Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, dear Gurudeva, Pamho, AGTSP!

I am writing to inform you that I had a very good conversation with Atul krsna prabhu about Bhakti Vaibhava. He sent me all the information and I qualify to take a special exam as a long-time preacher (22). He also sent me a bank of questions for the exam. I explained him that I studied Canto 1 to 6 with you, even up to Canto 11, following your “tava pace pace” study guides, which, although they are not official documents, are of great value and splendidly illuminate the Bhaktivedanta purports. I sent the information to your WhatsApp, but you probably missed it.

I want to ask you a big favor, if you could give me some suggestions for taking this exam. It would be great if we could have a special session to discuss the topic. Please grant me that mercy. I know you have many issues to discuss, I still implore your mercy.

I told Atul prabhu that I have had students too, but the thing is that the exam is in English and first I want to qualify myself and then continue working on the issue of making Chosica official as a Bhakti Vaibhava center, so that I can officially train my students, old ones and create a new generation of students with all the requirements of the official course.

At this moment I have classes from Monday to Friday and also my service with you on Saturday mornings. I need time to concentrate on the topic of the Bhakti Vaibhava exam. Therefore, I think I will take it sometime in January of next year because in February I start all the courses I teach again.

I did not spread the news of this grace that Prabhu Atul is giving me, because the documentation and the conversation was private and I am not authorized to talk about this topic, I think.

Waiting for your prompt response to the topic, your servant says goodbye,

Laksmana-agraja das

HpS - Super. We fell on our head while walking to the shower in the dark this morning and our toe appears to be only swollen not broken.

Seems like our body will make it one more year without eye, skin, ear, hear surgery is we are careful, but generally it practical estimate that we will be moving to the next within 2024 unless we die before that.

I would suggest that you get a study partner and do the Bhakti-vaibhava God Father Diploma study with them as a review of Cantos one-six using the questions as a study guide.

Involve as many others as you can.

Give classes with your partner(s) on the material you are studying.

There are nice devotees like Karuna Krsna Das et al who speak enough English to join, no?

Thank you!

More news as you can.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Guru Maharaj, dandavat pranaam Gurudeva.          I am going to my home town Imphal (Manipur) on 8/11/2023 and expect to come back to Vrindavan in Feb.2024. This is for your kind information. And excuse me for not using "Blog" as this happens to be a new thing to me for this time. I feel it very sorry on my part.              Looking forward to your coming back to India - Vrindavan/Radhakund. I pray for your mercy, Gurudeva.    Hare Krishna.

HpS/ASA - Thank, agtSP, you! Thinking about you: What has happened to GBGD??

Thank you.

Take help from others and try to learn how to use this Blog.

We can use it in our next lifetime also.

Parrots carry news in Goloka!

2023 Nov. 8 is Ekadasi. Start your journey today!

Find some way to send news: Who are your teachers, partners and students in your Sankirtan.

16-nice rounds + 4-principles we are in touch!

Thank you!

😃

Hare Krishna, Maharaja, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances; all glories to Iskcon founder acharya-Srila Prabhupada; all glories to your good self for your ongoing service to our founder acharya.

I trust that all is going well with you in your devotional service.

HpS - Thank, agtSP, you for your association! Your trust is kind of like saying to Arjuna than you trust that all is going well during the battle of Kuruksetra, no? We are all getting shot my Maya's arrows. Perfect victory on one level does not seem possible in Kali-yuga.

Yet with divya drsti we can see that even the failures due to Kali yuga are orchestrated by Krsna.

I have been meaning to and wanting to write to you, but things have always gotten in the way; or else I find myself at a loss for words: feeling the need to say something, but not sure what to say, or how to say it, or why. But the need is there, just the same.

HpS - Ask your 'inner monkey' [🐒] to write.🙂

I think of my devotional service and how over the years I have tried to practice Krishna consciousness as best as I could.

There are times when I feel like a failure as a devotee because I am not out there performing some amazing service for Srila Prabhupada, such as opening up a temple, travelling and giving seminars in temples all over the world.

Is it just because of my worldly way of seeing things in life that I am so critical of my own devotional service?

I think about how the years have gone by, and I wonder how Krishna will regard me when it's my turn to leave this material body.

I wonder if I will be fortunate to have devotees assisting me at my own hour of passing, or if my death will be tragically sudden and without warning.

The Srimad Bhagavatam says that "with each rising and setting of the sun death comes closer for all of us."

Where is the guarantee that we will live to see another sunrise or another sunset? [Or another breath!]

In the Mahabharata Yuddhisthira Maharaja called it the greatest wonder of all: how we live each day as if somehow we will simply live on and on. I came to Krishna consciousness because I wanted to understand why I was born, why I have to die; fully convinced that God is there, though not knowing Him by His name as Krishna.

It's as if intuitively I knew that there had to be "something more" to life than simply existing for the sake of existence;

ASA - "Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life than This"a by Maurice Sendak. Some few, one in a thousand, have the same inquietude, no?

I just didn't know what that "something more" was, until I came to Krishna consciousness. I fell in love with Krishna consciousness because of learning these things: Now what shall I do???

I struggle with trying to find comfort outside of the physical association of devotees, and I wonder how it is that I find myself so distanced from the greater society of ISKCON, which I have come to love for so long, and now I feel so estranged from. One part of me says "I have been abandoned," whilst another part of me says "It's my fault because of choosing to keep away."

At other times I feel both are true. I am reminded of how one time Srila Prabhupada said "Everyday I was going to the docks to see when the next ship was going back to India."

So similarly, everyday I wonder if I'm doing the right thing in my own choices. I know that I can't compare to Srila Prabhupada, still, there is something about his experience that I can relate to. How he must have struggled; how can I expect anything less for myself?

Believing that Krishna knows my heart aids me. Confident that He knows my struggles and my sufferings, that He knows my strengths and my weaknesses, and that He knows how sincere and how duplicitous I am, provides a strange sense of comfort and security.

I can't really explain it, because there is so much internal conflict that I constantly undergo, and therefore I can't offer any explanation within the scope of my realizations.

I should close here, before I say things that I may regret, due to them being not proper because of wild speculations and offensive rhetoric.

I offer my deepest and most sincere humble respects to your grace, for you have given my wife and I shelter that we very likely don't deserve.

Still, you have saved us by being merciful to us in our greatest hours of anxieties.

Most certainly, without your kindness and mercy, we would be completely lost in maya. Even though I don't show it, I bow down to your lotus feet with great awe and reverence.

Your lowly servant,

Balabhadra dasa

HpS - Again. We experience things very similar to yourself. Even BIG devotees in the USA ISKCON Society feel lonely. It is our impersonal culture, and we are packaging it and selling it to everyone.

We are happy to get letters from you.

Join our Full Morning Service sometimes. It is 3.30AM for you, but sometimes you can join, no?

Visit Houston when we are there?

Contact five local devotees and see what you can do to help them in their service.

Work on making institutional changes in ISKCON?

Eg. There seems to be confusion about how Bhanki-bihari's properties and facilities are related to ISKCON.

We have some institutional adjustments that might be made.

😃

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.

HpS - AgtSP. Paoho/BW. We think we have lettuce feet and are aspiring for lotus feet.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you Guru Maharaja.

Firstly, I am thanking you very much for reading and responding my letter, and giving me your instructions – which are my life and soul. Whatever you ask me to do I will try to carry it out with utmost care.

Guru Maharaja, I regularly read your BLOG posts. But I don’t use Twitter. Recently I have joined KAPI DHVAJA Facebook group. I am not used to with the group, but I am learning it.

Guru Maharaja, His Holiness Bhakti Ananda Haridasa Goswami Maharaja is the main person whom I am associating with. Due to my job, I am little away from the in-person devotees association, but I regularly take association of devotees through phone. His Holiness Haridasa Maharaja frequently comes to our village and I always attend his programs at our village. I like reading Nectar of Instruction very much.

What other books of Srila Prabhupada, Guru Maharaja prefers me to read?

HpS - Reading Krsna book (with others) frequently??

I do preaching to my job colleagues and friend circles. As you instructed, whatever I read I will tell/preach to my colleagues and friend circles. 

Guru Maharaja, please kindly give me the strength for enabling carrying out your instructions. In whatever conditions of life, please give me service of your lotus feet.

When Guru Maharaja comes to Radhakund, please stay at my house also even for some days. If Guru Maharaja wants, please stay there eternally. I am humbly begging this from you Guru Maharaja. Hare Krishna.

Your humble servant

Manjuali Devi Dasi

Kaptanpur, Silchar, Assam, India

HpS - Jaya! Expect Krsna to give you good Siksa gurus who can be local friends.

Expect to make rapid progress, but also not solve all the problems in one day. Look at life of Prabhupada, how much determination he had. Also, see what success he had, is having!

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I've tried to make this report as short and precise as possible. We know the effort it takes to answer each blog post 🙏

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/1/106/ .

Since I went to India for the 1st time, many incredible things have happened. I travelled to New Vrajamandala with the idea of staying 2 months, but it turns out that a teacher was needed for the Gurukula. So I decided to take the seva. But before that, during summer vacation, I went to India again. Thanks to Bhadra Rupa Prabhu, I had the opportunity to study Hindustani classical music in Bhubaneswar (1 month) with Sangita Panda, daughter of the eldest Pandit in Odisha [Picture 1].

A few days before returning to Spain, I was informed that the Gurukula would be closed, due to its irregular situation, among other reasons. Even so, I returned to NV and organized a summer camp for the children with excursions, vaishnava education, music and drama [Picture 2].

ASA - Super Girl! Very nice. Such an interesting life.

Simultaneously, I was able to make short trips. A friend invited me to join the 'Erasmus program' which allows young devotees (18 - 30 years) to travel to different temples in the EU with all expenses paid. Thanks to this program, I travelled to ISKCON Almvik (Sweden) [Picture 3] and ISKCON Simhachalam (Germany) [Picture 4], where I participated in workshops about relationships between devotees, Career Dharma (given by Urmila dd), etc. I made great friendships with Matajis of my age.

Now, I'm in Bhaktivedanta Manor [Picture 5]. Krishna fulfilled my desire to experience ashram life and strengthen my sadhana. By visiting different ISKCON temples, you can get to know Srila Prabhupada more closely and feel grateful for everything he's done. It'd be great to have programs like this in Latin America.

HpS - It certainly would. It certainly will be!!

Finally, next month I'll travel to India again😅, but this time Tarangaksi dd and Devahuti will come. We want to organize a ceremony for Gauri dd's 6 months of departure and throw her ashes into a sacred river. We still don't know where... Vrindavan, Mayapur? Yamuna or Ganges?

HpS - Both nice.

Also, this time, I'd like to acquire my first deity, whom I could take on all the trips. Since I'm still brahmacarini and have no shelter but the Lord, I'd like to worship Him directly.

HpS - We are lucky to be born in Kali Yuga! In this age Lord is personally attentive to situation of children, women and old men. So, He is much more willing to be your friends and travel with you.

Of course, the more we can take advantage of DVAD: Brahmacari, Grhasta, V'prastha, S'yasa, we should try to do that also.

I feel attracted to Lord Nrisimha. When I visited Simhachalam, I felt inspired by the brahmacharis (boys and girls) who worship Him so reverentially [Picture 6]. Could I worship Prahalada-Nrisimha too?

HpS - Seems fine with me! Talk with some mature ladies and girls your age and situation.

Thank you so much for reading this letter.

Trying to be your disciple,

Rukmini Devi Dasi

HpS - More news as it occurs. You must be Journalist for ASA. Where is Sita?

Hare krishna 🙏

Por favor acepte mis más humildes reverencias, todas las glorias a Srila prabhupada, todas las glorias a usted....

Aproximadamente llevo casi 3 años que escucho sus clases...desde tiempos de pandemia, y tuve el gusto de haberlo conocido personalmente en ciudad de México en el mes de marzo 2023...

Gurumaharaja aquí en León Guanajuato no hay muchos devotos, sin embargo hay dos lugares de predica,dónde nos reunimos para cantar los santos nombres,leemos el bhagavad gita y el Srimad Bhagavatam...

Hace más de 7 años que conozco conciencia de krishna, conocí el maha mantra por una discipula de usted...su nombre es Jaya prema sakhi (Julia cuellar) ella me platicaba respecto a krishna,me decia que el era Dios, también me enseño a cantar el maha mantra, después comencé a acudir a las clases y festivales....

Uno de esos lugares que le mencioné es con prabhu isvacu, ahí es donde acudo frecuentemente,y algunas veces me conecto de manera virtual,otras ocasiones voy a una comunidad en cueramaro gto México.... Es la comunidad más cercana,ahí hay un templo y un poco más de devotos...

En la empresa donde laboro,cada que se me da la oportunidad les platico de krishna y aprovecho para regalar un libro..

Una humilde servidora..

Claudia García

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Hare Krishna 🙏

Please accept my most humble obeisances, all glories to Srila prabhupada, all glories to you....

I have been listening to his classes for approximately almost 3 years... since times of pandemic, and I had the pleasure of having met him personally in Mexico City in the month of March 2023...

Gurumaharaja, here in León Guanajuato there are not many devotees, however there are two preaching places, where we meet to chant the holy names, read the bhagavad gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam...

I have known Krishna Consciousness for more than 7 years. I learned about the Maha Mantra from one of your disciples...her name is Jaya Prema Sakhi (Julia Cuellar). She talked to me about Krishna and told me that he was God. She also taught me. to chant the maha mantra, then I started going to classes and festivals....

One of those places that I mentioned to you is with Prabhu Isvacu [Iksvaku], that is where I go frequently, and sometimes I connect virtually, other times I go to a community in Cueramaro Gto Mexico... It is the closest community, there is a temple and a little more devotees...

In the company where I work, every time I am given the opportunity I talk to them about Krishna and I take the opportunity to give away a book...

A humble servant...

Claudia Garcia

HpS/ASA - Thank you for this news. Just by seeing the smile, comportment, what to speak of their Kirtan and discussions of Krsna, people are benefitted.

Thank you.

This is happening from a previous life?

Who are your associates, family, work?

16-rounds/day?

4-principles?