Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudev,

Please accept my humblest obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. All glories to your lotus feet.

HpS - AGTSP.  We are making a little progress towards having lotus feet. Our efforts are small because our evil lusty desires for good food and good drink are strong.

I hope this letter meets you in above-average health. It’s been a few days of fasting with Janamastami, SP appearance and  ekadasi yesterday. It’s funny how much I think of grains during those days even though the mind feels so much lighter and cleaner and efficient.  Habits are hard to break.

ASA - Yes, deep and subtle. We purify our heart but then we must need the proper association to keep it engaged in its new found light atmosphere.

I had been in a dry spell a few weeks back where work was pretty much consuming my life. I was unable to keep up my rounds and basically lost all sense of self under the pressure and demands of management roles. It took a couple of punches from maya and the soothing salve of senior devotees to put in perspective  that Krishna is above all else.

That He is stronger than my stresses at work and I should not become a slave. I feel like I knew  that and it was in my “long-term” knowledge bank but what use is it when I can’t apply it at the appropriate times. Yesterday and the weekends, I took some time to chant early in the morning (like you always say…get up early and finish your rounds…)  and I journaled to Krishna. I wrote out all my thoughts and worries and concerns and it all seems to become miniscule in front of God.

I also had been thinking of you a lot (especially  during Prabhupad’s appearance day) but couldn’t bring myself to write as I had been neglecting your instructions.  I wanted to take a moment and just say I’m so sorry for doing so and am forever indebted for your mercy. Your instructions are so simple and I can feel the power when I follow them properly. I got distracted during this point of my life, and realize the beauty in living simply. Every day is a battlefield at work- for the most part because im one of the few females in this tech field. A lot of what I say gets overlooked on the daily and my subordinates don’t follow orders well. I think the biggest blow was to my ego and I am actively trying to be aware and not let that affect me.

Every morning I offer incense, flowers, candles, ghee lamps to the deities and you. Weekends I prepare something nice. Today, they had raspberry scones, banana bread, zuchinni noodles with basil, and cheesecake muffins (my sister likes to bake for them). I start off my day with them and beg for blessings. Im sure Krishna is teaching me to get outside my comfort zone and preparing me for something much bigger. I hope to keep this tiny flame of devotion alive and with your grace, keep it sheltered from being extinguished by external forces (work, health, family, etc.)

Also, if you have any plans of visiting the NorthEast area (DC, Richmond, etc.) please let me be of service. I eagerly await your darshan. 

I beg for your forgiveness and simultaneously, for your shelter and strength.  Please keep me engaged and sheltered at your feet.

Thank you for you causeless mercy.                                       

Your insignificant and struggling servant,

Sugopi dd

HpS - Hare Krsna. Very strange, we just finished talking with you in the FEP on line.
When we have a FMP, then our Daily Sankirtan becomes more fun. We understand that our only business is distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. Quantity is nice but so also is quality. Distribute books to people that you know well, even after just three minutes of contact.

We look for more letters from you.  How is your father's spiritual life, purification?    You should know, or now calculate how many rounds you failed to chant and then make them up later.

Please Maharaja please sign this petition of the video. To see people contributing to such a pedophilic organization like ISKCON is not really healthy to anyone. Did you know that ISKCON's Child protection funds are now 9000$ as when it was at first 150 000$ it is purely only pr-machine for those criminals: http://krishnachildren.com/ Hare Krishna!!

HpS - AgtSP.  Thank you for your interest in this problem. As we said in our last letters ISKCON is a very big organization. We are looking at the elefant from one part. We try to act properly in terms of the whole institution, that is like trying to be a good American. We didn't think Trump or Clinton were 7% worthy of being President of the United States. We try to correct the situation locally also. We just came back from one week of work with our Primary School program in Houston, Texas.

I started to watch the movie but it was so specific and so slow.

We have had individual talks with the last Minister of Child Protection. There was not great interest or support for the program from GBC, Temple Presidents, Parents or even children. Some, Yes, Yes, Yes.  Our disciples have been local child protection officers.

When some of these issues went to court I researched the informationa and the % of child abuse including harsh physical disciplining in India ISKCON residential schools was life 25%. At the same time th USA national average was 35%. As an institution we are not that much greater than the general world but we are better. I see struggles again and again to correct abuses and ISKCON as an institution does not seem to be in much worse than any other modern instituion like Soviet Union, USA, Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America.

I aske about five Gurukula graduates, about 23 years old when they were talking about their bad experiences in Gurukula, if they were all vegetarian, and they all looked at me with a look of reproach, and said, "Of course!". So our comment was that that was not true of their parents. So there had been some step up.

Their parents all believes in Romeo and Juliet. You will find your Soul Mate!!

They have very serious doubts about that and approach sexual relations with a much more sane attitude.

So, big topic.
We try to work locally.
They need a shorter facts sheet to express their position in terms of the elephant.

Hare Krisna querido Gurudeva.

Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias, dandavats. Todas las Glorias sean para Srila Prabhupada.

Espero que se encuentre bien en todos los aspectos.

Ante todo, un poco tarde, quiero felicitarle por Janmastami.

Carcika, Manu y yo pudimos estar en Nueva Vrajamandala en la ceremonia de Abhysek, cantando, teniendo asociación con los devotos y tomando Prasadam. El Cielo en la tierra.

Por lo demás continuamos luchando como podemos por cantar mejor para comprender lo que Krisna quiere de nosotros. Le pedimos a Krisna con el canto que tenga Misericordia de nosotros para que podamos recordar la relación originaria con Él.

De momento tiene mucha Misericordia, pero no logramos recordar nuestra relación con Él.

Ahora estamos organizando Ratha Yatra para el próximo 9 de Septiembre. Un paso más para recordar.

No le quitamos más tiempo. Sólo queria que supiera que estamos vivos en este cuerpo material aún. Espero escribir más frecuentemente.

Muchas gracias por todo. Por favor, no se olvide de nosotros.

Su sirviente,

Dandava das

HpS - Si, mas frecuente. Cual es su trabajo. Con quien asocia en su trabajo??

PAMHO!! And I want to make a donation to ASA. Please tell me your International Bank account number, or for me it would be much more easier if you could have a bitcoinwallet and a card like xapo, or more better still Bitwa.la card, which you can use as bank card and visa electron in bank automates and shops, who accepts VISA. And also pay bills. Straight from bitcoin, this all, on that card (XAPO doesn't have bill paying option) It would be for me Maharaja very much easier and less risky thinking about taxes. https://www.bitwala.com/ Maharaja I have to say Blockchain technology is something very very blessed thing looking from my life:) But if cash is preferred be it like that. Everything is Krishna. Teachin HK!!!!!#!

HpS - ASA --- Let us wait a while. If you use the money to buy BBT books, stack them up where you can see them and then get them out, that will be perfect investment for NIOS.

Thank you very much!!

Hare Krsna Gurumaharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you are in very good health, I do not deny that we were a little concerned when you posted that you had severe stomach cramps a few days ago. I hope you are eating well and that the heat is not a problem.

HpS - Often the problem is getting a regular, simple diet with so many people desiring to cook special items for you, the Sannyasi. Don't be worried about our health. You, all of us, may die within a short time from disease. Haladhara Das left his body just a short time ago in Lima. He was maybe ten years younger than us. We knew him for many years. Actually he was very similar to you in character and nature -  nice, intelligent, sincere, creative, practical person.

Let the waves of distortion (pain?) come. We see them all around us in nature. It is without in the withered pear on the tree and so it will also be within. Death is necessary for creation. How can we serve Krsna confidentially as Brajavasis during all this.

I send you a personal report Gurumaharaja, writing it has helped me a lot to understand some aspects of my spiritual practice. I will order it differently for a better understanding (especially on my part).

• Śravaṇam: I persevere in reading systematically, I am following the course of Bhakti sastri and in parallel studying a MIHE manual on the Bhagavad gita. I am summarizing it with insertions of different devotees and I hope to be able to schematize in conceptual maps the different chapters with the purpose of being able to teach at some future time. I have finished reading the First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam once more. I have not advanced beyond the second because I had not had the confidence to control my senses, but this time I am sure to achieve it. I am working on the way to be more receptive to my environment, my mind betrays my servant consciousness permanently to always wanting to say things before listening to what others have to say to me, this is probably one of the main symptoms of the evil in the world. My japa improves because I concentrate more on hearing.
  HpS - Jaya!  Are you doing these studies with others?  Partners?    Are you learning to teach?
• Kīrtanam: I preach to the people around me, I have not formally had many opportunities to do so in the temple because it is not part of their policy to form new preachers, but if Krsna wants, that will come eventually.  Krsna katha with Indira Sakti is often sweet and frequent. I meet with some interested people to talk about universal issues such as happiness, health and love. For now we do it once a month.
  Immediate answer to half of our question!
• Smaraṇam: I try to understand Govinda's action in everything that happens around me, I try to improve my prayers and the internal dialogue that sometimes occurs. Attention to our deities make things easier in that sense, the relationship I have with them throughout the day allows me a better meditation.

                                                    ***************************************************************************************

• Śraddhā: my faith improves because I see that the process works, because what was important a few years ago has ceased to be so and because it is clear to me that Krishna is directly involved in my life. I must work on my renunciation. In the depths of my being, I still trust that things will be achieved by my own effort and I still have some doubts of how to dedicate the last third of my life (I am 50 years old) with full confidence that Indira Sakti and I will be well into the future without having to consume my life in the attempt. We want to dedicate ourselves 100% to devotional service.
  HpS - You may not "be well in the future". She may end up on the street living like the most miserable person you can see in Lima, and you also, and me also and... Or we may become masters of fabulous riches. Donald Trump may catalyze a limited nuclear war that will plunge the world into great chaos. In every case we can just chant Hare Krsna and be happy. If we don't abandon trying to be useful to Krsna, then why should He abandon trying to engage us in His mad plans. He is so strange.
• Sadhu-sanga: This aspect has cost me  because I am not very intelligent to relate to others. For now I try to relate to the authorities and be trustworthy. Communication with my wife is better but pride is my main enemy.
  HpS - ASA -- Just try to see how you can help other people in their service, efforts to go up! It will open up gradually. You will have nice circle of competent friends.
• Bhajana-kriyā: I think I have a good saddhana, with some ups and downs because my work schedule sometimes do not allow me to go to bed early. My gross conscience gradually lightens and I try to understand what an instruction is and how to merge it into my actions, words and thoughts.
• Anārtha-nivṛttiḥ: the struggle continues. I am envious, very envious, and that is the source of all my problems. This process is the most difficult thing I have done in my life, by far, but it is also the most important and the only thing that has really excited me. That's why the painful process of transformation is worth it. I pray Krsna to keep me in the fight, always, even though I discover the ugly face of my false identity every day. I appreciate the enormous mercy that people give me that allow me to be close to them every day.

I appreciate the huge influence you have in my life, maybe you don't know how meaningful is your presence in your instructions Gurudeva. Thank you so much for accepting me as your weak and mediocre disciple.

Your servant, Gandharva dasa

HpS - Being weak and mediocre "gurus" we offer our obeisances to you. Pray to Krsna, Pray to Krsna, Pray to Krsna to keep you in the association of devotees at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, a world where his books, thoughts, attitudes are everything.