Letters to the editor

hare krsna maharaj, pamho, agtsp..

thank you very much for replying to our two letters in detail...
you once said the solution to illicit sex is deity worship..
now we have intreseting question to you...

in this video Srila Prabhupada  talks about deity worship, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNaUyWdJeZw&hd=1
1.
he gives example of letter box and iron box. because the letter box is authorized by govt hence the letter can reach miles away, but if one put letter in iron box, it will stay there..

2. another place SP says because the pictures resemble the description of Krsna. hence it is krsna, as krsna names, form, qualities are absolute

now my question 

--> if i buy an idol (lets say laddu gopal) from market and starts worshipping it, will it be called deity worship ? Generally i have seen in the temple there is "prana-prathistha" ceremony of idols, then they are worshipped as deities.

--> similarly how can i worship pictures? if prana prathistha is not done for it.

--> can i worship anything, which has form of krsna... then what about the Pamphlets which are distributed in temple counter, many of those pamphlets goes in to garbage, is that not offensive, to print pamphlets which ultimately goes to bin.

a good article on importance of deity worship
http://backtogodhead.in/deity-worship-not-idol-worship-but-ideal-worship-by-caitanya-carana-dasa/

regards,
harsh

 HpS- Jaya! AGTSP paoho. First chant Hare Krsna. Follow Lord Caitanya's instruction, example to chant a fixed number of rounds on Japa Mala. Read Prabhupada's books, all in association of devotees. Simple, healthy program. Then naturally, nama, rupa, we want to have a picture, statue of Krsna. He begins to reveal ourselves. It does not become Archana formally until the Pujari has second intitaiton. We can see the Archana being done by a 2nd intitited devotee and get benefit.
In the house, as we understand, it is more Pada sevanam at your level. It is O.K. have nice statue or picture of Krsna and offer little incense, flower, fragrance, lamp and regular food. 1. keep it clean, 2. make a regular service. 3. rituals. You will feel affecetion and gratitude from Krsna and protection. Then all the household activities can be focused on Krsna as owner of the house.
Yes, is offensive for pictures of Krsna to go in the trash, but if we try to minimize it then Lord Caitanya accepts responsibility.

This is what we have understood from what we have heard.

All glories to their lordships Sri Sri goura nitai 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada 

P.A.M.H.O. 

Dear gurudeva

first of all, I hope your health this well, and that your activities too.<img alt="yes" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/thumbs_up.png" title="yes" width="23" />

my report after a few months is as follows 

I chant my 16 rounds daily, my 4 regulative principles are ok, I read the book Krsna at night.

             ASA - AGTSP!!!!  So do we!

I worship my deities at home, I will not say that my spiritual life is perfect, because it is not, lol, there are days that ended rounds in the afternoon , or reading days I leave for other days (I like to read, so it is not repeated many times ) I think reading is easier some days, than these rounds. <img alt="blush" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/embarrassed_smile.png" title="blush" width="23" />

this last period I've been working, the work is a little tricky at times, time and distance, as I move my city to another  city some days of the week or weekends, which reduced a little temple visits, whenever possible I will visit their lordships in the temple, and I'm always in touch with friends and closest devotees, by media, internet, phone or temple. for now I'm in this, and in the near future shift to a more peaceful and just work in my city. Well lately I've been thinking about natural disasters, there are some places in the world that suffer many disasters of all types, wars, tornadoes, earthquakes, heavy rainfall, often causing many deaths.

I understand that each soul has a karma and pre-scrito duty in this world which we live experiences, good and bad, so, my question is, no physical territories that developed karma?, an example, countries, cities, towns, etc..?, independent that natural disasters are uncontrollable, it may be possible, that in places where there are more cases of natural disaster, adverse things happened in the past? or just karma is based on the spirit soul and not in physical territories?<img alt="frown" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/confused_smile.png" title="frown" width="23" />

         HpS - ASA - Your English is pretty good. THANK YOU, but few mistakes. Of course some places are spiritual, Mathura, Jagannatha Puri, Badrinatha. I can't remember Srila Prabhupada directly saying that citys have Karma but I think it is a fact. We calculate the birthday of a city to get its Karma. Karma of a person extends to a city.  See - CC Antya 3.146-164

good guru maharaja, this would be my report, I will be writing more often for more news, I'm always reading the blog that clarifies some doubts, and following on twitter also their activities. Always say goodbye, so grateful, for you, reading my reports and so sorry for my bad english.

my humble obeisances at your feet 

Your eternal servant 

Candrarekha devi dasi <img alt="blush" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/embarrassed_smile.png" title="blush" width="23" />

Santiago - Chile

ASA - No, pictures???

Hare Krishna Maharaja, PAMHO, AGTSP!

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Thank you for putting your instructions in such a clear way through the Guru Tattva link. Now I have a better understanding of how much I have to qualify myself in order to serve you.

I am chanting 16 good rounds almost every day with a few exceptions. If for some reason I didn’t complete them, I do them the next day. Some days I chant even more. 4 principles, well I am always struggling with sexual lust Maharaja. I am so fallen :(

It´s been almost 3 months since I came to Mexico City. Sankirtan is tough most of the time, especially with the wrong consciousness. I do buses most of the time but it gets to a point when I find myself talking mechanically. Books don’t go and I get anxious. I am trying not to forget praying to Krishna and remembering who the real controller is. I would like to develop that mood of prayer of the great Sankirtan devotees, which always protect them. I humbly ask for your blessings so I can keep on distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Now that I’m living on my own I find the attacks of Maya very disturbing. When I was living with the devotees I could control my mind better and I was somewhat regulated. Now it has become a real challenge. I am going to the programs but what I miss the most is the close relationship with the devotees by doing service together. Maybe staying in the temple one day of the week could help? :)

          ASA - AGTSP!  Certainly!!

Another subject that has been in my mind is authority. I still don’t have it clear who should be my authority in Mexico. Should this person by my Siksa Guru formally?

           ASA - There are Brahminical authoritys and Administrative authorities. The Goswamis are our ultimate Br. Author. and the GBC is our ultimate Adm authr. Upadesamrta will give you some idea how to relate to them. Of course, this is practical manifestation of purely spiritual authority within Varna-ashrama-dharma. Temple President can be more advanced devotee than one local Sannyasis but because of formal austerities the Sannyasi is given more formal respect.
You can have a practical relation in Adm. with your local Temple President???

Last month I earned my Hatha Yoga diploma. I’m starting next week in a nearby center. The idea is to introduce people to the Maha Mantra and distribute some books in the process while making some extra Laksmi. We are also having a class on Saturdays in the temple before the afternoon program. Donations are kept inside. Please give us your benediction to proceed with a right consciousness in this new program.

   ASA - Hare Krsna, Hare Rama!

Bhakti-Sastri is also going well. We just finished the first module. Very exciting :)

Please excuse my offenses,

Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Marco

 <img alt="smiley" height="23" src="http://hps.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png" title="smiley" width="23" /> - HpS - ASA ----  Come with us to the next letter!!

tlgsp pamhr

Hare Krishna su santidad espero la presente lo encuentre bien de salud y en buena compañia queria contarle un poco de mis actividades de servicio en el templo y en casa estamos volviendo a la adoraciond e la deidad, cantando rondas antes del mangal aratik y dediandonos a ayudar a los devotos en su servicio, es una manera de servirlos tambien, la verdad q siento mucha la presencia de mi Señor Nityananda en mi vida y la misericordia q me da por tan solo realizar un servicio para El gracias su santidad porq por su misericordia puedo hacer todo este avance espiritual.

la proxima semana realizaremos una ceremonia de fuego en mi casa para equilibrar todas las ubicaciones deacuerdo con el vastu invitare a algunos devotos para honrar prasad....nos visito su santidad Jayapataka Swami y su asociacion santa ayudo a mi mente a entender q el servicio esta mas alla d enuestro cuerpo el cual es tan delicado como fuerte a la vez.....

todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada su sirviente parama karuna das

HpS - ASA -- TlgaSP!.... Claro 16 rondas entusiastas, 4 principios estrictas, vamos a recibir buen inteligencia como actuar.

Tiene Kirtan cada manana y tarde?

"En su casa" es solo Vd or su Mama, Tia? Quienes otros?

Swamiji

AGTSP, PAMHO.Yes Maharaj It'me, aarmed with my bead bag and Isopanisad to fight off Maya

HpS - Maya is in for a real Peck of a Fight!

<p>Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,</p><p>Please accept our humble obeisances.</p><p>All glories to Srila Prabhupada!</p><p>Please accept our apologies for how silly long we take to write, respond, give updates. We are slowly trying to make improvements on this.</p><p>We were offered a teaching position at the Sammamish Vedic Cultural Center. It seems like a well organized school. This summer we have been proposed to give one week camps on Vedic Heroes, Art, and story time theater. Aja can be with us, and if we start teaching full time in September Aja will be provided free prasadam and preschool. We talked to Hari Vilas Prabhu, consulted with Balabadhra, Srinivasa and others. Hari Vilas says it is Krsnas arrangement since they need a teacher but give it a trial period. We will be living with a very nice devotee named Puja and her daughter Sanskriti who is 7. Hari Vilas advised no men are allowed in the house so if Nick comes he will have to stay with other male devotees on premises. This seems like a good opportunity compared to other options (living with parents, trying to find a job in Porttland with vegan preschool options, etc). We would like to seek your approval though before making any decisions, our car is packed and we could go anywhere of course at this point.</p><p>

           HpS - AGTSP paoho. You should have put "urgent" in the Subject Field. It seems very nice to us. Of course, the very best plan is to chant 16 enthusiastic rounds and follow four principles strictly. 

We are in contact with Nick and he has expressed wanting to support paying our rent but he cannot stop music obligations that are tied to previous girlfriend. We let him know he&#39;ll have to find a place first for us, make arrangements before we say no to Sammamish opportunity. Maha is of the opinion that legal divorce is okay since our desires are very different from one another. She had said I am better off for it. I am trying to remain detached and just concentrate on a few key devotional goals and motives. I am willing to be friends with Nick and be a support. He has expressed not seeing himself moving away from Portland.</p><p>Hoping &nbsp;this meets you in good health Maharaj.</p><p>Thankyou for tolerating us. Looking forward to your Pacific NW tour...!</p><p>Your aspiring servants,</p><p>Kamagayatri</p>

              HpS - ASA --- Again, simplest thing is to just accept. Nick is my husband. We are separated because of his weakness but let it go for a few years. Krsna can be my Father.