Letters to the editor

We had an opportunity to present a seminar on Vastu-veda to the graduate students at a university in Mendocino, Argentina. Our host was the Assistant Dean of Architecture, and as it turned out we were born the same year. As we got to know each other, over the following few days, I was rather shocked how Krsna seemed to be showing me, through this very esteemed professor, exactly what I would have become if I had not met Srila Prabhupada.

He was a very nice person, a good person. He had a sense of humor and a broad sense of knowledge and wisdom. His children were also students at the university and he was popular with both the students and his colleagues.

He took off his wrist-watch Friday afternoon and did not put it back on until Monday morning. He waved to me as he and a student crammed into the box in the back of a two-seater sports car while his daughter and her boy-friend sat in the front and zoomed off for some youth event.

Before we met Srila Prabhupada spiritual life was like a dull glow from the world around us. We could see that there were forms but there was no practical perception of their details. When we got Srila Prabhupada’s KRSNA book and the association of his ISKCON then gradually all the luminosity came up to a real intensity.

If we had not met him we would not have become an alcoholic nor bank robber. We would have had some religious affiliation, but we would not have had any intensity in our lives. We would not have even had the real chance for clear intellectual understanding of God and religion to actually achieve immortality.

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

T. S. Elliot, “The Hollow Men”

Hare Krishna dear guru maharaj, 

Please accept my dandavat pranams, All glories to Srila Prabhupad.

Thank you so much for the diary. It was pleasure to read the diary. It is exquisitely beautifull and sublime with wonderfull message.

I will cherish the diary.

Thank you again

your servant

Nataraj

HpS - AGTSP paoho. Actually they are mostly done by Monkey and Piggy. We ride the same Donkey as they do. It is dark and cold here now. We have been working hard from 1.15AM with a five minute nap. If you are one of our Twits you saw our Tweet with the PPTX we just finished.
Purification!!!!

You should write.

AGTSP paoho. After a day of 90% selfish sense gratification, while chanting HK and following the 4-regs, emergency calls from other fools like us and other service, we were finally able to get to the Canto Five Question Bank.

It's a mess! <img alt="*:D big grin" src="https://s.yimg.com/ok/u/assets/img/emoticons/emo31.gif" title="*:D big grin" />

BIG Mess, no?

Out of about 60 questions we rejected, on a scale from 1-5, about 27 of them. The 33 we accepted, on a scale from 1-5, got an average of 2.75 points, and about 31 of those all needed work.

Hmmmmm?

Seems to us we need questions that a Bh.Vaibhavin could answer three years from now. In that respect so many of the questions need the context of the verses etc. Many we felt were just too general or simple. Many we felt we could answer from B.G. or earlier SB Cantos.

We will do some more work on them tomorrow. If anybody has any comments on this please write to the Blog. We will post this at the Blog.

We don't think this is anybodies fault. We are struggling with a very, very challenging task. I think that considering our stupidity Srila Prabhupada would be very pleased with all of us and encourage us to go on, go on. We are doing the best work possible. Nobody else we know of is doing anything like this.

Please see SB 9.10.20

Your servants,

Anjana Suta Civil Deadman's Club

Hare Krsna
AGTSP
pamho

Ok. Gurudev I'll talk with Ambarisa Maharaja Das about the first week. 
I'm starting to prepare the invitations to psychologists and I want to know what you think about if we put 3 simple themes, like topics?
I don't know, 3 important points what you want to talk about in Jung meeting. ¿What are you would choose?
I call to Dhanya Lalita DD to participate with lali, Luis and me in this project. She is psychologist.
¿What jung's book you think we have to start to read for understand your preach w/Jung? To be sincere, I'll recomend it to the psychologyst who will work with us.
Thank You.
 

AGTSP - paoho, please contact Abhirama Thakura Das and get a copy of the Bio-graphy translation of Carl Jung that Miguel Polo has. He says it is much better.

Then read that. It will not only be interesting to see his view of the subtle and spiritual world in terms of the Bhagavata but it will also help you with your own personal psychological issues.

1. Jung's cosmolgy and the achetypes of the Bhagavata.

2. Jung's legacy, who has taken up his work and how has it progressed.

3. Practical techniques of introspection.
-------------------------------------------------
other theme:
My Japa get bad, I will effort to recover soon, sorry for that. My fault it's intolerable. 4 principles ok.
I´ve prepared with one friend, Diwali Fest, where many persons can offer a lamp to damodara, we're so excited.
We rent a place who is close to 2 Bhakti Vrksas here in Bs.As. and the festival is oriented to new people, and on this way if they want to learn more can go there and they will take a "safe" context to be cultivated in KC. 
For all of it happen, we really need your blessing. 
--------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks for always engage me in KC. Sorry for my many mistakes.
I hope some day please you Guru Maharaja, like you please to Srila Prabhupada. Thanks for be the perfect example.
Your disciple who want to be you servant,
rati-manjari devi dasi

HpS - ASA - Yes, bad Japa is spiritual death!!!!  We will write about NOI movie project. Please watch for it!

Amado Guru Maharaja please acepte mis humildes reverencias a sus pies de loto [loco], todas las glorias a srila prabhupada, todas las glorias a sri sri Radha MADHANA vIHARI!!

Espero haya pasado hermosas fiestas trascendentales de sri balarama y sri krsna janmastami!! aqui le envio los comentarios.

HpS - ASA - Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada!  Pasando Balarama Purnima en Boise. Era muy bien! Orando para poder ser buen devotos!!!

Espersando lo encuentro bien  yt feliz; 

Tratando de complacerlo:, su discipula:  japa prati jalpa Radha dd.

SB 3.21.7 — Durante ese período de penitencia, adorando por medio de servicio devocional en trance a la Personalidad de Dios, que otorga rápidamente toda bendición a aquellos que recurren a Él en busca de protección, el sabio Kardama logró Su favor.

Comentarios: 

Kardama Muni adoro a Sri Krsna por medio de la meditación, que en esa Era, Satya Yuga, era el proceso recomendado para alcanzar el amor puro, el servicio devocional amoroso a Sri Krsna. Srila Prabhupada explica que en esta Era, Kali Yuga, no podemos siquiera sentarnos a meditar por una hora sin que la mente se distraiga. Es por eso que el canto del santo nombre del Señor es el método en esta Era. Se dice en el verso que El señor nos otorgara toda bendición a  aquellos que recurrimos a El en busca de protección. Como Krsna mismo dice en el Bhagavad Gita 18.66 “Abandona toda clase de religión y sencillamente, entrégate a Mí. Yo te libraré de toda reacción pecaminosa. No temas”. Aquí vemos que  nuestro Señor Krsna nos promete que El nos protegerá de todas las reacciones pecaminosas, sencillamente tenemos que entregarnos a El, dejando que El guíe nuestras vidas, convirtiéndolo en el conductor de nuestra vida. Como decía el señor Jesucristo  “que se haga Tu voluntad y no la mía.”

Maharajá Bhakti Thirta [Tirtha] Swami decía también una frase muy linda: Mi querido Señor todo lo que me acerque a tu servicio amoroso deja que se manifieste y venga a nosotros y todo lo que me aleje de tu servicio, permite que sea quitado. En una clase nuestro querido Guru Maharaja explica: nosotros podemos hacer planes para servir a Krsna, pero el mejor plan es cantar Hare Krsna; Pero debido a que aun no estamos en ese nivel, podemos planear servirlo con la ocupación  que tenemos de acuerdo con nuestra condición psico- fisica y si realmente queremos complacer al Señor, El nos va ir mostrando el plan que tiene con nosotros”. 
Aquí se confirma que el sabio Kardama Muni logro el favor de Govinda.

SB 3.21.8 — Entonces, en Satya-yuga, la Suprema Personalidad de Dios de ojos de loto, complacido, Se manifestó ante Kardama Muni y le reveló Su forma trascendental, que sólo por medio de los Vedas se puede entender.

Comentarios: 

La suprema Personalidad de Dios Sri Krsna, aquel que posee ojos como pétalos de una flor de loto, se complace mucho cuando un alma rendida como Sri Kardama se entrega completamente a El. En realidad como explica Srila Prabhupada, el señor Krsna esta mas ansioso de llevarnos con El que lo que estamos nosotros mismos. Y de una u otra manera, nos muestra Su misericordia de acuerdo con el esfuerzo y avance que tenga el devoto. Así que, mostrando Su misericordia con su devoto, el sabio Kardama Muni, se Le presento en su forma trascendental. Se explica en el Néctar de la Devoción, Pág. 45: “De las muchas clases de devotos de la suprema personalidad de Dios, el que se siente atraído a la forma original del señor, la de Krsna en Vrndavana, se considera que es el principal, o el devoto de primera clase. Un devoto de esa categoría nunca se siente atraído a las opulencias de Vaikuntha, y ni siquiera a las de Dwaraka, la ciudad real en donde gobernó Krsna. La conclusión de Sri Rupa Gosvami es que los devotos que se sienten atraídos  a los pasatiempos del señor Krsna en Gokula o Vrndavana son los devotos mas elevados de todos”. Es muy afortunado aquel que esta apegado a la forma de dos manos de Sri Krsna, esta forma es muy difícil de entender para los filósofos mayavadis o especuladores. Las escrituras vèdicas que son como nuestra madre nos dan el conocimiento para entender los tres aspectos de la verdad absoluta. Brahman, Paramatma y Bhagavan. 

Brahman.- son como los rayos de sol que emanan del Sol. Es decir en la naturaleza material podemos ver un breve destello del mundo espiritual como las flores cuando brotan, el mar, la naturaleza. Toda la naturaleza en conjunto es parte del gran cuerpo trascendental del Señor.

Paramatma.- es el aspecto localizado del Señor Krsna que esta situado en el corazón de toda las entidades vivientes. Esta es la forma en la que meditan los Yoguis. Podemos escucharla cuando sentimos una “corazonada” para realizar o dejar alguna actividad. Nos esta guiando siempre y al purificarnos  podemos escucharla y no confundirla con nuestra mente cuando emite sus deseos.

Bhagavan.- Es el aspecto Personal de Sri Krsna. Esta forma es maravillosa y es la forma original que se manifiesta eternamente en el mundo espiritual: Goloka Vrndavana, es la forma con la que apareció en Gokula, Vraja; para realizar sus pasatiempos trascendentales y llenar de placer a sus devotos.

SB 3.21.9 — Kardama Muni vio a la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, que está libre de contaminación material, en Su forma eterna, refulgente como el Sol. Llevaba un collar de lotos blancos y de nenúfares. El Señor iba vestido de inmaculadas sedas amarillas, y las oscuras ondas de Su sedoso cabello embellecían Su rostro de loto.

Comentarios: 

A la suprema personalidad de Dios no la tocan las modalidades materiales (bondad, pasión e ignorancia). Los devotos puros como Srila Prabhupada tampoco son tocados por la energía marginal de Sri Krsna. Si los devotos seguimos las instrucciones de los devotos puros y obtenemos Su misericordia, podemos llegar a alcanzar el nivel de devoción pura y podemos vivir en este mundo sin ser contaminados por el, sino al contrario, podemos ayudar a otras almas a que también logren el objetivo de la vida humana.

HPS - Jaya! Super. Meditacion por medio de Hare Krsna Mantra!!!!  Cada vez cantamos estamos mas atraido cantar mas!!!

SB 3.21.4 - 

How many children fathered the great yogi in the princess, who was endowed with the eight yogic perfections?!, Oh please let me say this, as I am eager to hear it. 

Comments: 

The Wise Vidura asks, with interest, to Rsi Maitreya, few Kardama Muni begot sons who appoints as a great Yogi. This interest of Sri Vidura is very representative, because the more there is in the public interest, he feels more inspired. In chapter thirteen of the book Krishna 1 Srila Prabhupada explains that Sukadeva Goswami Maharaja Pariksit much encouraged when asked why the cowherd did not discuss the death of Aghasura until after he had been a year. He explained thus: "My dear King, because your curiosity, do most refreshing theme of the transcendental pastimes of Krsna" Here we can see how important it is that the listening public is really interested in the exhibition of the speaker, this causes both public and speaker mutually benefit. 

Srila Prabhupada says in the text, the nature of a devotee is to consistently apply your mind, your energy, your words, your ears, etc., in hearing and chanting about Krsna. This is called Krsna consciousness, and to one who is absorbed in hearing and chanting about Krsna, the issue never becomes trite or old. In this statement we can see how Vidura was interested in knowing the details of the pastimes of Lord Kapila and his devotees. Srila Prabhupada explains that the important topics have this contrast material issues. Materials issues become stale, and no one can hear a particular topic for a long time, a change is needed. But when it comes to the transcendental subject, is called Nitya-Navyamana, which means you can continue singing and listening and never feel tired, rather, it will stay fresh and eager to hear more and more. 

In the SB (3.20.6) tells Saunaka Rsi Suta Goswami: Oh, Suta Gosvami !, all good fortune be with you! Please nárranos activities of the Lord, which are completely magnanimous and worthy of glorification. What kind of devotee should feel full of nectarine pastimes of the Lord? We see this same mood in Sri Vidura when Maitreya Rsi Question by topic. 

In the Bhagavad Gita (4.34) Srila Prabhupada explains the qualities required for a disciple: ask questions, be submissive and serve, the combination of these three qualities one can make spiritual realization. When the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect. Here we can see the example in Sri Vidura addresses Maitreya Rsi. Likewise, when the spiritual master is pleased, blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding, then we see that the secret is to please the bona fide spiritual master. 

Sri Devahuti, Kardama Muni's wife was a princess who had the same innumerable virtues and perfections yogic her husband. One of the mystic perfections of Kardama was that he could understand the feelings, because he could study the heart of anyone. Refers to the wise Vidura Kardama Muni as a great yogi and Devahuti that was equipped with eight yogic perfections. In the third canto of Srimad Bhagavatam (3.21.15) Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport about the need for husband and wife have equal and similar natures provisions because they will be happy to join. Kardama Muni and Devahuti are the perfect example. 

SB 3.21.5 - 

Oh, tell me how holy sage !, generated Ruci adorable children and Daksha, son of Brahma, after obtaining the other two wives daughters Svāyambhuva Manu. 

Comments: 

In the fourth canto of SB (1.1) Srila Prabhupada explains that Svayambhuva Manu was the son of Brahma. Brahma had many more children, but the name of Manu is especially mentioned first because he was a great devotee of the Lord. Manu was a prajapati Svayambhuva, who's mission is to bear children; one following the instruction of Brahma, developed this manifested universe. 

He had three daughters: Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. Devahuti married Kardama Muni as her husband, took Akuti Ruci and Prasuti Daksa. Manu Svayambhuva addition to the three daughters mentioned, also had two children. It is an example to see how Manu did his duty by marrying their daughters with suitable husbands at the right age. 

SB 3.21.6 - 

  The great saint Maitreya replied: Appointed by Lord Brahma to populate worlds with their descendants, the lovable Kardama Muni practiced penance on the banks of Sarasvati River for ten thousand years. 

Comments: 

Four Eras that rotate as the seasons, these are: 

-Satya Yuga, the golden era, where life lasted 100,000 years. Meditation is practiced to develop love for Krsna. 

-tetra Yuga, the age of silver, where life lasted 10,000 years. 

-Dvapara Yuga, the age of copper, where life lasted 1000 years. 

Kali Yuga, the age of iron, the current era, where life lasts 100 years and even that at present, is very little. This was the only way to achieve pure love of Krsna is the chanting of His holy names, Hare Krishna maha mantra. 

As the verse says: 

harer nama nama harer 

harer namaiva kevalam 

kalau nasty eva nasty eva 

gatir nasty eva anyatha 

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. No other way. No other way. There is no other way "(Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126). 

In Satya yuga practiced meditation to reach awaken pure love for Krsna. As the era lasted 100,000 years, it is understood that Kardama Muni practiced penance for ten thousand years of the 100,000 years that lasted a life in that era. He is said, practiced his penance on the banks of River Sarasvati. The sacred rivers are ideal places where sages performed austerities because when bathing them, purify us from all past sinful activities. In the mantra: Gange ca yamune caiva, godavari sarasvati narmade sindho kaveri yale sanidhim Kurum smin, using the second initiation devotees to convert ordinary water into water of Ganges, the most important sacred rivers are named: Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, and Kaveri Sindho. Therefore the Sarasvati River there since that time and is considered a holy river. 

Dear Gurudev, I have a question here. I have understood that the worship of the deity and the realization of sacrificial ceremonies were methods to achieve pure love of Krsna, but I could not find that it was practiced each of these, which was practiced in Tetra yuga and Dvapara Yuga . Please could we indicate this? 

ASA - Fire Sacrifice in Treta yuga and Deity worship is for Dvapara yuga, but if we become purified by Hari-nama Sankirtan we can do both even in the Kali yuga!

I thank Him for His help and ask for His blessings continue these comentarios.Si you see any errors on them, please correct me can I ask in order to better understand the meanings of Srila Prabhupada. 

Thank you very much for your loving support and understanding. 

Trying to be your servant: Radha dd jalpa prati japa.

ASA - These are very purifying for us. Maybe you can involve more people in the discussion, reading. We are sure to have incredible results from doing this. Our respects to Swami Franco!