Making profit (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"made a profit" |"made any profit" |"made some profit" |"make a profit" |"make exorbitant profit" |"make profit" |"make some material profit" |"make some profit" |"making a profit" |"making outside profit" |"making profit"

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Sri Krishna Panditji -- New York 15 April, 1967:

Regarding your introduction to my disciples here, you can immediately note down the following address. He is interested in importing musical instruments from India. If you can immediately arrange to supply from Delhi things like Aggarbatti, Dhupa, Musical instruments, Varanasi Sari, Bronze cymbals, Printed matters, Printed cloths from Agra and Farukhabad etc, you can do very good business and make profit not less than Rs 200/- per month or more. Add only 5% on the purchase price or sometimes less than 5% on purchase values and you will be do good business. But if you can not write in English how you will make correspondence with them. You must write in English or get it done by some one who knows English. Unless you write in English how can you deal with them. Please note down the following address immediately and correspond with him giving reference of my name.

Mr. Michael Grant 518 Frederick Street, San Francisco, California 94117.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Vinode Patel -- Montreal 6 July, 1968:

So far business is concerned, Gargamuni is getting goods from some importer on credit, and he is selling the goods and then paying him the amount. So, he has not got to invest his capital in the business, but he is a good salesman. And if you can import some goods, according to his choice, and on your account, I think he will have no objection to purchase from you on the same system as he is doing with others. He did not talk with me about your business proposal. Under the circumstances, if you want to do something, you can talk with Gargamuni personally, and if he consults me I shall give my opinion. I know your community Patels in Gujarati are business community. And they can do lots of lucrative business, for material benefit. But you should know that we are not doing any business for material benefit. Gargamuni spends his profit for Krishna Consciousness. He is so much elevated that he works very hard for doing business diligently, but the profit made out of it, he spends for Krishna. If you wish to do business in that spirit, that will enhance your spiritual assessment. Generally, people are inclined to do business or make profit for sense gratification; such tendency is the cause of material bondage. But to act for Krishna is the cause for opening the door for liberation. So, I shall not try to implicate you in business if you are not ready to award the profit for Krishna's benefit. The best thing will be that if you can come here for some days, say, at least for a fortnight, you can remain here with us in the temple here, and talk with me in details before you become my disciple. Actually, I shall be very glad to accept an educated and intelligent disciple like you, but first of all we must meet and you should know whether you can accept me as your Spiritual Master, or I can accept you as my disciple. This is preliminary necessity. I am therefore requesting you to come here at least for a fortnight, and let us understand one another. I think it is better if you reply me this letter in English, because I find it difficult in reading Gujarati, script, though I can understand Hindi fairly well.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 12 December, 1968:

So now there is plenty engagement for everyone at the temple and if you can secure funds simply by selling our literature, by prasadam program and by some sewing labor, then it will not be necessary to take karmi jobs outside. So Krishna has given you very good facilities to be engaged and make profit at the same time for the temple so even though you may live poorly, if you can support yourselves simply with these activities it will be very good.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 29 February, 1969:

Regarding the Back To Godhead scheme, the idea is that you pay $750 and receive 5,000 copies. Now you distribute this as you like. If you sell for 50 cents per copy, then it comes to $2,500, but I do not think it will be possible to sell them all at 50 cents retail price. So you appoint stores to sell copies, and you will get 30 cents per copy for these without fail. You are purchasing for 15 cents so even selling wholesale you make profit of 15 cents. If you sell 3,500 copies at wholesale price, then the intake is $1,050. If you are not able to sell all of the copies, then still you should have an income profit of at least $500, selling at wholesale price. If you make more profit you should do so, and I have no objection. But whatever you sell after the 1,500 copies sold retail is profit for your temple. What ever balance has not been sold will be distributed free, and you should apply for concession rates at the Post Office. In Los Angeles, we have already applied, and the postal charge will be about 3 cents or 4 cents per issue. So as far as I am concerned, I shall collect about $3,000 monthly. Out of this, $2,000 is to be paid to Dai Nippon, and I will keep $1000. Out of this amount, the postal charges will take about $300-400, and the balance $600 I shall spend for developing of the press department. So from Back To Godhead I don't want anything for my book fund. I simply want my books to be nicely distributed.

Letter to Sivananda -- Allston, Mass 5 May, 1969:

I am very much thankful for your promise to help me in my missionary activities, and I shall be glad to know about your press, whether you can print first class books in art paper and linotype composition. If so, we can give you so much work. We have got many books to be printed yet. If it is cheaper than in Japan, we can immediately give you some business. From Calcutta we may purchase many articles for being dispatched to our various centers. I do not know whether you can help us in that respect. We are importing many mrdangas and other musical instruments, Navadvipa karatalas also, so please tell me if you can help us in this respect. You can make some profit in this also.

Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 21 June, 1969:

On receipt of your favorable reply from your father, I can arrange to pay him from a Bombay Bank where I have got money. In the Bank of Baroda, Bombay, I have got some money, and if your father agrees to take this trouble, then I may send him the required money by check, payable in the Bank of Baroda. So you can ask him quotation for the following things: 1) Harmonium—double reed, 2) Harmonium—triple reed, 3) mrdanga, 4) Kanjani. As our new centers are being opened in all parts of Europe, Canada, and America, we require many such instruments. So if your father does some business, he can make some profit also. In Bombay, the Scindia Steam Navigation Co. carries our goods free of charge, so if your father agrees, have him see the director, Sumati Morarji. She will be glad to dispatch our goods free of charge. Or else we can get the goods by paying the regular freight and price. So you can open correspondence either with your father or with some reliable person who can supply the above goods.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 2 July, 1969:

Regarding Dinesh, I have already written to you yesterday about this. It is simply high-sounding words. There is no substance or practical program. So forget about Dinesh's hallucinations. He has no money, and he wants to take from others, and others wish to only sign papers. So it is a will-o'-the-wisp. Regarding the Beatles, if they chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, give them all facilities. Because if they make some Hare Krishna record, that will be widespread, and we want simply that the Hare Krishna Mantra may be very popular all over the world. We do not care for any profit out of it. We should not try to make a profit out of the Hare Krishna Mantra; then our spiritual enlightenment will be hampered. Our principle should be to beg contributions from others, and as far as possible not to try for any big bargains.

Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:

I am glad to learn that you are selling BTG increasingly, and it is giving me pleasure increasingly. Now in Boston they have decided to make profit of $1,000 per month by selling BTGs, and similarly you try to do that. Satsvarupa has now purchased a large house on the strength of this profit. So in selling BTG not only are we doing first-class propagation work, but also we are making profit to support the temples and facilitate other activities. You have mentioned that Chris has contributed $500, and you are considering sending this to me. This idea is nice, and you may do it. I am thinking that the press department may immediately be begun now in Boston in the new house, so there is necessity for funds for purchasing printing equipment and the necessary paraphernalia for printing our many books. Any extra money you have you can send to me, and when you require some money, I shall supply it. But try to become rich by selling BTG. There is possibility of making profit of at least $1,000 per month.

Letter to Dr. Syama Sundardas Brahmacari -- Hamburg 5 September, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22nd August 1969, addressed to New Vrindaban center and redirected here in West Germany. At the present moment I am preaching here in our German center, and next week I am going to our London center. If you reply me, you can do so at the following address: ISKCON, 7 Bury Place, WC1, London England. Regarding your remittance in connection with True Conception of Religion, I have already advised the New York center to send you some money. I understand that you will remain at Jagannatha Puri for some time, so if you like to supply us some goods from there, you can make some profit out of it. If you kindly send me quotations for the following goods, I would appreciate it very much: 1) Jagannatha Deity set—Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra of all different sizes. 2) Silverwares made in Cuttack 3) brass utensils like jhanj, karatalas, and worshiping materials, 4) conchshells, and 5) saris made in Orissa and adjoining places. If you like to purchase these goods on our behalf, then I shall send you money, and if you desire, you can add some percentage for your profit on the purchase price. In this way, if you pack up these goods nicely and send to the nearest port for dispatching, then you can do very good business and make some profit. So I hope you will give me some price quotations immediately for the above things and let me know if you are interested in doing this business.

Letter to Upendra -- Tittenhurst 27 October, 1969:

PS: I do not think it is a good suggestion that we decrease the number of BTGs printed. If we print the same number of copies throughout the winter months and if they are not all sold, then the remaining issues may be distributed freely to many respectable men and organizations. This will be good propaganda work. We are not interested in making profit; our interest is simply to promote Krishna Consciousness. So all the centers should not reduce their orders for BTG, but should help distribute them as far as possible.

Letter to Advaita -- London 23 November, 1969:

I have also noted down the lawyers instruction that outside work can be taken if the profit does not go to some individual person. I think if it is legally possible, this is all right. I have no objection if you make some profit on outside work. That is very nice. My only point is that we have got our press for printing our own literatures more and more. We should not miss this point. Otherwise combinedly together do it nicely. I shall be very much pleased to see things are going correct.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 22 January, 1970:

There was another letter from India, the World Fellowship of Religions; that I have replied duly. I am so glad that henceforward BTG will be published 50,000 per month and very soon, 100,000 per month. It is engladdening. I am so glad to know that ISKCON Press is going to make some profit, about $4,000, by doing some outside work. But one thing is still the boys require to improve. The printing must be professional, and BTG copy #31 is not to the Japanese standard. Of course, this is the first attempt by the boys. As far as technical work is concerned, that can be excused; but the quality of the paper is also not to the Japanese standard. So side by side we must keep ourself alive not to come down below the standard printers.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 25 June, 1970:

I am very glad to learn about Giriraja's tricks for the imitation God. Just like expert business men make profit both ways, namely when the merchandise goes down by price or goes up by price. An experienced merchant makes profit both ways—when the price goes down, he purchases, and when the price goes up, he sells. So our Krsna conscious men should be transcendental business men, and Krsna gives the right intelligence how to deal with all classes of men.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Rupanuga -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1971:

So far the posters for temple altars, if you have got extra money you can print the posters. But I am against the policy of our ISKCON Press charging exorbitant prices for books and other things which they sell to the temples. Our policy should be cost price, or if a little more (10% above cost) is required for other expenses, that may be added. But it is not that we are in business to make profit from each other. With the public, that is a different thing. But our real business is to spread Krishna Consciousness, and for that our centers require so many things like books, tapes, photos, like that—and these should be freely exchanged between the temples to be utilized nicely in preaching work, without profit-making.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1971:

There is no limit to expanding—you talk of expanding—we have to invest more and more to remain modern by purchasing machines, etc. But if the machines we have cannot even be utilized properly, then what is the use of expanding? I want that all of these big plans should be realized, and there will be no end to the resources Krishna will provide, but first there must be good management. Who will manage? But I have no objection if you can develop the Press by making outside profit with commercial work and investing—that is all right.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Jaipur 20 January, 1972:

I am very glad you want to start your own press, but one thing is that you cannot close it once it is begun. When your own press is very sound and established beyond doubt, then you may call back Yogesvara. Your proposal for making records is very nice program. As for your essay on drugs and KC, do it. You may transcribe the Ajamila tapes and produce a very nice book. You may send the manuscript to Jayadvaita or Hayagriva for editing and printing with Dai Nippon. So far making tapes of Ajamila series, I have told Los Angeles tape-making operation that they should distribute to our devotees at cost price—to nondevotee that is another thing. We should not make exorbitant profit by exploiting each other in the matter of vital Krishna Consciousness paraphernalia such as books, tapes, etc. which are vital for our preaching work and for the devotees' personal advancement in Krishna Consciousness. But if you think it is a good idea to sell such tapes for profit I have no objection. Regarding salesmanship, it is a great art. It can be used for selling KC also. I am very much engladdened that you are so much enthusiastic, and you may know it that Krishna will help such enthusiastic devotees. May Krishna bless you all round.

Letter to Giriraja -- Tokyo 23 April, 1972:

Our latest edition of Krsna book is very handy and just like an ordinary story book. It can be distributed to every student and gentleman, and to all the English-speaking public. Our men can be engaged for this purpose. You can make one advertisement that can read like this:

"Read KRSNA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead" Available in all bookstores 3 Volumes - Rs. 15 So far funds from USA, if need be we shall help. The program should be that you take from the USA as much money as you want in the shape of books, and the whole amount can be engaged in building and construction work. For example, Krsna books cost 75 cents for 3 copies, so if USA has sent you the books at cost price, you can make profit by selling at $2. That is $1.25 profit per set, and you haven't got to pay back even the cost. This arrangement will be nice, otherwise in case of emergency, the other arrangement can also be adopted. If we get our plans sanctioned, automatically we will get customers for our flats. But we must get all these occupants as devotees, and you can consult with Indira regarding this matter. There are many devotees who are prepared to accept. The two Parsi sisters should be allowed to come and go as they like, and they should try to understand our procedure, follow the principles, and they are welcome. There are many Parsis in Bombay who are willing to come, and it only takes some organizing in the matter. Mahamsa can help you in this way. Regarding money from USA you can correspond with Karandhara. I cannot understand why our magazines were lying at the docks for three months. Is it that nobody took the time to clear them or what?

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 9 October, 1973:

Syamasundara came here on his way to Hyderabad. I have not heard anything from him since he left over one week ago. I do not know what is actually happening about his business. But my rough calculation is that he still owes about $20,000 to the Society's funds. Unless he pays it back as soon as possible, I cannot expect his business to be very profitable. Therefore I have always asked him to stop this business. He says he will stop he does not do so. So many proposed contracts failed, so how he is still hoping to make some profit for this business I do not know.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Hari basara -- Hyderabad 20 April, 1974:

According to your letter you suggest I come and speak in the middle of August. But in order to insure good attendance at the event in order to sell the tickets and make profit you think it best if I appear with a popular music group. These arrangements make us too dependent on other parties. We should not be dependent on others but should present our own program. Since there are so many conditions and risks involved, better you yourselves do as much as possible to spread Krsna Consciousness there by distribution of literature, kirtana and prasadam, and that will be as effective as my personally coming. Besides, I must be in Vrindaban for Janmastami so my schedule makes it difficult for me to be in Spokane, Washington.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Gurukrpa -- Evanston, Illinois 8 July, 1975:

Regarding your request to divert $5,000.00 from your collection to purchase a vehicle for the Hawaii farm costing $8,000.00 does the farm require this? Does it mean that without this truck they cannot develop? Actually I do not think it is a very good place. There is no water arrangement. The temple is not being maintained properly. They are keeping long hairs and not living responsibly. I do not think it is good to put good money after bad. So I have asked the GBC's that are here to discuss this, and the conclusion was that if you can make profit from selling the property, then it should be done. They said that the property was purchased for $60,000.00 and now is worth $100,000.00 So why not sell it and make profit.

If the restaurant is making profit daily of $200.00 as was reported, then they may purchase the truck by paying $100.00 per day. On the whole I am not in favor of investing in this property.

Letter to Paramahamsa -- Berkeley 16 July, 1975:

Regarding the farm, if by getting money from the cash crops, then do that and improve the place. Construct temple and residential quarter. Somehow or other you have to keep the men who are there engaged. If they are allowed to become idle gradually they will again become hippies. If the farm cannot be utilized, then it may be sold. What is the use of keeping a bad cow? But if you are utilizing, then we can purchase the truck to help. But, what about the idea of selling the bus and repaying me Dollars 3,000.00? What happened to that idea? I had lent Dollars 5,000.00 and that should be repaid somehow or other. Everyone I advance money to, they repay. Brahmananda Swami took Rs. 16,000/-, and he has returned, so why not you also? Anyway, if there is some potential there then keep it and go on. But, if you are able to make profit, then why not you purchase the truck?