Your duty (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"your duty" |"your duties"

1966 Correspondence

Letter to Janis -- New York 10 December, 1966: I am so glad to hear that you are now married. I pray Krishna that you may live henceforward happily as a householder, without thinking of a separation from your wife. According to Vedic wisdom, a good wife is a great assistant for material and spiritual prosperity. Even if there is some deficiency, you should try to correct it without thinking in the Westernized way. I hope your wife may be taking interest in your chanting Sankirtana and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam. As she has become your life's companion, it is your duty to induce her, peacefully, in the matter of spiritual advancement of life.

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 5 May, 1967: I think some of you like yourself, Satsvarupa, Brahmananda and Mukunda and Gargamuni, Acyutananda and all of you had already cultivated this Krishna Consciousness in your past lives, now Lord Caitanya wants that this movement should be spread in the western countries, so most probably in your previous births you were all Indians and cultivated this Krishna Consciousness. Now Lord Caitanya has placed you in the western part of the world so that you can now combine together and broadcast the holy message all over the world. Your detailed account of the receipt and expenditure is very nice, do your duty and Krishna will help you. I have got all approval of your activities and I am thanking you very much.

Letter to Jadurani -- Vrindaban 9 September, 1967:

My Dear Brahmananda,

Accept my blessings. I am always thinking of your separation feelings. Please do your duty nicely and Krishna will help you in all respects.

Letter to Jadurani -- Vrindaban 9 September, 1967: I think you may not attempt to open a center. Your duty is already fixed up. Better you remain peaceful under the protection of your god-brothers, and prosecute your transcendental avocation.

Letter to Himavati -- Delhi 23 September, 1967: My dear Himavati,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter. Please try to be steadfast in your time of pregnancy and Krishna will be pleased. Yours will be the first baby born into a KC family in America, so we must be very careful for him while he is in the womb. In SB the environment of a child in the womb is described by Narada Muni as a very awful place and after nine months when the child has developed its body and consciousness to some degree the entrapped soul begs to Lord Krishna to set me free and promises that in this life he will be a devotee. At that time the baby is allowed to be born but, unfortunately during the Kali yuga as soon as the child is come out of the womb he is in 90% of the cases he is not given any facility to further its KC. However in your case Krishna has shown this soul great mercy. The Bhagavat also says that no one should become the parent unless he can deliver the child from the clutches of death. So it is your duty to make this baby KC so that he may not have to take birth again. My advice for the present is that during your time of pregnancy you should eat very simple foods, hot or spicy foods are not to be taken and also sexual relations are forbidden. All blessings to Hamsaduta and yourself.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Jayagovinda -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1968: My Dear Jaya Govinda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated Feb. 5. Your attitude of humbleness is praiseworthy. A devotee should always remain humble and meek especially to the authorities and devotees. Lord Caitanya's philosophy is not to become God, but to become servant, servant, servant of God. The more one becomes the lower grade servant of the Lord, the more he is devoted nearer to the Lord. This is our philosophy. I have all my hearty blessings upon you, please do your duties nicely, and Krishna will be pleased to shower His Blessings upon you. He is very kind to sincere souls, and He gives intelligence from within to sincere devotees. We require only to become sincere in the service of the Lord, then everything is there ready for our convenience.

Letter to Karunamayi -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1968: Please continue to help Gargamuni in his efforts to spread Krishna Consciousness, and chant, and continue your duties, and in this way you will be happy and successful in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Michael O'Leary -- Los Angeles 3 March, 1968: My Dear Michael O'Leary, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 27, 1968, and I thank you very much for it. I am especially happy to hear your statement, "I have taken to the process of chanting Hare Krishna -- feeling the results immediately. This is very good. Please continue to chant, and execute your duties with thoughts and words of Krishna, and you will be happy always.

Letter to Subala -- Allston, Mass 5 May, 1968: My Dear Subala, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter of April 30, 1968, and noted the contents. So your duty as you are doing, even nobody is coming in morning, Lord Jagannatha will hear your kirtana, because we are always in company with the Lord of the Universe. But I think Krishna has sent you one nice boy to help you. Please try to convince him rightly about the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and read Srimad-Bhagavatam and other literatures, from Back to Godhead, and I think this boy will be helpful to your activities there.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Allston, Mass 1 June, 1968: My Dear Krsna dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your kind letter dated May 25, 1968, and I am very pleased that although you are the youngest of my disciples, amongst the boys, your sentiments are very highly developed. Please continue to feel Krishna in the same way, and chant regularly, without fail, you will improve more and more. By your gracious connection with your family, all the members of your family, namely, your sister, your two younger brothers, as well as your mother, are coming in contact with Krishna Consciousness. As you are the eldest son of your mother, it is your duty to guide them properly so that they can also become advanced in Krishna Consciousness. Certainly it is a fact that all of you are combined together in a family way by the Grace of Krishna. And by His Grace only you have come in contact with me.

Letter to Krsna Devi, Dinesh -- Montreal 13 June, 1968: Yes, the coloring book idea is nice, but for now there is greater need of your service to Krishna in helping out the Santa Fe Temple. You have requested me in your letter to please advise you about your devotional service, and I shall tell you frankly that the best thing for you to do now is to help the Santa Fe Temple financially. You were originally entrusted with the responsibility of that branch, as you helped start it, and so it is your duty now to help maintain it, even you are not present there. If it is closed down, it will be great shameful to you. So, at the present moment your former husband, Subala, is struggling alone there, and there is urgent need of financial aid to him. Therefore, I request you to do this service; you and your husband should earn money nicely, and send to Santa Fe at least $100.00 a month.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 6 November, 1968: My Dear Rayarama, Please accept my blessings. There is no need of replying Parvat Maharaja's letter. He did not reply my letter & why he would expect a reply from you. Do your duty nicely & go Back to Godhead.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 19 November, 1968: So we are neither butcher nor royal prince, some of us are Brahmacaris, and some of us are supposed to be saintly persons, so if the Brahmacaris die, he immediately goes to Vaikuntha, and if the saintly person dies, he is all the same -- he is engaged here in Krishna's work, and he will be engaged in Krishna's work there also. So don't bother about this earthquake business. Chant Hare Krishna peacefully and do your duty nicely. Of course, if there is such danger, I must take care like others. It is not good however unnecessarily risk my life, but I think the predictions given by so many astrologers are not very sound. I take your advice that as soon as there are series of minor tremors I must leave for your shelter.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 12 January, 1969: Another important scheme is to start a nice press next spring. So these duties are there in New Vrindaban, and we shall have to live there self independently, simply by raising cows, grains, fruits, and flowers. I have already explained these things to Hayagriva, and he is now married and a responsible grhastha. You are of course sannyasa. Your duties will be more to preach and supervise the activities there. But do everything jointly. Many grhasthas and brahmacaris will join you for full cooperation.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1969: My Dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I was very much anxious to receive your letter since I did not hear from you for a long period. But I always know that you are doing your duty nicely. Recently, Hayagriva came from Columbus, and he remained with me for more than a fortnight. He was assisting me in editing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Now he is married with Syama Dasi and has returned to New Vrindaban with his many responsibilities.

Letter to Janaki -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1969: Please do your duty combinedly without any disruption of peaceful attitudes amongst yourselves. We are pushing our movement on the background of a peaceful atmosphere in the world, and if we show a little disturbance in our own camp that will not be a very good example. Therefore, everyone should be forebearing, tolerant and cooperative. That is my special request to you all.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 30 January, 1969: There is no need to be attached to any particular land on account of some mayic relationship. All places belong to Krishna, and wherever we get the chance for serving Him, that land is our God-gifted land. Anyway, you may write to your draft board and explain to them that you are studying to be a minister of Krishna Consciousness but you are at present unable to leave Montreal. When your duties are not so much needed in Montreal you will come to the United States to resume your attempts. Write to them in this way, and let us see what is their response.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Hawaii 15 March, 1969: He has declared in the Gita, "My Dear Son of Kunti, just declare it to the whole world that my devotees will never be vanquished. Therefore your only business is how to become pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Then everything is all right. Please remember this truth always, and do your duty for strongly pushing on this Krishna Consciousness movement in Germany, in cooperation with Sivananda, Uttama Sloka, and Jaya Govinda, who I think might have already joined you.

Letter to Upendra -- Hawaii 24 March, 1969: So the Seattle branch is in your charge, so as head of the temple you should be so nicely dealing with your assistants. Never mind now whatever is done is done, but in the future you should be very careful and do your duty with full faith in Krishna. Surely Vilasavigraha will come back, so when he comes back you can send him to me wherever I may be.

Regarding your Draft Board questions: We are trying at the moment to get our society recognized by them as a bona fide religious institution, and if this is successful, rest assured that there will be no trouble for you. Karatieya has been classified in 4D ministerial status, because the officer who came to inquire about him was satisfied, but his instance is not generally recognized. We have to submit our bona fides and as soon as we get recognized then everyone of our boys will be saved.

In the meantime, you do your duty of management of Seattle branch faithfully, and I hope this will meet you in good health. And please let me know when Vilasavigraha returns; I shall be glad to hear.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- San Francisco 3 April, 1969: So you are all good souls, please do not be agitated in trivial things. Do your duty nicely, develop the center as nicely as possible. If you think that your personality has been minimized, you can tolerate it. That is very nice. Lord Caitanya has taught us to be more tolerant than the tree in the matter of chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. You can show this letter to Sriman Sivananda and Sriman Uttama Sloka, and my request to you all is not to be childish, but to be serious for propagating Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Sivananda -- Columbus, Ohio 8 May, 1969: Now Jaya Govinda is there, he is a very nice and competent boy, and soon the German couple are coming, so when you are all assembled and the Back To Godhead is coming regularly, then you can attempt another center. Practically it is your credit that you went to Germany and first began our movement there. So now it is your duty to help establish it more strongly. Most probably, if I go to London, I shall go to your place also. So then I shall decide if you can go to Chicago or any other place in the USA. In the USA we have so many centers, and now we want to open at least three or four centers in Germany and at least half a dozen centers in England.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Vrindaban 8 June, 1969: There is another proverb in Bengali that in the forest a jackal is considered to be a great nobility because he is very cunning. Similarly, in the materialistic way of life everyone is blind, and in spite of thousands of big blind leaders, the followers who are also blind cannot get any tangible benefit. So you have done your duty to give him some impression about Krishna Consciousness. That is all right. We should not waste much of our time with these so-called leaders because they are jackals in the forest. They are not actually leaders. The only leader is Krishna and one who is Krishna Conscious. Others are simply misleaders.

Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 21 June, 1969: My Dear Gopala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated June 7, and June 16, 1969, and I have noted the contents. I have also received your presents, shoes and soap, and I thank you very much. I am also glad to learn that the anxiety of your parents is now removed. So go on with your prescribed duty of Krishna Consciousness and be happy. You are a very intelligent boy and faithful to your parents and to your duty. Certainly Krishna will be very much pleased upon you.

Letter to Upendra -- Los Angeles 24 June, 1969: My Dear Upendra, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated June 23, 1969. I have reached Los Angeles yesterday afternoon, and I am very comfortable here. The house is very nice, calm and quiet. Yes, for the present my program is to stay here for one month, but if I do not go to London, then I shall stay longer. Surely I shall go to San Francisco to take part in the Rathayatra Festival if I do not go to London. But I also want to see you, if possible, before the Rathayatra Festival. So far as your duty is concerned, you are doing your best. That is your spiritual qualification. The best qualification for a Vaisnava is to act sincerely, and to his best capacity, for the service of Krishna. Otherwise, Krishna is so great, and we are so small, there is no question of our giving any service to Krishna.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 28 July, 1969: I have recently received news from New York that their last week Sankirtana collection was $1,000, and they have already sold out 3,000 copies of BTG in the past few weeks, so now they are ordering more copies from the West Coast. This is very, very encouraging, and I have asked my Guru Maharaja to just see how nicely these nice young boys and girls are taking to His Divine Mission. I have also received report that your BTG sales are not very encouraging. I am not very sorry for this at all because I know that you are now engaged for Rathayatra Festival and for fixing up the temple. But I hope that soon you will fulfill your quota of selling 5,000 copies in London. In the issues #25 and #26 you will find very, very nice articles. So execute your duties faithfully and sincerely. I am sure that you are doing this, but still it is my duty to remind you the same thing repeatedly as I am your Spiritual Master.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 8 August, 1969: Regarding Krishna Devi's proposal, that is too immature now. We have to see the boy's tendencies first. This will be judged when he is at least 16 years old. Before that, up to the 15th year, he should be given all sorts of education and training as brahmacari. We can't impose anything from so early age, because when he is grown up he may not like the idea. So all this contemplation is premature. For the present your duty is to make him healthy and strong, physically and spiritually. Of course, if our Krishna Conscious children are to marry, the marriage must be performed within our group. I am very pleased to learn of your nice progress in Sankirtana and BTG sales. In every temple we are seeing great success in these areas. It is also encouraging that your course is again approved in the university, and I have full confidence in you to do your duties very expertly. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Aniruddha -- London 7 December, 1969: Please continue to read the literature very attentively. Try to understand very soberly and you will feel ecstasy undoubtedly. The more we understand the spiritual literatures the more we become engladdened. Lord Caitanya has written ananda ambhudhi bardhanam. This means the ocean of bliss is always increasing. So continue to execute your duties with enthusiasm and patience, and I am certain Krishna will be pleased make you successful on all accounts. I hope this will meet you in good health.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Los Angeles 3 February, 1970: I am very satisfied that another German scholar has joined our activities. She will be a great help to you. Yes. I sometimes think of your mother. She is a nice lady and has good potency for improving in Krishna Consciousness. From the child's mentality the mother's mentality is judged and vice-versa. Please keep in touch with your mother and it is your duty also to try to bring her into Krishna Consciousness when she is already inclined. I am glad that she is chanting sixteen rounds and observing the rules and regulations. That will surely help her. If possible, we can open a center in Berlin at the care of your mother.

Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 18 FEbruary, 1970: My Dear Sivananda, Please accept my blessings. Since a long time I have not heard from you, but I am glad to learn that you are doing your duties nicely. I always remember your smiling face and submissive attitude. Be blessed by Krsna and be happy.

Letter to Rukmini -- Los Angeles 22 February, 1970: I am so happy to know that you are finding Krsna Consciousness to be the sweetest thing in life, and actually it is so. Please continue your good service attitude more and more and be certain to chant daily the sixteen rounds of beads duly, and Krsna will surely bless you with better and better intelligence for advancing your Krsna Consciousness. Always be sincere and eager to perform your duties allotted by the Lord to you and be successful and joyful in your life.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 4 March, 1970: Marriage or no marriage, that is not our problem. If we find it suitable that by marrying one will be able to serve better, than by not marrying, then one must marry -- that is our principle. So as you are thinking that accepting Jyotirmayi as your wife you will be happy and your duties in Krsna consciousness will be enthused, then I have got all sanction, and you do it.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Los Angeles 14 April, 1970: I understand from the letter of Bahulasva as well as from your letter that police and public both have appreciated this transcendental procession. The general public of Berkeley had a bitter experience that whenever there was a large gathering like this, inevitably there was political upheaval, protest, and window-breaking, and a general havoc. But this unique procession has convinced them that our men are very nice and they can organize a great crowd without any violence. That is a fact: if people actually want peace and tranquillity, they must support this movement wholeheartedly, and we shall execute our prescribed duties very seriously and sincerely. In this way if we are given chance, I am sure we will enact a new chapter in the history of the Western world. Please therefore always pray to Krsna to give you strength and protection, and go on with your duty straight forward.

Letter to Himavati -- Los Angeles 26 April, 1970: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated sometime April, and I am so glad to learn that you are making advance in Krishna Consciousness as it is scheduled. It appears that you are on the attachment platform, this is very good. The next platform is ecstasy, and then pure love of God. So stick to your duties at the present moment, and when it is convenient you can go with the Sankirtana Party, but never neglect the Arcana regulation at any cost. If you have no time, you are not required to go with the Sankirtana Party. Your first business is to take care of the Deities. Practically you see that everyone is appreciating your Deity worship and Srimati Radharani is smiling, so it is a great credit for you, so continue this engagement.

Letter to Bali-mardana, Upendra -- Los Angeles 10 May, 1970: Kindly stop this unnecessary misunderstanding. Both Upendra and yourself are competent and experienced, so please adjust your disagreement amongst your selves. It is my request. As a matter of fact, as you are the pioneer in taking all risks to go to Australia, naturally you shall be considered as the leader, but a leader's position is also very grave and responsible. A leader has to lead others very tactfully and intelligently. Kindly therefore do not quarrel, but go on with your duties progressively.

Letter to Bali-mardana, Upendra -- Los Angeles 10 May, 1970: Krsna is sitting in everyone's heart, He knows everything what to do, so depend on Him and do your duties patiently. Maya is very strong, and we are liable to fall down at any moment. We have to gather our strength by chanting the beads sixteen rounds regularly and praying to the lotus feet of Krsna for guidance.

Letter to Balai -- Tokyo 17 August, 1970: My Dear Balai Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your very nice letter along with some pictures of your daughter Nandini Dasi. I am so glad to see that you are raising your daughter in Krsna consciousness and that is your duty as conscientious mother to give the child proper education in spiritual living.

Letter to Revatinandana -- Tokyo 27 August, 1970: I am very glad that you are all following the regular chanting of sixteen rounds daily very strictly. This schedule which you have made is very satisfactory, so follow the rules and regulations according to schedule and execute your duties in Krsna's service and everything will be alright. These regulative functions of chanting the rounds sixteen daily, rising early in the morning to attend Mangala Arati, holding classes for studying our scripture and gong on Sankirtana, these items must not be neglected. They will quickly advance us in Krsna Consciousness and clear up all doubtful activities which have been causing mischief in our Society.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 2 September, 1970: I have tried to give you all Krsna Consciousness, now it is your duty to develop it. If you remain strong on the spiritual platform then your progress will not be checked or blocked. I do not know what was resolved in New Vrindavan although Sriman Rupanuga Prabhu has informed others that he has sent a tape in this connection. I am still in darkness about the proceedings in New Vrndavana, but I have heard that Brahmananda is preaching about me that I am Krsna, that I am Supersoul, that I have withdrawn my mercy from the disciples, that I have left the Society and so on. I do not know how far they are correct, but I have written him a letter that he may not do something which may harm the interest of the Society.

Letter to Dinesh -- Calcutta 25 September, 1970: I am very glad to learn that both you and your good wife, Krsna devi, and your daughter, Visnu Arati, are together in Boston. Your all engagements sound to be very suitable, so please execute your duties in Krsna Consciousness and be happy. I am especially pleased that you are taking charge in the Boston area of placing my books and literatures in the local school-college libraries and you have already had success with placing all our literatures in the two most important libraries of Harvard University and the Divinity School.

Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 13 November, 1970: My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I have received today your letter dated October 25th, 1970, and in the meantime I have just replied your two previous letters from September so I hope you have also received that letter. I have seen the article from Salt Lake City and also one letter has come from Mohanananda in Dallas. So things are very favorable in both these places, just you see that they go on very nicely to our set standard. I am glad that you are taking your duties of overseeing the centers in your jurisdiction very seriously, that is very much needed.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Stephen -- Bombay 4 January, 1971: So please do not ever become discouraged. That is one of the defects of conditioned life. Simply execute your duties in Krsna's service, chant sincerely, and follow the regulative principles faithfully. If you carry out this simple order of life, all your uncertainties will come to nothing by the grace of the Lord and the whole matter will become clear. The Lord is very kind and He awards right understanding of His transcendental Supreme Personality to His faithful devotee. And there is no such thing as material pangs for such a pure devotee of the Lord, because the Lord protects His devotees from the demoniac material allurements provided the devotee sincerely keeps himself pure by the above mentioned process of regulated life in Krishna consciousness. Therefore there should be no fear for you. Just know the danger lurking at every step in the material world and continue to execute your devotional service with great enthusiasm and determination.

Letter to Visnujana -- Allahabad 8 January, 1971: I have just recently replied several letters sent by you some time ago, I hope you have received the reply by now. I am simply counting upon you to faithfully execute your duties in Krsna's service and follow the regulative principles strictly. Then you shall be able to help spread this mission to the suffering persons of your country and that will be the greatest service. I am so glad that one young couple has already joined with you . Please offer my blessings to them, John and Barbara.

Letter to Kanya Kumari (Carol Bouchier) -- Bombay 1 April, 1971: Your husband, Nityananda Das, is now president of our newly formed New Orleans center and as his wife, it is your duty to help him in every way possible. So work cooperatively, husband and wife, and make our New Orleans branch a grand success. And remain unflinching in Krishna's service by strictly following the regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds of beads daily, without fail, and reading all our books. Then Krishna will surely help you.

Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Bombay 4 April, 1971: It is interesting to hear how you received last month's rent money. Just see how Krishna is helping you. Just work sincerely and follow the regulative principles and Krishna will help us always. And now there are so many devotees there in Philadelphia. Please take care of them. Teach them how to remain neat and clean. They should be engaged always in cleansing the temple. Cleansing is urgently required. As far as possible, non-initiated devotees may not enter the kitchen or Deity area. They can help from outside. Just take care of them so that they may become pure devotees. That is your duty. We are respected everywhere on our purity platform. This should be maintained. That the graduate student and family has also joined our movement is very good news. Take care of him also. Let him read and study all our books.

Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 13 April, 1971: Please offer my blessings to Jeffrey, Tribhuvanatha, Mary, Ally, Milan, Nicholas, Josh, Richard (Rancor), Jim (Pratejas) Geoff, Philip, Terry, Adeti Devi, Martha, Adeline and Mandakini Devi Prabhus. I have received their very kind letters of appreciation and I am very much grateful. Take care of them and see to it that they all become pure devotees. That is your duty. They should follow the regulative principles strictly, regularly chant 16 rounds daily without fail, read all our literatures and attend classes, etc. and be happy in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Ramesvara (Robert Grant) -- Bombay 28 April, 1971: Now it is your duty that you always must keep yourselves fit in Krishna's service. The formula is very simple and if you will follow undeviatingly then your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness is certain. All of you must chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily and without fail. That is first and foremost. And follow all the rules and regulations of devotional life rigidly. Read all our books, attend classes and aratis, go on street Sankirtana, and always be thinking of Krishna. That is the point. Somehow or other always be thinking of Krishna. Then you will be happy and your going back to home, back to Godhead will be certain.

Letter to Caitanya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971: So you should see to it that the trinidad center becomes a grand success. So you must give your good husband all assistance so that he can do things nicely. that is you duty. As his wife, you are his better half and it is your duty to help him in every way possible. So first of all you must keep yourself fit in Krishna Consciousness. the means are simple. Strictly follow the regulative principles, regularly chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, and without fail; read all our books and discuss them with your husband; go out for preaching regularly. In this way always keep engaged in Krishna's service with enthusiasm and faith in Krishna, and He will give you all facility for developing Trinidad center very nicely.

Letter to Anangamanjari (Elaine) -- Los Angeles 5 July, 1971: And you have got such an intelligent and enthusiastic husband. He is a good boy, I know. So give him all encouragement and assistance to execute Krishna Consciousness nicely there in Gainesville, Florida. That is your duty as wife, the better half of the husband. So do it nicely.

Letter to Tilaka (Evalyn) -- Los Angeles 5 July, 1971: So now you have taken to Krishna Consciousness wholeheartedly and I am so pleased to hear how enthusiastic you are for serving the Spiritual Master and for serving your husband also. That is your duty. You are your husband's better half and as such it is your duty to assist him in every way possible so that he can nicely execute Krishna Consciousness. Especially Makhanlal has taken charge of our Seattle temple and that is a big responsibility, so you must give him all assistance and all encouragement.

Letter to Batu Gopala (Ed Englehart) -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971: I am so glad to see that Krishna is giving you good intelligence in the matter of executing your duties, previously in Chicago as sankirtana leader, temple commander and treasurer, and now in Detroit as temple commander. Krishna says like that; that simply if you are endeavoring to serve Him sincerely, then He will give you all facility and intelligence for engaging in His service more and more. So continue with enthusiasm and Krishna will surely bless you and give you all facility for pushing on this movement.

Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971: I am also glad to hear that you are improving your position. So do your duty nicely, taking it as Krishna's mercy, and try to serve Krishna as far as possible. Live peacefully with your wife also. She is very nice girl. Please offer her my blessings. And if you like, and you think it is possible, then surely you can open a center in Connecticut State. So do it together, husband and wife, and organize it nicely.

Letter to Sukhasagari (Candice Kellepoury) -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971: I am so glad to note that you are strictly following the regulative principles of devotional life and regularly chanting 16 rounds of beads daily. Continue faithfully, because such chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra is our very strength in spiritual life and will keep you always in touch with Krishna. And soon you will be getting yourself married with Batua Gopala Prabhu (Ed), so it is your duty as his wife to help him advance in Krishna Consciousness in every respect. So if you will keep yourself 24 hours engaged in Krishna's service, then surely he will follow suit. Make Krishna the very center of your household life and work cooperatively to serve Him to the very best of your capacity. Then you will be happy and your lives will know perfection.

Letter to Sudama -- Brooklyn 31 July, 1971: My Dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23d July, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I am so glad to hear that you have again come to your senses and are arranging for your good wife Cintamani to return to Tokyo. She is a very nice devotee; that is a fact. And it is your duty to take care of her and see to it that she becomes Krishna Conscious. So work cooperatively, husband and wife, and make our Tokyo center most successful. That is my request.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- London 7 August, 1971: My Dear Hamsaduta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3rd August, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am glad to learn that you have now come back to Hamburg. Originally you were there for organizing our movement in central Europe. Now, due to your absence so many things have happened. Krishna Das has left. Your duty is here in Europe. Whatever done is done. You organize there nicely, and stick to that place. Krishna Das has been advised to go to Russia. Presently he can be reached care of San Francisco temple. So be in correspondence with him and help him to get to Moscow. He is very enthusiastic to go there. So stay in Europe and help others -- Germany, France, Holland, and organize things nicely.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- London 24 August, 1971: My Dear Hamsaduta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21st August, 1971 and have noted the contents. If I was misinformed, forget this incident and go on with your duty. Stress on Sankirtana performance and distribution of BTG. Our program is simple. You are a senior member of our society. So if you strictly follow our rules and regulations, chanting regularly 16 rounds, going for Sankirtana on the street and distributing prasadam automatically our movement will advance.

Letter to Gurudasa -- London 27 August, 1971: My Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 23d August, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. Anyway you have got some shelter in the dharmasala. In the meantime if you can find some good place in Delhi that will be nice. But you should organize Delhi center very nicely. Do not bother about Indira Gandhi. I think that for some political reason she cannot join our movement. I have already written Tamala that I shall find some nice Vaisnava to do it, or else myself. So now your duty is to organize Delhi center and if possible hold a meeting there like in Bombay and Calcutta at the Gandhi maidan.

Letter to Himavati -- London 27 August, 1971: Always be engaged in serving the Deity; nice dress, nice jewelry, nice prasadam. Let Hamsaduta go for Sankirtana and take care of him. Your husband is one of my most foremost disciples. His life is very important, so take care of him nicely; that is your duty. He should live healthfully and peacefully, so see to it. That is my request. And together you should develop Hamburg center very nicely. There is certainly enough work there now.

Letter to Damodara -- London 1 September, 1971: So far your film projects are concerned, the one consideration is that the management of Washington temple doesn't suffer, but rather is actually improving its position. If that is the case and you can somehow or other find the time, then I have no objection if you take up this film-making business. No doubt there could be some positive propaganda work done in this direction. But you are in charge of that center, so do not neglect your duty.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- London 1 September, 1971: So you should not remain for a moment without thought of improving ISKCON activity. So far you are concerned, being the zonal secretary of that quarter of the world, your duty is to see that all our different centers within your jurisdiction must be going very accurately. The accounts are not being kept very scientifically and if there is extravagant spending that should be changed. We should simply accept the bare necessities of life. The balance money and energy should be employed for pushing forward Krishna's mission.

Letter to Caitanya -- London, England 7 September, 1971: My Dear Caitanya Devi Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 30th August, 1971, and have noted the contents. Yes, Krishna has saved you from such a serious position. So now you should feel very much obliged to Krishna and chant Hare Krishna Mantra more enthusiastically. It is a fact that Krishna has saved you. Yamaraja couldn't touch you because you are Krishna conscious. So now it is your duty to raise your children in Krishna consciousness also. The names you have fixed up for them are all right. There is no need of changing. So be very serious to raise these two girls to be Krishna Conscious and Krishna will surely bless you more and more.

Letter to Sucandra -- Mombassa, Kenya 19 September, 1971: My Dear Sucandra, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 10th September, 1971 and have noted the contents. Your duty is to take charge of your wife. So you can stick to your job and maintain your wife and family and give as fast as possible to the Hamburg temple. You cannot be irresponsible to your wife and child. That is not allowed. If you can go with your wife to Munich to open a center there certainly I have no objection. That is a different thing. But you cannot leave your wife to go to Munich.

Letter to Yamuna, Palika -- Bombay 22 December, 1971: I think that Palika dasi may join her husband, Bhavananda, in Calcutta as soon as she recovers her health, & she may help him there organize things very nicely for celebrating our festival in Mayapur from middle Feb. to end Feb, & she may help organize Calcutta center as nicely as they have done in New York. As for Yamuna, she may rejoin her good husband, Gurudasa, in Delhi for pushing on our program there & making many life-members. I shall be very pleased to hear that you have gotten well & that you have both returned to your duties. It is only because Krishna has somehow or other given me such assistants as yourselves that I have got any success I appreciate your helping me in this way, you are more dear to me than my own daughters.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Sydney 11 April, 1972: I cannot understand why, instead of one GBC man, a person outside the Commission was given so much power, and there was to be immediate action without divulging the matter to the devotees. And I am surprised that none of the GBC members detected the defects in the procedure. It was detected only when it came to me. What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure. In the meantime, you do your duty as president of Hamburg Temple, and try to improve spiritually. Our spiritual way should strictly observe the following points especially: (1). Neatness and cleanliness of all personal bodies. (I still see those who are initiated as Brahmins, they do not wash their hand after eating even; of course, there may be so many defects due to your births in non-Brahmin families, but how long it shall go on? It is very easy thing.); (2). Chanting 16 rounds daily. (I don't think everyone is following these principles.); (3) Temple worship, which should be performed rigidly between four and ten a.m.)

Letter to Bhargava -- Los Angeles 13 June, 1972: It is not a matter of changing our engagement, adjusting this or that material condition, in order to find our real happiness. Krishna Consciousness is not like that. It is able to be performed under any variety of material conditions or with any type of engagement. Therefore if your duty as a photographer is very much helpful to our propanganda work and for improving our BTG then there is very much need for your remaining in that occupation and doing it to your best capacity. It is a fallacy to say that my present engagement with the press is not the best for my spiritual advancement, and if we think in this way we may go on trying out one engagement after another and always say the same excuse. This restlessness or agitation of the mind cannot be rectified by altering the material circumstances. If we are Krishna Conscious, any type of occupation will suit me and we shall always be satisfied

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 1 July, 1970: So practically we see the youth of your country have become very much frustrated by trying to enjoy this dead body, and they are seeking to find the point of real life which has been lost, but they are thinking that to become animals will give them new life, just like standing naked or growing long hairs. But without Krishna that is not possible. Therefore, it is your duty to inform them very seriously and tactfully that this dead body of material nature can only be revived if we inject it with Krishna Consciousness movement. If we do like this, then your country will become the most gorgeous place, it will be Vaikuntha.

Letter to Arundhati -- Amsterdam 30 July, 1972: My dear Arundhati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1972, and I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.

Letter to Sudevi -- Los Angeles 15 September, 1972: By his making advancement in Krsna Consciousness, automatically the wife will make advancement in the husband's footsteps. But if you do not assist him and be very obedient to his welfare, then he may become disgusted and go away. So there must be mutual responsibility by both parties, and now that you are married couple there is no question of your separation, but you must both strive very hard to serve Krsna together in harmony. What are these nonsense emotions that cause you to go this way and that way, the real thing is your duty. Now you are married couple, you know what your duty is, so best thing is to perform your duty and always think of Krsna. Never mind some temporary inconveniences, we must remain steady in our duty to Krsna.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Los Angeles 21 September, 1972: My dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1972, and with great satisfaction I note that you are becoming very happy and satisfied in your duties there in Australia. Now go on like this, preaching widely all over South Pacific Zone, and holding sankirtana assembly.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Vrindaban 5 November, 1972: No one is interested in the real welfare of the citizens, simply because the post is temporary. That is not our process. Real meaning of duty is just like Arjuna: he did not like to be responsible, he wanted to leave the scene, but Krishna convinced him this is your duty, to fight, so he did it for Krishna, and he fought until the last man was killed from the opposing side. That is leadership. He is determined to stick to his position because he has understood Krishna.

Letter to Atendriya (Andy Wiernsz), Bahusira (Bill Oliverson), Jitamitra (Judy Jones), Maharha (Mary St. John), Omkara (Oksana Olenczuk), Vajasana (Vicky Burt) -- Bombay 23 December, 1972: If you practice these basic principles successfully, not forgetting your duty even for a moment, automatically your love for Krishna will come out and you will keep yourselves always enthusiastic to serve Krishna. So you have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by chance that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are intelligent you will conclude that, whatever else I may do, I must accomplish the supreme goal of my life in this very lifetime and go back to home, back to Godhead.

Letter to Sudama -- Bombay 23 December, 1972: So I am very much pleased upon you for your kindly guiding and training the new devotees in so many ways. Yes, if you simply instruct them as I have taught also you, being yourself always the perfect example and above suspicion, that will act with great force. I am doing that. And I wanted to make some sannyasis to do what I am doing, and if you keep the standard, always chanting Hare Krishna, then it will go on continuously without impediment. That is your duty as sannyasa, to keep yourself always above suspicion in Krishna Consciousness programme, and to teach others to become like you, that's all. That is our perfect programme.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Sama, Sammita -- Bombay 4 January, 1973: My dear Sama and Sammita Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 22, 1972, and I am so glad to hear that you are reopening the Baltimore temple and that you are prepared to stay there your life long for developing it to the highest standard. Yes, I was little disturbed to hear that we had closed down the Baltimore temple before. Baltimore is a very important city of your country and we must maintain our center there at all costs. I can understand by your letter that you are both very serious and sincere devotees of Krsna, husband and wife, so I think that you will have no difficulty in performing your duties there. First business will be to preach widely throughout the city and distribute our books and Krsna Consciousness propaganda.

Letter to Damodara -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973: I am so glad to understand from you your concern about the managing of our Krsna Consciousness movement. Yes, you are my elder disciple, you are one of the leaders of our Society; therefore, it is your duty to feel always this responsibility for seeing that the things go on properly. So I am very glad to hear that you are taknog so many steps for improving things and spreading Krsna Consciousness more and more to the citizens at large. Main thing is to somehow or other create first quality preachers on Krsna's behalf.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Calcutta 28 January, 1973: Regarding your recommendations for second initiation, they may be given the sacred threads enclosed herein. As you are one of the elder members of our Society and you are sannyasi, it is your duty to see that all the devotees are following strictly the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds, attending the classes, reading our books, and always remaining enthusiastic for executing devotional service.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 6 May, 1973: My Dear Hamsaduta,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 2, 1973.

I am very glad to hear how our festival program is going on so nicely in Germany. These festivals will be successful all over the world. As GBC member it is your duty to carefully make a broad program for implementing Krsna Consciousness in every sphere of life, in this way we will become respected as the most important members of human society.

Letter to Damodara -- Letchmore Heath, England 23 July, 1973: Yes, I have recently received a full report from Rupanuga Maharaja on the activities of the Washington D.C. and especially how you are most enthusiastic about book distribution and that you are fixing to purchase the house. I am very glad that you are taking so seriously your duty as president of our D.C. center, so certainly Krsna will give you all assistance in your preaching mission.

Letter to Tusta Krsna , Beharilal -- Bombay 15 October, 1973: When I was last at the New Zealand temple, everything was so peaceful and hopeful. Now all of a sudden you have changed that program and taken to your original ways? I am so much aggrieved to receive all this news. For Krsna's sake, do not do these things.

I request Tusta Krsna to go back to New Zealand and take charge of your duties, and when I shall go to Australia, I shall go to New Zealand and see things personally.

Please do not leave Krsna. You will not be happy. That is my request.

Letter to Karandhara: -- New Delhi 7 November, 1973: My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 25, 1973 and have noted the contents. So far yourself is concerned, whatever is done is done. Now go on with your duty and do it nicely. You are an intelligent devotee. You can understand.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Caitya-guru -- Vrindaban 7 February, 1974: If Indians are bad then I am also bad, as I am an Indian. But they have accepted an Indian as their guru. So Indians are both bad and good according to the behavior. If they have accused you as bad because you are Indian, yet they have accepted a bad Indian as guru. Don't be afflicted by all these external features of our bodily relationships. Be steady in Krsna Consciousness and do your duty so you may be blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna and make your life successful. I am going to Bombay on the 13rd instant -- please come back and if you feel inconvenience, it doesn't matter whether from Indians or Americans, you can live with me because I am an Indian.

Letter to Bhurijana -- Bombay 3 May, 1974: My Dear Bhurijana,

Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of May 1st, 1974, and have carefully noted the contents.

It comes as a shock to me that you have stepped down from your duties as president of our Hong Kong center. Your move is not satisfactory to me, but what can I do? If you are persistent about your desire to leave you are free to act on your own. You are actually the experienced man for Hong Kong; you were constructing a temple according to our last letter, getting ready to publish Chinese publications, organizing the Chinese boys and conducting childrens' classes.

Letter to Gangamayi -- Bombay 9 May, 1974: My dear Gangamayi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter. I am glad to hear that you are determined to stay and live in the temple now and that you are becoming very much attached to the Deity worship and very serious about serving the Deity along with Malati Prabhu. I hope your restlessness is finished and that you will remain a faithful servitor in your duties with the Deities.

Letter to Sukadeva -- Vrindaban 9 August, 1974: You say that Krsna is sending you only one new devotee every six months, but He says in the Bhagavad gita that out of millions of men one only becomes a devotee. You have sent a list of six men for initiation, so why you are disappointed? Do not think of changing the place. Stick to that place and chant Hare Krishna. Krsna will send more men, rest assured. Devotees may come or not come, but you do your duty.

Letter to Batu Gopala -- Vrindaban 16 August, 1974: My Dear Batu Gopala Das: I have received your letter dated 3/8/74. Please accept my blessings. It is all right that you have remained there to do your duty. One should not leave a place if there is important business to do. That should be the principle. Here the temple opening has been postponed until the temple and asrama are fully completed. Yes, send the photos of your Deities, and I shall offer my obeisances.

Letter to Svarupa Damodara -- Vrindaban 8 September, 1974: My Dear Svarupa Damodara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. So it is very good your preaching there in Manipur. This is your duty. By the grace of Krsna you have got a position in the education field, doctor of chemistry. When you will present our philosophy the educated circle will have to listen. They cannot neglect. So when ever you speak, speak scientifically about Krsna's existence. _ is the background of the cosmic manifestation. This is a fact.

Letter to Ramesvara: -- Vrindaban 19 September, 1974: My Dear Ramesvara Das:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 10, 1974 with enclosed report of the BBT Loan Accounts. Your resignation will be placed before the GBC meeting at Mayapur and a decision will be taken at that time. I hope in the meantime you will come to your real condition of mind. Your duty is to carry out my orders. There cannot be any question of resignation. If anyone surrenders to Krishna wholeheartedly and engages in His service he cannot say later on I resign. It is not something like material service. Once surrendered, it cannot be withdrawn.

So never mind. Don't be agitated. Any complaint may be put before the GBC meeting. In the meantime go on with your duties. That is my request.

Letter to Tejiyas: -- Mayapur 11 October, 1974: N.B. Your letter to Brahmananda Swami dated Oct. 6, 1974 has just been received and I am glad to learn that things are improving. You just maintain Vrindaban, and your duty is finished.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 28 December, 1974: Now you are raising your third child. So more and more you are becoming responsible for these living entities who are your dependents. You must see that they do not take birth again in this material world. That is your duty. Therefore you and your good wife must endeavor strongly together to become fully Krsna Conscious through this simple, sublime process that I have given. By simply following this process without deviation, chanting 16 rounds, following the four regulative principles, attending classes and mangala arati, rising early, these things will gradually bring you to the platform of pure love of Krsna.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Nandarani -- Vrindaban 17 April, 1975: My dear Nandarani, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 3, 1975 and have noted the contents. Your going away, I did not take very seriously. I am very glad that you have come back. You should remain with Dayananda. That is your duty. He is a very good boy. So, please remain always fixed in devotional service and live peacefully.

Letter to Dinanatha N. Mishra -- Laguna Beach 26 July, 1975: I therefore suggested in my last letter that now you are in ripe old age, so you can accept vanaprastha life which is your duty as you are born in a brahmana family. According to our Vedic principle a brahmana is supposed to accept the four asramas, namely brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Others are not do not accept sannyasa, but a person who is a brahmana must accept sannyasa at the end of his life.

Letter to Sankara Pyne, Mira Pyne -- Vrindaban 3 September, 1975: My Dear Sankara and Mira: Please accept my blessings. I am very much pleased with your Vyasa Puja offerings. Both of you have done very well. I am very pleased to know you are making progress in Krishna Consciousness and following the rules and regulations. Next time when I come to Calcutta, I shall initiate Mira. In the meantime go on with your duties as prescribed by me which will be always pleasing to me.

Letter to Cakravarti -- New Delhi 2 December, 1975: My Dear Cakravarti Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the following list of Boy and Girls as my duly initiated disciples. So you are the president there at Schloss Rettershof, it is your duty to see that the standards of Krishna Consciousness are always maintained, especially chanting 16 rounds daily, observing the four regulative principles, no meat, fish, eggs, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex life. The students must all attend morning and evening arati and classes. If we follow this simple program along with regular sankirtana, distributing the books and preaching, then there will be no fall down.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Ranadhira -- Washington D.C. 5 July, 1976: My dear Ranadhira dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 17, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care.

This is to certify that you should send the Back-to-Godhead magazine regularly to Sridhara Swami in Navadvipa as already requested. I am glad to see that you are now conscientiously executing your duty. Always check with me first before sending out any literature to persons who have not been specifically approved by me.

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Pancadravida -- Orissa, India 20 January, 1977: My Dear Pancadravida Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated Jan. 9th and am very pleased to note your book distribution results in Latin America. I am always thinking of Caracas temple. Although I went there once, it has given me some impression. Now I am an old man, and am depending on you to carry on our mission more enthusiastically. The seed is already there. Now water it and let it grow and fruit will come out, fruit of love of Godhead, and you will all enjoy, even in this material world. Just try to give shape to the instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Pritivite ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama. "My name will be spread in every nook and corner of every town and village of the world." That is your duty, and you are one of the foremost workers.