Letters to the editor

TlGaSP! Todas las glorias a los Vaishnavas!

Mi muy querido Gurudev, como siempre es tan bondadosamente agradable recibir sus cartas. Muchas gracias.

Respondiendo su pregunta, en el año 2011 me titulé como Instructora de Pedagogía Teatral. Pero hace años no trabajo en ésto. En el año 2013 comencé a dedicarme a la Metafísica y a realizar talleres de Tarot, Onirología y terapias relacionadas. Desde esa fecha me dedico a interpretar Tarot. Siempre ha sido muy lumínico y positivo. Pero ahora tengo dudas al respecto y me gustaría que por favor usted me aclarara si es posible: El tarot está dentro de la categoría Juegos de azar? Será negativo energeticamente? Hay devotos que piensan que leer el tarot abre camino a entidades bajas y/o que es mal karma. En lo particular siempre trato de generar ayuda y consciencia espiritual, pero tal vez no sea bueno para mi hija y yo.

Estoy confundida y no sé si seguir dedicándome económicamente a ésto.

Por favor me puede guiar al respecto? Disculpe molestar.

Por otra parte, me gustaría enviarle Dharsine. Gurudev usted tiene cuenta PayPal? Cómo puedo enviar Laksmi a usted?

Agradezco el tiempo dedicado.

Con muchos deseos de verlo (hija también) un gran abrazo de ésta elefanta torpe.

Ekangi Dd e Yi Lin.

VK

-0-0-0-

TlGaSP! All glories to the Vaishnavas!

My very dear Gurudev, as always, it's so kindly pleasant to receive your letters. Thank you very much.

In response to your question, I qualified as a Theater Pedagogy Instructor in 2011. But I haven't worked in this field for years. In 2013, I began to dedicate myself to Metaphysics and to teaching workshops on Tarot, Oneirology [the scientific study of dreams], and related therapies.

Since then, I've been reading Tarot. It has always been very luminous and positive. But now I have doubts about it and would like you to please clarify for me, if possible: Is tarot reading classified as gambling? Is it energetically negative? There are devotees who think that reading tarot leads to lower entities and/or that it's bad karma. Personally, I always try to generate spiritual help and awareness, but it may not be good for my daughter and me.

I'm confused and don't know if I should continue to dedicate myself financially to this.

Can you please guide me? Sorry to bother you.

Also, I'd like to send you Dharsine [daksina]. Gurudev, do you have a PayPal account? How can I send Laksmi to you?

I appreciate your time.

With much desire to see you (daughter too), a big hug from this clumsy elephant.

Ekangi Dd and Yi Lin.

VK

HpS - A warm wave is proper. Ladies cannot embrace sannyasis!

I cannot say much about the Tarot.

Of course, there is no mention of this in Srila Prabhupada's instructions, comments on life, that he left for us in his books.

The pictures may be archetypal as mentioned by Jung, and Brahmana, Ksatriya etc are parts of the Virata rupa.

An intuitive person may give some insight stimulated by the cards that occur, but I do not know.

It can even be classified as entertainment like the jugglers that served in Krsna's court in Dvaraka. if you are following principles etc. then i cannot see how the energy would be negative.

write a krsna conscious story of each card and post it here.

we don't have a paypal account. maybe we can get it set up with the houston temple for sankirtan work here eg. making a school for you all to join and study cinema!

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj

AGTSP,

Please accept my Obeisances

Personally we dont want to write as is it might intervene in your lila -smaranam/internal life.

HpS - We hope they become the same. bahir nrsmha, hrdaye nrsmha!!

node:15645

in the NoI we looked at how he defined iskcon, this movement, and it started with non-envious, following four principles, rounds, up early, associating with discrimination with three different kinds of devotees in the society.

we are very thank ful to you to give this hierarchy/stages. we messed up this very much. trying to association with discrimination without up early/rounds etc.

we want to complain, but we know that's stupidity, its rare to even know/hear of Krsna and his holy name, in many life times.

though perfection is always ahead, but still we appreciate what is with us.

strive for WOW, dont forget NOW .

trying to move ahead or hang on

das of Hayagriva

HpS - In our opinion, your son and family are very fortunate to have you as a member.

Mark Twain said that life would be a lot easier if we were all born 80-years old and got younger?

Next life in Nabadvipa as member of Nimai's iskcon gang?

Baby of saccimata's neighbor???

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you so much for your kind letter(s). It helped me reflect more on my situation.

Here in ISKCON Pula, I try to serve in simple ways — by cleaning the temple, participating in kirtan and bhajan, reading and discussing together with devotees, and trying to be present in conversations, both to speak and to listen sincerely.

I also try to stay steady and cooperative amid occasional political tensions — trying not to get caught up, but to keep the spiritual focus and maintain good relationships.

HpS - GOOD MAN!

Lately, I’ve been seriously considering retiring from the local political dynamics, even though that might create some distance between me and certain devotees. I find myself desiring a quieter (non “political), more focused atmosphere — to chant japa with more quantity, more depth, and more sensitivity.

Here, we often have a lot of political — and “political” — discussions: who can or cannot do something, how, when, and under what authority. As a small group with diverse ideas and personalities, this tends to fragment the community and drain the energy that could otherwise nourish Kṛṣṇa-kathā and cooperative devotional service.

In this context, I’ve been reflecting on the example of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who, before organizing the Gaudiya Math, spent years performing solitary bhajan. I find that inspiring — that even such a powerful preacher gave priority to personal purification and inner connection with the Holy Name before taking on larger preaching responsibilities. I’m wondering if a similar approach — on my small scale — might be now spiritually healthier for me and perhaps even more beneficial to others in the long run.

Would you kindly share your thoughts on this idea?

HpS - I think we are all individuals both in our Bhauma lila, earthly pastimes, and eternal pastimes.

This text: https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/antya/13/132/

and especially the following one have touched us strongly. Others of the six Goswami's may be running around knocking peoples heads to act more strictly etc. In Iskcon we feel that we get criticized for not being more aggressive, but then we see different people have different political natures.

Personally, I find that the regular daily Sadhana time is really 90% of what I need to introspection and purification to deal with the day's politics as long as I am careful not to get too much involved in politics.

As we get older, I think it is more natural to become a resource that is available on demand rather than an active promoter and supporter.

I also feel that a well-organized non-hierarchical style community might be more practical for us here.

HpS - That is natural style for Brahmanas, no?

There are only a few of us, and we get caught in hierarchical structures that don't always reflect the natural devotional flow of a (small) sangha. A more flexible and, hopefully, spiritually grounded approach could help us focus more on hearing and chanting together.

At the same time, I continue to assist my parents, who are going through very difficult health situations. That service is humbling and grounding, and it shapes my time and priorities.

As you said, even service in a small place — done sincerely — has value. I try to remember that every sincere effort contributes to Srila Prabhupada’s movement in some way.

Nirgata is doing well — steadily teaching and developing in her work of Iyengar Yoga teacher. She also helps my parents a lot, which is a big support. Between the two of us, we’re carrying nearly 108 years of combined wisdom, mistakes, and backaches!

In ‘our’ Krishna’s garden we have lemons, tangerines, a lot of pumpkins, sage, rosemary, lavander, basilico, roses and other kinds of different flowers, few tortoises, two cats, spiders (which sometimes come on the altar with the flowers offerings), mosquitoes, etc.

Thank you again for your encouraging words and your example. They help me stay steady and hopeful.

🙏 Your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS - Do you remember our quote from Stanslavskii about people who have "small parts in a drama"?

So, many times in history we see that one person in the end, by the arrangement of "destiny" decided the course of the world.

Hare Krsna, Beloved Gurudeva:

AGTSP, PAMHO

I hope this meets you in good health and happy

HpS - That, agtSP, would mean dead, no! 😆

Srila Prabhupada was always emphasizing that anyone in this material world is in bad health and distress.

In the prison, the various locked doors open for the guards, but still they have to wait!

On June 2nd 2019 my mother left to the spiritual world. It has been 6 years and I do not recall if I told you this story.

My mother was always very religious; she used to pray the rosary every day. Besides that she used to talk with one picture of Krsna that she has. She respected the movement and You. On the other hand, she always mentions the angels. Whatever happens she always invokes the angels. She had many pictures and statues about angels

When she was about to leave her body. I was searching on her tablet for the rosary but then appeared a song called: Angels flying in this place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibFziq4sAg

HpS - I watched part of the video. It was in Spanish. It is very nice. Maybe better if more gravity in the music?

It reminded me of village life in Peru.

In the USA etc. it seems that they have more material benedictions than they can peacefully enjoy.

I guess for girls that means too much make-up, too many dresses and jewelry, too many pretty, pretty boyfriends, too much electronics and social media. Cannot connect with your neighbors.

I had the honor to be with her and I can tell that the whole room was filled with a very peaceful aura. My Lord Nrismhadeva´s murti was there. I can say that the angels personally came and took her soul.

HpS - Jaya! 💪

👼

Maybe you will meet her in Nabadvip in a few moments with Nimai and recognize here!

The reason I am writing this is because at that moment I realized that the smaranam that we have during our whole life, is very really real, palpable. The Consciousness that we built. How we have lived determines our destination for sure. I have witnessed that. Some of us waste our time thinking nonsense. Our are not really aware about this fact.

I hope to be able to recall Krsna at the time of death and to be with someone who helps me remember Him

Thank you very much Gurudeva this is something I really want to share 

I miss her every day of my life, she was a really good mom. And as you said good mothers go to heaven

Trying to be your disciple

CMDD

HpS - Thank you!!

I guess we will both need mothers in our next life.

Hope we have a womb with WiFi. 😃

Also, a mother who has a diet of Nadia prasadam, no?

HpS - Send some photos past and present of your family, church, work.

All Glories to Sri Sri Goura Nitay!!!

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!

All Glories to You!!!

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances, this is Danistha devi dasi, from Santiago, Chile. Thank You so much, for Your answer, it's like a ray of sun for me. We are passing throug some difficulties, and Your words, give me peace and strenght. I'm chanting my rounds, they connect me with the Source and the goal of life, also reading Srimad Bhagavatam. Some demonic influences want to arrive, but I mantain them far away, always remebering Your nice association.

Thank You

Your servant,

Danistha devi dasi.

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. "Keeping the demons far away", we remember one French poet who was severely criticized by some opponents and he responded that he "washed them all away" from a great height.

ISKCON France, Ki Jai!

Dhanistha Dasi, ki jai!

Please send some colorful news of your Sankirtan! Nation.

All Glory to Srila Prabhupad and all glory to the followers of him, involved on this sankirtan movement!

Pleace acept my respectfull obeisances.

Dear Guru Dev, Fortunately I have continued with the Japa and the principles, I have continued studying the books of Srila Prabhupada, every day I am witness to the progress of the degraded era, and simultaneously of the magnificent power of Krsna,

I am always very grateful to his person, who gives us a tireless example of looking for and following Krsna,

unfortunately I am very bad in the social formalities. So I've stayed on the sidelines but simple in ISKCON, I'm still sharing as far as I can learn from you and Srila Prabhupada. Again I present some questions:

HpS/ASA - By nature, agtSP, the Jiva is 'marginal potency', no? so sannyasi, goswami, is naturally 'marginal' to the institutional aspects of society. arjuna was a ksatriya in active years, so KRSNA, urged him to do his duty, but internally detached/acting for KRSNA, while vyasadeva he told to stay in the forest, write, travel and preach.

so, your position has seemed very essential to our institution and proper! Continue.

By adding all the verses of the Srimad Bhagavtam (of BBT) there are only 14094, 3906 are missing for the 18000s Are they somewhere or to what is this?

HpS/ASA - This is a broad, continuous, old discussion, investigation in ISKCON, by simple devotees like us and Oxford graduate devotees in Theology.

Maybe a different way of counting verses, maybe different version is being used. That is 78% accurate. 🙂

In Kali-yuga, which is not the age of Jnana, that seems very good. Like I get fed 78% of the time!

Also, the statement that there are 16-words in the Maha-mantra is an accurate count, no?

Now we have to chant It, Mahamantra, no?

Now we have to read and test it and apply It, SB, no?

Many times they invite me to meetings with devotees from other Sangas, I never go, to avoid having to fall into controversy, however, when they ask me for support and advice, what is the most correct answer you should give?

HpS/// Tell them, chant Hare Krsna, Hare Rama, and expect Krsna and Rama to kill any demons in ISKCON, and to preach to the innocent, and if they want you to do more, then They will unmistakably empower you.

Beyond, and following that, we can read Srila Prabhupada's books to people.

Same controversies in Goloka, but there all the fights are FUN!!! 💥 💥

Krsna & Narada Muni say that the Brahmacari must dress with deer skin and should not polish their teeth, however in the NOD it says that daily you have to clean them. Similarly, Sri Caitanya says that at this time sannyasa is not taken, and Srila Prabhupada says that it's now an emergency, however each Sanjasi as a spiritual leader, have their own priorities in the details of preach, and this causes confusion among which we're neophytes, what can we do to help unity in diversity, practically?

HpS - That is why we have Parampara. Each student learns the contemporary process and details and the general principles. Then s(he)it communicates the general truths and uses the general principles of how to adjust for current time, place and circumstance, to adjust to time, place and circumstance. In Mexico you preach in Spanish, not Swahili.

Srila Prabhpada explains the kind of Sannyasa we do in the verse purports describing Narada's sannyasa, and he shows it by his personal example!

And if there are not Tulasi, Rudraksa can be used to count the japa?

Thanks a lot for your mercy, I'm always very pleased and admired to know about your activities, they're a great example for me. Hare Krsna, your crew member AniruddhaKrishna Das.

HpS - Just a few more moments and we will be with Nimai in Nabadvipa. Srila Prabhupada will take us there.