I think that immediately an organized body of devotees may be registered with suitable memorandum & articles of association to embrace all kinds of people and then individual members must sacrifice a portion of their income for God's sake. They should not only accept the amenities of life for nothing from the agents of God but they must now repay the debit by some personal sacrifice. That is the way of "Jajna" as stated in the Bhagavad-gita.
Agents (Letters)
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- New York 23 November, 1965:
A widely respected Scholar and religious leader in India Swami Bhaktivedanta is briefly visiting New York. He has been engaged in the monumental endeavour of translating the sixty volume "Srimad-Bhagavatam" from Sanskrit into English. etc. So my lecturing or appointing one selling agent here for my books is already finished and if I remain such many lectures can be arranged in different parts of the country. One Dr. Choudhry is prepared to arrange for my lectures in San Francisco, Los Angeles etc but in my opinion such casual lectures may be a good personal advertisement but factually they do not make any permanent effects.
1966 Correspondence
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 27 April, 1966:
One of the youths Mr. Paul Murray is even ready to go with me to India to learn the cult more specifically and I wish to take him with me when I go to India. Please therefore write to your Agent here to allow this more serious boy to come with me in India and see things directly how temple worship is done in the Visnu Temples. I shall keep him for some days in Vrindaban and he may be given lessons for future preaching in the western countries.
Letter to Mr. K. B. Mehta -- New York 3 October, 1966:
Now, immediately, some foods are to be dispatched from Delhi and Calcutta on my account to New York. You have written to say that the goods should be cleared and passed by the customs under a certain bill. But I do not know who will take charge of clearing these goods and getting them passed by the customs house. If you will, therefore, let me know the name of your clearing agent in Calcutta then I can send the railway receipt to him so that he can clear the goods from railway station and forward to your boat or your ship, and I'm prepared to pay for clearing and forwarding charges.
Letter to Mr. K. B. Mehta -- New York 3 October, 1966:
Please arrange to receive the goods and forward to New York by any one of your freighters. And also let me know by return of post your authorized clearing and forwarding agent. Also let me know whether the goods sent from Delhi may be booked for Calcutta or Cochin port. You can let me know whichever is convenient so that I shall advise my man in Delhi to follow your instruction. You can send a copy of reply of this letter to my agent at Mathura.
1967 Correspondence
Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 21 March, 1967:
Regarding the house, you are already in trouble. The best thing is to stop this strain. Mr. Lerner told me that Mr. Hill has no sufficient money to purchase the house. I definitely instructed you if Mr. Hill enters into agreement with Mr. Taylor it is then only you could hand over the check of $5000.00 to Mr. Hill or his agent. But you have not followed my instruction and now you are in trouble. If Mr. Hill has no money to purchase the house then his accepting our check is clear case of cheating.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Calcutta 19 October, 1967:
You will be glad to know that I've already secured my visitors visa for going to U.S.A. & I am advised by travel agent to book my seat conveniently. I am going to Navadvipa, the birth place of Lord Caitanya next with Acyutananda & Ramanuja.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 19 October, 1967:
Under the circumstances, Krishna will not accept food prepared by Kirtanananda in his present diseased condition. If he at all wants to render service to Krishna he may be engaged at washing dishes & this will improve his condition. You will be glad to know that the US consular office has granted me visitors visa and yesterday I've asked the travel agent to arrange for my seat. So in all probability I am sure to return to USA as early as possible—just after my return from Lord Caitanya's birth place. Be assured always that Krishna is transcendental Personality & men with poor fund of knowledge cannot understand what is this transcendental form.
Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967:
Please continue to think of Krishna & you will feel more & more the Blissful pleasure transcendental to all material contamination. I am very thankful to you for appreciating my humble service. You will be glad to know that I have already secured a visitor's visa to your country & have asked my travel agent to book my seat on the earliest possible date. I think I shall be in your midst by the middle of Nov. I went to your country with a mission & you all good souls were sent by Krishna to me. So let us cooperatively work together to vigorously spread Krishna Consciousness, to the suffering humanity at large.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 18 November, 1967:
The editing work was first entrusted with Rayarama, but as he could not finish it the work was transferred to Hayagriva. In this way even within one year the editing work could not be finished. This is not very encouraging. Now it must be finished within three weeks and hand it over to MacMillan Co. Today I shall go to the travel agent's office for booking my seat and may start by next Monday or Tuesday. In my next letter I shall let you and Mukunda know of my journey from Calcutta to San Francisco, via Bangkok, Hong Kong etc.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 22 November, 1967:
I am enclosing a separate letter authorizing you to sign the contract in my behalf. I've already written a letter to D.S. Agarwal and when he goes there Acyutananda will see him personally to settle up the matter. The books from Swami Bon are already with the shipping agent and will be sent with all my books mrdangams and karatalas on the 7th of December.
1968 Correspondence
Letter to Sri Krishna Pandit -- Los Angeles 20 January, 1968:
This time when I was coming back to the U.S. I had a great deal of trouble. Though when I went to the U.S. Consul General my visa was granted in 1/2 hours. The gentleman in charge was an Indian and as soon as he saw me he told me, "Swamiji, I'll give you your visa; simply wait here for half an hour." So it was Lord Krishna's Grace. My granting of the P-form was also delayed. My travelling agents had so many difficulties in getting my P-form. The form was sent to the chief controller in Bombay and returned after a month after several telephone conversations from Calcutta to Bombay. Then he sent instructions that if I had money from America I could go. So with great difficulty I had to convince him.
Letter to Janardana -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1968:
When we get out of this temporary changes of different forms as we are transmigrating from one form to another and be placed in our real spiritual form, or purified our existence, that is called nirakara. Or in other words nirakara means absence of material form. Praiidrabya is mentioned by Dr. Naik as the counteracting agent of matter. I do not know whether this word is in Bhagavad-gita, but praii means transcendental and drabya means matter, that which exists. This praiidrabya is explained in Gita as paraprakrti or internal energy which is exhibited in the transcendental world.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1968:
The answer (why Maya dealt me a near death blow) is that Hiranyakasipu the agent of Maya tried to give so many death blows to Prahlada Maharaja, but in each and every case he was saved. There is more credit for him on behalf of Krishna. This is replied in Bhagavad-gita, "O, my dear son of Kunti, just declare it throughout the whole world that my devotee is never vanquished." So it will take some time to understand what Krishna's plan is, but rest assured, a devotee of Krishna is never vanquished.
Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 12 February, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 8, 1968. You want to counteract the activities of Maharishi, but you must know Maharishi is the agent of Maya. Our process of Krishna Consciousness and Sankirtana movement is already counteracting the spell of Maya, but the Maharishi says that you remain under the spell of Maya. His preaching is that you enjoy, and simply you pay him $35, and purchase his mantra. People in general are already under the spell of Maya.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1968:
If there is less sales propaganda then the outlet of the books will be bottlenecked, and smooth printing work will stop. You have not only to print, but you have to sell them. So please consult Mr. Kallman how to do it. In your previous letter it was informed that some firm, European, is going to take the sole selling responsibility for Europe. What happened to that proposal? We must find out some selling agent.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 26 February, 1968:
Regarding Purusottama Brahmacari's letter from Vrindaban: if you think you are able to purchase 340 copies at 40% discount, then you can send one letter to Narayana Maharaja asking if he will take the responsibility of receiving the books from him, and pack them and send to Calcutta to our shipping agent. If he wants to take the responsibility and the trouble to do this, then you can send him bank draft being the price of the books, and he will do the needful.
Letter to Mukunda, Janaki -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1968:
I thank you very much for your letters of Feb. 24 and 25, 1968, and I have noted the contents. Yes, if you can find out some distributing agent for our Back to Godhead, that is very good. Please do it. I have received both dictaphone machines, and the new one is working nicely. The foreign one I have yet to test at some shop, which I will do this week. I have written in Uddhava's letter that I shall be arriving on March 8th, and we can discuss the meeting at the Immigration Bureau at that time.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 1 March, 1968:
So far the shipping documents are concerned you can clear the goods by presenting the original letters of the shipping agents. In the meantime I am writing to the Punjab National Bank. India govt is worthless management. So there is some anomalies which will be rectified. In the meantime get the goods cleared with Indemnity Board if so required. I cannot apply my brain in everything. This taxes me so much that my heart begins to __. Please therefore do the needful by seeing the shipping authorities, and in the meantime I shall read the letters calmly. In future I think we shall have to change this shipping agents and find out one better.
Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank -- Los Angeles 1 March, 1968:
With reference to the above, I beg to inform you that the remittance of more than Rs 13,000 as was received by you for credit of my account on 5/8/67 includes the price of the books shipment, by S. S. "Flying Enterprise." This was already declared by me to the shipping agent as it was needed by the exchange authorities. As such you can forward the documents immediately to me as it is needed that the documents should come through you. I hope you will kindly do the needful without delay.
Letter to Andrea Temple -- Los Angeles 6 March, 1968:
Yes, whoever you tell the chant to, it is effective. You have heard it from me and my disciples, similarly I have heard it from my Guru Maharaja, and so on, and on. Because you have heard it from a pure devotee of the Lord, therefore it is transmitted from you to another. Just as an aerial message, is transmitted from one place to another, similarly, this Guru parampara system is working. My disciples are my agents, my representatives, so by hearing it from them, you are receiving it from me. And because you are a sincere soul, those who are hearing the Mantra from you are receiving it in disciplic succession, from Lord Caitanya and from Lord Krishna.
Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 23 March, 1969:
Regarding the United Shipping Corporation, I have sent them the necessary 4 copies of invoice and certificate, and asked them to send one statement of account for our $500. In future, I think we have to select very nice shipping agent, because we have undergone so much botheration this time. Please send one complete list of goods received. I am enclosing herewith one letter from Pradyumna, and you can let me know what is to be done for his hospital charges.
Letter to United Shipping Corporation -- San Francisco 23 March, 1968:
For want of knowing the procedure, we had to pay the freight charges here also, in spite of sending you in advance $500, (Ref: Your letter F/38/I-14, of January 11, 1968.) Kindly therefore let me know the exact procedure to be followed in future, because books are being printed in Delhi and shortly, we shall have to get them here in New York. Kindly therefore send the exact procedure, and on hearing from you, we shall ask our Delhi agent to book further goods.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Montreal 21 June, 1968:
You can write them the letter as dictated above and I do not know if you have already asked them to deposit the balance money with Dwarkin. The best thing will be to get your goods exported through a purchasing agent like Ranjit Mullick. We can avoid so many botherations. I am also returning herewith the letter of the UNITED SHIPPING CORPORATION, which was sent by you. Did you write any letter to Dwarkin?
Letter to Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 22 November, 1968:
I am always praying to Krishna to protect you because I know purposefully I have sent you in a fiery condition of maya. But our philosophy is different. We do not hate maya because we know maya is also a faithful agent of Krishna, but her task is very thankless. Our mission is to dovetail everything in the service of Krishna because everything belongs to Krishna. Your father or any other businessman may think it improperly that the business belongs to him, and he is entitled to enjoy the profit, but we think everything belongs to Krishna, and Krishna is entitled to enjoy the property. That is the version of Bhagavad-gita.
1969 Correspondence
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1969:
I am so glad that Mr. Harrison is composing songs like "Lord which we so long ignored". He is very thoughtful. When we actually meet, I shall be able to give him thoughts about separation from Krishna, and they will be able to compose very attractive songs for public receptions. The public is in need of such songs, and if they are administered through nice agents like the Beatles, it will surely be a great success. In your previous letter you advised me that Mr. Harrison has desired to have me live in the house which they are counting to give us because he has many questions to ask me.
Letter to Dhindro, Vanalata Mullick -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1969:
I want many pairs of Navadvipa-made karatalas, so please introduce to me some of your very reliable tenants, and I shall send you the money for purchase. The supplier should pack it nicely in a gunny bag. We have got our own shipping agents: Msgrs United Shipping Corporation, 14/2 Old China Bazar Street, Room #18, Calcutta-1), and they will take care of the shipping. I have already shown you samples of karatalas while you were sitting in my room, and I hope you will help me in this connection.
Letter to Kedar Mataji -- Los Angeles 25 January, 1969:
What you have to do is to purchase the deities, pack Them in nice wooden boxes securely, and dispatch to Calcutta to our shipping agents. We have arrangements with Scindia Steam Navigation Co. to carry our temple goods free of charge.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 30 January, 1969:
The best thing will be therefore to organize sales of our books as other publishers are doing. The simple and approved method is to appoint at least 1000 stores and booksellers who agree to purchase at least three copies apiece of our books as soon as they are published. This means that if we have 1000 dealers, we can immediately sell 3000 copies, and this will give us sustenance for conducting our publication activities. I do not think it is a very difficult task to appoint such selling agents throughout the country. So yourself and Gargamuni should take charge of this organization, and for press management others shall take charge.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1969:
So far as Back To Godhead is concerned, Purusottama has appointed one selling agent in Los Angeles who has agreed to take 400 copies per month. There are at least 300 big cities in your country, and if we can appoint one selling agent only in each city, consuming an average of 100 copies only, the total quantity comes to 30,000 copies. This is not an Utopian idea. It is completely practical. Simply we have to arrange and organize.
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 Jagannatham Prabhu -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1969:
Certainly to send the books by air mail is prohibitive, but you can send them by surface mail in different batches to our different centers of which a list of addresses is found in the copy of the letter addressed to Tirtha Maharaja. The next alternative is to pack up all of the books and send them to Calcutta to our shipping agents, namely; United Shipping Corporation, 14/2 Old China Bazar Street (Room #18), Calcutta-1, INDIA. Upon hearing from you I will advise them to take care of the packages to New York by sea-way. We shall try to sell the books in our different centers, and the sales proceeds will be kept separately.
Letter to Krsna dasa -- Hawaii 15 March, 1969:
I am sorry to learn that you are also attacked with the flu fever as most of the boys in this country are also attacked this past winter. So this attack of Maya's agent is not very uncommon. When Krishna Himself was present He was being attacked by Maya's agent almost everyday during His childhood. When He was just born, within three months, he was attacked by Putana. When He was a little grown then He was attacked by Sakatasura, then by Trnavarta, then Agha, Makasu, then Kaliya, then Godavarsu, and so on. So the Maya's agents does not let go even Krishna, then what to speak of Krishna's devotees. They will act in their own way, but as Krishna miraculously saved Himself from the hands of all these demons, similarly, He will always save His devotees.
Letter to Jayagovinda -- Hawaii 30 March, 1969:
In his letter of March 2nd, he writes to say "we may send Jaya Govinda his ticket via AE immediately; hopefully he will arrive here by the week's end." Therefore I hope you might have already received the ticket for returning to Germany. But before your leaving Delhi, either for Bombay or for Europe, please book the unsold goods taken delivery from Atma Rama and Sons and send to our shipping agent in Calcutta, so they may ship them to N.Y. Your sympathetic expression about my magnitude of work with which I am pressed here is undoubtedly very much encouraging to me, and certainly I am pressed with heavy work.
Letter to Jayagovinda -- New Vrindaban 22 May, 1969:
If Acyutananda is serious about purchasing goods and dispatching from Calcutta or Bombay, he may also find out some good shipping agents in these places. If he would do some work for our society, surely he would be happy. Regarding the electric typewriter, if you are going to purchase, you should purchase an IBM Composer. That would be very nice for us, without paying it all at once. So you may look into this.
Letter to Jayagovinda -- New Vrindaban 7 June, 1969:
I have immediately sent to Acyutananda a copy of the goods delivered to United Shipping Corporation. It appears that this company is very slow and not businesslike. So probably I will have to change to some other shipping agents, and I have already advised Acyutananda to do the needful. The second batch of Deities which you sent to Los Angeles has been received by them. I am very glad to learn that you are feeling enthusiastically in the German center, and it is clear that Krishna wanted you there.
Letter to Mukunda -- New Vrindaban 10 June, 1969:
To know or accept the authority of God is one thing, but to love God is another. Generally, people are interested in material comforts and they make God as the supplying agent. This kind of devotion is not purified. It is contaminated by material desires, but when one is elevated to the position of giving everything to God out of love and affection, that is the first class position.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1969:
If Mr. Vora sees Srimati Sumati Morarji, she will at once know me by my name, and she'll arrange everything. The sum and substance is that we want some reliable commission agent or supplier who can supply us regularly these things. If Sumati Morarji gives us the facilities of free shipping, that is all right. Otherwise we shall get them sent, freight paid by us.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1969:
I am stressing again that we have to find out a reliable person who can regularly supply us with goods from India. This is the sum and substance, and now you can do the needful. If Mr. Vora wants to be our supplying agent, we have no objection. Let him make arrangement for supplying these goods as I have described, first quality and good price, and book it through a reliable shipping agent or through Scindia Steam Navigation Co. There will be regular business, and he will make good profit. But ask him not to make more than 10% profit over purchasing price. You may also ask him to bring with him a pair of cookers which are available in Pydhani brass utensil shops. The cost will be about $3.00, so if he can bring with him at least two cookers, that will be very nice. So things are explained above as far as possible, and now you can arrange with him.
Letter to Upendra -- Los Angeles 5 July, 1969:
Now Tamala Krishna will be the supplying agent of devotees to many temples, because he is attracting many new devotees in the Los Angeles temple. So the program is after being trained up here, some of them may go either to open new branches or where they are required. But I wish that you should also attract new devotees from your quarters. Instead of importing devotees, it is better to attract devotees from your own area. And the basic principle for doing this is Sankirtana Party.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:
So far I have not heard anything from Mr. Vora. We want from Bombay one good order supplier of all kinds of goods from Bombay, and a good shipping agent. So far as payment is concerned, I shall arrange it that as soon as the shipping documents are delivered to the bank, the bank will pay immediately. So ask Mr. Vora to assist us in this respect. Regarding your idea for opening a store, don't bother with it. Let Gargamuni do it; not others. You have got more important business than selling. Both your wife and yourself are meant for publication department.
Letter to Jayapataka -- London 26 September, 1969:
Regarding your question about the verse in the prayers to the Spiritual Master, the Spiritual Master is one of the associates of Krishna. The prayers offered by Visvanatha Cakravarti to his Spiritual Master have a special significance. His Spiritual Master was one of the assistant gopis, so the prayer was offered like that. On the whole, the Spiritual Master is an agent of Krishna. But either He is assistant to the gopis or assistant to the cowherds boys, He is on the level of Krishna. That is the verdict of all scriptures. Krishna is worshipable God and the Spiritual Master is worshipper God. The exact words are sebya (worshipable) and sebak (worshipper).
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 18 October, 1969:
Regarding the World Sankirtana Party, that is my long-cherished idea, and I wish to see it fulfilled as soon as possible. But do not count on others. If somebody comes forward to help us, that is welcome. But if we at all take the job, we must take it on our own strength. For experimental sake, you can seek out for an agent who can arrange for our Sankirtana Party moving in all the states of America, and then we can think of touring all over the world.
Letter to Hit Sharanji -- London 5 December, 1969:
You need not send the Murtis by air cargo to London because some devotee here has contributed a Radha-Krishna Murti pair imported from Jaipur. It is 42" high and very nice. So Krishna has saved us in this point because we are going to have our opening ceremony on the 14th December through the 21st of December. But if one pair is ready, you can immediately dispatch by ship to Boston as previously advised. From here I shall go to Boston, and if the Deities reach there timely, then I shall install them there also. I think in my previous letter the instruction was to dispatch one pair to Boston, so you can send the Deities to some shipping agent in Bombay and they will forward to Boston.
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Gajendra -- Los Angeles 27 January, 1970:
When a Krishna Conscious person is elevated to a responsible position, he never becomes puffed up. Just like a tree when overladen with fruits becomes humble and lower down; similarly, a great soul in Krishna Consciousness becomes humbler than the grass and bowed down like the fruitful trees because a Krishna Conscious person acts as the agent of Krishna, therefore he discharges his duty with great responsibility.
Letter to Hitsaranji -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970:
If some of your men or the shipping agents' men will see her in Bombay (because I think the packages will be shipped via Bombay) then I am sure she will sanction free carriage of the packages. But I may instruct you, if somehow or other this Scindia Steam Navigation Company delays the matter, you may advise your shipping agents to dispatch without delay. We will pay the shipping charges here if your Trust is legally unable to bear the cost of sending the Murtis to America.
Letter to Hit Sharanji -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1970:
So as advised previously, I may again repeat the same that if Scindia Steam Navigation Co. has not as yet replied my letter or your letter, then the Murtis should be dispatched without delay by other freighters through the shipping agents Messrs. Cox and Kings. I shall arrange for clearing the goods at the destination.
Letter to Hit Sharanji -- Los Angeles 4 March, 1970:
Now, through the forwarding agents, Messrs. Cox and Kings, you can arrange to ship all the Murtis through Scindia Steam Navigation Co. to different places as already directed.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Los Angeles 16 March, 1970:
I have received information from the Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. that the pair of Deities, 24 inches high, weighing about 50 kilograms the pair, will be arriving in Montreal sometimes by the end of May 1970. They will be delivered by the Montreal Agents of the company. The Deities will be carried by the vessel "Jaladhan." So you may note this, and you have to prepare a bigger throne for accommodating the larger Deities.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 16 March, 1970:
I have received information from the Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. that the pair of Deities, 24 inches high, weighing about 50 kilograms the pair, will be arriving in Boston sometimes by the end of May 1970. They will be delivered by the New York Agents of the company. The Deities will be carried by the vessel "Jalapalaka." So you may note this, and you have to prepare a bigger throne for accommodating the larger Deities.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 March, 1970:
The address which you have received from Readers Digest is not the same address as I gave you, but whatever it may be, they are a large agent, and you can open correspondence as our distributer in India and settle terms. Send them some selected copies of BTG.
Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:
So except Krsna Consciousness or Bhagavata Dharma or religion of the Bhagavata, any other system of religion is only pretension, that is the fact. It is not therefore surprising that your impression of the meeting of the Jews and Christians, where you had opportunity to speak, was that they were lacking so much in God-consciousness. So far we are concerned, our principle is to live with God as actual fact, and not to make God a supplying agent. Our process is different because we want to supply God everything—whatever we have got and whatever we have not got.
Letter to Robert, Karen -- Los Angeles 19 April, 1970:
The truth within this material world is relative. The Absolute Truth is outside the relative world. Just like when a child is born, he is relative—he is born by his father. Then you go on researching and you will find that his father is also born of his father and so on. In this way if we go on searching out the Absolute Truth, you will find Him, the Supreme Person, not imperson. Just like the child is a person, therefore the agent or the truth which begot the child is taken without any hesitation as a person. Therefore the Absolute Truth cannot be imperson—that is a fact.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 7 November, 1970:
Please see Atma Ram & Sons book distributers on Kashmere Gate, New Delhi (Isha Kumar-proprietor). Isha Kumar as always been very respectful towards me. You can show him all our books and if he is interested, he may become the sole selling agent in India for my books and he will get a 40% discount, but he must order at least 200 copies of each book.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Bombay 10 November, 1970:
Please give Jayapataka Maharaja the shipping documents for the Boston and L.A. shipments and tell him to momentarily not try to clear the books on his own as we are arranging for this clearing and forwarding agent to also handle the book shipments. So for the time being he should just keep the Bill of Lading documents safely in hand and eventually he will hand over the documents to the clearing and forwarding agent in Calcutta, whose address I shall inform him of later.
Letter to Upendra -- Bombay 21 November, 1970:
Regarding "Devi Chandan", we have no use for it. It has got no place in our Vaisnava worship. So far the demigods are concerned, we Vaisnavas have nothing against them, so they may be offered all respects as part and parcel servitors of the Supreme Lord Krsna. The foolish persons may worship the Demigods as Supreme, but we see only that they are agents of the Lord and as such we may offer them our humble respects.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 24 November, 1970:
Your enthusiasm for starting centers for educating the people of the world in this sublime Krsna Consciousness process is very good. You are actually authorized agent of my Guru Maharaja and through Him, Lord Caitanya. He predicted that in every town and village of the world His Name will be well known and you are trying for fulfilling His mission, certainly He will give you all strength and blessings. We simply have to work sincerely and automatically all other things will come.
1971 Correspondence
Letter to Edith -- Bombay, INDIA January 28th, 1971:
By offering our foodstuffs to Krishna with love and devotion, Krishna says he wiil accept and it becomes spiritually purified because he is the supreme pure. So love and devotion to Krishna is the purifying agent and nullifies all the bad effects of this age of Kali yuga. Simply let as offer to Krishna with love and devotion and chant the -Hare Krishna Mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare) and our very existence will become purified.
1972 Correspondence
Letter to Mr. Gerald J. Gross -- Calcutta 20 February, 1972:
In the meantime I am very much pleased to inform you that there is very good demand in India for the small edition of my Bhagavad-gita published by you. Unfortunately, stocks are not available here in India. I understand that you have got your appointed agents here in india, namely "India Book House." They have got their office in Warden Road, a few blocks from our Temple in Bombay on the same road. I went there personally to inquire whether they have got the book in stock, but they had no stock. So I shall request you to immediately send stock of my Bhagavad-gita already published in sufficient numbers so that we can inform our thousands of devotees and Indian customers to take supply from your agents here.
Letter to Isho Kumar -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1972:
Now you kindly consult with your father and if you are serious to take up the matter, then I will send you the matter for your immediate attention. If you are interested to publish my works that will be very much suitable to me and profitable for both of us, But if that is not possible, you please introduce us to one nice press and we can print on our own account, and you can be the selling agent. In both ways I am very much anxious to revive the old connection.
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Bombay 31 December, 1972:
I can understand that it is Krsna's desire that we have got that place at Bury Place, it has become world famous due to that location, so try to keep that place also as long as possible. But in order to expand properly all over British Isles we shall require a big big headquarters as you are contemplating. But if there is no solid program for getting the place, simply we are depending upon agents and George to do everything, then we may not be favored by Krsna to get a place very quickly. Better to take the upper hand and begin very energetically attempting to get some place.
1973 Correspondence
Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Calcutta 4 March, 1973:
Now keep yourself pure and Krsna will help you. Krsna has become merciful upon you. I am only the agent. He has special favor upon Americans, so tell your countrymen to take advantage and spread our teaching all over the world. I hope this meets you in good health. Hare Krsna.
Letter to Amarendra -- Los Angeles 19 April, 1973:
You are asking me to advise what should be your program, but now I wanting to leave these matters in the hands of my disciples. I have created GBC specifically for this purpose. If you the elder disciples cannot manage things, then what is the future of the society? My business now is to sit down and write my books, and I am requesting you all to please cooperate with me in this endeavor. So I think you can take advice from Rupanuga Maharaja, as he is my authorized agent. So I am sending him your letter and a copy of this letter in this regard.
Letter to Sir Alistair Hardy -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 July, 1973:
As we were discussing that verse from Bhagavad-gita that "The production of food depends on sufficient pouring of water from the sky" that is not in our hands. Because we have become Godless, because we have stopped sacrifice or Yajna, which means to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supply of rain may be stopped. God may not be angry, but his agents like the material nature, she does not like to give sufficient food stuffs to the demons. That is the version of the Vedic literature.
Letter to Cittahari -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 August, 1973:
On your recommendation I am happy to accept Brian Lloyd as my initiated disciple. His name will be Bhutanath das. You can instruct him on all matters of philosophy and regulative living, attending class, Sankirtana, book distribution. As president of the temple you have very much responsibility, so never forget that we are acting as agents for the Supreme Lord so our standard must also be perfect and then automatically anyone that comes in our company will become perfect in no time.
Letter to Bahudak -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 August, 1973:
When I hear about the Sankirtana Buses that are moving all over the world then I think that we are becoming like a gigantic guerilla warfare movement fighting with maya. This traveling in buses is the best means to drive away maya and establish Krishna consciousness all over the world. After all the whole world is the property of Krishna, but temporarily it is being illegally occupied by maya's agents. Flood them with kirtana and books, this is the best weapon, increase the number of buses that will be your success.
1974 Correspondence
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bombay 21 November, 1974:
Regarding the book distribution, apart from our books, the Communist Party has become popular simply by distributing their literatures. I know in Calcutta the Communist agents were inviting friends and reading their literature. The Russians never came to India, but by distributing literature in every language they get a pretty good number of followers. So if it is possible for ordinary third class mundane literature, why not should our transcendental literature create devotees all over the world.
Letter to Attorney General's Department -- Bombay 26 November, 1974:
I have appointed Madhudvisa Swami (Mr. Michael E. Morrissey) as the GBC Secretary for Australia. Mr. Morrissey is my sole agent in Australia and my official representative, and he has supreme authority there in all matters.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Bombay 8 December, 1974:
BBT India issues the advice what amount ISKCON LA has to pay the printer. And ISKCON LA pays 50% directly to the printer for goods received and 50% may be deposited in the ISKCON Mayapur Vrindaban Fund, to be used for temple construction or purchasing property. In this way there is no need of keeping any separate BBT account which may be taxable. And, ISKCON LA acts as the appointed agent of BBT India. So, if ISKCON LA goes into liquidation, BBT India will not be affected. If the agent goes into liquidation, does it mean that the supplier must also go into liquidation? So ISKCON LA receives goods and pays according to advice received from BBT India.
1975 Correspondence
Letter to Pusta Krsna -- Honolulu 15 June, 1975:
One travel agent in New Delhi has told us that two of her clients (American) were going to Johannesburg with visa, sufficient funds onward ticket, passport, etc., and due to some change all of the sudden in the Government, they were thrown into jail, and the next day, they were sent, at their own expense out of the country. The travel agent said that it could be even more severe for an Indian citizen, so, if there is any risk, it is not a very good idea. So, you should find out if there any risk at all and then let me know at my Los Angeles address.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Los Angeles 21 June, 1975:
One thing I want is for the book sales to be organized there in India. There are many English books selling there on the market, and there are many English publishing houses. So why it cannot be organized? Even if our own men cannot do the selling, we can hire some agents to do it. Our books are very much appreciated in India, and the people will purchase. Even the clerks they can purchase the small books. We have so many small books. This kind of preaching work is very important. The people must be given some impression of our philosophy.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Berkeley 17 July, 1975:
So on experimental stage we can make them the exclusive sales agent for six months to one year, if they can guarantee a certain reasonable amount of monthly order. If the agree to Rs. 1 lakh per month than for the first four months they must pay us Rs. 50,000/- per month and then Rs. 1 lakh per month upon delivery. Yes, you can print small books as much as possible. The paper sample you sent in your last letter is all right if it is acceptable for the Indian book market.
Letter to Abhinanda, Gopesvara -- Los Angeles 23 June, 1975:
Regarding a book agent, we have got our agent, India Book House in Calcutta. Find out if they are importing. Also Gopala Krishna is arranging with our printer in Delhi who can also import books.
Letter to Certification (for Jayapataka) -- Vrindaban 24 August, 1975:
In the matter of an application for a certificate of naturalization under the Citizenship Act, 1955, made by my disciple Jayapataka Swami/ Gordon John Erdman I, Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami aged 79 years by occupation the Founder-Acarya: International Society for Krishna Consciousness son of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, residing at Vrindaban, U.P., do solemnly and sincerely affirm that I am an Indian citizen otherwise then by naturalization; that I am a property-holder; that I am not a solicitor or agent of Jayapataka Swami/ Gordon John Erdman; that I have personal knowledge of, and intimate acquaintance with, the said Gordon John Erdman of seven years; that the statements contained in his application for naturalization are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
1976 Correspondence
Letter to Yasomatinandana -- Mayapur 15 February, 1976:
Yes, I approve your distribution ideas, namely subscriber agents, news agents. The subscription drive is a solid program. And if you regularly publish and get registered, you can get a one or two paise charges (postal concession). All right, you may take advertisements. Go ahead and educate the public regarding our philosophy and ISKCON activities. Also in the future there are many cities such as Bombay, Surat, and Calcutta with large numbers of Gujaratis, you may arrange for getting subscriptions there. Gradually as you work there, you will get local men to join you.
Letter to Yasomatinandana -- New York 11 July, 1976:
Your program in Ahmedabad is very encouraging. Do it. Why not take the government land immediately. If you can publish these magazines you will get many supporters and sympathizers. If the order department in Bombay is not despatching the orders on literature to the foreign temples then you can sometimes go to Bombay and organize things. You are one of the trustees. You can organize it or have some professional shipping agent do it. Ahmedabad is such a big city. Aren't there any shipping agents there? Why from Bombay, why not from Ahmedabad?
Letter to M. M. De -- Vrindaban 16 November, 1976:
Thanks for your determination. Why not act as liaison, agent, and representative of Krsna following in the footsteps of your father? Your father didn't despise the service of Krsna; because service of Krsna is eternal engagement of the living entity. Practically, your father's books sell all over the world to the extent of Rs. 5 to 6 lacs per day. If he would have taken the royalty to the minimum of 15% his daily income would have been Rs. 75,000/- per day. But he does not take a single paise and is engaged as representative of Krsna day and night. Why not follow this tradition of your noble heritage?
1977 Correspondence
Letter to Attorney General's Department -- Calcutta 16 January, 1977:
I have appointed Bali Mardan dasa Adhikari (William Berke) as the Governing Body Commissioner for Australia. Mr. Berke is my direct agent in Australia and my official representative, and he has executive authority there in all matters.
| Page Title: | Agents (Letters) |
| Compiler: | MadhuGopaldas, Serene |
| Created: | 22 of Dec, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=81 |
| No. of Quotes: | 81 |