Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Hanumatpresaka Swami!

Thank you for your reply to my letter, and even though the youngest is also a daughter, she might become an acharya nonetheless. Perhaps by the time she is coming of age, ISKCON even has decided on whether women are qualified to take up such roles. Not that she cannot be one without official recognition, but that's another thing. Please see the photo attachment. It's safe to look at, there are no ugly persons in it.

HpS - Well, I don't know if anybody every officially recongnized Alexander as the Greatest General who every lived, but he got a lot of smaller rewards. Jahnava was an Acharya.

What is new is that basically what i'm recognizing is that my personality in the world is going through great transformations and growth. I might not feel that i'm getting 'very spiritual', but i'm catching up on many psychological developments, and i believe it is al by the mercy of yourself, the devotees, the Holy Name and the wonderful Divine Couple. Being a parent and a devotee is changing my perspective on what's important for me, being the girls rolemodel, and i wish i could spend more time with you to share thoughts on this service and receive your advice and corrections so that i can adjust mindsets where necessary. (By the way, its 130 cars and up to 300 rides in peak hours, not 300 cars. Silly me. But, i was happy to notice i felt more at ease in your presence.) I got inspired by reading in Yamuna's book that Srila Prabhupada said that it is better to make one other person (or even two) a devotee than so called many. I now apply that to my life in being a parent.

HpS - Or even at work. Gradually making friends. Being a good friend.

Yes i'm going to find a new job now that we are in a new place, and i hope i can think of Krishna always and never forget Him, in whatever work it is.

Thank you very much for all you put yourself through to be there for us.

Your servant,
Raghava Pandita dasa
 

HpS - Hare Krsna!   How is your local "church"???  Send an interesting article (with the confidential juice) about My Local ISKCON Temple.

Thank you all again for all the help in our trip!!!!

<var>All glories to sri sri gaura nitai</var>

<var>tlgsp, and Gurudeva accept my obeisances.</var>

<var>How are you?</var>

<var>HpS - A little cold. It is May, but still cold when there are clouds. Also a little allergy from the Spring. Also packing to go to Boise, Idaho for the next ten days.</var>

<var>Gurudeva happens when the person enters into fanaticism ?</var>

<var>that is failing?</var>

<var>HpS - I guess fanatacism would be blind faith. That is because of many reasons. I want to use my religion for political purposes so I push it without knowledge, just the ritual or something. Could be different motives, no?</var>

thanks a lot! your servant "potato" ter kadamba devi dasi.

HpS - Hare Krsna!!! Engage the whole universe in Krsna's plans!

Hare Krishna GuruMaharaj! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Please accept my humble obeisances.

Thanks for coming,  your association was very inspiring for all of us. We continue in Madrid now I’m studying the Upadesamrita and the Nectar of Devotion. I read these books before but I didn’t spend some time in study, for me the Nectar of Devotion it’s incredible. In the first part Srila Prabhupada achieve to do an amazing theological definitions of the different levels of the Bhakti Yoga. Its funny cause some nights ago I dreamed with the six Goswamis, they were in one room reading some texts in sanscrit. I was out of the room and in one moment I said something to other person and somebody from the room close the door because we were disturbing them. I felt very worry because I incommoded them but after some moments, they open again the door. I don’t know why but the last nights I have a lot of oneiric activity… many strong dreams with friends, devotees, bhutas. Some of them not very nice for example I remember one of them where I was with one spiritual brother and this devotee was talking very bad things from you.

Now many devotees are going to visit the temple in the next days, for example today arrive Yadunandana Swami and Patita Pavana Prabhu from Canary Islands, in one week Dhanesvara Prabhu will come and in a few weeks Harichakra Prabhu will return from India and his plans is to live in Madrid temple.

The service in the temple is ok I continue with the pujari and Kirtan Rasa and his wife are doing an amazing service with the lunch program. I feel that I have a lot of fortune to have their association.

One of the personals purposes that I’m trying to improve is to be more conscious of the time and try to spend in the right way, I realized that if I don’t try to focus in the important things my mind will spend my energies in many stupid things.

The last summer I was in Malaga temple learning puja with the head pujari of the temple, the experience was nice, but the devotee many times was very busy and he dint have enough time. Now I have the opportunity of going some months to study in the Mayapur academy and pass the course of worship (4 months) also I would like to take class of mridanga, the authorities of the temple think that it’s a good idea and they say me that the temple can support the trip. The idea is to return after the courses, share the knowledges and continue with the service in Madrid. Gurudeva what do you think? Is it a good idea?

HpS - To go to India just to learn Mrdanga??  Seems you could learn enough from devotees in Spain, no??

Also from some months ago, I am part of the formal authorities of the temple; this service is very dangerous… Some advice for survive?

HpS - Put personal, vaisnava,  relations before administrative relations. It has worked for us in practical experience also.

4 regs ok

16 Rounds ok

3 Gayatris ok

Thanks for your instructions and your time.

Your servant Mantri Rama Das.

Photo of Lignum Crucis, maybe you remember that i said you that i went to pilgrim to a place where the catholic church have the biggest piece of the world from the cross of Jesus, people start to pilgrim  around 1500. The name of the place is Santo Toribio de Liebana. The scientics said that the wood is more than 2000 years and its from the same kind of wood that they use in Jerusalem to crucify the people.

HpS - Thank you so much for your letter and your news. Don't get trapped in just the external features of Bhakti-yoga. Chant and act with as much love as you can. Understand the logic of Krsna consciousness so that you can concentrate well on the Mantra.

Learn the word by word meaning of the Gurvastak.

Are there regular classes, reading every morning??

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

Por favor reciba mis reverencias querido Gurudeva.

Han pasado muchas cosas desde la ultima vez que lo vi en Houston Gurudeva, tengo tanto que informarle. Comenzare con decirle que después de la platica que tuvimos con usted, prabhu Vidagdha y yo estamos a la espera de saber que pasara con el asunto del restaurante en Hosuton. Aún no sabemos si será posible que puedan contratar a prabhu Vidagdha. El presidente del templo de Houston nos pidió una carta de recomendación por parte de SS Guru Prasada Swami, y una de usted solo para tenerla como referencia me imagino. Su santidad Guru Prasad Swami, ya esta enterado de los pormenores. Aún estamos a la espera, que las autoridades correspondientes tomen la desición.

HpS - Hare Krsna!   Quiere una carta de nosotros???

Mientras tanto, continuamos con nuestros proyectos personales y nuestros servicios en templo.

Con respecto al programa dominical (ASA KIDS), como le mencione me encontraba un tanto desanimada al respecto, pero me he encontrado con la sorpresa de que cada día más devotos y familias, se están uniendo al respecto. Eso me da mucha tranquilidad, y ya no siento tanto la presión con la que estaba realizando ese servicio. Me siento muy apoyada y confiada, en que seguiremos adelante con los proyectos infantiles. Le pido me disculpe mi falta de responsabilidad, pero en ese momento era para mi necesario hacer una pausa, y retomar mi servicio con más entusiasmo y entrega. A finales de este mes, iniciaremos con las clases dominicales, y la idea es entrenar a un grupo de devotas jovénes que se han unido para dar talleres de pintura, barro, etc, a los niños.

HpS - Plan de Minstry of Education es presentar un curriculum super para todo el mundo, si quiere, para escuela dominical, Janmastami est ano, y metodo de entrenamiento de profesor para dominical escuela con esta curriculum en 2017~

Tratando de aterrizar un mejor servicio de mi parte para ISKCON, decidí estudiar una Licenciatura en Pedagogía online,

HPS - Jaya!

...yo tome en cosideración los consejos que usted me dio al respecto, de hacer una investigación de contenidos, fuentes, etc... Madre Lalita Gopi y una devota profesora de primaria en México, me ha orientado al respecto; y he recibido un gran apoyo por parte de ellas. Por supuesto tengo el apoyo de prabhu Vidadgha, que fue quién más me motivo a tomar la desición. No pude antes darle la noticia porque usted se encontraba en India, así que tuvimos que tomar la desición mi esposo y yo, sin poder consultar con usted, le pido disculpas por eso Gurudeva.

HPS - Esta bien!   Buen consejo.

Mi deseo es poder prepararme profesionalmente, y contribuir más eficazmente en los proyectos infantiles en ISKCON. Me he dado cuenta, que me desarrollo bien en áreas dondé tenga que realizar trabajo de organización y unificación de familias, para cumplir própositos educativos en la comunidad infantil. Solo que me hace falta mucha técnica, y me he encontrado con muchos errores en la práctica. Espero poder tomar lo mejor de la enseñanza ácademica, y llevarlo a la práctica conciente de Krishna  en los proyectos de educación en ISKCON. 

Le agradezco mucho su tiempo y quiero que sepa que extraño mucho su asociación en vapu, extraño verlo por las mañanas en el inmenso templo de Houston. Espero verlo muy pronto Gurudeva. Mi hijo Mukunda le manda saludos, el lo recuerda con mucho cariño.

Su sirviente Gopi Radha DD.

HPS - Jaya Mukunda!   Tenemos horrible dolor de estomago hoy dia.   Posible vamos a morir de cancer en unos dias.  Ha!  Ha!  Hare!    Posible Mukunda antes, y Vd antes.

Proxima vida como esta vida.

Ya vamos a clase de Hawaii on line.  10.51AM aqui. clase a las 11.00am.  Somos presentadoros.

Muy bien su esfuerza. Krsna esta completamente en control de su situacion.

Necisita carta de nosotros???

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudeva

AGTSP and U!!!  ____'0_  PAMHO

please accept my humble obeisances...  How are U?

I'm ok (For the body i recieved), still dealing with stomch problems...

HpS - Me too!

...but i guess it is part of taking a lot of pills for so many years...Doctors said i not only lost weight but also years.. jojojo.... they are surprised...health is 80% ok... energy is 50% ok so I try to dose it cause my mind wants to do many many many things ... 70% are for krsna... so the other 30% has to be delete or changed for krsna!!! we are working on that... 

Im studying at the university for a degree on Education in Arts... Im also studying for a specialization in Waldorf Pedagogy... and i will start studying hindi again in the Embassy of India... helping a little bit ART with the Conference for  June... 

We are very exicted cause our altar is now in the living room... My family is very happy with that... It pushes me to be a good example...they are doing some service for our deities... buying flowers, making garlands, etc... they respect a lot and want to learn more...

Our Sadhana is getting more fixed... 16R, 4P, MA, worship, ... our reading is better... we also read small books in the bus cause people always ask about it so we have a good excuse to preach and give books...

thanks a lot for all Ur support and for sharing the DTC on the Blog... 

always trying to be a useful tool for Ur sankirtan!!!

at your feet

Patraka Das

HpS - Thank you for this letter. We heard yesterday that you can't do this job as Secretary for Abhirama for the June program!  Big surprise. Please help as much as you can. Suggest a substitute. He needs a translator for the letters, phone calls.

Our respects to you family!!! We hope there is a good program in your Barrio (San Isidro?) also!!

Hare Krsna dear maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I felt the need to write you so here am I. I'm living in Mayapur for almost 6 months ago and many many many things happened to me. It's amazing how can a pure place as Mayapur and with so advanced devotees can change the mind.

It was and still a great challenge because in such atmosphere I can discover who am I and which anarthas (that maybe I was thinking I didn't have) I have to work in. 
Deeply I can realize that I'm very fortunate to live here and I must to take advantage of that (sometimes I think too much, and this discouraged me) 

So I'm getting a very awesome association from many pure devotees. I was taking Kirtan academy course and now I'm studying Bhakti sastri part time again with Atul Krsna prabhu in Mayapur Institute. All the devotees here are very advanced.  I feel like the worst one haha. Good for my false ego. 
What happened to me sometimes is like I need to have many things to do at the same time, and need to be busy because if I don't, I start to think too much and It's not good. I feel anxiety because my asram is not clear now and all this environment influence me in a certain sense. So it's a little difficult sometimes to focus in my service beacuse of that. I think is normal, but I have to solve it, Isn't it?

ASA - It seems so!  Prabhupada says, "Girls should be married by 16-years old": http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/17/38. Of course, you could marry Krsna I guess.

Living here in India is a huge challenge for me because the differences between cultures but I really appreciate to have had the opportunity to realize that and I think indian traditional culture is closer to vedic culture than western's so I have many things to learn from them. 

Even all of my "troubles" in my mind I really love to live here. I can't even think about come back to the city. (At least till Mayapur becomes a city ha!) 

I don't know If I deserve the initiation as I'm not qualified at all but somehow I got it again because some special mercy. Maha Hari Prabhu was here so he did the arrengement for that. Was really nice moment and the day after that I went to Vrndavan. No words which can describe that. 

So that's my situation. I'm very good.. only this little anxiety but nothing else. Krsna is giving me a lot of mercy. Too much and I can not understand why. I feel selfish because I'm always thinking more in what I want instead of what he wants (unless he and I both want the same, I would not be pleasing him) A clear example of this is that my guru maharaja is giving me a lot of service with videos and at the same time I'm taking another services and studying which Is what I want to do but of course takes me time. So this kind of negligence in his service (because of course by doing many things I don't have his service as a priority) sometimes makes me feel guilty. Why this things happens?

HpS - I don't know. It could be because you are a selfish witch or it could be because you are an incarnation of Lalita Devi and no service is ever enough to make you feel like you are doing enough.

If you are sincere, Krsna will tell you. You know when you are being sincere. Of course, Guru, Krsna, Sastra and Vaisnava are there to help us.

Is this lack of surrender knowing the deep desire that my gurudeva has in his heart to develop his project and not spending 100% of my time supporting him?

So I think that's all. Wishing your health is good and your preachings programs going on successfully! 

 I wanted to see you when you was here but somehow I couldn't. I hope there's another chance in a near future

Thank you so much for your time and please let me know what you think about all of these things. Your advices are very important for me. I appreciate you a lot.

trying to serve,

Syamasundari devi dasi.

PS: I took the first picture  in Govardhana. I would have liked not to leave that place never. And the other one was from yesterday. Rama navami. 

HpS - Ah!   I think I saw you in a Start Meeting program.

Congratulations. Respects to our esteemed God-brother, Maha atma Das when you get the chance. Please send news from time to time at least!!!!