Letters to the editor

Hare Krsna, dear Guru Maharaja

It's me, Germán, from Lima. I'm very glad to write you.

   HpS - ASA - AGTSP! We are very happy to hear from you!

The last couple of months have been very busy at work. I think I'm trying too hard, it's not good for my spiritual life. My sadhana is getting stronger but now I realize that I'm struggling meaningless. In the other hand I have a good wife, the books I read, the devotees, your instructions and specially, the Holy Name. I have taken the time to read, I finished the Srimad Bhagavatam's first canto and I'm in the middle of the Mahabharata, shortly before the beggining of the battle. The Srimad Bhagavatam is just fascinating. I discovered two great personalities: Bhismadeva and Vidura. The prayers of the first and the philosophical accuracy of the second have rocked my world. I'm loving The Mahabharata too. Yudhisthira Maharaja is such a person. Dharma is a difficult concept to understand, but all the through the depiction of this personality I'm starting to comprehend the meaning of this deep word. Luckily both books have left unanswered questions for which I humbly beg you to do so.

The first question is: Why if The Lord is absolute and perfect he owns an inferior and imperfect energy as Bahiranga Sakti? Is this true or we are the ones that are unable to perceive the perfection in this kind of God's manifestation?

 HpS - ASA - Go to "http://vedabase.com/en/iso/invocation" and then the paragraph starting, "All facilities are given to the small complete units ..."

The second question is related to SB 1,8,31. The most perfect relationship to wich we aspire with God is the one in wich the pure devotee 'forgets' or 'ignores' that Krishna is the Supreme Lord and treats Him as his or her son, for example? But where, in this rasa, resides Krishna's consciousness if we perceive the Lord not as God?

HpS - It is a little hard for us to understand Krsna's consciousness, but He also feels like He is the son of Mother Yasoda. A naughtly little butter thief. But He feels Her chastisement and full of love, there is no feeling of expliotation, so He is in that conscioussness that he has to do what mother says.

Dear Gurudeva, I hope not to bother you with my questions. I want to thank you in advance for your answers. 

Always hoping to serve you and wishing the best for your health.

Germán

     HpS - Very nice questions. Who also can answer these kind of questions in Lima? But we also like to answer a few!!!

We see you soon!

Hare Krisna, dear Gurudeva. Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I hope your’re fine in all aspects. By Krisna’s Mercy we are at 120% and happy, tired, so tired but happy, so happy.

We were distributed in February 564 books, and 1394 in March in the Temple. A reception-boutique was created in the Temple to receive to the guests. We were start to sell Radha-Govinda Candra’s Mahaprasadam from New Vrajamandala, and we tripled bread’s and cupcakes’ Prasadam selling. Some devotees cook Prasadam in their homes and bring it to sell it in the Temple, and we are selling all. Preaching program is very strong, all days during the week. The Ashram is full and we want open Matajis' Ashram in the apartment close to Temple, which is rented by Jaramara Hari Das.

Over 100 people coming to the Temple for have Prasadam during the weekend, and the Prasadam’s program has a good healthy from Monday to Friday. We are distributing about 40 Prasadam’s plates for Food for life program.

The Temple’s team is wonderful. They are many committed with the project and we would like to open a new Temple this year, if it’s possible. But we need to consolidate the team and the project.

Bhadra Vardhana Das and Sananda Devi Dasi are developing a devotee care program with Akrura Das’ help, and already we are implementing WIN-WIN agreement with the devotees.

Jayanta Das prabhu coming to the Temple. We miss him so much. We take a Humility and Sorry course by Gurú Prasad Swami the last Saturday. I think it can help to normalize the relationship between our varied communities. We want this. Time to time.

On other hand, Carcika and me are fine, in dialog. Sometimes up, other times a little down, but always in dialog. We have no many time for us, many service for Krisna and His devotees. Really we are trying to serve to Srila Prabhupada and devotees like you, Yadunandana Swami (Bhaktivedanta Institute) and many many others. Our sadhana well, Mungala Aratik all days except Sundays, we read all days. Me between 16 – 20 rounds per day, 4 principles, fighting.

The Carcika’s biologic clock is “Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg” and I “uuuuuuuuffffffffffffff!!!!!!!!!!!!”. One year ago I said her: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, 6 months ago I said her: “Noooooooooooooooooo”, 3 months ago I said her: “no”, 1 month ago I said her: “May be”, now I say her: ”It will be what Krisna wants”, I think in a 1 month more I’ll say her: “Ok, lets go to get a new devotee?”. I don’t want to be wrong. I know that family life is a tangle, but may be a possible devotee son can gives me the freedom from material illusion or I can give him a Vaisnava education to give him the freedom from material tangle. I don’t know. I’m a mess. Inside me I would like to be a Bhramacharya or Vanapastra, but I can’t yet. One side of my face is Grhasta, and the other one wants or I think it’s Bhramacharya or Vanapastra, or I would like it were so. I don’t know. What can I do?. The better gift I can give to my wife is one son, Vaisnava son. She deserves, but I’m an egoist. I suppose. I don’t know. Krisna knows.

If finally we want to have a child. What we must to do to let come a Vaisnava soul?.

This morning during  the Japa Joe, You give me a great surprise when you said us may be you come to Europe in a tour to do programs in the Universities. May be you can come to Spain and Madrid to develop some programs in de University. When finally do You come at Europe?. Do You know it yet?

And finally, in these days I’ll write bhakta Pablo Parikrama’s recommendation letter for his initiation. I asked him about following 4 principles and 16 rounds and everything is ok. I’ll send you the recommendation letter by email and I’ll post it in the blog too.

I don’t take you more time. Thank you so much for all.

Please, let me keep under Your Lotus feet in your service and Srila Prabhupada’s service too.

Your servant, Dandava Das.

 HpS - Jaya! AGTSP. Paoho. I edited the letter a little bit for clarity, no? Is nice letter. Thank you. Yes, having children is center of Grhastha Ashrama. Is normal. If one partner needs children, O.K. Krsna will help. You can pray for Bhakti-siddhanta Sarasvati to be your son. Ha!  Ha! Ha!

Then nobody in Spain would have any rest!

Just being friends is the first thing, no?

Visit to Europe? Vraja-mandala-parikrama. After so many years of regular travel now we are trying to settle down for last few years and write. We are learning a great deal about our body, mind, Ashrama. As that is becoming clear then we can make travel plans. That is second now. Unless we leave something is writing we are a disgrace to the Sannyasa ashrama.

We would come for the release of Dr. Bandhyopadyays second book with us. "The Contribution of Classical India to Making a Better World". Is inaugurated by former Justice of Supreme Court of India, two former Govenors of West Bengal, many university Presidents and is actually interesting and good book. It will be finished in June.

We miss Jayanta, Adi-rasa, Jara-mara, you, Jaga mohan, Muraru, Venu .........   RADHA GOVINDA CHANDRA, Nimai, Gundica and A L L  THE R E S P E C T ABLE LADIES. (Maite, Luis, Miche, Tirtha, Antonio, Jarikhanda... ... ... )... . 

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaja!!

todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!!todas las glorias a usted!!!, todas las glorias a los devotos!!!.

Seguimos en Barcelona, aqui con gundica, nimai y mas devotos, nosotros mantenemos nuestras 16 rondas y 4 principios cada dia, seguimos atendiendo los dias viernes y  1 domingo al mes a las deidades del templo;  cada dia adorando a Giriraja en  casa.

             HpS -ASA - AgtSP!!  Very nice. Ecstatic Temple

Desde que salimos del templo el Mangala Arati esta un poco desregulado. Estoy tratando de mejorar el canto de la japa, pido de sus bendiciones para cantarlas con mas atencion.

      HpS - Bhakti yoga is the yoga of progressive rules and regulations. You slowly slowly establish more rules for youself. They are eternal and you adjust them until your consciousness gets high enough to start taking advantage of Raganauaga-bhakti.

 Pushpa priya va muy bien con su embarazo, ya esta confirmado que es una Niña y tiene fecha probable de nacimiento para finales de mayo!!!.

              HpS - Jaya Radhe! 
 

hace 2 meses que  estoy trabajando en una clinica dental pintando y distribuyendo publicidad, por el momento no estoy distribuyendo libros pero quiero empezar nuevamente a hacerlo por las tardes que tengo libre.

muchas gracias por  inspirarnos cada dia.

sus  sirvientes gadadhara gosai das & pushpa priya devi dasi.

hare krishna!!

HpS - ASA - Muchas Gracias su carta. Como esta El Nimai, Gundica????  Otros???  Prema?

Nice photo.

Dear Hanumatpresaka Swami,

Please accept my respectful obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you are getting better.
Thanks for your DTC's, Kapi Dhvajas and tweeting those always inspire me a lot.
I think about You nowadays many times but i'm a lazy pig and just procrastinate the writing :(
It comes into my head everyday how much help i got from You.
Your words are in my mind and if i'm in a difficult situation i'm always can recall it.

Our life is very hard nowadays the sankirtana is very heavy here. The English people don't like reading and they are not appreciate spiritual things.
In addition i'm always sick nowadays. There is inflammation in my body. I try to cure it but it always comes back. It started in 2010 with a heavy hair loss and in the previous months i was ill several times. Nowadays there are complications of this inflammation. In the last months i had tendonitis in my leg and couldn't walk for 10 days, after that i had iritis for a week i felt somebody poured acid into my left eye and couldn't open it from the heavy pain and watering and now i have sinusitis and pneumonia and i haven't got voice. So the life is beautiful in the material world :)
But all in all i'm very happy in Krisna consciousness and i get so much strength from the chanting and reading.

I definitely need a full health check up but i don't have insurance and without it the consultations are very expensive. Nowadays we struggle to maintain ourselves so can't pay this.
Need to find a part time job or beside book distribution have to do something else e.g. sell prasadam and collect more money.
Actually the health check could be for free as well but Krsna has an other plan (or Maya)...
Your Godbrother (Tribhangananda Prabhu) who was the previous TP here proposed us to claim housing- and council tax benefit and with it we can get free medical treatment also. He arranged it for few devotees previously.
He asked the present TP to write us a paper that we are Iskcon voluntary workers and it's enough to the council.
But the leadership thought they will change the text of the form and it wasn't good for the Council so they rejected our claim. We appealed and finally they said we can get the benefit if we show them lots of paper about Iskcon and us. But the centre didn't help us so we gave up.
Krsna's plan or Maya's trick who knows....

Sometimes i feel i have to take part in the preaching an other way. By Lord Caitanya's mercy I was always good in the book distribution but nowadays i'm very inefficient.
Maybe Krsna tests my determination but after a year i feel myself totally useless here in England and i don't know what is Krisna's plan because the sankirtana is either very hard or i can't do it due to my sickness.

We do books directly and here almost everybody collect donation for drug prevention and supporting the mental problem people and sometimes they give a book for the giver.
First my mind tried to convince me it would be nice because this is an easy money but i don't want to do this. I did it when i was a brahmacarini because it was the TP's instruction but now i'm grihastha and i don't want to maintain myself from collecting money for non-existed things.

But anyway in Hungary would be worst. Here from a part time job (16 hours/week) people can pay the rent, the bills and the bhoga so everything.
The life is easier here financially.

I don't want to give up the book distribution but i'm sure i have to do something else beside it. We are thinking of prasadam making and distributing as well. These people are unable to accept spiritual things except the prasadam and the harinam and here nobody sells prasadam. So it can be a nice opportunity.

Maharaja, I would like to buy from your TPP book and would like to try distributing it here in England as well if it's possible. Can you give me infos about it? How many pages how much is it? etc...

           HpS - AGTSP paoho. Wow! Your body is fantastic! It is FORCING you onto the mental platform.

The TPP-CB's are photo copy of the hand written composition books. If want, just give me an address and Monkey and Piggy will mail them immediately!

Thank you very much for your supporting and help and sorry for my long and not so interesting letter!

All the best!

Your servant, Sri Radhe devi dasi

HpS - ASA -- Super letter. Super life. You are like in the battle of Kurukestra. You don't have to go back to Godhead, you are already there. Finding new ways of Sankirtan is like the Gopas finding new ways to promote Krsna amongst the Gopis.

All Glories to Sri Sri Radha Krishna!
All Glories to Sri Sri Gour Nitay!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All Glories to yooou! 

Please accept my sincere obeisances at your lotus feet, Maharaj. I hope your health is weell, and your entire personality also. 

Camila, Santiago-Chile, 20 years old, Social Work student. 
Rounds are O.K (they can be better, we are so sinful)
Principles are Perrfect. 

Well Maharaj, im writting you this letter cause I haven't feeling so good, Im with so many things in my mind...Well i left the service that i was doing in the temple, and also i don't assist to the temple .  I've been feeling so bad in that place, i don't know why, but i don't like it as usual. Im feeling so much anger, and I don't want to feel it, but its happening. I don't want to go there, cause Im offending, but there are so many things of devotees that I can't tolerate , I feel that I don't want to be in a place that promove love to God and to all living entities...and they aren't loving each others. Thoses things causes many noise inside me, inside my head and my heart. I really don't know what to do. I want to serve you, some day as a disciple, as a servant of you and Srila Prabhupada's mission (like, "formally"). But I don't know if i'm going to make it...i'm thinking about only have your instructions, because im like :" im never going  to be an iniciated devotee"... is so hard. I really trust in Krsna, I think that my faith isn't the problem ( or is it?) ... 

I don't want to bother you with this things, I was like : "should i send this letter?" like for two weeks. It seems that the only person who can help me is you...please, please help me Maharaj. And please, give me some instruction, i want to serve you. I want to make your instruction my life...

Thanks for all the things you do...for giving us your association all year. I bow at to the dust of your lotus  feet, again and again. 
Please excuse my bad english...and my offenses... :( 

               HpS - ASA -- Hmmm. AgtSP.  It is hard to give much in the way of details from such a great distance. We saw Amara-gauranga Das in Mayapura just a few months ago and he seemed to be promoting love of God, me, whoever he met.

I don't know the Temple atmosphere.

Are they following Prabhupada, four principles, Japa, Deity worship and Kirtan?

How do they match to Text Five of NoI???

Everyone is crazy or just 50%

All golry to Srila Prabhupada and all glory to Srila Prabhupada

Please accept my humbles obeisances

Dear Gurudeva: 

Chanting every day is my principal jab, but I have no every time a good please for do it some time we need find some hide please and another I do with good devotees in them houses. about  strictly follow the four principles I just can try to follow because some time I've eaten many product to I don't how this is maked, for example went I visit a Ranch, in Mante, I discovered that the piloncillo is making wit some animal tallow,and so many sugar is making with some animal becouse the sugarcane is cut and processed with some small animals that they live on the country.

and some times when I stay on the street many people smoking and send them smoke to me. and so i try to move from these please some time I cant do strictly, because some time sombady is talk to me, and on these way i try to follow strictly but everyday I'm discovering more and more details. I pray to every trouble can be exceeded, just by your mercy.

HpS - ASA -  AGTSP! paoho. Yes, we should try to avoid these details, but that we don't break principles in gross fashion, that is good.

I do not how to keep a efficient process, there are many service and me is so unqualified, I just try to study with devotees about Rupa siksa, Prabhupada biography, pada padma, and some aryas songs. I pray that I can do all Rigth.

your simple crew member Aniruddha Krsna Das

         HpS - ASA -- So nice to hear from you. What about the KRSNA book and Caitanya caritamrta reading in general???

Mother Yasoda could give her milk to Krsna or save his milk on the stove, but not both. Both services were good. Prabhupada says that a devotee is always confronted with these choices in spiritual life, which good service, but if he is sincere then Krsna from within will dictate what to do.