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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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25 April 2008 Thursday, 25 April, 1974 Tirupati Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. Just as I was leaving for Tirupati from Hyderabad I received your telegram reading as follows: "Require checks Rupees Twenty-one thousand seven hundred in favor Punjab National Bank for Steel and rupees Fifteen thousand to PNB Delhi for transfer to Vrindaban." This kind of requesting for checks by telegram without proper explanation is whimsical. Especially to ask for a check to PNB Delhi to transfer to Vrindaban. The construction fund should only be used for construction items like cement and iron and the party's name should be mentioned. Because you may need these checks urgently I am sending them enclosed here, but please send a letter giving a proper account. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: construction, New Delhi, Vrindavana letters | 22:28 |24 April 2008 Wednesday, 24 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Mahadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 17, and I have noted the contents. Syamasundara has invited me to go to London and if he sends tickets as promised then I am going by the first week of May. I shall personally study the situation as mentioned by you and make my judgement personally. At that time I shall consult with Syamasundara. But why is your presence necessary? As a devotee you should be satisfied serving the Lord anywhere. Why are you so anxious to return to London? Therefore I shall request you not to start yourself in that way until I personally go there. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg letters | 22:26 | 24 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1974, and I have examined the contents. Regarding you report on construction progress I am glad to hear the building is roofed, however what about the backside residential quarters? Please give me up to date information on all phases on the construction. As for the purchase of a car for Vrindaban, we shall first finish the construction and then we can think of the car. I have received a letter from Tejyas on the same day as yours. I am sending him the checks he has requested for construction, but he has requested one check for Lalita Prasad, for Rupee 3,000 which you say is a down payment for four sets of clothes for the deity. But we cannot pay for these dresses. It was already agreed that you and Yamuna would collect separately for the deities, not that it would come out of the construction fund, but now you and Tejyas are requesting it come out of construction. Besides that, why go to the tailor? Lalita Prasad charges extraordinarily. We don't want to go to them. Whatever our devotees can make, that is all right. Have you already contracted from them? This check cannot be issued neither is it our plan to pay from construction for the deities. Where is the money you collected for this purpose? When you next meet Dr. Kapoor offer him my respectful obeisances. I am sure Viswambar Goswami is educated, and advanced in judgement and I am pleased he is not disturbed. But Dr. Kapoor can expose Purusottam Goswami about his deal with the late Puri Goswami of the Gaudiya Math. If the mystery of his acquiring 50,000 rupees of books from Puri is exposed then his so called leadership will come to an end. He knows better than I and you can ask him about Purusottam Goswami's acquiring books from Puri - which is a mystery not yet disclosed, but every Gaudiya mission man knows the incident. Your idea to have Hari Goswami conduct a deity worship class starting July 1st is a good, welcome idea. One defect in Hari Goswami is that although he wants to cooperate he wants to keep himself a little aloof as a goswami. I wish that he should mix with us with open mind, without reservation. Sometimes he hesitates to accept prasadam from us and he likes to cook for himself. If he desires to cook that means he keeps aloof. If he kindly teaches our men how to cook and worship the deity and he also takes prasadam along with us it will be a great achievement. Of course it depends on his discretion, but if he keeps aloof from us that is not very much desirable. At least he should come forward on the sastric injunction, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir visnor va vaisnavanam. I do not think there is any difference in the method of deity worship he is teaching but you can also consult me. You ask me how to recruit strong devotees to come there. You have to prepare strong devotees, not import them. You yourself become strong devotees and teach others by your example. Importation is not a good plan; everyone should be strong by behavior and action. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Gaudiya Matha, management, Vrindavana letters | 22:25 |24 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters of April 11th, and April 22, 1974 and I have examined the contents. I am enclosing the list of checks requested by you by Registered post except I am not sending one check for Rs 3,000 for deity clothes to be paid to the tailor Lalita Prasad of Vrindaban. Deity paraphernalia is supposed to be collected separately by Gurudasa and Yamuna, not come out of the construction fund as you have requested. Besides, I have advised Gurudasa not to pay any tailor but to make clothes by our own devotees for the deities. According to my check book, after writing the last check no. 365504 for Rs 17,600.00 there is a balance of only Rs 18,745.81. But you are indicating a balance of Rs 100,313.64. Where is the difference? Send me a complete statement of account. You must have received a further Rs 50,000.00 by now from Bombay. Anyway, send me a statement of account so I can tally with my check book. Somehow I find a balance of only Rs 18,745.81. As for the needs for construction over the next three months, one lac has been transferred to Delhi to the Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund and one lac is deposited in the Trust Fund; that makes two lacs. Plus, Birla will contribute Rs 50,000 per month. I am advising the Vrindaban Punjab National Bank to transfer to Delhi Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund a total of three lacs, see the enclosed letter to the bank. So I think this will solve your immediate construction needs for some time. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Enclosures: 7 checks & 2 = 9 requisition slip (Enclosures handwritten) Labels: construction, New Delhi, Vrindavana letters | 22:24 |24 April, 1974 Hyderabad Manager Punjab National Bank Vrindaban, Dist. Mathura, U.P. Attention: Mr. N. Gupta Dear Sir; With further reference to my letter dated April 8th, and your reply of April 15, I beg to request you to transfer 3 lacs (Rs 300,000.00) to your Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh, New Delhi account Iskcon Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund account number 3867 in place of the one lac (Rs 100,000.00) previously said. Therefore the fixed deposit amount will be 3 lacs (Rs 300,000.00) instead of five lacs (500,000.00). Thanking you for your reliable service. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg c.c. Tejyas das Adhikari, New Delhi Labels: bank, construction, Vrindavana letters | 22:22 |23 April 2008 23 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Niranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 9th April from Scotland. You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mantra. If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear Kunti beads around the neck and wear the marking of tilak. People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna Consciousness and sell them books also. You should also try to associate with the devotees in England and Scotland. If possible, visit the temple on Sundays and whenever you can, and always read my books. I will be coming to London in the first week of Maya and if you can come and see me at Bhaktivedanta Manor that will be very nice. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Glasgow, regulative principles letters | 22:23 |21 April 2008 Sunday, 21 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Hamsaduta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report of April 11, 1974. Your activities in book publication and distribution in the German and other European languages is very engladdening to me. I am enclosing the latest letter I have received from Wolf Rottkay and I am glad you have been able to engage him; cultivate this man, he is an important elderly professor in a U.S. university and wants to be engaged in Krsna Consciousness. Your chart for reporting book and record distribution is approved by me, as from this chart I can quickly see how the centers are doing. Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking about 'Life comes from Life' into a small book; this argument should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so called materialistic scientists as rascals. So go on printing and distributing as many books as possible; this is your real work and your personal success. From you report of an hour long kirtana at Moscow Airport, I understand that the sankirtana movement has already begun there and now it will go on further. I am also enclosing the names of 13 new disciples recommended by you. This is the result of our preaching propaganda, when our family members increase. Now be very careful to see to the growth and protection of the devotional creeper of these new devotees in your charge. By now I hope you have received my telegram and letter sent to Hamburg advising you to go to Bhaktivedanta Manor for managing affairs there. There were so many letters and reports coming from Mukunda, Puranjana, Bhaja Hari, Prabhu Visnu and then contrary reports from Madhavananda and with Shayamasundar away affairs seem perilous. I hope you are able to settle things up in regard to the debt of the Bury St. temple and temple organization at the Manor. Now Shayamasundar has wired me that he will send tickets for myself and three secretaries for coming to London. I have asked him to send me tickets and I can leave India for London about May 1st. As I have already informed you I am going to Paris the second week of May and Bhagavan das is arranging for a tour of Geneva, Rome and Sweden. I may also visit cities in Germany if you will arrange for that. So when I arrive in London if Syamasundara sends tickets, or when I arrive in Paris, I shall discuss these matters further with you. Now we are in South India at Hyderabad and will visit the Balaji temple in Tirupati and then return to Bombay prepared to leave for London on May 1st. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg copy to ISKCON Heidelberg Labels: Bhaktivedanta Manor, itinerary, management, publishing letters | 02:18 |21 April, 1974 Hyderabad To Whom It May Concern; This is to clarify and confirm the position of the Hawaii branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which I am the founder and spiritual master. The president of my Hawaii branch is Mr. Brent Selden. He is my authorized representative for any matters of land ownership or sale in the name of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Hawaii. I have been informed of unauthorized attempts to sell land there which is legally owned by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Unless transactions are authorized by my duly appointed representative, Mr. Brent Selden, they are illegal. Yours truly, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder-Acarya, ISKCON letters | 02:16 | 21 April, 1974 Hyderabad This is to certify that Mr. Brent Selden, whose initiated name is Sudama das Goswami, is the president of our Honolulu Center, and therefore authorized to deal with all lands and property possessed by ISKCON. Sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder and Acarya, International Society for Krishna Consciousness ACBS/sdg c.c. Bali Mardan das Adhikari, c/o N.Y. ISKCON for necessary help. letters | 02:15 | 21 April, 1974 Hyderabad To The Presidents of all centers in Europe and America: The bearer of this letter, Sriman Ranajit Sene, is a life member of our Society. He is going to visit Europe and America, so he should be received in every center as a life member. If he wants to stay in the temple he should be given facility. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: Calcutta, life member letters | 02:12 |20 April 2008 Saturday, 20 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Hari basara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 7, 1974 along with other letters and literature regarding the World's Fair exposition in Spokane, Washington. According to your letter you suggest I come and speak in the middle of August. But in order to insure good attendance at the event in order to sell the tickets and make profit you think it best if I appear with a popular music group. These arrangements make us too dependent on other parties. We should not be dependent on others but should present our own program. Since there are so many conditions and risks involved, better you yourselves do as much as possible to spread Krsna Consciousness there by distribution of literature, kirtana and prasadam, and that will be as effective as my personally coming. Besides, I must be in Vrindaban for Janmastami so my schedule makes it difficult for me to be in Spokane, Washington. I am very keen on the distribution of my books and I am very indebted to all of you for your untiring efforts to see that every man and woman in America get one of my books. If they simply read one page, even if they do nothing else, they can become perfect. I have read the plans of Ramesvara and Tripurari to attend the fair and distribute to the thousands of people who are coming; whatever transcendental tactics you leaders think best for distributing the books you can employ. Please keep me informed of your progress as the Fair develops. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg Labels: book distribution, Seattle letters | 02:13 |20 April, 1974 Hyderabad Dear Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters of April 15, 1974 and I thank you. My point of view is this: whatever money you require I am already sending and will continue without hesitation to send, but I must be satisfied the money is properly spent. The first point is if I send you money for a certain purpose it must be spent for that purpose. Money for land must be spent for land purchase; if I send money for constructing of a kitchen it must be spent for that. Also, if you purchase land it must be properly utilized. It is no use purchasing land to be wasted by costly laborers. If you actually produce some grains or vegetables, then where is the necessity for further money for maintenance. For maintenance we require 100 rupees per head without any risk for purchasing lands and cultivating the same. I understand there are only 20 men there at present, so utmost 2,000 rupees is necessary for maintenance. I am not competent to understand everything concerning what you plan to do, but that is my rough estimate. You have tried to explain by long letter which I have not gone through yet. In the meantime go on the above principle: money spent must be used for that purpose intended. That will keep it very clear. I know you are working hard and sincerely. I have no business to criticize you but as head of the institution or your spiritual master, it is my duty to find out your faults. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented himself as faulty before his spiritual master. To remain faulty before the spiritual master is a good qualification so he is subjected to rectification. But if one thinks he is all perfect then there is no scope for rectification. Don't be sorry when I find fault. That is my primary duty. Canakya pandita says one must find fault with disciples and sons, it is good for them. I hope things are going nicely and progressively. The money is with Giriraja: he has send Rs 50,000 in two installments, the balance is kept with him and you will get it timely. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg N.B. Previously, eighty thousand rupees was taken from Hyderabad for Mayapur. (RS 80,000.00) I am not sure of the exact sum but Gargamuni Maharaja will have a record of it. So now that Hyderabad construction is going on, this money is required by them. Please see that it is returned by you as soon as possible. Labels: faults, management, Mayapur letters | 02:13 | |
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