My disciples (Letters, 1976 - 1977)

Expressions researched:
"My beloved sannyasi disciple" |"my American and European disciples" |"my American disciples" |"my European and American disciples" |"my European and Indian disciples" |"my European disciples" |"my Western disciples" |"my able disciples" |"my advanced disciples" |"my advanced senior disciples" |"my affectionate disciples" |"my all senior disciples" |"my beloved disciples" |"my bona fide disciple" |"my dear GBC disciples" |"my dear beloved disciples" |"my dear disciples" |"my direct disciples" |"my disciple" |"my disciples" |"my duly initiated (secondly) disciples" |"my duly initiated disciple" |"my duly initiated disciples" |"my elder disciples" |"my elder sannyasi disciples" |"my elder women disciples" |"my experienced disciples" |"my first and nicest disciples" |"my first disciple" |"my first disciples" |"my first disciples" |"my first initiated disciple" |"my firstly initiated disciples" |"my foreign American and European disciples" |"my foreign assistants and disciples" |"my foreign disciples" |"my foremost disciples" |"my formal disciple" |"my good disciples" |"my good disciples" |"my householder disciples" |"my initiated disciple" |"my initiated disciples" |"my married disciples" |"my most foremost disciples" |"my nice disciples" |"my old disciple" |"my old disciples" |"my older disciples" |"my original disciple" |"my other disciples" |"my other disciples" |"my other good disciples" |"my own disciples" |"my sannyasi disciples" |"my second initiated disciple" |"my second initiated disciples" |"my senior disciples" |"my sincere disciples" |"my six young disciples" |"my topmost disciples" |"my trusted disciples" |"my trusted senior disciple" |"my trusted senior disciples" |"my two young disciples" |"my veteran disciple" |"my wonderful disciples" |"my young disciples" |"my younger disciples" |"our disciple" |"our disciples" |"our girl disciples" |"our leading disciples" |"our new disciple" |"our new disciple" |"our various disciples"

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Hrdayananda -- Nellore 4 January, 1976:

Jagadisa Prabhu also is thinking to come as my GBC secretary for the month of February. If you come in February I have no objection, I can have three dozen secretaries. If your business will not suffer, you are welcome anytime. I wish to remain with all my disciples together, but we have to do preaching work and therefore have to remain separate. But actually there is no question of separation for one engaged in Lord Krishna's service.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Nellore 5 January, 1976:

I accept all the recommended devotees as my duly initiated disciples. Now hold a fire ceremony, and instruct the new devotees to chant 16 rounds daily and follow the regulative principles of devotional service. Their initiated names are as follows:

Letter to Locanananda -- Nellore 5 January, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept as my initiated disciples:

Letter to Bhakta Ralph -- Nellore 7 January, 1976:

There is no reason why you cannot associate with any of my disciples, providing that they adhere to our principles. As long as Siddha Svarupa Maharaja and Tusta Krishna Maharaja act as sannyasis, ie. dress in dhoti, keep shave headed with sikha, follow strictly the rules and regulations and preach from my books, I have no objection. Sometimes there will be a little misunderstanding between Godbrothers, that is even going on amongst liberated souls. What is important is that everyone must engage in Krishna's service under the direction of the spiritual master.

Letter to Brisakapi -- Nellore 7 January, 1976:

I accept John Weber as my initiated disciple. His new name is Ramasena das Brahmacari.

Letter to Upendra -- Nellore 7 January, 1976:

As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is "yes." This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: "cakhudana dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei", he is my Lord birth after birth. In this way you have to understand, by studying carefully the philosophy. We have got so many books now and I want all of my disciples to read them carefully. Soon we shall be instituting Bhakti-sastri examinations and all brahmanas will have to pass. So utilize whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered.

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 9 January, 1976:

I accept all the candidates for first initiation as my duly initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are:

Letter to Locanananda -- Bombay 10 January, 1976:

I have received the names of all the candidates for initiation and I accept them all as my duly initiated disciples. Their new spiritual names are as follows:

Letter to Visvakarma -- Bombay 10 January, 1976:

I accept the recommended devotees as my initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are:

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 11 January, 1976:

I accept Bhakta John as my disciple and also Padmamalini dasi for second initiation. His name is Amara das.

Letter to Makhanlal -- Calcutta 15 January, 1976:

I accept all the new devotees as my initiated disciples. Their names are:

Letter to Yasomatinandana -- Mayapur 18 January, 1976:

I am in due receipt of the names of the persons recommended for first and second initiation. I accept all the new devotees as my initiated disciples.

Letter to Nalinikanta -- Mayapur 31 January, 1976:

I accept Mr. and Mrs. Kelley as my disciples. Their spiritual names are Sarvasiddhirat das and Svayamprabha dasi.

Letter to Sukadeva -- Mayapur 5 February, 1976:

I have received the names of the candidates for initiation which you included in your recent undated letter and I accept them all as my duly initiated disciples. Their new spiritual names are as follows:

Letter to Raja Laksmi -- Mayapur 17 February, 1976:

My advise is always chant 16 rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point otherwise they are not my disciples. Let one live anywhere, but stick to the principles. Disagreements will continue in this material world. So one may live in a suitable place, but one must follow these five principles. My disciples must follow these principles living either in heaven or hell.

Letter to Maeve Davies -- Mayapur 21 February, 1976:

Please do not be worried. Our movement is essentially for spreading this chanting of Hare Krishna world wide. And the main responsibility of my disciples is to follow the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds without fail. Please worry about that first.

Letter to Ambassador of the of United States of America -- Delhi 27 March, 1976:

I beg to introduce myself as the founder-acharya of the above institution. Our mission is to preach Krishna Consciousness (God-Consciousness) all over the world, and in your country alone we have got about 40 branches in all the important towns of America. In all the countries, the majority of my disciples are Americans. I met Mr. Kenneth Keating, your former ambassador to India and he was a personal friend to my disciple, Sri Gurudasa Adhikari. A copy of his letter is also enclosed herein.

I have seen a house situated at 12 Ring Road, New Delhi, which is your property. Immediately we need a house for our residential purposes. My disciples are mostly Americans. Our main activities are to preach philosophical and cultural literatures, a list of which is also enclosed. It is understood that the house is for sale and if you kindly give us some concession rate we can immediately pay you. So kindly do the needful. I am sending you Gurudasa Adhikari to take care of this on my behalf.

Letter to V. G. K. Dipple -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976:

I have forwarded your letter to one of my disciples who is presently in South India, and I have advised him that the two of you can conjointly work together to open a centre in Colombo. That will be very nice, so if by mutual cooperation the two of you can begin a centre there it will very much please me. You can correspond with Pradyumna das Adhikari at the follow address:

Letter to Sri Viswesha Tirtha Swami -- Vrindaban 10 April, 1976:

In spite of my preaching program overseas, the scheduled program in Udupi on the 11th 12th 13rd may may go on and my sannyasi disciples Yasodanandana Swami and Acyutananda Swami will carry on the program there. Please help them to make this program a success.

Letter to Sri Viswesha Tirtha Swami -- Vrindaban 10 April, 1976:

I have received your letter from Guntur inviting me to Udupi through my disciple Yasodanandana Swami. I am very eager to come however due to prior comitments my program has already been scheduled. I am building one Kaliya-Mardana temple in the Island of Fiji and I will go there via Australia, where we have 4 centres, then New Zealand, where we have a center in Auckland, then on to Fiji. Afterwards I will visit my centre in Hawaii, Los Angeles (California) and New York.

Letter to Punjabi Premanand -- Bombay 16 April, 1976:

Concerning your offering of doing padayatra, travelling village to village; what is the use of getting the land in the hands of politicians who cannot properly utilize the land according to the instructions of Krishna. That's a fact, but if Indian young men join me I am immediately ready for this travelling touring from village to village, town to town. However, my foreign disciples have the language defect, they can't speak the village language, otherwise I would have started this program long ago. If some young men like you would join me then along with some foreign disciples I can immediately take up this program. If you are very eager, please get hold of at least half a dozen young men like you then with another half dozen foreign disciples, I can immediately take up this program and tour village to village and town to town. It will be very, very effective, I know that.

Letter to Mr. Fagan -- Melbourne 22 April, 1976:

This is to inform you that I am leaving Melbourne for the United States to visit my disciples in our centres in the U.S.A. We are departing from Australia the 26th April, 1976, and first of all we will be visiting our centre in Hawaii. For the past several months, one of my disciples, Mr. Denis Harrison, holding British passport number P606464, has been my personal secretary and for this reason I require that he accompany me to the U.S.A. I know that he is a good boy as I have had ample time to study is character, and I can assure you as the Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness that our society will take care of all his expenses, including maintenance and upkeep, as well as his air tickets to the next place after America; at this time we are scheduled to go to England after our program on the Eastern coast in New York city. I trust that you will do the needful to help me keep my schedule as I am expected to be in certain places on certain dates, and I require the accompaniment of Mr. Harrison, so kindly if you will issue him the required U.S.A. visa for the 3-4 months that he may be there in time before our departure on Monday April 26, 1976.

Letter to Mr. George Twohie -- Honolulu 3 May, 1976:

I have been informed through one of my disciples that one application for negotiating a house owned by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has not yet reached your Washington office. In order to expedite matters, I am enclosing one "true" copy of the original application dated March 27, 1976, and addressed to the Ambassador of the United States in New Delhi. I am hopeful that we may be able to meet in this concern when I visit Washington between July 2 and July 9, 1976.

Letter to All GBC's in the U.S.A -- Honolulu 4 May, 1976:

My dear GBC disciples,

Please accept my blessings. I have met with Tamala Krishna Goswami and it appears impractical to send anyone to China at this time. I am requesting him to resume his old position as manager of the Radha-Damodara TSKP. Book distribution is my most important concern and these devotees should be given facility to distribute books profusely throughout America. They are also helping with substantial contributions to construct the Temple in Mayapur. Please do the needful to see that everything is done very nicely in a cooperative Krishna Conscious spirit.

I hope that this meets you in good health.

Letter to Radha-Damodara TSKP -- Honolulu 5 May, 1976:

My dear disciples,

Please accept my blessings. As it is impractical for anyone to be sent to China at this time, I am sending Tamala Krishna Goswami to resume his old position as manager of Radha-Damodara TSKP. Now all of you work cooperatively. I was very pleased to see how you were working so hard last year to distribute so many books. There is no instance of religious books of philosophy being distributed in such magnitude in history. Now go on enthusiastically and increase this book distribution unlimitedly.

Letter to Temple President and GBC for Hawaii -- Honolulu 9 May, 1976:

Temple President and GBC for Hawaii

My dear disciples,

Please accept my blessings. I have consented that when and if a new set of Pancatattva Deities are installed in the Hawaii Temple, the old set of Pancatattva Deities may be given to Govinda dasi. Please comply this at the said time, as Govinda dasi would like to worship these Deities if new Deities are installed in the Temple.

Letter to Ajita -- Honolulu 11 May, 1976:

Upon your recommendation, I am accepting Lilamohana das and Kesava das for second initiation. Their threads are enclosed and you can play the gayatri mantra with accompanying mantra sheets into their right ear. Also, I am accepting Robert Hamilton (Sthayibhava das), and Joseph Hall (Mahamantra das) as my disciples. You can hold fire sacrifice and their beads may be chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami.

Letter to Sevananda -- Honolulu 15 May, 1976:

Regarding the two initiations, on your recommendation I agree to accept Yasomatisuta das for second initiation. Enclosed you will find his brahmana thread, and a copy of the gayatri mantra. After the fire sacrifice, you should play a tape of the gayatri mantra into his right ear, teaching him how to count on the fingers the prescribed number of times. The brahmana should remain clean outside and inside by regular bathing and chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Also, I agree to accept Bhakta Richard as my disciple. A disciple promises to refraim from the four pillars of sinful life: no illicit sex-life, no intoxication, no gambling, and no meat-eating. In addition, one must chant at least 16 rounds of japa daily and in this way progress in Krsna Consciousness. One promises before the spiritual master, the Deity, the fire, the devotees, the Supersoul, so it should very strictly be followed. You can have Gurukrpa Maharaja chant on his beads before the Fire Sacrifice, and present his beads to him at the time of the sacrifice. His spiritual name is Satyasena das. See that everyone is strictly following by presenting an ideal example yourself, and try to distribute these new Chinese Bhagavad-gita as much as you can.

Letter to All Governing Board Commissioners -- Honolulu 19 May, 1976:

My dear GBC disciples,

Please accept my blessings. Over the past ten years I have given the framework and now we have become more than the British Empire. Even the British Empire was not as expansive as we. They had only a portion of the world, and we have not completed expanding. We must expand more and more unlimitedly. But I must now remind you that I have to complete the translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is the greatest contribution; our books have given us a respectable position. People have no faith in this church or temple worship. Those days are gone. Of course, we have to maintain the temples as it is necessary to keep our spirits high. Simply intellectualism will not do, there must be practical purification.

So I request you to relieve me of management responsibilities more and more so that I can complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam translation. If I am always having to manage, then I cannot do my work on the books. It is document, I have to choose each word very soberly and if I have to think of management then I cannot do this. I cannot be like these rascals who present something mental concoction to cheat the public. So this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants, the GBC, temple presidents, and sannyasis. I have chosen my best men to be GBC and I do not want that the GBC should be disrespectful to the temple presidents. You can naturally consult me, but if the basic principle is weak, how will things go on? So please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam which will be our lasting contribution to the world.

I hope that this meets you in good health.

Letter to Gopavrndesa -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your offering of the sanskrit verse which you composed for me and I thank you very much. Now I am encouraging my young disciples to all try to learn at least one Indian language, like Hindi or Bengali. At least those who have the propensity can become proficient in some language, especially Hindi, and then you will be able to preach in India in the native language. It will be very effective.

Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 6 June, 1976:

I have received one reply from Mr. Bajaj of the Gita Pratisthan dated May 25, 1976, and it is not feasible for me to attend this meeting so if appears wise you can go as my disciples on my behalf, both yourself and Gopala Krishna.

Letter to Caitya-guru -- New York 11 July, 1976:

This Hari-kirtana is the best yoga bhakti-yoga. You just follow our regulative principles and teach others and you will be successful, without any doubt. You are trained up, and you speak the language of the local people, so do everything conscientiously and my blessings are always with you. However, don't create any awkward situation that may be criticized. Caesar's wife must be above criticism. Up to now as I have got respectable situation, I wish that all my disciples will have similar respectable position in society. That will keep my name good. Like father, like son.

Letter to Dhrstaketu -- New York 17 July, 1976:

Unless absolutely necessary, one should keep head shaven and not allow the hair to grow long. If absolutely necessary, one can dress like an American gentleman, with short hair, but long hair is prohibited. The reason that one with long hair is not my disciple is because he is against the principle. Unless absolutely necessary one should keep hair short, and if necessary one can dress like an American gentleman with short hair. It is not expected that everyone will join. For that reason we can't compromise. The tendency is there to be hippy. When the acaryas are seen with beard, that is during Caturmasya, July-September. If observed strictly there is not simply a beard. There are so many rules and regulations. One can't eat a variety of foods. Only kitri prepared and poured on the floor, and then licked up. There are so many other rules also. That is not always that they kept beard.

Letter to Vasudeva:

In case you do not like this arrangement then you may keep the temple as your private property and as my disciple I will give you guidance. But you may not use the ISKCON name to collect funds or to take loans. In this connection until this matter is resolved no loan may be taken from the bank or elsewhere and all collections in the name of ISKCON, must stop.

Letter to Mr. Jootee Boonsoong -- Valencay, France 1 August, 1976:

I beg to acknowledge reciept of your nice gift of silk cloth which has been presented to me by my disciple Yogesvara Das. He has also spoken to me of your interest in the activities of our movement. I thank you very much.

Letter to Jayadharma -- Hyderabad 20 August, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 26 July 1976 with enclosed daksine of Rs. 2000/-and have noted the contents. I am pleased to accept on your recommendation the following as my disciples;

Letter to Bhakta dasa -- New Delhi 26 August, 1976:

On your recommendation I am accepting the following boys and girls as my duly initiated disciples.

Letter to Karandhara -- New Delhi 31 August, 1976:

I always think of you as I do think of my other disciples, and surely Krsna will help you to become a very strong devotee of the Lord. Please offer my blessings to your wife and children.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Vrindaban 11 September, 1976:

On your recommendation I am accepting David Davidson as my first initiated disciple. His name shall be Visnudutta das. Also on your recommendation I am accepting Parajnana das brahmacari as my second initiated disciple and the thread is found enclosed.

Letter to Pancadravida -- Vrindaban 20 September, 1976:

On your recommendation I am accepting the following as my duly initiated disciples.

Letter to Dr. Chatterjee -- Vrindaban 27 September, 1976:

Some of my disciples who are Ph.D.'s in science, they are also attempting our institution in Boston U.S.A., but I'm still doubtful how far they'll be successful on account of scarcity of students. It is said in the Kali-yuga everyman is on the standard of sudra, and the curriculum suggested by you is meant for the brahmana—that is the difficulty.

Letter to Kuladri -- Vrindaban 22 October, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I will accept the following devotees as my initiated disciples. Please be sure that they know and follow the four regulative principles and that they always chant at least 16 rounds daily trying to avoid the 10 offenses. Hold a fire ceremony and have Kirtanananda Maharaja chant on their beads. Their new names are as follows:

Letter to Bala Krsna -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I will accept as my duly initiated disciples the following devotees. Make sure that they strictly follow the regulative principles and always chant a minimum of 16 rounds, avoiding the 10 offenses. Hold a fire sacrifice and have Ramesvara Maharaja chant on their beads. I also enclose one sacred thread and gayatri mantra sheets for the devotees you have recommended. They should also participate in the fire ceremony. Their new names are as follows:

Letter to Narahari -- Vrindaban 24 October, 1976:

I'm happy to hear how nicely things are going at our Miami temple. Upon your recommendation I accept the devotees you have requested initiation for. Robin Teter's initiated name is Rama Gopala dasa. I am enclosing 2 gayatri mantra sheets and one sacred thread duly chanted on by me. Now, hold a fire ceremony. The first initiates beads may be chanted on by Balavanta. Play the tape of me chanting gayatri mantra into the right ear of the second initiates. Be sure that these devotees and all of my initiated disciples there are strictly following the four regulative principles and chanting a minimum of 16 rounds every day, avoiding the 10 offenses. Also, be sure that the second initiates know the brahminical principles given in Bhagavad-gita, 18,42.

Letter to Barbara Eady -- Vrindaban 25 October, 1976:

I am very glad to hear that you are very serious about Krsna Consciousness and are chanting 16 rounds, following the regulative principles and trying to distribute my books in New Zealand. I will be pleased to accept you as my initiated disciple, but I must have some recommendation. If you will have Tusta Krsna write to me recommending you then I will gladly do so.

Letter to Ramakrishna Bajaj -- Vrindaban 1 November, 1976:

One thing has developed now in the Western countries. They are feeling the weight of our movement. Therefore, an attempt is being made to suppress or stop the movement in Europe and America. In America the parents of my disciples are combining together.

On account of the Hare Krsna Movement people in the Western countries are being attracted. There is now counter-propaganda by the enemies. They are now organizing opposition. Will Gita Pratisthan help this Hare Krsna Movement to face the cultural fighting between East and West?

Letter to Morris Lapidus -- Vrindaban 2 November, 1976:

I am sorry to see that you have so many quarrels with my disciples. They are working very hard on my behalf trying to serve Krsna. Why not try to cooperate with them, instead of trying to get them to cooperate with you. I understand you are older, but then please just try to be tolerant and help in whatever way you can. Krsna will see your sincere desire, and if He wants you will be recognized and if not, there is nothing you can do to force it.

Letter to Syama Sundarji -- Vrindaban 15 November, 1976:

These American boys are helping me in this endeavor, therefore, until they are admitted to the Jagannatha Puri temple I'm not inclined to go there. My disciples are trying for this purpose. The government officials are in favor. Maybe it will be soon.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 18 November, 1976:

There are many sahajiyas who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is is the master of Vrndavana personally. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the sannyasa order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana. I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me, therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world. Otherwise, you are always welcome in Vrndavana. I have no objection.

Letter to Balarama -- Vrindaban 27 November, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept the following devotees as my initiated disciples. Now hold a fire sacrifice and instruct the first initiates to always follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum of 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Let the second initiate hear the tape of me chanting Gayatri in the right ear. Show him how to count on the finger divisions. Their beads and thread have been duly sanctified by me.

Letter to Vrikodara -- Hyderabad 2 December, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I will accept the devotees you have recommended as my duly initiated disciples. Now hold a fire sacrifice. Instruct them on the offenses to be avoided while chanting the Holy Names. They must promise to always chant a minimum of 16 rounds and strictly follow the four regulative principles. Balavanta may chant on their beads.

Letter to Kurusrestha -- Bombay 28 December, 1976:

Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept as my duly initiated disciples the devotees whose names are as follows:

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 3 January, 1977:

Srimati Govinda dasi is here and I have heard everything from her about yourself. Therefore, immediately after hearing from her I have sent you the following telegram: My dear son Madhudvisa please immediately come and live with me letter follows. So, when you come here we shall talk in detail and according to the conditions we shall arrange everything. There is no worry. I am still prepared to accept you as my original disciple and if there is anything wrong, I am prepared to try and correct it so that your life may not be spoiled. Please therefore come here immediately and live with me.

Letter to Turyadas -- Mayapur 27 February, 1977:

Please continue to increase the deity worship and teach others to become a very good pujari like you. When I see my disciples doing deity worship nicely that engladdens me. 'Sevonmukhe hi jivadau/ svayam eva sphuraty adah', God realization is possible only by service. That is the only way. He is adhoksaja. 'Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajantam priti purvakam/ dadami

buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te', When one engages in devotional service, Krishna gives intelligence from within. Otherwise, how the unlimited can be served by the limited? So please continue to make the worship more and more beautiful.

Letter to Swami Sri Radhey Baba -- Bombay 30 March, 1977:

I was expecting to come to Vrndavana to be with my disciples during the Gaura Purnima time but I was suddenly forced to change my plans due to illness. Now, by the grace of Krishna, I am gradually recovering. Sooner or later we have to give up this body, but a Vaisnava may live or die for in either case he is always serving his Lord Krishna. So whatever Krishna's desire is, we are quite agreeable to it. As you are eager to see me, I am also eager to see you, but as to when I shall be returning to Vrndavana I cannot say. You can take information from time to time from my disciples as to when I shall be expected to be there, and when I come we shall be able to spend time together.

Letter to Radha-sarana -- Juhu, Bombay 17 April, 1977:

I also accept as my disciples Bhakta Dhimas and Bhakta Ramon. Their initiated names are:

Letter to Kuladri -- Bombay 28 April, 1977:

As you have recommended all of these new devotees so I accept them as my duly initiated disciples.

Letter to Hari-sauri -- Bombay 1 May, 1977:

As you have recommended them I accept Michael Pepper and Jackie as my duly initiated disciples

Letter to German Disciples -- Bombay May 6, 1977:

My dear beloved disciples,

Please accept my blessings. I know that over the past years you have suffered so many tribulations to push forward Krsna consciousness in Germany. But this has not stopped you from your determination to serve the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. A devotee is pleased when there is difficulty, for in these difficulties he is forced to remember Krsna. We cannot expect that the people of Kali-yuga will welcome our attempt to spread Krsna consciousness. It is just like a lunatic asylum: The patients are running around madly and when the doctor tries to give them treatment, they insist that they are not crazy. Sometimes the patient even strikes the doctor. So our task is like that. We cannot stand to see people suffering due to ignorance. What is that ignorance? They do not know that they are not their body. This Krsna consciousness movement is meant to deliver people to the proper understanding that they are not their body, that they are pure spirit soul. We may or may not be appreciated, that is not our concern. We must execute the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu which is:

Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa

amara ajna guru haya tara ei desa

(CC Madhya 7.128)

"Whomever you meet, instruct them to follow the orders of Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way by My order become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."

So our business is to satisfy the acaryas and Krsna. If they are pleased then we know our work is successful.

Go on spreading the sankirtana movement more and more. I am only one person, but because all of you have kindly cooperated with me, this movement has now become a success all over the world. Be assured that there is no more direct way to preach than to distribute Krsna conscious books. Whoever gets a book is benefitted. If he reads the book he is benefitted still more, or if he gives the book to someone else for reading, both he and the other person is benefitted. Even if one does not read the book but simply holds if and sees it, he is benefitted. If he simply gives small donation towards the work of Krsna consciousness he is benefitted. And anyone who distributes these transcendental literatures, he is also benefitted. Therefore sankirtana is the prime benediction for the age:

krsna varnam tvisa krsna sango vangastra parsadam

yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti sumedhasah

(SB 11.5.32)

Hoping this meets you all well.

Letter to Ramesvara -- New Delhi 11 May, 1977:

I am very glad to know that you are all working so hard to double the book distribution this year. Here in Risikesh Mahesh Yogi has his headquarters and he is training his disciples. But he has to pay each of them a regular monthly salary and give them vacations as well. So he is not so fortunate as I am, that I have so many sincere disciples that I do not have to pay them any salary nor do they ever ask for any vacation. Instead they are working twice as hard to double the book distribution. I am so much thankful to all of my sincere disciples who are working so hard to fulfill this great mission of Krsna consciousness.

Letter to Hari-sauri -- Vrndavana 18 May, 1977:

As you have recommended him, I accept Clayton as my duly initiated disciple. His spiritual name is Karsna-Dasa.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 6 September, 1977:

Now I have come to the West in a broken condition of health. In such condition no one would think of touring. An ordinary man would prepare for death. But I am not afraid of death, so why not let me see once again all of my beloved disciples and the Temples all over the world. When I go to Hawaii this winter I shall be very much eager to come to Fiji and to see you at that time. Until then go on very enthusiastically and try to make all of the citizens Krsna conscious.