Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, dear Gurumaharaja, Pamho,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and you!

I hope you're well and your sankirtan for Srila Prabhupada is going fine.

2:38 in the morning. Rounds almost done. Best ones before mangalartik.

I'm very excited and happy. Yesterday, Panihati festival was great. Then we went to the city and chanted for 2 hours,

I'm sorry I didn't write before. I'm helping again in temple administration. I'll be secretary for a while until they find another one. I hope soon, cause my main service is education. Now, I'm teaching 3 courses and studying 2. Giving class in the temple, etc. My health still needs improvement, but I feel great inside.

HpS - ASA ---  AGTSP paoho....    We are so happy to hear from you.   We all thought you might have been eaten by the great snake of time. Your Sadhana sounds enviable!

NIMSAR Congress for August is taking shape. Many details giving by our fine secretary Gandharva Prabhu.

We need to get together soon to talk about your participation in the Congress. We need your kindly help to invite people to participate with us in this great experience. We already talked to Mathuresh Prabhu and Baladeva Prabhu. They are very excited about their participation, other people as well.

ASA - Because of the one month of travel we did not read his Reports. It seems we should read them all today.

We need to talk about your peruvian tour also in order to allow us to help you a little bit.

It's a great honor working with you and other fine devotees like NIMSAR People and others.

Thank you very much for your advice and mercy to your humble (no much) servant

Laksmana-agraja das.

ASA - But you wanted to fix a time for a meeting, no????    We heard from Daffy Duck that you were considering Wednesday morning. Is that correct?  Seems good for us. Shall we include others, like Swami Sattva???  Who else wants to join?   ASA is a Funcional Family (Ie. nobody is in jail and everybody is talking to everybody else).

 Dear Guru Maharaj

please accept my respectfull obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupad 

First of all I apologize for not writing before, when we recieved your mail we had just arrived in the Hong Kong temple, the devotees there where very kind and they infomed us about Sun Wo Kong, the Chinesse Hanuman. Thank you for always showing us how to connect everything with Lord  Krishna  Lord Rama Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Their pastimes ans devotees, by your personal example of how to alway remember Krishna and never forget Him.

HpS - AGTSP!!!!     We apologize for not answering sooner. This letter arrived just before we left for India and Europe so we are only seeing it now. It seems exciting.

Right now we are in Beijing, my husband is working on some artistic presentations with a new devotee here, she is a singer, she met the devotees a few months ago, and came to Mayapur where we were introduced. Li Xin was very atracted by HH Krishna-sketra Maharaj, and  he suggested that we combine forces and prepare a concert on the Bagavad Gita and the Sri Isopanishad, for November-December, so we are here for that purpose now,  Li Xin also want me to dance for that program also. We had 3 presentation last month, the public is very receptive, we hope that it can continues this way, without the authorities realizing that we are presenting KC. There are many devotees here who are very kind, we see them 2 times a week and Premarasarnava pr gives them Mridanga lessons, they have a kirtan group and they perform in local theaters, we cannot go with them because of the political situation, but they are very happy and enthusiastic, Kirtan is being given to the masses, and this gives them life.  

We are also both helping Ananta Sarovara Mataji, with some transliteration work for Garga Samhita, canto 7, when she agreed to teach me , she said that she would help me for our help in return so this is the deal, she is translating for Danavir Goswami and we just help her with the tranlitaration and the word for word, it is a very sweet service we both fell very happy to have been given this as a method to study Sanskrit. About little Madhu-mangal and Aditi, we are stuck on the 5th verse of NOI. What should we do? wait untill everything is done and then send it to you or send you the chapters as they come along? Or send them to some devotees for proff reading and feedback? We did not hear from Prana pr yet, he must be busy. You asked about our Plan to go to Argentina, we are not fixed on anything yet, but we where thinking of going there after December, I have not met Premarasarnava pr's parent yet and they miss him a lot. The devotees in the temple keep asking him when he will return. 

 I hope that you are well and that  your trip to India is smooth, I feel very sorry that we wont be able to meet this time. Thank you Guru Maharaj for all your suport and inspiration, praying to always remain in your service your daughter Sukanya Sita dd. 

HpS - AGTSP.... Please chant Hare Krsna and be happy!   Please send what ever Sanskrit study material you have as soon as you can. Post it here in installments.  Yes, Prana is very busy.   We will go to Chile in January, maybe December.   We are just looking for people with whom we can engage in dialog about Srila Prabhupada's books.
When we were in Madrid we found maybe the last Spanish translation of Journey to the West and captured it for Miguel Polo in Lima. More news.

HpS - ASA -   AGTSP.  paoho.   We are sorry that we were not able to answer this letter earlier. It came just as we were leaving on this intense India, Europe tour.

Dear Gurudeva.

Accept my humble obeisances, All the glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We moved from Chosica, now we are living in Chaclacayo in a house that bought the parents in-law, last year. There they have offered us the airs (???) in the second floor, but they have to build… Karuna mayi has always desired to have something own, and Krsna Balaram have blessed her… I don’t know if we are going to stay there in the future, because Sita and Arjuna will study in Lima. So, at least, we will stay here all 2015…

HpS - Sounds very nice. Seems like it is a place with more trees and gardens. You can meet some neighbors and share your knowledge with them, no?

We are fine, getting used, we get up at 3 am, and we are doing mangal aratik with you in japa Joe and Mayapur Tv, Houston class, from 4:30 am, …

I have to keep traveling to Lima for work, everyday like 5:15 am, and I return between 5:30 and 7 pm…

Karuna and the guys, go to the temple because of their BS classes on Tuesday, with Lakshman Prabhu. And the same day Sita and Karuna do wreaths [garlands]… Sita is still in English, and with Arjuna have retaken to their classes of Violin (Sita) and Guitar (Arjuna). Also we go to the temple on Sundays, since Govinda and then we stay to help in what we can, especially in the kirtans, Bhajans, preaching and sometimes with Srimad Bhagavatam class.

Here we have internet (at home), so we will communicate with you more often.

Thank you so much for your association, we love you so much Gurudeva…

Your foolish disciple Anandamaya das

(Traducción Sita Lalita d.d.)

HpS - ASA ----  Such nice news. We hope that you can find a way to form a Hare Krsna co-operative for transportation to Lima, riding with other devotees, civilized people.   How is Krsna Consciousness changing the heart. That is the real thing. Revolution in our heart means revolution in the world.

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.