a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1970 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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Dec 31, 2006 Prabhupada Letters :: 1970 contains 628 individual letter reproductions in chronological order from January - December 1970. View them in their entirety in the monthly archive section - 1970 letters - below right. Use Google Custom Search (immediate right) to search for specific letters from 1970. View - Today's Letters - at Letters :: Anthology >> letters | 12:00 | 31 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Murari, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your three letters undated and received by me on the 9th, 11th, and 29th of December, 1970, respectively, as well as the two bank transfer copies enclosed in the latest letter. I am very glad to hear that you are working cooperatively with Mukunda in managing London temple affairs. Mukunda is a very intelligent boy and I am pleased to learn that he has again taken an active part in such affairs. It is my desire that Mukunda now act as president of London center and that your good self act as vice president. In this way go on working together and make our London center a grand success. It is a very important center and I am concerned to see that it develops nicely. You can send me reports periodically on the progress being made there. Also I have received one letter from Janaki, and she should be engaged fully in assisting her husband. In this way husband and wife can work together cooperatively and make rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness, just as in the case of Gurudasa and Yamuna who have rendered such nice service together. So far as your plan for opening centers is concerned, that program sounds very encouraging. But one thing you should know is that we cannot have another situation like Edinburgh. Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed. So if you are confident in this regard, then continue as planned. The bank transfer copies sent by you show payment to our L.A. account and therefore payment of BTG. But what payment has been made to Dai Nippon for KRSNA book? Please immediately send me a detailed report of such payment. Kindly offer my blessings to all the others there. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:14 | Thursday, 31 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the photos of Regents Park area as well as your telegram dated 19th December, 1970. The idea of having our temple in Regents Park was with the understanding that the government would give us a suitable plot to build on. We cannot purchase land in Regents Park, that is not possible. So unless the government agrees to give us the needed land, it is better to pass the idea for the time being. I have already written to Murari that you will take charge of our London Branch as President and that he may take the office of vice-president and assist you. I want that you and your good wife Janaki will develop the London temple, as it is practically one of our most important centers. London is the most important city in the world and as you originally opened this branch, it is my desire to see it come to full blossom under your expert management. So with the assistance of your good wife Janaki, if the two of you take charge I will be satisfied that things are all right there. Please also let me know how many books have been received from Dai Nippon and ISKCON Press; how many are sold and where the respective funds from sales are being kept; and what are the outstanding debts, especially KRSNA book. These books and money from sales are very important matters. So let me know all the above details. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:14 | Dec 30, 2006 30 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings, and offer the same to your good wife Cintamani devi Dasi. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th December, 1970--as well as the telegram sent on the 16th December. So far as the 10 copies of Japanese BTG sent by you is concerned, they were received by me some time ago and acknowledged in my letter to you dated 5th December, 1970. This letter was sent to your old address, so perhaps you have received it by now. I am very glad to learn that Krishna has given you such a nice new temple with so many nice facilities. If you can get one cow that is very auspicious. Then you can have fresh milk and butter. Also the garden mentioned by you should be cultivated. In India the system is that no matter how poor a man is, still, if he has a little land, he can grow some flowers or vegetables and offer to the Deity. In this way take advantage of all that Krishna has so kindly provided. In addition if you can begin production of of spiritual sky incense there, that will be helpful. Your temple can be named as New Gaya.* Gaya is the province where Lord Buddha flourished. Japan is Buddhist country and we accept Lord Buddha as incarnation of God. So far as Bruce Prabhu is concerned, he may return to Tokyo at any time if you feel that his service is required there. Presently he is in Bombay, so you can write him at our Bombay camp address given above. I am pleased to learn that you and Bali Mardan are cooperating fully to make our Asian program a success. The two of you are a superexcellent team. I am also appreciating your wonderful enthusiasm for pushing on this movement. Simply be patient and continue in this way with confidence and Krishna will give you all facility. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *At Gaya Lord Caitanya was initiated by His Spiritual Master, Sri Isvara Puri Maharaja. N.B. On the 4th January 1971 we are all going to Bombay. From there my party men about 25 will go to Allahabad where the great spiritual fair Ardhakumbla mela will take place. I am reaching Calcutta on the 5th by air plane. There I shall attend an important meeting & then I shall come back to Allahabad & then to Gorakhpur etc. ACB ACBS/adb letters | 08:13 | Wednesday, 30 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Syamasundara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26th December, 1970. You write to say that on last Monday morning you were to see Mr. G. R. Jolly, but you talked with Hamsaduta by trunk call this morning and you did not mention anything about your meeting with Mr. Jolly. If Jolly accepts our terms of Rs. 50,000 down immediately and the balance to be paid by Rs. 2,000 every month as I have advised you previously, then why not settle up the thing that way? If these terms are settled up, then I can pay him immediately Rs. 50,000 down payment on my arrival in Bombay. I am very glad that you are working in Bombay with great enthusiasm. As you say that Bombay is like a dream for Krsna Consciousness, you may take the Bombay Center very seriously and do it nicely. The program of work of two parties working canvassing Life Members is very nice. The only thing is we require immediately a nice place to keep your assistants. If the Jolly business is not settled up, then you immediately try to have some place on rental basis. We are all leaving Surat on Sunday the 4th January, 1971, by the Flying Ranee, reaching Bombay Central at 10.30 AM the same morning. I hope by the time I reach Bombay the registration of the Society and other things might have been finalized. Please keep the Tandberg tape* recorder ready. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *as well as my Bank Pass book made up to date. P.S. Enclosed herewith, please find one letter to be signed by you and sent to the editor of the Times replying the several letters which you have sent me cut from the recent editions of the Times. This letter is very important and you may personally hand over the same to the Editor so that it may be published immediately. We invite all kinds of men to discuss on this high philosophy of life. ACB. ACBS:ds letters | 08:13 | 30 December, 1970 Surat TAMAL KRISHNA, NO LETTER FROM YOU VERY MUCH ANXIOUS FOR BOOKS WIRE ACTUAL SITUATION BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI letters | 08:11 | 30 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Tamala Krsna, Please accept my blessings. I hope everything is going on with you all well in Calcutta, I was expecting your letter at any moment, but I have not received any word from you since you went there. This morning I have sent you one telegram requesting you to send me a complete report immediately. In the meantime, our plans have been changed so that I will come to Calcutta from Bombay by plane and not by train. Our whole party is leaving Surat on the 4th January and we shall reach Bombay on the morning of the 4th. From Bombay I shall fly to Calcutta by Indian Airlines flight number IC-175 leaving on the 5th January at 6.15 PM, reaching Calcutta the same evening at 8.20 PM. Two of us will be arriving there, so please meet us at the airport. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:10 | Dec 29, 2006 Tuesday, 29 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Hladini devi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letter dated 28th November. I am glad to learn that the Deities are being cared for there in Chicago so nicely by your good self. I personally gave instruction to Silavati how to care for the Deities properly when I was in Los Angeles and you were trained up by her. So I am confident that everything is going on nicely. Proper Deity worship, with all attention to cleanliness, is of the utmost importance. If you can please the Deity by your sincere service, then your temple will flourish. To be able to personally serve the Deity is a great privilege and such a person is very fortunate indeed. So you continue in this way and Krishna will surely bless you. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:10 | 29 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 26th, 1970. In the meantime I have received one other letter from you and I have replied the same just the other day. I am very glad to learn that you have begun worship of Tulasi in your Toronto Temple. The presence of Tulasi is proof of true devotional atmosphere there. Please offer Her all respects and carefully tend and Srimati Tulasi will be pleased upon you in gaining the auspicious favor of the Lord. I am so pleased to know that your efforts at placing our books in the local libraries is successful and it is especially heartening to learn that they already have got our books on their shelves. That is factual proof that these purely transcendental literatures are very attractive to the reading class of the public. It is also good news that your recent marriage celebration in Krsna Consciousness was filmed for display by a large television station. People will very soon come to appreciate the Krsna Conscious way of life as distinct from the dull repetition of materialistic activities. I have noted the news article sent by you and it appears very nice. I beg to thank your good wife for the gorgeous handkerchief which she has so thoughtfully offered to my Radha Krsna Deities. I am also glad that you are regularly sending the maintenance checks for your Temple to Karandhara. Thank you very much for this. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:10 | Dec 28, 2006 Monday, 28 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Vamanadeva, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your kind letter dated December 11th, 1970, and have noted the contents with great satisfaction. I am very much willing to see your center at St. Louis, but for the time being the installation ceremony of Radha Krsna may be postponed until my further advice. I am so glad to learn that you have increased the distribution of BTG to the extent of 3,000 per month. The collections from BTG Department may be immediately sent because they are in debt. Please offer my blessings to your good wife. Thanking you once more for your informative letter. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:09 | 28 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Tulsi Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 26th November, 1970 and have noted the contents carefully. I was not able to reply sooner, but have been travelling and so much of my mail has been neglected. Presently I am touring many cities in India and the response to our Sankirtana Movement has been tremendous with thousands upon thousands actively participating. In India, actually, everyone is a devotee. They have simply been mislead by the politicians and so many things. By Lord Caitanya's mercy we are again reviving their dormant Krishna Consciousness, just as we are doing in our centers all over the world. I am very pleased to hear how nicely the activities are gong on there in our San Diego center under your expert guidance. Also your program for ``Maha Sankirtana'' in conjunction with Laguna Beach temple is very nice. Such engagements should be held whenever possible as it is very enlivening to all those involved. Simply by keeping a nicely regulated temple schedule with many integrated devotional activities and our preaching program is sure to be a success. Following the regulative principles strictly is our strength in spiritual life. If they are neglected, then all our efforts simply become spoiled. So go on in the way you have described and Krishna will surely bless you. Please offer my blessings to the others. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:08 | 28 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 23rd, 1970, Along with a press letter. I am very glad that Advaita has come back to his position, but I am very much concerned that there is a Mayavadi Sannyasi among yourselves. According to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, anything spoken by the Mayavadis is very, very dangerous. If the Sannyasi who has come to our shelter becomes clean shaved and keeps a sikha with beads on his neck and chants Hare Krsna Mantra 16 rounds at least and changes his dress, then he can be allowed to stay with us. Until six months pass he cannot lecture in the meetings. On these conditions, he can render us service in the matter of Sanskrit composition, otherwise there is no need of him. Please take immediate steps in this connection and let me know what you have done in this matter. The $28,000 plus $800 contributed by Sai may not be touched for any other purpose until you hear from me. Dai Nippon's debt regarding BTG should be liquidated by the Department of BTG. Why the debt should be cleared with a contribution which Krsna has sent for another purpose? I can understand that from London the payment is not regularly coming from the very beginning, so in order to counteract this anomaly I shall be sending someone out of the four important members to check out the condition of London. Most probably Hamsaduta will very soon go there. At present I am at Surat, which is very nice city in India. People are very responsive and we are getting practically every day a Life Member. There is an important meeting in Calcutta on the sixth of January, so I may be going there on the 5th of January, 1971. I am writing you this letter in great haste on account of being concerned about a Mayavadi Sannyasi being present among you. Therefore, if he completely surrenders to our principles and lives as other newcomers live, then he can be allowed. Otherwise there is no need of his staying with us. My next letter will follow very soon. You can offer my thanks to Advaita. The dummy Bhagavad-gita sent by him is approved by me. If it is possible it may be improved further. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:07 | 28 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I hope everything is going on with good prospect in Calcutta. I have decided to come there for the meeting with Mrs. Birla at the Birla Academy on the 6th January, 1971. Our program here in Surat is very successful and we are terminating it for the time being when we depart for Bombay on the 2nd January. From Bombay we are catching the 1 down (via Nagpur) Howrah Mail Train leaving on the 3rd at 6.45 PM and reaching Calcutta on the 5th at 8.25 AM. So I will be glad to see you there if you can arrange a nice reception. We shall be coming either two men or four. In the meantime the rest of our party is going to Allahabad for establishing our Magh Mela Camp. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 03:08 | Dec 20, 2006 Sunday, 20 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated the 16th instant addressed to me and Tamala Krsna as along with a Bengali letter from Sagar Maharaja. This morning I have received also your telegram and I have replied as follows; "Reduce the period as they like. Payment in full on vacant possession. Letter follows. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." The idea is that we can arrange to pay them immediately 6.2 lakhs if we get full vacant possession. But I think it is not possible because the tenant cannot vacate within less than six months. We are not interested in realizing the rent from the house; we need the place for our own accommodation. Therefore vacant possession is essential. The best thing will be that let them give us possession of the ground floor and we are prepared to pay them proportionately immediately up to two lakhs of rupees or more. The balance will be paid as early as possible when we get the other two stories vacant--it is up to them. Some arrangements should be made like that. You have suggested in your letter dated December 16th that a gentle lawyer has prepared to give us free service in the above transaction--it is welcome. As you have suggested you can immediately form a committee with five or six men comprising Mr. Mohta, Mrs. Birla, Mr. Poddar and Mr. Buwalka and any two of you, preferably yourself and Madhudvisa Maharaja. You can immediately form this fund raising committee. and do the needful. So far Sagar Maharaja is concerned, I have already written him a letter care of Mr. Pradhan as he gave the address. So if his presence is necessary, he can remain, otherwise, he may come back with the typewriter and my books. Just now I have received telephonic message form Tamala the book affair is settled up and he is returning on Tuesday. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 09:08 | Dec 19, 2006 Saturday, 19 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Advaita, Please accept my blessings and offer the same to your good wife, Balai Dasi, and your daughter, Nandini devi. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 4th, 1970, although I did not receive any letter from you addressed to Calcutta. I am travelling extensively now throughout the country of India, so sometimes my mail does not reach me promptly or there is some chance of its being missed. Anyway, I am so much relieved to hear from you, and I was sure that you could not actually be entrapped by Maya. I have always been confident of your steadiness in Krsna Consciousness because of your great determination in serving the mission of the Lord in such great measure these last few years by your working long hours and more with our ISKCON Press. So I think that the recent disturbances are easily to be set aright and you should go on again fully engaged in our printing work there. We have got a great lot of work to do and you should immediately pick up the press work again so that time may not be wasted with the press idle. I know that Satsvarupa has got too much other engagement to be able to devote the requisite time for managing the press department. I had never considered either closing down our ISKCON Press or removing your responsibility for managing the press affairs. You may immediately resume your former activities and work the press according to your best ability because I am very eager to see our own press printing the majority of our publications. The first thing now should be the printing of the new, enlarged edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. That will be a great boon to our Movement. I have already decided that the necessary funds for printing the book should come from the England sales of our KRSNA book. London has got $20,000 worth of KRSNA Books so they should sell them and send immediately $17,000 to ISKCON Press for printing according to your estimate. The plan to print 10,000 copies, 5,000 for India and 5,000 for U.S.A., etc. is approved by me. Please do it. I have been very much encouraged and pleased to receive the two latest chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto. So this printing must go on. ISKCON Press remains our big mrdanga and the backbone of our Movement. So far your need for constant engagement in press work is concerned, I do not see that there should be any difficulty if you attend the classes daily when our literatures are read and discussed. It is alright if you do not attend the Arati, but you must remain fixed up by attending the classes. Two hours daily in the classes will not be too much time away from press work. I give you my permission to work in this way. Now adjust things as you find it convenient and please begin work again immediately. I know that you are in need of constantly working the press and the press is constantly in need of being worked. If you are individually the manager of ISKCON Press, I have no objection, but you must work nicely and the GBC will be satisfied. Please thank Balai for her nice note to me. She is a very good and faithful devotee wife. You are both most fortunate couple in Krsna's service. So please remain all together with your family in Krsna consciousness and be happy. I am writing to Satsvarupa to help you as I have suggested. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:07 | 19 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Nara Narayana and Dinadayadri, Please accept my blessings, I am in due receipt of your letters dated 1st November and 26th October respectively and have noted the contents carefully. That you are working hard to build cottages there in New Vrindaban is very encouraging to me. I want very much to see this project grow, so you please continue to work in this respect. So far as what materials to be used to finish the cottages, I think whatever is easiest and least expensive is best. So far as your casting of Murtis there during the winter months, that sounds very nice. If you could produce plaster Murtis of Lord Caitanya the same size in height as Kartamashai Murtis you produced earlier, that would be very nice. And then your good wife Dinadayadri, acting as pujari there, can take nice care of that Murti. Husband and wife working conjointly in Krishna Consciousness is the perfection of household life. So both of you go on working in this way to strengthen and improve our wonderful New Vrindaban community project and Krishna will be very pleased. Hoping you are both in good health and happy in the service of Lord Krishna. Kindly offer my blessings to the others there. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:06 | 19 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Mr. D.D.D., Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated as well as the enclosed booklet, and I thank you very much for these. I have read your version of the Bhagavad-gita, first chapter and it is very interesting to read how the armies were present on the battlefield of Kuruksetra and how Lord Krishna became the charioteer of His friend and devotee, Arjuna. Also I have read your excerpt from Teachings of Lord Caitanya and it was very relishable to read. So take instruction from Bhagavad-gita in this way. Your handwriting is so nice, so by printing such booklets and learning Bhagavad-gita you can then instruct others and Krishna will bless you. Please take nice care of the cows there for me and make sure that everyone is chanting their 16 rounds. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 08:06 | 19 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Sridama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 6th December, 1970 and I have noted the contents carefully. Now you and your good wife Manmohini are in Miami after having left Providence and that is very nice. Miami is a very good place to establish a firm center and if you can organize this center nicely, it will be a great credit to you. Just continue with your sincere efforts and Krishna will give you all assistance. Yes, when I return to U.S.A. I must go to Florida, and I'm anxious to see you also because I've not seen you in a long time. I always remember your valuable personal service given to me. So go on and Krishna will bless you. Stick to the regulative principles, chant Hare Krishna and be happy. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 08:05 | 19 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated November 30th, December 3rd and 8th, 1970, along with a correspondence with one E. Michael Kelly. I have read your reply to Mr. Kelly and I find it very nice. Such important persons shou be carefully instructed so they may aid us in spreading Krsna consciousness. I have seen the layout proposal for the first pages of our new edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is and it is fully approved by me. I shall immediately write one preface to the enlarged edition as you have requested and send it as soon as possible. I have written to Karandhara that the money for printing according to Advaita's estimate of $17,000 should be realized from London. London book sales have nothing to do with my book fund. They have got 2,500 copies of KRSNA or in other words $20,000 worth of books, so they can send $17,000 for printing of Bhagavad-gita, immediately. It is a good proposal to print 10,000 copies; 5,000 for India and 5,000 for U.S.A. I am very much pleased with the two latest chapters from Srimad-Bhagavatam--The Process of Creation and The Cause of all Causes. They are so much satisfactory and I am very eager that they should be produced by ISKCON Press at a regular pace. I have written one letter to Advaita requesting him to take up his duty again unflinchingly and print our books especially the enlarged edition of Bhagavad-gita at this moment. I have great hopes that our ISKCON Press will continue and expand by the grace of Krsna. I have advised him that he must attend daily classes regularly, but there is no need of his attending other functions like Aratis etc. I have given him this special permission in this case, so you also please let him do anything, but let him be always engaged in printing our books and other required literatures. It is my opinion that he should remain as individual manager of ISKCON Press because of his experience and ability in the matter practically. I do not think that you are able to be the manager because you have got too many other very important duties. So the management may be returned to Advaita and the GBC may cooperate in this way for the continued uninterrupted function of our press department. The pictures on the Srimad-Bhagavatam Chapters are very nice. My sincere blessings are to Jadurani and the art department. If our books are printed in this standard, that will be very, very good. I do not aspire to any more efficiency in printing, but simply the printing must go on regularly. Offer my blessings to all the workers of ISKCON Press because that is my life. Next time when I go there, I shall first go to Boston. In future, if we get some nice place, some of the workers may come and start our own press here also. You may inform Jadurani that the picture she has sent is alright with necessary adjustments. Krsna is of course to be pictured in the same dress in all the scenes of the Kuruksetra delivery of Bhagavad-gita because the episode took place all within about one half hour. Some ideas are: 1) Duryodhana and Dronacarya conferring in a tent just before the battle. 2) A ratha with four horses drawn before the ranks of soldiers and akshouhini carrying Krsna and Arjuna. 3) Arjuna morose; leaving weapons aside he is almost crying. 4) A man pictured dead and also living. Krsna says to Arjuna, "the wise mourn not for the dead or the living." 5) pictures of an individual from babyhood to youthhood, in manhood and in old age and death. The figure of the soul in each different body remains the same indicating that the body changes, not the soul. 6) Krsna instructing the Sun-god; Vivasvan instructing Manu (his son). I will send you more ideas later if required by you. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 08:05 | Dec 18, 2006 Friday, 18 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Krsna das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1st December, 1970 and I thank you very much for your kind sentiments for me. Actually I cannot claim any credit for myself, but I say if any credit is due, it is due to the fact that I have not deviated from the original instructions. Whatever I have learned from my spiritual master I have presented before you and similarly whatever success you are having only it is due to the purity of the message which you are carrying. So continue to see to the management of ISKCON and keep up the standards of devotional service and this Krishna Consciousness movement will be accepted all over the world. I am very encouraged to see your enthusiasm for preaching this message to the Russian people, and your idea to send letters with the help of Dr. Bernhart is very good. He is a big scholar and he also appreciates our movement. So if you arrange a tour of Russia for me, I am prepared to accept. Let us see what Krishna desires. Why not Dr. Bernhart join this great movement. Amsterdam sounds like a good place for our movement. The hippies are not bad souls, because soul is part and parcel of Krishna. So in fact everyone is good, because everyone is spirit soul. But by demoniac association they have been mislead. Try to save these boys and girls. That is our duty. If you can arrange for a Dutch BTG it will be very nice. Yes, as GBC member your task is very responsible. You must always keep yourself pure and in this way your preaching work will take effect. Others are also speaking Bhagavad-gita but their speech has no effect because they are not following the regulative principles of devotional service. Also, always maintain Sankirtana Party, prasadam, chant 16 rounds and read all our literature. These things keep you always in touch with Krishna, and Krishna will give you intelligence more and more how to spread this movement. "I dwelling in their hearts destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." (B.G. 10/11). I am glad to hear Mandali Bhadra and Haripriya are working so hard to translate my books. They are both sincere souls and combinedly I am confident that they will do their duty. Husband and wife engaged in the service of the Lord is real marriage, and man and woman combined without service to Krishna is animal life. So their example is very encouraging and instructive. Himavati is also eager to go to Russia and she also speaks the language. If we can go to Russia with our World Sankirtana Party, I am certain that it will be very much appreciated and people will see the real peace movement is chanting process--chanting the Holy Names Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So try for it. I hope you and your good wife Indrani are well. Please convey my blessings to all the other devotees and tell Vasudeva to write me about how he is progressing with his painting work. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 14:20 | 18 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two telegrams and letter dated December 6th, 7th and 6th, 1970, respectively. I have just come to Surat from Indore as we are travelling often now and I have just received your letters addressed to Bombay from where my mail is regularly forwarded. I have already telegrammed you in return regarding the money contributed by Sai and his followers. The money is to be kept for the purpose of purchasing one very nice house in Calcutta for which we have already begun serious negotiations. You have utilized $500 for the Berkeley Center's immediate need, but this must be repaid by them so the entire contributed sum must remain intact as I have instructed by telegram. It is a very good news that the disciples of Sai and Sai himself are now coming to join with our ISKCON. Because they were chanting Hare Krsna, they developed some love for Krsna and therefore they have decided upon this right course of action. So they are all very welcome and you can give these good souls all encouragement so that they may not feel any inconveniences. They must live with us according to our standard practices and they shall surely advance in Krsna's service. So far the current estimate for printing the revised and complete edition of Bhagavad-gita, you may immediately go ahead with this project and it is very much encouraging to me that you are eager to do so. However the proposal for using the money contributed by Sai for this purpose is not feasible. That money is already reserved. The London Temple has taken Krsna books worth $20,000, so they should send the requisite $17,000 for the publishing of our Bhagavad-gita As It Is in new enlarged edition immediately. I understand that the KRSNA book is selling there very well, so they can easily do it. I hope your international attempts for placing our books in libraries and selling our KRSNA books in particular is going on. I am always anxious to know that our programs are going on nicely. I am very much happy that you are now attempting for opening up some centers in South America. It has long time been my desire to have some of our branches there. So you train up some qualified men and send them and if they can do something there it will be a great achievement. Simply they must chant Hare Krsna, observe the regulative principles and read our literatures sincerely and their success is guaranteed. So far the overseeing of the temples in your Zone, I am very glad that you are travelling there and preaching and thus feeling enlivened. Just see that the standard of purity is strictly maintained and the standard of enthusiasm for spreading Lord Caitanya's Movement is increased. Please offer my blessing to all the nice devotees of Los Angeles Temple. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. I think with Sai's money in 10,000/$ denominations four bills you have to come to India. Syamasundara. will write to you. ACBS:ds letters | 14:19 | 18 December, 1970 Surat My Dear Bhagavan das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters November 30th and December 3d, and have noted the contents. I have not received the two sets of slides mentioned in your letter. Yes, I have heard of your plan to open a branch in Trinidad. That will be very nice and the selected members are approved by me. The more we open branches, the more I feel encouraged. These branches are like the oasis in a vast desert. In the desert there is no water, but occasionally if one is fortunate he may come in contact with an oasis and he is saved. Similarly in this material world we are drying up due to lack of spiritual knowledge. Our ISKCON centers are meant to give relief to the dried up conditioned souls who are searching after the nectar of joyful life. So I request you and all other members of ISKCON to flood the world with Krishna Conscious centers and realize the prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu "as many towns and villages there are, my name will be known." Yes, there is possibility of help from influential men to open a big branch in London. Our literatures are unique in the world and we want to introduce our philosophy in learned circles, so your report of library distribution is good news for me. Keep trying to place my books in auspicious places such as libraries, universities, clubs, etc. and someday the world will realize and appreciate these transcendental literatures. Everyone is asking me to stay at their temple when I return. So I think I shall have to expand. What do you think? Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/adb letters | 14:18 | Dec 14, 2006 14 December, 1970 Indore Wanted qualified Brahmins to preach Bhagavad-gita all over the world. Educated candidates accepted without any discrimination of Caste and Creed. Apply ISKCON Life Member can send any member of his family for being trained up as qualified Brahmin who can preach Bhagavad-gita as it is all over the world letters | 14:17 | Dec 13, 2006 Sunday, 13 December, 1970 Indore My Dear Tamala Krsna and Syamasundara, Pleased accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 6th, 1970. Regarding the land in Bombay, we shall prefer to have that vacant land at 5 lakhs. That is a better place than Mr. Shedh's building. From your letter everything is encouraging, still you should post me daily one letter. I am anxiously awaiting your full report from Bombay in letters. Regarding Surat, how can we go? We have not received any money. So it should be postponed. We have received two telegrams, but no money. In the meantime I have received two letters from Jayapataka Swami in Calcutta. I have received one telegram from Gurudasa in Delhi reading as follows: "CCP granted also official letter clearing books waiving demurrage sent to all ports trying Indian 18th. -Gurudasa" So I am very anxious to know what you have been able to do in the matter of receiving the books. Because of the proposed meeting with Indira Gandhi on the 18th instant, our Gorakhpur program is not fixed up. If you have already purchased tickets in the meantime, you may go there as planned, but our arrival from this end is not yet ascertained. Please keep me informed by daily letters as you promised before my leaving for Indore. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 20:41 | 13 December, 1970 Indore My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th December, 1970. You write to say, "We notice that even the communist protestors can't help smiling and answering back Hari Bol!" So there is sufficient hope to reform them by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace of chanting the Hare Krsna Mantra. Kali Yuga is the fallen age undoubtedly, and there are different varieties of fallen souls. In Calcutta the so-called disturbance-makers are also some of them. I went to America and some of the souls were accepted by Lord Caitanya and today the Bengal being Lord Caitanya's place they are in such pitiable condition, so I wish that some of you among my American disciples may try to reclaim these fallen souls to the order of Lord Caitanya's Vaisnavite platform. When I was in Calcutta, many Naxalite and Communist youths used to see me. They were arguing with me, but I defeated them smilingly. They left after offering me their respects. I think they can also be reformed provided we diagnose and administer the proper medicine for them. I am not very much hopeless about Calcutta situation or even if there is some risk we should try to reform them and if we are successful, the people of India will hail us to great estimation and adoration and that will give us good impetus for pushing on our Movement, Krsna Consciousness. Although there are many places in Calcutta we can have at cheap price, my advice is that you try to raise this one lakh of rupees for advancing to the Hamilton people and keep it ready. I have already sent you a telegram reading like the following: "If they accept 6.2 lakhs, I will immediately go there to complete transaction." So, if the Hamilton people accept the offer of Rs 620,000/, I shall immediately go and finish the transaction. I hope you have received the telegram and I am expecting your reply at any moment. The location of the Hamilton House is very nice and absolutely suitable for our purposes. In the meantime, I am also addressing one letter to the Hamilton Co. and the copy of which is enclosed herewith. Please do the needful. Keep yourself brave and fit to face the situation with faith in Krsna and Spiritual Master. Let us do something tangible in Calcutta. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:ds letters | 14:16 | Dec 10, 2006 10 December, 1970 Indore KARANDHARA DAS ADHIKARI WE REQUIRE 70.000 DOLLARS FOR PURCHASING VERY NICE CALCUTTA HOUSE KEEP SAIS CONTRIBUTION 28,000 INTACT LETTER FOLLOWS A C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI letters | 20:40 | Dec 9, 2006 9 December, 1970 Indore My Dear Tamala Krsna and Syamasundara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated 4th and 5th December, 1970, respectively, as well as one telegram dated 7th, December regarding the Surat program. Gorakhpur has already sent us money for going there, therefore we should give first preference to going to Gorakhpur and them from Gorakhpur we shall make further program. So for the time being the Surat program may be postponed. I am arranging to go to Gorakhpur by the 17th December and if you have no important program in Bombay, then all of you may come to Gorakhpur. From Gorakhpur we shall go to Allahabad or maybe to Vrndavana. That will be settled there. So let me know if you are all starting for Gorakhpur by the 17th instant. The best way for you to go is to purchase reserved tickets from Bombay through Gorakhpur according to the following schedule. Leave Bombay on the 17th December by the 5 (down C.R.) Punjab Mail AC departing at 15.20. You will arrive at Bhopal Jn. by 6.20 next morning. Most probably we shall join you at Bhopal with tickets reserved on the same train. The 5 Punjab Mail will then reach Jhansi at 11.40. At Jhansi the train divides and one part goes on to Luknow called the 43 (down C.R.) Jhansi-Lucknow Mail departing Jhansi at 13.20 and arriving Lucknow at 20.05. From Luknow the Lucknow Express (E.R. down #16) departs at 21.15 and arrives in Gorakhpur at 3.05. In Indore we shall continue our program up until the 16th and therefore we shall start on the 17th to Bhopal Jn. where we should meet your train and join parties. In the event that we do not join you at Bhopal Jn., you continue on to Gorakhpur as above schedule. Regarding the proposed meeting with Sri Birlaji, your letter arrived too late for any action to be taken from here. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami I have advised Gurudasa to print the numbers of the receipts which were lost in Delhi in the public papers with a note that any monies collected with these receipts are not received by ISKCON, neither ISKCON is responsible for such false representation. Please send the numbers of the missing receipts immediately to Gurudasa so he can do the needful. Giriraja says that you now have the only copy of the missing numbers. So please send them without delay. ACB ACBS:ds letters | 20:39 | Dec 7, 2006 7 December, 1970 Indore My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your detailed letters (2) dated November 28th, 1970, with regard to the Regent Park land. We sent you a telegram to send the certified copy of our constitution and you also confirmed by telegram, but it is not received yet. So far the Regent Park land scheme is concerned, I have read over all your points and further talks on these may be discussed on receipt of the above mentioned documents. It is not practical proposal to request Sri Rirlaji to write to the High Commissioner. Another thing, you do not rely on Proful Patel--you find out your own place. When I was in London, this Proful Patel promised to see me many times, but he did not come. Regarding telephone at Seksaria House or anywhere else, don't try to use telephone unnecessarily. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Srimati Janaki devi. I hope you are both in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P. S. Please arrange to send all my book-sales proceeds directly to Dai Nippon Printing Co. Tokyo and let me know. ACBS:ds letters | 20:39 | |
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