Training of Hasyakari dasa (Letters 1973 - 1975)

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" |"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" |"Hasyakari" |"ISKCON" |"Initiate" |"Initiated" |"Initiates" |"Initiating" |"Initiation" |"Initiations" |"Iskcon" |"Kirtana" |"Language" |"Languages" |"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" |"Zones"

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Hasyakari (Howard Bernd), Rathangapani (Randy Buchert), Varuthapa (Warren Havens), Laksmivan (Lawson Knight), Bhaktavatsala (Barry Butler), Bhaktilila (Linda Butler) -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973:

Upon the recommendation of Damodara I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Now you may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as you arrange. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Howard Bernd/ HASYAKARI DAS

Randy Buchert/ RATHANGAPANI DAS

Warren Havens/ VARUTHAPA DAS

Lawson Knight/ LAKSMIVAN DAS

Barry Butler/ BHAKTAVATSALA DAS

Linda Butler/ BHAKTILILA DASI

My request to all of you is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service as you have learned them, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy.

Letter to Gunagrahi -- Los Angeles 6 December, 1973:

I am in receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. I hereby accept on your recommendation, Hasyakari Prabhu and his wife Nari devi dasi as my second initiated disciples. Enclosed find one thread duly chanted on by me and two gayatri sheets. You may take instruction from Rupanuga Maharaja on the proper performance of a yajna and the mantra may be heard through the right ear from the cassette tape recording.

I hope this meets you well.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Hasyakari -- Bombay 21 March, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of names recommended by your for first initiation. On your word I have accepted them as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows.

Philip Cote—Phanamandita dasa

Keith Weber—Kalpavrksa dasa

Ron Burnstein—Muktakesa dasa

Cheryl Denbroff—Siladitya devi dasi

Candy Burton—Kamya devi dasi

Pam Parker—Padmahara devi dasi

You may send their beads to Rupanuga Maharaja for chanting. Hold a fire yajna in the temple and impress on all these new devotees that they must chant at least 16 rounds daily, without fail and refrain from the four sinful activities. If one observes just these principles he will be rapid progress in spiritual life.

I am also accepting the following devotees for second initiation: Krpamaya das Brahmacari and Gopinatha devi dasi. I am enclosing one sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Get the tape of me chanting the gayatri and have them hear it in the right ear. This initiation should be taken very seriously, and those who accept it have to prove exemplary or it will become a farce.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Hasyakari -- Honolulu 26 May, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 17, 1975 and have noted the contents. If the GBC has no objection to your going to India to help with the cow program, then I encourage you to go there. This program is very very important. If you can help to organize our cow program in Mayapur, it will be a great credit for you. We must be able to grow our own fodder for the cows. We don't want to have to purchase food for the cows outside from some other party. That will run into a great expense. Cow protection is the business of the vaisyas and along with our preaching, this is the most important work. We must have a good section of Brahmanas in our society and we must also have a good group of vaisyas who can grow grains and tend cows, and thus supply the society with food-grains and milk products from the cow like ghee, curd, cream, etc. If you can help in Mayapur it would be very much appreciated.

I have accepted the devotees you have recommended for initiation. Their names are: Stephen—Sundarakara, Janet—Jaganmurti, Patricia—Premaka. Their beads may be chanted by Kirtanananda Swami. The thread for Phanamandita dasa is enclosed and the mantra sheet is also enclosed with the gayatri mantra. Let Siladitya devi, Mahavegavati devi, and Phanamandita dasa all hear the tape of myself chanting the gayatri mantra through the right ear. Make sure that these boys and girls follow very carefully all of the rules and regulations, as well as chant 16 rounds daily and read my books carefully.

Letter to Hasyakari -- Evanston, Illinois 8 July, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 1, 1975 and have noted the contents. As for your going to Mayapur is concerned, that is a very good suggestion. But, it is best that you earn the money for the fare independently by doing Sankirtana.

Now Gurukrpa Swami and his men are working very hard to raise money for construction of our important projects in India. He has raised objection why his collections should be used for other purposes such as plane fare, etc.

Therefore it is best that you raise the money through your own efforts, even it may take a little longer. You are sincere in this endeavor, so Lord Caitanya will assist you.

I hope this meets you in good health.