Australia (Letters, 1974 - 1977)

Expressions researched:
"Australia" |"Australia's"

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Los Angeles 12 January, 1974:

I have seen the monthly book distribution report and your name, Australia, is first among the world distributers. This is very pleasing to me and indicates you are leading all others in preaching and spreading the mission of Krsna Consciousness.

As for obtaining a deity after the style of Bankebehari, we shall discuss that further at another time whether it is possible.

I am going back to India via Honolulu on next Monday. I am very much encouraged by your activities in selling books. So not only you shall supply ghee in exchange of books supplied by Gargamuni Swami. In the future we may need large quantities of ghee in our different centers because after going back to India I shall see that in every temple food distribution goes on nicely. Australia is famous for producing wheat and milk products. My question is whether you can supply as contribution to our ISKCON centers in India, wheat and ghee in exchange of books. If it is possible then consult with the Trustees of BBT and consider the matter and do the needful.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 6 April, 1974:

I will be glad to come to Paris on your invitation for the second week of May. I will also be able to visit Geneva, Sweden and Rome if you will arrange programs for me. As you know, I must return to India for the Janmastami celebration in August. So if I fly from India to Paris and arrive the second week of May, then I may stay no more than 4 or 5 days each in Paris, Geneva, Stockholm and Rome, and then go to Germany and stop at three or four centers there also. Then in late June I may go to Australia. Satsvarupa can write you further concerning the fixing up of visas, arrival dates etc.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 6 April, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am not exactly certain of your whereabouts now; I trust your arrangements for visa are going on and that you will soon be back in Australia.

I am presently fixing a traveling schedule for visiting Paris, France in the second week of May. Then I will visit, Geneva, Rome, Stockholm, and three or four cities in Germany, each place for no more than four or five days. So since I will not have to return to India until August, after Europe I can go to Australia for your Rathayatra if you can purchase our tickets. You can reply to me here in Bombay until the second week of May, when we shall go to Paris.

Letter to Raghunatha -- Bombay 7 April, 1974:

St. Kilda, Australia

Dear Raghunath,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 1st, and I have noted the contents.

You have analyzed that you are distressed because you are not given an engagement in Krsna Consciousness. This observation is correct, unless we are engaged with all our senses and intelligence in serving Krsna where is the question of Krsna Consciousness? We are reading here in the evenings how in the 4th chapter of Bhagavad gita Krsna has arranged for catur varnam, the social division of four orders, whereby everyone has some engagement according to his propensity, his quality and work, and thus everyone can go back to Godhead while performing their work.

You complain that as a householder it is very difficult. Especially you want to preach. There are examples of great preachers who were householders, such as Bhaktivinode thakur, although we cannot hope to imitate him. You have not mentioned whether you are attending the activities of the temple and associating with the devotees in Melbourne, and these things are essential. Madhudvisa Swami is my representative in charge of devotional affairs in Australia and if you will discuss the specific situation with him, he will see that you become engaged in work just suitable to your situation as a householder.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 11 April, 1974:

I have written you earlier that my plans are to travel to Paris by mid May and then spending 4 or 5 days in each place, I will visit Geneva, Rome, and three or four cities in Germany. Then I will be prepared to go to Australia for Rathayatra. So let me hear from you in this regard.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 13 April, 1974:

As for my own activities as you have requested, my schedule is: leave for Hyderabad April 18; after one week in Hyderabad I will travel one week in southern India; by middle of May I will leave India for Paris, and will travel 4 or 5 days in each place to Geneva, Rome, Sweden, then 3 or 4 cities in Germany. Then I may go to Rathayatra in Australia and back to India by Janmastami. After that I will go to England and then the U.S.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 4 May, 1974:

I heard you were still in Los Angeles. When will you be returning to Australia? Jaya tirtha has written inviting me to the Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 7. I will be in Europe until the end of June and I may go to the Ratha yatra in San Francisco on July 7. Jaya tirtha said the festival is so timed that I can also go to the Australia Rathayatra also. What is the date of your Rathayatra? I have written you several times on this point, whether you want me to attend Rathayatra in Australia. If you like I can leave San Francisco and fly to Australia via Hawaii. So let me hear from you on the above mentioned points.

Letter to Sudama -- Bombay 8 May, 1974:

Please keep consulting with Bali Mardan on financial matters. It is possible that I may stop at Honolulu sometime in July on my way to Rathayatra Festival, Australia. I will keep you informed. Acknowledge receipt.

Letter to Caru -- Bombay 9 May, 1974:

I am glad to hear, although there were many difficulties, that Madhudvisa Maharaja will be able to return to Australia with permanent residence status. Please have him write me as soon as he returns. I do not have the exact date of your Rathayatra in June, although I think it is June 21. As for going there my present itinerary is that I am going to Rome on May 23 for a week, then a week in Geneva and then a week in Paris. So I may not be in London when it is time to go to Australia. You have written that you are arranging tickets for London-Sydney-Delhi. It is a little difficult to make exact arrangements at this time. But I plan to leave for Australia from Europe. Then from Australia I plan to go to San Francisco via Honolulu, in order to attend the July 8 Rathayatra in San Francisco.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 12 May, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I understand that you are preparing for my arrival for your Rathayatra. I am not sure of your Rathayatra date but I think it is at the end of June. However at this time I will be in Europe. I am to arrive in Rome on the 23rd, then on the 30th to Geneva, then June 6 to Paris. On June 15 I go to Koln where Hamsaduta has arranged a lecture tour continuing in Heidelberg and Amsterdam through July 6. So it will not be possible for me to attend Rathayatra if you have scheduled it for June. I am immediately going to the US after Europe to attend Rathayatra in Chicago on July 6 and then Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 8. From there I will come to Australia toward the middle or end of July. If it is possible for you to reschedule your Rathayatra for the end of July then I will attend. But I will come to Australia at that time anyway. I do not know if you will be able to reschedule your Rathayatra. So if you wish to communicate with me I will be in the European cities as dated above.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Bombay 15 May, 1974:

That means I will not visit London on this tour. After San Francisco, I will travel to visit Australia, stopping at Hawaii. And after Australia I will return to India in time for the Janmastami celebration which is on August 9th. After the celebrations in Vrindaban, I will be free to visit England and the U.S. So these are my elaborate travel plans, and we shall see what Krsna desires.

Letter to Sudama -- Rome 26 May, 1974:

In my upcoming touring programs I am going to attend Rathayatra in Australia from June 26 until about July 2, then I am going to the U.S. for Rathayatra. So it may be that I will break my journey in Hawaii and see you then. I shall inform you further. Please keep me informed of all developments with the land and devotees there. I will be in Paris from June 6, to June 15.

Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Geneva 4 June, 1974:

I am certainly making all plans to attend Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 7th and 8th. I will be going to Australia for their Rathayatra on June 29th and after that Jayatirtha is arranging my tickets for coming to U.S. I would like to attend the Rathayatra in Chicago on July 6th and, come to San Francisco on the evening of the sixth, so you may prepare to receive me then.

Letter to Nandalal -- Paris 9 June, 1974:

Please inform Sudama Maharaja that I have received his May 27th letter and that I am encouraged by the progress of the farm as well as the continued book distribution. I have asked Yasodanandana Swami to help out in Taiwan where there are only two men, rather than come to Hawaii. By now Sudama Maharaja should have been informed by Bali Mardan that myself and my two secretaries will be stopping off in Hawaii on our journey from Australia to the U.S. and that we will arrive July 3rd on Quantas airlines at 8:45 A.M.. We will stay for 30 hours and he should arrange for our staying in Honolulu. More when we meet.

Letter to Trivikrama -- Paris 9 June, 1974:

You send both good and bad news. It is very good that Taiwan is proving a good place for Krsna Consciousness, in that you report many Chinese boys are coming and that you have been given a nice place to operate a center. Unfortunately three men have left you and now there is only you and Dvija hari. I can understand the boys who left you were not very steady. I have written to Yasodananda Swami who was thinking of travelling from Tokyo to come and join you there and also Gurukrpa Swami can come and go from Tokyo and try to help. I will soon be going to Australia (by June 25th) and when I see Madhudvisa Swami I shall ask him to consider if he can investigate your situation and send you brahmacaris as needed. We will also discuss Hong Kong, which as you mention, is also short of men. In the meantime, although you are only two you should carry on all your programs as far as possible. In the beginning I was only one and I started everything, so you have twice as many men. Trust in Krsna and simply dedicate your life to introducing the chanting of Hare Krsna and Krsna Consciousness philosophy to whomever you meet. Surely Lord Caitanya will be pleased by your effort there, and thus you will be eligible for his benediction which is to award love of Krsna.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Frankfurt 19 June, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. With further reference to my letter of June 13, 1974 I beg to inform you that a difficulty has arisen in that we have not yet received visa permission from the Australian government. As such, it may be that I will not be able to meet you in Bombay on 23 June as previously informed. In case I do not go to Australia I will go to U.S.A. via London.

Letter to Pancadravida, Aksayananda -- Melbourne 28 June, 1974:

Your report that a Christian gentleman became a life member being attracted to our books is also our experience. Just today we spoke at a seminary in Melbourne, Australia, and the young Franciscan monks listened very respectfully. When speaking to Christians we never say our religious system is better than theirs but we speak on the principles of love of God, Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo (SB 1.2.6). They become convinced and pleased to hear our explanations of God consciousness based on the Vedic conclusion—if they are at all sincere. So whenever you come upon such gentlemen or institutions try to place our books there and make them life members also.

Letter to Bal Krsna -- Melbourne 30 June, 1974:

Redfern, Australia

Dear Bal Krishna,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram of June 28, 1974.

Allow me to congratulate you and your wife for giving birth to a new child. Now see that she is raised in Krsna Consciousness so that at the end of this life she can go back to Home, back to Godhead. As far as my blessing is concerned it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Melbourne 1 July, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am spending my last two days in Australia and after this I shall go to the U.S.A. In the meantime, I wish to give you some instructions regarding our Janmastami installation in Vrindaban.

The main thing is the ceremony shall be conducted by our own men. We do not have to be dependent on taking help from persons who will not even eat with us, thinking us inferior. All over the world, in Paris, New York, Australia etc., our men and women are worshiping the deity very nicely and I am very proud of their worship. There is no reason why we have to think we are dependent on any Indian goswami in order to conduct our ceremony in Vrindaban. So you understand this and be convinced of it, and let them come as invited but we shall conduct the affair ourselves.

Letter to Cyavana -- Melbourne 3 July, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 24 June which has just been forwarded to me here in Australia.

Letter to Karandhara -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 25/6/74 redirected from Australia. In the meantime I have received one letter from Karandhara Prabhu, so I am replying two letters conjointly. I also request you to draw an exact similar plan like that of our Vrindaban temple and send it to Trinidad at the following address: ISKCON, 21 C Penbroke St., Port Of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. The idea is that we have got a land there, one half acre, and we want to construct a similar temple like Vrindaban there. So I hope at your earliest convenience you will send the site plan at least to Trinidad as soon as possible. We have a proposed temple in Bhaktivedanta Manor, Letchmore Heath, London, and I hope in the meantime you might have received the same request from Madhavananda Prabhu.

Letter to Sridhara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1974:

I am so much thankful for your appreciating my preaching work in the Western countries. Fortunately these American boys and girls are so kind upon me that we are happily preaching this movement all over the world. This time my world touring covers many European cities like Rome, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt,; then I went to Australia to Melbourne, then to Chicago via Fiji and Hawaii. From Chicago I came to San Francisco and at present I am staying at Los Angeles. From here I shall go to Dallas, Texas. From there I shall go to West Virginia to our center New Vrindaban. From there I shall go to London. In London our Ratha yatra festival has been held up, and I think behind this obstruction there is some communal feeling. The local religious sect is not always happy on account of our movement being so fast growing. Especially thousands of young boys and girls are interested in this Krishna consciousness movement. So I think there is some plot to check up this fast growing movement. We are trying our best to counteract this opposing element but everything will rest upon Krishna.

Letter to Vijayadhvaja -- Dallas 17 July, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I may inform you that I am sending Subaladas Swami along with three other men Australia to assist you. So you should arrange for his ticket. I think you can have Mr. Punja arrange this ticket.

Letter to Amogha -- Vrindaban 5 August, 1974:

Double Bay, Australia

My Dear Amogha das:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 16, 1974 with enclosed clippings and the Christian paper Southern Cross. The articles are very nice, and I am very pleased how the Christian community are appreciating our movement. Actually we have no quarrel with them. We accept Lord Jesus Christ as the son of God and he was a great Vaisnava. Because he appeared in another country does not mean that we should not offer him respect. If we stick to our principles as I have given you, more and more these priestly class they will come to respect us and appreciate something of our philosophy. Therefore I stress so much the devotional rules and regulations.

Letter to Sudama, Subala -- Vrindaban 5 September, 1974:

Best idea is for Subala to go to Fiji and preach. That is the business of sannyasi, not opening restaurant. Restaurant is for grhastha. Preaching is first. Subala should go there and tactfully manage and get men from Australia. Mr. Punja has written that he is arranging the ticket and will give assistance. So do it nicely.

Letter to Vijoyadhvaja -- Vrindaban 5 September, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. What is the difficulty if Subala das Goswami comes there. Sudama Vipra Maharaja is already engaged in the Philippines. I have no objection to Sudama Vipra going there, but he is already engaged. Better you continue there and let Subala come and organize in Fiji and get men from Australia.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Vrindaban 18 September, 1974:

Glebe, Australia

My Dear Madhudvisa Swami

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3rd, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have also received the enclosed pictures of the proposed house. I am thinking that you are a very sincere devotee. I am remembering that during my recent visit there in Australia how during the kirtana you were seeing to my personal and not letting anybody come forward and still leading the kirtana. When you begin the chanting, everybody becomes captivated, and you can go on without stopping. I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I am happy that I have got so many sincere devotees who will carry on. That is my happiness.

I like Australia very much because of your book distribution. So sell books and secure money and purchase the house and pay BBT conveniently. From the photos it appears that the house is very nice and sufficient for the present. Still the convent was a better place, and Dr. Powell and the bishop of Melbourne could advise them why they are insisting on this point of dismantling the chapel. Anyway either of the houses you can secure.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Calcutta 25 September, 1974:

Glebe, Australia

My Dear Madhudvisa Swami:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated dated September 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples.

1. Mr. Ashok Jeram Patel—Astasiddhi dasa

2. Ian Saller—Yamalarjuna dasa

Please see to it that they follow strictly the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds minimum daily on the beads.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974:

Regarding BBT lending Bhaktivedanta Manor dollars 25,000 for purchasing a house in Letchmore Heath, the BBT has no money, that is what I think. It is lending to Australia Dollars 100,000 and prepared to lend to Paris Dollars 100,000. I do not know that after lending this money there will be anything more. Lending for opening a temple is the business of BBT but not lending for residential quarters.

Letter to Bhurijana -- Mayapur 6 October, 1974:

East Brighton, Australia

My Dear Bhurijana Das:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 from Singapore and have noted the contents. So wherever you find a suitable place you can go, always keeping sure to follow the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds. Whatever service you can render that is welcome. Do not deviate from the principles.

Letter to Subala -- Mayapur 15 October, 1974:

So work diligently. It is a good place. Take more devotees from Australia, and organize it nicely. You have got a good field. You are an old, experienced worker, and I have full confidence in you. Krishna will bless you in this attempt. There I have seen the Indian people are very receptive.

Letter to Amogha -- Bombay 31 October, 1974:

Alexandria, Australia

My Dear Amogha das:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 7, 1974 with enclosed copies of the Library orders. I thank you very much for this. It is very good that our books are being appreciated by the learned circles. If our books are distributed more and more in this way, there will be unlimited scope for spreading this movement of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. And, personally I become very much encouraged when I get the report of my books being distributed.

Regarding Indonesia program and Gaura Mandala Bhumidas assisting and so far collecting money in Australia for the project, these things should be consulted with the GBC man. Please give me relief from all the managing so I can devote my brain to the literary work. It requires a great deal of concentration.

Letter to Subala -- Bombay 13 November, 1974:

Cooperate with Mr. Punja, and chant Hare Krishna and distribute prasadam for the time being. This should be your program. When we get sincere devotees, trained up brahmanas, we shall install Deity there, not before then. It is good that you are getting men from Australia to assist you. Most probably I will be going to Hawaii in mid December, so if you like we can go to Fiji also.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 23 November, 1974:

Regarding ghee for India, what is the price? Australia is also sending in exchange of books. We have received from Australia ghee for Rs. 10-per kg.

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 Bhurijana -- Bombay 2 December, 1974:

I shall be gong to Hong Kong and Tokyo shortly, and thereafter to Australia in the month of January, as Madhudvisa Swami has invited me for the temple opening and installation.

Letter to Pusta Krsna -- Bombay 6 December, 1974:

I will come to South Africa. Brahmananda Swami suggests that we come after going to Australia. We shall remain in Australia up to end of February, and will be able to spare two weeks in South Africa, because I must be in India by mid March.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs

N.B. We were not able to get the S.A. endorsement in Bombay in time, so we shall try for it in Australia.

Letter to Sri Mohan Mazumdar -- Bombay 17 December, 1974:

For the time being I have postponed my journey to Honolulu. Maybe I will be going to Australia by mid-January 1975.

Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 21 December, 1974:

Regarding my coming to Mexico City and Caracas, yes I want to come there very much. Now we are in Bombay trying to get permission from the government to build our temple. And it appears that we will possibly be getting the permission next week. If this works out then I will immediately be going to Honolulu and from Honolulu I can go directly to Mexico City, then Caracas, and then to Australia by the end of Jan. If the Bombay situation is not settled up I may have to stay till mid-Jan. or so and then in mid or end of Jan. I will be going to Australia to stay for one month. After Australia we had planned to go to S. Africa for two weeks, but if this does not work out then I could come to Mexico City and Caracas at that time. Anyway I will let you know as soon as our plan becomes definite. I am always anxious to hear your reports of new book publications and sales.

Letter to Dr. Ghosh -- Bombay 23 December, 1974:

You are cordially invited to come and visit us anytime here in Bombay at your convenience. I am planning to stay in Bombay until mid-Jan. and then I shall go to Australia.

Letter to Kisora -- Bombay 23 December, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11-12-74 and have noted the contents. If you like you can come immediately to Bombay and work under the direction of Giriraja who is also anxious to have you as an assistant. At the present moment there are no facilities for householders, therefore you can come alone and in a short while when the householder facilities are better than you can call for your wife. I will be here in Bombay until probably mid-Jan. then I may go to Australia.

Letter to Sri Agrawal -- Bombay 29 December, 1974:

Please accept my greetings. I thank you very much for your calendar presentation which I received Wednesday morning on the 18 of December. The pictures on your calendar are very beautiful and much appreciated by me. I am very sorry that I was not able to see you when you came. But I am hoping that you will be able to come again maybe between 5 and 7 p.m. and I will see you then. I will be in Bombay for about one more month and then I may go to Australia.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 21 January, 1975:

Alexandria, Australia

My dear Madhudvisa Svami,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 4th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for settling things up nicely in Fiji. Enclosed, please find one copy of a letter to Vijoya das requesting him to work co-operatively with Asta Siddhi das.

Letter to Caru -- Honolulu 6 February, 1975:

Albert Park, Australia

My dear Caru das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. From your letter, it appears that you need a change of activities. I think it will be best if you come to the festival at Mayapur and from there we can decide what project will be best for you to become involved in. For the time being, keep yourself fixed in Krishna's service 24 hours and follow staunchly all of the regulated principles, such as chanting 16 rounds, rising early, attending arati and class, etc.

Letter to Samjata -- Tehran 14 March, 1975:

Krishna has given you a nice responsibility there in Australia, so work nicely with the devotees there and remain always strong in Krishna Consciousness by following all of our rules and regulations very carefully and chant at least 16 good rounds daily.

Letter to Alfred Ford -- Mayapur 5 April, 1975:

After the opening of our Vrndavana temple here in India, I shall start for Australia by May 5th to install Gaura-Nitai deities and then I shall go to Fiji for a few days to see how our center is doing there. After that, I shall arrive in Honolulu by May 17th. This time, I will stay there for some time, most probably until the beginning of July, when I will be going to the American mainland for our annual Rathayatra festival in San Francisco. If it is convenient for you, I would like to have you come and stay with me while I am there in Hawaii. I will arrange a nice room for you and any other facilities you may require. I am hoping that you will consider this carefully to my Bombay address.

Letter to Dr. Ghosh -- Mayapur 5 April, 1975:

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your two letters dated March 20th and March 23rd, 1975 and have noted the contents very carefully. I thank you very much for your kind invitation and, tentatively, I accept it. Most probably, we shall go to Allahabad from Vrndavana by the 28th of April, 1975 and stay there for a week, and then start for Bombay on the way to Australia by the 5th of May I wish to hold classes on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam for one hour in the evening and one hour in the morning. I do not know if gentlemen there will spare so much time. If not two hours, then I shall hold one hour Bhagavad-gita class, and I wish to see how people there appreciate our missionary activities. It is strictly on the basis of Lord Krishna's teachings as they are presented by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is our mission. So, if people become interested in our philosophy, then we shall consider the other two items, namely, the nursery school and dispensary. So far dispensary is concerned, we have none all over the world. It will be a new attempt. So far the school is concerned, we have got in Africa and America, and we have got men experienced to teach on our line. But for dispensary, we have no experience at all.

Letter to Amogha -- Vrindaban 17 April, 1975:

Melbourne, Australia

My dear Amogha dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated 2-4-75 and have noted the contents. I am also hoping that you will be able to print our books in that part of the world in the local languages. I think there is a Dai Nippon branch in Jakarta. It is a great service to sell our books to educational institutions. The more you do this, the more you become recognized by Krishna. Take standing orders, as much as possible. If you can induce any of these educational institutions to invite me, I shall go there to speak amongst the educated persons. Please continue your good work with added enthusiasm.

Letter to Kartikeya Mahadevia -- New Delhi 2 May, 1975:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 27-4-75. The enclosure of the Gujarati paper clipping was received but I could not read the Gujarati language. I could although understand the purport of it. I have already decided to make a trust board for Hare Krishna Land in which there will be twelve trustees. Out of them seven will be Indians and five will be foreigners. Foreigners means, not only Americans, but members of the Commonwealth like England, New Zealand, Australia, etc. I have selected you also one of the trustees out of the Indians. I am reaching Bombay on the morning of the 5th instant, so kindly see me so that before leaving for Australia on the 6th I want to immediately make a document of trustees and get it signed by all concerned.

Letter to Mahamsa -- New Delhi 2 May, 1975:

Please accept my blessings. At the present moment, I am in New Delhi. We came here on the invitation of two big ministers, the Home Minister and the Railway Minister and we had two successful meetings here. Now, on the third instant, we shall go to Kuruksetra invited by Mr. G.L. Nanda. Then I shall come back on the same evening. On the fourth, I shall take rest and on the fifth, I shall go to Bombay. I do not know how much you have proceeded about the land donation by Mr. Hari Prasad Badruka and brothers. If Hari Prasad Badruka donates the land as stipulated, then I wish to make him one of the trustees of Hare Krishna Land, Bombay. I am going to make a trust board for the Bombay Hare Krishna Land in which I wish to include Sri Panalala Pithi, Hari Prasad Badruka, as well as yourself as members of the trustee board. What is your opinion? If possible, please see me in Bombay on the fifth instant, and we shall discuss on this point. If Hari Prasad Badruka and brothers are serious about donating land to us, then my decision is to make one of them especially Hari Prasad become the member of the trust of the Hare Krishna Land. I hope you will understand my views. I shall be glad to see you in Bombay on the fifth before starting for Australia on the sixth instant.

Letter to Panalalaji -- New Delhi 2 May, 1975:

Now I have decided to make a trustee board for Hare Krishna Land, Bombay. I wish to select trustees—twelve altogether. Out of them seven will be Indian and five will be foreigners. Foreigner means those who are members of the Commonwealth like Australia, New Zealand, England, Canada, etc. After all, this is an international institution, but the majority of the members of the trustees will be Indian. Namely, out of twelve members, I will make seven Indians and five foreigners. Therefore, I have decided to make you one of the trustees. If you come to Bombay on the fifth instant, we shall discuss on this matter. If not, please send me your letter of acceptance in which you agree to become one of the trustees of the Hare Krishna Land. Kindly treat this as urgent and do the needful.

Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Perth, Australia 7 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

7 May, 1975

75-05-07

San Francisco

My dear Bhakta dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am due receipt of your letter dated April 15th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear all of the good news in your letter. This is very encouraging. Continue to preach vigorously, following all of the rules and regulations very carefully and Krishna will give you every facility. It sounds like the Rathayatra festival will be bigger than ever this year. I am hoping to come there again.

Letter to Caitya-guru -- Perth, Australia 7 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

7 May, 1975

75-05-07

Nairobi

My dear Caityaguru dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 14th, 1975 and have noted the contents. For some reason or other, I have received your letter very very late, otherwise reply would have been much sooner. Anyway, I am very glad that you are feeling very much encouraged working in Africa. If you follow all of the rules and regulations very carefully and continue in this way then you will always be successful.

Letter to Lalita Priya -- Perth, Australia 7 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

7 May, 1975

75-05-07

Edinburgh, Scotland

My dear Lalita Priya devi,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 10th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am happy to know that you are feeling blissful in our Krishna Consciousness movement. We should follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and the six Goswamis of Vrndavana. They were always serving Krishna in the mood of separation. They never said that "now I have seen Krishna" or "last night I danced with Krishna"—No. They were crying where is Krishna, and they were always searching after Him, wondering when they would finally be able to see Him. We should also desire intensely to see and be with Krishna, but first thing is to become purified through devotional service. It is not possible otherwise. So, keep on helping me to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement, following the rules and regulations very carefully, and your life will be perfected and you will see Krishna.

Letter to Sri Kamalapati Tripathi -- Perth, Australia 7 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

7 May, 1975

75-05-07

Sri Kamalapati Tripathi

Minister of Railways

Government of India, New Delhi

My dear Sri Kamalapati Tripathi,

Please accept my Namaskara. Since I met you in New Delhi, I went to Kuruksetra to attend the meeting of Manava Dharma organized by Sri G.L. Nanda. The enclosed letter to Mr. Nanda will speak for itself how I appreciated the grand place of Kuruksetra. I wish to organize this holy spot for spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world and the suggestions that I have given to Mr. Nanda may be carefully read by you also. And I shall be glad to know whether any co-operation from your side is possible in this attempt. I shall be glad to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Letter to Mr. Fletcher -- Perth, Australia 9 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

9 May, 1975

75-05-09

Geoffrey Fletcher

St. Ives, Australia

My dear Mr. Fletcher,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 9th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for your kind sentiment. You are very fortunate to be taking part in the Krishna Consciousness movement. If you take it very seriously, then you will not have to take another birth in this miserable material world. You can go back to home, back to Godhead at the end of this life. So, my request is that you take it up very boldly and finish your business in this material world.

Letter to Pavanadeva -- Perth, Australia 9 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

9 May, 1975

75-05-09

Coconut Grove, Miami

My dear Pavanadeva dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 21st of April, 1975 and have noted the contents. Do not be discouraged. Simply follow all of the rules and regulations very carefully. Rise early, attend mangala arati, attend class, chant 16 rounds and follow the four basic rules and regulations. This is most important. Without these things, there is no spiritual life. If your try sincerely, then Krishna will give you all blessings.

Letter to Satkrita -- Perth, Australia 9 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

9 May, 1975

75-05-09

Phoenix, Arizona

My dear Satkrita dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 8th, 1975 and I was unable to note the contents. Why do you write such a crazy letter? You cannot write like a normal person? Anyway, I hope that you are following all of the rules and regulations very carefully without any deviation. Try to work hard for Krishna and co-operate very nicely with the temple authorities.

Letter to Aksayananda, Dhananjaya -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Vrndavana

My dear Aksayananda Swami and Dhananjaya,

Please accept my blessings. Kindly send me report of Vrndavana, how things are going on there, to our Honolulu address: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The proposal for selling rooms should be dropped for the time being unless you take instruction from Giriraja how to take contributions from the prospective clients. For the time being, you organize the paying guest proposal.

Letter to Giriraja -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Bombay

My dear Giriraja,

Please accept my blessings. I am very much anxious to receive report of the Bombay activities, about construction and everything. Please send full report to my Hawaii address: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Letter to Prof. O.P. Goel -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Prof. O.P. Goel

7, Krishna Kunj

Plot 143, Tulsipipe Road

Matunga, Bombay-26, India

My dear Sriman O.P. Goelji,

Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 1st, 1975. Please excuse me for my late reply, as I was very very busy in Vrindavan for the opening ceremony of our Krishna Balarama Temple. As I was scheduled to come to Bombay after the ceremony, I thought I shall call you at my Bombay residence, (Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, Bombay) and talk with you in detail. But circumstantially, I stayed in Bombay for a few hours only because from Vrndavana, I went to Delhi, then to Kuruksetra as I was invited by Sri G.L. Nanda in a big meeting, and again I came back to Delhi, then to Bombay and on the same night, to Perth, Australia, where I am now staying.

Letter to Mahamsa -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Hyderabad

My dear Mahamsa Swami,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram which read as follows: MISSED YOUR GRACE BY HOURS AGREEMENT DRAFT FOR FARM LAND SENT TO YOU PLEASE SANCTION RS 30,000 URGENT TRANSFER TO PREPARE FOR UTILIZING THIS MONSOON -MAHAMSA SWAMI. But, I have not received the draft copy as informed by you. Regarding the money, rs. 30,000, of course, if need be, it must be paid, but one thing is that you must be very careful that our temple portion must be completed by Janmastami so that the Deity can be moved there. This is very important that the temple portion be completed by Janmastami. Whatever money was available, I have given 1-1/2 lakhs to Jayapataka Swami and 2 lakhs to Giriraja. So, you have to take this money from Giriraja. Please arrange like that and let me know what is the progress of Hyderabad activities at my Honolulu address: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Letter to Pranava -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Vrndavana

My dear Pranava,

Please accept my blessings. I am very much anxious to know what you have done about the land which Tahsilder and Patwari proposed to give us. I am very much anxious to know it. Please send report to our Honolulu address: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

10 May, 1975

75-05-10

Goswami Raheswaranand

c/o H.K. Ajudia, B.A.L.L.B.

ADVOCATE

Station Road, Jam-Jodhpur 360530

India

My dear Radheswaranand Goswami,

Please accept my humble dandavats. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23-3-75. I expected you at our opening ceremony of the Krishna Balarama Temple in Vrndavana. The Governor of U.P. came and the festival continued for 7 days. Then I went to Kuruksetra, then I have come here in Australia for installing Gaura-Nitai deities in Melbourne. Then I shall go to Fiji and on to Honolulu.

Letter to Sri Ananga Mahan -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math

Puri

My dear Sri Ananga Mahan dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter in Bengali dated 16-4-75 and have noted the contents. It is understood that you are arranging for passport for going to the foreign countries and if you will get it, there will be no difficulty to see our temples in the foreign countries. I hope you have at least 7,000 rs. for your ticket along with return ticket. There will be no difficulty to stay in our different temples and when you are ready, you can write to my Honolulu address as follows: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. I will reach there by the end of this month.

Letter to Bhagavata -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Calcutta

My dear Bhagavata dasa,

Please accept my blessings. This is to introduce Sriman Svadhin Kumar Mullick of 50A, Hari Ghose St., Calcutta-6. I do not remember whether I have seen him before, but his grandfather was my very intimate friend. This boy is coming from a very respectful family, Mullick. I think he is slightly deformed by one hand. Anyway, please admit him to be trained up to be a devotee. He appears to be educated. Let him read our books, follow the regulative principle, and be trained in our line. Then, when I go to Calcutta, I shall see how much he has advanced and then we shall give him some definite engagement.

Letter to Brijratanji -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Mustafa Building

Bombay

My dear Brijratanji,

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 17th, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. I welcome your suggestion. I have advised my assistants to publish one chapter in each issue from the Bhagavat Maha-Purana. This will contain the devanagari script as well as the roman script. I thank you very much for your suggestion.

Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Dist. Hooghly

West Bengal

My dear Dinesh Candra Sarkarji,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 16th, 1975 and have noted the contents. We are not interested to purchase any land at so high a price. That is not practical. I have already spoken with Jayapataka Swami about all details of Mayapur. You may hear from him my ideas.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Bhaktivedanta Manor

My dear Hamsaduta dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I have received one telegram from Mahamsa Swami which reads as follows: MISSED YOUR GRACE BY HOURS AGREEMENT DRAFT FOR FARM LAND SENT TO YOU PLEASE SANCTION RS 30,000 URGENT TRANSFER TO PREPARE FOR UTILIZING THIS MONSOON—MAHAMSA SWAMI. So, they have agreed to our terms and made a draft agreement form which I have not yet seen. Anyway, as stipulated before, that you will come back to India after setting things up there in London and Frankfurt, the monsoon begins by the latest, July in that part of India, so you have to come back sometime in the month of June. And immediately, you have to send Mahamsa Swami 4,000 dollars. So, do the needful and be in correspondence with Mahamsa Swami at Hyderabad.

Letter to Jamuna -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Hyderabad

My dear Jamuni devi,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 28, 1975 and have noted the contents. Your husband recently came to Delhi and Vrndavana and he has sold so many properties of ISKCON through the Mukutwalla. His only business is to acquire money. He is collecting money like anything and is not contributing to the society. So what can I do? I did not say anything to him. I am simply praying to Krishna for his welfare.

Letter to Jayadvaita -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Los Angeles

My dear Jayadvaita dasa,

Please accept my blessings. From now on, include one chapter from Srimad-bhagavatam in every issue of Back to Godhead magazine. You can start with the 1st chapter of the 1st canto and continue. You should reproduce the chapter as it is in the book, in other words, with the devanagari script, word meanings, transliteration, etc. If a chapter is very very big, it can be given in two issues.

Letter to Kunj Bihari Shastri -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Mathura, U.P., India

My dear Kunj Bihari Shastri,

I am in due receipt of your note. Your desire to stay with us for regular recitation of the Srimad-bhagavatam is welcome. So, for a few days, you can stay with us and see how it will be suitable for you. But, one thing is the language difficulty. All our men are speaking in English. Still, you can make an experiment and if you like, then you can live with us provided you follow our rules and regulations. Just now, I am on tour and I shall be glad to receive your reply to my Honolulu address as follows: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Then I shall do the needful.

Letter to Svadhan Kumar Mullick -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Svadhan Kumar Mullick

Calcutta

My dear Svadhin Kumar,

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 1st Vaisakh, 1382. So, I am enclosing herewith one introduction letter to my disciple Bhagavata dasa, in care of our temple at #3 Albert Road, between Camac St. and Hungerford St. near the Hindu school. So, you can go there and present the introduction letter and he will do the needful.

Letter to Mr. Punja -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Lautoka, Fiji

My dear Mr. Punja,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 1st, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. I have also received from Madhudvisa Swami one copy of the Constitution that you have drawn up there. On my way from Melbourne to Honolulu, I will stop in Fiji for two days around the 22nd of May. Madhudvisa Swami will give you the exact dates of my arrival as soon as it is fixed up. When I come there, we shall discuss everything in detail regarding the Fiji program. I am looking forward to seeing you in Fiji.

Letter to Mr. K. C. Nigam -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Sri K. C. Nigam

Convenor-All India Spiritual Conference

108/119 Durgadevi Road

Kanpur-208012, INDIA

My dear Mr. Nigam,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 11th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Now, I am on world tour. At present, I am staying in Perth, Australia, then in one week, I shall go to Melbourne, then Fiji, then Honolulu where I will stay for at least one month. Then I shall go to Philadelphia and San Francisco, etc.

Letter to Swami Sachchidanand Bharati -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

11 May, 1975

75-05-11

Swami Sachchidanand Bharati

c/o Mohan Chand Agrawal

Dropadi Bhavan, Baldeo Ganj

Kosi Kalan (Mathura) U.P. INDIA

Dear Sir,

For the time being, we don't want the books you have mentioned in your letter dated 23-4-75. In the future, if we need any of them, we shall let you know. In the meantime, if you have got any source for distributing our books (English), the list is enclosed herewith. If you want the complete catalog, you can get it from our Vrndavana temple: Krishna Balarama Temple, Raman Reti, Vrndavana, Dist. Mathura.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Perth, Australia 12 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

12 May, 1975

75-05-12

New Delhi

My dear Tejyas dasa,

Please accept my blessings. Enclosed is one letter addressed to Acarya Prabhakar Misra. Please find. I do not know his address in Delhi, but I am sure that you know it. Please meet him and hand this letter over to him or forward it by post as is convenient for you. Please also keep in constant contact with Laxman S. Agarwal and his genius wife also. Try to encourage them to construct the temple in their factory as soon as possible.

Letter to Eldest son of the late Mr. Atulya De -- Perth, Australia 14 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

14 May, 1975

75-05-14

The eldest son of the late,

Mr. Atulya De

P.O. Barala, Dist. Mursidabad

West Bengal, INDIA

My dear son,

Please accept my blessings. I wanted to see you very urgently to know about your family affairs. So, will you kindly give me your exact name and address so that I can arrange to see you? When I was grhastha, I had visited your home two or three times. Now, I am a sannyasi. My headquarters is #3 Albert Road, Calcutta-17. So, it will be very kind of you to write me at this address in Calcutta how I can see you.

Letter to Yadunandana -- Perth, Australia 14 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

14 May, 1975

75-05-14

Dallas

My dear Yadunandan,

Please accept my blessings. I have just been informed by my servant, Srutakirti, that the young children, under twelve, are not allowed to use their japa beads while chanting. This policy is not good. Why this change has been made? I never said they should not use their beads. That is our business. They must be taught how to respect their beads. How they can learn unless they use them? That is the trouble with you westerners, always changing. No changes should be made without first consulting with my GBC representative. So, the children should immediately be allowed to chant on their japa beads.

Letter to Ramesvara -- Perth, Australia 15 May, 1975:

Perth, Australia

15 May, 1975

75-05-15

Los Angeles

My dear Ramesvara,

Please accept my blessings. Caitanya caritamrta is complete (12 parts) and only 3 parts are published, and now the 5th Canto is almost finished, so why these books are not being published? This is our first business. Immediately, these pending books (17 in total) must all be published. Why the delay? The US printer's binding is better than Dai Nippon. So, some may be printed in US and some in Japan, but the pending books must be finished in a very short time. When I see so many books pending, it does not encourage me to translate. When I see books printed, I become encouraged to write more and more. We can talk this over more in Hawaii. Now, you and Hamsaduta expedite the publishing work. That is your business. And push on the selling. You request Tripurari Maharaja in this connection along with the others. Now, Bhavananda Swami and Gargamuni Swami are there. They are also expert in pushing this on. By combined effort, publish as quickly as possible and immediately Caitanya-caritamrta should be done.

Letter to Dinanatha Misra -- Melbourne 19 May, 1975:

Please accept my greetings. Since I saw you last at your house, I had gone to Kuruksetra, Delhi, and also attended our Vrndavana temple opening ceremony, and now I've come to Australia to open another temple here. Just this evening the function is completed. From here, I shall go to Fiji and then Hawaii (USA). I was wondering whether you will be willing to join this Krishna Consciousness movement in your ripe old age. Your beloved son goes to our temple in Calcutta along with your daughter-in-law. I am very much pleased upon them. I also understand that you do not move very much nowadays, therefore you cannot come in the temple, but at home you can render some valuable service for this movement. So far I know, you are a good Hindi scholar as well as in English. So, if you like, you can translate our books into Hindi and I shall be glad to hear from you in this connection. I do not know whether you shall receive this letter because your house number is not known to me. I have simply given an idea of your address on the envelope. I am asking somebody in our temple to go to you with the copy of this letter.

Letter to Vinode Kumar Chudamani -- Melbourne 19 May, 1975:

While I am in Australia (Melbourne) at the above address, I received your Hindi newspaper "Vraja-Garima," but unfortunately, I don't see anything written about Brajendra-nandana, Krishna. So far we are concerned, we are preaching the glories of Krishna throughout the world, to glorify Brajendra-nandana Hari. Our Krishna Consciousness movement is going on in the Western world very appreciatively. We have published about 50 books of 400 pages each and they are going well. Recently, we have received a report from our headquarters in Los Angeles, California, USA, how our books are being accepted by the authorities. I think if you want to glorify Vraja, as you like to say, "Vraja-Garimi," then we can co-operate very nicely. We can publish many books in Hindi translated from our English books, and distribute them to the Hindi knowing public, both in India and abroad. If you are interested, please correspond with me at the following address; where I will be going very soon: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Letter to Ganesa -- Melbourne 22 May, 1975:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 21st, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for the $200 (Australia) and your kind sentiments. From your letter, I can understand that you are reading my books nicely and understanding our philosophy. This is wanted. By reading my books carefully, you will become enthused to distribute them more and more in greater quantities. If you continue in this way being very much determined to achieve success in this lifetime, following all the rules, chanting at least 16 rounds, and reading my books, then all of your desires to advance in Krishna Consciousness will be fulfilled and you will surely attain spiritual perfection and be able to go Back to Godhead, very soon.

Letter to Prabhakar -- Honolulu 31 May, 1975:

N.B. On May 18, 1975 we just opened a very large headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. The festival took place with great pomp and it was a great success. Many outsiders came and took part in the festival. I installed two very large, beautiful Deities, Gaura and Nitai in a very beautiful all-marble temple room. Things are going on very nicely in the western countries.

Letter to Sanatana -- Honolulu 10 June, 1975:

Alexandria, Australia

My dear Sanatana dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 6, 1975 and have noted the contents. No, you should not bother with all this nonsense. Astrology will not save you at the time of death. My Guru Maharaja was a great astrologer and astronomer, but he gave it all up. It is meant for the karmis. We have no interest in such things.

Letter to Mr. R. Van den Tak -- Honolulu 10 June, 1975:

Mr. R. Van den Tak

60 Liverpool St.

Paddington, 2021

Sydney, Australia

My dear Mr. Van den Tak,

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 1-6-75 and have noted the contents. Your endeavor to prove scientifically the existence of re-incarnation is not very practical. It is like bringing a cannon to kill a mosquito. It is not required to bring a cannon to kill a mosquito, similarly any sane man can understand the principle of re-incarnation. There is no need of giving some long so-called scientific explanation. Explanation is already given in the Bhagavad-gita, as it is. Krishna, the Supreme Authority has already explained, and you should accept and understand His explanation and then try to make others understand. You should visit our temple in Sydney. The address is: Corner Wrights Rd. and Drummoyne Ave., Drummoyne N.S.W.

Letter to Dinanatha -- Honolulu 14 June, 1975:

After leaving India, I went to Australia and there we have constructed a very nice temple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Radha-Krishna, and Lord Jagannatha at Melbourne. This movement is being highly appreciated by the higher educated circle. One professor in Berkeley, California University has written one big book in favor of this movement, "Hare Krishna and the Counterculture".

Letter to Gurukrpa -- Los Angeles 21 June, 1975:

Anyway you don't feel any botheration. Dai Nippon has agreed to take money in exchange of books. Whatever money you pay, you print books and send to India. You can also send to Australia or to USA if they want. You begin with Srimad-Bhagavatam and the small edition of Bhagavad-gita. Our work must go on. The world is suffering on account of not taking up Krishna consciousness, so we have to try to save them. You kindly help me to do this.

Letter to Bon Maharaja -- Los Angeles 24 July, 1975:

Regarding the library building, I am only interested in Caitanya philosophy. As it is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrta, "sri krsna caitanya daya karaha vicara/ vicara karile citte pabe camatkare." If you are indeed interested in logic and argument, kindly apply it to the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you do so, you will find it to be strikingly wonderful. (Cc. Ādi lila 8.15) But, in the library other books may be kept for comparative study by the scholars. I have no objection, but our main purpose will be to accelerate the grandeur of Caitanya philosophy. On this basis I have full cooperation. Besides that I have got about a half a dozen students who are Ph.Ds in different subjects, but they are all expert in Caitanya philosophy. If you so desire, their service can be utilized in this connection. If we fully cooperate on this Institution plan, I can attract students from all over the world such as America, Europe, Canada, Australia and the Middle East. In all these places we have got our centers and there are many students.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Detroit 4 August, 1975:

Regarding your Ratha Yatra and my visit, nothing should be done according to my schedule. I am an old man. My visits should remain independent. As far as possible I am travelling, but nowadays I am feeling a little inconvenience. Still I am thinking to go to Australia during December or January as you like.

Letter to Bhurijana -- Indre, France 11 August, 1975:

Victoria, Australia

My Dear Bhurijana das:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 1, 1975 with enclosed currency note of 50 dollars. Thank you very much. I am glad to know that you have applied for your Hong Kong visa. You were happy there, so why not return there. Pancadravida Swami is leaving to go to South America, and Gopala Krishna cannot send any man there. You started there in Hong Kong, and I have full confidence in you to make it successful.

Letter to Sri Raj Kapoor -- Vrindaban 26 August, 1975:

So after ten years of struggle, in 1965 I went to USA, and by the grace of Krishna it has become successful all over Europe, America, Canada, and Australia. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita; yad yad acarati sresthas, tad tad evetaro janah, sa yat paramanam kurute, lokas tad anuvartate (BG 3.21). "Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.". Your donation to this movement and your becoming the Patron Member is a very great thing, and it will ensure others who will also follow in your footsteps. So I am very much grateful to you.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 10 November, 1975:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 16, 1975 together with the nice photographs and the professor's review. From the photo it appears that everything is very nice. I am very glad. In Melbourne, Australia who dreamt that there would be such a nice temple, Radha-Krsna, and that local men would be worshiping. And still anyone who is sincerely serving, he will get inspiration how to do it nicely. Krsna is there in his heart. As is stated in Bhagavad-gita:

tesam evanukampartham

aham ajnana-jam tamah

nasayamy atma-bhavastho

jnana-dipena bhasvata

"Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." (BG 10.11)

Letter to Mark Phillips -- Vrindaban 4 December, 1975:

Parkwood, Via thora

N.S.W. 2492

Australia

My Dear Mark Phillips,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter dated 4th November, 1975. Yes we are eternally related to the Lord as servant, so naturally when we forget our eternal relationship as servants of the supreme master, Krishna, we suffer. A child is naturally subservient to the parent, but if he rebels then the child suffers in so many ways. Therefore Krishna advises everyone in Bhagavad-gita to simply surrender to him, and he will take care of us.

In Australia we have got our temples, consult the Back to Godhead magazine for the temple nearest you. Please visit the temple and take advantage of the pure spiritual atmosphere, this will immediately extinguish the burning fire of material suffering in your heart. Meanwhile I humbly request you to chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This chanting will bring you all perfection of life, please try it.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 31 December, 1975:

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your nice invitation card. Thousands of Caitanya Mahaprabhu temples may be established all over Australia so that I may receive one invitation card at least every month. Physical health does not allow me to move very much, but my mind is absorbed in thinking of you with blessings of Krishna.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Mark Phillips -- Calcutta 15 January, 1976:

Mark Phillips

Darkwood, Australia

Dear Mark,

Please accept my best wishes. I beg to thank you for your letter dated 22nd December, 1975, along with your contribution. Please continue to chant Hare Krishna, read our books, and associate with the devotees. In this way you will surely become Krishna Conscious.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Mayapur 21 January, 1976:

Madhudvisa Swami has come here from Australia and as he is free I am sending him to New York. I have discussed with him how I want my rooms to be. As things have generally not been so well managed there I have asked him to be ad-hoc President of New York Temple until the coming GBC meeting.

Letter to Geza -- Mayapur 1 February, 1976:

Elwood, Australia

My dear Geza,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your appreciative letter dated December 1st, 1975. Yes, when I come next time I will see you.

Letter to Cittahari -- Delhi 27 March, 1976:

Adelaide, Australia

My dear Citta Hari das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18 March, 1976 with enclosed daksina and I thank you very much.

Now the new devotees must all be trained very nicely how to render devotional service by chanting 16 offenseless ds daily, and following the 4 regulative principles. Kindly set a nice example yourself for everyone and in this way make your lives perfect in full Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Deoji, Upendra -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two telegrams from Fiji, and I can inform you of the following. I am scheduled to leave Vrindaban for Bombay on the 12th April and then departing for Melbourne en route to Fiji from Bombay on the 18th April. Allowing some days in Australia, we could be in Fiji on or about the 24th or so of April. The only delay could be that I am scheduled to meet the minister of Haryana concerning the donation of land to us at Kuruksetra. If the meeting is favorable it may be necessary for me to attend a conference in Kuruksetra in late April, April 29th. However, that is not settled yet and so far my plans to arrive in Fiji on or about the 24th April stand. I shall inform you immediately as soon as I know of the Kuruksetra land. In the meantime, you should honor the contract, and if necessary do whatever is required. If I am delayed beyond the date of beginning the construction contract then I shall give you further details what to do.

Letter to Mr. Dhawan -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind invitation dated Chandigarh, 19-3-76, addressed to my Bombay address. I am very glad to learn that you are endeavouring to understand the prime goal of life, without which the facility of human life becomes futile. I have just come back from Delhi yesterday and I'm preparing for going to Australia by the 10th April, therefore, I am very sorry that I must inform you I will not be able to attend the function, however, I am sending herewith the answers to your questions, as far as I know. As we have received this knowledge from the greatest authority, Krishna, these answers will be acceptable in every sphere of spiritual activity.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976:

If it is not possible for you to come to Vrindaban immediately, that is alright. You can manage conjointly with Gopala Krishna by correspondence. So far Himavati's engagement is concerned, she is organizing the nursery here in Vrindaban for the young children. There is a meeting with one minister of Haryana and if it is favorable we may be given some land in Kuruksetra area. It may then be necessary for me to attend one large function there in late April if we are given the land, anyway, however, nothing is fixed up yet. Otherwise, if my presence in Kuruksetra is not needed, I will be flying to Bombay the morning of April 12, and then leaving for Australia, Fiji, and Hawaii about the 18th of April.

Letter to Kapurji -- Vrindaban 10 April, 1976:

Thank you very much for your letter dated April 9th, 1976. I am very sorry I could not go personally because the Ramnavami function is going on, and there was other function in Mathura yesterday; it was very successful meeting. Tomorrow I am going to Bombay, and then Australia. I will be in Bombay up to the 17th, at Hare Krishna Land, Juhu Road, Juhu, Bombay 400 054.

Letter to Sri Viswesha Tirtha Swami -- Vrindaban 10 April, 1976:

I have received your letter from Guntur inviting me to Udupi through my disciple Yasodanandana Swami. I am very eager to come however due to prior comitments my program has already been scheduled. I am building one Kaliya-Mardana temple in the Island of Fiji and I will go there via Australia, where we have 4 centres, then New Zealand, where we have a center in Auckland, then on to Fiji. Afterwards I will visit my centre in Hawaii, Los Angeles (California) and New York.

Letter to Madhava Sharnaji -- Bombay 13 April, 1976:

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6 April, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care. I am going to Australia shortly, and thereafter to New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, etc. It will take about 4 months to come back. There will be another temple opening ceremony in Hyderabad by August, 1976, and probably I shall return by that time. Kindly try to meet me when I return and we shall talk more when we meet.

Letter to Smt. & Sri Sadajiwatlal Chandulal Bahl -- Bombay 13 April, 1976:

Please accept my blessings to you and your family. I received your kind invitation to attend your daughter's wedding and I thank you. As you know we are constructing the Hare Krishna Land project in Juhu Beach and we trust that you and your family members will take advantage of the facilities for generations to come.

I hope that this meets you in good health.*

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/pks

I am going to Australia on the 18th.

Letter to Mr. Fagan -- Melbourne 22 April, 1976:

The United States Consulate, Visa Section

24 Albert Road,

Melbourne, Australia,

Attn: Mr. Fagan

Dear Sir:

This is to inform you that I am leaving Melbourne for the United States to visit my disciples in our centres in the U.S.A. We are departing from Australia the 26th April, 1976, and first of all we will be visiting our centre in Hawaii. For the past several months, one of my disciples, Mr. Denis Harrison, holding British passport number P606464, has been my personal secretary and for this reason I require that he accompany me to the U.S.A. I know that he is a good boy as I have had ample time to study is character, and I can assure you as the Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness that our society will take care of all his expenses, including maintenance and upkeep, as well as his air tickets to the next place after America; at this time we are scheduled to go to England after our program on the Eastern coast in New York city. I trust that you will do the needful to help me keep my schedule as I am expected to be in certain places on certain dates, and I require the accompaniment of Mr. Harrison, so kindly if you will issue him the required U.S.A. visa for the 3-4 months that he may be there in time before our departure on Monday April 26, 1976.

Letter to Kashinath Mullick -- Honolulu 4 May, 1976:

Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 12, 1976, to my Vrindaban address, and I have noted the contents with care. Since then I have left Vrindaban on my European and American tour and your letter was redirected to me here. From Vrindaban, I went to Australia, then Auckland, New Zealand, and then to Fiji Island where I laid the foundation stone for our new temple there. It was very gorgeously executed.

Letter to Giriraja -- Honolulu 5 May, 1976:

Now, I originally owed Rs. 59,000/-, and I sent 2 telegraphic transfers totalling Rs. 23,654/32 from Melbourne, Australia (see my letter dated 27th April, 1976 to you). So this left the balance at Rs. 35,345/68. However, I gave you Rs. 5,000/- when I (by transfer also) was in Bombay, so the remainder is Rs. 30,345/68. Now, this check for U.S. $2,871.45 is approximately Rs. 25,411/06 at the rate given here of U.S. 11.3 cents equals one rupee. So this leaves the balance at Rs. 4,934/62. This amount will be paid by Yasodanandana Swami. He will give Rs. 5,000/- towards the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust account 16066, and the remainder of the loan, Rs. 10,000/- will be paid into my personal account at the Punjab National Bank, Krishna Balarama Mandir branch, savings fund account number 1. In this way he can repay the loan of Rs. 15,000/- and my debt to the BBT will thus be cleared.

Letter to B.R. Sridhara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 6 June, 1976:

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Since I saw you last at Mayapur, I left India for my 15th world tour program. From Mayapur we went to Vrindaban, then on to Bombay. Then from Bombay to Melbourne, Australia, then Auckland, New Zealand, and then to Fiji Island where we have observed the foundation stone laying ceremony for our temple there, Krishna-Kaliya Temple. This will be the first temple on that island. There are many Indians on that island but there was no systematic temple worship so we are constructing a temple at the cost of $200,000. In the meantime, I have received one letter from Jayapataka Maharaja in which it informs that Madhava Maharaja and also possibly Damodara Maharaja are making propaganda against our attempt to construct a township in Mayapur, with the centre of attraction being the "Vedic Planetarium." In this connection we have applied to the government for 350 acres of land and the matter is in the process. However, Damodara Maharaja and Madhava Maharaja are trying to frustrate our attempt.

Letter to Vasudeva -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:

I am requesting the BBT in Los Angeles to forward you the books which you require. There is no need to deal through Australia. You can place your order directly to Ramesvara Maharaja and I am also notifying him to fill your order immediately so that your preaching work goes on there.

Letter to Mr. B. J. Murdock -- Paris 29 July, 1976:

Mr. B. J. Murdock

Manager,

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

Naviti St.

P.O. Box 56

Lautoka, Fiji

Dear Sir:

In regards the loan of $80,000.00 solicited by Deoji Punja in the name of ISKCON, or any other loans solicited in the name of ISKCON, as the Founder-Acarya and final authority on all ISKCON matters please be informed that until you receive authorization from me you may kindly wait in these matters of loans until further notice from me.

Thanking you,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 26 September, 1976:

If my books can be translated and published there, I have no objection. Since Tamala and yourself are there for some time everything will be alright. Vasudeva must be president. Gurukrpa is feeling inconvenience regarding Australia because of the long distance. His interest is mainly Japan. You or another man may take care of Australia.

Letter to unknown 2 -- 28 September, 1976:

With the grace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by and by ISKCON's 40 temples in America's important cities were constructed and throughout Europe in England, France, Germany, Italy and in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, New Zealand, Auckland, Africa, Canada and Tehran and other places as well in the world all total of 102 such centres of ISKCON for distribution of Krishna cult were established. Amongst all these the very big temples in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit can be specially mentioned. In these temples the minimum number of devotees attached is 50 and maximum 250 and they are engaged to distribute Krishna hymns leading an austentious life. Everywhere the Deity of Radha and Krishna is being worshiped. From India a large number of renowned persons frequently visit these temples throughout the world and they have made remarks to the effect that in each and every temple arrangements for daily worship and functions relating thereto are remarkably done smoothly and methodically. The artistic way of make up in all respects are exceptionally good and for all these a lot of expenses made towards everything are unparallel. The devotees attached to these temples out of natural devotion frequently visit to have a glance of the holy birthplace of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Mayapur, Navadvipa, and that of Shri Krishna at Mathura and His lila-ksetra at Vrndavana, and that they do so in thousands.

Letter to Gurukrpa -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1976:

This letter is to inform you that I am sending Bali Mardan to Australia to act as GBC for Australia and New Zealand until the Mayapur festival next year. Now you may concentrate on Hawaii and Japan.

Letter to Amogha -- Bombay 23 December, 1976:

I have no objection to your working there in Australia. If you are happy there and can execute devotional service with enthusiasm that is nice.

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Attorney General's Department -- Calcutta 16 January, 1977:

The Secretary

Attorney General's Department

Canberra, A.C.T. 2600

Australia

Dear Sir,

This is to inform you that I, the undersigned, am the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and the world leader for all of its branches. I have appointed 18 direct representatives to manage different sectors of the world, and they are known as Governing Body Commissioners.

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.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Bhuvanesvara 23 January, 1977:

It is very good news that the temple will be ready in late March. I have now instructed Ramesvara Swami and Bali Mardan dasa Adhikari, who I have sent to Australia to help manage there, to make all the final arrangements for the Deities, pujaris, etc. Ramesvara will contact you very soon about these details. So far my going for the opening of the temple, and installing the Deities, if my health is physically fit, then I can come in late April or early May, and if the temple can be opened then. So please go on and do everything nicely and I will try to see you then.

Letter to Amogha -- Mayapur 27 February, 1977:

Australia

My dear Amogha,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 20th February, 1977. Thank you for the check of $20.

Regarding your situation, it is nothing new for Westerners. This is a family matter. It is better to consult Bali Mardan how to manage your personal affairs. He is a grhastha, so you can speak with him. You are an intelligent boy, so do not misuse your intelligence.

Letter to Hari-sauri -- Bombay 1 May, 1977:

I am very much obliged to you for giving such a full report. May Krsna bless you and give you more and more intelligence how to manage everything very nicely in Australia and New Zealand.

Letter to VARIOUS -- Unknown Place Unknown Date:

Letter No. 11 Bali Mardana Gosvami to Karandhara: Jan. 31, 1973

From now on the twelve GBC men will be acting as Srila Prabhupada's secretary on a rotating basis as Srila Prabhupada originally planned, and it appears that I shall have to go with Him to Australia, at least a couple of weeks, to explain the system to Madhudvisa Swami. Syamasundara prabhu will be shortly going to London via Los Angeles. You will probably be seeing him there shortly. He has many big ideas for increasing the preaching work, which he will probably tell you about. I have just received your letter regarding polygamy and Prabhupada has told me it should strictly be prohibited; although he does not object to the principle, we do not have the correct persons nor the correct time and place for putting it into practice.