About guru ..

Dear gurudeva,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to you
Please accept my humble obeisances.

Than you so much for your answer. I was reading SB and thinking a bit about it. I want to share you... 

So, from what I understand, the real spiritual master is just one: Krsna. But because we are conditional souls with lusty desires in our heart, we can not understand, love neither surrender to him. As he is so kind that help us sending pure devotees that represent him, for we can surrender to them. And in this way, surrendering to those souls is like surrender to Krsna himself, regardless the kind of guru (siksa, diksa, etc).

      HpS - ASA - AGTSP!!!    Yes, this is how we under stand the situtation. Very well expressed. You must have been a great Sannyasi last lifetime who was too much attached to a certain girl! This time you have to resolve the situation! Only thought is that we surrender to different kinds of Gurus differently.
 

So, disciple following Krishna's instructions through these souls. And technically the only difference between this devotees is that diksa-guru is who take our hand and bring us into the parampara. But as much diksa as and siksa gurus should be very important because by their mercy, they help us to return home, back to Godhead through their instructions. "The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth."

   ASA - Diksa guru is like a Monk who marries the boy and girl, Krsna and Jiva. Siksa gurus are like those who give advice. Of course, the Diksa guru is active the the relation after the ceremony. He is not just a Ritvik. He is the active link to the Parampara. Principle Siksa guru (Vartmana pradarshika guru) usually becomes the Diksa guru, but not always. Maybe he is too old, can't take the Karma. Maybe is a lady (http://vedabase.com/en/sb/4/12/32). So, usually Diksa guru is one of the Siksa gurus also. One of our disciples is a book distributor. She naturally tooks so much association from Bhakti Bhusan Swami but we were responsible for seeing that she didn't neglect her rounds.
Maybe you will decide that you actually should be a Mormon. Maybe you will take this person aor that person as Diksa guru. Basis is to advance in our service to Radha Krsna and the it will all be satisying to everyone!


Then, as you say, while in spiritual world someone follow Candravali or Radha and some are mixing both, something like this happens in this material world too. While I am accepting gurus who follow the path of instruction given by Lord Krsna to Arjuna, everything will be right. Is it? I mean "gurus" because I don't have only one. I already can see my Gurus clearly: SP, Mhtma and you. Then, I am not following just one... also I am mixing both relationships in the same direction: that of Srila Prabhupada =D Is it right?

HpS - If you are ready to accept Srila Prabhupada as your Sampradaya Acharya and not Lord Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed. I know very nice Sufi guy in Mar de Plata. He left Argentina looking for a Guru. Eventually in the Middle East he met a very nice person, Guru, and asked, "What are you?". Guru said, "I am Sufi". He said, "That's what I want to be."
If he had joined ISKCON he would have been a GBC Secretary by now. Very nice person.

On the other hand, another topic... A devotee that is living in the temple now, wants to give me her deities to take care. They are Gaura Nitai. Do you think that I am able to do it ? ... That it will be good for me to have them?

Hp S - ASA - I think so. Ask local Brahmanas what they think. She will be traveling and you will just care for them like an Aunt? 

Thank you for teach me always lovingly,
Mangala aratik with you by SM is such nice. Thank you for that.

Ys,
Bhktn Belén

HpS - ASA - AGTSP!!  Paoho.    Oink!  Oink!!!

Urban Monk - Book Review

10 years, 7 months ago by hps in Special Category A

From: HpSwami

To: Sriman Gadadhara Paandita Das,
www.urbanmonkbook.comm

Paoho. AGTSP! I just finished going through your book. It was easy to read.

It seems that is designed for newcomers and not devotees. As a devotee I skimmed over the presentation of philosophy etc and followed your personal spiritual development and the history of your Sankirtan efforts.

Of course, devotees like ourselves should read it so that we can distribute it to proper people.

So many of the Sankirtan experiences that you recount we have seen other places also, in the BI for example. Also Prabhupada gave specific instructions to B. S. Damodara Swami to do some of the things you did with success!

Are you on the level of constant remembrance? Seems like you fully Krsna conscious but now you have to become fully and INTENSELY K.C., no?

Finally, we are working with Sesa Das and the Ministry of Education for all this educational development, so we hope that we can all be of mutual benefit to each other.

Thank you so much.

Engage us in you service as you can!

BHAKTA GERMAN FROM LIMA REPORTING

Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva
Please, accept my humble obesisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada


Dear Gurudeva, I hope you're fine and in good health. Let me tell you that I'm okay, by Krishna's arrangement I'm working a bit less than the last semester so I have more time for my service. In a first place, I was a little bit worried because of my silly tendency to work hard, but It's ok, I have what I need, nothing else and I feel much more calm. To need in excess means to suffer unnecessarily.

Last week NIMSAR organized a conference with Mahavidya dd.(the Ministry of Education in Germany, a doctor in Philosohy) as speaker. She gave us a wonderful lecture about the position of Srila Prabhupada as the prominent ISKCON's preceptor.I say wonderful because her arguments were unexpected and very deep in their philosophical and esoterical explanations, everybody was pleased and after the conference was finished many devotees asked us to organize more of this activities. Maybe, beside the formal NIMSAR courses, we should keep on offering this kind of lectures. Education for everybody in all levels. What do you thing about this? do you think it worth the effort? do you believes that we should advise, experts on particular topics devotees in the exposure of their knowledge?

HpS - ASA - AGTSP paoho. Very, very nice to hear from you. 
http://vedabase.com/en/sb/1/2/10
Yes, short seminars are wonderful, maybe even the best. Our whole goal in education is to elevate people along the line of kanistha, madhya and uttama adhikari, so these seminars are great if it is helping that process.

I have been improving my spiritual practice slowly and gradually. It has cost me quite a lot to leave behind many vices and attitudes but by the grace of the Holy Name I've been achieving this and I'm happy. For the first time in my life i know, by far,  what is what I really want, where is the pivot of my life and where do I belong. But, how to deal with mediocrity in myself and others? Does it depend exclussively in my guna or it's only a tricky argument of my mind to keep me away from what it contradicts her? The disarticulation of the false ego hurts, what should I have in mind during this process?

HpS - ASA - "Param drstva nivartante...", experiencing a higher taste we automatically give up the lower taste. We can stop listening to the false ego as we start to listen to the real ego. Of course, your question is very big and really the entire Srimad Bhagavatam addresses the question. Basically this is the amswer, satisified with a better ego the lower ego is abandon by the self.
"Nitya siddha krsna prema...", we are all unique lovers of God, so the mediocrity is very temporary covering. In the port the big boat turns of its propellor and then little boats can tug it here and there, but as soon as it turns on its motors it breaks the ropes from the little boats and goes where it wants to go. When we wake up we are all great, useful to each other in being useful, fun for Krsna. Always pioneering.
So, have an attitude of waking up yourself and waking up others.
We will post a article with our Calendar now. We just bought tickets for Lima.

Thank you very much in advance for your answers
Can't wait to hear you in person.

Your servant
Bhakta Germán

Bhaktivaibhava course

10 years, 8 months ago by sriradhedd in Personal Sadhana Reports, Special Category A

Hare Krshna Maharaja,

Please accept my respectful obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I hope you are fine. Happy to hear that the Educational Symposium in Houston was successful.

Sorry for my late answer.

Our life is a mess nowadays and we also didn't have internet connection for a while.

What about joining the Mayapure Institute program??? We are trying to post our materials in our archives.

You suggested me to join the Mayapur Institute BhVaibhava program. I didn't find find online BhVB course on their website and unfortunately i'm unable right now to go to Mayapur :(

Namacharya Das in Croatia is part of the program in California. Maybe you and he can start a program in Europe! 

I talked to Namacharya Prabhu and he said he was extremely busy nowadays but after finishing his BhVB course he could help in it. Actually i don't understand clearly how could we start a program in Europe... what would be our role/task?

Thank you very much for your association!

Your servant,

Sri Radhe devi dasi

HpS - ASA - Jaya! Maybe Draupadi and Kunti Devi's lives were worse mess!   This is Kali-yuga, no? Get up early and get your rounds done, then, carve out a little space in the mess and get in touch with a few Sankirtan partners, make a few practical plans and have a good day, no?

This BhVai program is in the pioneer stage. You could get a few study partners from anywhere and do it. That might turn into a formal diploma, but the actual study is the real diploma. Become qualified to play with Krsna! What about B.V. College in Radha desa????

Thank you so much for your news and Battle of Kuruksetra. Reverences to your family.

AGTSP ! Ohe Vaisnava Thakur !

10 years, 8 months ago by Raulmontreal in Personal Sadhana Reports, Special Category A

AGTSP !!

Please accept our humble obeisances

Dear Maharaja

It was such a special and intense weekend at the DC Temple and having your association in mangala arti, MP, EP, noon prasadam,your lectures, etc just after picking up the TPP at my parent"s (by the way we just can"t get enough of it, reading it over and over)  16 years have passed but it feels just like yesterday.  We thank Krishna for allowing it to happen, so grateful for those 3 days and everything else. Krishas mercy has no bounds !   You lectures were so helpful, in every sense. Hope to see you soon Maharaja !  We are taking care of parents and sisters now they need association. Going back to Montreal in a couple of weeks.  May Krishna keep you in heath and joy !

your servant

Raul

HpS - AGTSP  Was very nice for us also!, Now we have reached Denver and tomorrow go to Boise. If you keep up with the Sadhana then your exact service in ISKCON will automatically become more revealed. Maybe we can visit Montreal...

Kardama Muni y Devahuti

10 years, 8 months ago by Radha Japa in Special Category A

Querido y Recordado Gurudev por favor acepte mis mas humildes y respetuosas reverencias a sus pies de loto. Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada!, Todas las glorias a Sri Sri Radha Madhana Vihari!

Por favor, perdone la demora en enviar los comentarios. Voya tratar de enviar este fin de mes otros tres mas, asi voy cumpliendo con los que debo del mes de junio y julio. Muchas Gracias por Su paciencia.

SB 3.21.4 — 

¿Cuántos hijos engendró ese gran yogī en la princesa, que estaba dotada con las ocho perfecciones yóguicas? ¡Oh!, te ruego que me digas esto, pues estoy ansioso de oírlo.

Comentarios:

El Sabio Vidura le pregunta, con mucho interés, a Rsi Maitreya, cuantos hijos engendro Kardama Muni a quien nombra como un gran Yogi. Este interés de Sri Vidura es muy representativo, porque cuanto más interés haya en el público, el orador se siente mas inspirado. En el capitulo trece del libro Krishna 1, Srila Prabhupada explica que Sukadeva Goswami se animó mucho cuando Maharaja Pariksit le preguntó porque los pastorcillos de vacas no discutieron la muerte de Aghasura sino hasta después de que hubo pasado un año. El lo explico así: “Mi querido Rey, debido a tu curiosidad, haces más refrescante el tema de los pasatiempos trascendentales de Krsna” Aquí podemos ver que importante es que el público oyente este realmente interesado en la exposición del orador, esto hace que ambos: público y orador se beneficien mutuamente.

Srila Prabhupada dice en el mismo texto, que la naturaleza de un devoto es la de aplicar constantemente su mente, su energía, sus palabras, sus oídos, etc., en oír y cantar acerca de Krsna. A esto se le denomina conciencia de Krsna, y para aquel que esta absorto en oír y cantar acerca de krsna, el tema nunca se vuelve trillado o viejo. En esta declaración de Vidura podemos ver cuan interesado estaba en conocer los detalles de los pasatiempos del señor Kapila y sus devotos. Srila Prabhupada explica que los temas trascendentales tienen este contraste con los temas materiales. Los temas materiales  se vuelven rancios, y nadie puede oír un  determinado tema por largo tiempo, se necesita un cambio. Pero en lo que respecta al tema trascendental, se le denomina Nitya-Navyamana, que significa que uno puede proseguir cantando y oyendo y nunca sentirse cansado, más bien, se permanecerá fresco y deseoso de oír cada vez más.

En el SB (3.20.6) Saunaka Rsi le dice a Suta Goswami: ¡Oh, Sūta Gosvāmī!, ¡toda buena fortuna sea contigo! Por favor, nárranos las actividades del Señor, que son completamente magnánimas y dignas de glorificación. ¿Qué clase de devoto podría sentirse saciado de los nectáreos pasatiempos del Señor? Vemos este mismo humor en Sri Vidura cuando pregunta a Rsi Maitreya por el tema en cuestión.

En el Bhagavad Gita (4.34) Srila Prabhupada explica las cualidades que debe tener un discípulo: formular preguntas, ser sumisos y prestar servicio, la combinación de estas tres cualidades hará que uno pueda lograr la comprensión espiritual. Cuando el estudiante es sumiso y siempre está dispuesto a prestar servicio, la correspondencia del conocimiento y las preguntas se vuelve perfecta.  Aquí podemos ver el ejemplo en como se dirige Sri Vidura a Rsi Maitreya. Así mismo, cuando el maestro espiritual esta complacido, bendice al discípulo con genuina compresión espiritual, entonces vemos que el secreto esta en complacer al maestro espiritual genuino.

Sri Devahuti, la esposa de Kardama Muni era una princesa que poseía las mismas innumerables virtudes y perfecciones yóguicas que su esposo. Una de las perfecciones místicas de Kardama era que el podía entender los sentimientos, porque podía estudiar el corazón de cualquier persona. Vidura se refiere al sabio kardama Muni como un gran yogi y a Devahuti que estaba dotada con ocho perfecciones yoguicas. En el tercer canto del Srimad- Bhagavatam (3.21.15) Srila Prabhupada explica en su significado acerca de la necesidad de que esposo y esposa tengan iguales disposiciones y naturalezas similares pues al unirse ellos serán felices. Kardama Muni y Devahuti son el ejemplo perfecto.

SB 3.21.5 — 

¡Oh, santo sabio!, dime cómo generaron hijos el adorable Ruci y Dakṣa, el hijo de Brahmā, después de obtener por esposas a las otras dos hijas de Svāyambhuva Manu.

Comentarios:

En el cuarto canto del SB (1.1) Srila Prabhupada explica que Svayambhuva Manu era hijo de Brahma. Brahma tuvo muchos más hijos, pero se menciona especialmente el nombre de Manu en primer lugar porque él era un gran devoto del Señor. Svayambhuva Manu era un prajapati, aquel que tiene la misión de concebir hijos; quien siguiendo la instrucción de Brahmā, desarrolló este universo manifestado.

El tenía tres hijas: Akuti, Devahuti y Prasuti. Devahuti se caso con kardama Muni, Akuti tomo por esposo a Ruci y Prasuti a Daksa. Svayambhuva Manu, además de las tres hijas mencionadas, tuvo también dos hijos. Es un ejemplo ver como Manu cumplió su deber casando a sus hijas con esposos adecuados a la edad adecuada.

SB 3.21.6 —

 El gran santo Maitreya respondió: Designado por el Señor Brahmā para poblar los mundos con sus descendientes, el adorable Kardama Muni practicó penitencias a orillas del río Sarasvatī durante diez mil años.

Comentarios:

Existen cuatro Eras que rotan como las estaciones del año, estas son:

-Satya Yuga, la era de oro, donde la vida duraba 100 mil años. Se practicaba la meditación para desarrollar amor por Krsna.

-Tetra Yuga, la era de plata, donde la vida duraba 10 mil años.

-Dvapara Yuga, la era de cobre, donde la vida duraba 1000 años.

-Kali Yuga, la era de hierro, la era actual, donde la vida dura 100 años y aún eso en la actualidad, se ve muy poco. En esta era el único medio para lograr el amor puro por krsna es el canto de Sus santos nombres, el maha mantra hare krsna.   

Como dice el verso:

harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha

«En esta era de riñas e hipocresía, el único modo de alcanzar la liberación consiste en cantar el santo nombre del Señor. No hay otra manera. No hay otra manera. No hay otra manera» (Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126).

En Satya yuga se practicaba la meditación para llegar a despertar el amor puro por Krsna. Como la era duraba 100 mil años, se entiende que Kardama Muni practicó penitencias durante diez mil años de los 100 mil años que duraba una vida en esa Era. Se dice que El, practicó sus penitencias a orillas del río Sarasvati. Los ríos sagrados son los lugares ideales donde los sabios llevan a cabo austeridades, porque al bañarse en ellos, nos purifican de toda las actividades pecaminosas pasadas. En el mantra: Gange ca yamune caiva, godavari sarasvati narmade sindho kaveri yale smin sanidhim kurum, que utilizan los devotos con segunda iniciación, para convertir agua común en agua de ganges, se nombran los ríos sagrados mas importantes: Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindho y Kaveri. Por lo tanto el río Sarasvati existe desde esos tiempos y es considerado un río sagrado.

Querido Gurudev, aqui tengo una pregunta. Tengo entendido que  la adoracion de la deidad y la realizacion de ceremonias de sacrificio, eran metodos para alcanzar el amor puro por Krsna, pero no pude encontrar en que era se practicaban cada uno de estos, cual se practicaba en Tetra yuga y en Dvapara Yuga. Por favor nos podria indicar esto?

HpS - ASA - TlgaSP.  Pfanrh. Esperamos la familia adelantando bien! Gracias su carta. No puedo entender su pregunta en Espanol ni tampoco con traduccion Google. No puede etender como adoracion de la deidad adelanta el practicante en Treta Yuga a amor para Dios? Pues Uddhava es ejemplo de alguien quien tiene Deidad de Krsna y juege con El. Eso es la pregunta??

Le agradezco por Su ayuda y le pido Sus bendiciones para continuar con estos comentarios.Si Usted ve algun error en ellos, por favor le pido pueda corregirme a fin de poder entender mejor los significados de Srila Prabhupada.

Muchas gracias por Su amorosa ayuda y comprension.

Tratando de ser su sierva : Radha japa prati jalpa dd.

HpS - ASA -- Esta bien. Son solamente suyas o tambien El Esposo???