Forty years before when two of my eldest God-brothers came to London with this mission they simply devoted their time in lecturing in some renowned public place and inviting some leading politician to preside over the meeting. You know very well that when I began my preaching work in New York I never followed this policy of lecturing amongst the stereotyped politicians or elites of the society. And if I would have followed such a policy, I think I would also have gone back to India without any success. I think this policy of Sankirtana, Prasadam and Srimad-Bhagavatam has been successful in all the centers. Please therefore follow this transcendental policy with heart and soul and make your center as spiritually opulent as far as possible.
New York (Letters 1970 - 1971)
Correspondence
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Mr. Allen Klein -- Los Angeles 6 January, 1970:
I am informed by Sriman Syamasundara das Adhikari that in connection with the contribution of Sriman George Harrison for publishing my book, Krishna, you were advised to contact me in my Boston Temple. But I have left Boston Temple on the 29th of December and now my present address is ISKCON Temple, 1975 La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90034. So you can contact me here in this connection. In the meantime, I am advising my representative Sriman Brahmananda Brahmacari, president of my New York Temple, and he is authorized to deal on my behalf in this connection. I am advising him (Brahmananda) also to see you in this connection.
Note: This is actually a letter to Madhudvisa dated the 15th Jan 1969, but the link does not work and as each quote needs a link it has been purposely been linked to Mukunda. Sorry for that.
Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1970: Perhaps you have received a copy of the letter from N.Y. wherein it is admitted by the draft board that the ISKCON is a religious society. So our members who are strictly following the regulative chanting process, observing the restrictive regulations and serving the Lord faithfully will have natural ministerial status and as such they will not be called by the draft board. So please see that all the members of our Temple are following the rules and regulations which are very simple namely to chant Hare Krishna 16 (sixteen) rounds, attending the classes, reading the books, going out for Sankirtana and taking prasadaum.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 22 January, 1970:
Regarding opening account in Boston: is there any branch of First National City Bank of New York? If not, then the present account in N.Y. should be continued. Another, separate account in same Boston bank where ISKCON has got its account may be opened. In that case you may send me the requisite papers. I want to continue the account in N.Y. because this account is coming down since I have stepped in your country, and sometimes the bank reference gives good facilities. Last time this bank's good reference resulted in my immigration visa without difficulty; otherwise we were struggling for it for three years.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970:
You will find in the enclosed copy of the letter that Dalmia-Jayan Trust has contributed one pair of Murti, and similarly the Birla Trust has contributed four pairs of Murtis. Now I request you to carry these Murtis to America by your shipping line. The Murtis are being prepared in Vrindaban, under the direction of Sri H.S. Sharma, Secretary to Dalmia Jayan Trust. The Murtis are already packed and ready for dispatch, so on hearing from you, immediately they will be sent to your care for being carried by your shipping lines to the respective destinations; namely Boston, Montreal, New York and Los Angeles. So kindly send your instructions to the following address: H. S. Sharma, Dalmia Charitable Trust, 4 Scindia House, New Delhi.
Letter to Jayagovinda -- Los Angeles 3 February, 1970:
Please be in correspondence about German BTG publishing with Brahmananda. He is now staying in Boston and coming to New York every weekend.
Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:
At that time, I was sponsored by a friend's son, Gopala Agarwal, who is settled up in this country by marrying an American girl, Sally. I was their guest, and I feel very much obliged to Gopala and his wife Sally for their nice treatment and reception. I was with them for three weeks in Butler, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then I came to New York. I was getting some money by selling my Srimad-Bhagavatam, thus I was maintaining myself in New York. After some time, I rented one apartment at number 100 71st Street West, but after a few months, all my things—typewriter, tape recorder, books—were stolen. Then for some time one of my students gave me shelter at Bowery Street.
Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:
I then rented one store-front and an apartment at 26 Second Avenue for $200 per month, but without any source of income. I started my classes and sometimes, on Sundays, I used to chant Hare Krishna Mantra in Tomkins Square Park from three to 5 P.M. During this time, all the young boys and girls used to gather around me, sometimes poet Ginsberg would come to see me, and sometimes a reporter from the New York Times came to see me. In this way, the Hare Krishna Mantra chanting became very popular on the Lower East Side.
Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:
In this way, the younger generation became attracted, and gradually many branches were opened one after another. After New York, the next branch was opened in San Francisco, then in Montreal, then in Boston, and in Los Angeles. We have now the following centers in the States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia: (see insert sheet A following page 2).
Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:
P.S. So far the means of the books published are as follows:
3 volumes Srimad-Bhagavatam League of Devotees $16.00 (set)
1 paperback Bhagavad-gita As It Is Collier (MacMillan) $2.95
1 hardback Bhagavad-gita As It Is MacMillan $6.95
1 Teachings of Lord Caitanya ISKCON Press $5.95
1 Sri Isopanisad ISKCON Press $1.00
1 Nectar of Devotion ISKCON Press $5.95
1 Krishna ISKCON Press $10.00
1 Easy Journey to Other Planets League of Devotees $0.50
1 Two Essays ISKCON PRESS $ .50
Monthly magazine "Back to Godhead" ISKCON Press $0.50
French ed. "Back to Godhead" ISKCON Press
German ed. "Zuruck zur Gottheit" ISKCON Press
Some of these are being enclosed herewith, and the balance will be dispatched from New York along with books.
Letter to Jagannatham Prabhu -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1970:
I am so glad to receive your letter dated 10 February, 1970, redirected from my New York center. Perhaps you are the eldest amongst us now living as disciples of Srila Prabhupada. You are now eighty-one years old, and I am only seventy-four. Therefore I am your younger brother and I shall always expect blessings from you.
Letter to Aranya Maharaja -- Los Angeles 27 February, 1970:
At the present moment the preaching work is going on from Hamburg to Tokyo, crossing over the two big oceans, Atlantic and Pacific, covering 14,000 miles on the Northern side and again from Tokyo to Sydney, Australia, covering another 5,000 miles. I am enclosing herewith a newspaper clipping published in Sydney, and you will appreciate very much how Sriman Bali Mardan Brahmacari, who is a graduate of the New York University, is nicely working there since the last fortnight. In the meantime, I have sent another assistant, Sriman Upendra das Adhikari, to assist him.
Letter to Unknown -- Unknown Place 28 February, 1970:
ISKCON RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLES AT: 411-B W. Water Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico; 26 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y.; 95 Glenville Avenue, Allston, Mass.; 3720 Park Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 5364 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Cal.: c/o Mr. Lal Goel; 53 Englewood Avenue, Buffalo, New York, 14214; Acyutananda Brahmacari; c/o radha Press; 993/3 Main Road/ Gandhi Nagar; Delhi 31, India; Atlantic City (send copy to Brahmananda and he will forward it to Atlantic City, as we have not got their address.)
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 4 March, 1970:
See that the French and German BTGs are nicely done—that is my ambition. Jaya Govinda must marry the girl Sadanandini. It is already advanced, and I do not think it can be changed now. So he can immediately call her from New York by sending her passage money to Hamburg. Then get them married immediately in your presence.
Letter to Japanese brothers and sisters -- Los Angeles 10 March, 1970:
When I first visited Tokyo in 1967 on my way back from India to the U.S.A., my impression of the city of Tokyo was that it is a replica of New York. My dear Japanese brothers and sisters, I think I am right if I say that you are trying to be happy by imitating the material opulences of America. But I must say that you cannot be happy in that way. This does not, however, mean that I am condemning the way of material advancement of life. We do not condemn any way of materialistic life, but we simply request everyone to learn how to love Krishna. This is the missing point. You live in any way as it may be suitable for your comfortable life, but side by side you learn the art of loving Krishna.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 13 March, 1970:
The first volume of KRSNA may be delivered with pictures to Dai Nippon. I do not know whether it shall go directly to Japan or through their N.Y. office, that is up to Brahmananda. So as soon as possible, please deliver to them—it is already delayed.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 16 March, 1970:
I have received information from the Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. that the pair of Deities, 24 inches high, weighing about 50 kilograms the pair, will be arriving in Boston sometimes by the end of May 1970. They will be delivered by the New York Agents of the company. The Deities will be carried by the vessel "Jalapalaka." So you may note this, and you have to prepare a bigger throne for accommodating the larger Deities.
Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 19 March, 1970:
I think in New York there are so many foundation offices. If you all three or four together, you can add also Subala, it will be nice combination. If the foundations understand that actually you are doing something nice, then the financial difficulties for developing our various centers will be over.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 March, 1970:
I am very glad to learn about New York's situation. New York must have a nice Temple as Los Angeles as soon as possible. That will be prestige for New York City. Next weekend, you can transfer my bank money, as addressed by you personally.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 2 April, 1970:
I am very glad to know that both Boston and New York centers are blissfully engaged. Now just see things go on nicely.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 5 April, 1970:
When I was going to Europe via New York, I asked you to pick up some file "Vrindaban" ("Radha Damodara Temple") and you picked it. I told you that this file is very important and keep it carefully.
Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 7 April, 1970:
Regarding your tape recorder which was lying with me, you will get it very soon back. It is now being carried by Citralekha, wife of Upendra, who is going to Australia via Hawaii, and she will deliver the machine to you. I am very glad you have repaired your dictaphone and you are anxious to work on it. For the time being I can send you tapes of my lectures which you can transcribe either directly or through the dictaphone, as it is convenient. Both yourself and Gaurasundara or any other educated boy or girl can edit the transcriptions for being printed. For the present I hope you will be glad to do this work because you are always anxious to see me speaking something. I am sending the tape by separate mail, so immediately begin work. If you find this work of transcribing from recorded tapes interesting, you will have ample opportunity to work on this. There are many tapes like this in New York, Boston, and maybe in other places also.
Letter to Turya Shramy Maharaja -- Los Angeles 8 April, 1970:
I am in due receipt of your kind letter dated 23rd March, 1970, addressed to our New York center and now forwarded to me here.
Letter to Turya Shramy Maharaja -- Los Angeles 8 April, 1970:
I have published English translations and commentaries on the following books: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion, KRSNA, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and Easy Journey to Other Planets. Our magazine "Back to Godhead" is published 100,000 per month. I have advised my assistant who is in charge of the magazine in New York to send sample copies to Srimati Hemanta Kumari Chowdhurani, as advised by you.
Letter to Rsi Kumara -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:
New York is the best city of your country, therefore the prospect of preaching in New York City is especially very great. I began my preaching life in this city, therefore I have got some special attraction for New York. I wish, therefore, that a fitting and imposing temple may be situated in New York. I understand that you are trying your best to secure a house, so in consultation with Brahmananda you can do it very earnestly.
Letter to Rsi Kumara -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:
Regarding Sankirtana Parties in New York, Krsna will provide devotees, don't be worried. Krsna can provide anything and everything within a moment, but He waits to test a devotee. And when the devotee comes out successful from the test, He gives him all opportunity for devotional service. So everyone of you should go on with the Sankirtana Party and gradually Krsna will send more and more devotees to join you.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 17 April, 1970:
Whatever the Spiritual Master gives in His own hand, it should be accepted immediately as His grace. In the beginning in New York I was cooking myself and was distributing at least one or two capatis to all my disciples, at that time not less than a dozen. Gradually, Kirtanananda Maharaja took charge of the cooking and learned the art very nicely from me, and he educated all others how to make our present Prasadam. So in the beginning I was cooking, so there is no objection to take from the Spiritual Master. It is a question of love that sometimes I cook, you eat and sometimes you cook, I eat. Our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on complete fellow feeling and love, but there is a word maryada which means respect which should always be offered to the Spiritual Master and elderly members.
Letter to Bahulasva -- Los Angeles 18 April, 1970:
Regarding Paramatma Das, I think he should simply push on with his school work as much as it may be necessary and the remainder of the time he may spend with the devotees in our Krsna Conscious activities. Certainly he is feeling some inconvenience due to the poor association at the karmi school but this is not a permanent situation. In the past many of our devotees like Lilasukha, Kancanbala, Indira, etc. in New York, Saradia in Boston, some others in Buffalo, and in other places also have finished up their required education in the public schools in spite of continuous feeling of disturbance by the nondevotee students and faculty. So if he finishes up his education in this way remaining under your care at the temple, then the unwanted association will not be harmful, just see that he is strictly executing his prescribed duties and that will keep him strong in spiritual life.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 22 April, 1970:
Have you got any information of the Prahlada pictures?* Purusottam got them here last year when I was living at Hayworth Avenue. I thought that the pictures were left here, but Dayananda has no information and nobody can tell where they are. So if you can say if it was returned to New York again, where is it now?
Letter to Ekayani -- Los Angeles 3 May, 1970:
The six armed form which Lord Caitanya disclosed to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya had two hands of Lord Ramacandra, two hands of Krsna and two hands of Lord Caitanya. Perhaps you have seen the picture in our New York temple which was brought from India by Kirtanananda Swami.
Letter to Damodara -- Los Angeles 4 May, 1970:
Bahulasva Berkeley Rshi Kumara New York
Satsvarupa Boston Umapati Paris
Harer Nama Boulder Subaladas Philadelphia
Rupanuga Buffalo Sridama Providence
Jaya Gopala Columbus Vamanadeva St. Louis
Bhagavan dasa Detroit Madhudvisa San Francisco
Hamsaduta Hamburg Citsukhananda San Jose
Gaurasundara Hawaii Revatinandana Santa Barbara
Durlabh Laguna Beach Gajendra Seattle
Gurudasa London Bali Mardan Sydney
Sripati Montreal Sudama Tokyo
Hayagriva New Vrndavana Jagadisa Toronto
Cidananda Vancouver Damodara Washington
My Dear Damodara,
Please accept my blessings. I hope everything is going on well in your center.
As each and every ISKCON Center is my life and soul for preaching this movement, I hope you are doing your best to conduct the regular routine duties of the Temple—chanting regularly the beads, observing the restrictive regulations, taking Sankirtana Party to the streets, and selling our magazines and books.
Letter to Damodara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 13 May, 1970:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 8th April, 1970, which was addressed to my New York office. I am so sorry to learn that there is a sort of conspiracy by some of our God-brothers as not to give me a place at Mayapur. I do not wish to argue on this point, but according to your advice I have already sent a telegram to Acyutananda Brahmacari and an urgent letter also requesting him to purchase the land of Jabed Ali almost a fortnight ago, but I have received no reply til now.
Letter to Govinda Maharaja -- Los Angeles 24 May, 1970:
We have got now 30 centers, and in each center the devotees are going to the streets of London, Hamburg, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo, etc, and they are selling "Back to Godhead" and other books very nicely. The magazines are sold in each center at the rate of 100 to 400 copies daily, and the price is $.50 per copy which is in Indian exchange Rs. 3.50.
Letter to Harivilasa -- Los Angeles 14 June, 1970:
So for the time being you just remain in Paris with the devotees there and grasp the ideas more explicitly and then try to open a center in one of the Middle Eastern countries. Sometime before I met one gentleman in New York from Iran. His name and address is given below:
Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1970:
I am very glad to learn from your letter dated 2nd July that both yourself and Acyutananda went to Babu Ghat for chanting Hare Krsna. I am very glad to learn it. The same process I adopted in your country when I started my Sankirtana in Tompkins Square, New York. Krsna was so kind to send to me all these boys and girls who are helping me now. Babu Ghat is a very nice place. Similarly, in front of Babu Ghat there is the Eden Garden that is also a very nice place. After all it is not the question of the place, but it is the person who chants which is important. A sincere soul like you, so much devoted to Spiritual Master and Krsna is sure to be successful anywhere. So you adopt the same principle as we are doing here.
Letter to Nevatiaji -- Los Angeles 16 July, 1970:
So distribution of Krsna consciousness in the best service to the human society, so I tried first of all to start this movement in India, but friends were not very much sympathetic. Therefore, with great difficulty I came here in 1965. In 1966 I registered the Society with the help of some friends and disciples, and the movement was started regularly in 1966, July, from New York.
Gradually it developed and at the present moment we have got 32 branches all over the world. We have got very huge expenditure for maintaining these establishments for example in Los Angeles, we are spending near about $3000 per month, which is in Indian exchange Rs. 24,000 per month. Similarly we have got expenditure in London, New York, Hamburg, Sydney, Tokyo, etc. The source of income is generous contribution by the public and a little profit out of selling our magazines and books. We do not get any lump out of sum contribution from any of various foundations, but our boys and girls work very hard and we maintain our establishment. The main source of income is Hare Krsna.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Tokyo 20 August, 1970:
I hope you have received the circular letter which was sent to each member of the GBC for reporting me the work going on in his jurisdiction. I do not know in whose direction is our New York Temple. I have received no report from New York since a long time. So if it is in your jurisdiction you may kindly inform me what is going on there. Other reports are very encouraging. Keep your schedule nicely, then there will be very little chance of Maya to creep inside.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Tokyo 20 August, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 13rd, 1970. Since I have left L.A. I have received many letters from many centers, but I have not received any letter from New York nor a letter from Brahmananda Swami nor Gargamuni Swami. I have already sent a circular letter requesting the Zonal Secretary Governing Body Commissioners to send me at least twice in a month the reports of the activities in the respective zones. So I shall be glad to know how the new building in New York is being worked out.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Tokyo 20 August, 1970:
When I was in L.A. I heard that a good many visitors were coming there (N.Y.) It was very much encouraging. I think Bhavananda is president of the New York center so I shall be glad to hear from him.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Tokyo 20 August, 1970:
I have already approved of the schedule which you have sent me. If you follow this new schedule very strictly there will be no chance of Maya penetrating our camp. And try to introduce the same schedule in New York and other centers.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Tokyo August 23, 1970:
I am very glad to note that you are now realizing that without executing the regular routine work of spiritual life nobody can grow spiritual strength and without spiritual strength nobody can preach the Krsna Consciousness Movement. Both of you are my great hopes. You have done great service to the cause of the Society and I always consider you as two strongest pillars of the Society. Sriman Brahmananda Swami Maharaja joined me in my apartment in New York sometimes in 1966 and since then he is working so hard for upliftment of our activities and later on you also joined to help the Movement so strenuously. So your service to Krsna in this connection will never go in vain even though accidentally something contrary has been done. So far I am concerned, I am the same Spiritual Father and Guide of both of you and I have prayed all along to Krsna for bringing you back to your good conscience. I hope Krsna is already helping you sitting in your heart and thus you are executing the regulative principles.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Calcutta 9 September, 1970:
I was anxiously awaiting for this letter because since you have opened the new Temple I received one telegram at Los Angeles inviting me there at New York for which I was very much obliged, but I decided to come to India. I am receiving also many other letters which are not very encouraging in the matter of the activities of the four Sannyasis, so in Calcutta we have come and last Saturday, the 29th August, there was very nice reception at the airport. So at the present moment I am in mixed up condition both encouraging and discouraging.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Calcutta 9 September, 1970:
New York is very much attractive for me because New York is the starting place of my activities in your country and when I had no place of preaching, one Armenian gentleman offered me a two storied building in Brooklyn with a nice hall downstairs for only $125 per month, but at the time I was paying only $70 for my apartment and I could not bear at that time to pay 125 dollars. That situation continued for at least one year and then I was bold enough to accept an apartment for $200. In this way the Society extended with so many branches and now you are paying $1,450 per month, so it is very encouraging. I thank you very much that you have already allotted a nice apartment for me, an entire first floor, so if I had the wings of a dove I could fly immediately to Brooklyn and enter my apartment. Anyway, in future I wish to go there. For the time being keep it nicely. By the grace of Krsna, wherever I go you all my disciples give me a very nice place for residing and in Calcutta also Sriman Acyutananda and Sriman Jayapataka, who are going to be Sannyasis tomorrow, they have given me a very nice apartment. So I am now 75 years old. I never thought how far I shall be able to travel such a long distance. But as people say I am still younger, then maybe sooner or later I shall come back to New York again.
Letter to Yamuna -- Calcutta 16 September, 1970:
Here in India I am trying to establish a branch. We have come here eight strong Vaisnavas and Tamala Krsna is also with me. We are getting encouragement and there is similar situation in New York and other U.S. cities. Yesterday morning Tamala along with other two devotees went to the downtown quarters and they immediately gathered about five hundred men and collected 25 rupees also without any magazine or literature. Books and magazines worth about $60,000 are coming from Tokyo very shortly, then we will have vigorous preaching work in Calcutta. We are already in a very nice house, five stories, and we are getting another still better house in North Calcutta.
Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Calcutta 26 September, 1970:
I am very happy to know that Mrs. Max, the proprietor of Paragon Bookstore has remembered me and I have written her one note which I have sent in care of you for forwarding to the proper address in New York.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Bombay 28 October, 1970:
Please conduct the Sankirtana program regularly and that will give me great pleasure. Regarding our new Temple in Brooklyn, Krsna has given you very good chance to serve Him. From the very beginning I was insisting Brahmananda to have a nice place in New York. Now we have got it and Krsna is giving us all other opportunities. Please try to utilize all of these opportunities in His service.
Letter to Madhukantha -- Bombay 16 November, 1970:
I am very glad to learn that the different libraries are accepting our books and surely they will find them absolutely beneficial. This line of thought, namely Krsna Consciousness or God-consciousness, is completely new in the Western world or throughout the whole world. People in general have got somewhat a vague idea of God consciousness. When I first went to your country in New York, I found everyone imbibed with the idea that God is dead. Now gradually people are understanding that God is not only not dead, but He is factually present with us at every moment. If we have the necessary qualification, to see God eye-to-eye is quite possible.
Letter to Bhaktajana -- Bombay 17 November, 1970:
I am so glad to hear from you after a very long time. It is my pleasure that you have come to stay with us in our New York Temple. I do not think you are any more able to leave Krsna because He does not let anyone go away who has once come forward in His service.
Letter to Ben -- Bombay November 22, 1970:
For householders it is prescribed that one should hear the Bhagavad-gita or other transcendental texts of which we now have ample supply from the lips of the devotee of the Lord, one should accept a Bona fide Spiritual Master and follow his instructions and one should install the Deity in his home and carry on worship there. These three items will make your life perfect. So you simply try to observe these things and if you need some advice how to do it you can ask the elder devotees of our New York Temple. Be very strict in your observance of the four principles of regulation, namely no illicit sex life, no intoxicants, no eating of any meat, fish or eggs, and no gambling. Always chant Hare Krsna at least sixteen rounds daily and be happy.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 24 November, 1970:
So far a Temple place is concerned, even there is no place, we can sit down underneath a tree and chant as I did in New York. Krsna will give a nice place. You have been anxious to stick to fulfilling the desires of Krsna and Spiritual Master without deviation. Our technique is that we work sincerely and the dictation will come from within; Krsna is seated there.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 25 November, 1970:
I have not heard in a long time from New York. I am confident that things are going on there alright, but still I would like to hear from you or Bhavananda report of our Temple in New York. Next time I return, I shall go first to New York. I am glad that many new centers are being opened in different places. I have had several encouraging letters from Mohanananda in Dallas and in all our centers things seem to be improving and the public reception is also improving.
Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Bombay 1 December, 1970:
So far as moving the temple to a new location, that is very good news. When I return to your country, I must visit your temple, either from New York or from New Vrindaban. Formerly, when I first came to the U.S. I saw this Philadelphia city. It is a nice small city almost representing New York. In the Philadelphia University there is one professor of Sanskrit. His first name is Norman, and the last name is, I believe, Brown. Dr. Norman Brown. He invited me to speak in his class, so we are acquainted. If possible, try to introduce our books there. This university is in the Walnut district.
1971 Correspondence
Letter to Rupanuga -- Allahabad 11 January, 1971:
I was glad to know from you that in your tour of the East coast temples everything is going on nicely. Please encourage our devotees to continue in their good efforts to spread this sublime Movement. The standard of purity must be kept intact along with firm faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna, then everything will go on smoothly. I have just received a letter from Bhavananda from New York and it appears that there are many persons regularly attending our classes and following the regulative principles as well as chanting Hare Krsna Mantra. That is the success of our preaching work when there is this result of more persons joining, so I am confident that things are going on.
Letter to Karandhara -- Allahabad 17 January, 1971:
I expect to return very soon via New York, Boston, etc.. Yes, you may perform the ceremony for second initiation for Tulsi das, Krsnakanti, Locana das, Nitai das, Jayatirtha, Karuna Sindhu, Sarola devi, and Maithili devi. The ceremony should be held as usual. Before the ceremony the chief Brahmana chants Gayatri silently. The tape should be played through a set of earphones so that only the initiate hears the mantra. They should hear once only repeating the mantras word by word with the tape record. Devananda says the instructions are there on xerox in a file labelled Prayers, Ceremonies, etc.
Letter to Advaita -- Allahabad 21 January, 1971:
If moving the press to New York is convenient, I have no objection. You must have all facility of work—that I want. It is good news that all the temples are expanding. So the press must be located in another place. The Brooklyn loft is nice and the rent is not much. Let us occupy at once. I have got all approval of this move.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Allahabad 21 January, 1971:
So far as ISKCON Press moving to N.Y. is concerned, if Advaita feels it will benefit the press, then why not? From your description it appears that Advaita has found a better place and if he is taking on the responsibility of expanding the Press, then he should definitely go there. For technical matters, let Advaita go on working independently. He is certainly competent. So far as decision making regarding contents of publications, etc., that can be done conjointly.
Letter to Satyabhama -- Allahabad 27 January, 1971:
Yes, you may write some of the stories in simplified version for the children. That is very nice. The story of characters cannot be changed or anything made up, but simply the language may be changed. Also it is good to note that you are writing these children's books to comply with the academic standards of the public schools. In this way you should seriously work to compile these books along with the help of Krishna Bhamini. Then they can be printed by our press and dispatched to N.Y. centers as well as all our other centers. Krishna Consciousness is for everyone and so we can present your books to the public also in that light. You can send me copies of some of the stories you have written in which there are "personified animals" and I will tell you if they are all right. So go on compiling these books. Do it nicely and Krishna will bless you.
Letter to K. K. Birla -- Bombay 10 March, 1971:
From your previous letters it is understood that you know the activities of my Society in Europe and America. Sometimes when you were in New York you saw our Sankirtana Party on the Fifth Avenue.
Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 16 March, 1971:
So far as moving the accounting department to N.Y., that is all right, but first of all let the certified accountant there do and then when the GBC sees that he is doing nicely, then you can hand over the account. Yes, you may give the donors an honorable mention page in Bhagavad-gita.
Letter to Bhavananda:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 20th February, 1971 and have also received the enclosed pictures and newspaper cuttings. All of them were so interesting to me. Thank you very much. You are doing so much for my Guru Maharaja. It is still more encouraging that the number of devotees in N.Y. temple is increasing. I wish that the number of devotees in every temple be more and more increased. I know that there are many young men in your country who are very frustrated but they have got one good quality. That is renunciation of this worldly attachment. From this platform they can very easily take to Krishna Consciousness. So our Krishna Consciousness Movement should be especially directed towards these frustrated persons. Make all our temples full with many devotees and after being trained up they should be sent to every town and village in your country so that they will be benefited as well as all others.
Letter to Bhavananda:
So far as making speaking engagements is concerned, by all means you may do so but first of all I shall let you know definitely when I am going to N.Y. Then you can make many engagements in respectable circles. That will enhance the prestige of our society.
Yes, let the devotees wait for initiation until I go there and under your care let them become more and more strong in Krishna Consciousness. I am looking forward to visiting N.Y. City. N.Y. is favored by me because I started this movement from there, and I wish to see that all the residents of N.Y. Krishna Consciously advanced.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 9 April, 1971:
You say that Bhagavatam printing is going on, but what about Bhagavad-gita As It Is? Some San Francisco Indian friends promised to pay $20,000, for this. So somehow get this money and manage to print Bhagavad-gita as quickly as possible, without stopping. Best thing is to get Bhagavad-gita printed on our own press, some soft bound and some hard bound, regularly sewn. Now in N.Y. we have got large space. If required we can increase by another press, but try to get all our books printed on our own press.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 9 April, 1971:
You write to say that you are relocating in N.Y. but I have received a letter from Satsvarupa saying that he cannot leave because of some financial difficulties. This complaint is practically coming from every temple. Why there is financial difficulty?
Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 9 April, 1971:
What GBC man from India has written that GBC member should be "disentangled from local management"? I have no information who it is. I never advised GBC men to write like that. Why should the presidents give up their posts? GBC work should go on but the temples must be looked after simultaneously. Of course for better management you can go to N.Y.; yours is special case. But this was not my advice. This instruction should be given to all that I never advised that they give up the post of presidency. I asked Tamala if he had written any such direction, but he denied. I do not know which GBC member has advised like that. Jagadisa was also divorcing himself from temple management but found the devotees enthusiasm slackened and so he has returned to the temple schedule. The temples must be maintained.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 17 April, 1971:
Regarding the Deities, I am enclosing a copy of the letter from Sri Hitsaran Sharma in this connection. Four pairs of Deities were said to be donated by the Birla Trust and another two pairs by the Dalmia-Jayan Trust. So far, four sets have been dispatched, but where are the other two pairs? You should arrange for them to be sent to New York from where they will be distributed to the appropriate centers. In New Vrndavana we will require seven pairs of Deities for the proposed seven temples.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 17 April, 1971:
P.S. Regarding the Deities, I am enclosing herewith one letter addressed to Sri Hitsaran Sharma, dated 26.3.70. Our Society was donated five pairs of Murtis; four by the Birla Trust and two by Dalmia-Jayan Trust. Out of these, we have taken delivery of three pairs, but what has happened to the remaining two pairs, I do not know. So please remind them and let me know what is the actual position of these two pairs of Deities. As soon as it is ascertained where they are, they should be dispatched immediately, directly to New York. They must be dispatched. That is imperative.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Calcutta 16 May, 1971:
I am so glad to hear how rapidly our New York center is expanding and how enthusiastic the devotees have become. That is first class qualification for making advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Calcutta 16 May, 1971:
Please offer my blessings to all the boys and girls there in New York center. Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Letter to Atreya Rsi -- Calcutta 17 May, 1971:
I am to understand that you have professional managerial experience and are presently engaging your talents to strengthen the managerial position of our N.Y. center. That is very valuable service and I thank you very much. We learn from Srimad-Bhagavatam that a person may be situated in any occupational duty but the perfection of such activity is tested by the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. And because you are engaging your talents in His service, surely Krishna will be pleased upon you and give you all facility for advancement in Krishna Consciousness. Simply if you will regularly chant Hare Krishna Mantra, 16 rounds daily and without fail and rigidly follow the regulative principles of devotional life, read all our books and engage in Krishna's business 24 hours, your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness will be certain.
Letter to Karandhara -- Calcutta 17 May, 1971:
For Bhagavad-gita AS It Is, one girl in Baltimore has donated $15,000 and a car. I have advised that the $15,000 be sent to N.Y. for printing of Bhagavad-gita and that the car be dispatched to India. I am awaiting their confirmation. If they send $15,000, then another $5,000 will complete the printing.
Letter to Karandhara -- Calcutta 17 May, 1971:
No, maintenance expenditures cannot come from the book fund. I do not understand why the press has moved and a new location fixed up, all for the cost of $10,000. What is the benefit of it? The Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is being attempted to be printed in ISKCON Press, but it is taking time—years. Does it mean in this way that the book fund will have to pay $1,500 per month and await printing? ISKCON Press is simply meant for printing our books and there must be sufficient work for printing; otherwise what is the use for maintenance? First of all it was suggested that the printing place would be situated in our N.Y. building. Now it has gone to another building. So I shall require the GBC members to inform me what is the actual benefit by such removal and keeping the press in a different building. The policy of maintaining a white elephant is not good.
Letter to Chief Controller of Imports and Exports -- Calcutta 25 May, 1971:
As before, we wish to reiterate that the religious books received from either Japan or our New York Press, are gifts, and there is no intention to sell these books in India, nor is there any question of foreign trade in any of our activities.
Letter to Govinda -- Calcutta 28 May, 1971:
From Bombay I may go to Russia (Moscow) and then to London and then N.Y. and then I will be coming to L.A. You will be glad to learn that we have purchased about five acres of land in Mayapur, the birthsite of Lord Caitanya and we have proposed to hold a nice festival there from Janmastami day for two weeks. At that time the foundation stone will be set down. I wish that all our leading disciples come to India at that time. There are 50 branches, so at least one from each branch should attend the function and Sai also may come at that time. From L.A. while coming to India I must come to Hawaii as I did last year and then after the foundation stone function I will come again back to U.S.A. The contemplation of sitting at Hawaii for my translating work is still alive. Now it depends on Krishna what I have to do in the future.
Letter to Palika -- ISKCON Fort, Bombay 7 June, 1971:
Yes, very soon I am going to New York. Presently I am in Bombay. From here I shall be going to London and possibly to Moscow also. After that I shall be going on to N.Y. without a doubt.
Letter to Rsabhadeva -- Bombay 7 June, 1971:
So far as your getting yourself married, I have no objection and if after referring the matter to Karandhara Prabhu, he agrees, then all my blessings are there. And you may inform Yamuna that I am glad to accept her as my disciple and just as soon as I go there, she can be initiated. Presently I am in Bombay and very soon I shall be going to London and perhaps to Moscow. From there I shall be going to N.Y. and on to Los Angeles, perhaps for Rathayatra on June 27th, 1971. At that time, if she is qualified, then she may take over pujari duties there in Laguna Beach. That will be very nice. And you can help her in Deity worship also.
Letter to Sukadeva -- Bombay 7 June, 1971:
Presently I am in Bombay and from here I shall be going to London and perhaps to Moscow for a few days also. Then I shall be going to N.Y. and on to Los Angeles. At that time Michael and Patrick may come to be initiated.
Letter to Makhanlal -- Bombay 10 June, 1971:
Presently I am in Bombay and from here I am going to Moscow on the 20th June, for five days. From there I shall visit Paris and then London. After the festival I will be going to N.Y. and then on to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Letter to Sudama -- Bombay 12 June, 1971:
Presently I am in Bombay and on the 20th of this month I will go to Moscow for five days. From there I go to Paris and then London for Rathayatra festival. After the festival I will return to U.S.A.; N.Y. and then L.A.
Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 16 June, 1971:
There is no need of sending more checks. Hold on to them. What you have sent to London, I will get when I arrive there. I have received no duplicate deposit slip receipt for $660 in my account at Bank of America. It was not enclosed. You needn't come to N.Y. since I will be going directly to Los Angeles from N.Y.
Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Bombay 17 June, 1971:
Presently I am in Bombay and on the 20th of this month I will be going to Moscow for five days. Thereafter I will be going to Paris and London. I was wanting to go to Rathayatra festival in San Francisco, but I don't think that is possible because there are no direct flights from Moscow to California. But after the London program, I will go directly to U.S.A.; N.Y. and then L.A.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 29 June, 1971:
Presently I am in L.A. where I just returned from the very successful festival, Rathayatra festival, in San Francisco. From here I will be going to London to participate in their Rathayatra festival on 4th July. Shortly thereafter I may be going to N.Y.
Letter to Bhavananda -- Los Angeles 1 July, 1971:
You will be glad to know that very soon I am planning to come to N.Y., as you have requested in your mailgram dated 29th June, 1971. So you can arrange for three world return tickets starting from L.A., to N.Y., to London, to Paris, to Bombay, to Calcutta, to Tokyo, to Honolulu, to L.A. once again. The three names are as follows: Syamasundara (Samuel Speerstra), Aravinda (Arthur J. Friedman), and myself.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 1 July, 1971:
I hope that by now you have got the throne, etc. all ready for installation ceremony. By the middle of July I shall be going to N.Y. and at that time you can send us tickets for going to Boston also. We are three; Syamasundara (Samuel Speerstra); Aravinda (Arthur J. Friedman), and myself. From Boston I shall go to New Vrindaban, come again to N.Y. and then go to London. So please arrange for Kirtanananda Swami to send tickets, round trip, to Pittsburgh.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 1 July, 1971:
Presently I am in L.A. and very soon will be making my way back to Calcutta, and Mayapur, via Europe. First I will go to N.Y. by the middle of this month and then go London. From there I will go to Bombay and Calcutta.
Letter to Advaita -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1971:
You will be very glad to know that very soon, within a fortnight, I will be coming to N.Y., and to visit the press also. Please offer my blessings to the others. Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Letter to Jadurani -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1971:
I have not gone to London, and so have not received your letter. But I have asked that London forward all my mail here. If I don't receive it, then we can discuss personally when I go there. I will be going to N.Y. very soon.
Letter to Jayadvaita -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1971:
TRANSLATION: According to the different modes of material nature, the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of darkness, there are different living creatures known as the demigod, the human being, and the hellish living entity.
Very soon I am coming to N.Y. and if there are any other points, we can discuss them at that time.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1971:
Enclosed please find tape no. 3. Kindly acknowledge receipt, and date of receipt also. After finishing with these tapes, they should be sent directly to Pradyumna in N.Y. for sanskrit, along with a copy of the finished transcript. He can forward the tapes to me.
Letter to Sri Govinda, Srilekha, Bob, Leon, Will, Woody, Mike -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1971:
I beg to thank you very much for your kind letter dated nil. You will be glad to know that very soon I am coming to N.Y., perhaps by the middle of this month. So perhaps it will be possible for you to come and see me there. Or else, shortly thereafter I may visit Pittsburgh and New Vrindaban, so that may be more convenient for you; whatever is permitted by Krishna.
Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1971:
Very soon, by the middle of this month, I will be going to N.Y., and if you like, then you can come and see me at that time and we can discuss further on these points.
Letter to Tribhuvanatha -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1971:
Presently I am still in L.A. and by the middle of this month I should be going to N.Y. From there, you will be glad to know, I will be going directly to London. Here in L.A. things are going on very nicely and just this week 40 new devotees were initiated. So the stock of japa beads I brought with me has been depleted. Malati Prabhu was supposed to have brought some beads with her from India, and so I would like that those beads be sent immediately to N.Y. center by air. I have instructed Tamala Krishna in Calcutta and he soon will be sending more beads to London, for distribution in Europe. So take care of this matter right away so that the beads will be there upon my arrival in N.Y.
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Los Angeles 5 July, 1971:
Regarding lecturing at the university of Florida, if they will pay plane fare for two men there and back in addition to the sum they have agreed to give, then it will be my pleasure to go there. I require one assistant with me, so fare for two men, round trip, must be there; then I can go. By the middle of this month I am going to N.Y. so you can make plans accordingly.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1971:
Very soon I am going to N.Y. and there is good chance that on the way I may stay in Detroit for a few days. I shall let you know when my program is fixed up. The three beads for the Chicago devotees I am keeping and I will dispatch them just as soon as Bahulasva sends me their names, as I have just today requested him.
Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1971:
When I go to N.Y. which should be by the middle of this month, I shall try to visit Toronto also. I shall let you know of this later on when my program becomes fixed up. In the mean time try and take care of all those devotees. You are one of the important members in our society and you have got a good talent to serve Krishna also. So utilize your talents and try and increase the number of devotees as far as possible.
Letter to John Milner -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1971:
Yes, I will be very glad to initiate you both before you embark. Depending on whether or not there will be a function in Mayapur in mid-August, I will be going to N.Y. If the Mayapur program is fixed up then I will leave for N.Y. by the 15th of this month. Otherwise, I will be staying in L.A. for some time. So if I go, then you can meet me there, or if not you can come here. Actually it is better to take initiation personally and receive instructions before leaving for Africa. So you can make arrangements accordingly.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Los Angeles July 11, 1971:
Presently I am in L.A. and everything is very nice here. You will be glad to know that I have again begun my translating work and have sent five tapes to Satsvarupa thus far. Very soon though I will be going to N.Y., probably by the end of this week. From there I will go to Europe and then on to Mayapur for the founding stone ceremony. So most probably we will meet again at that time.
Letter to Jayadvaita -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:
Very soon I am coming to N.Y. and we can discuss further on these matters.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:
Arrangements are being made for us to leave for Detroit on the 16th morning. We will stay there for two days and then come to Boston for a few days also. Then we will go to N.Y. so I don't think there will be time for going to New Vrindaban just now. So Kirtanananda Maharaja needn't send tickets.
Letter to Sri Govinda -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:
It is also encouraging to note that you are getting such a fine house for your new temple. It is so large and on the main street of Cleveland. I can tell that you are all sincere devotees because Krishna is giving you such nice facility to serve him. So make the house very gorgeous, to the standard of our L.A. and N.Y. temples and when you are ready, Radha and Krishna can be installed there also.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1971:
P.S. (1) By the 20th July I will be in N.Y. at least for a week.
(2) By the 1st August I will be in London.
(3) (?) please find one letter from Mr. Mukherji(?) & do the needful.
(4) If Bombay(?) management is going well, then Gurudasa may go there (?). Send me one letter weekly.
Letter to Tribhuvanatha -- Brooklyn 17 July, 1971:
You say in your letter that you have arranged a press conference for our arrival there in London on 1st August; I think Syamasundara Prabhu has written you that we are scheduled to be in N.Y. for one engagement on the 1st August. So keep the date for the press conference open and when the final date has been fixed up I will let you know. Probably it will be on the 2nd or 3d of August.
Letter to Krpasindhu (Rick Holtzman) -- Brooklyn 20 July, 1971:
I beg to thank you very much for your kind letter dated 7th July, 1971 and you will be glad to know that I have accepted you as my duly initiated disciple. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and are being returned personally by Jagadisa Prabhu, who is here now in N.Y. I have given you the spiritual name Krpasindhu Das Brahmacari. Krpasindhu means Krishna, the ocean of mercy.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- London 25 July, 1971:
We require about 100 men minimum, out of whom there are about 40 men in Calcutta and Bombay and other places. I am therefore requesting you to carry these 60 men by your ships from N.Y. to Bombay or Calcutta.
You are always cooperating with my movement and thereby getting blessings from Krishna more and more. Kindly arrange for this dispatch of 60 men to India. I think you can dispatch every month at least 10 men either as passenger or crew, whichever you like. So kindly do the needful and oblige.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- London 25 July, 1971:
You wanted to contribute some pairs of Deities. Mr. R.D. Birla has already supplied six pairs of Deities from Jaipur. Similarly you can also donate Deities for being installed in these western countries.
Things are going on here very nicely. From India I went to Moscow and then to Paris. Then I went to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles. Then I went to Detroit, Boston and now I am staying in N.Y. From here, I shall go to Florida to deliver a lecture in the Gainesville University, and then I shall go to London. So kindly reply this letter to my London address given above.
Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Brooklyn 25 July, 1971:
I was very glad to see both you and your good wife Daivisakti here in N.Y. for the initiation ceremonies. You are both doing so nicely in Krishna Consciousness. Thank you very much. And please offer my blessings to all the other boys and girls there in Philadelphia. Their presentations were so very nice, and they showed so much devotion also. You are all so very nice to me and I am so grateful.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- London August 4, 1971:
So far Mayapur is concerned, I have not yet received the documents of the purchase of the land from Tamala. They had not yet arrived in N.Y. when I left there, on the 2nd August. So you can send a copy here immediately. Also you should send the temple plan made by Jaju's engineer, so that Naranarayana, presently in London, can be consulted.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 4 August, 1971:
So far the marriage of Shakuntala and Ajamita is concerned, I have no objection but you must brief them thoroughly on married life in Krishna Consciousness, how serious business it is, and that separation is not allowed under any circumstances. At one marriage ceremony in N.Y. Rupanuga had the boy and girl both sign documents saying that they promised never to separate under any circumstances. So you can correspond with him and do likewise.
Letter to Sukhada -- London 4 August, 1971:
I beg to thank you very much for your kind letter undated and delivered personally by Harer Nama Prabhu on 1st August, 1971 at New York. Upon his recommendation and the recommendation of Satsvarupa Prabhu I have gladly consented to accept you as my duly initiated disciple and have given you the spiritual name Sukhada Devi Dasi. Sukhada means one who is always giving pleasure to Krishna. That you can do by engaging in His service 24 hours. Surely then He will be pleased and bestow upon you all blessings for making rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Bhavananda -- London 5 August, 1971:
I understand from Karandhara that you had some telephone conversation on the matter of chanting places. In my opinion, Karandhara is required on the western side and you are required in N.Y. center. You have organized N.Y. very nicely; I give you all credit for this. But if you are insisting and require some change, then the best thing to do is to go to Mayapur and manage the building construction there. Tamala has written in his last letter that he has no experience in such building affairs and he wants to appoint some big contractors. That will be too expensive. We can save that amount by supervising ourselves this construction. That will be favorable for our purpose.
Letter to Bhavananda -- London 5 August, 1971:
Please offer my blessings to all the boys and girls there in N.Y. Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Letter to Karandhara -- London 5 August, 1971:
In my opinion, Bhavananda is as much required in N.Y. as you are required in L.A., but he is wanting some change. So I think he can go to Mayapur to manage the building construction. Then Rupanuga can take over management of N.Y. center. Yesterday I talked with the high commissioner from India for the United Kingdom. So now we shall get missionary visas from here very easily. So either they can get missionary visas from there in U.S. or if there is difficulty then you can send me the names of the devotees who are going there and I will submit their names from here and then they can come to London to pick up their visas on the way to India. So this information should be passed on to all our centers.
Letter to Madhukantha -- London 8 August, 1971:
So far as your getting yourself married, I have no objection provided you agree to some points. First of all you must promise that you will not separate under any circumstances. This marriage is serious business and not to be taken lightly. There is no question of separation in Krishna Conscious marriages. Therefore I am asking all those who want to be married that they sign one paper promising that there will be no separation. Karandhara Prabhu can be consulted in this connection and he should draw up such document in the manner Rupanuga has done in N.Y. Then, if you are feeling able to handle the responsibilities of grhastha life, you can go ahead with the ceremony immediately and with my blessings.
Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- London 9 August, 1971:
Previously I had written you one letter on 24th July, and I hope that you have received it by now. Just now I have come to London after spending two weeks in N.Y. Both these centers are doing very nicely. Also, when I was in Los Angeles, Krishna das came to see me from San Francisco. He was having some doubts but now he is all right and has again begun making plans for going to Moscow. He is very enthusiastic about it.
Letter to Madhudvisa -- London 14 August, 1971:
Yes, we can hold in Madras a ceremony similar to the one we held in Bombay and Calcutta. In all probability I shall be in India by the end of September. Maybe earlier also because London climate is very much unsuitable for me. It is always damp, dark, and cold. So very soon either I will have to go back to N.Y. or towards India. Syamasundara is contemplating that we go to Switzerland. What is the climatic condition in Bombay now?
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- London 14 August, 1971:
I approached the high commissioner here requesting him to write a letter to Indira Gandhi to accept our invitation. He has already written to her and I am waiting the reply. As soon as I get a definite answer I shall leave London. If the reply is favorable then I shall go towards India, maybe visiting Switzerland for a few days. Otherwise I shall return to N.Y. It is proposed by the 15th September a meeting of GBC will be held there. We require to hold this important meeting of the GBC to formulate the rules and regulations how things will be worked on. Sometime there are complaints against the GBC which is not very favorable. I set up the GBC with hope that I shall get relief from administration of the mission but on the contrary I have become the center of receiving so many complaints. So it is not a relief for me, rather it is becoming a little troublesome. Anyway, by the grace of Krishna things will be settled up very soon.
Letter to Locana -- London 17 August, 1971:
Just this morning I received your charcoal portrait of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and it is done very expertly. This means you have got special talent for this. So you should go on painting pictures of the acaryas. There are so many centers that they can be sent to. I think ___ you will find more facility because there you can have your own room for painting whereas in N.Y. already it is so much congested. Painting requires some solitary place. Anyway, if you think that you will want the association of the N.Y. artists then I have no objection if you go.
Letter to Jagadisa -- London 20 August, 1971:
Soon I may be returning to N.Y. but it hasn't been fixed up yet. If I do, then certainly I will visit Toronto. ACB
Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 22 August, 1971:
P.S. Enclosed please find poetry for possible publication. I don't think there is need of immediate meeting of all GBC members at N.Y.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 27 August, 1971:
Yes, you should try and develop a headquarters there in the Southern zone, just like L.A. in the West or N.Y. in the East. That will be very nice. I have just received one letter from Mohanananda in Dallas and he wants to purchase a very large property very much suitable for our purpose. He also proposes to have an accredited school there for the society children. All this he wants to develop in conjunction with the country asrama there. He is very enthusiastic for it. So you should encourage him and if his plans are feasible then perhaps Dallas would be the most suitable headquarters for the Southern zone. So you can discuss the matter with Mohanananda, Karandhara and the others and do the needful.
Letter to Ekayani -- London 31 August, 1971:
In spite of all your faults you will go to Vaikuntha because you are a great devotee. Don't create some abnormal condition. Please go back to your husband and live peacefully and execute Krishna Consciousness together. He will also not take sannyasa order out of frustration. You are an intelligent girl and an advanced student. You should know that our main business is Krishna Consciousness. So fighting between husband and wife is not to be taken very seriously. So if you have any respect for me, I request you not to quarrel with your husband. Live peacefully, chant Hare Krishna and try to serve the cause as best as possible. I am very glad that your mother is also taking interest in Krishna Consciousness. That is very good. As you have to leave Boston very soon it is better that you go immediately to N.Y. and live peacefully with your husband. That is my order. I hope you will not disobey me.
Letter to Karandhara -- Mombassa, Kenya 19 September, 1971:
Regarding the MacMillan agreement, Brahmananda says that he left everything with Rupanuga when he left N.Y. So kindly inquire from him. So far I know the agreement was made that my royalty would be paid directly to the society. In the beginning they paid me $1,000. and later on I think I got another $600. Besides this I have never received any money from them. If they paid anything it may have been paid directly to N.Y. ISKCON. So you can inquire and do the needful.
Letter to Karandhara -- Nairobi 3 October, 1971:
I think you have already advised N.Y. to send the full manuscript for Bhagavad-gita As It Is to Dai Nippon. If not you can advise them immediately.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Nairobi 5 October, 1971:
Now I may inform you that Nara Narayana has already gone to Calcutta especially for the purpose of making a model of Mayapur construction work. So immediately you can contact him. Regarding the other models like New Vrindaban, L.A., N.Y., Dallas, he can make models provided there are photographs of different buildings. So you contact him and do the needful.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Nairobi 5 October, 1971:
Activities are going on here nicely. There are TV engagements and a very large meeting is scheduled at the university of Nairobi for tomorrow. Many respectful Hindus are inviting us and I am staying in everyone's house for four to five days. Most probably our center here in Nairobi will be a strong one, as strong as any of our other centers. Two black devotees have come here today from N.Y. to make propoganda and the local Africans also are becoming very much interested. Also the life membership program is going on very happily. Already we have collected more than 30,000 shillings.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Nairobi 5 October, 1971:
Two black devotees have come here today from N.Y. and Dinanatha should come here from there as soon as possible. The Africans locally are becoming very much interested and there is great field here in Africa for spreading Lord Caitanya's movement. Also the life membership program is going on very happily. Already we have collected more than 30,000 Kenya shillings.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Nairobi 8 October, 1971:
Yesterday we had a very successful meeting in the University of Nairobi; the exact words used in the newspaper report as as follows: " ISKCON SWAMI EXPLAINS PHILOSOPHY . . . Impeccable showmanship was matched with unimpeachable philosophy of Gita at a jampacked Taifla Hall in the University of Nairobi yesterday evening when about 2000 people and undergraduates listened to Acarya Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his disciples who presented the 'Hare Krishna Revolution' " So the African boys are coming to us and appreciating our philosophy. Two Afro-American devotees from N.Y. have come also and joined us. So until now our program is going nicely. We have collected 30,000 shillings. One shs = 1 Rs. Syamasundara is also enthusiastic to hold a similar function like Bombay and Calcutta and arrangement is being made for that.
Letter to Karandhara -- Nairobi 9 October, 1971:
I am very glad to learn that Rayarama is going to join us again. He is always welcome. So when he goes to N.Y. he may write to me. Then I shall let him know where to go in India. For the time being, from here I am going to Bombay and then Calcutta and then Delhi. In this way they have got several programs in India. So on hearing from Rayarama at my Bombay address I shall give him direction where to come.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Nairobi 9 October, 1971:
Bhavananda was talking with me that in New Vrindaban students were very much neglected. Therefore they were immediately transferred to New York. Every parent wants to see that their children are taken care of very nicely. That is the first duty. If they are not healthy then how they can prosecute their education? If they are undernourished it is not good for their future activities. They must have sufficient quantity of milk and then dhal, capatis, vegetables, and a little fruit will keep them always fit. There is no need of luxurious fatty foods but milk is essential. A big building is also very good for the children's health. They can move freely and run and jump.
Letter to Rayarama -- Bombay 22 October, 1971:
So far your editorial work is concerned, I welcome your good service but if you do not follow temple life and Deity worship, it will set a bad example. When I was there in N.Y. last time I saw that the tendency was there in the press members not to follow the principles. So I said better to stop the press. Since then Advaita and the others are attending temple worship. Similarly you must also do the same and chant at least 16 rounds, etc.
Letter to Rayarama -- Bombay 22 October, 1971:
If you want to preach the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ on the principles of Bhagavad-gita you will find so many differences. Those who are following Jesus Christ, let them follow strictly to the principles of the Bible. "Thou shalt not kill" is now being misinterpreted by Christian priests. Now they say "Thou shall not murder." This means trying to save themselves from the crime of animal killing. So you cannot teach such unscrupled followers the message of Bhagavad-gita. If you want to preach Bible you can tell them why there will be misinterpretation. In N.Y. there is a big press that prints "Watchtower." They are forcefully criticizing Christian behavior. I read that one Christian priest allowed a marriage between two men—homosex. So these things are going on. So your proposal for preaching the gospel on the basis of Bhagavad-gita will not be successful. If you want to do that I cannot check you but I cannot allow you to do such things from within our society. You have to understand our philosophy perfectly, follow the regulative principles, and then in fact you can edit our books and papers.
Letter to Rayarama -- Bombay 22 October, 1971:
When I shall go to Mayapura then upon hearing from you of my proposal as mentioned above, I shall arrange for your coming to India. First of all you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to surrender to our principles, but if you keep your independence either in Mayapura or N.Y., your position is the same. To associate with me you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not help me or you.
Letter to Bahulasva -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1971:
I like your idea to publish many small books especially meant for the layman class. ISKCON Press has just printed "Topmost Yoga" and "Easy Journey", and you may order these from them. I have written and spoken ample stock for such articles and essays. Now it is up to our editors in N.Y. to select and publish them. Actually it was my original idea that our press should print many smaller books by the millions, but that they are not doing. Instead they talk of expanding more and more, but they cannot produce any big books. So you may approach Bhagavan das and Rupanuga with your suggestions for books, and among yourselves you just chalk out some practical plan.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Delhi 8 December, 1971:
I am pleased that you want to improve your speaking of German language for preaching and for translating books. That is very good proposal. Actually, we have no need to study very hard to learn any language, but if you simply begin to preach with what you know, gradually you will improve more and more. That is how I improved in English language, by translating Srimad-Bhagavatam and preaching in USA. If Mandali Bhadra is having difficulty, try to arrange things in such a way that he and his wife will be satisfied and let him translate books full-time. If it is necessary or helpful for him to go to New York I have no objection, but this you must discuss with GBC men and Press.
Letter to Jayatirtha -- Delhi 9 December, 1971:
I understand from Karandhara that you will be setting up another ISKCON Press in Los Angeles to engage our New York Press in transcendental competition for printing my books. Competition and profiteering spirit are always there in the living entity. It is not that they can be artificially removed in some manner. Factually we saw in Russia that by removing competition and profit calculation from society the people were not at all happy, and still these things are going on. So we shall not expect that we are any different.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Delhi 10 December, 1971:
I am very, very glad that you are planning your three-day festival in Central Park next summer. That will be especially triumphant celebration for me, because only five years back I was sitting alone under a tree in your park thinking that perhaps no one will join me, but let me try. Now I have got so many wonderful sons and daughters, that we require huge arrangement for chanting in the park, with many tents, kitchens, etc. Your plan is very nice. Our Delhi pandal was also very much well-received by everyone. From early morning, 6 am, to late at night, sometimes past midnight, thousands of persons came there to see and listen. One very popular feature was our "Question and Answer booth," wherein one of our elderly devotees would sit on a very high vyasasana and answer questions put by the visitors. This item became so controversial and popular that it was open at least until midnight daily to accommodate all the curious public. Everyone delights in lively debates and discussions of philosophy. Also there were many booths showing photo-displays of our worldwide activities and one exhibit of a large model of our Mayapur scheme. These things may also be included in your New York festival.
Letter to Atreya Rsi -- Delhi 12 December, 1971:
So I think you should stay there in New York and work in this way and help me. My main activity is in the western countries, especially America, and New York is the main city of the world, so why not stay there and develop your program very nicely, in cooperation with Rupanuga. If you have any questions how to do it, you may ask me.
Letter to Yamuna, Palika -- Bombay 22 December, 1971:
I think that Palika dasi may join her husband, Bhavananda, in Calcutta as soon as she recovers her health, & she may help him there organize things very nicely for celebrating our festival in Mayapur from middle Feb. to end Feb, & she may help organize Calcutta center as nicely as they have done in New York. As for Yamuna, she may rejoin her good husband, Gurudasa, in Delhi for pushing on our program there & making many life-members. I shall be very pleased to hear that you have gotten well & that you have both returned to your duties. It is only because Krishna has somehow or other given me such assistants as yourselves that I have got any success I appreciate your helping me in this way, you are more dear to me than my own daughters.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 31 December, 1971:
We purchased the press in the first place with the purpose of printing our books and magazine. But this has never really been done successfully. So I like very much your proposal to manage ISKCON PRESS. Do it all expertly and if you can get the books and magazines printed cheaper and earlier than Dai Nippon then we can have all our books printed by you. So you can stay permanently in New York for taking charge of the Press' management. I have got full faith in you, to make everything there work at the highest production level. If you can do BTG faster and more cheaply than Dai Nippon, then by all means do it. But whether Karandhara has already signed contracts with Dai Nippon? The new press sounds like a very good opportunity for us. So please let me know regularly what the press is producing and in that way I will see that things are actually developing.
Letter to Jadurani -- Bombay 31 December, 1971:
P.S. I have received all letters from the devotees in N.Y. through Sriman Gopala Krishna who is now here in Bombay—ACB
| Page Title: | New York (Letters 1970 - 1971) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti |
| Created: | 19 of Dec, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=141 |
| No. of Quotes: | 141 |