Letters to the editor

Dear Maharaj,

Hare Krishna PAMHO AGTSP! AGTY!

Maharaj I am writing to give some updates on our journey to find our service in Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan movement, Sadhana Report and to ask of you something.

We recently held the first Festival of Gratitude (piggy backing off the Thanksgiving holiday with the extended weekend) here in Boise. The Festival of Gratitude's mission is have an event that will increase devotees appreciation/gratitude for Srila Prabhupada and the process he has given us. With that increased appreciation devotees will be more enthusiastic to follow the process SP has given us and share it with others.

The theme of the festival is the 5 most potent devotional services; Deity, Devotee, Nam, Dham, Bhagavatam. Our focus was a nice Krsna Katha seminar on one of the 5 devotional services, nice Prasdam and nice Kirtan. We where very fortunate that Radhaka Raman Prabhu appreciated the spirit of the event and agreed to give his seminar on the Glories (Appreciation) of Srimad Bhagavatam.

We started Thursday with a huge Thanksgiving day Prasdam feast. Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari had all homemade tofurky, nutloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed veggies with cheese sauce, fruit salad, pumpkin pie, cherry pie and apple pie.

HpS - Only God could survive that! Guess the rest of us can just look at it and offer our small service.

There was also cranberry sauce with paneer, candied yams, banana nut muffins, stuffing, pasta with cheese, celery with cream cheese or peanut butter and a few other dishes. I will attach a picture of the lay out the devotees took Prasdam from below.

Friday and Saturday we started the day with Guru puja and Srimad Bhagavatam classes given by Anantarupa Prabhuji with emphasis on appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. Then after breakfast Prasdam, Radhaka Raman Prabhu gave his seminar from 10:30am until 1:00pm. Even though it was 2.5 hours it seemed like 45 mins. It was such a wonderful seminar. I myself have recommitted to reading and studying SB and I know other devotees where also inspired. It was an amazing seminar.

Then in evening we had 2.5 - 3.5 hours of Kirtan and Dinner Prasdam. Saturday we finished with a family fun night and had Root beer floats, popcorn, reading from Gratitude tree and Srimad Bhagavatam charades. My wife, Alicia, did the kids program that went on during the seminar and that program was based on appreciating SP.

The kids and her initiated the gratitude tree which tree had some branches, then people wrote on a leaf about what they are thankful for and then tied the leafs to the tree. They encouraged the adults to write their own leafs. It was nice, there is also a picture of it below.

She also designed the shirts we gave as gifts to devotees, you will see a picture below of the sweatshirts. We gave sweatshirts to Anantarupa, Radhaka Raman, Anadi Radha as extra special gifts for helping so much with the festival. Also something very nice was that throughout the whole festival Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari, Jaganatha, Baladev, Subadra, Guara-Nitai, Laxsmi-Narsimha and Srila Prabhupada all got nice fresh garlands (also pictured below). Normally everyday except Sunday only Sri Sri Radha Bunkibihari and SP get flower garlands.

We learned a lot from this science experiment, we learned more about ourselves in our abilities and weaknesses, what we could do better next time and how we can improve our organization. All to help improve our offering to SP. The devotees appreciated the festival, they encouraged us to continue the project and we agree its something we should continue. Anadi Radha Mataji, Nitisara Prabhu's wife, put a extreme amount of effort in to this festival and although it was almost too much she agrees that its something we should continue again next year.

We also were contacted by ISKCON News for an interview about the festival and did about an hour interview with them. Anantarupa Prabhji was pleased, he says Krishna was pleased because we had unexpected guest come to the festival and we were requested to do the interview. Radhaka Raman Prabhu was also pleased and was very encouraging to us.

Mahraj, is there any instructions you have on the Festival? What can I/we do better to please SP? What is my service in serving SP's sankirtan movement?

HpS - Hare Krsna. AGTSP. I don't think there is much we can say. It is so complete. I think it will expand automatically if you do it again. Maybe only a little focus on the four principles and sixteen rounds. Chanting Japa together. Seems super human to us.

Maharaj, I have been instructed by Srinvasacharya Prabhu to write and ask you to except me as a disciple soon as you will allow. He knows my heart in desiring to be your disciple. He gives his blessing and said to tell you that he believes I am ready for initiation. He said to ask if I maybe initiated in Huston while you are in the USA here in December for you Vyasa Puja celebration.

For more then one year I have been following the 4 regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds each day, getting up before 4 am (currently 3:30am), attending mangala arati and reading SP books (currently I am on 1.9.46 SB in my personal reading of SB). I have been begging Srila Prabhupada for his mercy to please except me into his family, please allow me to do some service and to please let me be formally initiated. I also have been reading your blog and KD regularly. Ananturupa Prabhji says that he will give me a letter of recommendation when and if you have given word that I maybe initiated. Srinivas said he would give me the disciples course whenever necessary so that I maybe initiated.

Maharaj, Will you please allow me to be your disciple and take diksa Harinam initiation from you? If you will accept me when may I take initiation? I will take care of the formalities needed like the TP letter and disciple course. I will fly to wherever necessary. Srinivas Prabhu also encouraged me in getting initiated as soon as I can, citing the story of the devotee who was to get initiated but his spiritual master left his body just before getting initiated.

Please bless me Maharaj that I may do some service for Srila Prabhupda and yourself, please bless me that I may become an exceptable offering to lie down at Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet.

Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Nathen

HpS - If you have the Disciple Course and letter from Ananta-rupa Das then initiation seems fine. If you want to come to Houston we could do it then, but it might be rather quick to do it. Other option is to send your beads and then Anantarupa Das can organize the program there and we can be present by Skype etc. Other is wait until we visit West Coast, Boise, in January or February.

It is a formality, not without meaning, but the sacrifices you describe are the performance that has won Krsna, no? Respects to your good family!

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!!!

Hare Krsna Guru Maharaja, por favor reciba mis respetuosas reverencias y un cordial saludo desde Huancayo - Perú.

Aún seguimos en este cuerpo material....

HpS - AGTSP. Pienso es un cuerpo temporal espiritualizado.

Bueno, tuvimos comunicación con Prabhu Adveita Takur Dasa, vamos a ir de Sankirtan Viajero por Puno, Cusco y Arequipa, por lo pronto, esperamos que todo el plan sea un exito para que podamos seguir distribuyendo los LIBROS SAGRADOS DE SRILA PRABHUPADA.

ASA - 😊

Bueno quería comentarle sin ningún sentido de ser sajayiya que he tenido unos sentimientos extraños....preguntas extrañas...si cometí alguna falta le pido por favor me perdone...

Para mí es todo un Misterio sin resolver, el SANKIRTAN....¿como entender?... ¿como saborear ese néctar?.... ¿como meditar siempre en que los libros de Srila Prabhupada son la energía interna de Krsna?...hay tantas formas de Servicio Devocional....pero...este Sankirtan de los Libros de Srila Prabhupada es tan especial....

Cuando distribuyo los libros de Srila Prabhupada tengo esta meditación...... "Srimati Radharani" en la forma de los Libros de Srila Prabhupada se junta con las personas que dentro de sus corazones esta Paramatma "Sri Krsna"....un verdadero Misterio sin resolver....y solo para entenderlo...solo queda refugiarse en las instrucciones del Maestro Espiritual...

Lo único que me hace feliz es por lo menos saber que los Libros de Srila Prabhupada son sagrados y que tienen que ser distribuidos....y que yo sigo siendo un tonto....pero tonto o no tengo que seguir con la Misión de Sankirtan...

ASA - 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Estaré viajando para el 2 de diciembre, me encontrare en Puno con Prabhu Adveita Takur.

Huancayo es una ciudad donde los españoles, chilenos, no pudieron conquistar, tienen una tradición y costumbres bien cerradas, pero por misericordia de Srila Prabhupada se han distribuido muchos libros hace ya unos años a tras, ahora en estos tiempos la distribución es un poco menos, también la cantidad de devotos sankirtaneros es menor, pero igual no es impedimento para que se sigan distribuyendo los libros de Srila Prabhupada. Pero no todas las ciudades son iguales, las personas son diferentes, en algunos lugares se distribuye mas libros, en otras menos, es curioso pero igual los libros se distribuyen. así que solo tenemos que seguir ADELANTE!!!

Mi sadhana marcha bien, 16 rondas, 4 principios, lectura del Srimad - Bhagavatam, atendiendo como siempre a las Salagrama Silas y Govardhana Sila y Deidades.

Bueno Guru Maharaja, me despido, perdone si cometí alguna ofensa, que Nrsimha lo proteja siempre...y como usted me dijo alguna ves "NOS VEMOS EN LAS CALLES". Hare Krsna.

Gadai Gauranga Dasa

HpS - Hare Krsna. Somos esforzando seguir la misma ruta como Vd. Estamos en Peru 3-10 Deciembre en Lima. Solamente esperamos noticias de Vds..... Srila Prabhupada esta personalmente presente, viva, en su libros.

Hare Krishna, dear Gurumaharaj, Pamho, AGTSP!

I am very excited about our team that are {is} building an educational project. They are very professional people, very knowledgeable in the subject. It really was a revelation.

HpS - AGTSP!!! Paoho. We are very enthused by this also!! Here in Chile there are the same class of people. Please write and article about what is happening for the next issue of Viplavah and then Jayam!!! The next revolution is about to happen. Catch the wave! YOu can probably just edit this letter a little bit. Post it here and I can edit the English and put it in the next Viplavah. Title might be, Start a Public School - Teaching the Essence?

Yesterday we had our second meeting, already talking about the plan. We are already clear in "Who we are". We brainstormed more about the character we want to give to the school. On the one hand we take some external distance from ISKCON, but the essence is there, however, we want something even more open and inclusive. Therefore, Avanti schools does not fit in what we want.

Our vision is much more inclusive, a broader curriculum. We are reviewing important documents of the Ministry of Education of Peru and the requirements to open an educational center. We are studying several currents and educational proposals such as Waldorf, Montessori, Asiris (the one we visited) and modern thinkers like Vigostky, Ausbel, Brunner, Paulo Freire and Peruvians also like Walter Peñaloza. We want to have a vision of everything good there is to see what fits our goals. Ultimately, what Prabhupa wanted

HpS - One model that Prabhupada gave was 1. Help the students investigate what is matter. This can include modern science, but also good training in Ayurveda, Jyotis-veda, etc. Vedic view of matter. The general conclusion is that matter is not enough to explain everything eg. Free will, desire for immortallity, happiness, so, 2. What is the Atma, the self, that desires these things and 3. The distinction between Atma and Paramtama. This are known by so many names by so many educators, no? Paramatma is appreciated by meditation, insight, intuition. Then Bhagavan... Prabhupada suggested that in the secular atmosphere at that time that we not deal with it, but if people got educated, woke up, to the level of Paramtama they would ask you personally about Bhagavan or find Him in their own religion. Of course, the curriculum could include mono-theism as comparative religious study, no?

The vision should lead to an appropriate, truly innovative methodology, something that makes everyone want to put their children in our school. More contact with nature, less information technology, more real experiences. There are deadlines and things to keep in mind, very technical and specific. The enthusiasm is there. I will give you reports as our proposal takes shape.

The second point is that I am concerned about the slow pace with which we are advancing in the educational area at ISKCON. I don't want to be unfair, devotees have many responsibilities. But remember that it was three years ago or a little more that a meeting was held at Wilson after NIMSAR died. There, you suggested to have meetings periodically. Even that meeting was seen as a new post-MINSAR era. You went to Argentina or Chile and suggested we meet in your absence. That meeting did not happen, nor were there ever more educational meetings with people interested in the issue.

Perhaps those in charge have another vision, other perspectives. I remember talking to P. Mathures about 10 years ago about the importance of internal communication. It may be that the authorities are doing a lot, but as there is no communication we cannot blame the devotees who say that the authorities do nothing. The only communications we have is about who the new bosses are or if someone is going to be sanctioned and those things. I believe that communication is a powerful tool to keep the enthusiasm in devotees, so they feel included, so they feel as an important part of ISKCON and therefore they feel incline to participate more.

HpS - Yes, what about Jayam? ART Das is sufering from lack of collaborators. People read it. We will post our calendar plan for The Lima on the Blog next. Lettuce meat.

I always meditate on two things that Srila Prabhupada told us, which I consider fundamental for the development of ISKCON:

COOPERATION AND UNITY IN DIVERSITY.

Those two factors combined in acintya-bhedabheda- tattva is what will keep us as a sustainable institution in space and time, I believe.

HpS - What about COOPERATION AND UNITY IN DIVERSITY FOR RADHARANI???

And this occurs when the projects are participatory, and communicate, and are put to the consideration of the devotees. But the sankirtan movement, the sankirtan army of Lord Caitanya becomes a disjointed group of people. As I say, in scattered snipers. And a war is not win with snipers, it is win with a well-assembled army.

ASA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_strategy Comments from General B. Baboon?

So, I think we lack a lot of that, and also in the educational field. Personally I work by inspiration, not by instruction and I have to draw inspiration and enthusiasm on my own. I feel like one more sniper. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe my vision is too pessimistic. That is why I put these issues to your consideration.

HpS - Not time to detailed thought. Maybe not needed. I agree with you. Like you say, everybody is very busy. The people in administration are many times people working just like you and me AND doing the EXTRA austerity of institutional managment. Of course, sometimes they are Vena Maharajas and the great Brahmana's have to ask the two change, but if they don't then destroy them with "high pitched sound". I guess that is internet in the modern age. Haw! Haw! Haw! Managing the ISKCON institution is necessary, but to me I see a complex situation. Lot of variety. Think is just what you are doing. Clarify who you are in terms of Srila Prabhupada then estabish relationships with others.

ASA Blog, Peru School, Jayam??? ??

A practical point is that I don't know what is being done about recovering ISKCON Peru as a Bhakti sastri examination center. It has been a long time. And not to mention being Bhakti Vaibhava center. I have BVB students who frequently ask me about that and I feel that I am disappointing them, I don't know what to tell them. I have thought of giving them an ASA Pada Padma diploma, at least. Hopefully something concrete will be implemented soon to take a Pada Padma exam that would make my students more enthusiastic. And have the possibility to start this program with devotees Bhakti sastris who wish to continue studying systematically.

HpS - I am struggling, the BOEX, is struggling at the global level. Have you talked with the Gandharva Das about this? Can you talk with him??? I think there has actually been work to establish this!

Thank you very much, dear Gurumaharaj for listening to me.

I hope to talk with you about these issues in Lima.

Hopefully everything will be adjusted so that Srila Prabhupada is proud that his disciples and disciples of his disciples are fulfilling their wishes in the educational area.

ASA - TB -- https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/war-strategy.html for Prabhupada!!!

Your servant,

Laksmana-agraja

HpS - ASA -- Now post Calendar for Lima...

Hare Krishna Gurudev,

Please accept My humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Here we are in Sri Govardhan, very good Sadhu Sanga, utsaha!!

This week we start reading SB 3.28 to answer your previous letter.

HpS -Super.

I would like to ask You about your meeting with Sonu Shamdasani in Cordoba. Was it succesful? Will he join EAS 2020?

HpS - It was very, very nice. We went to the program in the university which was seven hours long and met many old an new Jungian friends, Sonu lectures were incredible. We did not try to talk with him because he was in a public relations mood with so many people, but the crowd was smaller so our relation was more direct. we had eye contact and little conversation. i feel very comfotable to write to him now and i think what we want to ask him is to recomend a study partner for us in this area of Jung and the orient. bhagavata. he likes this area but he is directing so many other areas. that we should only deal with him in summary. yesterday we had effective meeting with center for religious studies at the catholic university abut education and the sacred and before that big public symposium

now it is 3.45am so we have to bath, tilak and go to the temple with jagat guru das. have four rounds done. thank you.

Hope everything goes fine in chile,

At your service,

Nikunja Bihari das.

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my humblest obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Excuse my bad manners writing, my name is Lalita Madhava Ramirez daughter of prabhu Sankirtan Das and mother Lila Ratha DD, sister of Govinda Pramodini dd from Monterrey Mexico; I have been aspiring to be his disciple for 8 years and I have been present in most of his visits to Mexico and some visits in Houston too.

Please excuse the intermittent way of approaching you.

HpS - AGTSP. There is nothing wrong with approaching us here! Very nice to hear from you. Better information on how to contact us in the Kapi Dhvaja.

I was in difficult situations in my life in recent years, the most difficult for me was the breakup of my marriage since my ex-husband decided not to continue with the 4 principles and his spiritual life declined very strongly, this was caused us to separate and I was in depression for this situation for about 2 years, simultaneously there were many changes in my work in which I had to exercise a coordination position and I was under a lot of pressure, fortunately I was able to speak with the general director and they relocated me into the planning and evaluation área, where I am currently developing a sustainable development project for 20 high schools around the state of Nuevo León, so now I have a little more freedom in my schedules.

Because of this situations that maya involved me, my mind was distant from Krishna consciousness; However, now I am trying to reconnect with the spiritual life, I returned to chant my 16 rounds in the morning before any other service, trying to follow their recommendations as to sing the holy names and follow the principles to purify ourselves, that is why again I am writing to receive his mercy and develop my love and service towards Sri Krishna in a more enthusiastic way.

During that time and thanks to Krishna I was able to get involved in certain services as I mentioned in the previous letter, I have been doing sankirtan year after year for the last 8 years the international book fair organized by the Tecnológico de Monterrey with more than 100 editorials, I was also within the organization of the Jala Jatra festival for the first 3 years of its realization, afterwards we could only contribute food service for life and we have been going regularly to the cultural center.

I take this opportunity to tell you that we will be supporting the organization of your vyasa puja in Houston with some spiritual sisters from Mexico, so I hope I can serve you correctly.

I hope in this letter I can share a little bit more of who I am and sorry for my elementary English, this year I started classes and I'm still improving.

His eternal servant and aspiring disciple.

Lalita Madhava d.d.

HpS - You seem to be one of the finest human beings on the planet! Thank you for this inspiring news. Chanting 16 enthusiastic rounds and following four principles strictly is our connection with Krsna and Prabhupada. Don't be depressed or overworked. Krsna will adjust everything. He will deal with temporary insanity in husbands and lack of intelligence in business managers.

See you soon. Let us answer some more letters. It is 3AM We have 4 rounds done.

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva

Please accept our humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Hope you're doing well in Argentina. According to your posts It seems to be like that. I write this report on the blog because I haven't had much time to talk with you during your last stay in Chosica. Anyway, I consider that this medium is more efficient concerning MOE's issues.

1. The current situation of temples is not very promising at the moment. There is an air of conflict and suspicion among the devotees. Congregations have polarized and taken sides in the political situation of the Yatra. The good news is that there have been no regrettable incidents (despite the mood of devotees), the bad news is that the temples are almost empty. Thinking, for the moment, articulating educational initiatives or developing important programs should wait until consensus is reached in other aspects.

HpS - I agree that we should be alert to the other aspects and groups, but we should go ahead with our personal commitment to Srila Prabhupada's books and let that be a very good way to help the integration of the different groups and solution of the political problems. O.K.? We are keeping daily classes, usually on line, wherever we go, and pushing the BhV diploma with GEV etc.

2. Therefore, Gurudeva, we have concentrated on Chosica, where we find a favorable resonance for the development of our service. As I mentioned before, we are collaborating in the organization of seminars of a practical type (cooking, Vaisnava etiquette, worship, kirtan, ayurveda, etc.)in Arequipa in order to establish a fairly solid contact and continue with programs that solve other problems , in greater depth.

HpS - Super, Super, Super, Super!!

3. My trip to Ecuador is pending, I intended to do it at the end of the year, to coincide with the Ayampe meeting, but for economic reasons, it may not be. I am sure that by April 2020 I will be able to do it and establish the desired contact with them.

HpS - That is very good news! Today our SB class was about Katyayani vrata from the SBm K book, etc. Systematic study by following the festivals, no?

4. I do not receive further news from the Bolivian yatra, the devotee in charge of communicating with me is very sparse and poorly communicative. I think I will have to promptly address Prabhu Mathuresh, which I wanted to avoid because something else was agreed upon. Apparently there is no other alternative.

HpS - O. K. You see we are a little slow in responding too, but gettingit done. Keep sending news here and to Tapan misra Das.

5. Our intention remains the preparation of current and potential teachers: Mitravinda dd, Isvari dd, Abhinanda d, Jagat Pavitram d, Indira Sakti dd, Nitya Kisori dd, Tarangaksi dd, Rukmini dd, among others, can be trained to be able to count with a motivated, technical and determined staff that shares work with regular teachers. It is important to decentralize education and look for variety. A single teacher teaching all the courses has proven negative in their results. The main idea is to organize for them the TTC courses, give them seminars to develop skills under the guidance of more experimented teachers and share with some of them some modules of the current courses (for example, I have taught the first semester of Introduction to Bhakti Yoga and Isvari dd is going to teach the second).

6. Finally, we are working on the technification of this courses (avoiding exaggeration), in order to give greater efficiency to the learning process. There is a big difference between the Vyasasana preacher, the school teacher and the adult teacher. It is important to develop class material that differentiates these activities based on defined and ordered pedagogical models.

HpS - Sounds very nice and the more you can show the teaching principles in the SB then the more they are confirmed. What is the classroom environment for the BG, SB??

7. In an upcoming report, I will inform you about the Sunday school activities you opened a few weeks ago.

HpS - And Tapan misra Das??

That is all for the moment Gurumaharaja, I await your valuable suggestions and comments.

Your servant

Gandharva das

HpS - Did you get the Kapi Dhvaja yesterday? Okay? Answer with the Priority Code!