Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Maharaj, 

Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to your preaching efforts and wisdom!

Maharaj, this is Anadi Radha dasi from Boise, Idaho. I was hoping to ask you a question regarding an experience I had recently.

HpS - ASA -- Our honor!

Around the beginning of August 2017, one of my teacher mentors from my high school who is now more of a friend (HS was almost 10 years ago) came to visit me at my apartment (I currently live on the temple grounds right next to Tulsi Kunja at New Biharvan). She knows devotees in Peru (she's a spanish teacher) and was telling me one devotee she knows there just recently got engaged to a girl named Tulsi. She also shared with me how she loved chanting with this group she's associated with and she just got a meditation pillow. In the spirit of such a conversation I asked if she would be interested in chanting Hare Krsna on japa beads and that I would be more than happy to give her some. So I brought out a bag with two japa malas, one neem and one tulsi, planning to give her the neem, as she still eats meat. She asked me she liked the other, darker beads, the tulsi beads. I kindly told her that Tulsi is one of those plants very sacred to Krsna and devotees, that she is given very special care and devotion. Because of these factors, its better to start out with the neem beads, and get tulsi beads later after you really get to chanting. So I gave her the neem beads. I felt I was kind, however, I also felt I conveyed a little separatist mentality. I also thought maybe her draw to Tulsidevi and the fact she was talking about this Tulsi girl was an indicator that.. she could have been okay to take the beads. Maybe Tulsidevi would be her inspiration in Krsna Consciousness. Because afterall, the first devotee I met gave me tulsi neckbeads... 

After thinking a bit about it and feeling a bit uncomfortable with my choice, I asked Anantarupa Prabhu about the incident and his thoughts. He told me I did the right thing, but maybe for a little more information and input, I could ask you for some instruction on your blog. 

I always thought giving Tulsi to nondevotees was sort of wrong, and I still feel that way, but I'm also open to Krsna's will...

Maharaj, could you share what you think about this subject matter? 

Thank you so much.

Yhs, Anadi Radha dasi

HpS - Wow. Great question. We would feel hesitant to give Tulasi unless the person was Sattvic, vegetarian, etc. We give little 18-bead Malas that we import by the bag full from Mexico, pine. Look nice, not too many beads, fit in you bag.

But Vijitatma Das, our B'cari partner, and great Sankirtan man since 1974 or more distributes Tulasi beads to attract people to buy books. He is still distributing books. Maybe it works for book distributors but us folk have to be more careful until we some to their level.

That's all I could say. Thank you. Hope to see you soon.

Hare Krishna Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope this meets you in good health and momentum. In Benelux we have a monthly kirtan event (called Kirtan Connection), taking place in a different centre every month. Last week i learned that the organization stopped because the person who organized had a hard time to get things organized every month with every centre's and everyone's enthusiasm. I took the opportunity to take over, and after some inquiry i concluded it is good to make it into a bi-monthly event. More dates being optional. I'm very happy to have this chance for service, and i hope to receive your blessing for this faltering initiate's undertaking.

ASA - May God bless you very much!

Regarding sadhana, things are going with ups and downs in enthusiasm. Sadhana is fluctuating, heavily depending on my schedule. Sometimes my schedule is more suitable and i can do reasonably well (still sub-par though) while at other times it's just doing whatever i can. So basically i'm running behind the caravan, trying to catch up one day soon. I ask myself sometimes why it is so hard to find and spend 2,5 hours a day on japa. (Sleeping less is no option, i learned).

ASA - Because you are ignorant!  You have not yet learned that EVERYTHING will improve at the maximum possible rate with improved Japa. We know you are ignerant because we are also ignerant.

We visit sunday feast as often as possible and had a kirtan event in our house last weekend.

ASA - Super.... !.

Also i've finished some nice memories books recently. I look forward to having the chance one day to visit the States and have ample time to be somewhere close without bothering, and deepen our relationship. I think about diksha often. Basically i still wallow in self pity for lagging behind but i take comfort in your remark that whatever is being done, will add up to forever. But i think i mentioned this before.

Your aspiring servant,
Raghava pandita dasa.

ASA - We think about you often. Maybe we will see you very soon. We will be in Europe Thursday.   You news is just wonderful.  Keep trying and soon you will be LEADING the caravan or at least one branch.

Hare Krishna beloved Gurudev please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupad.

You was asked me if I associate with Brahmanas.

My situation is like that, I live in Serbia far away from the Iskcon temple or asram,and here are not many initiated brahmanas I can associate with.

When I am in Norway, where is my employer based in Oslo, there is Iskcon temple and I associate with devotees and temple president who is initiated Brahmana grihasta, his name is Maha Bhavi das. that is most of time on S.F.program. When I have free day from the work. Like you know my dear Gurudev  I'm work like truck-bus driver, and driving around the Europa. Have little possibility to associate with devotees, but when I have a time I do it.

So I am thinking if second initiation can help me to be better devotee and servant of devotees, I wish to take it. I feel that Lord Krishna arranged to me to go to Vrindavan to see you and serve you my dear Gurudev. I take truck, boat and helicopter,who knows if I will get an another chance to do it again. I already have passed age of 50. Live is short. Health is not very good...

I'm accept what ever you decide, you are my beloved Gurudev. Please forgive me my offences and accept my humble obeisances again and again.

Hare Krishna

All glories to Srila Prabhupad

HpS - ASA -- Many things to discuss. No rush. We can try to arrange initiation ceremonies wherever we are. Especially second initiation can be more like a formality. Jiva Goswami explains that in the current time Hari-Nama Diksa is sufficient. Second initiation is more like a formality.

This is not an "urgent" topic, short-quick-answer. For sure let us discuss it in person in the next few days.

Thank you.

AGtSP!!! Paoho.
P.S. It is very nice to hear more about your regular life. 

Dear Guru Maharaj PAMHO AGTSP I received this mail and I am very happy and exciting to meet you soon. I was thinking for long time for my second initiation but was shy to ask you about it.

I don't know what are you decide about initiation of Sahil,nephew of Raktak Dasa,maybe we can be initiated together

I'm surrender toYour and Krishna's mercy and praying Lord Krishna and Balaram to be initiated in Vrindavan.

Your servant and disciple

Indradyumna das

Hare Krishna

HpS-ASA -- Let us discuss it here with all the devotees. Do you have any Brahmana association?

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva

AGTSP PAMHO

I hope U are fine ¡¡¡

Gurudeva I have to put order in my life L. Due to I am working in 2 universities now I have to attend workshops in the  2 universities and do double work. I am really exhausted that is why I sometimes joined FMP at 5:00 am, I am delay on my rounds L.

Sundari Radhika Mataji called me¡¡¡ That was so nice. I felt supported. I will take advantage of her association¡¡

I guess that next week I will be the presenter??

I have also reduced my service in Wilson pujari just once a month, and I give BG clases once a month as well ¡¡¡ On Radhastami I made a promise to Adhoksaja Prabhu .. that on kartik I will go every Saturday to Chosik in order to do pujari for RMV

I am making now essential oils, so I am complementing my Gem Therapies with aromatherapy and meditation… The funny thing is that I do not have enough time do therapy for myself. Whenever I did it for myself in the past I felt  relaxed and energized. I will do it today

My Gem Guruji is an old argentinian lady who is Brahmacarini .. she told me “Dear candra, haven’t you noticed¡¡¡¡ Your GM and me are brahmacaris so be careful you may follow our path ¡¡¡ “ jajaj I laughed I am actually really peaceful in my current situation, I just want to make a balance with my material and spiritual life, I want to earn more money L I feel ashmed for that… I am giving it more attention

With met with Palika and The Patraka it was nice

So sorry for being too lazy

Have a nice trip to India 

Trying to be your disciple

Candramukhi dd

HpS-ASA -- AgtSP. Paolo. URGENT letters get immediate attention but short because we have to do them on our cell phone. It is so nice to hear your service. Make more money not by working more but by working better.

Enough is a feast.

 Preach and all material opulence will come to you.

Hare Krishna! Please accept my obeisances, AGTSP!

Dear Maharaja, life was much simpler and it has only grown more complicated as I enter adulthood. This last year was so bizzare, Prahlad commiting suicide had a large impact on me and then a few months later my sister died from cancer, that was certainly the hardest experience of my life to go through. On her death bed I gave her my Tulsi neckbeads, put Radha Kunda water on her head, chanted with her and played Srila Prabhupada japa.  My family members really had no clue how to help her move on from this body and for once they saw me in a new light, as I was the only one that was able to hold it together. 

By spring time I started a small business of growing food/bulk buying dried fruits, nuts and selling it at the Sunday Feast, farmers markets, grocery stores. There were many difficulties in this endeavour, and I was not making much money doing it, however this certainly can be profitable if things are organized better.

In August I started working off the farm at a grocery store, now I am in the midst of switching jobs to be a greenhouse manager at a local community center. 

I have been trying to pursue a partnership with Alyssa since last winter. It has been up and down, sometimes inspiring and devotionally inclined, most times a struggle.

I feel that my spiritual life as declined tremendously, yet I never stop hoping and praying that I will rise above these lower modes, addictions, and bad habits etc. ASAP. Sometimes I feel a great catastrophe will soon befall my life due to the great ignorance that holds me back from God.  I really only want to be a devotee and to serve in the mission of respiritualizing human society. Lately I have felt the urge to runaway and go to India or to become your travel companion, my heart aches with lonliness and confusion, and I believe something has to change soon.

As far as internet preaching goes, my page is up to nearly 2000 followers, I have been doing regular live streams still. About 5 people have taken things very seriously and started attending their local temple and practicing.  Probably 20 or so others are very close but still on the fence. 

Here are some pictures to show You what I've been up to.

HpS - Running away to India or anything else is not much solution. What you are doing seems reasonable. Just have to push...

push

push  to do mo rounds betta!  Make vow!!!!   Declare it here!  Eg. I will chant. 6-rounds a day minimum, 15,,  for two weeks. Something you know you can do then do it.  The Yuga dharma. The way up can be very quick!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOCcSmP_t8U&t=776s     From 12.00 minutes