2013 Letters

Dreams and the ‘Silver Cord’ (07/01/13) The fact is that dreams are of little or rather NO concern in bhakti. Yes, sometimes dreams are part of a sādhu's life when he dreams of guru or Kṛṣṇa or Mahāprabhu etc. But how dreams happen…the silver cord, no cord or whatever, are of no concern. The ‘silver cord thing’ is either Read more...

Are They Fools, Idiots or Unfortunate? (07/01/13) _____ wrote me an email. I was expecting that he might have something worthwhile to say, but it appears that even after a lifetime, he and others like him, cannot approach the meaning or essence of pure devotion. I replied to his email simply by saying, "Sorry I cannot help you about Read more...

Regain Your Normal Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (06/16/13) Dear ______, Unfortunately, I cannot report that all is well in _______. On the contrary, things could not be worse. I think this should come as no surprise to you. The devotees here (more than half) are on the verge of leaving and the straightforward reason that they give me is that you Read more...

They Have No Understanding of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (06/14/13) _______ and a select committee of born again Iskconers are propagating that Śrīla Prabhupāda is/was the 5th Sampradāya-ācārya. These people have no understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness whatsoever. I may write an article "5th Sampradāya or Apa-sampradāya" but I want to see them make their final proclamation first. Then they are thoroughly Read more...

Please Spare Me the Vomit (06/12/13) Dear _______Prabhu, Here is my final statement. I have kept my eye on Iskcon for a long time and their philosophical position worsens by the year. There is not even one tattva of Gauḍīya-siddhānta that Iskcon leaders understand completely or correctly. They may have a partial understanding of a tattva, but not a Read more...

Instructions on Kīrtana and Prasādam (06/02/13) Dear _______ Dāsī, Nice report. The Holy Name is the center and the instruments are to accompany the kīrtana, not dominate. Chanting "oṁ namo bhāgavate vāsudevaya" is OK, but not always necessary. Let others read also. An initiated devotee is preferable to lead kīrtanas, but to encourage others, they may be asked to Read more...

Only a Handful of devotees are Willing to Dedicate Their Lives (05/27/13 Dear _____ Dāsa, Yes, its probably all true or at least most of it. Fortunately, I have been aware of this type of stuff my whole life. My father was military, my uncle FBI, my sisters husband CIA and my younger brother spent a lot of time Read more...

Gaṇeśa is not Necessary (05/25/13) No, Gaṇeśa doesn't belong on the altar. Altars are set up according to the paramparā system. Gaṇeśa is there in the greater picture as a devotee of Narasiṁhadeva, as a Demigod (the Lord of auspicious beginnings for students,etc.) and the remover of obstacles for devotees, but his image for more than a thousand years Read more...

Important Instructions (05/25/13) Listen and follow these instructions to the tee - Learn to think before you act. In bed by 10pm. No more chess online or otherwise. No watching movies, playing games or otherwise unrelated Kṛṣṇa conscious stuff online. Clean clothes always. Clean body always. Proper short hair cut and clean shaven. No flirting or idle talk with Read more...

Bulls are Not Pets! (05/23/13) Dear _______, Not an option! Bulls are not pets. Bulls need cows and an agitated bull is more dangerous than a dragon. We can talk more on the subject when I get to ______. SN