Training of Gurudasa (Letters, 1974 - 1977)

Correspondence

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Tejiyas -- Los Angeles 2 January, 1974:

Regarding Vrndavana, I am glad you have already made a contribution. You can now make a full estimate of the ingredients needed for finishing the Vrndavana Temple by next Janmastami festival. The ingredients should be immediately acquired and whatever money is collected there in India that is all to the good and the balance I shall pay from here. I will come to India by the end of January so the money will be ready. You go ahead now and purchase the ingredients immediately. Do the needful in consultation with Guru das.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 4 January, 1974:

Regarding Vrindaban affairs I have written one letter to Tejiyas a copy of which is enclosed.

I am coming soon to see that the Vrindaban construction is finished by Janmastami. I will take care of the necessary funds. In the meantime, do the needful now to purchase all the materials.

I have received a letter from Bishan Candra Seth requesting to advance his brother Mr. Kapoor up to 5,000 Rupees but I am replying him that he may be advanced 1,000 Rupees to be returned at the rate of 50 Rupees per month from his salary.

Besides that I wrote you one letter regarding my account in the Punjab National Bank. I have not heard anything from you in this. A copy of the letter sent to you previously is enclosed herewith.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 9 January, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully.

Regarding transfer of money from the U.S.A., I have somehow or other arranged to transfer about $20,000; $10,000 of this is for purchasing land with a view to maintaining our temples in Mayapur and Vrindaban, and $10,000 for completing Vrindaban temple. I have already sent $4,000 to Mayapur for purchasing land there and I am coming to India by February 1st with the money for Vrindaban construction. In the meantime you can purchase as much material as possible and as soon as I reach India by February 1st, I shall pay them immediately for their bills. I am thinking of coming to New Delhi so when we meet in New Delhi we can pay the bills for materials you have purchased. Most probably you will be purchasing in New Delhi.

Temple construction must be finished by or before Janmastami. If you can finish my portion on or before my reaching India then I can personally go to Vrindaban and see what is the situation and how to manage. I can remain at Vrindaban through the month of February to estimate and supervise temple construction and then by the 1st of March I may go to Mayapur.

The money sent by Tamala Krsna Goswami is given by Bhogilal Patel, and Giriraja told me that was his contribution for the temple. Never mind, you can employ all collections in India for the asrama, but the money I shall take will be devoted to finishing the temple. For finishing my quarters I don't think it will require more than Rs 5,000. Do the needful and I am coming with the required money. But what you have heard from Giriraja, some utopian 22 lacs, is not correct. So begin work immediately.

Regarding starting a school in Vrindaban, we don't want any school for studying philosophy. Simply a school for teaching our members sanskrit and Hindi. Dr. Kapoor has expressed his inability to teach language, that's all right, for the time being we don't require any philosophical teacher. Start with Hari Goswami for teaching Hindi and Sanskrit. Regularly he can teach 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening. He can be paid a reasonable renumeration, maybe at least Rs 200 per month. He can be assisted by another teacher available in Vrindaban. I have noted down the Punjab National Bank Account number, 6112, and I thank you very much.

Most probably, I will be leaving January 14th to Hawaii on my way to India. Our Hawaii address is as follows: ISKCON, 1578 Ala Aoloa Loop, Honolulu, Hawaii. Hope this finds you in good health.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1974:

I have deposited $100,000 in the M-V Fund which is earning interest at Rs 5,500 per month. I want to utilize this for month after month for Vrindaban, and I do not want to break the original principle I have set up in this regard. I have arranged to send $100,000 for Vrindaban and another $100,000 has been deposited for the M-V Trust. When I come to India, we shall sit together, you, myself, Bhavananda Maharaja, Gargamuni Maharaja, Gurudasa, and do the needful.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Honolulu 17 January, 1974:

I was surprised that Tamala Krsna Goswami and you all are contemplating cancelling the Vrindaban touring of our devotees going to Mayapur. In my opinion it must be carried out.

Just to give you help I am enclosing one letter to Sripada Radhika baba of Imlitala. Enclosed find one Bengali letter to deliver to him. He will introduce you to the son of our panda. I paid this man the sum of Rs 100 recently, so Radhika baba will introduce him and with his help just arrange the program of visiting Vrindaban.

Thousands of people go to Vrindaban daily. They make the arrangement of visiting so many holy places. Arrangement should be made. If we have no place, still there is no scarcity of place in Vrindaban. There are hundreds of dharmasala. The panda will arrange for the dharmasala for three days, namely the 12th, 13rd and 14th. The pilgrims shall stay there for 3 days. Buses should be engaged to take the devotees one day to Govardhana and Radhakunda, Nandagram and Barsana. The other day, Dauji and another day to some other places. From dharmasala the buses will take the devotees to visiting places and then come back to their respective dharmasala. If there is a little inconvenience, still the devotees must visit Vrindaban. In Mathura there are dharmasalas of Krsna-janma-bhumi and Jaya Dayal Dalmia constructed just for foreigners. Arrangement should be made with the help of the panda.

This touring will enhance our prestige for the Krsna Consciousness movement. People will appreciate devotees from foreign countries visiting Vrindaban. It will attract the attention of the Tourist Department of government. Immediately, Tamala Krsna Maharaja and Gurudasa, you must arrange, with the help of the panda. The party can not only be headed by our leaders, but with the help of Indian assistants like Caitya-guru, Sacidulal. Arrangement must be made like that.

Letter to Sripada Radhika Bhava -- Honolulu 17 January, 1974:

With humble obeisances at the lotus feet of the devotee, Sripada Radhika Bhava, please accept my humble obeisances. At the moment I am in Hawaii Island. I am requesting you that after our Navadvipa parikrama about two hundred to three hundred European devotees will go to Vrndavana for parikrama. That's why Sriman Guru das is going to see you with this letter. Kindly introduce Guru das to the son of our panda (the guide for the pilgrim) whom you have recently given Rs. 100 on my behalf. If that panda goes with them and shows them Govardhana and other places then I will be very much grateful. Please accept my humble obeisances and convey my humble obeisances to Sripada Shar Maharaja. I will go to India soon.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Honolulu 19 January, 1974:

Please find enclosed a copy of a letter to the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch, and a copy of the transfer advice of $100,000 from the Security Pacific National Bank. On receipt of this kindly see the manager of the Punjab National Bank in Vrindaban and see if they have done the needful.

I am reaching New Delhi airport February 3rd, at 4:30 A.M. on Pan American flight number 1.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sdg

Enclosures: a) copy of letter to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch

b) True Copy, money order transfer

Letter to Tejiyas -- Honolulu 19 January, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows: "Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund current account open no. 230. Karandhara informed."

I suppose the current account is open in the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh branch as I informed you previously, although you have not mentioned the name of the bank. I am advising the Vrindaban branch of the Punjab National Bank to transfer immediately Rupees one lac, (Rupees 100,000), to the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh branch, New Delhi, in favor of the Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund, account number 230. Please take care of this information and I am reaching New Delhi on February 3rd, by Pan American airlines, flight number 1, arriving at 4:30 A.M. Please do the needful and more when we meet.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sdg

c.c. Gurudasa

N.B. Henceforward all collections for Vrindaban Temple Construction should be deposited in this newly opened fund account, number 230, Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh, New Delhi

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 22 March, 1974:

Also, I left my gold shirt buttons in Vrindaban, in the locked closet, to which Gurudasa has the key. Tamala Krsna Maharaja says Dhrstadyumna has been given charge to see that someone coming from Vrindaban to Bombay brings the gold buttons. Please see that this is being done.

Letter to Murti -- Bombay 23 March, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter in which you propose to come to Vrindaban with your wife to help with deities, construction and preaching at our Krishna Balarama temple. After consulting with the authorities there, we all agree it would be a very good idea. So please make arrangements for your transfer here. Our Vrindaban temple is perhaps our nicest building in the whole movement and I want at least 25 good men here at all times. Because it is Vrindaban, those who come should be exemplary so that all the people of Vrindaban, even those who would be prone to criticize, will see that we are actually following the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami. I want that those who come here, whether grhasthas or sannyasis, behave on the level of real goswamis. Goswami means controlling the senses and always glorifying Krsna by varieties of engagement in devotional service 24 hours a day. You may write to Gurudasa further about your plans.

Letter to Resolution -- Bombay 1 April, 1974:

RESOLUTION

At the meeting of the members of the Bureau of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, held at the Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay 400 054, on First April, 1974, the following was resolved:

1. That the Society will construct one additional floor on each of the six existing buildings on the Hare Krishna Land, (purchased in October, 1973.)

2. That the President, Secretary, and Treasurer are hereby authorized to appoint any architect, labor contractor, other contractors, engineers, to purchase, etc. for the purpose of construction.

3. That the construction may begin immediately upon approval given by the Bombay Municipal Corporation.

Signed for INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS:

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Gurudasa Adhikari

Dated this First Day of April, 1974

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 3 April, 1974:

I have not heard from you in some time and I am eager to hear a report on construction of Krishna Balarama Temple. Have you obtained the marbles slabs, are they being set in? Please let me know how things are going on by sending a report to me in Bombay. Hope this finds you in good health.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 4 April, 1974:

In your footnote you have given discouraging information about the land in Kalkaji. The best thing is if you three, Saurabha, Gurudasa and yourself jointly inspect the land and see if you can utilize it for our purpose. We can use any land, but if you think it will be very, very difficult then what is the use of accepting it.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 7 April, 1974:

This morning Sriman Gurudasa has come here. He says that he did not receive the check for Rs 24,000 which was issued in favor of Rajastani Moorti Kala Kendra. Under the circumstances he has already ordered you to go to the bank and stop payment on check number PHF 431993. Now it has been settled that the murti walla will supply deities at RS 19,005 final payment. But he wants a bank draft.

Under the circumstances I am just issuing another check number PHF 431995 for Rs 19,005 (nineteen thousand and five rupees only) in favor of Punjab National Bank itself. So Gurudasa is returning to Delhi and both of you see in the bank if the former check PHF 431993 is positively stopped for payment. Then sign the present check and take a bank draft for payment in Jaipur and that will settle up the thing. I hope in the meantime you have received the check for Rs 23,000 (twenty three thousand rupees only) for steel, which acknowledge receipt.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 8 April, 1974:

as far as the checks needed for Vrindaban construction I am handing them along with this letter by hand delivery by Gurudasa who is here now. One check listed by you for Rs 23,000 to Punjab National Bank has already been send separately by express post. the other checks are all given to Gurudasa.

Regarding the offers of land in different places, you should take them. First accept them, then we shall see how to manage them. We will have to import brahmanas to man them. If our men are trained, one man can run a place. One experienced man can sit down in a hut and simply talk about Krsna and organize the local people. This is how I started in the beginning at 26 Second Avenue in New York City. If there is genuine preaching they will be attracted, so long the preacher has no self motivation, but simply chants and preaches. Anyway, take the offered land.

Now work in consultation with Gurudasa and Saurabha go ahead for the completion of our Krsna Balarama temple in Vrindaban.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 11 April, 1974:

In reponse to your telephonic message I beg to enclose herewith check number PJH 365504 for Rs 17,600 in favor of the Punjab National Bank. Yes, _ also I sent eight checks totalling Rs 43,614.63 (Rupees forty three thousand, six hundred and fourteen and sixty three paise only) through Gurudasa Adhikari. Before that a check for Rs 24,000 and another for Rs 23,000 was also sent to you. The check for Rs 24,000 for Rajastani Moorti Kala Kendra is understood as not sent to Jaipur. Anyway, this check should be considered cancelled. Another check for Rs 19,005 has been issued and now today's check of Rs 17,600. So make a list of statements and see what is the balance is in the bank now. In my calculation the balance is now Rs 18,745.81. (Rupees eighteen thousand, seven hundred forty five and eighty one paise). Please confirm this.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Hyderabad 24 April, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1974, and I have examined the contents.

Regarding you report on construction progress I am glad to hear the building is roofed, however what about the backside residential quarters? Please give me up to date information on all phases on the construction.

As for the purchase of a car for Vrindaban, we shall first finish the construction and then we can think of the car.

I have received a letter from Tejyas on the same day as yours. I am sending him the checks he has requested for construction, but he has requested one check for "Lalita Prasad", for Rupee 3,000 which you say is a down payment for four sets of clothes for the deity. But we cannot pay for these dresses. It was already agreed that you and Yamuna would collect separately for the deities, not that it would come out of the construction fund, but now you and Tejyas are requesting it come out of construction. Besides that, why go to the tailor? Lalita Prasad charges extraordinarily. We don't want to go to them. Whatever our devotees can make, that is all right. Have you already contracted from them? This check cannot be issued neither is it our plan to pay from construction for the deities. Where is the money you collected for this purpose?

When you next meet Dr. Kapoor offer him my respectful obeisances. I am sure Viswambar Goswami is educated, and advanced in judgement and I am pleased he is not disturbed. But Dr. Kapoor can expose Purusottam goswami about his deal with the late Puri Goswami of the Gaudiya Math. If the mystery of his acquiring 50,000 rupees of books from Puri is exposed then his so called leadership will come to an end. He knows better than I and you can ask him about Purusottam Goswami's acquiring books from Puri—which is a mystery not yet disclosed, but every Gaudiya mission man knows the incident.

Your idea to have Hari Goswami conduct a deity worship class starting July 1st is a good, welcome idea. One defect in Hari Goswami is that although he wants to cooperate he wants to keep himself a little aloof as a goswami. I wish that he should mix with us with open mind, without reservation. Sometimes he hesitates to accept prasadam from us and he likes to cook for himself. If he desires to cook that means he keeps aloof. If he kindly teaches our men how to cook and worship the deity and he also takes prasadam along with us it will be a great achievement. Of course it depends on his discretion, but if he keeps aloof from us that is not very much desirable. As least he should come forward on the sastric injunction, arcya visnau siladhir gurusu naramatir vaisnave jati-buddhir. I do not think there is any difference in the method of deity worship he is teaching but you can also consult me.

You ask me how to recruit strong devotees to come there. You have to prepare strong devotees, not import them. You yourself become strong devotees and teach others by your example. Importation is not a good plan; everyone should be strong by behavior and action.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Hyderabad 24 April, 1974:

I am enclosing the list of checks requested by you by Registered post except I am not sending one check for Rs 3,000 for deity clothes to be paid to the tailor Lalita Prasad of Vrindaban. Deity paraphernalia is supposed to be collected separately by Gurudasa and Yamuna, not come out of the construction fund as you have requested. Besides, I have advised Gurudasa not to pay any tailor but to make clothes by our own devotees for the deities.

Letter to Mahamsa, Giriraja, Gargamuni, Gargamuni, Jayapataka, Tejiyas, Gurudasa -- Geneva 2 June, 1974:

TO PRESIDENTS OF ISKCON CENTERS IN INDIA,

My dear ___,

Please accept my blessings. After meeting here in Geneva with Karandhara das Adhikari and several other GBC members, I have decided to send Karandhara to India to replace Tamala Krsna Goswami as the new Governing Body Commissioner for India. I know from experience that Karandhara is a highly qualified devotee and I feel confident in placing him in such an important position for our society as head of affairs in India. It is a great relief for me. Karandhara is very enthusiastic to begin his new assignment and will be leaving for India in a few days. Please give him all cooperation and work together for advancement of our mission to make the people of India Krishna Conscious.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Melbourne 1 July, 1974:

I am spending my last two days in Australia and after this I shall go to the U.S.A. In the meantime, I wish to give you some instructions regarding our Janmastami installation in Vrindaban.

The main thing is the ceremony shall be conducted by our own men. We do not have to be dependent on taking help from persons who will not even eat with us, thinking us inferior. All over the world, in Paris, New York, Australia etc., our men and women are worshiping the deity very nicely and I am very proud of their worship. There is no reason why we have to think we are dependent on any Indian goswami in order to conduct our ceremony in Vrindaban. So you understand this and be convinced of it, and let them come as invited but we shall conduct the affair ourselves.

You can also arrange to have the Her Govinda dramatical players and our own players as well. There should be abundant prasadam for whoever comes all day long. The kitchen should go on. So see there is sufficient stock of rice, attar, ghee, etc. The life members should be especially cared for and invited. We shall manage our own affairs. If they come that is good but if not we shall manage. From our side everything should be done nicely.

All big officers in Mathura and Vrindaban should be invited. Goswamis and godbrothers also. Also invite local Marwaris and invite Parthak also. Practically by distributing a general invitation card we shall invite everyone. All the inhabitants of Vrindaban will be invited to come and see the deity and take prasadam. There should be special arrangement for life members, Mr. Birla and many other respectable visitors. There is no question of money. Let it be a first class, 1-A arrangement. Krsna will provide all expenditures so try to make it gorgeous. Gorgeous means sufficient stock of prasadam and temple decorations as gorgeous as possible. The internal management of dressing can be done by Yamuna, Madira and Jayatirtha they are all expert. The sastric direction can be from Pradyumna.

Furthermore, try to get the land if possible within one lac rupees. If he doesn't agree we don't mind we can see the other land. Also Mr. Jaya Purna of Karnapura came to see me, so invitation should be extended to him. Invite all local asramas and sannyasis as well. I do not hear of Pranava; I sent him a telegram but there is no reply.

The whole management should be done combinedly. Do not fight amongst yourselves, as that is my only anxiety. I shall leave for Vrindaban by 25th July. In the meantime, reply to me at L.A.

Letter to Richard Mende -- Vrindaban 19 September, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 7, 1974 and I have also seen the copy of the book you gave to Bali Mardan das. This edition can be easily had in Calcutta, so it is not necessary for us to keep it. I have therefore given the book over to Gurudasa, and he will see that it is returned to you.

Letter to Syndicate Bank -- Vrindaban 21 September, 1974:

Syndicate Bank, Brindaban Branch

We the undersigned, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Brahmananda Swami and Gurudas Adhikary, put the following documents in the Safty Deposit Locker No. 196 of Syindicate Bank, Vrindaban.

The following is the list of documents:

1. Letter from Saraf Trust dated February 6, 1974

2. Registered Deed Vrindaban plot of six pages along with plot one page.

3. Letter from Gitabhai Saraf dated March 12, 1972.

4. Fixed deposit receipt in favor of ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust for Rs. 1,60,000/- (rupees one lack sixty thousand.) Date of maturity 10-9-1979.

5. Fixed deposit receipt in favor of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami for Rs. 11,000/- (rupees eleven thousand only). Date of maturity March 14, 1976.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Brahmananda Swami

Gurudas Adhikary

Letter to Gurudasa, Pranava -- Calcutta 26 September, 1974:

This is to request you to go see Sri Seth Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Churuwalla Thek, Swami Ghat, P.O. Mathura, U.P. He is the managing director of a large plot of land near Birla Mandir between Mathura and Vrindaban. He will give us 25 bighas at Mathura Gochar Bhumi as a concessional free gift. So immediately go and see the land, and if suitable then immediately take it.

Do not be disturbed that it is a little far away from our temple. That we shall be able to manage, and it is not a problem. If you can manage this land nicely, they can give more. They want to see that the land is used for cow protection. The land is meant for this purpose.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

cc: Mr. N.K. Poddar, 34 Raja Santosh Road, Calcutta-27

ACBS/bs

N.B. This is to inform you that on October 5, 1974 one lakh will be transferred to Vrindaban so there will be no difficulty for purchasing the other land if the negotiations will be complete by then.

Letter to Pranava -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated October 5, 1974 reading as follows: RECEIVED YOUR LETTER WORKING ACCORDINGLY LAND ALREADY ARRANGED GURUDASA LEFT FOR LONDON TRANSFER ONE LAKH CONSTRUCTION FUND

—PRANAVADAS

I have already asked Bombay to transfer one lakh of Rupees through the Bombay PNB to the PNB Vrindaban Branch account No. 668. So please go and enquire whether they have received the money.

Regarding Gurudasa going to London, it is surprising to me. Anyway I have sent Dhananjaya das Adhikari to act in place of Gurudasa. Please try and help him, both you and Saurabha. He is very nice, obedient boy. He will be very much helpful in Vrindaban, so please cooperate with him fully. He has already left for Vrindaban with my instructions and a letter to the bank.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Mayapur 11 October, 1974:

Please accept my blessings. One letter from Harikesa has been received regarding getting maintenance money. Gurudasa has all of a sudden left. How will the Vrindaban expenditure be met? Where is the money Gurudasa collected for the Deities? Where is it kept and what is the account? Yamuna is very clever, and I know they have collected huge sum.

Letter to Gurudas Prabhu -- Mayapur 14 October, 1974:

Letter to: Gurudas Prabhu

—

Mayapur

14/10/74

74-10-14_E1

Dear Gurudas Prabhu:

Please accept my humble obeisances. Your letter to Srila Prabhupad dated October 3, 1974 in transit has been received. Srila Prabhupad affirms that he never gave you permission to leave India, but only to leave Vrindaban. You left without informing me of you intentions. Now you are asking for him to write a letter so you can collect money. But what about the monies you have already received? Where is the account? So far I know you have received from Murtidas Dollars 4,000.00; from Nanda Kumar 1700.00; from Srila Prabhupad before he left India Rs. 60,000/-, and from Karandhar Rs. 40,000/-. You must present the account of how these monies were spent before getting any facility for collecting additional funds. As GBC I must request you not to try to collect any money until you account for this money.

What is the need of your going out side of India to collect? Ample money is already coming without your having to go, and Srila Prabhupad has taken responsibility for providing funds whatever you need himself. He wanted you to stay in Vrindaban and manage there. Why have you left?

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your servant

Brahmananda Swami

Personal Secretary, GBC

-/bs

Approved: ACBS

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 15 October, 1974:

Gurudasa is coming to London, but he cannot be allowed to collect on any account. Enclosed is one letter from Brahmananda Maharaja to me that will explain.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Mayapur 20 October, 1974:

Now there is one matter for your urgent attention. Gurudasa has suddenly left India. So when you were there recently you mentioned how you were liking to remain in Vrindaban with your wife for some time. So I may request to go immediately to Vrindaban together with your wife. Then from here we can go to Japan together, and if we get the Gaurange Hall, we can go to New York.

Letter to Harikesa -- Bombay 1 November, 1974:

I have seen your letter dated October 28, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda Swami and also the enclosed letter from Gurudasa. I have also received the report from Gopala Krishna, especially how nice is the prasadam program there. Thank you very much. You have improved the situation there so much. and I am very much obliged to you. I want that our Vrindaban temple to be the first class temple of India. Already people are saying that it surpasses all temples of the district in beauty, and I think it surpasses all temples in India. So now it must be managed very nicely. You have followed my instructions for making the kirtana program there the center, so I know that everything will go on nicely there.

Regarding Gurudasa, please inquire as to how much he has collected and send me the report. I want to know what he has collected and what was the expenditure. Encourage the U.K. devotees to stay in India because they do not have any visa problem.

Letter to Harikesa -- Bombay 7 November, 1974:

Pleaser accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 31, 1974 and have noted the contents. Thank you for giving me the account of Gurudasa. What is that hotel bill for Rs. 1200/-?

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 18 December, 1974:

You asked in your letter whether Gurudasa Prabhu is authorized to collect money from US temples for Vrndavana project. No, he is not authorized to do this.

Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Bombay 31 December, 1974:

Regarding Gurudasa, he is in L.A. and has engaged himself in preaching work, so I have advised him separately.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 31 December, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated, December 28th, 1974 and have noted the contents. You also organize a party like Tamala Krishna's and preach like that. I like that-more of preaching. If Yamuna has left you, why remain as grhastha? Better take sannyasa like Tamala Krishna Gosvami. I know Yamuna has Krishna in her heart. She'll not be spoiled, but let her have some temporary independence and be more Krishna Conscious. I am glad you have sent the money to India that you have collected. Now, you left Vrndavana on account of Yamuna, but she has left you there also, although you wanted to live with her. Anyway, try to forget all this material attachment and try to be attached to Krishna more and more. Actually, I want many parties like the party of Tamala Krishna and Visnujana, and they can preach all over—USA especially. So, Tamala Krishna has attained experience in this type of preaching work, so you also take advantage of this experience. If you like, you can stay with him for some time. If you can preach there, it is better that you remain in USA. Vrndavana will be managed somehow or other.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 19 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 31st, 1974 and have noted the contents. By Krishna's grace, you are very much engaged there. It is very encouraging. I will be going to Hawaii on Jan. 24th via Hong Kong and Tokyo, arriving in Honolulu about the 29th. If you like, you can see me there.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Honolulu 1 February, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. I will be leaving Honolulu on Feb. 9th and will be arriving there in Los Angeles on the same day. While I am in L.A., we can discuss your plans in full detail.

Letter to Gurudasa, Prajapati -- Mexico City 17 February, 1975:

Regarding the dance troupe, I request you to prepare 7 different dances (a new one each day) from the Caitanya Caritamrta for displaying and performing during the Mayapur festival. Also, I request you to prepare 7 different dances from the Krishna book for performing during the Vrndavana festival. When you come to India, I shall also give you some personal direction concerning these dance performances. There are so many nice stories that can be performed. We can have a party of about 15 persons who can go all over and perform these dances. It will be very attractive, if nicely done and people will be inclined to buy books and even buy tickets to see such a performance. In this way all the expenses of going from one place to another will be covered. So, organize this program nicely and it will be a great success.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 9 March, 1975:

I have received notice from Saurabha in Vrndavana that we owe 25,000 rs. to the Mukutwala and another 12,500 rs. to Lalita Prasada, and he says that still there are many other deity goods that only been ordered and not paid for. So, I request you to please send the equivalent of at least 30,000 rs. to Vrndavana because there are no collections coming in at this time for the deities and you have ordered this paraphernalia. You should send this money to the Bank of America in Bombay in favor of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Mayapur Vrndavana Fund) account number 16026. Address is Express Towers, Nariman Point, Bombay-1. Please send me a copy of the bank receipt after you send the money.

Letter to Jamuna -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:

Tejyas was complaining that Madira has also gone with Gurudasa. Recently, I was in Delhi for participating in a meeting at Kuruksetra, and he informed me like that.

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

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 6, 1975 and have noted the contents. The purpose of sannyasa is that now one has no hindrances for preaching work. The purpose is to increase preaching. So if one takes sannyasa and does not increase preaching, then there is no value. So you take this opportunity seriously, and preach and inspire others to also preach. Then there will be no question of thinking of other things. This will all vanish. I have complete faith in you.

Regarding your question, we need not bother about these things now.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 12 November, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 21, 1975 and have noted the contents with much pleasure. So I thank you very much because I see you are doing very good. Now you are doing something. So you should continue in this way. Do practical solid work. This is required. You are an old experienced devotee and I have personally trained you in so many things, so now it is your responsibility to train others otherwise what is the meaning of my training you? So do it with sincerity and know that Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He will give you all facility and you will be a success.

This preaching and managing of the sankirtana parties is our real business. Do it more and Krsna will bless you more and more. It is very good that they are paying something for the lectures.

Upon your recommendation I am accepting for brahminical initiation Locasvara das. Enclosed is his sanctified gayatri thread and also the mantra sheet. I also accept for initiation Chris Nell and hs spiritual name is Srutisagara das. His beads may be chanted on by Tamala Krsna Gosvami. A fire sacrifice should be held so the brahminical initiate can hear the mantra through the right ear from my recorded tape. You should impress upon them of the responsibility for following the rules and regulations and chanting 16 rounds minimum each day. This will save them from maya. No, there is no special name for your Gaura-Nitai Deities.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 22 December, 1975:

I have received the letters of appreciation of your preaching work. Thank you very much, you are very competent, and if you continue like this you will get strength from Krishna more and more.

I always say, man is good, and woman is also good, but when they combine, then they become bad. Before there was so much difficulty, but now you are doing well and Yamuna dasi is also doing well, and I am very pleased with your work. Please continue like this and keep me informed.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Ambassador of the of United States of America -- Delhi 27 March, 1976:

I beg to introduce myself as the founder-acharya of the above institution. Our mission is to preach Krishna Consciousness (God-Consciousness) all over the world, and in your country alone we have got about 40 branches in all the important towns of America. In all the countries, the majority of my disciples are Americans. I met Mr. Kenneth Keating, your former ambassador to India and he was a personal friend to my disciple, Sri Gurudasa Adhikari. A copy of his letter is also enclosed herein.

I have seen a house situated at 12 Ring Road, New Delhi, which is your property. Immediately we need a house for our residential purposes. My disciples are mostly Americans. Our main activities are to preach philosophical and cultural literatures, a list of which is also enclosed. It is understood that the house is for sale and if you kindly give us some concession rate we can immediately pay you. So kindly do the needful. I am sending you Gurudasa Adhikari to take care of this on my behalf.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Honolulu 3 May, 1976:

n.b. Please enclose one "Krishna Consciousness is Authorized" and one copy of the letter from Kenneth Keating to Gurudasa (if available) when you present the application to the State Department official in Washington.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 28, 1976, and I have noted the contents carefully.

Try to convince them that without God Consciousness, no plan will be successful. Of course, the demoniac class of men will always remain, but unless there is a strong body to present God Consciousness proposals to the leaders of the world, there will be no hope. We have taken Bhagavad-gita as the standard of all human activities. If the leaders of the human society take it as standard, then all the problems will be solved. That we can give practical suggestions for. Any plan of the atheists will never be successful.

Your plan to go to Vrindaban in January is very nice. I hope that this meets you in good health.

Letter to Palika -- India Unknown Date:

P.S. Please have my Bengali book Gitar Gan composed by some printer there in Calcutta in the next two or three days, and immediately send it to ISKCON Tokyo. I will correct it personally and hand it over to Dai Nippon for printing. I have asked Jayapataka Maharaja to do this, but he has not done anything yet, so you do it immediately and please do not delay. Books are being sent to our branches in India from Japan, at no cost to you. You may sell them and use the profits for our building funds, 50%, and book fund, 50%. I do not know if we may require the COP permission, so you may inquire this from Gurudasa.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 12 September, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 24, 1976 and have noted the contents with pleasure. As far as your danda goes if it is too troublesome to carry there is no need for it. Lord Caitanya's danda was broken by Nityananda Prabhu and He never carried it again. But if you want you can make another although for preaching purposes it may be dropped.

I am very very pleased with your preaching in Poland and you should continue this program with full enthusiasm. Your coming to Vrndavana is not so important and it may wait. Please expand this program more and more for there is a very good and favorable field there. Try and start a center there, it seems possible. Continue this program of kirtana and prasadam for this will conquer their hearts as they have never experienced anything like it before. I know you are a sincere preacher and they will appreciate your good Vaisnava qualities. Please send me reports of your future successes. Thank you very much.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 24 September, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 1st inst. and have noted the contents. Harikesa has gone there to Poland to preach as you are doing, so take him with you. I have given him $1,000.00 for immediate expenditure and he has to return this as soon as possible. So he has gone yesterday morning, perhaps by this time he has reached. He likes to work jointly with Sucandra, but if Sucandra is not free then he may join with you.

Letter to Harikesa -- Vrindaban 4 October, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Sept. 30th, 1976 and have noted the contents. I sent you especially for preaching in that quarter therefore I gave you money, otherwise in U.S.A. what is need of money. You have experience in that area, therefore I gave money. So I request you not to go to U.S.A., even if it is a little difficult to preach in that quarter. I have written to Gurudasa and Sucandra to join you—combine together and preach. In U.S.A. there are many preachers, but here no preachers. Otherwise, if you must preach in English then you may preach in England.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 12/10/76.

I never said that you should go undercover for preaching in Eastern Europe. Everything should be done openly and very carefully. Krsna will protect your efforts.

Up to date the Vrindaban guest house is a failure. Nobody's coming. You are always welcome in Vrindaban, but I think you can come for the Mayapur festival. Right now, Harikesa and Sucandra are very eager to preach. So, you should find out where they are and make arrangements to assist them.

Letter to Harikesa -- Vrindaban 28 October, 1976:

I am not very much in favor of Gurudasa coming here. Let him know that his former wife, Yamuna, is here, therefore he should not come. Why is he so adamant to come here. He can come later during the Mayapur festival. Why doesn't he join with you until Mayapur at least?

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 18 November, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 14/11/76.

I am very happy to hear that you are going to Poland. Bharadraja also speaks Polish. He may come there sometimes if it can be arranged. Sri Garbha's wife doesn't have to go to Mayapur, she may go to the farm in France. it is very nice there. Or she may go to any of our farms. The preaching in Poland is the first consideration. Vrindaban is being managed somehow by others. Aksayananda has one man who is collecting very well (Rs. 15,000-20,000 per month) Vrindaban is becoming self-dependent. If you can preach vigorously in Poland it will be a great asset. You may come to Vrindaban if you like, but preaching in Poland is my greater interest. So, now Vrindaban is somehow being managed. Now the most important work is that side in the Communist countries. If you can do something there, it is more than if you come here. Our business is to glorify Krsna as the Lord of Vrndavana and to popularize Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Hare Krsna Movement. I was a resident in Vrndavana, but at the age of 70 I tried to preach Krsna consciousness a little bit and now this Institution has come out. So, I think it is more profitable to preach about the Master of Vrndavana, Krsna, outside of Vrndavana. A devotee of Krsna can create Vrndavana everywhere by preaching the glories of Krsna.

There are many sahajiyas who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is is the master of Vrndavana personally. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the sannyasa order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana. I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me, therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world. Otherwise, you are always welcome in Vrndavana. I have no objection.

I am a little hopeful that if we preach in the communist countries, they will like it. According to our Vaisnava philosophy even a snake or lizard is in the house shall not go without eating, what to speak of other living entities. The communists have an idea for feeding human society, but our idea is expanding. We want to see even a snake not fasting.

If somebody wants to go to Bangkok it will be very good. The address there is: ISKCON CENTER, 17 Amorn Soi 2 Sukumvit 49, Bangkok, Thailand. In charge there now is Rajni dasi.

Alex, who was just here, told me he has given you the money for my house as well as some for purchasing a bus. The house construction money can be sent to American Express International Banking Corporation in Calcutta. The account number is S/B a/c no. 5416. It is in the name Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (ISKCON). Please send one copy of the deposit notice to me.

Letter to Harikesa -- Vrindaban 26 November, 1976:

N.B. I have received the $480 sent with Gurudasa. Thank you very much. I think this clears your loan.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Hyderabad 14 December, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/12/76.

Jagadisa informs me that Sri Garbha came to him saying that he preferred to go to Mayapur, but that due to pressure from you he had agreed to go to Poland. So, for the time being let him go to Mayapur. We require many men there also. When he has to leave India he can then go to Poland. Are you going to Vrindaban?

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa -- Calcutta 5 February, 1977:

I have received your letter of January 28, and studied the contents.

Your suggestion that the devotees visiting Vrindaban engage in preaching and chanting and not in gossiping is very good. I have instructed that this be taken to the GBC and implanted. We have sacrificed our life for Krsna's service, where is there scope for sleeping and gossiping? You can see in my example, not a single moment is wasted. This idleness is the business of the karmis. They can be seen sitting in the park gossiping, "my son-in-law said this," "this man has cheated me." But it has no place in devotional service, so your suggestion is well made.

Your suggestion for groups teaching practical subjects like book distribution, deity worship, is also good. These things are wanted.

The installing of telex communications for our main temples is not required. Then they will gossip more through the telex.

So if you apply yourself in helping to prepare and implement these suggestions for the Vrindaban portion of our festival, that will be very good.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Mayapur 18 February, 1977:

Please accept my blessings. Locks on the door, ask Gaurachand to help. I have just arranged to send him Rs. 50 per month for his lifetime and he will cooperate with us.

If you like to stay in my rooms at Radha Damodara then you may stay there. I allow it. Preaching also means reading and writing, or else what will you preach? If I do go to Manipur I still plan to go to Vrndavana afterward. My schedule is being planned as leaving for Manipur on the 8th March and staying utmost a week say until the 15th. So as the festival program in Vrndavana runs through the 22nd March, I will still be there during the festival.

N.B. You say you are on good terms with Madan Mohan Goswami. Under the circumstances take the whole house on rent from him. Although he is appealing to the court it will not stand. Better while the litigation goes on let him take money from us and let out the whole house to us. That will be his own gain. Whatever the court decides for the time being he can rent from us for the whole house. If you can induce him it is gain for him. Rent should be at the same rent as present.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Mayapur 18 March, 1977:

I beg to thank you for your letter undated and delivered by hand.

The Krishna conscious Katha contest and the workshops appear to be very nice. This is our only business—to endeavor to serve Krishna at every moment. The whole world is busy for sense gratification, it is anthill civilization. So much endeavor for what? We also work hard because we know the goal of life—to please Krishna. So if by these workshops service to Krishna has been increased in everyone, then they are very nice. Why there was no weaving and spinning workshop?

On the map of Vrndavana it is still called Chattikara Road. Also still on the letterhead. If the municipality has decided to rename the road in my name, why it is not yet changed?

In my room at Radha Damodara Temple you should keep one photo of me and offer to it Prasadam of Sri Radha Damodara.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 25 March, 1977:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18th March, 1977.

There is no need to pay Gaurachand. I have already advised the bank, and they will pay him directly. You need not. As you have described the placing of my photograph and offering to it Prasadam, that is good. In consultation with Aksayananda Maharaja, just find out some responsible men to stay there. Everything should be kept neat and clean as if I am staying there. It is very good if someone daily sells books from there.

Thank you, yes, I am feeling a little stronger now. On the 28th instant I shall be moving into my new quarters and then we have to organize Bombay as our world headquarters from every point of view, culturally, scientifically, philosophically, etc.

Page Title:	Training of Gurudasa (Letters, 1974 - 1977)
Compiler:	MadhuGopaldas
Created:	30 of May, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=57
No. of Quotes:	57