Letters to the editor

AGTSP paoho and bw

We have communication with several initiated and not yet initiated married devotees who have problems following the four principles and chanting 16-rounds.

One problem is that one of the partners can follow, but the other can't. What to do? We took the route of being strict and it seemed to lead to divorce. That was in 1972 and if we knew then what we know now we may have been able to adust things for the satisfaction of our family. Our wife was and I guess still is, a very nice person. She tried, I tried, but especially in 1972 following these four principles was a lot of stress on ordinary family relations. She got remarried after six years which Parasara, Prabhupada, say is Dharmic in Kali yuga if the husband takes Sannyasa, and that is basically what I did.

Of course, it maybe better for the wife to indulge the husbands attachments for some time, but in terms of the formal postion of Diksa guru we have to say that the four principles must be followed and we must chant 16-rounds to be formally connected to Krsna. Again Krsna is a person and he can see your sincerity and He will help in different ways.

We cannot discuss this in great detail because we are in the Sannyasa ashrama, so Grhasthas need to consult with senior Grhasthas and many others and get good advice. Canakhya Pandita says: Victory comes from good advice and good advice comes from many advisors.

What do you think?

Hare Krishna Maharaj, 

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

Thank you for your update. I pray to the Lordships here and in Mayapur as well that They please give you good health for you have a great desire to see that the education system is established on firm and positive grounds that will be greatly appreciated by all. And if They are already satisfied with your efforts then who am I to pray for anything else.

My health is as it was when we last met. My ear is still having a ‘mind of its own’! But I will manage.

I believe Srila Prabhupada’s system is not only practical but is also the solution for almost everything that needs to be revived in positive Krishna consciousness. 

I do pretty much attend all the Bhagavatam classes – if I cannot physically attend, I am listening either online or listen to the classes later. At least I will try to listen to a Bhagavatam class in some form or fashion. And having heard the classes does enthuse us to preach in our own ways.

So, yes I do agree with your analysis.

We will await your arrival end of March and speak to you what other things we need or fix or change. 

Your servant,

S L das

TO - Radha-krsna, Hari-lila, Srivasa Pt, Bali-mardana Das et al.

Hare Krsna, AGTSP

Esteemed North American Sastric Education Development Leaders, Paoho,

Here we are in Room 103 of the Gada building in Sri Dhama Mayapura. It is 1.51PM. We are walking around a headache. It is cool and overcast. For 71-years old our health is good, which is to say death is staring us in the face but we are diminishing in a balanced fashion.

We have 15-rounds done and are chanting HK/HR right now!!!

How are you?

We had a lot of Bali-mardana and Anantarupa Das' association in the MOE education symposium. It finished yesterday, was very, very, hard work, three days, for 24-hours a day but good results. Now we will have four days break and the SGGS meetings start. Of course, break means Spanish classes, Latin American GBC Meetings, disciple counseling, but also time to wander around the campus and chant.

In the middle of all of these things, that we guess are also facing you, we come back to the basic principle of Sastric education for us which is that chanting Maha-mantra at the feet of Srila Prabhupada within the core of our heart is the best service, and then to reach that level, and as a result of that austerity, to preach, read his books.

Preach - Read His Books

How?  To read His Books???

He instructs - Daily Srimad Bhagavatam class.

Do we all have that habit?

Have we learned that habit?

Only if we have learned it can we teach it and that is the essence of BhS, BhVai et al?

Correct? ?   ?        ?

While traveling we usually attend the local class

as teacher or student. Today Vaisesika Das gave

class and there were maybe 1000 devotees in the Temple room.

It was nice hearing him. It was 9th Canto, history of Parasurama. We want more depth in the classes. We want more realization of the context of the verses within the SB's structure. We want more realization of the practical application of the verses.

Hmmm. Many challenges arise in our minds, but the basic principle of devotional service, everyday going to class, seems to be the most important, the fastest way to a solution.

TEACH HABITS BEFORE CONTENT?

So, waiting for you thoughts.

We will be back in Houston from the 27th March to the 3rd of April, and then Boise from the 8th - 15th of April.

HpS - ASA. 

Respected Hanumatpreshaka Maharaj

Dandavats. Jaya Prabhupada.

Having your association at Govardhan Eco-village a fortnight ago was immensely stimulating, intellectually and spiritually.

You embody an ocean of information, insight and vigor that is eager to flood the head and heart of anyone who is perceptive enough to receive.

Hearing about your pioneering outreach in South America was inspiring.

I seek your blessings to do my small part in our glorious movement.

Your servant,

Chaitanya Charan das

HpS - It was maybe more stimulating for us. Thank you. Sorry so slow to answer, continuous travel. What is your Sankirtan area, method, community?

HpS - Death is going to another world. If it is better world, why stay here? 😎

NgD - But before you go Maharaj you will have to prepare us to follow you.

HpS - Since you asked. 🙂🙂🙂 The most basic lesson we have learned is get up early and get your rounds done. Early is Brahma muhurta, 1-1/2 hours before sunrise.

If we can do that then next we have to make sure that we are chanting ENTHUSIASTIC rounds. NOI Three. It's part of the contract. So we challenge everyone to turn on the recorder on your cellular and record one round. Then skip back through it and listen to the quality of the Acoustical Icon, Mantra, that you are producing.

We tend to chant unclear Names and add an extra Hare.

What about you?

Nimai Pandita – Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Academic Scholarship

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya he was a God intoxicated man. His former students saw that now His academic scholarship in logic and grammar was always saturated with Bhava, emotional love of Krsna. We can see this tradition of Prema Bhakti passed down from the Lord to His great disciples such as Srila Rupa Goswami who gave us Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Upadesamrta and other erudite works. Within this century we then find Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and our own Gaudiya Acharya, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta, continuing with massive educational efforts. Finally we can share our experiences, challenges and success in continuing with this same line of mixing academic and devotional life in the form of Hamlet and Arjuna, Science, Psyche and Sprituality – The Encounter of C. G. Jung with the Bhagavata of Classical India and Education with ISKCON, developing a global educational initiative based upon Sri Caitanya’s tradition of Bhagavata literature.