Tattva-viveka
Vyasa Puja Offerings
Gopakumardas - February 8, 2005 4:46 pm
Dear friends and siblings,
It is that time of year again when we get the chance to make a written offering to our Gurudeva for his Vyasa Puja. We have started a tradition of posting the offerings on a webpage designed for him by one of our godbrothers Baladeva prabhu in Los Angeles. Every year Guru Maharaja enjoys reading these offerings very much.
These written offerings can range from short one paragraph statements which are simple and sweet to long compositions in sanskrit. I know in the past Guru Maharaja has stated that he especially enjoys those offerings which are well thought out and express what a devotee has learned in this year. Other people may have some other insights and guidelines to offer the group. My request is that everyone please write something to offer him. Please remind each other about this so that we can have the most offerings this year then we have ever had. If you know a devotee who is on Tattva Viveka but has not signed on for some time, please write or call him/her to let them know about this opportunity.
Please send your offerings to me at:
Gopakumardas@aol.com
I would like to recieve these offerings by the first week of March,
Saturday March the 5th.
I Look forward to receiving them. Since Guru Maharaja's Vyasa Puja coincides with the weekend of Gaura Purnima maybe Vrindaranya or someone else can make a statement about the planned festivities?
Please note this topic number was #108!!!
with affection,
Gopa
Gopakumardas - February 9, 2005 6:25 pm
I really want to keep this topic on the front page. Please don't forget to remind each other!
Gopakumardas - February 9, 2005 11:07 pm
Keeping it new!
Shyam Gopal Das - February 10, 2005 4:27 pm
Thanks for keeping it fresh. I missed this post at first.
Gopakumardas - February 10, 2005 5:19 pm
Sorry to cover the Happy Birthday Eija. I do wish you well.
Gopakumardas - February 12, 2005 3:27 am
Vyasa puja ki jaya
Rama-priya - February 12, 2005 7:38 am
Thank You for Your care and reminder. 
Guru Maharaja ki Jay!
Gopakumardas - February 14, 2005 4:48 pm
Did you each email someone on the site that you know to remind them of this? Please do this now if you can.
Nanda-tanuja Dasa - February 15, 2005 10:02 pm
Dear Gopa,
It would be great if you start posting the list of people who already submitted the offering, so they know that you've received it and everything is fine.
Thanks!
Babhru Das - February 15, 2005 11:45 pm
That would also keep the topic bumped up to the top, which would help remind the rest of us.
Gopakumardas - February 17, 2005 12:50 am
don't forget guys...
Gopakumardas - February 22, 2005 4:37 pm
Only a couple of weeks left....
Jagannatha - February 22, 2005 7:33 pm
Gopakumar, please excuse my ignorance, but I'm wondering if offerings are made only by disciples of Swami Tripurari or by others as well?
Jason - February 23, 2005 8:18 am
I'm curious about the above question as well?
thank you,
Jason
Babhru Das - February 23, 2005 5:02 pm
These questions are a good way to keep bumping the topic up. My experience is that offerings are welcome from all of us who appreciate Tripurari Maharaja's service to our guru varga and the inspiration and service he gives us. I've seen offerings from his Godbrothers and sisters, uninitiated aspirants for initiation, and from those who appreciate his service, regardless of any affiliation.
Swami seems to appreciate the offerings, and the rest of us find them inspiring, too.
Narada-kunda Dasi - February 24, 2005 6:03 pm
Any advice on writer's block? So hard to put feelings into words, at least for me... I would like to write an offering but find myself kind of dumbstruck.
It must be due to offenses and stoneheartedness. If I have made anyone feel bad in any way, please forgive me, and bless me that I may become pleasing to devotees...
your servant,
naradakunda
Mathura-natha Das - February 24, 2005 6:13 pm
Narada-kunda dasi,
Well I think that you have a good base in your own post! Just elaborate more and you truly have a beautifull offering for Guru Maharaj! I have to admit though that it's hard to express your heart, but atleast we MUST do something even if it's just a couple of lines. I'm not a writer or a poet of anykind, but whatever I have I want to give it to GM.
Babhru Das - February 24, 2005 6:48 pm
Any advice on writer's block? So hard to put feelings into words, at least for me...
Writing can be one of the hardest things we do, and sharing our writing, especially about such an essential and intimate topic as guru, can be daunting. But writing is also a way to explore our understanding of things we find important. Srila Prabhupada suggested that we write, even if a little, every day as part of the process of assimilating what we hear.
As for writer's block, poet William Stafford suggests lowering our standards, at least to get started. Then we can refine each text in subsequent drafts until it's something we're happy to share (or the deadline comes!).
Kalpavrksa Das - February 24, 2005 6:51 pm
Here is last years offering page for anyone who would like to see what others have written. Viewing others sentiments often helps me to unlock my own.
Rama-priya - February 27, 2005 8:51 am
Any advice on writer's block? So hard to put feelings into words, at least for me... I would like to write an offering but find myself kind of dumbstruck.It must be due to offenses and stoneheartedness. If I have made anyone feel bad in any way, please forgive me, and bless me that I may become pleasing to devotees...
your servant,
naradakunda
It is true, that it is very difficult and hard to express one's feelings, but we should try to do it, the best as we can. It is one of the way how we can please Guru and I'm sure that with mercy Guru and Krishna You will find words, which express Your feeligs to Sri Guru.
Bhrigu - February 28, 2005 8:42 am
Any advice on writer's block?
One thing that has helped me several times is to just start writing something. Starting is always the most difficult part for me. There is nothing as depressing and frightening as a completely blank screen! You can then go back and revise your text afterwards, as Babhru pointed out.
Nanda-tanuja Dasa - February 28, 2005 9:12 am
Think of it as a love letter which will not be laughed at or rejected. Just think about your feelings, explore them. How do you feel towards him? Why? What does he mean to you? And then just write it down. That’s all. These things cannot be forced. Don’t give up, it will come to you.
Shyam Gopal Das - March 2, 2005 3:15 pm
In an attempt to keep this topic up, I was looking at the exact date of Guru Maharaj vyasa puja and noticed the Audarya schedule topic. I saw that Vyasa Puja is on the 25th and Gaura Purnima on the 26th of March. I'm not trying to find fault, but both my calenders say Gaura Purnima is on the 25th. So I'm once again wondering about which dates to follow. Anyone any advice?
Gopakumardas - March 2, 2005 5:08 pm
This is the last week. I need everyone to please write and send in your Vyasa Puja offerings this week. I will begin reviewing them tomorrow.
Send Vyasa puja offerings to:
Gopakumardas@aol.com
send questions to:
bhaktaboy@yahoo.com
Narada-kunda Dasi - March 7, 2005 6:13 pm
I just managed to send a (belated) offering by the mercy of the devotees (finally logging in after ten days -- a veritable conspiracy of opposing circumstances!). Thank you everyone for your sweet and helpful words. I don't know if my offering is too late or not, but I feel happy nevertheless... 
Babhru Das - March 7, 2005 6:16 pm
As everyone who's on the TV mailing list now knows, I'm also behind. (I meant to send my appeal to Gopa in the shadows, as an individual e-mail, but Fate saw fit to "out" me.) I just hope that he's still working on the others and will be a little mreciful when mine comes in later today or tomorrow.
Vamsidhari Dasa - March 12, 2005 6:03 am
Any advice on writer's block? So hard to put feelings into words, at least for me... I would like to write an offering but find myself kind of dumbstruck.It must be due to offenses and stoneheartedness.
Rather then due to offenses you can think of this as being due to the fact that the most beautiful things are hard to say.
Vamsidhari 
Swami - March 13, 2005 11:55 pm
In an attempt to keep this topic up, I was looking at the exact date of Guru Maharaj vyasa puja and noticed the Audarya schedule topic. I saw that Vyasa Puja is on the 25th and Gaura Purnima on the 26th of March. I'm not trying to find fault, but both my calenders say Gaura Purnima is on the 25th. So I'm once again wondering about which dates to follow. Anyone any advice?
The actual dates are the 24th and 25th, but we are celebrating here on the 25th and 26th so that working devotees can attend over the weekend.