Training of Jagadisa dasa (Letters, 1968 - 1973)

Correspondence

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1968:

Enclosed please find your prayer beads which I have chanted one round upon and initiated you with. Your spiritual name is Jagadisa das Brahmacari. Jagadisa means Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe.

So please continue to be very sincere about developing your Krishna Consciousness and Krishna will give you all facilities to return with Him to His Spiritual Abode. Take instructions from your god-brother Rupanuga, chant your sixteen rounds daily, follow all regulations strictly, and you will have all blessings from the disciplic succession to advance nicely. So now you have this all important opportunity so I request you to take full advantage and perfect yourself in Krishna Consciousness. This is my request to all of you. This will be great service not only to yourself, but also to all the living entities with whom we come into contact.

Please convey my blessings to all others. I hope that you are well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. I have not heard anything from Rupanuga since a long time.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 20 December, 1968:

I have sent to Jagadisa his beads duly initiated upon by me and I hope that he has received them by now.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Rupanuga -- Columbus, Ohio 17 May, 1969:

I think that if there is a chance for opening a center in Toronto, then Jagadisa and Kanupriya may go there as soon as possible.

Letter to Laksmimoni -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated July 5, 1969, sent along with your chanting beads and one letter from Sriman Jagadisa das Brahmacari.

Letter to Laksmimoni -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1969:

I am very pleased to note that you will be getting married to Jagadisa, and try to serve him by helping him develop in Krishna Consciousness throughout both of your lives.

Letter to Laksmimoni -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1969:

So I am enclosing* instructions for Rupanuga to perform this marriage ceremony, and both yourself and Jagadisa have my full blessings for long and happy life in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 24 July, 1969:

If you are planning to perform the marriage ceremony for Jagadisa and Laksmimoni, then you must know the prayers to be said. I think you have a copy of a tape recorded at our initiation ceremony in Buffalo, so the prayers are there.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Hamburg 7 September, 1969:

I beg to thank you so much for your letter (undated) and your contribution of 150 dollars to my book fund. I also take the opportunity now to thank you for the nice poem you submitted and which was printed in the Vyasa Puja booklet. I am pleased to learn that you have gone with your wife, Laksmimoni, to Detroit, and you are now working conjointly with Bhagavan das and Krishna Bhamini. You are both very nice householder couples, so work together in cooperative spirit, following the example you have seen in our other Krishna Consciousness centers. I can understand that Krishna is giving you encouragement to increase the strength of Detroit center because you write to say that there is a big article to be printed in the largest Detroit paper and you have already arranged for two university courses. This is very encouraging news, and please forward a copy of the article to me when it is printed. You should try now to obtain permission for chanting on the streets. This will greatly enhance your activities there in every respect. Sankirtana is our very life and soul, so try to take permission from the authorities as soon as possible. I understand that you are a very sincere soul, and surely Krishna will show His favor upon you.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Hamburg 9 September, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 4th, 1969 and the enclosed check for the Bhakti-sastri examination. As I have already mentioned in my letter of September 7th, I have also duly received the contribution of 150 dollars from Laksmimoni and yourself. I am so pleased to note that Sadanandini is now staying in Detroit, living at the temple, and arrangements are being made for her wedding to Candanacarya. It is very good news. She is a very nice girl, so take care of her until she is handed over to the charge of Candanacarya.

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

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. I am going to London on the 11th Sept.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Tittenhurst 11 October, 1969:

I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated October 3, 1969, sent along with a maintenance check of $15. Regarding the information you heard that it is all right to neglect one's 16 rounds as a daily minimum, this is wrong. Everyone should strictly follow the regulations of 16 rounds daily. If one is busy for other Krishna Consciousness activities and cannot fulfill the regular routine of chanting, he must compensate it the next day, curtailing his activities in the matter of sleeping or eating or any other sense gratificatory process. So far as how long each day to go out on Sankirtana Party, Caitanya Mahaprabhu prescribes to chant Hare Krishna Mantra 24 hours. So if you can do so, it is very nice. Otherwise, as much as possible. Sankirtana is our life and soul.

I am very glad that Jaya Hari Dalmia was in the temple, and I hope you received him well. His father is a great friend of my activities. When I was in India he helped me so many times with financial assistance, so he is sympathetic. I am very glad that his daughter-in-law has presented some saris and the boy has presented some books. Please keep the books nicely. None of you will be able to understand Hindi or Sanskrit, so when I return to USA I shall ask you for these books. Regarding the picture of Lord Caitanya which is outside of your temple, this is not good. We should not place our worshipable Deities as statues in the open atmosphere.

I have also received one very nice letter from your good wife, Laksmimoni. She is a very nice girl, so the two of you work combinedly to spread this Sankirtana Movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That will bring all happiness and success to both of your lives.

Letter to Nico Kuyt -- London 4 November, 1969:

I am glad that you are very much appreciating the association of Bhagavan das and Jagadisa. They are both very nice devotees, so when you have any questions about our philosophy, you consult with them, or else I am also at your service in this connection.

Letter to Linda Ryon -- London 13 November, 1969:

So please continue to follow the procedures as you have been doing under the guidance of Bhagavan das, Jagadisa, and their wives.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 10 January, 1970:

Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and Jagadisa Candra who has written nice poetry which I am sending to the editors of Back to Godhead.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1970:

I am very glad that you have sent Jagadisa and his good wife to Toronto to help start a Temple there.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 27 February, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 February, 1970, and have noted the contents carefully.

I am glad to learn that after deliberation between Jayapataka and Raktaka, you have been asked to become the president of Toronto temple. The idea is that whoever is competent to manage affairs will accept the post of president by mutual consent. Our main business is to be fixed up in Krsna Consciousness by keeping steady in the prescribed duties of devotional service. So I have got all approval for your being elected president; that is nice.

I am also glad to learn that already you have got a temple and enthusiastic and eager devotees there. This is very encouraging. Please push our Sankirtana movement and improve the program of Deity worship as the centers of your activities, and see that all the devotees remain steady in their execution of daily chanting of sixteen rounds of beads and strict adherence to the four principles of spiritual life and all other regulative principles, this will keep them strong in Spiritual power. And you may note that when these regulative duties are performed, and the devotee becomes fully absorbed in Krsna activities, Krsna as Supersoul will dictate from within the answers to all questions and will give the needed intelligence to progress more and more in Krsna Consciousness.

Please see that the program for studying our literatures is also undertaken very seriously by all the devotees there. Everyone of us must become thoroughly acquainted with our philosophy, so that our preaching work may be carried out nicely.

There is no harm if the devotees chant in the temple during the time when the Deities are resting. You may have heard that here at L.A. Temple, they are holding Kirtana and chanting 24 hours in the temple, and the program is very encouraging to all the devotees. Of course, that is only possible in a very large center such as L.A.

Regarding what to do with the eyes while on Sankirtana, your suggestion to look into the faces of people and try to convince them of the sincerity of our movement is best. There is no need of artificial things like seeing the spirit soul. We talk, and we talk on Krsna topics—that is all. When we chant, we must concentrate our mind on the sound vibration and in that way everything will be revealed one after another; the form, qualities, pastimes, etc. of the Lord. And this is the way of cultivating spiritual realization.

Regarding your questions concerning the spirit souls falling into Maya's influence, it is not that those who have developed a passive relationship with Krsna are more likely to fall into nescient activities. Usually anyone who has developed his relationship with Krsna does not fall down in any circumstance, but because the independence is always there, the soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence. But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, simply it is forgotten by the influence of Maya, so it may be regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name of Krsna and then the devotee engages himself in the service of the Lord which is his original or constitutional position. The relationship of the living entity with Krsna is eternal as both Krsna and the living entity are eternal; the process is one of revival only, nothing new.

Astanga Yoga is better than Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga is on the level of Astanga Yoga. But the Bhakti Yoga is the ultimate goal of all Yogas. In other words, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Astanga Yoga by proper execution culminate in Bhakti Yoga. So far yogis who meditate on the Paramatma form of the Lord within their hearts, if they see Him in that way actually they become pure devotees, but if they do not perfect the process they may remain on the lower level of incomplete realization or Paramatma realization.

I am happy to learn that your Sankirtana party is very successful. If you have some extra money, you can contribute to the book fund because I am contributing to purchase a large church here to the extent of 20,000 dollars; and try to send the maintenance charges to me regularly.

Letter to Rudra -- Los Angeles 9 March, 1970:

I have heard that there is very good potential for spreading Krishna Consciousness movement in Toronto especially among the large younger population. So I think this will be a good field for you to work enthusiastically in cooperation with other good devotees like Jayapataka, Raktaka, and Jagadisa.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 25 April, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 20th April, 1970, along with a Canadian money order for $278, and thank you very much for this.

I am very glad to know that your Maha-sankirtana. with coordination of Buffalo are so successful. Please continue this program as you have suggested and surely Krishna will see that your more vigorous efforts to spread His movement are successful more and more.

Regarding Brijbasi posters, just take out pictures portraying Krishna with cows, with Gopis—just Krishna pictures, no pictures of demigods. Those pictures are alright.

Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at any time, so there is always the chance of falling down by misuse of one's independence. But those who are firmly fixed up in devotional service to Krsna are making proper use of their independence and so they do not fall down.

Regarding your second question, have the conditioned souls ever seen Krsna? Were they with the Lord before being conditioned by the desire to lord it over material nature? Yes, the conditioned souls are parts and parcels of the Lord and thus they were with Krsna before being conditioned. Just as the child must have seen his father because the father places the child in the womb of the mother, similarly each soul has seen Krsna or the Supreme Father. But at that time the conditioned souls are resting in the condition called susupti which is exactly deep sleep without dream, or anesthetized state, therefore they do not remember being with Krsna when they wake up in the material world and become engaged in material affairs. I hope this will satisfy your questions.

Letter to Damodara -- Los Angeles 4 May, 1970:

Bahulasva Berkeley Rshi Kumara New York

Satsvarupa Boston Umapati Paris

Harer Nama Boulder Subaladas Philadelphia

Rupanuga Buffalo Sridama Providence

Jaya Gopala Columbus Vamanadeva St. Louis

Bhagavan dasa Detroit Madhudvisa San Francisco

Hamsaduta Hamburg Citsukhananda San Jose

Gaurasundara Hawaii Revatinandana Santa Barbara

Durlabh Laguna Beach Gajendra Seattle

Gurudasa London Bali Mardan Sydney

Sripati Montreal Sudama Tokyo

Hayagriva New Vrndavana Jagadisa Toronto

Cidananda Vancouver Damodara Washington

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 1 July, 1970:

I hope everything is going on well in your center.

I am very glad to know that your sales of our literature and books are very good and improving more. It is natural that such distribution of literatures should increase as the people hear more about Krsna Consciousness Movement, so distributions of our books and literatures is our major propaganda program.

But Gargamuni informs me that the payments for BTGs and book sales are not being sent. So the best thing will be to keep a daily count of your stock and how many magazines and books sold. Then, regularly, on Sunday of each week the sales proceeds may be totalled for issuing a check to the amount owed to my book fund and to the BTG accounts. Then on each Monday the check may be sent to Los Angeles. So you do this regularly and it will be very nice.

Please see that the prescribed routine of temple activities is followed according to schedule and all the members are chanting rounds daily sixteen. Please offer my blessings to all the Prabhus there.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 29th June, 1970, and noted the contents.

I am very glad that you are all devotees working hard to improve the temple in both appearance and program. I understand that you are doing very nicely on Sankirtana Party and now you have been able to purchase a Sankirtana van for travelling. So you do this work of pushing on Krsna consciousness movement very enthusiastically and Krsna will help you to overcome all impediments in the matter of discharging your sincere devotional service to the Lord.

I am especially happy whenever I learn that my books and literature are being widely distributed, so it is very good news to learn that you are also selling so many of our literatures. In this connection, however, you should see that the daily sales are recorded duly and at the end of the week the amount owed for these sold literatures should be sent by check to L.A. I have already advised these things to you in my letter sent last week. Anyway, the idea is that now we are increasing in size of our organization and also our expenditures for literatures are increasing so we must do everything very carefully so that there will not be any difficulty.

You have written that your temple is like an oasis in a desert. Yes, it is a fact that our temples are providing shelter from the burning forest fires of material existence. It does not matter poor quarter or richer quarter, our temples are nothing to do with any material situation. They are situated in the Spiritual sky and as such they are the only alternative offering relief from the miseries of all kinds of material conditions of life. So encourage people to come and spend time with us in the temple and become purified from all contaminations and anxieties. Everyone is suffering from thirst for spiritual life or Krsna consciousness and it is the temple which can offer them Krsna Consciousness to satisfy their thirsting.

Regarding your temple schedule of study, it is alright so continue your classes regularly and try to understand the philosophy as it is—that is required.

I have been informed by Devananda that your wife has borne you one nice son. So this is very good news. You may give him the name Nirmala Candra. Nirmala means without any flaws or without contamination and Candra means moon. So the name Nirmala Candra refers specifically to Lord Caitanya who is known as the Spotless Moon of Gauda. Now you husband and wife must work together combinedly with great responsibility for raising your new child in ideal Krsna consciousness. Children learn by imitation of their parents, so if you both set Krsna conscious example the child will very naturally and easily become advanced in Krsna consciousness by following. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and your son.

Regarding your several questions: Where are the spirit souls coming from that are taking microbe bodies? It is not a matter of any particular body. These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There is no "new" soul. "New" and "old" are due to this material body, but the soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth how there can be new soul?

Your second question: Is there any particular reason why some spirit souls become directed toward Krsna Consciousness in the first place? How does one get on the progressive path of elevation to Krsna Consciousness? The answer is that it is by the mercy of the Lord that one comes in contact with a Spiritual Master Who can revive the dormant Krsna consciousness of the conditioned soul. Krsna is always merciful and He comes Himself, He leaves behind Him instruction like the Bhagavad-gita, etc. and He sends His representative, the Spiritual Master. In this way the merciful propaganda is going on.

Every individual soul has got the discriminating power, so those who are pious they take advantage of this opportunity of the mercy of the Lord. But both pious and impious souls are being convinced by this Krsna consciousness movement. The human being is supposed to be intelligent more than the animals, so the intelligent persons or pious persons are coming in contact with Krsna consciousness.

Regarding your questions with reference to B.G. III,5, and the Vedic hymn quoted in the purport to B.g. 14.15 and the statement ". . . when the living entity is bewildered in his desires, the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires . . ." You have quoted, "The Lord engages the living entity in pious activities so he may be elevated. The Lord engages him in impious activities so he may go to hell . . ." So that is also originally the individual soul's desire and as Supersoul the Lord is giving everyone the opportunity to go to heaven or to hell or to Vaikuntha if he so desires. For those who are hankering after material opportunities the Lord as Supersoul is giving them the opportunities to enjoy the material nature and the facility is being supplied by the material nature.

Similarly, a living entity who is desiring for spiritual upliftment, the Lord is giving him the opportunity of the Vedic literatures and the Spiritual Master. But His advice to all living entities is to give up all nonsense and everything else and surrender unto Him. The living entity by accepting one kind of opportunity is going to hell and by accepting the other kinds of opportunities he is going back to home, back to Godhead. So both opportunities are offered by the Lord. Therefore indirectly you can say that one is being sent to hell and one is being sent to the spiritual world by the Lord—but He is simply supplying the opportunities to everyone as he desires. The intelligent person therefore does not desire anything—he simply surrenders unto the Lord or he desires to serve the Lord and that is his greatest opportunity.

"Man proposes and God disposes." That is the sum and substance. But as a pure devotee of the Lord you should not propose—simply accept His proposal and surrender unto Him. So far the conditioned soul is concerned the same opportunities are there, but if he does not take advantage of the opportunity to elevate himself to Krsna Consciousness and chooses to misuse his independence for taking the opportunity to enjoy some material happiness, then he will remain conditioned as the Lord will allow him to fulfill those desires. The opportunity is always there, just as we are offering so many ways to become Krsna Conscious, but if you don't take the opportunity what can I do. That is purposeful negligence of duty. The example may be given of a man who is sleeping. If he is actually sleeping, he may be wakened by various means, but there is no doubt that he must wake up. However, if a man is pretending to be asleep there is no way at all to rouse him up.

Letter to Srilekha -- Los Angeles 17 July, 1970:

So I am very glad to accept you as my initiated disciple as you have requested and you are recommended by Sriman Jagadisa.

Letter to Srilekha -- Los Angeles 17 July, 1970:

Study our literatures carefully and try to understand the philosophy nicely and if you have any questions you can ask them of Jagadisa and other elder devotees who know the science.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 18 July, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge your letter dated 8th July, 1970, in which you have recommended the initiation of Srimati Stephanie O'Henly. I have received her letter and beads also and I have initiated her duly. I have returned the beads in another packet and her initiated name is Srilekhadevi Dasi. I beg to thank you also for the check for $50 donation to my book fund. Thank you very much.

Regarding your request for Gayatri mantra to be given to Dharmaraj, since both you and Rupanuga recommend him for second initiation it is alright. I am sending you therefore one copy of Gayatri mantra on a small tape along with specific directions for performing the ceremony. Also enclosed you will find one sacred thread duly sanctified by me and it is for Dharmaraj. The sacred thread will be given by you at the end of the fire sacrifice as it is given in the instructions. Please return this tape directly to me as soon as the initiation is done.

I learn that you have got now fifteen members at your center and this is very encouraging news for me. Please offer my blessings to all the boys and girls there.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Calcutta 17 September, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 6th, 1970, and have noted the contents. I am so glad to learn that your center is doing very nicely—distribution of "Back to Godhead" and other literatures is very encouraging and you are now 17 devotees strong there.

If you a have got sufficient devotees to take care of the Deities as you have seen how in the Los Angeles Temple, take instruction from Yamuna and Silavati how they are worshiping and the installation procedure is given on a separate sheet.

Regarding your invitation to take instruction from the University scholars, we are not concerned with a scholar who knows theoretically Caitanya Vaisnava Movement but we are interested with persons who are actually devotees who actually chant Hare Krsna Mahamantra and follows the regulative principles; Theoretical knowledge will not help us.

Yes, regarding Mr. Murthy, it is better for me if he comes to India and lives with me for some time.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Calcutta 29 September, 1970:

I am so very much encouraged to see your fine letter dated Sept. 21st, 1970, and your movement is being recognized by the sensible persons. Naturally there will be increase of new members everywhere.

Since we have come to Calcutta many boys are coming to us even they were very much subversive to the social orders. People are very much appreciating our Movement. Wherever we go for preaching work hundreds of men gather and they contribute liberally according to their capacity. We have already two centers in Calcutta and trying to have our own center in the most important neighborhood of this city.

So the idea is—you work sincerely on behalf of Krsna according to instructions of Lord Krsna in His great magnanimous form as Lord Caitanya. I know you are very intelligent and sincere servant of Krsna, so try to serve His Lordship to your best capacity and He shall give you proper intelligence. You know that Krsna is Spiritual Master from within and Spiritual Master is manifestation of Krsna without. That is the position; both ways a sincere student is instructed, which is called Guru-Krsna kripa. Simply you have to receive it properly and execute it orderly.

Take care of the new devotees so that they may read our literatures carefully and come to the real standard of understanding. Our strength is not material strength, but spiritual strength. So if spiritual strength is not strong now, try to make Sripati and the others stronger by spiritual means by following the regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds. Formerly Jayapataka was president of Montreal center; now he is working here in India very intelligently although it is a foreign city.

Regarding your cooperative program with Karandhara for realizing the great potential for Krsna Consciousness in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, that is very good news—do it carefully.

Letter to Upendra -- Calcutta 29 September, 1970:

I have had good reports also from Jagadisa in Toronto and he says that in Canada the people are very receptive to our Krsna Consciousness philosophy.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 4 November, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 11 October, 1970, with enclosed news clippings, and I have noted them with great satisfaction.

Though I am now in India with a few of my men, and we are having some success here, still, my Guru Maharaja has instructed me to spread this Krsna Consciousness Movement in the western world, so this is our first business. Therefore I am much pleased to hear that there is progress in this respect in your zone of Canada.

The news clippings which you enclose are encouraging to me. This publicity is very important in the advancement of our preaching work. Only the standard should be that our philosophy be presented factually. I can see that you have developed first-class relations with the press and this is a sign of your sincerity. Please continue and expand this propaganda work to all parts of Canada. Even religious leaders of Christian faith like Rev. J. G. McDonald, Toronto, are appreciating our sincere presentation, and I think that you may invite him to our Toronto temple for kirtana and prasadam.

I wish to know how many of my books are being distributed in Canada. Especially we should inject this philosophy into the universities and high schools with our books, so please try for this and send me the report. It is my plan that in my old age I am handing over all matters of temple management to you and you may simply carry on and expand the programs which I have introduced, and in this way I will be free to translate.

Hope this will meet you in good health. Offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and to all the other boys and girls at Toronto temple.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

N.B. I have not received the monthly $15 maintenance from any Canadian centers. Please see that this is sent in readily negotiable American Express checks, as personal checks take one to two months to clear.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 17 November, 1970:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated October 25th, 1970, and noted the contents.

Yes, you are right to say that self-realization is a serious work. The devotees know this and there one of their qualities is that they are grave and not inclined to frivolity. A Krsna Conscious person is only interested in serving the Lord faithfully and he has got no other extraneous thought. His intelligence is always engaged in finding out the best way to execute loving transcendental service to Krsna and therefore he has no time for idleness. An idle mind is the devil's workshop—is a true remark. We should always remember that Maya and Krsna are side by side, just like light and darkness stand side by side. If one is not in the sunshine or light, then he is ipso facto in darkness. Therefore we must not be careless, but we should push on with great seriousness and sincerity, then we shall be certain of achieving the desired result.

I am always glad to learn that our Sankirtana is going on so much joyfully now in our every branch. We shall not misrepresent ourselves by making simply a show of devotional service and simply fill our bellies. It is our only intention to spread this sublime philosophy to all the persons of the world for the complete welfare benefit, both spiritual and material of everyone of them. The new program of preaching on Sankirtana using one basic verse from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is is an excellent idea. We should always be eager to find out such nice ways to spread this Movement. This will automatically bring joy to the devotees as well as to the nondevotees.

Please see that the highest standards are maintained in all the Temples in your jurisdiction as well as your own. We are now attracting the attention of the public in general and very influential persons as well. So our program if it is kept pure according to my many instructions, will give you the deserved reputation of being the topmost members of the society. That is very much wanted so that we may hope to change the society as a whole.

Keep the Montreal and Vancouver Centers carefully in cooperation and in general see that things are going well with the help of your Godbrothers and other Governing Body Commissioners.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 26 November, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10th November, 1970 and I've noted the contents carefully. I've received a GBC report of the Pittsburgh meeting and it is very nice. Please go on working cooperatively in this way and always keep in touch with the other GBC members. Such communication will give you spiritual strength to make the right decisions for pushing this Sankirtana movement.

So far as Canadian expansion is concerned, your suggestion to open centers in Ottawa, Hamilton, Quebec and Winipeg is very nice, so do it practically and Krishna will be pleased by your sincere efforts. Performing Kirtana and conducting classes at universities along with distribution in the libraries and the colleges of our literature is a very important program, so do it enthusiastically. There are innumerable departments of knowledge being presented in the universities, but there is no department of knowledge for understanding the science of God, Krishna and therefore we want to introduce such a department of knowledge.

Yes, Krishna Consciousness is simple. Chant, dance, take prasadam and always try to think of Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated by Krishna that whatever you do, eat, give away in charity or sacrifice should be done as an offering to Him, and by this principle of work, surely you will come to Him. So everyone has to eat and work. Simply we should do so on Krishna's account and that will make our life perfect.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 28 November, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17th November, 1970 and I am so much enthused to understand how nicely you are distributing our books. Actually these two books, KRSNA book and Nectar of Devotion, are revolutionary to your country. Not only your country, but all over the world. Nobody has any clear idea of God. In hopelessness they declare that God is dead. So these books will supply clear idea of God, not only that but anyone who will read this KRSNA book in two parts, Nectar of Devotion, and if possible Teachings of Lord Caitanya, I'm sure he cannot go away from becoming a devotee of Krishna. So try to push our books, especially Bhagavad-gita As It Is, TLC, KRSNA, NOD, backed by a regular supply of our magazines and regular performance of sankirtana. Then I'm sure Krishna Consciousness Movement will go forward without any hindrance. You have a strong governing body, all determined to push forward this movement and I'm sure of success in the future.

As you are a member of the governing body, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that 10,000 KRSNA books and 5,000 NODs were recently published. So the price of these books alone come to the point of about $100,000. If 50% even were collected, then it would have been $50,000. The present arrangement is that all book collection goes to Dai Nippon firm in Japan but so far money transferred there is only $21,000. That is 1/4 of the gross value. I think $50,000. at least should have been deposited there by this time. If I'm not wrong in my calculation, you can talk this matter amongst yourselves, especially Karandhara, and do the needful. I'm sure KRSNA will be accepted all over the world. In India also we are getting good response. Practically men are becoming life members just by seeing this book. We have no other asset at the present moment.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 1 December, 1970:

You know better than me how to introduce these books into the schools. Also recently I have received one report from Jagadisa and he is distributing our books nicely.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Surat 29 December, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 26th, 1970. In the meantime I have received one other letter from you and I have replied the same just the other day.

I am very glad to learn that you have begun worship of Tulasi in your Toronto Temple. The presence of Tulasi is proof of true devotional atmosphere there. Please offer Her all respects and carefully tend and Srimati Tulasi will be pleased upon you in gaining the auspicious favor of the Lord.

I am so pleased to know that your efforts at placing our books in the local libraries is successful and it is especially heartening to learn that they already have got our books on their shelves. That is factual proof that these purely transcendental literatures are very attractive to the reading class of the public. It is also good news that your recent marriage celebration in Krsna Consciousness was filmed for display by a large television station. People will very soon come to appreciate the Krsna Conscious way of life as distinct from the dull repetition of materialistic activities. I have noted the news article sent by you and it appears very nice. I beg to thank your good wife for the gorgeous handkerchief which she has so thoughtfully offered to my Radha Krsna Deities. I am also glad that you are regularly sending the maintenance checks for your Temple to Karandhara. Thank you very much for this.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Jagadisa -- Allahabad 16 January, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letters dated 10th, 20th, 25th and 29th December, 1970, and have noted the contents carefully. Also I have received the conchshell necklace made by Laksmimoni. It is very nice. Please thank her.

It is always so much encouraging to me to hear how nicely you are distributing our books, especially to the schools and universities. Please continue in this way and let your fine example be incentive for all the other centers to follow.

I have received the pictures enclosed by you of the very nice altar in your old temple at Beverly St. It attracts; that is its qualification. So make your new altar at Gerrard St. just as attractive.

So far as the devotees at our Montreal center working at regular jobs during the winter months, that is not very good, but if there is no other way what can be done? If they can pull on without work, then they can chant Hare Krishna day and night inside. For a Vaisnava to work for a karmi is not very good. The report from both Hamilton and Vancouver centers is very encouraging. Now that Hamilton has established their temple, they should begin distributing our books and try to match the quota set by Vancouver. So encourage them in this way.

Brahminical initiations can be given when you feel that the devotees are qualified. First you can inform me and then proceed by the method of tape recording. So far as taking disciples, their beads can be sent here and I will duly initiate them. From the picture you sent, they are looking very much qualified.

That there is a scarcity of money certainly means mismanagement. I have seen it myself that sometimes they sell books and do not send back the money. Why is that? This situation must be rectified. An accurate account of all dealings must be kept by those involved. How else things will be managed?

So far as initiations are concerned, you can send their beads here and I shall duly initiate those who have been recommended by you. If you want that we should send tulasi beads from here then you can send $5.00 per set to cover cost and shipping and I shall send after having chanted on them.

Letter to John H. Morgan -- Allahabad 16 January, 1971:

I have received Sriman Jagadisa's recommendation for your initiation and I am glad to accept you as my disciple.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Allahabad 30 January, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 13rd January, 1971 and also the telegram sent by you indicating that Drew Pederson should not be initiated. None of the devotees recommended by you have been initiated as yet. I am still waiting for either their own beads to be sent or preferably $5.00 to cover the cost of tulasi beads gotten from here, as well as shipping costs. In either case some presentation should also accompany the same. As soon as a disciple takes initiation, he immediately is supposed to beg alms and make a presentation to the Spiritual Master. In that light, all devotees who are taking initiation must make a presentation to the Spiritual Master. That is the system.

I am so glad to hear how nicely the Canadian temples under your expert guidance as GBC member are expanding so nicely. From Montreal I've received French BTG no. 9 from Gopala Krishna. The quality of the magazine has greatly improved. From Hamilton I've received one letter from Dharmaraj. The progress he is making there is most encouraging with four new devotees already. Also his good wife Gunamayi has sent some very expertly done portraits of My Guru Maharaja and Myself. She is very talented girl and should continue her painting work very seriously. That Vancouver has last reported 13 new devotees there is most encouraging. Mahatma das is very sincere boy; how else Krishna has sent him 13 new devotees there?

So far as Toronto is concerned, the engagement described by you sounds very nice and if you can arrange it, I shall certainly come. I shall be returning to the U.S.A. by the end of March. So you let me know if it is possible.

If any of the temples are in need of karatalas or khol mrdanga, you can contact Jayapataka Swami at the following address: 11 B Jatindra Mohan Ave; Calcutta-6, India.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Gorakhpur 15 February, 1971:

I was very glad to receive your letter dated 31st January, 1971. As you have recommended, I have duly initiated the four new devotees and their names are as follows: John—Yugalakisora, Carol—Kritimati Devi Dasi, Suzanne—Sujan Devi Dasi and Marlene—Mayavati. I have replied their letters separately and they are sent along with their beads. You should receive them soon.

It is very encouraging that we are being so favorably presented everywhere by the media. Just today two editors of Indian newspapers have informed me of their intention to print special issues devoted to our Movement as well as give daily one article on our philosophy. The article from the Toronto newspaper was very good report and our Sriman Rasananda has presented the facts very well. Please give him my thanks for this appropriate presentation. He is a very good boy. All our students, boys and girls become first class good by this nice process.

Please keep me informed regularly how things are progressing with your center and your zone. I am always very glad to hear from you how you are doing in Krsna's service.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 9 April, 1971:

Jagadisa was also divorcing himself from temple management but found the devotees enthusiasm slackened and so he has returned to the temple schedule. The temples must be maintained.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 11 April, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 12th February, 5th and 25th March, 1971, respectively and have noted the contents carefully. So far as the "rehabilitation center" is concerned, such work can be taken up, but to have any separate institution apart from the temple is not possible. I have written Rupanuga in this regard as follows:

"Youth work can be taken up, but our process must be followed strictly. Anyone may come but our process must remain the same. The men are expected to shave their heads and wear robes; they must attend classes, read our books, chant 16 rounds, attend arati, go for street Sankirtana, take prasadam only, etc. To have any institution apart from the temple, that we cannot do. Everything must be in the scope of our activities, then this 'youth problem' can be solved. Our process is proven as the only effective means. If the government or any other organization gives us a place, then we can train up such youth in our own way and surely they will come out sane. That place given will be a temple. So the process remains the same, except on a larger scale. Not that there is a separate division of ISKCON to handle youth problem, but that we have a bigger temple to accommodate them, is all. And then the people will see practically how we are doing the highest welfare work."

Your report of temple activities in your zone is very much encouraging. In all those centers you should especially emphasize the book distribution program in schools, colleges, libraries, etc. That is most important program, so tax your brain how to increase it more and more and Krishna will surely help you. You write to say that the life membership program is going slowly there but that you are making many common members. That is all right. If no other members are available, then increase the number of common members. Any kind of member, as many as possible.

You write to say how enthusiasm dropped because you were divorcing yourself from temple activities for GBC work. I never said like that. The presidents should not give up their posts, but GBC work must go on and temple activities be maintained simultaneously. So now you have experienced practically that your responsibility for temple upkeep must not be set aside for GBC business. The devotees enthusiasm must be maintained. As I reply everyone's letter and encourage them, so you should encourage the devotees more and more also. Maintain that spirit and give them direction so that this standard may not be deteriorated.

I am glad to hear that you are corresponding with Peetabarana Das Adhikari. I never met him but I understand that he is a good painter. So encourage him. My full blessings are there for the marriage of Yugalkishore and Kirtimati Devi (John Morgan and Carol Stibbard), as well as for Meenakatan and Devi Dasi from Miami. Yes, Mayavati Devi may receive Gayatri initiation. I am enclosing herewith Gayatri mantra sheet. You recite it and let her hear, and hold a fire ceremony as well.

Letter to Jaya Jagadisa -- Bombay 24 April, 1971:

I was glad to see your letter addressed to Sriman Gurudasa and Srimati Yamuna devi regarding your recommendation for initiation by Mukunda Prabhu. I have decided to accept you immediately as my initiated disciple as you have requested and I have enclosed your set of beads herewith as well.

I have duly chanted your beads and given you the spiritual name Jaya Jagadisa Das Brahmacari. I am very pleased by your humble attitude, so if you will kindly continue to execute your devotional practices in such state of mind then you are sure to achieve perfection of Krsna consciousness very quickly as it is stated by Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His third verse of Siksastakam, "In such humble state of mind one can chant the Holy Names of the Lord all day long."

Please regularly chant the Hare Krsna Mahamantra sixteen rounds daily and follow the regulative principles faithfully. By observing the four restrictions and avoiding the ten offenses to the Holy Name (i.e. blaspheming the Lord's devotee, considering the Lord and the demigods as being on the same level, neglecting the orders of the Spiritual Master, minimizing the authority of the sastras, interpreting the Holy Name of God, committing sins on the strength of chanting, instructing the glories of the Lord to the unfaithful, equating the chanting of the Holy Names with material piety, inattention while chanting of the Holy Name and maintaining attachment to material things while engaged in chanting the Holy Names) you will become qualified to receive the mercy of the Lord and thus advance yourself in His transcendental loving service, which is the perfect stage of transcendental life of bhaktirasa life. When one is factually experiencing existence of pure spiritual service to Krsna, he enjoys fullness of eternal life full of bliss and knowledge. So one should always strive for this end and thus be released from the grips of material happiness and miseries which characterize the conditional, mundane life within the temporary cosmic manifestations.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 25 April, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16th April, 1971 and have noted the contents. I have seen the copy of the newsletter drawn up to send to influential people, etc. there in Canada and it is very nice. So you can send such newsletters to all our life members in India also. I have already instructed Bhagavan das in this connection and sent him a complete list of names and addresses. So you can take instructions from him and do the needful.

Yes, please offer my blessings to your good wife Laksmimoni and son Nimala Candra. Please make them ideal Krishna Conscious family members. That will be a great example for our society.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971:

I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated 3d July, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am so glad to hear that things are going on nicely in Toronto and that there are so many devotees there and that many of them are qualified for initiation. When I go to N.Y. which should be by the middle of this month, I shall try to visit Toronto also. I shall let you know of this later on when my program becomes fixed up. In the mean time try and take care of all those devotees. You are one of the important members in our society and you have got a good talent to serve Krishna also. So utilize your talents and try and increase the number of devotees as far as possible.

If you find some time, you can come and see me in L.A. and we shall talk of our future programs. I will be here positively up until the 15th July.

Letter to Krpasindhu (Rick Holtzman) -- Brooklyn 20 July, 1971:

Your beads have been duly chanted by me and are being returned personally by Jagadisa Prabhu, who is here now in N.Y.

Letter to Krpasindhu (Rick Holtzman) -- Brooklyn 20 July, 1971:

So my request to you is that you work very enthusiastically and in cooperation with Jagadisa Prabhu and make our Toronto center a grand success.

Letter to Jagadisa -- London 20 August, 1971:

You happen to be a member of the GBC. So whatever you want to do or whatever ideas you want to introduce in the management of our society, please write in a letter and distribute the copies to all the GBC members along with one copy to me also. Then collect the opinions of each and every GBC member and if the majority supports the idea then it should be taken as a fact for being carried out in our society. The majority vote and my opinion should be taken. When the majority opinion is present, my opinion will be yes or no. In most cases it will be yes unless it is grievously against our principles.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. I have just now received your letter dated 17th August and have noted the contents. I am so glad to hear how nicely things are going on there and that new temples are being proposed also. Very good. Do it enthusiastically and with determination and Krishna will give you all facility.

Soon I may be returning to N.Y. but it hasn't been fixed up yet. If I do, then certainly I will visit Toronto.

Letter to Jagadisa -- London 2 September, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th August, 1971 and I thank you very much for the same. It is very much encouraging to hear that you have opened one center in Ottawa and soon will start another in London, Ontario. You have got complete capacity to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement. That is a fact. So work enthusiastically and with patience and your attempt will be successful by the grace of Krishna. And continue this door to door program. It is very nice. Lord Nityananda used to do that; Haridasa Thakura used to do that; all of Lord Caitanya's close associates used to do that. So we must follow in their footprints.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Delhi 14 November, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge your letter, no date, and have noted the contents carefully.

This college program and school work you are doing is very encouraging to hear. In these schools try to get as many classes as possible. This traveling Sankirtana is very good; to go from village to village as Lord Caitanya has predicted.

Yes, if you think Suzanne Boase is a suitable partner for Hiranyagarbha, then they have my blessings.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 17 December, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge your letter of November 28, 1971, and I am pleased to see that things are going on nicely in Canada under your supervision. I am especially glad that you are having so many festivals in the colleges and schools. Do you sell many books there? That is the success of your festival—if people buy many books. At our Delhi Festival we sold more than 12,000 BTG's.

I am encouraged to see your report of books sold, because it proves that you consider it your responsibility to see that more and more people are reading our literature. Actually, this is the solid basis for our preaching work—no other movement has got such profuse authority for preaching, and if someone reads our Krishna philosophy he becomes convinced. So try to increase the effect of preaching by distributing many books and magazines, and this is the basis of your all success.

Our travelling Sankirtana parties are having good success all over the world. I think you initiated this travelling Sankirtana in Canada, so now you go on introducing it in other places and perform that program very nicely. I am very very pleased to see our Sankirtana travelling parties are having good results.

Letter to Laksmimoni -- Bombay 28 December, 1971:

I am very pleased to hear from you that everything is progressing nicely in Canada zone under the supervision of your good husband, Jagadisa.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 5 January, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 20th, 1971.

The reports of your activities are most encouraging. From all over the Society, I am getting similar reports. People are very eager for Krishna consciousness. Especially the youth of the world are taking very serious interest, because they are not at all satisfied with the standards of happiness their parents have accepted. Neither their teachers, parents, nor anyone can offer them the solution to what this human form of life is meant for. So we have got a great responsibility to distribute this knowledge of Bhagavata Dharma to the whole world. If we remain very sincere and pure in following the line laid down by the previous great acaryas, this Krishna Consciousness Movement will undoubtedly be accepted throughout the world as the only religion. This has already been foretold in one newspaper here by a Japanese philosopher who has predicted that our Krishna Consciousness Movement will become the world religion by 1981.

You should always think of new outlets for distributing my books. The book distribution totals you have shown for Toronto Temple are very encouraging, so continue to improve and increase on the distribution.

Krishna Consciousness has got scope to be preached everywhere. Just now two boys are leaving to go to Red China and three other students are leaving for New Zealand to open a center there. Brahmananda is doing very well in Africa and most likely Rsi Kumar will join him and be deputed to open a center in South Africa. So we have got a great mission, we should be very vigilant that the strong foundation remain solid. Encourage all the boys and girls to adhere to the regulative principles and chant daily at least sixteen rounds. And as much as possible all of my students should become very well versed in all the philosophy presented in our books.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 5 February, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your report of January 28, 1972, and I am very pleased to hear that you are putting your full energy into distributing books and magazines very widely all over Canada. It is not so much the numbers of books sold, it is the sincerity which Krishna appreciates, and I am encouraged by your determined enthusiasm to increase in every respect. The travelling SKP and teaching in the schools and colleges which you are organizing is excellent proposal, and I think that this is the best program for pushing on this Lord Caitanya's Movement: simply travelling and preaching, and infiltrating the schools where young boys and girls are interested to learn something which will satisfy them. In both activities you may distribute many of our literatures, and that will please me very much.

Our so-called religion is unique in the world, simply because we stand solidly on philosophy, and because we are strong in that way, no one can refute or defeat us, so we are wiping out sentimental religion wherever we penetrate and it appears the people everywhere are accepting us more and more. I am glad that it is your opinion that KC will be the National Religion in ten years. I have heard from some devotees in Vancouver that new branches are opening in other cities of Canada. That is very, very nice.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Sydney 27 March, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated February 15, 1972 and March 11, 1972 and I have noted the contents. I am so glad to hear how you are expanding the book distribution program so rapidly. The more this literature is read and distributed, the more the world will be filled with auspicity. Please continue this program with ever-increasing enthusiasm and this will please my Guru Maharaja very much.

If we simply repeat this philosophy exactly as it is, without any misrepresentation or adulteration, then this movement will never be checked, and we will conquer the world. So please train up all these boys and girls in the philosophy and brahminical culture and they will become useful tools in the hands of Lord Krishna for saving all the fallen souls in this age.

So far putting the deities to sleep, there are some mantras, but whether in Sanskrit or English, the purport is the same. So, just like you are dealing with your beloved master, you can meditate—"Dear Sir, it is time for you to come and take you rest now. Please come." Then you should chant Gayatri mantra. They may be awakened in the afternoon with the same method that is used in the morning.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Tokyo 2 May, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated April 17, and 12, 1972, and I have noted the contents. Let us forget past incidents and let us look forward to rectify our defects. So far you are concerned, I am very much convinced of your sincere service. Go on with your work, and other instructions will follow. Simply become more concerned with increasing the spiritual content of our lives, and in this way all other problems like management will be easily solved, not that they can be solved by making some legal formula and having big big meetings and talks. The politicians have been holding such meetings and talks for some time now and the world is no better place for it, and they have only made things worse. We should not follow their example. The world is in a very precarious condition simply for lack of God-consciousness, so this should be our point of stressing, that we should revive this emphasis on God-consciousness everywhere in the world and that will be our contribution.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Honolulu 14 May, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 8, 1972, and I have noted the contents. I am very much encouraged by your increase in literature distribution for Canada zone, and I can understand that you are very methodical and careful to keep proper accounts. That is very good qualification for manager. Now one thing, as you know we are thinking to re-distribute our GBC secretaries around the world, so I am wondering, if you shall be willing to go to some other part of the world for managing things there? Another question, whether or not you are speaking French language nicely? Kindly inform me at Los Angeles Temple, where I am going on May 18th from Honolulu.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 19 May, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 14, 1972 and I have noted the contents. Now I am in Los Angles and everything is going very nicely here. I think that you may also come here and see me. Rupanuga, Satsvarupa, and Bali Mardan are coming here also, at least before the 27th of this month because I am giving them the sannyasa order of life on that date along with Karandhara?. However, there is certainly no urgency for taking sannyasa. But if my senior disciples wish to take sannyasa then I shall give it. But there is no urgency. Still, you may come as there are many things which we may discuss concerning GBC and other activities. Now I want to retire, and you all appointed GBC men must do the work that I am doing. Therefore, I have recommended this traveling extensively for the GBC men, just as I am doing it. If I did not travel there would be no nice organization. Traveling and preaching, that is the Sankirtana movement. But now I am old man; let me retire for writing books in my last years.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Paris 22 July, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 15, 1972, and I have noted the contents. I am very much pleased to hear that everything is going on nicely in Canada, especially that your travelling party is having good success. Yes, that is the right idea, to strengthen whatever devotees we have got in spiritual life, fix them beyond any doubts. Then our potency will increase and we may recruit dozens of new devotees easily. Main thing is to make sure everyone is chanting minimum sixteen rounds daily of Hare Krishna Mantra. Otherwise they will not be able to perform the other practices of brahminical life, such as early rising, cleanliness, etc.

Letter to Jagadisa -- London 11 August, 1972:

I have received your letter dated August 7th, 1972, and noted the contents thereof. I shall be returning to Los Angeles in a few days from London, and I shall probably go to New Vrndavana for Janmastami as planned. I do not know if I will be able to come to Toronto after that, as I have been traveling all over the world over the past few months and it is a bit straining. Now I am thinking to sit down for a while in Los Angeles for translating work, but if I get opportunity I shall certainly come there as you have invited me.

I am very glad to hear that the program in Canada is being managed by you very nicely and that everything is expanding in Krsna consciousness spirit.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 29 September, 1972:

Thank you very much for your letter dated September 22, 1972, and I very much enjoyed that slide of seeing the new deities in Toronto temple. It appears that they are being very well cared for, that I have entrusted you for, thank you very much. As long as Radha and Krsna are pleased by your serving them, you will notice that everything will operate very smoothly in your activities and Krsna is giving you all facility as much as He is pleased.

I am especially interested in your college program for the students, because they are intelligent and inquisitive to understand the higher things of knowledge, so try to approach them nicely and lead them gradually into Krsna Consciousness or the topmost knowledge. I am surprised to hear that the universities are freely allowing us to reside on campus and propagate Krsna Consciousness, this is a very good sign. I am going in a few days to San Francisco to speak at the San Francisco State University there on the topic of "Krsna Consciousness: The Best Alternative Life Style, the Ideal Community, the New Social Order." The professors and students at the University intend to "examine particular new movements in depth. The basic issue underlying the study of these movements is whether they comprise the beginning of a trans-national world culture, and what long range social and political effects might result from them." So we shall reply in this manner and illustrate that the Krsna Consciousness movement is the best solution for solving all these problems and that it is the best trans-cosmic culture for making everyone happy.

On your recommendation I am glad to accept these three students as my initiated disciples. Their beads are being sent under separate post, duly chanted by me, and their letter is enclosed herewith. Now you may hold a fire yajna and initiate them and give second initiation to Krpasindhu, Soulacarya, and Kaumadaki. Teach them to chant on the finger divisions and play for them the copy of the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra in the right ear.

Hoping this meets you in the best of health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

N.B. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your check for $100.00 with thanks

Letter to My dear daughters, -- Los Angeles September 29, 1972:

Upon the recommendation of Jagadisha I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples.

Letter to Saucarya -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1972:

So if you have got some special talent or experience you may discuss with Jagadisa how to engage yourself in that way. That is his duty as leader, to give you good engagement.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Hyderabad 18 November, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter from Vancouver dated November 2, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. Your question about travelling SKP parties in other zones I have answered several times before, so you may see the letters to Dhananjaya in London and others. The thing is, our main business is to distribute books, either here or there it doesn't matter. So if there is transcendental competition for increasing sale of books, that is good. If he buys one book his life may be turned, that is best preaching work. But everything must be done in the spirit of cooperation, without any irritation. If one party wants to travel into another zone, that's all right, but there must be prior agreement between the GBC men and mutual consent. If by going there the book sales will be increased, what is the harm? But supposing if there is any harm, that is to be judged by the local president, and if he has good reason to think that another party will be unfavorable to his temple's operations, then he may order them to leave, that's all. So local temple officers should be the final judge to allow or disallow anyone from outside to sell books there. And if some outside party comes, they must sell books only, no collecting without selling books. They must live in the local temple and not separately, and they must follow faithfully the instructions and directions of the local president. They can purchase books from the temple at regular wholesale price and sell, and whatever profit there is above wholesale price they must give at least 50% to the local temple out of good will. That will be nice. So we shall not think that this is my zone, that is his zone, just like the Indian and Pakistan nation are thinking, and then there is war, no. Lord Caitanya has given us the task to spread His message all over the world, and any process which may be useful for facilitating this business, that we shall gladly adopt, never mind his zone or my zone, that is material designation. But we shall always do everything in cooperative spirit and avoid any fighting amongst us, that is Vaisnava attitude because Lord Caitanya has advised us to always offer all respects to others, especially to the devotees of the Lord.

You may name your child Jugala Priti dasi, I have no objection.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 14 and 27, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am especially happy to hear from you about the huge distribution of books in the Canada Zone. That is the most auspicious sign. You are making good progress, that I can understand. As soon as I see that there is such increased book distribution figures, I take that to mean that all other programs are successful as well. I am especially encouraged to note that you have sold 268 of our Bhagavad-gita As It Is in only three weeks' time. That is very very satisfying to me.

Regarding your other points, if there is need for stronger president in Montreal, I have no objection if Sripati leaves that place. Main thing is to have always one strong leader at each temple who can maintain the preaching standard to the highest degree. In this way, if our standard program is maintained just to the standard, automatically there will be enthusiasm and increase of preaching results. But Syamasundara has informed me that Sriman Sripati das is English citizen, so if he will like to return for assisting in his home country? They are mostly young boys in London, and they are opening so many new centers in other places of England, Scotland and Ireland, so if he is not required there, or if he likes, he may go there to help train up the young English boys. That is very much required. That seems better service for him than becoming cook only. At least in England he has got opportunity for active preaching and he may utilize his experience to manage things in some capacity.

I am so much pleased to hear that your Toronto center has become too much crowded. That is a very good sign. Yes, if Krsna Consciousness is there, Krsna means that He is eternally increasing, so I can understand that Radha Gopinatha have very much appreciated their new home at Toronto. Your temple is at present too small for so many devotees, so if there are extra men they can be sent out for opening new centers and for travelling sankirtana parties. New men can be trained up in your Toronto center. When Krsna sees that you are very serious and sincere to serve Him only, you need not have to worry to get a new place, He will help you in that way.

Upon your recommendation, I am very happy to accept the two devotees for second initiation. Now you may hold a fire yajna and give Gayatri mantra to Adyodyapati and Madhuhara. Teach them to chant on the finger divisions and play for them the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra into the right ear. The fire yajna should be held in the company of devotees only, so long it is restricted to Gayatri mantra initiation only. Two sacred threads, duly chanted by me, along with two copies of Gayatri mantra, are enclosed herewith.

So far the concert of Indian musicians and dancers for raising funds for the new temple, yes you may do that, I have no objection. But the concert should be their own concert, not that we are holding our program and they are appearing on the same program, either as our guests or as our co-performers. No, we shall not appear to the public like performers, we are not performers or musicians or dancers. But if the concert is held as a benefit concert, just like in Bombay we have held one benefit concert, of the Zaveri Sisters, Manipuri Dancing Group and nearly Rs. 100,000 was raised for our Juhu scheme. That will be the proper arrangement. So if you hold the concert in the auditorium and advertise these singers and dancers, that it will be their program, and also that it will be a "Hare Krsna Benefit Show" or something like that, that will be best. Of course, we may also appear and perform kirtana at the opening of the concert, and we will sell our books there, and if there is some opportunity to give also short lecture, that will be nice. But if you do all these other performances of aratrika, a drama, like that, perhaps it will appear like it is our program and not the program of the musicians. If there is confusion, if the public is thinking that we are something show or commercial performers, that will not be proper idea. But if the musicians and dancers want to give one concert and donate the proceeds to us, we shall gladly thank them.

Yes, that is correct, the deities should never be bathed with water or something like that. Always bathe them with the mantra process. Of course the big deities should be bathed daily! Should not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, if He is recommending to us as brahmanas to bathe so many times, should he not also take bath? There is no objection either to applying the jewels to Their bodies with beeswax or to swinging them in the public functions in the temple on Sunday, so long there is very nice jhulan or swing being profusely decorated. Radha and Krsna may be swung in this way, but you may avoid swinging Lord Jagannatha like that. Yes, that will be very nice if your men go to South America for opening some new centers. They may write to me in that connection.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Calcutta 10 March, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 1, 1973 and I have carefully examined the contents.

Actually, Hayagriva was not doing any managing or editing of BTG except for his own articles. More importantly he was engaged in working on our books, producing those smaller paperback booklets, etc. Such a talent is not so easily replaced, so we must try to bring him back to the standard for his own benefit. In this connection, I have written his wife, Kirtanananda Maharaja, and the GBC to see what they can do for him.

Now I think that you can join me as the next GBC secretary for travelling with me by my side. If I go to New York in the first week of April you can meet me there, or if I go to South Africa you can meet me first here in India. What do you think? If there is some difficulty kindly let me know immediately.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 21 April, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 18, 1973. I was glad to receive the book distribution results from Toronto and especially the Vancouver Travelling Party. That they sold 100 Bhagavatams in two days is very nice. I think the Bhagavatam is now selling as well as the Gita.. So this is very encouraging to me.

Regarding initiations, I am pleased to accept the following boys and girls as my initiated disciples: Girijadhava Das (Gabor); Taraknath Das (Ted); Dustadura Das (Don); Kasiram Das (Joseph); and Jagatikanda Dasi (Janet); Atigarvita Dasi (Anne). I am also enclosing 12 Gayatri Mantras and 7 sacred threads duly chanted upon by me for the brahminical initiations.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs

N.B. The beads may be sent to Satsvarupa Das Swami at Gurukula for being chanted upon, together with a copy of this letter.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Mayapur 12 June, 1973:

I would very much like to come there for Rathayatra, but now I am not in very good health, and it is the opinion of Tamal Krsna Maharaja, Bhavananda Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja and Jagadisa that it is best for me if I stay here for now so that I may get my health back.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 23 July, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 17, 1973 and I have considered the contents carefully.

There is no objection to going in western clothes in order to distribute my books. It is not necessary that we always wear the robes, but we should always keep sikha and teelock. However, a wig or hat may be worn as you describe. We have to take whatever is the favorable position for executing Krsna consciousness. Do not forget our principles, but sometimes we may adapt such means in order to help distribute books. Somehow or other distribute books and if you can impress people a little to chant then it does not matter about your dress.

Regarding your contemplating opening new centers, I have felt the pulse of your country and that is, that wherever we open a small branch it will develop. So now you have to train our men so that the possibility for such opening centers will be good. As soon as you have the qualified men then you can open a small branch. But the travelling part is most important, even more so than the new centers. The travelling sankirtana party must go on.

You are setting a very good example in that you yourself are going with the travelling party. The Vedic concept of the commander is that he must be in front in the fight, not that he sit back behind the lines.

I think Ottawa is an important place in Canada, so when Krsna sends you more men, you can open and execute our simple activities of chanting, dancing and taking prasadam.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 15 August, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 1, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully.

The book fund debts should always be cleared very quickly, otherwise how books will come out, so always pay regularly as you collect.

To install Deities in a moving vehicle is not very good. There is always danger of falling and breaking. Sudama already has experience of this. Why is Deity worship being introduced? It should not be introduced because it is very difficult to maintain the standard under such circumstances. If you have picture of Guru Gauranga that is sufficient. You are wondering if you did the right thing by giving the Deities to Sudama, so the answer is no. The deities may be brought back and worshiped in the temple as before. The idea of traveling Sankirtana is to distribute books not to do Deity worship, it is very difficult to maintain the standard of Deity worship in the temple, how will it be maintained in a truck?

Another thing is that opening temples should not be encouraged at this time. Subala did the same thing in Santa fee years ago, why again he is doing the same thing? Hamsaduta in Germany instead of increasing the temples and Deity worship he has increased the Sankirtana parties. He is running on 8 New buses and distributing large quantities of literature, this is more important. Neglectful Deity worship means offense. So make propaganda in this way, but in the bus there should not be Deity worship, simply the picture of Guru Gauranga.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 31 August, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 24, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the Regina temple, if it is already opened then maintain it, otherwise we should not open more centers at this time, especially in the smaller cities, it is better to go there with traveling Sankirtana parties, that was my point. And the deities in a moving vehicles is all right, providing they are cared for properly, so do the needful. Everything has to be done expertly that is my point.

Otherwise your report is encouraging to me, I always look forward to hearing from you.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 27 September, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report and thank you very much for it. Now regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept the following as initiated disciples: Bhadrapriya Dasi (Cheryl Cook), Bhaktimarg das (John Vij), Bhartrihari Das (Andre Marcotte), Sukra Das (Stuart Kess,) Sivarama (Peter Letai), Priyabhakta das (Denis Bernier,) Priyabandu Das (Michael Bernier,) and Praghosa Das (Gaetan Pollerin); and Srikari Dasi (Jade Zafran,) Sadhvi Dasi (Lucy Toillan), and Mohini Dasi (Pat O'Reagan.)

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 18 October, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1973 of the GBC report for Canadian Zone and I thank you very much for it. I am glad that the book distribution is going on there consistently.

Regarding the management of the Ottawa and Regina centers try to train them. We have to train sometimes. Whenever there is something extraordinarily wrong, you can remain there for sometime. You should rectify, but not reject. Members are coming to join us to be rectified, not to be rejected. So, try to rectify the incorrigible, and if not possible, then change. What can we do?

It is nice that Subaladas Maharaja is travelling. As sannyasi, he should travel. The more a sannyasi travels and preaches, the more he becomes experienced and unattached.

Regarding your recommendation, I am accepting the following devotee as my initiated disciple.

Bhaktavasya Dasi—Geraldine Luczyk.

Yes, I authorize that you may chant on the beads of the newly initiated disciples.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 3 December, 1973:

I am in receipt of your letter dated November 29, 1973.

Thank you for the report of the progress of Temples in your Canadian Zone. Now that we have opened some Centers, they must be maintained and our work go on. Book and prasadam distribution, Sankirtana and Deity worship is our only business so these programs must remain energetic. Your number one duty is to see that they are continuously carried on with enthusiasm. One thing is that we shall not open any more Centers for the time being. We have so many programs which require manpower and resources so we now must consolidate our energy.

I hereby accept the following devotees as my initiated disciples and their names are enclosed:

Sylvan Lushley—Niskincana das

Jocelyn Prabhu—Ghosh Thakura das

Linda Ross—Malini dasi

Linda Epstein—Rudrani dasi

Moria Jones—Pratima dasi

Mary Everall—Misrani dasi

Enclosed also find three sacred threads and six mantra sheets for the second initiates. Hold a yajna and afterwards they may hear the Gayatri mantra through the tape in the right ear. All the initiates should collect daksina and send it to Los Angeles c/o Karandhara.

I will consider coming to Toronto later on. For now, carry on as my representative there and be strong and always faithful in Guru and Krsna.

Page Title:	Training of Jagadisa dasa (Letters, 1968 - 1973)
Compiler:	Alakananda
Created:	25 of May, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=70
No. of Quotes:	70