Training of Abhirama dasa (Letters, 1970 - 1976)

Correspondence

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter sent through Bhagavan das dated 30th June, 1970, and the contents are very encouraging. I am so glad to know that you are an intelligent boy, happily married and now engaged in advancement of Krsna consciousness under the careful guidance of Sriman Bhagavan das. Please continue to study very thoroughly our Krsna consciousness way of spiritual life and with the help of Bhagavan das become more and more fixed up in the service of Lord Krsna.

I am very happy to accept you as my disciple as you have requested and your spiritual name is Abhirama Das Adhikari. Abhirama means one who is inclined to worship Lord Rama. I have chanted your beads duly and they are returned to you enclosed herewith. Please follow the rules and regulations for progressive spiritual advancement and be sure to chant regularly sixteen rounds of Hare Krsna mantra daily. I am enclosing one sheet listing standard practices for devotees and ten offenses to avoid in the matter of chanting the Holy Names.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 5 March, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents carefully. I am very anxious that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message be carried to South America also. Now we have got one center in Trinidad, started by Vaikunthanatha and his wife Saradia. That is a beginning. So your idea of having a large boat travelling from city to city is very encouraging. So if you have got the means, then go ahead and do it. Krishna Conscious men aboard ship and chanting Hare Krishna is very nice program and the coastal people may take advantage of this transcendental vibration and be benefited. So do it cooperatively with Hayagriva Prabhu and let me know of your progress.

Letter to Abhirama -- Malaysia 5 May, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 23 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to know that one new brahmacarini has donated $15,000 and a new car. My thanks to her and she will be initiated as soon as you recommend. So far as distributing the fifteen thousand dollars, I would advise you to send this money to ISKCON PRESS for printing Bhagavad-gita As It Is enlarged edition. They require about $20,000 out of which I have asked Karandhara Prabhu to send them $5,000 from the Book Fund. Similarly, if Lyndan Prabhu can contribute $15,000 then the present problem of printing this book is solved. So if you can kindly let me know your decision to Calcutta address, 3 Albert Road, Calcutta-17.

Regarding the new car, I think we require some new cars in India. So if it is possible, the car may be dispatched to India. We have already applied to the Import Department Govt. of India and are expecting a reply soon. So if it is possible send the car to India.

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

I shall be very soon coming to USA. After finishing this Australian and Far East business I shall return to Calcutta and probably I shall have to go to Russia. If not I shall be going to London, and from London to U.S.A. This is our present program. I hope this will meet you in good health and thank you once more for your letter. One thing I don't see is your letter heading. Formerly there was a letter heading. You should always use stationery letter heading. That is required.

Letter to Damodara, Abhirama -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1971:

I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated 27th June, 1971 and have noted the contents. Yes, it will be a great event if you can arrange a meeting with President Nixon. If Mr. Nixon keeps a cool head and tries to understand our movement, it will be good for us and the whole world also. Actually the whole world is suffering for want of Krishna Consciousness, that is a fact. So there is great turmoil everywhere. If Nixon will help us a little, we can do the work with great enthusiasm and facility. Unfortunately the politicians do not want to see people in higher consciousness. They want to keep the people in darkness and exploit their sentiment for personal aggrandizement. They pose to be the friend of the people, but they are actually not. The real friend is Krishna. Still, if you can make arrangements to meet with Nixon, it will be a great event, so try for it very seriously.

Letter to Abhirama -- London 31 August, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th August, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. Your proposal to open centers in South America by your "floating ISKCON temple"* is very much encouraging to me, so if it is possible then certainly you have my blessings. You must make sure, though, that the management of our Baltimore temple is going on very nicely. Once that has been settled up you can make plans accordingly. Hayagriva Prabhu is the GBC representative for that part of the globe so you can consult with him and others in this connection.

I once had a dream like this; that we would have a moving temple on the water, going from town to town. So you are making that dream come true. Thank you very much. Do it nicely and maybe I will come and join you also.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*wherefrom you propose to purchase this boat?

P.S. The boat should be purchased new rather than used.

Letter to Abhirama -- Mombassa, Kenya 9 September, 1971:

With further reference to my letter dated 31st August, 1971, I have already asked you to consult with the GBC members before purchasing the boat. So do not purchase this boat unless all the GBC members agree. I understand that some of the GBC members are not favorably disposed to this proposal of purchasing a boat. In one letter I have read "Otherwise there is so much chance of misuse. For example I have heard from Satsvarupa that the President of Baltimore Temple has $10,000.00 with which he wants to purchase a boat to go to South America. Obviously this is misappropriation and could be avoided if all these kinds of funds were immediately centralized". So in this regards do not purchase this boat without unanimous consent of the GBC members.

Letter to Abhirama -- Vrindaban 27 November, 1971:

I have received your letter of November 19, 1971, along with sailboat plans, and I have noted the contents carefully. The plans are very nice, and I want that such a "floating ISKCON" be organized, but for financial questions you should consult with my GBC men and together you can chalk out your plan. But one thing, how practical is such a ship with so many sails? I understand that it requires very skilled men to operate such ship, so have we got such experience? Now we have got ships without sails that are also very nice, so is it not more feasible for us to operate one of these more simple ships? What do you think?

I am very pleased that your all efforts to spread Krishna Consciousness Movement are meeting with success. Krishna has given you this gift, how to present KC to the public in a very tasteful manner, so now just utilize that facility and your life will be perfect. Actually, because you have given your life to Krishna, you are already perfect. But it is just like the ocean, if you are swimming in it you may swim forever and not reach the shore. Similarly, there is no limit to the perfection of Krishna Consciousness. Try to give this message to everyone, and the people will appreciate our Movement because we have got very solid ground of philosophy, and, more than that, our philosophy can be applied to our life and give good results. Especially I want that my books and literatures be distributed profusely, so try to do this, especially when you go in the schools and colleges. People must know that our Krishna philosophy will save the world from all kinds of dangerous conditions. We prove that when we compare our philosophy with any kind of ordinary so-called philosophy—we can defeat them all very easily. I am very encouraged that you are assisting me so nicely in this great mission, and I thank you very much.

You may give your new child the name Purnima dasi, as you like. But one thing, always inform my secretary if there is a new name given to any of your children, so that a record may be kept.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 17 January, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 19, 1971, and I am very pleased that you are serious to embark on such boating project, even though it will be a huge effort and expenditure to become successful. But never mind that, nothing is too much big if Krishna desires it. So if you are very determined that your boating idea will succeed, then Krishna will give you all encouragement and facility. The idea is good and has my approval, but now you should consult with the GBC members and then take it up seriously. You mention the sum of $9,000. That is not too much in your country, and I think that you can very easily manage that. As for maintenance, you have our books and literatures to distribute widely everywhere you go, so you should never lack for maintaining the boat.

Upon your recommendation, I have accepted Jim and Michelle Conway as my duly initiated disciples, and their letter follows.

Letter to Abhirama -- Calcutta 16 February, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 16, 1972, and I have noted the contents. Yes, you may install either the Jagannatha deities, the Panca-tattva, or, if you are very serious to engage in deity worship program, you may have both, according to the direction and advice of your GBC man. But this deity worship is very serious program, and it must be kept to the utmost highest standard and never allowed to be neglected. So if you are willing and able to initiate such program in Baltimore center, I have no objection.

Similarly, I have no objection to the marriage between Sruta das and Samista dasi, if the GBC man has approved. In future instances, if the GBC man is in agreement to marry, you need not consult me in the matter, as I have now handed over all such questions to them for deciding.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Calcutta 6 March, 1973:

Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your unsigned report dated the 18th of February. I have just arrived here a few days ago and by the 15th I shall go to Mayapur on the festival celebration of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. We are expecting many thousands to visit there and our nice building is almost completed.

Yes, your appointment as the new president of the Miami Temple is completely approved by me, now take advantage and preach among all the young people there and recruit some good men. For some time now I have been thinking to have a nice place in Florida and now it looks like you are trying for it.

As far as the Deities are concerned, we do not want to repeat the same mistake again, so it is better that you wait to get some more brahmanas before installing Them again. For worshiping the banyan tree, the representation of Krsna, simply offer a little flower, incense and water. Of course, now I am trying to get more valuable time for my translating of Bhagavatam, so you may consult in these matters with Rupanuga Maharaja, your GBC representative.

Yes, you are feeling increase in strength with increase in service, and I am not the actual bestower of mercy, rather I am just a messenger for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So just work hard for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His mercy will fall upon you like torrents of rain in the monsoon season.

I hope this meets you in good health and I beg to remain

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Letter to Abhirama -- Los Angeles 1 December, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 14, 1973. Regarding the initiations, I accept the following as my initiated disciples:

Richard Richman—Raghava das

Joel Peir—Caitanya Jivan das

Paul Baker—Sriman Pandit das

Carl Franzen—Sulochana das

Howard Wilfield—Narahari das

Neils Hertz—Vallabha Sen das

Barbara Drehl—Bhuvana Pavani dasi

Holly Franzen—Sulochana dasi

Patti Welfield—Bhagavat Sakti dasi

Maureen Hertz—Ragunandini dasi

So you take instruction from Rupanuga Maharaja on how to properly perform the yajna after he has chanted on their beads. Each disciple should go for collecting guru-daksine after the ceremony and the proceeds may be sent here c/o Karandhara.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Hong Kong 1 February, 1974:

In his latest GBC report, Rupanuga Maharaja wrote that you are delinquent in sending him regular reports. The system of temple presidents sending twice monthly reports to the GBC was devised by me to facilitate my receiving news of all the centers through the GBC. You are free to write me directly when the occasion arises, but do not neglect to send regular reports to Rupanuga Maharaja.

Letter to Abhirama -- Vrindaban 16 August, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have accepted the students upon your recommendation as my initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows:

David Milo Cramer—Dhruva das

Ernest Czwal—Drsta das

Thomas Gribble—Takrahari

John Paul Gribble—Jagatsakha

Ron Jermakakian—Rajakari

Joseph Rizzo—Ragaputra

Jerome Schein—Srisa

Joseph Cyril Streb—Sarvopama

Marsha Bryant—Manini

Aurora Gribble—Akancani

Farnie Spottswood—Srutirupa devi dasi

Donna Tonkinson—Drsya

John Jill—Jambavan

As you have suggested, you may hold a fire sacrifice and the beads may be chanted upon by Rupanuga Prabhu. You should impress upon the new disciples that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. They must always chant at least 16 rounds daily and avoid the four sinful activities.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 7 November, 1974:

Regarding Miami that you want to replace Abhirama, yes a capable man must be there, what can be done. But I have already written that he can marry that girl and divorce his wife.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 7 November, 1974:

N.B. Regarding replacing Abhirama and Damodara I refer to the "Direction of Management" as follows: "Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members." Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple members and do the needful.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 8 November, 1974:

Regarding Abhirama, in your letter you mention that in Miami it is so important center, 65 devotees, growing each day, ideal location. So Abhirama, has done this. He has done much service. He cannot be removed whimsically. Sex disturbance is the permanent disease of the Western people. Anyway I have already written you that the local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the "Direction of Management." Regarding his divorce enclosed is one letter dated 1/10/74 regarding this.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 16 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 7, 1975 and have noted the contents. I have accepted the ten persons whom you have recommended for second initiation and their threads have been enclosed along with mantra sheet. I have also accepted the three you have recommended for first initiation. Their names are: William—Isa das, Eric—Ahobala-Nrsimha dasa, Nancy—Nartaka Gopala dasi. Their beads may be chanted on by Kirtanananda Svami.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Enc: 7 threads and mantra sheet.

N.B. You must make sure that all of these devotees are following the regulative principles very nicely. Everyone must rise early, take bath attend mangala arati, chant at least 16 good rounds, attend class, and follow the four regulative principles strictly. If these things are lax, then there is no question of spiritual life. Any one who does not accept these things staunchly will have to fall down. You must teach them by your own personal example otherwise how will they learn. If you are loose in your habits, then everyone in your temple will also be loose in their habits. So, as one of my elder disciples, be strong. Do not deviate and you will be blessed.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Honolulu 4 June, 1975:

Rupanuga was the GBC, and now you are, why it cannot be made clean? Abhirama has proved his poor management, so he must be replaced. If you sell the old buildings and buy some land as proposed, it may be very nice. One thing is though, if the management continues to be so nasty, then that place will also be ruined.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Honolulu 9 June, 1975:

So, work very nicely to encourage Abhirama and the others to very enthusiastically carry on our program there in Miami, even though there may be so many difficulties.

Letter to Abhirama -- New Delhi 21 August, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 18, 1975, and upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and their names are: Sunil Awatramani—Srisatya dasa; Wayne Prabhu—Upasya dasa; Marcia Bernheimer—Gatiprada devi; Antoinette Kennedy—Gitagamya dasi; Bernadette Bonaccurso—Visnu-kanta devi.

I also accept the following as twice born initiated brahmanas: Langa Ganesa dasa, Janardana das, Nandana Acarya das, and Raghunatha Puri das. Hold a fire sacrifice and let them hear my recorded tape through the right ear.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 20 November, 1975:

Regarding Miami temple, you say it is a paradise. So that must be because it must be better than the former place. But they must keep the whole temple site very neat and clean. This is very important and please instruct them on this. Abhirama, he is an intelligent boy. He can do and he can manage. Simply you have to encourage him and see that he shows good example to all the devotees and they will all work very enthusiastically under his leadership.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 9 January, 1976:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated 8th December, 1975. I have replied your previous letter. I do not know why you have not received it.

I accept all the candidates for first initiation as my duly initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are:

Bhakta Wayne Melton—Visvavrksa dasa

Bhakta Michael Cremo—Drutakarma dasa

Bhakta Sunil Awatramani—Adridharana dasa

Bhakta Andrew Hooper—Srimaya dasa

Bhaktin Bernadette—Andharupa dasi

Bhaktin Antoinette—Harestanu dasi

Now you must hold a fire ceremony. Everyone must vow to chant faithfully 16 rounds minimum a day and follow strictly the rules and regulations. This will insure spiritual strength.

They newly initiated brahmanas are Nandanacarya das, Raghunath Puri das, Langaganesh das, Janardana das, Trimalla Bhatta das, and Nartaka Gopala dasi. They should participate in the fire ceremony and afterward should hear the Gayatri mantra from the tape through the right ear. Brahmin means cleanliness—inside by chanting and externally by regular bathing. Teach them this, not only by precept but by your personal example.

Now you have got very excellent land, so develop it very nicely. Miami is a tropical climate, so it should be made very lush with fruit and flower trees. I was very glad to see how your temple is now amongst the big leaders of book distribution. This is a sure sign of spiritual strength, for where there is preaching there must be life. Please go on increasing more and more the book distribution. You are working in the right direction.

I hope this meets you and all the devotees at New Naimisaranya Forest in the best of health.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Mayapur 22 January, 1976:

I am glad to see that Abhirama is doing well. He is a very intelligent boy. Now he is concentrating on book distribution so there will be no difficulty. This should be our first business. Temple opening is secondary.

Letter to Prabudha -- Mayapur 18 February, 1976:

Regarding the sales and distribution of your fruits, please kindly work out the details with Abhirama and Satsvarupa Maharaja.

Letter to Sri S. R. Acarya -- Delhi 24 March, 1976:

If you are in difficulty then by showing this letter you can take a railroad ticket from our Abhirama das Adhikari, the president of our Calcutta temple located at 3 Albert Road, Calcutta-17, near Camac Street and, Theater Road.

Letter to Abhirama -- Honolulu 9 May, 1976:

Please let me know how negotiations are going on with acquiring the park across the way, for making "Bhaktivedanta Park." You should concentrate on getting the park. The house is of secondary importance.

Letter to Abhirama -- Honolulu 20 May, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 9, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care.

You can continue to work at trying to get the park for constructing our temple there as previously planned. Keep me informed as to the progress.

So far the land in Jagannatha Puri is concerned, we can have a nice temple on 21 acres of land.* You can negotiate the rental fees and inform me accordingly before proceeding further with this project.

I hope that this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/pks

*Whether in the land there is vegetation? If it is only sandy then it is not good.

Letter to Abhirama -- Los Angeles 7 June, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 29, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care.

Our plan is to be presented in the following way: This is for beautifying the park. Our temple is not sectarian. Just as any beautiful spot is attractive to the public, so all members of the public will be invited to come. We shall decorate the park very nicely, and it will be open for all nations, and all sects. Take it from the beauty side. What is the harm? Suppose that a statue is in a museum, does it mean sectarian? It will glorify Vedic culture, so why the corporation will not agree with our plan? (Of course, the Deity must be there). It will be open to the public and we will invite tourists from all over the world. It shall be an artistic exhibition. And we shall spend any amount of money to make it an attractive spot for world tourists.

So try for the sanctioning by all means. Somehow or other, by flattery or whatever, get it sanctioned. It is very important. Convince them it is beautifying the park. And we shall please the corporation, the municipality, in every respect. It is a cultural presentation, not a temple, and it will attract many visitors. Convince them on this point.

Also, what about the corner house, on the corner of the park? You can make inquiries concerning this as well.

Concerning Puri, whether there is potency of vegetation. That we have to examine. If there is no such potency, then we are not interested. And what about transportation across the hot sand? In the summer season, it will be too hot. So, the question is whether in that sand there is possibility of growing trees and plants, whether the sand is fit for that. Otherwise, it is desert and will not be suitable.

Letter to Jayapataka:

Abhirama prabhu should kindly inform me what is the situation of the park. I did not receive the bank statement as yet.

Page Title:	Training of Abhirama dasa (Letters, 1970 - 1976)
Compiler:	Alakananda
Created:	03 of Jun, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=29
No. of Quotes:	29