Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! 

Thank you so much for Vijaya Prabhu’s Treasures of the Brhat Mrdanga book and the prasadam. We are very inspired by the nice forward that Vaisesika Prabhu wrote. Hope to dive further in soon.

HpS - We, agtSP, were just looking up topics that we liked and reading clips from it!

The painting of Sri Advaitacarya that I sent was posted on Facebook by a devotee. On His appearance day I impulsively sent it to you. I really love the painting so I wanted you to see it in case you hadn’t seen it before. 

Maharaja, I want to apologize for my long letter I sent last month. At the time it seemed like the right thing to send but I can see now that a lot of it was unnecessary and maybe too personal and vulnerable and much too long. Been really struggling internally. 

Maharaja, I’ve heard you talk about becoming too institutionalized within ISKCON a few different times throughout the years and I’m just wondering how to understand this more.

And maybe it’s not something I can understand at this neophyte stage?

I’m just always dealing with this rugged individualism that I was brought up in and heavily conditioned by, so for me the institutional aspect of ISKCON seems to be something I need to lean into more?

I’ve had some very profound and instructive dreams recently where you had answered some questions I have really struggled with. 

Anyway, thinking about you being back in the Murfreesboro camp and hoping this finds you very well with no more mouth pain.

Maharaja, would you be able to visit us in Boise this year? 

Your aspiring servant, 

Nitisara das 

HpS - We, agtSP, are struggling to answer this Blog timely. We are lazy, and actually limited. This letter seems to have had a FMS/BPC but we missed it!!!

Noted all of your good concerns.

Becoming institutionalized would seem to relate to 'niyama agraja' as in NoI 2. We go through the institutions rituals because it accommodates our sense gratification, gives us friends and family etc.

Yet, the rituals, eg. Japa Vrata, pushes us to reflect, "Why am I doing this?". If we are sincere and take advantage of this natural push from the Sadhana, then we really ask the question and we can see for example how we joined ISKCON, took up some service, for a certain vision, but now we have lost that.

It has repeatedly happened to me and I guess of course others, even you!! Then I took a month off in Braja as it offered itself to get back on track.

It may take a month every now and then to adjust for six years of institutional conditioning.

Helps?

So, much more detail in Prabhupada's books.

It seems that we will be based in Nashville until mid-May unless we die during this breath. By then, any travel plans should become clearer, but really seems that we should stay anywhere we can prepare for a change of body, engage in strong Sankirtan with deep meaning.

🙂

Another letter!

Hare Krishna, Beloved Gurudeva,

Please accept our humble obeisances,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,

We were quite depressed, unmotivated. Your teeth problems, reminded us that you are leaving soon (according to your predictions, odana sasthi this year).

HpS/ASA - Well, yes, agtSP, it is a prediction, but it is like a scientific prediction, based upon available evidence, and a practical date for getting necessary things done.

We were PUSHED to consolidate our preaching efforts, and that resulted in the four movies.

You, so many devotees, should also do the same thing as you get older. Seems Prabhupada was considering what he had done and updating his consolidations in his Purports.

Around October we were certified 40% deaf, and eyes, mental faculties, about the same. Now our vehicle seems to be about 55%.

Only one out of the five movable windows on our Mercedes works.

Yet that is quite enough to good work.

On the other hand, what do any of us know. This might be our last breath or we live in this body until we are 86-years old?

So we started to think that we can no longer bother you with our issues, and that we really did nothing for you but bring problems.

HpS - Please engage us in your Sankirtan according to our utility!

The mind, friend or foe!! Glass, half empty or half full.

When we started to see everything black, we called His Holiness Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami, asking for help.

Next day he called us, while he was at Mayapura.

That gesture touched us, we realized that Guru and Krishna are always with us.

After a week, we regained our practice, enthusiasm, the glass was half full.

Good japa, daily reading of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Then in FMS you quoted that letter from SP to Jaya Tirtha Prabhu: “You cannot survive without my mercy and I cannot survive without your mercy. This mutual respect. this mutual love, is Krishna Consciousness”. [We edited the previous a little to what we remember reading and repeating]

Touched our heart, gratitude!! We told maharaja about our recovery and quoted that letter to him. He replied: “ Hare Krishna Prabhu. I am always here for you”. We know It's the same with you, you are always there for us.

We hope we can serve you for the whole eternity.

Your aspiring disciple,

Nikunja bihari das.

Ps: We sent a present by post mail with Manu, our elder son, who is in the United States now.

HpS - We got it. A Russian copy of NoI. I have not integrated it with our museum of different language NoIs, but it is in the process. Then we hope to publish a report. Thank you!

Any more news about B. D. Damora Swami or others is certainly nice.

I keep thinking that we can all be together in the Nadiya in the universe where Lord Caitanya is personally present in our next lifetime. It makes me realize how much more purified I need to become.

Every day we learn some more about becoming stronger, more efficient devotees.

Expect some of our readers are doing the same, but even faster than we are.

Let us go to another letter and chant final 3-rounds to 16.

Todas las glorias a Goura Nitay

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada

Querido Gurudev comienzo mi reporte contestando las preguntas que formuló en la carta pasada. El templo de Chile está bien con muchas devotos nuevos que no conocía jóvenes con mucha energía, estuve haciendo pequeños servicios cocinar a la deidad con madre Ambrita Ganga y limpiar. Muy sorprendida por los hermosos murales que tiene el templo donde devotos lo hicieron con mucho amor para krishna y la comunidad

Con respeto a mi familia somos 4 hermanos, (Francisca, Javier y Felipe) mis padres Julio y yennifer) están juntos hasta ahora y tengo 3 sobrinos (Julieta, Ignacio y Julián ellos viven 2 fuera de Santiago. tengo una hermosa familia con muchos colores cuidados y comunicación les escribo a diario y fue maravilloso verlos, también me dedique hacer trámites qué necesitaba realizar (carnet de identidad, chequeo médico, ver a amigos etc...) con respecto a mi sadhana muy bien rondas cada día, lectura diaria con LAD y las devotas, atendiendo a las deidades (ofrecer alimentos, bañar, vestir y decorar... Además estoy nadando y encontré un trabajo asistiendo a pequeños a nadar y adolescentes a mejorar la técnica de nado tres veces a la semana dos horas diarias, y con orientación una vez a la semana

También fui a sacar la foto y marcar mis huellas digitales para el carnet de legalidad en el país por último LAD mando un reporte de nuestro interés por el proyecto campus de NIOS donde me sumó a lo que puedo hacer en la orientación para niños

Se despide su sirviente Raman Reti Devi Dasi

-0-0-0-

All glories to Goura Nitay

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Gurudev I begin my report by answering the questions he asked in the last letter. The Chile temple is doing well with many new devotees that I didn't know, young people with a lot of energy, I was doing small services, cooking for the deity with mother Ambrita Ganga and cleaning. Very surprised by the beautiful murals that the temple has where devotees did it with a lot of love for Krishna and the community

HpS/ASA - 👍

With respect to my family, we are 4 siblings, (Francisca, Javier and Felipe) my parents Julio and Jennifer) are together until now and I have 3 nephews (Julieta, Ignacio and Julián, 2 of them live outside of Santiago. I have a beautiful family with many colors care and communication I write to them daily and it was wonderful to see them, I also dedicated myself to doing paperwork that I needed to do (identity card, medical check-up, seeing friends, etc...) regarding my sadhana very well rounds every day, daily reading with LAD and the devotees, attending to the deities (offering food, bathing, dressing and decorating... I am also swimming and found a job helping children to swim and teenagers to improve their swimming technique three times a week for two hours a day, and with guidance once a week

I also went to take the photo and mark my fingerprints for the legality card in the country. Lastly, LAD sent a report of our interest in the NIOS campus project where I was added to what I can do in the orientation for children.

His servant Raman Reti Devi Dasi says goodbye

HpS - Very, very nice. I hope our Kapi Dhvaja, Blog and Tweets keep you informed about our Sankirtan and health and we can be of use to your Sankirtan.

Go on expanding more and more.

You have such nice gifts to share.

Hare Krsna, Gurudeva

My respected Gurudeva, please accept my most humble and respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I always wish you the best for your health.

HpS - AgtSP/ A 'healthy' old car??

¡Om namo Bhagavate Narasimhaya!

 I am understanding and I'm realizing my small position, it is a reality that takes time to integrate into our habitual consciousness and for this to be the fundamental basis of our actions;

I am here in my house, in my district, my region, my country, my planet, my planet is among other planets and other components of the universe that influence me, and there are so many universes and everything is material existence functioning.

We also have the spiritual existence, much larger, inconceivable, and functioning. The power of the Supreme with His opulence is great, His energies, His aspects, His messengers.

I am a spiritual soul in a material body that I sculpted myself with my feelings, desires, actions, thoughts, by believing that I decided my life; the truth is that I was being driven, guided, oriented, reinforced, rewarded by the enormous power of illusion (Energy of Krsna), in my small position, and by my past and tendencies, me inserted in the wheel of time.

The events occur in the time, place, and circumstances decreed by Divine Providence and the mercy of the Supreme.

Right now, I am conversing with you Gurudeva . . . what glory. TLGASrila Prabhupada, TLGABhaktysiddhanta Sarasvati, TLGAThe Disciplic Succession that comes from Krsna (Who is described by His beautiful qualities that He manifests in His pastimes with His associates)

Thank you, Gurudeva for the Maha Mantra, the principles, the knowledge, TLGASP. Gurudeva, is every statement about my existence be correct?

Thank you very much for your attention Gurudeva, your time and mercy.

His disciple

Rohini dd

HpS - We are all fortunate to be accepted into the service of Srila Prabhupada in the Parampara!...!...

Very fortunate.

Your above statements seem fine.

Practically we seem to be somewhat influenced by Lord Caitanya's mercy and we can feel Hara, Krsna and Rama's presence when we chant Their Names or see Their deities.

When we can boxes of books to the car, we might also think, that these are Rama and Krsna's books.

So, we might be realizing Krsna in part as Maha-visnu and being surrounded by His material energies.

[... we thought we sent this letter long time ago!!! you are becoming a goswami? can feel the presence of the holy spirit, paramatma.]

Hare Krsna, beloved Gurudeva, AGTSP, PAMHO.

Gurudeva, You know me. I like to wear designer clothes. And my parents raised me in a way, that I have all what I need and more.

HpS/ASA - Clothes for Deities?

I applied to another university because in my current university I do not earn much.

This university is called UCAL.

The payment is pretty good and besides that it is closer to my Home it is in La Molina.

The thing is that I am afraid of losing my balance between my spiritual life and material life. Sometimes I am overwhelmed

FMS helps a lot. I have classes from Monday to Sunday. I hope that for the next cycle I can leave one university so that I can have more time to practice My spiritual life more intensively.

Please forgive me for my laziness.

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

HpS - Buy your clothes with your sister at Catholic Thrift Shop 😆 😆 and can take Ulysses on long Japa walks???

16x4!!!!!!!! and you can dress in silk sarees with nimai in nabadvipa in a few days.

Hare Krsna, dearest Gurudeva, please accept my respects; vanca kalpa...

Please let me offer my obeisances to you, to your sankirtana, to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada, to the guru-parampara, to the vaishnavas, to the Holy Name, and to the Holy Dham.

ASA - 💥 💥

I'm generally speaking, doing well right now. I mean, things get crazy here and there, I guess its the nature of this world. But I like to stay positive and open to learn and adapt to change, and ultimately accept what it is.

Sometimes it is painful and uncomfortable, and other times things move smoothly and harmoniously.

My health seems to be good, except for some insomnia that I suffer from (in phases).

I'm not working at the moment, my nanny job ended and I wanted to take a break.

I got my GED and passed with really good scores.

On February 16th I was honored in San Antonio, Tx by the Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education with an award as the student of the year of 2023 for the coastal region.

ASA - 🐵 👍 👍 👍

I was granted a scholarship to start a CNA program (certified nurse assistant) which I'll be taking sometime between summer/autumn of this year.

Eventually I'll enroll into collage to get my bachelors in nursing.

Although I'm open to change careers if I find my call in a different path.

Still figuring that out.

HpS/ASA - What about cinema? Movie industry?

Also, still single. I like and do enjoy my singleness, I see a lot of perks of being by myself, on my own, and not involve in a romantic relationship.

Of course, I would like to encounter a nice guy to date first, and eventually if it feels right, then move into a relationship.

ASA - Maybe Krsna is jealous of anyone else, and wants you all for Himself! 😎

I'm taking therapy once a week. I'm spending a lot of time with my sister. I've been making new friends in different social circles as well, and being more active in my social life (which at some point it was null).

I go to the temple at least once a week, and participate in the kirtan program on Thursdays.

I performed Tulasi puja on Wednesdays at the temple for most of the year in 2023.

My sadhana is not great. I chant on japa inconsistently, but whenever I chant is because I really want to chant, genuinely.

I associate with devotees in the community a bit, I have good respectful relationships with them though, I wish there were more people my age, devotee girls that I could make friendship with.

I want to share in an honest and vulnerable way about me and why I didn't come to the temple much, even though you were here.

Sometimes I feel remorseful and kinda disappointed with myself, like I'm a bad disciple, not even a disciple, and that I have let go so many precious opportunities of serving you for not being fully committed to you neither to my spiritual practices.

I know I will never get back that time. Yet other times, I see it as part of my journey, and I don't feel guilty, I understand its something I need at this time in my life. I know life is precious. And I don't want to live with regrets.

For the last 2-3 years I've been putting more effort in reconnecting with myself, I'm in the process of getting to know who I am as a person, as an individual, with the less labels possible, what do I want, what do I like, what am I passionate about, what resonates with me and what doesn't anymore, and so on.

From previous direct and indirect experiences I was burnt out, and a part of me still is.

I have this belief that if I come too close to the temple (meaning the institution, with the rules, expectations, some devotees judging and telling me how to dressed, and so on) I could potentially be dragged in and lose myself again, and that's something I don't want to do again,

I don't want to change myself in the way that doesn't feel authentic to me and free.

But I like Krsna, I like you, I like the process, I admire devotees that are sincere in their practices.

I felt so happy when some of my god-siblings were visiting this yatra for your vyasapuja, it's like everything lighted-up!

I'm moving very slowly and cautiously, but I think I'm on the right track. Yesterday I booked my flight to India.

It's going to be my first time.

It's been one of my deepest heartfelt desires since I joined the movement in 2009. So I'll be flying out from Houston to Kolkata. This year is Maha-abhishek and the grand opening of Sri Nrisimhadeva wing at the TOVP; there's kirtan mela, and a lot of lectures to listening to from senior devotees.

My plan is to join the Navadwipa mandal parikram, and go to the Vrndavan Safari with H. H. Jayapataka Swami, then I will come back to Mayapur most likely to celebrate his vyasapuja.

We are talking about staying there for like 2 months at least.

We'll see how it goes.

I would like to ask for your blessings and your permission to enter the Dham, to really see and be focused there, to be able to experience that connection with guru and Krsna, to deepen in my spiritual practice, and to strengthen my faith.

I do want to experience Krsna with my heart.

I will be following a good sadhana at least for the time I'm there, behave well, and try to avoid making any offenses.

HpS - Or course you have our best wishes, Hare Krsna! Even more I think you have Srila Prabhupada's personal, heartfelt wishes.

I was wondering if there are any places you would recommend me or instruct me to go to, to serve, any songs to sing, any prayers to say either during the whole trip o in a specific place. What would be a nice meditation to have and mindset? May I ask please- what do you pray and meditate on when you are in the Dham?

HpS - Sorry that it has taken so long to answer this letter. Hope our feelings, and all other ASA Sangis has been communicated to you through your heart and by the paramatma in your special meetings in the Dhama.

Nothing really special comes to mind except, write a lot. Keep many, many journal notes, even if they seem mundane and simple, years later they will be windows on the Dhama!

I sincerely want to ask you to please forgive my offenses for breaking my vows. You are a great teacher, and I recognize I'm not following you as I'm expected to.

I hope you are getting well settled in your new place and pray my letter finds your in great spirits.

Ps. I want to thank you for playing mrdanga in mangalaratik last week while I was singing, that memory is very fondly to me. Thank you for showing me how to serve and worship Krsna.

Your [aspiring] "disciple" and well-wisher,

Aindavi dd

HpS - Fix some vow for Japa yajna for some time: Eg I will do 16-rounds, 4-regs all the time on my Yatra to India, but later maybe 4-rounds a day until the next Ekadasi. Something that with intelligent consideration you know you can do. Then do it! When the period has finished reconsider and take another vow.

Getting back to 16-rounds is a personal dealing with Krsna.

Actually doesn't seem that there is anything in our loving exchange with Krsna than our daily Japa vows.

It becomes hard, easy, tasteful, boring ... as part of the most intimate personal relationship we can have.

Do you have nice deities?

If not why not look for some in the Dhama?

Thank you.