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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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6 September 2008 Saturday, 7 September, 1974 Vrindaban Dear Deoji Punja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 7, 1974 forwarded to me from USA. So I thank you very much for your sympathy. I have written to Subaladas Swami to accept your invitation, and I understand that you are arranging for his tickets. So please keep me informed of the progress there. Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Fiji letters | 02:10 |7 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Bhogilal Patel: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter forwarded by Giriraja as well as your telegram dated September 6, 1974 regarding the Haridwar bungalow. I thank you very much for it, and when I am fit, I will take advantage of it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Bombay letters | 02:10 |7 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Gurugauranga das; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Sept, 1 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the marriage of Ramiya devi dasi; you can find out a suitable boy there, I think that Bhagavan das can arrange this. It is not necessary for Bilvamangala to marry this particular girl, another can be found out. Regarding the remarks of Prof. Jean Herbert, in Bhagavad-gita we find no instruction except devotional service or bhakti yoga. We have to prove this from the statements of the Bhagavad gita. We cannot accept the interpretation of an outsider. Regarding karma yoga the Lord says: yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam [Bg. 9.27] This mad-arpanam is bhakti yoga. Similarly the Lord says: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19] This means that jnana alone is not good unless the jnani surrenders to Krishna. Unless one does so his knowledge is not perfect. Similarly at the end of the Bhagavad gita the Lord says: sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66] This is the ultimate goal to surrender to the Supreme Lord. This is the end of yoga. He also says at the end of the 6th chapter: yoginam api sarvesam mad gatenantaratmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah [Bg. 6.47] Of all yogas, karma yoga, hatha yogi, etc., one who always thinks of Krishna is the 1st class yogi. We are teaching people to become 1st class yogis in Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Bhagavad-gita, Geneva letters | 02:09 |7 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Cidananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your five letters. I am glad to know that you are in good health and practicing Krishna consciousness nicely. So far the question of marriage, this is generally not the concern of a sannyasi. Therefore I have asked the temple presidents to take care of this matter in a mature and responsible way. I therefore request you to approach the temple president there and the GBC and ask for their advise. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb P.S. If you can remain a Brahmacari that is the best way of life. Labels: marriage, Santa Cruz letters | 02:08 |7 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Batugopala das; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 21, with enclosed photographs. So Kirtanananda Maharaja has installed Deities. But without twenty devotees how you can have Deities? Your men are coming and going so why you are having Deity installation? You must have twenty devotees. Kirtanananda Maharaja, he should supply those devotees since he has authorized the installation. You can name the Deities, Radha-Muralidhara. Regarding taking the Deities out on sankirtana as advised by Tamala Krsna Goswami, occasionally the Deities may come and go, however you can let Tamala Krsna Goswami guide you in this connection. Regarding having your wife do the management, if there are no men available then what can be done? But now there is some difficulty in the management there is no question of opening up any restaurant. Do not open any restaurant. I am glad to see that you are living an ideal grhastha life. That is very good. The more you will become Krishna conscious the more you will forget sex life. Sex life is the original root cause of material bondage. When one takes to Krishna consciousness gradually sex at last becomes abominable, then he is fit to enter back to home back to Godhead. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Cleveland, Deities, grhastha, restaurant letters | 02:07 |7 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Hamsaduta das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 10, 1974 forwarded from Bombay. The photo you have sent is a nice picture. I am getting it framed. So in Germany when I was there I was very, very hopeful. There is good scope for preaching Krsna consciousness there. The people there are very intelligent. They are prepared to accept the real truth. Germany was always famous for its intelligent population. You are also appropriately fit to push on this cult in Germany. It will be a great success. Get the German people to take this movement seriously. Utilize the money you are collecting there for printing more and more books in German language, and profusely distribute our books in German language. I am very pleased that you are printing in German the books you have mentioned. Regarding the farm, the exhibition is there in New Vrindaban. Kirtanananda Maharaja has organized very nicely. The same principle you can follow and organize it in Germany. Let the people be happy with self sufficient food grown in the field with milk products. When I was in Frankfurt round our place I was so happy so see the farms and the cows. Unfortunately they will kill the cows. So if we organize a farm without killing any cows, that will be a great example in that country. Instead of killing cows, if we let them live, we can get so many nutritious foodstuffs filled with vitamins. I have seen in New Vrindaban how happily our devotees are living there with free air, fresh vegetables, and ample milk. Simple living in cottages. What you want more? We should not neglect the upkeep of the body, and we should save time to chant Hare Krsna. This mission should be propagated. Save time and chant Hare Krsna. Now you publish in German language all our books and distribute. Krsna will help you in every respect. The BBT collection should be spent 50% for publishing and 50% for construction of temples. At the present moment the Mayapur-Vrindaban projects are going on, so as soon as there is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not a single farthing should be invested in any business enterprise. Formally it was so done without any sanction. So be careful. Regarding printing, you can print in U.S.A. or any other country. U.K. also has big presses, I have heard that Belgium is also good. Also Holland, and Germany is also good. Try to revive the Ratha Yatra next year in London. Agree to follow all their instructions, but the ratha must move in procession as it was done previously. People enjoyed it, both European and Indian. Everyone enjoyed. Why there should be this restriction for public enjoyment? This is injustice both the Indian and European people. Regarding Madhavananda he will work more and more enthusiastically. Both husband and wife. Combined together they can do herculean task. And they are devotees also. He is good worker. Encourage him. It is nice that you are purchasing the houses in front of Bhaktivedanta Manor. Yes, have London pay BBT as much as possible. They owe a great amount. Regarding record albums, it is something sentimental. They will purchase and hear for sometime and throw it and purchase another. A book purchased will remain, and once even one line is read, that will benefit the reader. A book sold rather than a record will be a solid sale. Regarding the printing, it does not matter where you print our German books. Never mind the cost whether it is a little more or less. Wherever it is convenient. We are not after profit. The important thing is good printing and binding so that the people will be impressed. Regarding your trip to U.S.A. you say that you will be tactful and respectful in your dealings. That should be the motto of all GBC. Be tolerant, and if there is any deficiency, rectify it. All our men have volunteered good service, so the background is good will. So everything should be done on the basis of good will. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Regarding transferring to ISKCON FOOD RELIEF, you can transfer to ISKCON American Express a/c # 3002, Bombay. When you transfer, be sure to notify them by letter what the money is for. Labels: book distribution, farm, Frankfurt, simple living letters | 02:06 |5 September 2008 Friday, 6 September, 1974 Vrindaban Dear Swami Satpremananda Sarasvati: Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July, 1974 and have noted the contents and thank you for it. So far as initiation is concerned, it is best if you live in one of our temples for some time and follow the rules and regulations and chant Hare Krsna on the beads 16 rounds. Then upon recommendation of the temple president, you can be initiated. Nowadays there are so many so-called spiritual masters, it becomes bewildering to us as to who can actually give spiritual knowledge. Therefore I have written volumes of books, authorized Vedic literature, of which you can take advantage in association with the devotees who are practicing this knowledge. Thus you will be able to learn the science of God. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: so-called spiritual masters, Stockholm letters | 02:05 |6 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Nari devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. The problems you write of indicate that your spiritual foundation is very weak. To make advancement in Krsna consciousness one must decide whether he is going to be serious or not. If one is actually serious, then by chanting Hare Krsna 16 rounds daily, following the four regulative principles, and reading my books, certainly you will make advancement, and these such problems will fall to the side. I therefore request you because you are an initiated devotee to take up Krsna consciousness seriously as you promise at the time of your initiation, and be happy in Krsna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Buffalo, regulative principles, serious letters | 02:04 |6 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Jagajivana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 8, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad that you are enthusiastically taking up book distribution and have increased to 15,000 pieces per month. You have rightly understood the potency contained within my books. So far as being leader is concerned, leader means spiritually not materially. This you should understand very clearly. If spiritual potency and strength is there, then material intelligence will automatically follow. We must have a solid foundation of chanting and following the regulative principles. Then one is fit to lead others. I hope you will understand this point. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Bueonos Aires, leader letters | 02:03 |6 September, 1974 Vrindaban Dear Mr. Svoboda: Please accept my best wishes. Thank you for your letter dated July 25, 1974 and I am glad to know that you have come to appreciate our Krsna consciousness movement and the philosophy we are trying to spread throughout the world. I hope you will try to regularly visit our temple in Toronto and have association of the devotees and attend the classes on the Bhagavad gita. So far as your translating the Gita, I suggest you write to Hamsaduta das Adhikari who is in charge of this area of the world. You can get his address at our Toronto temple. He will be able to advise you further in translation work. Actually not only the problem of nationalism, but every problem of the world is due to a lack of Krsna consciousness. That is the only scarcity. So try to learn this philosophy nicely in association with other devotees and certainly you will be able to do great benefit to your fellow countrymen. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Toronto, translation letters | 02:02 |6 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Jagadisa das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. So you may remain wherever you may be peaceful. You may resume your GBC duties as secretary for the Central U.S.A. Zone. GBC means that one must be ideal Vaisnava. That means there must be strict observance in following all the rules and regulations. This is your main responsibility, and then to see that all others are following strictly. Then everything will be all right. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 02:02 | 4 September 2008 Thursday, 5 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Vijoyadhvaja das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. What is the difficulty if Subala das Goswami comes there. Sudama Vipra Maharaja is already engaged in the Philippines. I have no objection to Sudama Vipra going there, but he is already engaged. Better you continue there and let Subala come and organize in Fiji and get men from Australia. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Fiji letters | 02:02 |5 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Sudama and Subaladas Goswamis: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated July 29, 30, August 6, 28 and 29th and telegram dated August 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. This restaurant program will not work. Do not attempt. You have to organize that new house. The restaurant is not at all advisable at the present moment. Restaurant is a very difficult thing. Best idea is for Subala to go to Fiji and preach. That is the business of sannyasi, not opening restaurant. Restaurant is for grhastha. Preaching is first. Subala should go there and tactfully manage and get men from Australia. Mr. Punja has written that he is arranging the ticket and will give assistance. So do it nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Hawaii, restaurant, sannyasa letters | 02:01 |5 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 19/8/74 and 1/9/74 and have noted the contents. So you can fix up the Hindi High School Program as you have proposed, and we shall go. You can fix it for three weeks from now at the end of September. Regarding Kanpur program I could go for one or two days but in my present state of health it is hard to travel. Regarding books supply, Giriraja informs that a shipment is due in mid September and they have already received the shipping documents. All titles have been ordered, and I have instructed Brahmananda Swami, Bhagavan, and Giriraja to take immediate steps. You must have sufficient stock of books. You can send your order to Giriraja, and as you are sending Rs. 10,000/- monthly, you should be supplied with the same amount of books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: book distribution, Calcutta letters | 02:00 |5 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Bali Mardan das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 28, 1974 and have carefully noted the contents. My only anxiety is to guide you. Krsna sometimes makes me sick just to examine how much you have learned to conduct the business under my guidance, with a little independence. You should never act independently, because my guidance in my words are always there. The main guidance is all of us should remain spiritually strong by chanting the minimum number of rounds and following the rules and regulations. The GBC should personally observe strictly all the rules and regulations and they should become the practical example to others. Then everything will be all right. Then there will be no fear of being victimized by maya. Regarding the International Trust Board, we are now expanding and so our interests should be carefully guarded. Certainly the 12 GBC members are being trained up strictly under my guidance so that they will protect the interest of the society very, very carefully. All our property should be well protected, and I think in every document my name as Founder-Acarya should be mentioned. Special care should be taken that no property can be sold or mortgaged by local managers as was done by Gaurasundara. This is my only concern. BBT management should be rigidly done very carefully, and I think Ramesvara is a good manager. He can be appointed BBT secretary. I approve BBT moving to New York, because of their freehand dealing. Ramesvara may be made your assistant and remain with you. It is all right that no others be appointed as Trustees at present. Regarding the matter of Sudama Maharaja there will be no more discussion. Immediately this should be stopped, this matter. Sudama Maharaja should be encouraged. He is doing nicely. Practically the old branch was abolished. Since he has gone there, things have improved very much. So he should be encouraged very much in his activities. Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and friendly dealings. This is not an ordinary thing that if somebody has got some fault he should be cut. He should be reformed by amicable dealings. We are training our men since a long time. It is very difficult to get trained up assistants. Regarding the library party in each GBC zone that is a good idea. Regarding the 24 hour kirtana as a regular temple function, do not do anything impractical. If it is not possible, then don't do it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: GBC, guidance, liberal, New York letters | 01:59 |3 September 2008 Wednesday, 4 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Rupanuga das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated August 17 1974 and August 26, 1974 and have noted the contents. As you are appreciating my books, so if all educated people in your country also appreciate, that will expand our missionary activities. One thing I received one letter from Gurukula regarding the Krsna Bowl contests, and I want you to know that nothing new should be added. Whatever I have introduced should remain. Nothing new should be added. New things means their brain is not clear. Carefully manage things what I have established. I am glad to learn that in Philadelphia they are increasing Sankirtana. It is our life and soul. Sankirtana should be increased as much as possible. Side by side is book selling. Then our mission will be successful. It is also good that in Atlanta they are doing college courses. Similar attempts should be made in other places. Regarding the Buffalo project, New Vrindaban is the example. You should develop in a similar way. Have milk, vegetables, simple living, and chanting Hare Krsna. The whole world is engaged in unnecessary hard labor with their factories. It is a brain killing civilization. Let them come to free life. Spend time chanting Hare Krsna, reading books and making their lives successful. This is very essential propaganda. People must be informed. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: farm, gurukula, nothing added, Washington letters | 01:58 |2 September 2008 Tuesday, 3 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Aksobhya das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter. Regarding the Krishna Bowl game, it should be stopped immediately. This thing will be a taxation on the brain on the young children. Why are you inventing? Why you are not satisfied? You are all only inventing and spoiling money. You should teach the children perfectly Sanskrit and English instead of spoiling time and money. The children cannot pronounce correctly the Sanskrit. Let them read it correctly, that is wanted first. They must pronounce nicely English and Sanskrit. The English is no difficulty. If you can do this, then your education is all right. You may introduce contests, but if the children and also the older devotees cannot pronounce Sanskrit correctly, it is all a useless waste of time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Dallas Gurukula, inventing, sanskrit, spoiling letters | 08:59 |3 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Rsabhadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16/8/74 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and their names are as follows: 1. David Bowmar--Dhanviganesa das 2. Kenneth Venezia--Kalanka das 3. James Sullivan--Jagattraya das 4. Walter Parry--Vrndapati das 5. Michael Matlock--Mangaladata das 6. Christina Wroth--Kriyasakti devi Please see that they strictly follow all the principles, chanting 16 rounds daily. This is also for the older disciples as well. Yes, as you have suggested Dr. Wolf-Rotkay can write to me requesting initiation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: initiation, Laguna Beach letters | 08:58 |3 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Dina Bandhu dasa Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I have accepted as my initiated disciples the following devotees and their names are: 1. Ed--Edhaniyasvabhava das 2. Pat--Pati das 3. Linda--Lila devi Also enclosed are sanctified threads for Mahi Barta das, Krta krta das, Sarva das, Sretha das. Now hold a fire sacrifice and impress upon the devotees that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. Everyone should attend mangal arati and chant 16 rounds daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: initiation, Portland letters | 08:58 |3 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 25, 1974 and have note the contents. Yes, it is good that you have understood me about not investing any BBT monies in business. Regarding the Spanish publications, it appears that these versions are shorter in length than the English ones. One thing is that Gurukrpa Swami has written that he will not be able to legally send any more money out of the country after the final payment to Japan, but you have written in your last letter that he would be transferring money into my account. Regarding my health, I am improving by the grace of Krishna. Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health for praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me. Kindly follow all rules and regulations. That will give you spiritual strength. We should always be in touch with Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. That is by chanting Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: BBT, health, Los Angeles letters | 07:56 |3 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1974 with enclosures and have noted the contents. Regarding my health, I am improving by the grace of Krsna. Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health by praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me. It is very good that you are making life members daily locally instead of going to the city. Better to get sympathy in the neighborhood. As soon as they will see our activities, they will be very much pleased. You must keep in touch with them, that is their real complaint. It is a very big scheme. Hundreds of thousands will give for this scheme. Let them come in the evening, see kirtana, take prasada, and liberally contribute. They will feel releaved to contribute to such a good cause. Try to publish in Hindi and Gujarati our literature. On Hare Krishna Land no proposal for rental of even a pinch of land shall be entertained by you. Strictly this should be followed by you. No more tenants. What tenants we have, if they peacefully vacate, you can give compensation. Do not entertain any proposal for tenancy for any corner of any pinch of land in the Hare Krishna scheme. It is good that you have gotten the tax exemption number. Send me a copy of the article you will write for the publishing house. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Bombay, life member, tenants letters | 06:57 |31 August 2008 Sunday, 1 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Gurukrpa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 27, 1974 and have noted the contents. I note that you have remitted for M-V total of $185,807.00. You say that after this last payment to Dai Nippon, you will not be able to send any legal payment out of the country. But, Ramesvara has just written that after this payment you will be able to make all future payments to my account direct. Please clarify this. But, there are Indian merchants there who can help you. If they understand that we are using the money here to build temples, they will help. You must use your best judgement. What can I advise? Regarding the allurements of money and women, Krsna will protect you. Caitanya Mahaprabhu at a young age took sannyasa and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was also thinking like you are thinking. So as a friend Sarvabhauma wanted to teach Caitanya Mahaprabhu Vedanta. The result was that Bhattacarya had to learn Vedanta from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and became his disciple. So Krsna is always strong. If you are fully engaged in Krsna's service, attraction of women will be a myth only. It is only Krsna's grace. Of course we are old men now, but even old men they are attracted still by women. So even old man or young man, if one's mind is fixed up in Krsna's lotus feet, there will be no such mundane attraction. Even a woman in the dead of night with all attractive features could not affect even sligtly Haridasa Thakura. So it is a very pleasant job transcendentally. So much so that women and money is no attraction to a devotee. A devotee knows how to engage himself and others in the service of Krsna completely, as well as all the wealth of the world in the matter of propagating Krsna consciousness. Rest assured. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: MV Trust, Tokyo, wealth, women letters | 00:08 | |
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