Hare Krsna Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Maharaj, we feel very fortunate that you asked for more news. More news from a devotee stunt lady who is now totally sick with a unending 2 week bronchital cough... possibly due to trying to perform too many 'show bottle' devotee type of stunts??
I really like Srila Prabhupada's show bottle analogy: we seem to have a recurring dialogue with our ego who needs to feel like a praised humanitarian and our spiritual intelligence that says we should work on gaining more sincerity and humility. Please advice Guru Maharaj.
HpS - ASA - AgtSP! paoho..... A "Praised humanitarian"? Hmmm.... what about the cats and dogs? We don't know details, but sounds like the Witch is torturing with the same magic she caught Adam (of Eve) and Bharata Maharaja. BG . 5.29. Not the Supreme Owner. Not the Supreme Enjoyer, but . . . Kama-gayatri Devi Dasi, the Supreme Friend!
If that is the disease, then the cure is to think that you are not the Supreme Friend. You have to get out of His way and let humans and animals and ... bask in His sun-shine. You have to direct to Him and act as a proper post-man!
We hope your health is doing well for travels. Will we be celebrating your Vyasa Puja in Boise? We were trying to look for a date.
HpS - ASA - We will be in Nashville. It will be 23rd December. On line 6.30 - 8.30PM. Look for details in the forthcoming Kapi Dhvaja ja ja!
Excerpts from last letter. Thankyou for the reply!
I pray for it, but I am still so distracted.
HpS - The Gopis didn't know how to read and write, Nanda Maharaja didn't know how. He would hire some educated fool to do it for him. They would watch puppet shows about these things andd understand it all. Hour in the morning, hour in the evening. One standard. That can some with Aja, some with devotees. Some before breakfast.
How to eat better? Experiment with different diets.
>>>Our new update Maharaj is we are making some adjustments and definitely strive to be chanting, doing mangal for Brahma Muhurta time: 6:15 to 7:45 here. Struggles on days we slack: sickness/toddler up all night coughing. Devotee classes starting at 7:45-8 daily and ending at 9. We leave at 9 but it might be best to just listen to lecture at home. Classes are very late here.
I am now about to start my internship as well as a class on Evidence based counseling to finish my degree. Part of me does not even want to finish school (Haha, silly, I know!!) because I am already very busy with teaching 25 hours a week and keeping up with my sadhana and Aja. I am incredibly scared that I will lose my sadhana and service if I take this on. Let me know if you have any advice!
HpS - Everything you do, if you don't chant 16-enthusiastic rounds daily and follow the four principles strictly will just be a source of great wailing and lamentation at the time of your death. You were so close to going back to Krsna in your last lifetime, but you didn't follow these principles and you messed it all and took birth again . and again . and again. You were a great Baron in you last life and Nick was a rival Prince, and Aja his son. You were not fair with them and they have come back to get their revenge. We told you this last lifetime but you didn't take it seriously and made your own priorities for success rather than doing your part and messed up your own material and spiritual success as well as everybody elses, maybe.
HpS - Of course, don't do anything that doesn't first INCREASE your attachment to Japa-vraja and 4-principles and Full Morning Program. Krsna will send the Prasad if you do that.
>>>Maybe Krsna is making arrangements for us to not do the internship (our internship just magically fell through the last minute). We do have a HUMUNGOUS student loan though. So trying to get this paid off and being able to make more lakshmi will enable us to work part time with a higher paying job and spend half of our time doing sankirtan activities (helping with the school, preaching center, etc.) We are not sure if our logic is correct, but we hope that being materially better situated will increase our attachment.
HpS - Ask a lot of people for advice on how to make a practical balance. Rounds, principles first thennnnnn you will have gud inteligentz!
Another bit of news is we have been very involved in trying to resurrect, renovate, and now hold preaching programs at My Sweet Lord Cafe. Lots of insightful dialogues with great devotees such as Sadhu and Sudhevi, Mahat Tattva in San Diego on how to run a preaching center that appeals to the 21st century American. Our team is composed of a lot of smart Microsoft Indian intellectual preachers, so a crash course from Mahat Tattva on how to preach logically and universally and NONJUDGMENTALLY has been very helpful. Working with those senior to me and with the authorities here, I am trying to contantly reiterate your advice Maharaj of "understanding my position" so I do not step on any toes but also inspire. We have our first kirtan, vegetarian feast this Saturday at MSL! I made a flyer. But so much coordination is needed so it doesnt look like a train wreck (nice kirtaniyas, nice 15 minute discussion, no in your face preacher fanatics). Also, this is a big commitment since it should be a weekly program not just a monthly one. Feeling like the lone Joan of Arc in the crowd! I know my awkward ashram position may be a reason why trying to organize these programs with this team feels strange. It most definitely is keeping my active mind very creatively engaged though. Please let me know if you have any comments/advice.
My unending gratitude for the shelter you and Srila Prabhupada have given to us all. I read some of my past letters from four years ago. So, so much tolerance you have given.
Your aspring servant,
Kamagayatri dd
Get up early and get your rounds done (enthusiastically), then Krsna can do the magic!