Hello gurumaharaja, Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
 

In response to your reply to my letter, sorry that you have to explain again how things work in ISKCON, it could have given a bad impression from my side. Not that i don't know these things, but i have understood from our personal conversation at the time that after six months we would be okay. This is what i've been keeping in mind all the time and what's been my inspiration. That's why i was waiting for your visit to Radhadesh, early 2013. Sadhana wise, not much change. Sure, i am up to date with chanting a minimum of sixteen rounds daily,  after i picked it up again last april, and i've followed the four regulations strictly. I take part in (temple) programs at least once a week. I'm already almost a pure devotee (wink). Getting up at brahma muhurta is fluctuating, but GUERD is my motto. Therefore i was a bit upset at first to read your response, because i have been looking forward to it, and have meditated on it on a daily basis.

So, my apologies for this misunderstanding. I was thinking about this development, what to do? I am but a puppet, grumbling. Frankly, it impresses me as somewhat unpractical, we coming to Radhadesh during a short symposium in may when there's two weeks time in februari, but i was thinking, as an alternative, perhaps in may we can do a honeymoon to Spain, New Vraja Mandala. Still, i hope for february, financially that is certainly a lot more secure for us.

I wish you a good time in your writing marathon, good health, and i hope to have the chance to meet you and the other devotees at Japa Joe's.

Signed,
an inspiring devotee.

           HpS - ASA -  AGTSP!!!  paoho.   This Guru-Disciple thing is very individual in many ways. Some are more strict on the exact dates, some are less strict, some preach more strict but are less strict...   We are kind of bull headed about the basic stuff and more intuitive about other stuff.
You may have seen another letter with this same situation. It is common, but it is good.  The marriage has certain ritual actions and words, but those are authorized and then the relationship is a personal contract between God and (wo)men.
Your going to chant for the rest of your life, so what difference does some formality mean?

This Brahma-muhurta thing, up and chanting 96-48 minutes before dawn is ESSENTIAL in our discipline. Basically we won't be chanting ENTHUSIASTIC rounds without it.  Then after five years you will be depressed because of the lack of progress and then you will give up altogether. We have seen it so often.
Yes, Spain, may be the best option. If you are fixed in the Sadhana for a year then Spain would be VERY nice place for initiation!

What ya think?