a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1971 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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Dec 30, 2006 Thursday, 30 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 12th, 1971. Unfortunately, it did not contain the two Krishna Book samples as I believe you sent them to Madras. But that does not matter, I have understood from your letter the point you wanted to make. Krishna Book should be published with the American University students in mind. Brahmananda can not send money out of Africa, so there is no need of printing a special African edition. Instead a few copies may be sent to him and he can arrange to have them copied and printed there with the Book Fund money that is in Africa. Then he can adjust the size of the book according to the African book market. So I also agree that Krishna Book of 16 color prints plus 6x9 will be very nice. It is a fact that householders should not live in the Temple together. Whether with child or without child, householders should not live together in the Temple. Otherwise, what will the Brahmacaris and Sannyasis think? So this should be discouraged. Bali Mardan is correct in this point. I am very encouraged by the reports of the tremendous success of your TV and radio programs. As much as possible try to increase our preaching programs by using all the mass media which are available. We are modern day Vaisnavas and we must preach vigorously using all the means available. Hoping this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkd letters | 07:46 | 30 December, 1971 Bombay Sri Madan Mohan Goswami, C/O Panchanan Goswami, Sri Govinda Deo Ji's Temple, Vrindaban, District Mathura. Dear Sir, Replying you registered /A.D. letter dated 22 December, 1971, I beg to inform you that the two rooms and entrance verandah has been in my possession since 1959, but I never saw you in possession of the upper portion of the house. Neither have I had any objection from you since that time. So far as I know, you are three saivites of the Radha Damodara Temple, namely your good self, Sri Nivendranath Bannerjee, of Karnapura, as well as Sri Gauracandra Goswami who is actually in the Temple. Sri Gauracandra Goswami and Sri Nivendranath Bannerjee combinedly gave to me possession of those two rooms and the verandah. So I have taken possession of those two rooms and the verandah from Saivites, paying to them regular rents. I do not care to know whether that portion belongs to you or somebody else. I have got regular receipts of the Radha Damodara saivites. Therefore, I am legally in possession of the two rooms and the verandah. Everyone in Vrindaban including the Chairman of the Municipal Board and most probably Sri Panchanan Goswami and all the others know that I am in possession of the two rooms and the verandah in Radha Damodara Temple. But this time when I came from abroad, I saw that you have forcibly taken possession of the entrance of my verandah and converted it into a room, thus obstructing my entrance door. So I was just going to the courts for your unauthorized usurping of the entrance of the verandah to my room. So it is very good news that you are going to the courts in this connection, as everything will be discussed there including how you could take unlawful possession of the entrance to the verandah. If you do not go to the court, then I shall be obliged to go to court in this connection, at your expense. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS;tkd letters | 07:45 | 30 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Ksirodakasayi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23rd December, 1971. I am very glad to hear that Hindi BTG is ready for publication. As you have suggested I am enclosing a bank draft for Rs. 4000/- drawn in the favor of Radha Press, Delhi. We cannot pay the Rs. 1000/- asked by Crescent Press for advance towards paper; and Hitsaran Sharma has done very nicely for us with the previous issue so we shall continue to take his help. The duty of publishing our Back to Godhead in Hindi is a most important service to all of your countrymen and if you can promote and increase the sales of the magazine that will insure the prestige of our movement. Practically, the success of our Movement is due to my books and BTG being distributed throughout the world. So I hope you will see that the magazine comes out regularly and that my books can also be published in Hindi. Please see that we acquire some land in Vrindaban immediately. Either Sharaf's land or the land promised by the municipality; either one is very suitable to our needs. We are ready to immediately begin construction of a large Temple there. So do whatever is required, but somehow secure the land. I have instructed Yadubara Prabhu to send the transparencies and photos you have requested, and they are being sent by separate post. Please keep me informed of your progress. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkd letters | 07:44 | Dec 29, 2006 29 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Chaturbhus, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter Dec. 1971. I do not know where your father is staying now at present nor why he has kept silent. I had left Delhi a week ago and at that time he was in care Joshi at 4-D Kamla Nagar--Delhi 7. I am writing him why he has not written you and you also can write him at the above address. I received report that you are a nice devotee; continue in this way and Krishna will always help you. In regard to your question about the Bible, you should just answer, "You follow your Bible and I follow my Bhagavad-gita." There was no swastika on Arjuna's chariot. Kapidhbaja means whose flag is marked with a picture of Hanuman. So Arjuna's chariot had the flag of Hanuman on it. As far as the restriction for reading the 10th canto pastimes of Krishna. That is only for those who do not know what is Krishna. But you are initiated, so you can read because you know who Krishna is. For example, when Krishna was 7 years old he lifted Govardhana Hill. The non devotee scholars say that it is mythology, but a devotee will know immediately that Krishna can do anything. Still our Krishna book is so nice that even an ordinary man can read it and derive benefit. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:44 | Dec 28, 2006 Tuesday, 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Laksmimoni, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 10, 1971, and I have noted the contents with care. I am very pleased to hear from you that everything is progressing nicely in Canada zone under the supervision of your good husband, Jagadisa. Regarding your inquiry about deities, I have just this minute finished a letter to Kausalya dasi who is presently in Jaipur to purchase many sets of deities for our centers around the world. I have instructed her to remain there and fill all the orders for all our centers which may request such murtis, including dresses, ornaments, jewels, flutes, etc. In Jaipur they make the very best white and black marble deities anywhere, along with all paraphernalia such as dresses and ornaments. So I think this is good opportunity to write to her immediately and place your order. The deities are usually from 40" to 48" in height, including base. I have instructed her to collect money from the many local rich men for purchasing deities, so she will do that. But you may also send some money towards this buying of many pairs of deities. They will be packed in heavy crates, tightly packed in cotton, and will be shipped by ship from Bombay harbor. The shipping will be free by a special arrangement. Everything considered, it will probably take at least 2 to 3 months to receive the deities in Toronto, or maybe little sooner. It appears it is Krishna's desire to come to Toronto at this time! You may write immediately to: Kausalya devi dasi Devotee of Hare Krishna Society c/o Radha Govinda Temple, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. I hope this will find both you and your good husband in strong health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:43 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Sivanivas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of December 3, 1971, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very pleased that you are making nice progress in Krishna Consciousness. Because we are now getting little respect around the world, therefore we must always be strong in Krishna Consciousness so that our standard will not deteriorate. If we keep our pure standard and maintain our routine regulative work very sincerely, then we shall have certain victory all over the world, know it for certain. Therefore I am urging all my disciples like your good self to go on improving your lives in Krishna's service, and always remain to the high standard of regulative devotional principles, then everything will be successful, and you will be really happy in this life and you are sure to reach the Supreme destination. Regarding your question, Lord Caitanya is simply making a comparison between the moon and Lord Krishna's Sankirtana movement, because both are radiating benediction on all the living entities. Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita: "I become the moon, and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables," and in another place "among the stars I am the moon." So, directly or indirectly, Krishna is supplying all benediction to everything and everyone, just like the moon gives life to vegetables, without which nothing can exist, and also that moon keeps the great oceans from overcoming the land and destroying everything. Similarly, Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement gives spiritual life to all living entities by dint of its transcendental radiation, and also it prevents the demonic class of men from overwhelming the pious class of men, and thus in every way it bestows all benediction, just like at night the moon illuminates everything. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:42 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Yogesvara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of 17 December, 1971, along with copies of your advertising work, slides, and Dutch BTG. I am very pleased to see that the foreign literature is being produced nicely under your enthusiastic supervision. Just try to increase more and more our output of such books and magazines in many languages-- otherwise how will preaching go on in these places? Though we have been settled in European countries for many years now, only now you are printing the first book in French language, and there is only one book done in German language. So the record has not been good, therefore our preaching work in these countries has not been going very well, and I think now things are not going too well in France and Germany centers. So if somehow or other you can produce profuse books for these places, spend your all time translating, organizing, printing and distributing such books in foreign languages, then I think you will be able to improve the situation there. If there are amply books, everything else will succeed. Practically our Society is built on books. One book is not very impressive. Still, a blind uncle is better than no uncle at all, so it is very nice that one book has appeared, and that BTG is appearing at least several issues in other languages. But now try to produce at least four or five new books per year in several languages, plus regularly BTG every month. That will be your success. You are very sincere and hard-working boy--now just take good direction from your senior godbrothers and apply yourself fully to this very great responsibility of producing numerous books in foreign languages. I don't think there is need to divert your attention by producing advertising. I have seen your advertisements as shown to me by Syamasundara, and I think you have made the thing less important. This kind of ad is not good, it is not grave. Our process is to show Krishna Consciousness as it is, not as others want to see it. By showing KC in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that we should change to accommodate the public, but that we shoud change the public to accommodate us. Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things. That way your enthusiasm and talents will have big effect by being concentrated. Therefore, kindly concentrate for producing books and magazines in European languages, as many as possible, and make this your life work. These books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising. If we simply present Krishna Consciousness in a serious and attractive way, without need to resort to fashionable slogans or tricks, that is sufficient. Our unique asset is our purity. No one any where can match it. That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity in performing our routine work, not that we require to display or announce ourselves in very clever ways to get attention. No, our pure standard is enough. Let us stand on that basis. I hope this will meet you in good health and lively mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:41 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Rsabhadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 7, 1971, along with letters from the four persons requesting initiation. Upon your recommendation, I have consented to accept all of them as my duly initiated disciples, and I am replying them below. I am very pleased to learn from you that all programs are going nicely there in Laguna Beach center under your supervision. Especially I am glad that you are infiltrating the schools and colleges. These are our most important customers for KC, because they are inquisitive and serious to learn. So continue in this way giving them all opportunity to get the real education and knowledge or Krishna Consciousness. So far the action taken by city officials, it is not good to disturb them unduly or cause unwanted agitation or anger with such people. They are demons so they will not change. Civil disobedience movement can be led by Lord Caitanya, but we are not so strongly organized and influential to be able to perform successfully such civil disobedience movement. It is good if the newspapers take our side and public opinion is against the authorities viewpoint, but it will be better if we use all goodwill and tact to avoid such violent confrontation in public and simply take another place with required parking space. Regarding your question about deities, what is the use of such temple if nonresidents cannot come? For ourselves, we do not require temple for serving Krishna. But, because the public must have a comfortable place to sit down and chant Hare Krishna, therefore we get a nice house, install deity, decorate nicely and invite everyone. So if no one can come due to law, I do not think you should keep such place. Better to find a more suitable place, then install Lord Jagannatha. Consult Karandhara in this matter. I am pleased to hear that Ksudi's mother is attending regularly. She is a very nice lady, so give her all facility to advance nicely in Krishna Consciousness. I am also encouraged to hear that you are distributing many of our books and magazines. Continue to increase this activity, as I consider it the most important preaching work. Hoping this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:40 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Sons and Daughters, Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Rsabhadeva I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows: Richard/ Saci Dulal Das David/ Vilvamangal Das Don La Douce/ Avhinava Das Sally/ Novina Dasi I am so glad to learn that all of you have been such a great help to Rsabhadeva there in our Laguna Beach center. I can understand that all of you are very sincere boys and girl and are very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way keep yourselves engaged in Krishna's business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination. Hoping this will meet all of you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:39 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Bali Mardan, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 16, 1971. I am very glad you are sincere to make an effort for managing our ISKCON Press. But what is that management? Simply taking money and no production. So I approve of Karandhara's plan not to give more money to the Press until all debts and books owed are cleared and settled up. If you think that by lowering the prices of our books that things will improve, I have no objection. But always work in consultation on these matters with Rupanuga, Karandhara, Bhagavan, Satsvarupa, and Jayadvaita. I think that you six men are a very favorable combination for successfully managing book business. Now do it very thoughtfully, with agreement among yourselves, and I'm sure there will no difficulty. Practically our Society means books, so if there are no books, how can we preach? Your proposal to make a series of smaller books is approved by me. It is very nice. That will help in teaching the young children also. If the Press is running 24 hours, then everything is all right. Something must always be produced. I am very encouraged by the small pamphlets sent to me by Karandhara which he is printing in Los Angeles. I wanted that our Press from the very beginning should print such leaflets, but that they have not done--simply trying for equalling Dai Nippon, consuming money like Dai Nippon, and producing nothing. Diacritical marks must be maintained. These are internationally accepted by all scholars, so I want they should remain. If they are a botheration, then leave out the Sanskrit words altogether, or wherever there is Sanskrit word keep the English spelling or pronunciation in brackets following it. For example: "KRSNA (pronounced `Krishna')." If you are printing children's books you may avoid Sanskrit words. But in my speeches there must be Sanskrit. This changing from one standard to another is not good - either avoid Sanskrit, put English pronunciation in brackets, but use the diacritical marks wherever there is Sanskrit. So far the books shipped to Africa, this will be a contribution this time. But from now on books used in Africa and India shall be printed in those countries, and you may send them the plates of each books required by them for printing locally. I am not much fond of the idea of changing things to accommodate the public--better to change the public to accommodate us. Therefore I suggest wherever there is Sanskrit used there should also be English spelling in brackets. In this way, the public will become accustomed to Sanskrit language so that in future we may use only Sanskrit and they will understand. If I am able to translate more, with each book there is a new idea--same subject matter but from a different angle of vision. Therefore, I want to end this touring and begin full-time translating. So kindly help me in this way by organizing ISKCON Press very nicely. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:38 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated December 8, December 16, and December 22, plus your telegram stating "Ratnamiyer invites you exclusively Feb. 3rd to 13rd Stop Congress Grounds impractical Cable reply." I am very pleased that you are such determined and enthusiastic devotee that almost single-handedly you are organizing Madras program and making many life-members also. I think by now you must have been joined by other men which Tamala Krishna has dispatched from Delhi. If not, they shall be there shortly. I have instructed Rsi Kumar to send you the Bombay account numbers immediately. I am very encouraged by your thoughtful plan to organize very nicely all our men in India. I can understand that you are very eligible to be among the biggest leaders, so I have all confidence in your Madras programs. There appears to be some feeling of dissatisfaction with the way things are being managed in India, so I have simply said that if you all get me at least two life-members daily in India, then I shall do the rest. So I am pleased to hear from you that you are making many life-members there: that is the proof of our preaching strength. Wherever there is preaching strength there is also success, no matter it may be pandal-show, or making members, travelling Sankirtana party, whatever it may be--just maintain our strong position of purity of routine work and preach and distribute literature, that's all. So far our program for India, at present we are trying seriously for a nice house in the aristocratic section of Bombay, or also for a large plot of land of several acres near Bombay, to establish our India headquarters. Bombay is the richest city, the gateway to India, and in all respects the most important city. So we must have something here. Otherwise, when funds are there we shall construct very nice centers in Vrindaban and Mayapur, that's all. Let many foreign students and disciples come to India for staying with us in these places. We shall be content to sit down there, chant and have kirtana very vigorously 24 hours, if anyone calls us we shall go for a few days and have program. Our real interest is in the western countries. The trouble in India is we cannot preach. There are language difficulties and the people think they already know everything. But now many foreign tourists are interested to come here to taste the spiritual life, so we shall concentrate on that field. Recently we have received one letter from Cox and King's, one of the world's biggest travel agencies, requesting us to kindly assist them by providing facilities for all the tourists coming from foreign places who are interested in seeing the real spiritual life of India. So in this way we shall work here. As for the pandal program in Madras, that is all right what you have suggested. I may not come, but an adequate party will come there to assist you. Simply you must correspond with Tamala on these points. After the Madras program, we shall all go to Mayapur. I think that Bhavananda and Nara Narayana are organizing a very nice festival there. If you think that I should come there to Madras, then I shall also come. What do you think? I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books.* Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure. You are doing very very nicely in Madras, and except for you I think there is hardly any devotee so hardworking and with such good ability to persuade men to help us. So far transportation, etc., you arrange all of that with Tamala Krishna. I think the Delhi deities along with Nanda Kumar will be coming there soon. Hoping this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *We cannot agree to give books unless they pay outright in cash. One thing, if they return unsold books we may replace them with new books, but we cannot give credit. letters | 07:38 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Niranjana Das, Please accept my blessings. I have duly received your letter to me dated 13 December, 1971. I am now in Bombay at the following address: 89, Warden Road, Akash Ganga Building, 7th Floor,Bombay-36. I will be staying here for at least three more weeks. So as soon as possible you can immediately come to Bombay. I am very eager to see you and when you come I shall give you the second initiation. In Delhi our program was very successful and at least 25,000 people attended each evening. The Governor, the Mayor, the Canadian High Commissioner and many other important persons were amongst our chief guests. And at the end of the program the Government has agreed to give us free land in Delhi on the Yamuna Rive bank for constructing a Temple. Then after the Delhi program our whole party went to Vrindaban for seeing all the important places. We were greeted very warmly by the citizens and they very much appreciated the purity and high standards which all our devotees maintain. I have always stressed this point; that if we simply follow the regulative principles, avoiding the four sinful activities, chant regularly daily 16 rounds, and maintain firm faith equally in Krishna and Spiritual Master, that your life will become sublime. So please come to Bombay and then we will talk further. I hope you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS;tkd letters | 07:38 | 28 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of December 12, 1971, and it has given me much pleasure to hear from you after such long time. I can understand that you are feeling some separation, as I am also feeling some separation from both you and your good wife, Janaki. I am very pleased to see that you are all right and that you are advancing nicely in Krishna Consciousness. Why your naughty wife, Janaki, does not write me? She is angry upon me or what is that? You are both some of my first disciples, and because of you so many others came, so I am always remembering you fondly. Now please just remain very serious in pursuing your proper goal of life by sticking to the pure standard of routine work like chanting, reading, rising early, cleansing nicely, going on street Sankirtana whenever possible, like that. Then I promise you you will not fail to be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination. I have heard that you are assisting Danavir at the Portland center to hold a very nice festival there. You are one of the most qualified devotees in every way, so I think that such work must be pleasing to you, because that way you are always thinking how best to please Krishna. Krishna is always guiding you and He is taking special interest in you, know it for certain. I am remembering that practically it was you who started both the San Francisco and London centers, our two most important centers. So therefore I am always hoping you will join me again and work under my personal instruction. Perhaps when I return to Los Angeles by late spring I shall see you both there. I have heard from Dayananda that he has requested you to return to London to help him in getting that huge church in the most important quarter of the most important city in the world. I am so much enthusiastic to get that place, that I may go there very soon also and go door-to-door to raise some money. Syamasundara. is gone to Delhi to meet with our Finance Minister Mr. Chawan to get permission to allow millions of rupees worth of foreign exchange out of India for the purpose of getting that place. Mr. R. D. Birla has promised to help in that way by giving 1/2 million pounds. But even he breaks his promise, many other very rich men will contribute and there will be no difficulty to raise one to two million pounds here, provided Mr. Chawar agrees with our proposal. Even they do not allow, Dayananda is confident we can raise the money in England, because George and his friends are offering to help very enthusiastically. So I think that if you are free, and if it suits you, you may go there to help him. You know London very well, and you know George and many other rich men, so your being there will practically assure us of getting the place. It is the best place for us. It will be the most grand headquarters for ISKCON in all the world, and I want to get that place very very much. I understand that Syamasundara. may also have to go there soon, so the three of you and Jaya Hari can do the needful, of that there is no doubt. If it is not too much trouble, kindly write to me and let me know what you think and what is your present position. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:36 | Dec 26, 2006 Sunday, 26 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Himavati, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter undated, and I am very glad to hear that you are finding such great pleasure in serving Radha and Krishna. Both you and your good husband are very sincere and hard-working, and practically you together have saved our European centers from collapse. Krishna has given you very nice ability to serve Him, better than most, therefore I have relied on you completely to save centers in Germany which had fallen into neglected condition, and because you have done so nicely, I am very very pleased with your both service. So there is no question of dissatisfaction. Because you are serving Krishna, that is my satisfaction enough. But because you are also preaching so nicely, and helping to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement all over the world by being big leaders, then I am more than satisfied with you, so never think dissatisfaction. There is no question of dissatisfaction. Rather I am very much pleased with your activities there and before that, as much as also with your attitude of humble and determined desire to reach the Supreme destination by becoming Krishna Conscious. You are more dear to me than my own sons and daughters. Regarding your questions, there is no question of using paper plastic fruits and flowers for worshiping the deities. If no fresh fruits or flowers are available, then you can decorate with some fresh leaves. You have seen our temples; nowhere do we use such things. You are experienced devotee, why you propose like that? We are not after decoration, we are after devotional service for pleasing Krishna's senses. Decoration must be there of course, to make the temple as opulent as possible for pleasing Krishna. Outside the temple, you can use the plastic ornaments. But not for worship. For daily worship there must be fresh fruit, flowers, and leaves. Mangala arati must be done in nightgown. After Mangala arati, then bathing is done and dressing. 3:30 is too early for holding Mangala arati. The deities should be given sufficient rest. The standard time is 1 1/2 hours before sunrise, so we may say 5 am is a good time for holding arati. If you think that you may go to Russia and do something, I have no objection. But your plan appears too vague or uncertain to consider very seriously, so you should not bother yourself with such plans unless there is concrete opportunity. Even so, I don't think your husband may approve of your taking such risk without protection. There is some scheme now for continuing our work in Russia, and Syamasundara. has met with our Russian friend in Delhi who was helping us in Moscow, and they have planned out a program for infiltrating into Russia more and more. If we are successful, and if opportunity arises, I shall call for you to go there and help, as I think you speak Russian language. But for now I think you should remain there in Europe and train up many younger devotees in deity worship and cooking and other matters, as well as preach to them and give them all good guidance and example how they may go on and perfect their lives in this way. Regarding your last question, what I was supposed to have said to the pujari in Bombay, I never said like that. How could I say like that. The deity is the Master, the pujari is His servant, that's all. I hope this will meet you and your good husband, Hamsaduta, in good health and cheerful mood, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami n.b. Why Hamsaduta does not write me? Offer my blessings to my beloved son. ACBS/sda letters | 08:48 | 26 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Ksirodakasayi, Please accept my blessings. I understand that you are not with the devotees. I do not know why you are living separately. In the Society there may be sometimes misunderstandings, but that does not mean you should live separately. So far the Vrindaban land, if possible you should go there and induce the Chairman to give us the promised land. Gargamuni has written me letter that because you said to the chairman that Mr. Saraf is going to give us his land, therefore he was reluctant. So you go there and inform him that Mr. Saraf is not giving us the land, although he promised, and persuade him to give us the municipal land some way or other. Go there immediately, and inform me the result. Gargamuni is there to raise funds, so he will help you. I am enclosing one letter to me from your son. I do not know why you are not writing them, but please do the needful, so that they shall not worry or be in anxiety.* I hope this will meet you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *I am also in anxiety for not hearing from you. ACBS/sda letters | 08:47 | 26 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Cyavana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 9, 1971, along with Trial Balance. Thank you very much. I am very pleased to hear that the African boys are becoming serious devotees. That is the proof of your preaching work, that it becomes touchstone and turns iron to gold. So go on very vigorously in this way, travelling, preaching, selling our books and magazines, distributing prasadam, like that. As long as we keep ourselves pure for preaching, then we shall have all good results--of that there is no doubt. One thing, make certain that your routine work is going on nicely--chanting 16 rounds, rising early, cleansing, street Sankirtana, etc.--then all other programs will be successful. If routine work becomes slack or neglected, then all other attempts will fail. We should always cling to the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following very strictly the routine work of devotional service, and then we shall qualify to associate with the Lord by becoming very pure, and that is our real happiness, know if for certain. Brahmananda has telephoned that he has got the American Ambassador and the Indian High Commissioner to come to our festival in Nairobi. That is very nice proposal. Now, if you can convince the President of Kenya, Mr. Jomo Kenyatta, to come also, then I shall also consent to come for a few days to meet him. I think if I meet with him that will be very nice. So if you can arrange in that way, and if you send me two tickets round-trip from Bombay, then I shall come when you call. Your trial balance is very nice. I am pleased to see that you are making many Life Members also. I think that if you send a list of our Africa members to Tamala Krishna in Bombay, that will be impressive for making more Life Members here also. We are now trying to get one very suitable house here for our India headquarters. The cost is rupees 10 lakhs, and it is located in a very rich quarter of the city, with many aristocratic houses nearby. I have told my students here that if they simply make two Life Members in India daily, then I shall do all the rest so far other arrangements and plans. Similarly, if you go on like this making members regularly, as many as possible, then all good results are guaranteed in Africa also. So far books are concerned, it appears that it will be difficult to bring books there from other places, due to financial reasons of the government, so whatever they will allow you to send, you may send to Book Fund and receive that amount of books. Try to get big books in this way, especially for our Life Members, by persuading the government to allow us. For other books, we can print in Nairobi through that Mr. Patel who owns a very modern press facility. Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity. Without books, our preaching has no solid basis. Especially the Africans want our books. Karandhara is in Tokyo now supervising the printing of many books, including the Krishna Book paperback-size which I am especially printing for the Africans. We are printing 50,000 copies of each volume in 3 volumes, or 150,000 books total, so you may order as many as possible by paying Dai Nippon and ordering from Karandhara. I think if I meet Mr. Kenyatta, I shall be able to request him to allow us more books. As for Brahmananda's request for Gargamuni to come there, he is too much needed here in India for the present moment, but we can see if someone can be sent there to help. I hope this will meet you and all the others in good health and cheerful mood, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 08:46 | 26 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 20th and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the purchasing of land in Mayapur, specifically the two round shaped plots of 14 bighas, we can purchase them, but we cannot pay Rs. 1400/- per bigha. This was the price if we were to only purchase two bighas. For fourteen bighas you may offer him 1000/- Rupees per bigha and if he is not agreeable then you can work up to 1200/- Rupees per bigha, but no more. If we get this land it is not adjacent to the land we already have, so is there any chance of getting the land in-between at the same price? Now that the war is ended there should be no difficulty in our devotees being in Mayapur. So at least six of our men should live there immediately. The Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya is only two months away, so preparations must be begun at once. Regarding my yellow fever shot certificate, the hospital is somewhere on Hastings; most probably it is called Seaman's Hospital and it is somewhere in front of Victoria Memorial monument. Acyutananda knows definitely. The schedule to be followed in worshiping the Deity is as follows. Morning Aratik may be performed at 4:30 until 5 am. Then immediately following the Deity room should be washed clean and the dirty utensils removed. Then everyone can chant before the Deity until 6:30. The Deity should then be bathed and dressed and fresh flowers put. It should not take longer than one hour to bathe and dress the Deity if one actually knows how it is done. But it may take longer so you may offer the bhoga at 8:00. The idea of bathing the Deity after offering bhoga is not correct. So please follow this schedule as I have advised. As soon as the definite price is agreed on the land, upon your advice, the amount required for the purchase will be sent to you by bank transfer. Have Bhavananda and Nara Narayana arrived yet? Hoping you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. How is Devananda Maharaja. Does he like to come here. I have arranged for Aravinda's going home after his sickness. ACBS:tkd letters | 08:46 | Dec 25, 2006 Saturday, 25 December, 1971 Bombay My dear Amogha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 13, 1971. I am very pleased to note that you are so determined to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement, that you are remaining alone in Djakarta just to seize the wonderful opportunity we have got there for preaching. That is the sign of the first-class devotee, that he is always willing to sacrifice everything to please Krishna by preaching His glories, even under all sorts of difficult conditions. I am very encouraged by your attitude of sincere Krishna Consciousness. In this way you go on perfecting your life more and more, and very soon, I promise you, you will go back to Home, back to Godhead. Know it for certain. I am very glad that you are teaching KC in the schools. That is our best field for training people in Krishna Consciousness. Young children have not yet learned an artificial standard of sense gratification, so they accept austerity very nicely as enjoyable. Just see the young brahmacari--he goes out and begs all day on the order of his guru, to collect a little rice and return at night to sleep on the floor without cover--and he thinks this life is very nice! So if children are trained-up in this way, they will naturally grow up to be sober and responsible, the best citizens and a credit to their state. So preach in this way, attract their young children to Krishna by teaching in a very interesting fashion--let them chant, dance, and take prasadam, that's all. Later, when they are old enough to understand, a little philosophy. And always keep them engaged one way or another in devotional service. That way they will become very attached to Krishna and they will not go away to a life of false standard of life. If you can get that couple from America to help you, that will be very nice. Actually, I wanted one householder couple to come there and teach. This I told to Bali Mardan when he was with me in India. So now you are arranging for that, so that is the best plan. Never mind we have to wait some time for a house. We are Vaisnavas means we can live under a tree. Main thing is preaching, so if preaching is going on, that is enough. But because people want a comfortable place to sit down and chant, therefore we have got our centers around the world. So just to accommodate such public you can get a house whenever it is possible, and decorate it very nicely for attracting the citizens. We are presently trying for a very nice house here in Bombay, to make our India headquarters in a very rich quarter of Bombay. In February we shall go with full party to Mayapur for holding festival for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. If Bali Mardan is not very much present in his zone of South East Asia, then how will things be managed? Do you know if he is planning to return to his zone responsibilities? Another thing, how are our books being distributed? I want that our books and magazines be profusely distributed all over the world, and I am very pleased to hear that you have sold so many in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and other places in Asia. So go on in this way distributing books in Djakarta, that is solid work. If we simply sell many books, then our all success is guaranteed. You may inform me your progress there regularly and I shall always be pleased to hear from you. Somehow or other, Krishna has given me such good assistants like your good self, so there has been a little success. Thank you very much for helping me in this way. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda letters | 07:37 | 25 December, 1971 Bombay My Dear Gargamuni Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have replied your letter this morning; perhaps you have received it already. Now in the meantime we have received an important letter form Cox and Kings and a copy is sent herewith. Immediately we require a big house either in Vrindaban, Delhi or Agra for accommodating foreign tourists. You can therefore please go to Agra and see Sri L.D. Bansal, Bansal Building, Subhash Bazar, Agra-3 (business phone 74255, residence phone 75459). You may remember that he came to Delhi and Vrindaban to arrange with us a pandal program in Agra. He has got a house for disposal which he says is very nice and big. Many tourists go to Agra the house is very big and nice, we can go and take. So go immediately and see it. And upon your favorable recommendation we can take it. It is very important, therefore I am entrusting this matter to you. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkd letters | 07:36 | |
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