Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, Dear Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Its been a while since the last time i wrote , i have no excuse but i had a hard time coping with my uncle death and spend a lot of time with my family, i am still doing my japa rounds and my service at the temple with the garlands for the sunday feast.

Ratha yatra its approaching maharaja its very exciting it always gets me very pump up , its gonna be Saturday 6 of june also i made the flyer and poster for this year Festival ill attach it to the letter so you could see it . Also i invited bunch of people and a friend from costa rica who is also into Krisha conciousness might be coming .

Hare krishna maharaja

Juan Carlo Rosas

HpS - ASA ---- Hare Krsna!    Donde esta Vd?      Desculpa estupidez pero inmediatamente no podemos recordar a Vd! Rathayatra es gran opportunidad.   Eso es Rathyatra de Mexico???????

Hare Krishna Maharaj, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances;

All glories to his divine grace, Srila Prabhupada.

I trust that you are doing well in y your devotional service.

HpS - AGTSP  paoho... Just got back from India, Europe... Little exhausted but recovering well. We stick the news in the DTCs!

Because I am constantly engaged in some mode of material energy I don't maintain adequate association by writing to you more often.  Even I tell myself to that this is important to maintain such association, still, I am a failure.  However, today I am feeling movtivated to write and share some things that have been taking place for a while.

ASA - Oh, goody! News from Gaura-Nitai's house. (Tom Brown) 

First is that because of your blessings, the blessings of his holiness Srila Candramauli Swami, and his grace, Sriman Candra dasa prabhu, I have been blessed with the service of preaching Bhagavad gita to inmates for close to a year and a half.  Most inmates have come and gone, but there is one in particular who has been very nice, very systematically studying not only Bhagavad gita As It is, but many of Srila Prabhupada's other books: Such as the Nectar of Instruction, Sri Isopanisad, and others.  He is very familiar with some of the Srimad Bhagavatam as well.  He chants on japa beads every day, though I am not sure exactly how many rounds: Still, he is chanting everday a fixed number.  There is another devotee who has been attending Bhagavad gita classes since the beginning of this year, and he is also very nicely learning the philosophy, and chanting every day, but I am not sure if it is a fixed number.  These devotees have nice pictures of Radha Krishna, the Panca Tattva and Srila Prabhupada in their cells to create a nice temple atmosphere (all things considered), and I try and explain a simple standard of showing proper honor and respect so that they can experience a greater sense of devotional enthusiasm in their lives.  It is such a moving experience to see their enthusiasm, particularly when the classes are over and I have to leave them behind: Hoping to see them again next week.  These inmate devotees are so much appreciative of the philosophy which not only gives them a whole new perspective about the meaning and purpose of life, but also gives them hope that their lives are so spoiled because of being inmates.  I could go on but it would be redundant to do so.

ASA - "lives are so spoiled " should be "lives are NOT so spoiled", no?? 

And yet at the risk of redundance, there is some other satisfaction that warrants sharing, and is somewhat relevant to the topic.  I was recentl contacted by an inmate who was one of my students.  He is home now with his family in Georgia.  He contacted me via text and cell phone from home, asking for me to supply with some additional books, japa beads, neck beads and photos for an altar.  I sent him all he asked for plus some audio CDs along with a small booklet of Vaishnava prayers as per the morning program.  Then again, another inmate who used to correspond with me from a prison in Indiana and is now free also contacted me with a similar request.  I guess it shouldn't come to me as a surprise considering my own background before I came to Krishna consciousness, but for some reason I am amazed at how some people can be so serious about Krishna consciousness as inmates, and continue to take it to heart after they have been released into the greater world of Maya.

ASA - Yeah, we were were corresponding with a guy for a few years and then when he got out he forgot Krsna!

We have Bhagavad gita classes here in my home every Sunday evening.  Bhakta Reilly, Mother Kama Gayatri, and one client of my massage business, named Bonnie, as well as my wife attend.  It is according to the study guide and everybody paticipates nicely.  I am giving thought to taking the Bhakti Shastri course, but I don't know if I can muster the dedication to complete the course.  Hence, I feel like a fool and a hypocrite because I am willing to give Bhagavad gita classes, but I am not willing to dedicate myself to the curriculum.  I don't understand Krishna's logic in allowing to do this service if I am not able exemplify the practice.  

Anyway, I wanted to take some moments with you, mostly to take shelter of your association by revealing my mind to you.  Please kindly forgive me for not being more of what a devotee should be like, especially for one who has been practicing for as long as I have: Hare Krishna.

Your lowly servant, 

Balabhadra dasa

ASA - Hey, we are all different - Ajamil, Daksa, Srila Prabhupada, HpSwami, Balabhadra. How is your morning program? You can do the BhSastri course in modules, bight size chunks. We get to Boise in like four weeks.

Hare Krsna Hanumat Presaka Swami!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Please accept my humble obeisances.

It's Bhaktin Marta, Jara Mara Hari Das's wife.

HpS - ASA -- AGTSP...   Yes, we were very honored to meet you in Madrid. JMHari Das is very fortunate person.

Hope you are feeling fine in all aspects.

HpS - The last trip was from Radhadesa to Murfreesboro. We got up at 1.30AM which is 7.30PM, 26th May, in M'freesboro, and we arrived at 2.30PM the 28th of May. That is ... 43-hours of travel!   The flight from Brussels was delayed by 6-hours because their radar crashed. Then we got to Newark, USA and no connecting flight, no hotel ...  So we didn't lie down to sleep for 43-hours, but we felt pretty comfortable the whole time. Weak, but we are recovering. Hare Krsna.

It was a big pleasure to share your association in Madrid's Temple. Thank you very much for your visit. Also thank you for opening this communication channel, this is really helpful for all us.

ASA - Oink! (Buck White)

I would like to ask you for some advice. I am sorry I didn't take the opportunity to ask you in Madrid, so I'm writing you now and telling you a bit about my situation. I'm trying to resume, hope to not bore you.

I'm into Krsna consciousness since two years ago. Despite difficulties I feel enthusiast with the process and also very grateful. I never thought I could feel happy like this.

I was born in Barcelona in 1979, no brothers or sisters, divorced parents, living with my father, no religious education, complicated childhood and adolescence. I studied architecture in the university. I enjoyed the studies but didn’t enjoy working as an architect after many years trying different architecture offices. My modus vivendi was unhealthy. Anxious, stressed! After a while I decided to change the scenario, I quit working as an architect, got a job in an organic food store, studied veterinary assistant. Then I moved into a little village in Cantabria (North of Spain) and got a job as a vet assistant, surrounded by very nice atmosphere, getting in deep touch with Nature, feeling impressed about how amazing and perfect Nature is. Happiness, Peace! 

During this process I met Jara Mara Hari Das in the vet hospital. We became good friends, he gave me Prabhupada's "The Science of Self-Realisation". I was satisfied and released by reading it, since then I'm trying to become a good devotee. I feel eternal compromise towards Jara Mara Hari Das for showing me the way. Today we are happily married and living in Madrid's Temple sharing home with Mataji's Ashram.

Now, four regs, complete morning program almost everyday. I'm chanting rounds everyday but not everyday I am chanting sixteen rounds. I am chanting Japa in the Temple with devotees for an hour. After that I'm chanting while working in the flower shop or while running in the park, no japa then, not counting either. I'm not reading much. I enjoy listening Srimad Bhagatam classes, listening devotees talking about Krsna. I enjoy Bhajan and Kirtan in front of Gaura Nitai. My favourite Prasadam is fruit. I enjoy taking care of Tulasi  and all other plants in Temple, home and shop. I also enjoy being part of this spreading Krsna's Consciousness movement. I'm trying to develop Love for Krsna, also unconditional Love towards others, towards life in general.

I've had many realisations since I'm in Krsna's Consciousness (thank you all!) but also some difficulties.

Main difficulty is to discern between false ego and self-esteem or genuine need. Or, how to realise we are not this body and this emotions, while being responsibles for ourselves in this material world. Or, how to identify what is spiritual and what is material since we are spiritual souls living in a material world.

Also, how to never forget to place Krsna in the center and how to do it.

Thank you very much!

Your servant,

Bhaktin Marta

HpS - ASA - AGTSP.  Thank you for the wonderful report. JMHari Das told us some of these things also. To take to KC so quickly you must have been a Nun or some such thing in your last or a previous life. Your questions, challenges, to come to the standard Sadhana requested by Srila Prabhupada are normal. It is like saying, "I have moved to the moon and things are different here.". Yes, there are so many things different in KC from material consciousness, so it takes time to adjust to living in a different world. For that there are so many books that Srila Prabhupada has given, and devotees who have learned from those books, Srila Prabhupada's lips, his personal actions, and those who have learned from those who have personally heard or seen him, but I personally heard him say that he would never die, he would live forever in his books.

So, what about reading everyday. Even with one or two study partners for obtaining practical knowledge? As you become purified you will be able to distinguish the impulses of the Supersoul from the false ego, also.

Hare Krsna Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP

PAMHO

I hope U are fine Gurudeva, I saw some pictures from you in Spain from Bhadra vardhana U look GOOD ¡¡¡¡ I can say even younger than before JAYA ¡¡¡

Gurudeva thank U for your letter on may 14th.. when U tell me that I do not have to doubt and that it is better to die chanting HK/HR.. You told me to give you a report after 5 days.. so sorry GM I delayed a little bit. I was not feeling so good, but even if I was not feeling so good  I complete my rounds and even chant my delay rounds¡¡¡

I have learned a lot.. the mind can be your best friend or our worst enemy¡¡ The problem was I did not take shelter on the Holy Names.. also my false ego is HUGE, I MUST have in my heart that U told me once... IN KC we respect even an ant ¡¡¡ I did not act like a second initiation devotee.. MAYA defeated me :( buuuu , but it just a second battle of many many others that is not the final war. Also I have serious problems of communication I am trying to work on it.

 I have no job, I am taking some time to rest and try to heal my heart. Palikda dd is helping me in finding a job, my friends family and specially U are helping me a lot. I am going out today on SANKIRTAN ¡¡¡ with Madhumati dd (I hope SP gives us His mercy)

As always GM I do not want to pretend to be a fake cmdd U know all my faults. In the last 3 months I did not act as a proper second initiated devotee I offended many many devotees first U, so please with my head onto your lotus feet please kindly forgive me, and help me that others also forgive me. The only thing GM is that with all my limitations I tried to do my best, but without the shelter of my rounds obviously it was impossible. At this point I just want to be iur disciple again, I am raising for mangala artik, studying SB again... etc...

I am sad extremely sad GM I can not lie to U, but happy at the same time for your eternal shelter. So I will do all my best so when U come in August encounter with an aceptable CMDD, I hope to be a good tool  in your eternal sankirtan. I have learned that without 16/4 it is impossible to act properly LESSON LEARNED 

Sorry for this poor report...

Trying to be iur disciple

CMDD

HpS - ASA ---  If 15% of the people in the world were as good as you it would be heaven on earth. Seems that maybe you have fought 157-rounds with The Witch and lost two. Once we are chanting we are connected to Krsna. He has a plan for your service you can't even begin to imagine!   Everything that happens while we are chanting properly becomes a part of that.
Returning from Argentina with a BIG bag of gold. Now you can help everyone much more if you want to .

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Sorry for very late reporting.

From December I am doing full time service for TOVP. Although it can be exhausting I am happy that I can do sometimes useful.
My service here is make database system for fundrasing as previously used CiviCRM was not working for us. Seems devotees like new system and is huge improvement compare to old system.

I was not much active on vedabase.com project during first few months of TOVP service, but now we organize transcriptions, improving editor system and will soon work on design. Also my wife is helping with sychronizing Czech language.

Sad to say, but few days I didn't finished 16 rounds, which I finished later.

For last years I was somehow disturbed by financial situation, but by Krishna's mercy everything starts to be more stable and my mind is more peaceful.

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha Das

PS: I have download many Jung books for you. If you like I can bring.

HpS - AGTSP  paoho. It was VERY nice to talk with you by phone while we were in Delhi. What Jung books do you have?    Should we write a "Welcome to Vedabase.Com"?  Thank you very much for this news!

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudeva

AGTSP

PAMHO

Gurudeva Narayana das from argentina is in the hospital he needs a surgery his liver is not so good. He just wanted to inform U that.

See U soon Gurudeva

Please kindly forgive our stupidity

ys

CMDD

HpS - ASA - Thank you for the news. Please tell Narayana that we hope all of his experiences are good Sankirtan opportunity!!!