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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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29 March 2008 Friday, 29 March, 1974 Bombay My dear Dr. Ghosh; Please accept my greetings. I wish to thank you very much, as I have received you letter of March 15, and noted its contents. As far as your coming here in Bombay you are welcome at any moment. I am here at least up until the 20th of April and you can come and stay sometime and try to understand the philosophy of the Krsna Consciousness Movement. After the 20th, I may be going to Hyderabad where we have a center, and if you like you may accompany me to Hyderabad. We can continually discuss the Bhagavad-gita. Our Krsna Consciousness Movement is based on the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, without malinterpretation. Krsna says in the Fourth Chapter: yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamyaham [Bg. 4.7] paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge [Bg. 4.8] The whole world is Krsna's property. The material world is a field of activities for the corrupt conditioned souls who desire to enjoy in imitation of the Supreme. For them, Krsna gives facilities for material enjoyment, but He wants the conditioned souls--after finishing their material enjoyment - to come back to Him with bitter experience of material existence. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita there is the essence of Vedic instructions. The plan is that the conditioned soul may fulfill his desire for material enjoyment and at the same time be trained up in spiritual identity to come back to Godhead, back to home. As such, Bhagavad-gita contains the solution of all problems of the material world. Unfortunately, foolish people described as duskrtina, do not want to take instruction from the Lord, although it is completely perfect - but they select their own concocted leaders who are themselves blind, and therefore the world is in chaotic condition on account of rascal leaders in all fields. There are so many rascal leaders in politics, social life, cultural, philosophy, religion, etc. They are all misguided. Bhagavad-gita, therefore is the only light from which we can take direction for all our civic activities. Our Krsna Consciousness Movement was started only for this purpose. Sometimes back, when I was in Moscow, I had discussion with a Professor Kotovsky and I challenged him. "Where is the difference between the Communist philosophy and any other? Everyone has to accept a particular leader and follow his instructions under a brand of ism." But because leaders are all fools and rascals, the ultimate result of following them is disappointment. In the western countries there have been many revolutions, in France, England, Germany and Russia, simply to change leaders of this ism to that ism. In India also since India's contact with the western countries, there have been certain types of revolutions, and they are now going on. Recently in our experience there was attempt to drive away the British. This revolution changed India from dependence to independence, but factually the situation has deteriorated from bad to worse. We are old friends, we know that in Allahabad when I was there, ghee was selling for 1 kg. per 1 rupee, and now its costs 20-25 rupees per kg. In this way, things have not improved, in so many ways. This is due to imperfect leaders. Therefore our propaganda is to educate people to accept Krsna as the perfect leader in all fields of activity, and if people take to it seriously they will be happy in this life and after quitting this body he goes back to home, back to Godhead. There is no difficulty in understanding this philosophy in full brain and it is the urgent necessity that it be spread all over the world. Therefore the best service to human society is to educate them after the principle of the Gita, otherwise they are losing the chance of perfection in the human life and going down again to the circle of birth and death and transmigration in different species of life numbering 8,400,000. It is very interesting to discuss on this point and it will be a great pleasure for me if you come and stay with me for some time and preach this philosophy amongst the higher section of society. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: yad yad acarati srestas tad tad evetaro janaj sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate [Bg. 3.21] Thanking you in anticipation, Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Allahabad, Bhagavad-gita, politicians letters | 19:16 |29 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Trivikrama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Herewith find one letter by Sri Ballavh das. The idea appears to be very nice, but I do not know whether you have discussed with him all the projects involved. He want to open an incense business in Japan. But if he opens it in Japan, what is the use of staying at Taiwan? The whole project is for improvement of the Taiwan center and how it can be done from Japan? It appears contradictory. But if by starting an incense business economically you become solvent to run on your center then it is good, and for this purpose I will advise Bali Mardan to give you the necessary capital on your approval. But I don't think it is practical to run a factory in Tokyo. If something is to be done seriously then let me know if you have a branch of the Chinese bank known as the Liberty Bank. This bank has a branch in Honolulu and we have kept some money there. So please let me know if a branch of the Liberty Bank is there. If you can establish a strong center in Taiwan as it is described in Sri Ballavh das' letter it will be a great idea. We have one branch in Moscow, if we get a branch in China, on the mainland, it will be a great achievement. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg letters | 19:15 | 28 March 2008 Thursday, 28 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Srimate Lilavati Munshi: Please accept my greetings. In continuation from my last letter to you, I wish to inform you that I have now arrived in Bombay a week ago. I would like to meet with you; therefore, please let me know where and when I may see you. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Bombay letters | 19:15 |27 March 2008 Wednesday, 27 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21 March and I have examined the contents. That the standard of Krsna Consciousness deteriorated while you were away two weeks, and three brahmacaris have left Bhaktivedanta Manor is not good. But neither do I think your proposals are very good for organizing a strong center by stopping Revatinandana Swami's travelling party and having the president of the London temple Prabha Visnu and others stay with you at the center. It seems you are always asking others to come for some time to work with you and organize, then after they leave you turn to some one else to come and help. Madhavananda is here with me in Bombay and I think he is the right man to work with you permanently at the Manor. I sent him there for that purpose, to organize things as he has experience of the management and organization of a temple life. So between you and he, if you will mutually cooperate, there should be sufficient power to run things nicely. Revatinandana Swami should not stay there but his travelling party should go on for preaching and distribute many books at the colleges and schools. Also Prabha Visnu is supposed to stay in London as he is the president there. As far as separation of men and women in Bhaktivedanta Manor, that should be strictly observed in the main temple building; between single men and women there must be strict division and strict observance of no illicit sex. The householders may continue stay as they are in the cottage house, living peacefully as grhasthas. Whether grhasthas, sannyasa or brahmacari everyone has to be completely engaged all the time in devotional service. That is the meaning of good management, to see that everyone is engaged 24 hours a day, and not sleeping unnecessarily or talking idly. I think Madhavananda has good ideas and is a good organizer. So he is returning to you in a few days; you two please work together so that devotees will be enthusiastic to remain and work at the Manor. We have such a nice variety of engagement there, sankirtana, deity worship, gardening - there is no scarcity of important work. I shall be eager to hear from you further how things are going in all departments, at our European Headquarters. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Bhaktivedanta Manor, grhastha, management letters | 19:14 |26 March 2008 Tuesday, 26 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Sriman A.D. Bhende; Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind note of 25-3-74. Actually my program is to stay here a month, and I arrived on March 20, so I think you will be able to recover from your eye operation and come and see me. I am lecturing every night at the temple between 7 to 9 P.M. and I am staying at my apartment on Hare Krishna Land and you can visit me there any day after 5:00 P.M. Thank you for thinking of me, and I hope you will soon be well enough to attend our discourses. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg letters | 19:14 | 26 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Kanu Gandhi, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16 March, 1974. Regarding the sale of the temple building at 40 North Beacon St., the best thing is to go and consult with our president in charge of the Boston branch, Trai das Adhikari. Your desire to keep a personal temple room in your home is commendable, and you can do that in any case, wherever you are, by keeping an altar and offering your food to the Lord as prasadam. Our main purpose for keeping a large temple, however, is for inviting the public. I came to the U.S.A. just to try to give a chance to as many people as possible to take to Krishna Consciousness, because it is the only hope for humanity in this increasingly demoniac, godless age. So if you are seriously interested in maintaining a Vaisnava temple, why not go and try to help my disciples there in Boston, whether they are going to sell and relocate or remain, if you are financially able to assist them, that will be taken by Krishna as a great service. The young men and women at the ISKCON temple are giving everything they have for giving others a chance to come and worship at an authorized Radha-Krishna temple, so I request you to inquire into their situation and help them maintain our Vaisnava temple in the important city of Boston. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg letters | 19:13 | 25 March 2008 Monday, 25 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Hayagriva, Please accept my blessings. Since a long time I did not hear from you, but I am very anxious to see you. Here in Bombay we have a nice spot. We are now in possession. It is just like a garden house. I shall be glad if you come here and live with me for some time. With my love for your wife and children, I beg to remain, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Bombay, New Vrindavan letters | 19:12 |24 March 2008 Sunday, 24 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Dayananda, Please accept my blessings. I have received you written note of 3/8/74 with names for initiation. I have accepted the devotees named by you as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows: Sherry--Syamalangi devi Debbie--Dyuti devi Gary--Giri dasa It is very pleasing to me to accept also some of our older Gurukula students who you have recommended as ready for initiation. Ekendra das Brahmacari and Dvarakadhisa dasa Brahmacari have already been given their spiritual names by me. Catton--Katyayana das Brahmacari, and Lisa--Manisa devi, are also now initiated devotees. All initiated devotees must chant at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. Now that they are initiated there is no question of not doing their rounds. You may hold a fire yajna and Jagadisa Prabhu may chant on their beads. In court when a person swears to tell the truth he can be punished by perjury if he does not take it seriously and tells a lie, so those who will promise before the deity to follow the rules and regulations of initiated disciples will be punished if they fail to do so. I am certain, however, that under your able guidance all the boys and girls are enthusiastic in their duties for Krsna. I have received your recommendation for second initiation for Ram Gopala and Baladeva. das Brahmacaris. I am enclosing sacred thread for them as well as gayatri. Have them hear the tape of me chanting gayatri through the right ear. I will be pleased to hear your latest reports from Gurukula. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Dallas Gurukula, initiation letters | 11:32 |24 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Bhagavan das, Please accept my blessings. I have received the names of the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and upon your word I have accepted them as my disciples. There new spiritual names are as follows. Francine Steinberg--Rangini devi Jenny Gilbert--Jagatkirti devi Danielle Mary--Dandakesa devi Maureene Remila--Mandahasa devi You may chant on their beads and hold a fire yajna in the temple. As GBC you must see that they and all the devotees in the temples are first of all chanting at least 16 rounds on beads. Be sure they are aware of the ten offenses to chanting, and that they remain enthusiastic about improving their devotional service in that way. I have accepted for second initiation Sakirta das and Dayamrgya das and have enclosed sacred threads and gayatri mantra. Have them hear the tape of me saying the mantra through the right ear. I will be eager to hear regular reporting from you on activities in your zone, which you may send to me at my Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Detroit, initiation letters | 11:32 |23 March 2008 Saturday, 23 March, 1974 Bombay, India Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotee recommended by you for first initiation and his spiritual name is as follows: Douglas Duty,...Dandi dasa His beads may be chanted on by Rupanuga Maharaja. Please hold a fire yajna and speak to him on the ten offenses against chanting. Personally see that he is chanting at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. By your own example you have to keep all the devotees enthusiastic and that is done by strict adherence to the regulative principles. Hope this finds you in good health, and I will be glad to hear of your progress in political sankirtana. Your political sankirtana Godbrothers, Balavanta and Amarendra are here in Bombay helping us for some time, but I have informed them that their real work is in the USA. So you are in the nation's capital and if you can get support it will be grand preaching for our movement. Anyway, we are simply presenting the truth, which is that outside of Krsna Consciousness there is no hope for betterment of the troubled conditions of modern affairs, rather they are going to hell without check. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: initiation, political sankirtan, Washington letters | 11:31 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Batua Gopala, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows. Dan McGready--Divyanga dasa Michelle--Maharajani devi dasi Paula--Pramada devi dasi Their beads may be chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Please impress upon them that their chant must avoid the ten offenses, and that they must chant the minimum 16 rounds without fail, and be very careful to keep themselves free of the four sinful activities. They are in your charge so you must set the example. I am also sending gayatri and sacred thread for Rasikhananda das Brahmacari for his second initiation, and also Gauranga devi dasi. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Cleveland, initiation letters | 11:30 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Bhakti das, Please accept my blessings. I have received from you the name of one devotee recommended for second initiation, Santipani devi dasi. So I am enclosing one gayatri mantra. Have her hear the mantra through the right ear, of me chanting gayatri. I have already cautioned you that the second initiation should be given out only when you are certain that the devotee is really following all our principles, so now instruct her further on the seriousness of following the regulative principles of Krsna Consciousness. All the devotees there are in your charge so by your example they will best be encouraged to enthusiastic advancement. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: initiation, Sn Diego letters | 11:29 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Govinda das, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows. Miriam--Mekhala devi dasi Linda--Lalana devi dasi Ron--Ranganatha dasa Ruth--Ruci devi dasi Have their beads chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Our whole Krsna Consciousness rests on following the regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds at least, daily and without fail, and avoiding the four sinful activities. Without following the regulative principles, so called devotional service is simply a disturbance. So be sure to always take care of the devotees in your charge in this respect. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Chicago, initiation, regulative principles letters | 11:29 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Murti das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter in which you propose to come to Vrindaban with your wife to help with deities, construction and preaching at our Krishna Balarama temple. After consulting with the authorities there, we all agree it would be a very good idea. So please make arrangements for your transfer here. Our Vrindaban temple is perhaps our nicest building in the whole movement and I want at least 25 good men here at all times. Because it is Vrindaban, those who come should be exemplary so that all the people of Vrindaban, even those who would be prone to criticize, will see that we are actually following the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami. I want that those who come here, whether grhasthas or sannyasis, behave on the level of real goswamis. Goswami means controlling the senses and always glorifying Krsna by varieties of engagement in devotional service 24 hours a day. You may write to Gurudasa further about your plans. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: grhastha, Los Angeles, sannyasa, Vrindavana letters | 11:28 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find a recent letter which was mailed and addressed to me, by Sarva Suhrit. By this letter he has put into writing his criminal intentions. I think you know him also, and there is no telling what he may actually attempt to do. Therefore I want you to go to the proper Scotland Yard investigators and present the letter by Sarva Suhrit. He constitutes a menace; he should be punished and a court case should be taken if necessary. Of course, as preachers we have to expect to face so many opposing elements, and actually we are doing so. Moreover, we are always protected by Krsna. But this crazy threat for our destruction should not go unchecked; please do the needful and let me know the outcome. You may send your regular report on activities at Bhaktivedanta Manor to me here at my Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Bhaktivedanta Manor, threat letters | 11:27 |23 March, 1974 Bombay Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have received from you the name of one devotee recommended for second initiation, namely Anadih das Brahmacari. So I am enclosing sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Have him hear the tape of me chanting the mantra through his right ear. Give him all good instruction and incorporate him into the New Vrindaban scheme according to his best service propensities. I will be glad to be receiving your regular report on New Vrindaban which you can mail to me at the Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: initiation, New Vrindavan letters | 11:26 | |
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