Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! I just wanted to add a few details to the last letter for your consideration.

When I had the idea to attempt a gallery exhibition back east, an old friend came to mind who I asked for help. Blake is a painter and performance artist who is favorable to Krishna Consciousness and fairly well-connected with the Charleston "Avant-Garde."

She went to the trouble of finding a gallery to show my work and a few other artists who were interested to contribute to a group show based on the theme "Body, Mind and Soul." I was under the impression that the gallery would take care of production for us, but as it turns out they're just providing a space, and we have to curate the exhibit ourselves.

This places me in an awkward position because I'm fairly obliged to co-curate an art show with someone who happens to be in a female body and I don't see that as remotely feasible without free communication and probably transporting stuff in a car together, which I should not do as a brahmacari.

Moreover, here in LA I'm helping to organize these college Bhakti yoga clubs which require us to commute some distance to meet my partner Marvin. Neither of us are very competent to work a crowd with kirtan, so we take help from the congregation. Currently, practically all the other men who were helping us now have other engagement, so that means at some point I'll probably be stuck with just one or two desperately needed kirtaniyas in female bodies with no way to get them on site.

So I find myself in a predicament where the kind of service I want to do is already, and will subsequently, place me in a situation which is incompatible with the brahmacari ashram. In the past I simply would have avoided these situations to take advantage of monastic life, but now I'm really trying to serve full on in these types of projects which require me to engage all kinds of people.

By your grace it's not that I'm particularly agitated at the moment, and it's not that I don't value vedic culture; but I am deeply convinced that before westerners will accept the form of Vedic civilization, they must first accept the substance. I feel like sooner or later somebody is going to have to take some personal risks in order to convince people of the value of our philosophy before we have the luxury of preaching very widely in the comfort of our own lifestyle. 

Currently I'm enthusiastic to follow all my vows and to serve Krishna in the most dynamic way possible, but I'm anxious to re-establish my integrity. To me the most natural way seems to be to just change ashrams and carry on with what I'm doing but I would be willing to drop everything and try to redirect my energy if it pleases you.

Your monkey soldier,

Ekāśma Dās

HpS - We gave our thoughts about this a lot in the last letter. If you have to Speak French to do some preaching program then you can take a French course for two years and then do the program. It is just a practical consideration, or you can do other kinds of programs that don't rquire you to speak French.
If the only reason that you want to get married is so that you won't be socially criticised for transporting representative members of the opposite sex to different Sankirtan sites, then it seems that it would be better to jut find some other way to do it than get married.

Look at James Bond!    He's not married, and he does so much good for society.    (Haw!   Haw!   Hare!).   See my point.  You don't have to be an ideal Grhastha to attract people to Krsna consciousness.  There is so much appreciation of Brahmacari life in the world. It has always been that way and always will be that way.
You should get married if you feel a strong compulsion to have someone who will laugh at your jokes.
Talk with a lot of people who have more immediate contact with your than us.   We give our opinions, but we are Sannyasis.

Waiting to hear from you (We will laugh at your jokes if you laugh at ours).

Nice art.

Dear Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! Happy Radhastami! I hope Srimati Radharani is being extra kind to you today.

HpS - Yes, we got a side long glance from Her, and it was full of disatisfaction. We have to improve our character and work.

This morning Brghupati prabhu lead us all in Sri Radhika Stava by Rupa Goswami. I think it's my favorite bhajan.

I've been busy as usual out here on the left coast; just a week or two ago I managed to procure my very own sankirtan van to utilize as a transcendental art studio! So lately I've been running around trying to take care of registration, insurance, AAA membership etc etc, and now I'm about 95% complete.

I had to ask my parents to cosign on a loan since I had zero credit, and they obliged to the extent that they even told me I don't have to pay them back. Of course I intend to ASAP, but in the meantime I find myself in a situation where I have total freedom and no expenses for at least a year! I managed to also get practically all the equipment needed for displaying my art in markets and art fairs until I'm prepared to directly approach galleries and art dealers. For now, all I have to do is just chant Hare Krishna, study, paint, do some internet marketing, and practice Kirtan. My sadhana was suffering when I had to do yard work all day and then stay up late to work on stuff but now that I can set my own schedule I'm able to make up for lost time. Since moving into "Vrnda-van" I've been able to attend full morning program in temple daily, chant about 48 rounds, read at least a couple hours etc so I'm just thrilled to be gradually getting back on track.

Just the other day I sent out an email trying to organize some grassroots preaching initiative here in LA and I've been getting an enthusiastic response. I'm trying to at least get  a decent group together to help my friend Marvin with his Bhakti yoga college clubs before I head out to visit the east coast. It looks like I'll be back east a bit longer than usual this year because I'm going a little early to help Your Holiness with Rathayatra,

HpS - Our "Rathayatra" has always been a little part of the Celebrate Nashville Festival. It has been cancelled this year and last year.

...and staying a bit later because we had to push back the date of our exhibition until the end of November. Looks like Krishna is arranging a crash course for me in art curation! My mantra lately is, "if you're not scared, you're not thinking big enough!"

On a related topic I had an opportunity to visit Tukaram prabhu recently and ask his advice about some of the stuff I'm going through. Practically right away he brought up the question of ashram. I think I've already mentioned that I feel uneasy about going into art as a brahmacari mainly because of the social etiquette I'm supposed to follow. If I was just sitting in a temple doing BBT illustrations that would be one thing, but as someone trying to actively engage with the world of contemporary art, I'm realizing more and more that it will be problematic. In addition, Tukaram prabhu pointed out that sociological elements notwithstanding, my whole orientation towards life right now is not really consistent with brahmacari ashram. Because I'm bold and independent and ambitious rather than meek and dependent and aloof. He said it's not necessarily a bad thing, but it has a certain time and place. It's true that I'm not exactly eager for a relationship or a family at this point, but in the meantime at least the type of sacrifice I'm engaged in (embracing the world and offering sense objects into the fire of the senses) seems more aligned with the grhastha ashram. The way I see it is, if I go down the path of grhastha ashram, in the course of performing devotional service either I'll eventually meet someone who is equally invested in the things I'm interested in, in which case a partnership may actually be useful, or I'll just be too busy to even bother and after a few years I'll just go directly into vanaprastha ashram. I guess I find it important to discuss this because I do actually have respect for the ashram of brahmacarya, and I don't want to misrepresent it if I don't find it worthwhile at this stage to follow all the rules and regulations in detail.

I'm actually starting to think that unless one is doing tksp, grhastha ashram might actually be advantageous in some ways for preaching in the modern west. I feel like as a monk, social interactions are limited more or less to an official capacity of giving direct guidance or instructions. But if people don't already appreciate or accept the value system or the authority behind monastic life they are less likely to value or apply those instructions. So if I can befriend people, and set a public example and aesthetic portraying the value system of Vedic thought as attractive and beneficial, I hope that people will come of their own volition to submissively inquire about philosophy. What do you think? Does any of that make sense or am I just trying to justify my maya?

HpS - As you say, it seems like the best approach is to just go ahead with your service and then if you need to make a change, it will become obvious. In general, there is 100% opportunity to preach in the current social system as a Brahmacari. Women respect monks and are very, very greedy to have that kind of association in the proper perspective, as brother, father, son. It has always been that way ans always will be that way.
Prabhupada acted as the "Father" to so many girls. They didn't want him in any other relationship.

I look forward to catching up with you in Nashville soon to serve you personally and find out more about your Art and the Sacred presentation. I'm about to buy plane tickets so I just want to confirm the date. You mentioned before that the parade is the first weekend of October, so does that mean Saturday October 1st?

Your fallen servant,

Ekāśma Dās

HpS - You can always call us or put URGENT in these letters. Again, the Festival here is cancelled. We are just absorbed in writing for the most part now, but it is going on.  We have no particular bodily conception of life. Only "personal service" we can conceive is when people are serving the Supreme Person!
Go ahead!   Lets look at your next letter!

P.S. I think you mentioned me on your recent guru Tattva post. I don't recall bringing up guru Tattva recently, could you remind me what it's in reference to? Thank you : D

HARE KRISNA!

Por favor acepte mis más humildes reverencias.

ASA - TlgaSP......

¿Qué tal está, querido Guru? Espero que bien.

ASA - Esforzando, como Vd!

Yo estoy feliz sirviendo a Krisna. Este verano ha sido muy bueno porque he podido ir a todos los festivales que se han celebrado en N. Vrajamandala. Fuí por primera vez al Holy Name y me pareció maravilloso. Hubo doce horas de Kirtan dos de los días y fuimos a Madrid a hacer un Harinam. Eramos muchos y la vibración fué estupenda. Luego Janmastami, día de Prabhupada y fiesta de la vaca, todo fantastico. Pude seguir con mi servicio allí en pujaris planchando, cosiendo, ayudando a cocinar y limpiando. Es increíble poder servir a Krisna a través de los devotos pujaris de N. Vrajamandala. Son unos devotos maravillosos y me están enseñando a ser una buena pujari en el futuro ya que ese en mi deseo, si también es deseo de Krisna.

También asistí a un curso de desarrollo congregacional impartido por Kripamoya Maharajas. Fué muy bueno y completo. Aprendí muchas cosas para mejorar mi manera de hacer Sankirtan y cómo crear gurpos con las personas que voy conociendo. De momento tengo el teléfono de seis personas que se llevaron un libro y que están interesadas en venir al templo algún día o asistir a algun Kirtan de los que organizo por aquí por mi pueblo. Mi intención es seguir realizando estos Kirtan periodicamente junto a Jaganta y Purnamasi,  los niños y madres del Gurukula y todos los devotos que lo deseen. También quiero ir a hacer Sankirtan a diferentes ciudades. La primera en la que he pensado es Segovia. Ya he hablado con algunos devotos y de entre ellos varios se vendrían. Mi hermana mayor me está apoyando y ayudando mucho y mi hija se apunta a todo lo que puede. Ya le iré contando.

Este verano he distribuído cerca de cien libros y seguiré distribuyendo con su bendición, la de Caitanya Mahaprabhú y la de S. Prabhupada quién me acompaña siempre.

Hare Krisna. Siempre a su servicio.

HpS - Muy bien.   Muy bien.      Aparece todo esta bien con Vd.  No tiene que ampliar mucho mas su programa, solamente tiene que intensificar lo que esta realizando.

Hare Krishna Maharaj

PAMHO. AGTSP!

Thank you for that Maharaj. The initiation date was 26 September 2016 (Appearance day of Śrīla Prabhupāda on the 50th Anniversary year of ISKCON).

HpS - ASA --- Jaya!  We just looked and Namacharya Das has posted it on the Disciple list on the Web-page.

Yes Maharaj, I am very much looking forward to your personal association in Jan/Feb of 2017.

Please also advise how I may remain patient in Krishna's reciprocations, as I am very weak in this area despite His generosity.

HPS - Do you mean that He doesn't "reciprocate" as fast as you like?  I think that is the opinion of many of us devils in the material world. Patience is decribed in Text Three of the Upadesamrta, but enthusiasm is more important that patience. Always be cultivating attitude of taking advantage of whatever facilities you have and then it becomes natural to become patient about the big results that you want because you will see that patience is just another aspect of enthusiam.
Ultimately we don't need any patience, just enthusiasm, but in the beginning we have to execute some informed restrain, patience, along with our passion for progress.

I am planning on getting the weekends off to focus on samkirtan, and should be commencing 24/09 with your blessings.

HpS - Super.  One step after another...    1st, 2nd, 3rd ...  initiation,.

Your servant,

Janardan-hari das.

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj.

Dandavat Pranam unto your lotus feet.

HpS - All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.   It is so, so nice to hear from you. I think we have lettuce feet but just like you, working toward lotus feet.

PAMHAO. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu.

As I am not very skilled in e- communication, i feel much difficulty in having correspondence with you.

HpS - Yes, it is more natural to live in the village and all see each other personally, but this media is working pretty well.

Daily, by your mercy, I am able to chant 32 rounds and read Vedanta book for 1 hour with regular mangal arati and sandhya arati. After professional duty, I get very less time so i keep only one or two house preaching programs.

Guru Maharaj, although you are too far way, I have full faith that you must have received my daily bhakti and worship unto your lotus feet as my relationship with you is transcendental.

HpS - I am like the village post-man for Srila Prabhupada, and yes Krsna keeps confidential connection through the heart for regular devotees, formally like second initiated devotees.

Guru Maharaj, urgently please grace me by informing the following:

1. Date of vyasa puja(your day of appearance for 2016-2017)

HpS - It is always the day before Jiva Goswami's disappearance day. Possibly he calculated that with our advent things were hopeless and went to do some work where it was more practical.  This year it is 30th December here.

2.Your mobile number where I can send sms.

HpS - +1 209 505 3219 and yours (we will not publish it)

3.Please teach me the way how I can send money sometimes for the Lord's service.

HpS - I guess best is to deal with that when we visit India.

Guru Maharaj forgive me. There may be fault in me as I am the most fallen with no spiritual knowledge. Again dandavat pranam unto your lotus feet. Your most fallen servant

Krsna Swarup Das

Silchar

HpS - Thank you so much for your effort. It is having lasting result for you and eveyone.

What is your work now?    Do you have a Study Partner?   That is so important, to be able to read and discuss with another devotee. It can be by telephone or even exchanging some letters etc.

With what other devotees are you in contact?

Are you able to read the Kapi Dhvaja each fortnight. We struggle to get it out. Of course, it is available at "News" at our web-page, www.jayarama.us, and information about how to receive it regularly through e-mail is at the same web-page under "Hello".

We will be in India from 1 January to 15 February. The first week or two will be in Tirupati and Chennai for university symposium and then the last week in Mayapur. We are trying to take everyone's requests and visit Mumbai, Kolkatta, Vraja, North East during the interveening days. What do you suggest?

Can you become President of the United States?  I think you would do a better job than the two candidates that are now running.a

All Glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

P.A.M.H.O.

Hare Krishna Dear Gurudeva

First of all I hope you are well, like your health and your activities. And apologize for not writing some months ago.
I tell you that this year was very run ... I'm in the final stages of the university, and working almost all year ... so I went to go little to the temple... but I'm singing my 16 rounds, following my 4 regulative principles, and making my deities worship at home.

I'm reading the bhagavatam for now, since I've started from the first volume .. now I had desire to take the course with the mother Candramukhi  Bhakti Sastri but I could not regulate the time of my current activities... But then I'm quiet for now, since vendras new times do everything to cultivate more my spiritual life ... for now I am happy that I can have the association of my devoted friends on weekends when I have free, and converse with spiritual brothers through telephone and internet sometimes. 

I was thinking ... maybe ... after completing all of the university...  work a little my spiritual life, take courses, to train more my sadhana, perhaps some temple too ... we'll see that Krsna wants for me ... Gurudeva I will not cheat ... my spiritual life is not perfect ... but do everything possible to stand firm in Krsna consciousness, become a better person, to speak of Krsna always …And I'm constantly reading your blog and your twitter… And excuse me for not always write, sometimes I not have very interesting things to tell ...

Thank you for your time and happy to communicate with you, and please sorry for my bad english!!! ... 

your servant Eternal

Candrarekha devi dasi
Santiago, Chile
 

HpS - AGTSP   Thank you for the news.   Seems you are doing pretty well. In the beginning we have to have a balance of our "spiritual" life and our "material" life.   Maybe spiritual in the morning, making money during the day, and enjoying in the evening, but late we can see how it must all be for the same purpose. Arjuna had to learn material activites, how to use weapons, but of course it was not material, it was spiritual. So, with a good morning program you can gradually see how to make all your activities use full to the King and the Queen.