Ecstasy (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"ecstacies" |"ecstacy" |"ecstasies" |"ecstasy"

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Letter to Mr. Nakano -- Delhi 18 April, 1961:

While I am feeling too much ecstasy for the reception arrangement you are doing for me, I beg to inform you that my passage expenses which is near about Rs 3500/- not yet settled.

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 28 February, 1967:

Nobody can ask any woman or girl to become naked except the husband. That is the moral etiquette of Vedic culture. Krishna is actually husband of every woman. There was no necessity of formal marriage. But still Krishna played like husband by asking them to become naked. In the spiritual world there is no cohabitation; simply by such emotion in transcendental ecstasy the desire is fulfilled.

These pictures of Krishna and the Gopis are not understandable by a layman who has no idea of Krishna. Therefore, this picture was wrongly put without asking me. Please, therefore, consult me before putting any such picture or interpretations. One must understand first Krishna from the Bhagavatam by reading the first nine chapters. Otherwise Krishna would be taken as ordinary man and His pastimes will be wrongly understood. Besides that a Brahmacari should not see any kind of naked picture. That is violation of Brahmacari law.

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 28 February, 1967:

There was lecture for 15 to 20 minutes questions and answers about 25 minutes and the balance for Kirtana. So altogether there was two hours program and it was very successful.

On Sunday afternoon there was Kirtana in the Golden Gate Park and there was about 3 to 4 hundred audience and most of them danced in ecstasy. It reminded me of our activities in the Tompkins Park. I have asked them to arrange for loudspeakers and microphones so that next week we may have greater audience to join us. It appears to me that people of this country will accept this movement nicely if we do it in accordance with prescribed directions. When we receive the Mrdangas we shall have better chance to perform the Kirtana more nicely.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Jadurani -- Los Angeles 13 January, 1968:

In our material existence, we are always in dangerous and fierceful condition, but by the spell of Maya, we do not take it very seriously. The Serpent-like feature of the Lord is another expansion of the Lord, to provide His Place on the Ocean. He is not at all fierceful to the devotees.

Yes, the ecstasy of separation of Spiritual Master is even greater ecstasy than meeting with Him.

Please continue your excellent service and I will always be so pleased with your sincere service, as I am so much happy with you. Hope you are well, and I hope your injured thumb is now fully recovered.

Letter to Rupanuga -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letter dated March 5, 1968, with enclosures. I have come here in San Francisco on the 8th morning of March. Here the kirtana performances are going very nicely; there is good attendance in the meeting and dancing in ecstasy is often exhibited to the transcendental pleasure of everyone present. I think S.F. center has been very much sanctified by unalloyed devotional service of the members here. As soon as there are sincere devotees, immediately the situation changes very favorably. So I have read of New York, and I am so pleased with your honest endeavor to open a branch in Buffalo. Those who try to distribute Krishna Consciousness amongst the general mass of people are very much favorite to Lord Krishna and Lord Caitanya. So you have all the blessings of Lord Caitanya for your laudable work in Buffalo. It doesn't matter whether there is any future prospect for opening permanent center or not, but to attempt to distribute Krishna Consciousness in that part of the country is very much encouraging.

Letter to Hayagriva -- San Francisco 17 March, 1968:

So, here the Temple has spiritually improved. Whenever there is Kirtana, either morning or evening, immediately there is a different atmosphere by the Grace of Lord Krishna. And all people, both devotees and outsiders, begin to dance in ecstasy. I am very much encouraged by seeing the atmosphere from S.F. Temple, and when you come here you shall see personally how they are nicely executing Krishna Consciousness. I have some lectures in the colleges, both in L.A. and S.F., and the other day I delivered lecture in San Francisco State College, and the students enjoyed the atmosphere very much. They heard our Kirtana very attentively, and although my lecture was a little terse, on account of our prohibitory regulations, still the students heard me very attentively. And they stood around me even after the meeting was over. One girl questioned me why I am against meat eating, and she was very satisfactorily replied.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 2 April, 1968:

The mrdanga has been duly received some days ago, and it is a very nice one; the Kirtana here are very nice, with so many outsiders, as well as devotees, dancing in ecstasy.

Yes, please have Rayarama finish the necessary on Transcendental Meditation as soon as possible, so that it can be printed and distributed. I am very much pleased about the activities of that boy Terry, and you please keep me informed of further developments in Atlantic City. Yes, it is right that the community members should support the center if there is to be one opened there.

Yes, that rock is saffron dye; you can keep it there. It can be used to dye the Japamala bags if you like.

Letter to Harivilasa -- Montreal 10 June, 1968:

Please therefore try to execute this program peacefully for the sake of Lord Krishna, to Whom you have all dedicated your lives.

Regarding preaching work: If you simply reproduce verbatim the purports which I have given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and chant Hare Krishna with ecstasy, that will be sufficient for your preaching work, and as you do it seriously and sincerely, Krishna gives you more and more strength for this noble missionary work.

No, there is no need of sending the Kalyana books as you have mentioned, not yet. Just read Srimad-Bhagavatam, our three volumes, regularly and repeatedly. It is no use reading many books, it is better to assimilate one book and that is sufficient.

I have received no reply from Acyutananda for a long time, and I have sent a strong reminder to Jaya Govinda. Next time I will write about his cooperating with you in answering your letters promptly, and sending you literature as you require for your preaching work.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Montreal 3 July, 1968:

The scientists' anti-matter is different from the anti-matter conception which I discussed in my book, Easy Journey to Other Planets. I think I have explained this by correspondence with Dr. Welk.

Regarding your questions, "how the simpler faith of a real Christian, that is not so advanced in knowledge of the Supreme Person, differs in ecstasy or the end result of God-consciousness," (1) and persons "a devotee who has experienced some ecstasy in the company of Christians suggests that if there be no quantitative or qualitative difference between the two forms of Kirtana, then the simpler philosophy of Christianity has the advantage, and that our philosophy is for the intelligent class of men, true, but of what advantage is such intelligence if the end is the same?" (2) There is no ecstasy in such simple faith; there cannot be any ecstasy. The Christian faith as it is now exhibited, they have simply a faint idea of God as order-supplier.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Montreal 3 July, 1968:

And the father is also endeared to such a devoted child. Similarly, God is equal to everyone, but one who developed love of Godhead, and has practically employed oneself in the service of the Lord, he is in real touch and favor of the Lord. That is the difference. (2) We want ecstasy, it does not matter one feels it in Christian church or in other church. But, one who feels ecstasy in Krishna Consciousness or God-consciousness, he finishes his ecstasy in material enjoyment—that is the test. One cannot say he is feeling enjoyment—that is the test. One cannot say he is feeling ecstasy in some company, and at the same time, he is trying to take advantage of material sense gratification. This is not possible. This ecstasy doesn't depend on the intelligence or non-intelligence; it is spontaneous response, without any cause. If one is fortunate to have such ecstasy, it is to be understood that his life is successful. We do not advocate any sectarian religion. We are concerned to invoke our dormant love for God. Any method that helps us in reaching such platform is welcome, but we find practically that by chanting Hare Krishna, many students have come to the platform of ecstasy. But we have hardly found anyone to come to that stage simply by following the religious rituals; that is the difference. So, Krishna Consciousness is meant for the most intelligent class of men.

Letter to Yamuna -- Seattle 3 October, 1968:

They took also pictures of my altar with Radha Krishna Deities, and Lord Jagannatha, and the cover pictures of my Bhagavad-gita and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So it will be on the newscast at 5:00 this evening, in color, and we will go and see how they have done it. They also came to our class last night, and took pictures of our students dancing in ecstasy. So this should help our movement here in Seattle, as so many people will see, and come to our temple. You can try for television appearances there also if possible.

I hope you are all well, and I am always looking forward to hearing your good reports of the activities of the London yatra, and I shall be happy to come there when you are prepared for me. As ever I remain,

Letter to Dayala Nitai -- Los Angeles 29 December, 1968:

Regarding teaching other forms of yoga in the yoga class, you may instruct upon the 6th chapter of Bhagavad-gita. That will include the process of the Patanjali system. Practically, any process besides sankirtana will not be very effective in this age of kali yuga, so as much as possible try to have your students chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in ecstasy. This will be very successful for everyone.

So far as doing outside printing work on your printing machine, if it is worth while in terms of finance, then you may do this. Thanking you once more for your nice letter, I hope that you are very well.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1969:

Regarding your dealings with impersonalists, any one who teaches of the impersonal nature should be avoided. If we hear them, it will hamper our progress. That will be the result—no progress. Therefore, rigidly we will try to avoid the impersonal teachings. Generally, it only produces bad effects.

As for your question about the ecstasy of chanting and working for Krishna, the ecstasy which is automatically manifest is very welcome, but we should not try to come to the ecstatic status by any artificial practice. You should give more stress on the importance of chanting. Working for Krishna is not different from chanting, but such work would be done under the direction of the Spiritual Master.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1969:

At Dickinson the students were so enthusiastic that practically all of them (50 at least) were all dancing, what to speak of everyone singing and clapping. Even the professor, a dried stick scholar, danced in ecstasy." So in the future we will stick to the principle of Sankirtana movement and distributing our Back To Godhead specifically and the other literature generally. I am pleased to note that you are printing up 10,000 copies of the Prospectus of our society. Also your proposal of getting 1,000 subscribers to Back To Godhead from London alone is very encouraging and please do it. You should send your activities report every month in short for publication in Back To Godhead.

Please convey my thanks to Mr. Parikh because he has taken our movement very sincerely, and Krishna will be very much pleased upon him. Actually it is the duty of all retired men and women to devote themselves in the service of Krishna. That is the basic principle of Vedic civilization.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Los Angeles 28 July, 1969:

So this is not very important consideration. You wanted to fix up a date, so I am telling you that I am prepared now on any day you call me.

Just this afternoon I returned from San Francisco where they have held a gigantic Rathayatra Ceremony just on the order of the ones held at Jagannatha Puri. There were at least 10,000 young and old people, all chanting and dancing in bliss and ecstasy for the entire day, starting from 12 noon and going on till after evening. So it was a most magnificent occasion, and I am very much encouraged that the people of the Western world will come to understand the glories of this movement, and as Lord Caitanya has predicted, His Name will be chanted and praised in every village and town throughout the world.

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 28 July, 1969:

So far as the three sets of beads, I did not receive them yet. I do not know to which address the beads were sent. This afternoon I returned from San Francisco where there was a very, very successful Rathayatra Ceremony. There were at least 10,000 people who walked with us to the ocean for a ten mile parade, and everyone was chanting and dancing in ecstasy. Then at the ocean there was grand-scale Prasadam distribution and chanting again on into the evening. Everyone appreciated Krishna Consciousness so much, and it is so encouraging to see how the young boys and girls of the western countries are gradually coming to understand something of this movement.

I am so glad to learn that Mr. Ted Berk, the American poet, is now living with you as brahmacari. Let him become now a Vaisnava poet. There are so many Vaisnava poets in India. Now as Krishna Consciousness is spreading, I think there must be some western Vaisnava poets, and Mr. Ted Berk may be the first one.

Letter to Prahladananda -- Los Angeles 29 July, 1969:

This past weekend in San Francisco there was a gigantic Rathayatra Ceremony just on the order of the one held at Jagannatha Puri, and at least 10,000 people were chanting and dancing along with us in full transcendental ecstasy. The boys and girls of America are generally good souls, that is why they have taken birth in such a nice country, and now they should make perfect all of their opulences by engaging everything in Krishna Consciousness. This will be the finishing touch for all the nice qualities found in the American people. In New York I understand that they have sold 3,000 copies of BTG in just two weeks, and I understand that in Buffalo you are also selling BTG very nicely. So please continue in this way and your success in life is assured. As Krishna sees that you are working very seriously to bring His other children back to the Spiritual Kingdom, then He will become very pleased and will bestow all blessings upon you.

Letter to Cidananda -- Tittenhurst 16 October, 1969:

Here in London progress is going on nicely, and they have recently received authorization from the city authorities to establish our temple at 7 Bury Place in the heart of London. Last evening we held a very successful meeting at Conway Hall, and several hundred young boys and girls, as well as many Indian people, were chanting and dancing in transcendental ecstasy with us. Next week, and once every week for the next ten weeks, we have scheduled more such engagements. I am very much encouraged to see the nice reaction that the English people are having to our Krishna Consciousness Movement. It is all the Grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 18 October, 1969:

Regarding the booklet you and Gargamuni are sending, in the introductory portion signed by you and Gargamuni you have said that I am "personally instructing John Lennon and George Harrison in the yoga of ecstasy". This is not very satisfactory. Of course, George Harrison sometimes comes to see me and naturally I instruct him on the bhakti yoga. But the statement in the letter gives hint as if I have been invited by them for this. If this comes to their notice, they may take some objection which will not go to our credit. These things should not be publically advertised, and I do not know why this has been done. Anyway, if you have not distributed many of them, you just try to take out that portion which is not a fact.

Letter to Aniruddha -- London 7 December, 1969:

Our Vamanadeva, after marriage, has opened a new center in St. Louis, and they are doing very well. So far as Hamsaduta is concerned, immediately there is no possibility of his leaving Berkeley center. It is a very important center, and as you say he is doing very well you require to stay there, husband and wife, and improve the center very magnificently. If you want to open a center, you are already experienced, and you should do it independently.

Please continue to read the literature very attentively. Try to understand very soberly and you will feel ecstasy undoubtedly. The more we understand the spiritual literatures the more we become engladdened. Lord Caitanya has written ananda ambhudhi bardhanam. This means the ocean of bliss is always increasing. So continue to execute your duties with enthusiasm and patience, and I am certain Krishna will be pleased make you successful on all accounts.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1970:

I do not mean a concert party or musical party that may go to a city, have some performances and collect some money without any permanent effect. For this purpose the World Sankirtana Party should consist of members who can impress spiritual ecstasy in the hearts of the people so that some of them may come forward and agree to establish a center where the Sankirtana party may go on continually.

From Krishna das' letter it appears that in Germany there is good prospect for opening many centers. When you last went to Germany it was very effective. Why not first of all start a center in Paris and a few other centers in Germany and then think of the World Sankirtana Party on the basis of starting a center wherever you go. Both Tamala and yourself, Gurudasa and Syamasundara think over this idea, and in the meantime, as you are yourself a musical instructor, you can teach the newcomers in the Kirtana performances for future program.

Letter to Sriman Bankaji -- Los Angeles 13 March, 1970:

And that is practically experienced during the last three or four years. There are thousands of my disciples, European and American; their background is not Hindu culture, and still they are accepting this Krishna Consciousness philosophy. Some of my students are from the Mohammedan sect also; but all of them conjointly are chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, dancing in ecstasy, honoring Krishna Prasadam, and happily living on Vedic principles; namely as Brahmacari, Grhastha, Vanaprastha, or Sannyasa, not to mention their personal dealings in the matter of four kinds of prohibitive regulations; namely no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat eating, and no gambling.

So we have to train the whole younger generation at the present moment by the simple method recommended by Lord Caitanya, and then this movement, Krishna Consciousness will spread all over the world.

Letter to Himavati -- Los Angeles 26 April, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated sometime April, and I am so glad to learn that you are making advance in Krishna Consciousness as it is scheduled. It appears that you are on the attachment platform, this is very good. The next platform is ecstasy, and then pure love of God. So stick to your duties at the present moment, and when it is convenient you can go with the Sankirtana Party, but never neglect the Arcana regulation at any cost. If you have no time, you are not required to go with the Sankirtana Party. Your first business is to take care of the Deities. Practically you see that everyone is appreciating your Deity worship and Srimati Radharani is smiling, so it is a great credit for you, so continue this engagement.

Letter to Makhanlal -- Los Angeles 3 June, 1970:

Lord Nityananda's favor, but if we are actually favored by Lord Nityananda our business will be to please Lord Caitanya. And if Lord Caitanya is pleased, then we easily understand the truth of Radha Krsna through the mercy of the Goswamis.

So the above verse means that as soon as one will chant the name of Lord Caitanya he will feel a transcendental ecstasy. All of us should wait for this stage of life. The transcendental ecstatic symptoms certainly become manifested in a devotee's body, but they should not be exhibited amongst common men. When Lord Caitanya met Ramananda Roy, both of them felt this ecstasy by embracing one another. But as soon as Lord Caitanya saw that Ramananda Roy was in the company of some outsider brahmanas, He checked Himself. This is already described in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

The transcendental symptoms of ecstasy certainly are auspicious, but they are not for advertising to others. One should not advertise directly or indirectly that one is feeling like this. They should be checked.

Letter to Yamuna, Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1970:

The more you advance in Krsna Consciousness, the more you will feel such ecstasy. This is Krsna's grace. So remain fixed up in the service, at the same time try to train others because we shall have to open so many centers. Unless we have got very trained up pujaris it will be difficult for us to install Deities. There is a good advertisement of us in India, and if some Indians come to our temple and see that the arcana worship is not being done properly, then there will be great criticism.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1970:

So your first example of service has very much satisfied me. I have all my blessings upon you. Kindly continue this program and please keep me informed at least two times in a week.

Regarding your feelings of burning impatience, these things are very explicitly explained in the Nectar of Devotion in the chapter on ecstasy. These are symptoms of ecstasy, that is not bad.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 24 March, 1971:

There is a Vedic injunction that one has to realize Krishna nicely and then he becomes perfectly wise. Here is a good opportunity to get cooperation from the government in the matter of our Hare Krishna Movement. Our process of helping the misguided youth should remain the same. Namely, they should join the different services in the temple; chanting, dancing in ecstasy with Hare Krishna Mantra. They must be cleanly shaved, with tilak, have saffron robes, take prasadam, attend classes, chant 16 rounds of beads daily, etc. We are sure anyone who joins us will be free of all material disease including craziness and madness. Actually everyone in this material world is a crazy fellow; he doesn't know the aim of life. Even the erudite scholar doesn't know what is God or how the material world was created; so many things they do not know. So if the government officials want to take our help they must arrange for giving a nice place so we can accommodate the students concerned, according to our method. Such centers should be well equipped with temple, lecture room, sleeping quarters, kitchen, etc. as we have got everywhere.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Delhi 4 December, 1971:

I am in receipt of your letter of November 3, 1971. Yes, you may take the 32" brass deities, along with throne and paraphernalia on your tour of many states, and in this way try very nicely to reveal to everyone everywhere you go the ecstasy of arcana worship.

I have answered your several letters, but somehow or other it appears they did not reach you.

I am very much pleased by this travelling Sankirtana program. Kindly execute it nicely, and sell as many books and magazines as possible, so that by reading Krishna philosophy, and by seeing you, they will become fully convinced.

Please keep me informed of your successes.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Anandavardhana (Axel Anderson), Jogindra Vandana (John Berg) -- Honolulu 10 May, 1972:

Upon the recommendation of Nityananda, I have gladly consented to accept both of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Axel Anderson,

Anandavardhana das (one who is always increasing in ecstasy)

John Berg,

Jogindra Vandana das (one who is worshiped by the great yogis)

I am so glad to learn that both of you have been such a great help to Nityananda there in our new Orleans center.

Letter to Kisora -- Bombay 25 December, 1972:

In this way, if you stick tightly to the basic principles of devotional life as chalked out for us by our great predecessors, then always you will be feeling transcendental ecstasy of enthusiasm—that is Krishna Consciousness. It is very simple.

Yes, I have seen the press articles sent by yourself and Revatinandana, and I am very thankful to Revatinandana also for giving you all nice boys and girls the right instruction. I can understand that it may be sometimes difficult by material consideration for our preaching work there—I could not bear so much cold even in August—but because you are so much sincere to serve Krishna, never mind a little cold, what is that, only something touching my flesh, that's all—because you are thinking in this way and pushing on the mission of preaching work despite any conditions, therefore you are getting the best advantage of Krishna Consciousness movement. Because you have worked so hard for Krishna, making all sacrifice without any personal selfish motive, therefore you are making such nice advancement in spiritual life.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Hanuman -- Bombay 4 October, 1973:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated 6th September, 1973, which I have read with great interest. The Argentina BTG and the photos showing Argentine men and ladies chanting and dancing in ecstasy give me great hope that our Movement will have an important place in Argentina in the near future. Our process is simple, all-embracing, we have something to offer for everyone. There is chanting, dancing, feasting and very perfect philosophy, so everyone may be satisfied with our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Now you have traveled all over the world preaching on Lord Caitanya's behalf, and I think you will agree that wherever you have gone whether in South America or in Far East, everywhere, our movement is appreciated. So I simply request you, you are doing the greatest service to the world by giving up everything for preaching this Krishna philosophy, you please continue just as you are doing. Introduce this process of chanting Hare Krishna, distribute as much Prasadam as possible, and if possible see that all our books are translated and distributed as widely as possible.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 19 October, 1974:

When I was alone there were not so many letters of so many problems.

Regarding your dancing in the middle of the kirtana, it is not wrong. It is completely right. If in your kirtana everyone dances in ecstasy it is perfectly all right. That is spiritual enthusiasm.

I have not received the new books. I have learned about them from Puranjana, but I have not received them. Maybe they are held up due to a postal delay in Calcutta, but anyway I am so pleased that you have published. Even I have not seen them, I am pleased and obliged to you. Continue this work. Whenever there is any publication in any language, it enlivens me 100 times.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Acyutananda -- Vrindaban 3 September, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 30, 1975 with enclosed clippings. They are very nice. You have done nicely. If you can get money, I have no objection to your getting a bus.

Regarding your question, Sukdev and Vilvamangal Thakura developed the conjugal ecstacies later on.

Regarding your difficulty in rendering Caitanya Bhagavata, yes you are right that you are overstepping your position. Better to stop it.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 10 November, 1975:

Regarding your question about the dancing, the dancing should be done enthusiastically by raising the hands like Panca-Tattva. You can also dance enthusiastically by raising hands. All of Lord Caitanya's followers used to dance with raised hands. If someone dances with ecstasy, that is all right, but it is better to dance with raised hands.

Regarding the topics of the Krsna book, this is Istagosthi. Istagosthi means discussion between ourselves but that should not be taken as a competition. It is not the subject matter for competition. It can be discussed in a small group of devotees. That is Istagosthi. This is better than competition.

Regarding your recommendations for first and second initiation; I accept the following for first initiation: Ann Shotland—Sukulina dasi and Diana Alpert—Gopalasyapriya dasi.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Dr. Wolf -- Mayapur 29 January, 1976:

We are not interested in presenting ornamental language.

In India the system is that people go to see the Jagannatha Deity. The Deity is not very beautiful from the artistic point of view, but still people attend by the thousands. That sentiment is required. Similarly with our kirtana we are only using drums and karatalas, but people come to the point of ecstasy. It is not the ornamentation, it is the ecstasy. This ecstasy is awakened by sravanam kirtanam by devotees. I hope this makes everything clear.