SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM is very dear to all Vaisnavites and especially to the Vallabha and the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. The glories of Vrindaban and Mathura are magnified by these two Sampradayas and the undersigned as an humble servant of all Vaisnavas, has tried his best to render it into elaborate English version for its publicity all over the world. The first and second volumes of the publication are already out and there are still 58 fifty eight parts to be published to finish this mighty project.
Projects (Letters, 1964 - 1971)
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Letter to Mathura Prasad -- Vrindaban 23 May, 1964:
Srimad-Bhagavatam gives us practical solution for all the problems political social ideological philosophical cultural and transcendental knowledge for all human being. Srimad-Bhagavatam is meant for all human beings and it is the duty of the Hindus specially the Vaisnavas to disseminate the great knowledge throughout the whole world. With this purpose in view I have taken up the mighty project and I wish that you gentlemen cooperate with me fully. The cooperation is possible to be made either by life, wealth, intelligence or words. Every one has got some of the above assets of the above four principles if not at least one of them must we have and we can engage them in the service of the Lord.
Letter to Shastryji -- Unknown Place June 1964:
The whole thing is to be completed in sixty parts of 400 pages. It is a mighty project and I am doing it alone. Here with please find one picture & literature for the publication.
1966 Correspondence
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 18 March, 1966:
You will be pleased to know that I have improved my health to the normal and my missionary work is nicely progressing. I hope my project to start a Temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in New York will also be realized by the Grace of the Lord. Sir Padampat Singhania of Kanpur J.K. Organization, has kindly agreed to construct a nice Temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in New York. I am trying to solve the exchange problem by all means and I am seeing some light for this purpose also.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 27 April, 1966:
The Project for constructing a temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna is complete because Sir Padampat Singhania is ready to spend any amount of money for a nice architectural workmanship of Indian origin but our secular Government has officially denied the exchange. So I am trying to get the Exchange otherwise namely through the Salvation Army as also through the influence of a friend in India who can convince the Finance Minister or the President in this important task.
Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 16 July, 1966:
Regarding the temple project I have just received the reply from the Embassy of India in America as follows: (D/July 11, 1966) "Please refer to your application regarding release of foreign Exchange from the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Due to existing conditions of foreign exchange stringency, it is not possible for the Government of India to accede to your request for release of foreign exchange. You may perhaps you like to raise necessary funds from residents in America"
1967 Correspondence
Letter to Nripen Babu -- San Francisco 18 March, 1967:
Unfortunately a demonstration was made by one woman who made a great show by crying that Panchu has cheated her by Rs 800/-. This show of the woman and subsequent adverse letters by other envious persons marred the whole project. Since then I could understand that no improvement in the Radha Damodara Temple can be made under such condition. The cheating of Panchu by 800/ rupees was subsequently confirmed before me by one woman disciple of Gauracandra Gosain. I remained silent and this the first time I am disclosing the fact before you.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 13 April, 1967:
Residential quarters for students and others on terms of our rigidity is very good project. We should increase this project like Y.M.C.A. organization without any profit. We shall supply nice Prasadam at cheap rate and we shall give shelter to persons who will abide by our rules. That will help in increasing the numbers of devotees because they will attend our lectures and take our Prasadam and will have opportunity to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam etc. I think we should make an experiment of this project during the world Exposition.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 27 April, 1967:
Regarding Easy Journey to Other Planets if you like this book just edit it nicely and we shall get it printed here with addition of my chanting essay. Now I am trying for printing arrangement and this book also can be nicely printed provided you take charge of distribution. I am very much anxious for sale of my books. It has to be organized; please think over this matter. If the books are not properly sold how I can print so many books. Let Pradyumna help me in selling the books. If it is possible you can make Jagannatha statues in various sizes for sale and I approve this project. We have ordered for some Krishna pictures and they are also for sale.
Letter to Sripada Nripen Babu -- New York 27 April, 1967:
So far the land is concerned my society desires to construct a nice American house on the land for study and promulgation of the Goswami literatures all over the world. We shall start a fine press for publication both in Sanskrit and English language and we can appoint your son as the Press manager if he can manage. I wish I would have gone immediately to India but if I go just now the work here will suffer. So please be with me in this project as you have promised for the service of Srila Jiva Goswami. I think simply the land in Lotankunja will not be sufficient. I want other lands also on the northern side of my room as well as on the western side of the Temple. But rest assured if you can give us some land certainly a new chapter . . .
Letter to Rayarama -- Calcutta 15 November, 1967:
In the last paragraph of your letter of the 7th, you have mentioned very nobly that you can work with me on the project of Srimad-Bhagavatam and it will be a great success of my mission if we jointly finish up complete Bhagavatam published by MacMillan Co. The chance is there, let us carefully handle up the situation and as soon as I return to the States, we shall take up Srimad-Bhagavatam in the same Spirit as I have published First Canto. The MSS of Canto two & three is ready and if we jointly work on the other 9 cantos I shall feel very much obliged to you. If I can leave behind me the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Gita Upanisad, and Lord Caitanya's Teachings, & if you continue to work in the spirit of pure Krishna Consciousness, surely we shall be able to do some tangible service to Humanity at large. Hope you are well
1968 Correspondence
Letter to Hayagriva -- Montreal 14 July, 1968:
Of course, for a Sannyasi like us, we can live anywhere and everywhere, rather we should not have our own place. But for the New Vrindaban project, I would advise you to purchase land as much as you can because it appears that the atmosphere and situation is very nice there. Another thing, I shall not advise you to purchase horses for conveyance. It will be a botheration for you, because now you have not got sufficient assistance. If you keep horses you have to take care for them and for a little convenience of transportation, you have to take so much botheration to keep the horse fit.
Letter to Joy Fulcher -- Los Angeles 12 December, 1968:
With such an artist I can dictate stories for books about not only Krishna, but also Prahlad, Bhismadev, Queen Kunti, and many others from the Bhagavatam. If you can assist me in such a project when we are ready to begin it, then I think that you can come here to take direct instructions. So work hard to develop in this way and we shall see what happens as Krishna plans.
Letter to Uddhava -- Los Angeles 19 December, 1968:
So similarly, if we can get our books printed and cheaply and with no trouble of labor then it is an adequate arrangement. From the beginning Advaita and yourself have been very sincere and enthusiastic about this project but now I think we must be very businesslike in investigating the price which will be required to print our books. So immediately you should look seriously into this question and inform me of your findings as you are able.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 20 December, 1968:
Please do this very carefully and seriously and I am sure that Lord Caitanya will give you the intelligence from within to successfully execute this new, important project. I think that under your expert guidance many of the students in your class will eventually understand something of the great importance of what you are teaching. By Krishna's Grace perhaps the more intelligent will also decide to join you and help you. I am handing over the course proposal which you have sent me to Hayagriva who is here in Los Angeles with me. He is planning to attempt a similar course in the University of Ohio. So if we can teach to the college students in this way surely it will be a great boon to our society. You have laid ground work for this project and for this I give to you my hearty thanks.
1969 Correspondence
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1969:
Our publication project is to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam. If we publish one volume for one canto, still it will not be less than 12 volumes. Besides this we have Nectar of Devotion and two or three more books. This means all together another fourteen of fifteen volumes at utmost. Of course this will take time, but it is our ambition. If the MacMillan Company is interested, they can immediately publish at least one volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam to make an experiment. They can either print the second canto in one volume, or the first canto may be edited by Hayagriva into one volume. So if they like, we can immediately hand over to them these manuscripts.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 25 January, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18, January 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am encouraged to know that you are very enthusiastic about our projects for developing New Vrindaban. So far as the school goes, we have many qualified teachers, and they are all enthusiastic about going there and beginning their teaching work. The only thing is that there is as of yet no place to accommodate these teachers. So as soon as these facilities are constructed we can at once start at full force in setting up our Krishna Consciousness school program.
Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969:
Please send me your plans which you have mentioned, and we shall begin this housing scheme in April. We agree to invest the money in this project, and the persons you wanted will join you when you actually begin the work.
Letter to Aniruddha -- Los Angeles 4 February, 1969:
I think we will be able to secure the house by next April when I will also go there, and our project of starting a school, press, etc., will be seriously taken at that time.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1969:
Regarding the printing of my different letters, if you have sufficient time you can work on this project, but I think you have got greater project before you; sales organization of our books and publications. Unless we have got very good organization for selling our books, printing our books any place will be impractical. So I think you will try seriously how to appoint selling agents all over the country. Nay; all over the world. I'll be glad also to hear from you about how you are going to organize this selling propaganda. As for printing of the books, I have already answered this in the letter to Brahmananda, and you can see it.
Letter to Murari -- Los Angeles 7 February, 1969:
I am also pleased to note that Vamanadeva and yourself are seriously taking steps to begin the project of making thrones for the deities in all of our temples. In New York, Nara Narayana is going to try again to have brass deities made from the mold made from the deities in New York. Similarly, there is the possibility of obtaining deities from India in the near future. So in either of these cases, we can expect many new pairs of deities before very long, and such thrones as you are planning to work on will be an essential addition to all of our temples.
Letter to Murari -- Los Angeles 7 February, 1969:
So far as you going to New Vrindaban, I think that for the time being you should concentrate your efforts in organizing these projects you have begun in Hawaii. For the time being concentrate in Hawaii, and when you are needed in New Vrindaban, you will be called to go there.
Letter to Advaita -- Hawaii 16 March, 1969:
You just consult amongst your God-brothers and I shall be glad to know how much money you can spare for the purchase of a nice press and other equipments. So I think there is possibility of asking Hayagriva for acquiring the balance money. I am also very glad that you have approved New Vrindaban as the right site for our activities, and printing work, and that will be very nice thing. We have got our project of constructing seven temples in New Vrindaban.
Letter to Rayarama -- Columbus, Ohio 15 May, 1969:
Regarding Birbhadra, when I go to New Vrindaban soon I shall see if the situation is all right for him to go there. For the present, he need not go out, and you should simply teach him history, geography and mathematics. His history lessons will take care of his reading and spelling instruction. So far as your question about how to think of Radha-Krishna, your present process of visualizing the Deities is nice. You have written for me to press the temples, namely London and San Francisco, to send their $750 for the printing of Back To Godhead, but this project should be referred to Brahmananda because he is in charge of dealing with Dai Nippon Company in this connection.
Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- New Vrindaban 25 May, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 14, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Now I am staying in New Vrindaban and it is a very nice spot for developing our community project. There is sufficient land for building great temples and houses for devotees.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 5 June, 1969:
I am glad that your parents are interested in Bhagavad-gita and Lord Krishna, and when you return to India you make them understand Krishna philosophy very nicely. I am also pleased to learn that when you marry, you will marry a girl who is a worshipper of Lord Krishna and who agrees to follow the four basic principles strictly. I am so please to learn that you have appreciated our aratrik song, "kiba jaya jaya gorachander". You have voluntarily offered to do something when you return to India, and the best project will be to work there as representative of this Krishna Consciousness Movement. In my opinion, India is going down by giving up this original cultural life which is its own. The government is enamored by the glittering civilization of the West, and it was a definite policy of our late prime minister, Mr. Nehru, who wanted to see India overnight as rich and materially advanced as America.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 5 June, 1969:
It was, of course, Gandhi's policy to concentrate his organization in village life, taking to simple life and cow protection. But just after Mahatma Gandhi's disappearance, his chief disciple, Pandit Nehru, planned for up-to-date organized cow-slaughter house. So this is our position. If you have understood Krishna Consciousness science, then you will try to revive this cultural life in India. Of course so long I shall live I shall give you all assistance. But if you concentrate your energy in a city like Bombay for propagating Krishna Consciousness amongst the younger generation, as I am doing here in the Western World, it will be great service to Krishna and to your country. I have already asked you to think on the project how you can push on our books and literature. I cannot suggest any other alternatives, but if you can execute this will of mine, I shall remain ever-obliged to you.
Letter to Silavati -- New Vrindaban 14 June, 1969:
Satyabhama Dasi is in charge of educating the children in New Vrindaban, and she is very qualified to do this because she is educated and works very nicely with the children. So there is no difficulty at present in this regards, and as you are so nicely engaged in your activities in Los Angeles, you should continue as you are now doing. Your description of the course you are giving to the interested girls about the role they play in Krishna Consciousness is very nice, and I am pleased that you have begun this project. Actually the role of all conditioned souls is the same; to chant Hare Krishna, tell others to chant, perfect our lives in Krishna Consciousness, and to go back to Godhead when this body is finished. Now if you can induce all the women of Los Angeles to place an altar in their homes and help their husbands have peaceful, happy home life in Krishna Consciousness, that will be very great service for you.
Letter to Krsna Devi -- New Vrindaban 15 June, 1969:
I am pleased to learn that you are thinking of putting together a cookbook of our Krishna prasadam recipes. I understand that in London, Yamuna Dasi has already done some work on this same project, so you may correspond with her in this connection. I know that at our feasts especially many persons become interested in preparing foodstuffs in this way, so this cookbook is a nice thing to instruct such persons in preparing and offering nice prasadam for the Lord.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- New Vrindaban 20 June, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 18, 1969, and I have noted the contents. The pictures you have sent are very nice, and they shall be published in BTG. Regarding Madan Mohan, I understand that he would like to remain in Boston, but previously he was indexing Bhagavad-gita As It Is. If he is able to work there on this project, I have no objection. Otherwise he may come back to New York. Sometimes, out of their own accord, devotees decide to leave a center, but this is not a good practice. If he can continue his indexing work there, then he may remain in Boston.
Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 27 June, 1969:
I thank you very much for your letter dated June 23, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. You idea of going to Columbus for the weekdays and to New Vrindaban for the weekends is very nice, so you may do this. I have just left New Vrindaban on June 23rd, and I think you will be a great asset to the construction projects that will be going on there.
Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 2 July, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 28, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. You say that at present you cannot use instruments in the temple without soundproofing, but I do not know if this means you cannot use even mrdangas and karatala. I understand that soundproofing is very expensive enterprise, and do you have the money for this now? I think it is better if you wait until you are more established before you try for this expensive operation. If it is necessary, we shall go on without instruments. For the time being, you simply make the temple very nice with a nice altar and nice accommodations for living. Don't waste time and money on other projects.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969:
Regarding further tapes of Vedanta Sutra, this has been suspended for the time being, but when I begin again I shall send the tapes to you. Recently we have finished our book, Nectar of Devotion, and now the book, Krishna, is in the process of being written. So when the project of Vedanta Sutra is again taken up I shall inform you.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969:
We are explaining the science of devotional service in so many ways, and Srimad-Bhagavatam especially is unique literature that the people in general should try to understand. I have got an ambition to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam in the same way I have already done, so try to help me as far as possible to finish this high project. If we get return from the Iskcon Book Department, then we shall be able to publish all of our books very quickly. So Brahmananda and yourself will be a good combination, and Krishna desires that you should do it exclusively.
Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969:
Regarding your idea of going to Copenhagen, it is very nice, and I am always anxious to open strong temples where the chanting of Hare Krishna and Krishna Consciousness philosophy will be propagated nicely. So as Janardana is planning to begin the Paris center, you may make investigation for a center in Copenhagen. So if you think you can open such a center in Copenhagen, then please inform of what your exact idea is to begin this project, and I shall advise you accordingly. I think when I come to Hamburg we shall talk about it.
Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Los Angeles 28 July, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter of July 18, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am pleased to know that you are making progress in having our society incorporated in Germany. This is an essential project, so please do it. By Krishna's Grace you are all five good souls there, and Krishna will give you immense strength to propagate this Krishna Consciousness Movement in your country, Germany. Please do it in the spirit as you are doing now, and success is surely for you all.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1969:
Unless that position is achieved it will not be advisable to ask anybody to go there. Better to ask them to go there if they are willing to work and produce their own food. Otherwise, nobody should be advised to go there. Besides that, I have received letters from the girls there that they are feeling inconvenience. Therefore, without having adequate place to live there, nobody should be advised at the present moment to go there. I am glad that the boys have been working for the house and the project will be completed satisfactorily. My advice is that you make the place very peaceful. You should admit only such persons who can work without any disturbance. For the time being you may not admit any more men and ask them to pay you $25 per month. That will not sound very nice.
Letter to Brahmananda, Advaita -- Los Angeles 7 August, 1969:
As you have probably heard by now, in Boston they have a big house which they are purchasing, and they are anxious to have more devotees move there. My idea is that you may immediately make plans to start our printing department in Boston now. There are two large halls in their house, and one of them may be utilized as the printing department's. I have already written to Satsvarupa to invite Advaita, Vaikunthanatha, and their wives to go to Boston for beginning this operation, and similarly, the others may go now or when they are required. The first project will be to print Teachings of Lord Caitanya in soft cover edition. So instead of spending money to have this printed outside, we can utilize the money for starting our own press in Boston. You may contact Satsvarupa immediately to make definite arrangements in this connection.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Tittenhurst 3 October, 1969:
New Vrindaban is now in charge of Ranadhira, so on the whole people are not being attracted. In your next president's meeting you can consider these points. Tamala is trying to purchase some very nice property in Beverly Hills. The project is to establish there a nice Iskcon library to attract the richer class of men in that area. I do not know how far we shall be successful in this attempt, but if we are successful in purchasing a property there, it will be a great stride for our propaganda work. It is understood that the most selected persons of the Western world, both Europeans and Americans, they live in that quarter of Los Angeles. So why not a center there? That is the contemplation.
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Balmukundji Parikh -- Los Angeles 11 February, 1970:
According to our Sastras, the brahmacaris, the vanaprasthas, and the sannyasis are allowed to collect alms and are considered as the children of the society, which is composed of householders. In other words, our Vedic civilization is the most perfect community project. Only the grhasthas are supposed to earn money, especially the ksatriyas and the vaisyas, and the money is distributed community-wide. The community is divided into four parts, the brahmacari, the grhastha, the vanaprastha, and the sannyasi. Out of these four divisions, only the grhasthas are supposed to maintain the brahmacaris, the vanaprasthas, and the sannyasis.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 1 May, 1970:
I am very glad to learn that you have the Prahlada pictures in your safe custody because I want to print up many small books with text accompanied by illustrations, and the first one may be of Prahlada Maharaja. Sometime ago you wrote me that you wanted some new topics for writing subjects, so I think you can begin by compiling information from my past lectures on Prahlada Maharaja, then add the pictures and print it. Then you can do many other such books like this. Some other books may be about Dhruva Maharaja, Ajamila, etc., and I am sure these stories with their very significant purports will make very successful books, and they can be very easily sold. So if you can begin on this project and arrange everything carefully, that will be very nice.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Los Angeles 29 June, 1970:
I have already asked Gurudasa and Mukunda to inquire if some land is available in the vicinity of Regent Park. I have heard that the Government allots free gift land for religious temples. If such land is available, then we can immediately take up the project of constructing a very gorgeous style Indian temple.
Letter to Nevatiaji -- Los Angeles 16 July, 1970:
12. New Vrndavana, a transcendental community project, modeled on the Vrndavana site of Lord Krsna's pastimes, is developing nicely in the mountains of West Virginia. The primary message of Lord Krsna to surrender all one's activities unto Him, that is to carry out one's duty for the sake of Krsna, as it is delivered in the Bhagavad-gita is practically undertaken in New Vrndavana. All work in Vrndavana is specifically executed in full knowledge of its being transcendental loving service to Krsna the supreme proprietor of everything and all souls. This natural environment for living in pure Krsna consciousness or plain living and high thinking develops the spiritual character of the inhabitants and especially the Society's children who are conceived, born, raised and educated in Krsna science or natural spiritual consciousness. New Vrndavana school system provides education for children which is both practical and spiritual.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 13 November, 1970:
You have made it a proposal and plan that each center shall contribute $20 monthly for the improvement of our New Vrndavana Community Project. I have no objection to this, but it has been already the program that every center shall send me maintenance funds of $15 per month and since leaving Japan I have hardly received any. I do not know if they have sent or not sent, but I have not received. So if they cannot even send my maintenance charges, you cannot depend on their sending monthly $20 for the maintenance of New Vrndavana.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Surat 17 December, 1970:
You go ahead and arrange the meeting with Birlas and Bangurs and there will certainly be no difficulty for raising the required funds for our Calcutta project. If we have got our place and the support of these big men, I am sure that I can cut down this Naxalite movement. I know how to do it. We have diagnosed the disease and the medicine is Hari Sankirtana and the diet is Krsna Prasadam. With our own place we can dispense these to the young boys and they will be easily cured. They have already shown their willingness to cooperate when I was in Calcutta last and I am sure of this plan to curb their misguided and frustrated activities.
Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 18 December, 1970:
So far the current estimate for printing the revised and complete edition of Bhagavad-gita, you may immediately go ahead with this project and it is very much encouraging to me that you are eager to do so. However the proposal for using the money contributed by Sai for this purpose is not feasible. That money is already reserved. The London Temple has taken Krsna books worth $20,000, so they should send the requisite $17,000 for the publishing of our Bhagavad-gita As It Is in new enlarged edition immediately. I understand that the KRSNA book is selling there very well, so they can easily do it. I hope your international attempts for placing our books in libraries and selling our KRSNA books in particular is going on. I am always anxious to know that our programs are going on nicely.
Letter to Nara-narayana, Dinadayadri -- Surat 19 December, 1970:
That you are working hard to build cottages there in New Vrindaban is very encouraging to me. I want very much to see this project grow, so you please continue to work in this respect. So far as what materials to be used to finish the cottages, I think whatever is easiest and least expensive is best.
So far as your casting of Murtis there during the winter months, that sounds very nice. If you could produce plaster Murtis of Lord Caitanya the same size in height as Kartamashai Murtis you produced earlier, that would be very nice. And then your good wife Dinadayadri, acting as pujari there, can take nice care of that Murti. Husband and wife working conjointly in Krishna Consciousness is the perfection of household life. So both of you go on working in this way to strengthen and improve our wonderful New Vrindaban community project and Krishna will be very pleased.
1971 Correspondence
Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 1 January, 1971:
The most important thing is that the money donated by Sai should be kept as I have directed you for some concrete project, specifically the construction of a large center here in India. So you please keep it intact and wait further instructions what to do with the $28,000. Otherwise, it is a bad policy to send good money after bad money as in the matter of paying some past debts. That is not good business proposal. I am sure those debts will be liquidated in due course by other means as I have suggested to you before and you have also indicated that in some time hence the BTG debt will be cleared.
Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 22 April, 1971:
Regarding the shipment of Deities to L.A. I am writing to Jayapataka Maharaja to find out the position. I am glad to see from the copy of Temple payment record that you are paying timely at the rate of $2,000 per month. We must always remember that we are debtor for this amount and debts should not be neglected. According to vedic instruction, fire, debt and disease should never be neglected. They must be extinguished by all means. Regarding proposal of $8,000 loan to BTG being repaid at the rate of $1,000 monthly, it was not being paid, so $1,000 per month is better than no payment. Yes you can send the building Fund monies spent to New Vrndavana for development of our community project there. This collection may be utilized in this way after consulting the GBC whether New Vrindaban has been transferred to the Society?
Letter to S. C. Mukherjee -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 2nd July, 1971 and have noted the contents. Presently I am out of Calcutta. So it is better if you are still interested in our Mayapur project to see the Mayapur committee. and speak with them at our temple at 3, Albert Road; Calcutta-17. The committee. is in charge of all these affairs and if they are in need of your service, that will be very nice.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Brooklyn 28 July, 1971:
I have learned from Giriraja that it is not possible to get any big donation. We have to construct the temple at Mayapur by collecting membership fees. So far I understand, the collection rate is at one member per day. So even it is so, then keeping this standard, we may collect 25,000 to 30,000 Rs. per month. Four months means one lakh. One year means three lakhs. So if we want to spend 25 lakhs at Mayapur, it will take 8 to 10 years. Do you think that is a practical proposal? So we should not imagine some big project unless we have got insurance from our admirers. This life membership program has proved a little successful, so continue it and form 3 or 4 parties to collect membership fees. As Giriraja and Revatinandana have formed one party, so you and Tamala form a party to approach respectable gentlemen to become life members.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- London 11 August, 1971:
Also I have received your very generous contribution of $200.00 for the Mayapur project; $150.00 by check and $50.00 by cash, delivered this morning by Nandarani Devi upon her arrival here. One thing is that in the future all checks should be made out to some American bank, so that it can be easily cleared and deposited in my account at Bank of America in Los Angeles.
Letter to Gurudasa -- London 11 August, 1971:
I understand that you have been invited by Syama Dasi in Africa. I don't advise that you associate with her because she is sahajiya. To associate with her will hamper pure devotional service. Besides that you are going there for only one month after taking so much labor. What will be the profit? Will they contribute money for our Mayapur project? Unless our Mayapur project is finalized, I don't think any one of you can go outside of India. My advise is that Tamala and yourself immediately make arrangements for going to Delhi and organize that center nicely.
Letter to Atreya Rsi -- London 13 August, 1971:
Now immediately we have got a very big project to construct a temple at Mayapur, the birth site of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So you can contribute the sums for our Mayapur construction scheme. Sannyasis should not be given any money. They should manage themselves and maintain themselves by taking small alms from different persons—not a lump sum from one person.
Letter to Damodara -- London 1 September, 1971:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 28th August, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. It is good news that Ocean City temple, started by Baltimore and Washington centers as a summer project, has succeeded and even one devotee has come from there also. And BTG distribution is solving all financial difficulties there in Washington. So go on selling them vigorously. Sankirtana and BTG distribution are our backbone for preaching and all other things are secondary. If you can distribute one BTG you go forward one step for our preaching advancement, what to speak of distributing our books also. So do it enthusiastically and Krishna will bless you more and more.
Letter to Damodara -- London 1 September, 1971:
So far your film projects are concerned, the one consideration is that the management of Washington temple doesn't suffer, but rather is actually improving its position. If that is the case and you can somehow or other find the time, then I have no objection if you take up this film-making business. No doubt there could be some positive propaganda work done in this direction. But you are in charge of that center, so do not neglect your duty.
Letter to Karandhara -- Mombassa, Kenya 19 September, 1971:
Yes you should duly collect for Mayapur and I shall advise you when the time comes for utilizing the money. In the mean time go on collecting. I thank you very much for proposing to collect $100,000 for the Mayapur project.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Nairobi 26 September, 1971:
Yes, if we can establish such a Krishna Conscious school, certainly it will be very much attractive. That was my first suggestion in Bombay. The first thing is that we will have to select teachers. Whether our men who are already there will be able to teach. Of course teaching will be elementary. Satyabhama in New Vrindaban has written a book for children. So you can immediately ask her. I think many of our girls can take up this business. Lilavati, Satyabhama and I don't know who else; there are many who may take up this work. Some of them may go to India. But factually, so far I have studied the situation, American boys and girls are a little restless. So it is subject matter to be decided by the GBC and I think you should consult with all other GBC members how to do it. There are many things to be done in our missionary activities but the GBC is not yet very strong to take up all the things and do them nicely. There is a big project in Mayapur also. So consult seriously the GBC whether all these things can be taken in hand simultaneously. It requires a very cool brain and expert management.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Nairobi 5 October, 1971:
Regarding money matters I am very glad to know that you are not using book funds and building funds any more. It is very encouraging. The bumblebee project is very nice and I am so engladdened to note your encouraging writing "I will take responsibility to make sure this centre, Mayapur Project and all of ISKCON as a whole becomes purified, and it is my wish that you are relieved of any management burdens."
Letter to Paramananda -- Delhi 18 November, 1971:
I am in due receipt of your letter of November 2, 1971, and I am pleased that you have returned to New Vrindaban to develop it nicely. I wanted from the beginning that schoolhouse for teaching our children Krishna Consciousness. Now it seems that Krishna has fulfilled our desire and that Mr. Coffield may now sell it to us. Purchase it immediately and we shall construct there a model school for molding children in the perfect way of life. I know that you are the fit person for carrying out his plan, so I am entrusting you to see that everything is done very nicely and up to standard. This project of opening a school for young children may be expanded to include inviting children of respectable families for some tuition fee to come there for an ideal education including the basic requirements of reading and writing, but giving them also real spiritual knowledge of how to live perfectly—what other school of learning can offer such wonderful educational opportunity? There has also been suggestion of a kind of summer camp for children from crowded cities. What do you think?
Letter to Mohanananda -- Delhi 6 December, 1971:
So far your land project in Linden, Texas, you may call it New Naimisaranya, as you wish. Naimisaranya is a place where great sages and saints gather to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, so our program there should be the same as everywhere, have our temple and call neighboring persons to hear, especially from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Distribute our books to them, prasadam, like that. Our program is the same everywhere, chanting, dancing, and feasting on Krishna prasadam. As soon as we get some opportunity, no matter Texas or China, we contaminate the place with Krishna, that's all. It is a good idea that you propose to hold a very nice Bhagavata Festival to inaugurate New Naimisaranya. Do it very nicely, and invite all of the citizens from Dallas city and the surrounding area, especially the younger class, and read and lecture very palatably from Srimad-Bhagavatam, and in every way demonstrate to them the ideal Krishna Conscious community. A little land, some cows, enough. Balance of time chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 17 December, 1971:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 6, 1971, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. I am especially pleased that your Gurukula project is going forward nicely. I consider that this is one of our most important projects, because people in general are only suffering due to poor fund of knowledge.
| Page Title: | Projects (Letters, 1964 - 1971) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, Partha-sarathi, MadhuGopaldas |
| Created: | 29 of May, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=63 |
| No. of Quotes: | 63 |