Letters to the editor

All Glories to Srila Prabhupad

All Glories to the Sankirtan movement by Sri Krishna Caitanya

Dear Guru Deva I hope you are fineness and thanks for holding on the path to learn how to surrender to Krishna's mercy.

There some topics to if you like I want to know.

1. About fast on Ekadasi: why the honey bee must be avoid?

HpS - Very nice to hear from you. Now you are 38-years old. Are you going to take Sannyasa?    I don't know why we avoid honey on Ekadasi. Maybe because it is strong food and the idea is to let the body rest on Ekadasi, no?

2. About association: when we have friends favourables to Krishna consciousness and then they take initiation iskcon away, what's better to do and to avoid on the relationship?

HpS - Text 4-6 of NIO talk about that, no?   It depends on the particular situation. Maybe they are Kanistha adhikari and they just don't have a mature idea of ISKCON, Diksa etc. Maybe they are Indian and their family are devotees of Ramanuja acharya so they have taken diksa in that line but all appreciate Srila Prabhupada as the current Acharya of all Vasinavas. Very particular.

Thanks, actually I keep on siksa programming by CDM (congregation development ministry) and we are try to  make a program parents and Childs for. According to your learnings. We like to help with some tools on this works. I organise some samskaras for congregational's devotees.

I would like to chant the holy name without offences and just by the shadow of your lotus feet.

PostScript: We are waiting for the baby name still. (Of the previous letter)

Thanks to much, your crew member: Aniruddha Krishna Das

HpS - Please, what is the question about Baby Name. We have not seen the previous letter. Maybe because we were traveling!  We will be in Mexico for six hours June 21st!

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you had a rejuvenating trip to the holy dham! I'm anxious to meet with you when you return to California... it feels like it's been such a long time! I haven't heard any response from the last two letters I sent, so they should be in the blog history in case you missed them. Maybe you were busy, or no internet in India? I can also try to resend if you like...

HpS - AGTSP!   Paoho.  We just talked with you on the phone!   Yes, we only answered URGENT letters while traveling.  Too much physical interaction with devotees to also answer letters.  Resend them if they are important...       Was very nice to hear about your Sankirtan and Cat-Boy-Dog cure for Parkinson's syndrome.  So much possibility for preaching in this area of Art and the Sacred. Abhirama Das is supposed to be signing the Memorandoms of Understanding with the National Library et al in Peru and then reporting here.

Life here in California isn't easy, and I'm still living hand to mouth, trying to do something worthwhile as an artist; but somehow or other I manage to keep all my vows and have some kind of morning program in the temple or in the van if need be and I study as often as I'm able, but not as much as I'd like. I'm working hard to carve out a niche for myself in spiritual art and like you said Krishna seems to provide everything I need for service.

Recently my sankirtan has been focused mainly on music festivals. As far as I'm concerned it's by far the most fertile field for preaching to young people in the US, so I was seeking help from devotees who have a similar vision. Since I'm kind of on my own out here, my options are limited, but at the same time I have a great opportunity to engage sincere devotees who have a hard time fitting into mainstream ISKCON.

What we do is set up a big tent and an art display and perform Kirtan by the path so all day people stop in and chant with us and I collect contact info and distribute books and paintings. My friend Arya does massage and sells wellness products, chanting beads, etc and later on I set up by the stage and paint live. The whole time people come and sit by me and ask questions and I use my art to tell them about Krishna and meet tons of really favorable, open minded people of all ages from all over the country. It's hard to find words for how amazing the last few weeks have been. By your mercy, every time I have some doubt or frustration Krishna intervenes in my life and makes a way for me to move forward.

I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel... I've got so much positive feedback and some promising leads too, and I feel like it's only a matter of time before I'll have more time to start going deeper into bhajan again and doing more to directly support your preaching also. I'm having so much fun right now, and I see so much potential with this, but at the same time sometimes I worry that I'm just being whimsical by doing what I like for Krishna. Please let me know if there's more I could be doing to serve you, Maharaj. More than anything else I just want to know that you are satisfied with my service...

Your humble servant,

Ekashma Das

HpS - Yes, it is so nice to do painting in public. It naturally attracts people. They like to see the Puris being cooked, they like to see the art being drawn. Watch "Category B".

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva

AGTSP PAMHO

Gurudeva. The last 2 years were very hard for me,

HpS - ASA -- For Sita, Draupadi, they had like 14-hard years in the jungle then it got worse.

but also very healing and rewarding. With my therapy, yoga, bhakti yoga. I have learned a lot and grow up a little bit I guess. With ups and downs but always trying to have iur association and other good devotees.

Nowadays I am doing vinyasa yoga and some days yoga pilates these combined with our sadhana helps a lot. Morover I have a page on facebook which is called "Armonizate con Candra" ( Harmonize with Candra). There I put some tips about relaxation, gym [gem, gym, would gimnasio] therapy etc. People come to my house.. and I give therapy there in the little cottage that we have in our garden. There I use aromatherapy there some Prabhupada's books also and I have the opportunity to preach also a litlle bit, I am starting doing also some essences that I learned in some workshops.

HpS - Sounds very nice. Don't change, just become perfect at what you are doing. I can tell you about one aroma therapy story of Prabhupada.

One of my patient is Melina Lavado, Jambavan's sister. She is now chanting some rounds and trying to follow the fastings and feastings.

We continue giving classes once a month in Wilson, Pujari once a week!

HpS - Jagannatha and Gaura-Nitai!

We renewed our contract with Alas Peruanas University , my mom and sis are ok. We basically are calm. Ulyses and Mia accompany us.

Well that's it. We are fasting nirjala until noon

Thank U for your association

Trying to be useful

Candramukhi dd

HpS -- Again. Don't speculate too much about how to do different things. Just work mostly on what you are doing, which sounds O.K., and how to improve it (a lot (rapidly)).  Have fun with Krsna!

HARE KRISHNA GURUMAHARAJji,

Dandawat Pranam.

Please accept my most humble obesence. All glories to GURU and GAURANGA.

Dearest GURUMAHARAJji, I am Bishambhar Gauranga Das from Silchar (India). I wish You can recall me! {Your Superman das}

Hope You are fit and fine and have reached to USA nicely.

A year back on this very day I was given the great privilege to take initiation under You as Yours disciple. I still recall that day as the most memorable day of my life. So remembering that day, today I am mailing You. In this one year I found many love and affections from KRISHNA. I whole heartedly thank KRISHNA to allow me to serve You when You came (last month) at Silchar. Is Your new walking stick comfortable, as because it was a bit longer than Your previous stick. Hope to meet and serve You more and more as soon as possible.

Thaaaaaank Youuuu GURUMAHARAJji for allowing me to be Yours disciple and also to serve You.

Please forgive me if I am disturbing You by sending this mail.

In India a professor can register only 8 students under his/her guidance and I was the 9^th student under my supervisor. Since 2015, I was not yet registered. It was this February (27^th) that I was supposed to occupy one recently vacant seat. But my supervisor denied taking me as his PhD scholar. According to him my work on meteorite study was completely experimental and for these experiments I would need machines for analysis which he could not access me (as because no machines are available in my department)!! So, now I am stuck. Now I feel that I am dame big looser. I don’t know what to do. I am even confused that why KRISHNA gifted me the meteorite!

Please forgive me for sharing my materialist sorrows with You.

Yours obedient das,

Bishambhar Gauranga Das

HpS - Thank you!   I also don't know. We should be checking on the utility of our path at every step, no?  This material world is crazy and always changing. We come to this human form of life after many millions of births, so any progress we make as devotees as eternal. What ever problems you have Lord Caitanya can turn them into BIG assets. So go ahead with your attempts to connect you life with Krsna's service. Talk with local devotees and send us more news.  The cane is very , very nice!

HARE KRISHNA DEAR GURUDEVA, AGTSP, AGTYOU!

I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL, YOU ARE HEALTHY.

ASA - Could be better, could be worse. We have to conquer our senses more!

I WRITE IN ENGLISH LIKE A CHILD, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BETTER FOR YOU.

I´M VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE COMING TO SPAIN AND AT THE SAME TIME, I FEEL PAIN, BECAUSE MAYBE, I AM NOT ABLE TO GO TO MADRID,  BUT I HOPE I CAN ARRANGE IT!

HpS - I think you should be able too do it!  God helps those who help themselves.  You see the Calendar we are discussing with Jayanta Das. 3-6 morning in NVM. Then 6-12th in Espiritu Santo. Maybe go back to NVM a little more if that is convenient for devotees who want to come to visit with us, no?

DURING ALL THIS TIME, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LISTEN TO MY HEART TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT MY NATURE AND WITH THE HELP OF KRISHNA AND A BOOK (ABOUT PERSONAL GROWTH ) NOW I CAN KNOW WHO I AM.

HpS - Wonderful!  Yet, even Krsna does not always know who He is!

DUE TO THIS I AM NOW STUDYING COUNSELLING IN THE SPANISH ASSOCIATION OF THERAPY CENTERED IN THE PERSON AND COUSELLING (CARL ROGERS) THIS ASSOCIATION HAS VERY GOOD TEACHERS, THE DIRECTOR ACADEMY HAS A VERY NICE CURRICULUM. WHEN I READ ABOUT HIM, I IMMEDITALY I THOUGHT OF YOU, " I AM SURE THAT GURUDEVA WOULD LIKE TO MEET HIM" I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HIM ON THE PHONE, HE LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PERSON TO ME. SO IF YOU WANT I CAN ASK HIM.

ALSO I AM LEARNING TO DEVELOPE WEB AN DESING, WITH THE  LANGUAGES OF PROGRAMATION  HTML Y CSS. (INTENERT TATTVA) 

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE A MONTHLY  PREACHING PROGRAM,  ARROUND THIS AREA.

 THERE ARE SOME GROUPS OF YOGA, THEY ARE IMPERSONALIST BUT AT SAME TIME THEY ARE QUIET OPEN.

SO THE IDEA IS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUR SPACE  BETEWEN THIS GROUPS, PRESENTING THE MAHA MANTRA WITH A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH, AS A MEANS TO DEVELOPE THE CONSCIOUSSNES AND THE SELF-HEALLING. 

WE ARE PREPARING OUR FIRST PRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH, WE DONT HAVE A DATE STILL.

SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH OUR NEW LIFE, OUR RELATIONSHIP AS A COUPLE IS MORE MATURE, SO THERE IS A BALANCE AND I THINK THAT THIS IS POSITIVE FOR OUR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSSNES. I AM STILL TRYING TO TRANSFORM  MY LUST IN LOVE. 

THAK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GUIDE Y COMPASSION, I HOPE, SOME DAY, I CAN BECOME YOUR DISCIPLE.

I TAKE YOU ALWAYS IN MY HAERT,

BHADRA V.

HpS - Very, very nice. Carl Rogers was a nice person when we read his books. They are dealing with reality so it is the same no matter what name it has, but some are Mayavadis and some are Brahmavadis.  They both are transcendental in a general sense but one set is envious of Krsna as a person and the other just doesn't know about him. Go ahead with full enthusiasm!  See you soon.

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudeva, AGTSP, PAMHO,

I sent him my monthly report, for work and other subjects, but he did not regularly attend the Temple since his last visit to Cusco, but at the beginning of this year we began with force to resume service in the Temple, we have been giving BG classes in Sunday parties and we also did it in Nityananda Trayodasi which was a great success. I commented that I was offered a job in Puerto Maldonado 9 hours from Cusco, is another city, Puerto Maldonado, the jungle part of Peru, a good place to start the preaching here, I saw several Gnostic centers you see that there are people with a degree Of philisophy. We will accept this work because the pay will help me with my personal issues. This already informed Goura Rupa Prabhu and gave me his blessings, the days that I will be in Cusco I committed to give classes in the Temple. I will be alone, my family will stay in Cusco in the house of my father, we will see how it goes, if we stand firm in our faith and shadana and with his blessings of hechi that our life will be arranged and our destiny too.

ASA - Hare Krsna!!!  Is the work permanent or temporary?    Have you promised to work there for some time, like one year???   Maybe your family can come some weeks and be there also.

From the programs I spoke to you were stanby, but you can start here in this place, Sri Krishna will give us some intelligence to act, we need it, we have to improve our actions. The relationship with the family is fine, we must be the example for them, the relationship with the devotees is also very good, we are happy about it. Dear Gurudeva, I would like to fulfill the promise I made to a devotee, he wants to know: "If a devotee who for years would secure his human birth for his next life, he has still left his service, shadana, no rounds, etc. ??" He explains the example that you once told us "of the tortoise and the log with a hole floating in the sea", but he wants you to send him the answer, he appreciates it very much. Dear Gurudeva, thank you very much for your time, I will ask Sri Nrishimha to always protect you, we owe you a lot that we will be eternally indebted to you. May Sri Krishna always pour His blessings on His Lotus Feet.

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudeva

HpS - Not sure of the question by the devotee. He is doing some 'service' but not chanting his rounds???   It depends on our Bhava at the time of death: yam yam vapi smaran bhavam...

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