Letters to the editor

asa[e] tlc study guide

get a study partner or some plan for students.

even with a study partner have a plan for student.

wisdom will not work.

this is the last age, the iron age and wisdom does not work.

learn to teach not beach.

the book is divided into like five parts:

teachings to rupa and sanatana goswamis,

talks with sarva bhauma, prakashananda sarasvati and ramanand roy.

how many of the five were devotees before the classes or conversation? What was the philosophical position of the others before?

what was the result of each conversation or class? Eg. change in social status, wrote which books?

get the hardbound copy. it is like a sensuous companion. you can curl up with it on the couch and read it every day to escape from the world of business and administration. it will fit into your briefcase or purse.

is it a good substitute, extract, essence of the caitanya caritamrta?

do you love it?

is it in your top ten of your personal attachments to the BBT library?

do you you recommend it to others? who? why?

under what circumstances and in what frame of mind did Lord Caitanya meet the above five personalities?

How are His Preaching Strategies demonstrated in the meetings with the above five? How do, can, you use these strategies?

asa[e] london trash 250811

ISKCON WARP WORLD NINE

Jack Bentels banged the door on his aging husbunder's carriage door and climbed up into the pilot's seat to make the last hop to his waiting cargo ship.

he had been loading on earth for a run to Betelguese Five and the only money (monkey (hah, hah!)) that he had was about 250 Solar Credits.

He'd used up everything else to buy a few cases of the BBT, 'Teachings of Lord Caitanya'.

his rat, Milikan, ran around the control panel, seemingly satisfied with the buss link, and with a yellow light they we off to the jump point, and with a green light they blasted off earth, and ploughed into a flight path for the 'Bulley Begone', his freighter.

it was not much of a freighter, but it basically ran well and had structural integrity. his concern was yoga and for that he needed some anonymity, solitude and a little steady income.

buy cheap, sell high.

he didn't have much business savey, but that motto and a few others kept him upright and making a small profit margin.

he could repair the 'begone' but had no need to save for a new vessel, because he figured he'd be dead about the same time she was ready for recycling.

and he strictly followed the American Motto, 'In God we trust, all others pay cash'.

-=-=-

cargo-hold secure.

milikin in place, and jack smashed the hyper-drive button and off they went.

there was the initiation g-force acceleration to five parsecs per fortnight. then the shuddering bump to the Steady Level and they were in motion.

he undid he harness, set miliken free and headed for a little breakfast. it had been about 18-hours since he had had a full meal and he was hungry.

rye and barley soup with acorn squash.

chopped up celery and almonds.

hare krsna.

hare krsna.

offering everything to his Ista devata, lord Narayana, and milikan stopped spinning abound the deck to stand up for the offering while the bells rang.. 'nama om visnu padaya, krsna presthaya...'.

besides milikan, who was the immediate guidance and life support technician, there was Randolf the bull who looked after the main thrusters.

they were cruising at about warp 2 and it would be at least six days before they got to the Betelguese system.

jack had promised a promotional flyer to go with 'the teachings of lord caitanya' so he got into that even while he was taking his breakfast.

asa[e] jack trash by date.

note: jack london said that one had to write 10,000 words of trash before he could produce anything worth publishing, so start writing trash.

piggy commented that in monkey's case it might be 100,000 words.

Jack Trash 250728 5.42 ante meridian

agtSP - brown and white here.

my maternal uncle, bill birch, was a "he govinda/he gopal" birch tree bark stretcher in Warp World Nine.

he smoked stretched birch tree skins and then sold them to artists who painted scenes of Krsna and the Brajabasis on the the Yamuna: kaliya.. nanda maharaja returning from mathura after paying the tax...NM being kidnapped by the A-Gents of Lord Varuna...

he did not like monkeys in top-hats but thought they were alright as observers of the Rasa lila... if they stayed pretty quiet... and watched from the trees (on the branches) with their arms over each other's shoulders.

he was kind of tolerant that way.

• one day
• he got an
• order
• for one hundred birch bark panes from the folk in dvaraka.

he was Hari-Fied!

"go to dvaraka... from mathura?", he thought.

"Harry Bowl! Harry Bowl!"

(there was a Bowling Alley near his home in Mathura and he would go there when his mind was distressed and Bowl and chant, ".... KRSNA KRSNA, HARE HARE... KRSNAKRSNA HAREHARE"

... and escape from all angziety.

.

the owner of the place was Harry Murari.

so, it was called "The Harry Bowl"!

😖

uncle bill was not a coward... so he said good bye to his wife and family and other in laws who came to his little hut and palleted the panels on his back and made his way down through the dusty street to Awkmad's Camel Place and haggled for a rope lift to Dvaraka.

When it came through, he just had a harrowing moment to catch on and then the dust devil was off.

they roared an ripped over vast expanses of arid Savannah and Desert and eventually arrived with an unceremonious plop down in front of Sri Krsna coming out of one of the Palaces of one of His darling Princesses.

Sri Krsna looked a little worried like a man on the way to the laundromat with a complicated task begged by his wife.

and uncle bill was stumbling to pick up the birch panels, put his hat back in place and get outofsite-as-fast-as-possible:>... but it was not possible and Sri Krsna immediately stepped over and began to help him and then asked, "where are you going"?

Uh

OH

Ah

ooof!

"I'm looking for the art shop of Jhari-walla Rksa", squelched my Uncle,

and Sri Krsna said that He was headed that way and He would like the company on the walk and insisted on carrying some of the panels.

My Uncle expleted, "but you are God".

and SRI KRSNA responded, "So, what!

I'm God and you are Bill... What was it??"

"Birch"

"Yeahhh, 'Bill Birch'.

"I'm God and you are Bill Birch"

"but dvaraka is a much nicer place than the /islameo/judeo/christian heaven, no?

"yes", said my Uncle Bill, going into uh kind-uh auto pilot mindless slow motion panic!

"ooo OOO O O O AWkk!"

but Krsna just carried on talking about his domestic bliss. the visit of His mother-in-law and the seven challenges of Hercules.

by the time Uncle Bill reached the Art shop he was smiling a kind of iron smile and Jhari-walla Rksa kind of wrapped him around the shoulder and pulled in.

saluting Sri Krsna as He continued on toward the Eleven Days All Spices store.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

250730 3.06am

uncle birch sat in a tree that overlooked the nearby sea.

he'd helped Rksa Saab repair his fob, and categorize the art board.

now the sun rose of the scene

the monkeys all began to scheme

and chatter in the jungle.

forest.

it was early morning in dvaraka dhama.

the housewives made their song.

as they began to roll chapati-flour.

after leaving RS's shop, he'd in a little parkside stopped and bartered for bananas.

bunch he'd bought and slowly walked amidst the traffic clutter.

then finally the outskirts of Dvaraka city reached, and in this pleasant jungle beached.

ocean was about 1/2 mile away and he could hear the surf and smell the salty air.

the cawing sea gulls all the fish did scare.

caaaw caaaaw caaama lobha crodha.

the jungle animals made no fright.

they would come and sit quietly beneath his tree. share a few grunts and growls and then break free.

there seemed to be no hunger or thirst here unless KRSNA wanted.

-0-0-0-

time to put this JL Trash into a bottle and see who has to read this twaddle.

SELF PUBLISHING.

(Another kind of Self Publishing is to put the Twaddle/Trash into a fire)

asa[e] guru-tattva

One of our initiated disciples has been approached by local co-gbc secretary of his country and region to take on the role of a Diksa guru in ISKCON.

We have been asked to approve of this.

We have had some very productive discussion with the GBC man and the disciple and committed to writing this document.

For us Guru-tattva is an unlimited, ever fresh topic. Lord Nityananda, Balarama, can be taken as the original Gurus (although we have read Srila Prabhupada commenting that Lord Caitanya is the spiritual master of all spiritual masters).

Lord Balarama is unlimited and ever fresh.

So, for us Guru-tattva is a very pragmatic reality. It is not a matter of sentimental speculation nor imaginative ecstasy, rather practical activity in the foreground of spiritual life.

We follow Srila Prabhupada as Diksa Guru by chanting 16-enthusiastic rounds daily and following the 4-principals strictly; taking formal initiation from him according to the process of probational time period, GBC standards, fire sacrifice, beads, name etc; and anyone following us following Srila Prabhupada is a qualified ISKCON Diksa Guru.

To be Diksa guru for Harinama, Gayatri and Sannyasa Diksa, you must have received the Mantras properly and be practicing those ashramas yourself.

You will be the only Diksa guru for the disciple. Srila Prabhupada is Founder-Acharya for everyone in ISKCON. If you are not an Uttama adikari then the people you are initiating must have personally accepted Srila Prabhupada as an Uttama adhikari guru. Disciple may and most naturally will have many Siksa gurus, but of course they cannot conflict with your relationship with disciples as Diksa guru. Usually the principal Siksa guru becomes Diksa guru, though as in the case of Dhruva and his Mother Suniti, this could not become the case because she was a woman and his mother. So, as Diksa guru you will most likely be a principal siksa guru, but maybe not.

From very practical experience of doing the job for many years, talking with and seeing others do the job, and now seeing younger men take up the job, we can now see and suggest within the perspective of the Bhaktivedanta Library and Purports a few things.

Of course, we do not think we are perfect and want to hear the suggestions of others.

Again it is a deep, every fresh topic.

1. It is a formality, though not a meaningless formality. Anyone who does any ritual sacrifice for another eg. marriage, funeral, diksa takes Karma. Are you ready, young enough, strong enough, healthy enough to do this?
2. We really think it is a job to be performed between like 40 and fifty years old.
3. Ideally one should have their Bhakti vaibhava diploma for giving Harinama diksa, and their Bhakti vedanta Diploma for Gayatri diksa.
4. Advanced grhastha couple should take vanaprastha.
5. Wife should be fully enlightened and agreeable to the role.
6. One should should contemplate accepting Guru daksina and Vyasapuja worship. In our experience Srila Prabhupada even approved of pious householders washing the feet of Brahman ISKCON devotee guests if the devotees accepted this honor, and had the strength to take that responsibility for their hosts, but make your ideas and application of these formal honors public.
7. If you are proposed for this job, talk with at least six other senior devotees for their opinion and approval. Look at your Yatra and make up a list of people whom you feel are as good as or better qualified to do the service to ISKCON than you.
8. Become a qualified Siksa guru, even taking the diplomas established by Srila Prabhupada, then you can accept Shiksa disciples, even giving them advice about who, and how, to accept and reject as Diksa guru. We see this as a much more natural position and formality for ladies than Diksa guru, though ladies becoming Diksa gurus is not forbidden in our tradition, as is Sannyasa or wearing a sacred thread.

Thank you.

Hope this is useful for Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON.

asa[e] - yoga ladder

"How do we become gopi-jana? The approach, methods please be guided."

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! Paoho.... All of these answers are in the Nectar of Instruction, no? It is first steps for us neophyte devotees. Then it gives references for further reading from Gita, SB, CC, NoD, etc.

From NoI we have "nitya siddha krsna prema sadya kabu naya...", love of Krsna is not something that we get from some outside. When we engage in 'sravana adi', hearing, chanting etc. it naturally awakens.

So, maybe you are already a Rama bhakta, like Hanuman, or Murari Gupta in Gaura lila.

Maybe you are a flower on a garland of Krsna in Goloka Dhama.

Maybe your position is Braja-jana but not Gopi-jana, a flower in Goloka, santa rasa, or a cowherd boy like Raktaka or Patraka.

Even if we are Gopi-jana, then the process of waking up to our original position is so nicely described in Srila Prabhupada's Nectar of Instruction, Texts Seven and Eight.

This is translated into Manipuri, no?

Do you have a copy?

Several copies?

Please read carefully and tell us your experience!!!!

Thank you.

Hare Krsna Gurudeva

AGtSP

Please accept my selfish obeisances.

I know you might be now communicating in astral world.

ASA/PhD - AgtSP! paoho... SB 2.8.20 gives nice definition of 'astral' body!!!! Also, vedabase.io gives nice search result. SP seems to feel that it is a little marginal to Bhakti Siddhanta but practically useful!

As a Guru you have poured us with words, which if we realize we will be Paramahansa.

Some of your statement which we remember / ruminate upon

1. If we keep the bed sheet improperly, we are disturbing visva-rupa.

2. If we eat some thing nasty, then Visva-Rupa feels that nastiness.

We read in Srila Prabhupada books , model of passion makes us think we are different.

We know the story of Krsna eating a morsel of rice and all disciples of Durvasa Muni were satisfied.

On the other hand there is concept of Hriskesa where he control our senses

Then there is concept of watering the root, where we satisfy lord , and then all other living entity will be satisfied.

Now we are speculating the oneness and difference of the knowledge acquiring senses, working senses, between different living entities.

How can my sensation of my senses be different from other people that is well know fact, but how can it be one.

like when all are in temple, we experience less material pangs, that give us the sight of oneness.

we are speculating on materially differences of sensation of senses also reduces when we are close to Krsna.

however then there comes a question of free will, not every body is connected to Krsna.

like again we are thinking how come only disciples of Durvasa Muni were only satisfied by Krsna eating.

were they all above material differences, or it was Krsna who took them beyond material plane for a moment.

we satisfy lord , and then all other living entity will be satisfied.-- how this practically works in satisfying different needs of senses.

its difficult to understand Guru tattva, but the way your mind and words manifest, it does seem to us you are supersoul-without for us

HpS/ASA - Your letter to us is very stimulating. We don't understand all that you are speculating. That's O.K.

It is declared to be in-con-CIEVE-able.

Look up the etymology for CIEVE. I bet it has to do with organic process of birth. Womb even.

Con CEPT. con CEPT TION.

so no one, not even KRSNA can always understand what is going on in a logical sense. but we can always make a positive contribution to the situation.

Krsna, Krsna's Devotee and Devotional service [?} KRSNA, RADHA, PURNAMASI?? all come together and dance and no one can quite understand whose in charge.

Krsna understands the Gopis {hladini shakti} then they come up with some fun madness, that even surprises them!! what to speak of KRSNA.

Yet, then His cit shakti, figures it out.

So always a competition between cit shakti and ananda shakti.

but in spiritual consciousness it is integrating not separating.

Being one apple on the tree we know that when we are getting good sap, the rest of the apples are also.

have a nice idea and suddenly others in the situation get the same idea.

some ideas are in our portion of the virata rupa and other ideas are common to the whole or selected subsets of the viratarupa.

what is my position in this orchestra!

what can i do to improve things.

look at the result i am having on the Big Picture.

in western theater training, gandharva veda, it is called 'ensemble learning'.

thank you.

Sunday 12.49PM. Little hot.

Little fat.

All rounds done before Mangala arati.

Upendra Das' class, then crash!

Sunday Festival prep.