Training of Vasudeva dasa (Letters, 1969 - 1973)

Correspondence

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Vasudeva -- London 20 November, 1969:

I thank you very much for your nice letter and the beautiful picture of Radha-Krishna which you have sent to me. Immediately upon receipt of this picture, I have hung it on the wall directly above my Deities, and it is appearing very nice there. Thank you very much. I always remember you that you are such a sincere and good boy, and I am sure that Lord Krishna will help you more and more to advance in Krishna Consciousness. Krishna is very merciful to His sincere devotees, but also we have to remember that Maya is very strong. Therefore, we have to always be engaged in serving Krishna. 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. If you move a little this way, you are in light and there is no question of shadow. But if you move a little the other way, you are in darkness. So if we remember to always be engaged in Krishna's service, then there will be no Maya and everything will be all right. Please always remember this great secret of advancement in Krishna Consciousness. So as you are showing promise to be a nice artist, I think you may next paint some pictures of the Spiritual Masters in the line of disciplic succession. Also, continue to fix up the new temple nicely and promote the Sankirtana Movement as far as possible. These, along with promoting our literatures will give you sufficient engagement to fill your time. Also, continue to chant all of your rounds daily, and read our magazines and books as much as possible. In this way your future will be very bright, and surely you will be able to do great service to this movement within your lifetime.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- London 2 December, 1969:

Please offer my blessings to Jaya Govinda, Vasudeva, Sucandra, Sivananda, Mandali Bhadra and Vrndavanesvari. I hope this will meet all of you in good health.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Los Angeles 24 January, 1970:

I have not heard from Vasudeva, Sucandra or Visvanatha and his wife Kunti Devi. Please let me know how they are getting along in Krishna Consciousness, and offer them my blessings and to all other devotees there.

I hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Anil Grover -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1970:

Unfortunately, all the Karmis, Jnanis, and Yogis are thinking of themselves in different degrees that they are not servants of Krishna. Therefore, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that after many, many births of different activities under different concepts of life, when actually one becomes wise, he surrenders unto Krishna, understanding Vasudeva Lord Krishna is the Cause of all causes. But such great soul, accepting Krishna as the Supreme Master is very, very rarely to be found.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 4 March, 1970:

While you are in Germany, please see that Vasudeva is given all facilities for his painting work. He is a very good painter and very enthusiastic, so make arrangement that he can devote full time to his painting and may not feel any inconvenience in his work. He can begin immediately to paint pictures on the many different subjects as you know. I will write to him separately, in the meantime do the needful.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Los Angeles 6 March, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 20 February, 1970, along with an enclosed photograph of one painting of the Spiritual Master rendered by you. In the meantime, I have received also one painting of my Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Both these paintings are very, very good, and I am therefore requesting that you be able to devote yourself full time in developing this great talent of yours. There are many paintings required not only for our Temples, but for illustrating our books also. So I think this work will be more than ample and you will be happy in this work.

I have noted your enthusiasm for painting, but I learn that there is need of many adjustments so that you may be able to execute the work properly. I have written therefore, in this connection, to Tamala Krsna to arrange for your working conveniences before he leaves Germany.

I am also very pleased to learn that the Deities are now receiving proper service and you are developing a great love for Them. Please continue your sincere service with even greater vigor, and your love will grow increasingly more. Actually when this dormant love for Krsna is aroused in the heart of the devotee, there are for him no more problems of life. So continue to chant regularly Hare Krsna and be happy. Your nice service attitude is most encouraging to me.

Thanking you once again, and hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1970:

Since a long time I have not heard from you, so I will be glad to hear from you about your temple and Sankirtana activities.

I was informed that Hamsaduta was going to Berlin. Whether he has gone there?

So please drop me a line or two about your center activities, Hope this will meet you in good health. Please offer my blessings to Hamsaduta, Himavati, Jaya Govinda, Sadanandini, Sivananda, Vasudeva, Natabara, Haripriya, Vrndadevi, Sucandra, Heidrun, Mandali Bhadra, and all the other boys and girls there.

Letter to Himavati, Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 13 June, 1970:

I hope Vasudeva is painting very nicely. So he should be encouraged to paint the Pancatattva pictures and Acarya pictures; they will be required in our different centers. In Australia they have requested such pictures, so ask Vasudeva to paint and send them there—this is his first assignment. It does not matter if they are a little crude, but he will improve with practice.

No, it is not proper that the morning Aratik is performed with the Deities lying down. The Deities should be awakened with belling, then stand Them, then perform Aratik. After Aratik you bathe and change Their clothes. You should wake Them privately and also bathe Them privately. And if you want to go to Rathayatra in London, why not go. You have already instructed Sivananda, so it is alright.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 22 June, 1970:

Pictures for our books are being done now in Boston, so Vasudeva may make as many pictures as possible of Pancatattva and Acaryas, especially your Spiritual Master and my Spiritual Master. Upendra in Australia is already asking for these pictures, so increase the number of these pictures as many as possible.

Regarding the devotees who are ready for receiving sacred thread, they may do so you have asked permission for Kulasekhara, Vrndadevi, Ilavati, Sucandra, and Vasudeva. You are going to London, so I shall send the sacred threads duly sanctified and the mantras may be heard in London. The arrangement is there and Gurudasa has already done it, so you can get them initiated as brahmanas get them initiated as brahmanas during Rathayatra days from 5th to 13rd of July.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 25 June, 1970:

Regarding the picture of King Paundraka, Yes, he may be colored blue. Because he was imitating Vasudeva, he had two artificial extra hands attached also. So he might have painted himself blue also.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1970:

I have not heard from you since a long time. I hope everything is going well with you in Krsna consciousness.

I know that you have been practicing your painting in a regular schedule and you are very much enthusiastic to be engaged in this. You are not only advanced student in painting, but also in Krsna consciousness, so always pray to Krsna how you shall draw the painting and I think it will come out nice. My another request to you is that because I am going to the Eastern hemisphere countries I wish to establish as many branches as possible on that side. As you know me very well, I shall require many pictures of Pancatattva, either Sankirtana or Five standing together, also the pictures of Acaryas.

Wherever a Sankirtana Temple will be established, I shall require at least three pictures, namely your Spiritual Master, my Spiritual Master and Pancatattva as they are being worshiped in the first apartment of the Temple here in L.A. I shall have some color pictures of this first apartment of the L.A. Temple sent to you for reference. These pictures may be painted on a canvas with oil painting and when it is dried up they may be rolled all together and dispatched by Post Air Mail. The framework may be done locally. Paraffin paper may be placed between the paintings so they will not stick.

Letter to Vyasa -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1970:

I am in receipt of your letter dated July 14, 1970 and its contents have been carefully noted. Yes, you are correct when you say that for a true devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krsna theoretical speculations are avoided. Not only is devotional service the simplest way of God realization, as you have agreed, it is clearly pointed out by Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita in every chapter that He can be achieved only by finally engaging directly in devotional service, or bhaktiyoga, the highest stage in yoga practice. In the First Canto, second chapter, verse seven of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is clearly stated that by the process of applying devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead Vasudeva (Krsna), the immediate result is that causeless knowledge and detachment follow. Therefore the burden of useless theories can be avoided, simply by following the Sastras.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Tokyo 15 August, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5th August, 1970. I am very glad to know that you are very fully engaged in the duties of chanting regularly 16 rounds, going out on Sankirtana, performing arcana for the Deities and painting.

It is very encouraging for me to learn that you are so enthusiastic in the execution of your devotional services. So please be engaged 24 hours daily in sincere transcendental loving service of the Lord and your life in Krsna consciousness is sure to be successful. Many of our Temples are now requiring pictures of Pancatattva and Acaryas, principally your Spiritual Master and my Spiritual Master, for their Guru Gauranga worship. So I am confident that you can help them in this connection by painting many of these very important pictures of our Temples. No we have got so many new branches of our Society, so your assignment is already given to provide them in this way with paintings.

Letter to Umapati -- Tokyo 23 August, 1970:

I am so pleased to note your Vaisnava attitude in your letter under reply. In this connection the incidence which occurred during Lord Caitanya's time may be remembered. 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.

I shall try to do some work in India regarding the Krsna Consciousness Movement although my physical strength is diminishing. But still now if all you cooperate with me with your full young energy I am still competent to work with you with greater energy.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970:

The pictures painted by Vasudeva are very nice and will be installed at our new place under construction on October 31st, 1970.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Surat 18 December, 1970:

I hope you and your good wife Indrani are well. Please convey my blessings to all the other devotees and tell Vasudeva to write me about how he is progressing with his painting work.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Tribhuvanatha -- Brooklyn 17 July, 1971:

I have received the bead bag made by Malati, the karatala pouch made by Dinadyadri, the sweets and breads made by Mandakini, Aditi, Jill and Clare, the photos of the festival taken by Serge, and photos of the very beautiful paintings done by Vasudeva. All these presentations are so very nice. You are all so kind to me. Thank you very much.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- London 14 August, 1971:

We have already submitted here for missionary visas and at least five men will reach India very soon. Nanda Kumar's wife has already gone. Visala Das Brahmacari is here on his way to India. Nara Narayana and his wife also are ready. I have already engaged Nara Narayana, Vasudeva and Ranchor to prepare a grand scale plan for the Mayapur land and as soon as it is prepared, Nara Narayana will go there. Bhavananda is coming here on his way to India. He will reach here on the 19th August. Bhavananda and Nara Narayana, they have got good experience in building affairs so I think if we engage professional masons and supervise the work ourselves, we can save so much money. There are many experienced masons and as I have already told you, they have already constructed Sridhara Maharaja's temple. So there will be no difficulty.

Letter to Vasudeva -- Nairobi 14 October, 1971:

I have heard a serious complaint against you that you are in intimate relation with Aradhana's wife Santanu. I am not only surprised but I cannot believe that a nice boy like you should be thus accused. Anyway young boys and girls sometimes commit mistakes due to age but we should remember that we are considered to be the most responsible persons in the society. Rejection of illicit sex life is our first motto. So I request you to stop immediately all this nonsense and remain fixed up in your good character. I have got very much appreciation of your abilities and I hope you will do the needful so that there may not be any more accusation against your good character. Any god-brother's wife or any unmarried girl in our society should be always treated as mother and sister. Any married woman should be treated as mother.

So we require many pictures of the acaryas so please engage yourself in painting more seriously than to divert your attention in any other matter. Please reply this letter to my Bombay address and let me know what you have done.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Delhi 20 November, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter of November 3, 1971, and I am very pleased to note that things are improving nicely in Europe in general. I am glad to hear that Vasudeva has returned and is working cooperatively. He is a good boy, but sometimes in a weak instant Maya can capture us and we cannot resist. That is why I am always urging my students to follow the regulative principles without fail and to resist the onslaught of Maya by chanting Hare Krishna at least 16 offenseless rounds daily. In this way Krishna protects us.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Vasudeva -- Los Angeles May 31, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very much engladdened to hear from you that all the programs there in Berlin center are going on very nicely under your expert guidance. Nevermind what has past, whatever is done, is done. Now push on with full enthusiasm to save the fallen humanity from the most degraded and wretched conditions of material life. This Krsna Consciousness Movement is the only thing that will save them. So you yourself become very convinced of this fact and be very bold in preaching Krsna Consciousness there in Berlin. I enjoy very much your artistic work, so you can combine your presidential duties with sometimes painting, but the main thing is to always remain engaged fully in the enthusiastic service of the Supreme Lord, nevermind this activity or that activity, so long as the mind is fully absorbed at Krsna's Lotus Feet. So I am very glad to hear that you are a capable manager, you are a very very intelligent boy and gifted by Krsna in many ways, so now Krsna has given you the opportunity to make advancement by becoming also very responsible. So kindly take this responsibility to heart and be always jolly and determined. Now you must be the perfect example for others to follow.

Yes, if you can get a new and larger place that will be very nice. Also, I am coming to London this summer for Ratha-yatra Festival and if all of the European devotees come there I shall be very glad to see you all again. Yes, you may name your new son Caitanya dasa. So now be happy and chant Hare Krsna and take Krsna Prasadam, and in this way you shall find your life becoming more and more perfect and you will meet Krsna face to face very soon, rest assured.

Hoping this meets you and your good wife and son in best of health.

Letter to Gangadevi -- London 11 August, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 8, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. I was very happy to see both you and your good husband Vasudeva when I was in Paris, especially now that you have got such a nice child. Now you have got your child and your responsibility is to raise your child in Krsna consciousness. You and your husband are very sincere devotees, and your husband is a nice boy, and I like him very much, and he is doing the best service to Krsna and humanity by managing the Berlin center so nicely. So never mind there may be some inconvenience in family life for the time being. Your husband is doing the highest service. You may assist your husband very nicely by concentrating all your time and efforts in raising your child in full Krsna consciousness. That will require all of your attention, and in that way you will be giving your husband the best assistance. This spot life is merely a platform for us to make progress toward going back to home, back to Godhead, therefore we should not be too much concerned with family matters. We are never alone in Krsna consciousness; you have got so many wonderful brothers and sisters who are really your family, and besides that the spiritual master is always in his instructions, and Krsna is there within your heart, so you need not feel you are ever alone. Make Krsna your husband and always think of Him, raise your child up very nicely, chant without fail sixteen rounds of Hare Krsna mantra daily, read Srimad-Bhagavatam at least one hour daily, and in this way without any doubt you will very soon become very happy, and your life will be sublime.

Page Title:	Training of Vasudeva dasa (Letters, 1969 - 1973)
Compiler:	MadhuGopaldas
Created:	08 of Jun, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=22
No. of Quotes:	22