Check in & Boise Visit

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?

Sastric Education

6 years, 4 months ago by bhaktanicasio in Sankirtana / Temple Activity Reports

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?

URGENT: Vedabase "update"

6 years, 4 months ago by pnd in Sankirtana / Temple Activity Reports

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.

Proxima visita a España

6 years, 4 months ago by jayanta in Sankirtana / Temple Activity Reports

Querido Gurudev: Pamho. Gloria a Srila Prabhupada y sus seguidores fieles.

Me alegra escuchar la noticia de que piensa venir a España en Abril. Me he tomado la libertad de hablar con Mónica ( la jefa del Departamento de Antropología de la Universidad Complutense) para poder hacer un programa con los alumnos. Hemos quedado que cuando sepa las fechas volveremos a hablar para poder concretar.

Tambien quería informarle que el dia 07 de Enero celebramos su Vyasa Puja en el Templo de Madrid. Fue un programa sencillo pero muy emotivo. Pude apreciar la humildad de todos los devotos y la importancia de glorificar al guru de forma sincera (por supuesto también a Prabhupada). Asistieron Bhakta Gino y su esposa, Dandava y familia, Krisna Kirtan y familia, Mathura Mani y mi propia familia. Tambien asistieron otros devotos y devotas que no forman parte de los discipulos.

Bueno no quiero alargar la carta así que esperando se encuentre bien de salud y sus noticias de su viaje a España

se despide

su sirviente

Jayanta das

P.D. No tengo fotos del Vyasa Puja. Bhakta Gino hizo un video.

HpS - TlgaSP. Si vamos a España, nova a pasar antes de Mayo esta bien? 🙂

Sankritan Report from Down Under

Dear Maharaja,

Koti koti dandvat pranams _ó___

AGTSP

It has been many months since speaking with you in this forum. Still reflecting on Art the Sacred a lot, and getting much from it. What great fortune I have. Impossible to repay.

HpS ASA - AgtSP. Paoho. We quote your presentation a lot. Sorry one week to answer. Travel and squeezing in letters. Sad not to get your association.


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For the last three months I have been studying World Religions. Learning lots for interfaith communication, and strengthening my own logic and under-standing. Two very successful essays submitted. 


Essay 1:

Who is driving this chariot? 

The self in the Upanishads and Buddhism. 

Link: https://essenceseekers.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/who-is-driving-this-chariot/


Very high mark,and I received a personal message form the unit chair.

  “Dhruva - as the unit chair, I have committed myself to second mark essays on the block for either a fail or a first class, as is obviously the case here. No commitment was really required, though, because this was a joy to read. 

  “For my part, I am not at all qualified to render any kind of determination as to the viability or success of your argument - I am not a scholar of either Buddhism or the Upanishadic tradition. But there is no question in my mind that this is a brilliant piece of reasoning backed by a very significant grasp of the traditions in question. 

  “So in truth I stopped by to say - this is a great piece of philosophy. I certainly hope you can see a way to continue working as a philosopher. My very best to you either way.”

~ Prof. Jon Roffe (Deakin University)

HpS - wonderful. I guess you have taken the mercy of Lord Chaitanya. More!

Such nice appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada’s education is so potent that even a low-life street kid like me can attract the admiration of university professors!

All because of your kindness and mercy upon me and my family. Thank you. So much education and inspiration I receive from your online lectures. 


Essay number 2.

The Point of Suffering: Queen Kunti and Job

Link: https://essenceseekers.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/the-purpose-of-suffering-queen-kunti-and-job/


Still waiting for results on essay 2.

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Essay get 100-200 reads on my blog. 


CC Madhya 7.128

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa

āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa


“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”


BG 10.10

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ

bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam

dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ

yena mām upayānti te


"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."


.......................


HG Atul Krsna prabhu has been relaying some MOE stories. Such a treat. 

Prabhu spent three weeks in our home over Xmas. Viasnava sanga ki jai!!!


We wish we could be in the holy dham with you. Second best is chanting because Prabhupada said we are together when we chant the holy names. Third best is parikramA videos on the YouTube. 


.......................


Suryani has started Gurukula, official, kindergarten... two weeks ago. She is very happy. This morning, whole family went to mongala aroti and milked Krishna’s cows at the New Govardhana Goshala.


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I realised that intellectual understanding of God is maximum maha tattva. Now I follow the Six Goswamis to find Krishna. Therefore, deity seva in home is improving significantly. 


How bad did the six Goswamis want to see Krishna???


They went and excavated a whole village for Radha and Krishna to appear!!!


Krsna’s form is never without His name, His associated, His paraphernalia, His qualities, His places of pastimes, etc, therefore if I constantly offer Him His paraphernalia and hear about His pastimes, I will surly get to see His beautiful tri-bhanga vigrahar someday. 


BG 8.14

ananya-cetāḥ satataṁ

yo māṁ smarati nityaśaḥ

tasyāhaṁ su-labhaḥ pārtha

nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ


"For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pṛthā, because of his constant engagement in devotional service."


................


Maharaja, thank you so much for showing the way back to Goloka, the centre of the lotus. 


Please give me/us more seva.


Your aspiring servants Dhruvananda D, Dhanesvari DD, Suryani DD & Sarasvati DD.

HpS - It is typhoon in Mayapura blocking travel to Mangala Arati. Thank you for the very, very inspiring news. The Japa? Krsna book? Our Hello to the family!

Chosica program report (URGENT reply)

6 years, 4 months ago by Germán Vegas in Sankirtana / Temple Activity Reports

Hare Krsna dear Gurumaharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!


Hoping that your stay in Vrndavana is great I greet you.

According to my last letter about Chosica Mandir program (https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/9969/) I have to tell you that the ideas mentioned are not of my inspiration. These proposals were given to me by Karuna Krsna prabhu for your knowledge. Perhaps you prefer Karuna prabhu to contact you directly to discuss these points. I am only the postman ready to serve you as needed.

Your servant

Gandharva das

HpS - If he can write it is great, but if not we will have to live with whatever postal service we have in this part of the jungle.