Letters to the editor

Todas las gloria a Goura Nitay

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada

Querido Gurudev aqui esta mi reporte le comento que en estas últimas semanas todo está muy movido con la operación de Lad, restableciendo las actividades y organizandolas. debo hacer mi sadhana ademas de cocinar, limpiar, lavar y trabajar, antes nos repartimos las labores no es imposible pero requiere organización. estoy un poco cansada pero bien. deje por un tiempo mi servicio de lectura pero lo retomaré con entusiasmo, en la carta anterior preguntó por mi suegra ella está muy bien, lúcida se hace la mayoría de sus cosas sola la visitó a diario, ella tiene 87 años le damos prasadam (las bolitas dulces que hacemos). mis sobrinos y cuñada bien. cada vez que hay una fiesta les combinamos lo que preparamos. Sigo trabajando con los chicos estoy muy feliz por su progresos me propusieron trabajo con una de ellas para el próximo año desde marzo en adelante, estoy muy bien de salud mi epilepsia controlada, le comento que este domingo voy a Chile a ver a mis padres y familia además de ir a votar ya que es obligatorio la multa es altisima, krishna hizo el arreglo para qué Lad se operará antes de irme. El esta muy bien su herida completamente cicatrizada, caminando y haciendo fisioterapia. tengo todo arreglado un devoto le dejara el prasadam todos los días y también le lavaran su ropa en un mes más lo autorizaron a bajar escaleras y una vez al mes debe ir al hospital donde lo operaron. de aquí a cuatro meses le darían de alta. Nunca tuvo dolor, querido Gurudev sin la inspiración de Srila prabhupada y usted esto no es posible con sus consejos y bendiciones he podido sobrepasar cada obstáculo que se ha presentado muchas gracias se despide su humilde sirviente Raman Reti Devi Dasi

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All glory to Goura Nitay

All glory to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Gurudev, here is my report.

I wanted to let you know that these past few weeks have been very busy with Lad's surgery, getting back up and running, and organizing everything. I have to do my sadhana in addition to cooking, cleaning, washing, and working.

Before, we divided up the chores; it's not impossible, but it requires organization.

I'm a little tired,

HpS/ASA - Unless you are Wonder Woman you must be exhausted!!!

...but I'm doing well. I put my reading service on hold for a while, but I'll resume it with enthusiasm.

In your previous letter, you asked about my mother-in-law. She's doing very well, lucid, and does most of her own things. I visit her daily. She's 87 years old, and we give her prasadam (the sweet little balls we make).

My nephews and sister-in-law are also doing well.

Whenever there's a party, we share what we've prepared.

I'm still working with the kids and I'm very happy with their progress. They offered me a job with one of them starting in March. I'm in very good health; my epilepsy is under control. I wanted to let you know that this Sunday I'm going to Chile to see my parents and family,

and also to vote,

. . . since it's mandatory and the fine is very high.

Krishna arranged for Lad to have surgery before I leave. He's doing very well; his wound is completely healed, he's walking, and he's doing physical therapy.

I have everything arranged; a devotee will leave him prasadam every day and will also do his laundry.

In a month, he'll be allowed to go downstairs, and once a month he has to go to the hospital where he had the surgery. He should be discharged in four months

.....He never had any pain.

...........Dear Gurudev, without the inspiration of Srila Prabhupada and you, this wouldn't be possible.

HpS - The biggest devotees in ISKCON. Very tough B'caris and Sankirtan men, everyone, when we ask, "Did you cry when you read Lilamrta?" They all answer yes. Srila Prabhupada gave his life, and ease for us, no. For you!

With your advice and blessings, I've been able to overcome every obstacle that has come my way. Thank you very much. Your humble servant, Raman Reti Devi Dasi, bids you farewell.

HpS - Yes, is by Guru Krpa. AgtSP. We are bad tools he is using!

I think many people look at you and your challenges and think, "Oh, my God, if this lady and survive, be super productive, and be happy, what do I have to complain about".

Onward. Will you be Queen Kunti in your next life? Her servant?

All respects to your family.

Hare Gurudeva. PAMHO, AGTSP

I am doing very well. I am trying to adjust to the hip and femur prosthesis I recently had implanted. I am improving rapidly. The doctor said my recovery is miraculous, and my scar is healing very well.

HpS - Spiritual Body!

Thanks to my insurance, I didn't have to spend much. Such an operation costs around $12,000. I wouldn't have been able to afford it. I would have just had to wait to leave my body.

HpS - ... or use a cane made of nima wood?

I resumed my teaching duties immediately.

Of course, my wife, Raman reti dd, is a great help, as is my family. I am very fortunate. Through the prayers of the devotees and the protection of Lord Nrsimhadeva, I will be able to resume my other services at the temple and in the kitchen of our Deities.

ASA - 🍠 🍠 🍠 Sweet potatoes for Radha and Madana.

Prabhu Puspa Gopal of Chosica is very excited about your visit and advises you to stay in Chosica, as the ashram is well-equipped.

Furthermore, we will have more opportunities to have dharsana with you.

I completely agree. Furthermore, the program in Chile seems quite intensive, and in Peru, there might be more internal programs with devotees, classes, festivals, etc.

HpS - Wrote all about that in the Blog Posts to Govinda Carana Das and The President of ISKCON Santiago de Chile! 🙂

🎠

P. Puspa also asks about M. Aruddha's book on programs for children. How could he obtain it?

HpS - You have Prof. Ravi Gupta's Whats App? He can ship it, I think. Maybe it is an e-book on Amazon by now.

May Krishna grant us the mercy of having you here once again. We truly miss your illuminating presence, which fills us with enthusiasm to continue our sankirtan and improve it more and more.

One of my students, Annie Albitres, a wonderful person and a great devotee, is very enthusiastic about your association. Please keep her in mind.

HpS - She joins our Japa Joe and FMS program daily. She sent, nice bio-data!

Blessings, dear gurudeva, to continue serving despite my ailing body.

Thank you so much for your programs that keep us Krishna conscious.

ssLAD

HpS - If we all take birth in Nadiya with Nimai in our next lifetime who will you be? Who will others be? Will someone be Chand Kazi!!!

Others dogs, boy friends, Murari Gupta, Sacci mata?

All Glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitay

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krishna Gurudeva, please accept my sincere and respectful obeisances.

We were in Vrindavan with my father for the month of Kartik. It was a beautiful adventure traveling with my father. I think Krishna blessed my father for all the preaching he did to me, my family, and friends. He is not initiated, but he chants some rounds, and a few weeks before coming to Vrindavan, he prepared himself.

We arrived at the holy dhama without any problems, and my father didn't have any difficulties in Vrindavan whatsoever. His health was very good. We ate every day at the goshala, and even though it's not pleasant for Western devotees to eat at the goshala, my father humbly accepted everything, from eating there to walking around Vrindavan, tolerating the monkeys, rickshaws, the noise, and the transcendental chaos of Vrindavan. He was very happy. He accepted all the austerities.

HpS/ASA - 😮

Ready to die. Ready to fly. Back home to, the spiritual sky!

Even though my father is not initiated into ISKCON, he possesses great humility, and he sees all the energy of Vrindavan with eyes of love and purity. Truly, every day I learned from him in Vrindavan. One anecdote: one day, while walking, my father found a champa flower, smelled it, and placed it on his heart, saying, "All of this is spiritual energy." I was very impressed by his devotion.

We continue chanting 16 rounds, following the four regulative principles, chanting the Gayatri mantras, and performing deity and Tulasi worship. We also cook for our deities. If there is anything else you would like me to do to advance in my spiritual life, I would be grateful.

HpS - Keep improving your service to Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan Party. Of course, that is His ISKCON, which includes GBC, Temple, Presidents, but is especially focused on creating an atmosphere were like minded people can chant Hare Krsna.

This is my 5th year of observing Bhishma Panchaka, and I feel happy; it's one of my favorite fasts.

Returning to Peru very soon with beautiful memories and realizations, Hare Krishna Gurudeva.

Nadiya Nivasi Dasi

HpS - Thank you.

Hope Krsna gives you more and more stimulating Sankirtan position in the material world.

Of course, He gave such a benediction to Queen Kunti. All respects to your father. What is his name? Is he retired? Working? 😆

HARE KRISHNA, Dear Maharaj Hanumatpresaka Swami 🙏🏾PAMHO AGTSP

My name is Annie, I am from Trujillo - Peru, but I have been living in Lima for years for my studies. I finished my professional degree here, found a job while I was studying, had a good job after completing my degree in Communication Sciences, had money because I worked very hard, had a "good" life, had friends, a stable boyfriend but it didn't work out—he was not vegetarian.

I traveled some times and even visited some countries in Europe, enjoyed life at the end of my twenties but always felt something was missing, I was never happy despite having "everything".

My life gradually started to lose its direction 6 years ago, I felt suspended in the air not knowing where to go, so I dedicated myself to seeking the spiritual precisely because of that inner emptiness that nothing could fill. I went to seek God through various paths: the Rosicrucians, Gnosis, pranic energy, the meditation of 'we are all one', Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Pachamama... I was always searching for Him.

From my Catholic upbringing, in a catholic school, I always felt that GOD was very distant of me, like something unattainable.

I live with my mom and my uncle, and for as long as I can remember, I have always seen her with some illness. I have no brothers or sisters; my dad abandoned us when I was 6 or 7 years old. My memories of him are always fights and shouting. Thank God my father figure was my uncle, my mom's brother, who always supported both of us and continues to support us, he is unmarried. Now they are both elderly, and it is my duty to support them and take care of them.

Yoga came into my life when I was 16 years old, and I am grateful because since that time I have been a vegetarian. It has already been 20 years from that christmas time when I finally decided never to eat dead animals; time passed very quickly... The Gran Fraternidad Universal guided me spiritually, and I am thankful to have reached that point. It was a disciplined journey physically, but the philosophy didn't captivate me; perhaps it was not my time—I was young and had to study at the university a professional career.

Later, during the five years of university, I continued practicing my physical exercise routines and pranayama, but upon finding a job and with my studies, I decided to stop the physical practice but not vegetarianism. I just thought of the poor animals, and that encouraged me to continue abstaining from anything related to an animal. I am still vegetarian; it has been a little over 20 years, well actually to be honest I just eat only prasadam.

Then, to get better job opportunities, I studied a master's in marketing, got a stable job, but the pandemic came and I lost my job. With no money and no hope, I turned back to spirituality through meditation, discovered Kriya Yoga, and focused on formally preparing myself as a Hatha Yoga teacher in 2022.

HpS/ASA - Hare Krsna!!! Thank you for this letter, but we will start scanning rather than reading details, as we have limited time and resources. Is nice to hear about your sincere spiritual journey. The only thing that I think I had differently was reading Science Fiction authors and nice Godmother.

I found glimpses of peace, mental control, and devotion to the divine but with a focus on the whole, thanks to the practices of asanas and pranayamas. I really enjoyed returning to Hatha Yoga, and at that time I truly explored the philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga and started following its vows and practices.

I decided to take my path of celibacy 6 years ago after that I broke up with my boyfriend, mostly for my own well-being, to preserve my sexual energy. I didn't do it thinking about God; it was more a decision thinking about myself, but I maintained it without problems, and I feel good being celibate.

That same year, in the summer of 2019, I met a devotee of the Supreme Lord. He invited us to hold a BG festival, and we met weekly in different parks in Miraflores. He is from Chosica, Prabhu Ramasundarya Das, dedicated to his service in preaching, sankirtan, and fire ceremonies. He was my Siksa Guru because he spoke to me about Krishna for the first time, shared prasadam with us, and I even bought my BG from him but later put it away and never read it, just small texts during the festivals.

Later, I stayed committed, listening to Prabhu's classes even during the pandemic via Zoom, but then I lost the connection, then he invited me to the agnihotra ceremony in 2023. During that sacrifice, I met a friend who told me about the temple in Miraflores, and we went for the first time in February 2024.

I will never forget the Lord Nityananda's festival. From the moment I saw the Deities, I loved the temple, the people, and the atmosphere. I didn't stop attending the Saturday programs; I went regularly until I started connecting more with the devotees, and they told me to do service. In April, I started once a week helping as a kitchen assistant with M. Adi Lila Devi Dasi, washing pots and cutting vegetables. It was a very beautiful stage. Later, they offered me to help in the store located on the first floor of the Miraflores temple, and I accepted. I was unemployed and my mother was ill.

I had a lot of association with devotees, and they told me about the courses to understand Vaishnava philosophy. I took the introductory Bhakti course in August last year with Prabhu Laksman Agraja Das, an excellent devotee, teacher, and person.

Then I continued deepening my spiritual practice; I used to chant rounds between 4 and 6, I wasn’t very consistent. Later, I met other devotees in the courses, they gave me their tips, I set out to improve, and I maintained my sadhana at 10 rounds in February this year. I kept it for a few months, and only in August did I increase to 12. Until a month ago, I reached 14, and since following their programs, I am already at 16. I find great inspiration in the Japa Joe program and the Mangala Arati program; I have been participating daily for about a week.

In February of this year I started studying with Prabhu Laksman Agraja Das Bhakti Sastri because I liked so much what he taught us last year in the introductory course that it was really too little for my inquisitive spirit and my desire to understand every detail.

In the group there is only one bhakta and me, who am a bhaktina; the others are taking the course to receive the second initiation. I am not thinking about that; I kept striving to read every book and dissect every part until I to be able to understand. We have read the ISO, the NOI, and now we are on chapter 16 of the BG.

Reading in a group and with the magnificent guidance of Professor Laksman is a great motivation to continue studying. The course is wonderful, I am very grateful to you, Maharaj because I know that you fought for us to have this course in Peru.

I appreciate everything you have done in my country, what a pity I didn’t know you before, when you used to come frequently to Chosica. I understand that I had to go through all those paths to reach Krishna Consciousness, and to know you and your wonderful and priceless guidance.

Now I understand that more than understanding with my mind, I must surrender to the Lord, and He will give me the necessary intelligence. The first thing I needed was greater discipline to properly fulfill my sadhana, and thanks to the program, your association, and the devotees, I am getting up at 3:30 am to start my rounds and finish them in the morning.

I started an unofficial service at the Miraflores temple in the kitchen in April 2024, but then I moved to attend to the store they have. I receive a small payment, but it helps me with my basic expenses; I have a part-time shift. I started there in September 2024, but due to my mom's illnesses, I have had to leave it for periods when she underwent surgery last May and this year from June to August when she fractured her hand. Now I am there daily, and I enjoy it because I can preach to the people who come in and talk to them about His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.

By taking the discipleship course with Professor Laksman in july 2025, I was able to understand the greatness of SP, His mercy, and His desire to fulfill His master's mission. Every day I feel more admiration for SP and all His mission; this encourages me to faithfully follow His principles and continue reading His books to be a good devotee.

I need to confess that since I started following your program, Maharaj, I feel more motivated to properly develop my sadhana, to study the readings you do each day. I also have a lot of energy to fulfill my duties at home with my mother, my activities at the temple, and to perform my service as a pujari at the temple in Lima of Parama Karuna Goura Nitay. By the mercy of the Lord, I was able to start doing garland service in February of this year and continued until June, but when my mother had that accident where she broke her hand, I had to leave my regular service. However, I resumed in October, the month of Kartika, as a pujari.

I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me by the devotees of the temple of Their Lordships Parama Karuna Goura Nitay to be able to perform direct service to the deities. You cannot imagine how excited and happy I was the first time I performed the puja on Wednesday, September 29, when M. Isvari DD instructed me on how to serve. It is a happiness that cannot be compared with money or travel; it is something transcendental.

I sincerely thank you for reading my message and for your daily guidance in the Japa Joe and Mangala Arati programs. I feel very blessed and happy when I participate in the programs.

Please dear Maharaj, give me your blessings to be steady in my service, do my best to please Lord Krishna. I want to be a good devotee and help SP in His Mission. Sankirtan Jñajña ki jay

Eternally thankful with you and your disciples, my venerable and hightly respected Maharaj

Your servant,

AGTSP AGTHPS

PAMHO TO YOUR LOTTUS FEET.

Annie A. 🐦

from Lima, Peru

P.S. I love using emojis

HpS - You are in the daily online programs, no?

Is so nice to hear these details of your life. Is like the conversations between Narada Muni and Srila Vyasadeva SB 1.4-6.

Does the Temple in Chosica have regular programs with different mature devotees presenting classes etc.

Do you live in Lima now?



Dear Siksha Gurudeva, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances; all glories to Srila Prabhupada; All glories to your good self for your many years of selfless devotion to Prabhupada and Krishna; all glories to all the devotees of Lord Chaitanya. As usual, it is hard for me to find the ideal time and space to write to you. My best moments come during the early morning, when I'm trying to chant my japa. My days are too disturbing and hectic to find the external and internal space to share things.

HpS - Jaya Jaya Prabhupada!

Nice to read from you.

Yes, I also find that I have limited potency to deal with this kind of topic!!! Yet, time, Hare Krsna, does seem to become available, especially as we get a good basis with Japa etc. in the morning.

I feel a closeness to Krishna, knowing that He knows my pains and sorrows; He knows the loneliness that I feel, wanting and needing association of devotees: and feeling all too often that I don't have it. There is comfort in knowing that Krishna knows how I am too envious to make the best use of the association available to me. And yet He still allows me to continue in my devotional service, rather than chase me away only to live in dread. I don't know how to put into words what I am feeling even as I write this letter. But there is some comfort in reaching out to you in this letter, knowing that you are there. I wish I could be there with you. I think of you often, especially recalling your instructions to "chant nice rounds:" an achievement that constantly evades my efforts.

My rounds are done this morning. I try my best to stay attentive to my japa, but my mind is always defiant. What can I expect after countless lifetimes of material conditioning. Still, I am so appreciative of your words to "chanting nice rounds." Mantra meditation sounds cool, fantastic and amazing to the untrained mind. But putting it into practice is a whole other story.

HpS/ASA - What to speak of staring at a candle or the tip of your nose!

I confess that I am embarrassed by my failure to chant nicely. And yet, I have neither the heart nor the gall to quit chanting, as my whole life has been all about chanting the holy names and nothing more.

Sriman Agnideva prabhu came to Boise last month, staying as a guest in my home for the weekend. What a relief it was to have such honorable association. We had a nice home program with a few select devotees that still find favor with me. We also had a nice program at the yoga studio that you spoke at. It was an awesome event, with Mother Krishna Presthaya leading the guided meditation. She was amazing! I watched the audience respond to her as she led them into the mood of chanting OM and Hare Krishna. Agnideva's vocal talent hasn't diminished in the least, in spite of the years gone by. On Sunday he led a nice kirtan gave a lecture at the temple, which I did not attend. I heard through the 'grapevine' that within the administration there was some discontent that he was staying with me, and not at the temple.

My wife and I each have a couple of upcoming surgeries. Now, in my senior years as a devotee, I am learning to live with infamy, learning to be brave in the face of old age, and still having to work for my daily existence. The challenge to keep up the standard and practice devotional service that I have been loyal to all my years has increased. My caliber of determination and faith in Krishna consciousness is really being tested. My only hope is that Krishna will consider that I have tried to surrender my life as His devotee. If you can find favor with me, and bless me with your own causeless mercy, then there's every hope that Krishna will also be merciful to me at my hour of death.

Your lowly servant,

Balabhadra Dasa

HpS - Go see Radha Bankibihari some times. Join some of the programs. Try to resolve any conflicts with local devotees. Badri narayana Swami has certainly expressed that there are problems in the Temple administration. I heard from Srila Prabhupada that there are problems in all of his Temples, that this is the material world.

So, we show that we are disciples of Srila Prabhupada by always working to resolve conflicts within the perspective of NoI, no?

Yet, home programs and programs in appropriate outside places with the above mentioned invitation to ISKCON Temple community are certainly apart of ISKCON.

Hari Bolo!!!!!!!!

Where is Agnideva Das based?

Please send some photos of your altar.

Happy surgery! Preach to the doctors by your words and comportment.

My dear and ever-remembered Hare Krishna Gurumaharaja 🙏🏻

Please accept my sincere obeisances 🙏🏻

All glories to our savior Srila Prabhupada 🙏🏻

Gurumaharaja, your arrival in New Vrajamandala is just a few days away 🥳 I am so excited and grateful!!! 🙏🏻 I feel that your visit is the result of all our efforts 🙏🏻 you are the gift sent by the Christ Child (Gopal) 🙏🏻💖

We are coordinating to make your stay even better than last time. Gurumaharaja, I wanted to ask if you would like to have the same room as last time? You had the bathroom outside and your neighbor was Maharaja Bhakti Gouravani, do you remember? What do you think, Gurumaharaja? Is the same room fine or would you prefer another one? I also wanted to ask about the guest who will be coming with you, Nanda Braj, is his name? I spoke with Prabhu Jambula and a room will be reserved for him as well, but we need to know how long the devotee will be staying. Will he be traveling with you to India? Will you be coming with only one guest?

Once again, I want you to know that I am at your service, Gurumaharaja 🙏🏻, to coordinate and arrange accommodation for the spiritual brothers and sisters or devotees who will be visiting us in New Vrajamandala for the season that your merciful association grants us 🙏🏻. We are coordinating with Mother Karuna (a psychologist and disciple of Maharaja Yadunandana) to explore the possibility of perhaps holding an academic program at the University of Alicante (ISKCON has a preaching center very close to the university). She would come to New Vrajamandala to have an interview with you, perhaps. What do you think?

Gurumaharaja, how else can we assist you? HOLY GOD! Just a few days left until we have your association!! KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA what a total blessing to be able to have your association 🙏🏻 THANK YOU 🙏🏻 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

Radha Govinda Chandra awaits you Gurumaharaja 🙏🏻 beautifully decorated

Trying to be helpful, your third-class disciple:

Yasoda Devi Dasi 🙏🏻

Our prayers to Lord Nrisimha are for you 🙏🏻

ASA/HpS - We, AgtSP, only know six people in the whole world more crazy than us, Brown and White, and three of them live at New Vraja Mandala.

Guess the same room is fine.

Worked last time.

Was kind of at the dead end of the great hall of life.

Habitacion for monks and dead end wizards.

Yes, we can meet with the psychologist. We can have a national colloquia when we come back. Jung and the Place of Tobacco in the Illumined Path.

Nanda braja das will continue on to India same time as us.

He likes to work.

Santa Clause and his eight reindeer.

Hari bolo!