Letters to the editor

Memorial Day

May 26, 2025

AT THE VEDA FOUNDATION MEMORIAL FOR MAHARAJA BHAKTI CARU SWAMI

Deland to Ksetra-jnana

Dear Maharaja Hanumat Presaka Swami,

please accept my humble obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Responding to the prior Sadhu Sanga queries, yes, we did have a full size Srila Prabhu Murti there, all else was pretty much digital, aside from Tulsi’s and a few Shalagram Shilas.

DRIVING WITH VAISNAVA’S

After our Sadhu-Sanga blast, we went to Deland for Srila Prabhupada and Maharaja Bhakti Caru Swami’s (BCS) Memorial Monument celebration. Seems Srila Prabhupada is also included on any BCS events, such is BCS desire. We were only an hour and a half drive away from Orlando, and were honored to bring Gopinath Acarya Prabhu, his wife, Lethita from Houston. Everyone was glad to come to this event, though I had some hesitancy.

PRE-EMPT

Had a concern about how much seva was to be required and I was not well enough prepared for it. I only had some yogi pants, kurtas and such, no tools what so ever. Turns out I was used for electric fan assemblies, and they were needed, it was hot. The Memorial started at 1 pm, we got in a little early, to assist where we could, though there were mostly local devotees around cooking, arranging patios and getting water out, the small group of enthusiastic locals kept Spirits up.

It was Surprising that there were no disciples at the staging area. Then a couple of Prabhupada’s disciples did show up, Maharaja Jayadvaita Swami (JAS) and Maharaja Candramali appeared.

Regardless, Feelings of disparity were still coming to me, were anymore Vaishnava’s coming?

I knew it was an improv’ Memorial schedule to take advantage of the Sadhu Sanga turnout, but the more distant locale and short notice invites may have been too impromptu.

HpS/ASA - We got an invitation but it was very late. We suggested to join online with our small contribution but the decision was that many people were coming from the Sadhu sanga and it was going to be invivo, live only.

TRICKLE DOWN ETHICS

Walking towards the stage at the enclosed patio over the boathouse, I meet another guest and realize it’s Dr. Graham Schweig, aka: Garuda Prabhu,, the good Doctor had his seat at the front, while I’m comfortably sitting on the last end of the bench seating,.. noting JAS and Garuda were giving each other full eye-contact. This event may have been their first time to get together since their last “book editing” conversations.

As I prepared for the Memorial event to unfold, there seemed to be a few more elderly Vaishnava’s surfacing at the tents entrance to the patio.

Maharaja Sachinandana’s tall smiling figure was there,

and then an old Soul comes to the foray,

Prabhu “Guru Das” Adhikari!

He arrives as the guest speakers start sharing their sweet pastimes on Maharaja Bhakti Caru Swami.

Now Radhanatha Swami comes to the patio center. Maharaja BB Govinda Maharaja is on the opposite side bench seats, Maharaja Bhakti Prabhava Swami, and Maharaja Purushottama are coming in too.

Guru Das was having difficulty getting a seat, so I gestured to him to take mine, he refused, then I took the seat cushion and shook it and wiped down the seat with my handkerchief placed the cool side of the cushion up, and re-offered. It was a deal he couldn’t refuse... we both just smiled.

YE’ OF LITTLE FAITH

During the session, somber and personal tales are shared with each guest speaker, a lot of influences with BCS, he really is a Vaishnava’s Vaishnava.

Then, looking behind me from my new seat, I saw the entrance was getting even more crowded. A majority of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were locked up in the kitchen cooking the offerings for today’s event.

Everyone was out, and it was getting packed! My shallow expectations were quelled and the restoration of the Vaishnava’s eternal potency revived,

just an amazing get together on this lone abandoned Christian campground, now being revitalized by sincere devotees and disciples of BCS,

even the cows were even mooing.

INSATIABLE CONCLUSION

The tributes flowed for hours, then the Memorial dedication was called for; everyone was heading to the eastern central portion of the Veda Foundations land. A fresh and sturdily built stone and mason tower was erected, and it was time for Agni Yajna. Maharaja Sachinandana was having difficulties getting over to the Memorial, so I offered to escort him over, carefully voicing permission and passing, we managed to blaze a trail in for him. The Yajna began, Salutations and sincere oblations abound, kirtan to accompany, was most ecstatic!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Then the Prasadam Hall was wide open! Superb entrees, Lasagna and sweets galore, Srikand, Rasa Mali’s and ice cream too. A perfect conclusion of a Memorial if I ever saw one, we filled to our delight, then we packed a plate and drove to Daytona Beach for a soak in the ocean... with such an event-filled weekend, we needed a break.

All Glories to the Vaishnava’s ! !

Your servant in training,

ccd

NEXT LETTER; NIRJALA EKADASI.

HpS/ASA - Thank you so, so, much!!! Just like being there.

THANK YOU!

M O R E!

Mbdp, agtSP, asked how to include photos from the phone in this Blog.

We took a picture of our non-lotus feet, tri-danda, and Krsna harassing the Gopis.

Then tapped the add photo button in this Blog Save sequence. Then we looked in DCMI or Pictures and posted it.

With some effort and maybe help from the 'young folks it should work.

Then we can go to Mayapura with Mister Bhagavan!

Hare Krishna, Respected Gurudeva. Please accept my humble obeisances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and to You!!

Let me ask you a question regarding the recent message that appeared on the "AnveSaka" WhatsApp community.

Today, some devotees from Latin America—especially from Peru—have asked me to confirm this request. As I understand it, the person who wrote the message was not HpS, but Buck White, an alter ego, who serves as treasurer at ASA.

HpSwami - We could certainly say that Buck White is an Alter-ego for Hanumaptresaka Swami.

At least in these financial dealings he is certainly under the Super Vision of HpS.

For our part, we are all very happy to be able to reciprocate, to the best of our ability, by purchasing the hearing aids. We think it's an excellent initiative, knowing that this will help you continue developing your sankīrtana for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna Himself.

An important point: I just confirmed with my bank that Zelle doesn't allow international transfers; it's a service exclusive to the United States, as it only works with American bank accounts and phone numbers. So, to make these transfers more feasible, I've spoken with some devotees who have previously served well as treasurers, and they've agreed to collaborate. The proposal is to make a single transfer per country before July 3rd (the deadline for transfers). This would reduce the costs of individual transfers and ensure that more Lakshmi arrive in the United States. The coordinators will then send you a brief report on the blog about who donated and how much so that everything is organized and transparent. The suggestion is as follows:

• For Argentina: Nikunja Bihari Dasa

• For Chile: Havihsara Devi Dasi

• For España: Jayanta Dasa

• For Peru: Palika Devi Dasi

Perhaps the same can be done in Mexico, India...

Please, we apologize for any clumsiness or limited ability to correctly interpret the messages in AnveSaka. Any matter related to you is of utmost importance to us, so we always want to act with clarity and sincerity.

One more point: Manuel is finishing his report and will send it to the blog this week.

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva. Your insignificant servant, Abhiram Thakur dasa

HpS - The above $$$ suggestion sounds fine. We can just have Devendra-krsna Das, organize the money whether it is coming to his Zelle account or otherwise.

We wonder if it is worth it, if we, HpS et al, are contributing enough.

It is about $100/month amortized over six years.

😈 

We look forward to hearing from Miguel soon. He has a much better perspective than others on some of the Sankirtan on ISKCON Avenida Pogo!!!

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hare Krishna, Respetado Gurudeva. Por favor, acepte mis humildes reverencias.

¡Todas las Glorias a Śrila Prabhupada y a Usted!!

Permítame hacerle una consulta en relación con el reciente comunicado que apareció en la comunidad “AnveSaka” de WhatsApp.

Hoy, algunos devotos de Latinoamérica —especialmente de Perú— me han pedido que confirme dicha solicitud. Según entiendo, quien escribió el mensaje no fue HpS sino Buck White, su álter ego, que se desempeña como tesorero en ASA.

Por nuestra parte, todos estamos muy contentos de poder reciprocar, en la medida de nuestras posibilidades, con la compra de los audífonos. Nos parece una excelente iniciativa, sabiendo que esto es útil para que usted pueda continuar desarrollando su saṅkīrtana para el placer de Śrila Prabhupada y de Krishna mismo.

Un punto importante: Acabo de confirmar con mi banco que Zelle no permite transferencias internacionales; es un servicio exclusivo para los Estados Unidos, ya que solo funciona con cuentas bancarias y números telefónicos estadounidenses. Entonces, para viabilizar los envíos, he conversado con algunos devotos que en algún momento han prestado un buen servicio como tesoreros, y han aceptado colaborar. La propuesta es que se haga una única transferencia por país antes del 3 de julio (fecha límite para los envíos). Esto permitiría reducir los costos por transferencias individuales y lograr que llegue más Lakṣmī a los Estados Unidos. Luego los coordinadores te enviaran al blog un breve informe sobre quienes donaron y cuanto para que todo sea ordenado y trasparente. La sugerencia es la siguiente:

• Para Argentina: Nikunja Bihari Dasa

• Para Chile: Havihsara Devi Dasi

• Para España: Jayanta Dasa

• Para Perú: Palika Devi Dasi

Tal vez, lo mismo se puede hacer en México, India....

Por favor, le pedimos disculpas por cualquier torpeza o limitada capacidad para interpretar correctamente los mensajes en AnveSaka. Cualquier asunto relacionado con usted es de suma importancia para nosotros por eso deseamos actuar siempre con claridad y sinceridad.

Un punto más: Manuel está terminando su informe y lo enviará esta semana al blog.

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva. Su insignificante sirviente, Abhiram Thakur dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja, Hare Krishna!

Please accept my obeisances.

All glories to AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada!

Regarding what you wrote here https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/15627 — “I don’t know why Krsna has kept us in the ISKCON Boise community” — I would be very grateful if you could share more about how you personally understand and experience that Krsna kept you there.

Was it through the invitations you received, or did you feel a deeper inspiration or sense of purpose that Krsna was keeping you there? Was there something happening in the community that you felt Krsna was using to hold you in Boise, or perhaps a sense that He wanted you to continue serving there?

Did you ever sense a mystical or inner prompting from Krsna, or a feeling that He was personally guiding and keeping you in Boise?

I ask because, as a sannyasi, you have the freedom to travel and share Krishna consciousness wherever you feel inspired, and I’m genuinely interested in how you experience Krsna’s guidance and the feeling of being kept in this way.

If you feel it’s something I could understand, I would be very grateful if you could share it with me. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts — I deeply appreciate your perspective.

Your servant Namacarya Das

HpS - AgtSP.... paoho..... 3.44pm here. we are living by sipping a little water, breathing air and chan ting hk hr.

you?

being connected to boise temple is in perspective of balabhadra das' post about his connection with the community.

we responded that KRSNA seems to put us into different communities.

we meet someone.

they lead us to a certain temple and...

.... we stay involved.

in the beginning of our traveling sannyasa days we received many invitations to visit different temples, but it was more than we could do, so we decided that we would visit temples that invited us three times.

it seemed then that they really must feel they had a use for us.

on another hand, we decided that we would make Boise and Nashville part of our regular travels and camps since they seemed to be less visited like los angeles, san francisco, houston, new york.

from that we developed a lot personal relationships with boise and realizations of how it could be practically be used in our little sankirtan effort. E.g. we used to vist, san diego, los angeles, san francisco, portland, seattle, vancover on the west coast, but by camping in boise we realized that devotees could come and visit us.

also, because of our academic nature we developed academic relations with the academic devotees there like radhika ramana das, gopal, sri hari das and family etc.

then very nice 'village' relations.

i think many of us have relations with small communities and larger regional centers such as we also have with Nashville and Houston, or Krsna has with Braja and Mathura.

It seems that you might be trying to figure out why you are situated with ISKCON Pulah in your own case.

Some devotees seem to be destined for Larger Things and work with crowds of people. I know devotees like that.

Just because we are preaching, teaching, joining the chorus, in a village does not mean that it is small preaching.

Stanslavskii said, that in the drama, play, there are no small parts, just small actors.

In the end everyone of us is Krsna's most important friend. Every morning it hits my mind that Mangala arati needs better rhythm, melody, comprehension of the meaning of what we are singing, and my mind says, well, this is just the way it is. just tolerate the faults and get it over with, but, no, then my intelligence, training by our Guru, ISKCON Guru, Srila Prabhupada et al, says that this is where ISKCON global gets a spiritual basis for the day or not.

so, houston, [nashville [richmond va, boise id]] are our camps, and it is getting harder and harder to get out to the peripheral camps as our body becomes more and more like an old bucket with a broken handle, but these are the big and small centers where we work, and we want to hear about your work as the leader of ISKCON Pulah, Crow Ace See Ya!

May 25, 2025

    Dear Maharaja Hanumat Presaka Swami, please accept my humble obeisances, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

HpS/ASA - ❗ AgtSP. Paoho. Thank you for writing to us.

SADHU SANGA MAY 2025.

We’re in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Shingle Resort, with choice accommodations, swimming ponds, and gigantic convention centers, just perfect for ISKCON’s annual Sadhu Sanga (SS),

if sources tell me right this is the 12^th anniversary event.

The culmination over the years has brought greater numbers of Vaishnava’s to this transcendental happening.

Personally,

this is our first attendance so the ambience is most refreshing, yet,

overwhelming.

So many senior Mahatma’s and Vaisnava’s under one roof.

Primarily, his grace Indrayumna Swami has been motivating these yearly Spiritual revivals and in doing so he has elevated many devotees, old and new, just the recipe to revive Vaisnava camaraderie.

OUR PLACE

Subhra and I had heard of this event and we decided to invest our time with the desire to gain both rest and relaxation with such good association.

Since the event was so close to home, we took advantage of it.

Was a challenge to get all the billing and time slotted, though well worth it after the fact; Sadhu Sanga is Sadhana proven, though personal effort is required not to get swayed by the externalities of the resort.

Knowing that, keeping 16 rounds and personal practice is still first priority.

For the volunteers and organizers, it was a grand effort, and if it wasn’t for the professional facility, this event would have been even more difficult. It was a wise decision of management to take advantage of the modern resort technology for serving so many at once.

A quandary of service was on my mind, seeing all the people engaged in details of the event, I felt I could do more.

HpS/ASA - You used to work in professional event community at Lake Tahoe, California events, no?

Then many, many, many years with SFO Rathyatra!

🐒 Have Swiss Army knife, will travel.

As programs unfolded, I did realize our investment helped provide the event, so I let go of guilt and just kept my enthusiasm with all I was involved with, which seemed to be the best service for the moment. It just kept getting better.

PROGRAM

A 1,200 square feet main stage, at a 5’ height with two 40-foot big screens is our main arena, 500 plus chairs for the audiences and at the right and left borders, and clean new carpet space wall-to-wall. Old and young alike, had spaces for viewing, dancing or touring the partitioned displays of ISKCON books, projects at the entrance, Authors, Artists, displaying creations, Souvenir Clothing available and individual devotees with ashram offerings, big and small. Also included is an up-to-date staff for guest administration by the entry doors.

No one can say this was not a well-organized show . Even when I lost my I.D. bracelet, the staff retro-activated a new one for me in just minutes.

PRASADAM

Our first meal was an Ekadasi special on our Friday night arrival, and till our final breakfast on Monday's closing, all was impeccable.

Devotees from Dallas brought necessary paraphernalia, spices, and essential ingredients.

The Hotel staff worked under their direction, bringing bona fide results.

5 buffet lines with one Vegan table, all seemed pleased and satisfied. Waiters cleared dining tables and supplied the buffet items, some devotees would serve out the specialized sweets, and they even had hot milk in dispensers.

An amazing feat,

considering there were over 3,500 guests.

All relishable, but I had to refrain from evening servings... too much for this Ol’ boy.

THE SHOW IS ON!

From Mangals to the evening programs there were the superb sounds of Kirtans and Bhajans. Many of the performers, senior and youth, were from our own Alachua community, hours of ecstasy for all there. I was getting a little fired-up in the early morning program and danced with the Guru Astika prayers. The Sastric lyrics brought inspired moves to the momentum, just flowed with the morning moment. Later on I was complimented and didn’t realize my solo maneuvers caught attention.

At a later program most of us were sitting and clapping along with the Kirtan, getting inspired again, and at one point I decided to quietly move to front fringe of the stage and dance again Feeling confident, I just improvised a few steps and naturally moved into bliss. Proudly reflecting on my earlier moments of movement, I did a 180 degree slow spin, while turning I looked and saw Vaisesika Prabhu and 45 disciples right behind me, all dancing perfectly synchronized Swami Steps while choreographically swinging their arms.

Feeling a bit humbled, I gently shuffled off “stage right” and melded as gracefully as possible to the back of the group. Talk about association reminders, we’re all in this together!

HpS/ASA - Were there Deities and Srila Prabhupada Murti on stage???

ASSOCIATION

Many folks from all over the world were there, it was nice seeing old acquaintances and meeting new Vaishnava’s. One elderly gentleman from Australia was at our dining table, His name is Paramakaruna Prabhu and he was looking at my clip-board and asked about it. Since he asked, I displayed some of the Yantric diagrams I use for japa. Mentioning to him I started using this system in Peru when we visited you.

Paramakaruna said he knew you, and even more exchanges were made; he was curious and took pictures of my japa-grid forms and completed works.

Another instance with a devotee named “Rsi Waterman” was made at his book table.

He’d written about his experiences in Krishna consciousness, from high school to his adult senior years, the book is called “Children of a Harsh Bliss.’ We briefly chatted and asked him about a ”Kindle” edition, he said there was, though he’d only get 5 dollars from the book. I could only afford a digital copy at the moment. It’s a very unique take on K.C. personal development.

HpS/ASA - Jaya!

Now I’m trying to get in contact with him; it’s worth paying the man for his sincere work. His times in early New Vrindavana were peculiar, and Rishi Waterman enlivens these idiosyncrasies quite well, revealing some intimate characteristics of various key persons involved there.

Sri Bhagavan sure was swathing all sorts of Rasa’s in those days, guess the ends justify the means, now New Vrindavana is a successful community. If you’d like a copy of the book, I could send you one.

HpS/ASA - Please remind us later. Now we are reading H. H. Trivikrama Swami's book!!

PARTING IN BLISS

Monday morning’s final class was given by Maharaja Sacinanda Swami with his frolicking flow of grand iterations to the audience. He would address the group as a collective individual and we were invigorated by his enthusiasm and reality checks. He summarized at the end of the discourse the essential 3 practices for a truly transcendental Bhajan and/or Kirtan, these are needed for full results in chanting: BHAVA: Love, TALA: rhythm, and RAGA: melody blissfully arranged.

This correct chanting will also empower others and cleanse their hearts.

Then he said, “ Remember these 3 and take Prasadam Now!” and we all went to breakfast, and left full of mercy.

Sadha Sanga Ki Jaya!!

Your servant in training, c.c

(After all this is said a done, I'm still satisfied just doing japa)

HpS/ASA - Thank you!! There is another letter with this title that you sent earlier. We will try to get to it a little later.

Also, we think, a report for Jaya Hari Das.

This event merits the attention.

What if ISKCON ruled the world?

Now, 6.14PM, Houston time.

We will call Niti-sara Das in Boise, ISKCON.

We are trying to work on some schedule, perspective for our ASA Camp there July 2-11th.

Thank you so, so, so much.

All respects to Srimati Subhra Devi Dasi et al.

Thank you.

THANK YOU!

T H A N K Y O U ! ! !

asa[e] guru tattva; pranama mantras

Hare Krishna, Gurudev. Dandavat pranam unto your lotus feet.

AGTSP.

We almost, all your disciples belonging to Silchar and Imphal, have agreed this Gurudev pranam mantra.

So praying to our H. H. Guru Maharaj to kindly accept this Mantra so that all your disciples of this planet can use this same mantra to pray unto your lotus feet. Hope that by the grace of lord Radha Shyamasundar gurudev you are quite fit in all respect. Dandavat pranam gurudev. Your fallen servant. Krishna Swarup Das.

Srimad Hanumat Presaka Swami Pranam Mantra

nama oṁ viṣṇu pādāya

kṛṣṇa preṣṭhāya bhūtale

srimate Hanumat Preṣaka

svāmin iti nāmine

namah—obeisances; om—address; viṣṇu-pādāya—unto him who is at the feet of Viṣṇu; kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya—unto him who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhūtale—on the earth; srīmate—all beautiful; hanumat-preṣaka svāmin—Hanumat Preṣaka Swami; iti—thus; nāmine—who is named.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Hanumat Presaka Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

namaḥ akiñcana mūrtaye

bālaka­neva sarala

mita bhuk vādy­a suśīlam

samāna bhāva bhāvine

namah—obeisances; akiñcana-mūrtaye—personification of material detachment; bālaka-neva—like a child; sarala—simplicity; mita bhuk—eat very less; vādy­a—musical instruments; suśīlam—expert in playing; samāna bhāva—treated equally; bhāvine—accepted.

Our obeisances are unto you, O personification of material detachment and childlike simplicity. You eat very less just to survive and expert in playing musical instruments and treated everyone equally.

Prabhupādasyā­nucara

rūpavāni prachāriṇe

sarvato gatvā tene ca

atma jñāna prakāśine

Prabhupādasyā—of Srila Prabhupada; anucara—follower; rūpa—Srila Rupa Goswami; vāni—instructions; prachāriṇe—preaching; sarvato—everywhere; gatvā—traveling; tene—imparted; ca—also; ātmajñāna—knowledge of the self; prakāśine—enlightened.

You are the servant of Srila Prabhupada engaged in preaching the teachings of Srila Rupa Gosvami. You traveled everywhere imparting the knowledge of the self to everyone.

HpS - ASA --- AgtSP!!! Paoho. We always want more and more of your association and the wonderful Silchar, Manipura et al devotees. Just thinking about those places and the Sankirtan we are in ecstacy.

Now we are in ISKCON Houston, Texas, southern part of USA.

Is little warm here but so far is fine.

Krsna personally guarantees this place will not be perfect.

This topic of Guru-puja is very nice, no?

One of the Pancha-tattva.

"In this verse [Nectar of Instruction 5] Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī advises the devotee to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī. The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform.", https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/5/#bb5954

Honestly looking at our level of renunciation and determination we can see that maybe we qualify as Sannyasi, Goswami, uttama-adhikkari, in some perspectives, by His Divine Grace, help of everyone, but we do not see our selves as perfectly, strongly on the platform of Bhava.

Developing.

We must all have lotus feet in our Siddha Svarupa but now we don't feel that we have them.

Devotees offering different Sanskrit verses to glorify us for events like Vyasa-puja or other informal moments seems fine. Then we can directly comment on each one.

The first Mantra seems fine.

The second seems to be beyond our range in some ways.

We do not feel that we are the form of renunciation.

. . . Real renunciation of going out door to door each day. 🙂

Many devotees like myself are struggling to not eat too much. Some success. Some failure. No meat fish or eggs. No grains cooked by Karmis!

Third Mantra seems too general. It is pretty much included in the first and general description of any Goswami, American Goswami, member of ISKCON, no?

So, first Mantra, especially as appreciation of what Srila Prabhupada is making us, seems enough, no?

We are like you.

We like to be "glorified" if it is glorification of Krsna and Guru!!

How is the Sankirtan in Silchar?

Your Ashrama, Family?