Training of Danavir dasa (Letters, 1971 - 1977)

Expressions researched:
"Account" |"Activities" |"BBF" |"BBFD" |"BBT" |"BKF" |"BTG" |"Back to Godhead" |"Bhaktivedanta Book Trust" |"Book Fund" |"Book Trust" |"Book Trust," |"Book" |"Books" |"Branch" |"Branches" |"Business" |"Center" |"Centers" |"Check" |"Checks" |"Consult" |"Consulting" |"Cooperate" |"Cooperated" |"Cooperation" |"Cooperatively" |"Dai Nippon" |"Danavir" |"Debt" |"Debts" |"Deities" |"Deity" |"Deposit" |"Distribute" |"Distributed" |"Distributing" |"Distribution" |"Duty" |"Festival" |"Finances" |"Financial" |"Funds" |"GBC members" |"GBC" |"Governing Board Commission" |"Governing Board Commissioners" |"Governing Body Commission" |"Governing Body Commissioners" |"ISKCON" |"Initiate" |"Initiated" |"Initiates" |"Initiating" |"Initiation" |"Initiations" |"Iskcon" |"Kirtana" |"Language" |"Leader" |"Leaders" |"Leadership" |"Leading" |"Literature" |"Literatures" |"M-V trust" |"M-V" |"M.V trust" |"Macmillan" |"Magazine" |"Magazines" |"Manage" |"Managed" |"Management" |"Managers" |"Managing" |"Manuscript" |"Manuscripts" |"Mayapur-Vrndavana Trust" |"Mayapura-Vrndavana Trust" |"Meeting" |"Mission" |"Missionary" |"Money" |"Movement" |"Organize" |"Our society" |"Preach" |"Preacher" |"Preaching" |"Press" |"Print" |"Printing" |"Program" |"Programs" |"Publication" |"Publications" |"Publish" |"Publishing" |"Rathayatra" |"Report" |"Reports" |"Sankirtana" |"Temple" |"Temples" |"The society" |"Translate" |"Translated" |"Translating" |"Translation" |"Translations" |"Zonal" |"Zone"

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Gorakhpur 11 February, 1971:

I am very glad to have in hand your letter dated nil from Los Angeles Temple. You are a very fortunate boy that you have got a very good friend in Sriman Madhukanta Das because he has actually saved you from the clutches of Maya. I am so glad to see that you are understanding the distinction between Krsna Consciousness and materialistic frustrated consciousness by association with this Movement. Thank you for your nice appreciation of the Spiritual Master. Unless one has got utmost confidence in both Spiritual Master and Krsna he cannot advance on the path of bhaktiyoga of Krsna Consciousness. Please keep up this nice attitude and render service sincerely and your life will come to perfection, love of Krsna.

I am very glad to accept you as my initiated disciple and I have duly chanted your beads which are returned to you herewith. Your spiritual name is Danavir Das Brahmacari. Danavir means "Hero of charities." Now be very firm in your determination to carry out your devotional duties the first of which is to chant sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra daily, without committing the ten kinds of offenses to the Holy name and strictly regulating your life to the four principles of no meats, fish or eggs eating; no gambling; no illicit sex-life and no taking of intoxicants. Try to study our philosophy with penetration and understand the sublime nature of this philosophy and its practical necessity for the whole mankind. You are an intelligent and thoughtful boy, so kindly utilize all your good talents faithfully in the service of Krsna and you will be fully happy and swiftly advancing.

Letter to Danavir -- Bombay 7 June, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17th May, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am glad to note how you are working for securing ads for the special Rathayatra magazine. We have made such ads for our programs here in India and it has been very successful. Of course in India when they are paying for an ad, they are actually giving a donation, but it is registered as an ad. But in U.S.A. unless they are seeing the circulation and how much they will be benefited, they won't spend. They are simply after the advertisement. But go on with your program enthusiastically and Krishna will help you.

Presently I am in Bombay and from here I will be going to London and perhaps to Moscow for a short time. From there I will be going to N.Y. and then on to Los Angeles. I am very much wanting to attend the Rathayatra festival in San Francisco and if time permits and Krishna so desires, then I shall reach there by the time of the festival. And when I go there, I shall be very glad to appear on such television conference as described in your letter. So go ahead and try for it. And if you can approach such big companies for support, that will be very good also. Try your best and Krishna will help you.

So far as getting yourself married, I have no objection. If it is all right with Kesava Prabhu, then you have my blessings. And Jaga Dasi can become initiated also when I come there.

Letter to ISKCON Portland, Danavir, Trilochana, Visnu, Kamsari, Kamala, Traidas, Pramada, others -- London 15 August, 1971:

I beg to thank you very much for your kind feelings of appreciation of my humble service unto you. You are all helping me in pushing forward this mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, coming down by disciplic succession to my Guru Maharaja. So whatever you have spoken, it is simply due to them. I am simply the via media to receive them, on behalf of my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada.

Letter to Danavir -- London 24 August, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 17th August, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I was very much shocked on hearing of the accidental death of Professor Dosa. I am sending herewith one letter for his wife which please hand over to her and give her all solace. Everything is under Krishna's control. Krishna is the supreme controller. Maya is only an instrumental agent. The example is given generally that in the rainy season the rain falls down equally everywhere but on the ground different seasonal plants and vegetables grow. Similarly when the material world is created it is set in motion by the Supreme Lord through the instrumental agency of maya. But according to different fruitive actions of different living entities different phases of happiness and distress appear exactly as after the rainfall there are varieties of vegetables. So everything takes place according to one's past individual karma but those who are in Krishna Consciousness their resultant action of karma becomes summarized. Professor Dosa took initiation, or shelter of Krishna. He will always be protected. In the next life he will get birth in a very good devotee's house so that from the very beginning of life he will get chance to devote himself to Krishna Consciousness. This is the observation from the sastra angle of vision. So no one should be agitated for sudden death of Professor Dosa. He is always blessed. Now he will get a very good chance for advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Be sure.

I am very much pleased to learn that you have got a nice house for organizing our center there. Please do it nicely and be in contact with Karandhara. He is guiding you all. Of course to organize a temple in our society is not so difficult. Simply be serious in following the rules and regulations and chant 16 rounds. These things will constantly give you strength and spirit and I am sure that wherever you go in your preaching program there you will be successful.

Your incense distribution scheme sounds all right. That will leave you more time for our main business—to distribute BTG. We are debtor to Dai Nippon by a large amount. Recently on the request of Karandhara I sent them $20,000. Still we owe $27,000. So try to collect money for BTG as far as possible to keep our credit with Dai Nippon. They are our good friends so if we keep our relationship healthy that will be good for our society's propaganda work. I am so glad to note also that you have sent $200 to the Mayapur temple fund. So continue to do it. Where is the money being sent?

Letter to Danavir -- Nairobi 27 September, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11th September, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am so glad to hear how nicely Mrs. Dossa is doing and how she is engaging in devotional activities. She is a neophyte, so try and help her in every activity so that she may become fixed up. And if Chayadevi can help her children I have no objection.

At your recommendation I have consented to give second initiation to both Sriman Traidas and his wife Pramada. Two copies of Gayatri mantra are enclosed herewith as well as one sacred thread duly chanted by me. First of all you must secure one tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra. Makhanlal in Seattle has one copy. Then you must hold a fire yajna for the two devotees as you have seen so many times before. Then let them each hear the tape through the right ear, privately and individually, reading the paper and repeating each word. Beforehand you can instruct them how to chant on the fingers. Then you can get the thread on Traidas's body.

So far your visions are concerned, that is all right but better you give your attention for hearing more. That is essential. Don't speculate in the mind; simply hear. That is the process.

I am so glad to hear how nicely Trilochan is distributing our books. Please offer him my blessings. Also offer the same to Kamala Devi, Traidas, Pramada, Visnu das, Kanisari, Scot, Dick, Chayadevi and Ray Prabhus. Hoping this will meet you all in the best of health.

Letter to Danavir -- Delhi 20 November, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter of November 12, 1971, and have noted the contents with encouragement. But one thing, what do you mean Gaura Hari was held in jail? Please convey my blessings to Mrs. Dossa. Her husband was a very great devotee who was taken away by Krishna for promotion, and she may rest assured that he has progressed on the path of going back to Home, back to Godhead. She should follow in her good husbands footsteps and become fully Krishna Conscious and in this way she will find herself fully happy. You must give her good guidance and all facility in this respect.

I am very pleased that you are making arrangements for the 1st ANNUAL PUSPABHISHEKA YATRA PARADE AND FESTIVAL, 1971, and if he is free to come, Visnujana Swami may come to lead the kirtana and preaching. That is a good proposal. Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him. Pusyabhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears.

As soon as He is prepared, Lord Jagannatha may come there to live. Someone like Karandhara who is experienced may install the deity nicely. It is very nice that you have won the favor of Srimati Tulasi Devi, and that she is prospering under your careful attention. That is a good sign.

Letter to Danavir -- Delhi 12 December, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter of December 2, 1971, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. I am very glad that you will holding the 1st Annual Abhisheka Yatra Parade and Festival in Portland city. Also I am pleased to learn that Mukunda is helping you. He is one of my first disciples, along with his wife Janaki, and I am very fond of them both. They are both very intelligent and educated, but Mukunda is little mild, so he could not control his wife and there was some difficulty. But Janaki* will listen to me. Whatever I say, she will do. Now I am very glad to hear that they are working nicely to help you there, that is very encouraging. Why Mukunda does not write?

I am also glad to hear that Visnujana will lead kirtana. Why he also does not write? I have heard there is some plan to go to South America but I have not got any letter from Visnujana what is the plan. Also it is nice that you are infiltrating into the schools and colleges. These are the best customers for our philosophy. Give them nice philosophy, let them challenge us with any mundane philosophy and we shall very scholarly defeat them. The difference is that we have got absolute authority from the Source of Knowledge, Krishna, while your western mundane philosophers are simply speculating on the mental platform, which is always changing. Therefore, a philosopher is not a philosopher unless he refutes his predecessor and produces something new. This kind of knowledge is useless. Actually, no one has got any philosophy nowadays, everyone is acting according to his own whims. Therefore there is no security, no peace, everything is unpredictable and dangerous. Therefore all the young boys and girls in your country—and all over the world—are fed up with this lack of philosophy and they have taken to the philosophy of hopelessness: Everything is empty, therefore let me enjoy, it doesn't matter. But this philosophy is also useless. Because if you want to enjoy and I also want to enjoy, there will be clash, fighting. And we have seen in Moscow that Marx and Lenin philosophy is no better. God is dead, the State is God: this philosophy has killed the spirit, and the Russian people are very morose and unhappy. They want to join us, that is a fact. So now you defeat all sorts of philosophies, become very convinced yourself and learn our Krishna philosophy perfectly. In this way, any sane man will listen to you and become convinced. Our philosophy is practical. Actually, philosophy means practical application—if it is mere theory then it has no value. But our Krishna philosophy is working now in modern society to solve all kinds of problems, all over the world, never mind white man, black man, Christian or Hindu, Russian or American. Everyone is feeling the nice result of our philosophy. And it has worked in the same way for the last 5,000 years at least, taking historical calculation. So which philosophy is better, 50- or 100-year old Darwin philosophy, or eternal Krishna philosophy? Just try to understand. Approach Krishna way of life from every angle—it is perfect. So try to impress this intelligent class of men, give them nice debate, answer all questions nicely, distribute profuse prasadam, chant and dance nicely, and invite them to join us to get the perfection of their education, the Supreme knowledge.

Do not be too much pushy with Mrs. Dossa. She is an elderly lady, and she will resent too much forceful approach. Keep in touch with her regularly, and be very sincere to help and be kind in every way, but if you are overly insistent she will go away. Deal with her very tactfully, and she will come to you. Mukunda may help you with Mrs. Dossa.

I hope this meets you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*She is my naughty daughter but I like her in all circumstances.

Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 28 December, 1971:

I have heard that you are assisting Danavir at the Portland center to hold a very nice festival there. You are one of the most qualified devotees in every way, so I think that such work must be pleasing to you, because that way you are always thinking how best to please Krishna. Krishna is always guiding you and He is taking special interest in you, know it for certain. I am remembering that practically it was you who started both the San Francisco and London centers, our two most important centers. So therefore I am always hoping you will join me again and work under my personal instruction. Perhaps when I return to Los Angeles by late spring I shall see you both there.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Honolulu 5 May, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 20, 1972 and I have noted the contents. I am pleased to know that our Portland center is having good success in pushing on Lord Caitanya's great sankirtana movement. "Who God is" can be summed up in only five words. Krsna is the Supreme controller. If you become convinced of this, and preach it enthusiastically, success is assured, and you will be doing the greatest service for all living entities. So you continue more and more to serve Krsna, and He will help you.

Letter to Danavir -- London 15 July, 1972:

I have recently seen a copy of a letter that Karandhara Prabhu has sent to all Centers regarding payments to the Back to Godhead and Book Funds dated July 9, 1972. Karandhara has informed me that you are apparently an offender in the connection of being tardy in payments to my BTG and Book Fund. This is not good. We are trying to push on this movement on many fronts, one of the most important being the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature for the upliftment of mankind. My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment. Please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.

Karandhara Prabhu is the Treasurer of the BTG and BKF so you may immediately clear your accounts with him, and this will be a serious responsibility upon you.

Letter to Danavir -- London 2 August, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter from Portland, undated, and I have noted the contents, along with the very nice newspaper article. I am very happy to hear that the programs there are becoming more and more improved, and that you are enthusiastic to understand the Krishna philosophy and to preach very boldly. So far financial matters are concerned, these are also important, and we should not neglect them.

I sometimes remember that when I spoke in Portland there were many Christian people there, and they were very much favorable whenever we mentioned that we were also lovers of Christ. So you may preach in that way, that we are not canvassing for people to convert or criticize, we are canvassing people that they should simply utilize their time for loving God by engaging in his devotional service, either they are Christian, Catholic, Jew, whatever. We are after God, that's all, we are servants of God. So preach like this, very simply, and hold sankirtana widely all over the city, and distribute prasadam profusely, especially to the young people and the students, and everything will be increasingly successful more and more. We have observed in Amsterdam that there are many frustrated young people and they have become very much degraded in their way of life. They will not even listen to philosophy. So it is better to concentrate on the sankirtana and get them to chant with us. If they go on chanting, eventually they will become purified. And if someone wants to understand a little philosophy, he can purchase one of our books. We have got so many big, big books. So in this spirit carry on with great enthusiastic endeavor and this will please me very, very much.

Letter to Danavir -- Bombay 17 December, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 27, 1972, and I note that you are requesting to take the sannyasa order of life. But if you have got wife, that will be difficult. If someone devotee has got wife, that will not become a very popular policy to grant so easily sannyasa. And if your wife wants many children, that is the only purpose for getting married to wife, to have facility for sex-life, otherwise what is the use for taking so much botheration of married life? So now you are married man, that decision you have made. That is great responsibility, and that should not become so light matter that anyone may think, Oh, let me get married and if I don't like my wife, or there is anything difficulty, I will write Prabhupada for taking sannyasa, finished. Never mind wife, let her go to hell. That is not very nice proposal. Married life is serious business. If you have taken wife, you must be completely responsible for her throughout your life. She shall always serve and obey you without fail, and you shall instruct her in Krishna Consciousness and act as her spiritual master. Otherwise, without husband, women have great difficulty to make spiritual advancement. So if we have to develop a perfect society of scientific arrangement for making spiritual progress, then so many women will be there, so what shall they do? They have also come to Krishna, we cannot reject them. Therefore I have advised my students to get themselves married. I was householder, my Guru Maharaja was life-long brahmacari. But we are doing the same work of preaching Krishna Consciousness, so what is the difference, grhastha and brahmacari? Actual sannyasa means that he has given everything to Krishna, so practically you are already sannyasa. But if you have got wife, and if she is very desirous to raise children, she will not be very happy if you go away. That is not our business, to create havoc, no. If wife is very strong, she will appreciate if you take sannyasa, but if there is question at all, that should be avoided. Just like I never liked my wife, but I knew it was my duty to stick until my sons were grown-up, then I left. But if you give your wife one child, then she will be happy and she will have some life-long occupation, that you must consider. But at least you can wait until I come there next time, then we shall see further.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Calcutta 6 February, 1973:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 14, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care.

It is very nice that you are desiring to assist me in preaching the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world. We need so many preachers to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement and expand our activities. So you continue your engagements and when I come to Los Angeles it will be opportune time for discussion of this matter. For taking sannyasa you may consult your GBC member as we shall be starting a new policy where the sannyasa candidate must meet certain requirements to be determined by the GBC. Karandhara may write to Satsvarupa Maharaja for understanding this matter. This taking of sannyasa should not be a whimsical proposition, and should not be an excuse for becoming irresponsible, no responsibility of grhastha, brahmacari, etc. Sannyasis also have great responsibility to become fearless preachers of our Krsna Consciousness movement. So you consider all these things, and I shall see you and we can discuss further in Los Angeles.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Mayapur 17 October, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 27, 1974 and am very glad to read the nice report of the activities there. Jayatirtha was just here, and he also gave a nice report. I wanted that you Americans use your talents in spreading this cult, and I can see that you are doing that. In all departments you can use your talents and thus do the greatest benefit for the entire world. So my mission has come out a success by the mercy of my guru maharaj who sent me on this mission. That was my only qualification in coming to your country, that I had the blessings of my guru maharaj.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Mayapur 4 February, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your news letter of January 22, 1976 and I thank you very much. Your sincere endeavor to engage new devotees is very much appreciated. It is especially encouraging that these new devotees are taking on responsible service within our communities. They should follow our regulative principles, chant Hare Krsna and engage all day in the service of Lord Krsna. That is the only way that they will become satisfied.

Please continue with your service. Encourage everyone to take up this Krsna conscious life and set a high standard by your own good example.

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Danavir -- Bhuvanesvara 26 January, 1977:

I have received your letter of January 11th along with enclosures regarding the Bhakta Program and it is very nice.

It is good to hold more classes with the bhaktas, but they should all be on the basis of our books. You should not go beyond the jurisdiction of our teaching. The idea of theater, based on Bhagavatam topics is also a very good way to introduce the philosophy to the people in general. Go on preaching with vigorous enthusiasm and increase your program for bringing new men to live in Krsna Consciousness.

You yourself must be ideal in following the rules and regulations, rising early, and restricting eating and sleeping. The less a person is concerned with material enjoyment such as eating, sex and sleeping, the more he is spiritually advanced. If the "devotee" himself lives like a hog or dog how can he preach?

We are planning to construct a temple here in Puri and I was instructing the GBC that we can invite anyone to come and stay with us for three days and we shall supply room and board. In that time, however, he should rise early and attend our programs. After three days if he likes he can stay with us permanently, become shaven headed, engage as we request him, and we shall take care of all his necessities.

Yes, your plan to have all temple presidents report the scores on new men recruited is approved by me. You can keep count which temple is recruiting the most men, just as they keep count of the book distribution. Hope this finds you in good health.