Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Maharaja

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

I am still in India. I am in Nagpur now visiting Divya’s parents. Will leave from here on Monday and have my flight back to Dallas on 1-Sep and we’ll reach on 2-Sep. Divya Sri is alone but thankful we have such a nice community of devotees who are taking care of her. Our car was broken into a few days back in the temple parking lot when Divya was dressing Radha Govinda. But she is ok and the car is in the workshop.

In the time I’ve been here, I haven’t been able to work on ASA Encyclopedia. When I arrived, it was the 10th day ritual for my uncle, then there was rituals till day 13 with so many relatives in my home. My uncle didn’t have kids. So my father was performing all the samskaras and then my visa appt.

Somehow managed to squeeze in a trip to Mayapur for a 3 days. Met Mishra Bhagavan prabhu there. He took me to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters in the lotus building and told his memories. He said it was in that very room that Prabhupada asked Tamal Krishna Maharaja to go to China! I went to Mayapur after 5 years and the crowd has increased significantly. They have displays in the Pancatattva courtyard for devotees to take Darsan even during mangala arathi as there is no place inside the temple room. It’s totally packed and so wonderful to sing samsaradhava with about a thousand devotees in unison! We felt your connection so much in Mayapur during the morning program.

I then took my father for his cataract surgery and follow up. It was a successful surgery.

I want to ask for forgiveness to have not started work but state that we are very much interested and willing to work on the ASA Encyclopedia. I should have time after Janmastami and will start work and make some progress.

HpS - Nothing to forgive. It seems to be moving ahead practically. If anyone has any idea how to improve things, then please let us know.

Maybe it will prove to be not really worth doing.

Srila Prabhupada wants us to chant Hare Krsna and then adjust our Sankirtan to that base, no?

I would also like to pass the sound-cloud credentials to the ASA carnival team so that they can maintain all the media. Can you please send me the contact of the devotee I should talk to Guru Maharaja?

ASA - Text us by Whatsapp.

We are hoping to come and see you in Houston in November Guru Maharaja.

Your servant

Srinatha Krsna dasa

HpS - Thank you so much for this news!!

So, much.

Best wishes for everyone to become more and more integrated with Krsna's pastimes.

asa[e] = vad; grhastha; older wife

we have heard that srila prabhupada said that if the wife is older than the husband, then marriage will not be successful.

of course, there are details, details, details.

yet in general we have seen it to be true.

[maybe our expectations have caused the result] ❓

ideal is that girl is maybe 10-years old when she is engaged and boy is like 18-years old.

she can very easily idealize him.

civil marriage, live together at 16.

doesn't mean that man/boy cannot have sisters, aunts, cousins older than him.

no, no, no. doesn't mean that.

very tranquil.

very nice.

subtle sex.

no gross stimulation.

''nirbandha krsna sambandhe

yukta viaragya ucate''.

asa[e] - vad; sannyasa; in iskcon

Please accept my humble obeisances, Guru Maharaja.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Regarding your question about taking Sannyasa, this is a very important question, because it is you who is asking it.

For the moment, I must say that I am not prepared (although it feels difficult and lacking to say No to one's own Guru).

At the same time, I will explain myself and seek your understanding.

I am about to turn 40 years old. My mind and nature are solitary and content, and in a few years, they will mature further in that direction.

I have many desires to read and study various things, both in spirituality and material pursuits, achieving a certain balance and realization.

Personally, I enjoy speaking and assisting devotees when they ask questions, or nurturing ideas so that they don't lose their enthusiasm or faith, or both.

Due to my passionate nature, there is always something new to investigate or learn, and the Vedic worldview does not allow for giving up.

However, it is difficult for me to be in a position (sannyasa) that sets me apart from others, especially within an institution with a lot of diplomacy (bureaucracy), which I find exhausting. One knows oneself in their heart; I try to be a simple servant, making an effort to rise above the modes of passion and ignorance.

HpS - 😁 This is almost exactly my answer to Hansadutta (and then B. S. Damodara, Trivikrama, Ramesvara and Tripurari Swamis and Atreya rsi Prabhu) when they pushed us to take Sannyasa.

"The purpose of Sannyasa seems to be to get free from respect and worship, but it seems to be the exact opposite."

Srila Prabhupada quotes a V. Puja offering from Sril Bh. Siddhanta S. P. where is he says that Majaprabhu preaches Trnad Api Sahisuna, but here I (Bh. Siddhanta) am sitting like a big arrogant beast up on an elevated seat above everyone else.

The conclusion is that in most cases it is the best thing to do.

We have to show people an example of what they should do.

It is like having a public wedding ceremony. You and your "novia" are fully committed to living a chaste Vedic life together, but the ritual is not without meaning.

It has an effect.

It makes you humble, "Why are all these people offering obeisances, donations to me???"

"Because they see Krsna and Prabhupada acting through me."

Unless you realize that you are the mailman and not the sender of the letter, then you will fall down.

I follow the regulative principles and chant the 16 rounds. I understand the advantages this has in life. Brahma Muhurta is crucial in the equation, as are Ekadasis. Reading and memorizing are enjoyable and uplifting.

I spend 4 days a week in Govardhan (MDP), attending 4 Mangalartiks, sometimes 3. 3 days in Mar del Plata at a devotee's house, studying welding and electricity from 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and electricity from 6:40 PM to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. I return to Govardhan on Thursday morning.

I cook most of the food I offer, although there are some items that I don't cook and it shows; this should improve over time, I believe.

I associate only with married devotees or those who intend to marry (good devotees). Nevertheless, I interact with others as needed (since it happens naturally). I have a strong sense of my purpose, and my nature doesn't lend itself to much socializing.

Enthusiasm: reading, Mangala Japa, and Ekadasis; I also watch Mayapur TV. I also engage in Prajalpa, watch some movies or series, but I recognize that these are temporary pleasures, and there's some inertia from this life.

I still discuss worldly topics, perhaps in this lifetime we will reach a point where we only speak Krishna Katha.

HpS - Or see how everything is related to Krsna in a fascinating, practical way.

I have distanced myself from senior devotees who visit. I try to be respectful and maintain a distance, as otherwise, it might not be good for my enthusiasm.

The plan is to continue studying electricity and other trades this year and the next, while also studying the Srimad Bhagavatam, slokas, fire sacrifices, etc. I am laying the groundwork for the future. My parents are now 74 and 70, and my plan is to spend a few months with them in 2025 and then return to Govardhan. This is what I can project.

Looking at this panorama, I don't see myself ready for renunciation, nor do I understand it in the way I currently perceive it. Being a public figure is also a significant obstacle.

Thank you for accepting me as your disciple, despite my circumstances, and for being an example. Please forgive me for talking so much about myself.

At your service,

Adi Yajña Das

HpS - Jaya! Super. Personally I think you are excellent candidate for Sannyasa. You can show everyone how even the greatest idiot in ISKCON must become Goswami and if in a male body try to take Sannyasa formally as a declaration of becoming exclusively a maidservant of the Gopis in their service to Krsna.

The GBC rules, as we remember, are that you mist be 50-years old except for special adjustments.

So, your plan seems good, but it seems that you and most others as discussed should take Sannyasa. Seems we may formally be gone from this gross atmosphere ten years from now. Maybe we will take birth in New Govardhana. 🙂 😼😼😼

but Yadunandana Swami seems like someone who would be a deligtful Sannysa Guru.

Thank you.

asa[e] - ISKCON; Stay away! ISKCON Will Break Your Heart

WhatsApp from Carudesna Das (Name Changed to Protect the Innocent):

Hare Krishna, Maharaja, please kindly accept my most humble obeisances; all glories to Srila Prabhupada.  I hope that all is going well for you in your devotional service. 🙏 

I feel very embarrassed and afraid to share with you the following information.  There was some kind of discussion that took place with the GBC and the leaders of this community.  As a result of that discussion, I was so hurt by what our GBC shared with me that I have decided to stay away from the temple indefinitely.

I only know what the GBC shared with me in our drive back to the airport and nothing more.  I don't wish to burden you with my grief, but because you have always been so kind and merciful to me in the past, I have this great responsibility to let you know well in advance what has transpired and why I will be absent during your visit. 

Our GBC and I are good friends. I hold no blame, no ill thoughts or feelings towards him for anything.  By Krishna's grace I have been spared such foolish tendencies.🙏🏻

He actually gave a genuinely warm and compassionate hug when I dropped him off at the airport.  So, I feel very confident of his support. 🙏🏻

Please forgive me for my offenses. You are still a siksha guru in my life. 🙏🏻😞🙏🏻

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! AgtSP's ISKCON. We have discussed so many times that there are three ISKCON"s. The institution. The circle of friends and finally our individual, directly experienced relationship with Srila Prabhupada FAOI.

Jaya.

I have hellish, HELLISH, H-E-L-L-I-S-H experiences in ISKCON, usually in management relations eg. Temple Presidents, GBC. B. S. Damodara Swami expressed the same to me. Three other GBCs I know express the hell of being involved with the situation.

Even today, I wrote we write notes in our Diary of how to deal with these things:

Devotees in the institution who are causing intense pain to others may be doing it because of the hell they personally, confidentially, are experiencing. They torment others, even to such a degree that they hope others will react with physical violence and kill them. (Direct admission of the tormenters revealed to us).

O.K, we have to avoid, mentally, socially, physically this problem and keep ourselves in a situation where we can give as much help to them as possible.

Of course, this may be Hanuman "helping" the Raksasa army that Ravana sent to the Asokavan when he was talking to Sita. He snuffed them all. (To help them 👍) but he left Ravana for Rama to chastise!

In general, in our association with your self, we never see that you act in such a way as to cause anything other than a desire for your association! We want it!

Maybe... some misunderstanding??

Maybe GBC miscommunicated something??? Possible??? Go to the source and ask them politely if this is true.

asa[e] - yoga ladder; mangala-arati attendance

Hare Krsna Gurudev

AGTSP, PAMHO

this is regarding integration of many verses like

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/9/22/ ananyāś cintayanto

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/8/7/ tasmāt sarveṣu

bg 12.8-12.12

now one verse is focusing on internal contemplation, and another verse is focusing on simultenous action of external activities and internal contemplation.

i know you have many times told us 16-4-4, FMP, FEP. i know these external activities are good starting point to develop internal contemplation [cintan for Krsna].

we have seen in ourself that, if we commit to these activities, we develop an obsession for these activities [and justify ourself by saying --only excuse to miss Mangal Arti is "inability to crawl"].

in that obsession, any one who opposes us (for whatever reason ) faces our wrath. 😠

We act like a neophyte, and ultimately its bad for the movement, we push people away from Krsna, ISKCON and devotees.

So at our stage should we attempt for verse 9.22 /8.7. I think this is stage BG 12.8 [https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/12/8/]

and we are being advised to follow bg 12.9 . But we are very Tamasic, then Rajasic and very small Sattva.

should we increase our hearing sb 1.2.17 to develop the sattva.

we are actually confused, at this stage

what should be done externally ?

simulateneously what should be thought internally?

harsh pradhan trying to be Hayagriva Avatar Das

HpS/ASA - AgtSP! Paoho.

First we will give a very, very, advanced perspective. We may not be able to act on this platform yet, but we might take some of the aspects even now and use it as a lighthouse for navigation from our current situation:

1. https://vedabase.io/en/library/kb/29/#bb91286
2. https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/29/9/
3. https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/10/29/10-11/

Then for neophytes we have NoI:

https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/2/#bb5839

We should realize FM/ES, 16/4 etc. with enthusiasm.

We should cultivate knowledge of the purpose of these things and the best way to do them.

Don't try to smash obstacles presented by the demons and demonic, avoid the obstacles.

Also, in Noi:

1. Love God,
2. Preach to the Innocent,
3. Be friends with the devotees,
4. Avoid the Demons.

Of course, this means avoiding the demonic half of our fellow ISKCON Madhyama adhikaris also.

CONCLUSION:

Go to Mangala arati but don't wake up the neighbors.

asa[e] - Yoga Ladder: detachment from subtle body

Hare Krsna Gurudeva

AGTSP, PAMHO,

During this surgery, and post experience, we are constantly able to remind ourself that we are not this gross body. Even we see our childhood photos, We are reminded ourself of verse- "dehino asmi yath dehe".

On the other hand when somebody say Harsh, you are fool/idiot/ wrong /impractical, our veins enlarge, immediately come to defend us. I don't know why so much attachment to subtle body.

How can we start getting detached to subtle body also ?

harsh trying to become hayagriva avatar das

HpS/ASA - Thank you. Sure everyone reading this has similar reactions.

There is jJyAna and vijJyana (Harvard Kyoto transliteration 😃 - https://www.learnsanskrit.cc/), theoretical and realized knowledge.

We know we are not the body, but not deeply.

We know how to drive a car from reading a book, but driving in the Grand Prix is different matter.

The whole SB, CC, NOD is aimed at answering your question in full.

What does the NoI say?

Verse 1 says that the mind is controlled by chanting 'HK/HR'. So when persona is attacked, call "HK/HR". Live in Vraja! In Vraja only Krsna and Balarama kill demons, no?

Everyone else chants, "HK/HR".

Of course, we may have to, will have to, chant like Draupadi when Dusasana was trying to desnude her in front of all the elite men and women of the world.

Cry 'HK/HR' like little children.

This may be a challenge if we are trying to keep our reputation as big, big intellectuals, but give our name and fame and gain into Krsna's hands.

NoI one also says that the subtle body is defeated by making plans.

This is second class method.

First class is chant 'Hare Krsna', but we may be on second class level.

Our ego is attacked when our plans, ambitions, are attacked.

So, just change you plan to avoid the attack, or include the attack in your plans.

"Better to have a wise man for an enemy, than a fool for a friends", Socrates, Canakhya Pandita.

Listen to the criticisms of wise enemies and use it to correct your plans/attitude.

O.K.?

So many citations in NoI. NoI 6 especially seems to have the ultimate answer.