Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaja,

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

I would like to give you an update of our program of this weekend. We've had our 3rd annual Amsterdam Kirtan Mela, paired with a Holy Name Retreat with His Holiness Sacinandana Swami Maharaja. The event received a good 300 visitors, plus several devotees who took up active services. Unfortunately i haven't seen much good photo's online yet.

We took some effort to draw in people from the yoga communities and have seen several faces unknown to us. Still, most of the visitors were ISKCON affiliated, Surinami Hindus and some of the Indian diaspora. I should say there were a lot of 'white bodied devotees'.

After three rounds we concluded this was the best one, with some good lessons learned. We again sold tickets (€25 for grown ups, €5 for kids under 16), and again we received some complaints and had devotees who we've known for years who boycott us). Still we believe it is alright what we do. I've asked feedback from some devotees to hear their thoughts, so we learn a bit and came to conclude that both ways have their advantages and it might not make a big difference. From how everything went, we believe Krishna was pleased with our effort, despite the arguments of some.

The idea that yoga students from around Amsterdam would come because of fixed price tickets is not yet proven. I tend to think the bastion of ISKCON wards of some people. We could make more effort next year to visit more schools and have a talk and see where they stand, and see if they can appreciate what we have to offer.

asa/tb make, agtsp, the popcorn free but salty, then charge a euro for glass of lemonade?

So that's more or less my missionary work for the year. Although i got some impression this weekend that Krishna pulls at me to get my spiritual life together. I've received good food for thought from the retreat today, as well as a lot of inspiration.

I hope you are doing well Maharaja. I hope you feel satisfied in the way you're instrumental in Srila Prabhupada's mission. I haven't followed your steps, i admit. I do think fondly of your example of educating yourself and build bridges. In that sense i am following in your footsteps in my own tiny way actually. I'm doing eclectic reading, bit of history, cultural philosophy, literature (short stories), biographies. I get to know my self and my range better with age. Its funny how that works, its kind of like board games; once you get going nicely, the game is almost over.

Hare Krishna,

A fallen householder,

Raghava Pandita dasa

ASA/hps - what do you think of our twitter posts.

even do it once a year and it accumulates!

nimai evan has dog following him, no?



Hare Krishna, dear gurudev, Pamho, AGTSP!

This is the letter from a very nice devotee from Argentina that happen to be my student.

Hare Krishna, my obeisances, respected Maharaja:

                                                    I am writing to you Maharaja for the invitation to a Congress at the University where I study. My name is Dhenupal das and I am finishing my thesis to receive my Bachelor's degree, together with my Director Dr. Engineer Vincitorio Fabio, Tec. Gabriela Barja, Srivas Takhur das, Ramananda das, from other Universities, in Argentina (UTN, UNL, UDAM) , Dr Giovanni Pelaez Perú (USAN of Arequipa) and Mexico Mg. Biologist Maria Acosta (Arkansas State University, Querátaro Campus, Mexico) we are intervening directly with the students, the title of the work is “Supporting University Students with Yoga Micro-Tools”, and in this way we were able to present ourselves at an Education Congress in Innovation”, 2023, with great success, with its publication. We will attach a link where you will see a video that was presented at the Congress. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rh3sa-Dp1ffwUsvW6VPKwFpTndf5ezbC/view?usp=sharing

The point is that after this study was carried out, we continue to do the research more specifically in different places and now that we are at a higher level of relationships.

we see the good opportunity to hold a Congress, and that is why I am writing to you, first to me. master of Bhakti Shastri and Pada Padma, Lakmana Agraha gives his disciple.

There are three topics to be discussed in Congress:

SCIENCE:  PH. HRIDAYANANDA DAS GOSWAMI

EDUCATION: PH. KRISHNA KSHETRA SWAMI

INNOVATION: PH.HANUMAN PRESAKA SWAMI

That any of the topics to be discussed you can speak to an audience entirely of students, professors and authorities of the Universities mentioned above. It is not aimed at devotees.

We are also inviting researchers who have a special empathy in Social Sciences, Economics (Minister of Economy of my province), Human Sciences, Psychology of Carl Jung, Engineers, Biologists, specialists of the 2030 Agenda, who are linked by scientific contacts , from various countries.

And as we understand that we also have educated devotees whom we know well for their oratory and intelligence and professionalism, such as Parampadam das (Argentina, with his thesis that he received as a Bachelor), Satyaki das (Argentina- National University of Rosario), each devotee will be selected and invited with certain evaluation criteria proposed by the same organization. Arjuna Sakha das (Argentina), who has a degree in communication, will be in charge of presenting the event.

There are not always opportunities to coordinate, carry out, execute, and also through a zoom and in-person platform.

The proposed date is in October the first week, it will be two consecutive days: 1/8/2024 and 2/8/2024. (August 1^st and 2^nd)

hps - agtSP. thank you, so much. as you can see we are taking a little time to answer our mail unless it gets pushed under our nose as priority.

"...The proposed date is in October the first week..." but then you list August 1st and 2nd?

In August we will be in USA with all internet facility.

In October we will be in Spain or India.

Topic we have developed is: Science, Psyche and Spirituality - The encounter of Prof. Carl Gustav Jung with the Bhaktisiddhanta of classical India.

O.K.?

We do not do it on another date because we are invited by another conference to be held in September, in different parts of the country that the team must attend.

HDG, already gave us his ok to participate in it, from KKS with him we started a small special course for devotees of his recent research and we await your response in these days and we would really like you to confirm us. In this way we will continue in this communication process.

My most respected obeisances,

 Dhenupal das

Hare Krishna!

HpS - Thank you LaD... Please forward the letter!

Todas Las glorias a nuestro Maestro Espiritual eterno Srila Prabhupada🙏

Hare Krsna muy querido y siempre recordado Gurumaharaja, por favor acepte mis sinceras reverencias🙏

Disculpe por favor por no haberle escrito antes, pero el servicio en la hospedería está un poco intenso por esta temporada. Prabhu Jambula es muy estricto y exigente en realizar un buen servicio de prédica con el hospedaje, eso es muy bueno, me permite aprender a dejar la mediocridad que usualmente tenemos los latinos.

Gurudeva, cuando veo a Radha Govinda Candra yo le envío a usted muchas muchas cartas a través del corazón. Y cuando escucho a mis hermanos espirituales me recuerdan más a usted! Ellos son como expansiones de usted, fuentes de amor incondicional, siempre dispuestos a darme servicio devocional, palabras que calman mi mente y hacerme sentir en familia. Yo no entiendo muchas cosas de la cultura europea y la verdad es que NO QUIERO ENTENDERLAS, el feminismo, consumismo, sentimentalismo y más absurdos ´ismos´ Después de haber viajado por Sudamérica y ahora en Europa puedo decir que este mundo ES UNA TRAMPA, PURA ILUSIÓN, UNA ESTAFA! Una película repetida!

El otro día madre Satvica (la pujari principal de NVM) me vió tan desanimada que me dijo algo real: ESTE LUGAR ES GOLOKA VRINDAVAN, ES EL MUNDO ESPIRITUAL, TENEMOS A RADHA GOVINDA CANDRA HACIENDO SUS PASATIEMPOS TRASCENDENTALES EN ESTE MOMENTO… TIENES QUE VER CON ESOS OJOS! Y por un instante, unos segundos vi a los niños como vaqueritos y gopis del Krsna Book… NVM es tan especial que cada vez que quiero irme me atrapa más… Los devotos mayores que viven acá están tan decepcionados de este mundo material… hoy vi a Mahajan cantar en el kirtan mientras le lloraba a Radha Govinda Candra… fue tan potente su sentimiento que mi Paramatma vibró muy fuerte!!!

K R S N A

Gurumaharaja,la idea de que podamos volver a tener su misericordiosa asociación me entusiasma mucho!! Nosotros, su ejército de monos, lo esperamos en NVM 🐵 🐵 Leí la respuesta que le dió a Madre Madhumanjari. Ya me comuniqué con ella para coordinar su estadía en NVM, las madres peruanas estamos súper felices de tener la asociación de Madre Madhumanjari. Estamos a su servicio Gurumaharaja 🙏

Perdone mis ofensas

Sinceramente

Intentando servirlo

Yasoda Devi Dasi (Sita? Devaki? Yamuna?...)

-=-=-=-

All glories to our eternal Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada🙏

Hare Krsna much loved and always remembered Gurumaharaja, please accept my sincere obeisances🙏

Please excuse me for not writing to you sooner, but the service at the inn is a little intense this season. Prabhu Jambula is very strict and demanding in providing a good preaching service with the accommodation, that is very good, it allows me to learn to leave the mediocrity that we Latinos usually have.

Gurudeva, when I see Radha Govinda Candra I send you many many letters through my heart. And when I listen to my spiritual brothers they remind me more of you! They are like expansions of you, sources of unconditional love, always ready to give me devotional service, words that calm my mind and make me feel like family. I don't understand many things about European culture and the truth is that I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEM, feminism, consumerism, sentimentalism and more absurd 'isms'. After having traveled through South America and now in Europe I can say that this world IS A TRAP, PURE ILLUSION, A SCAM! A movie repeated!

HpS - https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/12/3/51/

The other day mother Satvica (the main pujari of NVM) saw me so discouraged that she told me something real: THIS PLACE IS GOLOKA VRINDAVAN, IT IS THE SPIRITUAL WORLD, WE HAVE RADHA GOVINDA CANDRA DOING HER TRANSCENDENT HOBBIES AT THIS MOMENT... YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THOSE EYES!

And for an instant, a few seconds I saw the children as little cowherds and gopis from the Krsna Book... NVM is so special that every time I want to leave it catches me more... The older devotees who live here are so disappointed in this material world... today I saw Mahajan sang in the kirtan while crying to Radha Govinda Candra... his feeling was so powerful that my Paramatma vibrated very strongly!!!

K R S N A

Gurumaharaja, the idea that we can once again have your merciful association excites me very much!!

We, his monkey army, are waiting for him at NVM 🐵 🐵 I read the reply she gave to Mother Madhumanjari.

I already contacted her to coordinate her stay at NVM, Peruvian mothers are super happy to have Mother Madhumanjari's association. We are at the service of her Gurumaharaja 🙏

Forgive my offenses

Sincerely

Trying to serve it

Yasoda Devi Dasi (Sita? Devaki? Yamuna?...)

HpS - Jaya!! AgtSP.

a g t SP!!!

Hk pamho

Querido Gurudeva siempre recuerdo que Ud. entusiasmaba a celebrar en los templos, las fiestas en alusión al Sr. Ramacandra. Posiblemente Él sea más conocido en la tierra que Krsna, pues las historias del fiel sirviente Hanuman llegan y se siguen mostrando en series exitosas como Dragon bol.

El pequeño Hanuman, mi deidad, idéntico al del templo de Radha Madan Bihari (uno tiene las manitos en posición de oración, el mío dando bendiciones), saltó al altar de Radha Govinda Candra, los tomó a todos de sorpresa, la encargada del pujari autorizó a se quedará todo el día, ya que, la ofrenda sería especial. Al final, en la noche, Prabhu Venudar pidió que lo llevara porque se estaba comiendo todo.

A lo largo del día venían devotos y espontáneamente cantaban extáticos, y los cabezas de familia trajeron prasadham de sus casas para compartir y el almuerzo se volvió muy opulento. Es lindo este lugar, todos viene entusiastas todos los días y realizan su servicio ya sea en la cocina, pujari, campo, etc. Se cumple el sadhana a diario y como amanece mucho después, posiblemente para el Brahma muhurta varios devotos ya llevan muchas rondas cantadas.

Lo esperamos Gurudeva, lo esperamos todos, Maharaja Yadunandana, sus discípulos, amigos y bienquerientes en NVM, su casa.

Su hija que lo adora:

Yugala Kisora Dasi

=-=-=-=

.HK. pamho.

Dear Gurudeva, I always remember that you were enthusiastic about celebrating festivals in reference to Mr. Ramacandra in the temples. Possibly He is better known on earth than Krsna, since the stories of the faithful servant Hanuman arrive and continue to be shown in successful series such as Dragon Bol.

Little Hanuman, my deity, identical to the one in the Radha Madan Bihari temple (one has his little hands in a prayer position, mine giving blessings), jumped onto the altar of Radha Govinda Candra, taking everyone by surprise, the person in charge of the pujari He authorized him to stay all day, since the offering would be special. Finally, in the evening, Prabhu Venudar asked to take him because he was eating everything.

HpS/ASA 😆

😆..😆....😆

Throughout the day devotees came and spontaneously sang ecstatically, and the heads of families brought prasadham from their homes to share and the lunch became very opulent. This place is nice, everyone comes enthusiastically every day and performs their service whether in the kitchen, pujari, field, etc. The sadhana is performed daily and as it dawns much later, possibly for the Brahma muhurta several devotees have already chanted many rounds.

We are waiting for you Gurudeva, we are all waiting for you, Maharaja Yadunandana, his disciples, his friends and well-wishers in NVM, his house.

His daughter who adores him:

Yugala Kisora Dasi

HpS - Such really good Social Communication! Thank you. Now is Sita's appearance, no?

Thank you!!!!!!

HpS/ ASA - Gauranga! . . . who's the news? what's the news? when arrive in NMDh??

TC - Hare Krishna Maharaja! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you.

Still in India. In Coimbatore now, on my way to Chennai (or Madras as it was known before). Need to look for some silver simhasan for Lord Narasimha Deva Saligram. Also need to spend a couple of days at my family's house.

Simhasan work for Yoga Narasimha Deva is going on. Need to get the carvings completed... As of now, plans haven't changed. Supposed to be reaching Hugh's Town on the 17th. If the work gets completed before that, I may prepone my ticket.

HpS/ASA - Great! Should be a powerful festival.

Hare Krishna, respected Gurudeva!

HpS - All glories to our Guru, Srila Prabhupada.

Please accept my respectful and humble obeisances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope that you are well and in good health or the best as is possible in the execution and development of your sankirtan for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

I heard and read that you will be in Spain during the last quarter of this year and for several months! I would like very very much to be able to travel to visit you and be able to serving you in Vapu mood during your stay in Europe.

Your disciple Abhirama Thakur Das invited me to participate in the new edition of Solaris, I must write a bibliographic review of the book “The sacred and the profane” by Mircea Eliade; I'm very happy because it represents a great challenge for me, mainly due to the hard requirement that my daily activities demand of me and also because the author was a very important academic of the 20th century and who is still valid through his philosophical and interreligious researching work where also, just like you do, he dedicated himself to building bridges between the philosophies of the East and the West, this is a topic that interests me a lot.

I take this opportunity of writing this letter to tell you that I have thought a lot about the idea of how I want to approach and develop the book I want to write with you (I mean do interviews with you) and about you; I want to prepare a document setting out to you my ideas on the matter so that I can comment on them formally and see together what we can do, only if you are available for do this.

The reason for this letter is to tell you that this Tuesday, April 16, the Rama Navami festival was held on Iskcon Chile celebrating the appearance of Lord Ramachandra. And I was blessed to be asked by the temple festival committee and the matajis devotees in charge of the garland service to take charge of making all the garlands for the festival. It was the first time that I've had such an important and great service! We made 11 garlands in total: the painting of Lord Ramachandra and His associates, Sri Sri Gaura Nitay (the regent deities of our Mandir, installed by H.H. Jayapataki Swami during the 90s), Lord Nrishimha, Prahlada Maharaja, Panca Tattva, Salagram Sila , Tulsi, Guru Parampara, Srila Prabhupada small size murti, Srila Prabhupada real size murti. They also gave this service to a devotee named Valentina, who came to know Krishna Consciousness approximately 2 years ago and since then she comes to the temple permanently and does various services. She is very skilled and virtuous, she has many qualities, she is very chaste and sincere, she is an artist, writer, nurse.

On Monday, April 15, I went early to the Santiago Flower Terminal to buy 8 bouquets of flowers, carnations and mables, white, red, burgundy, green, yellow, pink, lush and beautiful flowers, only Krishna who is the Supreme Artist can create something that wonderful, and how wonderful the flowers in the spiritual world must be!

During the afternoon together with Valentina we were both making the garlands from 3 pm to 11 pm and we couldn't finish the service, so we had to return to the temple during Mangalarati and it was already the same day of the festival!; We were there from 4.30 am to 7 am and we were able to do the floral arrangements, vases, organization and cleaning that we could not finish the previous service day. I attach pictures of the garlands before being offered and when they were already put into action to perform their service to decorate the transcendental forms of Their Lordships. In the afternoon during the festival, the person in charge of this service named Krishna Sevini Devi Dasi, she thanked us and congratulated us for the garlands we made for this very important festival (especially important festival for the devotees of the Anjana Suta Academy, All glories to Srila Prabhupada!), and she also made some observations regarding to the combination of colors, a maximum of 3 colors should be used, in the case of this festival must be red, yellow and white, I used 7 colors.

I love making garlands for the Deities, Gurudeva, it's for me a beautiful form of meditation and one that I enjoy the most; it allows me to appreciate the beauty of Lord Krishna's creation, connect with my sensitivity, develop fine motor skills, perform a loving service for the Supreme Lord, serving Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada (I say serving Gurudeva because I started doing this service to be able to get initiated by you and whenever I'm making garlands I think of you listening to Srila Prabhupada chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, I always listen the same audio on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDqCcmkvWcg )

I know by certainty and experience that this blessing that I've received and that I've been able to make so many garlands for this festival of Rama Navami, is exclusively due to your mercy Gurudeva, just by giving me your loving and transcendental association you are allowing me to advance a little more on my spiritual path and gradually approach the platform of devotional service for the Supreme Lord, and it's always thanks to the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Krishna, All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Soon I will write another report to you with news from Sit Properly 108. For now I can tell you that a few weeks ago we published the third single on all platforms and digital stores, it's a reggaeton rhythm that has the Maha Mantra Hare Krishna in the ending, it's the first time In the history of this musical genre that the Maha Mantra is included in a song of the style and we hope that other artists appear who also include the Maha Mantra in their songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT8loAdXOnY

I must also write to you a report about my sadhana, 16/4, service for Iskcon Chile and my preparation to be qualified to take first initiation.

Thank you very much for everything Gurudeva, I always carry you in my heart, please accept my respectful and humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to H.H. Hanumatpresaka Swami! All glories to the assembled devotees! Hare Krishna!

Your aspiring servant,

Carlos from Iskcon Chile.

HpS/ ASA

AgtSP! Thank you for this nice letter.

1. Trip to Spain - Of course, if you can visit Radha Govinda candra that is great. Contact Yadunandana Swami and the devotees at New Vraja Mandala for permission to visit, service, accommodations etc!!
2. Book with philosopher. We can start with some practical activity.
3. Radharani makes garlands for Krsna - Light, fragrant, durable! 😃
4. Now we go for a solitary walk to to Office Max.

Thank you. You inspire us. You have so much potential.