pregnant. She has now 3 monht of pregnancy, and we are very enthusiastic about that.
<img height="70" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/The_Boss_Baby_poster.jpg" style="float: left;" width="50" />

Please can you kindly give us your blessings so that the whole process of pregnancy is auspicious.

We have a lot of challenges ahead, like GBC-College residencial and on-line courses, Instituto Jaladuta courses,  some others pratical services, and the baby who is comming at the end of July. (if Krishna wants).

We are very happy waiting for you in Campina Grande. We have 40 confirmed students in the GBC-College's training program. We are working very hard along with Dhanvantari swami in order to make a nice service to all the vaisnavas.

Mathuresh prabhu told me that you asked him to get some informations about the courses of the firts residencial. I have the list of the ourses  but is not completed yet. I soon as  we get all the information, i will sent it to you. Sorry for the delay.

Thank you for all your effort to serve Srila Prabhupada. We are very inspired with you.

You servant, Devaki-nandana das.

HpS - AGTSP    paoho     These are not ordinary children. Krsna does not send ordinary children to be children of devotees. You have great responsibility to protect your child so it can do wonderful things for humanity.

Thank you.
We are working on our participation in the GBC College. With great struggle we finally got to the Consul today in Atlanta and submitted all of our forms for thee Visa. In direct cash it has cost us:

$160 - Application
$16 - Two photos
$13 - Return Mail
________________
$189 - TOTAL

Plus many, many hours of collecting and delivering documents.

We want to participate in the GBC College as humble members of ISKCON!!!

Hare Krsna, Gurudev Maharaja!

Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.

HpS - Please accept our obeisances at YOUR lotus feet... !

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Sripada, and

Guru Parampara,

Goura Bhakta Vrnda Ki Jay,

Radha Krsna Ki Jay.

Dandavat Pranam Guruji Maharaja!

ASA - Jaya!!   Very nice to hear from you.

I have downloaded Gurujis amritabani reply of my previous letters. I am so happly to get Guruji’s reply and I thing I am just siting with Guruji’s and discussing about different topics.   For information I want to know Guruji is accompanying with them or not? Are they initiated Prabhujis and Matajis, the approximate numbers and their professions. Dr. Sarda informs me that the team will be doctors, is it correct? Then the programme will be selected and the venue will be better at RIMS as previous lecture progrrame. This time if Guruji spare some days for N.E. Reason specially Silchar, the prabhujis and matajis of Silchar will be happy. They have requested me to arrange some days for Silchar and other bhaktas also may get the opportunity for darsan and serving Guruji personally. Bhaktas from Tripura and Manipur also can participate jointly. It will help us to self introduction and mutual understanding among the bhaktas under Gurujis guidance.

HpS - It seems that the conflict with the programs here in the USA will prevent them from coming to Manipur at the time planned. We should have some more news in a few days. We have been trying to contact one Professor at the university here to fix dates and places for some programs but it seems she has been traveling.

In Bhakti Rasamitra Sindhu 2:1;203 Translation : An example, from Gita-govinda :  I offer my respects to Krsna, who takes ten forms who rescues the Vedas as Matsya, ...... pulls His plough as Balaram. What is the significants? When and how He use his weapon plough?

HpS - This is one specific time: https://www.vedabase.com/en/kb/79, when He fought with Balvala, but also He threatened Yamuna in the story of Dvidvida, and He pulled Hastinapur into the Yamuna in the story or Samba kidnapping some princess of the Kurus.                                         

Yours fallen servant,

Yamunesvara Das

HpS - We are experiencing a lot of panic because we start our traveling today!  We have to arrange everything for 10-weeks of hard travel in foreign countries, with many intense programs, and then the first bus was cancelled without proper notice and now we have to sit with only tank water for 8-hours and struggle to get plane ticket at the last minute and go to the bank . . .        Just like you!

Thank you so much for you letters and chance to hear what you are reading.

More news of visit to Manipur soon.

Dear Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for adding the link to the soundcloud account in the Kapi Dhvaja. I have now completed upload of all the lectures from IDT and e-sanga to the Soundcloud account. Dhruva prabhu and Mandara Sakha prabhu shared the lectures they recorded in Australia and Chile. Those have been uploaded as well. I thank them for sending the files.

I request all the devotees to send the lectures they have to [email protected]. I also request the devotees to record the lectures in the upcoming travel schedule and send them as well.

We now have 432 audio files. On an average there are 35 plays a week. This weekend, I think devotees from Russia have gotten to know about the account. I am seeing a massive increase in the number of plays. In the last 5 days alone there have been 345 plays!

HpS -  Hare Krsna!   We make mistakes. We learn and then correct them in later lectures. We can help to illuminate a path to Srila Prabhupada, but he is the Guru for everyone in ISKCON. You must have a personal relationship with him to really be in ISKCON.

There is a letter from TCSD thanking you for the lectures and asking for ability to download. He is one of the first devotees we initiated. Tulasi-carana-sevita Das. He grew up in California. His mothe is like 1/8th native American Indian as I remember. Graduate in Cultural Anthropology from UC. Went to Thailand. Married a nice Thai girl. Taught public school in the USA. Moved to Thailand and has taught there since then.

Sadhana wise, I have been chanting 16 rounds and following the principles strictly. I wake up between 5:30-6:00, complete at least 10 rounds, do a small arthi and read Srimad Bhagavatam before leaving to work. I completed Canto 1 Chapter 3 today. I hope to complete a first pass of the first 2 cantos this year and then use the PDP guides for a deep study. I also read The Six Goswamis of Vrindavan on the recommendation of Radhika Ramana prabhu. I wanted to know more about the Goswamis after visiting Vrindavan and it was a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down.

I have decided to move to Dallas. It was a very difficult decision to make because of my attachment to the devotees here. But I feel it is the right thing to do. I love the work I do (I published a paper and filed 2 patens last year) and don't have too much pressure at work. I have a good balance at work that gives me time for sadhana and service. I'll be moving to Dallas sometime in the end of June.

HpS - Also, very nice Temple there. Your Sadhana sounds wonderful. Are you up and chanting Hare Krsna during the Brahma muhurta?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhurta

https://www.vedabase.com/en/kb/70  (FIND: "muhurta") It says "three hours" but I think it is 1-1/2 hours.

Your servant

Srinatha Krsna dasa

Can I send a message to Hps please? I'm from Brazil and I speak Portuguese. Forgive my bad english.

HpS - Sim. Basta escrever aqui. Você pode usar www.translate.google.com como estamos usando agora. Apenas mantenha a mensagem tão simples que um robô pode compreendê-la.
Bem vinda