You may also argue that if there is any God at all, let Him be peacefully at His pleasure at any place He likes and we have no business with Him whatsoever. In that case I shall again say that you have every business with Him by re-establishing your forgotten eternal relation with Him.
Pleasure (Letters, 1958 - 1970)
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Letter to Sir -- Unknown Place May 1964:
The fact is that we all living energies in different species of life are all individual parts and parcels of the Supreme Energetic person as the son is the part and parcel of the father. The whole creation including all material or spiritual planes and planets are different parts and parcels of One Unit only but there are immense diversities in unity for variegatedness is the necessary paraphernalia of eternal pleasure which we are all seeking in the wrong way without the right information to have it.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 10 November, 1965:
The American are not poor men like the Indian and if they appreciate a thing they are prepared to spend any amount for such hobby. They are being exploited by simply jugglery of words and bodily gymnastics and still they are spending for that. But when they will have the actual commodity and feel pleasure by eating very delicious Prasadam of Bala Krishna I am sure an unique thing will be introduced in America. As soon as everything is arranged, I shall bring my assistants from India to help me in all details.
1966 Correspondence
Letter to Janis -- New York 29 October, 1966:
The enclosed papers and newspaper cutting will give you an idea. We have already published some new literatures namely Krishna Reservoir of All Pleasure, Who is Crazy? Introduction to Bhagavad-gita, Back to Godhead, etc and our Society is coming in prominence daily. We are just trying to purchase a property in New York at $90000.00 and the students are taking the responsibility. Thus I think there is good prospect for this Society being a World organization and you must try to have a centre at Montreal as soon as possible.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 13 November, 1966:
Under separate cover, I am dispatching the following publications which my Society has already published:
2 issues of Back to Godhead, Who is Crazy? Krishna the Reservoir of Pleasure, and Introduction to Gitopanisad. And I am enclosing herewith the prospectus of the Society and some press cuttings from which you will know how the movement is growing.
Letter to Janis -- New York 10 December, 1966:
I am so glad to receive your kind letter, dated November 30, 1966, with enclosure of $50.00 on account for my books. Thank you very much. Just on receipt of your letter, I have already sent you, through the Railway Express Company, the following books and literatures:
18 sets Srimad-Bhagavatam
25 copies Krishna the Reservoir of Pleasure—25 cents
25 copies Who Is Crazy?—25 cents
40 copies Introduction to Gitopanisad—35 cents
40 copies Back to Godhead (#1)—15 cents
35 copies Back to Godhead (#2)—15 cents
35 copies Back to Godhead (#3)—15 cents
I am so glad to hear that you are now married. I pray Krishna that you may live henceforward happily as a householder, without thinking of a separation from your wife. According to Vedic wisdom, a good wife is a great assistant for material and spiritual prosperity. Even if there is some deficiency, you should try to correct it without thinking in the Westernized way. I hope your wife may be taking interest in your chanting Sankirtana and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam. As she has become your life's companion, it is your duty to induce her, peacefully, in the matter of spiritual advancement of life.
Letter to Nripen Babu -- New York 15 December, 1966:
I do not wish to disturb the position of the sevaits of Radha Damodara Temple, but simply if I am given the facility to live there with my disciples, it will be my pleasure to serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Damodara to my best capacity. Now it is up to you all sevaits to decide on this fact.
1967 Correspondence
Letter to Nripen Babu -- San Francisco 18 March, 1967:
I do not wish to disturb the position of the sevaits of Radha Damodara Temple, but simply if I am given the facility to live there with my disciples, it will be my pleasure to serve Their Lordships Sr Sri Radha Damodara to my best capacity. Now it is up to you all sevaits to decide on this fact.
Letter to Mr. Fulton -- San Francisco 3 April, 1967:
This is to certify that His Holiness Tridandi-Swami Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is a bona fide initiated disciple of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of the Gaudiya Math Institutions and in November 1959 he took Sannyasam (renounced order of life) from His Holiness Tridandi Swami Bhakti Prajnan Kesava Maharaja, the Founder-President of the Gaudiya Vedanta Society. He is therefore an authorized Preacher and Teacher in the line of disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who preached Krishna Consciousness all over India about 500 years ago and authorized His all disciplic successors to preach the Philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in all towns and villages of the world. It is a great pleasure for all members of the Gaudiya Vaisnava Vedantists that Tridandi Swami Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is engaged in preaching the cult in the western world.
Letter to Mr. Dambergs (senior) -- New York 12 April, 1967:
The Lord Has millions of holy names and you can chant any one of them and each and every Name of the Lord is full potential. We chant the abovementioned holy Name of the Lord because the name was Chanted by Lord Caitanya the father of this movement of Krishna Consciousness. We follow Lord Caitanya's footprints to achieve very quick result. I would advise you also to follow the principle. Krishna means the most attractive reservoir of Pleasure. Who does not want such pleasure? Therefore we want Krishna and nothing more.
Letter to Ballabhi -- New York 22 April, 1967:
I thank you for your letter of the 18th instant and I have noted the contents with so much pleasure. I know that you poor girl have been frustrated by the so called society and you deeply needed the shelter of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna kindly sent you to me and I have tried to give you whatever I had in my possession. Please go on chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna as you are doing now and this very chanting will give you all peace and prosperity both in this life and the next. Never expect any good from the so called society, friendship and love. Only Krishna is the genuine friend of all living beings and it is He only who can give us all benediction. The more you advance in Krishna Consciousness chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna the more you become spiritually advanced and happy in all respects.
Letter to Mr. Taber -- New York 9 June, 1967:
So far as your distress is concerned, it is not new: it is the general condition of living entities who are distressed for want of sense gratification. Unless one is related with Sri Krishna, The Reservoir of All Pleasures, it is very difficult to have complete pleasures perception in this material world. You have read Bhagavad-gita and it is stated that ultimate happiness can be realized by transcendental senses only. Our movement for Krishna Consciousness is to turn the present polluted senses into its original pure form, just like when a man cannot see properly due to cataracts in the eyeball, similarly we cannot have real sense pleasure without being purified in Krishna Consciousness. This purification can be done only by engaging the senses for Krishna.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Long Branch, NJ 14 June, 1967:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 10 1967. Yes it is due to your prayers that this time my life has been saved. Your appreciation of the movement is very keen and interesting. Actually I was also attracted by my Guru Maharaja when he convinced me that God lives and we can live with Him. I find the same conviction in you and it has given me so great pleasure. Yes, it is the greatest discovery. Human society under the spell of illusion is doing things, each on his own responsibility and they are becoming entangled in material existence. This is the greatest blunder in human society.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 19 October, 1967:
It was a great pleasure to note the contents, now you have nicely expressed your real mind, In your previous Letter in which I saw a little tendency of being turned by foolish Kirtanananda. but I was confident that Kirtanananda was not so strong as he would be able to defeat you. I was completely confident of your sincerity of service & my choice of your being president of the society is right. I may disclose herewith that I never took Kirtanananda into complete confidence but I was trying to improve his position because he has also rendered much personal service to me. I am very much obliged to him for the service as I am to my other disciples & I am very sorry that Maya has taken advantage of his disobedience & he has fallen to Maya's illusion—but he should not continue for a very long time as I will always pray to Krishna for his recovery. For the time being he should simply chant Hare Krishna without any attempt at lecturing.
Letter to Umapati -- Calcutta 22 October, 1967:
There are some truths which you have expressed as really sublime, especially the portion where you write to say "even though He Himself is unchanging, His glory will always increase." Krishna's name is Acyuta, unchanging, but He is Bliss although always full, still increases, to increase the blissful existence of the devotee. Please continue to think of Krishna & you will feel more & more the Blissful pleasure transcendental to all material contamination. I am very thankful to you for appreciating my humble service. You will be glad to know that I have already secured a visitor's visa to your country & have asked my travel agent to book my seat on the earliest possible date. I think I shall be in your midst by the middle of Nov.
Letter to Mukunda -- Calcutta 23 October, 1967:
I am in due receipt of your letter of Oct 16 with great pleasure. Now I feel certain that you will get my immigration visa, in the meantime as I have already informed you I've gotten a visitors visa immediately on presenting passport. So please let me know whether I should wait for the immigration visa as you intend to send me or should I start on the strength of the visitors visa. On the whole now I can start any day I like but if you think I should wait I shall wait. You must write me immediately. I'm leaving Calcutta the day after tomorrow for Navadvipa, the birth place of Lord Caitanya and my address is given on the overleaf (please find). You will reply this letter to my Navadvipa address and on hearing from you I will do the needful.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 12 December, 1967:
I am in due receipt of Your letter Dec. 2, 1967 with great pleasure. I am so glad to learn that we are receiving orders for our records from far distant places. It is all Krishna's mercy. You will be pleased to know that I have purchased my ticket for New York via Tokyo and San Francisco. I am starting tomorrow morning at nine-thirty. By evening reaching Tokyo via Bangkok and Hong Kong. I shall rest 24 hours in Tokyo and on the 14th at night, I am starting for San Francisco. By local time I am reaching San Francisco on the same day, the 14th at 12:45 p.m. by P.A.A. 846. Yesterday I have sent one telegram to this effect, and I hope I shall reach there safely as scheduled. I am so glad to learn that Satyavrata and yourself are trying to get the teachings of Lord Caitanya published. You do not know how pleased I am to hear this news.
Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 21 December, 1967:
Your handwritten letter of 12/18/67 is a great pleasure. Your handwritten letter is more valuable than type written. Regarding Damodara's plight, we are very sorry but we must always expect that some of the weak soldiers may fall down in a fight waged against the great Maya external energy of Krishna. The sex attraction is very great in the material world. But in the spiritual world it is different. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we know that the opposite sex namely the female members of Vaikuntha are many many times more beautiful than they are in the heavenly planets.
Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 21 December, 1967:
As military man, Bhisma had no right to shoot the chariot driver, but he knew Krishna's body is not material, and will not be harmed, so he took pleasure in piercing the body of the Lord. Bhismadeva.. became so pierced with arrows that he laid down and with the arrows all standing on end, all over stuck through his body. Yes, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came and were there in the sky with many demigods, and throwing flowers. You can consult Srimad-Bhagavatam second part.
1968 Correspondence
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 22 January, 1968:
I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Jan. 16, 1968, and noted the contents with pleasure. The idea of opening an asrama in the near future is certainly a wish of Krishna's. To develop our institution to its fullness, we require such an asrama without doubt. Child is the father of man, so the basic principle of any type of life is to instruct to the children from the very beginning. Krishna Consciousness. Children grow to be the topmost leaders of the human society.
Letter to Madhusudana -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1968:
You are always engaged in Krishna's service is the greatest pleasure for me, and I am feeling transcendental happiness. Actually bodily I am not getting much strength, but spiritually I am getting much strength because my spiritual children are growing in spiritual strength. That is my strength.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1968:
The faith increases in Krishna Consciousness by our voluntary increase of serving Krishna. Serving Krishna is unlimited and he can accept our unlimited service, and award us unlimited transcendental pleasure in the unlimited service of the Lord. That is the meaning of unlimited.
Letter to Mario Windisch -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1968:
First I was in San Francisco, now I have come to Los Angeles, and from here I shall again go to San Francisco, from where I shall go to New York, then to Boston, maybe to Buffalo, and then I shall reach Montreal by the month of June. If you come there by that time, it will be a great pleasure to meet you. Our Montreal Temple is situated at the following address: 3720 Park Avenue, Montreal 18, Quebec, Canada. The boy in charge of the Temple is Janardana das Adhikari, and he can be reached at the number 849-4334 (his home telephone). He is a very learned scholar and is highly advanced in Krishna Consciousness. I have good hope and faith in him, and when you meet him you will be very much pleased to talk with him. He is M.A., and preparing for his Ph.D., and is a good scholar in the French language also.
Letter to Mario Windisch -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1968:
First I was in San Francisco, now I have come to Los Angeles, and from here I shall again go to San Francisco, from where I shall go to New York, then to Boston, maybe to Buffalo, and then I shall reach Montreal by the month of June. If you come there by that time, it will be a great pleasure to meet you. Our Montreal Temple is situated at the following address: 3720 Park Avenue, Montreal 18, Quebec, Canada. The boy in charge of the Temple is Janardana das Adhikari, and he can be reached at the number 849-4334 (his home telephone). He is a very learned scholar and is highly advanced in Krishna Consciousness. I have good hope and faith in him, and when you meet him you will be very much pleased to talk with him. He is M.A., and preparing for his Ph.D., and is a good scholar in the French language also.
Letter to Karunamayi -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your nice letter dated Feb. 15, 1968, and I thank you very much for it. I can see how you are advancing in Krishna Consciousness by the feelings expressed therein, and I am so glad you are feeling such transcendental pleasure in serving the Lord. This transcendental pleasure is unlimited and increases as we increase our desire to give more and more voluntary service. To surrender to Krishna all at once is not generally possible, but as we serve Krishna more and more, we gradually become more and more surrendered at His Lotus Feet. So you please continue to serve Krishna in these ways you have mentioned, and do not feel that your service is any less valuable than that of others.
Letter to Rupanuga -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968:
I thank you very much for your letter dated March 5, 1968, with enclosures. I have come here in San Francisco on the 8th morning of March. Here the kirtana performances are going very nicely; there is good attendance in the meeting and dancing in ecstasy is often exhibited to the transcendental pleasure of everyone present. I think S.F. center has been very much sanctified by unalloyed devotional service of the members here. As soon as there are sincere devotees, immediately the situation changes very favorably. So I have read of New York, and I am so pleased with your honest endeavor to open a branch in Buffalo.
Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 23 March, 1969:
I want therefore a permanent residential quarter at New York, so that my personal supervision of these things may go on. For the present, I would like to stay in my apartment at 26 Second Avenue, if cooking for the Temple can be arranged elsewhere. If it is silent and solitary, I feel pleasure to live there, better than elsewhere. I shall prepare to start for N.Y. sometimes by the 10th-15th of April. I think by that time the atmosphere in N.Y. will be warm, and I will feel comfortable.
Letter to Nandarani, Dayananda -- San Francisco 29 March, 1968:
We have to create the atmosphere of Krishna Consciousness, and thus create devotees also. I therefore advise you to begin classes as usual, morning and evening, sitting together, husband and wife, in the front of Krishna's picture, and chant Hare Krishna and read Srimad-Bhagavatam. When I was in Los Angeles, I asked Dayananda to speak, and I was very glad that he speaks very nicely. So he can speak, also, in the class, and if there is none else there, he can speak to you. So don't feel lonely. Try to understand Krishna Consciousness mutually, and this will give you transcendental pleasure.
Letter to Janardana -- New York 26 April, 1968:
It is good news that he is trying to establish a new Vrindaban, which I suggested through Hayagriva Brahmacari, and if he is successful, in his attempt, certainly it will be considered a great benediction upon him by Lord Krishna. When I offered him Sannyas, I expected such great achievements through him and if Krishna desires, he will come out successful in his great attempt. Yes, I expressed my desire to go there through Hayagriva Brahmacari, and if I am invited, to go there, by Kirtanananda Swami, it will be my great pleasure to see the place and enjoy his company.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Allston, Mass 5 May, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your very nice letter dated 4/27/68, and the sentiments expressed in that letter by you gives me more pleasure that you are appreciating the importance of our movement. I am sure that you must appreciate like that because I am always of opinion that both you and your elder brother are the result of a good mother. So I very much appreciate both yours and your brother's activities and it appears that both of you were in your previous birth advanced in this line of Krishna Consciousness, and here is another chance to complete it. So by the Grace of Krishna you have got good intelligence, you are born of a great nation, and good family; just utilize the opportunity to finish the business of Krishna Consciousness, without waiting for further incarnation.
Letter to Sirs -- Delhi 22 December, 1971:
I do not wish to disturb the position of the sevaits of Radha Damodara Temple, but simply if I am given the facility to live there with my disciples, it will be my pleasure to serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Damodara to my best capacity. Now it is up to you all sevaits to decide on this fact.
Letter to Hayagriva -- Montreal 14 June, 1968:
It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking. For plain living we must have sufficient land for raising crops and pasturing grounds for the cows. If there is sufficient grains and production of milk, then the whole economic problem is solved. You do not require any machines, cinema, hotels, slaughterhouses, brothels, nightclubs—all these modern amenities. People in the spell of maya are trying to squeeze out gross pleasure from the senses, which is not possible to derive to our heart's content. Therefore we are confused and baffled in our attempt to eschew eternal pleasure from gross matter.
Letter to Subala -- Montreal 23 June, 1968:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 17, 1968, and noted the contents with great pleasure. Rest assured that your hard labor and sincere exertion to serve Krishna will never go in vain. I hope that by this time you might have received a check for $100 from Hare Nama Brahmacari. And I have advised him to send you at least $50.00 per month for the next 3 months to help you. In the meantime, you try to become self sufficient. I have also advised Sriman Umapati Brahmacari to join you. He is now in San Francisco as in S.F. they will require his help during the Rathayatra Festival. I am advising him to join you just after the festival. I hope both of you will be good combination, because Woompati writes "Subala is my good friend and it will give me great joy to work with him in your divine service."
Letter to Rupanuga -- Montreal 3 July, 1968:
The word klin is significance of the mantras being the root of devotional activities. Krishnyaya, unto Krishna; Govindaya, unto Govinda; Gopijanavallabhaya, unto the Pleasure Reservoir of the damsels of Vraja, and Svaha, offering oblations unto Him. You will get in time the translations of all the mantras.
Letter to Aniruddha -- Montreal 7 July, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1968, describing very briefly and emotionally about the nice success of our Rathayatra festival. When Gargamuni came here the other day he also described it so nicely and now you can understand the specimen of transcendental pleasure in which the human society as a whole can take part and realize transcendental bliss. The Car Festival was very simple. After all, it is a car with 4 wheels, but it attracted the people so enthusiastically because there was His Lordship, the Jagannatha. Atheistic people may call it that the Jagannatha Murti was made of wood, and the car was also made of wood, but the spiritual bliss can be exacted from anything, simply in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Jadurani -- Montreal 9 July, 1968:
There is a verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam which was explained by Lord Caitanya in 64 different ways before Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. In that verse it is stated that even the atmaramas or the persons who take transcendental pleasure in their own self—actually people should be trained up to be happy with one's own self. So the yogis and the philosophers, they are trying to be satisfied with their own self. But even such persons are attracted by the pastimes of Radha-Krishna, because the transcendental qualities of Radha-Krishna is attractive for persons who are already liberated from the 3 material qualities.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Montreal 14 July, 1968:
The whole process of Krishna Consciousness is to replace our love to Krishna. So any process that helps us to increase our love of Krishna, that is the best system of religiousity. Such system cannot be checked by any material impediments, and such development of love of Krishna is without any cause. Chanting of Hare Krishna is not meant for achieving any other better thing than Krishna. But when we chant Hare Krishna without any offense, we relish Krishna, the Reservoir of all pleasure.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Montreal 16 July, 1968:
Just like a physician does not give delicacies to a suffering patient, but as he recovers from the disease, the physician allows him to accept palatable dishes. So we have to wait for the cure of our material diseases, and proportionately as we become recovered from the disease, the supplies of pleasant things will automatically come. But we must always know that there is nothing more pleasant than Hare Krishna. When we will be able to relish the transcendental pleasure, in chanting Hare Krishna, that will be the sign of our recovery from material diseases. Please continue the method in cooperation, very faithfully and diligently, and Krishna will help you more and more.
Letter to Upendra -- Montreal 3 August, 1968:
If Gargamuni's business is going in San Francisco nicely, he should not for the time being divert his attention. There are two friends also known to me, in Vancouver, and I have written them letters but I have not received any reply from them, probably due to the postal strike. Anyway, I am anxious to open a branch in Vancouver, and as soon as there is favorable circumstances, either through you or through any other friend, it will be a great pleasure for me to open a branch there. I hope all is well in San Francisco, and you are feeling in good health.
Letter to Nathan Baruch -- Montreal 7 August, 1968:
So far Sankirtana is concerned, that should be continued in all circumstances. Chanting of Hare Krishna, Sankirtana is our life and soul. Side by side, if possible, then you can attempt for the ISKCON restaurant and Krishna Prasadam distribution, but this I think is secondary. I can understand from your letter that you have varied energies, and you want to employ all of them into the service of Krishna. Please try to do as above mentioned, and it will be a great pleasure for me and a delight for all others.
Letter to Jayananda -- Montreal 17 August, 1968:
We should always understand that Krishna is sold to the loving service of Radha, therefore Krishna cannot be alone. And the Gaudiya Vaisnavas they want to see Krishna as Radha's property. Therefore, if Mr. Patel can present a Pair of Radha Krishna Murti, not less than 18" in height, never mind even They are made of yellow brass metal, that will be very nice. And if They are made of silver, that is still more nice. And it will be my great pleasure to install the Murtis in the temple as soon as They are ready. If it is possible to rent a bigger place for our temple, even without possessing the same as our property, I think that will be a great facility. I understand that new men are now coming in the temple. You may consult with the Patels about this and do the needful. Thank you all very much for your doing nicely in San Francisco.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Montreal 22 August, 1968:
Actually we the Krishna Conscious people are soldiers of the Lord, or Arms of the Lord, and because we are energy at the same time, because all living entities are energy of the Lord, so energy is always kept on the left side. As you have seen, Radharani is also on the left side of the Lord, and similarly, Laksmiji is also kept on the left side of the Lord, so we are also marginal energy, not exactly like Radharani or Laksmiji, but we are superior energy than matter, or material energy, so we should keep ourself always on the left side of the Lord, and let us act as His Arms, or army. I've also noted with pleasure this description of the jacket for the hardbound edition, and I understand that my photo will be there and it will be sold at $6.95. And you are expecting advance copies by the end of October.
Letter to Malati -- San Francisco 18 September, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11 Sept. 1968. And I am so pleased to hear of your Kirtana in Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park Corner, and at the Hindu Center. This is giving me so much pleasure to hear how nicely you are carrying on this movement in London. It was originally my Guru Maharaja's desire that there should be a center established in London, and by His Mercy, now you have successfully begun this mission; so please keep me informed how you are progressing there. I am very anxious to hear in each letter. I hope you are well, and convey my blessings to your good husband and little child, Miss Sarasvati devi.
Letter to Janaki -- San Francisco 17 September, 1968:
With great pleasure I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 13/9/68, and it is so nicely written that I have read the matter twice, I am writing herewith in my hand, Hare Krishna: Please try to open the London temple as quickly as possible, and I am ready to start for London at any moment on receipt of the news. You will be pleased to learn also that Sivananda is opening a center in Berlin very soon. His different letters indicate that he is very much hopeful for success of the center and two boys, one of them a German boy, Uttama Sloka, and Krishna das, are going to join him by the end of this month, of September.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- San Francisco 19 September, 1968:
Regarding Peet Aarola: I have seen the picture, and it is a good idea that he wants to be initiated, and so you can send his also. I shall initiate him, because he is painting Radha-Krishna pictures. Let him render some service to Krishna. And if possible, try to open a branch in New Brunswick. It will be a great pleasure for me. I am glad that Kulasekhara has come back. I think he cannot go from our society because he has already rendered some service to Krishna. So Krishna is not going to leave him at any cost. So treat him nicely so that he can be fixed up there. And his attention should be in the matter of painting. That's a very nice idea. Please offer my blessings to him, and treat him very well.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Seattle 15 October, 1968:
When you speak the truth it must be very palatable. So this social convention is not applicable to a person who is preaching the Absolute Truth. Absolute Truth is not dependent on material pleasure or unpleasure. I think Mahapurusa's personality did not impress upon him, but so far I know, his behavior could not be anything offensive. So forget the incident, but our mission is to preach Krishna Consciousness, and if possible, try to tackle this gentleman. Because he has got some inclination toward Krishna Consciousness, so let us try, to help him as far as possible. So continue correspondence with him, and let us see how we can deal with him later on.
Letter to Umapati -- Los Angeles 11 November, 1968:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Nov. 1, 1968, and with pleasure I have noted the contents. When you were in Montreal I told you that you continue to work at present and give me $400.00 per month for my literary propaganda work. I require so much money for purchasing a printing press as well as paying the bill of Dai Nippon. So do not quit your job, but try to earn some money for feeding our missionary activities.
Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 18 November, 1968:
I am so pleased that you are feeling for me and listening to my old tapes with pleasure. As you are remembering our old meeting days on the second avenue, when I first started my lectures there, similarly I also remember the incidents and speak to so many friends and disciples. So our meeting was Krishna's desire. Apparently it was accidental but actually it was Krishna's plan. So we should always remember this plan of Krishna and must continue to work jointly for advancement of Krishna Consciousness movement in this part of the world. I shall always pray to Krishna to give you more and more strength and confidence in this great responsibility and I shall pray for your long life to execute this mission.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 24 November, 1968:
Also your description of progress in kirtana performance with Gurudasa playing sitar and Mukunda playing khole is encouraging. Practically we see that as we sincerely try to improve our chanting for the pleasure of Krishna, Krishna reciprocates and we feel our greatest pleasure which is devotional service to the Lord. So, you may continue with this method, it is very nice and approved by me.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 24 November, 1968:
Please accept my blessing to yourself and your good wife, Himavati. I have read with pleasure your letter of November 18th and have noted the contents carefully. You describe that you are seeing more and more how Krishna is your friend and this is very nice. The more one understands that Krishna is my friend and my duty is to serve my Dearest Friend, the more one can know that his is advancing in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Hrsikesa -- Los Angeles 26 November, 1968:
I have read with pleasure your recent letter (undated). From it I can understand that you are advancing very nicely in Krishna Consciousness. You are correct in your estimation that all activities, even so-called frustrations, become a great joy when is working for Krishna. This is the clue to successful work which is revealed in Bhagavad-gita, that we should concern ourselves only with giving everything to Krishna and all the frustrations of sinful reactions will be no more.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 1 December, 1968:
With the greatest satisfaction I have read your letter of November 25th and just yesterday I received our published pictures of Prahlada Maharaja. I thank you very much for your sincere endeavors and I am sure that Krishna will bestow upon you all blessings for your notable service attitude. This is the key to progressing in Krishna Consciousness that one learns to serve Krishna and the Spiritual Master in humble attitude and this attitude in you shall certainly bring you further and further in perfecting your life. In humble submission the devotee finds such sweet transcendental pleasure that no more he is interested in the nonsense material world and no more he is affected by the influence of the inferior energy, the maya.
Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 2 December, 1968:
I have just today received your most recent letter of November 30th, 1968 and have noted the contents with pleasure. We have registered the Hawaii address given by you. I am pleased with the progress that you, Mahapurusa, and Murari are making in establishing our Hawaii temple and also I have noted that you are making arrangements for accommodating me in January. You are making arrangements for me but also I think you should make arrangements for calling your wife. The husband and wife must live together for helping one another in developing Krishna Consciousness. So I think that you may write to your wife and request that she join you in your temple at Hawaii.
Letter to Upendra -- Los Angeles 2 December, 1968:
I have received your letter of November 30th, 1968 and have noted the contents carefully. I have noted with pleasure that you have spoken before a group of the Catholic Church. You should know that as far as our Krishna Consciousness movement goes, we are better Christians than those who proclaim that they are following the orders of Christ. This is because we are following and generally they are not. Just like the 10 Commandments order that thou should not kill.
Letter to Krsna dasa -- Los Angeles 11 December, 1968:
I have noted with much pleasure that you are planning to mimeograph our essays in the German language. This is good news and please do it nicely. These literatures must be made available to all peoples so they may take interest in Krishna and seek to learn more. This will attract many people to begin chanting and learning this philosophy. So try in this way, it is very important endeavor. In the United States we have now published Bhagavad-gita As It Is and by next month we should receive the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So if you can also present our literatures in the German language it will be very successful.
Letter to Himavati -- Los Angeles 12 December, 1968:
Your sewing proposal is very nice and such idea is given by the Grace of Krishna. Try to utilize your profits to maintain the temple with your husband and the others. With much pleasure I have seen the French edition of Back To Godhead and I thank you all for this endeavor. With such engagements as this magazine, we can live to propagate Krishna Consciousness and that is the success of our lives. Actually, our living conditions can be minimized as far as possible. Simply we should live for propagating Krishna Consciousness. That is our life.
Letter to Saradia -- Los Angeles 12 December, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your recent letter and I have noted the contents with pleasure. Your kind thoughts which you expressed are very nice and encouraging to me. Also you have asked some intelligent questions and I am answering them here.
Letter to Girish -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1968:
I have received your letter of November 30, 1968 and have noted the contents with pleasure. So far as your question about the Krishna stories, you will be glad to know that soon we will begin working on a book called, "KRISHNA" which will have stories and illustrations of all of Krishna's Pastimes. These stories come from the 10th canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. You have also written that you wish to obtain some pictures of Krishna in his childhood and such pictures can be obtained by writing to Brahmananda in New York about prices and which pictures he has available.
Letter to Paramananda -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1968:
I was so pleased to receive your letter of December 8, 1968 and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. Such attitude of humbleness which you have so nicely expressed along with your very good service attitude is very beautiful and will take you far to advance more and more.
Letter to Paramananda -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1968:
I am happy that you and your very good wife, Satyabhama, are finding such satisfaction in executing your Krishna Consciousness activities and such pleasure will only increase more and more as you continue to advance further. This is my blessing upon you both that your lives may become happy and successful. So my one request to you is that you keep yourself always engaged in Krishna's service sincerely and that you help your wife in this matter also. Now there is enough engagement with popularizing our books and magazines so you will have enough work to utilize all of your time in this important endeavor.
Letter to Lilasukha -- Los Angeles 17 December, 1968:
With great pleasure I have read your letter of December 9, 1968. I thank you for your kind sentiments expressed and your nice attitude of humbleness and devotion.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 21 December, 1968:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very encouraging letter of December 16, 1968 and I've noted the contents with great pleasure and hope.
Letter to Cidananda -- Los Angeles 24 December, 1968:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 20, 1968, and with great pleasure I have noted the contents. Both you and Aniruddha are sincere devotees with good talents, so anything you do by combined consultation has my 100% approval. The idea of distribution of Prasadam is long standing, and I suggested this from the very beginning of my missionary activities, both in New York, and in San Francisco. But it has never come to any practical shape till now.
Letter to Yamuna -- Los Angeles 24 December, 1968:
I thank you for your letter of December 16, 1968 and I have noted the contents carefully and with pleasure. So far as the mistake on the certificates, I think that only on the certificates to be given to brahmacarinis is it necessary to change the spelling, because on the brahmacari's certificate this word Srimate will be crossed out. So on the certificates for the brahmacarinis, you may cover the letter "e" with a white paint and insert the correct letter "i", making the word read "Srimati". So do this nicely and it will be all right. It is all right to read the books you have mentioned, namely Swami Bon's Bhakti Ramsamrita Shindu and Caitanya Caritamrta by Nagendra Kumar Ray, but you will be pleased to know that we are now composing the Nectar of Devotion, which is a complete summary of the Bhakti Rasamrita Shindu. Regarding the translation by Bon Maharaja, it is only one quarter of the complete work and I do not know if the other parts will come out very shortly.
Letter to Satyabhama -- Los Angeles 27 December, 1968:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very nice and encouraging letter dated December 20, 1968, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure.
There is a statement of Sri Naradaji, the exact sanskrit words are:
- satdharmasya ababadhaya yenam nirbandhini matih
- achirat eva sarbarthah siddhati esam akhipasitan
The purport is that anyone desiring to raise the people's standard of advancement in spiritual life, will have their noble desire very soon successful by the Grace of the Lord. So I am very glad to see your enthusiasm in the matter of starting a Krishna Consciousness primary school in New Vrindaban and it will be just befitting that you become the head-mistress of the school. I have shown your letter to Prof. Howard Wheeler (Hayagriva das Adhikari)—he was just married the day before yesterday with Syama Dasi, a very nice girl like you.
Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 28 December, 1968:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 24, 1968 and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am so encouraged that your activities in Hawaii are going nicely and I will be looking forward to seeing you again when I am able to go there. You had been having problems with Madhavi Lata, and Krishna has solved the problem because she is now in the Halawa Jayal and preaching very nicely. I received one letter from her yesterday and she describes that some of her acquaintances there are already considering initiation, so Krishna has arranged to release you of any burden you were feeling and also she is having the opportunity to do service.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 31 December, 1968:
I have seen with very much pleasure the floor plan to our new temple. You have done nicely in arranging the placement of the various items in the temple. Having the guests enter through the store area is all right and will be good advertisement. Regarding Nara Narayana, he is already preparing to go there. He is very intelligent and I understand that he has very fine carpentry skills. Also, he has knowledge about casting deities, so after his business with the temple work is completed you can try to encourage him to continue with his casting work.
Letter to Unknown -- Los Angeles 31 December, 1968:
of December 24, along with your nice _ which I have read with pleasure. I have already explained in Sivananda's letter _. I will send you a letter and certificate to alleviate your draft difficulties, and I will do the same for you. So there will be no need for you to plan to leave in few months. I have seen your poetry and it is very nice. Try to write more and to have it published. If you like, I can send you more topics to write poetries about and to versify into the German language. Try to translate articles for a German edition of Back To Godhead, which you can arrange to be printed in Hamburg, as they are printing a French edition from our Montreal center.
1969 Correspondence
Letter to Mrs. Levine -- Los Angeles 10 January, 1969:
This first initiation can be performed by mailing your beads, but if conveniently you can come to see me with your husband, that would be very nice. I am so glad to know that you have become so interested in Krishna Consciousness, and it is pleasing to note that you are hearing from Hamsaduta and Himavati. They are an ideal pair amongst my disciples. There are many pairs like them and all of them, husbands and wives together, are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. Similarly, if I find you and your husband engaged in that way it will be a great pleasure for me. I have come to your country for preaching this Krishna Consciousness movement, and the younger generation especially is now cooperating with me. Similarly your cooperation will be very welcome.
Letter to Jadurani -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 6, 1969, and I have noted with pleasure that you are almost done with the first five Krishna pictures which I have suggested to you. I think that you may immediately send these pictures to me in Los Angeles. So far as photographing these pictures for the book, I think that it is essential that these pictures be with bright attractive colors, so please do them in this way. I am enclosing herewith the instructions for the next four paintings.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1969:
The first book is already received in stock, and the second is expected next month. I have the greatest pleasure to present to you the first one sending by separate air mail, and I shall be glad to hear from you how you like it.
Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 16 January, 1969:
I have noted with pleasure that Jaya Govinda* has sent you a nice Govardhana Hill article for printing in Back To Godhead. I have already instructed Jaya Govinda to arrange for going to Hamburg and let us see what will happen with this boy. I have been requested by Janardana in Montreal temple to immediately send him the original manuscript of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and I think that you are keeping this manuscript in New York so kindly send it to Montreal as soon as possible. Janardana will require this manuscript to translate into the French language for publication, so it is important business, and please do the needful in this connection.
Letter to Balai -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1969:
It was a great pleasure to receive your letter of January 14, 1969. I hope that by the Grace of Krishna you will have a very nice child next month, and my blessings are always there.
Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 25 January, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 22, 1969, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. You have written to say that Londoners there are all so very anxious to meet me, so I am also very much anxious to meet you and the Londoners. Therefore it is the best thing that the five-story house which you have described in the letter under reply may be immediately occupied.* You can offer the best reasonable rent, and you can take the risk depending upon Krishna. If the Beatles come forward, you can take the risk. I hope that Mr. Parikh, who is a veteran educationist, can help you very much in this connection.
Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:
I understand from your letter and from Gaurasundara's letter also that you are now engaged as a nice housewife. It is a great pleasure for me to know this. In London, the six couples who are working very hard there have been very much appreciated by the people of London, and their character, behavior, and devotion are attracting sincere people to our movement. I want similar thousands of couples for my disciples to propagate our movement throughout the world. You can always help me in this matter because you are an intelligent girl and you have many talents. So you can utilize your god-gifted qualities for utilizing in Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:
Lord Caitanya was a very learned scholar, a very beautiful young brahmana, and He had a very affectionate mother, but Lord Caitanya Himself accepted the botheration voluntarily for the good of the human society and all living entities. We should always follow these footprints—not try to imitate, but to follow the same spirit of compassion for the conditioned soul and try to help them advance to Krishna Consciousness. Actually in the service of Krishna there is no botheration. Rather we feel more transcendental pleasure. I hope you will more and more appreciate this status as you work combinedly with your very good husband, Gaurasundara.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 30 January, 1969:
First of all I have to thank you for the desk pen with golden glories to Guru and Gauranga. It is so nice that I am using it with great pleasure, and you have the blessings of my Guru Maharaja and Lord Gauranga. Regarding the United Shipping Corporation, you had sent me some documents which I actually do not understand. Why did you send them to me? Anyway, I am returning them to you so you may do the needful with them. In the meantime, I have sent one letter to a gentleman of the United Shipping Corporation, and you will see one copy of the letter enclosed.
Letter to Ekayani -- Los Angeles 1 February, 1969:
Jadurani is now sick for some time, and I have asked her to cease all of her activities. There are some paintings lying in Boston, perhaps unfinished, and, if time permits, you can go there with your sister to see them. If Jadurani likes, you can finish up these pictures for the Krishna book. Picture painting is one of our important departments, so please try to become very expert. You should be at least as expert as Jadurani, and that will be a great pleasure for me. Rukmini is also becoming very much expert in her artistic works.
Letter to Uddhava -- Los Angeles 18 February, 1969:
In God's creation there is male and female even in the spiritual world and there is purpose for such creation. This purpose is so that male and female may join together, not for sex-life, but to glorify the Lord. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we learn that in Vaikuntha the women are much more beautiful in their figure, smiling, dressing, etc., but the men and women there are so much attracted by the chanting of Hare Krsna that they do not get any sex impulse even by intimate mingling. Here also we sometimes get very good example, because when our nice boys and girls are dancing together in chanting Hare Krsna at least for that time they forget all about the sex impulse. This is perfection of life, to be so much attracted to Krsna that all insignificant pleasures are utterly forgotten.
Letter to Arundhati -- Los Angeles 21 February, 1969:
I thank you so much for your letter dated February 13, 1969, and I have noted the contents with much pleasure. Your tears at kirtana are a good sign, and it shows that Krishna is pleased upon you. So remain in this status and chant nicely. You will see you will be more and more graced by His Lordship.
Letter to Kancanbala -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1969:
I thank you so much for your letter dated February 10, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am pleased to note that you are painting nicely, so go on improving your abilities because we will require so many paintings for our temples. You may paint pictures of Guru Maharaja, me, Bhaktivinode Thakura, Gaura Kisora, Panca-tattva, Sankirtana, etc. We have immense work to be done so you become expert painter. That will engladden me, and it will be a great benefit to all society.
Letter to Mukunda -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1969:
I thank you very much for your letter dated February 23, 1969, and I have noted the contents with much pleasure. I am enclosing herewith the copy of Easy Journey To Other Planets*. Also enclosed is some pages of Isopanisad, so you can show them to Mr. Maschler and complete the business for their publication. I was so glad to learn from your letter that you will be able to sell Back To Godhead to the extent of 5,000 copies at least, and please arrange for this.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Hawaii 11 March, 1969:
I am very glad to receive your letter dated February 28, and noted the contents with great pleasure. The transcendental experience which you had during kirtana performance at the Loyala University is very nice. Relishing the transcendental sweetness of Krishna Kirtana is only possible when one is actually advanced, towards perfection. Srila Rupa Goswami used to say, wishing if he had possessed millions of ears, and billions of tongues then he could chant the Hare Krishna mantra a little bit relishably.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Hawaii 23 March, 1969:
If you do become disturbed then this means you are still deficient in reaching the point. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that when Krishna is within our view, at that time one is not disturbed even in the midst of gravest calamity. Anyway, even if we are disturbed, then the only resort is to chant and concentrate one's mind in Krishna. There is no other alternative. Chanting and dancing make one relieved of all material burdens. I am going to N.Y. on the 7th of April, so as you propose it will be a pleasure to see you there with your good wife. I hope this meets you both in good health.
Letter to Pradyumna -- New York 13 April, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 9, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am instructing Tamala Krishna in Los Angeles to allow Jaya Gopala come to join you immediately, so I think this will be of great help to your work there. I was in San Francisco and there were three meetings there in the University campuses, and each and every one of these meetings were very successful. About 200 students in each meeting were dancing and enjoying with us. So gradually we have to organize the students to our movement, and your work so far has my approval in this connection.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Buffalo 19 April, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 12, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am glad to learn that two new boys, Robb and Kelly, have moved into your temple. Also, it is good news that you now have a weekly course in the University there. Regarding the draft lawyer, I have enclosed the circular which I am sending out to the temples.
Letter to Govinda -- Buffalo 21 April, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letter dated April 1, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. Your humble sentiments are very nicely expressed and I thank you for them. I have already written to Jivananda and Harsarani, and they are inclined to go to New Vrindaban but I have advised them to go to Hawaii after spending a short period in San Francisco training up the devotees there in Deity worship and Sankirtana Party. So you may correspond with them to make more definite arrangements.
Letter to Isanadas -- Allston, Mass 30 April, 1969:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am pleased that you are taking serious interest in helping us spread this sublime movement of Lord Caitanya to the Western World, which has such urgent need of this knowledge. Regarding your idea of going to London before they obtain a temple, I do not think this will be the best thing because already they are scattered there, living separately, and they are inconvenienced. I have asked them to occupy a building and assured them of guarantee of payment.
Letter to Patita Uddharana -- Moundsville 31 May, 1969:
I thank you very much for your letter post-dated May 27, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am pleased to note that through your influence your family is gradually taking to this sublime process of Krishna Consciousness. This is the proof of how the presence of one devotee will have an uplifting effect upon all of the people he comes in contact with, whether family members or acquaintances. I am very pleased also to note your appreciation for our Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and I want that all of my students will understand this book very nicely. This will be a great asset to our preaching activities.
Letter to Colin Jury -- Columbus, Ohio 12 May, 1969:
I thank you very much for your nice letter (undated). Practically, our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on transcendental pleasure. Music, dancing and feasts are the chief items for pleasure, and this pleasure is originally on the transcendental realm. They are simply reflected pervertedly in the material world, and every living entity has natural inclination for these three items. So Krishna Consciousness is to go back to the original position.
Letter to Vrndavanesvari -- New Vrindaban 6 June, 1969:
I thank you very much for your letter dated "Victoria Day", and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I have received letters from the Hamburg devotees, and they appear to be very much jubilant to know that you will be arriving on June 27 at 9:30 am. I am also very also very glad that you will be prepared to go there. In my previous letter to Mandali Bhadra, I already informed him that he will act as the editor of the German Back To Godhead. So when you go please set up everything in a cooperative mood.
Letter to Krsna Devi -- New Vrindaban 15 June, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Ekadasi, June 19, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am so pleased to note that you are chanting nicely and that Krishna is encouraging you in so many ways. This is the actual position that if we are sincerely chanting our rounds, following the prescribed regulative principles, and avoiding the ten offenses, then very quickly Krishna sees our efforts and He gives all encouragement to such sincere soul.
Letter to Visala -- West Virginia 16 June, 1969:
The role of the bona fide Spiritual Master is to lead the conditioned souls out of forgetfulness and back into pure consciousness of serving the Lord in transcendental loving service. In material consciousness one is identifying himself with his particular body, and he is forgetting that he is spirit soul, servant of Krishna. Then by the association and instructions of the purified servants of Krishna, the living entity gradually comes to remember that I am not part of this miserable material world, but I too am the eternal servant of Krishna, and my only business is to give pleasure to the Lord in pure Krishna Consciousness. In this way, such devotee becomes himself eligible to lead other back to the path of devotional service and thus he too may become a Spiritual Master. This process is called parampara, or the line of disciplic succession.
Letter to Rayarama -- New Vrindaban 16 June, 1969:
Sometimes ago you proposed that you would remain with me constantly and help me in editing my books specially Srimad-Bhagavatam. But now the situation is different. You are busy in some other way. This has given me much pain. However, if you still desire to remain with me and help me in editing my books, it will be a great pleasure for me, and if you so decide, you can go with me to London also. Back To Godhead is now simplified and if you only send the edited matter, the rest can be managed by others.
Letter to Harer Nama, Prabhavati -- New Vrindaban 17 June, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letters of June 10, 1969, and I have noted the contents of both with much encouragement. I have also received short letters from the new people who have come to help you in the Santa Fe temple, and their nice appreciation of our movement is a great pleasure for me to note. Keep them very nicely, and as you consider that one or all of them are ready for initiation and are desiring like that, then they can send their beads to me to be chanted upon. You have invited me to come again to visit the Sante Fe temple and this idea is nice, but at present I am planning to be going to London by the latter part of July, so I do not see any immediate opportunity.
Letter to Balabhadra -- New Vrindaban 17 June, 1969:
I thank you very much for your letter (undated), and I have noted the contents with pleasure. Your description of the parade with 55,000 people viewing is very much encouraging, and it is clear that Krishna is giving you nice opportunities for spreading the Sankirtana Movement throughout Hawaii. Send pictures of your activities in this parade and your other activities to Hayagriva for being printed in Back To Godhead.
Letter to Labangalatika -- Los Angeles 24 June, 1969:
You are a very good girl, and I have seen with pleasure your advancement in Krishna Consciousness. It appears that in your previous life you had cultured this knowledge, and on account of your pious life, you have got a very good son who is developing in Krishna Consciousness. So New Vrindaban is the right place for you now, simultaneously to advance in Krishna Consciousness and to take care of your boy directly in your presence. I have advised Kirtanananda Maharaja that girls who are living in New Vrindaban should be engaged in the following activities; 1) taking care of the children, 2) cleaning the temple, kitchen, etc. 3) cooking, and 4) churning butter. So for the time being, you remain in New Vrindaban, follow the principles carefully, and I am sure that your life will be successful.
Letter to Jayagovinda -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1969:
My Guru Maharaja had an ambition to publish the message of Lord Caitanya in all the languages of the world, and when He was present in India, He published six magazines in five languages; one in Hindi, one in Assami, one in Bengali, one in English, and one in Oriya. Your Zuruck Zur Gottheit is certainly a unique gift to me, and I shall ever remember it. It is all your credit that as soon as you arrived in Germany you have done some tangible service to the mission. May Krishna bless you more and more. And as you wish that this service may continue throughout all your life and the next, so it gives me more pleasure about your sincerity of service. I am also glad to know that sometimes the happiness you feel is very strong.
Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 8 July, 1969:
I appreciate your service very much. Now organize the center in Philadelphia very nicely as you have got a good place, and it will be my pleasure to visit whenever there is an opportunity. Now you will have good assistance in the persons of Lalita Kumar and Gopinatha, and if you require more men, you can ask Tamala Krishna and he will help you. The LA center is now specially meant for training devotees and dispatching them in different centers wherever they are required. So open correspondence with Tamala Krishna, and I also will tell him to assist you as far as possible.
Letter to James Doody -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1969:
Our Krishna is a great family Personality. Krishna is never a mendicant, and our ambition is to enter into Krishna's family and to associate with Him personally. In spiritual life also there are men and women. They are very beautiful and attractive, but they are all so much absorbed in thought of Krishna that in the spiritual world there is no sex life. That means that Krishna Consciousness is so sublime and happy that it surpasses the pleasure of sex life. In the material world, because there is no information of Krishna Consciousness, sex life is taken as the highest pleasurable situation. Anyway, in our philosophy we prohibit illicit sex life and not sex life itself. In Krishna Consciousness there are many illustrious householders. So to marry and to become an exemplary householder is the ideal life of Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Yamuna, Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 15 July, 1969:
As you are all sincere devotees, I am sure you are feeling the great assistance of Krishna through your activities, and the more you serve the more you will know how you are making progress in Krishna Consciousness. The same example has to be repeated how when a hungry man is given foodstuffs to eat, automatically he feels three kinds of symptoms: satisfaction of hunger, strength and pleasure. So this Krishna Consciousness Movement is based on sincere service to the Lord. We shall always remember this, and then success is assured. I am glad that you are expecting me there during Janmastami Day, and this is a very nice proposal. Even if I go to Germany in the meantime, it will not be difficult for me to come to London during Janmastami Festival, which takes place on the 4th of September.
Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 26, 1969, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am glad to learn that the Philadelphians are quickly taking some interest in our Krishna Consciousness Movement, and you are simply standing on the corner wearing robes and the people come to purchase copies of Back To Godhead. So if you can continue in this way, letting them hear your chanting and selling Back To Godheads, then all success is automatically there. I remember that my Guru Maharaja would often send young boys out to sell literature of Krishna Consciousness, and if they would come back having sold only a few issues, Guru Maharaja was very, very pleased.
Letter to Ann Clifford -- Los Angeles 2 August, 1969:
Everything we eat is first offered to Lord Krishna, and because Krishna does not eat meat, therefore we also do not eat meat. The fruits, grains, and vegetables which we offer to the Lord are not caused any suffering by our offering them to Krishna. Rather they are greatly benefited because to be offered for the pleasure of the Lord will grant for the living entity within the plant body certain liberation in the near future. Everything that we do in Krishna Consciousness is ultimately beneficial to all living creatures because we are working under the recommendations of the Lord Himself who is the well-wisher of all His part and parcel children. I hope this will sufficiently clear up this matter for you.
Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:
I am glad to learn that you are selling BTG increasingly, and it is giving me pleasure increasingly. Now in Boston they have decided to make profit of $1,000 per month by selling BTGs, and similarly you try to do that. Satsvarupa has now purchased a large house on the strength of this profit. So in selling BTG not only are we doing first-class propagation work, but also we are making profit to support the temples and facilitate other activities. You have mentioned that Chris has contributed $500, and you are considering sending this to me. This idea is nice, and you may do it.
Letter to Subala -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:
I am glad to learn that you are selling BTG increasingly, and it is giving me pleasure increasingly. Now in Boston they have decided to make profit of $1,000 per month by selling BTGs, and similarly you try to do that. Satsvarupa has now purchased a large house on the strength of this profit. So in selling BTG not only are we doing first-class propagation work, but also we are making profit to support the temples and facilitate other activities. You have mentioned that Chris has contributed $500, and you are considering sending this to me. This idea is nice, and you may do it.
Letter to Madhudvisa -- Los Angeles 15 August, 1969:
A little sample of Krishna Consciousness exhibited in San Francisco during the Ratha yatra Festival was very much appreciated by the public. I think in the San Francisco Examiner it was said that people followed the Ratha and experienced so much joy as they had never enjoyed at any time within recent memory. The reason is that we are giving people direct contact with Krishna, the Reservoir of all pleasure. Our administration may be not very perfect, but that fact is that as soon as one is in contact with Krishna he will be happy. So you have got a very nice thing, Krishna Consciousness, for distributing to the suffering humanity, and do it nicely, combinedly. It is so nice thing that anyone who distributes it and anyone who takes it, both are benefited; and Krishna also becomes very happy when all His children are benefited in this way.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969:
I am pleased to note that you will be giving four classes in Los Angeles universities this year, and everyone is welcome to appear in the Bhakti-sastri examination and take the title. But one must be acquainted with Krishna philosophy at least for one year. So the students may attend class for one year as you have already arranged, and if they learn this philosophy, even if they don't become initiated students, it will be a pleasure for us. Regarding the tests you are holding there in Los Angeles, keep them there, and when I return I shall see them personally. I am encouraged to learn that you now have a very nice place for photography work, and you can send me photographs of the size of TLC of pictures for the Krishna book and Nectar of Devotion.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 14 September, 1969:
I am pleased to note that you will be giving four classes in Los Angeles universities this year, and everyone is welcome to appear in the Bhakti-sastri examination and take the title. But one must be acquainted with Krishna philosophy at least for one year. So the students may attend class for one year as you have already arranged, and if they learn this philosophy, even if they don't become initiated students, it will be a pleasure for us. Regarding the tests you are holding there in Los Angeles, keep them there, and when I return I shall see them personally. I am encouraged to learn that you now have a very nice place for photography work, and you can send me photographs of the size of TLC of pictures for the Krishna book and Nectar of Devotion.
Letter to Cidananda -- Tittenhurst 16 October, 1969:
It is a great pleasure to receive your letter dated October 7, 1969, and I am so glad to read it that you have got a nice place for starting our temple. I do not know what is the length and breadth of the space, but a throne of Radha Krishna may be made exactly on the pattern of Los Angeles, and the sample picture is sent herewith for your guidance. When everything is completed we shall install a 24" high Radha-Krishna Pair and make it exactly decorated like the Los Angeles temple. Ananda is a very silent worker and sincere devotee, and I am glad that two other brahmacaris, Ravindra and Rudra das, are also there to accompany you on the Sankirtana Party everyday.
Letter to Vamanadeva -- Tittenhurst 21 October, 1969:
If you can open a center with Indira Dasi, that will be a great pleasure for me. I want that all married couples should open new centers and carry on by dint of hard labor. Every householder, husband and wife together, they require to live in an apartment, so if they have got an extra room, they can immediately start a center. You have seen in Hawaii how Gaurasundara and Govinda are gradually developing from this beginning to a nice center in Hawaii. Wherever we sit down and chant Hare Krishna people will gather and gradually become our devotees and thus the center is developed.
Letter to Krsna Devi -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969:
I am also glad to learn that you are developing more and more a taste for thinking of Lord Krishna and His devotees. Such thinking is required, and you will see that as you think in this way, your taste for relishing the nectar of such meditation will increase more and more. This is called the limitless ocean of the nectar of devotion. This ocean is unending, and therefore the pleasure of relishing the nectar of this ocean is also increasing unendingly. Regarding your questions, yes, a woman can certainly reach the perfectional stage of devotion to Krishna. And the gopis of Vrndavana are the best example of this.
Letter to Harer Nama -- London 6 November, 1969:
I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated November 3, 1969 and have noted the contents with pleasure. For some time I have been anxious to hear from you, and now that you have written I am encouraged to learn of your nice activities in Colorado. I am pleased also that Bhavananda, Palika Dasi and Prabhavati Dasi are all working so sincerely and steadfastly to promote this Sankirtana Movement, and surely Caitanya Mahaprabhu will bestow His full blessings upon all of you.
Letter to Srimati -- London 11 November, 1969:
I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated October 28, 1969 and have noted the contents with pleasure. I am so glad to learn that with the help of Durlabh and the others you are making progress in our Laguna Beach center. Any new brahmacaris who come with good faith should be helped. We are living in the Kingdom of Maya, so Maya's influence is very great in the material world. It is just like an epidemic. So one has to become immune very carefully by Krishna Consciousness. So you are experienced now in association with devotees, and you are very sincere also. Try to help any newcomers as far as possible.
Letter to Linda Ryon -- London 13 November, 1969:
I beg to thank you for your letter dated October 26, 1969 and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I am so glad to learn that you and your husband, Michael, are finding your lives very happy and satisfying due to the influence of Lord Krishna. This is the position of Krishna Consciousness that if anyone will take to it seriously, he will find instant improvement in his life's condition. By nature every living entity is joyful and in Krishna Consciousness, but due to association with material contamination certain souls have gotten their joyful spiritual nature covered up by the cloud of Maya.
Letter to Balai -- London 15 November, 1969:
After a long time I have received your letter and I thank you very much. I always think of you how nice, Krishna Conscious, beautiful girl you are. So Krishna has given you a nice daughter to take care of. Here, the daughter of Malati, Sarasvati, is giving us much pleasure in her Krishna Consciousness activities. She is so nice that as soon as there is chanting sound of kirtana immediately she begins to dance and clap. Even the audience becomes astonished and they follow her activities. It is very nice. I think your daughter may now be walking, so she may also be trained for dancing and clapping.
Letter to Balai -- London 15 November, 1969:
One thing you should know—of course, I know that you are so nice that there is no possibility amongst you for disagreement between husband and wife; but sometimes it happens—so you can let Saradia know that in our Krishna Consciousness household life there is no question of separation. Our marriage is Absolute. But if sometimes some disagreement is there, they may live separately for a few days, but that does not mean they can think of separation. Please try to educate all the girls in that way. In December I shall be there in Boston, and it shall be my great pleasure to see you all together.
Letter to Umapati -- London 18 November, 1969:
I am very pleased that you are finding your life becoming more and more beautiful. Krishna Conscious life is our natural life. Just like a diseased person, the more he comes back to his health it becomes pleasing more and more; similarly, the more we come to Krishna Consciousness, certainly it will be pleasing, because Krishna is the Reservoir of all pleasure.
Letter to Vasudeva -- London 20 November, 1969:
At every moment we should be doing this or that service for Krishna's transcendental pleasure. If we do not remember this, then Maya is right there to grab us. It all depends upon our leaning towards Krishna or towards Maya. If you lean towards Krishna, you will be in Krishna Consciousness; and if you lean towards Maya, then you will be captivated by material nature. Krishna and Maya are just like light and shadow which are directly next to one another.
Letter to Yadavananda -- London 2 December, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 25, 1969 along with your beads. I have chanted one round upon these beads, and I am pleased to accept you as my disciple. Your initiated name is Yadavananda, which means He who gives pleasure to the Yadu dynasty. This is Krishna, and you are Yadavananda das, the servant of Yadavananda. Except for persons who are in Krishna Consciousness, everyone is to one degree or another the servant of Maya, or illusion. The purpose of our society for Krishna Consciousness is to train people in the science of breaking their servitorship to maya and re-establishing their relationship with Krishna as His loving servitor. When we act in this position of Krishna's servitor very soon we understand that this is our natural, constitutional position, and thus we regain our constitutional qualities of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Actually these qualities are always there, but now they have been covered up by material contamination.
Letter to Nandakisora -- London 13 December, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your nice letter and have noted the contents with pleasure. You are gradually developing to be a nice Vaisnava, and please continue in this way. Krishna will be very pleased upon you. Regarding the song by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, the transliteration is as follows:
- manasa deha geha yo kichu mora
- arpilun tua pade nandakisora
- maravi rakhavi yo iccha tohara
- nitya dasa prati tua adhikara
The translation is "My mind, my body, my home, or whatever I have got in my possession I surrender unto Your Lotus Feet, O my dear Lord, Son of Nanda Maharaja (Krishna). Now if you like, you can kill me, or if you like, you can give me protection. Whatever you like you can do. I am your eternal servitor. You have got every right to deal with me in any way as you please."
Letter to Gargamuni -- London 15 December, 1969:
I have given two checks to Brahmananda, and Brahmananda has also sent me one check for $6,000. So this kind of transaction, printing of books and BTG and collection by selling, is very encouraging to me. Although there may not be any balance left, when we see we have so many books published and so many copies of BTG, that is our pleasure. So I am so glad that you are endeavoring to collect from different centers. If we print all our manuscripts, even at the cost price of materials as estimated by Advaita, I shall require at least $100,000.00. So let us go on. Krishna will help us. Let us try our best combinedly. That is our business.
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 2 January, 1970:
It was a great transcendental pleasure to meet you all. Your statement in the letter, "All glories to Sankirtana, Prasadam and Srimad-Bhagavatam" is very welcome. Before coming to your country, when I was in India and I was planning to come here, I was thinking in the same way. I was thinking that my preaching work in this country would be a difficult job for me on account of the country's position being completely different from the principles of Bhakti cult.
Letter to Bali Mardan - So. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, Cal. 90034 January 8, 1970:
The price quotation from Dia Nippon is accepted, but as soon as I make arrangement for the money I shall confirm it and send the manuscript. In the meantime, I learn that you are going to Australia and you have already got the visa to Sydney. You want to take with you Upendra, and I have advised him to follow you. Both you and Sudama went to Japan, now Sudama has taken charge of Tokyo center, and if you take charge of Sydney center, it will give me the greatest pleasure. My ambition is to open centers as many as possible. At least, I want to see that centers are opened in very important places. Now you have seen how practically our students are opening centers here and there.
Letter to Rukmini -- Los Angeles 22 January, 1970:
I am happy to note that you are all trying to serve the Deities more and more nicely. Please go on in this attitude and such efforts in devotional service will become the greatest pleasure or Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Krsna dasa -- Los Angeles 24 January, 1970:
When you presented your scheme for preaching work in the whole of Germany giving an estimate of population of important cities, it gave me so much pleasure. Just on receiving your letter I am already thinking of how to organize it, and have written letters to Hamsaduta and Uttama Sloka etc., but Upendra is destined to go to Australia. I am glad to learn that Trivikrama has joined you. So for the time being go on with your work as usual and consult with Tamala Krishna whom I am also writing in this connection. And try your best to spread the Sankirtana Movement through Germany.
Letter to Gajendra -- Los Angeles 27 January, 1970:
A sisya or a disciple means one who accepts the disciplinary action given by the Spiritual Master. Even although sometimes a Spiritual Master chastises his disciple as a fool or rascal in fatherly affection, it does not mean necessarily that the disciple is a fool or a rascal. You will find even in the statement of Lord Caitanya—He presents Himself as a fool designated by His Spiritual Master, but that does not mean that He was a fool. A sincere disciple feels it pleasurable when his Spiritual Master chastises him with calling him such names as fool and rascal. My Spiritual Master sometimes called me in that way and I remember that day always and feel transcendental pleasure.
Letter to Dindayal -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970:
I am very glad that you are finding in chanting of Hare Krishna the highest pleasure. If we follow the regulative principles and program as above that pleasure will go on increasing more and more. So chant Hare Krishna Mantra, and be happy. That is my request.
Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Los Angeles 3 February, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27 January, 1970. When you write to say that things are going well, it gives me immense pleasure. I am opening so many branches depending on you all my sincere students. I am also glad to learn that you are moving to the Temple, dedicating all your time to Temple activities and translation work.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 10 February, 1970:
I am so glad to learn that you wish to distribute the Krsna book in Europe to the extent of minimum 2,500. It does not matter what it is, but you try your best—that is required. Regarding Rathayatra festival, I have already written to Acyutananda for the exact date which I shall send you as soon as possible. But you can make arrangement of this Rathayatra festival for taking place sometimes in the month of July. Last year it was a great pleasure for me to participate in the S.F. Rathayatra; so this year, if you invite me, certainly I shall go to London; but for transcendental competition with S.F. you have to introduce three Rathas as they are done in Jagannatha Puri. But if it is difficult for many reasons, then you can accommodate all the three Deities on one Ratha.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 16 February, 1970:
The description of Krsna Consciousness movement in London gives me a great pleasure with hope and interest. Lord Caitanya was also checked in His Sankirtana movement by the then police officer, and He led a procession of one hundred thousands of men to the house of the Kazi. So I think Lord Caitanya is planning a situation which will help us in pushing the Krsna Consciousness movement throughout the whole world. I therefore request you all to chant Hare Krsna mantra very rigidly sixteen rounds a day and thus be fixed up in your spiritual strength and everything will come out successful.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 18 February, 1970:
So carry on this work more enthusiastically and you will feel more and more jubilant in transcendental bliss. So far I am concerned, because our relationship is father and son, so nobody will be more satisfied than me by seeing your successful preaching work. Nobody in this world likes to be defeated by somebody else, but the father when he is defeated by the son feels more pleasure. Therefore, I may once more request you to try your best to construct New Vrindaban an exact duplicate of Vrindaban, and that will give me the highest pleasure.
Letter to Yamuna -- Los Angeles 2 March, 1970:
The idea is to save more time from this materialistic business and utilize it for Krsna's service. When our anxieties are how to utilize life in that way, that stage is abyarthya kalatvam "utilizing life without spoiling it." The next stage is namagane sada ruci "attraction for chanting the Holy Name always" and priti tad basati sthale "feeling of pleasure in living in the Temple or in the place of pilgrimage." So I am very glad that you are gradually coming to that stage; continue it carefully. Try to realize it yourself and teach the method to all your younger brothers and sisters.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 8 March, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3 March, 1970, along with the "Govindam" record. The record is so nice that I am playing it at least once in a day and it is giving me transcendental pleasure with tears in my eyes. I am sure this record will be the first-class "hit" as already opined by the experts.
Letter to Hladini (Linda) -- Los Angeles 29 March, 1970:
Your initiated name is Hladini devi Dasi. Lord Krsna's Pleasure Potency is called Hladini, so this spiritual energy of Krsna's pleasure potency, Hladini, is Srimati Radharani Who is always increasing the transcendental pleasure of Krsna by Her super-excellent loving devotional service. Radharani is the most confidential servant of the Lord and Hladini Dasi means the servant of Radharani. So please always be engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra at least sixteen rounds daily and work sincerely and eagerly in the service of the Lord observing the regulative principles and thus be happy.
Letter to Hladini (Linda) -- Los Angeles 29 March, 1970:
Your initiated name is Hladini devi Dasi. Lord Krsna's Pleasure Potency is called Hladini, so this spiritual energy of Krsna's pleasure potency, Hladini, is Srimati Radharani Who is always increasing the transcendental pleasure of Krsna by Her super-excellent loving devotional service. Radharani is the most confidential servant of the Lord and Hladini Dasi means the servant of Radharani. So please always be engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra at least sixteen rounds daily and work sincerely and eagerly in the service of the Lord observing the regulative principles and thus be happy.
Letter to Yamuna, Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 16 April, 1970:
Both mangal aratrik and sundar aratrik can be changed according with sunrise and sunset. We are not concerned with the time, but with the sun's movement. Sundar aratrik may be performed one half to one hour after sunset. So the decoration of the temple room and offering Bhoga to the Deities should be done as nicely as possible as it is within our capacity. This is the sign of love. So I am confident of your love for Krsna and do everything nicely for His pleasure. Whenever it is necessary you are quite at liberty to ask me for direction.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:
KRSNA, the Reservoir of Pleasure and Other Essays is so much attractive I think this book will be sold like hotcakes. I am very much satisfied with this printing work. Although some of the pictures are not on the perfectional stage, on the whole it is done very nicely. I understand that you are going to print further 50,000 copies of this book from another printer. I think this book will be sold by hundreds of thousands. Anyway all the samples that you have sent are all satisfactory.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:
Now as there is some demand for our books, you overflood the market with big and small books as many as possible. Here in this temple last night they sold six copies of TLC. Now the elderly people are coming to purchase our books. I understand also that you are getting good many orders. The sample BTG issue is also very attractive. So manage things to the best of your capacity and Krsna will bless you all and give the proper intelligence also. The cover picture of the book KRSNA, the Reservoir of Pleasure and Other Essays is so attractive that it bears the meaning of Attractive, Krsna. Thank you very much.
Letter to Madhusudana -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:
I beg to thank you for your letter dated 14th April, 1970, and the check for $15 which I have received with great pleasure. I am very glad that you are appreciating the transcendental benefit out of Krishna Consciousness Movement. Actually this is the prime benediction for human society. My Guru Maharaja used to say that there is no scarcity of anything within this world, the only scarcity is people are not aware of Krishna Consciousness. The whole world is suffering for want of this great benediction.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:
I have just received the blueprint copy of KRSNA, the Reservoir of Pleasure and I have begun to read it through. But I notice that there are some points you should correct before the final printing. I have already noted you the injunction that you should change the pretipadika artha to first case ending instead. Sannyasin should be printed Sannyasi, etc. So please correct these.
Letter to Hanuman Prasad Poddar -- Los Angeles 23 May, 1970:
I am very glad to learn that some article has been published in your esteemed paper "Kalyana" regarding my activities, and I thank you very much for this. I have not seen the article as yet because if you have sent the specimen copy by ordinary post, then it will take about four months to reach here. If therefore you send me one copy by air mail, it will be a great pleasure for me.
Letter to Govinda Maharaja -- Los Angeles 24 May, 1970:
I am so glad to note that you remember the auspicious day sometimes in 1944 when I started my "Back to Godhead" magazine. I think in the first issue you wrote some article also, and you took the trouble of going several times to the Sarasvati Press for supervising the printing work. It is a great pleasure to remember those days of cooperation. You rightly remember that His Holiness Bhakti Saranga Goswami presided over the meeting in which our revered Kesav Maharaja also participated.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1970:
I have also received the newspaper clipping enclosed by you, it is a nice picture. The newspapers are beginning to appreciate our Movement more and more and that is an index of popular feeling. eI am very happy to hear that you are expecting to visit our Los Angeles Temple sometime soon, so it will be a great pleasure to speak with you then. I am looking forward to your arrival.
Letter to Madhavananda -- Los Angeles 3 June, 1970:
I am very glad to learn that things are going on very well in Boston. Boston is one of our major centers for the large missionary work of Krsna consciousness movement, so there is always an abundance of Krsna conscious activities going on. It is very good that you are finding this atmosphere of avid service to the Lord to be so congenial. It is the sign of advancement in Krsna consciousness that the devotee does not care for any nice varieties of material engagements based on sense gratification but he finds increasing pleasure in those places where the service of the Lord is being carried out with enthusiasm.
Letter to Vrndavana Candra -- Los Angeles 5 June, 1970:
I am so happy to learn that both you and your good wife are now engaged in opening our new center in Baltimore. This opening of new centers gives me the greatest transcendental pleasure, and I beg to thank you very much. It is very good news that you have received such nice cooperation from the City authorities so you can carry out our Sankirtana program with unrestricted distribution of literatures. This is excellent opportunity, so please take full advantage and push on our movement with your greatest enthusiasm.
Letter to Paramananda -- Los Angeles 17 June, 1970:
I beg to thank you for your kind letter dated 7th June, 1970, and as I did not receive your letter since a long time it is a great pleasure to have it now. You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the order of my Spiritual Master. Whatever is being done it is not on account of my intelligence or endeavor because I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire to do it. This is Parampara system.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 27 June, 1970:
Anyway, if you come during the Rathayatra festival in San Francisco it will be a great pleasure for me. Brahmananda is also coming. So we shall have to chalk out the future program of our activities. So your presence will be very much appreciated.
Letter to Janmanjaya, Taradevi -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1970:
I beg to thank you for your encouraging letter dated nil. You opening a new center of ISKCON in Atlanta, Georgia, has given me great transcendental pleasure because it is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire that in every city and town and village of the earth there shall be the chanting of the Holy Names of Krsna.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated 29th June and 2nd July, 1970, and noted the contents with great pleasure. In the meantime I have written two letters addressed to both you and Acyutananda in which I wanted to know if you have changed your place. In you letter dated 29th June you wrote to say, "We shall move into our apartment the next day after or tomorrow, Acyutananda Says," but in you letter dated 2nd July it appears that you have not gone there, so I am surprised why the delay. It is not possible to stay at the Gaudiya Math because we want to organize our preaching work in our own way which we are following here. So in the Gaudiya Math we will not get any facility except for staying, neither they will be able to accommodate more men who are intending to go to India.
Letter to Vrndavana Candra -- Los Angeles 19 July, 1970:
However for those who are not advanced in their intelligence and desire to be one with the Supreme, Krsna grants such persons the opportunity to merge their identity in his transcendental effulgent body. So that desire can be fulfilled by Krsna also, but one who is in full knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who knows his own constitutional position never desires in that way. Rather he always desires only to fulfill his constitutional position of eternal existence as servant of Krsna and such service is complete and perfect and the supreme pleasure for the living entity. Who can enjoy more than one who is always enjoying Krsna? So it may be said that his enjoyment is supreme.
Letter to Umapati -- Los Angeles 19 July, 1970:
I am very glad that you have made nice arrangements for carrying on our preaching work and maintaining everyone including the householders without necessity of an outside job. You are all very advanced and experienced, so do it nicely. That will give me pleasure.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1970:
I have duly received the press meeting report of July 25th, signed by you, Uddhava, Advaita, Brahmananda Swami, and Gargamuni Swami. It has given me much pleasure, so I shall be more pleased when they are done according to the writings.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo August 16, 1970:
Perhaps you know that you have been nominated as one of the Governing Body Commissioners. I very much appreciate your forward service spirit and gradually Krsna is helping you in the matter of your Australian Yatra, and I am so glad to learn that you are going to open another branch in Melbourne. I am getting older day by day, so if I can see in my lifetime that all of you have opened at least 108 branches of ISKCON institution that will be a great pleasure for me.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo August 21, 1970:
I understand that you have been in Fiji Islands and there is good prospect for opening a center. Try to open a center in Fiji without delay and consult your colleagues in New Vrindaban, but on the whole if a center is opened there immediately that will give me great pleasure.
Letter to Karandhara -- Tokyo 22 August, 1970:
I am so glad to learn that the management of the Temple is going nicely and the devotees are feeling transcendental pleasure. I understand from Tamala that the number of weekly guests has almost doubled. This is very good news. Who is taking care of my apartments? It should be cleansed at least twice a week and on the Altar of the Deity at least one incense may be offered daily.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Tokyo August 23, 1970:
Fortunately Sriman Madhudvisa Maharaja has given me to read your letter dated 16th August, 1970 addressed to him. I have gone through the letter carefully and it gives me a great pleasure. I am so glad to learn that both of you are now chanting 16 rounds or more regularly and murmuring the Gayatri Mantras regularly. Please continue this habit without fail.
Letter to Umapati -- Tokyo 23 August, 1970:
One very intimate devotee of Lord Caitanya, most probably Vasudeva Dutta, requested Lord Caitanya to deliver all the conditioned souls in his presence. He said, "Let me suffer for their sinful actions, but my dear Lord You take them with You back to home, back to Godhead." So this attitude of offering facilities to others for going back to home, back to Godhead, and personally accepting their suffering thereof is perfect Vaisnava Attitude. Perhaps you know I have already formed a Governing Body Commission, so in my absence they will manage the affairs of the Society. I shall begin my 75th year from the Vyasa Puja Day and if you all combined together manage the affairs of the Society nicely, that will give me a great pleasure.
Letter to Govinda Maharaja -- Calcutta 22 September, 1970:
I am very sorry to learn that your health is deteriorating due to passing of sugar. The best medicine is to starve. I had one very influential doctor friend, the Chief Medical Officer of Vienna. When I was taking lunch with him sometimes in the year of 1955 he was suffering from diabetes and he told me that it is a disease for voracious eating and T.B. is a disease for undereating. If you kindly find some time and see me at your convenience that will be a great pleasure.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Calcutta 22 September, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Sept. 13, 1970, and I have noted the contents carefully and with pleasure. I am especially pleased to note your fresh enthusiasm after your recent visit to the States, and also your statement that there is renewed determination and fresh enthusiasm in all of the temples you have visited. That is very encouraging to me, and if the GBC continues to work in this way there will be no difficulty in the future.
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 Karandhara -- Bombay 4 November, 1970:
I have received your special delivery letter of 15 October, 1970, and have noted the contents with great pleasure. You are one of my most determined students and for this reason I think that Krsna is giving you all facilities for serving Him. It is most encouraging to me to see that you are spreading this movement so nicely and I thank you for this. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forecast that this Hare Krsna Mantra will be heard in every nook and cranny of the globe. He is God, so it will happen, that is a fact. So if we take advantage then we may take the credit, but if we do not someone else will.
Letter to Damodara -- Bombay, India 12 November, 1970:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4th October, 1970 and I've noted the contents with much pleasure. I am glad to see that you are working in the universities. They are a good field for spreading our Krishna Consciousness activities. Try and get all our books accepted in the college libraries and classroom courses. That will be our real success. Dr. Cenkner is correct in saying that Sankaracarya's belief is personal. Actually he is a covered personalist. He became impersonalist just to drive away Buddhism.
Letter to Rsabhadeva -- Bombay 16 November, 1970:
I am especially happy when you write how each devotee is executing his particular task with enthusiasm and they are chanting at least the required sixteen rounds daily. Everyone should think that he has been assigned this particular task to do by Krsna and he should be satisfied with that and do his best to accomplish the work as nicely as possible for the pleasure of Krsna only. By this cultivation of service attitude one swiftly advances in devotional service.
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 Gaura Hari -- Bombay 20 November, 1970:
I beg to thank you for your nice letter dated 26 Damodara 484 Caitanya Era. It is my great pleasure that so many fine young boys have joined this Krsna Consciousness Movement and they are finding that their lives have been saved by this simple process. I have many times expressed my sympathy with the frustrated and unhappy younger generation of your country and it is our duty to teach them this formula for peace and happiness by chanting the Mahamantra.
| Page Title: | Pleasure (Letters, 1958 - 1970) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, Gopinath |
| Created: | 02 of Jul, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=165 |
| No. of Quotes: | 165 |