Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna dear Gurudeva

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupda

Dear Gurumaharaja, 

I'm very happy to tell you that I've recently started my Bhakti-sastri course (at last!). It's something I've been waiting for a while. For now, Laksmana prabhu is giving me on line lessons but as soon Isabelle and I move to Chosica I'll engage the classroom group at the temple. Bhagavad-gita is the most intelligent, overwhelming and sharpest book I've ever read. It is going to be very nice to study it systematically. 

Gurudeva, I have a few questions concerning to some doubts. I hope you kindly give me an answer to them.

1. Our philosophy encourages congregational chanting of the Holy Name and association with the devotees, but our relation with Krsna is individual, now and forever. In which way an incorrect understanding of what association means could harm the development of this natural individual rasa with the Lord?

HpS - ASA --- I guess the answer would be 1) When the association is based on material things eg. we are associating because we want fame, prestige etc. from our "religious" association. Eg. I associate with devotees because I want to become President, Sannyasi and have comfortable accomodation, association with the opposite sex. 2) When the association is an improper mixture of mellows. The Gopis are good citizens of Vraja, they milk cows. They have their own friends and circle of associates within Vraja. They have their own unique relations with Krsna. See Krsna Book Chapter 21.
So, they, we associate with devotees who have a similar spiritual perspective. We don't associate with Karmis.
AND it is acintya-bheda-abheda-tattva. You must give you whole energy to your unique relation with Krsna giving up all concern for GBC, Guru etc. and as you do this then you will realize that you cannot devolop it without GBC, Guru. Also, quite inconceivably you must give 100% to Guru, GBC et al and if you do this then you will realize that you cannot serve them unless you have your own unique, secret relation with Krsna. Actually this question is the whole focus of our filosophy and goes on forever in its answer.
 

2. Pure devotional service means to serve God without any trace of selfishness or personal desire and free of karma and jñana yoga. Srila Prabhupada explains in NOD that karma yoga is performed in rituals and jñana yoga in philosophical speculation. This means that in the way we achieve Bhakti we leave our analytical approach to philosophy and practice of rituals?
HpS - No, Krsna stopped the Rasa-lila for Brahma-muhurta (Mangala arati). We do the rituals and use our intellects in the SERVICE of our Rasas with Krsna. We do them. They are wonderful, but ultimately in terms of the nature of Rasa. Actually this is explained in the BhSastri curriculum!

"Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself" (Isopanisad, Invocation). This phrase could refer to us, the Jivas. So, why do we need to engage whith the Complete Whole? What kind of feeling moves us towards God despite of being complete in ourselves? what kind of completeness is this?
HpS - I would say we "don't" have to engage with Krsna, in one sense. Prabhupada says Krsna is free to accept our service or not. But the devotees attitude is that he will never stop offering it, with love. So, yes the devotee is complete just like Krsna, although of course different.

I've been a little bit demanding with my wife's saddhana, can you please tell me up to which point we could be a raw example for others?

HpS - What does "raw" mean? Do you mean you are putting stress on her that doesn't let her get her rounds done, or you are putting pressure on her to get her rounds done.
1. We "put pressure on people" by preaching intelligently, nicely, humbly, to them.
2. If they don't, can't, listen then we preach by setting a good example!

Hoping you're doing well with your health and sankirtan

Your servant

Gandharva dasa

HpS - We have to establish some time for some online discussions. Also, you can certainly ask these questions to Siksa gurus like Virabahu, Bh. Bhusana Swami et al.

Thank you so much.

Hare Krishna Beloved and Esteemed Gurudeva!!!!

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

New adventures in bhurloka!!

 I feel that I have advanced, I was in patala loka but now in bhur loka. Of course Krishna in BG 8.15 describes this place as duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam and again in BG 9.33 he describes it as anityam asukhaṁ lokam, SP in the purport to this verse says "this world is temporary and full of miseries, not habitable for any sane gentleman." This is the perspective i always look to observe my life. I'm always tired, i feel like i dont have time to rest, but also i realize that most of the time I'm happy, thank you and SP,

_____'o__

Reentering grihastha asram with CMDD brought a new perspective in my life. Again i realized that is not easy, nor a solution but a shelter to advance spiritualy. Fortunately i really feel like that. My mind is a little bit more focused and the willing to make devotional service has increased. I feel honestly that I am where i supose to be. She gets along really well with manu and benji. And we are getting to know each other little by little in a cooperation mood.

Having your association is the biggest fortune i have in my life, I can see what a great personality you are gurudeva. Your good qualities are unlimited, wherever you are you look like a diamond between glass. Lately i have been participating in japa joe program and watching you via mayapur tv. Thank you gurudeva because your instructions are so clear, you set such a high standard example.You push me to reach to that state of conciousness. There is no limit to your Siksa!!!

Every two weeks i go to a radio show to speak about ayurveda, it is very popular, and one time i was there with a very famous doctor, Facundo Manes, he is a neurosurgeon, he operated the president of argentina Cristina Kirchner, he is the rector of a very renowned university and a neuroscientist as well. Now he wants to research about in which part of the brain God's idea is created. Anyway he wrote a book which is a best seller, he speaks about the brain and how to make it healthy. So he was making all these descripions about the brain and i realized he had no information about the mind so he couldnt explain things such as lust or violence from a biological point of view. Then after his interview i spoke with him and i told him, that he seemed to be an extremely clever man but he was too focused on the tree so he was losing perspective of the forest. And he humbly replied "yes you are right, what can i do to change this" and i suggested to research about the mind in works such as Bhagavad Gita As it is and  Carl Jung and the Philemon Foundation. Then i thought how great would be to have a book about the work you are doing in this field to preach to this kind of people.

Unfortunately i have to tell you that my sadhana is not as good as yours by a huge distance, but still i'm struggling to put it as first one priority. Actually most of the time i finish my rounds before going to bed or the next day sometimes. 

We are working this out with CMDD and making strategies to establish a strong FMP and increase the quality of our Japa.

On the other hand i sense I'm making big progress in the auto realization field. I'm observing with atention my feelings and the motto [motives] of my actions. So this allow me to go a little deeper in the process and not just a mechanical repetition.

i love ISKCON life Gurudeva!! 

Thank you for make it very clear to me,

Struggling to become your servant,

At your lotus feet,

Nikunja Bihari Das. 

HpS - ASA - Jaya. AGTSP. Paoho. The first result of devotional service is freedom from suffering. Then things becomr harmonious, auspicious, then . .  .    Very nice news.   We don't give all our strength to chanting 16-enthusiastic rounds because we haven't realized that it will improve all of our efforts, satisfy all of our desires in the most efficient way. As we put them first, then we willl realize the importance of the Japa Vrata and do it with more and more and more strength.

Hare Krsna!
Jay Srila Prabhupada!
In my previous letter I not offer my eternal humble obeisances to your lotus feet, please accept them now! Sorry for my demonic tendencies!

ys,
RMDD

HpS - ASA - We have not got lotus feet. Kind of original Carnation feet.

Hare Krishna
All Glories to SRI SRI GAURANGA NITYANANDA!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All Glories to you!
All Glories to devotees!

Dear Gurudeva: I hope your health is well. Thanks for Japa Joe :)
Sorry for not send letters in 2 months. 4 principles strictly ok. And rounds.. not so good i li-ll delayed, but firm compromise for recover them.
Gurudeva my life change a lot since you goes up to the plane to Chile! I found a job and it's ok, I gave maha-prasadam to my partners and some books to some of them.
       HpS - ASA -   Wonderful!     Krsna has arranged it for you???

I started to help to give the course "the spiritual scientist". Is for give eternal knowledge to people who is interested in develop spiritual life. I learn a lot about how to give Prabhupada's mercy.
I start again the Bhakti Sastri BG and NOD to give the exams and to go more deep.
Once a week I keep on with my service to cook to Adi Sri Sri Gauranga Nityananda of  Bs. As. Mandir.
Started to learn mrdanga. Only basic mantras.
Krsna send us a projecto to make a "maha mantra workshop" in a Yoga place. Please give your bless to us to can make it!!!
Bhakti Sundar has come to Arg., and with your authorization I asked to Him about Siksa, and he answered, Yes, he is pleased of be my Siksa Guru. Thanks Gurudeva for allowed it.

Gurudeva during your visit I asked to you about the qualities who have to take a devotee to be able for be a good husband. And you told me, I have to make it in the class and   I forgot. Please can u answer me here? Thank you!

    HpS - ASA --- I don't know what I said, but in general, as far as I understand, the first quality is that our marriage partner is a nice devotee.

Bong!   !       !       Then start to investigate the compatibility by interaction between our friends, family, associates and their f,f & a. It is a marriage of two communities, not two people. If you don't have f, f & a and neither does the candidate then we are not candidates for marriage. We are candidates for Sannyasa or bestial life.
 

And for finish, "stones and sticks" please tell me all my faults during you visit, I want to improve, and for that I need to know what things I can improve for other time.

   HpS - No specific problems. Even if there were why mention them. Your help was so nice, so much effort that we have to comment that your efforts were one of the principle features of our success in Argentina.
Yes, you listed so many occupations above, but for ladies, the main occupation is to be fixed on one man. That is natural. Of course, in Kali-yuga all the fathers, brothers, husbands, sons are full of faults. Ooof, but the one good quality is that Krsna himself agrees to be all of these in Kali-yuga, especially through His holy names. So associate with Him like that. Then Deity worship will naturally follow.

If Krsna wants, then He can empower someone in these VAD relations.

Gurudeva thanks for your causeless mercy, for come, for support  and for give spiritual inspiration. thanks for your [Monkey/Piggy's] dairy [diary] means a lot for me. Please give me the chance to be always engaged in the service of Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Sorry for all my mistakes and thanks for your patience.
Your servant, who want to improve,
Rati Manjari Devi Dasi.

HpS - ASA - Thanks for you letter. Is really great. Hope that you life becomes more and more exciting.

AGTSP

Please accept my humble obeisances

Hare Krsna Gurudev, i really sorry for not write you before, i´m without wifi at home, i know that´s not excuse enough . but anyway...maybe you remember me.

HpS - ASA - Bhaktin Fernanda???  Oh, yes, we remember you. You are the devotee who lives in Russian and has a herd of rain-deer.  Hmmmm, no, Chile!!!

I want to thank you for your last visit to Chile, and your trascendental stay in the festival of sankirtan in Santiago,Paseo Ahumada, another year.

4 principles are fine, and 16 rounds are ok  ALMOST every days, sorry, i go  improve it.

In this last months, i feel less enthusiastic in the espiritual life, maybe because some times i feel that i will never going to take initiation, i feel confused, anyway i dont want to give up the fight with maya. 
 My baby have 5 month, Syamasundar, i discovered that being mother is a natural service to me. Please,  bless him for he become a servant of Krsna.

HpS - How much does he weigh? He must be nice devotee!!
sorry, my english not so good.

trying to become your servant, 
Bhaktin Fernanda Leiva

HpS - How is are your other babies (Husband, Father)?  What is your regular schedule??