> Am I the only one who found it sad that Indrayumna Maharaja
> never answered his disciple's question? While it is
> understandable that some gurus may not have the time to answer
> every letter, that does not mean that they can't figure out
> some other way in which their disciples can get their
> questions answered. They can suggest that the disciple
> consult some other senior devotees, that they take a siksa
> guru, or they can set up a system from within their own group
> of disciples (e.g. let some of their own senior disciples
> answer certain kinds of questions from more jr disciples) to
> help care for each other.

It is true that younger devotees should get help from older
devotees and that's how it was in Srila Prabhupada's physical
presence.

Regarding directly asking the spiritual master questions, I had
so many questions I wanted to personally ask His Divine Grace
but I couldn't get a word in edge wise. Srila Prabhupada was too
busy expanding a worldwide movement. So what did I do?

Whenever I had questions I used to turn to Srila Prabhupada's
books, and almost every time my question was answered. One time
I just opened a book randomly with a burning question and there
on the opened page was the answer. Many, many other devotees
have had this experience. I felt happy looking for the answers
myself knowing that I was not disturbing His Divine Grace in his
mission with my trivial questions even though they meant so much
to me. Everything really is in Srila Prabhupada's books, tapes,
letters, and conversations. Srila Prabhupada's vani is an ocean
of mercy that can answer all our questions. And with folio you
can ask His Divine Grace a question and get an answer almost
immediately.

I believe Indradyumna Maharaja is doing what Srila Prabhupada
did and I can only pray for getting a drop of Maharaja's mercy.
Although Maharaja did not mention directly in his lecture about
taking help from senior godbrothers and godsisters his disciples
that I know do help each other.

> Maharaja spent the entire darsana on explaining why the
> disciple had unrealistic expectations, but not a moment trying
> to find out what the burning questions might have been, that
> led the disciple to speak up. Personally, I found that an
> example of poor listening skills.
>
> Sorry if my blunt owrds offended anyone. However, we need to
> increase the sense of personal caring in ISKCON, not make
> people feel badly for not acting in ways so "that the
> spiritual master will want to see the disciple". These kinds
> of exchanges are likely to lead to an increasing number of
> frustrated disciples who then go on to seek support elsewhere
> outside of ISKCON.
>
> Ys,
> Madhusudani dasi

I used to sense that Srila Prabhupada was personally caring for
his movement and therefore I thought let me not disturb him with
my personal question but rather let me research his vani and
find the answers for my self. It is a good healthy excercise
that only brings one closer to one's spiritual master.

ys

ada