Practitioner (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"practitioner" |"practitioners"

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Letter to Mr. Bailey -- Allahabad 2 October, 1951:

The Ramakrishna mission although it does not come out of the above six schools of philosophers—generally they prefer to call themselves as Sankarites or belonging to the Mayavada school. Interpretations of Vedanta made by them are neither Mayavada nor Satvatta. They have their own interpretation different from the Vyasa school of philosophers.

Other Acaryas such as Ramanuja, Madhva etc and lately Sri Caitanya—all belong to the original Vedantist school by direct disciplic succession.

According to these Acaryas Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam are, in their original stand, the real commentaries of the Vedanta Sutras. The Mayavadins who do not actually belong to the Vedanta school have overcast a cloud unnecessarily over the Bhagavad-gita and therefore common people are misled by them. In other words they have no entrance in the Vedanta Darsana so to say.

It is not at all necessary that an ailing person shall oblige all classes of physicians for the sake of their being medical practitioners only. The patient must be treated by such physician only who is able to cure him.

Philosophical ways are practical and it is no use simply by indulging in speculation without any practical result just like to keep a cow without any milk. We must always seek a practical value from philosophy for the benefit of all. The mission with which you have started your service inspired me to help you as far as possible and I thought it fit to inform you that your mission can be well guided by the practical philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita.

Letter to Mr. Toshihiro Nakano -- Delhi 1 April, 1961:

My small booklet Easy Journey to Other Planets is a novel step towards the path of cultivating Human spirit. The Russian scientists are trying to reach other planets by sputniks but such attempt is more or less utopian. There are innumerable planets, within the visible sky and each of them have different climatic conditions. Human being of this planet can hardly adjust with the climatic conditions of other planets even if he is able to reach there by the sputniks. The easy method is suggested in my book which is called Bhakti-yoga easy to be performed by any layman in any part of the world. By such pratice of Bhakti-yoga one can reach even the spiritual sky which is far far away from this material sky. But the propagation of Human Spiritual Culture, your institution the International Foundation for Cultural Harmony, can teach all the people of the world about the easy method of Bhakti-yoga which can carry the practitioner to any other planets even up to the spiritual sky. They are all results of cultivating Human Spirit. And if you take up the matter seriously, I can help you also very seriously in cooperation with all important gentlemen who will arrive at Japan from every corner of the world. Please therefore think of a programme for execution by your good Foundation.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 17 September, 1968:

I hope you have received my letter regarding Bhagavad-gita as it is, and Jaya Govinda's letter from India. In the meantime, I have received another letter from Jaya Govinda, and it appears that he is very anxious to have the indemnity bond. He has given one note below his letter that reads as follows: "N.B. Swamiji, If you would like for Parbat Maharaja to do me the favor of signing himself the indemnity bond, then please ask him that directly; of course, then he will ask that I always remain here at his Math. I am agreeable to this proposition. Or; if you would like for him to direct Mr. Om Prakash to sign, then please ask him that directly also. This is Parbat Maharaja's request. (Jaya Govinda)" This means that Parvat Maharaja is canvassing to break them from the society and remain with him. He is another edition of Bon Maharaja, who has broken the poor Hrsikesa from the society. Besides that, you have sent me a note dated 9/10/68, which reads as follows: "Dear Swamiji, Please accept my most humble obeisances. Enclosed is a magazine published by Sri Srimad Parbat Maharaja which Jaya Govinda sent us. You will be interested to see one article published about the San Francisco Ratha Yatra festival. (Brahmananda das)" From this note it appears that Parvat Maharaja is misrepresenting himself as the publisher of the paper "Truth." But actually he is not so. It is published by one very big Doctor, Medical Practitioner, Dr. N.R. Sen. I knew this gentleman in connection with my medical business. So in this way, it is clear that this Parvat Maharaja is trying to entice Jaya Govinda. The letter which I have sent yesterday to Jaya Govinda, a copy of which is enclosed herewith. Now you should clearly write to him that if both of them jointly work in Bombay, on behalf of ISKCON, and under clear direction from me, then they can remain in India, and you will give him the required indemnity letter. Otherwise they must return to Germany to assist Sivananda there. In Bombay, they can work on behalf of our society by selling magazines, securing advertisements for Back To Godhead, and selling our books. That will be their main business. So far learning a new language, Bengali or Hindi, etc., this is simply a waste of time; they aren't scholarly boys. Had they been scholarly then they would have prosecuted their mother tongue education very nicely. So anyone who is not scholarly cannot pick up any foreign language so quickly. And even if he picks up some broken words, that cannot be used for any purpose. So clearly advise them not to indulge in childish frivolities.

Letter to Tosana Krsna -- Seattle 7 October, 1968:

Regarding your proposal to become a doctor, because your mother wants to prosecute your education, I think if you can learn Krishna Consciousness perfectly, by reading our different literatures, and books, you will be a better doctor than the ordinary physician. The ordinary physician may cure the disease of the body, but if you become advanced in Krishna Consciousness, you will be able to cure the disease of the soul for many many persons. And that is more important than a doctor or medical practitioner for curing the disease of this body. However we may be expert for keeping this body fit, it is sure and certain that this will end. But if you can protect the soul from being fallen a victim of this material existence that is a greater service. In some of the Vedic literatures, it is said that Atmanan Sarvato Rakshet, that means one should give first protection to the soul. Then he should take care of his particular type of faith, then he should take care of the material things, namely this body, and anything in relation with this body, or wealth. Please try to read all our books very carefully, and whenever there is any doubt, you ask me, and be expert preacher. That will make you a great doctor for protecting the human society from being fallen a victim to maya.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Malaysia 5 May, 1971:

So far as your wife is concerned you must be very careful. They are previously two miscarriages, so it is to be understood that she is diseased. A medical practitioner or gynecologist should be consulted in this connection.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Dr. Ghosh -- Bombay 17 November, 1974:

Regarding the charitable dispensary, I am not very much enthusiastic for this enterprise because nowadays to keep a proper dispensary pushing on requires much attention and money also. I have heard from the authorities of the Rama Krishna Mission that their charitable dispensaries of hospitals are mostly run by paid men, as formally no intelligent medical practitioner was joining them to run it on.