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?
