Dear Gaura Das and Jamuna dd and Premanjali,

Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!,

Thank you for your frank presentation of your situation.

Over the last few years I have gradually realised that in Africa (like in the West), it is the Grihastha couples who will be the main frontline preachers. I have been encouraging African couples to preach and have been assisting them with funds also . THE RESULTS ARE VERY ENCOURAGING .In Africa it is almost unheard of not to be married. People naturally feel sociable and receptive in a warm devotee family atmosphere. This was frequently emphasised by Gurudas, Yamuna, Shyamasundara and Malati at the recent 40th Anniversary Celebrations in London. This warm friendly family atmosphere attracted George Harisson so much and  look what happened! All you need is Love! Of course that love was Prabhupada's blessings. We felt him as our loving father and he actually was because he loved Krishna.

So I would like to offer a humble donation to help you get settled in your own place in a good preaching location. I feel that other ISKCON leaders may also like to chip in to help you get on the front lines of African preaching. With your mixed marriage in some respects you are now in a good social position for doing this.

So please tell me how much the deposit/rent would cost for a reasonably modest preaching centre in what you think will be a good area. Please tell me the area details too. You say you can maintain the rest on book distribution. I agree, you should not be over dependant on a handout. But on the other hand why should you have to get a karmi job and waste your precious time like that in unfavourable association when you can be telling others about Krishna. When I hear what the amount is and see the response from others I can think about what I should offer you.

Let's see what we can raise to help you young grihasthas have a good chance to be effective in breaking new ground in preaching especially to the black bodied souls in South Africa.

Thank you for having continued faith in our friendship,

Love,

Your Wellwishing,

Mahavishnu Swami

Dear Maharaj's and Prabhus.

Please accept my most humble obeiscances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Guru Gauranga Jayate.

I am writing this letter and sending it to many Vaisnavas whom I consider to be my siksa Guru's...those persons that I trust and have faith in. Please excuse me for not writing to each of you individually. I hope that you will be merciful and instruct me.

I am in a real state of frustration. For the past many months I have been living with Jamuna at my parents house. We are not really financially independent and so they are kindly supporting us. This is frustrating and depressing. Unfortunately I have been conditioned to a life of dependence, but now being out of the temple I am struggling to support my little family.

It is Krsna's mercy that at least we do have some support, but the feeling of being a dependant while I am supposed to be a provider is getting to me. I have tried several jobs and am still hunting; I tried working at my dad's factory, at Arjuna Das' real estate agency, and I have been hunting for a job like that which Mayapur Candra Prabhu is doing (Organic food gardening), I also tried to get a job at a vegetarian restaraunt. Somehow none of these proved to be succesful and the only source of income I have at present is book distribution, which is also a source of inspiration for me.

I have been contemplating the idea of renting a small place in Hillcrest/Shongweni where Jamuna, Premanjali and I can live. I plan to carry on with book distribution and the Mantra Meditation sessions there. Cooking demos and other things are also possible using the facility I was last year and eventually I am hoping that it can turn into a new ISKCON centre. This is my ardent desire.

In my state of frustration here in JHB I have been struggling, feeling depressed  and on top of everything is causing me some despondency and feelings of insecurity...low self esteem.


Somehow by Krsna's grace our health and sadhana is reasonably well, Tulsi Rani is flourishing here and Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Lady Subhadra have graced our small ashram. Reading Caitanya Bhagavat is a great source of pleasure, but we are missing the Vaisnavas and Kirtan.

Please be merciful,

Your struggling servant

Gaura dasa