Letters to the editor

[11/1, 6:41 PM] ABC Prabhu, Swami or Mataji wrote: Jaya Mahārāja 

My obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada 

I found out today via Gadadhara Gosai that you will be coming to Mexico in March. Wonderful for us, most welcome expectations. Had I known that you were in the Vrndavana area I would have tried to come and see you. I left Vrndavana three days ago as I am meeting with the some India leaders about their incensed feelings about Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus. 

My Sankirtan could be better but for my remaining two and fraction years as an ISKCON active committee member I doubt it will improve much, until that’s over with, still trying!

Your servant, ABC Swami, Prabhu, Mataji

[11/2, 10:34 AM] HPSwami - Prof. HHR: Thank you so much. 

Personally we don't like the term 'Vaisnavi'. It seems to have been introduced a few years ago and it seems to be offensive, like putting a material designation on the Vaisnava.

Kind of like 'atma' and 'atmi'.

We looked at the Vedabase.io for the term and it gives maybe twenty-five citations in books.

Like 18 of those are references to the Goddess Kali.

So if we say someone in ISKCON is a great ´Vaisnavi´, we cringe because the general reference would be 'She is a big Mayadevi´

😳

Then it mentions the prostitute who tried to seduce Hari Das Thakura became a Vaisnavi.

Then Diti who wanted to kill her sisters children became a Vaisnavi.

Smt. Indira Gandhi should become a Vaisnavi.

Srila Prabhupada's very esteemed sister (who was cooking food that was maybe too strong for him) was a Vaisnavi.

🙂

Yet, it says that Sikhi Mahiti's sister, who was one of Lord Caitanya's 4-1/2 most intimate associates was a Vaisnavi!

💪💪💪

So, we see real contrast in using the term, seems you can be calling the Mataji everything from a witch to the most elevated Vaisnava in creation.

🤔

What do you think?

We don't mind our personal perspectives being circulated and discussed, because we are certainly open for hearing the personal reflections of others. We know that our personal opinions are not always right.

Hare Krsna Gurudev Dandavat Pranam 

I have two thing to check with you.

1. A backup japa mala for me. Want to have another Japa mala as a backup mala from you. Is it possible? Yes, then I will purchase another japa mala and give to you for japa and collect after that.

HpS - No, as far as we know only one set of initiated beads.

Of course, after sixteen rounds we can chant on any kind of counter.

If you lose those, then we can hold the whole mess in our hands and chant one maha-mantra. Prabhupada says that his chanting on a set of replacments for a lost set is not necessary.

I would put in front of his picture and pray.

2. My mother is doing japa for last 17-18 years. She does 20 rounds per day. 30 rounds on ekadashi. Follow all rules, cook and offer prasadam to lord, she already read SB, BG. She is a daily reader of SB at day time. Padma puran at night time.

I wanted her to get initiation from a vaisanava parampara. 

I know there are ISKCON rules and procedures for initiation. Still am checking with you. Is it possible to get initiation from you.

She is a pious soul. She trust lord a lot. Worshipping lord for last 40+ years without fail. Am not saying this because she is my mother. Am saying because she is dedicated, witnessed her last 40 yeas.

Whatever you say will accept without any bad feelings.

Please help me to know your comments.

HpS - As you describe the situation, Yes. Certainly.

Of course, just as with Jiva Goswami Das, we need approval of the administrative side of ISKCON also.

Letter from Temple President.

In any case Krsna knows what she is doing!

Yatri from Lokannatha Swami's Vraja Mandala Parikrama try to understand how Rama lila, one million years ago plus, can appear in Mathura in Dvapara yuga.

ASA answered:

Everything starts in Goloka, no? Even if it occurred in the "past" it is starting in the "present" in Goloka.

One Radha tells Krsna: Today we are going to play like Sita and Lord Rama. I will be Sita, and Sridama (Her big brother) will be Ravana. He will kidnap me an hide me and you will play Rama and all the boys will play the Monkeys and try to find "Sita"!

It is so much fun that they expand Themselves as Sita and Rama and play the lila eternally.

O.K.\?

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

With Lord’s, Srila Prabhupada, and Vaishnava’s mercy, we are very pleased to announce the release of Vaishnava Sign Language (VSL) videos on multiple topics that may help the communities in their spiritual progress. 

The channel on YouTube is called “Hare Krishna Deaf”

First video link is as below:

VSL 01 - Key Concepts [Vaishnava Sign Language]

https://youtu.be/gBmhLJ77k5o

We will be grateful if you can share with others who may benefit from this service, in UK and beyond. 

In service to Srila Prabhupada

Yours aspiring servants

Radha Krishna Deaf People Association (RKDA)

Hare Krishna 

Please support the Radha Krishna Deaf People Association produced by disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami by subscribing to the YouTube channel, commenting, liking etc and spreading this message to other groups to support the KC Deaf community.

Thank you 🙏

HpS - Super!! We have been commenting and feeling that learning some Sign Language would be great for all devotees in ISKCON. We speak so many different languages but a few common signs would allow us to communicate at festivals etc.

Ameican Plains Indians, Chinese nations, faced the same challenge and made the same response.

Thank you for sharing this.

WhatsApp from Iskcon Dallas:

Hare Krishna MaHarRaja,

Pamho! AgtSP!

I was talking to Minakshi Prabhuji, he said it's very important that you

know that these days 

I am chanting 16 rounds before mangal aarti!

It's Krishna's mercy!!

I'm doing it to please you and Srila Prabhupada, Maharaja!

All glories to you, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Your servant,

Jaya Hari Das

HPS-ASA - Wonderful. Do you know the word-by-word translation of the 'gurv-astakam' ie Samsara savanna Lidia loka?

🐮

The Sadhu saud:

Hare Krishna Maharaja, PAMHO AGTSP! Fascinating conversation, thought you might appreciate much of it!

https://youtu.be/tzi6Bl6vvb8

The Ape says:

Thank you, Swami Sadhu. AgtSP. Paoho.

Was refreshing to watch it. Trivikrama Swami first connected us with Prof. Petersen. Since then we have seen clips of other videos of his. Also, we researched his biography.

He likes Jung.

He has some very compatible ideas with the Bhagavata, no?

He was on a strictly meat diet for some time?

In the podcast he talks about his fathers shooting animals with bullets in an unconcerned fashion!

We have seen others like him. For example, Jung who have some good comprehensions of the Bhagavata cosmology, but they don't have the scientific language or structure that the Bhagavata gives.

It is frustrating because it seems they could catch it all very quickly and profoundly and teach it effectively.

They are big people so hard to approach them.

What do you think?

Our idea is that the work we are doing now with Hector et al may become poplular enough to attract their attention.

Hare Krsna.

Hare Rama.

We watched about 15-minutes of it then the frustration kicked in that there knowledge is muddled with ignorance.

Ooof!

We learned a lot.

Thank you.

More!!

T. Brown et al.

🦍