Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj!

Please accept our humble obeisances.  All glories and jaya Srila Prabhupada!

We are very sorry to hear about your tooth Maharaj.  So many nerve endings in the teeth.  We will pray that this pain ends soon for you.

HpS - ASA -- AGTSP!!  Well, we were able to just see it as "noise" rather than "pain" for a large part. We can see that the pain is giving your jaw, body, social impression, over to "noise". Get ready soon. We are all going to become noise.

Maharaj, things have been busy (thank Krsna for that).  I have been appointed through an emergency situation to be in charge of the 5th and 6th grade classroom.  I was teaching full time a month ago but now it is part time as a Composition, American History, Grammar and Literature teacher.  It has been amazing and a lot of hard work.  I have permission to now incorporate Vaishnava comparative studies the last 10 minutes of Literature and History (i.e., we study Figurative Language and thereafter look at Figurative Language in Suradasa's poems. In Literature we read about the life of impressionist painters and compare the paintings to Impressionist style paintings of Lord Caitanya made by no-name listed, pre-19th century Bengalis in the book  Birth of Kirtan!).  Everyone, including the parents, seem happy with this approach.  I feel more and more dependent on Krsna though!  I do not have my Masters in Education, so I have to really prove myself and my abilities (sincerity is there, but abilities to teach are developing as I practice the art of teaching).  Thank Krsna everyone is tolerant of me while I learn the ropes.

Sadhana has been okay.  I will get up between 6-7 every morning and chant as much as I can, get Aja ready, do some mangal arati. I am reading every day but it is all over the place: mostly to prepare material for Values class or Comparative Study.  

I have seen some successes this year in being able to give up previous material desires.  Simpler life, simpler housing situation, giving up non-devotee association (I was hanging on to some association of artists out of sentiment only, but now there is not as much need for this nor is there any time for this!)  I went out on books alone yesterday and now I do this every Saturday usually with a group.  Gunagrahi Maharaj was just here for a visit, and Maharaj explained that some material desires are hard to give up and sometimes impossible to give up for the time being.  For example, I was struggling with this idea of family getting together for Thanksgiving!  I still wanted to DO that, so I cooked for Nick's parents a prasadam feast.  I think this delegating of desires and transforming them into KC desires is going okay. But there are a thousand others in the deep mine of material desires the closer we get to sincerely performing Krsna Consciousness.  Somedays I am so overwhelmed I just need to write or play a silly game with Aja.  When is distraction healthy distraction Maharaj?  Should it always relate to Krsna Consciousness, even our distraction?

HpS - We hear that Srila Prabhupada told the devotees in Hawaii, that if it did not interfere with their service they could swim for 45-minutes every day.  Hmmm. Sometimes we just have to relax the mind, or get brain-strokes. Look for the most KC diversion you can get. Four principles is good standard.
I think it is really a matter of being sincere and seeing how much you have indulge the brain and body to keep them fit for service. Experience is a great teacher.

BUT, (and I know this is a big but) I know so much of my struggles are unnecessary.  I am speculating, but the situation with Nick seems to be Mayadevi's personal construct to detract me and simultaneously attract me to a devotional path.  My realization is that if I can go deeper into studying scriptures in a more regulative way and making this my life and soul, I would not be so torn up about the everyday calamities.  I want to ask you Maharaj how to develop this mood of absolute dependence on the scriptures.  I pray for it, but I am still so distracted.

   HpS - The Gopis didn't know how to read and write, Nanda Maharaja didn't know how. He would  hire some educated fool to do it for him. They would watch puppet shows about these things andd understand it all. Hour in the morning, hour in the evening. One standard. That can some with Aja, some with devotees. Some before breakfast.
How to eat better? Experiment with different diets.

I have a feeling this is my next step to not just being a normal person with normal tendencies towards laziness and lamenting.  It seems to be what separates a bhakta from a Vaishnava.

    HpS - It is one things that separates a Madhyama adhikari from and Uttama adhikari.  

I am now about to start my internship as well as a class on Evidence based counseling to finish my degree. Part of me does not even want to finish school (Haha, silly, I know!!) because I am already very busy with teaching 25 hours a week and keeping up with my sadhana and Aja. I am incredibly scared that I will lose my sadhana and service if I take this on.  Let me know if you have any advice!

HpS - Of course, don't do anything that doesn't first INCREASE your attachment to Japa-vraja and 4-principles and Full Morning Program. Krsna will send the Prasad if you do that.

I will ask Hari Vilas's and Madhava Chandra's as well.  You are very merciful for listening.  I hope, that maybe I can incorporate some Jungian approaches towards psycho-therapy into my practice.  I am looking forward to your paper on this.  

Your lowly servant,

Kamagayatri dd

HpS - We got our first response to our letter yesterday from Dr. Kitsikis. He forwarded it to the head of a big Turkish Sufi movement and said that he would have interest in what we are trying to do. That's all I hoped for, that our first approach to authorities would be re-directed to more appropriate people, then we can write more and more focused stuff!

Thank you four your news. Of course, the real focus seem to be getting up for Brahma-muhurta.

More news.

Hare krishna Maharaja!! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

In Madrid all is OK! The japa has arrived to the temple. I continue with my differents services, in this last period of time one devotee call Dhanesvara Prabhu arrives to Spain cause he wants to develop some activities in relation with the varna ashrama (now he is travelling to EEUU cause he must to do some arrengements with his visa), he will return in one month and he will start to work with the rural proyect Mother earth. I have had a lot association with him and he is very very nice! I love his classes and his point of view about the society.

HpS - AGTSP. Paoho. I think I know who he is. He is from USA? We are old friends!

From the last week one devotee calls Nitai and me are doing bhajan  in the street one day at the week, i would like to maintain this activity for a long time and if its possible i would like to improve more days at the week, but now one day at the week.

HpS - ! ! !!!!!

In the last weeks is more easy and sweet to chant japa at the morning, i hope not to lost this experience and improve it.

Thank you for all, Marcos.

(the mother of . . . calls me cause . . . . went out of his house some months ago and his family dont know anything about him. She says to give you her mail  cause she doesnt understand how this blog works, she says that she needs to talk with you the mail is . . .  .es she is very worried, please if its possible dont put in the public blog this last three lines)

HpS - Is better to put last three lines but remove the names. O.K. We write to her with copy to Dandava Das or Murari Das.  Thank you. We will mail the Jacobos beads tomorrow. Go ahead! Make YOUR circle Krsna conscioius!

HpS - AGTSP.  I think the cost of the transfer would be more than the cost of the postage. You can buy us a mango or some such nice thing to offer to Krsna when we get to Spain, no??

Hare Krishna Maharaja, please receive my humble obeisance, all the glories to Srila Prabhupada. I hope that when you receive this letter you are well and receiving all the blessings of Krishna.

I wrote a few weeks ago and tell you about Brahma muhurta. I told you that I was waking up at 7:30 am. Rising early has been always something very difficult to me and since you tell me about getting up 1-1/2 hours before down I have tryed to do it (in Spain the sunrise is at 8) . The last twesday finally I decided to wake up at 6 and I´m doing it. I feel very happy and by the moment it´s not difficult to me. Even I dont need a "siesta" at noon :) I think that is the mercy of Krishna. I´m chanting Sri Guru Astaka and Sri Nrisimha Pranam, then I do a Puja and offer a flower and incense, chant six rounds, read the Bhagavatam and offer breakfast to the Deities before going to work. I chant the rest of the rounds during the day. In the evening I use to read something too. Two days ago I finished the Science of realization and now I would like to begin a book that Yadunandana Maharaja recommended me about the chant of the Maha Mantra. I don´t remember the name. I think all this is helping me to have the mind fixed on Krishna and in my sadhana. Thank you Maharaja.
I have a question for you. When I get into Japajoe I see that all devotees call you Gurudev. I guess this is because they are initiated. I also would like to call you Gurudev and do it if you give me permission.

HpS - AGTSP!!!  Yes, I think it is O.K. if you understand that I am not presenting myself as any substitute for your relationship with Srila Prabhupada as your Guru and everybody's Guru in ISKCON.

I sent you a Japa Mala as my Siksa Guru Dandava das indicated to me for you please sing the first round if there is the possibility that one day I take initiation. Did you recieve it well?

HpS - Jaya! We got it and chanted on it like we did for Marco and were going to mail it back to Danava Das at Espiritu Santo address, but didn't want to do that until we heard that the first one had arrived properly. Did it? We asked your good self to investigate and report but I guess you didn't get that request.

Thank you very much in advance.

Greetings. Your servant.

Jacobo.

Hare Krsna!!!  So, so, so nice to hear from you! You have wonderful situation to purify yourself without limit and do amazing service. Go ahead!

Hare Krsna Guru-maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

All glories to Sri Caitanya's Harinama Sankirtana movement

Its nice for me to say im working really nice on my sadhana, waking up earlier when im in traveling sankirtan than when im in the temple... more motivation?

It has been 2 months full of adventure since the last letter... after you responded me, i got my visa aproved, still i was not so animated due to your words, i spoke with mother jambhavati and she told me your answer wasn't a complete no... that i just needed to prepare myself with a good plan of what was i going to do there... still i felt discoraged, so i spoke with Vanamali Prabhu and we thought it was better if i concentrate fully in SP marathon in order to collect a little laksmi to start my life program in Queretaro city, you remember in Gaura Purnime i told you we had 2 nama hatta programs per month in that city? now Guru Prasad Maharaja gave his blessings to start a congregational developmet program there, i will be supported and guided by Sinior devotees to serve in that issue and at the same time i start building my griha... i have a few projects wich will be acompanied with sankirtan as much as possible.

if its ok for you, we thought that could be nice to visit you next year when you go to somewhere in texas...

HpS - AGTSP - - -  We would like to be in Mexico right now. If you can avoid the bullets, it is a wonderful place. Everyone are natural devotees of Jagannatha....  In general, I guess we will be in Texas at the end of July for the North American Symposium on Education!  Krsna met the Brajavasis at Kuruksetra during the solar eclipse.

Gurudeva... there is also one question i need to know the answer, because my mind is very very offensive, how can i come to understand the position of an ISKCON guru who is accepting to initiate devotees who are not COMPLETELY recomended by the local authorities, and further more... proving that they dont know even how to put tilaka on themselves?

HpS - Hmmm.  As you are describing, would not be an ISKCON Guru. Sometimes ISKCON Gurus, like Prabhupada, accept people on the recomendation of others, older disciples without personally knowing the devotees. Prabhupada did that and also chastised the Temple Presidents for recommending people who weren't ready. Try to deal with it enthusiastically and correct the situation.

Just based in the authority they are following 4 principles and chanting 16 rounds by now...?

i fear for that question on my mind to be offensive towards a great devotee of The Lord.

Thank you for all your kindness Gurudeva.

Yours in service

Krsna-Kirtana Das

HpS - Yes, is difficult situation, and again, the exact same problem was there when Prabhupada was managing things also. Talk with local GBC Secretary. Talk with other administrative authorities. Try to arrange better situation. Sometimes it is also a fact that ISKCON "Gurus" deviate. Maharaja Bharata deviated!

You will be and ISKCON guru very soon.

Hare Krishna, querido Gurudeva, como esta?

Porfavor acepte mis reverencias, AGT Srila Prabhupada.

Disculpe por la terdanza en escribir.. no tenia nada para decir, hubo mucha actividad.

Queria informarle que estoy mejorando, y me siento bien, me siento asi porque por fin se lo que tengo que hacer en cuanto a mi servicio.Y esto permitio dejar tonterias a un lado. Gustos superiores ..eso es lo que necesito para dejar los inferiores. Estoy entusiasmada ahora que el panorama esta mas claro.Yo sabia que debia estudiar arquitectura pero hay tanto para hacer dentro de la arquitectura que no sabia que serviria en CK... pense que esa respuesta llegaria mucho mas adelante pero Krishna nos ayudo muy rapido..entonces, dentro de la arquitectura , descubri que puedo servir en la rama educativa, crear nuevos proyectos para niños, y mas... pero no puedo adelantarme ahora, solo le doi una basta idea de lo que puedo hacer.Me queda un largo trecho ,pero con mi japa y los principios ..mas los devotos es solo una cuestion de saber por donde ir y se van a dar las cosas para que se realicen. 

Este año fue muy dificil para mi, ahora esta clamandose..y se vienen deciciones un poco fuertes, por ejemplo tengo que mudarme  a cordoba capital.. necesito estar mas cerca de los devotos.. sino asi no voy a poder, ademas pierdo la vida esperando el colectivo..quita mucho tiempo.Le pido su proteccion para eso..

Mi japa ;16 rondas estan bien, y mis 4 principios tambien.Eso es lo mas importante, sino no podria hacer nada..

Mis calificaciones son buenas.. no me lo esperaba, 80 %.. si puedo tener buenas calificaciones.. mejor.Pero tengo en cuenta su consejo por si las cosas se complican!.. 

Por lo que hace unos meses le conte por mail.. recuerda que djo que tal vez lo solucionaria en 20 años ... bueno Gurudeva lamento mucho tener que haberle contado eso, fue muy debil de mi parte, tube que ir en contra de mi ego para poder hacerlo.. pero fue bueno .. sirvio. Puedo asegurarle ahora que estube trabajando en eso, y como usted siempre dice; hay cosas que no tienen solucion pero las aprendemos a tolerar..

No hicieron falta 20 años, los recelos ;confusiones y recuerdos se calmaron y se transformaron en compasion y amor, y no hay solucion pero hay una verdadera tolerancia.. es decir que ya no hay nada que tolerar, puedo comprenderlo ..gracias . Siento que mi mente esta despejada . Queria agradecerle por completo,  no hay nada mejor que develarle la mente a un devoto como usted..espero siempre tener esa suerte.

Querido Gurudeva , nos vemos pronto.. los esperamos entusiasmados , estamos trabajando juntos para su llegada.. muy lindo, gracias tambien.

Yamuna Tiravana dd

HpS - ASA - Jaya!   TlgaSP!!!!  Gracias su carta. Si, necesita asociacion de devotos. Adjustar como Vd. tiene!!!!    Nos vemos en BsAs??