Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj

Dandavat Pranaam unto your lotus feet.

ASA - Lettuce feet. 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu.

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Myself, son of your disciple Krsna Swarup Das, from Assam, North East India.

HpS - Jaya!!!  So, nice to hear from you and everyone there!

I offer a prayer unto your lotus feet to kindly me give some advice regarding misunderstandings among devotees.  Supposedly, if there were two groups of devotees who have some misunderstanding among themselves; (as Prabhupada used to say whenever there are 2 people there will be misunderstandings) as we are not pure souls we often tend to criticise one another, find out faults and dont try to forgive and forget any past issues easily. Due to harbouring such feelings internally, lets say both the parties tend to avoid each other while externally behaving in a opposite way. Every party thinks "I am right" and also there is no intermediary or neutral person whom both parties see as trustworthy or impartial.What could be the best possible way to bring harmony among such devotees and how one should respond if one is in such a situation (say one of the parties). Please be merciful to enlighten me in this regard.

Dandavat Pranaam unto your lotus feet.

Your ignorant servant

Bishal

HpS - Well,   the first principle is that we cannot give detailed advice unless we know the situation in detail, and that would be impossible for us 12,000 miles away and connected only by internet. So, first principle is from Chanakya Pandita: Victory comes from good advice and good advice comes from many counselors.  Talk to a lot of good people about the situation. We can give general view from a long distance. That is important element, so broad perspective. Then talk to people who are involve in the details.

In one Ramayana movie Hanuman was sent by Rama to try to mitigate the feud between Vali and Sugriva. He reported that Vali was going to give up his anger only when he was dead.

So, sometimes people have personal motives for which they don't want to forgive and there is nothing we, and even God to some degree, can do about it.

Read Nectar of Instruction Texts 4 and 5.

http://www.vedabase.com/en/noi/4

They give SUPER explanation of how to relate to these situation. They arise all the time and it is a big situation that we can only start to discuss. The complete answer is in Srimad Bhagavatam. Of course, that is 18,000 verses.

Basically, try to distinguish reality from illusion for the welfare of all. Try to look for the best solutions for EVERYONE's benefit and then you will feel happy.

hare krsna maharaj, PAMHO, AGTSP

I thank you for your associaton. You asked some questions in previous letters , I will answer them.

1. How is your PhD progressing?
 Its about to end in a quarter. The viva will happen by feb 2018.

      ASA - Knock 'em Dead!

2. How are you and the Video Game aficionado et al????????
He is somebody elevated. he just hear vande guru charan-arvindam on youtube. now he says again again he wants to go and hear it in real. he does not wake up at 3am generally. But when I asked do you wantto hear vande guru, he immeditaley gets up.
he said he like krsna, he watches video games because of absence of kids near by.

    ASA - Play sports together with him!
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We have  been hearing mahabharat made by BR chopra on youtube. Its telling us lots of social ettiquete and behavioral things, which we learn from it. and it esp goes deep in sb 1.1.7 to 1.1.9. We thank you for your guidance on SB, so that we can see mahabharat in SB light.

    ASA - Mataji also likes it???
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we just wanted to share a passage, which keep us UP (esp the bolden lines)

Into the blistering wilderness of Shur, the man who walked with kings...now walks alone.
Torn from the pinnacle of royal power; stripped of all rank and earthly wealth; a forsaken man without a country, without a hope; his soul in turmoil like the hot winds and raging sands that lash him with the fury of a taskmaster's whip. He is driven forward, always forward, by a god unknown, toward a land unseen…
Into the molten wilderness of sin where granite sentinels stand as towers of living death to bar his way.
Each night brings the black embrace of loneliness. In the mocking whisper of the wind, he hears the echoing voices of the dark. His tortured mind wondering if they call the memory of past triumphs or wail foreboding of disasters yet to come or whether the desert's hot breath has melted his reason into madness.
He cannot cool the burning kiss of thirst upon his lips nor shade the scorching fury of the sun. All about is desolation. He can neither bless not curse the power that moves him, for he does not know where it comes.
Learning that it can be more terrible to live than to die, he is driven onward through the burning crucible of desert, where holy men and prophets are cleansed and purged for God's great purpose, until at last, at the end of human strength, beaten into the dust from which he came. The metal is ready for the Maker's hand.

ASA - Jaya!   Incredible!     Thank you!!!!!!!!        Yet, little extreme, no?  Sounds more like something from the Bible or Koran than the Maha-bharata.   May all your deserts be tiny ones!
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We plan/aim to get intiated in this Kartik trip of yours.

ASA - Asvamedha yajna Das???        Hey, you gotta get a letter of recomendation from and ISKCON TP (Maybe Rama-giridhari Das can help, and take the Disciple Course!)

only work of soul is real work for which we should  tax ourselves. when we get tired then we play VAD game as recreation  {not vice versa}
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adios,
Dandvats General

HpS - Such a nice letter. Again, our respects to the Meditation Professor whom we met at your campus. We are WAITING for the National Library in Peru to sign the agreement for 2018, then we can offer engagement to him and everyone!!!

Hare Krishna Maharaj,

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

It's only thanks to the mercy of Lord Caitanya that I met you this month in Nueva Vraja Mandala and after one week I asked you for shelter.

In answer to your request, here I'll summarize my spiritual biography.

HpS - ASA -- It was also very nice to meet you. Excuse us for being a little slow, two weeks, to answer this letter. We have been in little tumolt after trip to Spain.

In 2006, I started practicing Hatha Yoga and meditation. In 2009 I met in Granada (Spain) Swami Purohit from Delhi (http://www.swamipurohit.com/), and I started a trainning with him, consisting in a course of one day and a half every month, that year I become vegetarian. The porpouse of his training is to purify you consciousness and connect you with your soul, to arrive to enlightment. Each month he gave us a sadhana that we should do every day, consisting in meditation, japa (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya), and differents raja yoga and kriya yoga exercices, to open each chakra, and to purify our physical and subtle body, it took about 2 hours per day, what I did every single day without interruption.

In 2013, I did my first trip to India, to Arunachala (Thiruvannamalay) for sadhana in an ashram (Ramana Maharishi) with Swami Purohit, in which I had my first spiritual experience. I started feeling the energy in the right part of the chest moving around and from the base of the spine to the crown, and I saw light within, I experienced deep joy, peace, and love. When I told it to Swami Purohit asking him what did it means, he explained me that it was the begining of enlightment, what is called the spiritual heart (paramatma). Of course this is nothing, once you have experienced the ocean of Love and Mercy of Lord Caitanya. I only tell you this to let you know that I am so fallen that only after 5 years of practicing austerities, thanks to the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya, the path to Krishna Consciousness was opened for me.

In july 2014 I completed de Advanced yoga and meditation course, level II. When I did the second trip to India, in 2014, I went first to Anandamayi maa ashram (the saintly woman of Bengala, daugther of vaisnavas), and the chief of the International center for foreiners, a devotee of Lord Krishna, recommended me and my spiritual brother and sister to go to Vrindaban and he gave us blessings to go there. And we did. I was a strong experience that I have when I arrived to Radha Ramana and Radha Damodara temple.

In 2015, thanks to a devotee, I went to the “kindness festival” for 2 weeks, organized by Audaria Dhama das (Oleg Torsunov), and there I met wonderful devotees and a sannyasi (Valmiki das) that inspired me to start chanting Maha Mantra read Bhagavad Gita, 3 times without comments and later with Srila Prabhupada comments, what I did. A devotee gifted me with maha prasadam of Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Maharaja, and that nigth I had a mystical experience during my night meditation after going to bed.

In 2016, one year later of meeting in Moscow a devotee (Lalana is her nick name) of ISKCON before the festival, she told me I should write a book for women, so I wrote a book called “Conocimiento Vedico para mujeres y no solo para mujeres”, self editing, 90 copies sold. It was my first service.

In January 2017, I met Ekadrsti and Yasoda in Alicante, who made me engage more in Krishna Consciousness. Then last august I went to Vrindaban again, and at that time I started changing 16 rounds every day, without interruption. I did 4 times parikrama arround Vrindavan, one arround Govardhan, Radha and Syama kunda, and visited Gokul, Ramanreti, Varsana, Raval, Mathura, and other sacred places touched by the lotus feet of the Lord.

The first day doing parikrama around Vrindaban, I had a very strong spiritual experience in Caitanya Baitaka, the resting place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when Maharaja Parijatak put on my neck the garland that was in the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhú (Maha Maha Prasad), inmediatly I stared to cry like a baby, and while he was telling me the story of Gaurary Mukta, I couldn’t stop crying, I felt so much pure love coming from him that I, without thinking, fell at his feet, but he said, no no, it’s not me, is the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Few days later, I asked him for advice to Maharaja Parijatak, what to do in order to prepare myself for future inication. He answered that first I should purify my existence, and in order to do it, I should sing 32 rounds every day during 40 days, starting 12 october (or 16th) and also read every day Bhagavad Gita, and I did it, but I failed 3 days. I have also read Mahabharata, Ramayana, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Drama of Lord Jagannatha, Nectar of Insctruction, Fisrt Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and part of the Second.

Later I did Introduction to Bhakti Yoga with Nityananda prabhú, and this 2 weeks before I met You, I did the course for disciples with Yadunandana Swami, who suggested me to come back in april in order to meet you. From the first day I meet you, I started to think about asking you for taking shalter, and after talk with Yadunandana Swami I did. Now I pray to the Lord to let me see you as soon as possible, to be able to serve you.

Although I am a fallen soul, you accepted me only because you are full of mercy.I commit myself to keep on following the four principles with determination and enthusiasm.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Bhaktin Maria

Note: Please excuse me if I made any mistake telling you some things that are not relevant. And sorry for a so long letter.

HpS - ASA == Wow!   After reading this I feel that maybe I should ask you for shelter. Of course, we are most likely doing these things for several life times. One does not become a fixed Yogini like this at just the drop of a hat, but in any case, ISKCON, Gaudiya Vaisnavism, is a wonderful tradition. We might really look at it as the pinnacle of yoga and religious experience. Of course, that means that it is greedy to take any benefit that is offered by and serve any other yoga tradition.

Welcome to this Blog. It is a great community.

How can we serve you?    Of course, you already have so many counselors and friends in ISKCON, especially Yadu Swami, but if we can serve formally as Diksa Guru, we would try to do that.

Have you read our description of our understanding of Diksa guru at http://www.jayarama.us/peru/archivos/guru-tattva-es.txt?

Any questions or comments about this?

Please write every now and then with your yoga news and the news of the other yogis in Spain etc!

Thank you . . . 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!! All glories to Guru Maharaj HPS,

Dandavat Pranam Guru Maharaj,

Kindly accept my humble obeisances at your sweet lotus feet [ASA - lettuce feet].

I had been wondering the past few days whether my letter reached Guru Maharaj or not.....a little anxious ...but all the while leaving everything to Krishna. Oh yes!! Yesterday I did pray to Hanumanji on his birthday...please!! please!! would You please let me hear from Guru Maharaj!! Today, during my break time at the hospital, as I was going through the 5th volume of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, I received this beautiful reply...and I am feeling so happy and abundantly blessed!Thank you so much. Guru Maharaj ki jai!!

Last Sunday, we started our Kirtan from Govindaji Mandir and had to pass through a number of meat shops mostly run by Muslims. I am sorry for specifying the community . To my surprise, all of them accepted the little prasadam offered to them. An elderly Muslim gentleman even gave his blessings....it was simply amazing!! On some earlier occasions, I have found them refusing  Krishna prasadam and we had to patiently explain to them .....feel very hurt when some of them still refused after all our efforts. Same with some of our Christian followers. Kindly give us Your blessings Guru maharaj.

Banamali Prabhu leads the group most of the time. He has prepared pamplets for distribution . All of us are too busy and too absorbed in the Kirtan that we forget to take snaps. This Sunday I will try my best to take some snaps and upload them ASAP.

Oh....one more thing , Guru Maharaj....which books will be best for distribution during Nagarkirtan? Usually...I carry some spiritual items...like incense sticks, Stickers, Chandan, lockets.....besides, of course, the Prasadam.

Thank you so much Guru Maharaj,

I remain,

Your humble servant...forever seeking guidance and protection,

Sarada Gaurangi Devi Dasi.

HpS - Hare Krsna!!!   Thank you for your wonderful news from the wonderful land of Manipur!!!!   I don't know what books are available.  Of course, some small books that people might consider looking at quickly and then taking. "Krsna, the reservoir of pleasure", in English is very nice. Prabhupada said that we can even photocopy certain purports that we like and distribute them. Ask people to take them, help with a small donation for our printer if they can and then if they like them just contact you and you can give them more for their friends and contacts.

Are you working??  Do you have any contact with Sriman Yamjnesvara Das in Thoubal?   How is Brahmacari, Sadhu Das??

PAMHO

AGTSP

My dear guruji:

Long time since I wrote to the blog, but as I told you when you were here in Vrndavan, it has been very difficult for me to login, finally I got it, wow, I cannot believe it, these hi-tech devices make me crazy.

ASA - We must become mad like Gauranga!

First, I want to thank you very much for allowing me to serve you while in Delhi and Vrndavan, it has been very refreshing for me to listen to your lectures and to have personal answers to my questions, please forgive all my offenses.

ASA - '@'ink~~

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Navadvipa and Jagannath Puri,  [Jaya!] it was amazing to see all those beautiful places where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was living, his birth place, the place where he met Nitai, the house of Srivas where they used to make sankirtan, the Ghambira, Sarvabhauma Battacarya's place, the place where Nitai broke Mahaprbhu's danda, so many beautiful places full of pastimes and the magnificent temple in Mayapur, with the Panca Tattva and Radha Madhava with all the gopis. In this trip Goura-Nitai gave me the big mercy to understand just a little bit more of their lilas.

HpS - Ecstacy!!!!

Now, back in Radhakund, trying to be more engaged in serving Radha-Kunja Bihari.

       ASA - Shhhh!

Some days ago, Gopi Radha from Mexico was here giving me the opportunity to associate and try to serve one of my beloved godsisters, we had very nice days, doing parikrama to Govardhana, to Radhakund, we also went to the Janma bhumi of Krsna in Mathura, thank you my dear Guru Maharaja, for propitiating this association.

Now, I am trying to reinitiate my seva in Radhakund and I have a request to all my godbrothers and godsisters who can help me donating and bringing me at least two "pool cleaners" that kind of nets are very useful to clean the kunda to take out all the prasadi flowers, these nets are not available in India, that is why I am asking for your help. If somebody want to make this service, Radharani personally will bestow on him all her mercy.

HpS - They have the nylon mess in India, no??   Maybe make one there??  But also can bring!

Thank you again and again, my dear guru maharaja, for all your causeless mercy to this fallen soul.

In another letter, I will try to send my humble tribute to our beloved Raktak prabhu, which I mentioned to you.

Your (trying to be humble) servant

Tungavidya devi dasi

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It was a shock for me to know about the disappearance of our beloved godbrother, and I feel the necessity of writing about him.

HpS - Ooof!

He was the embodiment of a perfect disciple, always engaged in serving his guru maharaja, accomplishing all his needs, cooking for him when required, trying to be with him all the time he could, but specially, his complete surrender.

HpS - He had some attachments (smile)!

He has a lot of the qualities of a good disciple, tolerance, silence, simplicity, humbleness, among others, and as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam, “the disciple should learn giving mercy to the suffering, showing friendship to equals and showing humility and respect towards superiors”.

He had a proper conduct, he was a truthful representative of our guru maharaja and at the same time, he was very gentle towards us, his godsisters and godbrothers, always smiling, observing and hearing our problems and trying to advise us the best, always remembering and inspiring others to remember Krsna.

I remember last time I saw him he told me “from this year on, I will be with Guru Maharaja in every vyasapuja, no matter in which country it is held, I will do that because I want to be with him in that special day and also to meet more godbrothers and godsisters all around the world and to take a lot of pictures to share with all of them”.

I read in a sastra “just as the spiritual master is – so is the disciple, and of course Raktak Prabhu acquired all his qualities trying to emulate our guru maharaja.

HpS - Yeah!  We also have "some attachments".

As Guru Maharaja said in the blog, ‘we will miss him, but we won’t miss him”, we will remember his teachings, his smile, his advises, his gentleness but the most important thing is not only to remember him but to try to emulate him, to be a little bit like him, to learn how a good disciple should be, how to behave with our guru maharaja and so we can get his causeless mercy and at the same time of Radhe-Syam.

I am sure that Krsna needed a soul like him to engage him in his personal service and that is why he decided to take him back home. 

My dear godbrother, thank you very much for your association.

Your (trying to be humble) godsister

Tungavidya dd

HpS - Yes, we think a lot about visiting Australia just to see his friends there also.   We are very tired, now. Little head ache coming, but maybe one more letter.  Join us.    We want to call Jagmohan. Our respects to your family. We hope your cow is fine. Can see our suggested India visit in letter to Dhruva, Australia. 27th Sep - 18th Oct

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,
    Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
    All glories to Guru parampara.

    Deity seva going excellent. Actually you are doing the seva, i am just assisting you.

    Deity seva takes me to a different world. It is very personal. Lord reciprocate, i would provide you all the details when
    we meet next time.

your fallen servant,
Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

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Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,
    Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
    All glories to Guru parampara.

    An un-favorable update.

    i have checked with some senior b'chari in temple that there will be HH Radhanath Swami's Vraja trip in Kartik this year.
    So most of the B'chari and Grihasta (householder) or congregation devotee won't be available in Pune at that time.  

    So senior b'chari requested not to schedule your classes at that time as they all want to hear you.
    They don't want to miss your classes. Also they want, you stay in old temple (Sri Sri Radha Kunja Bihari Temple).

    I am bit in dilemma that if we invite you during Kartik most of the devotee won't be able to hear you.
    And those who will be in Pune, would be very busy in services (ad hoc services).

    Please advise.

your fallen servant,
Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - Jaya!  Giri-vara-dhari!   Jaya Pune Yatra!!!  Just writing to you takes us there.   All you need it Kirtan, Japa, SB and Murti-avatara!!!       If you look at the letter Australia today you can look at the efforts to plan the India, Australia, Hawaii trip.  What do you think of those dates. We would be for several days at the GBC meeting. I guess it would be in Bombay.  Maybe before Kartika.  What do you think of that.  Think GBC meeting, Delhi (Vraja), Kolkatta >>>>>