We want to flood the market with Krishna consciousness publications. Here in Bombay I have resumed my translating of Bhagavatam. Every day I am translating and Syamasundara is transcribing them from the dictaphone tapes. But the best place where I can do my translation work is in Los Angeles and New York. If in both places there is facility that as soon as I translate, the matter can be composed and if ISKCON PRESS can actually run efficiently so that they can print Bhagavatam chapter by chapter as it is composed, then this arrangement will be very favorable. Try and arrange for this. It will be a great credit to you if you can organize everything so nicely that my Bhagavatam can be published very regularly chapter by chapter.
Regularly (Letters 1972 - 1977)
Correspondence
1972 Correspondence
Letter to Visvanatha Babu -- Bombay 3 January, 1972:
Recently I had been in Vrindaban and the whole Vrindaban city appreciated my service in the foreign countries. Both the Municipality Chairman officially as well as the Vrajavasi public gave me address of welcome in great meetings. But I had some difficulty in staying in my rooms at Radha Damodara Temple. They want me to go away and are now picking up some quarrel with me to get me out of my possession. A copy of a registered letter from one of the Sevaits Madan Mohan Goswami is enclosed and he has already taken possession in my absence of the verandah of my entrance door. You know very well and all residents of Vrindaban know it that my residence is there at Radha Damodara Temple but they are now trying to get me out, although I am paying the rent regularly and there is some advance payment also.
Letter to Vamanadeva, Indira -- Bombay 4 January, 1972:
I am very glad to hear that our Krishna Consciousness Movement is meeting with good success already in Oklahoma City. That is predicted by Lord Caitanya, that in every town and village Hare Nama Sankirtana will be well received. It is now an established fact that wherever we go, we will be well received. People are appreciating how pure are our devotees that they are able to abide by the regulative restrictions. Even in your country where sinful activities are the common practice, never the less people are respecting the fact that we are able to follow these principles, while they themselves cannot. So stick very strictly to these principles and chant regularly daily sixteen rounds and you will always remain the topmost position. Have nice Deity program, always have lots of Kirtana, serve ample Prasadam very sumptuously and speak something from my books. If this is done in every center our movement will very soon become the world religion as has now been predicted by one prominent Japanese philosopher in a newspaper here. I have been very encouraged by reports of how the books are being sold so how is the book distribution going on in Oklahoma City? Actually, we have opened our centers to facilitate the spreading of our literatures to as many people as possible, so please give emphasis to this program and try and introduce my books into all the schools, colleges, libraries, and bookstores. Just now Karandhara has gone to Japan to negotiate for the printing of so many books including softback Krsna Book. Bhagavad-gita will also be out soon. So let us try and see that everyone we meet must go away with at least some Krishna Conscious literature and our movement will spread very quickly.
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 6 January, 1972:
And you must all study very scrutinizingly all of the books so that when the need arises you can repeat in your own words their purport. Also I will be very pleased if you contribute articles to BTG. By writing regularly, what you read will become realized. As much as possible read, chant, and preach. This is our life and soul. If we keep to this simple formula then there is no doubt that we will be victorious wherever we go and very soon we shall become the only religion in the world.
Letter to Kulasekhara -- Bombay 10 January, 1972:
One thing: You must be attentive that our routine work—such as rising early, cleansing, chanting, temple worship, reading, sankirtana, etc.—should always maintained at the highest level of Krishna Conscious standard, as the smallest neglect or inattention to these matters of routine practices will cause all our other programs to fail. These things are the backbone of spiritual life. So it is natural that in these things like chanting regularly 16 rounds and holding daily arati and kirtana are observed faithfully, then people will be attracted and our preaching will have effect and the management of temple affairs will become very easy matter.
Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda -- Bombay 17 January, 1972:
n.b. So far the house is concerned, don't worry. Stay where you are and continue to send him rent money. If he refuses to accept it, then lodge the money with the rent court. Even if he tries to take us to court it will take years, so there is no immediate danger. If you pay rent regularly on or before the 15th of succeeding month, then there is no law in the world which can move you an inch forever. So unless we have our own place in Calcutta we cannot vacate the house.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Jaipur 19 January, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12th January, 1972, and I am very pleased to know that another Hindi BTG will be coming out shortly. Now just continue in this way to produce Hindi magazine regularly, and Krishna will give you all facility to print more and more literatures gradually and increase in every respect.
Letter to Chaturbhus -- Bombay 21 January, 1972:
Hoping this will meet you in good health and happy mood. Your father is serving nicely in Delhi by printing our books and magazines in Hindi language, and I am very much pleased with him also. Now you protect your good mother and brothers and sisters, help them to advance more and more in Krishna Consciousness by holding chanting in your house regularly daily and by having altar. If you become very serious to have the ultimate satisfaction of life, then I think that you will practice this KC process very enthusiastically and be successful in all respects.
Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 24 February, 1972:
I think that if you go on in this way and spend your whole time preaching and engaging others to hear you and become themselves engaged in Krishna's service, that will cure you of all misgivings and miserable conditions. Follow this simple formula of chanting regularly with full attention, reading at least one hour, and balance time preaching and speaking and managing one center, and then everything will be all right. For my part, there is no question of dissatisfaction, I am very much pleased with your sincere service and humble attitude of Krishna Consciousness devotee. And I am also aware that sometimes Hamsaduta will be very stubborn, but he is also doing something there, so why not let him go on, and you take charge of opening branches in those northern European countries like Sweden, and that will be very much appreciated by me. If you require some more help in any way, just inform and I shall do the needful, do not worry. Also, Syamasundara is writing to Dayananda to send you books, whatever they can, from London, and they can send some men to help also if you require.
Letter to Mohanananda -- Mayapur 27 February, 1972:
So far you being philosophically-minded, that I can see and appreciate, but in future I think you can ask any questions you may have in these matters to one of the Swamis or to your GBC man. I have given them the answers to all such questions, so they can help you. I am an old man now, and my interests are turning to philosophy and translation. If you help me by relieving me from this administrative work, that will free me to give you so many more fine books from Vedic literature and from our own devotional line. So kindly assist me in this way. Actually, if you simply serve in a surrendered attitude, and go on chanting regularly, the answers to everything will come out automatically: "To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." (X, 10).
Letter to Satyabhama -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:
You are experiencing some doubts, that you cannot believe that the Krishna from Krishna Book can be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that it must be like some fairy-tale. To clear up these things the best remedy is to discuss amongst yourselves all members regularly all our books in classes, then these doubts will be killed. Without reading books it becomes hackneyed and such obnoxious ideas trouble us. Our thoughts are always changing, that is the nature of the mind, so you cannot expect that even the great saintly persons are free from thoughts coming and going. But after thinking there is feeling and willing, willing being the stage of putting the thoughts into action. So if we are able to employ our intelligence, then we kill the thoughts before they become manifest in activity, but because we are so much inclined to enjoy something unintelligently, we have to therefore daily sharpen our intelligence faculty by reading and discussing and preaching to others.
Letter to Satyabhama -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:
Your idea to start a nursery school in New Vrindaban is very good proposal and you may immediately try for it by cooperatively consulting amongst yourselves how to do it. But one thing, we are teaching Bhakti by practical attendance and by decreasing playing desire or drive. If the children simply do as their elders are doing, that is, regularly attending mangal arati, rising early, chanting, eating prasadam, looking at books, worshiping the __ like that, then automatically they will become trained up in right way and there is no need for special program for education. Children will always do as they see others doing, so if by the good association of their parents and the other older persons, they will come out nicely fixed in Krishna Consciousness, and because they are not spoiled by an artificial standard of sense gratification, they will think that performing austerities is great fun, just like in India we see the young brahmacaris are sent out to beg for their spiritual master to teach them humility and non-attachment, and they spend the whole day in the hot sun and come back at night, take a handful of rice, and sleep without blankets on the hard floor—and they take this type of life as very much enjoyable and great fun. This is how we train our children in Krishna Consciousness, just be keeping them always attending our regular program and associating with Krishna devotees, teaching them in spiritual realization by giving them the idea that sacrifice and tapasya for achieving the highest goal of life is a very nice way of life. Not that we shall give them many games for playing, these so-called scientific methods of learning are artificial, unnecessary, and on the whole I do not have much trust in this Montessori system or any other such system of teaching. Your idea for having altars to train the children in deity worship is very nice.
Letter to Amarendra -- Calcutta 4 March, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 22, 1972, and have noted the contents carefully. I am very much pleased that you are expanding our position at Gainesville temple, especially I am glad that you are entering politics to try for city commissioner position. This will be good opportunity to preach widely and sell our literatures, so take advantage. But one thing, our platform must be very simple, that there is no other sacrifice necessary for the well-being of the citizens save and except this Sankirtana yajna. Regularly the town citizens can everyone congregate and chant Hare Krishna and hold festivals of celebration continually, with widespread distribution of tasty foodstuffs—who will not be attracted by such program? This is our simple method, nothing else. Any other political programs proposed by politicians will simply spoil everything. Actual government means to give the citizens the highest welfare, that is, spiritual fulfillment and access they should provide to obtain without any difficulty the perfection of this human form of life. Otherwise, government means democracy, so now instead of one king who could rule piously, there are thousands of kings, each one interested in taking only some taxes for his spending, not for welfare.
Letter to Dasarha -- Bombay 4 March, 1972:
Regarding your other question, you should not read such nonsense books, nor allow your mind to dwell on such subject matter. Instead utilize your time for advancing in Krishna consciousness by reading our books. We have got sufficient stock, and if you simply go on reading them, chanting regularly 16 rounds, engaging yourself 24 hours in Krishna's business, then all of your questions will be answered automatically, because Krishna promises to His sincere devotee that He will give him the intelligence to understand Him.
Letter to Dasarha -- Bombay 4 March, 1972:
Regarding your other question, you should not read such nonsense books, nor allow your mind to dwell on such subject matter. Instead utilize your time for advancing in Krishna consciousness by reading our books. We have got sufficient stock, and if you simply go on reading them, chanting regularly 16 rounds, engaging yourself 24 hours in Krishna's business, then all of your questions will be answered automatically, because Krishna promises to His sincere devotee that He will give him the intelligence to understand Him.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Calcutta 5 March, 1972:
I have duly received, signed, and returned the MacMillan Co. contract to Rupanuga. Has he got it? Also you were to send me a copy of the contract for distributing our other books by MacMillan Co. also. Now Pradyumna is with me, so he and Syamasundara conjointly they will everyday prepare my night's translation work, one transcribing by typing, one with sanskrit corrections and synonyms, and they shall dispatch regularly to you.
Letter to Jayadvaita -- Calcutta 5 March, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I have also received your letter along with Bali Mardan's and I am very much glad that Pradyumna is now with me for teaching him correctly this sanskrit editing work. After he has become well-trained that will be a great relief to me and it will benefit everyone by increasing the flow of our books and literatures. I am very much pleased that Bali Mardan is doing something in ISKCON Press as manager, and that you all like Advaita and Uddhava are cooperating to print my books. One thing, I do not regularly receive copies of books and magazines which are new, so if you will kindly send me whenever they come out sample copies of all our literatures, I shall be very thankful. As I have informed, Pradyumna and Syamasundara will be sending you regularly completed transcriptions of my translation work by post, that will avoid the high cost of sending tapes, which besides are very expensive and may be lost easily in mail, and because I am here if they have questions I can answer and make the final proofreading, and this will expedite everything. One thing, now you say the date for printing by MacMillan Co. is set for August 1st, but last time you said June 1st, so I am wondering how long this delaying business shall go on? Our Bhagavad-gita As It Is is so much important to the world for uplifting it from darkest condition of ignorance, but still we cannot give them it, that is our neglect. I shall appreciate if you can help to expedite the printing of BGAII as quickly as possible. Hope this meets you in good health.
Letter to Nityananda -- Bombay 22 March, 1972:
The newsletter is also very nice, and you may encourage all centers to correspond in this way regularly amongst yourselves. When I shall come there to Los Angeles, then we shall see when I can also come to stay at your new temple.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Sydney 8 April, 1972:
I am very much happy with our Australian programs, and in few days we are flying to New Zealand, where Tusta Krishna has opened up a new ISKCON center. Then we shall go to Hong Kong and Japan, so you may reply me at the Sydney address until 18th April, 1972, at Tokyo from 18th to first of May, and after that c/o Los Angeles. Keep my informed very regularly all that is happening, especially with Vrindaban scheme, because I am very much pleased with you both for working there and I think you are the best persons to manage there nicely, because Krishna has wanted you to live there all along.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Sydney 11 April, 1972:
Recently I have received from one Sannyasi complaint about another Sannyasi who is not chanting regularly. So our view is that we shall be strictly following the rules and regulations. Monetary matters are secondary. On principle, we should better starve than neglect our rules and regulations. We are trying to present an ideal Society to the world, so although we are very rigidly following these principles, still, we are very liberal to everyone. For this reason we are being appreciated everywhere. So anyway, I am not at all dissatisfied with you, but it is my duty to point out the mistakes. You are in charge of the Germany organization. Please do it nicely there, not very much on the material side, more on the spiritual side. Example is better than precept. Every one of you must be the perfect examples, then everyone will follow.
Letter to Niranjana -- Sydney 12 April, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 18, 1972 and I have noted the contents. I am glad to hear that you reached your destination safely and are determinedly chanting Hare Krishna without any fail. If one simply follows the four regulative principles and regularly chants Hare Krishna, there will be no question of falling down from devotional service.
Letter to All Temple Presidents -- Tokyo 22 April, 1972:
The Book Trust shall see to the printing and distribution to Centers of books and magazines and it will be the serious responsibility of each Temple President to see that the billed amounts for these are paid to the BTG and Book Funds regularly. The billings and collections shall come from and to Los Angeles where Karandhara dasa will collect and keep accounts. We request that everyone will take these formulas to heart and execute them very conscientiously. In this way we shall certainly be successful in pushing on this movement.
Letter to Giriraja -- Tokyo 23 April, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 15, 1972 and I have noted the contents. This food distribution program is to be done very, very nicely as I have already written in my last letter. Generally people make a plea that why are there so many hungry and naked. So we invite all hungry and naked people to come to us and we will give them food and clothing and Krishna consciousness as well. This will attract the general public and there will never be any shortage of food-stuffs, so continue regularly. In Bombay there are many generous persons who like food distribution programs, and actually, our temple should be the via media for feeding the poor with food and spiritual knowledge. Our Bombay program should be based on giving Krishna consciousness through the English medium and distribution of prasadam without any discrimination. This will enhance our prestige and will accelerate our spiritual life as well. The temple program of arati, kirtana, bhoga offerings, discourses, etc. should continue. There should be no neglect of that program.
Letter to Giriraja, Cyavana -- Tokyo 25 April, 1972:
You may take money from Mr. Jayan in Calcutta if you require. Either in books or in cash, you will be supplied. I have just heard from Karandhara that he has dispatched several thousand paperback editions of Krishna Book to Bombay, so you may make arrangement how to sell these immediately, and for CCP permission you correspond with Gurudasa in Vrindaban. If you get from Mr. Jayan, simply hold in safe deposit box, and, as required, withdraw in smaller amounts and enter in the books as "Chit Collection," or "Misc. Contributions," or like that. One thing, how much you have deposited since I left India? I want to see a copy of each months' Building Fund Account statement for my records also, so Mahamsa may send regularly. I think that you are both doing very nicely in all respects there, along with Mahamsa and Saurabha, and I am putting all trust and confidence in you all nice boys to perfect this Juhu scheme for Krishna's pleasure. Thank you all very very much.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Tokyo 4 May, 1972:
I have already written to Gargamuni, and he will not bother to become president. So combinedly you do everything nicely, he will supply money, but you can supply accounts and vouchers to Gargamuni for checking. Statements should be supplied regularly by you both, you both sign them, so he'll be encouraged to send you money.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Tokyo 4 May, 1972:
So far Gargamuni is concerned, he'll not become president, I am requesting him to forget this idea. So do not become agitated in your mind. As Gargamuni supplies the money, you supply him with a full accounting. As things will be done by yourself and Gurudasa, you give him purchase bills and statements of account. I am asking him, he will send you money, and that money, along with whatever you raise, will be used for materials and constructing, you keep good accounts and send him regularly.
Letter to Sridama -- Honolulu 5 May, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 26, 1972 and I have noted the contents. Always there will be obstacles placed in our path by the demons and atheists, but if we can remain pure, nothing will be able to stop this great transcendental movement from spreading God consciousness all over the world. So as president, you must make sure that all the students are regularly chanting 16 rounds, taking bath, attending mangal aratrik, reading our books, and following the regulative principles. If everyone keeps strictly these principles then success is assured.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Honolulu 9 May, 1972:
Karandhara says that New York is an "outstanding exception" to the regular payments of literature bills, and Bali Mardan has told me that you have "no inclination to supervise or check regularly on these financial matters, and thus it is left to a Treasurer who is also not very competent." He has suggested that you make weekly inventories and pay weekly for the books sold. That is a good idea. You can take his help, how to do it. You must organize these things in such a way that things will go on automatically and increase more and more. Now I do not know what is the real situation, they are saying one thing and you are saying another thing, but I want that this situation be immediately finished, and from now on all literature bills must be paid immediately by you.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Honolulu 16 May, 1972:
I have read the letter from Turya ___, so he is anxious to get our papers, so arrange to send him our English and Bengali literature and advise he should regularly get all our papers. When you go there, on cooperation with him you can establish a center in Bangladesh by mutual arrangement, and that will be very suitable for your preaching. If the Americans can take up this movement seriously, why not the Bangladesh people? Try to meet with this educated public, and if you can convince them, it will be a great service. We are trying to unify the whole population of this globe by this cultural movement. There are blessings of Lord Caitanya in this connection, and if we try sincerely it will be successful.
Letter to Friends -- Los Angeles 23 May, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 9, 1972 and I have noted the contents. Actually outside of our bona fide Krishna Consciousness centers, there is no possibility of finding out what Krishna does or does not want. We say "We feel that Krishna wills this for us." But I feel Krishna does not. So whose feelings will be all right? You say that you are following the regulative principles, so if you are following the regulative principles, why you will not cooperate? If by following the regulative principles you do not become devotees, and you can not appreciate other devotees, then what is the use of these regulative principles? If you are actually chanting regularly 16 rounds, holding sankirtana daily, reading our books as much as possible, like that, then I think you will feel that such program of living separately, away from our Krishna consciousness program is a great mistake.
Letter to Sudama -- Los Angeles 23 May, 1972:
Please accept by blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your latter dated May 1972 and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very glad to hear that there is an increase in classes and that the mantra class is being held daily twice. In this way if we always concentrate on reading our literature then there will be no difficulty to preach. Nor will the mind wander to other subjects. By reading these books regularly we become more and more convinced in Krishna Consciousness. And if we become more convinced, that will spread the potency of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement with great strength.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1972:
Regarding Hindi BTG, I have received one letter from Niranjana Prabhu in Benares and he is proposing to form a committee of yourself, Ramananda and himself, plus Guru das and others, for streamlining the Hindi BTG and book publication department. So you may correspond with him on this point. Also, there are some Hindi translators here in Los Angeles who are willing to send you regularly articles for Back To Godhead, so you may open correspondence with them also. They are named Vinode and Niranjana, husband and wife, and you may address them in care of Los Angeles temple. One thing, it is not good if we engage any professional translators, our own men must do the work. As soon as you receive payment for BTG's you may deposit immediately in the book fund account in Bombay and acknowledge to me. ISKCON Book Fund a/c is in Central Bank Gowalia Tank Branch, Bombay.
Letter to Surasrestha -- Los Angeles 14 June, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 25, 1972, and I have noted the contents. The article you have sent which was published in the newsletter there is very nice. The interviewer asked intelligent questions and you have given very nice answers also. It is apparent that you have understood our philosophy nicely so you continue to read our books regularly and preach vigorously, and help to distribute this great transcendental knowledge to all the distressed souls of this Kali yuga.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 16 June, 1972:
You mention you like to speak now very often, but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krishna Consciousness, and give them all good instruction, and let them go out and preach for making more devotees. Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness philosophy. If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya or renunciation and that will be their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. So first thing is to instruct all of your temple presidents and the other devotees to read daily, just as we have done in our morning class in Los Angeles. You may remember that we were reading one sloka each morning in Sanskrit and reciting it altogether and then discussing it thoroughly by seeing different new things. So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. Don't be too much concerned for the time being with nondevotees, now we must fix-up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?
Letter to Bhavananda -- London 14 July, 1972:
I have notified Karandhara to send you the ten Krsna Books as you have requested, but in future I want at least two signatures to be there. One thing is, I have heard that Jayapataka is requesting Giriraja that Bombay should send maintenance allowance to Mayapur monthly. But I instructed in the beginning that Calcutta should maintain Mayapur. Also, you are not sending your collections regularly to Bombay, so how they can support you? If Bombay is maintaining, what are others doing, eating and sleeping? Why does Jayapataka want allowance? Anyone who cannot collect money, they should go to Mayapur and live there and simply eat and sleep, like women and widows. I shall arrange for their eating and sleeping. But in cities, those should live who can collect and earn. The widows are not earning in Hindu society, they eat and sleep at others' expense. So if you are not able to earn in Calcutta, better all go to Mayapur and eat and sleep and I shall accommodate all widows, women, and others at Mayapur and Vrindaban. Otherwise why should we maintain such large establishment in Calcutta simply for eating and sleeping and spending. These two places will be reserved for those who cannot collect. For them I am making provision. Only the active members who can collect, they shall live in the city. Eating, sleeping members, they shall live in Mayapur, that's all.
Letter to Acyutananda -- London 15 July, 1972:
The other songs that you mention are all right. Regarding the manuscripts, you may photograph all of the pages, then we shall type them later. If there is shortage of film, I have instructed Karandhara to send you a large supply of the appropriate films for photographing the pages. Or you may purchase there and we shall pay from Book Fund. These are important works and they must be preserved forever, so what is that expense?
Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sda
N.B. I am not hearing about Mayapur. Please send me reports regularly what is happening there. Where is Tamala K. Goswami. I have not heard from him since longtime. Has he gone to Bangladesh yet? ACB
Letter to Giriraja -- Paris 22 July, 1972:
So far my writings, avoid publishing them in hodge-podge journals. These so-called Hindus are generally impersonalists, and we do not want to have anything to do with them. Better we stick to our own standard, and eventually they will all come to us for learning what is God. You can try the daily newspapers. If Times of India, Navbharat, if some of these daily papers agree, I can send regularly one sloka from Bhagavad-gita, whatever is in the book plus further elaboration.
Letter to Jayadeva -- Paris 23 July, 1972:
Regarding householder life, I have no objection, this is not my responsibility. Henceforth my students must take the responsibility for their own householder life, get married outside the temple, take all risk for supporting wife and home, live outside the temple, like that. But they should live nearby and take part as much as possible in temple activities, such as mangala aratrik, sankirtana, etc. Living separately does not mean that we have nothing more to do with the devotees, no. You should associate with them as much as possible, and donate something regularly, 50% is the standard set by Sanatana Goswami. Keep your position, that's all right, but utilize it to make spiritual progress, that is the real think, not for satisfying my hankerings and desires.
Letter to Giriraja -- London 8 August, 1972:
On the total, how many square feet are estimated throughout the whole building? You must raise the full amount of our expenditures. Sumati Morarji is our ___ friend, that's all right, but tactfully she must agree to contribute for the main temple, just like Khandelwal. Let me know what they are doing.
Hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sda
NB I have transferred 70,000 & 29,000 to Iskcon a/c. Please let me know whether you have rebilled the amount. Whether the conveyance deed is completed? If not why, if it is done, please send me a copy. Do everything very carefully. Send me report regularly.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 15 September, 1972:
I shall be coming to Vrndavana by 15 October so let me know what are the arrangements in Vrndavana and also at Delhi festival. I have written to Tejiyas one letter, and you may see it, regarding the proposal for Delhi Pandal. Many other of my disciples from U.S.A. will be coming to Vrndavana also, so you may expect to accommodate many devotees there in Radha-Damodara Temple and if there is not sufficient room then you should find other accommodations also. Kindly keep me informed regularly.
Letter to Bali-mardana, Pusta Krsna -- Los Angeles 18 September, 1972:
Now I want very much to get that building in New York so kindly inform me regularly what is the progress. I understand they have refused our offer of cash $600,000, so you may offer more, up to $900,000, or as you see fit, reducing the cash outlay, also as you see fit. And try to take a mortgage for fifteen years. If Kesava is there he may become the President of the New York Temple. If he is able to get that new place, then he will have done something big and he can take that post of President of New York Temple. And you are GBC man and in charge of ISKCON Press. This will free you for preaching more and traveling, because you are also sannyasi.
Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 26 September, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for your detailed letter dated September 16, 1972, and I am glad to learn in detail how the things are going on in Bombay. I am always thinking about that place, it is only a few steps to the Juhu Beach, and there are many nice palm trees overhead with cooling breezes, and I am looking forward very much to return there soon. Only I am always anxious how the things are going on there, therefore I have asked you to report regularly. So far the bank mortgage is concerned, that is all right. Why don't you do it and finish this business with Nair? This talk is going on since so many months, why it is not being finished up? Now we have formed a committee, now whatever you think, you do. I want to see how the things are going on, and how it is going depends on you. Now I cannot tax my brain so much from such distant place what to do if there is any difficulty, therefore I am relying completely on you, my trusted senior disciples, to finish up these things nicely. I want that construction work be immediately taken up. If this is not possible, as suggested by Madhukar Munim, we may file a criminal or civil charges, as you see fit. Either this way or that way, finish it immediately. So many letters you are sending for the past so many months, and still nothing is settled. You may take bank mortgage for 20-30 lacs extra and use it for construction, that is approved by me. I just want to see that things are done, that's all.
Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 26 September, 1972:
Your plan for forming sankirtana parties for selling our literatures throughout India is very much appreciated by me. Now you have got many many books there and in order to finance our building projects in India you must sell these books profusely. The traveling party idea is the best method for distributing our literatures widely. All funds should be deposited in the Book and Building Accounts and spent for those purposes only. I have very much appreciated your Hare Krsna monthly magazine, it is a great step forward, now maintain it actually monthly and collect many advertisements and spread our propaganda in this way. One thing is, Bhavananda has suggested that you need more help but he was called to help you from Calcutta and coming such long distance he was also silent and then he went away. I do not know why he has gone away because I asked him to stay there in Bombay and help you execute the conveyances and not to leave Bombay until the conveyances were signed. Kindly keep me informed more regularly what you are doing and how the things are getting done in Bombay.
Letter to Purnaprajna, Madhavananda -- Vrindaban, India 23 October, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 25, 1972, only just now forwarded by our Los Angeles center. Do not worry, I have asked Bhavananda to return to Calcutta, and he should be returning there soon. If there is any slip in enthusiasm, then how things will go on? I have seen in Bombay everything is deteriorating, simply because this enthusiasm is lacking. Enthusiasm and patience, these things required first. But if we are not able to maintain, how we shall expand further? There must be regularly classes and reading books, chanting 16 rounds, going for kirtana, like that. This is our programme for enthusiasm, if you do not follow it, what can I do? If you are supervising in Bhavananda's absence, you must see these things are going on, that everyone is strictly observing these practices, then there will be no lacking for anything.
Letter to Visvambhara -- Ahmedabad 14 December, 1972:
(1) So far your question about the Gopis, in the beginning there is no such question. In the beginning we have to follow the principles of devotional service rigidly, like chanting 16 rounds, regularly following the instructions of the Spiritual Master, which includes study, temple worship, sankirtana, like that. And the more one become perfect at following these principles, the more his relationship with Krishna becomes manifest. Following in the footsteps of Gopis comes in the perfectional stage. First you come to the perfectional stage, then you talk of Gopis. Going to girls and making them pregnant, then talking of Gopis, that is going on, that is nonsense. Without coming to the perfectional stage, if anyone tries to understand the Gopis he becomes a sahajiya. Gopis are not ordinary women, they are all expansions of Krishna's pleasure potency. So when we understand Krishna, then we shall understand Gopis. We can simply follow foot prints of Gopi how they loved Krsna.
Letter to Hariprasada -- Bombay 23 December, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 14, 1972, and I am so much encouraged by your report of the Hyderabad activities, and I think that that place will be most important preaching centre for India, because I have noted that you are all so much eager and enthusiastic to serve Krishna. That is the first qualification to attain the supreme perfection of your life: enthusiasm. If there is always keen enthusiasm for serving Krishna, and if there is also patience and determination, then everything will be successful. So try to every day chant as much as possible Hare Krishna Mantra, read our books regularly, and engage your energy for this business of building temple, making Life Members, like that, and then you will always remain enthusiastic, and gradually more and more you will feel yourself advance in Krishna Consciousness. In this way, you may know it for certain that you will meet Krishna face-to-face very soon.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 28 December, 1972:
I have heard that you are collecting some money for the Vrindaban work, but how you are doing that and where is that money and how much you have collected? What you are doing there in London? You wanted to open one Iskcon branch in your home, but I could not allow it as official branch. But I encouraged you to hold arati, class, and invite your friends, sell our books, like that, not that you should become silent and go away. I wanted that you should attend regularly with your nice family to our Bury Place Temple, preach sometimes there to the guests, and give our young boys your encouragement and experienced advice. But I have heard that you are not attending, so I am puzzled what you are doing now?
Letter to Cyavana -- Bombay 29 December, 1972:
So keep the Nairobi center always very active, nicely decorated, worship the deities just to the highest standard, making sure that all of the students are rising to attend the mangala aratrika, chanting regularly sixteen rounds, reading books—in this way utilize what Krsna has given us there and develop it for the headquarters building for Africa.
Yes, if anyone agrees to live with us in the temple he must without any exception follow the four rules and regulations, plus the other regulative principles, otherwise he may be asked kindly to leave the temple and live outside. Or he may not be invited to live in the temple until he has agreed and has proven his ability to obey the regulative idea. The point is that we should not be over anxious just to recruit men if they will not be of the best quality. If someone wants to become devotee but he is little weak, never mind he is living outside, he may come regularly to the temple, chant at home and at his work, and offer his foodstuffs always to Krsna, like that, and gradually he will develop the surrendering attitude and accept voluntarily the life of austerity or tapasya which must be practiced in the temple living. Without such voluntary understanding of the principles and agreement to obey them, no one is qualified to live in our temples. Of course if there are one or two instances of falling down, that may be excused, we are not so overly critical, otherwise who would be qualified of any of us to become devotee? So that tolerant attitude must be there to a certain extent, but we must remain also always firm on this point, that the brahmacaris living in the temple shall not disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Bombay 31 December, 1972:
I am especially glad to note that everyone is feeling so much enthusiasm to work very hard in this preaching mission. That enthusiasm must be maintained under all circumstance. That is our price for entering into Krsna's kingdom. And maya is always trying to take away our enthusiasm to serve Krsna, because without enthusiasm everything else is finished.
Therefore Rupa Gosvami has introduced this system of regulative principles which I have taught to you also. These regulative principles, such as rising before 4 a.m. for mangala aratrika, chanting 16 rounds minimum on beads daily, reading books, going for the street sankirtana, preaching to anyone and everyone, offering the prasadam, like that, these principles of devotional service are there to safeguard us from maya's attack by keeping us always enthusiastic. If we strictly observe these principles, we shall remain always enthusiastic. These are the sources and the maintainers of our enthusiasm to serve Krsna. As soon as someone is not following them regularly, it may be certain that his enthusiasm will gradually disappear. Therefore, my request to you is that under any and all circumstances that you yourself shall without fail stick to these principles and make certain that all of the devotees in your charge are also following them strictly.
1973 Correspondence
Letter to George -- Bombay 4 January, 1973:
So I am pet dog of my Guru Maharaja, and you have helped him so nicely to push on the message of Lord Krishna or Krishna Consciousness Movement, and I am very much pleased by your serious and sincere attitude, so you will get all the full blessings of my Guru Maharaja, that you may know for certain. And if you have ever got any questions or difficulties, I am always your humble servant, you may please write to me wherever I am. I have heard that your good wife, Patty is growing Srimate Tulasi devi there at your house with good success. That is another very auspicious sign. The Tulasi, she will not go to live with anyone nondevotee, and because she is growing so profusely, therefore she is giving you her best favor because you are best devotee, that is to be understood. Now go on with your chanting regularly as much as possible, that will protect you from the attack of Maya, without any doubt. Just like if there is sunshine then where is the question of darkness? So Maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna, therefore we chant always Hare Krishna to become freed from all attachment to Maya. I know you are very intelligent boy, and I like you very much, you are better than my own son, and I am so much pleased that you are displaying gradually more and more the qualities of becoming Krishna's pet dog as described above. If you have got any time, you may kindly write to me, or you are free to come to India to live with me for some time, as you like.
- Hoping this meets you and your good wife in the best of health and spirits.
Letter to Sukadeva 2 -- Calcutta 29 January, 1973:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/8/73, and I have noted the contents with satisfaction. Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. This attitude of serving first the spiritual master is the correct one, for only by the mercy of the spiritual master can one obtain the mercy of Krsna. Just as we sing every morning yasya prasadad bhagavad-prasado yasya prasada na gatih kuto 'pi, in this way the disciple advances more and more in understanding God. So if you simply execute with full faith the instructions that I have already given you, then you will see so many people will be sent by Krsna to become devotees because of your sincerity. So as you are my appointed leader, you must also see that the others are following very strictly the regulative principles like chanting 16 rounds, reading my books regularly, rising early for mangala aratrika, these things will keep us purified for advancing more and more in Krsna Consciousness.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Sydney 14 February, 1973:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 5th. and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very much pleased to hear of your increased book distribution and it gives me great pleasure to hear of your increased eagerness to distribute my literature. Through the distribution of this literature, we can completely annihilate all the bogus yogi groups in the world. Of this fact I am sure. Therefore there is no need for us to directly attack these charlatans but simply by this distribution of books the sunlight of Krishna consciousness will prevail. It has been brought to my attention that some of my students are not studying. I do not know if this applies to you or the devotees under your care, but I must stress again that we must have our classes one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening and the devotees must also chant regularly their sixteen rounds and follow the principles. The rest of the time they may go on distribution of my books. So I hope you will do the needful in this regard. Still again I must express my appreciation for Sriman Tripurari Prabhu's outstanding service, as well as all the devotees in your party. So my request to you is to go on in this way with more enthusiasm. This is the key. Always remain enthusiastic and inspire others and your life will be glorious and at the end you are sure to go back to Home, back to Godhead. I hope this finds you in good health.
Letter to Dr. Aggarwal -- Calcutta 7 March, 1973:
I am very pleased to hear that you are regularly visiting our Washington Temple, and seeing our Damodara Prabhu and the others.
Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda -- Los Angeles 9 May, 1973:
Regarding keeping the Mohammedans in our temple I have no objection provided they follow or rules and regulations. Our philosophy is that we are not this body, outer tabernacle, but one must stick to our principles and live with us like other devotees. The difficulty will be the Mohammadans will not agree to shave their heads and beards. Our principle is anyone can live with us provided he becomes clean shaved, dresses like us, follows the regulative principles and chants the beads regularly. So you can let me know what is the reaction on the Mohammedan side to these conditions. Most of my students are coming from the Christian and Jewish groups but because they agreed to follow our principles there was no difficulty to organize the society. Similarly Mohammedan or anyone else who has no objection to our principles is welcome.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 16 May, 1973:
Another thing, I beg to bring to your notice that Janaki, sister of your wife, she's now in Maya. Her husband reported that she is regularly eating meat and doing all nonsense. She's coming to Vrindaban to see her sister, Yamuna. Maybe she is going with poison arrows, so be very, very careful when she comes there. The world is full of danger and still we have to push on our Krsna Consciousness Movement. So always remain fixed up chanting the maha-mantra and following the regulative principles, because Maya is very strong.
Letter to Karandhara -- Calcutta 29 June, 1973:
You will be glad to hear I am feeling 80-90% fit again. I am translating, lecturing and taking morning walk and eating regularly.
Letter to Govinda -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 July, 1973:
There should be no complaint, under all circumstances we must chant regularly 16 rounds and attend the morning and evening classes, for Krishna we can work like anything, but one lick done for maya it is useless, overendeavoring.
Letter to GBC Members -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 7 August, 1973:
Please accept my blessings. I find amongst the GBC members that Satsvarupa Maharaja stands first because he submits regularly the report. A sample copy is enclosed herewith. I hope all GBC Members follow in his foot steps.
Letter to Madhudvisa -- U.K. 15 August, 1973:
Regarding the old lady blessing the king, although the part of a constable is not very big, but the blessing is big always. Just as Krishna wants from his devotee a little flower, a little leaf, a little water, or a little fruit, these things are not very big things, still if a faithful devotee offers to Lord Krishna with love and service, Krishna accepts them very gladly. So Krishna's gladness and the devotee's love and sincerity, they are taken into consideration. Similarly when a person offers something in sincere faith and love that is always welcome either by big or small men. So as you are spreading Krishna consciousness in Australia. Hamsaduta is also spreading in Germany. He has got 8 vans and they are out regularly preaching sankirtana and selling books and he is now well to do even financially, and I hope you are also well to do, otherwise how you can promise for the next year 11,111.00 dollars. It is very nice. So you continue this system of preaching village to village by increasing the number of Sankirtana parties, it will be appreciated by Guru Gauranga. Do it nicely, you are a fit person, Krishna will bless you.
Letter to Jagadisa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 15 August, 1973:
The book fund debts should always be cleared very quickly, otherwise how books will come out, so always pay regularly as you collect.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 4 October, 1973:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your report for Central USA dated September 25th and I have noted the contents with great satisfaction. Your reports are coming more regularly than any other GBC and from them I can understand that things are developing very steadily under your supervision.
Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 9 October, 1973:
Anyway, now you have taken charge of the management as President. So do it nicely and send me reports regularly. So far I am very pleased with how things are going.
Letter to Sudama -- Bombay 10 December, 1973:
Please offer my blessings to Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi. I have not heard from her. She is the center of Hawaii organization. Let her cooperate with you. She is a good preacher. Sometimes reverses may be there, but just depend on Krsna. Balabhadra is a very good boy. Make him in charge, also Govinda dasi, and you come and go. Yes, you can go to Brazil. Also, you come to Mayapur on Mahaprabhu's appearance day as many as possible at least for a week. Yes, the Gaura nitai Deities may be taken out for festivals. I am glad to hear of the excellent book distribution that is being done there. From other parts of the world there is also very good report of book distribution. That is our main propaganda work. So you go on with your preaching work and I will be pleased to receive your report regularly.
Letter to Minister in charge of Immigration -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 24 November, 1973:
According to our Vedic civilization, even if one enemy comes at somebody's door, he should be received like a friend for the time being. The enmity should be forgotten, and even though the enemy guest is there, he should be treated so nicely that both of them for the time being forget that they are enemies. I was therefore surprised that I am a sannyasi, head of a group of cultural movement, namely the Hare Krsna Movement, and I was not allowed to enter without giving any reason for this purpose. I think I am not enemy of your country. I am preaching Krsna Consciousness, or God consciousness, all over the world, therefore I have opened a regular branch at Nairobi. My society is regularly registered in Nairobi as a cultural and religious society, and we have go our own house, and before this I had been in Nairobi twice and there was no objection. Last time, there was another Hare Krsna Festival. One of the ministers of your government, most probably the education minister, was invited, and he very much appreciated our activities.
1974 Correspondence
Letter to Sudama -- Los Angeles 1 January, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 26, 1973. I am much encouraged by your description of your enthusiastic programs there. Others have spoken big words and yet deviated from our basic regulative principles and caused so much havoc. You have now gone there to institute the right thing. I am very much disturbed on hearing so many reports of things going against our principles there in Hawaii but now you have given me the transcendental bliss by your reports of devotees joyfully engaged in Sankirtana and prasadam distribution and reading our books regularly. Continue the routine work and encourage the others. You follow as you are doing and as you have begun things there so others will join you. Those who are not following the regulative principles may say and act whatever crazy thing they may do but we must not compromise with our principles. Those who are actually sincere about spiritual life will gradually see the purity of our movement as you are conducting it and they will become attracted to the real thing. Those who want to be cheated do not take the solution even when it is at hand but prefer to be cheated.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 9 January, 1974:
Regarding starting a school in Vrindaban, we don't want any school for studying philosophy. Simply a school for teaching our members sanskrit and Hindi. Dr. Kapoor has expressed his inability to teach language, that's all right, for the time being we don't require any philosophical teacher. Start with Hari Goswami for teaching Hindi and Sanskrit. Regularly he can teach 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening. He can be paid a reasonable renumeration, maybe at least Rs 200 per month. He can be assisted by another teacher available in Vrindaban. I have noted down the Punjab National Bank Account number, 6112, and I thank you very much.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1974:
Now Krsna is sending you new devotees to help in India. Yasomatinandana is a good boy, now utilize him properly. We are planning that he can open a center in Surat and he will attract many Gujaratis. He is sincere, learned, enthusiastic and qualified. Keep him nicely engaged. He has left $7,000 with me for starting a center in Surat. This money I have deposited in the Mayapur-Vrindaban Fund and when I shall start a center in Surat I will draw from that fund. For our arriving devotees they should all be coming on student visas for learning Sanskrit and Hindi languages and thus they can stay for 3 years. I have arranged this with the Consulate General in New York for the student visas for our men. I think Giriraja has written to you by now and he knows of this arrangement. Yes, Mohanananda is a very intelligent worker, now work cooperatively with him. The only fear I have is that you may fight. Please do not. That will ruin everything we have done. If there is any misunderstandings which arise, as they will, settle them up. You are all qualified American boys, now push on this glorious mission without letting it be hampered by personal differences. I am glad to hear you have a nice secretary there in Aditya; now take care of sending the BTG out regularly. There are some complaints in this department. So make Bombay the center for distributing BTG to life members.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Tirupati 28 April, 1974:
Regarding Mayapur, as you have begun this program should be regularly followed once a year: meet in Mayapur and chalk out activities for the year. Then, next year meet and see how far things are being done and if necessary make changes for responsible GBC and presidents etc. The meeting is very valuable and must be carried out regularly every year. But one thing is that at Mayapur last time most of the time was spent discussing but no program was made firm for the year. For example, our Tamala Krsna Goswami never proposed to go to the USA at the meeting but now he has decided to go back to the U.S.A. Of course you can go back, but if the matter is discussed at the meeting, then a GBC vote could be taken and they could have selected a replacement. Now this replacement I have to bother. It is not difficult for me, but why wasn't their discussion of the meeting. Now Karandhara has written asking to come back and I have called him to come to Bombay and if possible he can be engaged as GBC for India.
Letter to Bhurijana -- Bombay 29 April, 1974:
It is very good news for me that you are stressing regulative temple life in your new quarters in Hong Kong. The regulative principles are designed to take us gradually to the platform of spontaneous love of Krsna, which is the perfection of human life. Those who think they have already attained such perfection and give up the regulative principles are called sahajiya, or those who take things cheaply and simply imitate. This early rising, holding classes, going out regularly for sankirtana, worshiping the deity are the very substance of devotional life. You will certainly by your sincere devotional example attract more and more sincere Chinese boys and girls to Krsna Consciousness. Even if, due to family ties, they cannot move in the temple, try to engage them as much as possible in translating work, sankirtana, reading, and at least coming to the temple to take prasadam.
Letter to Aksayananda , Pancadravida -- Paris 14 June, 1974:
Continue to send your collections to the BBT in Bombay. I shall be glad to hear the progressive reports of your preaching, and now you may report regularly to Karandhara Prabhu and take up management affairs with him, as he has gone today to India to take over GBC affairs. Hope this finds your sankirtana party members in good spirits by careful following of all regulative principles.
Letter to Pancadravida, Aksayananda -- Melbourne 28 June, 1974:
I shall be glad to hear from you again. Be sure to regularly send all collections to the BBT.
Letter to Radha-Kanta -- Vrindaban 20 August, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 1974 hand delivered. You should understand that when you sat at the fire sacrifice upon your initiation, you made a vow to the Spiritual Master at that time. So, you should not break these vows. You say that you appreciate the association of devotees but how will you withstand the material attraction? If you are not chanting Hare Krishna offenselessly and regularly? Affection for the spiritual master and following the instructions of the Spiritual Master is the same. My instruction is that all of my disciples must attend the mangala arati and chant 16 rounds daily.
Letter to Mr. Jiri Svoboda -- Vrndavana September 6, 1974:
Please accept my best wishes. Thank you for your letter dated July 25, 1974 and I am glad to know that you have come to appreciate our Krsna consciousness movement and the philosophy we are trying to spread throughout the world. I hope you will try to regularly visit our temple in Toronto and have association of the devotees and attend the classes on the Bhagavad-gita. So far as your translating the Gita, I suggest you write to Hamsaduta dasa Adhikari who is in charge of this area of the world. You can get his address at our Toronto temple. He will be able to advise you further in translation work.
Letter to Taittiriya -- Vrindaban 15 September, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 11, 1974 and I have also received your contribution of $200. So from your letter it appears that the negotiations for the Park Avenue place are almost nearing completion. As soon as we get opportunity of opening Gaurange Hall, the whole society will worship you as the goddess of fortune. I can read your mind that you are developing devotional attributes very nicely. So do not fail to chant regularly 16 rounds and follow the devotional practices together with your husband. And, I have advise your husband to initiate you by tape record hearing for your second initiation. The mantra sheet is enclosed.
Letter to Bhakta Dennis -- Calcutta 25 September, 1974:
Side by side to your writing you should also chant regularly Hare Krsna.
Letter to Giriraj Prabhu -- Mayapur:
Regarding the Tax Comission, yes use Mr. Nair's letter that he wanted to give us the land at concession because we had no money at the time. Prabhupad replied that he would pay on installment and Nsir agreed because our cause is very great. We get so many donations of land. Prabhupad has asked me to write to Mahamsa Swami for him to send the Pulla Reddy letter. This letter from Mrs, Saroff is difficult to obtained at a later date. So you can mention the Vrindaban land in your appeal, but there are also many others. The most recent is a parcel of land donated in Orissa to ISKCON-Bombay. Enclosed please find the document. Similarly in foreign countries Bhaktivedanta Manor was given by George Harrison, and Alfred Ford is giving the Hawaii property, and when this is transaction is completed we can supply the relative documents. So because of the nature of out institution we regularly get donations of land which are not used for profit-making.
Letter to Karandhara -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974:
So complaints against Bali Mardan is very serious, and I have appointed an enquiry committee, consisting of three men. Let us know the report. So far yourself is concerned, you know I had full faith in you, and whatever you did I never objected. But, in the meantime twice thrice you resigned. That has given me a little agitation. So kindly follow the regulative principles regularly chant 16 rounds and make up the deficit in Spiritual Sky, and gradually everything will come to its right position, and I hope Krishna will help us to adjust the present situation very peacefully.
Letter to Murtidas -- Mayapur 13 October, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 as well as your Sankirtana report. I do not know why you are not satisfied with your service there in Delhi. I am very glad that now Tejiyas is regularly collecting and sending to Vrindaban for maintenance, so what is the harm of your helping? This lamentation you have got is not good. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma/ na socati na kanksati (BG 18.54). This is not Krishna consciousness. Do not lament, but go on with your collecting engagement enthusiastically. This is what pleases me. Why are you doubting?
Letter to Dr. Ghosh -- Bombay 17 November, 1974:
Please accept my greetings. I am very much thankful for your nice letter dated November 8, 1974 and the presentation of the copy of Pancamrta written by you. I saw the verses formally also. If anyone reads these verses regularly certainly he will make progress in his spiritual life. I have now advised my secretary to send you immediately one copy of my Caitanya Caritamrta. by registered post.
Letter to Areya -- Bombay 22 November, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 13rd, 1974 in which you request to become married. You can consult this matter with Hamsaduta who is my representative. He is Grhastha and he can advise you in this matter. Please go on regularly chanting your rounds and pushing on Krishna Consciousness philosophy to everyone you meet. This will help you remain fixed in devotional service.
Letter to Bahurupa -- Bombay 22 November, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 24th, 1974. I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. Krishna Consciousness is not a hackneyed thing but it is something which is our natural and original consciousness. Presently our consciousness is clouded just like a mirror becomes covered with dust So the cleansing process is this chanting and hearing and doing some service and trying to please the Spiritual Master. By this process our consciousness becomes clear and we are able to understand everything.
Letter to Mr. Seibert -- Bombay 22 November, 1974:
Please accept my best wishes. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 27th, 1974. I am glad to hear that you are determined to fight maya and take up this Krishna Consciousness philosophy. So go on reading my books and attending the temple regularly. By this process your spiritual life will develop. You should also be sure to chant 16 rounds on your beads if possible. This is the recommended way to become Krishna Conscious in this age of Kali. In this age it is very difficult to become God Conscious, but if we receive the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the most merciful of all incarnations, as certified by Srila Rupa Goswami, then certainly we will be successful in our attempt for spiritual life. So this is the movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and if you take advantage of it you will see how your attraction to material life diminishes in proportion to your attraction for Krishna, which will increase more and more.
Letter to Subala -- Bombay 25 November, 1974:
Yes I am pleased by your attempt there, and Krishna will bless you undoubtedly. I am always for that purpose. Kindly ask me your problem and I shall try to give you advice. Krishna consciousness can only be increased by chanting, reading our books regularly, and strictly following the rules and regulations.
Letter to Malati -- Bombay 25 December, 1974:
If your husband, Syamasundara is not even keeping correspondence with you how can we know what is his position. Please try to advise him to return the money he owes as soon as possible. Chant 16 rounds, follow all of our regulative principles then everything will be alright in a very short time. I am hoping he will do like this. So you please continue your devotional service, cooking etc, and you can also keep giving Bhagavatam class if you like. Women in our movement can also preach very nicely. Actually male and female bodies, these are just outward designations. Lord Caitanya said that whether one is brahmana or whatever he may be if he knows the science of Krsna then he is to be accepted as guru. So one who gives class, he must read and study regularly and study the purport and realize it. Don't add anything or concoct anything, then he can preach very nicely. The qualification for leading class is how much one understands about Krsna and surrendering to the process. Not whether one is male or female. Of course women, generally speaking are less intelligent, better she has heard nicely then she will speak nicely.
Letter to Nara-narayana -- Bombay 31 December, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 28th, 1974 and have noted the contents. For the time being, continue doing what you are doing consulting Hamsaduta and others. I shall advise you. Whatever income you are getting, give to the temple. Go regularly to the temple and raise your child. There is no need of loitering here and there.
1975 Correspondence
Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 21 January, 1975:
Please send the next shipment of ghee immediately, as it takes quite a while for it to reach India. Shipments should be sent regularly every six months. The amount that you sent last shipment was good, send that much twice a year.
Letter to Patita Uddharana -- Honolulu 3 February, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated Jan. 18th, and 27th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Your column in the Gujarat Samachar is a great way to preach Krishna Consciousness to the Indians there in London. They will become very much familiar with our ideas and goals by reading it regularly. Please continue it nicely.
Letter to Mr. Lourenco -- Tehran 14 March, 1975:
Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18-9-74 and have noted the contents. Thank you for reading my books and appreciating them. Please continue to do so. That will help you advance nicely in spiritual life. By reading my books and chanting Hare Krishna, your life will become perfect. The reason for the Japa beads is so that you can keep track of how many times you are chanting Hare Krishna mantra daily. It should be chanted a steady amount of times regularly. We chant at least 16 times around the string of 108 beads daily (one full mantra on each bead). This keeps us strong in spiritual consciousness. Try to visit our temples in London, Paris, Rome, etc. as much as you can. The association of the devotees there will help you to become fixed in Krishna Consciousness. If this is not possible then you can correspond with the devotees at those temples.
Letter to Prof. O.P. Goel -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:
Your proposal for co-operation with ISKCON is welcome. I very much appreciate your proposal. The mass problem at the present moment in India is actually a food problem. I have therefore decided to start some village organization program—namely, people should be invited to live in the village, produce their own foodstuff (grains, fruits, and vegetables), maintain a sufficient number of cows to get a large quantity of milk, produce their own cloth, eat sumptuously for keeping fit in health, and then they can regularly sit down and chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. I shall arrange for the irrigation of the land and the people living there should give their labor for their own food and clothing, and then chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and cultivate Krishna Consciousness. Besides that, our men should go from village to village with Sankirtana party, hold festival, namely distribution of Bhagavat prasadam and induce them chant and join with us in vibrating the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. In India, they are not less than 95% villagers and Mahatma Gandhi wanted this village organization. I think this is a solid program. The people must eat sumptuously—not voraciously and make them fit for working and chanting. In this way, they will be purified and everything will be nicely organized. We require some men only like your good self to co-operate with this movement. The necessary things in this connection will surely be supplied by Krishna. Simply we want some sincere worker like your honor. Up to date, I am working chiefly with my foreign assistants and disciples. In India, for them there is the language difficulty, otherwise they are ready to work in Indian villages also. Besides that, they have visa problems. Under the circumstances, I require immediately some willing, educated worker for this purpose. So, kindly reply this letter to my Honolulu center. The address is as follow: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu Hawaii, USA.
Letter to Radheswaranand Goswami -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:
Regarding opening a center in Saurastra, it will be my pleasure to do it immediately if the local important men like you will co-operate with me. I wish to open centers in the villages. The mass problem at the present moment in India is actually a food problem. I have therefore decided to start some village organization program—namely, people should be invited to live in the village, produce their own foodstuff (grains, fruits, and vegetables), maintain a sufficient number of cows to get a large quantity of milk, produce their own cloth, eat sumptuously for keeping fit in health, and then they can regularly sit down and chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. I shall arrange for the irrigation of the land and the people living there should give their labor for their own food and clothing, and then chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and cultivate Krishna Consciousness. Besides that, our men should go from village to village with Sankirtana party, hold festival, namely distribution of Bhagavat prasadam and induce them to chant and join with us in vibrating the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. In India, they are not less than 95% villagers and Mahatma Gandhi wanted this village organization. I think this is a solid program. The people must eat sumptuously—not voraciously and make them fit for working and chanting. In this way, they will be purified and everything will be nicely organized. We require some men only like your good self to co-operate with this movement. The necessary things in this connection will surely by supplied by Krishna. Simply we want some sincere worker like your honor. Up to date, I am working chiefly with my foreign assistants and disciples. In India, for them there is language difficulty, otherwise they are ready to work in Indian villages also. Besides that, they have visa problems. Under the circumstances, I require immediately some willing, educated worker for this purpose. So, kindly reply this letter to my Honolulu address as follows: 51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Letter to Tony, Linda, Yajna Sarasvati -- Honolulu 26 May, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 20th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am very glad that you are trying to live Krishna Conscious lifestyle. If you simply try to follow very carefully the prescribed method that has been chalked out for us in the vedas, refrain from eating meat, having illicit sex life, taking intoxications, and gambling, and try to chant 16 rounds on you beads daily, read our books regularly and discuss them, rise early, and eat only Krishna prasadam. By following this path and associating as much as possible with pure devotees, you will go back to your original state—pure spirit soul, eternal servant of Krishna. Please visit our temple there in New Zealand and take advice from them how to advance in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Mr. Sharma -- Honolulu 3 June, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 1-5-75 and have noted the contents. The best thing is if you continue to visit our temple regularly in Vrndavana at Raman Reti. The temple manager there is His Holiness Aksayananda Swami. Since I am overseas and cannot personally interview you, you please request Aksayananda Swami to recommend you to me for initiation, and then do the needful as he may suggest to you. By this process, it may be possible for you and your wife to be initiated as my disciples. We are very strict in the selection of disciples. We are not after large numbers. In order to be initiated by us, one has to chant at least 16 times around his japa beads daily (the Hare Krishna maha-mantra), he has to follow strict rules such as: no meat, fish, eggs, no intoxication—including tea and cigarettes, no illicit sex, and no gambling.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Honolulu 4 June, 1975:
Regarding, Bon Maharaja, I am actually authority accepted by authority. In the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said, krsna sakti vina nahe nama pracar. So, now the Hare Krishna movement is world known, and learned scholars, etc. give plaudits to me as Professor Judah has. So, then why I am not authority? Nobody says Bon Swami has done it, or Vivekananda, or any other swami. There are so many yogis and swamis coming, but nobody is giving credit to them, they are giving the credit to me. So, why I am not an authority? If Krishna accepts me as authority, then who can deny it? Besides that, in 1933, Bon was given the first chance to preach Lord Caitanya's movement in London. He remained there about four years and not a single person could be converted to become a Vaisnava and he was receiving regularly 700rs. per month for his expenditure, being supported by the whole Gaudiya Math institution, and still, as he could not do anything appreciable, he was called back by Guru Maharaja. Then where is his authority? Our authority comes from Parampara system. If the Guru was not satisfied with him and called him back, and since then, he gave up connection with Gaudiya Math and started his own institution, then how he becomes authority? And in spite of all these things, if he is still authority by his own imagination, then people should ask him what he has been doing for the last 40 years, about the objective of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Even if he thinks that he has done, certainly he has not done better than me. Under the circumstances, accepting him as an authority, I am greater and better authority than him. So, all Vaisnavas are authorities to preach Krishna Consciousness, but still, there are degrees of authorities. On the whole, if his motive is to supress me and that is why he has come here, how we can receive him? He has already given one Professor a wrong impression. He may be treated as a guest, if he comes to our center, give him prasadam, honor him as an elder Vaisnava, but he cannot speak or lecture. If he wants to lecture, you can tell him that there is already another speaker scheduled. That's all.
Letter to Mr. Ogata -- Honolulu 13 June, 1975:
Please accept my greetings. By experience, we gather that Japanese ladies and gentlemen are very much interested with our Krishna Consciousness movement, especially with our literature, and more specifically with Srimad-bhagavatam. Here in Hawaii, many Japanese gentlemen, they purchase Srimad-bhagavatam simply by hearing the name, but they have got the language difficulty—they don't know English. So, if our books were translated into Japanese language, it will be a great help to us and to you also because it will be another opportunity for printing books. So, why not give us a good translator who can regularly translate all our books into Japanese? This will be another enterprise for printing in your press. So, if you can arrange for this with a Japanese scholar, or if you take this responsibility, then it will give me great pleasure.
Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 23 July, 1975:
Also send me a report of the Bombay affairs. You should send reports regularly. Copies of your letters may be sent to Los Angeles and New York during the next thirty days as I will be touring.
Letter to Giriraja -- Detroit 4 August, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 15, 1975 with enclosures redirected to from various places. I am enclosing herewith a check for Dollars 50,000.00 from Bank of America in favor of ISKCON, so you can deposit in your account. It is good that you are contacting interested persons who want to donate. Bhogilal Patel is a perfect gentleman. He has got money and also heart. His son is also good. Yes, get the tax exemption, and they can donate to us each year regularly. It costs them nothing and we get money.
Letter to Giriraja -- Vrindaban 26 August, 1975:
I am enclosing a copy of the latest "Back to Godhead", and I am requesting that in your Janmastami Festival meeting you read the article under "ISKCON NEWS" about the Ratha Yatra Festival. The point is that in the foreign countries they are accepting this a bona fide religion and making holidays and our Ratha Yatra is regularly established. But, in our own country they are giving so many hindrances. Anyway, after all we have got the permission. I am also sending you a copy of the corrspondence with Raj Kapoor. This should also be discussed in your meeting how prominent people are giving us respect, why are others making false propaganda? This correspondence can be published by you along with his photograph. I think you have one publication of Member Lists. It can go in there.
Letter to Sri Rameshji Mahalingam -- Vrindaban 31 August, 1975:
Of course we have to speak the truth but very palatably. These neophyte devotees have not yet learned how to speak the truth palatably, but gradually they are learning. Certainly Hindu culture does not allow illicit sex, eating meat, fish or eggs, taking intoxication, or gambling. If Indians, after going to the foreign countries, learn this behavior, certainly it is not good. The only fault on the part of the devotee is that he could not present the things very politely. So you know the nature of the Western young men, so toleration is needed by you considering the position of the other party. Anyway I beg to apologize on behalf of my student, and shall solicit the pleasure of your goodness to visit our temple regularly. One should not be angry and eat his meals on the floor just because someone has stolen his plates. This is a Bengali saying. The logic is that if one's plates are stolen by a thief, we should not become angry and decide not to purchase new plates and eat on the floor.
Letter to Alanatha -- Vrindaban 1 September, 1975:
Upon your recommendation I am accepting Vaclav and Jan as my initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are Paragati dasa and Turiya dasa respectively. See that they chant regularly 16 rounds and follow our principles. Then they will remain strong in Krishna consciousness. Their beads can be chanted upon by Hamsaduta dasa.
Letter to Badarinarayana -- Vrindaban 1 September, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your note dated May 9, 1975 attached to the letter by Pam Conger. Upon your recommendation I am accepting her as my initiated disciple, and her spiritual name is Padmahasta dasi. Please see that she chants regularly 16 rounds.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Ahmedabad 29 September, 1975:
Your program of travelling to Europe and then by vehicles to India is a very good idea. I quite appreciate that idea. Do it. Come to India and preach. Six months in America and six months in India. Such a program of world touring work is very nice, and you are the competent person to execute this program. At the same time chant Hare Krishna regularly. That is my request.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Johannesburg 16 October, 1975:
Concerning the expenses listed of phone calls, you should minimize phone calls. Concerning loans to temples, loans should be limited to a certain extent. Monthly installments should be regularly reminded and taken payment of.
Letter to Mr. Longo A. Ali -- Nairobi 29 October, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1975 hand delivered to me by my disciple Jnana das Adhikari and I am pleased to note the contents. I am glad to note your determination to be freed from the material entanglement by chanting Hare Krishna mantra. This is the recommended process for this age of disagreement for achieving Krishna consciousness. It is authorized, very easy, and it does not cost anything. I understand that you have got japa beads, so this is very good that you are seriously taking to the process. So if you continue Krishna will bless you, and you will go back home back to Godhead. I also understand that you have Bhagavad gita As It Is, so try to read something regularly, but do not neglect the chanting, that is the important thing.
Letter to Revatinandana -- Bombay 7 November, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1975 and have noted the contents. You are happy because you are chanting, dancing, reading Srimad-Bhagavatam and all the books. If you do these things regularly, then your life is a success. I am glad that things are going on better there. For lecturing, any one of our members can speak. Simply one has to memorize the purports and then speak in one's own language. Anyone who chants and follows the rules and regulations, where is there room for anxiety for him? You are an old, experienced devotee; so you behave like this and teach others to do so wherever you may stay.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 9 November, 1975:
So in the Western countries they are selling their churches and farms which we require. That is also Krsna's plan. In U.S.A. there is enough land and if we organize we can become very big party—Hare Krsna party. We can occupy America and make them all become Krsna conscious. Regarding the St. Louis farm, yes, we can work and build some small cottages with thatched roofs provided we get men. It is very encouraging; you should get this farm. Ten at least are sufficient to run a farm. Regarding Denver, it is very good that they are regularly having kirtana in the colleges and that three new brahmacaries have joined. Just see the result. And also one new householder couple. Regarding the devotee taking a second wife, it is all right from Vedic culture, but is not right from American law view point. That you have to adjust.
Letter to Mr. A. D. Nyamiaka -- Bombay 10 November, 1975:
I am glad that you are reading Bhagavad-gita. Try to do this regularly. Chapter 2 is very important because it explains that we are not this body, that we are spirit soul, part and parcel of God. One has to have this preliminary understanding if he is to advance in spiritual life.
Letter to Manasvi -- New Delhi 30 November, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Nov. 18, 1975. Now you are living peacefully with your family, that is good. Best thing is if you continue your employment at the book store, try to sell my books there if possible. Visit the New York temple regularly with your family and try to help them as far as possible, I think you should not attempt to make life members at this time. Maintain your wife and children by working honestly, attend the temple programs as far as possible and in this way live peacefully as a grhastha following the four regulative principles of spiritual life and chant Hare Krishna on beads and at home with family. That will keep you pure.
Letter to Cakravarti -- New Delhi 2 December, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the following list of Boy and Girls as my duly initiated disciples. So you are the president there at Schloss Rettershof, it is your duty to see that the standards of Krishna Consciousness are always maintained, especially chanting 16 rounds daily, observing the four regulative principles, no meat, fish, eggs, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex life. The students must all attend morning and evening arati and classes. If we follow this simple program along with regular sankirtana, distributing the books and preaching, then there will be no fall down. Just like if one keeps himself clean and properly nourished by eating regularly, he will not infect disease, but if there is neglect, then there is room for infection, he becomes weak and fall prey to disease. So Krishna consciousness is the medicine for the material disease, and chanting Hare Krishna mantra sincerely is the basic ingredient of that medicine.
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Vrindaban 7 December, 1975:
Yes you print all my books, if you can sell then why not print. Print as much as possible and store them if necessary. But you must pay regularly the BBT loans that is not to be neglected.
Letter to Yashma Sarna -- Vrindaban 11 December, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter dated nil. Thank you also for your kind donation of 800 Shillings. The process of Krishna consciousness is very simple. Everything belongs to Krishna, so our only duty is to give everything for Krishna's service, and chant Hare Krishna. So you chant regularly and make advancement.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 19 December, 1975:
The newly initiated brahmanas should hear the mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. Brahmin initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the glories of the Lord, and outside by bathing regularly. Washing hands and mouth after eating. Instruct them all these things, and do it yourself, example is better than precept.
Letter to Yuvraj Thakura Sahib -- Bombay 31 December, 1975:
P.S. As you have recommended, I accept Jagaddhatri devi dasi for 2nd initiation. Now you must hold a fire ceremony. She should hear the mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. Brahmana initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the glories of the Lord, and outside by bathing regularly, washing hands and mouth after eating. Instruct her on all of these things and do it yourself, as "EXAMPLE IS BETTER THAN PRECEPT."
1976 Correspondence
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Nellore 4 January, 1976:
I accept Sriman Raghava Caitanya das Brahmacari for second initiation. Enclosed please find his sacred thread duly chanted on. Now you must hold a fire ceremony. He should hear the mantra through a tape recording in the right ear. Brahmin initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the Lord's name, and outside by bathing regularly, washing hands and mouth after eating. Instruct him on all these things and do it also yourself—example is better than precept.
Letter to Locanananda -- Bombay 10 January, 1976:
I have received the names of all the candidates for initiation and I accept them all as my duly initiated disciples. Their new spiritual names are as follows:
- Jan Appelman—Jayagopal dasa
- Freddy Van de Buerie—Mahasrnga dasa
- Raymond Nota—Jnanaraja dasa
- Henry Fluster—Akhiladhara dasa
- Peter Vander Heyden—Divyasinhadasa
- Patricio—Krtayajna dasa
- Jannie Smit—Mangalaya dasi
- Tettje Meursing—Aharada dasi
- Francisco van der Linden—Atitagamana dasi
I also accept Yasodavatsala das and Bhasyakara das for second initiation. Enclosed you will find their sacred threads which I have chanted on. Now hold a fire ceremony and the brahmanas may afterward be allowed to hear the Gayatri mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. First initiated devotes must vow to always chant minimum 16 rounds daily and strictly observe the regulative principles. The Brahmins must practice cleanliness, internally by chanting the Lord's glories and externally by bathing regularly. In addition the brahmanas should study carefully, especially Gita, Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion and Nectar of Instruction as well as all the small paperbacks. Soon we will have yearly examinations for brahmanas based on these books and those who pass will be awarded Bhakti-sastri titles.
Letter to Bahudak -- Bombay 11 January, 1976:
All of the devotees you have recommended I accept for initiation. Dharmarupa das, Subavrata dasi, Mahojjvala dasi, Sthanur das, Jagadadija das, Damagosh das and Kanti-mati should after holding a fire ceremony, be allowed to hear the Gayatri mantra through the right ear from the tape recording. They must always keep clean, internally by chanting the Lord's glories, and externally by regular bathing. In addition they should regularly study Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad and all the paperbacks because soon we shall be holding examinations based on these books for the brahmanas. Those who pass will be given the title Bhakti-sastri. Gail Bergeron's spiritual name is Paratpara dasi. She that she chants minimum 16 rounds daily and strictly follows the regulative principles.
Letter to Rajani -- Mayapur 3 February, 1976:
I shall be coming to the USA in April and on the way I may stop in London. From London I may go to Paris and see you there. I am so pleased that you are chanting the Hare Krsna mantra 16 rounds regularly and following the principles. Stick to these rules and regulations and Krsna will bless you with Krsna consciousness.
Letter to Sukadeva -- Mayapur 5 February, 1976:
I also accept Kanva das Brahmacari for second initiation. Enclosed you will find his sacred thread which I have chanted on. Now hold a sacrifice, a fire ceremony, and afterwards the brahmana initiate may be allowed to hear the Gayatri mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. First initiate devotees must vow to always chant minimum 16 rounds daily and strictly observe the regulative principles. The brahmanas must practice cleanliness internally by chanting the Lord's glories and externally by bathing regularly. You personally should set a high standard for the new devotees to follow.
Letter to Gunagrahi -- Mayapur 14 February, 1976:
The boys you have recommended may be initiated. Hold a fire sacrifice and they may vow before the deity, the spiritual master and the fire that they will chant 16 rounds minimum and obey the four regulative principles. Their names are as follows:
- Dan Cooper—Dhiman Dasa
- Mary Sandoval—Mahodari dasi
The six devotees you have recommended for second initiation may also receive the gayatri mantra in the right ear and you may instruct them to be clean inside by always chanting Hare Krishna and clean externally by bathing regularly. You yourself should set the example for them all.
Letter to Yasomatinandana -- Mayapur 15 February, 1976:
Yes, I approve your distribution ideas, namely subscriber agents, news agents. The subscription drive is a solid program. And if you regularly publish and get registered, you can get a one or two paise charges (postal concession). All right, you may take advertisements. Go ahead and educate the public regarding our philosophy and ISKCON activities. Also in the future there are many cities such as Bombay, Surat, and Calcutta with large numbers of Gujaratis, you may arrange for getting subscriptions there. Gradually as you work there, you will get local men to join you.
Letter to Gadi -- Mayapur 16 February, 1976:
So you may hold a fire sacrifice and Hiowana Nivens (Hatari das) should vow to chant minimum 16 rounds and keep strictly the four regulative principles. Paramatma das may hear the mantra in the right ear. He should keep clean internally by chanting Hare Krishna mantra always and externally by bathing regularly. You yourself must set the example. Satsvarupa Maharaja can chant on the beads and you can find enclosed brahmana thread duly chanted on by me.
Letter to Batu Gopala -- Mayapur 18 February, 1976:
I accept Sriman Dhananjaya Pandit das for brahman initiation. You may hold a fire sacrifice and he should listen to the Gayatri mantra in the right ear from the tape. He can be instructed that the duty of a brahman is to maintain cleanliness. Internal cleanliness is always chanting Hare Krishna and external cleanliness is bathing regularly. You yourself must set the example.
Letter to Ramesvara -- India 25 February, 1976:
I have asked several times that you send a copy of the transfer slip when you transfer money to Bombay. You must send it regularly, whenever you transfer. What is the use of Radha-Damodara monies going to Los Angeles; he is sending direct. He will send and you can note.
Letter to Sri Kashinath Mullick -- Delhi 24 March, 1976:
I do not know how many devotees are staying there for taking prasadam, but I want at least 25 devotees to stay there regularly for taking prasadam, occasionally holding festivals also for distributing prasadam to anyone who visits the temple. I am thinking in this line. I am hoping that you can give me your considerate opinion as to how it can be done. Furthermore, I wish to be enlightened to know how much land the mandir possesses for cultivation because I wish the temple community to be self-sufficient by producing their own food grains. In foreign countries we are organizing our centres on this principle. Here also in Mayapur we are doing the same thing, and we have just taken on another place, Haridasapur, the place of Haridasa Thakura. There are 6 bighas of land and they have donated it to us, and we are trying to develop it according to the above mentioned program.
Letter to The 14 Cooperative Societies -- Delhi 27 March, 1976:
As you may know, our Hare Krishna Land is very popular with the residents of Bombay, in particular the local residents and devotees of Juhu Beach and surroundings. Many visitors regularly attend religious services and we are trying to provide suitable facilities to this end.
Now with so many devotees visiting from the colony, it is necessary that we have access from the colony side to the temple. At present we only have access to the temple from the sea-side and it is proving a great inconvenience to visitors coming from the colony side. We therefore request that access be kindly granted to us on the colony side for the benefit of the many worshipers who regularly visit the temple. We request that you kindly give us permission to construct a suitable access to our property from the colony side and that you kindly provide us such land for use as may be necessary.
Letter to Ramesvara , Ranadira -- Melbourne 23 April, 1976:
So far the sign is concerned, why should we make such an expenditure of so many thousands of dollars for a sign . . . what benefit shall we derive? Whether it will be beneficial or not? Everyone knows that it is Hare Krishna Centre so why should you spend some thousands of dollars? One thing, however, I can suggest. If we display there a new picture or painting of our Hare Krishna Movement regularly, very nicely painted. Also, you can have a book display, with pictures and paintings also. That will be good advertisement.
Letter to Nityananda -- Honolulu 4 May, 1976:
On your recommendation I am accepting the following devotees for initiation:
- Lee Sutton—Kuruksetra das
- Ernie Courey—Vidyapati das
- Barbara Sutton—Parijata dasi
- Padavja das Brahmacari (second initiation)
Hold a yajna and instruct the initiates that they must follow the 4 regulative principles: no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no illicit sex-life, and chanting minimum 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra daily. The brahmanas must cultivate the brahminical qualities as mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita and in the other literatures. They must keep clean externally by bathing regularly each day, and internally clean by always chanting Hare Krishna. The beads of the first initiates can be chanted on by one of the sannyasis and the thread for brahmana initiation is herein enclosed. After the fire yajna you can play a recording of the gayatri mantra played into the right ear of the brahmana initiate.
Letter to Revatinandana -- Honolulu 20 May, 1976:
Also on your recommendation I am accepting Padmagarbha das and Papharini devi dasi for second initiation as brahmanas. After the fire sacrifice you should play the gayatri mantra into the right ear of the initiates. Enclosed please find one brahmana thread and copy of the gayatri mantra. The brahmana must be clean both inside and outside by following the regulative principles strictly, and bathing regularly. The initiates as above mentioned are all taking vow before the Deity, the Supersoul within, the devotees, the spiritual master, the fire, and so they are vowing before so many witnesses to keep faithfully these regulative principles. So my request to them is that they take very seriously this vow and make progress in developing love for Krishna.
Letter to Nandevara -- Honolulu 23 May, 1976:
You can hold a fire sacrifice and you can have Taraksa's beads chanted on by one of the sannyasis. Give the beads and spiritual name at the time of initiation. For the second initiates, after the fire sacrifice, you can give the men their brahmana threads and play the tape of gayatri mantra into the right ear. I have enclosed a copy of the gayatri mantra for them to follow. The initiates are promising to follow the principles of no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, and no gambling, as well as chanting a minimum of 16 rounds of japa daily. This promise is made before the Deity, the spiritual master, the devotees, the fire, like this, one should very strictly keep this vow and make progress in Krishna Consciousness. The brahmanas must keep clean externally by bathing regularly, and within by always chanting Hare Krishna. The symptoms of the brahmana are explained in the Bhagavad-gita and one should cultivate these qualities in their devotional service.
Letter to Narayana -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1976:
On your recommendation, I am accepting Bhaktin Shanna Wollerman for first initiation. Her spiritual name is Nilacala dasi. Also, I am accepting Saurani dasi for second initiation. Those who take initiation must vow to refrain from illicit sex life, intoxication, gambling, and meat-eating, and to chant minimum of 16 rounds japa daily. The brahmanas must practice cleanliness internally and externally. Externally by bathing regularly, and internally by always chanting the Mahamantra.
Letter to Ramesvara -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:
Hold a fire sacrifice and for the male initiates you can give them sacred thread. The gayatri mantra should be played for them into the right ear and the brahmanas should practice the principles of cleanliness both outside and internally. Outside by bathing regularly, and inside by always chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
Letter to Nityananda -- Washington D.C. 5 July, 1976:
On your recommendation I am accepting Jvarajit das Brahmacari for second initiation. Hold a fire sacrifice and after the fire sacrifice a tape recording of the gayatri mantra should be played into his right ear. Enclosed is one brahmana thread and gayatri mantra sheet. Brahmin must practice cleanliness both externally and internally. Externally he must bathe regularly, and internally he must chant Hare Krishna.
Letter to Radha Sarana -- Washington D.C. 5 July, 1976:
Hold a fire sacrifice and the initiates should refrain from the four pillars of sinful life: no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling, and no meat-eating. This is very easy when one chants daily their prescribed rounds seriously, at least 16 rounds daily. Enclosed you will also find one brahmana thread and gayatri mantra. After the sacrifice the tape of gayatri should be played in the right ear of the brahmana initiate. To become brahmana one must be clean outside and inside. Outside by regularly bathing and inside by always chanting Hare Krishna. The beads for first initiates can be chanted upon by Hrdayananda Maharaja and they should be given these beads and names at the time of initiation.
Letter to Ranadhira -- Washington D.C. 5 July, 1976:
This is to certify that you should send the Back-to-Godhead magazine regularly to Sridhara Swami in Navadvipa as already requested. I am glad to see that you are now conscientiously executing your duty. Always check with me first before sending out any literature to persons who have not been specifically approved by me.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New York 11 July, 1976:
The Rs. 11-membership is imagination. What is that membership card? And how will you regularly collect such a small sum from the members? It will engage so much money just to collect this. In any case, this is to be discussed with the GBC. Don't discuss anything new haphazardly. I have no experience of the idea. So far I know, retail business is not good in comparison to wholesale business. The Hyderabad Deity is already installed. Simply they are moving Them to their new temple. The installation ceremony (bathing ceremony) can be at noon. Then again there can be the regular Janmastami function at midnight. Concerning my going to Madras, Delhi, etc. there is first priority engagement contemplated with Mr. Bajaj's group in Poona. Giriraja can consult with Mr. Bajaj and get date fixed up then you can make the program. I have no objection however to the pandal in Madras.
Letter to Rucira -- Paris 31 July, 1976:
This process of offering whatever one has in one's possession for the pleasure of the spiritual master or Krsna is recommended in the Bhagavad gita by the Lord Himself when he says, "yat karosi yad asnasi yat karosi dadasi yat... (BG 9.27)." and "tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. . . (BG 4.34)". This process of offering everything in one's possession or ability is the recommended means for losing all attachment to material things and all attachment to material sense gratification. When one has become purified by this process of offering everything back to the Supreme he becomes simply attached to pleasing the Supreme Lord. This is the perfection of life. It is attained simply by following the four regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds daily, and regularly offering one's time and effort in the propagation of this Krsna Consciousness Movement.
Letter to Ajita -- Hyderabad 20 August, 1976:
The names and beads duly chanted upon by your local GBC man, may be given at a fire yajna. The brahmana thread and gayatri mantra which must be heard through the right ear, may also be given at the fire yajna. All initiated disciples must chant 16 rounds a day without fail and observe the four regulative principles very strictly. The brahmanas must become learned in the sastras and very clean internally and externally by regularly bathing with water and the holy name. A brahmana must be fixed up in understanding of brahmana. One should not take it cheaply. This initiation is very serious and one should endeavor to follow the orders of the spiritual master with great determination. Daksina should also be offered when one presents oneself for initiation.
Letter to Vegavan:
Hold a fire sacrifice and the initiates should refrain from the four pillars of sinful life: no illicit sex no meat, fish or egg eating (only Krsna prasadam), no gambling, and no intoxication. All devotees must also chant the prescribed 16 rounds daily on the beads. Enclosed you will also find four brahmana threads and gayatri mantra. After the fire sacrifice the tape of the gayatri mantra should be played in the right ear of the brahmana initiate. To become brahmana one must be clean inside and outside; outside by regularly taking bath, and inside by always chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. the beads for the first initiates may be chanted on by Sriman Jayatirtha das and they should be given these beads and names at the time of the fire sacrifice.
Letter to Revatinandana -- Vrndavana 11 September, 1976:
Please impress upon the initiates the necessity of chanting 16 rounds daily on the beads and following the four regulative principles. And the brahmanas must become clean outside by taking bath regularly and inside by chanting the maha mantra. Avoid sinful life and spiritual life becomes easier. Without following these principles there is actually no possibility of spiritual life.
Letter to Cittahari -- Vrindaban 12 September, 1976:
On your recommendation I am accepting Usapati das for brahminical initiation and Kedara dasa shall be the spiritual name for Bhakta Kevin. Please hold a fire sacrifice and present the name at that time. Your local GBC man may chant on the beads. The tape of the gayatri mantra may be played and heard through the right ear. To be a brahmana means that one is clean inside and out by chanting the maha mantra and bathing regularly. All our initiates must chant at least 16 rounds a day and follow very strictly the regulative principles. This will give one spiritual strength.
Letter to Pancadravida -- Vrindaban 20 September, 1976:
Hold a fire sacrifice and Hrdayananda Maharaja may chant on the beads. Give the bead, threads, and names at this time and the gayatri mantra may be heard by tape through the right ear. All initiated disciples must chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily on the beads and the brahmanas must remain clean outside by regularly bathing and clean inside by chanting the maha-mantra.
Letter to Balavanta -- Vrindaban 4 October, 1976:
Our ultimate aim is to take part in politics, because Krishna took part in politics, we have to follow—but if people do not become Krishna conscious it won't be possible. Actually if we can take up the government, our movement will be very easily spread and beneficial to the people. We can make happy, peaceful men, God conscious—this is our aim. The main thing is to distribute books more and more. That remark by the man in Houston is to your credit, that this movement is becoming an epidemic. Actually, everywhere envious people are against this movement, especially communists, because this movement is a threat to them. The main thing is to distribute books—the communist idea is spread practically all over the world on account of distributing huge amounts of literature, but they have no substance. Introduce Rathayatra very nicely and distribute books. Yes, you are welcome to join me. I wanted that besides my permanent secretary that one of the GBC's may accompany me regularly.
Letter to Sacimata -- Chandigarh 15 October, 1976:
There is nothing mystical about getting Gaura Nitai deities for worshiping. The Lord is all powerful and omnipresent, he knows the heart of the devotee and reciprocates with the devotee accordingly. So now the Lord has come to your home and agreed to be worshiped by you, therefore everything should be clean and neat. Nice prasadam should be offered regularly and distributed to guests. Kirtana may be performed morning and evening and some discussion from Bhagavad-gita as it is, or other books from our publications.
Letter to B.S. Bodhayana Maharaja -- Vrindaban 9 November, 1976:
I'm very much obliged to you that you write to say, "It is clear to me that you are great powerful Acarya in the Vaisnava world at present." Sometimes Sridhara Maharaja also says like that. So, actually if you are feeling like that let us work conjointly. There is great prospect for preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message all over the world and in India also. At least in India we can preach very vigorously if we combine together. It is already tested in many cases. Whenever we held some festival in big, big cities like Calcutta, Bombay, Hyderabad, Madras, Delhi, etc. thousands of men gather and they request regularly to continue the program. Recently we held a similar program in Candigargh and the devotees of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math also participated. They invited me in the local center of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math and many thousands of people came to hear me. So there is great prospect if we work conjointly at least in India. So you can consult Sridhara Maharaja also. He's also of that opinion s you have opined and if in this old age we can do something combinedly it will be a great triumph. I thank you very much once more.
Letter to Prabhusvarupa -- Vrindaban 12 November, 1976:
Please chant regularly the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and observe the regulative principles. Then you'll get spiritual strength.
1977 Correspondence
Letter to Radha-sarana -- Juhu, Bombay 17 April, 1977:
Just because there are no men is not a good reason to make someone a brahmana. This policy is not good. First have devotees. Then we should consider to open a center. Not that we open centers and have no devotees to manage them and therefore we create brahmanas. However, because this is a special case, I accept the two devotees, Sriman Jyotsna dasa brahmacari and Sriman Lalita-Govinda dasa brahmacari for second initiation. Their sacred threads duly chanted on are enclosed along with the Gayatri Mantra sheet. After performing the fire ceremony they may be allowed to hear the gayatri mantra from the tape in the right ear. You must teach them the principles of brahminical living, especially cleanliness is very important. Internally one should keep clean by chanting Hare Krsna and externally by bathing regularly. Teach them by your own personal example.
Letter to Radha Krsna -- Bombay 27 April, 1977:
As you have recommended them, I accept all six devotees for second initiation. This is the success of our movement—that our devotees are becoming brahmanas. To be a brahmana means to be clean, internally by always chanting Hare Krsna mantra, and externally by bathing regularly. You have to teach others to be brahmanas by your own personal example. Please find enclosed six sacred threads duly chanted by me. Now you must perform the fire sacrifice and after the sacrifice the new brahmanas may be allowed to hear the Gayatri mantra from the tape in the right ear. Now all of you combined together and very vigorously spread Krsna consciousness throughout South America.
Letter to Gurukrpa -- Vrndavana, 18 May, 1977:
For some reason temples are not sending in as much money as was expected to the BBT. Ramesvara says that he cannot afford to send any money for completing Bombay at this time. Therefore I am hoping it may be possible for you to continue to send $100,000 monthly for finishing the Bombay project, until such a time when the BBT can arrange instead to send the money. When the BBT can once again transfer funds regularly then I shall tell you what to do with further collections.
Letter to Hari-sauri -- Vrndavana 18 May, 1977:
As you have recommended him, I accept Clayton as my duly initiated disciple. His spiritual name is Karsna-Dasa. You should hold a fire sacrifice and he must vow to chant minimum 16 rounds daily and follow the four regulative principles faithfully. His beads already chanted on are being sent by separate post, so the fire ceremony should be held after receipt of the beads. I also accept Anupam Das and Bimala Dasi for second initiation. Anupam's sacred thread duly chanted on is enclosed herewith. After the fire ceremony they may be allowed to hear the Gayatri mantra in the right ear. They should be instructed to always remain clean, internally by chanting Hare Krsna and externally by regularly bathing.
Letter to Vasudeva -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 6 September, 1977:
In his letter Ramesvara has written, "Our plan is to continue expanding book distribution and try to get literally thousands of Hindus to begin chanting japa. In short, my report is that Fiji could easily become the first country in the world to have a Krsna conscious government, and Vasudeva is the perfect devotee to help accomplish this task." May Ramesvara Maharaja's words come true. By your example teach all of the citizens to become ideal Vaisnavas, faithfully following the regulative principles and chanting regularly the Hare Krsna mantra. Worship the Deity very gorgeously with full attention to regularity and cleanliness. Distribute ample quantities of sumptuous prasadam to everyone who visits Kaliya-Krsna. This program will make us successful. And in the morning and evening hold regular Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita discourses, but do not allow any rascal professional receiters to discourse in our temple. Only initiated disciples should be allowed to speak on the subject matter of Krsna consciousness.
| Page Title: | Regularly (Letters 1972 - 1977) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, MadhuGopaldas |
| Created: | 23 of Nov, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=149 |
| No. of Quotes: | 149 |