All Glories to Sri Sri Goura Nitay,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada,
All glories to Guru Maharaja Bhakti Bhusana Swami,
ASA - Jaya!
All Glories to Hanumat Presaka Swami. Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances.
ASA - Paoho....
It has been a while since I had the idea to write to you… My main motivation is to thank you for allowing me to participate in your morning program group and I would also like to offer Krishna some service by serving you, if you allow me to do so… of course.
Maybe you can find a service that can match my profile. Even if I have lots of Anarthas and I am not a great devotee,
I really feel inspired by your example and of course the debt will never be paid.
It would be impossible to reciprocate, but serving you is an idea that comes to my mind every day during the morning program… As I am not your disciple, I don’t know how I could do it, but at least I have the desire in my heart….
HpS - I like Bh. Bhusana Swami a lot. I empathize with his mood, mode, a lot, like Bhanu Swami and others. So, your service to Maharaja is already service to us.
If you can help The Abhirama Thakura Das with Solaris that would be nice!
It seems to me that the right thing to do is to introduce myself first. So here I go… I am a Bhakti Bhusana Swami disciple. I have been participating in the ISKCON movement for 12 years approx. I took my vows 2 years ago (1st initiation: Santiago, July 7th 2018). I was born in Bogota, Colombia and I have been living in Santiago, Chile for the past 20 years. I live alone and I have a job I like (international commerce and logistics in a multinational company –Headquarters in Germany). This job allows me to organize my life in a good way without depending on anyone except on Krishna and to be able to contribute to the temple needs.
I chant 16 rounds (to chant GOOD rounds, concentrated is my main challenge). I follow the 4 principles. Before the lockdown I had a fix service at the Iskcon Temple in Santiago. (Cooking for the Deities every Sunday: 1st offering in the morning).
I have been leading a Bhakti Vriksa program for the last 8 years. (Until the lockdown. Afterwards, we have tried to keep on meeting on line, but now there are so many nice activities with the different spiritual masters, that all of us privileged those meetings). I have never had any responsibility position at Iskcon.
ASA - Every position in ISKCON is a 'responsible position'!!!! Jaya!
My Sadhana has improved, mainly after I could join your gotomeeting group. I really appreciate your kindness to let me participate into this group.
HPS - If we did not have the association of the people in the group we would not only be animals we would big, bad animals!
I take advantage to apologize for any offense I could have done there. I worship Sri Sri Goura Nitay Deities and a Tulasi plant at home (I live just across the temple which allows me to have close contact with the temple residents). I finished the Bhakti Sastri course and the Bhakti vaibhava one until the 4th Canto with Param Padam Prabhu. I have not taken any of the tests yet.
I studied Ayurveda last year at a yoga academy (I have not taken the final test). I have also tried to learn some palm reading lately (after the lockdown) with videos on youtube.
I graduated from the National University of Colombia (Filology and languages) and I fluently speak some languages. I was thinking it could be useful for some service, taking into account what Tapan Misra Das Prabhu (Iskcon Education Ministry) said today in his presentation at the Symposium (2nd session day 2) in the sense that translating some learning materials would be useful: I speak Spanish (native language) English B2 level and French B2 level (95% DELF Diploma) (As per the European Union proficiency levels).
After the Symposium and while listening to your students presentations I really got motivated to keep on learning, and maybe to finally take the exams (I have not done it yet because I am not very good at memorizing verses).
HpS - We memorize them if we use them!
I have given some classes at the temple (BG, SB and CC classes). I plan to buy the Bhakti Vaibhava books on amazon as they said today on the symposium. It seems Iskcon gives the students some credits that can be kept on record. Do you think I could join any of your courses? Please…
HpS - ASA does not have any BOEX accredited courses yet. We try to keep our info on this stuff in the Kapi Dhvaja. COmments on it are so useful.
As per what I understood from the symposium, the on line courses are ok, but Iskcon leadership + headquarters seem afraid of being able to pass the vedic knowledge but not the vaisnava qualities/way of being.
ASA - It is one challenge. Another is to communicate to Devotees that the Titles are not a 100% certification of spiritual character developement!
In your opinion, should I wait for a Bhakti Vaibhava course in Latin America to arrive to the 4th canto and continue from there? Or should I study an on line course abroad as they one in India they presented today? (I was not able to ask if it was a course only for men… no women on the pictures…)
HpS - Vidya-pitta residence is 99% brahmacari course. I recommend getting a study partner. Joining some regular Sanga. Maybe our morning program and then working to adjust it to your needs! Suggest how our program can be improved.
I bought the Caitanya Caritamrita books and recordings last time I went to India on March 2017 and since then this is what I read (and listen to) the most, almost every day. I really love it and I have this dream of doing a small Caitanya Caritamrta reading group in Santiago.
ASA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow
Joining with some neighbor devotees and some temple residents. I have listened to the Caitanya Bhagavata as well (only recordings as I do not have the book).
Maharaja, any service I can do for you is also to please Krishna and my Guru Maharaja Bhakti Bushana Swami. I would be glad if I can serve you in any way you decide. If there is not any particular service to do, I will also fully understand.
I will be more than happy to have an answer from you, but if it is not possible, I also understand that you are a very busy person.
HpS - Yes, try an help (the sometimes confused) Abhirama Thakura Das with Solaris. You can develope as you like!
