I understand that you are anxious to go to New Vrindaban. I think that it is Krishna's will that you shall go there and try to develop that nice land because there is so much potential there which can utilize your abilities in being developed. I hope that by now you have received a note from Hayagriva who was staying with me for more than a fortnight. He is now married with Syama Dasi and he has returned back to New Vrindaban. If Kirtanananda Maharaja welcomes you during the winter months there is no need of waiting for the springtime. I have no objections. The only question is if there is sufficient place to accommodate you during the winter season. Also be sure to consult with Hamsaduta to be sure that there will not be too great inconvenience in your leaving to New Vrindaban.
Training of Hayagriva dasa (Letters, 1969)
Correspondence
1969 Correspondence
Whatever is done is done. I am now very much serious about printing my books. There may be three sources for their printing. One source is that if the MacMillan Company is interested to publish my books that will be a great relief. I do not mind for the profit concerned. But I want to see them published. Another source is if MacMillan isn't interested, we can get them printed from Dai Nippon, but the delaying procedure of this company in Japan is not very encouraging. Therefore the next step would be to start our own press at New Vrindaban, because Hayagriva is ready to start a press there immediately, taking responsibility for the investment. He has told me that he could take a loan from his friend, Dr. Henderson. In this connection of purchasing a press I sent a list to be filled by the press men of New York telling of the prices of printing machines but there is no response. So I ask you what to do in this connection. Ultimately, if nothing is done, I shall be obliged to return to India for getting them published there.
Another important scheme is to start a nice press next spring. So these duties are there in New Vrindaban, and we shall have to live there self independently, simply by raising cows, grains, fruits, and flowers. I have already explained these things to Hayagriva, and he is now married and a responsible grhastha. You are of course sannyasa. Your duties will be more to preach and supervise the activities there. But do everything jointly. Many grhasthas and brahmacaris will join you for full cooperation. Some of them have already prepared to go there immediately, and perhaps you have received some letters about this. So everything appears very bright in the future. We have to deal with things very sagaciously and success will surely be there. The immediate necessity is to construct some simple cottages for living purposes, and then everything will gradually come out, one after another. I hope that you are already in touch with Hayagriva, and he must have spoken to you about these ideas.
Recently, Hayagriva came from Columbus, and he remained with me for more than a fortnight. He was assisting me in editing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Now he is married with Syama Dasi and has returned to New Vrindaban with his many responsibilities.
P.S. I have not heard anything from Hayagriva since he has left. I am anxious to know how far the revision is advanced in the 1st Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Next, if it is possible, let him cast some plaster of Paris Radha-Krishna murtis of the size you have got in the New York temple. If not, he may go for a few days to New Vrindaban and make schemes and plans for residential quarters and press accommodations, etc. If possible, Advaita may also go with him for a few days. In this connection correspondence may be opened with Hayagriva and Kirtanananda.
Our publication project is to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam. If we publish one volume for one canto, still it will not be less than 12 volumes. Besides this we have Nectar of Devotion and two or three more books. This means all together another fourteen of fifteen volumes at utmost. Of course this will take time, but it is our ambition. If the MacMillan Company is interested, they can immediately publish at least one volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam to make an experiment. They can either print the second canto in one volume, or the first canto may be edited by Hayagriva into one volume. So if they like, we can immediately hand over to them these manuscripts.
NB: I understand from Hayagriva that you have at New Vrindaban an edited manuscript of Easy Journey To Other Planets. Send this copy to me immediately because in London, Mukunda is attempting to have this published and I would like to read the edited version and send it on to him. So far as your idea of editing the lectures which you started to edit in Montreal, the idea is very nice.
Our propaganda should be focused on spreading kirtana and distributing literature, books and magazines. The process experienced now is that after holding kirtana, they are selling magazines and books successfully. On January 1st, Hayagriva held one meeting in Columbia University with 60-65 students present, and after the meeting, 30 copies of Bhagavad-gita were immediately sold. So we should now organize in such a way that there shall be nice kirtana and attempt for selling our publications. My Guru Maharaja indicated that the mrdanga and the press are the mediums of our missionary propaganda activities, and we shall follow His path in the same way. We must have large quantities of mrdangas for vibrating in different parts of the world and we must distribute our literature also.
I have received one letter from Hayagriva saying that he is prepared to invest money for a press, and he has found out a nice two-story house adjacent to our New Vrindaban colony, and the house is on the roadside. The rent is only $260 per year. That is about $22 per month. So in this way we can immediately start our press. I think that our publications should be done ourselves immediately, because neither MacMillan Company nor Dai Nippon can help us rightly.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 26, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am very pleased to learn that the entire first canto should be completely edited by March 8th, and I am also glad to hear that your Lord Caitanya play is at last completed. From what I have gone through of this play I could see that it is very well done, simply it is a little prolonged. Otherwise it is very nice. I hope that when we start our own press we shall get this book printed.
Regarding my coming there, I think you should fix up my date of being there with Alan Ginsberg. Provisionally, you can set up my date of arrival by the middle of April as described by you. I can understand from your letter that your car is now broken and useless. In the future, we should not purchase a second-hand car; it is always troublesome. This is the third time that such car has caused us difficulty. Rupanuga purchased a second-hand car for $600, and it proved to be useless. Another was given to Hamsaduta, and this too proved not very satisfactory. Now the third experience is yours. If it is possible to get it sold and get some money, you can purchase a small truck new, or else whenever we need a truck we can rent it. But don't purchase any more second-hand cars; they are too much troublesome.
Regarding the press, I have already written to Brahmananda about this. We can risk $260 for renting one year the two-story house you mentioned. So immediately you should make arrangements for this.
As for your nice sentiments about our first meeting on Houston Street, it was all arranged by Krishna. That was practically a favor shown to me by Krishna because I came in your country by superior order. I had been feeling lonely although I had the mission of starting this Krishna Consciousness movement. So Krishna sent you to me, and therefore our meeting was also the desire of Krishna. Therefore, both of us, or for that matter, all of the boys and girls who are working with me, have met by the desire of Krishna. As such, everyone should always feel the responsibility that Krishna wants us to do something for Him, and we must invest all of our energies to fulfill this mission of Krishna Consciousness.
The boys and girls in London are doing very nicely. My Guru Maharaja sent one sannyasi, Swami Bon Maharaja, to preach Krishna Consciousness in London, sometimes in 1933. Although he tried for three years and at the expense of my Guru Maharaja, he could do not do any appreciable work. So Guru Maharaja, being disgusted, called him back. In comparison to that situation, our 6 young boys and girls are neither very much advanced in their study of Vedanta nor any other Vedic literature, neither are they sannyasis. But still they are doing more tangible work than what Bon Maharaja could do there 35 years ago. This very fact confirms the statement of Lord Caitanya that a preacher or teacher may be a householder, a sannyasi, a brahmana, a sudra, or anyone, provided he knows the science of Krishna. And to know the science of Krishna means to serve Krishna under the directions of a bona fide Spiritual Master. When we serve Krishna in this way, Krishna is pleased to reveal Himself. So we should follow strictly the Vedic principle that anyone who has unflinching faith in Krishna and the Spiritual Master, to him only the science of Krishna Consciousness becomes revealed. Then when we are fully conversant in revelation of Krishna Consciousness, we can meet any opposing elements and come out victorious.
Now you are grhastha, and there is no need to be despondent, simply we have to become sincere to act fully in Krishna Consciousness. Your wife, Syama Dasi, is a very good girl. She will be always helpful to you in doing as the boys and girls in London are doing in attracting the attention of various types of people from all over the world. They are doing wonderful service, and it makes no difference that they are householders.
Do not be very much anxious whether you are fired from your present service or not. But you should not do something there which will be disturbing to the authorities. However, in all circumstances we must execute the program of Krishna Consciousness, even at the risk of dissatisfying the so-called employer master.
Please convey my blessings to Syama Dasi. I hope this will meet you both in happy mood and good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
P.S. You know Dr. Haridasa Chondhery of San Francisco. He writes as follows:—"I am delightful to receive your affectionate gift of 'The Bhagavad-gita As It Is.' Whenever I find some time, I read a little from it. The book is without doubt the best presentation so far to the western public of the teachings of Lord Krishna—the standpoint of the Vaisnava tradition of India . . . etc."
Actually it is so. Now we have to make some propaganda work to convince the different colleges and universities to read this real form of B.G. to the Western Public.
So far as accommodations are concerned, Hayagriva has given me information that there is a nice two-story house where both the press and the workers can be accommodated. The rent is only $260.00 per year. I think this house should immediately be occupied so we can gradually begin our work and also construct other structures with the help of Nara Narayana and others. So Hayagriva is prepared to invest money for the press, accommodations are there provisionally. Now if you have any definite program for meeting your maintenance expenditures we can begin the press work immediately.
In New Vrindaban, nothing can immediately be done because there is no sufficient accommodations, but I am in correspondence with Hayagriva for renting one two-story big house near New Vrindaban for starting the press. I think we will be able to secure the house by next April when I will also go there, and our project of starting a school, press, etc., will be seriously taken at that time.
I have already established the following centers:
1. New York INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
61 Second Avenue
New York, NY
President: Brahmananda das Brahmacari (Bruce Scharf)
2. London ISKCON
22 Betterton Street
London WC 2
ENGLAND
President: Mukunda das Adhikari (Michael Grant)
3. Hamburg Internationale Gesellschaft fur Krishna Bewusstein
2 Hamburg 19
Eppendorfer Weg 11
WEST GERMANY
4. President: Sivananda das Brahmacari (Samuel Greer)
5. Hawaii ISKCON
4 Leilani Bldg. 1649 Kapialani Blvd.
Honolulu, Hawaii
President: Gaurasundara das Adhikari (G. McElroy)
6. Montreal ISKCON
3720 Park Avenue
Montreal 18, Quebec
President: Hamsaduta das Adhikari (Hans Kary)
7. San Francisco ISKCON
518 Frederick Street
San Francisco, Calif.
President: Cidananda das Brahmacari (Clay Harold)
8. New Vrindaban
RD 3
Moundsville, West Virginia
President: Kirtanananda Swami (Keith Ham)
9. Vancouver ISKCON
271 East Georgia Street
Vancouver 4, B.C. Canada
President: Ananda das Brahmacari (Eric Cassidy)
10. Seattle ISKCON
5516 Roosevelt Way N.E.
Seattle, Washington
President: Upendra das Brahmacari (Wayne Gunderson)
11. Santa Fe ISKCON
4113 West Water Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico
President: Harer Nama das Brahmacari (Harlon Jacobson)
12. North Carolina ISKCON
107 Laurel Avenue
Carrboro, N. Carolina
President: Bhurijana das Brahmacari (Wayne Connel)
13. Boston ISKCON
95 Glenville Avenue
Boston, Mass. (Allston)
President: Satsvarupa das Adhikari (Stephan Guarino)
14. Los Angeles ISKCON
1975 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, Calif.
President: Dayananda das Adhikari (Michael Wright)
15. Ohio ISKCON
1305 No. High Street
Columbus, Ohio
President: Hayagriva das Adhikari (Howard Wheeler)
I am pleased to note that you are seeing into obtaining a dictaphone for helping me in preparing so many Krishna Consciousness literatures. The maker of my present dictaphone is Grundig, and it is an Embassy de Jur, Sterorette. This model was purchased by Hayagriva in New York for $190 by cash payment, but it can be had by installment payment at a higher price. So you may do the needful in this matter.
I am in due receipt of your recent letter (undated), and I was pleased to learn that you are able and willing to help us in our construction plans in New Vrindaban. The construction of the houses is already under way because Nara Narayana has already submitted to me some plans along with an estimate of the needed finances.* Hayagriva is ready to invest the required money, so your cooperation and help will further make easier our attempt. Please therefore cooperate in consultation with Hayagriva who is the chief man in this matter. I shall also be in New York as well as New Vrindaban in the month of April. So if I am present there, I think that your help will be of great value. Actually we want such houses as you have submitted plans for. Nara Narayana is in New York already, so you may consult with him and help him in this attempt by mutual cooperation.
Thanking you once again for your letter. I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
*I am forwarding your letter & plans to Hayagriva for necessary action
I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 7, 1969, and I have noted the contents. I am so glad to learn that Mr. Ginsberg is taking some serious interest in our Hare Krishna Movement. When he actually comes into Krishna Consciousness, which I expect will be in the very near future, at that time our movement will get a great impetus.
I understand that in New Vrindaban you have got electricity, and I shall be glad to know what is the condition of the atmosphere there. The other day, I saw in the paper that there was very strong snow-storms in New York and the airport service had stopped there completely. Is there any snow-storm in New Vrindaban also? If not, I can go whenever you call me there because here I have no serious business just now. In London, they have not yet been able to find out a suitable temple house, but their propaganda work is going on very nicely. They are attending almost every night somewhere in kirtana engagements, and five or six English boys have joined them already. So I was thinking of opening the London temple on the Birthday of Lord Caitanya which falls on March 4, 1969. I have already written to them about this, but if it doesn't take place, then why not make foundation stone ceremony on that date in New Vrindaban? If the climate is not too much obstructive, then we can hold a ceremony on that day on account of Lord Caitanya's Advent and lay down the foundation stone of our New Vrindaban construction work.
In the meantime, I am enclosing herewith some plans and a letter from Angelo Cummings who is in New York temple. He is also ready to help in the construction work. After examining the plans, you can return them to the boy in New York and open correspondence with him. If Nara Narayana and he conjointly work, then very quickly the construction will be finished. Please inform me what was the report of the press boys. Anyway, press or no press, we must have some houses there because many students are very much eager to go to New Vrindaban.
I am glad to learn that things are very nicely going on in New Vrindaban, and I learned from Hayagriva that electricity is already there.
About my going to New Vrindaban, I have already written to Hayagriva about this, and you can let me know your decision as soon as possible.
Just today I have received from Hayagriva one nicely edited copy of Easy Journey. It is about 50 type-written pages, double-spaced. If Mr. Maschler is serious, then let me know, and I will send this manuscript along with essays to fill up the required number of extra pages.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 16th 1969. And I've also received the letter from Uddhava. I heard about the house indicated by you from Kirtanananda Maharaja, so if it is approved by you all as a suitable place then purchase.
In answer to your questions concerning sex life: sex life restriction does not mean that husband and wife live separately. The idea of marriage is to increase spiritual consciousness as far as possible. And by advancement of Krishna Consciousness that restriction becomes automatically practical. Sex life for begetting Krishna Conscious children is as good as Krishna Consciousness. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita so one has to use his own discretion in this matter and Krishna will help such discriminatory method. It is not that in every state you have to concern me but you have to concern Krishna Who is situated within. On the whole, sex life, like that of ordinary materialistic men, is not recommended for a Krishna Conscious person. My Guru Maharaja although he was Brahmacari, sometimes he used to say that if I could beget Krishna Conscious children I am prepared to indulge in sex life a hundred times. The summary is sex life should be utilized only for begetting Krishna Conscious children—that's all.
Regarding your new engagement in Wheeling, it is a very nice offer and you must accept it. The yoga center class may be conducted by Pradyumna and assisted by someone else. What is the position of the Yoga society class now? Are the students purchasing our Back to Godhead magazines and the Bhagavad-gita?
Another problem is that Rayarama has become sick so will it be possible for you to take care of Back to Godhead as one of the editors? As joint editor as you were formerly.
I thank you very much for your inviting me to New Vrindaban, but, considering the local climate as presented by you I think I shall postpone it until the end of April. I am enclosing here reply to the letter of Hayagriva and Syama devi.
| Page Title: | Training of Hayagriva dasa (Letters, 1969) |
| Compiler: | Labangalatika |
| Created: | 26 of May, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=88 |
| No. of Quotes: | 88 |