About devotees of comunity

8 years, 7 months ago by AKD in Sankirtana / Temple Activity Reports

All Glory to Srila Prabhupada!!!

All Glory to Sankirtan movement!!!!

Dear Guru Maharaja

I hope you are in very good health, so it's very complicated to deal with material's circumstances I keep on striving for reach Prabhupada's mercy.

HpS - Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. "The kingdom of God is for none except the completely dead", Bible.

Prabhu Iksvaku from León, asked to me that he is very anxious, and beg him to you for a visitar on his preach's center at your next visit.

HpS - Ooof. That ia 24th -30th December. Maybe we will have to go later.

We celebrated the 40'th annual Ratha Yatra's festival, and we are so shocked because  many good devotees passed away like your spiritual brother Vrajavasi Prabhu from Celaya.

HpS - Are you surprised?   Ha!  Ha!   What did the Yaksa ask Yuddhisthira?  He asked, "What is the most amazing thing?". What did Yuddhistira answer!?

I pray that I may be a good servant of you. sincerely,

Your crew member Aniruddha Krsna Das

HpS - Are you going to take Sannyasa? Go to India??   Will we see you in DF??

"Anatomy of Self" Art Exhibition + DAKOTA PIPELINE

Dear Guru Maharaj, 

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

It was a lot of work, but the "Anatomy of Self" art show turned out quite well for a trial run. Everyone was impressed with what we were able to accomplish in such a short span of time. We had a great lineup of emerging artists, the space was perfect, we sold a few pieces, and everyone seemed happy.

In the course of about one week while I was preparing for the event I made some of the biggest sales of my life when I sold a handful of artworks for just about $1000, but at the same time my van got towed in California so I had to spend my last dime to get it out of impound :(. Krishna giveth and Krishna taketh away, but I'm just grateful that I didn't lose my van and now I feel sure that I can actually make a living like this!

The lady who bought my art was a chef, so she helped us with some simple vegetarian preparations that we could offer and serve as prasad. There is so much potential for more elaborate events, but mainly I feel like this was a great learning experience for me and I'm full of ideas for what I want to try next time.

We made disclaimer forms, press releases, flyers, social media advertisements, we set up a silent auction... I even learned how to make my own business cards practically for free. I established valuable connections with tons of artists in Charleston over the course of the event and we had some great discussions on art and philosophy. I feel like I grew tremendously from the experience and was able to pique some interest in Krishna consciousness along the way. 

If I do this again, some things I would try to improve are that I need to get better at advertising. Even though we had ads in most local publications and I put up tons of flyers and facebook ads, still we didn't have anywhere near the number of people I was expecting. Probably I should've tapped the local artists for contacts of local influencers and tried to get the former owner to invite people. If we had started sooner we would've been more likely to get a news feature and I think that would have significantly helped to bring more new people outside of our personal circle of friends and family.

HpS - ASA --- One thing in our respect in doing these things is that there is no force like reputation and personal recomendation.  If you d the same event again, people will know you.

Also it would've been great to have some kind of performance, or guest lecture or something. Instead of having an opening, brunch, and closing reception over the course of a week I think next time I would just focus on one reception and make it more epic.

I'm happy also that I'm starting to accumulate a good body of work with the kind of content I've been going for. At this point I feel like I'm about 90% ready for a solo exhibition, so now I feel confident to start approaching LA galleries and museums to find gallery representation. 

I think the next steps for me will be to start traveling to art fairs, start seeking gallery representation, and start signing up to do live art at music festivals over the summer. My hope is that if they let me on board I can get book distributors into events for free. After some time, if I can save up a little, I hope to return to New York for maybe a few months to take courses at the Art Student's League. It's one of the best art schools in the country but its inexpensive since it's more of a conservatory which does not offer degrees. I think spending even just a little time there will help me refine my message and penetrate into the art world.

HpS - Are you getting in touch with the big, big community of professional ISKCON artists? In Canada there were some who were very rich and successful.

DAKOTA PIPELINE
Have you heard much about the events surrounding the construction of the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline in North Dakota? The story has really captured my heart lately and I'm actually considering going up there for some time to participate and gather some inspiration after taking a week or two to catch up on some sadhana. Basically a massive oil conglomerate deceptively attained permits to construct a huge pipeline through the sacred grounds of a large indian reservation in North Dakota without consent from the tribes. Concerned that the water supply for millions of people will be contaminated, 1000's of "water-protectors" from around the world have been gathering there for months in peaceful protest while the Oil company is bringing in militarized police and armed mercenaries to assault the protesters with mace, rubber bullets, LRAD cannons, concussion grenades, attack dogs, and freezing water. So far hundreds of people have been injured (some critically) and hundreds more have been arrested. Despite a media blackout for months, social media has carried the story to the point where it can no longer be ignored and now its drawing international outrage.

This protest strikes me as different from others because although externally the demonstrations are about protecting mother earth, I'm seeing that there is an internal message that goes much deeper which has resonated with people all over the world. Basically I see the environmental concerns as merely a point of friction between two opposing worldviews about the direction of human civilization. On the one hand, you have a culture that values a simple, God-centered life in harmony with nature; and on the other side you have a culture that values a self-centered life of conquest and sense- gratification which lies at the root of modern industrial kali yuga civilization. Central to the ethos of the demonstration is that no one can have any intoxication on site and nobody can strike out in anger. Everyone is practicing meditation and self-restraint. At a time when people are probably more divided than ever, people from around the world are gatheringfor the sake of dharma. This incident is drawing young and old, democrats and republicans, celebrities and veterans, buddhists and politicians. If it's ok with you I would like to go there for a while myself to represent the Hare Krishna movement and do whatever I can in terms of prasad, kirtan, and book distribution, and also artistic social commentary. I think I've mentioned to you before that for years I've thought it would be an extremely valuable alliance to establish interfaith connections with the native american community, so it seems like now this is the perfect opportunity to do so since this incident seems to already be turning the course of history in our favor.

HpS - We just heard about it from Bh. Daniel, who is staying with us for a few days. Yes, it seems that it falls within the category of Vikarmis vs. Pantheists (SB 2.1) with a ready nature to consider God. I would say that you should just confirm any participation with the GBC for the place and then keep a Krsna conscious perspective on whatever you do.  SB 2.1 calls Pantheism the first step in God realization, but. . . It says that unless there is a service attitude toward the Virat-rupa, rather than using and integrated perspective for cooler exploitation of Mother Nature, then there won't be much result.

Attached are some photos of my friends Blake and Chap who helped and the art show and the pieces I showed. Basically the series I completed for this event illustrates the interactions of body, mind, and soul. The first three are about different kinds of folly which result when people work to serve the  body, when people work to serve the mind, and when people think to serve the body. The examples I chose to illustrate each are a chain gang, virtual reality, and the trans-humanism movement. To complete the series I want to make one that shows what happens when one thinks just to satisfy the mind. I was thinking of depicting a daydreamer builiding "castles in the sky" with a superimposed image of time flowing out of an hourglass. Some other possibilities were images showing when someone misplaces their heart or their devotion to serve the body or the mind but I'm still thinking about that. The rest of the series basically illustrates karma, jnana, and bhakti (using body, mind, and soul in the real interest of the soul) with  interfaith examples. The first image shows a native american offering a sage flower, the next one  is inspired by the greek philosopher Diogenes studying near a barrel where he was said to live.  Then the "bhakti" image depicts a gospel choir glorifying God. This was inspired by the great  gospel singer Mahalia Jackson who was instrumental in the civil rights movement, and it was also a tribute to the Emmanuel Church, who set a tremendous example of grace and forgiveness in the face of a racial shooting that occurred some years ago there in Charleston. The culmination of the whole series shows samadhi or total spiritual apsorption in the example of Radha-Krishna at Kusum Sarovara. I hope you like it! 

What are your thoughts about all this?

HpS - ASA -- That it is very good and you seem to have good guidance, and we cannot give much more than a general perspective, and this point, and PLEASE keep us Bloggers in the loop like this. How can we contact you?   Web-page???   And please see what we are doing with NIOS and Peru etc!

Your servant,

Ekashma Das

Answer to 2nd of the report (November). Urgent

Hare Krsna Dear Maharaja,

PAMHO. AGTSP.

I hope you are well.

Yes, I read the letter of Karuna Krsna d and your answer too.

We are peaceful. Something to inform  with respect to this is:

1.- Nimsar have  not given courses to ashrama devotees, becuase  there is not ashrama devotees.

HpS - Yes. The letter from the National Council was a little inclear to us in that regard, so we decided to just try to clarify the basic question we asked first.
We also talked with Karuna-krsna Das today for about 20-minutes and nice exchange of letters with Mathuresa Das. We hope things can get discussed by all with Jayapataka Swami and we can get our Regional Representative clarified.

 

All students are Devotees of Congregation.

2.-I spok about this with KKD, and I said to him: "If the temple of Chosica wants to give courses of Bhakti Yoga introduction it is okay,"

 this course is basic for everybody , but who wilil give courses as Bhakti sastri?

Then, he said: " Nimsar can to give courses but not Seminars, training of devotees we take care (Board of Chosica).

3.-The principal problem in Chosica Temple is, There is not devotees for service (specifically pujaris), then in all areas.

And this is for many reasons, specifically there is not a compromise community. I think so that if Board of Chosica wants quick solution they will have to mediaty with community, hear his (needs, concers, interests). It is a social problem.

4.-Nimsar can help, but first we need to function as a team and our help is for medium and long time. Sincerely I do not think that we could change the mind of many devotees already forming according a their understanding.

In other side, there is a generational change, people of now, need more attention, affecting and understanding.

The time of years 7o or 80 is different to those of now.

5.-In other side, is true the mission educational of nimsar have a broad field  and we needs to do contingency plans (we have already begun to think about this).

6.-Abhinanda send to you soon a economic report.

Thank you very much for you time

Sri Nrsimhadeva protect you

with affection

ys and spiritual niece

Isvari dd

HpS - Is there a Minute Book of the Actions of the Board of Directors of NIMSAR?  Libro de Actos?  This is why we have been trying to become formal Peru entity like Abhirama Das' Sattva, so there is a standard structure.

urgente homenaje a nuestro hermano mayor

Querido Gurumaharaja: 

Por favor acepte mis respetuosas reverencias!

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada!

HpS - ASA --- Hare Krsna!   Hare Krsna!   Como esta El Manas-ranjana Das?

Fue un impacto demasiado grande recibir la noticia de la partida de nuestro hermano mayor Raktak Prabhu . En completo  shock por varias horas  por su separación. 

Al fin... pronto leyendo Sus cartas Gurumaharaja sobre este acontecimiento, Sus palabras provocaron  paz en nuestro corazón. Muchas gracias!

Conocimos a Raktak Prabhu desde que conocemos a Usted querido Gurumaharaja, a través de Sus palabras aprendimos a amarlo, a respetarlo, luego lo conocimos personalmente en Vrndavana, fue un gran honor, sus cualidades vaisnavas quedaron grabadas en nuestros corazones, lo acepte como mi maestro, de él podía aprender a servirlo a Usted .

Recordamos que una vez corregimos a Akincana Krsna Prabhu porque el dijo en un Vyasa-Puja de Usted , que Raktak Prabhu era Vrajavasi, Akincana estaba correcto ! Sólo el tiempo lo separaba. 

Hemos investigado estos días, preguntamos a varios brahmanas locales, la ceremonia de sradha, en México, se observa a los 11 días de la partida del vaisnava.

Gurumaharaja, sus discípulos de México pensamos hacer  un homenaje para  nuestro hermano mayor, tratamos que sea justamente a los 11 dias, le ofreceremos maha prasadam, hablaremos de sus cualidades Vaisnavas, mostraremos el ppt que Usted envio. 

Cantaremos maha mantra Hare Krsna. 

Posiblemente una ceremonia de fuego.

Mahaprasadam para los brahmanas, asistentes y trataremos de dar alguna caridad a los brahmanas como ropa y libros para que ellos bendigan a nuestro hermano mayor. 

Tuvimos algo de confusión con la fecha exacta del ekadasi de India pero parece que cumple 11 días el domingo 4 de Diciembre en México.

HpS - Pienso 4 Deciembre, Fiesta de Domingo, es muy bueno. Hay bueno foto en la internet.  Basicament en 25-dias estamos en Mexico. Vamos en Sankirtan. Invitar la gente al Templo. Sadhu-sanga, Prasadam, libros!

Por favor necesitamos Sus bendiciones querido Gurumaharaja y también bendiciones  de nuestro hermano mayor para poder servirles apropiadamente. 

Disculpe  por no responder su pregunta de la última carta. 

En ciudad de México, los sankirtaneros salen a distribuir libros por la zona metropolitana, persona a persona, camiones, Harinama, etc. 

Gurumaharaja, Prabhu Isvaku, discípulo de SS. Hrdayananda Goswami, de León Guanajuato  le envía sus reverencias e invitación para que el próximo año los visite y pueda dar conferencias académicas por allá. 

Disculpe nuestras ofensas y falta de razonamiento por favor. 

Su eterna aspirante a sirviente 

Asta Sakhi dd.

HpS - Estamos buscando boletos por Sud America y muchas veces es transito en Mexico de unas horas. Interesante. Podemos abrir un Centro de Ayuda de Transito en el Aeropuerto.
Muchas programas en casa con los devotos invitando sus familares oir acerca de Jesu Cristo, la iglesia, ser buen Cristiano, de persepectivo de Srila Prabhupada.

2nd November NIMSAR for ASA (urgent)

Hare Krsna Dear SS Hanumat Presaka Swami, 

PAMHO. AGTSP

I hope your health is much better.

Here a brief report:

1.-Disciples of SSJPS say ,"That probability that Maharaja will  come is 15 to 20 December". Maharaja woul be here for 7 days.

HpS - AGTSP!   We have heard that he will attend Bhadra rupa Das' Award Ceremony that time also.

2.-This sunday,  I talked to Omkara d, about Education. He gave his opinions, mainly for him is very important the attitude and behavior of the educator and with respect to this he has observations for some members (NIMSAR).

In Chosica temple  autohorities need teacher like coaches, for devotees care and training (same in Wilson). 

In this moment Authorities need a staff to take care of devotees, and they think that teachers have the ability to do this function (teacher-coaches).

3.-In this moment, we  still continuos  with Bhakti Yoga Introducction in Chosica. And there are probabilities to give seminars and courses in Wilson (Devotees authorities of Wilson accept to recive our propossal, soon we send this).

4.-For mercy of Krsna in December some members will  giving class of Bhagavad gita ( Wilson Temple) : Abhinanda d and Gandharva d (4th sunday of each month),  Tarangaksi dd (2do tuesday), Isvari dd ( 1 st tuesday and 2do wednesday). In Febraury Nitya kisori will also give classes.

In support of wilson Temple, Tarangaksi dd,Indira dd , Isvari dd , we will do 2 friday a month Mangalarati  here .

5.-  Abhinanda d will be sending a economic report with more details on YOUTUBE.

HpS-ASA - The Google.docs and Youtube are not practical for us. We need 1. Where every penny came from where every penney went to for year 2016, and 2. Starting an closing balances in different accounts. Not a Spread Sheet, a simple report posted here.  O.K?

6.-Most of us know each other and know who we can work with. we need to be people  that want to be will well-wisher all devotees. SS Prahladananda Swami said me: "It is not enough to read or study to teach, there must be a great desire to cleanse the heart".

We are understanding that our mission is broad and deep, for it, this year we will try to be more introspective, improve sadhana, improve relationship, to be dasanudas and so we will improve service.

7.- My Spiritual Master is well, (he had a dieta, sight problems, high pressure, sometimes forget things) but he said: "everybody all go through  this, to you will also reach that".

He is now at El Salvador, in December he will be at Colombia and Chile, India in March.

The last thing my GM said me : "In Perú there are no leaders, all are very immature". When I speak to him about Education, he say nothing.

(I think he is testing my sincerity).

The past year, he said me: " I dislike mediocre, I want not seat philosophers." I write to him each 3 months.

Thank you very much for your effort to become conscious of Krsna.

Nrsimhadeva protect you.

with affection

ys and spiritual niece

Isvari dd

HpS - So please send us the Financial Report as soon as possible. I hope you saw the letter from the National Council that Karuna Ji sent and our answer. We hope to talk with Karuna and Abhirama tommorrow by telephone. We hope that we can clarify many things with that conversation.

We also think it would help a lot if Mathuresa Das was Regional GBC Secretary for Peru like Jagajivana Das was doing, but we need to hear what others have to say about this.

In a few more years we will be dead.
There may be a global plague  or nuclear war.
In any case, we should do things from an immediate and long-range perspective.
Today we have Bh Sastri Workshop at 7PM on Start Meeting!

URGENTE SOLARIS,LIFE IN ALMERIA AND OTHERS

                     HARE KRSNA, DEAR GURUDEVA,

                     PAOHO, AGTSP!!

                     HOW ARE YOU?

HpS - ASA -  Aaaaaaa!   Suffering like anything.   I guess anyone in this world in suffering. Maybe some think that things aren't so bad because they have very limited vision, but then when the enevitable destructions (of work, wife, family, society) happen they suffer much, much more than we are suffering.
Also, we are reducing our suffering at the root. We learn better and better how to deal with the problems. We guess this will develop into skills that will go to our next lifetime. Same for you?

                      WE HAVE MOVED LIKE FIVE TIMES SINCE BHADRA QUITTED HIS JOB, NOW WE ARE FINALLY STAYING HERE.

                      THE IDEA HERE IN ALMERÍA IS TO FIND A PLACE TO HOLD A MONTHLY PROGRAM, SIMPLE,

                       SOMETHING WE CAN KEEP UP WITH OVER MONTHS, YEARS MAYBE.

HpS - That is nice.  We have little bit of a Monthly program, but our stonger rhythm is our bi-monthly program with the Kapi Dhvaja at the heart. Then we have some pretty regular weekly program and of course daily program.

                      AT THE MOMENT WE ARE CHECKING DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES.

                      NARANJO RECEIVED SOLARIS MAGAZINE FROM HECTOR, RODRIGO´S FRIEND. WE JUST SEND

                      ONE TO MANUEL ALMENDRO AND ANOTHER TO ENRIQUE GALÁN.

                      GANDHA MANJARI AND ALFONSO WILL CONTACT NACHO BAÑERAS AND GIVE IT TO HIM ALSO.

                      I ASKED ALMENDRO WHAT  HAPPENED ABOUT THE INTERVIEW YOU WERE SUPPOSED

                      TO HAVE, HE SAID HE IS BUSY AT THE MOMENT WRITTING A BOOK. HE ALSO SENT

                      ME AN ARTICLE I JUST SHARED WITH KALYAN CHAKRAVARTY, TO WHICH E-MAIL  ADDRESS CAN

                      I SEND IT TO YOU?

HpS - [email protected]

                      I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION

                      THAT MY BRIDGE IT´S BEING MYSELF, DOING WHAT I LOVE ACCORDING TO MY NATURE AND SHARE.

HpS - !!!!!!

                      KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THERE (I AM A THERASPIST, I CAN´T HELP IT).  

                      I BELIEVE NIOS AND SOLARIS INCLUDES THERAPY SO I FEEL IT COULD ALSO BE MY BRIDGE, IF

                      YOU AGREE, OF COURSE. I HAVE FOUND A NEW THERAPY I WISH TO STUDY  FOR MENTAL AND

                      EMOTIONAL HEALTH "DECODIFICACIÓN BIOLÓGICA ", I HAVE EXPERIENCE IT AND IT HAS BEEN HELP-FULL.

HpS - Yes, yes, yes.... we are always looking for new places to do Sankirtan and how to improve the old one is exciting new ways as we have them!!   That is what Goloka means.    Keep your feet on the ground with Brahma-muhurta, Mangala-arati, Kirtan, SB, Good Early Rounds, Strong Four Principles, Good Association, and then go Hog-wild in looking for new preaching areas where you can "be your self".   Everyone is SUFFERING. Share your medicine.

                      I WAS ALSO THINKING A LOT ABOUT STUDYING IN USA WITH YOU, BUT FOUND NO REALISTIC WAY TO

                      DO IT (BHADRA CAN´T LEAVE SPAIN AT THE MOMENT AND I CAN´T LEAVE ON MY OWN), SNIFF!!!

HpS - The Tirupati conference was just cancelled. Maybe we stop over in Spain from 31st Dec - 4th January? We want to teach someplace. We only plan on two more years based in USA, then three in South America, then Three in India, then >>>>  Next Body (Buddy).

We are trying, trying, trying to get English Solaris out. Making progress. Is difficult to do something good, but when you do it it lasts.

                      I AM SORRY TO MAKE THIS LETTER SO LONG, I WANTED TO WRITTE YOU FROM SOME TIME AGO...

                      WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR ASSOCIATION AVAILABLE EVERYDAY.

                     ASPIRING TO SERVE YOU BHADRA VARDHANA DAS AND SANANDA DEVI DASI

HpS - What happened to Yasodananadana and family??   Your letter is very nice!!!   What is Bhadra-vardhana Das' Mission in Life (which of course will drag in his wife)