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Columbus (Letters)

Correspondence

1966 Correspondence

Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- New York 16 February, 1966:

I hope you have duly received my letter of the 4th instant with enclosure of Sir Padampat Singhania the expected donor of the Temple. Since then I have changed my room (Room No 307) as abovementioned in the same building for better air and light and on the road side of junction of two roads the Columbus Avenue and 72nd St. So please note down my change of room only the building being the same.

Now I am anxiously awaiting your favorable reply because on your reply only I will have to take action in so many other things. My Visa period will be finished by the end of March 1966 and for increasing the period I will have to submit application at least a fortnight before. You know it that America is very much expensive. I am paying rent for my room $70.00 and for my other expenses I spend about 4 dollars a day. In other words I have to spend about Rs 1000/- per month and as such I am counting every day to receive your favorable reply. Kindly therefore reply this letter per return of post what actions you have taken by this time so that I may also arrange my things here accordingly.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Hayagriva -- San Francisco 9 September, 1968:

So far your opening a center, in the Columbus University, that is also very nice idea. The three days you will be there must be utilized in propagating our Krishna Consciousness amongst the students, and I think in charge of that center, Pradyumna may be left so that when you are there, he will work with you. And when you are not there, he will take care of the center. I think you will like this idea. In this way, Kirtanananda may develop New Vrindaban. He will have a nice assistant, Vamanadeva, and Hrsikesa, and I think everything will come out very successful without delay. Krishna is giving you intelligence and bestowing His Mercy upon you; continue this attitude, whenever you feel some difficulty, chant Hare Krishna. Pray to Krishna to help you, and there will be no difficulty. Be rest assured. I hope this will find you in good health and cheerfulness.

Letter to Mukunda -- Seattle 13 October, 1968:

In Columbus University, Hayagriva is doing very nicely. He is trying to have classes in the University, and the situation is very hopeful. Similarly, here also the Washington University students, they have taken interest in our movement, and one Christian gentleman, he did not like our men to speak at the University, because University is a secular. But he has been very strongly criticized by the student community.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Seattle 14 October, 1968:

My program for European tour is not yet fixed and as such I shall be glad to go to Columbus as soon as you call me. I wish to see also New Vrindaban very soon. I hope you have received my letter previous to this. Hope this finds you all in good health.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Seattle 16 October, 1968:

So by Grace of Krishna there you are meeting nice gentlemen, interested gentlemen, and I hope it will come very grand success. And so far I am concerned, I may be going back again to Montreal, because there is an interview with the Consulate General in Montreal on the 25th Oct., and from there I may be going to Santa Fe, and from there I may be going to Los Angeles, so my program is going on here. Here also in Seattle there is work going on. And similarly I am receiving report from New Vrindaban and Columbus that our Hayagriva Brahmacari, Professor Howard Wheeler, he is also doing there preaching amongst the students. So by the Grace of Krishna this mission is going on nicely, and I shall be glad to hear from you further good news. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Yamuna, as well as all other devotees, Mukunda, Syamasundara, Malati, Janaki, and Sarasvati devi. I hope this will find you in good health. Thanking you once more for writing me.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Seattle 22 October, 1968:

While I am packing my goods for going to Montreal I have received your letter of Oct. 18, 1968. Yes, when Krishna has given us New Vrindaban, it must develop rest assured. You have got very good engagement by the Grace of Krishna, do it nicely and your life will be glorious and successful. So also Hayagriva's. When you go to Columbus take Radha Krishna with you and teach Hayagriva also how to worship the Deities. If required, ask Acyutananda and Jaya Govinda to send you another pair of Deity for Hayagriva. Radhakrishna shall be your life companion and thus you will be always secure from the attack of Maya. So also Hayagriva. The present mode of worship is quite alright, don't worry. You have seen in Vrindaban so do follow as much as possible. Decorate the Deity as nicely as possible with nice flowers and dress. You will forget all other false beauty. Open the Columbus center gorgeously along with Hayagriva and Pradyumna. The boys will like it. Carry Deity with you. Krishna is so nice.

Letter to Rayarama, Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 17 November, 1968:

The current issue of Back to Godhead is better than all previous ones. So you are tangibly improving the quality of BTG. May Krishna bless you improve it more & more. Tamala sold yesterday 87 copies at a length. He is very much satisfied with this issue. Hayagriva is also doing nicely at Columbus fighting against Frog Philosophy.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 26 November, 1968:

I have received your letter of November 20th and have noted the contents carefully. Also I have seen the newsletter of November 20th regarding the progress of our centers in New Vrindaban and Columbus. Both these centers are progressing nicely and I have no doubt that under your able direction the New Vrindaban will become a most prosperous endeavor in spreading Krishna Consciousness and attracting the attention of many new people. There is no need for discouragement because you are working sincerely and according to Krishna's plan your activities prove to be of great use in propagating our movement.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 30 November, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letter of Nov. 7, 1968, and I have duly noted the contents with great satisfaction. It is very good news that so many students are attending your kirtana programs in Columbus, and I think this will develop into a very prosperous center very soon.

So far your question whether you should stay at New Vrindaban, or help Hayagriva at Columbus, the best thing is to consult with Hayagriva, and work jointly. And do whatever needs to be done. That is the best program.

I think by Krishna's Grace everything is improving nicely with the New Vrindaban idea, and please continue to make your program in this way.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1969:

I was very much anxious to receive your letter since I did not hear from you for a long period. But I always know that you are doing your duty nicely. Recently, Hayagriva came from Columbus, and he remained with me for more than a fortnight. He was assisting me in editing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Now he is married with Syama Dasi and has returned to New Vrindaban with his many responsibilities.

I am glad to learn that you have been helping this boy, Kenneth, and he is now eager to be initiated. So, as recommended by you, I have agreed to initiate him and call him Kanupriya das Brahmacari. Please take care of him and give him impetus to rise more and more in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1969:

I do not know what is the position, but I think that without depending on anyone, we may take the risk of renting a nice house for our temple immediately. If you think that my presence will accelerate matters, I am prepared to go immediately. In Yamuna's letter I understood that many people are interested in our temple work, and they are prepared to contribute items such as deities. All such things being favorable, why you are not taking a temple at your own risk? Besides that, you wrote to say that I will not go there for one year, but I have no such idea. I do not know who has spread such rumor. I have already postponed my journey to Hawaii in the month of April. In April I will go to Columbus, Ohio, so these two months of February and March I am completely free. If you so desire, I can start immediately and see the situation which is preventing the renting of a nice house. You write to say also that everyone is awaiting my arrival, and they ask "When is Swamiji coming?" So far as I am concerned, I can go immediately because I have no serious engagements here now.

Letter to Mrs. Cline -- Los Angeles 22 February, 1969:

Next time when I go to Columbus, surely I shall initiate you and your good husband. I understand that your husband is a student of psychology, and Krishna Consciousness is the summit of psychological studies. From the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that Krishna is the Original Consciousness and the center of all psychological movement, namely thinking, feeling and willing. We are all parts and parcels of the Supreme Thinking, Feeling and Willing, but our present thinking, feeling and willing being contaminated by the cloud of ignorance, we are thinking, feeling and willing in a perverted way. The whole Krishna Consciousness movement is an attempt to divert the same thinking, feeling and willing to their original unalloyed position. You are an educated couple, and your cooperation with this movement can help tremendously to propagate this most necessary and urgent message for the human society.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 26 February, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 19, 1969, and I am pleased that you are doing very nicely in your center. The pictures which you have sent are also very nice. I am going to New York by the first of April or by the end of March. From there I shall go to your side, Columbus and New Vrindaban.

By no means should you stop kirtana and chanting. Of course I know that you cannot stop kirtana or chanting but it must be done regularly because that is our strength. We are always in the whirlpool of maya, and only this chanting of Mantra can save us from all pitfalls.

Regarding your need for records, Mr. Kallman has cheated us in so many ways, so I am therefore thinking of making a new record of Hare Krishna vibration. But if you now have a tape recording machine then you can have the kirtana record in tapes. The cost of such tapes can be found out from Dinesh in Los Angeles.

Now we have to sell Back To Godheads in large quantities. We are arranging to print 20,000 copies so you should seriously consider how to step up this program in Columbus. I am very pleased that Mr. Cline is helping you in looking for a suitable temple there. Please keep me informed of your progress in this matter.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Hawaii 19 March, 1969:

So you can arrange for the meeting at the Entertainment club The Ark, and make it as big as possible, as you say that the place can hold up to 1800 people and they saw me in San Francisco, and are eager to see me and have a talk there. On the 6th of May, I think I shall have to be present in Buffalo. And around about the 10th of May, I shall have to be present in New Vrindaban or Columbus, Ohio.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Hawaii 24 March, 1969:

I thank you very much for you letter of March 17, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. (along with the letter of March 4th). Yes, I have duly received Hayagriva's letter and I have replied him also, that I shall be coming to New Vrindaban, or Columbus, on or by the 10th of May. I am happy to hear you have a new boy, John Saltzgiver, and you keep him nicely and gradually introduce to him our K.C. philosophy.

Letter to Bhurijana -- San Francisco 3 April, 1969:

I beg to thank you for your very nice and encouraging letter dated March 30, 1969. I am pleased to learn of the success which you and Tosana Krishna are having in your new center. It is all very encouraging to me. I think that your proposal to have me come to North Carolina is very nice, and if it can be arranged, I will surely do this. I shall be in Columbus by the 10th of May, and if you think that my going to your place will be nice, then you can arrange to receive me from Columbus to your place. So if it is possible, please let me know your tentative program. The program may be fixed some time after the 15th of May, and your tentative program may be informed to me at the New York address.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 3 April, 1969:

I think if possible you should also accompany me to Buffalo, and if possible, Rayarama may also come with me so that we can stay together at least up to April 22. If you like you can also come with me to Boston. This would be a very nice idea but I do not think your occupations will allow you to come with me and stay for a long time. But the proposal for me to come back to New York from Columbus is nice. I think I shall arrange like that. So there is no cause of becoming sad. Our meeting and separation in the material world is like the flowing tide of the river. During the flowing tide of the river, so many different floating articles meet together, and with the flowing, they again become separated by the movement of the waves. That is the way of the material life. But our separation, although it resembles exactly in the material way, it is completely different. In the spiritual world, separation is more relishable than meeting. In other words, in spiritual life, there is no separation. Separation is eternal, and meeting is also eternal. The separation is simply another feature of meeting.

I think from Columbus I will have to go to New Vrindaban, and after staying a few days there, I shall come back to New York. If there is call from London, I shall go there from New York. About Trinity College lectures, I think I can stay in Hartford for the days I have to lecture there, and the fees may be charged $100 per lecture as the New York City College has offered.

Letter to Pradyumna -- New York 10 April, 1969:

I am very glad to receive your letter dated April 4, 1969, and I eulogize your attempt for improving the Columbus center. Do it very nicely, and when I go there I shall see that you have done so much for Krishna Consciousness. I shall also give you one very nice brahmacari from Los Angeles, Jaya Gopala. He is trained in Sankirtana Party and in cooking, so you can leave him for taking care of the temple affairs when you go to work. Besides that, if you have learned Sanskrit, I can give you one brahmacari, 12 years old, named Birbhadra, whom I want you should teach Sanskrit from the very beginning. We want a few students who know Sanskrit and Bengali, or at least Sanskrit. Most probably the boy will go with me there, and if you think you can take charge, he can also remain there.

Letter to Bhurijana -- Buffalo 19 April, 1969:

Please inform Pradyumna in Columbus about the meeting in your place.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Allston, Mass 27 April, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 20, 1969, sent along with some pictures. All the pictures you sent are very important. You are doing very laudable service by collecting some old reminiscences, and I shall do the needful in due course; there is no immediate emergency. Your idea of writing a book named Swamiji was formerly informed to me. Unfortunately, because I am travelling in so many places—from Los Angeles to Hawaii, then to San Francisco, then again Los Angeles, then New York, then Buffalo, and now I am in Boston. From here I shall go to Columbus, then to North Carolina, then to New Vrindaban, and then I may go to London if required. At that time I shall give you solid information for both the Krishna book and the Swamiji book. But for the time being all of you should concentrate your energies to occupy the house mortuary by all means.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Allston, Mass 28 April, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 23, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am arranging for the certificates to be sent to both Hayagriva and yourself, and you should receive them before long. My travelling schedule for the next few weeks will be as follows: I shall arrive in Columbus on flight 485, United Airlines, at 10:47 on May 9, 1969. Then on the 15th of May I shall be going to North Carolina, and then on the 18th of May I shall proceed to New Vrindaban.

I am pleased to learn of your nice Krishna Conscious activities in Columbus, and I shall be happy to see you there soon. Hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Upendra -- Allston, Mass 29 April, 1969:

So please continue to try to develop nicely. If you have got a nice place and a Sankirtana Party, then success is assured. That is already experimented in Los Angeles, You have already seen it, and try to organize a Sankirtana Party in that way in Seattle also. Seattle is a very nice place, and everywhere the students are taking part in our movement more enthusiastically. While I was in Buffalo I was very much pleased with the student community there, and similarly I saw good response in San Francisco. I have already invitation from Columbus and North Carolina, so our future hope is this student community. The child is the father of the man, and if the fathers of the children in this country are not taking part with us, the future fathers are surely sympathetic. That is a great hope for us.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Allston, Mass 29 April, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I have already sent Pradyumna the schedule of my touring in this part of the country. I did not know that there was so many important engagements in Columbus because formerly I was informed only that on the 12th there was an important meeting. So as I am going on the 9th, I shall be staying there for six days, till the 14th. On the 15th I will be going to North Carolina. So if you think that in Columbus there are many other engagements, then I may come back again to Columbus and stay there for as long as you like, and then I shall go on to New Vrindaban. Best thing will be if you talk with Bhurijana in North Carolina and arrange things mutually. I don't think he will be able to change the present arrangements because he has sent me one press cutting in which it is advised that I shall speak there on the 16th. Therefore, the best thing may be to come back. So you may not make any program for me on the 15th, 16th and 17th. Then on the 18th we can make more programs at Columbus.

I am enclosing one letter to be handed over to the girl, Cynthia Daily, who is there in Columbus with you. I hope this will meet you in very good health.

Letter to Hayagriva, Pradyumna -- Allston, Mass 3 May, 1969:

I will be reaching there in Columbus on United Airlines at 10:47, so in the evening if there is an engagement, we can accept. I will not be tired. On the 9th, 10th, 11th, if you want you can make some programs. On the 12th it is already scheduled, and similarly, on the 13rd and 14th you may make arrangements. On the morning of the 15th I shall be going to North Carolina.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Allston, Mass 6 May, 1969:

There is every possibility of me observing the Rathayatra Festival in London, because I received one letter from Syamasundara, and they are seriously attempting for this occasion, and they are thinking of inviting me during that period. Syamasundara wants to give me a grand reception, and he is trying his best for this level. But if I am not invited there, then surely I shall return to Los Angeles by the middle of June or earlier. The college courses and university courses should be very carefully taken because there is very, very great hope from those quarters. In Buffalo I have seen Rupanuga has done wonderfully, and some of the sudents are already attracted to this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Similarly, Pradyumna is also doing in Columbus, and I shall see personally when I go there on the 9th of May.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Columbus, Ohio 13 May, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated May 9th, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am pleased to note that you are doing nicely for giving the student community to hear about our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Yesterday, at the Ohio State University we had a tremendous meeting, and nearly two thousand students were dancing, clapping and chanting along with us. So it is clear that the student community has a nice potential for accepting this philosophy. I will not be going to North Carolina as I had planned, but I am sending Kirtanananda Swami in my place because they have extended my program here in Columbus. So now I have to create more sannyasis to lecture on our philosophy, and I shall pick these sannyasis from the brahmacaris who are firm in their decision not to marry.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Columbus, Ohio 14 May, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 12, 1969, delivered by Arundhati here in Columbus. This evening Arundhati will be married to Pradyumna, and they appear to be a very nice couple. Regarding your questions about Sankirtana Party, I think you should try to always have Sankirtana going on. All other things are subsidiary. This chanting is our life and soul, so we must arrange our program now so that there will be as much chanting on the streets and at college engagements as possible. On May 12th, we had a very successful engagement at Ohio State University, and over one thousand boys and girls were chanting and dancing along with us. So this policy should be continued as far as possible.

Letter to Ananda -- Columbus, Ohio 14 May, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated April 29, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. As you have suggested, I have sent one letter to Annapurna, in care of her father, and without writing my return address. As of yet I have not received her reply. I am very pleased to note that there are some nice boys and girls who are joining you at kirtana. Try to show them the importance of our movement, and the best way of doing this is by Sankirtana. Here in Columbus we had a very big meeting at the Ohio State University and more than one thousand students were chanting and dancing along with us. So there is very good potential for spreading our movement amongst the college students, and if we simply present them with the opportunity of chanting with us, and then we lecture on Bhagavad-gita As It Is, then surely many intelligent people will become attracted. So Sankirtana Party in the streets and Sankirtana Party in school engagements should be our chief business. This will assure success in our propaganda activities.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Columbus, Ohio 17 May, 1969:

I am very much encouraged to receive your letter of May 12, 1969, along with the German articles published in two different papers with pictures. It is very, very encouraging that you are holding kirtanas in public places and some way or other people are becoming interested. These outdoor kirtanas should be rigidly followed at least one hour daily. That will make our movement popular there. We have good experience here in every city, especially Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and here in Columbus. This is making our movement very popular more and more, so in any circumstances, you all go together outdoors for kirtana at least for one hour daily.

Letter to Vrndavanesvari -- New Vrindaban 25 May, 1969:

Recently when I was in Columbus there was a big meeting, and more than one thousand students attended. Poet Allan Ginsberg was there with me for chanting, and all the students were responsive immediately. Therefore I advise you that we are working on a different platform. We are working neither on the sensual platform, nor on the mental platform, nor on the intellectual platform. We are working completely on the spiritual platform. The concept of European, American, or Indian is based on the bodily platform. So long one is under the impression that he is this body, he cannot make much progress in this movement. Lord Caitanya says that factually all living entities are the servants of Krishna.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- New Vrindaban 26 May, 1969:

I have received your check for $100.00. Please let me know if you have received your money from Columbus?

Letter to Rayarama -- New Vrindaban 27 May, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 21, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the Composer machine, there will be no difficulty in transferring the money to the Iskcon Press account. But in Columbus they are already so negotiating for a similar IBM Composer, so let me see what is their terms here. After comparing I shall definitely instruct you on this matter. Regarding Sankirtana, you can go out four days in a week, but try to go out as much as possible. So far as Birbhadra is concerned, he may immediately come here to New Vrindaban, and I shall also call his mother here.

Letter to Candanacarya -- New Vrindaban 5 June, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter of June 2, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your proposal of working in Columbus with the chance of earning $100 per day, why don't you take it? This will be a great help to this center because there is such great potential for spreading our movement amongst the students there, and if we can either purchase the large church on 16th Avenue, or if they can purchase their present house, along with the nearby lot and gas station, that will be a tremendous asset to the activities there. I have seen in the gas station that there are two rooms, so if one room could be used for kitchen, then the other could be utilized as temple room, and the house would serve as an asrama for devotees. The first choice would be the big church, but if you can finance for purchasing either the church or the present site, that will be very nice service. So if you can actually earn $100 daily, I think you should take this opportunity. Please inform me what you have decided by return of post.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 27 June, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated June 23, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. You idea of going to Columbus for the weekdays and to New Vrindaban for the weekends is very nice, so you may do this. I have just left New Vrindaban on June 23rd, and I think you will be a great asset to the construction projects that will be going on there. Similarly, in Columbus there is much interest in our movement, and as they also are in need of more brahmacaris, your presence there will be very encouraging. So you may execute this plan as soon as possible. I thank you very much for the nice sentiments you have expressed in your letter, and if continue to develop such feelings and engage all of your energy in the service of the Lord, then surely you will come out successful in perfecting your life in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 12 July, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, and I am very glad that you are now in the Columbus center and you are working nicely to help the devotees there. You also write to say that you have a good job that will further train you in carpentry skills, so do this nicely. It is a good opportunity. If you want to marry, you may inform all the centers that you are looking for a wife, and if a girl is willing to marry, there is no objection. It is a nice idea. But if you marry, you will have to work to provide for your family, and try to spend at least 50% for Krishna. Regarding your Gayatri Mantra, most probably I will go to New York for a short time at the end of this month before going to Germany, and I shall let you know the exact day so you may arrange to meet me while I am there. Be very strong in Krishna Consciousness always, and I am sure that Krishna will bestow all of His Blessings upon you.

Letter to Jaya Gopala -- Los Angeles 12 July, 1969:

I shall consult with Tamala Krishna, and if possible I shall try to send devotees there to help you. In the meantime you should continue going out on Sankirtana as much as possible and preach to the many boys and girls with whom you come into contact there. Krishna Consciousness is the absolute need of the present day society, and there are many people who will come to join us if we simply make these teachings of Bhagavad-gita and rest of the Vedic literature available to them. So try to sell Back to Godheads as far as you are able to do with only Arundhati and yourself on Sankirtana Party, and soon others will come to join you. I have no objection to sending you some men from Los Angeles, but you also should try to recruit some men from amongst the residents of Columbus. That is the best plan. Simply let them hear our chanting, invite them to our temple Love Feasts, and automatically some intelligent boys and girls will become interested to associate with our movement. You are a very sincere worker, so go on increasing your enthusiasm, and you will see how Krishna provides everything nicely for your center.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Los Angeles 23 July, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 21, 1969 sent Special Delivery, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am pleased to learn that you are situated nicely in Columbus and now Indira Dasi has agreed to become your wife. This is very nice, and I don't think there is any need of worrying about her mother's request that she continues to go to school. She is old enough now, and if she wishes to come to Columbus as your wife, then this is her decision, and I do not see that the mother should object to this. So you may inform her in this way. When this is settled up I shall inform you as to where and when the marriage ceremony is to be performed.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 24 July, 1969:

I am glad that you are also holding a Rathayatra Festival. I am going tomorrow to San Francisco to participate in the same Rathayatra Festival there. We received report from New York that they have collected last week $1,000, and they are selling at a rate of 200 copies of BTG daily, on weekends especially. I have received report also that they are selling 60-70 copies daily in Boston and collecting $50 or $60 on the average. Your Columbus center is very nice, and the place you have got is a very suitable place. So you try to organize your center very nicely. What did you do about the mrdanga supplier from Bombay as you were discussing it with Mr. Vora?

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 16 August, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your two letters, one dated August 5th and the other dated August 14th, and I have noted the contents. I understand that the machine is already in the IBM office in Columbus and it will be delivered by the 22nd instant. I do not know why you arranged for rental payment. You say "if the machine works satisfactorily." Does it mean that there is chance of the machine not working satisfactorily? Now if you make experiment for the first month, does it mean that if the experiment fails we lose the first month's rental? I could not follow what does it mean. In the beginning we thought and consulted in so many ways and then settled up to purchase the machine. Why have you now decided to rent it and make an experiment? This is puzzling. I think the machine must work satisfactorily, and therefore, from the beginning you can purchase it as already settled up. Thus you can purchase without delay, and upon receipt of the machine you immediately begin composing the book, Nectar of Devotion. If there are no diacritic marks, we can put the diacritic marks by pencil carefully. That will not be difficult. So immediately on receipt of the machine the book composition must begin. I am asking Hayagriva to come to Columbus along with his wife immediately to begin the work. I am very much anxious to get my books somehow or other, so don't delay the matter. Immediately you should not bother about the Sanskrit typewriter.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Tittenhurst 28 September, 1969:

Regarding Vedanta Sutra tapes, I can send them to you when I return to Los Angeles, because the books and reference books are there. You mention in your letter that you have a very good typist there. If he can handle a Composer machine as we have purchased in Columbus, that will be a great help because as soon as we start our press we shall require so many composed matters for printing into books. The IBM machine is very nice in this connection. If he can handle such machine, then you can try to secure such machine and we can send manuscripts for composing. First of all see whether he sticks with us and becomes seriously engaged in our activities. Then consult with the people for Composer machine. That will be a great help.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Tittenhurst 21 October, 1969:

Wherever we sit down and chant Hare Krishna people will gather and gradually become our devotees and thus the center is developed. So if you want to open a center, that is very good. But at the same time you must be able to measure your strength whether you will be able to do it. In the meantime Columbus center may require your services, so you may remain there, and when you feel strong you can do it with Krishna's blessings. But if you do it sincerely and seriously, you will be successful. In Japan Sudama and his wife are doing very nicely, and I have got encouraging letter that Bali Mardan is desiring to go to Australia to open a temple. Also, Suridas and his wife, Jotilla, with others have gone to Paris. As formerly the Europeans made colonization in different parts of the world, it is the same thing; colonization of Sankirtana in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Brahmananda -- London 7 November, 1969:

The titlehead on the front cover is quite suitable, and the picture in the front page is exceedingly beautiful. I showed it to Gurudasa and he remarked that it is super-excellent and he expects it to sell very well because of this picture. I think similar pictures from Western centers should be printed. The New York Sankirtana Party is also super-excellent. I am very much pleased to see all these pictures and our magazines gives information to the people that we do not stick only to the cities, but we train people in the remote villages also. So everything should be done very attentively and amicably. I am writing a letter to Hayagriva that he should take care of composition of our books. Please find a copy of this letter enclosed. If you decide to go to Columbus, that is all right. Everything should be done very amicably. I see that in The Peace Formula pamphlet that there is advertisement for TLC and Bhagavad-gita, but there is no mention of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I think that in the future this also may be advertised. What about MacMillan Co.?

Letter to Hayagriva -- London 7 November, 1969:

So you will kindly manage in Columbus that the printing matters are substantially ready for the press. The press may not sit idly for want of printing matter. Then it will be very nice from all sides. Pradyumna is in charge of making the diacritic marks nicely, so I shall be glad to know if he is doing that work according to plan. Recently I received one letter from Arundhati that she wants to work very hard. So Syama Dasi should also do this as it was previously programmed. The main point is that the press should not sit down for want of printing matter. That you will kindly manage.

As you write that you cannot find suitable work in Boston, you stick to Columbus and give sufficient time to your editing work. Please also take care of the children. They are our future hopes, and the adolescent age is the most dangerous age. It is the turning point of one's life. In this age, if you take care of the children, surely they will come out first class Krishna Conscious devotees.

Letter to Jaya Gopala -- London 19 November, 1969:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated November 13, 1969 with enclosure of my maintenance check. I hope everything is going on nicely in Columbus, and I am sure under your able management it must be going on smoothly. I have written one letter to Pradyumna and Arundhati regarding composing my books, so I am very anxiously awaiting the reply. Please inform them about this and let me know what is the situation there. Offer my blessings to all of them, and I hope this will meet you in good health. Thank you very much once more for your letter.

Letter to Aniruddha -- London 26 November, 1969:

So it is very nice program. Just get yourself married, and as you propose to go to Argentina with Citsukhananda to open a branch there, I have all approval. So you accept some girl who will marry you, either Sacidevi or anyone else. In our Indian way there is no question of acceptance or rejection. The parents arrange for marriage and whatever boy or girl they select for their son or daughter, that is accepted. Even there is some disagreement at times, that is not taken very seriously. In this way, in mature life they become happy. I want to introduce this system in the Western countries, amongst my disciples at least. Their primary business should be Krishna Consciousness. Other relationships are mundane and therefore not very important. So please try to open a branch in Argentina, and it is not very difficult. Recently Vamanadeva who was in Columbus, now has married and has ventured on my advice to open a center in St. Louis. I have received his report several days ago, and it is very encouraging.

Letter to Bhadra Bardhan -- London 4 December, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 23, 1969 and have noted the contents. I am pleased to learn that the Columbus center is improving gradually and now you have begun to perform plays for the guests at the Sunday feasts. In one way or another you should always be engaged in Krishna Consciousness. This will protect you from the onslaughts of the material nature. Regarding your question about items being used in Krishna's service becoming spiritual, you should understand it that anything which will remind one of Krishna is spiritual, and anything which will make one forget Krishna is material. Actually, everything is of spiritual nature because everything is coming from the Ultimate Source, Krishna. But when something is offered to the Lord or when it is used in His service, then it resumes its spiritual quality because it will remind one of Krishna. Therefore, even though such object may not have consciousness, it will act as spiritual. It is just like when an iron rod is put into the fire: the rod has not actually become fire, but it will act in just the same way as fire.

Letter to Jananivasa -- Boston December 25, 1969:

I have arrived here in Boston this past Sunday, and there are nearly one hundred devotees who have come to visit me. The reception at the airport was very nicely arranged, and the local newspapers have commented that this airport has never before witnessed such a nice event. When I arrived at the Boston temple I was asking if you were there too, but Jaya Gopala informed me that you were remaining in Columbus. So as you are serving Krsna nicely in Columbus, that is also very good.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Candanacarya -- Los Angeles 12 March, 1970:

I am very much pleased to learn that the Columbus center has been nicely organized since you have gone there and things are going on nicely. In the meantime, I have received news from Boston that Aravinda alone cannot make the layout business very quickly. I think, therefore, if you sometimes go there, help him in this connection, and again come back, that will be very nice. If you so desire, you can remain in Boston and take up the charge of layout business. And sometimes you may go with Kirtanananda Maharaja. That will be nice.

Letter to Jananivasa -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1970:

Regarding the initiations of the two girls, I have chanted their beads duly and returned the same to them by mail parcel. I hope they have been received by this time. I beg to thank you very much for your contribution of $40 on behalf of these new initiates which as been duly entered in the book fund account.

Please convey my blessings to all the devotee boys and girls there in Columbus center. Hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Jananivasa -- Bombay November, 1970:

So far as getting yourself married is concerned, I have no objection. Be sure that you can meet the obligations of Grihasta order of life and then when you find a nice girl you may marry with my blessings.

Thank you for your invitation to Columbus temple and I will be very glad to visit there when I return to the U.S. I will be going to New Vrindaban, so perhaps from there I can visit Columbus.

Please offer my blessings to the other good devotees there. Hoping this will meet you in good health.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Jananivasa -- Bombay 5 March, 1971:

I thank you for your kind letter dated 13rd January, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I am so glad to hear how everything has been improving there in our Columbus center, and how preaching is going on so nicely. Simply if you work with enthusiasm and patience and depend on Krishna, then He will give you all facility to make our Columbus center a grand success.

Our book distribution program is most important work. Anyone reading our KRSNA book, TLC, NOD, and Bhagavad As It Is, is sure to become a Krishna Conscious person. Therefore somehow or other we must push on this literature distribution program, either through schools, colleges, libraries, life membership program or ordinary sales. You are approaching so many groups, etc. inviting them to our feasts. Also you should try to arrange outside engagements with these groups. This will facilitate good opportunity for introducing our literatures especially through the life membership program. That has been our endeavor here in India and it has been most successful. Likewise, you can do the same there. So make your program in that way and let me know how you are doing and what progress you have made.

Letter to Jananivasa -- ISKCON; Akash-Ganga Bldg, 7th floor; 89 Warden Road Bombay-26 INDIA 23rd March, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19th February, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I am so glad to note how things are steadily improving there in Columbus center, with new devotees coming, and that you are about to acquire a new temple in the busiest quarter of town. That is very encouraging. Maitahili Devi is coming from L.A. to act as poojari. So make the Deities and temple gorgeously situated so that the people will sure to be attracted. Because you are sincerely working, Krishna is giving you facility for improvement. So develop the temple nicely.

Letter to Patita Uddharana -- Delhi 15 November, 1971:

I plan to remain here in Delhi until 26th November, then we are all going to Vrindaban for a few days.

I hope this meets you and all of my spiritual sons and daughters in Columbus in good health and jolly mood.

Letter to Patita Uddharana -- Delhi 8 December, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 24, 1971, and I have noted the contents. I am pleased to see that routine work is going on nicely in Columbus center under your supervision. This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering prasadam, arati, reading books—these activities are the backbone of our Society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner, then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things, then everything else we may try will fail. So it is very important that you keep your standards very high in these activities, then your preaching will be strong. Preaching is our real business, preaching and distributing books. If your preaching work is strong, then your management of temple affairs will also become automatically very strong. Just like if the head wills it, the hand will move. Preaching is like the head of our KC Society—if the head is removed, the whole body dies. Managing is the hands, which work nicely if the head is healthy. If the hands are removed, the body will not die, but it will be crippled. So preaching is more important than management, but both must be there if the whole body is to operate nicely.

Page Title:Columbus (Letters)
Compiler:Jahnu, Mayapur
Created:29 of Dec, 2011
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=54
No. of Quotes:54