Letters to the editor

asa[e] - Grhasta, Radha Krsna Worship.

Hare Krishna, guru maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I really liked the story you wrote of the man visiting the prison and the inmate who is reading KRSNA. It makes me realize than anyone in any position can benefit by hearing or reading about Krishna's pastimes. It's a sweet story!

HpS/ASA - AgtSP!!! I think it was Buck White's 🐷 tale!!! I'm sure he thanks you!!

Maharaja, am I allowed to worship deities of Radha Krishna? I have seen some of your replies regarding other deities such as Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra. At home, we currently have Krishna and Balarama and I suppose I should have asked permission before getting Them but my intelligence was totally clouded then. Looking back, I wonder if that is why Balarama came with a broken arm- we fixed it though!

There is just a desire to worship Radha and Krishna in my heart and during my japa, supersoul gave me the intelligence to ask you first.

Only by your and Srimati Radharani's mercy have I had the strength to complete my japa.

Sorry for the rambling.

your aspiring servant,

Rasa-mandali dasi

ps. I love that I have a godsister in China who is named Vanara-rani Anjana. That is rad!

HpS - When I was just visiting the Temple in San Francisco from Sacrament, 90-minute drive, not even understanding what initiation was, but having read the KRSNA book for one year alone and had a lot of heart shaking experiences with Prabhupada, even though we did not know who he was, this same question came up in BG class in the evening.

H. H. Tamal krsna Goswami was visiting with his Radha Damodara bus party, and was not quite sure, but Jayananda Das, ostensibly a Sudra, mechanic, but respected by everyone as maybe even a Nitya-siddha dude, was in the audience.

He raised his hand and said, as always, I don't know, but I remember reading in the BG that Prabhupada says that Grhasthas should keep Radha Krsna deities in their homes and worship them, so on that basis it seems O.K.

TKG enthusiastically said, 'That is the correct answer! That is correct'.

If They are being related to as installed Deities, then according to our understanding it is of Archanam, of the nine processes. Then you have to be and serve like a Brahman in the Temple. The investment is enormous and the result is enormous.

Yet, if you are just worshipping them informally according to nice standard, then it is Pada sevanam of the nine processes.

You may have a picture of Lord Nrsmha next to your front door, and when every you go out you ask Him from protection and you declare that you are going out for His service. The picture may go with you to three different houses, and you may develop a very personal relationship with Him. Sometimes you may take off our coat and not go out because you realize that it is not for His service. It is for your lust.

As far as we understand it is Pada sevanam, not Archanam.

So, if you are following first initiation vows nicely, Raghunatha Das Goswami standard, but nicely and learning how to chant better rounds, then it can be very nice to invite Radha and Her Sweetheart to your home.

1. Serve Them with love.
2. Keep Them and Their space clean.
3. Keep a regular schedule to Their service.
4. Adjust the service to your facility. This is different than Archanam.
5. Simple things to offer are a) Incense, b) Lamp, c)Flower, d) Scented Oil, e) Food.

Keep it clean, keep it simple, be regular in the basics, eg. offering morning and evening. Chant for Them, read for Them, take them to the Beach with your friends.

Our thoughts.

asa[e] - Clothes, Used

Please accept my obeisances to Your lotus feet adored Gurudeva!🙏🙏🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🌹🌺🎼🎵

HpS/ASA - AgtSP... Please accept our obeisances at you 'lotus feet'.

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada!

All Glories to You , GuruMaharaja!

Please, I want to ask you a question. I've always heard that in India, people throw away the clothes of their deceased loved ones. In Peru, a Hindu woman once gave several devotees clothes and told us they belonged to her deceased relative. We were happy because they were very pretty. Here in Argentina, I've seen the tendency to buy used clothing... and Frank makes me laugh, saying it's haunted. Sometimes I think she's right. People also sometimes want to give me used clothing. Sometimes I've accepted, but at the same time, I hesitate and think that maybe the clothes contain other people's energy, that it might not help me in my spiritual advancement. Please tell me what is best for spiritual advancement... or rather, as you beautifully put it: to awaken our dormant love.

Your eternal aspirant a servant:

Japa Prati Jalpa Radha Devi Dasi

HpS - We do not, agtSP, know precisely what is the answer but we have some information, and if anyone has any more details then please post them for us!

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/2/2/5/

Here it says that Sannyasi should accept torn cloth thrown into the streets.

Wash it and use it.

Of course, Grhasthas, Brahmana grhasthas, are involved in Karma, family, rituals, so they do take more consideration of these things.

If it is in descent condition and washed, then we and other simple devotees like us, even Mother Urmilla Devi Dasi, in the past where quiet happy to buy things a stores like Goodwill, that receive donations, clean them and then resell them.

If they are washed and you pay for them, then 90% of the Karma is done.

In some cases of course it is good, or spiritual Karma.

Prabhupada and his family would usually change there dhoti and saree cloth every two weeks, especially the ladies. Then the remnants, quite fresh, would go to the serving girls and men, and they were quite happy. They took it as a sign of thanks and respect.

asa[e] hsn ss

the krsna book is in a category all by itself.

there are not two books like it.

SP printed it Letter page size

and

at 13.5pt type.

anything above 11pt and you begin to see each word as as icon.

big book

big window.

be careful!

your mind may fall into it and not come back.

take an eternity nap.

first chapter of volume two of two was

"the syamantaka jewel".

big shiny stone. could sweat gold if you vibrated it with Vedic canticle properly.

killed six folks in probably less than two munths.

maybe still around?

sank with dvaraka?

in the bay with remnants of d'ka?

asa[e] hallelu sin nations, of a simian sin say shuns.

i once knew a dog named Bibarta. who lived in the town of san sarta.

the pickings we flum,

by nine he'd sit in the sun,

by the church of san felipe our father.

the horse headed avatara.

motor cycles 'd go by.

filled up the sky,

with bad gas and rasping harsh racket.

reminded him of the kayshee deemon.

then one day it happened.

one simple beggar,

who lived in his friend's, parent's,

unused, adjacent apartment,

sat down near Bibarta and began to read the KRSNA book.

he liked it very much.

crossed his paws,

perked his years

shed some tears.

he learned to speak italian.

priest, shoo, protect, just read,

priest shoo daily and stand nearby and listen...

if you want to preach then probably you should read my books - SP

asa[e] tom's trash 250910

it was many years since harrybolderbrook brightenhurst had visited badger-barn prison in metalhurst cavern, suffolk, but he was determined that the Holy Name of God should enter there again.

so he straighten his collar, picked up his stick, donned his bowler and headed out the door.

it was a somewhat damp day cross the fields but the little pony cart soon arrived and he paid the cabby a schilling and went inside.

of course, it was a riot.

what else do you expect of a prison.

packards were dueling with loaves of bread, and wardens were separating folk at each others throats. harry saw one inmate reading The Good Book peacefully in the corner and went over to talk with him.

'i see you are reading, 'KRSNA: The SPOG', he said.

'yes', said the inmate as he inserted a bookmark, closed the KRSNA book and looked at Harry seriously, "and you're the bloke who gave it to me the last time you was here!"

"i get out in two months, now, and it should 'ave been ten, but i was all up into good behavior as soon as i got that book.

'thank you.

'It's really, nothing,' said harry, 'i mean just read it with some sincerity and figured others should have a chance. and then david invited us to visit you all, and i was able to order the publisher to ship a case to everyone who had asked for one.'

'what chapter are you reading now?

'the shyamantaka jewel of course! i reads it daily at least five times a month, and you, what are you read'n?

'uh, oh, lord balarama fights with gorilla dvidvida.

'ah, yes, there's a typical story, no? a decent bloke, though a little tough, gets into all kinds of mischief because of 'anging out with the wrong class of people!

do you read out loud for others.

'yes, of course, whenever the weather permits.

the inmate then called about six others over and harry began to read from where he was in the KRSNA book about Dvidvida and Lord Balarama.

the prison warden even came over and took a few minutes off from managing the rough cohorts in the prison yard and asked harry to come and read as much as he could.

he said that the positive result in the character of the prisoners was obbious.

he also said that there was a regular supply of KRSNA books coming in and though not the vast majority yet, many of the prisoners had begun to take the books like a personal friend or companion and dip into them as much as they could.

hare he.

he got back to the chaos and harry and the inmates separated for some time but with certain expectation of meeting again.

some even expressed their expectation of meeting dvidvida in some future prison innings, but right then they had to go work in the prison gardens: corn, beans, squash!

asa[e] Interfaith Dialog.

Hare Krishna Gurudeva

PAMHO AGTSP

A few months ago I was invited to a Kirtan at a Sarasvat Gaudiya temple (Ex Vrinda) in Valparaíso, and due to my lack of association, I went for a while. Then, a few months later, they invited me to sing Kirtan, and I accepted.

Today

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. Actually several days, maybe even more than a weeks ago. We tried to answer this important letter earlier but didn't have the strength with all the things that we happening!! He very responsibly squeaked in our personal WhatsApp mail, and we responded but still could not get to it until now (=7PM 25 08 02).

I was invited to celebrate Radhastami at an ecovillage they have in Catemu, close to my house. I've never been. I'd like to know your opinion on this situation. For my part, the times I've been to these programs, I've left when a sastra class is being given, trying to follow what Prabhupada established.

Thank you, Gurudeva.

Piyari Mohan das

HpS-ASA - AgtSP!!!! Paoho/BW.... On the administrative level, ISKCON as a transcendental institution, GBC, Temple President, I know of no specific rule that would govern your participation. I think that Senior men like myself in this Leadership Role, might be restricted from intimately associating with Sarasvat Gaudiya programs.

I would have to check.

You should try to check with your local Chilean ISKCON authorities. Tell us any answers you get.

In general, Prabhupada, Bhaktivinode Thakura, Lord Caitanya, they visited other Vaisnava centers, and even Temples of Demigods.

Prabhupada says, that following the example of Lord Caitanya, we should visit Temples of Demigods and show people how to worship them properly. See last part of CC 1.7.

Bh. V. Thakura says that when we are in someone else's place of worship at the time of worship, then we should think that the same God I am worshipping is being worshipped here, and I maybe able to learn how to enhance my worship by see their methods and sentiments, but because I do not belong to this tradition, I will not be participating in the details.

Lord Caitanya listened to Sarva-bhauma Bhattacharya preaching Mayavada philosophy for like seven days {?} without saying a word, but we can see it was a strategy to introduce dialog for proper preaching.

So, I would suggest that you go. Listen. Evaluate. Don't lead any events, and report back with your findings!

Thank you.