Letters to the editor

How are you Gurumaharaja?

How is your health and your sankirtan?

HpS - ASA ---  AGTSP.  Little short of breath. May die soon, but whenever, is best to die in love rather than lust. Sankirtan is Srila Prabhupada's mercy. We try to do something. We want very much to see some success.

I recently found the location of the temple in Tennessee, using Google maps, what a nice place!

HpS - We are based in Franklin, Tennessee for at least a month. Is nice here now. Enough rain. No really extreme weather!

I'll tell you that the hurricane in my life has diminished its power to a tropical storm losing strenght more and more.

As you say, we must let Lord Krishna to drive our carriage. I find it hard but I'm trying. It's amazing how, despite my inability to correct the way I refuse to let go and stubbornly remain confident in my understanding of the facts will pull me out of problems.

You have been wise in your commentary, my past life, before coming to Krsna Consciousness, has been very complicated. I suffered an alcohol and drugs addiction for more than 25 years and, beside some nervous system damage, I was feeling tired.

The transformation process has been exhausting, four years ago I left addictions and underwent an intense devotional life, I'm happy in it, is the most important thing I've ever done. Being away from NIMSAR has been healthy.

I decided to leave the group because, in my opinion, they are concerned in issues that go beyond education, I believe that with so few members we must focus with regard to congregational education, so that we perfect and consolidate an educational product that can be competitive in society in the future. Maybe my approach has been conservative, I think there is not enough resources to venture into this kind of "bridge-programs". The other Members think otherwise and do not agree with them. My interests are simple, ISKCON Peru is suffering a severe crisis of confidence and leadership. Education, as an activity that allows the reconsideration of certain paradigms can question things from their understanding, on the other hand, education corrects false concepts, evolving in the correct attitudes and behaviors. Education is self knowledge and, therefore, represents transformation. If we do not transform ourselves, any attempt to do with the Yatra will be artificial and unsustainable over time.

HpS - Wonderful thesis. Very nice. Are you going ahead with this thesis personally inspite of not being able to find any partnerships with NIMSAR?

I am a teacher for 20 uninterrupted years (I am 48), education has been my main activity and the means by which I achieved the best things in my life. I have met many people and I have been fortunate to teach many youngsters.

Prabhu Omkara (current president of the temple of Chosica), has given me the opportunity to take care of the temple educational program. I have ideas, there are human resources, we have teachers and students, so I'm developing a strategic plan for short and long term. In time I will present you this plan for your opinion and suggestions. On the other hand, I have left the Bhakti-Sastri course. The course has not been good, it is handled a bit superficial, your written lessons have helped me a lot as a way to access different levels of understanding of the texts, but classroom sessions have been simple, routine and very undemanding, I prefer to start in March with Padam Prabhu via online, I am sorry not to have all of your lessons. I am reading and researching much more. There are some thematic lessons I'm preparing for Chosica and Wilson, for example, classes on VAD, the Holy Name, the three modes of nature and other basic introductory topics and defining basic concepts for understanding more elaborate themes. Otherwise, I am participating in Prabhu Pancharatna's ISKCON Online project , on Wednesday we have our first meeting via Skype, ISKCON Online is intended to serve as a tool for counseling, education and outreach tool of useful content for training devotees worldwide. Of course my involvement focuses on educational issues, and I'll tell you what progress is. I have renewed enthusiasm because of new possibilities. I deeply regret having failed in my service in NIMSAR, I hope to serve you better from now on.

Basic issues go well, the saddhana is solid and I enjoy my rounds more than before, with Indira Sakti our communication flows better, I am very lucky to have her as my partner in this beautiful path.

HpS - Our humble perspective would be, 1) Work on getting your own Sadhana, work healthy. You mention this above. In First Aid this is a basic concept: Understand the danger, problem, make sure you are safe, then try to help others. So, seems you are doing well.    2) Organize healthy relations on the basis of 1) with your family. Then 3) you can also expand into other communities. Whether it is ISKCON Chosica or NIMSAR, the main thing is having clear understanding of personal realtionships, no?  You and Omkara.  You and Laksmana..... Then work out a Plan.

Personally we are involved in ISKCON Education at the International Outreach level, International, National, Nieghborhood Internal level. At the MOE level we are trying to push people to register their programs so there can be healthy perspective from different Centers on what we are doing locally and also take advantage of the success in other places.

Since our deities came home, air is thinner and days are lighter and brighter. Be fine, Gurumaharaja, Lord Nrsimha always take care of you. Your servant Gandharva dasa

HpS - Hare Krsna!!!!     Best of luck, learning about your Karma, Mind, Family, Soul!!!!  Some patience, no?

Hare Krshna Gurudeva. Todas las glorias sean para Srila Prabhupada

Todas las glorias para su santidad Hanumat Presaka Swami
Todas las Glorias a mis hermanos espirituales
Ante todo Siempre agradecerle por la infinita misericordia que me da y le da a tantas entidades vivientes 
que se encuentran en mi estado.

HpS - ASA -- Somos muy egoista, codicios, pero Srila Prabhupada ayudando nosotros, entonces estamos ayudando otros. Casi, posible, ninguna credito para mi.

Transitando este mundo material con mas cautela y un poco menos de pasion para no cometer
los mismos errores que intentamos dejar atras.Muy abocado a mi deber de padre intentando 
dar lo mejor que tengo (comprendiendolo como mi servicio en este momento). El relacionamiento
es con carreteras de tierra y autopistas pero estamos moldeando a alguien de rigida estructura y mente fuerte por naturaleza como Radhe Gopinatha(regido en el zodiaco por Tauro)
Krshna lo controla y me coloco a mi (Cancer) para formarlo mas poeticamente, el agua de manera leve moldea la tierra . Hay mucho amor entre nosotros dos y Krshna en el centro.

Esa es la fuente que sustenta todo. Muchos pequeños problemas materiales con los cuales lidiamos diariamente ,que en realidad no son problemas cuando salimos del cuadro y ampliamos la perspectiva. Aun viviendo con mi madre, seguramente habra que solucionar  algunos detalles internos del pasado por eso  aun no tengo que salir, pero la idea es :casa propia en breve.
Vamos siempre al templo, minimo una vez por semana, amo la asociacion de los vaisnavas.
Cantando 16 rondas diarias, 4 principios regulativos, escribiendo muchas reflexiones despues de la japa. Es fantastico. Amo escribir.
Leyendo bastante: PNL(programacion Neurolenguistica) y Guerrero espiritual 4 de Bhaktitirtha swami.
La unica minima ansiedad es que aun no soy millonario, pero tiempo al tiempo.
De a momentos con mucha pasion y muchos proyectos, y luego viviendo el presente nuevamente. Me gusta por que realizo cada vez mas cuando estoy  muy en la ignorancia y cuando un poco menos pero en algunas oportunidades me puedo situar como observador de mi propia vida.
Con muchos deseos de charlar mas intimamente con usted y apenas pueda intentar ayudarlo en su predica.
Siempre estamos haciendo Sankirtana. Lo quiero mucho Gurudeva, a mi manera(espero aprender a quererlo correctamente).
Le mando mis reverencias a sus gloriosos pies de loto [TLGASP] sepa siempre que intento ser conciente de usted y deseo ser su sirviente para que me lleve con Srila Prabhupada...
Mi meta es Sri Vrndavana Dham y solo a traves de usted eso se puede conseguir.
Para servirlo de la mejor manera que un tonto lo puede hacer.

Jaya Srila Prabhpada
Jaya Gurudeva
Jaya Radhe Syam
Jaya Sri Vrndavana Dham

HpS - ASA ---- Muchas gracias su carta.  Muchas gracias.  Ya son las 3.00PM aqui en Franklin, Dia completa en servicio. Deficil ver el computador. Respiracion poco debi. Pero generalmente bueno. Quiero hablar con Vd. individualment.  Pero, como!!!    Muchas peticiones...   Ooof.       Cuando encontramos en Argentina, Chile?  Si es algo urgente, donde piensa tenemos ayuda espcifica, pudiear hablar por telefono.
Aqui somos para servirle.
Saludos a Radha Gopinatha. Cuantos anos tiene? Como esta el Yatra??  Saludos a s Mama tambien. Aparece que esta conquistando mucho sus pasiones y esta en la linea a gran exitos pronto.

TLGAHPS

TLGASP

Estimado Gurudeva le escribi un reporte hace aproximadamente una semana u 8 dias y no lo estoy viendo publicado

Queria saber si lo habia recibido. Creo haberlo enviado correctamente.

Acepte mis reverencias por favor.

mangalananda das.

HpS - ASA - Super, super, super carta. TlgaSP.    pfanrh....  Si, es bueno escribir "Urgente" si no hay respuesta despues de 3-dias (mas on menos).  Intentamos responder despues de 3-days, pero a veces demurrando como 6-dias. Su carta dice 6-dias, 19-horas. Poco retrasado por la presion de fin de semana de Govardhana Puja, Prabhupada Puja etc.
Pero hoy dia estuviamos (we were going) contestarla.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I haven't written in a long while, Maharaja. Life as a mother of two has been very busy and fulfilling. We are happy. Although I do loose my patience with my oldest. I am definitely trying to be more gentle.

HpS - AGTSP. Enthusiasm is more important than patience. Yes, must have patience, but more important is enthusiams. What is that? How to keep it?  NOI-3 discusses. If you lose your patience enthusiasm, then stop and look: What am I trying to accomplish. More clean around the house?   Is this a good goal?    If it is not, then O.K. give it up. If it is then second, how can I make progress in towards this. If you have these two, then you will be enthusiastic and patience will be natural. A lot more details.  NOI 3 is good discussion.

I have so much to tell you but I will keep it brief. 

My husband and I started up our Bhkati Yoga club at school again and will be having kirtan nights on Fridays. We don't expect many people to come but we know that by persevearance and humility Krishna might bless us. We also ask for your blessings to make this our service while here in Calgary.

HpS - Ha!  Ha!    Shoot for the Rhinocerous!    Expect that many people will come. Sufficient. Maybe show part of the Maha-bharata by Peter Brook. Free popcorn (with a lot of salt) and $1.00 glass for lemonade!

I also ask for your blessings on me being able to teach our children how to speak Spanish. It might be silly to ask this, but for me it's a little difficult to do since my husband doesn't speak it. I realised it can be very beneficial to grow up speaking more than one language. So I will try my best to help my children that way. Of course, giving them Krishna is best!

HpS - What about www.loftylearning.com, you can teach them Sanskrit. You all can learn. If you want to teach them Spanish, you must get a few partners, no? Others with your mad mentality. Calgary, Home Spanish, Ladies Circle. Then there must be online courses you can all do together. Its a nice language.

My husband is almost finished school to be a teacher. Very happy forhim. Audharya and Arindama are both growing and getting along well. My family is very happy to have their grand children around so close. Everyone is happy for now. Our Calgary yatra is not quite the same as when we lived in Toronto but as long as people are worshiping Krishna and love Him we can adjust for the time we are here. 

I am chanting my 16 rounds consecutively now for a few months since the birth of my son. I am back on track with a lot to make up for. I don't know about other mothers, but for me chanting when I have avery young and demanding baby, japa is hard to do every day. I feel reluctant to tell you this but I hae a need for you to accept my inability finish sometimes. 4 regs: check.

HpS - Keep track of how many rounds you own Krsna. I was only chanting like 11-rounds a day for several weeks, maybe 6-8 when the GBC had me as Temple President, Head-Pujari, Rathayatra Organize, Treasurer Director in the Berkeley Temple.

Ooof!  I was exhausted. Could barely walk, but kept track and then at one point told them, just can't do this, and gradualy caught them all up.  I hear that 16-day day is hard with a small kid, but I suspect that it can be done. Kids sleep a lot. Just fit in four here, four there.  Pooop!  16!
If I give my opinion, for a young mother to have babies and chant 16-rounds is about the same as taking Sannyasa in ISKCON.
Rasa-mandali Dasi, Maharaja, Ki Jai!

Please forgive my offences, Maharaja. 

Your aspiring servant,

Rasa-mandali dasi

HpS - ASA -- So, so, nice to hear from you.  Please offer our respects to your family, and if you husband can send a little news about his Sankirtan, that would be nice.  Also, you can see that we are focusing on this Peru symposium, and so maybe you can get some inspiration to help also!  Psychology and the Sacred.

Thank you!

You are on the right path, just go ahead.

<img alt="smiley" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png" title="smiley" width="23" />Hare Krishna Gurudeva<img alt="smiley" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png" title="smiley" width="23" />

Please accept these respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the previous acharyas

and His Holiness Hanumatpresaka Swami.

Because of you, these souls receive the great opportunity to rehabilitate themselves through the knowledge and devotional service to all of you, dear devotees of Sri Krishna.

This is the eleventh time I edit this letter, excuse my delay Guru Maharaja,<img alt="blush" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/embarrassed_smile.png" title="blush" width="23" /> it is because there have been many events, activities of family order, devotional service, etc. (Besides my bad english grammar) Google translate and Gandharva helped me. I’m learning so, I hope write you by myself  soon.

HpS - ASA --- Thank you very much!!!

I hope this letter find you recovered in your health.  How are you Gurudeva?

ASA - Well, we, like you, are Sat-Cit-Ananda, but Brother Ass, is Asat-Acit-Nirananda, mortal, stupid and miserable.  At 67 years old our eyes, memory, teeth, respiration, skin, heart, hearing are all starting to become weak and disappear. Is good thing, because then they will be useful in making a new body for someone.
Destruction, old age, death is just the other half of the cycle or growth, youth and birth, no.
O.K.   If it is for Krsna, then it becomes part of our ever growing life in the play of Goloka!

Thank you, thank you for your visit; every time you come we learn a lot, you give us many realizations.<img alt="smiley" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png" title="smiley" width="23" />

I infinitely thank for your great mercy, Guru Maharaja, for giving me the diksha initiation. I am very happy and grateful.  Our immature desire to serve is being tested by Maya. It has not been easy during the last two months. We are fighting against our mind and ego in the fire of Grhastha asrama.  Is hard understand karma, specially when this show up strongly, and is harder to learn from it, because we need a lot of humility.  After all, albeit painfully, we’re learning a lot. We really want to clean and change our hearts Gurudeva, but sometimes this is so hard.  We know that Krishna put us together in this asrama so we can learn from each other.  Sometimes it is very hard and difficult; sometimes it's very sweet and fills us with strenght.

About this point, Gurudeva, some devotees say that relationships are like a mirror, so, if we see any mistake in the other, with a lot of humility we can see those mistakes is in ourselves. Please if this works this way, can you explain it (authoritatively) to me this Gurudeva? It has to do with consciousness? We attract what we think? Also, during your last visit, His Holiness said that we should not tangle with the external aspects of devotees, ie, with aspects of his personality (personality as a mask, right?). For me, this was a BIG lesson, because it's about quotidian relationships with devotees, and understand this authoritatively, would mean to be less offensive and learn more about me in aspects that I could not identify before because of my big ego.

LAD Prabhu told us, about anartha nivritti (we don’t know if we are in that level) but prabhu LAD said: first step: look for defects, second ACCEPT them, third step: WORK ON IT, all these tips are helping us, we do not know if one day we will not argue anymore, but we know that  we can learn through each person to understand what Krishna wants us to learn.

About Sadhanna:

Rounds & Principles: I have had difficult days Gurudeva, but despite the onslaught of Maya, I still struggling to keep up with 16 rounds daily, 3.5 Principles, 4 Mangalaratikas in the temple a week, minimum.

Readings:  Krishna Book, NOD (chapter 5), recently starting Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto1, with Gandharva.

About seva: I'm at that stage of looking at what service I must do Gurudeva,  education really inspires me.  What issues should I consider to know how to choose which service can please you and Krishna?

HpS - ASA --- Really the best way to know what your service in Varna-ashrama-dharma is, is to chant Hare Krsna.  Slowly, slowly, certainly, your Japa and other service in ISKCON, eg. Mangala arti, SB, will make it clearer to you what is your service, Varna-ashrama-dharma.

Just continue that way. Be a good girl!  Be a good wife. Love your husband, even if he is a crazy rat at times. Your love for him does not depend on his love for you. If you don't want kids, then you MUST adopt Gaura Nitai, your personal Deities (can also be Madan-bihari and Radharani) as you kids. They are very jealous and may make you miserable if you neglect their cookies and milk!!

Some Sankhya, but mostly try and see everyone but your husband as your children, sometimes naughty, sometimes nice. Bring them all to Radha-Krsna. Make Radha-Krsna your life. Pray for Their individual mercy on you alone. Of course, it comes through Lalita devi, but she just passes it along with a smile and no changes. You must taste it, bitter sweet.

For now:

Pujari On Friday:  at noon I help Prabhu Omkara in the pujari, serving lunch to their Lordships, washing bowls, cleaning etc.

ASA - You are very fortunate. Please!  Give our respects to him.

Garlands on Wednesday:  For the altar of Sita-Rama-Laksmana-Hanuman.

Congregational development: Omkara Prabhu asked for our help, so we are helping a little.

House: Puja, I am trying to strengthen my relationship with Sri Panca Tattva and Jagannatah, Baladeva & Subhadra and I'm being more careful in punctuality, cleanliness and more focus on worship, according to what Gaura Gadadhara mataji taught us.  The new deities (big ones) are now at home, Adi Lila mataji (prabhu Jiva-Sakti's wife) made them clothes.<img alt="smiley" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png" title="smiley" width="23" />

Gurumaharaja I'm sorry, I did not accept the position of Nimsar treasury, because the present circumstances, if I assume a position of great responsibility, I could neglect other things, and because we are going through tests, I thought I had to be cautious. Meanwhile I'm helping Isvari mataji in communications and suggested my father to help us a little in strategic planning. This to improve NIMSAR management (Do you remember I told you about my father? I introduced him to you the day of my initiation, his name is Arturo, he is an economist, specializes in projects and has 15 years of experience in international cooperation, he have a MBA in business administration) The workshop is very interesting because it can be applied to any service.

My father is feeling very inspired by Srila Prabhupada purposes.  After a long time, I did not see so inspired and rejuvenated, he admires sincerity of devotees and each Sunday takes its association and prasadam.  On the other hand my mother has started making tapestry of Lord Jagannath, she respect our philosophy, she is catholic, is very faithful to Virgin Mary but, something happened the first time she saw a deity of Lord Syamasundara,  she even wanted to buy the bronze deity, but things happened that prevented it, she loves the form of Govinda. I just worry that she is not a vegetarian, Gurudeva, I have asked her to be very careful when making tapestries, so not to commit offenses, but I think it is a way to get closer to Krishna, what do you think about that?

Living near Radha Madana Bihari is not cheap, to serve a beloved devotee of Krishna, will change everything, but we are willing to sacrifice in order to purify and someday (I hope soon) be good servants.

May Lord Nrisimhadeva always take care of you.

Your neophyte servant

Indira-Sakti devi dasi 

HpS - Thank you.  I think everybody realizes what a lot of stress this is for you. You are not an ordinary girl. You are The Average Peruvian Girl.  (Ha! Ha! Hare!).    If you figure out how to use Srila Prabhupada's magical gifts, then Any Peruvian Girl, even you mother, can figure it out.

Chant Hare Krsna and be happy. Try your best but be patient, relaxed. First focus -- 16-nice rounds.

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All the glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Muchas gracias por contestar, para nosotros es muy importante tener la aprobación de Usted, especialmente cuando estamos por hacer cambios importantes en nuestras vidas….

Sobre el lugar y los devotos que Usted menciono, sería muy bueno, no he conversado con ellos, solo algo con “Abhi”. Para ser sincero nosotros habíamos pensado algo más céntrico, cerca de Lima, pero todo se va  a ir ajustando, ahora que podemos entender que tenemos su aprobación.

Sobre las iniciaciones de Sita y Karuna, no lo sé?, Usted tiene la carta de recomendación de Chosica, pero al parecer nos mudaremos, ademas ellas no tienen el curso de discípulos, y no sé si M. Ganga y P. Yamunesvara presenten esta vez otro pedido. Particularmente me siento muy desconfiado de mis autoridades. Ante esa situación no sé qué va a suceder. Gurudeva, Usted sabe que ellas querían iniciarse ya, y nos pidió que esperáramos, nosotros hemos seguido, porque estamos rendidos a lo que Usted decida… Nuevamente muchas gracias Gurudeva, lo extrañamos mucho. Sus sirvientes AmD, KMdd, BAD, SLdd.

HpS - AGTSP paoho.  Pienso es cierto va a pasar. Hable con el LAD y el dijo que la Junta Nacional comienza requiere Curso de Discipulos para primero y Segunda iniciacion en Peru.  O.K.  Si puede tomar con Laksmana y presentar sus experiencias del curso aqui en el Blog. Cuanda estaba formando el curso, ellos, siempre fueron en contacto con Diksa gurus para formarlo, aparece bien.

Pero, para mi, si podemos hacer en Chosica un dia, estoy listo. Tengo las cartas del Junta y estamos demurrando solamente para una arregla informal.

GBC, Junta, Presidente, son representantes administrativos de Prabhupada. Ellos estan confrontando desafios tan fuerte como yo y Vd con su familia. Sannyasis, Brahmanas, son otros representantes de Srila Prabhupada . . . su presencia en sus libros...       Krsna en la corazon (BG 10.10-11).

O.K. No problema. Somos aqui para servir. Servir aun que morimos!