Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

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

HpS - AGTSP!!!

In relation to this reply from you in my previous letter, https://monkeywarrior.com/detail/11216/, I have asked the temple authorities for a recommendation letter for initiation and they have stipulated a few conditions that i need to satisfy before issuing the letter.

I have to serve the temple for a few months with their digital initiatives like Newsletters and quizzes and also attend the weekly bhakti vriksha program close to me.

I have been doing both for the last month or so and hopefully, i get the letter soon.

I have also been doing the disciple course and i am about 20% in. Will try to finish it soon, maharaj.

HpS - Very nice. I heard from Srila Prabhupada in the beginning when things for me seemed to face so many obstacles, that "in the beginning there may be obstacle in advancing in devotional service, but one should go ahead with enthusiasm." I did it! Fall down, get up, fall down, get up!! Make progress.

I also got Tulsi Maharani from the Dallas temple, when i was visiting my brother in May, maharaj and i have been taking care of her.

HpS - and She will take care of us!

I have been chanting 16 rounds and following the regulative principles, although i have missed completing my rounds a few days in between as work has been crazy maharaj. Have been working 12 and 14 hour days regularly for the last 4 weeks. I will definitely try to make up the missed rounds.

HpS - Keep account. Krsna will NEVER punish us for taking the time and strength to chant 16-good rounds. He will be able then to link us to material as well as spiritual success!

I need some advice, guru maharaj. My parents have started talking about getting me married in earnest and i would be grateful for some clarity on it maharaj. I don't want to get married. I was talking to my brother, Srinath and he says that if i don't want to get married, then i have to go to an ashram and live full time as a brahmachari. But i don't think i am ready for that too. So, i am kind of stuck in the middle where i don't want to marry and also not ready to completely leave material life and live in an ashram.

HpS - Living in an Ashrama can also be material life. Mayavadis are materialists and they live in Ashrama. Spritual life is chanting and dancing, even while you are at work. Fingers dance on the adding machine keys as yoiu make monery for Krsna.

Get married, go to the university. These are practical decisions. Go to war and try to kill people and not be killed also. So we give a little attention to them and make decision.

Maybe good to get married with a good person. Give you both stability in life. Maybe not.

Real thing is to focus on 1st intiation under authority of Srila Prabhupada, and then can make practical decisions about the other things.

Maybe tell you parents that Srila Prabhupada never suggested marriage before Hari-nama Diksa.

Thank you. Nice to hear from you.

I need some guidance on how to proceed on this, guru maharaj. I will take your words to heart and follow whatever you say.

Your Servant

Sriram