Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Hanumatpresaka Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.  All glories to Srila Prabhuada.

I have several questions that I am curious about.

If a fallen dog were aspiring for some time, following your instruction, 4-regs strictly, 16 rounds, mangala, etc., then either has sex with their wife not for procreation or -messes around in self-abuse- but afterward continue following, have they fallen down completely or is there still hope for them?  Does the 6 months until being a formal aspirant start from when they started following, or from after they fell down and continued following?

If a fallen dog was once renounced, in this life or previously, and they decide to marry, can they still attain the favor of Guru and Gauranga after falling down?  If someone could be renounced, but they have a desire to marry, are they foolish and fallen?  If someone has attachment to women, are they too fallen for initiation?  Any advice for thinking of Krishna 100% so that thoughts of women do not occur and attachment to them can go away?

If someone has severe pain or surgery or similar, is it a fall down to take pain medicine because it is also an intoxicant?

Many things are said about chanting while driving or in a car.  Is it okay to chant in a car, or are their circumstances where it is okay?

Any advice to help with thinking of others in a service mood instead of thinking selfishly?  Sometimes even we can do service for Krishna for our own benefit, with thoughts like "I will go to mangala arati for Guru Maharaja, because he instructed me to and to please him.  And because I very much want initiation so that I can begin spiritual life and begin trying to love Krishna and His servants."  That desire could be selfish, thinking of ourselves, our benefit, our purification, our advancement in Krishna consciousness, our relationship with Krishna, our ability to love Krishna due to having the seed of bhakti lata.  But I feel it may be bad to think of ourselves in that way.  Please give instruction on this point, is it better to approach all service thinking "I will go to mangala arati for Guru Maharaja, to please him and Gauranga in the association of His devotees." and not for ourselves as above?

How can we center our thoughts on serving others instead of ourselves?  I feel like my desire to serve Krishna and have a relationship with Him could be selfish and greedy.  Who am I to say I am qualified to serve Krishna, or His servant or even the servant of His servant?  How could I ever expect to please Him when no matter what I do is tiny compared to His reciprocation?  Anything I do feels insignificant, and I lament that I have material desires and do not feel qualified to serve.

"In the course of traversing the universal creation of Brahmā, some fortunate soul may receive the seed of bhakti-latā, the creeper of devotional service. This is all by the grace of guru and Kṛṣṇa." (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 19.151)

From this text we see that it is only by the grace of Guru and Krishna that we can receive the seed of bhakti-lata.  Not by our own efforts or desires.  Please kindly instruct and correct us so that we may have your grace, and so that we refrain from thinking it is by some effort of our own that we could possibly receive such mercy.

"Kṛṣṇa will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service."

Yes, as much as I am in anxiety that I cannot be qualified to serve, I do not doubt that Krishna will protect me and give me help to serve Him.  I feel enthusiastic to serve Him, but I am a fallen dog.

"Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once having begun, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success. Sometimes a person will give up his ordinary material engagements and out of sentiment take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and thus begin the preliminary execution of devotional service. Even if such an immature devotee falls down, there is no loss on his part. On the other hand, what is the gain of one who executes the prescribed duties according to his varṇa and āśrama but does not take to devotional service? Although a fallen devotee may take his next birth in a low family, his devotional service will nonetheless resume from where it left off."

This exerpt from NOI 3 is one I have refered to several times for solace.  We may have taken birth in a low family this time, we may have fallen down, but our service will resume.  It answers many of my questions above, but hearing submissively from Guru is also encouraging.  Please kindly instruct and correct our misconceptions.

I am also trying to be patient, but I struggle with patience.  Krishna seems so far away, even though He is so close.  I have not entered into His family yet.

Aspiring to be your servant,
Captain Blue Dog

ASA (Buck White) - AGTSP.  paoho.  Honey-chil' you got too many questions on yur scrambled brain!!!!   We just started scann'n them after numbr' six!

1) Yes, six months of following strictly you can be a FORMAL ASPIRANT.

Six months more first initiation.

ONe year more minimum mum mum and you can go on the altar and touch the Lord. . . Smoke a joint! Go to jail!... . .  Or at least you must follow the process for one year before you go back on the altar and touch the Deity.

This has practical effect.

If you get initiated, touch the Deities, and you are not ready then. Zing!   BiNg!!  Zong... Your material desires will INCREASE!   And you will go down in a ball of fire!
   So, fix you mind upon following.
And then send in shorter reports with a question for each one report!

O.K?      Colonel Pink Pig! !!!       YOur fallen servant.

Hare Krsna Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your mercy.

Maharaja, the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been 5-15 minutes late to Mangala arati. I find it harder to get up with the cold and with a temperature sensitivity due to health issues. I am thinking maybe I should try to get up closer to 3 AM instead of 3:30-3:45? If I still have this same job during Kartik, I will need to wake around 2:30-3 AM in order to chant Damodarastakam in the morning in the ashram, as normally that is after Guru Puja and I am at work at that time. Another problem I have had for the past year is only being able to rest 4 hours or less, sometimes 2-3 hours. I try to rest, but it takes an hour or two or more sometimes. 6 hours would be enough. Maybe someday 2 hours will be enough, but I am not there yet. I tend to go to Sandhya arati and afterward finish rounds if I haven't completed, or sometimes extra rounds or talking with devotees. Then after that the mind wants to keep going. My mentor advised to start winding down around 7:30 PM, not go to Sandhya, maybe read for an hour and bed by 8:30. Bed by 9 and sleep by 9:30 would make 3:30 AM work for waking.

               HpS - AGTSP.  "http://vedabase.com/en/sb/3/26/30" has a nice discussion about sleep.

I'm trying to manage my time between morning program until 6:30 AM, work 7-4, finish rounds, dinner, etc. As I find ways to manage time better, I hope to find more time to read... the mind has trouble focusing when reading often, but it is all so much nectar so I want to read more and more. So far I've read your book recommendations except for Prabhupada Lilamrta (LoB, NOI, Biography of Lord Chaitanya,Your Ever Well Wisher, and also re-read SoSR). I am starting on Srimad Bhagavatam and will shortly also start on Prabhupada Lilamrta, reading both side by side. I also may read a little Radha Damodara Vilasa in-between to hear of the pastimes of Their Lordships, though that isn't the focus of the book, Their pastimes are there and I want to hear.

Please forgive my lack of focus and attention on Krsna. I am failing so much but I am determined to try to improve, if by your mercy I am able. Gradually my mind is thinking less of other things, but it still has so many distractions. Somehow or other, it is my hope that by your mercy I will someday be able to think of Krsna cent percent of the time and no longer have disruptions of other thoughts.

I contacted the Houston temple and am working out arrangements for a place to stay. It may be a bit expensive for me with no ashram, but we will see how it works out. I hope to have your association soon! "The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success." CC Madhya 22.54

I am excited... Kartik is soon, Lord Damodara's month! I miss spending Kartik at Gita Nagari...

HpS - AGTSP. Paoho. Just getting a little of your association it seems that you have a very disturbed mental condition. You seem to be very intelligent, but maybe harrassed by ghostly influences from previous life. This is challenging, but it also have incredible results when you overcome this. So, keep looking for good local asociation of devotees who can advise you from personal contact with you.

            TODAS LAS GLORIAS, A SHILA PHABHUPADA!

            TODAS LAS GLORIAS, A RADHA Y KRISHNA!

 RECIBA MIS MÁS HUMILDES REVERENCIAS GURU MAJARAJA HANUMANPRESAKA SUAMI KI JAY!

            Querido MAHARAJ,vuelvo a decirle que LE ESTAMOS ESPERANDO MUCHO EN LA PAZ, perdone que no le he escrito hace mucho (más de un año). Sigo tratando de ir a Mayapur, de ir a España y de viajar libremente, ahora estoy esperando visa para mi hijito a España, creo que esta vez no hay problemas.

               HpS - All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Utiliza http://translate.google.com  para traducir a Espano. Yes, we recognized your name and remembered your restaurant, no? You are architect and your son has visa problems because of your separation from your husband. It is nice to hear from you.

Quiero ir a trabajar haciendo servicio, como usted sabe, creo que esta vez no habrá problemas, tengo mi casa en Madrid otros hijos que tienen un nuevo bebé y otro bebé que vendrá pronto. Luego tratare de ir a Mayapur (a Indía) cuando me establezca en Madrid.

                                 Sigo haciendo mi sadhana todos los días, también sigo con el curso de Backti Shastri con Prabu Omkesavaya. Sigo los 4 principios regularmente. Canto mis 16 rondas desde hace más de 2 años, todos los días a las 5 p.m. con algunas excepciones.

                       Como le digo al principio de esta carta le estamos esperando ansiosamente, para recibir sus bendiciones y poder iniciarme, me dijo en 6 meses hace 2 años, pero me han dicho que no vendrá siento muchísimo su separación, yo ya quisiera estar iniciada. Ojalá pueda verle en España.

HPS - ASA - I don't know when we will be coming to Spain, but we could be Diksa guru by letter for Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya, Krsna. You have to get recomendation and get to know the authorities in Spain. They are very nice people

                        En diciembre pasado vino Guru Maharaja YAYAPATAKA SWAMI, y quiso iniciarme pero yo dudé pues ya le he pedido refugio a usted hace más de 2 años, puedo iniciarme con otro Guru si así como esta vez, se presenta la oportunidad?

HpS - Yes, that's fine. In many perspectives we are taking initiation from Srila Prabhupada so any disciple of his can initiate you. Of course, yes there is the aspect of personal relationships, but I can be a Siksa guru, friend, advisor, just as well as the formal ISKCON Diksa guru. Sometimes there may be very specific relationships with the Diksa, but doesn't have to be. Everyone is different.

                        Maharaja por favor deme sus instrucciones y benciones para poder tener más SRADDHÁ, fé en Krishna. Quiero aceptar completamente como verdad todo lo que dice Krishna: ¨sarva-dharmán parityajya mám ekam saranam vraja¨ quiero entregarme completamente a Krishna pero no soy capaz, en mi mente siempre está presente la duda aunque crea que canto fielmente el mantra Hare Krishna, ¨sevonmuke hijihvadau suayam eva sphuraty adah¨. Siento que no soy capaz! Por eso le pido su ayuda querido Guru Maharaja.

           Reciba todo mi amor y admiración!

           Que Krishna lo bendiga SIEMPRE!!

          Su más humilde sirvienta!!

          Krishnita  devi dasi

HpS - De una manera es bueno utiliza Bhaktin Kristina hasta iniciacion. Aun si esta formalmente iniciada con el nombre de Krishna va ser Krishna Dasi. Y no hay un Krishnita, Krishna feminina, Krishnita Devi. (Draupadi aveces de llama Krishnaa).

Sraddha viene de comprehension. Mientras realiza los austeridades dictado por el Acharya, Srila Prabhupada, va a obtener conocimeinto experimentado. You will actually realize Krsna's presence. Then of course you will have faith in His existence and then what is His character.

BG.4.34  Then, scientifically adopt the austerities, do the experiments, that Srila Prabhupada is giving us. You have already adopted the most important, 16-nice rounds, 4-principles strictly so all you have to do is continue with these and faith will come.

Text 5 of Upadesamrta is wonderful to study to understand this!  How is your son?

HpS - AGTSP..  pfanrh.   Pero la carta no tiene contenido!!  <img alt="smiley" src="http://hps.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.gif" title="smiley" />

Querido y Recordado  Gurudev, por favor acepte mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias! todas las glorias a srila prabhupada!todas las glorias a sri sri radha madhana vihari!!

Espero se encuentre muy bien y feliz en conciencia de krsna. nosotros estamos bien, laborando. seguimos dedicados a la venta de joyas de acero quirurgico, franco hace muchos modelos y tambien compramos.yo me dedico a venderlos, me va muy bien. me gusta interactuar con la gente y esta actividad, me hace conocer mas la cultuira , costunmbres de la gente de aqui de corodba. es como hacer un estudio de mercado para asi saber como predicar de manera mas efctiva. espero podamos lograrlo con sus bendiciones. hay perosnas que me cuentan algo de su vida y creen y quieren saber mas sobre karma, reencarnacion, etcasi que solol tengo que tener paciencia y se que vamos a poder predicar mucho, que s mi gran anhelo y lo que me entusiasma.

le cuento que vino mi madre, estuvo casi dos smenas y me trajo a nuestros queridos krsna balarama, jaganatha ,baladeva y subadrita y gopalito chori que me reaglo una amiga de franco que fue a india, se llama sara, una persona muy avanzada espiritualmente con ella me comunico por correo, me hace algunas preguntas  y ella me ayuda tambien con su asociacion. ahora tenemos dos gopalitos en nuestro altar. sara tambien le regalo a franco radha y krsna, pero mi madre no pudo traerlos porque " eran muy grandes" dijo. la verdad con esta visita de mi madre me di cuenta de mis limites. mi madre tiene fobia a los hombres y en su corazon hay mucho resentmiento y envidia, asi que me di cuenta que por mas que la quiero ayudar, no puedo!!  si lo hago siento que me enredo, me hundo en un pozo oscuroo. acepte que venga paar que me traiga a krsnabalarama, pero tuvimos que tolerar que finja rspetarme y por debajop no me rspetaba como darle de comera  mi hijo galleta de la calle. nuestro hijo solo toma maha parsdam de krsna balarma y gopal, y nada mas que eso. Ademas ella siempre esrta sembrando discordia entre franco y yo , diciebndome coasas malas que franco " podria" hacer.  ahora decidimos que no permitiremos que  venga a vissitarnos de ahora en adelante. solo por correo comunicacion basica y nada mas.solo me queda pedirla krsnita por ella para que la ayude en su avanze espiritual.pero descubri que me hace daño su asociacion.estoy tratando de aprender a no mesclar mi compasion con sentimentalismo, le podria contar muchas cosas que me pasraon en peru por ser "compasiva" con mi padre o con ella, recuerdo que una vez  la madre de nathalia, me hizo acupuntura  por todo el cuerpo, porque me dolia demasiado la cabeza. estos son mis limites.

seguimos con nuestros proyectos con franco. vivimos en un barrio aprtado de la ciudad asi k no vamos mucho a los programas. ahora con la primavera empeazmos a asociarnos mas.

janmastami se celebro en el centro de predica, estuvo muy lindo hubo kirtan!!, pero tuvimos k irnos justos cunadop empezaba, para no llegra tarde.hubieron bhajans , con violin, de madre sushila, y p. valkya. la clase de prabhu nanda gopal y prasadam.

eztraño muchisimo la asociaion de los devotos, pero ahora al parecer krsnita me ha puesto algo alejada para conocerme mas a mi misma y resolver cosas que tenia dentro.atender a mis deidades me devuelve el entusiasmo y ensayar y gnerar proyectos, escuchar sus clases gurudev, los libros de srila prabhupada, le pido sus bendiciones para que podamos tener buena aosciacion!!

 una ultima noticia: esta la feria de libro en cordoba y los devotos tienen una mesa donde estan distribuyendo muchos libros!! sankirtan ki jay!!!

aspirando sinceramente a ser un verdadera discipula suya : radha japa prati jalpa dd.

pd. sigo cantando el nrshimha kavacha por usted y mi familia , ya me lo aprendi de memoria.

                    HpS - ASA - Muy bien.  Muy bien.....    Espero que clarificando bien su relacio con su Madre, familares. Ha pasado cosas similar para mi. En esta mundo material los relaciones materiales son muy complicados y hace tiempo cantando Hare Krsna, poco a poco resolver los. Llegamos a nuestra familia biologico despues de cientos de millones de vidas, entonces es un milagro si podemos adjustar todo entra solamente entre unos anos.

Adelantamos.

Tambien no deja al lado si Krsna envia un milagro, como puede vivir en un comunidad Vaisnava con templo de ISKCON todo.

En otro lado, si, a veces necisitamos tiempo solo como Vd dice.

Unos fotos de joyas de acero quirurgico????  Cuantos anos tiene su Bebe??

Reverencias Madre Sushila y todos. Sabado pasado en Rathayatra viene Etasa-krsna Das de Cordoba ya de Chicago!