Letters to the editor

Hare Krishna, Dear Hanumat Presaka Maharaj, please, accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

A year ago, I have heard about you and your preaching, but not so much. So I decided to write to you and if possible to speak. My name is Akshaya Krishna das, based in Lithuania, in connection with movement since 1989.

HpS - AGTSP! A honor to meet you. I just looked at the history of Lithuania in the Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Lithuania. It is amazing. Was so powerful at one time. It is amazing how so many places have been powerful empires at one moment and then the gone. Britannica does not mention famous Bishops, poets or literati.

In the beginning we try to become pure devotees, but later we realize we need to undergo quiet many social things in order to balance all sides of our life. So I have few questions about it. If possible let our conversation be private.

With best wishes

AKdas

HpS - Oooof! We really like to talk with nice people. They are very interesting, but. . .

. . . before this Blog we were getting like 500-letters a month. Impossible, so we started this Blog.

1. We cannot give detailed advice without prolonged detailed knowledge of the situation. So first advice is to follow Canakhya Pandita's advice that success comes from good advice and good advice comes from many counselors. So our advice is to cultivate relations with people who know your private life well and then follow that advice.
2. Present your challenges in a general fashion and we gave general advice, here in the Blog. That satisfies about 80% of the enquiery. If more is needed then we can start to talk more confidentially but already having gone over the general principles.
3. Use a pseudonym. Eg. Captain Midnight.

Hare Krsna Gurudeva

Por favor acepte mis rendidas reverencias.

Todas las Glorias a Srila Prabhupada, quien es una manifestación personificada de la misericordia de Sri Krsna.

Y todas las Glorias a usted, su fiel seguidor.

Oramos para que su salud se encuentre bien. ¿Cómo es el invierno en su localidad? ¿Le permite continuar con sus caminatas regulares?

Yo me encuentro sufriendo a causa de mi propia estupidez, estoy tratando de aprender de eso.

Sigo tratando de entender un poco sobre la misericordia: La iglesia católica menciona “7 obras espirituales de misericordia”: Enseñar al que no sabe, corregir al que se equivoca, Dar un buen consejo al que lo necesita, Perdonar injurias, Consolar al triste, Sufrir con paciencia los defectos del prójimo, Orar por los vivos y los muertos...

Mientras leo y escribo esto, pienso en múltiples ejemplos de Srila Prabhupada, de Usted y otros fieles seguidores de Prabhupada practicando cada uno de estas "obras"… ¡Si los devotos no poseyeran esta cualidad, con seguridad estaríamos perdidos!  Entonces, parece ser que de cierta forma, ¿Todos los seguidores de Srila Prabhupada deberíamos desarrollar esta cualidad?

Cuando leí por primera vez el Bhagavad-Gita, hubo un verso que me dio mucho miedo:

“A aquellos que son envidiosos y malvados, que son los hombres más bajos de todos, Yo los lanzo perpetuamente al océano de la existencia material, en varias especies de vida demoníaca” BG 16.19

Me asustó porque pensé - Entonces ¿Nunca tendré la oportunidad de salir de este pantano? – Pensé que estaba perpetuamente condenada - ... Ahora, poco a poco parece que estoy entendiendo (a profundidad) que SOLO la misericordia del Maestro espiritual – y de los Vaisnavas- puede salvarme.

"Sin la misericordia del maestro espiritual uno no puede hacer ningún avance"

Por ahora, solo me queda rezar para obtener la misericordia de aquellos a quienes he lastimado. Ahora puedo ver que mis errores me han lastimado más a mí misma, que a las personas contra quienes los cometí… (Me siento avergonzada y arrepentida de eso) Así que creo, que debido a que soy muy tonta, solo esa cualidad de los Vaisnavas (La misericordia) puede salvarme. He cometido y sigo cometiendo muchos errores, pero estoy tratando de aprender de ellos, porque no quiero abusar de vosotros. 

Gurudeva, usted me otorga su misericordia constantemente de distintas formas, Por favor, perdóneme por no ser capaz de aprovecharla. Estoy tratando de aprender desde mi limitada posición. Gracias por ser un ejemplo e inspiración constante.

Su aspirante a sirviente

Karuna- Sakti DD

Posdata: Gurudeva, ¿Existe alguna categoría en el blog, en la que deberíamos colocar las ofrendas de Vyasa Puja? (Quizá eso le facilite identificarlas de las cartas regulares)

-0-0-0-

Hare Krsna Gurudeva. Please accept my bowed obeisances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, who is a personified manifestation of Sri Krsna's mercy.

And all glories to you, your faithful follower.

We pray that your health is fine. What is winter like in your area? Do you allow him to continue his regular walks?

HpS - For our age we are in the top 15% of good health, but teeth, eyes, ears, memory are all dimishing. That is good. Pushes us on to the intellectual, Buddi, wisdom platform.

Still walk every night.

Some snow here but nice when the sun comes out. Enough rain.

Thank you for asking.

I find myself suffering because of my own stupidity, I am trying to learn from that.

ASA - It seems Socrates said that also et al.

I keep trying to understand a little about mercy: The Catholic Church mentions "7 spiritual works of mercy": Teach those who do not know, correct those who make mistakes, Give good advice to those who need it, Forgive injuries, Comfort the sad, Patiently suffer the defects of others, Pray for the living and the dead.

HpS - There seems to be some redundancy in the list??

As I read and write this, I think of multiple examples of Srila Prabhupada, You and other faithful followers of Prabhupada practicing each of these "works" ... If the devotees did not possess this quality, surely we would be lost! So, it seems that in a way, all of Srila Prabhupada's followers should develop this quality?

HpS - Prayers by the Vedas Personified: Krsna's greatest quality is mercy, not justice based just on truth, so servant of Krsna is like that.

King says to criminal that he has heard all the evidence and if he acted just according the law then the he should kill the man, the criminal, but he says that and then says, "but I can see that things were very difficult for you, so this time I am going to be merciful, now get out of my court and I don't expect to see you back here ever again".

Criminal: Yes, Sir! Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir, thank you Sir. Never again."

When I first read the Bhagavad-Gita, there was a verse that scared me very much:

"Those who are envious and evil, who are the lowest men of all, I perpetually cast into the ocean of material existence, in various species of demonic life" BG 16.19

It scared me because I thought - So I'll never get a chance to get out of this swamp? - I thought I was perpetually doomed - ... Now, little by little it seems that I am understanding (in depth) that ONLY the mercy of the spiritual Master - and the Vaisnavas - can save me.

HpS - Perpetually means, God's time. The king puts his son in the prison. The decision is eternally in force, but the king can finish it in one day or as long as he wants. Until we change our personal relationship with the king we are damned to hell.

"Without the mercy of the spiritual master one cannot make any progress"

For now, I can only pray for the mercy of those I have hurt. Now I can see that my mistakes have hurt myself more than the people I committed them against ... (I feel ashamed and sorry about that).

ASA - Us too. It is very embarrassing, but there is no mistake you can make that you cannot correct!

So I think, because I'm very dumb, just that quality of Vaisnavas (Mercy) can save me. I have made and continue to make many mistakes, but I am trying to learn from them, because I don't want to abuse you.

Gurudeva, you constantly bestow your mercy on me in various ways. Please forgive me for not being able to take advantage of it. I am trying to learn from my limited position. Thank you for being a constant example and inspiration.

Your would-be servant

Karuna- Sakti DD

Postscript: Gurudeva, is there a category on the Blog, in which we should place the offerings of Vyasa Puja? (Maybe that makes it easier for you to identify them from regular cards).

HpS - AgtSP! I think Personal Sadhana is the best, but with declaration of a Vyasa puja Offering in the Subject field. 🙄

Hare Krsna Maharaj, PAMHO, AGTSP,

Banaras Hindu University has opened two centers

i. center of vedic science. (cvsbhu.in)

The CVS includes eight divisions for the exploration of different dimension of Vedic knowledge in modern world.

Divisions are Vedic Literature, Sciences of Rituals and Consciousness, Vedic Linguistics, Phonetics and Etymology, Vedic Medical Sciences, Psychology & Yogic Sciences, Vedic Mathematics, Astronomy and Padartha Vijnana, Vedic Agricultural, Environmental Sciences and Management, Vedic Architecture and Science of Engineering with 64 Technical Arts, Vedic law & Practice and Division of Editing, Translation and Publication.

ii. Bharatiya Adhyana Kendra -for social sciences.

Is there any way NIOS can collaborate with such endeavors ?

regards,

unbriddled horse

HpS - I don't know details, but it is possible. It is so big. Do you know anybody there? We have Sankhya; Psychology; Science, Psyche and Spirituality: The Encounter of Carl Jung with the Mysticism of Ancient India; Hamlet and Arjuna - Two Princes.

https://youtu.be/WRDxpmV27p8

Merry Christmas 🌲☃️

=-=-=

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgXxoEepnQ

Trailer

Hare Krishna beloved Guru Maharaja, today I was listening to your class in the morning where you describe the time of death of Bishmadeva. You also were describing that the attachment to material things is bad because it creates lust for instance. So then I thought if getting attachment to the guru isn´t something subtle too, for instance sometimes we or some devotees believe we are your eternal associates, Is that true?

HpS - ASA --- Thank you for this letter. Becoming attached to Krsna or Balarama or Krsna's flute or His messenger such as Guru are all fine, but we may become attached to Prasadam because it tastes good, so that is a weed growing along with our pure attachment, and that will keep us in the material plane.

To know our sva-rupa, form in spiritual life and eternal associates, is some thing we cannot really until the Bhava stage. Of course, as Krsna gave special mercy to Narada Muni in SB 1.6, so Krsna can show us things, but we can only appreciate them as impetous for purification, not practical work.

How do we know we are your eternal servants, I think this is some sort of sentimentalism. It is fine to think we deserve your shelter, but I do not think we are about close to be your eternal associates unless we are too much advanced in devotional service, I am not at least. We of course should aspire to be close to your lotus feet though.

HpS - Yes. Of course everyone is different, but we can have clear vision of our sva-rupa in Bhava. Described in Southern part of NOD.

Before that, always nice rounds, 4-regs strict, mangala arati, feeling Krsna's guidance as the Super soul.

What should we desire at the moment of death Gurudeva? I think just to remember Krishna and guru would be enought to finish our path on this material life, What do you think and how do we know what is the correct thing to do?

HpS - It is different for different people. The word is 'smaranam', meditation more than remembering some fact, or picture.

At the time of death we should be doing whatever regular duties we have in this world, while increasing our internal development.

Text 8 of NOI is of course perfect description.

Usually old age precedes death and that is proper stimulous for preparation for death.

Your very many fallen servant,

Jagat Bandhu Jagannatha Swami dasa

I am not associating to anybody, answering your previous question from my last letter. Krishna probably cursed me hahaha

HpS - Keep your self pure by Srila Prabhupada's Sadhana and then look for the innocent people Krsna sends and give them your association so that they can progress.

Google Traductor

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

 Please accept my obeisances

 All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 I've been thinking a lot about my nature. The truth is that it has been a journey, it has been difficult for me to understand how my body and mind work, we continue to do so.

HpS - AGTSP! Your Karma will change according to the results of your Karma over time. You will be under the influence of one planet for 17-years, then another, nO?

 I am a varna sankara, unwanted child, without a Vedic procedure upon being conceived, all natures mixed.

This vehicle is quite strange, super creative, I think that is the best tool it has.

Since I was a child, I was a well-rounded student, I had multiple skills, I had good grades in all subjects, I was always the man with the best rankings from college to university, but there was always a woman who won first place.

HpS - Drat! The gopas are plagued by gopis who win games also.

All this is good on the one hand, many skills that can be used in service, but on the other hand, it generates a lot of confusion.

 I have been analyzing my birth chart and have come to some conclusions to determine my varna.

What is repeated over and over again is the ability to communicate, the use of the voice. That is the strongest in my occupation.

House one, the ascendant, is ruled by a sign of the sudra nature, of air, although it is also quite ksatriya and vaisiya. There I have 3 planets, each one with a modality of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. 2 of them are brahminical in nature and the other one is sudra in nature.

On the other hand my nakshatra is sudra in nature, but also its description is super ksatriya. My atmakaraka is also Ksatriya. Furthermore, the only exalted planet in my chart is of a Vaisiya nature.

There are various yogas, combinations and positions of planets on the chart that are ksatriya in nature, such as raja yoga.

 This is what I think so far:

 40% Sudra

 30% Brahmana

 20% Kstariya

 10% Vaisiya

HpS - ASA -- h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakL8QnsQnM

Director Piyari Mohan Das at 65-years old? (All band with Tilaka).

I can analyze this description with my experience and what I feel in each of these natures in this life:

 Sudra: I need to make art, that keeps me balanced and satisfied, it allows me to flow. It is a natural part of my body and mind, I have done it all my life, both father and mother are artists, and also educators.

 Of all the arts, music is the one I have practiced the most, but what I have the most blessings in is writing. I'm a bit frustrated that I can't develop that area as I don't currently have the time to do it.

 Creativity seems to fall into this category, it is something spontaneous in me and expressing myself creatively helps me to be healthy.

 I think that studying advertising is what best unifies the development of these artistic and intellectual skills, as well as commercial ones. How I understand this university career helps to develop narrative, writing, the use of technologies, graphic and audiovisual design, among other things.

 Brahmana: Something that I am passionate about is being able to advise those who need it, promoting well-being and balance in life. My preferred tastes are acquiring knowledge, always learning new things. Since I was little I was studious.

 I really like health and I believe that Ayurveda is the means to channel that desire. I envision myself as a counselor, taking practices from Ayurveda, Jyotish, Vastu, and Yoga.

 I am not the smartest, my memory is fleeting (vatta), but with effort I can achieve good long-term results (kapha).

 Ksatriya: This is the part that I don't like. It requires a lot of effort and sacrifice for me.

 My emotions have not allowed me to carry out this area of ​​my karma well. I like justice and taking care of people.

 I feel the need to control, to organize, etc. I also have a lot of attachment to prestige, recognition and being the leader of the group. In me the sense of honor and duty is strong.

 I think that part of my nature is more intellectual: logistics, creating projects, organizing, etc. I think.

 What is most difficult for me and I do not like is to be supervising and correcting bad actions. I still don't develop the emotional strength to carry out this task without being upset. Currently I have diarrhea facing those situations hahaha.

 You said in a class: "maybe I'm a lawyer clown", who knows, maybe when he is old he will study another career.

 Vaisiya: I have not yet been able to fully develop this, I have blessings for commerce, I am doing a digital marketing course to be able to apply it in online Sankirtan and other projects. I seem to need to further develop my self-confidence and self-worth in order to be successful in this area.

 On the other hand, when I studied veterinary medicine, the cow was my favorite animal, I would like to learn about its care, but in agriculture I have not investigated yet.

That so far, maybe it is not quite correct, but I feel that it is closer to the current operation of this machine, of this yantra.

 My obeisances Gurudeva

 Your servant

 Piyari mohan das

Tom Brown - HpS was bewildered by the long letter, but we made him see it! He got 65% of it. Seems O.K.!! The more we engage in service with these hypothesis the more we will see our external and interior service.

The audience won't stop clapping? !

------

Español

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

Por Favor acepte mis reverencias

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada

He estado pensando bastante sobre mi naturaleza. La verdad que ha sido una travesía, me ha costado mucho entender cómo funciona mi cuerpo y mi mente, seguimos haciéndolo.

Soy un varna sankara, hijo no deseado, sin un procedimiento védico al ser concebido, todas las naturalezas mezcladas. 

Este vehículo es bastante extraño, super creativo, creo que esa es la mejor herramienta que tiene.

Desde niño fui un alumno integral, tenía múltiples habilidades, en todas las materias tenía buenas calificaciones, siempre fui el hombre con las mejores clasificación desde el colegio a la universidad, pero siempre hubo una mujer que ganaba el primer puesto.

Todo ello es bueno por un lado, muchas habilidades que se pueden ocupar en servicio, pero por otro lado, genera mucha confusión. 

He estado analizando mi carta astral y he llegado a algunas conclusiones para determinar mi varna.

Lo que se repite una y otra vez, es la capacidad de comunicar, el uso de la voz. Eso es lo más fuerte en mi ocupación.

La casa uno, el ascendente, está regido por un signo de naturaleza sudra, de aire, aunque también es bastante ksatriya y vaisiya. Allí tengo 3 planetas, cada uno con una modalidad de la naturaleza material: bondad, pasión e ignorancia. 2 de ellos son de naturaleza brahmínica y el otro de naturaleza sudra. 

Por otro lado mi nakshatra es de naturaleza sudra, pero también su descripción es super ksatriya. Mi atmakaraka también es Ksatriya. Además, el único planeta exaltado de mi carta es de naturaleza Vaisiya.

Hay varios yogas, combinaciones y posiciones de planetas en la carta que son de naturaleza ksatriya, como por ejemplo raja yoga.

Esto es lo que creo hasta el momento:

40% Sudra

30% Brahmana

20% Kstariya

10% Vaisiya 

Puedo analizar esta descripción con mi experiencia y lo que siento en cada una de estas naturalezas en esta vida:

• Sudra: Yo necesito hacer arte, eso me mantiene en equilibrio y satisfecho, me permite fluir. Es parte natural de mi cuerpo y mente, toda la vida lo he hecho, ambos, padre y madre son artistas, y también educadores. 

De todas las artes la música es la que más he practicado, pero en lo qué tengo más bendiciones, es la escritura. Estoy un poco frustrado de no poder desarrollar esa área, ya que actualmente no tengo el tiempo para hacerlo.

Al parecer la creatividad cae en esta categoría, es algo espontáneo en mí y expresarme de manera creativa me ayuda a estar saludable.

Creo que estudiar publicidad es lo que unifica mejor el desarrollo de estas habilidades artísticas e intelectuales, cómo también comerciales. Cómo entiendo esta carrera universitaria ayuda a desarrollar la narrativa, la escritura, el uso de tecnologías, diseño gráfico y audiovisual, entre otras cosas.

• Brahmana: Algo que me apasiona es poder aconsejar a quienes lo necesitan, promoviendo el bienestar y equilibrio en la vida. Mis gustos preferentes son adquirir conocimiento, siempre aprender cosas nuevas. Desde pequeño que fui estudioso.

Me gusta mucho la salud y creo que el ayurveda es el medio para poder canalizar ese deseo. Me visualizo cómo un consejero, tomando prácticas del ayurveda, jyotish, vastu y yoga. 

No soy el más inteligente, mi memoria es fugaz (vatta), pero si me esfuerzo puedo lograr buenos resultados a largo plazo (kapha).

• Ksatriya: Esta es la parte que no me gusta. Requiere mucho esfuerzo y sacrificio para mi. 

Mis emociones no me han permitido llevar a cabo bien esta área de mi karma. Me gusta la justicia y cuidar a las personas. 

Siento necesidad de controlar, de organizar, etc. También tengo mucho apego al prestigio, el reconocimiento y ser el líder del grupo. En mi es fuerte el sentido del honor y el deber.

Creo que esa parte de mi naturaleza es más intelectual: logística, creación de proyectos, organización, etc. Eso creo.

Lo que más me cuesta y no me agrada es estar fiscalizando y corregir las malas acciones. Todavía no desarrollo fortaleza emocional para llevar a cabo esa tarea sin perturbarme. Actualmente me da diarrea enfrentar esas situación jajaja.

Usted dijo en una clase: "tal vez sea un payaso abogado", quién sabe, tal vez cuando viejo estudie otra carrera. 

• Vaisiya: Esto todavía no lo he podido desarrollar a plenitud, tengo bendiciones para el comercio, estoy haciendo un curso de marketing digital para poder aplicarlo en el Sankirtan online y otros proyectos. Al parecer debo desarrollar más mi autoconfianza y valoración para poder tener éxito en esta área.

Por otro lado, cuándo estudié veterinaria, la vaca era mi animal favorito, me gustaría aprender sobre su cuidado, pero en la agricultura no he indagado aún.

Eso hasta el momento, tal vez no está del todo correcto, pero siento que está más cerca del funcionamiento actual de esta máquina, de este yantra.

Mis reverencias Gurudeva

Su sirviente

Piyari Mohan das