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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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22 November 2008 Friday, 22 November, 1974 Bombay Rhada Bazar, District Nadia Navadvipa, West Bengal, My Dear Syamananda Das, Please accept my well wishes. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 7th 1974 and have noted the contents. It is best that you remain in your place and chant Hare Krishna. That is the best thing for you to do. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's position is to induce everyone to chant Hare Krishna and read Srimad-Bhagavatam. So you should do that. That will be the best service for you. In your old age you cannot work actively in propaganda work, therefore you should take advantage of the chanting and krsnakatha of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: old age, Srimad Bhagavatam letters | 06:29 |22 November, 1974 Bombay Self Help Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., Bombay My Dear Sri AK Shivdasani, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated 10/11/74 and have noted the contents. We are having discourses here every evening at 7:30pm on Srimad-Bhagavatam and you are cordially invited to attend the discourses as well as the Arati and the Kirtana. Regarding the opening of the Vrindaban Temple that will take place on the Ram Navami day, the appearance of Lord Ramacandra, April, 1975. So you can discuss further with Giriraja for making the necessary arrangements. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: opening, Vrindavana letters | 06:28 |22 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Sriman Jose, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated November 1st, 1974 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to see that you are seriously taking up this Krishna Consciousness Movement. I understand that you are distributing my books in Calcutta and I am very pleased by this activity. I also note that you are translating my books into Spanish and this of course will help our cause there in the Spanish speaking countries. So continue on with this service and Krishna will bless you. Unfortunately the leaders do not take this Krishna Consciousness movement as being very important. They would rather see to the development of various types of sense gratification. They think that this is progress but actually we understand that this leads to degradation of human society. So Krishna Consciousness movement is means to solve the actual problems of the world. So therefore it should be taken up very seriously. You yourself should be purified by following the rules and regulations very strictly by chanting Hare Krishna and by co-operating with the temple authorities. In this way you can make your life perfect as well as everyone you meet. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Calcutta, translation letters | 06:28 |22 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Hugo Salemon, Please accept my blessings I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 8th, 1974. So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself you are taking serious interest in this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Please continue in this way Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. In conjunction with this you should always read my books daily and all your questions will be answered and you will have a firm basis of Krishna Consciousness. In this way your life will be perfect. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: Amsterdam letters | 06:27 |22 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Nrhari Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 27th, 1974 from San Diego. I have also received the photograph of your new son Mahaprabhu Das and he appears to be very nice so keep him carefully and raise him in Krishna Consciousness and your life will be successful. I am forwarding your letter to Hrdayananda Swami. The contents of your letter are very complicated and I hope that he can settle this matter peacefully. It appears that you do not have to pay back these debts, anyway you should all work this out amongst yourselves. Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krishna's Lotus Feet. This is His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So we associate with one another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krishna. That is the purpose of our Society. This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krishna and we want to go back home, Back to Godhead where Krishna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. I understand that you are translating Bhagavad-gita As it Is. Please continue this work and Krishna will bless you. I want to see that my literature is widely distributed. In Spanish language there is great scope for distributing our literature and preaching to the people of South America. ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: difficulties letters | 06:26 |22 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Padmagarbha Das, Please accept my blessings I am in due reciept of you letter dated October 22nd, 1974. Regarding your proposal to spread Krishna Consciousness in Germany village to village by horse and wagon, I do not know if this is a practical suggestion, but if the preaching goes on I have no objection. You can consult with Hamsaduta in this connection to see if he approves. Preaching is the important thing and not the mode of transport, So if it can be done I have no objection. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever Well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd letters | 06:26 | 22 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Krsnakatha Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 30th, 1974 and have noted the contents. So far I know the paintings are coming out nicely from the press so if you like you can remain with your wife in Montreal. You can also paint like Devahuti does by the instructions of the press managers. There is no hindrance of your being a householder so far as distributing books are concerned. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu had many householder disciples who would preach Krishna Consciousness. I understand recently in Toronto the entire temple distributed many Isopanisads and other books. So you can engage your self in spare time in this book distribution without any hindrance. Side by side you can also paint pictures for Krishna. In this way fully engage yourself in Krishna's service. That is what I want. Nothing else. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd letters | 06:25 | 22 November, 1974 Bombay Chandigarh, Punjab My Dear Sri SK Das Gupta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated 11/10/74 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to note that you are taking active interest in our Krishna Consciousness Movement and are helping to preach this philosophy. Our movement is not a passive movement but it is active. We are trying to awaken the sleeping humanity to reawaken themselves to Krishna Consciousness. At present humanity by and large is working simply for sense gratification. This is to be considered illusion. Actual life is devotional service to the Supreme Lord. By this devotional service one can become perfect and not become a cat or a dog. Please continue to take interest in our movement and read our books and chant Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd letters | 06:25 | 22 November, 1974 Bombay Madras Dear Sri Chakravarti: The book compiled by your father V.R. Srisaila Chakravarti, namely "The Philosophy of Sri Ramanuja," given to me by you on 2/11/74 was very interesting to read. Of course we Gaudiya Vaisnava follow Srila Ramanuja's philosophy almost in the same manner. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives the identification of jiva soul as the eternal servant of Krishna and is situated as marginal potency of the Lord based on the philosophy of acintya-bheda bheda-tattva. This is almost similar to Visistadvaita vada. Vaisnava philosophy is now being pushed on all over the world under the Hare Krishna movement, and we feel Sripada Ramanuja a great support for the Vaisnava philosophical understanding. It is like a combination of nyaya sruti and smrti prasthans. The Bhagavad-gita supports the Vedanta Sutra, brahma-sutra-padais caiva hetumadbhir viniscitaih [Bg. 13.5]. To the jiva brahma identification is one part of acintya-bheda bheda-tattva. As spirit soul or identical brahma, or jiva brahma is identical with the Supreme Brahma or the param brahma. In this sense jiva soul is avheda or non-different from the param brahma. But on account of the param brahma being the supreme, the biggest, the identical brahma or jiva brahma being very minute, it is different from the param brahma. The summary is that the simultaneous one and different jiva brahma is simultaneously one with and different from the param brahma. Because it is appreciated simultaneously which is very difficult to comprehend by the common man, this philosophy is called acintya-bheda bheda tattva, inconceivable. This is supported by the Katho Upanisad 2/5/13: nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. This is almost similar to the visista-dvaita vada. So far I am personally concerned, following the footsteps of my guru maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, we accept the principles of all the acaryas, although officially we belong to the Madhva sampradaya. Our sampradaya is known as the Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya. We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacarya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the mayavadi philosophy. I hope the book "The Philosophy of Sri Ramanjua" published by you will be a great help the the Vaisnavites all over the world. Thanking you once again. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, ACBS/bs Labels: Ramanujacarya letters | 06:24 |22 November, 1974 Bombay Long Beach, CA My Dear Bahurupa Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 24th, 1974. I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. Krishna Consciousness is not a hackneyed thing but it is something which is our natural and original consciousness. Presently our consciousness is clouded just like a mirror becomes covered with dust So the cleansing process is this chanting and hearing and doing some service and trying to please the Spiritual Master. By this process our consciousness becomes clear and we are able to understand everything. So far Gayatri Mantra is concerned, of course it it not such an important thing. The main thing is to chant Hare Krishna but you can consult with the GBC. Jayatirtha and get his recommendation. The Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for becoming Krishna Conscious. You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: regulative principles letters | 06:23 |22 November, 1974 Bombay Spanga, Sweden My Dear Areya Devi Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 13rd, 1974 in which you request to become married. You can consult this matter with Hamsaduta who is my representative. He is Grhastha and he can advise you in this matter. Please go on regularly chanting your rounds and pushing on Krishna Consciousness philosophy to everyone you meet. This will help you remain fixed in devotional service. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: marriage letters | 06:23 |21 November 2008 Thursday, 21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Tamopaha Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated November 4th, 1974, and have noted the contents. I thank you very much for your sincere efforts to be Krishna Conscious and surely you will be blessed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa Goswami said a person somehow or other should become attached to Krishna, therefore if you are happily engaged in serving in Honolulu then you should continue your service there. If the foundation is strong in chanting and hearing then your Krishna Consciousness is assured. All these activities are pleasing to me that you are chanting, Worshipping the deity and writing, So please continue and increase your enthusiasm and then surely you will become successful in your Krishna Consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/vdd Labels: Hawaii letters | 14:56 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Sudamadas Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 6, 1974 and I am glad to note that you are now moved into your new quarters. So I shall be coming in December. The tickets may be sent as follows: Five open dated tickets on Pan American BOMBAY/CALCUTTA/HONG KONG/TOKYO/ HONOLULU. The Ganesa puja may not be performed. No, it is not to be done. No need of it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, ACBS/bs letters | 14:55 | 21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Rocana Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter date October 28th, 1974. I have replied your previous letter of September 17th 1974 and a copy of that letter is enclosed herewith. I am very glad to note of how you are increasing the Back To Godhead distribution there in such a remote place. Our Back To Godhead is the backbone of our movement so we should always be thinking how to increase it increase it increase it. I note that your are installing Gaura-Nitai deities on Govardhana Puja, please send me the report of how the festival went on. Regarding the initiations the devotees which you have recommended I am herewith initiating and their names are as follows: Don--Dharmaprana Dasa Jean--Citrakera Dasa Claudia--Cklamahara Devi Dasi Kathy--Kamalaksi Devi Dasi. I hope this meet you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. You can hold a fire sacrifice for the initiated disciples. The beads may be sent to Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krishna Goswami for being chanting upon. ACBS ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: initiation, Winnipeg letters | 14:54 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Nrsimha Caitanya Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 12th, 1974, with enclosed letter from Saunaka Dasa Brahmacari. I am very glad to read of all the wonderful activities in Krishna Consciousness that you are engaging in in San Diego. I can understand that you are managing a very nice temple there. The temple is meant to invite everyone to come and take shelter of the Lord. The temple is the opportunity for all conditioned souls to render some service to Krishna either in the matter of Hearing, Chanting, Offering, Cleansing, Reading or taking prasadam. Therefore you are by managing the temple as a president you are doing a very great service to humanity. So please continue in this way and make it nicer and nicer. I am also glad to note that you are distributing the books in increasing numbers. We want that our book distribution should be increased more and more in the coming year. Regarding the devotees whom you have recommended for initiation I am pleased to accept them as my disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows: Mike--Mahahasaumya Dasa Ken--Ksamaula Dasa Karen--Kriyasakti Devi Dasi Dilana--Duravanya Devi Dasi. I am also please to accept Saunaka Dasa Brahmacari as twice born initiated Brahman. Enclosed is the sacred thread sanctified by me as well as the mantra sheet. Please hold a sacrifice and the Gayatri mantra can be heard by him through the right ear of my recorded type. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd N.B. The beads may be chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krishna Goswami. Labels: initiation, San Diego letters | 14:54 |21 November, 1974 Bombay Sriman Kirtiraja das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter dated November 12, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda with enclosed samples of the Christmas cards and the calendar. The pictures are very nice. This sort of painting was done during the Muslim Moghal period. But, we don't encourage Christmas greetings. They are nice pictures undoubtedly. It is all right, but the general public will take Krishna as an ordinary man. This will deteriorate from the standard. Every picture is with the gopis. People are generally inclined to man and women connection, and by selling these pictures will affirm their sinful activities in the name of Krishna. These are not meant for the common man but for advanced devotees. If we would distribute them, they would misuse it. I hope you can understand this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: art, Los Angeles letters | 14:53 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Haihaya das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 7, 1974 and was glad to hear from you. So I want you to organize Rome temple for the time being. When you train up someone and produce sufficient literatures in the Italian language, then you go to the Spanish speaking countries. We have got a few books in Spanish language, and they are selling them in south America. I look forward to seeing the Italian Sri Isopanisad. In France they have now published. There is very good scope in Europe for this Sankirtana movement. If you just spread this chanting in Europe, then it becomes Vaikuntha. Side by side push on the literature distribution as far as possible. This should be done very vigorously, and you will have great success there. My Guru Maharaj was always very pleased when even a small pamphlet was distributed. So I thank you for your assisting me in this mission to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: publishing, Rome letters | 13:53 |21 November, 1974 Bombay, India My Dear Visala Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 28th October, 1974 and I am glad to learn that you and especially your wife are doing nicely in Krishna Consciousness. I understand that you are sitting in Vrindaban. Anyway wherever you may be please continue your preaching. I also may ask you to cooperate with the temple authorities there and always chant Hare Krishna on your beads and follow the rules and regulations as I have given. In India especially, we must be careful to remain above any criticism especially in Vrindaban. Our behavior there and everywhere must be first class example. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Vrindavana letters | 13:52 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters undated. And I am glad to learn that you are moving into your new Australian Headquarters and look forward to receiving your complete report. Regarding the initiations upon your recommendation I am accepting the devotees as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows: Brad - Bhuvanadhara Dasa Bruce - Bhaskara Dasa John - Jagadvira Dasa Sandy - Samjata Dasa Keith - Krpakara Dasa Dan - Dhami Dasa Jean - Jayantidevi Dasi Diane - Deva deva Priya Devi Dasi Maryanne - Matida Devi dasi I am also accepting the following as twice born initiated Brahmins and their mantra sheets and sacred thread is enclosed.Ramprasada Adhikari, Raminia Devi Dasi, Gopala Devi Dasi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Australia, initiation letters | 13:51 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 18th, 1974, with your recommendations for first and second initiations. The following are those who I have accepted as my disciples and they are to be given the Hare Nama Initiation. Their names are as follows: Jerry Boy--Janakisa Dasa Bill Jones--Bimbadhara Dasa Chris Hall--Krpamaya Dasa So far these second initiations are concerned, I accept the following as duly initiated twice born Brahmans. Yajnabhuk Dasa. Lalitasakhi Devi Dasi. Rasa-lila Devi Dasi. The appropriate sacred thread and mantra sheets are enclosed. You can chant on the beads and hold a fire sacrifice and the Gayatri Mantra can be listened to through the right ear from my tape recording. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd Labels: initiation letters | 13:50 |21 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 8, 1974 with enclosures. Regarding your letter dated October 8, 1974 it was received on October 22, 1974 and replied on October 23, 1974. If you have not yet received it, the copy can be mailed to you. Regarding the book distribution, apart from our books, the Communist Party has become popular simply by distributing their literatures. I know in Calcutta the Communist agents were inviting friends and reading their literature. The Russians never came to India, but by distributing literature in every language they get a pretty good number of followers. So if it possible for ordinary third class mundane literature, why not should our transcendental literature create devotees all over the world. I see practically how our books and magazines are becoming popular in your country. So there is good potency for pushing on these literatures very vigorously. So organize this propaganda work very carefully and our movement will be very much successful by introducing literature from village to village. Lord Caitanya wants this, so carry out His order. Everyone says the Investigation Committee. report is dispatched, but it is not in my hand.* It is very good that you have purchased a third bus and also that you are rotating the men. This is a good idea. Yes, train up the brahmanas very carefully. Many Indians and foreigners criticize us how we can create brahmanas. They are under the impression that brahmanas are born like horses and asses are born. According to Bhagavad-gita brahmanas are according to guna and karma. So the training of brahmanas should be so nice that people will be forced to accept them as brahmanas by guna, quality, and karma, action. So go on with your preaching solidly. Krishna will be pleased and Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be kind. He is already kind. You simply have to go village to village, and your life will be perfect. I hope this meets you n good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami * N.B. The report is received in hand today. ACBS/bs Labels: communists, New York letters | 13:49 |20 November 2008 Wednesday, 20 November, 1974 Bombay Librarian and Professor of the History of Religions Graduate Theological Union Library Berkeley, California Dear Professor Judah: I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated November 1, 1974. I understand you have sent your book to my Los Angeles address. At present I am in India at the above address. Most probably my secretary in Los Angeles will direct the book here, and I shall read it with great interest. I am very much pleased that you have taken our Krishna consciousness movement a little seriously. That is very good. Lord Krishna says that when the leading men of the society accept it, then it is followed by the common men. I wish the leading men of the human society may understand the background of this great movement. It is on the basis of God consciousness. Every living entity especially in the human form of life is potentially God conscious. Unfortunately the modern leaders of the society have made the common man forget God somehow or other. Our humble attempt is to revive the forgotten consciousness of the human society. Without being God conscious you cannot expect perfection in the human society. It is said in the sastra that if a person is God conscious, then all good qualities manifest in his person, but without being God conscious no material quality can make anyone a respected gentleman. Therefore it is essential to teach God consciousness in every school, college, and university to revive man's dormant God consciousness. I hope you will continue to cooperate with us in this attempt. Thanking you in anticipation. I shall read the book when I get it. Yours very sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: college preaching letters | 04:49 |20 November, 1974 Bombay Sheth Sri Punjabi Chandu Halwi Karachiwala Teenbatti, Bombay My Dear Sadajeewatlalji: Last night we had some talks on your new attempt to elevate the girivanavasi people. It is very enlightening for anyone that you are trying to elevate the position of the people in the forest and in the hills. This sort of desire is certainly very much laudable, because in our Vaisnava philosophy it is said that a perfect Vaisnava is always very kind, and he is aggrieved by others miserable condition, para-duhkha-duhkhi krpam buddhih. Or, a Vaisnava is always unhappy by seeing others unhappiness, and he is the ocean of kindness. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, samah sarvesu bhutesu mad bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54]. When a person is self realized, he is equal to everyone, and that is the preliminary stage for entering into transcendental devotional service. But, one should not falsely claim to be equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because in the Vedas it is said: na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate [Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.8] Nobody is equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unfortunately it has become a fashion to equalize everyone with Narayana. This sort of mentality is called pasandi mentality, because if anyone considers even the biggest personalities like Lord Siva or Lord Brahma on the equal status of Narayana the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is certainly a pasandi. Your attempt is very good, but be guided by the Vedic principles. The Vedic principles are mentioned clearly in the Bhagavad-gita by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna. If we follow the principles, then our attempt in any field of activities will be successful. But if we follow the pasandis who are mayayapahrta jnana, then any attempt to ameliorate the condition of the general people will be a failure. There are many politicians, social workers, and philanthropists all over the world, but their attempt has not been successful on account of theor knowledge being plundered by maya. It will be my great pleasure to give you guidance from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in your this great enterprise. You are free to consult me at any time. If you follow actually the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, there it is said if one does not follow the principles of sastra then he does not get happiness neither any good result of his fruitive activities. So we should not be confused in the matter of violating the orders given by Lord Krishna. bhagavad-bhakti-hinasya jatih sastram janas tanah apranasyaiva dehasya mandanam loka-ranjanam [Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 3.11] A big nation, a big worker, a big ascetic, and all similar big attempts, if they are devoid of bhagavad-bhakti, or devotional service, then such high qualities are exactly like the decoration of the dead body. Your ever sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:bs wanted by you, enclosed is my photo. Labels: Bhagavad-gita, pasandi letters | 04:48 |19 November 2008 Tuesday, 19 November, 1974 Lucknow, India My dear Pujya Prabhupada Swamy, It was very kind of you to have conveyed your greetings and blessings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I feel by coming to Uttar Pradesh as Rajyapal, your blessings have thrown me in a place nearer Vrindaban and all the holy places associated with Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. I will be deriving great strength and inspiration from the memories of the great acts associated with these places and will look upon your blessings to give me the necessary strength in discharging my duty, not merely as a Rajyapal, but as a devotee of God manifested in the form of people in Uttar Pradesh. With that conviction and confidence, I have taken up this responsibility. It will be my endeavour to the glorious heritage of this land and the preaching of Bhagavad-Gita and Bhagavatam to see Divinity in every act that I may be called upon to perform. It would also be my endeavour to fully dedicate myself to the cause of humanity. While I was in Vrindaban last time, I felt it both as my duty and privilege to visit the temple which you are getting constructed in such a glorious manner. It is extremely generous of you to have asked me to attend the inaugural ceremony on the day of Sri Ramanavami as the Chief Guest. In all fitness of things, the temple should be inaugurated by your holy self and I shall consider it as my good fortune to attend that function as Chief Guest. It gives me great happiness because I am also a member of this great Movement. I hope you are quite well. With respecful and affectionate regards, Yours affectionately, M. Channa Reddy, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Labels: opening, Vrindavana letters | 04:47 |19 November, 1974 Bombay The Manager Punjab National Bank Vrindaban Branch Dist. Mathura, U.P. Dear Sir: I have received from my Los Angeles Headquarters by mail Remitter's Advice from Bank of America dated November 7, 1974 No. 588183 that the amount of Dollars 9,843.18 was transferred to you via cable. To date I have not received any acknowledgement from you. If you have not received the money at this date, then immediately enquire from your Head Office as to what is the delay. If you have received the money, which should be by this late date, then you must inform me. How can I arrange things if you do not acknowledge receipt of the transfers? I have also not yet received any reply from you to my letters dated 29/10/74 from Mayapur, West Bengal, and my letter dated 6/11/74 from Bombay. Please acknowledge these letters. Faithfully yours, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: ISKCON, New Delhi & Vrindaban Labels: bank letters | 04:46 |18 November 2008 Monday, 18 November, 1974 Bombay His Excellency Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy, Governor of U.P. Raj Bhavan, Lucknow Your Excellency: Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I am so much thankful to you that you came to see our temple under construction in Vrindaban and supervised the work going on there. As you came all of a sudden, we could not make arrangement for your proper reception, but I am so pleased to learn that you have voluntarily agreed to visit our temple during the opening ceremony. Tentatively the date is fixed up on Sri Ram Navami, the Birthday of Lord Ramacandra. Probably it will be the fixed up date because we are depending on the progress of the construction work. If you kindly give me your consent, we can print your Excellency's name on the invitation card as the Chief Guest and Inaugurator of the temple. You are already our member as well as a great devotee of Lord Krishna, so we shall feel it a great privileged if you kindly agree to this proposal. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, Sd. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Krishna Balarama, opening, Vrindavana letters | 18:42 |17 November 2008 Sunday, 17 November, 1974 Bombay Gyan Bhawan 22, Minto Road Allahabad My Dear Dr. Ghosh: Please accept my greetings. I am very much thankful for your nice letter dated November 8, 1974 and the presentation of the copy of Pancamrta written by you. I saw the verses formally also. If anyone reads these verses regularly certainly he will make progress in his spiritual life. I have now advised my secretary to send you immediately one copy of my Caitanya Caritamrta. by registered post. Since you left Bombay, I had been to many places in Europe such as Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, Sydney, Fiji, Honolulu, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Vrindaban, New York, London, and then here to India. I was thinking of you, but was missing your address. Regarding the charitable dispensary, I am not very much enthusiastic for this enterprise because nowadays to keep a proper dispensary pushing on requires much attention and money also. I have heard from the authorities of the Rama Krishna Mission that their charitable dispensaries of hospitals are mostly run by paid men, as formally no intelligent medical practitioner was joining them to run it on. Therefore I may suggest that if you are really inclined to retire, you are welcome to live with us. We have got three very nice places in India in Bombay, Vrindaban, and Mayapur. We have spent many lakhs of rupees for constructing these centers, and if you live with us in any one of them, you are welcome. You can live with your good wife as vanaprastha, and when you decide to do so, we may maintain a small dispensary for taking care of our own men. But for the general public opening a charitable dispensary is not in our program at least for the time being. I shall be very glad to hear from you at your convenience. Further I beg to inform you that all my temples and centers here in India are being managed by my foreign disciples. I want that they should be admitted as immigrants. They have embraced this Vaisnava religion and have given money for constructing these temples and are managing them. Although we have got a few Indians to join, they are neither educated or expert. In Allahabad you are known to so many lawyers and judges. Kindly consult with them how my foreign disciples can get immigration status in this country. If they were forced to leave, I will be in a great disturbed condition how to manage all these centers. Kindly find out immediately some good lawyer. I think Sir Tej Bahdur's son maybe helpful in this connection. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: dispensary, vanaprastha letters | 04:46 |17 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Jayapataka and Bhavananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding not building the second story on the Prasdam Pavilion, whatever you think is best is all right. Whatever you all three consult and agree is all right. Hamsaduta has sent RS. 15,000/00 for the Food Program, and Bhagavan dasa has given the check to Gargamuni Swami for the Pavilion. So money is there. That is no difficulty. Only the projects must be finished by Gaura Purnima. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Mayapur, prasadam distribution letters | 03:44 |16 November 2008 Saturday, 16 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Nilambara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter together with letters from your friends. I am glad to see they are taking serious interest along with yourself in this movement of Lord Caitanya. Try to understand this philosophy very nicely and get more numbers to join. I am especially interested to see the Americans spread this movement. America is already blessed by Krishna, and if they become Krishna conscious, they will become more glorious. There is an Indian saying, "fragrance in gold." Gold is already valuable, but if it has got some nice fragrance, then it becomes even more valuable. If some percentage of Americans become Vaisnavas, it will be wonderful for the future of the world. It will be a great example for the world. So you yourself take to the process with heart and soul and always follow my instructions, and Krishna will bless you to convince many souls to become Krishna conscious. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 11:44 | 16 November, 1974 Bombay My Dear Srutadeva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the Sankirtana Newsletters Nos. 27-30, and I thank you very much for assisting me in this mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These reports are very encouraging to me, and I think our men will also be encouraged to increase the book distribution. This I want. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: sankirtan, Washington letters | 11:43 | |
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