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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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11 October 2008 Friday, 11 October, 1974 Mayapur Srinathji Temple Nathadwara, Rajasthan My Dear Sir: Please accept my best wishes. I have received a report from my disciple Murti das Adhikari of the nice program that was held in Nathadwara. I am very thankful for your cooperation for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vallabhacarya were good friends, and Vallabhacarya many times visited Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We get this information from authorized books. So far I know Gopalaji is coming from Madhavendra Puri, the original acarya of Gaudiya Vaisnavas. His disciple was Isvara Puri, and his disciple was Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is a great need for spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world based on the Bhagavad gita As It Is. We have been successful in this attempt. I am very well known to Dixitji Goswami of Bombay. He likes very much my movement and my books. I am very much grateful for your contribution of so many books on Vallabh Sampradaya and also the framed pictures. They are being kept in Delhi, and when I return to Vrindaban via Delhi, I shall see them. We are contemplating to open our newly constructed temple in Vrindaban during the Appearance Day of Lord Ramacandra festival, and I wish very fervently that your Holiness may be present on that occasion. If you have got time to attend the ceremony, kindly let me know, and we shall make necessary arrangements for your reception. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: Murtidas, ISKCON Delhi Labels: Vallabhacarya, Vrindavana letters | 03:38 |11 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Sri Govinda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974 and have noted the contents. Any discrepancy, that can be corrected. A change of management that is not good. All faults shall be corrected. You are already trained up man. Do not worry. Jaya-tirtha Prabhu is here, and I have advised him in this connection that the three of you: him, Jagadisa, and yourself, chalk out a program. So do not worry. You three men change the discrepancies. Why Jagadisa's wife should interfere? We must run the Society on cooperation. Whatever is done, is done. You are all experienced men, and I have confidence that everything can be corrected. Debt is not good. It is said that a happy man is he who lives at home and has no debts. That is a happy man. Please try to correct this situation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. Your telegram to Brahmananda Swami to cancel the initiations of Barb and Lee Sutton has been received. ACBS/bs Labels: Chicago, management letters | 03:37 |11 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Pranava das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 with enclosed eight forms by Registered Post. Before this I have written you one letter dated 8/10/74. Please refer to that. The land will be purchased as I have already instructed in the name of ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust. The money Rs. 1 lakh has already been transferred to this bank account. As per my letter dated 8/10/74, when the conveyance deed is prepared, and when I approve it, then I shall advise the bank to pay the amount before the Registrar. That is the way of payment. Regarding the registration fee, I have purchased the Bombay land paying half and half. This is the system. I cannot invest more than 1 lakh in this transaction, including everything. But, your estimate is for more than that. Somehow or other I have secured this Rs. 1 lakh. It is not possible to pay more than this amount. Generally a sales agreement is made when the papers are examined and the title certificate is taken from a bona fide lawyer. Then the conveyance is prepared on stamp paper. Then it is registered. This is the procedure. So where is the sales agreement? You have not mentioned anything whether Pravakar assisted in this connection. The money is already there. There is no question of money, but everything must be done according to regular procedures. The eight papers sent by you are returned herewith duly signed in two places. Please do everything very carefully. All documents should be made in English. From Bombay on 7th instant the money is transferred to a/c ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust No. 668. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: land, MV Trust, Vrindavana letters | 03:36 |11 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Tejiyas das: Please accept my blessings. One letter from Harikesa has been received regarding getting maintenance money. Gurudasa has all of a sudden left. How will the Vrindaban expenditure be met? Where is the money Gurudasa collected for the Deities? Where is it kept and what is the account? Yamuna is very clever, and I know they have collected huge sum. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: Harikesa, Vrindaban Labels: New Delhi letters | 03:35 |11 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974. There is no need of changing the signatures. It is all right that Jayatirtha continue signing checks jointly with you for normal business matters that have been approved by the trustees. So let it go on. Your report of the book distribution there is very encouraging. Make program to distribute our books all over the world. Our books are being appreciated by learned circles, so we should take advantage. Whatever progress we have made, it is simply to distributing these books. So go on, and do not divert your mind for a moment from this. I have full confidence in you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: book distribution, Los Angeles letters | 03:34 |10 October 2008 10 October, 1974 West Bengal My Dear Ajita Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 2, 1974 and have noted the contents with pleasure. I am glad to learn that you are expanding all your activities, and I very much appreciate your efforts in this connection. Lord Caitanya will bless you. I am pleased to accept the following as my initiated disciples and their name are as follows: Per Jaderstrand--Prapujaka Dasa, and Margaretta Jaderstrand--Mahamedha Devi Dasi. Upon your recommendation I accept for second initiation Aristahe Das Brahmacari, and enclosed is his sanctified brahminical thread and the mantra sheet. When you hold the fire sacrifice, impress upon the devotees that they are taking vows before Radha and Krishna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas, so it is a serious thing. The gayatri mantra should be heard from my tape recording through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: initiation letters | 02:14 |9 October 2008 Wednesday, 9 October, 1974 Mayapur Dear Mr. Jayakar: Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1974. I was very ill in Vrndaban as you know. Now I have come to Mayapur, Navadvipa. Here it is a very open place. Sometimes when you come to Calcutta, you can visit this place. You can come direct by motor car. You can contact our man, Gargamuni Swami at 3, Albert Road, and he will arrange for your transportation. It is a very nice, open place. Here we have got our temple and nice accommodation for respectable men. I will be going to Bombay, and I am just waiting for my new apartment to be finished and the construction to be completed. I think it will be ready within one or two weeks time. It is at Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay-54. As soon as I reach Bombay it will be my duty to inform you and my great pleasure to meet you again. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 05:13 | 9 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Pariksit dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. The answers to your questions are as follows: 1. Regarding Krsna das Kaviraja, there is no such information, but as far as possible, he was brahmacari. 2. Lord Nityananda and the associates appeared in the room. 3. The stick held by Lord Nityananda is like your sketch. 4. The bodily hues of the devotees of Lord Nityananda, why green? But, it can be done, there is no harm. 5. You can continue not showing Srimati Radharani's feet. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: art, New York, questions letters | 05:12 |9 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Jadurani devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents. The answers to your questions are as follows: 1. For the portraits of Gaura Kisora and Jagannatha das Babaji, yes you can use the mangalarcana prayers, and also the same for Bhaktivinode Thakura. 2. You can sign your paintings with your personal names. 3. Regarding Devahuti's painting for Adi lila, yes you can use it. I think it is nice. You can also use the painting you had suggested previously. Both can be used. 4. Yes, it is understood that your paintings are offered to the Deities when they appear in books or on the temple walls. It is understood like that. 5. Regarding asking me questions, yes you can ask, but unless it is sanctioned by me, you cannot act on it. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: art, New York, questions letters | 05:11 |9 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 9/12/74 and have noted the contents. I have already told you to go on with your business of distributing my books. There is no need of transferring the BBT accounts to New York now. Let it go on as it is. Regarding Bali Mardan, there are so many charges and counter charges. We have appointed an enquiry committee., and let it be finished and we shall do the needful. I have also written to Karandhara, and you can read the letter so that everything may be cleared. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: BBT, Los Angeles letters | 05:10 |8 October 2008 Tuesday, 8 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Mr. Winter: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 16/9/74 and have noted the contents. Regarding what you want to do, I suggest that you discuss the matter with my secretary, Hamsaduta das Adhikari. He is my secretary and you can discuss the matter fully with him. He can be reached at Schloss Rettershof, Konigstein, Taunua, West Germany. I hope this meets you in good health. Yours faithfully, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Amsterdam letters | 05:09 |8 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Pranava Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated October 5, 1974 reading as follows: RECEIVED YOUR LETTER WORKING ACCORDINGLY LAND ALREADY ARRANGED GURUDASA LEFT FOR LONDON TRANSFER ONE LAKH CONSTRUCTION FUND --PRANAVADAS I have already asked Bombay to transfer one lakh of Rupees through the Bombay PNB to the PNB Vrindaban Branch account No. 668. So please go and enquire whether they have received the money. Regarding Gurudasa going to London, it is surprising to me. Anyway I have sent Dhananjaya das Adhikari to act in place of Gurudasa. Please try and help him, both you and Saurabha. He is very nice, obedient boy. He will be very much helpful in Vrindaban, so please cooperate with him fully. He has already left for Vrindaban with my instructions and a letter to the bank. Regarding the land, you say it will be settled up near about Rs. 90,000/-, so why are you asking for Rs. 1 lakh? But, I have not received any report of enquiry in the affairs of the land, whether Prabhakar Misra assisted you in this connection. Anyway the draft conveyance may be sent to me one copy immediately made by our lawyer. I think he is Mr. Maheswari you said. So do everything very carefully. Our money is collected with great difficulty. I want that not a single farthing may be at stake. Anyway the money is already there. Simply let me know when and how the money is to be paid to the other party. The usual procedure is that a bank cashiers check may be paid at the time of registration by the government that the land is being transferred to us. Please send me immediately the draft of conveyance deed made by the lawyer. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: bank, Vrindavana letters | 05:08 |8 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Karandhara das: Please accept my blessings. I am very pleased to receive your letter dated 9/11/74 and have noted the contents with great delight. The thing is where is the question of making any conspiracy. The materialistic man creates diplomacy and conspiracy for sense gratification. Everyone wants in the material world some reputation, profit, and some adoration. But so far we are concerned we are being trained up by following the footsteps of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi "My Lord I do not want any monetary gain, neither any number of followers, or wife, but simply I want to be engaged in Your causeless devotional service, which means I do not even want salvation." So if actually we follow the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, where is the question of conspiracy? This whole institution was started singlehandedly without any capital. I went to your country with only Rs. 40/- and 200 sets of books. So if we take the capital of the whole business, it was the books and the Rs. 40/-. The Rs. 40/- was not even touched because Indian Rupees currency could not be spent in your country. In 1967 when I came back to India the Rs. 40/- was paid for the taxi cab. The 200 sets of books was sold, and I was maintaining myself with great difficulty. Now by the grace of Krishna books sales have increased tremendously, and whatever money we are spending it is from the books sales; or whatever money is also being squandered that is also from the book sales. Now by the grace of Krishna we have got sufficient properties all over the world, so there cannot be any diplomacy or conspiracy by any sane man. All these properties and opulences, whatever we have got, this will not go with me when I go away from this world. It will remain here. I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say I am the Lord of all I survey, that is dangerous conspiracy. As alleged by you I have received complaints against Bali Mardan and his wife, so seriously so much so that the girl has declared that Bali Mardan is an incarnation of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on my name. In India some of the important members they have collected huge amounts in the name of the Society and spent it luxuriously. I wanted you all my experienced disciples should manage the whole institution very cleverly without any personal ambition like ordinary materialistic men. The Gaudiya Math institution has become smashed, at least stopped its program of preaching work on account of personal ambitions. So whatever is done is done. I shall request you all not to be personally ambitious. I shall do everything in my power to fulfill your personal ambitions, but that will be done in due course of time when you are fully trained up and following the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds. So complaints against Bali Mardan is very serious, and I have appointed an enquiry committee, consisting of three men. Let us know the report. So far yourself is concerned, you know I had full faith in you, and whatever you did I never objected. But, in the meantime twice thrice you resigned. That has given me a little agitation. So kindly follow the regulative principles regularly chant 16 rounds and make up the deficit in Spiritual Sky, and gradually everything will come to its right position, and I hope Krishna will help us to adjust the present situation very peacefully. I believe all my students they are very serious devotees, maybe sometimes influenced by maya, but they can be corrected and the whole thing will go on as usual without any difficulty. Please try to help me in this connection in this endeavor. I hope you are living very peacefully with wife and children without being disturbed by anything else. More in my next. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: complaints, conspiracy, Los Angeles, personal ambition letters | 05:07 |8 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Badarinarayan das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 4, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. You have a nice house, six devotees and a good field. Now that you have opened the temple do not think to close it even if there is some difficulty. If there is any difficulty, you go and just depend upon Krishna. Krishna will help you, that is a fact. I have given order that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed under any circumstance. This is bhakti cult. In whatever condition I will depend on Krishna. So do your work sincerely, husband and wife, and you will have good success there. I know that they college students in your country are dissatisfied with this material education. Always be eager to present this cult to them and try to save them from the degradation of modern civilization. You be pure, and teach them to be pure. The process is there. Follow very strictly our rules and regulations and maya will not be able to touch you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Ann Arbor, college preaching letters | 05:06 |7 October 2008 Monday, 7 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Shakti Mati devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17/9/74 in Hindi language and I have noted the contents. I thank you for your concern for my well being. Actually I was very ill. I was falling down. But, by your prayers Krishna has kindly made me recover. Because you have prayed to Krishna therefore I have recovered. Just like Srimat Kunti devi when there was difficulty, she prayed to Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness. Not that when there is difficulty I shall forget Krishna. Whatever the material condition may be we should just cling to Krishna's lotus feet. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 17:30 | 7 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Vajresvari devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 11, 1974. I have noted in your letter that you want to serve me. I only want that all you my disciples always think of Krishna and never forget Him for a moment. In this way you can conquer Krishna. He becomes so attracted by pure devotion that He gives Himself to His devotee. And if you get Krishna, then what you want more? How to think of Krishna that I have given, following the devotional practices and chanting 16 rounds minimum. We have also established worship of the Deity in our temple so that all day long one will automatically think of Krishna, He is so kind. So now Kirtanananda Maharaja has recommended you for twice born initiation. Dvija: (dvi means twice and ja means birth. Now you finish your old birth with the fire of Krishna consciousness. Worship Krishna with love. That is the qualification for Deity worship. If you love Krishna, you will worship Him very nicely. So follow Kirtanananda Maharaja in this connection. He can guide you. Our New Vrindaban scheme is meant for peaceful living, simple life of chanting Hare Krishna and becoming purified. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: initiation, New Vrindavan letters | 17:30 |7 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Tulsi das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 29, 1974. I am glad to learn that all the programs are going on nicely. Especially the college programs. If they are helping with funds, then there is much scope. I am glad that you are taking the recommendation of new initiates very seriously, that they are writing essays. Yes, it is a serious matter. Not that let me take a spiritual master as a pet and I can do whatever I want. No, one must be prepared to follow the order of the spiritual master with life and soul. I accept the following for second initiation, and the sanctified threads are enclosed: 1. Hamsavatara. das Adhikari, 2. Sangita devi dasi, 3. Loka Saranga das Brahmacari, 4. Omkara dasi, 5. Manindra devi dasi, 6. Divya devi dasi. On your recommendation I accept the following for first initiation and their names are as follows: 1. Roger Villalaban--Ranapriya, 2. Chuck--Ksetrajna dasa, 3. Roger Barbour--Raksana dasa, 4. Bob--Bhava dasa, 5. Glenn--Guruttama dasa, 6. Louis--Lohitaksa dasa, 7. Diane--Diksavati devi dasi, 8. Michelle--Mahavegavati devi dasi, 9. Dawn--Devamata devi dasi, 10. Andrea--Rasajna devi dasi, 11. Francie--Phalini devi dasi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: initiation, Los Angeles letters | 17:22 |7 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Visala das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 with enclosed donation of Rs. 211/- and I thank you very much for it. I think you can let me know how you are doing there in Delhi for collecting for our Vrindaban temple. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: New Delhi letters | 17:22 |6 October 2008 Sunday, 6 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 2, 1974 with enclosed pictures. Regarding Hamsaduta, you cannot criticize him. Hamsaduta is liquidating the debts. You were there but you could not liquidate, but Hamsaduta has come and he is liquidating. Canakya Pandit says that a happy man is he who lives at home and who has no debts. London was so much in debt that it was something shameless. I have not said anything until now, but I was very sorry to see in the temple that the chandelier was taken down. The temple was almost dark without the chandelier. I had told to Syamasundara. that I wanted it, and he borrowed, but then he could not pay, so it was taken. I am prepared to give you fair chance, but you cannot criticize Hamsaduta. Let there be re-election in the presence of two GBC men. We should utilize our talents without being envious of others. You should do your best, but you should not be envious of others. In material life there is simply envy of others progress, but in spiritual life one encourages another, "Oh you are doing very nice." That is Radharani. She says oh here is a very nice devotee. Please Krishna, you accept him. From the pictures it appears that the Deity worship is going on very nicely. Krishna is very satisfied by His face. He looks very healthy. He is very fond of milk and butter. He is a butter thief. You have now got cows, so offer nicely. I have asked that the picture be framed. I think that the Deity worship is almost better than our Los Angeles center. The Life Member room is very nice. They should have like that here. The Ratha is very gorgeous. I have already written that if there is complaint, you should not agitate the villagers. If you have complaints against Hamsaduta, then they can be presented at the GBC meeting at Mayapur and a decision can be taken. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Bhaktivedanta Manor, complaints, criticism letters | 07:40 |6 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Bhurijana Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 from Singapore and have noted the contents. So wherever you find a suitable place you can go, always keeping sure to follow the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds. Whatever service you can render that is welcome. Do not deviate from the principles. You are a good soul, and your wife is also a good soul. I hope you get a good child. But, you must be careful not to deviate from the principles. I think Hong Kong is the best field for you. You started there and remained there for so many years and you have all acquaintances there. You can start a temple there provided you are strong enough. That will please me very much. But if you stick to our principles it will not be difficult. One thing try to remember is that a temple should not be started whimsically. It must be given very careful consideration. And once started, a temple cannot be closed whimsically. You must be fully prepared to maintain nicely the temple. You must consider carefully. Once a temple is started, it cannot be closed in any circumstances. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Australia, closing temples, Hong Kong letters | 07:40 |5 October 2008 Saturday, 5 October, 1974 Mayapur My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974 with enclosed check for Dollars 500.00, color photos, building plans, and one letter and check for Dollars 50.00 forwarded by you. I was thinking that I have not received any check from Kirtanananda since considerable time passed, so immediately Krishna has sent the check. Thank you. Regarding New Vrindaban I was very happy when I was there, not only myself but all devotees and GBC members all enjoyed the atmosphere of New Vrindaban, especially the cow protection scheme. May Krishna give more facilities to advance the cause of New Vrindaban, and I am expecting very soon to go there and live in my proposed palace at least for some time. From the pictures anyone will see that you have organized New Vrindaban very nicely. It is just like Krishna's Vrindaban. Now they are happy in New Vrindaban both animals and men. Here in one picture is Kirtanananda instructing the cow to chant Hare Krishna. In another picture the boys and the cows are being taken equal care. Everyone is living very peacefully and eating very nicely. There is so much land. This is real Vrindaban life. In Vrindaban Krishna calls the cows each by his own name. When cows were purchased in the beginning I have seen them crying because the calf was taken for killing. They can understand. Not that they are animal and cannot understand. The neighboring farmers come and they are astonished at the nice preparations made from their milk. I see in the small cottages they are living very, very happily. The cows are grazing, and the male members are doing the work. Local flowers are used for the garlands. Yes, New Vrindaban is almost a small state. Some of the rogues are envious. Rogues are always envious when they see something nice. Even Hayagriva will not leave that place. He is living very happily there. The plans for the palace are very nice. It is a temple, like Jagannatha temple. It is very calm and quiet there. I like it. In the beginning when Hayagriva purchased, I immediately gave him the idea of New Vrindaban - cow protection. On the whole our New Vrindaban scheme is successful. There is one vacancy in the GBC Board, so myself in consultation with Brahmananda Maharaja and Jayatirtha Prabhu, we have decided you can fill up the post. This will be confirmed in the next GBC meeting. In the meantime I wish you may accept this responsibility. My desire is that some of our experienced members who have proved their sincerity of service may form the GBC Board. Also so that the management of the whole institution may go on smoothly, and I may be relieved of affairs of management which hampers my writing of books because my attention is diverted. At present the following members are on the GBC Board: 1. Jayatirtha, 2. Hrdayananda, 3. Rupanuga, 4. Jagadisa, 5. Satsvarupa, 6. Brahmananda, 7. Madhudvisa, 8. Hamsaduta, 9. Bhagavan, 10. Bali Mardan, 11. Tamala Krishna. So I request you all to follow strictly the regulative principles, especially the chanting on the beads. GBC means to be a practical example to all residents of temples and devotees. If all of us follow this principle of purity, our spiritual position will remain sound, and maya will not touch us, mayam etam tarantite. A fully surrendered soul always remains untouched by the hand of maya. Otherwise it is not possible. Recently there has been some provocation in our Society regarding Bali Mardan and his wife. Jayatirtha has received a bunch of complaints. Similarly Brahmananda Maharaja has also received, so far so that his wife is eating chicken in the temple. This has hampered me very much. So I wish to form an investigation committee of three members, namely Tamala Krishna Goswami, Rupanuga Prabhu, and yourself. I am informing them also in this connection with a copy of this letter. So you combine together and investigate about the charges against Bali Mardan and his wife made by the following devotees: 1. Tosana Krishna, 2. Cindy Liston, 3. Kirtiraja, 4. Omkara Dasi, 5. Navadvipa 6. Ramesvara das, 7. Sudama Swami, 8. Jaya Ram das, 9. Sunita devi, 10. Gopala Krishna, 11. Atreya Rsi, 12. Anonymous. Kindly try your best to stop this provocation in our Society and I shall be much obliged to you all. Please submit your combined report as soon as possible. Also regarding the devotees you have recommended, I have accepted them and their names are as follows: Mike Hoare--Manonatha dasa, Tony Riccardi--Tejomaya, Alfred Tarantino--Ajeya dasa, Terry Sheldon--Tapahpunja dasa, Catherine Conners--Khastha devi dasi. I have also accepted the following as twice initiated: Candramauli das, Krsna-sravana das, Gopinatha das, Krpacarya das, Vahna das, Cirantana das, Gomata devi dasi, Vidya devi dasi, Bhaktiniddhi devi dasi, Vrajasana devi dasi, Vrajeswara devi dasi, Visvadika devi dasi. The threads duly sanctified are enclosed. You can impress upon the initiates that they are taking vows at the fire sacrifice before Krishna and Radha, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas, so they should not deviate or fail to follow our principles. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: Tamala Krsna Goswami, New York, Rupanuga Prabhu, Miami Labels: complaints, GBC, initiation, New Vrindavan letters | 04:19 | |
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