Training of Gaurasundara dasa (Letters, 1967 - 1969)

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 14 March, 1967:

You will be glad to learn that here also we have got another Jadurani whose name is Govinda Dasi wife of Gaura Sunder. Both the husband and the wife are good artist and they have printed a very nice picture of Radha Krishna.

Letter to Rayarama -- Calcutta 5 November, 1967:

I have already sent you my congratulations for improving the get-up of BTG and I am sending news to Gaurasundara for his wonderful service to the cause.

Letter to Jadurani -- Calcutta 12 December, 1967:

I am so glad to learn that Rayarama, Satsvarupa, yourself, Gaurasundara, Govindarani and others are doing so much for improving BTG. I quite appreciate your endeavours and you must continue the Mahajana series, and whenever necessary you can ask me for necessary informations.

Letter to Jadurani -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967:

I understand that there are only three persons at Boston, but each of you can work for 300 persons, so it is not the numerical strength that works, but it is Krishna Consciousness that works. A Krishna Conscious person is never tired of working and the symptoms I can see in you as you want to be overloaded with work. This is the test of how one is advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Nobody becomes tired but wants to work more and more. Your God-brother Satsvarupa also told me the same thing that he may be overloaded with typewriting work. Similarly, Govinda dasi and Gaurasundara also want to be overloaded with work. So your examples are great encouragement for an old man like me. I have got the same spirit of being overloaded with Krishna Conscious work, but physically I am not as strong as you are all young boys and girls. You can pray to Krishna that I may get your strength to serve the cause of Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 30 December, 1967:

So far my health is concerned, Gaurasundara is keeping me quite fit by massaging and Govinda dasi is supplying me upma. Perhaps you have never tasted what is upma. But if Jadurani can prepare it I shall send the formula.

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 31 December, 1967:

Here, all the students, especially Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi are taking my personal care. Upendra and Uddhava they are personally cooking for me, and Mukunda is personally looking after my permanent visa. So I see all round hopes; there is nothing to be disappointed in my service to Krishna. Let us go on with our work for Krishna for His satisfaction and for the benefit of the whole world. Thank you once more for your great service.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 13 January, 1968:

Please send me full photostat copy of the original Brahma Samhita. I shall begin writing my own commentation after my Guru Maharaja. Gaurasundara will be helping me prepare this Brahma Samhita. After you finish transliteration of Brahma Samhita then we shall see for Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 16 January, 1968:

I am keeping quite fit under the personal guidance of Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi. I think as soon as your new store is complete, I shall return to S.F. and begin our new classes there. It is most gratifying that you say there is no financial worry, you will manage. I am sure Uddhava and Upendra will join you in this enterprise. You are sincere servitor and therefore Krishna is giving you more and more opportunity for service. Please organize this center nicely, I think it is very nice for our purpose.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 17 January, 1968:

I have sent you one tape today. You will find the explanation there, and enjoy it. Yes, if it is possible to send carbon copies of Srimad-Bhagavatam tapes to other centers; please do so. Also, please send a copy to Gaurasundara of Bhagavatam tapes, and also lectures if possible, c/o of this address.

Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1968:

Let Pradyumna live there in Boston; I have given him some tasks and he will do them. Yes you can send the plant. I shall suggest your vibrator to Gaurasundara; and he will do the needful, because he takes care of my body.

Letter to Madhusudana -- Los Angeles 24 January, 1968:

My dear boy, lecturing for Krishna has nothing to do with this body. If I would not have lectured, how you would have come? So as far as possible I am taking care of my health, but Krishna's service must be executed, even at the risk of life. A living entity gets millions of opportunities to get a type of body, but hardly he gets opportunity to serve Krishna. The service of Krishna must be executed at all risks, but do not worry; I am taking care of my health by the help of Gaurasundara.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 4 February, 1968:

Mrdanga playing as you are doing at present will make you more and more expert as you go on playing. Here also I see Gaurasundara simply by playing is improving. If all the members keep their faith in Krishna and tries to please Him, certainly everyone will be pleased by hearing our Kirtana. It is sure and certain.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 15 February, 1968:

I am so glad that somebody has donated sufficient funds to construct the throne. Your design appears to be very nice, nicer than the design which I gave you drawn by Gaurasundara; but the former design was made with the proposal of covering it with silver foils. To make it less expensive because the whole thing has to be covered by silver foils, I made it plainer.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 17 February, 1968:

Presently I am using one copy of the Gita Press version of Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with my translating work, but in due course I may send it to you and you may transliterate the second and third cantos at that time. So if you can do this transliteration we have enough assignments. You may work together with Gaurasundara in this connection.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1968:

I am glad that the devotee has joined us who is a sculptor. I am trying to carve one Radha Krishna Sri Murti in wood, done by Gaurasundara, but Gaurasundara is not a sculptor, still he is trying to do it. But if this boy is actually a sculptor, he may immediately begin to carve one Radha Krishna Sri Murti in wood, 24" high.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 26 February, 1968:

I am glad to understand that Lord Jagannatha is being repaired, and after this he will begin carving Sri Radha Krishna Murti. I am getting one Pair carved by Gaurasundara. Please find out if this boy Bob has got any knowledge or experience of casting, or any such equipment. I want to make 100 Murtis, probably in hard rubber, for our Temples.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 3 March, 1968:

I am in due reciept of your letter dated Feb. 29, 1968. With reference to your Gaurasundara das letter, "I am being overloaded with mail lately" is not meant for you. I must have sufficient correspondence with the main pillars of the society. You are one of them, so you are at liberty to write me as many letters as it is required. Sometimes I receive many letters from devotees with questions which could be solved in the Istagosthi meetings.

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 23 March, 1968:

So far BTG is concerned, if Gaurasundara is not able to help in this matter, you can take help from the other artists who have been working in cooperation with Jadurani for now. You can suggest to them and I am certain they will be able to do it.

Letter to Mukunda -- San Francisco 26 March, 1968:

Aniruddha is here and he is waiting for the statues of Radha and Krishna which is being expedited by Gaurasundara, and most probably he will be starting back for L.A. on Friday morning. How Umapati is feeling there? I have not heard anything from him. In the meantime I have received one letter from Hayagriva, and he was anxious to come to San Francisco during his summer vacation.

Letter to Mahapurusa -- San Francisco 28 March, 1968:

When I go to Montreal, I shall take selected pictures from Jadurani and as well as some of the pictures by Gaurasundara and Govinda published in our BTG. Jadurani has now become a nice preacher. I have report from Satsvarupa that she gives lectures very nicely. If we open a pavilion I shall take Jadurani also at that time, so she will deliver nice lectures. I shall probably be coming there to Montreal by first week of June.

Letter to Subala -- San Francisco 30 March, 1968:

The Radha Krishna statues prepared by Gaurasundara have been dispatched to Los Angeles through Aniruddha, and they are going to be cast in yellow brass. If one pair is successful then we shall get many pairs and one of the pairs shall be installed in your Santa Fe temple.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 2 April, 1968:

My ticket is already for American Airlines, so you please refund the prepaid ticket you sent for United Airlines, and send the value in postal money order to Gaurasundara, in the name of Gary McElroy, so that he can see to purchasing two student fares with discount cards. Please expedite the matter as it is very important, so that we can come together in one party.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Allston, Mass 27 May, 1968:

Till now I have received no reply from the Canadian Immigration Department, and I have just now received one letter from Janardana stating therein that even if I go to Montreal pending my immigration application, there will be no difficulty. Therefore I have decided to start for Montreal just after the second of June any day. I have sent Gaurasundara to the temple to contact him by phone informing this matter, as well as I have sent him one letter by airmail just now. So my going to Montreal is now fixed up.

Letter to Dayananda -- Montreal 7 July, 1968:

So far I am concerned, I wish to live the major portion of my remaining days of my life in the Western world to propagate this movement, but I could not obtain my permanent visa on some technical ground. Some lawyers advised me to appeal but I did not like the idea. Here in Canada, I may get a permanent visa but the difficulty is that during the winter the severe cold here may be unbearable for me or for my attendants. The male attendant, Gaurasundara, may agree, but the female attendant, Mrs. Gaurasundara, is not agreeable.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Montreal 15 July, 1968:

Regarding London-yatra: (like Rathayatra—yatra means travel.) I am contemplating of forming the following party: yourself and your wife, Mukunda and his wife, Gaurasundara and his wife, Hamsaduta and his wife, Pradyumna and Upendra. Maybe we may have to change later on a little bit, but this is my contemplation. Now, I do not know how to make this program fruitful.

Letter to Nathan Baruch -- Montreal 7 August, 1968:

And concentrate your energy making this art perfection. So far Radha Krishna Murtis are concerned, you have many pictures in San Francisco, and you can do accordingly, and so far Caitanya Mahaprabhu Murti is concerned, I am giving you a rough diagram herewith. (Murari has got one diagram drawn by Gaurasundara under my supervision which you can also see.)

Letter to Upendra -- Montreal 14 August, 1968:

As he has invited me to live with him, since immediately we have no apartment of our own, you must see personally whether my living with Mr. Renovich will be suitable. Because you know that wherever I live, I live separately and my cooking and everything is done by my devotees. And under the circumstances, if the apartment of Mr. Renovich is too crowded, for Gaurasundara and his wife and myself all,* still you will have to do everything for me. That is, I cannot eat with Mr. Renovich, my food must be prepared separately, etc. So whether such facilities are available at Mr. Renovich's apartment, you must see personally all these points, and then let me know, whether or not I shall start.

Hoping you are well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*If so desired Gaurasundara and his wife may wait till we have our own apartment and I can go alone for the time being. So let us know what to do.

Letter to Balai, Advaita -- Montreal 19 August, 1968:

It was so kind of you that you have sent me a Birthday cake, and you will be pleased to know that Govinda dasi and her husband Gaurasundara, decorated the bread with nice different kinds of candles, and it was offered to Krishna and then I enjoyed the bread, part of it, and the rest was distributed to the devotees.

Letter to Kirtanananda, Hayagriva -- Montreal 23 August, 1968:

P.S. The goat can be named Revachhagai, and the cow can be named as Surabhigai. Also you will be pleased to note that I've asked Gaurasundara to make a layout of the whole land and I shall place 7 different temples in different situation, as prototype of Vrindaban.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Montreal 24 August, 1968:

I hope yesterday Gaurasundara talked with you, in telephone, and whatever I had to say, you have been informed. But today, I may let you know that the idea of opening centers in large cities in USA, is quite welcome, and we have got opportunities to do that. But at the same time, as you two have gone to Vancouver, I think you should not come back defeated. That will not be good.

Letter to Aniruddha -- San Francisco 9 September, 1968:

You can inform Nandarani about her letter which she addressed me in Montreal, and I received that letter, redirected from there. And I shall reply her in detail. In the meantime, I have requested Gaurasundara and his wife to go to Florida, as suggested by Nandarani, if they are able. If not, I shall try some other boys to go there, as we must have a center at Florida. That is my great desire.

Letter to Mukunda -- San Francisco 14 September, 1968:

So I am asking Gaurasundara to go to Hawaii or Florida. Gargamuni has already started one center at Seattle and Ananda Brahmacari from Montreal has gone to Vancouver. And New Vrindaban is being taken care of by several devotees.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 15 September, 1968:

I am sending Gaurasundara to Hawaii, and probably I shall send Cidananda to Florida. And I have received letter from Sivananda that in Germany, there is good prospect, and he is already trying to rent one very nice storefront, 300 marks rent per month. And two boys, Krishna das, and Uttama Sloka (a German boy) are going there very soon. So of course we do not expect to sell English books in Germany very much, but maybe somebody will be interested. But in England we can sell some books. So in this way, try to distribute and let us risk. But they must give us 60 days sight, and we shall take delivery 5000 copies in three installments. And they must allow us 50%, discount, not 47%. On these conditions you accept. And bank reference I shall give.

Regarding Mr. Wade's promise to Gaurasundara, to pay $225-$250, they must keep their promise. Otherwise, it will be not possible to do business with them, if they change their word of honor. You must say Mr. Wade like that. In business principle, what is promised, that must be kept. If the promise is not kept, then we are not going to deal with them, with such business firm, even it may be very big. That should be our principle also. So I think on this principle we can arrange with them, and I shall give you bank reference when they require.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 15 September, 1968:

Hope this will cover all your enquires and you will do the needful. By the by, I am inquiring that you know two addresses in Hawaii, one university professor, and another gentleman who came to our temple and took records. So if you send the addresses to Gaurasundara immediately, either by letter or by phone, then he can utilize their friendly connection.

Letter to Jaya Govinda -- San Francisco 15 September, 1968:

You will be pleased to learn that Sivananda from Montreal has gone to Berlin for opening center there. Mukunda has gone along with Gurudasa and Syamasundara. and their wives to London, to open a center there. Gaurasundara is going to Hawaii for opening a center there.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Seattle 22 September, 1968:

I have sent Gaurasundara to Hawaii to open a branch there, and I have received letters from London that the 6 devotees there are prosecuting their regular duties, namely kirtana in the morning, and on the weekdays as we do generally, and they are having love feast also, although not in our own place, but in different places.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Seattle 27 September, 1968:

I was very much anxious to hear from you, and I am so glad to receive your letter dated Sept. 24, 1968, and it is very encouraging. It is by Krishna's Grace that you have gotten a job as desk clerk. This is another good news. Please continue in that job and try to organize a center in Hawaii, whose description appears to be very attractive like India. The description you have given is exactly corresponding to the eastern and western coast of India. I think Mahapurusa will join you very soon. And Murari is also arranging to go there, so you will get the cooperation and help of your God-brothers, and you are also situated in a job, and when Govinda dasi goes there, I think she can also have a nice job. So, combined together, you will be able to develop a very nice center, perhaps our own temple of Radha Krishna in that good spot, which is very attractive for me at least.

Regarding the mrdanga: You should make a statement to the authority that they did not allow you to take it with you, and forced you to keep it with the baggage, although it was known that there was every chance of it being broken. And at last they have broken it—so they must pay $200.00 damages. Claim it, and we shall fight with these nonsense people. I do not know in future how we can take mrdanga there. Is there any marine shipping service from San Francisco or from India to there?

Please keep me informed of your activities there, and I hope this meets you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. I am feeling your separation but that does not matter we must do our duty in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Rayarama -- Seattle 27 September, 1968:

Please continue to send our Back To Godhead to all persons, I have given you list—especially to Sumati Morarji at Bombay, because she is coming again to help our activities. You can send copies to Hawaii also to Gaurasundara to the following address: Gary McElroy; room 5066; Armed Services Y.M.C.A., 250 South Hotel Street; Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813.

Letter to Murari -- Seattle 8 October, 1968:

While I was in San Francisco you were arranging for going to Hawaii. Now I understand that you have gone to New York, so I do not know whether you have changed your program. If not, I shall be glad to know when you are going to Hawaii. I understand from the letter of Gaurasundara that expert carpenters can get immediately good job there, at least $5.00 per hour. So if you go there, I think there will be no difficulty for you. Anyway, I shall be glad to know your program, whether you are going to Hawaii in the near future or not.

Gaurasundara is doing there some work, but that is not sufficient even for maintaining an apartment. He is of course searching for a better job, but I do not think alone he can start a center there. He writes to say that the rents there are very expensive. So I shall be glad to hear from you.

Letter to Dayananda -- Seattle 9 October, 1968:

Mr. Fugate in Florida has refused to accept Mahapurusa das Brahmacari who reached there yesterday. Most probably he will come back or he may go to Hawaii to join Gaurasundara there. In fact I wish that our students, husband and wife may take charge of each center, as you have taken charge with the Los Angeles center. I am trying to entrust the Hawaii center to Gaurasundara and his wife Govinda dasi, assisted by brahmacaris and other householders also, most probably Murari and Lilavati will go there. So we are trying to organize a nice center in Hawaii.

Letter to Mahapurusa -- Seattle 16 October, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letter dated 11th Oct., along with Gaurasundara's. So I am enclosing one letter for you received from Nandarani. The incident in Florida is to be forgotten. Now, with new energy, and in good cooperation with Gaurasundara, please try to establish a nice center in Hawaii. In the meantime, Murari might have gone there, so combined together, please try to establish a nice center there. Regarding your requirement, I am handing the note to Upendra, and I hope he will do the needful.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Seattle 16 October, 1968:

I am very much glad to receive your letter dated the 11th Oct., and it is good news that you have got a nice room for residential purpose. And you have got now good assistant, Mahapurusa, so combined together, try to establish a very nice center in Hawaii. You organize the center in such a way that we can in future open centers in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Fiji, Bangkok, Sydney, and New Zealand, and all neighboring Pacific islands. And Hawaii will be our center for spreading Krishna Consciousness in the Pacific.

I may be going to Vancouver or Montreal from here, for a day or two to take my immigration visa, and then I may go to Santa Fe, and from there, I am going to Los Angeles. Please send me at least one letter in a week, the report of your activities there, and I hope Krishna will help you in your nice endeavor.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 8 November, 1968:

The Grhastha disciples, just like Syamasundara., Mukunda, and Gurudasa, with their wives, are doing very nicely in London. Similarly Dayananda and his wife Nandarani are doing very nicely here. Similarly Satsvarupa and his wife Jadurani are doing very nice in Boston. Another Grhastha, Gaurasundara, has gone to Hawaii, and his wife may go there also, and he will organize the Pacific Region.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 16 November, 1968:

At the present time of course Gaurasundara has gone there without any money, so he has no sufficient means just now for her to go there. At the present moment she is living at night with Nandarani and in the daytime she is assisting me as my secretary. Formerly when Gaurasundara was with me, she was living at night here also, but since he has gone with great responsibility for organizing a Hawaii center, he cannot be called, although I am feeling his separation because he was always helping me day and night. So after all it is an experiment, I do not know how the future program shall be fixed up, but if Purusottama's service is absolutely needed in New York, then he may go back again.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 18 November, 1968:

Yes, henceforward, as I have already told you, that Srimad-Bhagavatam will be ultimately seen by you, before being printed. That will keep consistency, I quite agree with you. My present plan is to stay in Los Angeles, perhaps at least for more than a month, which will cover Christmas holidays. And so, during that time, if you come here, it will be very nice. In January I may go to Hawaii, if Gaurasundara takes me there.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 2 December, 1968:

I have just today received your most recent letter of November 30th, 1968 and have noted the contents with pleasure. We have registered the Hawaii address given by you.

I am pleased with the progress that you, Mahapurusa, and Murari are making in establishing our Hawaii temple and also I have noted that you are making arrangements for accommodating me in January. You are making arrangements for me but also I think you should make arrangements for calling your wife. The husband and wife must live together for helping one another in developing Krishna Consciousness. So I think that you may write to your wife and request that she join you in your temple at Hawaii.

I thank you so much for your regular reports of progess you are making. I hope that this finds you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. Your drawings on Prahlada Maharaja are being published in London papers regularly. It has ____ nice. I hope you have received the copy.

Letter to Jadurani -- Los Angeles 5 December, 1968:

You will be pleased to know that our London center has managed to have one local newspaper devote a two-page spread to a comic book feature of the story of Prahlada Maharaja as depicted by Gaurasundara and Govinda Dasi. This is very nice propaganda so as much as possible we should try for overflooding publications with similar of our stories. We have so many artists now in Boston and also New York so if someone can work on this idea it will be very nice.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 10 December, 1968:

I have received your letter of 7, December 1968 and have duly noted the contents.

Regarding my plans for January I can not as yet give a definite answer because I have recently been invited to visit the South American country, Guyana at the beginning of the new year. So this too is undefinite and I will have to see whether they provide for our visit or whether will not before I can decide if I may go to Hawaii in January. I am sending the letter out today asking for confirmation of this invitation and just as soon as I hear word, I will let you now so you may make your arrangements. I have included a copy of my letter to Mr. Dindayal who is the person who has extended our invitation.

So I am pleased that you are all working very hard to help us in this great mission. Please convey my blessings to Mahapurusa, Murari, Lilavati and to their child Subhadra. Hope you are all well.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 17 December, 1968:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 12, 1968 and I have noted the contents. I am glad that you have also received my previously sent letters. I have also handed over your letter for Govinda Dasi.

I am very sorry to learn that this girl Madhavi Lata has gone there and created some disturbance. If she is still there, ask her to live separately and she may come only during kirtana performances. This girl appears very disturbing and every place she goes there seems to be some trouble. Please try to keep her away carefully and ask her to come back here because immediately there is no chance of my going to Hawaii. Just today I have got one press conference in the temple and after this there will be more propaganda work. There is scheduled another press conference by January 22, 1969, so at least for one month more there is no chance of my going to Hawaii. If I leave abruptly now the program here will be disturbed. Better is I wait until we finish the engagement in Los Angles. In the meantime I will try to pick up some devotees to join you. I am glad to note that an asrama will attract interested students from all over the world. Please try to organize this asrama in cooperation with Murari. I am asking Purusottama and others to search out some brahmacaris to go there to assist you.

I am also still more encouraged that you propose to build a temple and secure some land in the main island of Hawaii. I think that my presence in Hawaii will be nice when you are still more in sound footing there. So you arrange your program in that way.

Better would be that you and my other dear disciples try to manage all centers as far as possible independently. For me, in my old age, moving constantly does not suit my health. The Los Angeles climate is not unsuitable for me so I am thinking of making my head-quarters here because it is very important city also. But as soon as there is the need of my presence some place I must go where I am required. On this principle please prepare to work. Regarding Govinda Dasi, she can immediately start for Hawaii if you send her the passage fare.

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

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 24, 1968 and I have noted the contents with pleasure.

I am so encouraged that your activities in Hawaii are going nicely and I will be looking forward to seeing you again when I am able to go there. You had been having problems with Madhavi Lata, and Krishna has solved the problem because she is now in the Halawa Jayal and preaching very nicely. I received one letter from her yesterday and she describes that some of her acquaintances there are already considering initiation, so Krishna has arranged to release you of any burden you were feeling and also she is having the opportunity to do service.

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

Thanking you once more for your letter, I hope that you are well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. Govinda Dasi is preparing herself for going ___, to you at Hawaii.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 16 January, 1969:

Thank you very much for your letter of January 10, 1969. In the meantime I have sent one letter to Govinda Dasi, and perhaps you have read it. I am glad that there was a nice newspaper reporter, and he is favorably convinced so do your propaganda work as far as possible combined together.

It is very nice that Govinda Dasi is cooking for you and following my instructions. The husband's duty is to give the wife all protection, even from the material maya, and the wife's duty is to see to the personal comforts of the husband. In this way the husband and wife in cooperative spirit should execute Krishna Consciousness. That is my mission. In your country, practically everyone has no home life. So this Krishna Consciousness movement is giving them home life and the chance to live peacefully with wife and family.

Regarding my going to Hawaii, it is not the question that I will have to take with me my present secretary and attendant. I can go alone as you are so anxious to see me, but the most important thing is if my presence there will improve the situation of our movement and temple very nicely. In this case, I am prepared to go alone; it doesn't matter. But if you think there is no such urgency, I can wait until the rainy season is over. So in any case, do not think that I am delaying to go to Hawaii because you cannot pay for my other assistants. I came to your country alone, and if necessary, I can go to Hawaii alone still providing there is urgency.

Please continue to keep me informed of your activities and continue to spread kirtana as far as possible.

Letter to Unknown -- Unknown Place 18 January, 1969:

If he has got time, he can get one copy of Bengali Caitanya Caritamrta. I can spare my own copy for which he hasn't got to pay me anything. Or else, if he likes, he can purchase a new copy from the New York temple. If Gaurasundara is too busy however, you can work on the lecture tapes.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:

I know that you will always be thinking of me as you described in your letter because you are so affectionate to this poor old man. And by your sincere affection you have also made me think of you how you are doing there in Hawaii. I understand from your letter and from Gaurasundara's letter also that you are now engaged as a nice housewife. It is a great pleasure for me to know this.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:

We should always follow these footprints—not try to imitate, but to follow the same spirit of compassion for the conditioned soul and try to help them advance to Krishna Consciousness. Actually in the service of Krishna there is no botheration. Rather we feel more transcendental pleasure. I hope you will more and more appreciate this status as you work combinedly with your very good husband, Gaurasundara.

Regarding your dictaphone work, I have got two kinds of tapes. Either you can type up my lectures (Purusottama has already sent you one tape), or you can do tapes of Caitanya Caritamrta as you were doing formerly. But I think that Gaurasundara hasn't got sufficient

(TEXT MISSING)

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 19, 1969, and I have noted the contents with care. Regarding the work you have done on Caitanya Caritamrta, when they are finished being edited and typed please send me the copies so I will give you further work to do with this. I have written in Govinda Dasi's letter about this which you will please read.

Concerning Vamanadeva's trouble with the draft, I think that if properly utilized, my certificate of acceptance of a person as student of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam may be very helpful in avoiding the draft because recently one Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Davis, from the Selective Service came to see me about our activities, and he is fairly impressed. So I think that if Vamanadeva presents himself as a serious student of this institution he may not be called. I have a very nicely made certificate which can be sent to Vamanadeva if he would like to try for this. Regarding Muralidhara, he is now working here, and he is helping to meet the huge expenditures of the Los Angeles temple. But I shall see if he cannot be spared after a few weeks. Let me see how he is doing here. If he is not very much needed, which I shall know after a few weeks, then I shall ask him to join you in Hawaii.

Please continue to keep me informed of your activities in Hawaii.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 31 January, 1969:

I am pleased that you have been speaking to educationists and you are trying to introduce them to Krishna Consciousness. Try to introduce our Bhagavad-gita As It Is into every university and college in Hawaii. Along with Gaurasundara try to convince them that our publication is the best. This will be great service. If need be, the chief man in various departments of the colleges may be given a copy of Bhagavad-gita to go through and decide. In this way, try to introduce it into every college and University religious class and book department.

Letter to Mahapurusa -- Los Angeles 7 February, 1969:

I am pleased to note that you and Gaurasundara have been trying to arrange for regular classes in the University there for a course in Krishna Consciousness. If you can convince the student body there of the importance of our movement it will be great help to our propaganda work, so please try for this.

Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- Los Angeles 7 February, 1969:

You may please bring the following facts to the notice of the Patrons of the celebration when the session begins. I have already established the following centers:

1. New York INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

61 Second Avenue

New York, NY

President: Brahmananda das Brahmacari (Bruce Scharf)

2. London ISKCON

22 Betterton Street

London WC 2

ENGLAND

President: Mukunda das Adhikari (Michael Grant)

3. Hamburg Internationale Gesellschaft fur Krishna Bewusstein

2 Hamburg 19

Eppendorfer Weg 11

WEST GERMANY

4. President: Sivananda das Brahmacari (Samuel Greer)

5. Hawaii ISKCON

4 Leilani Bldg. 1649 Kapialani Blvd.

Honolulu, Hawaii

President: Gaurasundara das Adhikari (G. McElroy)

6. Montreal ISKCON

3720 Park Avenue

Montreal 18, Quebec

President: Hamsaduta das Adhikari (Hans Kary)

7. San Francisco ISKCON

518 Frederick Street

San Francisco, Calif.

President: Cidananda das Brahmacari (Clay Harold)

8. New Vrindaban

RD 3

Moundsville, West Virginia

President: Kirtanananda Swami (Keith Ham)

9. Vancouver ISKCON

271 East Georgia Street

Vancouver 4, B.C. Canada

President: Ananda das Brahmacari (Eric Cassidy)

10. Seattle ISKCON

5516 Roosevelt Way N.E.

Seattle, Washington

President: Upendra das Brahmacari (Wayne Gunderson)

11. Santa Fe ISKCON

4113 West Water Street

Santa Fe, New Mexico

President: Harer Nama das Brahmacari (Harlon Jacobson)

12. North Carolina ISKCON

107 Laurel Avenue

Carrboro, N. Carolina

President: Bhurijana das Brahmacari (Wayne Connel)

13. Boston ISKCON

95 Glenville Avenue

Boston, Mass. (Allston)

President: Satsvarupa das Adhikari (Stephan Guarino)

14. Los Angeles ISKCON

1975 S. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, Calif.

President: Dayananda das Adhikari (Michael Wright)

15. Ohio ISKCON

1305 No. High Street

Columbus, Ohio

President: Hayagriva das Adhikari (Howard Wheeler)

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 16 February, 1969:

Please convey my thanks to Gaurasundara for the nice lecture he gave at the University of Hawaii.

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

I am anxious to know if you have received the newly dispatched kholes from India because it was due to arrive before February 4th. Is this dock strike still going on? In London there is a good demand for Back To Godhead, and if the dock strike is still going on, you can send them by air cargo shipment. Similarly, Gaurasundara and Krishna das are also in need of books. Kindly see that the supplies are made regularly.

Letter to Rayarama -- Hawaii 6 March, 1969:

You wanted one assistant editor, and I can understand that you may feel inconvenience with Hayagriva, but would you like to have as your assistant editor, Gaurasundara? So he can help you in editing work even from such distant place. But the difficulty is that he is working here to maintain the establishment. I have advised Govinda dasi to think of this and he may write you.

Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969:

I am here at Hawaii at the care of Gaurasundara and his wife Govinda dasi; they are also doing very nicely. Similarly, another couple of disciples, Satsvarupa and Jadurani in Boston are also doing very nicely. Similarly, in Buffalo Rupanuga and his wife and their small child are doing very nicely. Similarly, in New Vrindaban Hayagriva and his wife Syama dasi are doing very nicely. So it is a part of my missionary work; I want to see that the Western boys and girls who are very much loose with their sex life should get themselves married and take to Krishna Consciousness seriously and they will be happy both materially and spiritually.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969:

This climate of Hawaii is most healthy, with sunshine and fresh sea breeze, so I think if it is possible for Jadurani to come to this climate she may improve her health nicely. Consult together on this proposal, and you can correspond with Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi here in this regard.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Hawaii 14 March, 1969:

Here, I am seeing practically that Gaurasundara, such a nice intelligent and qualified boy, he has to work hard 12 hours simply for his subsistence. I think there are many instances like that, so this is not material advancement. You can call it capitalist advancement, and the reaction for such advancement is communism. Such movement is simply suppressed in your country, but actually the reaction is this. So the Western type of civilization, industrialism and capitalism, is no material advancement. It is material exploitation.

Letter to Rayarama -- Hawaii 20 March, 1969:

I am encouraging Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi to try to develop in this side another place, as New Navadvipa. So just immediately there is no possibility of operating our press in the islands, but in future we shall see. But if there is too much difficulty to work out the Navadvipa plan then I may call back Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi to New Vrindaban, for working as part of the BTG staff.

Letter to Rayarama -- Hawaii 20 March, 1969:

In the meantime try to recoup your health, depending on Krishna, because after all, He is the ultimate Master of all situations. It is not the doctor, or the medicine, or the place, but it is ultimately Krishna Who is the Master to do every thing. With this viewpoint we shall go forward. It will also be better if Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi are within the staff of BTG activities, but to adjust these things, we require Krishna's help.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Hawaii 21 March, 1969:

In the meantime, a throne may be prepared just on the sample drawing by Muralidhara. My thanks are due to Muralidhara for designing the throne which I have received. Here both Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi have very much appreciated the design, and they also convey their thanks to him. Your decision to fix up the feast room first is approved by me.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Hawaii 23 March, 1969:

Regarding Jadurani's coming here, Govinda and Gaurasundara will consult with you, and when things are duly set up, she may come here for some time. They will write you in this connection.

Letter to Gaurasundara, Govinda, Vamanadeva, Balabhadra, Sudama, Kartikeya -- San Francisco 2 April, 1969:

I beg to inform you that I have safely arrived as scheduled in San Francisco, and I am thinking fondly of you all. Cidananda has received one telephone call from Satsvarupa requesting advice as to what should be Jadurani's program, and I have advised that if the doctor wishes Jadurani to go to Hawaii immediately then she should do this. Otherwise she will wait in Boston till after I go there on April 22nd about. So when this matter is decided you will be notified about her arrival there.

I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Please keep me informed to your well-being and the progress of your center.

Letter to Balabhadra -- Boston (Allston) 25 April, 1969:

Both Gaursundara and Govinda dasi have highly spoken about your service attitude, and I am so glad to hear about your activities. Krsna has sent you to our association, and I am sure you are intelligent enough to understand our philosophy. Please try to understand us without any doubt. If there is any question, you can send it to me, and I shall be very glad to reply. But try to understand us nicely, and surely you will be very happy. Both Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi are good devotees, and your association with them will be very much beneficial.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969:

There is one copy of Caitanya Caritamrta (No. 18) which is received from Calcutta with Bengali titles. This may immediately be sent to Gaurasundara by mail. You will find it on the shelf in my room. It is understood that MacMillan Company was to pay some hundreds of dollars to Gaurasundara for his design, so I do not know whether they have already paid or not. Anyway, you can immediately send him the above-mentioned book, and the price may be paid from his pay from MacMillan. I am awaiting your letter describing your progress with Dai Nippon.

Letter to Govinda, Gaurasundara -- Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letters dated April 17, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very much anxious that Govinda Dasi has fallen sick. Similarly, I am also from yesterday feeling little uncomfortable on account of backache. I think the constant change of climate in Buffalo has affected my rheumatic tendencies, so today I am not feeling very well. In Buffalo we had very nice meetings, and the students, both boys and girls, were very receptive. I am so glad to learn that your center also is improving. Day by day continue to work seriously and faithfully, and it will surely grow to be a very nice center. I have talked with Jadurani yesterday, and she asked my opinion of her going to Hawaii. I advised her to go as soon as possible, and she has proposed to go there when I leave Boston. She is not very seriously ill, but she feels little ill, and with change of climate I think she will improve without any doubt.

I am very glad to learn that Kartamasi is now very nicely dressed. Govinda Dasi is surely a good artist, so I am sure Kartamasi is very attractive. Please offer my obeisances to Him. I am very glad to learn from both of your letters that Jill is now staying there. She is very nice girl and intelligent. So the addition of Balabhadra and Jill to our movement is very much appreciated. Please help them to be Krishna Conscious, and it will be great service to Krishna, and you will enhance your Krishna Conscious beauties by such activities. So far as Gaurasundara's request for Caitanya Caritamrta, I have already advised Brahmananda to send it to you immediately.

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

Regarding the musical instruments, I do not think there need be any discount on them. So far as sending the book to Gaurasundara, you can send him one copy of Caitanya Caritamrta, and explain to him that out of his $100.00 there is no balance, so he can send the price of that book.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Columbus, Ohio 12 May, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 6, 1969, and I have noted the contents. I think you should send United Shipping Corporation the price in advance of the sitar, and for the balance they can make their invoice. The balance may be deposited in the Hawaii bank, and ask the United Shipping Corporation to send the documents to the Hawaii bank; and the invoice may be made in your name because you have got account there. So you may accept the proforma invoice and send them back the copy. You advise them to collect through the Hawaii bank, (branch #—wherever you have got your account), and advise the United Shipping Corporation where your documents should be sent for collection. So please sign one proforma invoice and send it with the branch number where they are to collect the money from.

Please convey my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

NB: I have chanted upon the beads sent by Jill (Jayasri), and I will be sending them back to her very soon.

P.S. Please let me know if Jadurani has gone there and let me know how Govinda Dasi is.

Letter to Jayasri -- Columbus, Ohio 13 May, 1969:

Our process is to faithfully follow the rules of no illicit sex-life, no meat-eating, no intoxication, and no gambling. Also we should chant at least 16 rounds each day, trying to avoid the ten offenses. You have very nice association with your godbrothers and godsisters there with you in Hawaii, and you should help them to propagate our movement in that area. So consult with Gaurasundara and Govinda, and there will be ample engagement for you in this connection. When any questions or difficulties arise, you may consult with them there, or if you like, I am always at your service to help in any way that I can. So now you have great opportunity to make perfection of your life, and my request to you is to be very serious always about this and Krishna will give you all facilities for advancement.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- New Vrindaban 26 May, 1969:

I am so glad to receive your letter dated 21 May, 1969 which is full of encouraging news. I am now hopeful of the Hawaii center being improved like other centers by your good efforts. Last year when we were in San Francisco I practically pushed you towards Hawaii, and by the Grace of Krishna you are now finding some hopes. So continue your efforts, and Krishna will surely make your efforts successful. I am very much concerned to learn that Govinda Dasi is sick. Of course, she is always sick; that is general experience, but I do not know why she should be sick in Hawaii. The weather is not cold there, and when I was in Hawaii she had improved her health. Anyway, take care of her as far as possible and depend on Krishna. Everything will be all right.

I think by this time Sudama has joined you, because I had advised him so and he has also sent his letter that he is joining you at the temple. Similarly, Balabhadra and Jayasri are there, as well as Vamanadeva, so you can do everything very nicely. Krishna will help you all. I think Hawaii is a good place; the people are interested and they are beginning to come. So you may make Hawaii New Navadvipa. Hawaii is already dvipa (island), so you make it into Navadvipa.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- New Vrindaban 2 June, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated May 29, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that you are seriously looking for some asrama site on the Hawaii island. If you are able to get some nice place there, it will be very successful because I know there are many young boys and girls there for you to chant with and speak with. This kirtana, chanting and speaking of Krishna, is the sure and certain method of propagating Krishna Consciousness, and we already have so much experience in all of our centers that if we simply chant Hare Krishna with karatalas and mrdanga and if we speak from Bhagavad-gita just as we have heard it coming down from the disciplic succession, then automatically the people become attracted. So you simply find a nice site on the Hawaii island or any other place near there where there are many boys and girls, and if you simply follow the above procedures, then your success is automatically there. I am pleased to note that there is one boy named Tony who has become attracted to our movement and wishes to be initiated. He may send me his beads immediately. Please take nice care of him because there are so many good souls who we must inform of this most important philosophy, and when another man is sent by Krishna to help us it is our duty to help him understand Krishna Consciousness as far as possible.

I am very concerned to hear that Jayasri has now joined Govinda Dasi in becoming ill. I hope that by now they are both improved in health. Please convey my blessings to all of the devotees there, and I hope this will find all of you well.

Letter to Turya -- New Vrindaban 5 June, 1969:

Now you have your beads, so please chant at least 16 rounds daily, and read from Bhagavad-gita As It Is at least one chapter daily. Gaurasundara will instruct you as to the 10 offenses that must be avoided. The four principal regulative restrictions that you must follow are 1) no intoxication, including coffee or tea, 2) no illicit sex-life, 3) no nonvegetarian diet, 4) no gambling. I understand from Gaurasundara that already you are helping the Hawaii temple and that you are a very nice, sincere boy. So with these nice qualifications of sincerity and service surely you will make nice progress in perfecting your life in Krishna consciousness. As you are having questions about this great spiritual science of Bhagavad-gita, please consult with Gaurasundara, he is a very intelligent boy, and I am also always at your service to help as far as possible.

Letter to Sudama -- New Vrindaban 7 June, 1969:

There is nice potential there I know, and I think Krishna is already giving impetus for this purpose, because Gaurasundara and Balabhadra have gone to find a nice place on the Hawaii Island. So all of you work conscientiously and jointly, you are all good souls, and you will be successful if you can transform Hawaii into New Navadvipa.

Letter to Jadurani -- New Vrindaban 17 June, 1969:

I understand from Gaurasundara's letter that there is now inconvenience in having so many people living in the house there, so I think you may immediately return to Satsvarupa in Boston. I think that you may now take part in Sankirtana activities, so when you return to Boston you may go out with them sometimes on Sankirtana Party.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- New Vrindaban 17 June, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 13, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am very glad to hear about your recent Sankirtana success, and as long as this is going on, everything will come out nicely. I can understand that you are now forced to reduce your number living at the house, so for the time being you keep five or six men there. This landlady is increasing rent simply to take advantage, but as you have no other place to live you have to make some compromise. Jadurani may immediately return to Boston, and Sudama may immediately go to London. Sudama is much required in London, but because I thought he was needed in your center I did not ask him to go before. Under the circumstances, I think he may go to London immediately. In this way adjust things. Be confident that Krishna will save you from the present inconvenience, and take these steps immediately. You have spoken about Govinda Dasi's expertness on Sankirtana, and I know very well about her qualifications. I am 100% confident about her competence, and she can be very useful to your activities there. Unfortunately she becomes sickly, so as husband, you must see that she is taken proper care of. She is a good asset for you as your wife, and I want that you two work combinedly. That is my desire. You have such nice opportunity for doing very nice service to Lord Krishna in Hawaii, and I want that you two, husband and wife, work together. I have confidence in you, and I have got all blessings for you both that in the future you will be nice preachers. What you have done so far is very nice, and I am praying to Krishna for your success there.

Please send all nice pictures of your activities to Hayagriva for publication in BTG. We have decided to give many pictures of our Sankirtana activities along with short descriptions. Hayagriva is now renovated to be the senior editor. You also should write articles as you have done before. Your articles are very much appreciated by me, so you write them, not only about Sankirtana, but also on our philosophy. But send immediately pictures to Hayagriva of your Sankirtana activities. Thanking you again for your letter.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1969:

Please accept my blessings, and offer the same to Gaurasundara. I am so much pleased by reading your letter of June 26, 1969, describing your preaching activities in Hawaii, both husband and wife together. It is very much pleasing to me. I was shocked when I heard that Gaurasundara was hurt on the chin, but at the same time, I was so much enlivened by hearing of your spirited preaching activities. I am proud that a little young girl like you is so much spirited in preaching Krishna consciousness. Undoubtedly I was very much sorry to learn about Gaurasundara being attacked by a fanatic, but don't be disheartened. Even Nityananda also faced such difficult problems, but try to avoid them as far as possible. The whole world is full of fanatics and atheist classes of men, so sometimes we have to face such difficulties. But this is all tapasya. Without tapasya, nobody can approach Krishna. So preachers who boldly face all kinds of difficulties are considered to be under tapasya, and Krishna takes note of such tapasya of the devotee, and the devotee is recognized by Him. I have asked the BTG men to publish your heroic preaching activities under the heading of "Heroine Govinda Dasi." So I am sure Krishna is very much pleased of this incident, and He will surely bestow His blessings both on you and Gaurasundara. So try to continue preaching Krishna Consciousness to the suffering humanity as far as possible.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 9, 1969 along with the copy of the article, and I have noted that your new address is Box 1684, Sunset Beach, Hawaii. I think it is Krishna's desire that you would vacate the former building and go to the hippy quarters. Actually, the hippies are our best customers. Almost all of our important disciples are recruited from that group, and you are also from that group. So actually we should try to serve the hippy group more than others because there is great potency of recruiting Krishna Consciousness devotees from them. You will be pleased to know that one hippy girl named Chris who came to see me in your apartment is now living in our Los Angeles temple and doing very nicely. So if you make propaganda amongst the hippy group simply by our standard method; Sankirtana, reading some portion of Bhagavad-gita, and distributing prasadam, then I am sure the quarters in which you have now shifted will be very much prospective. Besides that, it is a beach and the atmosphere is very nice. So by the Grace of Krishna do it nicely, husband and wife combined. That will be a good example. I was so much pleased with Govinda Dasi and with you also when I heard about her spirited preaching and your tolerance like Nityananda Prabhu. May Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu bestow Their blessing upon you, and don't be deterred in any circumstances. Serve Krishna with serious attempt. Your article is very nice and gradually you shall improve. Go on writing. It is my policy to publish as many as possible of articles by my disciples. BTG should contain news of our temples, articles, pictures of our activities, etc. The bunch of pictures you have sent have been forwarded to Brahmananda for publication.

Regarding BTG, I am so glad to learn that your center will be a good distributing place. Do you think that you shall be able to distribute 3,000 copies? Then I shall ask Japan to deliver the copies directly to you. We are charging from different centers $750 for 5,000 copies of BTG. Similarly, for 3,000 copies you have to pay proportionately, and the marginal profit will be 25 cents to 35 cents per copy. So even if you make 25 cents profit, and you can sell 3,000, that means about $750 to $1,000 profit. If you pay $750 per month, you get 5,000 copies, and by selling only 1,500 copies you realize your investment money, and you have 3,500 more copies to distribute. So we have to calculate business like that. If you think you can sell 3,000 copies, I shall notify Japan to send them directly to you.

I am always thinking of Govinda Dasi. Although she is young and delicate almost always suffering from some ailment, still she is so sincere devotee and spirited preacher that I have named her Heroine Govinda Dasi. May Krishna bless you both and be happy in the preaching work of Krishna Consciousness. Gradually convert the Hawaii Islands into New Navadvipa Dham. I am sure you can do it if you go on preaching with the same present spirit and enthusiasm.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 16 July, 1969:

I understand that Hawaii is a very nice place for selling BTG, so you may open correspondence with Gaurasundara to see if he can purchase 5,000 copies monthly for $750. If you can increase the number of copies to 25,000 monthly, that is the nicest idea, and then you will get 25% less for discount on these extra 5,000 copies.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 2 August, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 30 July, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am always encouraged to learn of the nice activities of our Hawaii Iskcon as they go on under your direction. These concerts which you are attending will not go in vain, because all of these people who are now hearing these vibrations of Hare Krishna Mantra will be gradually coming to our camp of Krishna Consciousness. This is the Vedic process that simply by sound vibrations there will be the reaction of spiritual benefit. And for all of these people who are joining you in chanting and helping you in your various activities, for them Krishna has shown His Special Mercy, and it is to be understood that Krishna will guide them more and more to return to Him again in His Spiritual Abode, Goloka Vrindaban.

Regarding the difficulties you are having because of the police stopping your chanting in the streets, when Subala was arrested in Philadelphia for this same reason the judge declared him as "not guilty" when he learned of the nature of our movement and the purpose of our collecting. Subala has testimonial of this "not guilty" verdict as declared by the judge, so if you think it will be of help to you in getting permission from the police for chanting on the streets, then you may write to Subala for a xerox copy of this testimonial. Regarding your order of BTG, on such matters you should negotiate with Tamala Krishna. But one thing is that we are now stepping up publication from 20,000 to 25,000 per month, so we must likewise step up our sales on Sankirtana Party. In Philadelphia, Subala has reported that simply by standing on the street corners wearing our robes, automatically many, many people come up to inquire and purchase BTG from them, and they are selling about 80 copies per day. My Guru Maharaja always stressed the importance of distributing this Krishna Consciousness literature, so try to do it as far as possible. Regarding your obtaining a new temple, and your idea for yourself, Govinda Dasi, Balabhadra and Turya dasa to go to Tokyo in December, on such matters you may consult with Tamala Krishna in Los Angeles, because he has agreed to take charge of organizing this aspect of our movement. But I do not know how you are planning that the Hawaii branch will be maintained if so many important members leave for Tokyo. Just today I learned that in about one month Sudama and Bali Mardan will be leaving to begin this Japanese center, and Sudama has already arranged for free tickets for them both. So you may open correspondence to discuss this with Tamala Krishna. My idea is that you may not divert your attention to Tokyo at this time. Your responsibility in Hawaii is very great, so make it well-established first of all. Then you may try for another center. For your selling BTGs there is no reason for you to be strained. Whatever you can do conveniently is all right. I have received information from the United Shipping Corporation that the Murtis are coming from Calcutta to Honolulu.

I am glad to learn that you have performed the Guru Purnima Ceremony by Kirtana that is all right. But this Guru Purnima is generally performed by the Mayavadi sects. The idea of Guru Purnima is to offer gratitude to the Spiritual Master by the disciple once in a year. That is called Guru Purnima. So far as we are concerned, Gaudiya Vaisnavas, we offer all our gratefulness to the Spiritual Master on His Appearance Day Ceremony, called Vyasa Puja. So kirtana is our daily function; whatever you have done is all right, but actual worship of the Spiritual Master will be done by all of my disciples on the fifth day of September, just one day after Janmastami.

I am pleased to note that you have performed at certain "yoga" groups in the area, and already you are making a nice dent in their Maya, as they are now preferring the Maha Mantra to the chanting of Om. Actually, this chanting of Om is also a bona fide form of meditation, but as we learn from Vedic literature and from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the chanting of Hare Krishna is the prime benediction for this age, and it is the authoritatively recommended means of God-realization. Also, I am very encouraged to learn that you have your own radio show for one hour every Sunday morning. Here in Los Angeles I have so many tapes of my singing prayers, chanting new tunes of Hare Krishna, playing mrdanga, and purports to prayers. So if you think that some of these tapes will be nice for your program, I will have copies made of some of them and have them sent to you.

Please convey my blessings to Heroine Govinda Dasi. Yes, it is nice if she can draw pictures for BTG covers. She may ask Brahmananda what pictures will be required for upcoming covers. But as she is still sometimes feeling weak, she should not tire herself out in this connection. Please convey my blessings to all of the others. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 9 August, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5 August, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. Enclosed please find one stereo tape of "Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu," song and purport. We have played a non-stereo tape on one recorder, and dubbed over it the sound of karatalas on a stereo tape recorder; so now the result is stereo. I do not know if this tape is suitable for your broadcast purposes, but if it is all right, please inform me. I am so pleased to read about your most recent chanting where thousands of people have heard you. It is very encouraging. Regarding your taking on an outside job, I do not think that will be nice. In Boston they have decided to purchase a large house with 16 rooms plus two halls, for the price of $70,000. The major source of payment for this house will be sales of BTG. So if you can organize sales of BTG and our literature very nicely in Hawaii, there will be no financial strain. Now we have a very nice book review from the "Honolulu Advertiser," so try to cooperate with the local booksellers. Regarding the boy who is now staying with you, if somebody takes shelter of our organization, we have no objection. If he desires to go to San Francisco, let him go. There is very good possibility that next week I shall be going to Boston to help them begin our Iskcon Press Department there in their new house, and from Boston I shall be going on to Europe. In the meantime, I will be remaining in Los Angeles at least till the middle of next week.

Please offer my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. Are you getting some inquiries on a/c of the review. I think you should have some inquiries. Elsewise see the total book-sellers if they purchase some copies. The Review is nice.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 17 August, 1969:

In the meantime I have sent one tape to Gaurasundara. Perhaps you might have received it, and if it is all right, then I can send you many other tapes, similarly stereoed. From the description of your letter I understand that Hawaii is good field for our preaching work.

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 17 August, 1969:

Please offer my blessings to Gaurasundara, Balabhadra, Turya dasa, Jayasri, and the others.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Tittenhurst 20 September, 1969:

It has been some time now since I have heard from you, so I am anxious to receive your letter. Please inform me how you, Govinda Dasi, Balabhadra, Turya dasa and Jayasri are doing. I shall be glad to hear from you about this. You will be pleased to learn that Sudama, his wife Cintamani, and Bali Mardan have gone to Tokyo, and already they are making friends with very influential people there, and they are very encouraged that in Japan there will soon be a nice reception of the Krishna Consciousness Movement. I am very pleased to learn of the progress in Japan, and similarly, I am pleased with the nice progress being made in all of our centers. I arrived in London on September 11th, and there was a grand reception arranged. I am enclosing herewith some newspaper articles which reported on this event. Last Tuesday evening we were interviewed on a very popular program on BBC television. It was quite successful, and I can understand that there is immense potency in England for spreading Krishna Consciousness. I want that there may be at least four or five centers here.

So I shall be awaiting your letter as soon as possible. Please offer my blessings to the others.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- Tittenhurst 6 October, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1 October, 1969, and I am so glad to hear from you. You write that you have sent me some letters recently and also the examination papers, but I have received no such letters or papers. I have asked Tamala Krishna to keep the test papers that were sent to him in Los Angeles there with him to save postage, so if you have sent the papers there, I shall see them when I return to the USA. Otherwise, I do not know where these papers are; perhaps it is lost in the mail. In that case you should notify the bank to stop the check for $75.08. I am very pleased to learn that you have now moved to Honolulu into a very good section. Now if you can purchase a house as you have described your plan to do so, that will be very, very good. In Boston they have purchased one house, and the monthly payments of $1,000 are depending upon their sales of BTG. So if you can arrange for sales of BTG and our other literatures, that will be of great assistance for you in purchasing the house. The best news you have written is that Govinda Dasi is improving in health now. She is a very nice girl, and I want that in the Name of Lord Krishna both of you work together for propagating Krishna Consciousness. Krishna will always help you in this and bestow His all blessings upon you. Please ask Govinda Dasi to write to me sometime, because I have not heard from her for many days now.

Here in England everything is going on nicely, and this evening we shall appear in big hall in London for kirtana and lecture. There is great interest in Krishna Consciousness amongst the English people and wherever we have spoken here there has been very nice reception. So by Krishna's Grace many of the boys and girls of the Western countries are advanced enough spiritually to take advantage of this Benediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu of making perfection of life by the Hare Krishna Mantra.

Please offer my blessings to the others and keep me informed of your activities in Honolulu. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. Our Japan center is opened. So on my way to Japan I must drop at Honolulu.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Tittenhurst 21 October, 1969:

If you can open a center with Indira Dasi, that will be a great pleasure for me. I want that all married couples should open new centers and carry on by dint of hard labor. Every householder, husband and wife together, they require to live in an apartment, so if they have got an extra room, they can immediately start a center. You have seen in Hawaii how Gaurasundara and Govinda are gradually developing from this beginning to a nice center in Hawaii. Wherever we sit down and chant Hare Krishna people will gather and gradually become our devotees and thus the center is developed.

Letter to Govinda -- Tittenhurst 27 October, 1969:

Please offer my blessings. to Gaurasundara, Balabhadra, Turya dasa and Jayasri.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- London 13 November, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated October 23, 1969. Both you and Heroine Govinda Dasi, assisted by Jayasri, Turya dasa and Balabhadra are all doing very nicely and entirely to my satisfaction. Krishna will bless you. Srimati Govinda Dasi's writings have come out in the BTG issue 28; I have received the press copy and it is so nice. Everyone is appreciating, and especially for the Sankirtana articles this issue has become super-excellent. So gradually I am getting to be an old man. I have given you the formula how to preach; you are young boys and girls, our future hope. Now you follow the principles, apply your intelligence, and everything will come out successful by the Grace of our Lord Krishna.

Regarding the songs you have written, yes, you may send them here for Mukunda to consider for future recordings. I expect to visit your Hawaii center again when I go to Japan. Surely at that time it will not be difficult. But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- London 20 November, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 17, 1969 with enclosed check for $30 for my maintenance, and I thank you very much. Regarding the house, I think there is indication of Krishna that we shall have our own house in Hawaii. Usually we do not wish to have our own house, but when Krishna offers it we must take the facility without any hesitation. In Boston also, Satsvarupa was put into similar trouble, and by the Grace of Krishna he has got now our own house and we have established our own press there also. The description of the house as you have given appears to be very nice, because it is near to the University of Hawaii. If by the Grace of Krishna you get the bank loan, I think that you can take the risk. For Krishna, to take some risk is also devotional service. That is ordered by the Gosvamis: krishnarthe akhila chesta. This means for Krishna's sake to do everything possible. From San Francisco when I pushed you alone for Hawaii, you did not know where you were going, where to stay, and what to do. But since more than one year you have struggled very hard, and gradually you are getting some foot in that distant place, and your good wife, Govinda Dasi is helping you. Also, some very nice assistants have joined you, so try for Krishna to do your best. That is our duty. Success or no success: it doesn't matter. The only thing is that we should try our best. So that I know you are doing your best, and Krishna will be very much pleased upon you all.

Srimati Jayasri Dasi sent me some dried banana chips and they are very nice for my Ekadasi food. Is it possible to send us in large quantity this foodstuff? If not, please try to send me at least one small packet like that every fortnight. It is very nice. The mango pulp, a sample of which was also sent to me, I don't think it has come out very nice, so there is no need of sending it. Here the preaching work is going on nicely. Sankirtana Party is going on, and they have got many engagements. Just now they have got four days engagement in Germany. More than one half dozen devotees have gone there now, and they will also install the Radha-Krishna Murtis. They have taken the Murtis there with them. What did you do with the Murtis you received from Calcutta? Are they being worshiped regularly as I showed you during my stay at your place? Radha-Krishna seva should be done very nicely, and all the members should always be cleansed. I have personally

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Letter to Aniruddha -- London 26 November, 1969:

P.S. The Radha Krishna deity carved from wood by Gaurasundara at San Francisco was delivered to you. Perhaps you remember. I want those deities now. Please let me know where they are.

Letter to Yadavananda -- London 2 December, 1969:

Therefore, you should arrange your schedule in such a way that at every minute of every day you will be chanting Hare Krishna or serving Lord Krishna in some other way. This will make you advance very swiftly, and Gaurasundara will be very helpful in giving you instruction in this connection. You should chant at least 16 rounds on your beads every day, and avoid the ten offenses to chanting. The four basic regulative restrictions for initiated disciples are that we do not indulge in 1) illicit sex-life, 2) intoxication, 3) meat-eating, and 4) gambling. When you have any questions you should immediately consult Gaurasundara or some other elder Godbrother or sister, or else you are always welcome to question me directly. It is my duty to guide you as far as possible.

Letter to Cidananda -- London 15 December, 1969:

I am very glad that your feasts are becoming very successful. Yesterday I received a letter from Hawaii that they are now receiving about 100 guests and they are charging $1.00 each. So now they have a good income. You may know that Gaurasundara was forcibly sent to Hawaii, by now he and his wife are both doing very nice propaganda. Please offer my blessings to Ravindra, who is working so nicely for Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Govardhana -- Boston 25 December, 1969:

So please follow this principle and surely you will mark great strides in the matter of your spiritual advancement. The four basic regulative restrictions we observe are 1) no illicit sex connections, 2) no intoxication, 3) no meat-eating, and 4) no gambling. You must try to chant at least 16 rounds on you beads daily, and avoid the ten offenses to chanting which Gaurasundara Prabhu will instruct you about. When you are having questions to ask, you inquire from Gaurasundara and I also will be happy to help you in any way possible. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Page Title:	Training of Gaurasundara dasa (Letters, 1967 - 1969)
Compiler:	Visnu Murti
Created:	27 of May, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=98
No. of Quotes:	98