Commander (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"commander" |"commander's" |"commanders"

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Robert Hendry -- Los Angeles 3 August, 1969:

So far as your dress is concerned, that is immaterial. But as a soldier you know that every soldier has got a uniform dress according to the army etiquette of regulation. Therefore, the army of Krishna Consciousness must have at least the tilak on the forehead in all conditions. For your business you can wear your naval service uniform; similarly, if you have tilak on your forehead as a soldier of Krishna Consciousness, you may not have so much objection, because it is essential. Your ideas are great, and your efficiency is laudable. The best thing would have been if you could come here and live with me at least for a week. We could have discussed it very nicely, so in the future you can become a great commander of the Krishna Consciousness soldiers.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:

Our initiation system is as follows: In our general thrice weekly classes we chant Hare Krishna Mantra in the beginning and at the end, and in the middle we speak on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly. In this class we do not prohibit anyone to come within the Temple, everyone is welcome. The only thing we ask visitors to leave their shoes at a specified place and sit down in the Temple crosslegged. If somebody finds difficulty to sit down crosslegged, we offer him a chair. So out of the members of the audience who come regularly, when one becomes more interested he is invited to participate in the program of Krishna Consciousness daily life and study. After some time of appreciating our program and trying to understand our philosophy, when someone is very interested and recommended by the Temple Commander, for becoming initiated, I accept him and give him first initiation in the form of Harinama in a regular ceremony with fire sacrifice. I chant Hare Krishna Mantra on the 108 beads and then the beads are offered to the disciple with a change of name as Krishna das. He is advised to strictly follow the regulative principles of 1. no eating of meat, fish, or eggs; 2. no taking of intoxicants including coffee, tea, and tobacco; 3. no illicit sex-life; and 4. no gambling or mental speculation.

Letter to Brahmananda , Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1970:

It is the injunction of the Vedas that the Spiritual Master should not be treated as ordinary man even if sometimes the Spiritual Master behaves like ordinary man. It is the duty of the disciple to accept Him as Superhuman Man. In the beginning of your letter your comparison of the soldier and commander is very appropriate. We are on the battlefield of Kuruksetra—one side Maya, the other side Krsna. So the regulative principles of a battlefield, namely to abide by the order of the commander, must be followed.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Batu Gopala (Ed Englehart) -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971:

I am so glad to see that Krishna is giving you good intelligence in the matter of executing your duties, previously in Chicago as sankirtana leader, temple commander and treasurer, and now in Detroit as temple commander. Krishna says like that; that simply if you are endeavoring to serve Him sincerely, then He will give you all facility and intelligence for engaging in His service more and more.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Bapi -- New Delhi 27 April, 1973:

When you come to New York, I shall advise the Temple Commander to receive you. As you have been granted visa, you can secure a job. I think you can get it easily because you are qualified. I shall advise my disciples to help you, but this will have to be arranged when you come here.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 23 July, 1973:

You are setting a very good example in that you yourself are going with the travelling party. The Vedic concept of the commander is that he must be in front in the fight, not that he sit back behind the lines.