Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Gurudev!!

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,

Tomorrow more letters with july visit to argentina, questions and news. Struggling to improve this bhakti yoga practice. Gaura Purnima, HH Bhakti Sundar Goswami´s visit, med school, uff.

As you said we are trying to base our community in SB.

I want your advice in this issue.

Our program from Monday to Friday is as follows:

4:30 mangala aratik+kirtan+nrisimha

5 to 5:20 am tulasi puja, nod, siksastakam, 10 offenses

5:20 -6:40 japa (until 7 during weekends)

6:40-7:10 SB class (7 to 8 during weekends)

7:10 to 7:30 govinda, guru puja+kirtan (8 to 8:30 during weekends)

7:30 off to work

I noticed that most devotees attend to the first part of the program until japa and then leave. Then very few devotees attend SB class.

I understand that the main program is MAngala aratik+kitan+nrisimha+japa+SB. Then as you quote from NOI 3, anything else is nice but less important.

So i will propose to avoid the secondary programs and stick to the main during the week days.

I´m thinking in this for the week days:

Option 1:

4:30 to 5 am mangala aratik+kirtan+nrisimha

5 to 6:30 am japa

6:30 to 7 am SB class

7 am Govinda

7:10 off to work

Option 2:

4:30 to 5 am mangala aratik+kirtan+nrisimha

5 to 5:30 am SB class

5:30 to 7 am japa

7 am Govinda

7:10 off to work

Which option is better for you? What is your advice?

Devotees supporting option 1 they say that Srila Prabhupada said that japa is more important than Reading, and is better to chant japa after the aratik for the meditation.

Devotees supporting option 2 they say that giving SB class right after the aratik will make that all devotees attend the class.

Thank you for the inspiration Gurudev,

At your service,

Nikunja Bihari das.

HpS - Thank you. Very nice. Depends on local circumstance, but what we do is: Some Japa and CC before Mangala arati. Can even be couple minutes of reading, but steady.

Then do some reading right after Mangala arati. Again it can be a few minutes. We did CC after Mangala arati in San Jose where everyone had to go to work by 6.30AM and with 15-minute classes evderyone was enthusiastic and in such a short time we finished the hole book. Then do some class later, after Govinda, in terms of who can join. Everyhone can read the same stuff, eg. weekly assignment, and then discuss it on Saturday.

Hare Krsna dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope your trip to India has been profitable.

HpS - Super, but not without investment of years of our life. "You can die for something or you can live for nothing", Rambo.

You are always in our thoughts occupiying a very important place in our home and our heart.

I am writing to greet you and present this report of activities that have been carried out since a month ago. First of all, I would like to tell you that the appointment has been taken with pleasure by most educators so this has allowed me to start my activities with enthusiasm.

• In the first place, we have made contact with Mathuresh prabhu, in charge of the Bolivian Yatra, Divya Priya devi dasi (GBC representative for Ecuador) and Karunya Nitay prabhu, director of the educational program in Ecuador. The representation is now official in all three countries.

HpS - Super...

I will make the arrangements to travel in the year to Ecuador (Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca), and if it is possible, to south Peru (Cuzco and Arequipa) and Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba). In the same way we are working closely with Karuna Krsna Das, national education program director.

• I have been in touch with Tapana Misra prabhu by mail and today we have had our first telephone conversation. Prabhu has answered my questions with great kindness and I will be reporting to him as well as to you.

I have talked with the educators of Lima, at first, one by one and then they were called for a meeting this past Sunday. Karuna Krsna das, Jiva Sakti das, Jagat Pavitram das, Isvari devi dasi, Abhinanda das and me attended. The meeting was fruitful and nice, agreements were signed, the most important being:

• To comply with the MOE requests: semiannual report, register in the MOE's database, subscribe to MOE publications and attend the coordination meetings that will be every three months, in addition, a group has been created on Facebook to address issues of greater urgency.

HpS - Get ahold of the Blue Baboon (LAD). He is old. He is cantakerous, but he has a heart of gold.

• To propose as Bhakti sastri examiner to Baladeva prabhu and Jiva Sakti prabhu as administrator. In case this proposal does not prosper, we suggest Jiva Sakti prabhu as examiner and Candramukhi devi dasi as administrator. The final decision is in Mathuresh prabhu, the National Board and your hands. From then on, we must request the license to the BoEx.
• To create two working groups, one for Introduction to Bhakti yoga and another for the Disciples course. These work groups have the task of standardizing both courses, that have been imparted very differently by different devotees. The idea of fund is to create a structured course that can be facilitated in provincial cities on the basis of a coherent study guide. The course of Bhakti sastri will continue as it is until Bhakti sastri and Bhakti Vaibhava standarized courses are ready, that it will happen in two years, according to Tapana Misra prabhu.

HpS - The Boex is working on Intro to Bhakti yoga course guidelines and posting a list of good courses that are available around the world. Be sure to put all this stuff in Abhirama's "Jayam". Your Spanish version will be great.

• I am in talks with Hari Purana prabhu and other members of the Chosica community who see fit to develop education programs for children (more and more children among the devotees!). I spoke with Tapana Misra Prabhu and he will put me in touch with a team of devotees from India who are developing a similar project. Meanwhile, I have recommended Sunday school and later develop a home schooling program as the natural previous step for the Gurukula.

HpS - Yes. Keep after Tapan-misra Das. Also contact Gopi-gita Dasi in Dallas. [email protected]

First of all I am attending the most urgent matters but I need a strategic plan. Any suggestions Gurumaharaja?

HpS - Vidya vadu jivanam. If you chant good rounds. Keep you DOnkey well, then Krsna will send plans. Catch them. Who are you? WHo are your associates? Then a plan based upon the personal relations of intelligent associatiotes.

*******************************

On a personal level:

As you already know, we have been in Chosica for 2 months, happy because it is where we feel better. We are serving Sri Sri Radha Madana Vihari on weekends at kitchen, attending Mangala arati (we live three minutes from the temple!) and teaching the Introduction to Bhakti yoga course to three students of the university where I teach and my sister in law. My wife is doing well, studying (and falling in love with the Bhagavad Gita, in her own words) and successfully deciphering her mission in the movement of Lord Caitanya. I go to work in Lima three days a week and the rest here, more serene, more controlled, more safe. Simple life, high thinking ki jaya !!

We hope to see you soon, dear Gurudeva.

I will send my report next month.

Your tiny servant

Gandharva das

HpS - I hope we can buy our Lima ticket in the next few days.

Hare Krishna Gurudev, tlgaSP, pamhr.

Empezamos el año con mucho servicio en Lima-Peru y Mayapur-Vrindavan-Delhi-India en nuestra experiencia personal mantener los compromisos y nuestra palabra (promesa) nos hace personas confiables y dignos de la verdad, un valor q todo ser humano deberia de tener¡¡

Lo recordé mucho al momento de Viajar por largas horas tomando varios vuelos y parando en diferentes aeropuertos todo un esfuerzo para ser sirvientes del sirviente. Al llegar a India Calcuta tenia los zapatos rotos, no tenia laksmi y me sentia muy cansado pero por la Gracia de Mahaprabhu todo mejoro en Mayapur.....baño, prasadam, darshan de Radha Madhava astasakhis, Pancattva, Lord Nrisinhadev (ah quien amo¡) y saber q Ud estaba en Mayapur fue todo MARAVILLOSO.

Bajo la guia y direccion de SS Bhaktimarga Swami cumplimos con nuestro servicio en el drama '' The Queen's Secret'' ''El Secreto de la Reina'' la historia entre Kunti y Karna, conocer mas sobre el Mahabaratha y el impacto q tiene en nosotros es resaltante, por ejemplo cuando estábamos ensayando la escena de Drupadi siendo ultrajada por Dushasana (despues del juego de dados) la devota q hacia ese rol empezó a llorar mucho sin parar porq sentia la pena y lo fuerte del momento de como Drupadi fue tratada, al final ella no lo pudo hacer mas y tubo q tomar ese rol otra devota. Karna y toda su frustacion verlo desde una perspectiva psicológica, Kunti y su dolor interno en soledad de saber q sus hijos se mataran entre si, Bhisma héroe glorioso me hace pensar q debemos abrir los brazos y q Krishna aparezca y acabe con nosotros (con nuestros dolores) y liberarnos aqui y ahora. mi rol en el drama fue de Dushasan.

tubimos 6 presentaciones en Mayapur y 2 en Iskcon Noida donde nos hicieron un poster de nuestro drama super...¡ cumplimos con nuestro sankirtan porq mas de 2000 personas vieron nuestro drama y muchos nos bendicen para seguir con nuestro servicio cada año. una persona un amigo me dijo en el mangal aratik (tu ya le pertenecen a Mayapur).

Los ultimos dias nos fuimos con SS Bhaktimarga Swami a Vrindavan para Gaura Purnima ki jay.¡¡¡ y caminamos juntos la colina Govardhan, Radha Kunda y Syama Kunda fue magico...... kirtan, parikrans, sadhu sanga y mahaprasadam solo nos dio la tierra de Krishna ademas de una bacteria a la garganta q nos hace toser ....nos hospedamos en el Ashram de Yogamaya alado del Seva Kunja a 2 cuadras del rio Yamuna y el templo de Radha Damodar donde Srila Prabhupada tenia una habitacion.

gracias a su misericordia puedo obtener mas de lo me imagino Gurudev en la vida, tan solo seguirlo a ud a Srila Prabhupada mi vida se vuelve exitosa, me traigo recuerdos hermosos de mi servicio y mucha parafernalia, ahora tenemos Gaura Nitay en casa, mi esposa Radharani esta feliz y eso es me pone feliz.

su sirviente Parama Karuna das.

ASA = !!! Espero mas y mas profundo su purificacion. Mas y mas.

Maharaj Dude,

Joking about the dude part but I thought it was quite funny when you mentioned it last letter. :) Probably inappropriate on my part.

HpS - We appreciate it from a sincere person!

PAMHO

AGTSP

HK

I hope your health is well and you are in good spirit.

HpS - We are dying of old age. It started about 71-years ago. We are in good spirits because we hope to have a better body for Sankirtan in Srila Prabhupada's Sankirtan in the future.

Currently I am 2 months following Hari nam initiation requirements. Waking at 3:30am, Mangala Arati, Kirtan, 16 rounds as nice as we can in the morning, SB class (Srila Prabhupada lecture), 4 regs. Finishing up reading YEW. Listening to Amala Bhakta Swami's Krsna book narration and in the 51st chapter. I have read now the SB intro of Lord Caitanya and NOI. Next either Science of Self Realization or LOB . Trying to get in at least 1 hour of reading in each day, goal of 2 hours daily. Trying to please Nitai-Guaranga and Srila Prabhupada (photo attached).

We are currently going to Iskcon Hillsboro (Suburb of Portland) every Sunday. The Temple President there is JaiSacinandan Prabhu and he is very nice. We come an hour early, start Kirtan with the family and encourage other devotees to come. Alicia is doing Sunday School very nicely and kids really enjoy her as a teacher. JaiSacinandan Prabhu is engaging us in helping with events. Right now I am helping find a venue for a youth Kirtan seminar where Bada Hari Prabhu and Amala Harinam Prabhu will be attending in June. Its a simple task but we hope to do it nicely, maybe Krsna will give us more service. Inspired by your book distribution we talked to JaiSacinandan about starting book distribution where we encourage devotees to take a BG and distribute it any way they are inspired to. Then each week we encourage them to get another at the temple and distribute it. The books are already sponsored or the temple will pay for them, so no pressure on the devotees to sale but just try to be inspired to get Srila Prabhupada's books out. Then we can try to find ways to inspire devotees to see more books being distributed if it goes well.

The whole family we are visiting Boise March 27-April 1st. Alicia and I are discussing moving back to Boise or to a community. Something with some more association for her and the kids. Where we are now in Salem we are about a hour and 20 mins from the temple and there is 1 devotee family anywhere close. She thinks it will help her KC and the kids. I believe my position is support our wife and kids in their KC so I am just trying to be encouraging, engage them in KC activites and not stick my foot in my mouth (which I do a lot, a lot lot). Trying to learn to control the tongue. Mostly trying to get out of Krsna's way so he can do his thing and we can make advancement doing our things for him.

Then during your visit there I will likely come for a 4-5 days with just myself if it is alright.

HpS - Sounds great.

I would like if it isnt trouble to attend with you any programs that allow, or anytime that allows. For instance lunch home visits to devotees and such. I wont be a bother,

HpS - Seems fine.

O. K. I will do my very best not to be a bother, but I would like to be there in your company if possible. I can even sit out side the door or where ever I can be within ear distance I hope. Or whatever way I can be in service please. Your assoiciation is very inspiring for us in desiring to be apart of Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Thank you for your association Maharaj and please forgive me for my offenses.

Your aspiring servant,

Bhakta Big Foot (Nathen)

ASA - Dear Mr. Big foot. What was your father like? Like you? Mother's Grandfather. Your activities in Portland sound very, very nice. Make a program you can maintain for a planned time eg. readering standard for one month, two weeks.

What is your phone number. We will not publish it.

Do you own a weed whipper? Respects to your family. Did you see the article on Sunday School teachers in the Viplavah mentioned in the last Kapi Dhvaja?

Hare Krishna Gurudev,

Please accept muy humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,

What you say about daily SB class is so true!! It scares me to notice how far we are from that situation.

How can devotees that live alone or with families in the city, entangled with material affairs acomplish a daily SB class? Many read in whasapp groups and different media, but discussion i guess only in temples we have that situation.

Here at Sri Govardhan I'm struggling to have a daily SB discussion.

I would like to ask you many questions but I don't know wether you are going to have time to answer them while travelling, so I'm reticent to write.

Thank you Gurudev,

At your service,

Nikunja Bihari das.

HpS - AGTSP. Get a house near other devotees. Five Grhastha Ashramas = One Temple, no? Plan a reading schedule for the week and then come or get online on Saturday and discuss the results. Make the SB et al, the basis of your community.

Question?

Dear Gurumaharaja,

I suppose to write quick report for Vedabase, but there is not much news other than:

• imported some more books and fixed some issues
• started prototype for mobile offline reader

Next steps

• will focus on importing books about Srila Prabhupada
• finally enable categorization
• better bookmarks page
• fix few issues and enable timecoding of lecture transctripts for timecoders

Your servant Prahlad Nrsimha das

HpS - Thank you so much! Can you give a summary of the books added in the next report and any help you are getting and any help you need. thank you so much. at the sggs meeting bhakti caru swami, gopal krsna swami, radha natha swami, birsimha swami et al were all taking vedabase.com as essential part of iskcon and the sankirtan movement.