Letters to the editor

HK Maharaj! PAMHO AGSTP!

All glories to Sri Sri Guru And Gauranga!

how are you? How’s your health been? Do you feel better of those headaches you have had?

HpS - AgtSP. Almost no head ache now. But as we write last letter we are getting headache. 😁

Eyes burn a lot even though the pollen level is low. Maybe is the electric heater. It is old.

Well, body has small rashes growing everywhere. That is old age.

Body falling apart to become part of a new body.

Well here everything’s going alright and good, keeping my sadhana, waking up for mangala arati almost every day, I’ve found out that doing some physical exercise at least some days a week I can keep my continuity of waking up early, and it’s another way to cope with stress.

HpS - So much to learn!

The other day I was reading in SB regarding sense gratification, which Prabhupada compares it with salt and says that we need not too much nor too few, but in the right amount it serves the Krishna conciousness process, and that illuminated me, sometimes I was being to hard with myself, pushing me too much toward “success” in the spiritual path, now I’m learning that for instance having a tastier meal a week, or two, softens my heart, always trying to make it healthy.

HpS - Yes. Not to much, but also not to little.

I’m reading some self-help books, like Atomic Habits, that one is really worth it, I’m learning a lot about how to keep growing as a person, developing good habits, leaving the bad ones behind, plus de author is really inspiring.

I’m learning also about how to raise my daughter without or with minimum electronic screens exposure, got myself a book about that and it’s really interesting.

HpS - We remember a Vastu man said, have one plant for every electronic device in the house.

Maharaj I’m having a great time listening to your classes and remembering them :)

We have a playlist of them at a YouTube channel called Comunidad Vaishnava, and well there are tons of your preachings there.

HpS - Hope they lead people to 1,000 tons of Srila Prabhupada's classes!

I have a little question for you,

I’m reading about Brahma in the 3rd canto,

Prabhupada says he’s tri-kala-jña,

and I remember you said that he can tell the future more because of his intelligence than of his spiritual knowledge,

and I was wondering if the same logic applies to the present and past time knowledge.

HpS - This is our understanding from reading about him. As we remember, Srila Prabhupada said that he is almost like the super soul.

I don't know how much is because of his Buddhi, intelligence, or because of his inspiration from the Paramatma, Ksirodakazayi visnu.

Must be different for the purity of different Brahmas.

Well more than 6 months already elapsed since I’m chanting 16 rounds a day and following the 4 regulative principles, so you said I could formally ask you for spiritual shelter, so that’s what I’m humbly requesting you :)

Well, hope you are well Maharaj :))

your servant,

Federico

HpS - I hope I said that you could ask an ISKCON guru for Diksa. 😃

We are just too old to do the service of Diksa any more.

It is very stressful for us.

Yet there are so many "young people" doing it now.

Of course, Yadu nandana Swami in Spain is wonderful even for Sannyasa guru.

So many.

I have my individual ideas about Diksa and everything.

We are all eternal individuals.

Siksa guru we can hope to be.

What do you think?

Anyone to act as Diksa and also a Siksa guru all under the shelter of your Sampradaya Acharya and intimate friend, Srila Prabhupada?

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you Guru Maharaja.

Guru Maharaja, I am Manjuali Devi Dasi from Kaptanpur, Silchar, your disciple.

HpS - Thank you for writing. I hope our Blog posts, Twitter, Kapi Dhvaja have been reaching you and you know our working and limits.

It is so nice to finally be able to read this letter.

Since quite a long time ago I have not been communicating with you. Please kindly forgive me for that. I will be writing to you regularly from this time onwards. Thank you very much for your kind visit to my house and purifying our Kaptanpur village at Silchar with your holy presence in January this year.

We are praying to Sri Sri Radha Govindaji for your good health and visit to our village again and again.

We are eagerly waiting for your coming back to our village again in the near future. I have purchased a small house at Radhakund near Sripad Maharaja’s Samadhi Mandir. If you are coming to India and planning to stay at Radhakund, please kindly use that house. It’s a new house and one-story building (ground floor + first floor). Please kindly accept this humble offering of mine, Guru Maharaja.

HpS - We have been staying with Krsna svarupa Das from Assam, in his similar house in Par Colony, just 8-minutes from The Kunda.

Now for long time we are back in the West.

We hope to stay at Radha kunda or wherever we can have service under Srila Prabhupada's feet.

Guru Maharaja, please kindly forgive me for whatever offences I have committed to you and am going to commit in the future also because of my foolishness, considering me a stupid and lowly servant of yours.

I am not married yet and staying alone. And I have a small government job. Most percentage of the salary I get every month from my job (even if it’s a meagre amount), I spend it for serving the Vaisnavas.

Some part of the salary I save it in the form of insurance.

Guru Maharaja, I have no devotion to Guru and Krishna.

Please guide me so that in this lifetime I be able to go back home, back to Godhead.

HpS - You already have gone back to Godhead. Writing and reading these letters is the only Godhead, Godhood. You just have to increase, perfect this service, and the others related to it.

Guru Maharaja, what kind of sadhana and services I should do to please you most? What services a devotee should render to please Guru and Vaisnavas most? And how should I carry out my day-to-day activities to please you, Guru Maharaja? Please kindly guide me on these points.

HpS - With what devotees you have association? In your village?

What books of Srila Prabhupada do you like to read?

Even a little bit some times.

One paragraph. Then some more later.

Gradually finish one paragraph.

Tell other people (at work) about the story. Tell them it is the story of one person you know.

Because of my foolishness and stupidity, if I am offending you again and again, then please forgive me again and again Guru Maharaja. I am always seeking the dust of your lotus feet. I will be eagerly waiting for your reply. Hope to see you soon Guru Maharaja.

Hare Krishna.

Your humble servant

Manjuali Devi Dasi

Kaptanpur, Silchar, Assam, India

Whatsapp/Mobile No. - +91-8136078925

HpS - Basically chant 16-nice rounds daily and follow the 4-principles strictly and success is guaranteed. Radha and Krsn and all the Gopis will be able to remind you what important service you were created to do.

Hare Krsna, AGTSP

please accept my humble obeisances.

Narottama reporting from the principal base.

And yes, Krsna is our

•Friend

•counselor

•general

•And more or not?

HpS - To we demons He is death personified!

It's a really good idea what you propose and my daily schedule is:

wake op to 5 am then bath dressing and go to mangal arati.

Then canting one round (most of it aprox 13 every morning) then guru vandhana.

Then take the breakfast and chant the few that left, around the rest of the day.

Then study whith devaki or mitravinda (10 am to 1 pm) an then come the lunch after that we have an hour to rest an the we have work in the fields (mostly just put some water in some plants, others times the work is harder but i like it) then we take a bath and go to study (4:30 to 6 pm) an the eat for last time.

And then we rest until the next day.

HpS - Wow. AgtSP. When I hear this schedule I think of the poor black people in Africa, who have to sneak to the well to get water each day and try to avoid being raped by enemy soldiers. We are so fortunate.

Is a very good one, I hope to keep many things as they are for the rest of my life, what do you think about this?

HpS - Of course, it is great, yet don't forget that we are trying 'kirtaniya sada harih', chanting Mantra, songs, discussing Krsna with as many people as we can.

Yoga is hot Yoga until you give it away!

You will advance.

You will become great Saint like Visnupriya, Lord Caitanya, by the mercy of Lord Nityananda and the previous Acharya.

Please accept my respectful obeisances, dear Gurudeva.

I'm sorry I don't report frequently because my service is little.

HpS/ASA - Sorry we can't respond sooner! So nice to hear from you!

They say that a person's thoughts are more numerous than the waves of the sea.

I remember the explanation of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu when he was talking to the Mayavadi philosophers about the effects of chanting the holy name and he said:

"That holy name of the Lord sometimes makes me sing and dance, and therefore I sing and dance. Please don't I think I'm doing it on purpose. I'm doing it automatically". CC.Adi 7.96

Sorry for such a long introduction.

Reporting that we were fortunate to attend the first Sadhu Sanga fest in Mexico organized by H. H. Indrayumna Swami just 40 minutes from where we live in Tepoztlan.

We attended Mangal Aratik and had the opportunity to associate with many devotees from various parts of the world: Chaturatma Das, Radhikamohan Das, Amala Harinam Das.

The classes, the kirtans, the prasad and the place everything was wonderful,

I was able to distribute about:

• 5-Tava Pache Pache,
• 1-BG and
• 2-medium books at the festival.

On the other hand, in my small traveling Sankirtan of the last 3 months I distributed:

• 50 Bhagavad Gitas Big and
• 120 medium books.

The most important was the Bhagavad-gita that the president of Tepoztlan David Demesa took.

If I could count out of 1600 people interviewed: 4 mentioned: "this book is by Prabhupada, I have read Prabhupada". 20 they say: "I have already read it, it is good", but they do not mention the author, there are very few people who have read Prabhupada, seeing 4 out of 1600 is extremely dazzling!

Apparently the Mayan storm is blowing very hard and there is a lack of strong captains and ships. We will continue searching for Sita!.

I am grateful and feel very happy for your blessings.

This is my litle report.

He concluded that we would like the family from Mexico to visit Tepoztlan, it would be a great joy and happiness to receive it, and there is a lot of Mexican food here to discover.

It is the place where Quetzalcoatl was born and there are many pilgrimages of spiritual seekers.

We would have very nice programs, many monkeys are willing to work.

Always grateful and asking forgiveness for my offenses his eternal and furry servant,

Sacinandan Das.

All glories to Guru and Gauranga!

HpS - ASA -- In many ways you are Guru to all of us. How is your 'better half', esteemed wife?

Mother?

Neighbors???

We hope that people start coming to you as a result of your Sankirtan Yajna asking how to distribute books themselves?

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/7/3/

Thank you!!! Let us look at one more letter.

It, the Sun, is as 6.47PM. Sun sets here now at 6PM.

We have nice cabanya. All alone. No one in the entire city to visit or join us.

😃

Sannyasa dharma, but we have you.

Thank you.

Any more furniture construction?

Hare Krsna beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, PAMHO

As you may have noticed, I did not attend the FMP this week.

It has been a very intense week, I teach in 4 different places. 2 virtual, 2 in person. This year my job search was a little complicated. I am in the Saturn period and on top of that, being retrograde, everything is slower for me. I have to struggle a lot during this period.

Ulysses' recovery has been slow and stressful. Being so strong and intelligent, he managed to get the cure and ate it. It could have given him intestinal obstruction. My character is more irritable than usual. I do not have time for anything. I have to make a change for next year.

My Sadhana has been affected. I lead the FMP 3-Sundays in a row and my brother Parasurama Das, the last Sunday of the month, I would like to leave a request on the Blog. Is there any devotee who would like to take a Sunday to lead the morning program? Directing 3-Sundays in a row for me is a lot because I also teach classes on Sundays. I work from Monday to Sunday.

I feel ashamed for not being able to do more for my spiritual life right now.

I missed the all days when I just work four hours because my father supported me. Ja Ja Ja!

I had a photo of that.

Gurudeva this week I will join the FMP, I promise

So, see you tomorrow

Thanks for all your support and inspiration

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

HpS/ASA - Thank you. AgtSP.

I cannot give advice to the Pandavas, "Oh, just chant 'Hare Krsna', and be happy". 😐

Yet, I always remember that Srila Prabhupada said, 'Engage full time in hearing and chanting, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Isopanisad, Brahma-samhita. We will supply the Prasada, but ... you can't do it. So engage in hearing and chanting as much as you can, then do whatever you can do for Krsna. Not dog hard, nicely'.

So, try to catch hold of Captain Krsna's direction and move into cooler professional work?

Specifically, Mitravinda Devi Dasi has been organizing the Kirtan Leader list, so we hope she see this and can help.

You do it once a month?

Respects to your Sister and your Dog!!

😎

👧

/ 🐶

.

.

.

Thank you!

.

(Translated by Google)

Hare Krsna, Gurudev.

Please accept my humble and respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you.

Here Deva Vrata [Daaas] 🙂

writes to you from the mountains of Córdoba, Argentina.

How are you?

HpS - jivera svarupa haya, krsnera nitya das. 🐵

💪

💪

If you are with Krsna and taking refuge in Srila Prabhupada you can never be wrong... so... it is a fact that you are fine.

HpS/ASA - KK//HH . . . '@'pop~

You are an example for me.

HpS - Of evil, vanity, sloth, arrogance, conceit, cunning?

An example that is too high, that sometimes even overwhelms me, that you are someone so pure, generous, kind, funny, honest, determined, dedicated, etc. etc etc....

and me, 1% of all that and 99% of everything opposite...

HpS - AgtSP!!

I hope it is not too pessimistic a letter. I'm going to try to make it realistic.

I'm sorry to say (and sometimes I even repress saying it), that I feel unmotivated in life. It's somewhat repetitive. I have even told you a little about it in previous letters.

Sometimes, I lack drive and enthusiasm to live. I don't know where to get it from.

Daily practice, philosophy, preaching, everything I do, is not enough for me to feel happy. Why is this happening?

HpS/ASA - Following 4-principles? That should eliminate 90% of your distress. Of course, we take too much sugar and that turns to wine in the blood, no? So have to follow four principles strrrrict-ly.

We are making progress.

I am just the same.

Unmotivated. . .

... but in some respects we must just make our own choices. Am I going to turn to Gopal and His friends?

This is our situation: https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/8/#bb6003 ?

Have you come to the neutral stage where you are no longer seduced by The Black Witch, but not yet come to Spontaneous Raga anuga Bhakti?

NoI 7?

. . . You are not motivated any time in the day?

We are motivated at 2AM in the morning after a good sleep, and other times. Some other times we can barely move... 😞

Sometimes it is not that we are tired, we are thirsty, or suffocating. Just a biological reaction of depressed senses, mind, and we identify with it.

Get up!

Wash your clothes!

Trim your garden!

Hari Bolo! Chant One Mantra out loud with your arms raised.

Without living with you in your specific situation I can't give too much specific advice. Get local advisors, friends.

Yet above are some general thoughts, and specific things we do.

We are motivated to read this letter and write, because you WhatsApped us and we see you daily iin the FMS!

https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/antya/20/47/

"Iskcon is an uninspiring institution, but all the others are so much worse", Bhakta Abraham.

I am very sorry to tell you this Gurudev. I know that your wish is for us all to be happy. You are a Vaisnava and even an ant matters to you.

HpS - Well actually I usually don't care too much about most people's depression or enthusiasm, because I don't know their details. I try to go out and make myself available and then as I get to know people, then their emotions and attitudes become real to me.

Yes, agtSP, I do care about the ants in my house. Try to facilitate their lives.

It is Srila Prabhupada whom you want to ask these questions of. We can just give a little help like above, and direct you to him!

AgtSP.

When I slow down and focus on one paragraph from the second KRSNA book, it makes me motivated.

Eg. How must chipped, flat, rice did Sudama Vipra take to KRSNA? Was it enough for one lunch?

O.K. Let's look at some other posts.

We're all crazy here.

You're not going to be fully motivated until you kiss Krsna's lotus foot prints in Vrndavana, and get the shelter of the Gopis, and they are not hard to approach, because they are looking for more, and more, and more people to do practical work in their efforts.

How can I feel the drive to live?

HpS - By seeing Srila Prabhupad smile at you.

Where does the enthusiasm to live day to day come from?

HpS - Sankirtan with Srila Prabhuapda and then peanut butter and jam on rye bread sandwich prasadam when you are tired!

I am unfortunate to be so absorbed in my misfortune. I should be absorbed in trying to serve you and Iskcon.

HpS - Maybe our depression is just result of material associaiton, but also just our offensive, greedy and selfish faults! We take a deep breath and chant two Maha-mantras. As long as can breath you can chant. That is your option. Enthusiasm is not something you get (get, get, get) but some way to act (give, give, give). You have to have unlimited determination to serve Krsna, hari kirtan. How much...? Unlimited?

https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/antya/20/47/

That's my reality. Anyway, I do the best I can with what I have.

HpS - 😠

Well why didn't you say that in the beginning! That's all we can suggest! 😄

Thanks Gurudev. please give me some advice.

HpS - Just did. 🐈

Eternally indebted to you.

HpS - Good, that will help us pay off our debt to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you for accepting me into your entourage, even though I am the most insignificant.

Bows to your feet.

Hare Krishna

ASA - Pictures cats and dog pictures attached. Thank you for yours. From them it seems that maybe your are not tasting the mystical poetry in the books and sharing that with others.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/5/12/

................................

(Traducida por google)

Hare Krsna Gurudev.

Por favor, acepte mis humildes y respetuosas reverencias.

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada y todas las glorias a ti.

Aquí te escribe Deva Vrata das de las sierras de Córdoba, Argentina.

¿Cómo estás? 

Si estás con Krsna y refugiado en Srila Prabhupada nunca puedes estar mal... así que... es un hecho que estás bien.

Eres un ejemplo para mí. 

Un ejemplo demasiado elevado, que incluso a veces hasta me agobia, que seas alguien tan puro, generoso, amable, divertido, honesto, determinado, entregado, etc. etc. etc....

y yo, un 1% de todo eso y un 99% de todo lo contrario...

Espero que no sea una carta demasiado pesimista. Voy a intentar hacerla realista. 

Lamento decirlo (y a veces incluso reprimo decirlo), de que me siento desmotivado en la vida. Es algo repetitivo. incluso en cartas anteriores te lo he contado un poco.

Algunas veces, me falta ímpetu y entusiasmo para vivir. No sé de dónde sacarlo. 

La práctica diaria, la filosofía, la prédica, todo lo que hago no me alcanza para sentirme feliz. ¿por qué me sucede esto?

Lamento mucho contarte esto Gurudev. Sé que tu deseo es que todos seamos felices. Eres un vaisnava y hasta una hormiga te importa.

Cómo puedo sentir el impulso para vivir? 

de dónde sale el entusiasmo para vivir el día a día? 

Soy desafortunado por estar tan absorto en mi infortunio. Debería estar absorto en tratar de servirte a tí y a Iskcon.

Esa es mi realidad. De todos modos, hago lo mejor que puedo con lo que tengo.

gracias Gurudev. por favor dame un consejo.

Eternamente endeudado contigo. 

gracias por haberme aceptado en tu séquito, aunque yo sea el más insignificante.

Reverencias a tus pies.

Hare Krsna