2012 Letters

Nothing is Gained Without Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (06/26/12) Dear J____, The word 'kleśo' (kleśa) in Verse Five, meaning with difficulty or trouble. refers to the impersonal path. That path is very troublesome and the fruits are temporary because even after merging into Brahman the living entity has to again take birth in the material world. Because the path is difficult Read more...

Karma and Kṣatriyas (06/17/12) Dear J___, Answers below. Q. The example is given that a soldier is not liable for actions committed under orders from a superior officer. Is the same true of an employee and employer? Answer: That means a soldier under a kṣatriya who is protecting dharma. Not a soldier in an invading army who is killing Read more...

Kṛṣṇa Will Fulfill All Your Desires to Serve Him (06/07/12) My Dear I____ Dāsa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. I am very happy to receive your email. Your working and business plan is good. I like it. Also very important to be in association with Kṛṣṇa’s devotees as much as possible. And it is also very important to come to India for Read more...

Yogamāyā and Balarāma (05/29/12) Dear P____, Hare Kṛṣṇa. I am happy to receive your question about Yogamāyā. Kṛṣṇa has three principle energies; internal, external and marginal. Indeed, Yogamāyā is from the internal energy, certainly not the external or marginal energies, but it is not as simple as all that. Balarāma is generally considered the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa and Read more...

Rules for Kīrtana (05/28/12) Dear J_____, Encouraging people to chant is all auspicious. If on beads, they should purchase them. Japa beads are not to be given free except to disciples. Kīrtana should be led by those who have a proper conception of who Kṛṣṇa is. Hindu kīrtana and sahajiyā kīrtana are mundane, or nāmābhāsa at best. At worst Read more...

A Sensitive Subject (05/26/12) Dear S____, NO, I would not suggest writing B____ in that way. He very easily misunderstands words in black and white when the personal expression and feeling can not be easily understood. It could lead to just another exchange of misunderstood statements. You do however have my permission to take up the matter directly with Read more...

Selling Prasādam (05/26/12) Dear J_____, Actually your idea is good for a food product, but not for prasādam, because, real prasādam can only be sold by a Temple directly to those who will take it knowing that it is prasādam, and when the profits go directly to the Deity. That is a very important to understand. When it is Read more...

Service is Rare (05/21/12) Dear S______, I read your email and noted everything. Yes, you can continue your translation and other service at Govindajī Gardens. Service is a rare opportunity for the living entity here in the material world. Therefore we should take all service opportunities very seriously. Kṛṣṇa is watching and he wants to see how sincere we Read more...

Intelligence is limited (05/20/12) Dear J____, As always your questions are very nice and very fresh. Here is a quote from Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja on the subject. "It is a very intricate question—troublesome, intricate and puzzling question. The nature of too much discussion may oppose faith. Ultimately everything is adhokṣaja. Kṛṣṇa, Nārāyaṇa, that is adhokṣaja. We must have some Read more...

Stick to the Plan (05/17/12) Daṇḍavats Swami, I think you and I may have argued on this anādi point back in 1996 when you were visiting Govindajī Gardens. I have never been one to appreciate the stance of S_____ on anadi that first appeared in "Not Even the Leaves Fall From Vaikuṇṭha". Nor do I appreciate that of other Read more...