a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1970 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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Mar 4, 2006 Wednesday, March 4, 1970 Los Angeles Gita Press Gorakhpur, India My Dear Bhaiji Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Please accept my obeisances. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26 February, 1970, and I am glad to know that you have liked my detailed letter of 5 February, 1970, with enclosures. The books are already on the way. Regarding my permission for issuing a detailed account of my work in a book form by some kind friend, it is very much welcome. I have asked my London office to send you more pictures and newspaper-cuttings in this connection. This book will enthuse me as well as the whole Vaisnava society. I can see that this Krsna Consciousness movement has such a vast potency that by its philosophy the whole human race can be united politically, socially, religiously, and culturally. If important personalities like you will kindly join with my activities, I am sure it will come out successful and India will be culturally united with the whole world. For the present, I have got ambition to start at least 108 centers. My disciples are already scattered from Hamburg to Tokyo, and from Tokyo to Sydney. And more youngsters are joining us daily in this movement. By the grace of Krsna this Society is purchasing a very big church estate on the Venice Boulevard, one of the important highways of Los Angeles, and we shall remove there next April. When we go there, we shall be able to invite many important men of the city and try to convince them about our high philosophy. The atheist class of men foolishly inquire ``Where is God?'' And we present them Krsna--here is God, and if you have got sense and intelligence just try to understand Krsna, whether He is not God. So in India also we have to do many things because very recently, by the propaganda of the politicians, the younger generation has become victimized to become Godless. So the hankering after peace and prosperity in the world in a Godless concept of life is simply an utopian dream. People must take to God-consciousness and surely they will be happy in all respects. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, the method of self-realization is made very easy and universal by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. It is being effective practically. So let us join together to expand this great mission of Lord Caitanya Who predicted that everywhere as many cities and towns and villages are there on the surface of the globe, His Holy Name would be glorified on account of His transcendental gift to the fallen souls of this Kali Yuga. The Dalmia Jayan Trust and Birla Trust have given us 5 pairs of Radha Krsna Murtis for installing in our different centers. Sriman Hit Sharan Sharma is dispatching these Murtis, and the Director of Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Srimati Sumati Morarji, has kindly consented to carry them on their ships. If you will also recommend some of your Vaisnava friends to contribute such Murtis, it will be very much encouraging. Or if you give me a prospective list of gentlemen, then I can directly request them for this cooperation. Hope this will meet you in good health, and thanking you once more for your kind interest in my activities. Yours in the service of the Lord, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 15:57 | March 4, 1970 Los Angeles Scindia House Bombay, India Madam Sumati Morarji Baisaheba, Please accept my greetings. I thank you very much for your letter dated 26 February, 1970, and noted the contents. You will be pleased to know that recently we have opened a center in Sydney. The newspaper-cutting is sent herewith. I am also enclosing herewith a picture of the Deities in our London Temple. These Deities were donated by one London Devotee, Mr. Goyal, and they were purchased from Jaipur. The Deities contributed by Dalmia Jayan Trust and Birla Trust (5 Pairs) are made in Vrindaban, 24 inches high brass Deities, but these London Deities are made of first-class marble from Jaipur, and they are 42 inches high. So any one of these patterns may be supplied by you, and I shall be glad if you kindly send me a list of prospective donors of such Deities from Bombay. There are many Vaisnava respectable gentlemen in Bombay, and they can cooperate with my mission. For the present, I have a plan for opening 108 centers all over America, Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia. I have got at present 26 centers. I have sent some of my devotees in Germany where people are more interested in this Hare Krsna movement. You will be pleased to know that simply in Germany alone our ``Hare Krishna Mantra'' record has been sold to the extent of 57,000 copies. You write to say that the copy of the letter addressed to Mr. Sharma was enclosed with my letter, but I do not find it. Anyway, I hope you have already instructed your Calcutta office to carry these Deities to different places of the U.S.A. You will be pleased to know that my latest publication is ``Sri Isopanisad'' and I am sending one copy for your perusal. I hope you will feel interest in reading this book. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 15:57 | March 4, 1970 Los Angeles Scindia House New Delhi, India My Dear Hit Sharanji, Please accept my blessings. I hope you have received my letter dated 28 February, 1970. In the meantime, I have received a reply from Srimati Sumati Morarji in which I understand that she has already replied to your letter regarding the dispatch of the Murtis. Now, through the forwarding agents, Messrs. Cox and Kings, you can arrange to ship all the Murtis through Scindia Steam Navigation Co. to different places as already directed. I shall be glad to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Thanking you in anticipation. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 15:56 | March 4, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Tamala, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1 March, 1970. I am glad that you have gone to Germany along with Hamsaduta and his wife, and I am so pleased to learn that things are being arranged nicely--that is my satisfaction. Marriage or no marriage, that is not our problem. If we find it suitable that by marrying one will be able to serve better, than by not marrying, then one must marry--that is our principle. So as you are thinking that accepting Jyotirmayi as your wife you will be happy and your duties in Krsna consciousness will be enthused, then I have got all sanction, and you do it. I know that all my spiritual children are doing very nicely as Grhasthas, and similarly I hope you shall be doing better after your marriage. Organization of the European centers and the World Sankirtana Party later on--for these two reasons I called you in London. Now Mukunda, Hamsaduta, yourself, Krsna das, Umapati, Janardana, Suridas, etc., all of you are tested devotees, now do everything nicely in full cooperation. Always remain engaged in Krsna's service, then there will be no misunderstanding. See that the French and German BTGs are nicely done--that is my ambition. Jaya Govinda must marry the girl Sadanandini. It is already advanced, and I do not think it can be changed now. So he can immediately call her from New York by sending her passage money to Hamburg. Then get them married immediately in your presence. On the first of April we are going to our new church property which is being purchased at the cost of $225,000, payable in twelve years, and $50,000 down payment. Please keep me informed about your progressive march in Krsna Consciousness. While you are in Germany, please see that Vasudeva is given all facilities for his painting work. He is a very good painter and very enthusiastic, so make arrangement that he can devote full time to his painting and may not feel any inconvenience in his work. He can begin immediately to paint pictures on the many different subjects as you know. I will write to him separately, in the meantime do the needful. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 15:54 | Mar 3, 2006 Tuesday, March 3, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Mr. DDD, Please accept my blessings. I have just received your nice letter together with pictures drawn by you. Thank you very much. I am so happy to see how you are drawing the activities of Krsna and His devotees the Pandavas and Jagannatha das Babaji. And I am glad to see that your letters are drawn nicely also. It is very encouraging to me that you are regularly chanting your twenty rounds of beads daily. Be careful never to decrease but increase the number and you will become more strong in Krsna Consciousness. So continue to tend your Deities first-class and be happy in Krsna's service. I am very glad to know that you are learning your arithmetic in school, but I do not know if you are staying at New Vrindaban for study because your letter is sent from Montreal, Canada. You have written that you are sending seventy dollars for my book fund, but I have not received the seventy dollars enclosed with your letter. Has it been sent by separate mail? Please let me know what has happened to it as soon as possible. Always remember Krsna Who is your dearmost friend and always serve Him just to please Him, and He will give you all intelligence how to be a first-class devotee. Just try to learn all about Krsna, chant Hare Krsna, and you will be a great preacher of our Krsna Consciousness movement. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 17:53 | March 3, 1970 Los Angeles Manager Bank of Baroda (Calcutta Branch) P.O. Box No. 313 India Exchange Calcutta-1, India Dear Sir: Re: My S/B account No. 29/12802 with you In continuation of my letter dated 28 February, 1970. I beg to enclose herewith the true copy of letter No. FEX.22/-277 of your Chandni Chowk, Delhi Branch. I am sure you have received Rs. 6000 (Rs. Six thousand only) transfer as stated by your Delhi Branch. Please transfer immediately Rs. 5000 (Rs. Five thousand only) to savings account No. 8/16578 United Bank of India Ltd., 157/B Dharmatalla Street, Calcutta-13 in favor of M. M. De (Mathura Mohan De) and send me the debit note here. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 15:53 | Mar 2, 2006 Monday, March 2, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Yamuna, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 17 February, 1970, and have read the contents with great interest. We are not impersonalists, under the circumstances we have got varieties of perception in the matter of discharging devotional service. In Rupa Goswami's ``Siksamrta'' it is stated that advanced life in Krsna Consciousness means one should be always very much anxious to calculate whether every moment of his life has not been utilized in devotional service. This is called feeling of being afraid for misusing time. One should be very careful to estimate how every moment of his life is being utilized in the service of the Lord. The Goswamis were very much advanced in this line of action, and therefore about them it is said ``nidra hara bihara vijito'' that means one who has conquered over eating, sleeping, and mating. The idea is to save more time from this materialistic business and utilize it for Krsna's service. When our anxieties are how to utilize life in that way, that stage is abyarthya kalatvam ``utilizing life without spoiling it.'' The next stage is namagane sada ruci ``attraction for chanting the Holy Name always'' and priti tad basati sthale ``feeling of pleasure in living in the Temple or in the place of pilgrimage.'' So I am very glad that you are gradually coming to that stage; continue it carefully. Try to realize it yourself and teach the method to all your younger brothers and sisters. Krsna Consciousness means full cooperation with Krsna, and Krsna means with all His entourage. We should always remember this. Just like when we speak of a tree, it includes the root, the trunk, the branches, the leaves, the flowers--everything. Therefore to love Krsna means to love Him along with all His Name, His fame, His qualities, His entourage, His abode, His devotees, etc. Now I have sent you one copy of all celebrations in the current year of Caitanya Era 484. I hope you have received it through Syamasundara. by this time. It will be published in calendar form, but I have sent you one copy in advance. You must all find time to write some articles for publishing in ``Back to Godhead.'' That is culture. Regarding the devotees, I am very very pleased to learn of their sincere and enthusiastic endeavors in Krsna Consciousness, this is most encouraging to me. Now guide them carefully so that they may be engaged further in our program of Krsna Consciousness movement activities. So far management is concerned, you have to do it amongst yourselves because it is not always possible for me to give direction from such distant place. Regarding an assistant Pujari, Ilavati may be trained to assist you, but she may not conduct Arcana without being dvija. The system is that only one who is qualified with Gayatri initiation may directly worship the Deities (i.e. bathing, offering bhoga and aratrik, cooking for the Deities, etc.). But she may assist you by helping in all other respects. If for some reason you are unable to perform aratrik, there are other devotees, initiated brahmanas, who can make the offerings there. Please offer my blessings to all the new devotees and all the other boys and girls at London Temple. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 16:02 | March 2, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge reciept of your two letters dated 20 and 26 February, 1970, respectively, and I am so glad to learn that you have been elected president for this year. In India, when there was congress election among the executive members, each year a person was elected president. I think this system may be followed in our institutions also. Of course it will depend on the local situation, but in a round if each person is given the chance of managing the whole affairs, that means everyone becomes responsible officer. Another thing is that so long I have been receiving different questions from the students, now I think all these questions should be answered by the presidents locally. So you study all our books very nicely, and all the doubts and questions may be answered by you locally. In case of difficult questions, it may be referred to me. That will give all the presidents the chance of being skillful in solving the doubts and problems of the local students. I hope you will like this idea. Regarding the three boys whose letters accompany yours, and whom you have recommended for initiation, I am sending their beads duly chanted by separate post. The initiation requires some Guru daksina, so during the time of initiation, the disciple must collect some alms and present it to the Spiritual Master. That is the system. I have received the slides formerly when you wrote that there were four slides, but I received only two. This time there are seven slides. They are very beautiful, and I thank you very much. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 16:01 | March 2, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Bhagavan das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 February, 1970, together with the edited copies of KRSNA. I like your editing very much, you have done it very nicely. I have also received the tapes which you sent to Satsvarupa for re-recording, that is a good program. But we have experienced some difficulties in sending tapes to several centers, and therefore we have now agreed to make the process central by forwarding all tapes to Boston for complete processing there according to a regular schedule. The personal form of Maya is Durga and her different extensions like Bhadra Kali, Chandica, etc. In the Brahma Samhita it is described that she is all powerful in this material world, but she acts as shadow of Govinda. In Bhagavad-gita also she is described as assistant in the material affairs. The direction is from the Lord, and she executes His will. As such, when a devotee is fully surrendered to Krsna, Maya does not disturb him anymore, under the direction of the Lord. So Krsna is always Supreme. The pradhana is the ingredient part of material energy. Yes, the Maya is covering all the material energies. Therefore one who is materially advanced, covered with riches, covered with learning, covered with fame or covered with any material opulences, is understood to be covered with Maya. Srila Bhaktivinode says, jada vidya saba mayar baibhava ``the material opulences are expansions of Maya's influence.'' As such, according to Vedic process, one voluntarily renounces the material opulences. The Goswamis left their government service, and there are many other instances. Bharata Maharaja left his kingdom and Lord Buddha left his kingdom--these are all different attempts to get out of Maya's influence. But our philosophy is that things employed in Krsna's service have no more influence of Maya. Therefore it is called cinmaya or spiritual; spiritual means complete knowledge. One who can follow the instructions of Isopanisad can understand that nothing belongs to Maya, but everything belongs to Krsna. This knowledge is Krsna Consciousness. Regarding the end of devotees of Lord Jesus Christ, they can go to heaven, that is all. That is a planet in the material world. A devotee of Lord Jesus Christ is one who is strictly following the ten commandments. Now just like in the commandment ``Thou shalt not kill'' this is a moral instruction for the sinful man. Similarly Lord Buddha also emphasized ahimsa paramadharma ``the highest religion is nonviolence.'' So these instructions are for the sinful men. When one is pious, instead of being sinful, he is promoted to the higher planetary systems like Janaloka, Mahaloka, or Tapaloka and they are above the planet Svargaloka. So persons who are cleansed of sinful life become eligible for spiritual life. From the instructions of Lord Jesus Christ we find that the stress is given to make men free from sinful life--such as ``Thou shalt not kill'' ``Thou shalt not covet''--like that. Therefore the conclusion is that the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ are promoted to the heavenly planets which are within this material world. Thank you for the copies of the newspaper clipping of the court trial, and I think these several copies are sufficient. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 16:01 | Feb 28, 2006 Saturday, February 28, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Hit Sharanji, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. DJT/, dated 21 February, 1970. In the meantime, I have sent you one reminder dated 24 February, 1970, in this connection. So as advised previously, I may again repeat the same that if Scindia Steam Navigation Co. has not as yet replied my letter or your letter, then the Murtis should be dispatched without delay by other freighters through the shipping agents Messrs. Cox and Kings. I shall arrange for clearing the goods at the destination. I may once more give the following list for dispatch of the Murtis, and please note the corrected Boston address. 1 pair of Murtis to ISKCON Temple 38 North Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02134 U.S.A. 1 Pair of Murtis ISKCON Temple 3720 Park Avenue Montreal 18, Quebec Canada 3 Pairs of Murtis to ISKCON Temple 1975 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90034 U.S.A. I hope by this time Syt. J. Dalmia has come back from South India. I am sending by separate air mail one copy of my new publication, Sri Isopanisad, as my complimentary present to Sethji. Please acknowledge receipt. By the by, I may inform you that we require many pairs of Deities, but the Vrindaban manufacturer, Ramnath murtikar, is very slow. Under the circumstances, I would prefer ready made marble Murtis from Jaipur. One gentleman, Mr. Goyl, donated our London Deities--42 inches high Krsna and Radharani proportionately shorter. The photograph of London Murti is sent herewith. Will you kindly take the trouble to find out someone in Jaipur who can supply us such Murtis regularly. So I shall be glad to hear from you in this connection. Thanking you in anticipation. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. We have sent our representative to Australia, one Brahmacari and one householder, for preaching work, and the first installment of newspaper cutting is sent herewith. Please present it to Sethji. A. C. B. letters | 08:57 | February 28, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am just now in receipt of five tapes collected from Detroit. So I think all the tapes that were sent to Detroit and Boston are now within your jurisdiction. In the meantime, I also sent you L.A. Tapes #12, 13, and 16, and today I am sending #17. This means all the tapes recorded in L.A. are now in your custody. So instead of sending tapes anywhere else, the tapes will go regularly to Boston. Now what I want is that one tape in two days must be finished for being composed. This does not mean that one tape has to be finished so quickly, but the arrangement should be made in such a way that after some time the process will produce at least fifteen tapes completely in one month or 30 days. The process should be in the same way as I have suggested for painting of the pictures. The process is like this: Suppose on Monday you receive the tape number 17, let it be transcribed in two days by someone ``A.'' Then in the next two days (days 3 and 4) someone ``B'' edits it. Then in the next two days (days 5 and 6) another ``C'' edits it for the second time. Then Mr. ``D'' gives it the diacritical marks, and then it is ready for composing. With diacritical marks, one copy should come to me for my record. The idea is that this #17 tape takes 7 days to the point of composition. In the meantime, tape #18 is coming into the process just in the same order. So I receive the final copy of tape #18 just 2 days after receiving tape #17 copy. If you follow this process, then ultimately we shall be finishing one tape in two days. Now, if we finish 15 tapes in a month, it comes to near about 300 pages per month. Therefore, very safely we can calculate that every 2 months we produce a book. Or, in other words, in every year we produce 6 books. We wish to print at least sixty books, so it will take ten years. So if you go on under this process, then at least we can hope to finish 60 books by that time. And the time allowed is quite reasonable. I have talked already about this with Brahmananda, and he says that it will be done. Anyway try to process the work in the above way and let me know how far it is feasible. So far I have not received the final copies of the tapes returned by you. So think over this matter and make the process complete, and let me know what you have done in this connection. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. My address ____ for my Spiritual Master, may be all printed in the BTG. ACBS:db letters | 08:52 | February 28, 1970 Los Angeles Manager Bank of Baroda India Exchange Branch Box 313 Calcutta-1, India Dear Sir: Re: My savings bank account No. 29/12802 I beg to thank you for your letter number SB/34/1109, dated 18 February, 1970. Please let me know how the certificates should be duly discharged by me. If there is any discharge form, please send it to me, which I shall fill up and return. Regarding transfer of Rs. 6,000 from your Delhi Branch, I have got already a debit note from your Chandni Chowk Branch, Delhi, dated 22 January, 1970, and I am surprised that you write to say, even after a month, that the amount has not been received by you. I do not know how things are being managed in this way. Kindly let me know, therefore, immediately what is the fate of this Rs. 6,000 transferred from your Delhi Chandni Chowk Branch. Awaiting your early reply, and thanking you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 02:34 | Feb 27, 2006 Friday, February 27, 1970 Los Angeles Sri Gaudiya Math New Delhi, India Revered Sripada Aranya Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated 17 February, 1970, and I am so much encouraged by your kind appreciation of my humble activities in the Western countries. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's foretelling that in every city and village on the surface of the globe His Holy Name will be known, is now coming to be true by His Will; and there is nothing wonderful because it was the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am just trying to follow the instructions to my best capacity under the guidance of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, and things are coming nicely. At the present moment the preaching work is going on from Hamburg to Tokyo, crossing over the two big oceans, Atlantic and Pacific, covering 14,000 miles on the Northern side and again from Tokyo to Sydney, Australia, covering another 5,000 miles. I am enclosing herewith a newspaper clipping published in Sydney, and you will appreciate very much how Sriman Bali Mardan Brahmacari, who is a graduate of the New York University, is nicely working there since the last fortnight. In the meantime, I have sent another assistant, Sriman Upendra das Adhikari, to assist him. In the beginning of my preaching work in the Western countries, I thought that some of our men from India should come here because I came here alone, single handed, without any men or money. By the Grace of Lord Caitanya the young boys and girls enthusiastically joined me while I was chanting Hare Krsna Mantra in the public parks. In this way, the whole Society has been organized and incorporated under Religious and Societies Act in different countries like U.S.A., England, Canada, etc., and things are improving slowly but surely. Outside our Society, people are appreciating our movement gradually, and you will be pleased to know that they are also contributing for various activities of the Society. Perhaps you have heard the name of George Harrison, the celebrated musician of England. He has contributed nearly about two lakhs of rupees, the entire cost of publishing the first part of my book, KRSNA. Similarly, just the day before yesterday, one boy has contributed 15,000 rupees for my book fund. We have got in many places our own buildings, just like in Boston where we have got our own press, ISKCON Press, in Buffalo, in Detroit, and just yesterday, on the Advent Day of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, we have completed the negotiation for purchasing a big church property worth 20 lakhs of rupees. I am very glad to learn that although you are 60 years old, you are enthusiastic to help me in this great preaching work. Of course, in spiritual activities there is no barring even in old age because I am also 74 years old but still working by the Grace of Lord Krsna. If you want to help me, there is great need of your valued service. To get you here in the States would immediately require about 12,000 rupees minimum because if we sponsor you to come here, we have to send you a return ticket by Air, and there are other expenditures also. You have stated in your letter that I will have to arrange for your coming here, so immediately the Society will not be willing to spend so much money outright without knowing how you shall be utilized for our Society's work. But even in India, as proposed by you, you can enroll some subscribers for our publications as you say in your letter that there is great possibility for this work. Another work is that we require many first class mrdangas and karatalas and Radha Krsna Murtis either from Vrindaban (brass) or Jaipur (marble), and I shall be glad to know if you can help us in this respect. In the meantime, I am advised to dispatch two copies of ``Back to Godhead'' by Air Mail Post to your present address in New Delhi. Please try for it New Delhi because it is the place where only educated and enlightened Indians are staying in hundreds and thousands, and I think if you work steadily, it will be possible to enroll many thousands of subscribers. So in your next letter if you kindly let me know how you can help me in the above mentioned suggested program, we shall think of our future activities. Sriman Jaya Govinda Das is now in Hamburg, Germany, in charge of our German publication department (Magazines and Books), and Sriman Acyutananda Brahmacari is still in India and is trying to develop a center at Sridhama Mayapur. At the end, I may inform you that the American boys and girls are wonderful, and they are cooperating with me with great sincerity and thus Krsna is blessing them with advanced Krsna Consciousness. Hope this will meet you in good health, and awaiting your early reply. Yours in the service of the Lord, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 13:26 | February 27, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 February, 1970, and have noted the contents carefully. I am glad to learn that after deliberation between Jayapataka and Raktaka, you have been asked to become the president of Toronto temple. The idea is that whoever is competent to manage affairs will accept the post of president by mutual consent. Our main business is to be fixed up in Krsna Consciousness by keeping steady in the prescribed duties of devotional service. So I have got all approval for your being elected president; that is nice. I am also glad to learn that already you have got a temple and enthusiastic and eager devotees there. This is very encouraging. Please push our Sankirtana movement and improve the program of Deity worship as the centers of your activities, and see that all the devotees remain steady in their execution of daily chanting of sixteen rounds of beads and strict adherence to the four principles of spiritual life and all other regulative principles, this will keep them strong in Spiritual power. And you may note that when these regulative duties are performed, and the devotee becomes fully absorbed in Krsna activities, Krsna as Supersoul will dictate from within the answers to all questions and will give the needed intelligence to progress more and more in Krsna Consciousness. Please see that the program for studying our literatures is also undertaken very seriously by all the devotees there. Everyone of us must become thoroughly acquainted with our philosophy, so that our preaching work may be carried out nicely. There is no harm if the devotees chant in the temple during the time when the Deities are resting. You may have heard that here at L.A. Temple, they are holding Kirtana and chanting 24 hours in the temple, and the program is very encouraging to all the devotees. Of course, that is only possible in a very large center such as L.A. Regarding what to do with the eyes while on Sankirtana, your suggestion to look into the faces of people and try to convince them of the sincerity of our movement is best. There is no need of artificial things like seeing the spirit soul. We talk, and we talk on Krsna topics--that is all. When we chant, we must concentrate our mind on the sound vibration and in that way everything will be revealed one after another; the form, qualities, pastimes, etc. of the Lord. And this is the way of cultivating spiritual realization. Regarding your questions concerning the spirit souls falling into Maya's influence, it is not that those who have developed a passive relationship with Krsna are more likely to fall into nescient activities. Usually anyone who has developed his relationship with Krsna does not fall down in any circumstance, but because the independence is always there, the soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence. But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, simply it is forgotten by the influence of Maya, so it may be regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name of Krsna and then the devotee engages himself in the service of the Lord which is his original or constitutional position. The relationship of the living entity with Krsna is eternal as both Krsna and the living entity are eternal; the process is one of revival only, nothing new. Astanga Yoga is better than Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga is on the level of Astanga Yoga. But the Bhakti Yoga is the ultimate goal of all Yogas. In other words, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Astanga Yoga by proper execution culminate in Bhakti Yoga. So far yogis who meditate on the Paramatma form of the Lord within their hearts, if they see Him in that way actually they become pure devotees, but if they do not perfect the process they may remain on the lower level of incomplete realization or Paramatma realization. I am happy to learn that your Sankirtana party is very successful. If you have some extra money, you can contribute to the book fund because I am contributing to purchase a large church here to the extent of 20,000 dollars; and try to send the maintenance charges to me regularly. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and to all the other boys and girls there in Toronto center. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 13:08 | Feb 26, 2006 Thursday, February 26, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Dinadayadri, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 22 February, 1970, together with your beads and recommendation from Sriman Bhagavan dasa for your initiation. I am very glad to accept you as my initiated disciple, and I have already returned your beads duly chanted upon by me. Your spiritual name is Dinadayadri Dasi. Please be very careful to follow the four basic restrictive principles of no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no taking of any kind of intoxicants, no illicit sex-life, and no gambling or mental speculations. Always chant at least sixteen rounds of beads daily without fail, and be happy in Krsna Consciousness life. I am very happy to know that you are to be married with Sriman Nara Narayana and this is very nice. Both of you please accept my full blessings and sanction for your marriage. Work together for your mutual advancement in Krsna's service and be increasingly joyful in your Krsna Consciousness life. This is my desire. Please take continued guidance from Bhagavan das and from your good husband and from other senior devotees and learn our philosophy very nicely. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 17:48 | February 26, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Gaurasundara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24 February, 1970, together with your air flight ticket. So far Devananda is concerned, he must accompany me. Two Brahmacaris, Devananda and Nanda Kumar, are attending me 24 hours in so many ways, so if I go to Hawaii at least one of them must go with me. Another thing has developed in the meantime, that we have made contract to purchase a nice church here, costing $225,000; and the down payment has to be made $50,000 within the month of March. So there is a great strain to collect this $50,000 from many sources including from my book fund. Therefore, even if I go to Hawaii, I will have to come back within a week because in my absence the transaction for purchasing the house may suffer. Under the circumstances, why don't you postpone for a future date when the mango season will be current. I do not think it is advisable in this stage to spend about $300 for a short period for our going and coming back. So I hope you will consider the present situation and let me know what is your decision. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 16:48 | |
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