Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Maharaja

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

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja, it gives me great joy to write my first offering. Pure devotees of the Lord like you are not born due to their karma.

HpS - We think you must be seeing the hand of the puppet master, Srila Prabhupada, and talking about him!

You appear on this planet out of your causeless mercy to save conditioned souls like me. I am forever indebted to you Gurudeva for showing your causeless mercy on me and accepting me as your disciple although I have so many faults and am not worthy of it. I am also deeply indebted to Radhika Ramana prabhu for mentoring me. It was because of his mercy that I was able to meet you in Boise. Thankfully, the nature of mercy is causeless.

In the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the sages in Naimisaranya talk about the qualifications of Suta Goswami. In the purport, Srila Prabhupada writes

All bona fide representatives of Śrī Vyāsadeva in the chain of disciplic succession are to be understood to be gosvāmīs. These gosvāmīs restrain all their senses, and they stick to the path made by the previous ācāryas. The gosvāmīs do not deliver lectures on the Bhāgavatam capriciously. Rather, they execute their services most carefully, following their predecessors who delivered the spiritual message unbroken to them. (SB 1.1.5)

You embody Srila Prabhupada's purport and are the perfect representative of Srila Vyasadeva and Srila Prabhupada. Your teachings are so faithful to Srila Prabhupada's teachings and your life is non-different from Srila Rupa Goswami's Upadesamrta. After you doing all the hard work for my initiation, you gifted me the Upadesamrta, which is so close to your heart. I have memorized all the verses from it and it is the least I could do. I want to make Upadesamrta the basis for my spiritual life.

Your unflinching faith in the Maha Mantra and its prioritization is a great example for me. When I was driving you to the airport in Chennai, you were chanting slowly and so enthusiastically. I pray to Krishna that that voice of you chanting the Maha Mantra always stays in my mind. Your advice on the questions I ask are so practical and to the point, so that a neophyte like me can understand and apply it.

Although I have associated with you in this lifetime for a very short period, I feel like I have known you for a very long time. Guru Maharaja, during my initiation lecture, you specifically asked for me and said, "Initiation means Radha Rani gives you magic shoes to fight against the black witch, but you still have to run and you still have to fight". I will fight but the fight can only be successful with your mercy. I hope I will be successful in my fight in this lifetime and not cause you any more pain. On this auspicious day, I hope and beg to Krishna that my actions do not bring displeasure to you and I can be of some service to you in your service to Srila Prabhupada.

Your unworthy servant

Srinatha Krsna dasa

HpS - AGTSP!!  We are just an ill formed peanut trying to be of use to Srila Prabhupada and if you see  us as an elephant it is because the elephant has taken an interest in eating the peanut.

Sankirtan!!!!     Moving to Dallas???

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja

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

I came back from India yesterday.

ASA - Over a week ago. Sorry for the delay.

It was a really nice trip. I visited Mayapur, Ekachakra and Vraj. Also vistited ISKCON Chennai and Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane.

ASA - Jaya!   Ekacakra!!!

              Radhika Ramana prabhu and I observed a nice and simple Vyasa puja celebration in Mayapur. Unexpectedly many devotees came and started glorifying you. Durgam prabhu was fondly remembering being with you on Vrajamandal parikrama. It was sweet. I will resend my offering in a separate post.

ASA - AGTSP!!!

I really loved Ekachakra. The people there had such spontaneous love for Nityananda Prabhu. They were raising their arms in the air and saying 'Jai Nitai!' when we were waking on the streets. It was the same in Vraja too. The Vraja vasis were so sweet. Every place we visited, they were telling the pastimes of Krishna and it was from the heart. I especially remember the Vrajavasis from Kusum Sarovar, Unchagaon and Sankeet on how eager and lovingly they were telling us about the pastimes that happened there. I realized how hard my heart was after seeing their love and spontaneity in welcoming us and sharing with us the pastimes.

The mangala arti in Krishna Balaram temple was the best. I wanted it to go on forever. I want to carry that mood back here and develop a steady FMP. It was very inspiring. I followed your instruction and attended all the mangala arti. It set the tone for the day. I was able to chant at least 32 rounds on most of the days. I did book distribution in Chennai on Vaikunta Ekadashi and New Year day along with the devotees there.

Throughout the trip, I was constantly thinking about you and your mercy, for me to have these experiences. I struggled so hard to travel to the few places I went and got very sick in Vrindavan. I was thinking about how you take very strenuous trips, travel to so many places, and preach. Thank you so much Guru Maharaja for all that you do for us.

I saw a post from Yamunesvara Prabhu asking for links to online lectures. They can be accessed from here - https://soundcloud.com/user-938973912.

Is it possible to add this link in Kapi Dhvaja so that it is easy for everyone to know about it?

HpS - We just posted it into the KDh and will distribute it. Maybe our lectures will give an example of evil for those who want to do good.

Your servant

Srinatha Krsna dasa

HpS - Let's hope that all our journeys are part of a longer journey that will take us to a place where we can be eternally situated at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada!

 Haré Krsna Gurumaharaja.!!

 Please accept our humble reverence!

 All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

     Thank you so much Gurumaharaja for your kindly and fast  response.

       We had been waiting for it. As son as we recieve it every thing become so clear for every one...we had also commented it with some other  devotees, also in la gomera and the conclution was that we will better stay in la Palma island cause it takes lot of time and energy for moving and change house, school, neigborhood and so many other arrangement that Krsna is been doing for us, it looks like Krsna have some plan for us here., So, Gurumaharaja.. What do you think? Is our choise the good one?? 

          Hope this will find you in good spiritual éxtasis!! 

          Your aspirant servant Yasodanandana das& Ekadrsti d.d &/ Family. 

                                          Haré Krsna!

HpS - Sorry that this letter took some time to respond. Many challenges here. One is that it is now -10 degrees and we have to fight with the cold. Eighty-five percent of our mobile home is not heated, but we like it.

I don't remember the details of your choices but I suspect that if you made the choice and talked with other devotees and maybe included our ideas then the choice will be a step in the right direction!   Should we hope for more?    We are moving back to the ligh but still in the fog.

Respects to everyone!!!  Sankirtan!    Even smiling at people if you have done your Mangala arati is great Sankirtan.

Querido Gurudev: Pamho. Hemos entrado en un año nuevo y nos acercamos mas y mas al cambio de cuerpo. Estamos tratando de mejorar e ir contra la corriente de kali-yuga. Se necesita gran esfuerzo para contrarestar la influencia de la energia material. Estamos luchando y  me he propuesto escribir en el blog una vez al mes. (a ver si lo consigo).

HpS - ASA - Jaya!!

Así que le contesto a las preguntas que me hace:

1)- La familia está bien, aunque nos gustaría que Nimai sintiera mas atracción por las actividades devocionales (cantar, leer, etc). Entiendo que tanto Purnamasi como yo tenemos que darle un buen ejemplo y despues él hara lo que quiera. Podemos llevar al burro  al abrevadero pero no podemos obligarlo a beber agua.

2)- Los programas en casa van muy bien. Nos solemos juntar entre diez y venticinco (adultos y niños). Los devotos estan felices con el programa y lo estamos haciendo de forma regular.

3)- En cuanto al Yatra español creo tendriamos que hacer dos cosas muy importantes:

- La primera es desarrollar un sentimiento de "hermandad" entre todos los devotos (incluso vaisnavas de otras escuelas). Se pueden hacer festivales especificos de hermandad, sin reuniones administrativas, y con mucho canto, filosofía, prasadam,etc. Tratando de mostrar agradecimiento a todos los devotos por  su aportación al movimiento de sankirtan  o mostrarles agradecimiento simplemente porque son vaisnavas.

- La segunda es ocupar a los devotos segun su naturaleza. Principalmente, cuando la modalidad de la bondad sea muy resaltante, ocupar al devoto en funciones de predica y ayudarle a evitar los asuntos administrativos. Y cuando la modalidad de la pasión sea resaltante ( y tambien haya buena dosis de bondad) entonces tenemos que animar a esos devotos para que ocupen o ayuden en servicios administrativos. Cooperación entre los dos grupos. Los brahmanas dicen que se puede hacer y los ksatriyas como se puede hacer.

Esperando se encuentre bien de salud se despide

su sirviente

Jayanta das

HpS - Jaya!    Muchas gracias sus noticias. Vale The New York Times.

Estuvimos hablando de Yadunandana Swami para 1.25 horas semana pasado. Esperamos visitar a Espanya en otnyo posible.

Aun trabajando como 'mailman', no?   Cuanto mas tiempo para su jubilo?  Entonces mas oportunidad predicar!!!!

Hare Krishna Maharaja
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Sri Sri Goura Nitay
All the glories to you

HpS - AGTSP!

Maharaja, I am Ma. Soledad de Chile, wife of Abhimanyu, do you remember me?

HpS - Yes!!

I hope your health goes well within what you can and that illuminates the souls of everyone with whom you associate. I did not write to him months ago because I'm not having a good time.

HpS - Especially you should write if you are having a bad time, no???

Materially everything is happening in the best way for me in relation to the labor and the economy, unfortunately my spiritual life is in decline. Maharaja, I am writing to you because I need your instruction, of any word you can give me to get out of this I am falling into, I will be sincere with you, as I believe it is the only way in which I can move forward. I have only talked to a Mataji, and I need to be honest and reveal my mind to those who do not judge me, as this is very painful for me.

A few months ago I began to question myself a lot about the dynamics of the devotees, until one day I woke up completely discouraged, without mood of singing my japa (I was doing very well for many months, singing with enthusiasm) until that day I did not sing, and so I take a couple of months, without chanting Hare Krishna (I'm afraid to post this here, because unfortunately Maharaja there are devotees who will read it and they will criticize me and speak ill of me,

HpS - In the material world EVERYONE is criticized!    It is compared to a cricket that makes noise and keeps us awake at night, but search and search and you can't find it (SB Canto Five, Forest of Material Enjoyment). You must learn to avoid the demoniac attachments in of the members of this Blog and take advantage of the friendly aspects. NOI-4 & 5!

...I still do not know how to fight in my mind against that) , little by little I began to lose enthusiasm for doing service, I stopped having enthusiasm for going to the temple and for being surrounded by some people. My guru instructed me not to stop going to Prabhupada's house, and I failed him, for a long time I felt that I was practicing tolerance and mental obeisances towards those whom I see harming other devotees, but I think I did bad, since it would not be as bad as it is now. I feel that I have a crisis Maharaja, I know it is Maya, I know that it is because I have not understood the instructions and teachings of the scriptures, I know that it is because I have not determined to take my spiritual life seriously, but I need a guide that can help me. to say what to do in these moments in which I feel disappointed and with pain inside of me because of what is happening to me. Sometimes I find it hard to understand how being Krishna Consciousness pure love, there are people who do so much harm to others, defacing and offending them, what position should we take to be spectators of those situations? How is it done to maintain enthusiasm? Who advises me to read about spiritual practice being grihastas? I know it will not come from heaven, I know I must have discipline, but Maharaja sometimes I feel that I can not and suffer.

Please forgive me for needing your instruction, for not being able to tell you something positive. With Abhimanyu we are coordinating Food For Life, the only service that I have in charge, and every time I execute it, I offer it to Srila Prabhupada, to you and to Maharaja Dhanvantari. The only thing that I have clear is that the realizations that I had I will never lose, all the time I was fixed I felt spiritual pleasure, I lived intensely, I felt love for the devotees that surrounded me, I still want my environment to be Conscious of Krishna, I preach in my work, wherever I go I carry Krishna in my heart, trusting firmly that only He is the controller, and I strongly ask every day for strength to understand what is happening to me and find solutions, I do not want to fall anymore Deep in the claws of the Mayan witch, I do not want to sleep in the illusion of this material world, I want to go back to Krishna.

Waiting for you to be very well Your humble well-wisher, Ma. Soledad Oyarce.

HpS - Well, again, you should have been writing to us, our someone like us, earlier. Getting free from The Evil One is not easy. Prabhupada says it is declaration of war on the material nature!   In contrast we have a very nice person to help us fight with the Black Witch!   She is the White Witch. Photo attached below.

Just call Her name, Radhe!   Hare!  Until you get connected.

We have 18,000 verses in SB and all its following books, like CC, because there are so many varieties of attachment, envy, in spiritual life. Aditi trying to kill her sister's children in the Fifth Canto. She was  very advanced devotee, but she wanted to serve Krsna, the ways SHE WANTED TO SERVE HIM and she was so angry at how her sister was serving Him, picking clothes for feast for Janmastima etc. that she wanted to eliminate her sisters children from the "Temple".

So that is a little idea.

1. ISKCON as and institution.

2. ISKCON as your friends

3. ISKCON as you and Srila Prabhupada.

Can you live in all three?

Srila Prabhupada wants you to chant Hare Krsna. You. Personally. He will hear it.

O.K. for first round of ideas?

HpS - ASA --- Letter deleted for use of taboo words.  Ha!   Ha!  Ha!