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Burden (Letters)

Correspondence

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Letter to Members -- Bombay:

Please try to contribute the expenses for one, two, three or more up to 2 x 12 issues in a year. If not at least for one month in a year, you can accept the burden for God's sake and distribute the same with YOUR GOOD NAME PRINTED ON THE ISSUES AS A DONOR. This service of spiritual value with your hard earned money on behalf of Godhead, will be recognized by the Lord and you will be blessed with spiritual enlightenment in your life without fail. Please experience it factually exactly like a man fed in hunger.

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Janardana -- San Francisco 22 January, 1967:

They, although feeling my absence, are not discouraged. Rather they are executing the service very nicely and exactly. I think they will manage to purchase the house under negotiation. 80% of the transaction is finished. They are taking a great burden in paying $200,000.00. They are very enthusiastic, and I hope you will also manage to open a nice branch at Montreal like that. In the spiritual world also there is competition for the best satisfaction of Krishna.

I hope you will take me to your place by the month of April, 1967—or earlier as you think best. Before returning to India, if I am able to run at least three centers like the one in New York, another in San Francisco and the other in Montreal, then I shall feel successful in my mission. I hope you will help me in this direction and oblige.

Letter to Sri Krishnaji -- San Francisco 25 March, 1967:

I thought that I shall be able to publish my books from America but it is very much expensive: therefore I have to get books published from India at any cost. Sriman Surya Kumar Joshi B.A. in charge of the publication department All India Congress Committee No. 7 Jantar Mantar Road New Delhi has very kindly agreed to take the burden of proof reading and if you also join with him to help me in this connection it will be great help for me. If you have time you can please see him and talk with him face to face how you can help me. If you both cooperate then the publication work may immediately be revived. Surya Kumar Joshi is expert in proof reading and as such if he and you cooperate there will be no difficulty.

Letter to Mukunda -- Vrindaban 3 August, 1967:

Yesterday I have sent you a personal note on the request of Vinod Kumar. If immigration Visa's burdensome for the Society, then don't take the risk. I think to get immigration Visa is very difficult and therefore you may not unnecessarily involve the society in it. We cannot pay him any salary at the present moment or unless we see his talents, I shall let you know later on more about it. Hope you are well.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 18 February, 1968:

The dictaphone affair is still lying pendant. Most probably Rayarama is going to India by the middle of March so I would like that he may take with him the dictaphone suitable for Indian electricity. This will save me too much burden when I may return. If the arrangement is made that the N.Y. office of the firm with whom you are negotiating may deliver the dictaphone suitable for India to Rayarama, it will be very nice. Please think over this.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 28 December, 1968:

You had been having problems with Madhavi Lata, and Krishna has solved the problem because she is now in the Halawa Jail and preaching very nicely. I received one letter from her yesterday and she describes that some of her acquaintances there are already considering initiation, so Krishna has arranged to release you of any burden you were feeling and also she is having the opportunity to do service.

I have seen the Istagosthi notes of your meetings which were sent by Lilavati, and you are doing very nice in speaking on the principles of Krishna Consciousness. So with your speaking talents there is so much valuable preaching work that you will have opportunity to do to relieve the burden of the suffering humanity. So more and more try to develop this skill, such able speakers as yourself are a great boon to spreading this movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 29 December, 1968:

I have already sent suggestions to Jadurani, and as soon as the pictures are drawn, I will send to you the tapes. In this way the Krishna book will be completed.

I think that because Jadurani is not quite healthy at the present there is no need of overburdening with pregnancy. In her weakness, the child will be a burden for you and her. Also a child born in weak health is always unhealthy. So it is better you wait until the situation improves.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 27 February, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 25, 1969, and I thank you very much for it. You have written to say that you are my disobedient son, but I think I am your disturbing father. I am putting more and more burden upon you but you are so tolerant that you have no hesitation to accept my demands even although sometimes they are unreasonable. So practically you are acting as my father. In my childhood I was very naughty boy, and I used to catch my father in so many ways demanding unreasonable things, and my father used to satisfy me. So although I lost my father in 1930, about 40 years ago, by Krishna's Grace I have got so many American young fathers. But the same nature continues, and I am demanding from my fathers the same thing which may be a little burdensome. But I am sure Krishna will be very much pleased if you will kindly tolerate some unreasonable demands from me.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Hawaii 23 March, 1969:

In Bhagavad-gita it is said that when Krishna is within our view, at that time one is not disturbed even in the midst of gravest calamity. Anyway, even if we are disturbed, then the only resort is to chant and concentrate one's mind in Krishna. There is no other alternative. Chanting and dancing make one relieved of all material burdens.

I am going to N.Y. on the 7th of April, so as you propose it will be a pleasure to see you there with your good wife.

Letter to Rayarama -- Columbus, Ohio 15 May, 1969:

Then I shall advise my bank to transfer the money to the IBM's account upon completion of your talks with them. Regarding your proposed program of editing, the Bhagavatam First Canto is already edited, so when making final typing, you shall simply see it for proofreading. I do not think that you need take too much burden because you may fall ill with too much work. Now you are editing Back To Godhead, and when we get the Composer there will be so much proofreading for you. So I think this will be sufficient work for you.

Regarding Birbhadra, when I go to New Vrindaban soon I shall see if the situation is all right for him to go there. For the present, he need not go out, and you should simply teach him history, geography and mathematics. His history lessons will take care of his reading and spelling instruction. So far as your question about how to think of Radha-Krishna, your present process of visualizing the Deities is nice.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1969:

I do not know what they have paid and what you have received. The best thing is as you suggested that the girls who are there may come back to Los Angeles. I have asked Tamala also to write them. If Tamala is not sending their money, he should look after their comfort, and the best thing would be that you ask them to come back to Los Angeles, without any hardships and burdens on you. You take care of Girish and Birbhadra nicely, and I shall ask Silavati to send the money directly. Yes, Kirtanananda Maharaja is not very much in favor of Nara Narayana, so for the time being I am not asking him to return to New Vrindaban. He has done very nicely here in the Rathayatra Festival, and it was very successful in San Francisco. I shall send you later on the reprint pictures published in the local newspapers, and you will be glad to learn that about 10,000 people participated in this function. The procession was taken along about an 8 mile distance, and the people followed all through, simply chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra. This was a unique scene in this part of the world.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 18 October, 1969:

So if Berkeley is also in that position, they can take that risk. Similarly, San Francisco also, and I understand that both Hamsaduta and Madhudvisa are doing nicely. So if the principle of Boston temple can be followed without over-burden and anxiety, that is very good. If they are also collecting daily average $100, they can take the risk of purchasing the house.

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.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 24 March, 1970:

I am enclosing herewith two pictures of our new church buildings, which we are going to purchase at the cost of $225,000; down payment, $50,000. The whole debt has to be cleared off by twelve years. So the management here has taken a great burden upon themselves, and similarly I am awaiting the days when London Yatra party, headed by you, will have a similar achievement in London.

What happened to that application you submitted for the old Oxford church? I think these Christian people do not like our advancement in the preaching work. Never mind, we shall depend upon Krsna and march on progressively.

I have received word that English citizens can fly to Australia as immigrants, and the cost is only $20 per person. So under the circumstances, you can send some Brahmacaris to help out our new center in Sydney. This will be best because the British government will bear the expense of their transportation.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 30 April, 1970:

Acyutananda has written me that he will arrange for your visa for two years at least, but I learn that you have not heard anything from him til now. So unless you are assured that your visa has been made for at least two years, and he has got his own apartment, don't start. It is not required to take permission from Madhava Maharaja to stay at his place. It is not our business to become anymore burden to him.

I have already sent Acyutananda money for our own land, so first we must have our own land or apartment, then our devotees can go there. On the whole, he must first of all arrange for staying somewhere in our own place, otherwise it will be very difficult because India is very overpopulated, especially Calcutta.

Letter to Vrndavana Candra -- Los Angeles 24 June, 1970:

So accepting always Krsna as the Supreme advisor and always begging for his mercy, go on with your progressive march—and I am very satisfied with your activities. I am so glad to learn that your good wife is also helping you. That is the duty of a faithful companion of life. If the wife is helpful in the spiritual progress of life, she is the best friend and philosopher. So in Krsna Consciousness the wife is never a burden, but she is completely a counterpart. So set example to your countrymen how younger generation can live peacefully, husband and wife, being engaged in Krsna's service. There are many examples of this type of husband and wife working in our different centers for propagating this sublime message.

Letter to Vyasa -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1970:

Not only is devotional service the simplest way of God realization, as you have agreed, it is clearly pointed out by Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita in every chapter that He can be achieved only by finally engaging directly in devotional service, or bhaktiyoga, the highest stage in yoga practice. In the First Canto, second chapter, verse seven of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is clearly stated that by the process of applying devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead Vasudeva (Krsna), the immediate result is that causeless knowledge and detachment follow. Therefore the burden of useless theories can be avoided, simply by following the Sastras.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Calcutta 17 September, 1970:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated August 31st, 1970, and I have duly noted the contents.

Regarding your opening a branch in Hong Kong, I have got all my blessings upon you. Do it immediately. So far your remaining on the Governing Body Commission, I do not think that is a great burden. Do your best to serve in the Commission by correspondence, but I prefer to see you a great preacher and if possible you may be relieved from the responsibility of remaining a member of the Governing Body Commission.

You have already opened up several branches like Tokyo and Sydney, so please continue this opening of centers as many as possible in Fiji, Melbourne, etc. While we were coming through the Philippines on the way to Calcutta from Tokyo we learned that in Manila they are also interested in our Movement for Krsna Consciousness, so that is another open field.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Palika -- ISKCON Fort, Bombay 7 June, 1971:

After that I shall be going on to N.Y. without a doubt.

I am very glad to learn that you are organizing your press work more cooperatively. That gives me so much pleasure. When I go there I shall give you so much work that it will be an over-burden, so that you will be so much engaged. All my senior disciples are requesting me to revive my translating work and I would like to do so for the remaining days of my life. So you have to help me to get Srimad-Bhagavatam and the other translating work done as quickly as possible.

I have not received your handkerchief as of yet. Please offer my blessings to the others.

Letter to Palika -- ISKCON Fort, Bombay 7 June, 1971:

I am very glad to learn that you are organizing your press work more cooperatively. That gives me so much pleasure. When I go there I shall give you so much work that it will be an over-burden, so that you will be so much engaged. All my senior disciples are requesting me to revive my translating work and I would like to do so for the remaining days of my life. So you have to help me to get Srimad-Bhagavatam and the other translating work done as quickly as possible.

I have not received your handkerchief as of yet. Please offer my blessings to the others.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 29 June, 1971:

You will be pleased to know than I have again begun my translating work. Enclosed please find tape no. 1 from L.A. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4th canto, 8th chapter). Please acknowledge receipt and date of receipt also.

Presently I am in L.A. where I just returned from the very successful festival, Rathayatra festival, in San Francisco. From here I will be going to London to participate in their Rathayatra festival on 4th July. Shortly thereafter I may be going to N.Y.

Formerly, in 1966, I was dictating two tapes daily, but after becoming ill, I reduced. But very soon I will be sending you so many tapes that you will be over-burdened with work.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- London 31 August, 1971:

Going to nightclubs will deteriorate the quality of our transcendental chanting. Please do not do this. Stick to Hamburg temple and maintain it somehow or other. Of course touring from city to city is nice program, but not in the clubs. Our only program should be having Sankirtana on the streets and if somebody calls then at the home, and we should distribute our literatures. You say that there is a very good demand for Isopanisad, German edition, so why not stress on selling this book and maintain in that way? And if it is a burden that the rent of the temple is too high then you can reduce the size of the temple and Himavati may be fixed up for worshiping the Deity. So make your plans accordingly.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Nairobi 5 October, 1971:

Regarding money matters I am very glad to know that you are not using book funds and building funds any more. It is very encouraging. The bumblebee project is very nice and I am so engladdened to note your encouraging writing "I will take responsibility to make sure this centre, Mayapur Project and all of ISKCON as a whole becomes purified, and it is my wish that you are relieved of any management burdens."

So please keep me informed regularly but one thing I note is that formerly I was informed that the Calcutta function will take place from 21st October, but I have received one letter from Jayapataka Maharaja in which it is said that the function will take place from 28th October. So which one is correct? I am puzzled. Let me know definitely and the different programs.

Letter to Badarinarayana -- Delhi 18 November, 1971:

We should always be thinking of how to spread this Sankirtana Movement by applying our basic principles according to time and place, and I especially want that my students enter into the schools and colleges and present our Krishna philosophy and sell our books. So you may do this in consultation with Brhaspati das and other temple officers, and whenever such questions arise in future, do not hesitate to refer all matters of temple management to your GBC Zonal Secretary, Bhagavan das, for his help. I have appointed this GBC body to relieve me from the burden of administration, so I may concentrate on my writing and translation of books.

Regarding your second point, I am pleased to hear that you are concerned for the development of your neophyte godbrothers and godsisters. So just try to help them by giving them Krishna Consciousness and the best way to do this is to set the example by being very enthusiastic to do anything and everything to please Krishna, even we may have to make sacrifice.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Madras 14 February, 1972:

So far your producing records there, that is a very nice proposal, so do it nicely, however you think is best. Now our Society is growing very rapidly all over the world, and the burden of administration is taxing me too much and taking too much time. So I want that you all GBC men work cooperatively to manage things now, along with the other officers, and it is better if devotees can address their questions to you, and because I have now given you everything you are able to answer all such questions from what you know, and if there is any difficulty you may consult my books, or you may write me if necessary.

Letter to Harsarani -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:

Sex means trouble. Therefore one should become dhira and don't be attracted by this sex-life.

Henceforward, anyone proposing to marry must produce some outside income and live outside the temple, they must know this in advance and be prepared to carry such burden. Let them be married, but at their own risk. I cannot sanction anymore. My Guru Maharaja never allowed, but when I came to your country it was a special circumstance so I gave concession, but I am not so much inclined anymore, so I shall not sanction, but they may marry on their own risk of knowing that such arrangement is always troublesome.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Sydney 4 April, 1972:

I had no intimation that you all GBC members have met and decided such big big issues without consulting me. So I have issued one letter in this regard to all of you and you may take note that I consider that both the meeting and the resolution is irregular and immediately there should be no change. Again, I am so much burdened by this administrative work that I feel great difficulty. I was very anxious to return to my Los Angeles home to sit down for translating work. But if you all, my right-hand men, are doing things without consulting me and making such big big changes within our society without getting my opinion and the opinion of all the GBC members then what can I do? I am so much perplexed why you all had done this. I have appointed originally 12 GBC members and I have given them 12 zones for their administration and management, but simply by agreement you have changed everything, so what is this, I don't know.

Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- London 11 August, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your two letters from Yamuna dated July 22, 1972, and August 6, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the plans for Vrndavana, enclosed please find the plans drawn by Saurabha which I like very much. You may submit these plans to the municipal council, as they are drawn. The plan of Mr. Suri is too much burdensome and costly, he simply wanted his 2 1/2% commission, so he has befooled these Americans. Better if our own men design and build the temple in our way. So I like these plans from Saurabha very much, and you may submit them as they are.

Now do everything in Vrndavana very peacefully, and always cooperate with each other at all times. There is some trouble with Satchitananda, he informs me you are trying to drive him away because he has written that letter about Yamuna, so that should not be the case. Better to cooperate all of you and do something tangible for Krsna. Stop this fighting. Have a European preaching center and try to enlist all the hippies and tourists who come to Vrndavana.

Letter to Nityananda -- Los Angeles 16 August, 1972:

It appears in all respects that everything is going well at New Orleans center and I am so much pleased upon you for helping me in this way.

So far the repayment of loan, we are not very much for big, big houses, especially if they become burdensome. Our first program is for preaching, and if we have to simply work for paying money for a house, that is not very much desirable. So you pay the loan at your convenience, better to concentrate on preaching and not so much for making money for repaying the loan quickly. Even if it takes some years to pay, at least you will not be always in anxiety where to get money in that way. But if you can repay the loan in two or three years time, and save so much interest money, that is a very good plan, provided it is easily done.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Madhukara -- Bombay 4 January, 1973:

The wife is left without husband, and sometimes there is child to be raised, in so many ways the proposition that you, and some others also, are making becomes distasteful. We cannot expect that our temples will become places of shelter for so many widows and rejected wives, that will be a great burden and we shall become the laughingstock in the society. There will be unwanted progeny also. And there will be illicit sex life, that we are seeing already. And being the weaker sex, women require to have a husband who is strong in Krsna consciousness so that they may take advantage and make progress by sticking tightly to his feet. If their husband goes away from them, what will they do? So many instances are already there in our Society, so many frustrated girls and boys.

So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because there is custom of freely intermingling male and female.

Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 31 March, 1973:

Now we got three, but we get only $750 per month. What is the benefit? 12-13% interest was the original idea of investing but now you have given calculation for 6 1/2%. I do not know how you have decided this, to take so much burden of maintenance for so little return.

You have said Kesava is going to Tokyo as president, but what he will do there? Wherever he goes he cannot stay fixed up long. So how can he manage if he cannot stay regulated?

I am not going to Johannesburg, rather I am leaving tomorrow for Zurich for maybe 10 days while they are getting my place ready in London. As soon as I am informed, I will send you my address in Zurich. As far as I know it, my London address will be Piggott's Manor, Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire, London, England.

Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973:

Be completely relieved of managerial affairs and have full time for translating.

What this means to us is the following:

1. Don't ask Prabhupada to come to our Temple.

2. Solve all problems amongst ourselves and don't burden Prabhupada with them.

3. Continue to advance dynamically in Krsna Consciousness by keeping all our principles very strictly and vigorously preach and propagate the movement around the world.

Now we have the GBC, the sannyasins, the presidents and so many qualified devotees. We have to give up the habit of placing everything on Prabhupada's shoulders. We must be responsible, mature, steadfast and convinced.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Sukadeva -- Bombay 24 November, 1974:

Devotees should have no wife if possible, but those who cannot maintain celibacy, they can marry one wife. At the present moment people are so unfortunate they cannot maintain even one wife. First of all at the present moment they are not married and remain mostly unmarried. So for such persons even one wife is a great burden. Under the circumstances how one can think of more than one wife? This is stupidity.

Regarding your fifth question, that I shall think over. Regarding the sannyasi, therefore I have stopped sannyasa. No Vaisnava says that he is advanced. Please send me the name of the sannyasi, and I shall do the needful. Regarding the cooking, a non-brahmana may assist but he cannot cook.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Puranjana -- Honolulu 2 February, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letters dated Jan. 6, 13, and 17, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. Hamsaduta is here with me now and I have given the letters to him. They have all been read and discussed by the GBC members who are present here. I want that the GBC should relieve me of this management burden and in the future, all such questions should be taken up with the local GBC member. If no satisfactory solution can be reached, then other GBC members may be consulted. The GBC can formulate proposals and submit them to me for approval. So, kindly co-operate with Hamsaduta and thereby help me use my time to finish my translating work in my old age.

Whatever money is owed to the BBT, that should be paid. As far as record distribution is concerned, if you have no big books, you may temporarily continue, but give a book with each record. With record distribution alone, the result is temporary. They will hear it for some time and throw away. Book distribution is solid.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Balavanta -- New York 8 July, 1976:

On the farms we should have mainly grhasthas. Farms are especially meant for the grhasthas. Brahmins and sannyasis are meant for begging food grains from the grhasthas. They depend on the grhasthas and the grhasthas treat them as their children. As the child is not a burden for the parents, so brahmanas and sannyasis are not burden for the grhasthas. They simply take food grains to survive but they give transcendental knowledge for the benefit of society. They have no worries for producing and securing food. That is the business of grhasthas, but they devote their time to spreading spiritual knowledge. That is the system.

It is alright that the Charlotte temple be moved into the city a bit closer, but our principle is that people may come or not come, it doesn't matter. We can discuss and chant amongst ourselves.

Letter to Pusta Krsna -- Bombay 14 August, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 30, 1976 and have noted the contents.

If you relieve me of the burden of management, that will be a very great service to Krsna and the movement. See that everything is going on nicely. With great endeavor we have made the framework, now we have to see that things are going on nicely.

Yes, this preaching work is our mission. It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, my Guru Maharaja's mission, and my mission. It is through the parampara. As I am trying to discharge my Guru Maharaja's mission, you also try and things will go on nicely.

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrndavana 8 September, 1976:

This is a very nice plan and I have discussed this with Rsabhadeva das. He may show you some communications on the subject. The householders who cannot sell books should be encouraged to work honestly on this restaurant project.

It will be very nice if you GBC men can relieve me from the heavy burden of management.

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 22 October, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 11, 1976.

Yes, my blessings are there that you may always have the strength to act according to my orders. Yes, I am feeling a little better. You are welcome to come in January. Thank you for your wanting to help relieve me from the management burdens.

It is my satisfaction that everything is going nicely in Los Angeles. I want to see that those programs that we have begun will go on expanding and improving more and more.

Letter to Harivilasa -- Vrindaban 25 October, 1976:

I am in receipt of your letter dated 19/10/76.

Let this couple first of all legally marry. After that we bless them by observing a fire ceremony. It is not necessary to burden me with these matters. Please consult with the local GBC.

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 7 November, 1976:

Previously I sent one newsletter asking that this boy be returned to his father or at least that his father be notified of his whereabouts. My directions were not followed and now this is becoming a very burdensome situation unnecessarily. Why should we sacrifice the reputation of our Movement for one boy? If Krsna wants, how can his father force the boy not to become Krsna's devotee? We should do everything legally. Just show in the court that the boy wants to remain with his mother and that the mother wants to keep the boy very nicely. You can say that his father may force the boy to eat meat, etc. and in this way convince them not to take the boy away from his mother.

Page Title:Burden (Letters)
Compiler:SunitaS, RupaManjari
Created:04 of Aug, 2011
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=39
No. of Quotes:39