Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna Maharaj, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Lord Caytania and Lord Nytiananda!

All glories to you Maharaj Hanumatpresaka Swami!

Please accept my humble obeisances. I have been trying to write but I am not sure if I did it right. My name is Marco from Monterrey and I have very little in the Hare Krishna Movement (10 months). I am living in the Monterrey Temple and try to chant 16 rounds every day and to follow the 4 principles but Maya is always seducing me with lustful desires, anger and lack of enthusiasm to perform devotional service.

I had the fortune of doing Sankirtan marathon last december in Mexico City. I survived. After that, January was the best month. I was enthusiastic, getting up early, doing extra service, not complaining...I felt great but this eagerness has been diminising little by little. In the last couple weeks I've failed to get up early, finish rounds, etc.

I have to admit my attention is more focused in a mataji I met and I've been making all sorts of plans to be near her. (Move to DF, etc). Maha Sankarsan invited me to work with him at the farm and I asked him if I can do Sankirtan also. We are still adjusting details. 

Please tell me what you think. 

Please excuse my offenses.

Your humble aspirant,

Marco 

HpS - AGTSP paoho. I think it's nice to hear from you. In general, your devitional career is normal, but of course also very individual. We cannot give detailed advice from such a separation in distance etc, but in general we can suggest what Canakhya Pandit says:

Victory comes from good advice, and good advice comes from many counselors.

1. So, keep a collection of good advisors who know you, the local situation, your associates.

2. Chant Hare Krsna to get Krsna's advice.

3. Read, read, read Prabhupada's books for general and even detailed advice!

1, 2, 3 you will be successful.

In general, you will not be able to understand what marriage is until you are at the level of second initiation. That takes three years normally. Before that if you experiment before that you will generally all survive alive with no fatal burns if you are all strict with the four principles.

If you break the four principles you can create a situation that can ruin your entire life.

Keep your romance within the associacion of a broader family.

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/50139/RASA-YATRA

Please accept my humble obeisances Gurumaharaja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his followers. All glories to your divine grace.
 

Raghava Pandita dasa

           ASA - AGTSP paoho.  Thank you for the link!  We are in the packing mode for India so we could just look at the first part and then when we tried to jump ahead it wouldn't run. Hare Krsna. It is Radha-Ramana's festival, no?

Om ajñana timirandhasya jñanañjana salakaya

Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

Nama om visnu padaya, krisna prestaya bhutale srimate hanumatpresaka swami iti namine

nama om visnu padaya krisna prestaya bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta swami iti namine

namaste sarasvati deve gaura vani pracarine nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya desa tarine

Dear and esteemed gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
In this most auspicious day of your divine and transcendental appearence in this world I feel tremendous joy and fortune of trying to glorify you and the parampara.

You always teached me, your fool children, that I must glorify yourself in the perspective of the whole guru parampara. And the importance to do so is exactly what I’m realizing because of your causeless mercy.

A month ago I finished the disciple’s course which is now a pre requisite to take harinam diksa within our institution. It was amazing, a great opportunity for a very funny sadhu sanga and at the same time very enlightening about the guru tattva, the position of Srila Prabhupada as the Founder Acarya of ISKCON and the importance of being very aware about the parampara.

When I think in that perspective one image comes to my heart. I see Radha And Krishna cooking a big feast, continuously, always expanding, with no end. Then this maha prasadam is passing by the whole parampara. Each person takes some and distributes the rest in a very personal fashion. Then when it comes to Srila Prabhupada I see him taking a huge amount of mahaprasad from his gurumaharaj and he serves us a wonderful feast, in the form of his books, lectures, conversation, letters, etc. Then because he is so merciful I am able to see and even taste that feast, but because I am very inexperienced I don’t know what to take or in which order taste it to take real advantage of that feast. So in that moment gurumaharaj, I see you completely relaxed and smiling in a so beautiful way, you approach chanting and dancing and you take a little piece of the feast and you say “Take this please this is suitable for you know, if you want more please ask me”. You make accessible and understandable for me the teachings of our Founder Acarya, and I know that they are his teachings, what he received from his gurumaharaj, but you make me I can understand them and deposit them in my heart as the guiding light of my life.

Dear gurumaharaj, I’m not able to glorify you because I don’t understand your transcendental qualities, but I do feel very fortunate of having your divine association and guidance.

I was a zero, wondering in the material universe, but you came to my life, and kindly put a one before me to give it some valuable purpose, “please serve guru and Krishna with your life and soul, they will do the rest, don’t worry”.

So now I have something to live for.

At your lotus feet always.

Your insignificant servant.

Bhakta Nicasio.

HpS - AGTSP. paoho. I hope everyone knows that you have take Hari-nama Diksa and you have been born again as Nikunja bihari Das. Thank you for you enlightening words! We hope our menu to Srila Prabhupada's feast is of some use. P'pada says that even in 100 years we cannot read all of this books thoroughtly.

We are making progress on the Goloka Education Primary school. News soon.

nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale

srimate hannumat presaka swamin iti namine

nama om visnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine

namaste saraswati debe gaura-vani-pracarine

nirvisesa-sunyavadi pascatya-desha-tarine

Dear Guru Maharaja

Life is an ongoing struggle, as indicated by Srimat Bhagavatam:

nimittāni ca tasyeha
 proktāny anagha-sūribhiḥ
svato jñānaṁ kutaḥ puṁsāṁ
 bhaktir vairāgyam eva vā

Spotless devotees of the Lord have mentioned the source of such knowledge. How could one have knowledge of devotional service and detachment without the help of such devotees?

Purport: 

There are many inexperienced persons who advocate self-realization without the help of a spiritual master. They decry the necessity of the spiritual master and try themselves to take his place by propagating the theory that a spiritual master is not necessary. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, however, does not approve this viewpoint. Even the great transcendental scholar Vyāsadeva had need of a spiritual master, and under the instruction of his spiritual master, Nārada, he prepared this sublime literature, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Even Lord Caitanya, although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, accepted a spiritual master; even Lord Kṛṣṇa accepted a spiritual master, Sāndīpani Muni, in order to be enlightened; and all the ācāryas and saints of the world had spiritual masters. In Bhagavad-gītā Arjuna accepted Lord Kṛṣṇa as his spiritual master, although there was no necessity of such a formal declaration. So, in all cases, there is no question about the necessity of accepting a spiritual master. The only stipulation is that the spiritual master should be bona fide; i.e., the spiritual master must be in the proper chain of disciplic succession, called the paramparā system.

Sūris are great scholars, but they may not always be anagha, or spotless. The anagha-sūri is one who is a pure devotee of the Lord. Those who are not pure devotees of the Lord, or who want to be on an equal level with Him, are not anagha-sūri. Pure devotees have prepared many books of knowledge on the basis of authorized scriptures. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and his assistants, under the instructions of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, have all written various literatures for the guidance of prospective devotees, and anyone who is very serious about raising himself to the standard of a pure devotee of the Lord must take advantage of those literatures.

Only with your help can be understood what happened 

just by the help of the devotees one can chant the HOLY NAME

hitherto I cant undestad any thing, just chant by the Prabhupada's grace. I found many difficulties a inside of me, but thanks of your prayers I find some devotees and ever more people to can helpme to keep the chanting. some times I feel loneliness, fear and affliction.

but when I remember you I have a hope.

you  always very diligent, on the Prabhupada's mission

your example give the ligth on the edge, when people believe that money is the most valuable thing. Thanks a lot your constant effort is a treasure to me. I'm not a good servant, by I'm trying to learn, and undestand what is the value of my life?

for live in Krishna's consciousness. and and be useful to your mission.

your crew member AniruddhaKrsna Das

             HpS - AGTSP paoho. I think many people including me love you very much. Why? Because you give so much love to everyone, to the whole world. Krsna is watching you. He has a very special plan for you. [Maybe a bit mischievious, but just for you].

Thank you. We see you very soon.

Dear Mahraja Hanumat Presaka Swami,

Pamho, AGtSP!

Another year’s gone by and I notice it’s that time again, your Vyasa Puja! Been keeping busy this time of year with Sadhana reports and such, good for my mind, needs some reflection after a long 2013.

So I humbly submit the following offering, hoping to offer something worthy of your mercicful services.

Thank you for your Valuable time,

ccd

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Please accept my humble obeisance’s,  All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Vyasa Puja 2014

His Grace Hanumat Presaka Swami

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado

yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi

dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam

vande guroh Sri-Caranaravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

 Crossing the lines of temporary into the permanent has been a conflict to many conditioned Souls. Very few even pursue it, even more so it is a rarity to find person at this point and as in the Bhagavad-Gita 7.3: Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.

Now what to speak of those who teach and live these lessons of self-perfection? There is just not enough association of persons of such magnitude and gravity… regardless we must pursue their association this is our only hope. This is prescribed in the Gitopanishad 4.34: Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

The impeccable knowledge of Sadhu-sanga, subliminally and directly, revealed in our lineage enhances our Spiritual progress and is so vital, Lord Caitanya re-enforces this: CC Madhya Lila 22.83: “The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential”

Such is the potency of Vaisnava relationships and Gurudev you are a prime example of this. On this day I need to offer so much gratitude for your association, mercy and tolerance and have no means to even come close to what you deserve, though it is ordained in SB 10.80.41: This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their Spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives.

It is a hopeless situation; the burden of appreciation crushes my false-ego and furthers my debt even more. As in Srila Prabhupada’s purport SB 4.22.47:  A joker's activities simply arouse laughter, and a person who tries to repay the Spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krsna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt.

 So you have a joker, fool, and a clown as a disciple. The impervious wisdom that surrounds me is out of my grasp, if you could be so kind as to kick this dull-skull of mine and crack it open will I begin to truly appreciate Buddhi-Yoga then I may become worthy.

           HpS - ASA - We will beg Srila Prabhupada for an extra-big thick skull cracker.

As his divine grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur instructs in his song ‘Gurudev’: I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.  

Praying to sincerely chant the glories of the Holy Name, glorifying Lord Caitanya’s mission and to serve you in full capacity, then I may begin to end my offenses and have a spark of actual Bhakti in this existence.

Maharaja Hanumat Presaka Swami Ki Jaya !    <img alt="heart" height="23" src="http://hps-d6.monkeywarrior.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/heart.png" title="heart" width="23" />  His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Ki Jaya !!

All Glories to Your Service,

your neophyte servant in training,

Caitanya Caritamrta dasanudasa

HpS - ASA - Thank you so much. AGTSP.  Thank you so much. Your's and Subhra's constant 99.99%  sane association has been a life saving element in our life for many years. Seems we will see you in Houston before we see you in California again!!!!! We are worshiping a very, very, very generous master. Death is just the start of something even greater!

Dear Gurudeva, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

First time I hope you're fine. Yesterday in the afternoon we connect with your Vyasapuja in Argentina via Webex meeting from Madrid. There were around 20 devotees or more to celebrate your Vyasapuja in Madrid. All was organized by Bhadra Bhadra Vardhana  Das and Sananda Devi Dasi: bhajans, offerings, theater play with around 8 actors and then all devotees had Prasadam together in loving coexistence. Some devotees came from Nueva Vrajamandala to enjoy Madrid's hospitality. Some devotees remembered some anecdotes with you, etc ....

A great group of devotees are working very hard to get a loving environment with appropriate relationships between devotees and no devotees, visitors, friends  and make strong conditions to preach from Madrid's temple to all the World. May be somebody say that's sentimentality, but I think so Srila Prabhupada wanted that and that He'll get it. Our reason to be is Srila Prabhupada's mission, and Srila Prabhupada's mission is preaching, preaching and more and more preaching. May be our preach was sleeping but now it's time to wake up.

I want to thank you let me to take shelter in your lotus feet on May 5th 2013. I have striven a lot but I have sometimes fallen, I woke up after each fall and I never lost faith in Krishna's conscience process, in Srila Prabhupada and in my brothers in faith, though some of them has caused me suffering. I want to thank them for that too. Thank you Gurudeva for Japa Joe, don't leave us.

Next year I would like don't fall, be more lovely with all living entities and especially with devotees. From here I want to ask them forgive all my offenses and sins, which have been a lot. I promise you I'll work to be better than last year.

I don't want to take you more time. Please, take mercy on me and give me your blessing. Please, let me keep under your Lotus Feet.

Your humble servant, Dandava Das.

             HpS - AGTSP!  Thank you for your letter. Thank you for your efforts to help the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I think you are doing O.K. You just need to continue as you are. You will learn how to deal with devotees better and better. They will forgive our mistakes because they know that we are still spiritual children.

We wish that we could be in Madrid right now with all of you. Such a nice temple! It will expand!!!