Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja!

Please accept these respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I'm still processing our week with you in Boise and my time with you in Houston. Intense purification and Fun.

Thank you for this perspective on the Trnvarta pastime song. Indeed the traveling minstrel, the observer is the perfect and natural archetype to merge into for singing these folk songs...And so fascinating, the aesthetic difference between Dvaraka /Mathura and Vraja. I’ve always loved simple folk music(American and Peruvian). But also have some appreciation for the sophistication of orchestra music and the English gardens. Being in Radha Nilamadhava Dham was refreshing and deeply inspiring.

While I was there I had a really nice conversation about temple presidency with Saranga Thakur Prabhu after the boat ceremony. He said 50 percent of the job is knowing how to take criticism and then he said Jaya Krishna Prabhu after so many years of this service said it’s actually more like 75 percent of the job.

So I’ve been thinking a lot about what is criticism. Of course we should be focusing on our own shortcomings and how to improve, more than on others. But then if you are in a managerial position it seems like that has to intensify(fixing yourself up) and so this is why the purificatory process speeds up? Extra mercy may be given? And can a neophyte devotee give auspicious criticism (three fold) according to Bhativinoda Thakur’s definition of that term?

One little/big improvement: We are finally starting to play nice mellow kirtan/bajans on our speakers at the perfect volume during the Sunday Feast while devotees take Prasadam. After wanting to do this for so long and hearing it from you so many times..something finally clicked. Little steps in the right direction but seeing big improvements and nice steady momentum in New Biharvan Dham.

Slowly but surely my service here is feeling like a personal project. Thinking of it like this is helpful, Maharaja. Like a song or a play..I’m wrapping my head around your instruction and wanting to take it to heart. Personal projects can be collaborative. The rugged individualist and isolationist in me kicks and screams sometimes but I may have him under control. He’s a lonely simple guy that is ultimately looking for something more. Not satisfied.

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. Achintya bheda abheda tattva, dictates that as we develop our own unique character, we realize how it is properly, proportionally, and eternally connected to our society.

you have to play your instrument in the band, but you realize so much of it in terms of the performance of the whole band.

Maharaja, can gandharva’s or angels help with management just like they help with creative projects?

HpS - I guess, so? I think Krsna takes more responsibility in inspiration for management.

Relationships between devotees doing service at the temple are getting stronger/deeper. It seems like Radha Bankibihari are in control. Supreme disrupters and mischief makers, always looking for a good time at any cost.

Carl Jung’s ideas on the psychology of addiction has been such a helpful barometer and jumping off point when talking with new comers and in our own self analysis. And I keep thinking it is by your mercy that we have this wonderful bridge. And specifically a great connection to NOI.

More news to share soon. Until then we will be chanting japa with you, for you and because of you..and taking part in the morning Houston SB classes on YouTube in addition to our own KRSNA Book reading..

All the very best with your Janmashtami celebration! Thank you, Gurumaharaja.

your aspiring servant,

Nitisara das

HpS - We take criticism in terms of NOI 4, 5 and 6.

Then we ask ourselves if it is really letting us see things that we need to improve?

Maybe we are not even the target. Maybe the people crticizing us are just projecting there enemies of torture victims on us because of our social role or other things. then we see their emotional, psychological and spiritual problems as we avoid the assault and take helping them as our service.

Hmmm! 🙂

Thank you for our association!!!!!!

We hope Boise becomes very ISKCON conscious.