Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna dear gurudeva! Please accept my humble obeisances.

 All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to you!

I hope you are doing well! I had written you some month ago but I don’t know if you read it, because you were already traveling.. 

 I was dealing with a great challenge and I was all the time thinking about you told me "If you are feeling big enthusiasm, don't be surprised to get big tests also.”  Anyway I’m back on track again. Because of this, I could realize how important is taking shelter of guru, sastra and sadhu specially when  our intelligence is covered. 

Well, Finally I took the decision to give up my job at september and go to Mayapur for living there for a time. As I told you before. My spiritual master His Grace Mahatma Prabhu wants me there because there are a lot of work to do for Soul Tools and he wants I work with him. I will go for studying also. So if Krishna allows me, I will be there on October  and the ideal is to stay there but Indian laws has changed some days ago and there’s no way to extend student visa in India. Once visa expired one have to come back to their country to get new visa or maybe by going to another country but not near to India though. So now we are waiting for lighting and trying to plan a way to extend the visa in some way in the future. 

About my sadhana, I was able to organize my schedule according to my nocturne work, of course. So, I’m still doing the complete morning program at home but at noon. Trying to keep 16 rounds done after the program and following 4 principles, studying bhakti sastri (now the other part: Bhagavad gita), worshiping deities very happily. A picture attachment.

Still very enthusiastic doing a lot of service. How can I develop goodness modality if I’m doing a lot of things all the time of course in the passion modality?

ASA - AGTSP.  Very nice to hear from you. I think you have to set priorities and then even though you do many things you will understand that you can't do all of them. Have full morning and evening program.

I like to have a balance between both. I think that maybe I have a nature mixed with both. I like to be busy all the time and thinking new things to do, i love challenges by doing different things all the time but sometimes these brings me a lot of anxiety. And on the other hand I love some bhraminical duties like studying and worship deities by which I feel more deeply connected to Krishna and with much more fixed consciousness.

Gurudeva, What happens when a devotee get a lot of knowledge about sastra by studying books and starts to feel pride for that

ASA - It is like a snake with a jewel on the head.  Ha!   Ha!   Ha!

How can one stay humble in that position?

ASA - By trying to teach all the knowledge you have. 

On the other hand, Is there something that you want that I do as a service for you dear gurudeva?

HpS - ASA -- 1. Give your regards to The Mahatma (Das),  2. Really focus on getting ready for first initiation.  3. Send us some news from time to time about your Yatra.  4. Tungavidya Devi Dasi was trying to renew her student visa while in India. Hmm.   Guess she can't do it now.   Generally speaking its good to come back to your country every year or so anyway, no?  Hare Krsna!

your servant and siksa disciple,

Bhaktin Belen

Hare Krsna Gurumaharaja!
Please accept my humble and sincere obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and you!
All glories to Sankirtan movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Im sorry for waiting so long to write you, even worst, for telling you i was going to write since last week and doing it just now, i would really like to say i was overwelmed by so much service we are traing to develop in this kshetra, still i had time to spend in my own personal activities so, that would be a lie, i'm really making an effort to start telling allways the truth even when it buys a pain-ticket for me; ¡IT IS VEEEEERY HARD!

ASA - If you are completely honest you don't have to remember anything - Mark Twain

I am very gratefull to you  for the example you always give to us, your aspirant to disciples, each day is a struggle to continue in this path while we dumbly still carring the over-wheight of our anarthas, still we have a great moto. we have 2 months with the preaching center here in Queretaro, we are serving very nice boys and girls who enthusiastically are eager to learn about Sri Krsna, also selling prasada in many places.

Gurudeva, i had a big inner fight because i was very attached to sankirtana while i was in the ashram, but, since 1 year ago when i started to travel and collecting for my own preaching programs (also some offered material gratification)  i felt a great change in my attitude towards sankirtana, i wast just doing it because i needed to... it was allways a great fight with the mind to get out, of course, also a great nectar when i started to speak with the ppl, so 2 weeks ago i spoke with Vanamali Prabhu and asked him to allow me to work with them into the prasada distribution and go out in sankirtana at weekends; i completely felt the changes, im very happy to get out and preach, many honest ppl had approached to the preaching center and wonderfull things had happen since i changed the direction i was heading, yesterder i went to sankirtana with marco, a visitor devotee, and i did 35 books in 1:15 hours, i was soooo happy that Lord Caitanya allowed me to taste that nectar again, that i could not forget how important is the purity with which we are doing any service which is our service for the Sankirtana Movement.

Last weekend Aravinda Prabhu visited us accompanied by his wife, 5 or 7 matajis, and Gokulananda Das Brahmacari. We had ecstatic programs, many many benefited persons who came to them, many many distributed books in the streets and also a big party of tacos to say good bye to our honorable guests; maybe, next monday, if maharaja agree, Aravinda Prabhu will bring Dhanvantari Swami to meet the place, since they are traveling to Cueramaro.

PD: i have to admit that i felt like not valored by the devotees because every time Aravinda Prabhu would say something nice about the preaching in Queretaro, he would give the whole credit to Vanamali Prabhu and his wife Thakurani Sri Mataji; honestly, im allways feeling that i have put so much into this project since one year ago, so, when somebody speak nice about all other devotees participating in this service but me, i feel hurted. i know those are not the feelings of a servant, still, i felt that, Gurudeva, what can i do to change that desiree of prestige in my heart?

Thank you very much for being so kind with this selfish rascal.

Your aspiring to disciple:

Krsna-kirtana Dasa

HpS - AGTSP. Thank you for the nice news. Bhaktivinode Thakur says that if we can do our service our whole life and not be disturbed that no one ever notices us, that is self-realization.

In the Bible it says, When you do big fasts on religious days do not go our with a long sad face and let everyone know that you are fasting, doing austerities. When you do your fasts and austerities do them in private in your closet, and God who sees all things in private will reward you in private.

We can use our intelligence and see how much illegal sense gratification and fame we need at this point. We can be honest and tell Krsna, I'm still a fool, I need some of this, but also let me see how it is suffering not happiness.

Also, we may need some prestige for our service. Unless people know what we are doing how can they relate to us properly. So we can try to let people know what we have done, but not be violent about it and then let Krsna decide what he wants to do with our reputation.

O.K??

hare krsna maharaj,
Please accept my obeisances (may be not humble yet) at your feet
Jaya Srila Prabhupada

I have been reading letters of others devotees mentioning thier servics, concerns. I see my concerns at very different platform then them. One should not approach guru to solve petty things, but to get way to purpose of life. I hope my questions help  myself and others in solving the mystery of life.

i have intermettentily started reading canto 2. i think i should read atleast 3 times before i move ahead. rounds are ok. The communication with mother Urmila is helping a lot ( though we can not offer any help in her service) in establishing lost connection with Krsna

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This is in reference to letter http://www.hps.monkeywarrior.com/node/5314

you asked : "HpS - Well I can see her being disturbed with our picture, but what did Krsna every do to cause her distress?" Krsna has not done anything to her. whatever we have done is and had been problem. As you said "Of course, we may not come to the natural standard immediately, and to force it artificially will cause other problems". This had been problem. we practically dont know which standards to apply in our life. We tried to have non-onion-garlic diet in home for every one, eat only offered food, have regular offering. out enthusiasm turned in passion and fanaticimsm etc..

so she has  got negative emotional cues with ISK  (classes and altar(not with you)). All sufferings come back to her as flash back.

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on another note we remember your life ( as married men). You must have great  renouncing abilities when your wife and kid left you because of your adherence to the movement. Hats off to you !!!!
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all this suffering we tolerate with this perspective... " austerity/suffering  is there, only chocieis voluntary or involutanry ". i hope all these sufferings nullify my sinful actvities (which i have definitely done a lot in this life time itself).
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we suggested by you in previous letter.."Work toward good association of any kind. It is even worth risking economic situation to get good friends, no?"  yes you are correct...we are working towards that.....
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we did look on internet on "super cool liquid: .. it takes a moment for life to change....but as we understood there are many prequisite for that...
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thank you very much for being fixed up in Devotional Life.
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horse.

HpS - AGTSP. paoho.  We have to communicate with you a little about the NIOS work and Professor. It is all so amazing. Being in the material world means being in a prison. Have you every visited a prison. Is full of emotionally sick people. It has been tolerable for us. We have similar emotional stress to you, just different group. Nobody in this world is in an enviable state.

Thing is to learn how to have fun in the middle of the magic.

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,
    Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
    All glories to Guru parampara.

    Gurudev, We all are in Yatra and you are much much more ahead
    and you have left/put marks on the path so that we also reach to the destination by following
    those marks.

    Your every comments on letters are very precious for us, while, i have just collected 180 as of, from
    your letters. All are very very precious for me. I am just sharing your 10 comments below:

    1. Our beads are our worshipable Deity.

ASA - Bead bag like a Temple!

    2. Every moment is dying and nothing more. So, can we do it for Krsna? For His applause with His friends.
    3. Living in this material world is like driving Krsna to a party with Him in the front seat next to you
       in the rain. You have to be a little careful because of the rain and other drivers, but it doesn't require
       all your intelligence. Most of your attention is on the converstation that Krsna is having with Sridham.
    4. You are a loser. You have done nothing for anybody. You have nothing to show for your life!
    5. Whatever Krsna wants, that is our service. Whatever the Gopis, Srila Prabhupada want for Krsna, that is our service, eternally.
    6. Krsna doesn't waste anyone's austerities.
    7. Dukalayam asasvatam.  A place that Krsna guarantees will not work! We can never be happy here. We are perfectionists!
    8. If you want a nice husband, nice car, nice house, nice partys, nice friends, nice babies, then.... you are in the right place.
    9. Biggest way to dump the false ego is to help devotees, Karmis, do their service.
   10. Bad Japa is spiritual death.

   Your comments are like instructions or indications for us to atten our goal of life and you always live with me through your marks,
   instructions, indications and sayings.

   Thank you, Guru Dev for continous enlightening for truth.

your fallen servant,
Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - ASA --- We have to write letter for your second initiation. It is in our list!!!!     I hope we can hear at 9PM the things we say at 3AM.    The mode of ignorance and the mode of passion.

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,
    Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
    All glories to Guru parampara.

    Gurudev, Have attached, one of your good photo, which we like very much.

HpS - Yes, it is """mystical"""".  It was when we were staying in the B'cari Ashrama in Russia for one month for teaching Bh. Vaibhava.   They have big, thick, log building of two stories. In the Winter it is 50 degrees Celcious below zero so the logs get warm from the heat inside and then stay warm.

    Gurudev, To prepare SB and BG, have downloaded your lectures from Vedabase, again. Also downloaded, your lectures on Necture of instruction,

    Necture of devotion and a folder called various and few kirtan, sung by you.

    Preparing Android for frequent communication with you.

    Have collected around 180 your quetes, which i read frequently and get instruction.

    Hope to please you some day.

your fallen servant,
Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - Here it has been very hot. We will write in the DTC for you!!! !!      !!!!    

Hare Krsna Dear Gurudev,
    Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
    All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
    All glories to Guru parampara.

    We hope you are in good health and doing good.

    Please accept my sincerest apologies, that i could not have been any post on blog.

    After Delhi, I was in Vrandavan for long time (was working from Vrandavana), just returned on 25 May in Pune.
    Then IBM sent me for a workshop training for new Microsoft Technology. Tomorrow is the last day of the
     training.

    Gurudev, it is very sad for me, for your 43-hours traveling without lying down. Krsna loves you so much.

    Gurudev, i will go back again Vrandavan in the monthe of July 2nd week and will be back after Janmastami.
    Then will go again after Kartik. And then again in Feb 2016, when you will be back in Vrandavana.

     Trying to finish my responsibility for my parents as soon as possible, so that i can make avilable my selft for Krsna's servant of servant of servant. 

     Gurudev, how may i please you?

your fallen servant,
Girivaradhari-Gopal Das

HpS - AGTSP paoho.  We have two other letters from you!  We will look at them.  You are so fortunate to be able to visit Vrndavan so often. For us it costs $1500 and days of "exciting" travel.  You are pleasing to us if you are pleasing our Guru, Srila Prabhupada. Of course, basically that means good rounds and 4-principles. Then nice morning program and S A N K I R T A N.   Of course, there are so many ways to do Sankirtan.