a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1970 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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Apr 1, 2006 Wednesday, April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Arundhati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated ``nil.'' If you have got extra time, I encourage you to learn Sanskrit along with your husband. So far your movement is concerned, in pregnancy, you should strictly not ride on cars or any conveyance until your delivery, neither should you dance also. So you stick to the composition work, and according to Brahmananda's program I understand you will have enough work to do now. Actually, the composition work was taken from August 1969, but still they are not yet completed. If you have no other composing work to do, then you may begin to compose Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto, immediately. Regarding the Sushruta Samhita, I have no information about this. Sushruta Samhita is a big book of medical science, it is not able to be understood by ordinary laymen. I do not know why you bother about this, but if somebody helps you from this book, I have no objection. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 06:10 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Pradyumna, Please accept my blessings. I have just received one check of contribution from Brahmananda and I understand that you have contributed $500, so I thank you very much for this. May Krsna bless both you and your good wife. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:11 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24th March, 1970. I understand that the Lord Caitanya's Birthday procession was very, very nice and similarly in San Francisco also they took out a procession in the street, and it is understood that 4000 to 5000 people participated. So this is another introduction to our Krsna Consciousness Movement. Regarding the court case, such kinds of case will come and go. We have to go on with our transcendental business. It is very encouraging that Sankirtana Party is going twice daily, that should be continued. Other things will be adjusted by the grace of Krsna. I talked with Gargamuni, you can immediately begin the incense business. It is not very difficult and you can do very nice business in London. From Holland you can get very good scents. Holland is a great center of manufacturing essential oils. One thing, all other centers print the Acarya's name on the letterhead of their stationary--you should also do that. And every center contributes $15 monthly towards my maintenance fund, so you also try to contribute this monthly. Besides that, in your book list I don't find the name of Srimad-Bhagavatam. You should have all the books in stock always. If you have not got any Srimad-Bhagavatams in stock, just order them from Brahmananda. Also, I have not heard anything from Ksirodakasayi in some time. So let me know how he is doing. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:10 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 21st March, 1970. The karatalas have not yet reached here. Yes, I am going to the newly purchased church Temple and when I go there by Sunday next, I shall try to teach the local boys in the way of performing Sankirtana in a circle. I shall send to you the sound production with photographs if possible, and instructions also. I am awaiting the arrival of the karatalas. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 05:09 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Lilavati, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23rd March, 1970. So I am glad to learn that your daughter and Syamasundara's daughter are learning Krsna Consciousness very nicely. The program was that you would go to New Vrindaban for training children--never mind, you can do it there also. So far George's house is concerned, it was formerly learned through Syamasundara that he also wants to have a Krsna Consciousness center there. If he gives us a place there, just like Lennon gave a place in his garden, then you can start a similar temple there under your supervision. But unless there is some tangible program there, I think you should not divert attention in starting a new center there. We have to organize this London center very solidly, so at least on Sundays all of you should come there and manage things. Anyway, conjointly you shall manage the London center and Sankirtana--that should not be neglected. Regarding George's center, if he opens it very nicely according to his position, then on hearing from Syamasundara I shall give direction how to do it. I have already written Syamasundara. about this, and I am awaiting his reply. The conclusion is that you are so many advanced disciples now in Europe, including Hamburg, London and Paris. Now you should organize the Sankirtana Movement in Europe by opening as many centers as possible from town to town at least. So do it conjointly and that will give me very much satisfaction. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:08 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Himavati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 25th March, 1970. Yes, the same things are going on. I am trying to change diets and sometimes fasting. But after all, it is old body, so dizziness is not unnatural. Regarding herb teas for colds and sore throat, up to now I have no such complaint, so they are not necessary. I am very, very glad that you are taking care of the Deities with great attention and enthusiasm. Regarding your questions: the Deities should be polished before Their morning bath. Make a thin paste of fuller's earth and lime juice and rub this mixture on Their bodies and then bathe them and then dry and buff Them with a small towel for the purpose. You can make one very nice bed and place it to the backside of the throne, and you can make night clothes. So after the last Aratrik at night, you can change to Their night clothes for taking rest. Because They are small Deities, They may be lain on the bed with some pillows (because the base may raise Their feet up); if this can be arranged it will be nice. Yes, Their crowns and jewelry should be removed both at night and while resting at noon, but wigs may stay on and Krsna should always hold His flute. It is nice if you can provide some heating arrangement for cold weather. Also different weight clothes for warmer or colder weather is good. Your idea for a thin curtain around the throne is very good. Regarding Radharani's smiling, that is not imagination--so she must smile. Let this be an impetus to your increased service. Radha Krsna topics are for both liberated and conditioned souls, but conditioned souls should not much discuss about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna because sometimes they misunderstand Radha and Krsna as ordinary boy and girl. So this should be discussed with advanced students, not with ordinary men. Yes, you make the throne very plush and comfortable and gorgeous like a bedroom. You are welcome for these questions, since you are engaged in Their service, you must know everything thoroughly. I am very glad to learn of you eagerness to help open new centers in Munich, Amsterdam, and Berlin. But unless some responsible devotee takes charge of the Deities, you should remain in Hamburg. Hamsaduta may alone go for preaching work with the others. I think there are enough brahmanas there, so if one cannot be engaged full time, they should divide the duties amongst themselves--one takes the morning, another one at noon, and another in the evening, or like that. So unless they are trained up, you should not go. Deity worship is for old and experienced students; it is not good for new students to be given sacred thread. This Deity worship is exclusively for advanced students. Regarding taking Lord Jagannatha to your next center, that will not be very good because you already do not have enough devotees to engage in Arcana. Unless there is a Deity worshipper available, we may worship Panca-tattva and Guru. That can be done by all initiated students whether they are once or twice initiated. Before an altar with pictures of Lord Caitanya, Pancatattva and Acaryas, everyone can offer Aratrik and Bhoga. Yes, it is nice that you are worshipping Lord Caitanya along with Radha Krsna. That is alright. Lord Caitanya should be placed to the right side of Krsna. There is nothing special for His worship, but you may continue as you are doing now. The order of worshipping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer). Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic injunction, staunch faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna makes one perfect in spiritual understanding. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 05:07 | April 1, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Hamsaduta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th March, 1970. I have duly received your $300 transferred from Germany and I understand that you are transferring another $1,500 to my account. The mail strike is already over. I am enclosing herewith a letter for Himavati, giving her instruction. So far Sankirtana is concerned, I am so much pleased to learn that you are taking Sankirtana as your life and soul. There is no doubt about Krsna's being pleased very much upon those who are engaged in such Sankirtana Movement, that is admitted by Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita and Caitanya Caritamrta. Some of the best students like you, Tamala, Mukunda, Syamasundara., and Jaya Govinda, are all now in Europe. Now you form a strong party for opening centers as well as organizing the World Sankirtana Party. This Sankirtana Party, backed by literatures and books, will certainly bring in a great change in the modern civilization. Godless civilization can never be happy. Therefore as soon as they become Krsna conscious, they will feel practical happiness without any doubt. I am so glad that Sivananda is going to be married with a German girl; and similarly, Krsna das may be also married. My Guru Maharaja created some Brahmacaris and Sannyasis for preaching work, and I am creating all Grhasthas. This means that we have to adjust things in favor of circumstances in the matter of pushing Krsna Consciousness Movement forward. By correspondence, I am trying to secure a great quantity of Deities and mrdangas from India, so we must utilize them by opening various center, which means we must have sufficient manpower, and this will depend on your Sankirtana Party. Then everything will go on nicely. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 04:58 | Mar 30, 2006 Monday, March 30, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26th March, 1970. I have initiated Denise Clapper as you have advised, and her spiritual name is Dvijapatni. I am sending her beads enclosed herewith. So now train her up nicely in Krsna Consciousness and when you find a nice brahmacari she may be married. That will be very nice. Then after some time she may go with her husband for starting a new center when they are ready. My idea is to train up many devotees and as soon as they are ready send them for starting new branches. In the meantime, I am very glad to learn of your ten hours daily Sankirtana schedule, and that you have found a very good house for a new Temple. The building and location are very well suited to our needs, so why not acquire it as soon as possible? If you can purchase this house immediately, because Krsna is offering such a nice opportunity, that will be very encouraging. Please offer my blessings to all the Prabhus there. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:37 | March 30, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Umapati, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26th March, 1970. I have also received the newspaper cutting in which the picture of George has come out and it appears to be very nice because he has taken to chanting Hare Krsna Mantra along with you. Actually he has done some service to the cause of Krsna Consciousness, therefore he must make progress in his spiritual advancement. The heading ``An Anti-Alcoholic Beatle at Maxim's''--does it mean that George has given up alcohol? Anyway, I am pleased with his dealing with us and I pray to Krsna that he shall make more and more advancement in Krsna Consciousness. You have written to say that French people are eager to understand Vaisnava philosophy, and the summary of Vaisnava philosophy is as follows: God is a person like us, but He is all-powerful with all opulences in full. The living entities are His eternal servants. There are varieties of living entities that have inherited the opulences of God in different degrees. There are two kinds of nature, the spiritual nature and the material nature. The living entities belong to the spiritual nature and being part and parcel of God they have all the qualities of God in minute proportion. There are innumerable living entities both in the spiritual world and in the material world. The spiritual world is far, far greater than the material world. As such, the number of living entities living in the spiritual world is many more times greater than the number of living entities living within the material world. The living entities, when they try to lord it over the God's property, forgetting their constitutional position to remain as eternal servant of God, they are given the material world to act according to their desires. In such endless varieties of desires the living entities are seen in varieties of bodies beginning from Brahma, down to the most insignificant insect. In this way, when someone is fortunate, he, by the grace of Spiritual Master and Krsna, revives his Krsna Consciousness. And if he makes progress under the direction of the Spiritual Master, then he revives his original Krsna Consciousness in full and thus he regains his position in the eternal Kingdom of God. So you know very well all these facts, and while preaching you have to explain all these things nicely. Then you become a good preacher. Now you try your best in this line of preaching work and be successful as you have taken birth as a human being. Our Vaisnava philosophy is in summary the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. You read them very carefully, word to word, and immediately begin translation into French language so they may be published in French BTG as well as in future they may be published in a book. I think Janardana is very busy in preparation for his Ph.D. because I have also not heard from him for a long time. So let him continue his studies. There is no need of disturbing him at present. Better both you and Suridas take up this translation work seriously. I think there are some devotees in Montreal who can also translate into French language. Anyway, arrange for this work immediately, without waiting anymore. You have not written anything whether you have been able to find out a suitable place for our Temple. It was understood that when George goes there, he would help us in this matter. So I shall be glad to know how far you have been successful in this connection. It is all Krsna's grace that you have been favored with some publicity and more people are coming weekly for Kirtana. It is very much satisfactory, and I hope Krsna will help you more and more. Please keep me informed about your further progress and offer my blessings to all the boys and girls there. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 07:36 | Mar 29, 2006 Sunday, March 29, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24th March, 1970, and it is very encouraging. When Brahmananda came here, I discussed with him that we have now opened so many branches and they should be properly maintained. As I am personally here in Los Angeles, and because Krsna has now given us a very nice church, it will be possible for me to look after the business here to be the ideal for other centers. The church building is very excellent. I am sending herewith two pictures. We have already paid the advance money, $50,000, out of $225,000. Your contribution is very much welcome. I was to advance $20,000 as loan from my book fund, but Gargamuni has arranged not to take from me more than $11,500. So whatever contribution is received from other centers will go for repaying the loan taken from me and from other centers. Regarding moving with Sankirtana Party, as Kirtanananda Maharaja is doing now, it will be another impetus for pushing forward our mission. Please do this business very nicely. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also did like that and He presented Himself as a merchant in Krsna Consciousness selling the transcendental commodity in exchange of eagerness of the people. If people simply become faithful to the understanding of Krsna Consciousness, that will be the price for our transcendental commodity, Hare Krsna Mantra. As you are having many engagements, it is very much encouraging. The clippings which you have sent are very nice. You are going to about a dozen colleges in different places and that is very much encouraging also. I have all my blessings for Jagajjanani Dasi and Prahladananda Das for being married under your care. Train this couple for opening a new branch in one of the places you are now visiting with Sankirtana Party. Try to open as many branches as possible and manage to see them that they are going on nicely. That is my request. Please offer my blessings to your good wife and all the Prabhus there in Buffalo Temple. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:28 | March 29, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Daughter Hladini Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your nice letter dated 26th March, 1970, asking to become my initiated disciple in Krsna Consciousness and also your beads for chanting. I am very glad to know that your are strictly observing the rules and regulations of Krsna Consciousness faithfully and now I am very glad to accept you as my initiated student. I am returning your beads herewith duly chanted by me. Your initiated name is Hladini devi Dasi. Lord Krsna's Pleasure Potency is called Hladini, so this spiritual energy of Krsna's pleasure potency, Hladini, is Srimati Radharani Who is always increasing the transcendental pleasure of Krsna by Her super-excellent loving devotional service. Radharani is the most confidential servant of the Lord and Hladini Dasi means the servant of Radharani. So please always be engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra at least sixteen rounds daily and work sincerely and eagerly in the service of the Lord observing the regulative principles and thus be happy. I am also pleased to know that you will be married with Sriman Mahananda in Krsna Consciousness and that you offer your children to Krsna is very, very nice. May Krsna bless you both to work combinedly for mutually advancing in Krsna Consciousness more and more. I have written to Mahananda that my suggestion is that after some time training in Detroit with Bhagavan das you can try to expand our activities by opening a branch in some suitable place. That will be very nice. So please chant Hare Krsna and be happy, that is my desire. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 07:26 | March 29, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Mahananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter requesting initiation, dated 26th March, 1970, along with your beads for chanting, and I am very happy to accept you as my initiated disciple. Your initiated name is Mahananda Das. I have chanted your beads duly, and they are herewith returned to you. I am very pleased to know that you have been strictly living according to our Krsna conscious way of life in the matters of daily chanting sixteen rounds, following the four basic restrictive principles, and working hard in Krsna's service. Please continue to live in this way and the success of your life in Krsna consciousness is assured. Always chanting the Holy Name, Krsna, observing the regulative principles, and working in the service of the Lord are the essential program for advancement in spiritual strength. You have written one interesting line, that Maya seems to have a special interest in you. So it appears that you are intelligent enough to detect the tricks of Maya; that is very nice. We should always remember that Maya or darkness and Krsna or the Light are existing side by side. So if we keep ourself always in Krsna Consciousness or in the Light of Krsna Sun, hardly there is any chance of being covered by darkness or Maya. But a little inattention may cause our falling down into the clutches of Maya. The path of Krsna Consciousness is compared in the Vedas with a sharpened razor blade. If you carefully manipulate it, the blade helps by clean shaving; but a little inattention causes a bloody cheek. So this example we should always remember and carefully manipulate the blade of Krsna Consciousness. I am pleased that you are so enthusiastic in spreading Krsna Consciousness, so as soon as you find opportunity you try to expand our activities by opening a branch. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:22 | Mar 28, 2006 Saturday, March 28, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Syamasundara, Please accept my blessings. Since a few weeks I have not received any letter from you and I understand also that some of you have moved to George's place. I shall be glad to know what is the program there. It was also informed to me by Umapati that all of you along with George were in Paris for some television engagement. Did you find any suitable place for our Temple in Paris? I am therefore very much anxious to hear from you and I shall be glad therefore if you reply in detail by return post. I learn also that Murari and his wife have also gone to London, but he is staying with you. How are Malati and your nice daughter, Sarasvati? Please offer my blessings to George. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 18:38 | March 28, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 26th March, 1970, along with transcription of tape #23. Regarding opening of a branch in Providence, Rhode Island, it is very encouraging. Both Nandakisora and Sri Dhama are nice devotees and I am sure they will be successful in conducting the new center. It is a good news for me. To open a center for us is not very difficult job. Simply the devotees who volunteer their service must be very serious and sincere. Both Sri Dhama and Nandakisora are good administrators of Prasadam which is our peak medicine for driving away Maya; so I have all blessings for them. Let them chant Hare Krsna and distribute Prasadam, and things will come very quickly. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:db letters | 18:37 | Mar 26, 2006 Thursday, March 26, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Bali-mardana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21st March, 1970. I am so pleased to learn that your University meeting was very successful. It is very engladdening to learn that hundreds were singing and dancing. A similar experience I had when we met in the Ohio State University along with Ginsberg. I think you have already read the news in our BTG. And similar experiences are being gathered by Kirtanananda Maharaja and Rupanuga Dasa Adhikari because they are now moving in different colleges and universities, and getting good response. I take it for granted that you are one of the selected devotees of Lord Caitanya, and therefore from within your heart He has inspired you to go to such a distant place, leaving your parents and home, just to satisfy Krsna. This is a great transcendental adventure. Try your best, and I am sure you will be successful. Formerly your forefathers, many European and American gentlemen, were courageous to go outside their country for colonization, and Australia is vivid example of such adventures. Now, by the grace of Krsna, yourself and Upendra, the descendants of your adventurous forefathers, have gone there with a great mission, and try to execute it to your best capacity. Krsna will certainly help you. The only thing we require for this purpose is to remain in our spiritual strength by chanting regularly and following the rules and regulations. I am sure you are already strict on this point, and still it is my duty to remind it for your steady strength. Just try to convince the younger section about the importance of this movement and how this one single venture can solve all the problems of the world. Krsna Consciousness is not dry. It includes all the varieties of human cultivation of knowledge. We can give direction in politics, in sociology, in religion, in philosophy, in arts, in music, in aesthetics, and in what not? It is complete. Simply we have to administer this novel idea to the people in general very magnificently. The program is already there, and it is very simple. I wish that you establish at least ten centers in Australia or in the adjoining islands. That is my desire. I shall always pray, as I am duty bound, for your long life and prosperity in Krsna Consciousness. Gargamuni has informed me yesterday that he has not yet received the $1,100 sent by Upendra. You will be pleased to know that somehow or other today we have paid the $50,000 down payment for purchasing the church properties at $225,000. The pictures of the church are enclosed herewith. So gradually Krsna is giving us all kinds of possible facilities, and if we work sincerely, Krsna will supply all our needs--there is no doubt about it. This is a good chance for sending some devotees from England. I have already written Mukunda, and I shall remind him at the next opportunity. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 10:39 | March 26, 1970 Los Angeles My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18th March, 1970. I have already chanted the beads of Srimati Maithili Dasi, and I hope you have received them back. I was very busy since a few days on account of purchasing the new church, and other documentary activities. This morning we have paid $50,000 down payment. Gargamuni was to take from me, from my book fund, $20,000. So the boys here have taken a great risk by purchasing this church property. When Krsna has given us this chance, I hope He will give us chance also to liquidate the balance amount as soon as possible. You are trying for the new Temple, but our main business is Sankirtana and distribution of literature. If Krsna gives us a better place, that is all-right. Otherwise, we can remain at any place never mind hell or heaven; but we shall be only very cautious about propagating our Sankirtana movement. I am very glad to learn that you have already been promised for $15,000, and I think these are indication of your getting a nice house very soon. Ratha Yatra Festival is your most important function of the year. I introduced this Ratha Yatra in San Francisco, accepting the place as New Jagannatha Puri. So this festival must be observed very gorgeously every year. Similarly, if two other processions like on the Birthday of Lord Caitanya as well as on the Birthday of Lord Krsna, are observed, it will be still nicer. Last time when you came here, I was very much encouraged to see you. Similarly whenever you find some time, if you come for a day or two, you will be able to suggest improvement here as well as you will take improvements from here and introduce them in your Temple and others. It will be very pleasing to learn that in the morning you are now studying from one and one half to two hours and in the evening you have class from forty five minutes to an hour, and you are stressing the importance of lecturing and preaching with authoritative and substantial arguments. Please offer my blessings to all the boys and girls in San Francisco Temple. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 10:38 | March 26, 1970 Los Angeles Scindia House New Delhi My Dear Hit Sharanji, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your copy of the letter to Sri Trivedi, dated 9th March, 1970. In the meantime, I have received a letter from Sri Trivedi that he has arranged to dispatch the three pairs of Murtis to different places, but I do not know if Sri M. L. Chand of Dalmia Cement Ltd. has already handed over the Murtis to the care of Sri N. M. Trivedi. Then, what about the other two pairs of Murtis? Are they already delivered to you? If so, you can dispatch them similarly for Los Angeles, Besides that, Srimati Sumati Morarji of Bombay has agreed to donate some Murtis herself, as well as through some friends. She wants to know the price of the Murtis and the place from where they can be had. It is understood that you have already written to Jaipur about the cost of marble Murtis. I hope by this time you have received the cost. If so, kindly inform me as well as Srimati Sumati Morarji because we require immediately at least one dozen Murtis for different places. We require at least one pair of Murtis exactly like that of London, for which you have got the picture, for our Paris center. Kindly therefore enlighten me on the above subject by return post, and oblige. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. I have received one letter from Sethji acknowledging my book, Sri Isopanisad. Please convey my regards for him. ACBS:db letters | 09:40 | |
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